UPSC: Konyak Tribe, Poshan Tracker Initiative, and More

Table of Contents

UPSC GS 1

Konyak Tribe

News: The Konyak Union, apex body of the Konyak community, has sought the Nagaland government’s intervention in rectifying the “erroneous” boundary line between the State’s Mon district and Assam’s Charaideo district on Google Maps.
Konyak Tribe: The Konyaks are found in the Mon district of Nagaland and in the Tirap and Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh.
- - The Konyaks are the largest tribe of Nagaland.
Origin of the Name: The term ‘Konyak’ is believed to be derived from ‘Whao’ meaning ‘head’ and ‘Nyak’ meaning ‘black’, translating to ‘men with black hair’.

Groups: The Konyaks are divided into two groups:
- - Thendu: Meaning “Tattooed Face”
  - Thentho: Meaning “White Face”
Ethnicity: The Konyaks are of Mongoloid in origin. Before the advent of Christianity into Nagaland, the Konyaks were the believers of “Animism” worshipping different objects of nature. About 95% of the population follows the Christian faith now.
Language: The Konyak language belongs to the Northern Naga sub-branch of the Sal subfamily of the Sino-Tibetan language family.
Festivals: Festivals play a significant role in Konyak life. The three most important festivals are:
- - Aolingmonyu
  - Aonyimo
  - Laoun-ongmo
Skills and Craftsmanship: The Konyaks are skilled in making firearms and are proficient in handicrafts such as basket making, cane and bamboo works, and brass works.
Society: Konyak society is patriarchal, with the eldest son typically inheriting the paternal property.

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UPSC GS 2

Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC)

News: Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged $51 billion of funding to African countries at the ninth edition of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing.
What is the FOCAC?
- - The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was established in 2000.
  - It aims to formalise the strategic partnership between China and African nations.
  - A summit is conducted every three years, with the host alternating between China and an African member.
Members:
- - 53 African nations + African Union Commission.
Exception:
- - Eswatini (landlocked country surrounded by South Africa) which has diplomatic ties with Taiwan against Beijing’s “One China” Policy is not the member of FOCAC.
Theme 2024:
- - The theme this year is “Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future.”
Agenda:
- - The current summit is expected to address state governance, industrialisation, agricultural upgradation, and improved cooperation over China’s infrastructure financing via the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
China- Africa Cooperation:
- - The transnational Tanzania-Zambia railway, completed in 1976, was China’s first infrastructure project in Africa.
  - China increased its investments in Africa in the 1990s and the 2000s to become Africa’s largest bilateral trading partner since 2009.
  - China gets 20% of the region’s exports like metals, mineral products and fuel, and is responsible for about 16% of African imports, chiefly Chinese manufactured goods, electronics and machinery.
  - Africa is also an integral partner in the BRI.
  - China has been accused of using the BRI to foster ‘debt trap diplomacy’.

Poshan Tracker Initiative

News: Recently, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has received the National Award for e-Governance 2024 (Gold) for the Poshan Tracker initiative.
Poshan Tracker Initiative:
- - Poshan Tracker is a monitoring tool under Poshan Abhiyaan.
  - Launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) through the National e-Governance Division (NeGD).
  - Aims to identify and address growth issues among children aged 0-6 years.
  - Utilizes real-time monitoring and WHO growth charts to ensure optimal nutritional outcomes.
  - Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) play a crucial role in assessing children’s health status and implementing timely interventions for growth deviations.

Advanced ICT tools and Growth Measuring Devices (GMD) are used at each Anganwadi Center (AWC) for accurate data collection and regular monitoring.
Part of Mission Poshan 2.0, covering millions of children across India, significantly improving child health outcomes.
Key Points about Poshan Tracker App:
- - Provides a 360-degree view of Anganwadi Centre activities, service deliveries, and beneficiary management for pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children under six.
  - Digitizes and automates physical registers used by Anganwadi workers, improving the quality of their work.
  - Smartphones procured through Government e-Market (GeM) are provided to Anganwadi workers for efficient service delivery.
  - A nodal person is appointed in each state to provide technical support and address issues with the Poshan Tracker app’s functionality.
  - Migrant workers registered in their original state can access Anganwadi services in their current place of residence.

