UPSC GS 1
Mozambique
- News: Import of tur dal from Mozambique to India has resumed after MEA’s intervention.
- Region: Mozambique is a scenic country in Southern Africa.
- Hemisphere: Located in both the Southern and Eastern Hemispheres
- Coastline: Borders the Indian Ocean to the east
- Capital: Maputo
- Adjacent Islands: Separated from Madagascar, Comoros, and Mayotte by the Mozambique Channel
- Bordering Countries
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- Northwest: Zimbabwe
- Southwest: Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), South Africa
- West: Zambia, Malawi
- North: Tanzania
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- Rivers: It is drained by several significant rivers like Zambezi (largest), Limpopo, Licungo, Lurio, Rovuma etc.
- Major Lakes: Lake Malawi (also known as Nyasa): The largest lake in the country
- Highest Peak: Mount Binga
- Natural Resources: Natural gas, coal, mineral, sand, hydropower, and oil.
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UPSC GS 2
Disaster Management (Amendment Bill) 2024
- News: The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 has been introduced in Lok Sabha.
- Disaster Management (Amendment Bill) 2024:
- Objective: To amend the Disaster Management Act, 2005 for improved disaster management.
- Key Provisions:
- Urban Disaster Management Authority:
- The bill makes provision for the constitution of “Urban Disaster Management Authority” for State capitals and large cities having municipal corporations, except the union territories of Delhi and Chandigarh.
- Authority and Planning:
- The Bill empowers the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMA) to prepare the disaster plan at national level and State level respectively instead of the plans made by National Executive Committee and the State Executive Committees earlier.
- The NDMA may also appoint experts and consultants as necessary to perform its functions.
- Disaster Database:
- The Bill will provide for creation of disaster database at national and state level.
- The database will include disaster assessment, fund allocation detail, expenditure, preparedness and mitigation plan, risk register according to type and severity of risk.
- Recognition of Existing Bodies:
- The Bill provides for constitution of “State Disaster Response Force” by the State government.
- Statutory Recognition:
- The Bill also provides statutory status to certain pre-Act organisations like the National Crisis Management Committee and the High-Level Committee.
- New Section 60A:
- The Bill seeks to insert a new Section 60A to empower the Central and State governments to direct any person to take any action or refrain from taking any action for reducing the impact of a disaster and to impose a penalty not exceeding ₹10,000.
Axis of Resistance
- News: The Iran-aligned “axis of resistance” against Israel and its allies have lost two major figures in less than 24 hours in attacks either blamed on or claimed by Israel.
- Origins and Motivation:
- Iranian Revolution of 1979: The roots of the ‘axis of resistance’ go back to the Iranian Revolution of 1979, which paved the way for radical Shia Muslim clerics to come to power.
- Expansion of Influence: Iran sought to expand its influence in a region dominated by Sunni-majority nations, like Saudi Arabia, and to deter threats from Israel and the US.
- Name Inspiration: The term ‘axis of resistance’ was inspired by former US President George W. Bush’s ‘axis of evil’ (Iran, Iraq, North Korea) from his 2002 State of the Union address.
- Members of the Axis of Resistance
- Iran:
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- Middle East powerhouse Iran is officially committed to the destruction of the “Zionist entity”.
- It backs armed groups across the region who have attacked Israel since the Gaza war erupted.
- Hezbollah:
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- Established by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in the early 1980s to fight Israeli forces in Lebanon.
- Largest and most powerful member, with 30,000 to 45,000 members, significant arsenal.
- Engaged in frequent clashes with Israel, including a war in 2006.
- Hamas
- Emerged during the first Palestinian uprising in 1987, has governed Gaza since 2007.
- Palestinian Sunni militant group opposed to Zionism. Receives funding, weapons, and expertise from Iran.
- Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)
- Founded in 1979 as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.
- Sunni Islamist militant group aiming to establish an Islamic state in Palestine. Second-largest militant group in Gaza and the West Bank.
- Houthis
- Zaydi Shia militant group involved in Yemen’s civil war since 2014.
- Controls northern Yemen and has a presence throughout the country. Recently attacked ships in the Red Sea in response to Israeli actions in Gaza.
Women Entrepreneurship Program
- News: The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) recently unveiled the Women Entrepreneurship Program.
- Program Overview
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- The Women Entrepreneurship Program, launched by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), aims to empower women entrepreneurs and drive economic growth.
- The initiative, in partnership with Britannia Industries Limited, addresses the specific challenges faced by women in starting and growing businesses.
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- Key Features
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- Financial Support: The program will offer financial grants and feature Britannia Industries’ products and services on the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH).
- Courses: Complimentary self-learning basic entrepreneurship courses will be available in multiple languages on SIDH.
- Certification: Participants who complete these courses will receive a co-branded certificate from NSDC, Britannia Industries, and NIESBUD, recognizing their entrepreneurial skills and competencies.
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- Impact and Goals
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- Target Audience: The program aims to empower approximately 25 lakh women across India.
- Support Provided: It will provide essential skills, knowledge, and resources to help women start and grow successful businesses.
