UPSC: Kursk, Antarctic heatwave, Turkana, CPP, Gout, and More

Table of Contents

UPSC GS 1

Kursk

News: Ukraine is bracing for more Russian attacks in retaliation for its cross-border incursion into the Kursk region.
Location:
- - Kursk is a city and administrative center of Kursk Oblast (region) in southwestern Russia.
  - Situated in the European part of Russia, along the upper Seym River.
  - Approximately 280 miles (450 km) south of Moscow.
  - Located in the Black Earth territory known for its fertile soil.
  - The climate is moderately continental.

History:
- - Ancient Origins: One of Russia’s oldest cities, first mentioned in documents from 1032.
  - Tatar Destruction: Completely destroyed by the Tatars in 1240; not rebuilt until 1586.
  - Military Significance: Rebuilt as a military outpost to protect Russian colonization from Tatar attacks.
  - Decline in Importance: Lost much of its significance in the 18th century as the Russian border moved south.
  - World War II: Site of the Battle of Kursk (July–August 1943), the largest tank battle of WWII, resulting in a German defeat.
Industries:
- - Machine building
  - Food processing
  - Manufacture of electronic equipment and synthetic fibers
  - Home to a large nuclear power station completed in 1979

Deep-Winter Heatwave in Antarctica

News: For the second time in two years, a record-breaking heatwave is sweeping through Antarctica at the height of its winter season.
More on News:
- - In parts of East Antarctica, temperatures are currently between minus 25°C and minus 30°C.
  - During deep winter, temperatures usually range from minus 50°C to minus 60°C.
  - Ground temperatures have been 10 degrees Celsius higher than normal on average since mid-July, and up to 28 degrees higher on certain days.
Reasons for heatwave:
- - Weakening Polar Vortex: The polar vortex is a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding both of the Earth’s poles. The vortex usually remains strong and stable during winter in the southern hemisphere, keeping cold air trapped over Antarctica and not letting hot air come in but it has been disturbed this year by large-scale atmospheric waves (periodic disturbances in the fields of atmospheric variables).
  - Role of Antarctic Sea Ice: There has been reduction in Antarctic sea ice. Sea ice plays a crucial role in keeping temperatures down in the polar regions, as its bright, white surface reflects more sunlight (solar energy) back to space than liquid water. Sea ice also ensures that the air remains cool by acting as a barrier between the cold air and the relatively warmer water below.
  - Global warming: Antarctica is warming at a rate of 0.22 degrees Celsius to 0.32 degrees Celsius per decade, almost twice as fast as the rest of the world.
Impacts:
- - Loss of Antarctic Ice Sheet: Antarctica’s hot winter can potentially raise global sea levels by hundreds of feet. Antarctica has already lost 280% more ice mass in the 2000s and 2010s than it lost in the 1980s and 1990s.
  - Impact on Global Sea Levels: The Antarctic Ice Sheet, a glacier covering 98% of the Antarctic continent, holds more than 60% of the world’s total freshwater. If entirely melted, it can submerge coastal cities. A sea level rise of only a few feet will displace the roughly 230 million people who live within about 3 feet of the high tide line today.
  - Effect on Global Ocean Circulation: Rising temperatures will also impact the global ocean circulation system, which regulates climate by storing and transporting heat, carbon, nutrients, and freshwater around the world. A slower global ocean circulation system will lead to oceans absorbing less heat and CO2, intensify global warming, and increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events like floods and droughts.

Read also: The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024: What You Need to Know | UPSC

Turkana

News: Recently, a team of scientists conducted a comprehensive survey of Lake Turkana.
Location:
- - Situated in the remote northern region of Kenya.
  - Lies in the Eastern Rift Valley, extending into Ethiopia.
Rivers:
- - Omo River: Perennial, contributing 90% of the lake’s annual inflow.
  - Turkwel River and Kerio River also flow into the lake.

Significance:
- - Africa’s fourth-largest lake.
  - The largest permanent desert lake in the world.
  - Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
  - Renowned for its unique biodiversity and cultural importance.
Climate and Environment:
- - Located in a hot, arid, and remote region.
  - Provides essential resources for lakeshore communities and surrounding areas.
Population:
- - The Turkana region has an estimated population of approximately 1 million people.
  - Livelihoods are primarily based on pastoralism, fishing, and, to a lesser extent, crop farming.
Issues:
- - Semi-saline waters, high evaporation rates, and fluctuating lake levels (up to 8 meters per decade) pose challenges for sustainable development.
  - Past attempts to commercialize the fishery have struggled due to a lack of understanding of the lake’s volatile conditions.

