(FREE) UPSC Current Affairs 2024 PDF

Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 21 April 2022

::NATIONAL::

Algal bloom

Algal bloom poses a serious threat to the aquatic ecosystem of the of the Kabani River.
Kabani or Kapila (east flowing) originates in Wayanad District of Kerala.
It is a major tributary of Cauvery River.

About:

Algal bloom or marine bloom is a rapid increase in population of algae in an aquatic system.
Algae are microorganisms that grow naturally in water bodies and they have characteristics of both plants and animals.
It occurs when combination of suitable environmental conditions exists for abundant algal
growth (i.e., increased nutrients, warmer temperature, abundant light, and stable wind conditions).
There are thousands of species of algae; most are beneficial and only a few of these produce toxins or have other harmful effects.

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Marginal cost of funds-based lending rates

State Bank of India (SBI), India’s largest commercial bank, on Monday raised the marginal cost of funds-based lending rates (MCLR) for the first time in three years, signalling that the soft rates regime that has prevailed since 2019 may be over.

About:

SBI raised the MCLR by 10 basis points (bps) across tenures to 7.1% (from 7% earlier); it is now slightly lower than the 7.25% at HDFC Bank, Punjab National Bank, and ICICI Bank.
MCLR, which RBI instituted with effect from April 1, 2016, is the lowest interest rate that a bank or lender can offer. It is applicable to fresh corporate loans and floating rate loans taken before October 2019.
RBI then switched to the external benchmark linked lending rate (EBLR) system where lending rate is linked to benchmark rates like repo or Treasury Bill rates.
As a result of the increase in MCLR, borrowers who have taken home, vehicle, and personal loans will find their equated monthly instalments (EMIs) rising in the coming months.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

WHO Global Center for Traditional Medicine

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM).

About:

This is world’s first and only Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (WHO GCTM) in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
WHO global center of traditional medicine is a major milestone for entire South East Asian Countries. This was acknowledged by Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan through recorded video message telecasted at the ceremony.
WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India at Jamnagar, Gujarat, will have its interim office at the Institute of Training and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA) in Gujarat. This Centre will be supported by an investment of about USD 250 million from the Government of India.

Objective

The primary objective of WHO GCTM is to harness the potential of traditional medicine from across the world through modern science and technology and improve overall health of the communities’ world over.
The Centre will highlight the potential of traditional medicine and utilize technological advancements to promote its safe and effective use.
India’s traditional medicine system is not limited only to treatment. It is a holistic science of life.

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Iridium Phones

Fifteen signatures of Iridium satellite phones, used by the US-led allied forces in Afghanistan, and Wi-Fi-enabled thermal imagery devices that help a terrorist to escape security cordons especially during night have been found in the militancy-hit Kashmir valley.

About:

Iridium Communications Inc. is a publicly traded American company headquartered in McLean, Virginia.
Iridium operates the Iridium satellite constellation, a system of 66 active satellites used for worldwide voice and data communication from hand-held satellite phones and other transceiver units.

Key highlights:

Bodies like the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) and the Defence Intelligence Agencies (DIA) have been tasked with finding and giving out real-time information about the presence of these satellite phones in the Kashmir valley, they said.
In the aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) first restricted the use of Iridium and Thuraya satellite phones and infrastructure, and in 2012 completely banned them the under the provisions of the Indian Telegraph Act.

Government permission needed:

Passengers importing satellite telephone as baggage are required to declare them to the Customs on arrival at immigration and customs checkpoints.
Also, the satellite phone declared by Customs can be allowed clearance subject to production of permission for use from the government's Department of Telecommunications.

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::ECONOMY::

India to try new groundwater recharge method to solve water problem

Central government plans to artificially recharge groundwater using treatedwater to alleviate water shortages in parts of Tamil Nadu.

About:

Artificial recharge aims at augmentation of ground water reservoir bymodifying natural movement of surface water utilizing suitable civilconstruction techniques.

Artificial recharge techniques:

Direct surface techniquessuch as Flooding, Basins orpercolation tanks, Stream augmentation, Ditch andfurrow system, overirrigation etc.
Direct sub surfacetechniques such asInjection wells or rechargewells, Recharge pits andshafts, Dug well recharge,Bore hole flooding, Naturalopenings, cavity fillings etc.

Combination surfacesub-surface techniques:

Indirect Techniques such asInduced recharge from surface water source,Aquifer modification etc.

Artificial recharge helps in

To enhancing the sustainable yield in areas where over-development hasdepleted the aquifer.

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::SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY::

Semicon India-2022 Conference

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first ever Semicon India-2022 Conference in Bengaluru.

About:

Semicon India - 2022, a three-day conference, is to make India a significant player in Global Semiconductor value chain.
The Conference will be organised by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology theme of - Design and Manufacture in India, for the World: Making India a Semiconductor Nation.
This aims to make India a leader in the electronics manufacturing, semiconductor design, manufacturing and innovation.
Semicon India-2022 conference will attract best minds from across the world from semiconductor industry, research and academi.

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