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- Awards: Britannia Industries will award financial grants of ₹10 lakh each to 10 of the most successful contestants.
- National Skill Development Corporation
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- National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) is a not-for-profit public limited company incorporated on July 31, 2008, under section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 (corresponding to section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013).
- NSDC was set up by Ministry of Finance as Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
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UPSC GS 3
Schistura Sonarengaensis
- News: Scientists have discovered a new species of loach named Schistura sonarengaensis in Meghalaya’s South Garo Hills, India.
- Species Overview
- Type: New species of loach.
- Habitat: Freshwater, bottom-dwelling fish.
- Location: Discovered in three cave-dwelling populations in the Barak-Surma-Meghna drainage, South Garo Hills district, Meghalaya.
- Features of Schistura sonarengaensis
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- Body Coloration: Grayish-black mid-lateral stripe over a dull white or pale-beige body.
- Markings: 13-26 vertically elongated to circular black blotches on the mid-lateral stripe.
- Eyes: Prominent eyes, distinguishing it from other cave-dwelling species.
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- Adaptations
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- Pigmentation: Reduced compared to surface-dwelling relatives, but not as pale as typical cave species.
- Vision: Retains prominent eyes; not blind, unlike some other cave species in the Jaintia and Khasi Hills.
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- Distinctiveness
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- Related Species: Distinct from other Schistura species in the Barak-Surma-Meghna and adjacent river drainages of northeast India.
- Similar Species: Most similar to Schistura syngkai, but still distinct.\
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- What is a loach?
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- Loach is any of the small, generally elongated freshwater fishes of the family Cobitidae.
- Most loaches are native to central and southern Asia, but three are found in Europe and one in northern Africa.
- A typical loach has very small scales and three to six pairs of whiskerlike barbels around its mouth.
- Loaches are hardy, usually nocturnal fishes that inhabit both still and flowing waters.
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Endogenous Retroviruses
- News: While most viruses have minimal impact on the host genome, retroviruses are notable for their ability to integrate into and modify the host’s DNA. This unique characteristic has likely played a significant role in our evolution and offers potential benefits for cancer treatments.
- Retrovirus
- Key Characteristics:
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- RNA Genome: Retroviruses have RNA as their genetic material.
- Reverse Transcriptase: This enzyme converts viral RNA into DNA after the virus enters a host cell.
- Integration: The viral DNA, or provirus, integrates into the host cell’s genome via another enzyme called integrase.
- Cancer Links: Some retroviruses, known as oncogenic retroviruses, carry oncogenes that can induce cancer.
- Genetic Variability: High mutation rates due to reverse transcription errors help retroviruses evade the immune system and adapt to new environments.
- Persistent Infections: Retroviruses can establish long-term infections due to their integration into the host genome, making eradication challenging.
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- Endogenous Retroviruses (ERVs)
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- Definition: ERVs are retroviral sequences integrated into the genomes of host species over evolutionary time.
- Inheritance: Unlike exogenous retroviruses, ERVs are inherited as part of the host’s genetic material.
- Influence on Host Genome: ERVs can contribute to genetic diversity, affect gene regulation, and play roles in biological processes.
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- Evolutionary Roles of ERVs
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- Placental Development: ERVs, specifically syncytins, are crucial for the formation of the placenta in mammals.
- Human Genome: ERVs make up about 8% of the human genome, significantly influencing its structure and evolution.
- Cell Differentiation: ERVs, such as MERVL-gag, are involved in the transition from totipotency to pluripotency during embryonic development.
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- Medical Relevance of ERVs
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- Cancer Development: The LTR10 retroelement is linked to tumor formation in colorectal cancer.
- Biomarker for Preeclampsia: An ERV-derived RNA has been identified as a potential biomarker for early-onset preeclampsia.
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- Preeclampsia
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- Definition: A serious pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine, typically occurring after the 20th week of gestation.
- Complications: Can lead to premature birth, low birth weight, and maternal death if untreated.
- Risk Factors: Includes age, obesity, chronic hypertension, and multiple pregnancies, highlighting the need for regular prenatal care and early detection.
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Sloth Bear
- News: The sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) is one of the eight species of ursids and among the most dangerous wild animals in the Indian subcontinent.
- General Characteristics
- Diet: Myrmecophagous, primarily feeding on ants and termites.
- Behavior: Mostly nocturnal, foraging at night and resting in secluded spots.
- Habitat
- Types: Inhabit various dry and moist forests, as well as tall grasslands.
- Shelter: Prefer areas with boulders, scattered shrubs, and trees for shelter.
- Distribution
- Regions: Found mainly in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and presumably Bhutan.
- Appearance
- Fur: Long, shaggy dark brown or black fur.
- Claws: Have the longest claws of any bear species.
- Sloth Bear Sanctuaries in India
- Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary: Located in Karnataka (the first sloth bear sanctuary in Asia)
- Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary: Located in Gujarat.
- Conservation Status
- IUCN: Vulnerable.
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I.
- CITES: Appendix I.