Current Affairs 9th January 2024 for UPSC Prelims Exam

StudyIQ offers Daily Current Affairs and Important News for UPSC Exam 2024. Check here Current Affairs of 9th January 2024 for UPSC Exam and State PSC Exam.

Table of Contents

First hi-res landslide risk map for India

Context: Following intense monsoon rains causing floods and landslides, a team from IIT Delhi has created the nation’s first high-resolution landslide susceptibility map.

Features Of National Landslide Susceptibility Map

Landslide Event Data: Incorporates data from around 150,000 recorded landslide events from the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and includes 16 factors influencing landslides.
Machine Learning Analysis: Utilises ensemble machine learning techniques to balance the impact across multiple models.
Factors Used: They collected information on factors like soil cover, number of trees covering the area, distance from roads or mountains, etc.
- They used GeoSadak, an online system with data on the national road network in India, displaying data on roads located outside cities
High-Resolution Overview: Provides a high-definition (100 square metre resolution) perspective of landslide-prone zones throughout India.
Identification of Risk Zones: Highlights known risk areas like the Himalayan region and uncovers new high-risk zones in parts of the Eastern Ghats.
Online Accessibility: The map is publicly available online for interactive use by anyone without the need for specialised knowledge.

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Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell

Context: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully tested a 100-watt Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Power System (FCPS) on its orbital platform POEM3.

What Is Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell?

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells, also known as polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, operate using a polymer-based proton-conducting membrane as their electrolyte, with hydrogen typically serving as the fuel source.
It is an electrochemical device that converts chemical energy into electrical energy.
They function within lower temperature and pressure ranges, typically between 50 to 100 degrees Celsius.
They are being developed for transportation, stationary, and portable applications.

Agriculture And Commodity Summit 2024

Context: The Chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices gave a clarion call to increase private investments in the agriculture sector five times by 2030 while urging farmers to look at opportunities beyond food.

About Agriculture And Commodity Summit 2024

Held at: New Delhi
Increase in Private Investment: Experts emphasised the need to boost private sector investment in agriculture from 2% to 5-10% by 2030 and urged farmers to explore beyond food production, like producing crops for industrial needs such as ethanol.
Integrated Farming Model by SBI: An “integrated farming model” to help diversify farmers’ incomes, promoting the concept of producers becoming processors.
Credit and Insurance Democratisation: Highlighted the importance of increasing formal credit in agriculture, suggesting that a 10% rise in formal credit could result in a 1% increase in agriculture’s GDP contribution.
Productivity Enhancement: NABARD stressed investing in productivity-enhancing agricultural practices that are sustainable and resource-efficient.
Sugar Sector’s Leadership in Smart Agriculture: The potential for the sugar sector to lead in smart agriculture practices was discussed, along with the growing importance of maize as a water-efficient crop for ethanol production and climate change mitigation.
Resilient Supply Chains: Experts called for promoting technologies and infrastructure that provide farmers with price visibility and better market access.
Role of Women in Agriculture: The panel emphasised the centrality of women in agricultural policy design, advocating for greater access to technology and recognition of women as entrepreneurs.
Financial Technology in Agriculture: The fintech agri ecosystem could significantly boost India’s GDP, with an estimated addition of $100 billion in the next five years due to increased agricultural investment.
Food Security and Sovereign Agreements: There was a call for realistic policies in distributing free food grains and consideration of destination production on foreign soil under sovereign agreements to mitigate risks.
Livestock Sector Potential: Industry experts discussed the role of dairy, poultry, and fisheries in providing affordable nutritional security.

Sloth Bear

Context: A 36-year-old male sloth bear died due to multi-organ failure at a zoo-cum-animal rescue centre in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

About Sloth Bear

One of the eight bear species found across the world.
Scientific Name: Melursus ursinus
Distribution:
- Their range includes India, Sri Lanka and southern Nepal.
- 90% of the global Sloth Bear population is found in India.
Habitat: They live in a variety of dry and moist forests and in some tall grasslands, where boulders, scattered shrubs and trees provide shelter.
Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List: Vulnerable.
- Wildlife Protection Act (1972): Schedule I.
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES): Appendix I.
World Sloth Bear Day: First observed on 12th October 2022.

Rise in child marriages in West Bengal

Context: A recent study on child marriage in India published in the Lancet noted the overall decrease in child marriage across the country but pointed out that four States, mainly Bihar (16.7%), West Bengal (15.2%), Uttar Pradesh (12.5%), and Maharashtra (8.2%) accounted for more than half of the total headcount burden of child marriages in girls.

Current Status Of Child Marriage In India

Lancet Report

Child marriage in India is decreasing but still prevalent, particularly in Bihar (16.7%), West Bengal (15.2%), Uttar Pradesh (12.5%), and Maharashtra (8.2%).
West Bengal saw an alarming increase of over 500,000 child marriages, a 32.3% rise in headcount.

NFHS-5 Report

West Bengal’s child marriage rate remains high at 41.6% for women aged 20-24.
- Murshidabad, an economically challenged district, shows a rise in child marriage rates from 53.5% to 55.4%.

Impact of Child Marriage

Increased Infant Mortality: Child marriage is associated with higher rates of infant mortality, as highlighted by the instance of 10 infant deaths in a single day at Murshidabad Medical College.
Low Birth Weight Issue: The incident also revealed a prevalence of extremely low birth weight among infants, often linked to child marriage.
Health Risks to Young Mothers: Child marriage escalates risks during pregnancy and childbirth for young mothers, adversely impacting both their health and that of their infants.
Generational Health Impact: High rates of child marriage, like the 41.6% in West Bengal, suggest a significant, ongoing health challenge for multiple generations.
Educational Setback: Early marriage typically disrupts a girl’s education, curtailing her potential for future opportunities and financial independence.

Initiatives to overcome the issues of child marriage in India

Kanyashree Prakalpa: A West Bengal initiative providing cash transfers to promote girls’ education and deter child marriage, benefiting about 81 lakh girls.
Rupashree Prakalpa: This scheme offers financial incentives for the marriages of girls, with the goal of postponing their marriage age.
Legal Age Revision: The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021, proposed to increase the legal marriage age for women to 21.
Focused District Strategies: In 2022, West Bengal initiated district-level action plans targeting child marriage, emphasizing tailored local solutions.