Current Affairs – 11 March 2024
Second Thomas Shoal
A recent incident in the Second Thomas Shoal area, renewed global interest in the flashpoint between the Philippines and China.
About Second Thomas Shoal:
- It is a submerged reef located in the Spratly Islands in South China Sea. It is low-tide elevation located within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.
- The Philippines first took possession of the Second Thomas Shoal in the late 1990s, setting an outpost on the drowned BRP Sierra Madre. It continues to maintain its presence there and the ship serves as a military outpost, manned by a small contingent of troops.
- What is the issue?
- The Second Thomas Shoal lies about 108 nautical miles (200 km) from the Philippine island of Palawan.
- China claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, including the Second Thomas Shoal, based on the historical and controversial Nine-dash line. China’s claims cut into the EEZs of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.
- In 2013, the Philippines had filed a case against China with the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, challenging the legality of China’s claims and activities in the South China Sea, including the Second Thomas Shoal. The court ruled in favour of the Philippines in 2016, but China rejected the judgment.
Academy Awards
Recently, the highly anticipated 96th Academy Awards ceremony concluded with flair at the Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles.
About Academy Awards:
- These awards are popularly known as the Oscars given for artistic and technical merit in the film industry. These are given annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).
- The awards are an international recognition of excellence in cinematic achievements. The awards were first presented in 1929 and winners receive a gold-plated statuette commonly called Oscar.
- The various category winners are awarded a copy of a golden statuette, officially called the “Academy Award of Merit”. Winners are chosen from the 24 categories: best picture, actor, actress, supporting actor, supporting actress, directing, original screenplay and adapted screenplay etc.
- Nomination: Only members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences may nominate and vote for candidates for the Oscars.
- The academy is divided into various branches of film production, and the nominees in each award category are chosen by the members of the corresponding branch.
- The entire academy membership nominates the candidates for best picture and votes to determine the winners in most of the categories.
Green Hydrogen
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) plans to convene a meeting with relevant stakeholders to discuss the development of specialised cylinders for green hydrogen storage.
About Green Hydrogen:
- It is produced using electrolysis of water with electricity generated by renewable energy. Its carbon intensity ultimately depends on the carbon neutrality of the source of electricity (i.e., the more renewable energy there is in the electricity fuel mix, the “greener” the hydrogen produced).
- It has enormous potential to decarbonize several sectors, reduce carbon emissions and achieve energy independence.
- Its production using renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower is sustainable and environmentally friendly. It can replace traditional fossil fuels in transportation and industry, providing a constant and reliable source of energy.
- Hydrogen is stored in cylinders at a much higher pressure.
- Gas cylinders are typically categorised into four types, depending upon the materials used. Type 1 and Type 2 are suitable for storage, while Type 3 is preferred for storage and transportation, and Type 4 is recommended for on-board storage.
- Unlike compressed natural gas (CNG), which is stored at a pressure of around 3,600 psi, the pressure at which hydrogen is stored ranges between 5,000-10,000 psi.
- A vehicle can be powered by hydrogen in two ways– burning it in an internal combustion engine or using a fuel cell to convert it into electricity to charge on-board batteries.
- While both Type 3 and Type 4 cylinders are reinforced with carbon fibre, which makes them light and ideal for use in vehicles, Type 4 cylinders are even lighter as they are lined with a polymer as opposed to the aluminium lining in Type 3 cylinders.
Application of Green hydrogen
- It has numerous applications and can be used in fuel cells to power vehicles and provide electricity. It can also be used in heating systems and in the production of chemicals and fertilizers.
- Furthermore, Green Hydrogen can be used in microgrids, providing electricity to remote areas and enabling energy independence.
Core Inflation
According to economists, core inflation is likely to remain low, around 3% in the near term, owing to weak rural demand, softness in housing inflation and lower input cost pressures.
About Core Inflation:
- It is the change in the costs of goods and services excluding the price variations in seasonal elements, such as those related to food and energy.
- Food and energy prices are exempt from this calculation because their prices can be too volatile or fluctuate wildly. Core inflation represents the long-term trend in the price level.
- Why is it important?
- It is used to determine the impact of rising prices on consumer income.
- To deal with such situations, many central banks use measures of core inflation that are designed to filter transitory price movements.
- If the increase in the price index is due to temporary shocks that could soon reverse themselves, it may not require any monetary policy action.
- On the other hand, prices of other commodities do not fluctuate as regularly as those of food and fuel: as such, an increase in their prices could be taken relatively to be much more of a permanent nature.
- It follows logically for Central Banks to target only core inflation, as it reflects the demand-side pressure in the economy.