New Flag and Insignia of the Supreme Court of India

News: President Droupadi Murmu recently unveiled the new flag and insignia of the Supreme Court at the two-day National Conference of District Judiciary in New Delhi.
Symbols: The newly unveiled flag features significant symbols representing India’s legal and cultural heritage:
- - Ashoka Chakra
  - Supreme Court building
  - Constitution of India
Flag Color: The flag is blue in color.
Insignia of the Supreme Court of India: The insignia has ‘Supreme Court of India’ and ‘Yato Dharmastato Jayah’ (in Devanagari script) inscribed on it.

What does ‘Yato Dharmastato Jayah’ mean?
- - The phrase “Yato Dharmastato Jayah” is a Sanskrit expression that translates to “Where there is Dharma, there is victory” or “Victory lies where Dharma (righteousness) prevails.”
Designing:
- - The new flag and insignia were conceptualized and designed by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Delhi.
  - The flag will be available in various designs, including cross table flat, single table flag, pole flag, and wooden frame, ensuring its presence in diverse settings.

UPSC GS 3

Exercise Varuna 2024

News: Indian Navy’s P-8I aircraft joins French naval forces for Exercise Varuna 2024.
Exercise Varuna:
- - Bilateral Naval Exercise between India and France.
  - Initiated in 1993 as a symbol of growing strategic ties between the two navies.
  - Named ‘VARUNA’ in 2001, representing the hallmark of the India-France bilateral naval relationship.
  - The 2024 edition took place in the Mediterranean Sea, involving advanced tactical exercises.

Aim: Aims to enhance synergy and interoperability between the Indian and French navies.
Key Highlights of 2024 Edition:
- - The aircraft has landed in France, marking its first-ever deployment in Europe, to participate in the 22nd edition of Exercise Varuna with the French Navy.
  - INS Tabar also participated in the exercise.
  - Reflects the growing sophistication and complexity of India-France naval collaborations.

- - - P-8I Aircraft:
    - A long-range, multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft manufactured by Boeing for the Indian Navy.
    - The P8i is a variant of the P-8 Poseidon specially designed for the Indian Navy.
    - It has replaced the aging fleet of Tupolev Tu-142 aircraft.
    - Plays a crucial role in maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, and intelligence gathering operations.
    - INS Tabar:
    - INS Tabar, is a stealth frigate built for the Indian Navy in Russia.
    - The ship is equipped with a versatile range of weapons and sensors and is among the earliest stealth frigates of the Indian Navy.
    - The ship is part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet which is based at Mumbai under the Western Naval Command.

Food Recovery to Avoid Methane Emissions (FRAME)

News: Each food bank reduces the same volume of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as removing 900 gasoline-powered cars from the road for a year, according to estimates based on data from a new methodology termed as Food Recovery to Avoid Methane Emissions (FRAME).
Food Banks:
- - These are essentially volunteer-driven initiatives that recover surplus food from different parts of the food system and distribute it to those facing hunger through community organisations.
Food Recovery to Avoid Methane Emissions (FRAME) Methodology:
- - Purpose: FRAME methodology quantifies the avoided emissions and co-benefits from redirecting food loss and waste to direct human consumption, through food recovery and redistribution operations.
  - Development: This technology has been developed by The Global Food Banking Network (GFN) in partnership with the Global Methane Hub and Carbon Trust.
  - Pilot Project: The FRAME initially began as a pilot project in Mexico and Ecuador, where six community-led food banks were analysed.
  - Usage: The FRAME tool helps food banks, food recovery organizations, private companies, and scientific experts accurately measure and manage emissions from food recovery and redistribution.

Food and Agriculture Organization’s estimations mention that 14% of the world’s food is lost after harvest before it reaches retailers.
The United Nation Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Food Waste Index Report shows that an additional 17% is then wasted at retail and then by the consumers.
Emissions that occur due to this food loss and waste (FLW) reached up to 9.3 GtCO2e (gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent per year) in 2017, according to a study published in journal Nature Food in 2023.
Food systems were estimated to be responsible for around a third of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, half of which is caused by FLW.
On the other hand, between 713 and 757 million people may have faced hunger in 2023, according to the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report published in July 2024.

