(FREE) UPSC Current Affairs 2024 PDF

Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 30 December 2021

::NATIONAL::

Recently, Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various hydropowerprojects in Himachal Pradesh on different rivers.

About:

Giri River- Renukaji Dam project:

An important tributary of the Yamuna, Giri river originatesfrom the hills of Jubbal and flows through South-Eastern Himachal including Shimla Hills beforejoining Yamuna upstream of Paonta below Mokkampur.

Satluj River- Luhri Hydro Power Project:

Rising near Rakastal (fed by Mansarover in Tibet),Satluj enters India near Shipkila and drains into the Indus in Pakistan. On Satluj, Bhakra Dam(Highest Gravity Dam of India) is built.

Beas River- Dhaulasidh Hydro Power Project:

Rising near Rohtang Pass of Himachal, Beas joinsSatluj at Harike in Punjab. On River Beas, Pong Dam Lake is an international wetland site.

Pabbar River- Sawra-Kuddu Hydro Power Project:

Originating from Chandra Nahan Glacier, itis a tributary of Tons River which further drains into Yamuna.

Maharashtra Governor and the government are locked in a tussle over the election of theSpeaker of the Assembly.

Constitutional provision:

Article 178 provides for election of speaker and deputy speaker of legislative assembly of a state.
However, it does not specify the process of holding elections i.e. it has been left to the state legislatures.
It also does not set a timeframe other than to say the elections should be held “as soon as may be”.
Timeframe of the election varies from state to state.The date for the Speaker’s election is notified bythe Governor.

Recently, Somalia President suspended its Prime Minister, a step which will further escalate tensionin the nation.

About:

Somalia (Capital: Mogadishu) is theeasternmost country of Africa, lying in northeastern Africa, on the Horn of AfricaPeninsula with the equator passing through southern Somalia.

Borders:

It shares its border with Djibouti,Ethiopia and Kenya with the Gulf of Aden to itsnorth and Indian Ocean to the east.

Geographical Features:

A tableland (i.e., a flat,elevated region) nation, Jubba and Shabelleare the only perennial rivers of Somalia withKarkaar Mountains as main mountain rangewith Mount Shimbiris as its highest peak.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) welcome the newly formed operational definition of One Health from their advisory panel, the One Health High Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP).
The four organizations are working together to mainstream One Health so that they are better prepared to prevent, predict, detect, and respond to global health threats and promote sustainable development.

The One Health definition developed by the OHHLEP states:

One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems.
It recognizes the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and inter-dependent.
The approach mobilizes multiple sectors, disciplines and communities at varying levels of society to work together to foster well-being and tackle threats to health and ecosystems, while addressing the collective need for clean water, energy and air, safe and nutritious food, taking action on climate change, and contributing to sustainable development.
The importance of establishing a One Health definition was first raised by OHHLEP, and later agreed by the four Partners, to develop a common language and understanding around One Health.
The new comprehensive OHHLEP One Health definition aims to promote a clear understanding and translation across sectors and areas of expertise.

Rules were notified by the nodal Consumer Affairs Ministry under Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

Key highlights of the rules:

Rules are to be complied with by both direct selling entities and direct sellers using e-commerce platforms for sale.
Rules bans direct selling companies from promoting pyramid and money circulation schemes.
Direct selling companies will be liable for the grievances arising out of these sale.
Direct selling is selling products directly to consumers in a non-retail environment and thesesales occur at home, work, online, or other non-store locations.

China informed the United Nations General Assembly that its manned space station had to adjust its orbit in order to avoid collision with satellites launched by SpaceX, calling on the world body to remind the United States “to bear responsibility” as per global treaties.

About:

The incident spotlights the growing risk in space, where orbital room is being crowded out by an astronomical race in which nation-states as well as private companies are increasingly active.
Behind it are projects such as the Elon Musk-owned SpaceX’s Starlink constellation and rival Amazon’s Project Kuiper. Both companies want to create a web of low-earth orbit (LEO) spacecraft that will beam down internet connectivity to anywhere on the planet.
And then there are several countries – Russia and India being the most recent – that have carried out tests of satellite-killing missiles, generating millions of pieces of debris.
Scientists said such developments not only increase the risk of collisions, but – particularly the satellite constellations -- raise the chances of interference with astronomical research.

Step taken to clean space:

Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) has 5 international treaties dealing with issues like liability for damage.
Space debris mitigation guidelines by Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC).
ClearSpace-1 mission by European Space Agency.