UPSC GS 2

Clean Plant Programme (CPP)

News: The Union Cabinet has approved the Clean Plant Programme (CPP) proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Aim: To boost India’s horticultural sector while aligning with Mission LiFE and the One Health initiatives.
Implementation: National Horticulture Board in association with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
Key Benefits of the Clean Plant Programme (CPP)
Farmers:
- - Access to virus-free, high-quality planting material
  - Increased crop yields and improved income opportunities
Nurseries:
- - Streamlined certification processes
  - Infrastructure support for efficient propagation of clean planting material
Consumers:
- - Superior, virus-free produce
  - Enhanced taste, appearance, and nutritional value of fruits
Exports:
- - Strengthened position as a global exporter
  - Expanded market opportunities and increased share in international fruit trade
Affordability and Inclusivity:
- - Affordable access to clean plant material for all farmers
  - Active engagement of women farmers in planning, implementation, and decision-making.
Core Components of the CPP:
Clean Plant Centers (CPCs):
- - 9 world class state-of-the-art CPCs, equipped with advanced diagnostic therapeutics and tissue culture labs, will be established across India.
  - These include Grapes (Pune), Temperate Fruits – Apple, Almond, Walnuts etc. (CITH, Srinagar &Mukteshwar), Citrus Fruits (CCRI, Nagpur & CIAH, Bikaner), Mango/Guava/Avacado (IIHR, Bangaluru), Mango/Guava/Litchi (CISH, Lucknow), Pomegranate (NRC, Sholapur) and Tropical/Sub-Tropical Fruits in Eastern India.
  - These centers will play a crucial role in producing and maintaining virus-free planting material meant for larger propagation.
Certification and Legal Framework:
- - A robust certification system supported by a regulatory framework under the Seeds Act 1966, to ensure traceability in planting material production and sale.
Enhanced Infrastructure:
- - Support will be provided to large-scale nurseries for the development of infrastructure, facilitating the efficient multiplication of clean planting material.

Nandini Sahakar Yojana

News: The Minister of Cooperation has provided some information about the Nandini Sahakar Yojana.
Objective: To assist women cooperatives in undertaking business model-based activities under the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).
Framework: Provides financial assistance, project formulation support, hand-holding, and capacity development specifically focused on women.
Funding: No minimum or maximum limit on financial assistance for projects by women cooperatives.
- - 2% Interest Subvention: On term loan portion for new and innovative activities.
  - 1% Interest Subvention: On term loan portion for all other activities, reducing borrowing costs for women cooperatives.

Eligibility:
- - Cooperative societies operational for at least three months are eligible.
  - Women cooperatives must be registered under any State/Central Act or have a minimum of 50% women as primary members.
Significance:
- - Aims to improve the socio-economic status of women.
  - Supports women’s entrepreneurial dynamism through cooperatives.
  - Integrates critical inputs like enterprise support, business plan formulation, capacity development, credit, subsidy, and interest subvention.

Kasturi Cotton Bharat

News: The Ministry of Textiles has empowered cotton ginners nationwide to produce Kasturi Cotton Bharat brand using QR code certification technology as per established protocols.
Objective: To create premium value for Indian cotton based on benchmarked specifications.
Significance: A pioneering initiative in traceability, certification, and branding of Indian cotton.
Formalization: The program was formalized through an MoU signed between the Cotton Corporation of India and the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council on 15 December 2022.
Technology:
- - QR Code Certification: Provides traceability at each processing stage.
  - Blockchain Platform: Ensures end-to-end traceability and transaction certification.

Promotion:
- - The Kasturi Cotton Bharat programme is promoted at both national and international levels. Funding is managed at the national level, not the state level.
What is Ginning?
Definition: Ginning is a crucial step in the spinning process of cotton.
Process: After collecting seed cotton, it is transported to gins where seeds, lint, and foreign particles are separated.
Purpose: To clean the cotton by removing seeds, dust, and other impurities, thus preparing better quality cotton for spinning mills.
Historical Context: Traditionally done by hand, ginning is now performed using machines.
Cotton:
- - It is the world’s most versatile fibre and is regarded as ‘white gold with a green heart’.
  - India has the largest area under cotton cultivation and is also the largest producer and second largest consumer of cotton.

