UPSC Current Affairs Pointers of the past week | June 10 to June 16, 2024

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Polity

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government’s ambitious Agnipath scheme has faced opposition, from political parties and Armed Forces veterans alike, since it was announced in June 2022. (File)

— Agnipath scheme

• Following the conclusion of the General Election and the formation of a coalition government, the Agnipath Scheme has returned to the spotlight. Crucial alliance partners, Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party, are calling for a review of this scheme.
• The Agnipath Scheme was designed to recruit personnel below officer ranks—soldiers, airmen, and sailors who are not commissioned officers—into the Indian Armed Forces for a period of four years. At the end of this tenure, up to 25% of these recruits, known as ‘Agniveers,’ can be granted a permanent commission for an additional 15 years, based on merit and organizational needs.
• Eligible aspirants are between 17.5 and 23 years old, with the upper age limit having been increased from 21. The recruitment standards remain consistent with those of regular service prior to the introduction of the Agnipath Scheme.

— Kerala Migration Survey (KMS) 2023

• The KMS-2023 report, presented by the International Institute of Migration and Development (IIMAD)-Thiruvananthapuram at the Loka Kerala Sabha, reveals key trends in emigration from Kerala. The number of emigrants from the state is estimated at 2.2 million, closely matching the 2.1 million recorded in KMS 2018.
• According to KMS 2023, total remittances to Kerala saw a significant increase, rising from Rs 85,092 crore in 2018 to Rs 2,16,893 crore in 2023—a 154.9% surge post-pandemic.
• The study also notes a rise in the proportion of female emigrants, from 15.8% in 2018 to 19.1% in 2023. Additionally, students now make up 11.3% of total emigrants, indicating a growing trend of younger individuals emigrating for educational purposes.

Economy

The good news is that global growth is holding steady, having slowed for three consecutive years, according to the Global Economic Prospects Report. (File Photo/Representational)

— Global Economic Prospects Report

• The Global Economic Prospects Report is a semi-annual report of the World Bank which was recently released. The report offers a sobering assessment of the extent to which that model of international cooperation has been fracturing—and what it will take to retool it for the needs of this decade and the next.
• According to the report, Global growth is projected to stabilize at 2.6 percent this year, holding steady for the first time in three years despite flaring geopolitical tensions and high interest rates.
• India’s economy has been buoyed by strong domestic demand, with a surge in investment, and robust services activity. It is projected to grow an average of 6.7 percent per fiscal year from 2024 through 2026—making South Asia the world’s fastest-growing region.
• India will remain the fastest-growing of the world’s largest economies, although its pace of expansion is expected to moderate.

— Prime Global Cities Index January-March 2024

• A recent index released by Knight Frank highlights Mumbai and Delhi as two of the top five global cities that recorded significant increases in their average annual house prices.
• Mumbai saw a year-on-year growth of 11.5% in prime residential prices during the January-March quarter, achieving the third-highest increase among global cities. This surge pushed Mumbai up three places in the ranking to secure the third position.
• The National Capital Region of Delhi also recorded notable growth, with a 10.5% rise in house prices, placing it in the fifth position.
• In contrast, Bengaluru experienced a decline in its ranking, moving from 16th to 17th place.

Environment

While India has the lowest per capita emission of 0.8 kg N2O/person, the kg N2O/person figures for the other top emitters are China 1.3, US 1.7, Brazil 2.5 and Russia 3.3. (Wikimedia Commons)

— Nitrous Oxide emission

• A study conducted by the Global Carbon Project reveals a significant increase in emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent planet-warming gas, by 40% between 1980 and 2020. High levels of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere can deplete the ozone layer and exacerbate climate change, according to the study.
• The top five emitters of this gas, which is more impactful than carbon dioxide and methane, are China (16.7%), India (10.9%), the US (5.7%), Brazil (5.3%), and Russia (4.6%).
• Despite being the second-largest emitter, India has the lowest per capita emissions at 0.8 kg N2O per person. In comparison, per capita emissions are 1.3 kg in China, 1.7 kg in the US, 2.5 kg in Brazil, and 3.3 kg in Russia.
• The Global Carbon Project aims to analyze the impact of human activity on greenhouse gas emissions and earth systems, quantifying emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide to inform public policy and international action.

— Cheetah Reintroduction Project

• The Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is set to become the second habitat for cheetahs in India, following the Kuno National Park. Spanning 368.62 sq km, the sanctuary is located in the districts of Mandsaur (187.12 sq km) and Neemuch (181.5 sq km) in western Madhya Pradesh, bordering Rajasthan.
• The sanctuary is situated atop a flat rocky plateau, with the Chambal River dividing it into nearly equal halves. The Gandhi Sagar Dam, built on the river in 1960, lies within the sanctuary’s boundaries, as does part of its vast reservoir, which covers 726 sq km and is the third largest in the country.