- Core inflation, by eliminating the volatile components from the headline helps in identifying the underlying trend in headline inflation and is believed to predict future inflation better.
- Whenever core inflation rises, Central Banks increase their key policy rates to suck excess liquidity from the market, and vice versa. It is, therefore, a preferred tool for framing long-term policy.
What is Headline Inflation?
- Headline inflation is the total inflation in an economy.
- It is the raw inflation figure reported through the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
- The headline inflation figure includes inflation in a basket of goods that includes commodities like food and energy.
- It is different from core inflation, which excludes food and energy prices while calculating inflation.
Exercise Cutlass Express
INS Tir, the lead ship of First Training Squadron (1TS) participated in Exercise Cutlass Express – 24 (CE – 24) held at Port Victoria, Seychelles
About Exercise Cutlass Express:
- It is an exercise conducted in East African coastal regions and the West Indian Ocean to counter malign influence, aggression and activity along overlapping command seams and maritime regions.
- It is a premier multinational maritime exercise sponsored by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet.
- It brings together maritime forces from East Africa, West Indian Ocean nations, Europe, North America and several international organizations to enhance maritime law enforcement capacity, promote national and regional security and increase interoperability among participating nations.
- Training was conducted on theoretical and practical aspects of Maritime Interdiction Operations, Visit Board Search and Seizure procedures and Diving operations. During the sea phase, the ship’s VBSS team boarded Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) ship LE Vigilant and demonstrated procedures of boarding operations.
- As part of Cutlass Express 2024, the Indian Navy actively engaged with participants from 16 friendly foreign countries. The Indian Navy has been participating in the exercise since 2019.
Self Help Group – Bank Linkage Programme
The Prime Minister of India on 11th March will disburse around Rs 8,000 crore Bank loans to Self Help Groups (SHGs) at subsidised interest rate through Bank Linkage Camps set up by Banks in each district.
About Self Help Group – Bank Linkage Programme:
- It was launched by NABARD in 1992 which has blossomed into the world’s largest microfinance project. It has evolved as a cost-effective mechanism for providing financial services to the unreached and underserved poor households.
- The components of Self Help Group (SHG) Bank linkage (BL) are as follows:
- Training and sensitization of Bank Branch Managers
- Training and positioning of Bank Sakhis at Rural Bank Branches
- Initiate Community Based Repayment Mechanism (CBRM) at Rural Bank Branches
- Credit Linkage of SHGs
What are Self-Help Groups?
- These are small, informal and voluntary associations of individuals, usually from similar socio-economic backgrounds, who come together to address common social and economic needs.
- SHGs are primarily focused on empowering their members, particularly women, through mutual support, collective decision-making, and skill development.
- The SHGs which follow ‘Panchsutras’ viz. conduct of regular group meetings, regular savings within the group, internal lending based on the demand of members, timely repayment of loan and maintenance of proper books of accounts are considered to be of good quality and over years have proved themselves to be good customers of Banks.
Super Emitter Events
Scientists have revealed that a drilling incident took place in Kazakhstan in 2023 was possibly the 2nd biggest man-made methane leak ever in history.
- Incident – The drilling incident took place at an exploration well in the Mangistau region of southwestern Kazakhstan in 2023.
- It caused a fire that raged and released 127,000 tonnes of methane into the atmosphere.
Super emitter’ events refer to instances where a site gushes significant amounts of methane into the atmosphere.
Methane
- Methane is the 2nd most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, after carbon dioxide (CO2).
- Potential – It is a potent Green House Gas (GHG) which traps heat in the atmosphere and adds to global warming.
- Life time – Methane has a much shorter atmospheric lifetime (12 years) but it is 80 times more potent greenhouse gas than CO2 over a period of 20 years.
- Methane is the primary contributor to the formation of ground-level ozone, a hazardous air pollutant.
| Sources of Methane | |
| Natural Sources | Man-made Sources |
| Contribute to 40% of methane emissions | Contribute to 60% of methane emissions |
Examples
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Examples
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Global Methane Pledge was signed by more than 150 countries in 2021, to cut their collective methane emissions by at least 30% from 2020 levels by 2030.
Sela Tunnel
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the world’s longest twin-lane tunnel ‘Sela Tunnel’ in Arunachal Pradesh.
- The Sela Tunnel is an all-weather connectivity tunnel.
- It connects Guwahati to the strategic Tawang sector bordering china across Sela Pass.
- It aids faster military movement to the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
- It is built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
- The project comprises 2 tunnels
- 1st tunnel is a single-tube tunnel,
- 2nd tunnel serves as an emergency escape route.
- The tunnel has been designed to reduce the traffic density with achieving a maximum speed of vehicles at 80 kmph.