UPSC GS 3

Homo Floresiensis

News: Homo floresiensis, a species of humans dubbed “Hobbits” for their short stature, were even smaller than previously thought, a new fossil study has revealed.
Discovery and Nickname
- - A species of small archaic human discovered on the Indonesian island of Flores.
  - Nicknamed ‘Hobbit’ due to their small stature.

Timeline
- - Fossils date from approximately 100,000 to 60,000 years ago.
  - Stone tools associated with them date from about 190,000 to 50,000 years ago.
Features
- - Stood about 3 feet 6 inches tall.
  - Small brain size.
  - Large teeth relative to their size.
  - Shrugged-forward shoulders.
  - No chins and receding foreheads.
  - Relatively large feet due to short legs.
Tools and Activities
- - Created and used stone tools.
  - Hunted small elephants and large rodents.
  - Coped with predators such as giant Komodo dragons.
  - Likely used fire.
Evolutionary Context
- - Their small size and brain might be a result of island dwarfism, an evolutionary process occurring on small islands with limited resources and few predators.
Fauna of Flores
- - The island also hosted the smallest known species of Homo and Stegodon elephant.

Read also: Understand Broadcasting Regulation Bill 2024 Changes & Challenges | UPSC

Gout

News: Lucknow-based CSIR-NBRI has developed a herbal product named ‘NBRI-Gout Out’, which combines five medicinal plants to address gout.
Definition: Gout is a common and complex form of arthritis that can affect anyone.
Cause: Resulting from elevated levels of uric acid in the blood serum.
Prevalence: More common in men due to generally higher uric acid levels compared to women.

Risk Factors:
- - Obesity
  - Certain medications (e.g., diuretics)
  - Foods and drinks high in purines (e.g., alcohol, sugary drinks)
Symptoms: Commonly affects the big toe, but can occur in other joints such as ankles, knees, elbows, wrists, and fingers.
Medications:
- - Allopurinol (Aloprim, Lopurin, Zyloprim): Limits uric acid production.
  - Febuxostat (Uloric): Helps to control uric acid levels.

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

News: A 45-year-old man who entered Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) forest area to collect wild mushrooms was killed by a herd of elephants in UP’s Lakhimpur Kher.
Location: Situated on the Indo-Nepal border in Lakhimpur-Kheri district, Uttar Pradesh.
Components:
- - Includes Dudhwa National Park, and two nearby sanctuaries: Kishanpur and Katerniaghat.
  - Encompasses forest areas from North Kheri, South Kheri, and Shahjahanpur forest divisions in its buffer zone.
Habitat: A typical Tarai-Bhabar habitat of the upper Gangetic plains Biogeographic province.
Rivers:
- - Sharda River: Flows by Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary.
  - Geruwa River: Flows through Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary.
  - Suheli and Mohana Streams: Flow in Dudhwa National Park.
  - All rivers are tributaries of the Ghagra River.
Vegetation:
- - The vegetation of the area is of North Indian Moist Deciduous type.
  - Notable for Sal forests (Shorea robusta).
Flora:
- - The flora is predominantly Sal forest along with its associate tree species like Terminalia alata (Asna), Lagerstroemia parviflora (Asidha), Adina cordifolia (Haldu), Mitragyna parviflora (Faldu), Gmelina arborea (Gahmhar), Holoptelea intgrifolia (Kanju), Acacia catechu (Khair), Pterocarpus marsupium (Vija sal), Kydia calyina (Poola), Lannea coromandelica (Jhigan) and Toona ciliate (Toon).

Fauna:
- - The major mammals include: Guldar, Tiger, Fishing cat, Monkey, Langur, Mongoose, Small Indian Mongoose, small Indian civet, Jackal, etc.
  - Birds include: migratory and resident ones like Dabchick, spot billed pelican,Large cornorant,little cormorant,Grey Heron, White stork, Black storck, White Ibis, etc.
  - Reptiles include: Mugger, Gharial, Python, Sandboa, Banded krait, Russel’s viper, Rat snake, etc.