Diseases in News

With Alzheimer’s, a person may witness a persistent decline in their intellectual abilities. (Source: Getty/Thinkstock)

— New Alzheimer’s drug

• Donanemab, a new therapy for Alzheimer’s disease developed by Eli Lilly, has received unanimous support from independent scientists advising the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), bringing it a step closer to clinical use.
• The drug is designed for individuals in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease—those with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia.
• Similar to its predecessor Lecanemab, Donanemab is a monoclonal antibody that targets amyloid beta protein plaques in the brain.
• This mechanism aligns with other amyloid-fighting drugs like Leqembi and Biogen, which received FDA approval last year.

Person in News

Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi will replace the current Army chief General Manoj C Pande. (PIB)

— Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi

• Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi has been appointed as the next Army Chief of India. He will assume his new role on June 30, 2024. This appointment follows the government’s decision to extend the tenure of the current Army Chief, Manoj Pande, by a month. Gen Pande was initially set to retire on May 31.
• The tenure for the position of Army Chief is either three years or until the officer reaches the age of 62, whichever comes first. Lt Gen Dwivedi’s appointment marks a significant leadership transition within the Indian Army.

— Pt Rajeev Taranath

• Recently, sarod maestro Pt Rajeev Taranath passed away in Mysuru at the age of 92.
• He was the seniormost disciple of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and a noted scholar of English literature, referenced in the famous Arden edition of Shakespeare.
• He received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2000 and the Padma Shri in 2019.

Places in News

Kainchi Dham near Nainital. (Via Wikimedia Commons)

— Joshimath and Kosiyakutoli

• The Centre has approved the Uttarakhand government’s proposal to rename Joshimath tehsil in Chamoli district to Jyotirmath and Kosiyakutoli tehsil in Nainital district to Pargana Shri Kainchi Dham tehsil, effective June 12.
• Jyotirmath, also known as Jyotir Peeth, is one of the four cardinal mathas (monasteries) established by the 8th-century philosopher Adi Shankaracharya to promote Advaita Vedanta philosophy.
• Adi Shankaracharya is believed to have performed penance under the Amar Kalpavriksha tree here, attaining the divine light of knowledge, hence the name “Jyotirmath,” with ‘jyoti’ meaning divine light.
• The renaming of Kosiyakutoli to Pargana Shri Kainchi Dham tehsil aligns its identity with Neem Karoli Baba’s Kainchi Dham Ashram, a significant spiritual site attracting devotees worldwide.
• Established in 1962 by Neem Karoli Baba, a revered spiritual guru known for his teachings on bhakti yoga and devotion, the ashram has made the area notable. Neem Karoli Baba, who passed away in 1973, remains a beloved figure among his followers both in India and abroad.

Sports

Divya Deshmukh with the trophy after becoming the World Junior Champion. (PHOTO Courtesy: Divya Deshmukh)

—  FIDE World Junior Chess Championship

• The World Junior Chess Championship was held in Gandhinagar, India, from June 2-13, 2024. Kazybek Nogerbek from Kazakhstan emerged as the winner of the 2024 FIDE World Junior Chess Championship, showcasing exceptional skill and strategy.
• In the girls’ category, Divya Deshmukh from India triumphed, claiming the title at the prestigious event in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar.

Awards

The Kavli Prize is awarded in honour of Norwegian-American businessman and philanthropist Fred Kavli (1927-2013). (Representational).

— Kavli Prize

• The Kavli Prize, established in honor of Norwegian-American businessman and philanthropist Fred Kavli (1927-2013), recognizes outstanding contributions in three scientific areas: astrophysics, nanoscience, and neuroscience—representing the largest, the smallest, and the most complex phenomena in the universe.
• First awarded in 2008 to seven scientists, the Kavli Prizes have since honored 73 scientists from 19 countries, with ten recipients later winning the Nobel Prize. The prize includes a $1 million cash award per field, a scroll, and a 7 cm diameter medal. The award ceremony is notably grand, featuring a red carpet event for the invitees.
• Selection for the Kavli Prize involves three independent committees, each comprising five members nominated by prestigious science institutions worldwide, such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the French Academy of Sciences, Germany’s Max Planck Society, the National Academy of Sciences in the US, and the Royal Society in the UK. These committees present unanimous recommendations to The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.

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