Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 29 June 2022

::NATIONAL::

For the first time, microplastics have been found in freshly fallen snow in Antarctica.

About:

Researchers collected snow samples from 19 sites in the Ross Island region of Antarctica and found that all contained microplastics.
While microplastics have been found across the world, from the world’s deepest ocean floors to the peak of Mount Everest, researchers say that this is the first time that they have been found in freshly fallen snow in Antarctica.
How did they reach Antarctica? These particles, due to their light weight and low density, might have travelled through air from more than 6,000 km away. However, there is also a possibility that the human presence in Antarctica created a microplastic ‘footprint’.

Why is this discovery troubling?

It shows that the spread of microplastics is so widespread, that even the remotest and least habitable places in the world are now infested by these particles.
Microplastics are not biodegradable and can be toxic for plants and animals.
The microplastics deposited in ice and snow can accelerate the melting of the cryosphere — regions where water is in solid form, like the planet’s North and South Poles. Dark-coloured microplastics are better at absorbing sunlight and retain more heat.

What are microplastics?

Microplastics are tiny plastic debris that are smaller than 5 mm in length, tinier than even a grain of rice. There are two types of microplastics.
Primary microplastics are tiny particles that are purposely designed as such for commercial use, like in cosmetics, nurdles-plastic pellets used in industrial manufacturing and in fibres from synthetic textiles like nylon.

Recently, Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched the 2nd phase of the GOAL programme.

About:

GOAL programme is joint initiative of Facebook India with Ministry of Tribal affairs to providementorship to tribal youth through digital mode.
It aims to digitally upskill 10 lakh youth from tribal communities and open up opportunities forthem using digital technology.
It will create a platform for Self-Help Groups and families associated with TRIFED (TribalCo-operative Marketing Development Federation of India) to take their products global.

As a response to China’s aggressive outreach to Pacific Island states, the US - along with Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Japan - announced a new ‘Partners in the Blue Pacific’ (PBP) initiative.
Earlier, China had released a draft agreement called “Common Development vision” that spoke about China wanting to expand law enforcement cooperation with pacific nations.

About PBP:

It is a 5-nation informal mechanism to support Pacific islands and to boost diplomatic, economic ties in the region.
It aims to enhance “prosperity, resilience, and security” in the Pacific through closer cooperation.
It will “elevate Pacific regionalism”, and forge stronger ties with the Pacific Islands Forum.
Its areas of cooperation includes climate crisis, connectivity and transportation, maritime security etc.

Strategic importance of Indo-Pacific:

Accounts for 44% of the world’s land area and 65% of the world’s population, and account for 62% of world-GDP and 46% of theworld’s merchandise trade.
US has long maintained a balance of power in the region with its hub-and-spoke system where America is the hub and its alliesare spokes whose security is guaranteed by the US military power.

Indian PM met the President of the European Commission on the sidelines of the G-7 Summit.

About European Commission:

It is EU’s politically independent executive arm.
It is alone responsible for drawing up proposals for new European legislation, and it implementsthe decisions of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU.

Other key European Union (EU) institutions:

European Council brings together the heads of state or government of every EU country anddecides on the political direction of the EU.

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has approved the Draft GSR Notification to introduce Bharat NCAP (New Car Assessment Program), wherein automobiles in India shall be accorded Star Ratings based upon their performance in Crash Tests.

About:

Bharat-NCAP will serve as a consumer-centric platform allowing customers to opt for safer cars based upon their star-ratings, while promoting a healthy competition among OEMs in India to manufacture safer vehicles.
Star Rating of Indian Cars based on Crash Tests is extremely crucial not only to ensure structural and passenger safety in cars, but to also increase the export-worthiness of Indian automobiles.
The testing protocol of Bharat NCAP shall be aligned with Global Crash Test Protocols factoring in the existing Indian regulations, allowing OEMs to get their vehicles tested at India’s own in-house testing facilities.

Recently, NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has spotted a double craters i.e. an unusualimpact site from unknown rocket on the Moon.

About:

No other rocket body impacts detected so far on the Moon have created double craters.
Craters created by Saturn rockets that powered Apollo missions (Apollo 13, 14, 15, 17) were single, irregular in outline and substantially larger.