Key Facts about Global Methane Hub:
- - Philanthropic Organization: Dedicated to reducing methane emissions globally.
  - Funding: It has donated $10 million to the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) to help 30 countries develop plans for methane reduction.
  - Mission: Significantly increases philanthropic resources focused on methane reduction initiatives.
Methane:
- - Methane is a colorless, odorless, flammable gas that’s the main component of natural gas.
  - It’s a chemical compound made up of carbon and hydrogen, with the formula CH₄

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Arnoux’s Beaked Whale

News: During recent Antarctic expeditions, researchers spotted a rare, poorly understood species called as Arnoux’s Beaked Whale.
Arnoux’s Beaked Whale: Scientific Name: Berardius arnuxii
Classification: A rare cetacean species, part of the family that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises.
Distribution:
- - Found only in the Southern Hemisphere.
  - Circumpolar distribution in deep, cool temperate and subpolar waters, generally south of 40°S to the edge of the Antarctic ice shelf (approximately 78°S).

Features:
- - Group Behavior: Gregarious species often seen in groups of 6-10, but larger groups of up to 80 have been recorded.
  - Size: Can grow up to 30 feet long, with females being slightly larger than males.
  - Appearance:
  - Spindle-shaped body, resembling dolphins.
  - Small, triangular dorsal fin positioned toward the back.
  - Dark brown in color with paler heads and undersides, including white patches.
  - Males exhibit scarring, particularly around their dorsal fins.
  - Unique Trait: Also known as Southern four-toothed Whales due to the four visible teeth in their lower jaws.
  - Diving Ability: Known for brilliant diving abilities, often diving to great depths in search of prey.
  - IUCN Red List: Classified as Least Concern.

Phrynarachne Decipiens

News: Assam has added a species of spider whose web mimics a bird’s excrement to India’s list of arachnids called as the Phrynarachne Decipiens.
Phrynarachne decipiens (Bird-Dropping Crab Spider):
Common Name: Better known as the bird dung or bird-dropping crab spider.
Distribution:
- - Previously known to be found in Malaysia and Indonesia (Java and Sumatra).
  - Recently recorded for the first time in India from Assam’s Sonapur in the Kamrup (Metropolitan) district and the Chirang Reserve Forest in the Kokrajhar district.

Camouflage:
- - The spider mimics bird excreta, making it difficult to detect.
  - Found 1-2 ft above the ground, lying motionless on broad leaves.
  - Its chalky white color and the whitish web it spins on leaves enhance its camouflage.
Features:
- - Spermathecae: The female has stout spermathecae with posterior heads almost touching each other, a key reproductive feature.
  - Species in Genus:
  - The genus Phrynarachne consists of 35 accepted species.
  - Before this discovery, three species—P. ceylonica, P. ceeliana, and P. tuberosa—were recorded in India from Assam.
Arachnids:
- - Definition: Arachnids are members of the arthropod group that includes spiders, daddy longlegs, scorpions, mites, and ticks.
  - They have eight legs and are distinct from insects, which have six legs.

Vishvasya-Blockchain Technology Stack

News: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has launched the Vishvasya-Blockchain Technology Stack to offer Blockchain-as-a-Service.
Definition: It is a framework offering Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS) through a geographically distributed infrastructure.
Aim: To strengthen digital trust and service delivery.
Hosting Locations: The stack is hosted across NIC Data Centers located in Bhubaneswar, Pune, and Hyderabad, ensuring a robust and scalable setup for service delivery.
Additional Platforms: The government introduced the NBFLite (a lightweight blockchain platform) and Praamaanik, a blockchain-enabled solution for verifying the origin of mobile apps.
Applications: Vishvasya BaaS includes several key applications:
- - e-Stamps Solution
  - Judiciary Application
  - IPS Officers’ Service Level Training Record Management
  - Forensic Application
  - Praamaanik for verifying mobile app authenticity
  - Consent Management Framework
  - IoT Device Security Management
  - Cotton Bale Identification and Tracking
  - Domicile Certificate Chain
  - Document Chain (e.g., Caste Certificate Chain)
National Blockchain Framework (NBF):
- - MeitY, with the vision to create trusted digital platforms, initiated the National Blockchain Framework (NBF).
  - It aims to promote research and application development; facilitating state of the art, transparent, secure and trusted digital service delivery to citizens.
  - National Blockchain Framework technology stack is architected with Distributed Infrastructure, Core Framework functionality, Smart Contracts & API Gateway, Security, Privacy & Interoperability and Applications development offering Blockchain as a Service (BaaS).
NBFLite:
- - NBFLite, a Blockchain sandbox platform, is developed especially for startups/academia for rapid prototyping of applications, carrying out research and capacity building.
  - These technologies have been developed by collaborating efforts of C-DAC, NIC, IDRBT Hyderabad, IIT Hyderabad, IIIT Hyderabad and SETS Chennai under the MeitY support.