Sela Pass is a high-altitude pass connecting Tawang with the rest of India.
J&K Police Launches “Operation Kamdhenu” to Combat Cattle Smuggling
In Jammu and Kashmir, the police have initiated “Operation Kamdhenu” to curb the rampant issue of cattle smuggling in the Jammu, Samba, and Kathua (JSK) police ranges. This crackdown aims to tackle not only the immediate smuggling activities but also to target the masterminds behind these illicit operations.
Comprehensive Strategy
- Under Operation Kamdhenu, a comprehensive strategy has been devised to scrutinize the activities of cattle smugglers. The focus is not just on apprehending the immediate perpetrators but also on identifying and registering the names of the main conspirators in the FIR (First Information Report).
Targeting Masterminds and Assets
- The assets of the accused will be assessed as part of the investigation process. This operation includes a meticulous approach where details such as the engine and chassis numbers, mobile numbers, and Aadhar card details of vehicles involved in smuggling will be documented and added to the case files.
Nodal Officers Appointed
- SP Rural Jammu, DSP Headquarters Samba, and DSP (Dar) Kathua have been appointed as nodal officers to oversee the effective implementation of Operation Kamdhenu. This marks a significant step towards holding the masterminds accountable for their actions.
- The J&K Police have launched Operation Kamdhenu to combat the rampant issue of cattle smuggling in the region. This comprehensive strategy aims to identify and target the masterminds behind these illicit operations, scrutinize the activities of cattle smugglers, and assess the assets of the accused. Nodal officers have been appointed to ensure the effective implementation of this crackdown, marking a significant step towards holding the masterminds accountable for their actions.
Important takeaways for all Competitive Exams
- Manoj Sinha is the second Lieutenant Governor of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
PM Modi inaugurates Gurgaon stretch of Dwarka Expressway
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Gurgaon stretch of the Dwarka Expressway alongside Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. The inspection of the expressway was conducted on foot, showcasing its significance for transportation infrastructure.
Features of the Dwarka Expressway:
Route and Length:
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- The 29-km-long expressway spans 18.9 km in Haryana and 10.1 km in Delhi, starting from Shiv-Murti on National Highway 8 and culminating near the Kherki Daula toll plaza.
Enhanced Connectivity:
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- The expressway links Shiv Murti near IGI Airport to Kherki Daula toll, providing a streamlined commuting option for travelers between Gurgaon and Delhi.
Infrastructure Highlights:
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- An elevated eight-lane access-controlled expressway incorporates tunnels, underpasses, flyovers, and elevated structures.
- Notably, a unique 34-meter-wide elevated road supported by single pillars spans over a length of 9 km, showcasing innovative engineering.
Construction Details:
Segmented Construction:
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- The project, with an estimated cost of Rs 9,000 crore, is divided into four parts, comprising two segments in Delhi and two in Haryana.
Investment Breakdown:
Each phase of construction involves substantial investments:
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- Phase 1 (Delhi): Rs 2,507 crore
- Phase 2 (Delhi): Rs 2,068 crore
- Phase 3 (Haryana): Rs 2,228 crore
- Phase 4 (Haryana): Rs 1,859 crore.
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Phased Construction Areas:
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- The construction spans from Shiv Murti in Mahipalpur to Bijwasan, Bijwasan ROB to Delhi-Haryana border in Gurgaon, Delhi-Haryana border to Basai ROB, and Basai to Kherki Daula cloverleaf interchange, covering various sections meticulously.
India Becomes Second-Largest Mobile Phone Producer Globally
At the end of the decade from 2014 to 2024, India has emerged as the world’s second-largest producer of mobile phones. This achievement marks a significant transition for the country’s electronics manufacturing sector.
Reduced Import Dependence
- According to the India Cellular and Electronics Association, the mobile phone sector has transformed from being 78 percent import-dependent in 2014 to achieving 97 per cent self-sufficiency by 2024. Only 3 per cent of the total mobile phones sold in India are now imported.
Unprecedented Production
- India’s mobile phone production has reached an impressive 20 lakh crore rupees in this decade of unprecedented growth. During these ten years, the country produced 2.45 billion units of mobile phones, against a target of 2.5 billion units.
Thriving Manufacturing Ecosystem
- This remarkable achievement highlights the growth of India’s electronics manufacturing ecosystem. The country has successfully reduced its reliance on imports and fostered a self-sufficient mobile phone production industry.
- India’s rise as the second-largest mobile phone producer globally is a testament to the country’s commitment to developing a robust manufacturing sector. With reduced import dependence and substantial production volumes, India has established itself as a major player in the global mobile phone market, contributing to its economic growth and technological advancements.