UPSC: National Film Awards, Krishi-DSS, NCW, MPox, and More

Table of Contents

UPSC GS 1

National Film Awards (NFA)

News: Aattam: The Play in Malayalam has been adjudged the Best Feature Film in the 70th National Film Awards.
Definition:
- - The National Film Awards were established in 1954.
  - It is an annual awards ceremony celebrating the achievements of established and independent film makers, actors , actresses, production companies and crew.
  - The NFA is produced by the National Film Academy who also produces the new National Film Festival.
Key Points:
- - The first-ever Best Feature Film winner was the Marathi movie Shyamchi Aai.
70th National Film Awards:
- - Best Actor – Rishab Shetty, Kantara
  - Best Actress – Nithya Menen in Tiruchitrabalam, and Manasi Parekh in Kutch Express
  - Best Director – Sooraj Barjatya, Uunchai

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UPSC GS 2

Krishi-DSS

News: The Centre recently unveiled the Krishi-Decision Support System (K-DSS) portal.
Definition:
- - Krishi-DSS is a first-of-its-kind geospatial platform specifically designed for Indian agriculture.
  - The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has developed Krishi-DSS using RISAT-1A and Visualization of Earth observation Data and Archival System (VEDAS) of Department of Space.
    - RISAT-1A is India’s first Radar Imaging Satellite, an all-weather satellite that can penetrate deep into vegetation.
    - VEDAS provides a platform for utilisation of information derived over land using Indian space-borne sensors to develop custom crafted geo-spatial applications which can support the decision making system.

Aim:
- - The platform provides seamless access to data including satellite images, weather information, reservoir storage, groundwater levels and soil health information.
Key Features of Krishi-DSS:
- - Crop Mapping and Monitoring: Krishi-DSS provides crop mapping and monitoring with parcel-level crop maps to understand cropping patterns and promote sustainable agriculture through diverse cultivation.
  - Drought Monitoring: It offers near real-time drought monitoring with data on soil moisture, water storage, crop conditions, and dry spells, helping farmers stay ahead of drought conditions.
  - Crop Weather Watch: The system monitors weather impacts on crops, harvest status, and crop residue burning, providing timely updates for better crop management.
  - Field Parcel Segmentation: Field parcel segmentation enables accurate understanding of each parcel’s needs for targeted interventions.
  - One Nation-One Soil Information System: The One Nation-One Soil Information System offers comprehensive soil data, including soil type, pH, and health, to assess crop suitability and implement soil water conservation measures.
  - Ground Truth Data Library: Krishi-DSS fosters innovation through its Ground Truth Data Library, offering resources like ground truth data and spectral libraries for various crops to support research and industry.
  - Flood Impact Assessment: The platform assesses flood impact on agriculture and aids in developing effective mitigation strategies.
  - Crop Insurance Solutions: It helps develop crop insurance solutions to safeguard farmers.
  - Early Disaster Warning: Krishi-DSS provides early disaster warnings for pest attacks, heavy rain, and hailstorms.
  - Farmer-Centric Solutions: The system delivers personalized advisories and disaster warnings for individual farmers through integrated data sources.

National Commission for Women

News: Actor-politician Khushbu Sundar recently resigned from the post of Member of the National Commission for Women.
Definition:
- - The National Commission for Women was set up as a statutory body in January 1992 under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990.

What is a Statutory Body?

Statutory bodies are established by Acts of Parliament or State Legislatures.
A statutory body is a self-governing body.
These are non-constitutional bodies.
These bodies get their power from statutes or laws adopted by Parliament.

Aim:
- - It is responsible for reviewing and addressing issues related to the rights of women and for making recommendations for the protection and promotion of these rights.

Composition:
- - The Commission shall consist of a Chairperson, 5 Members, and a Member-Secretary who are nominated by the Central Government.
  - 5 Members are chosen from persons of integrity who have experience in law trade unionism, women’s voluntary organisations, administration etc.
  - Member-Secretary is an expert in management, organizational structure or an officer who is a member of a civil service of the Union or of an all-India service.
Term: The Chairperson and every Member shall hold office for a period of three years.
Removal: The Union Government may by order remove the Chairperson or any other Member from office if the Chairperson or any other member:
- - Is adjudged insolvent.
  - Engages during his term of office in any paid employment outside the duties of his office.
  - Refuses to act or becomes incapable of acting.
  - Is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court.
  - Has so abused his office as to render his continuance in office detrimental to the public interest.
  - Is convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for an offense which in the opinion of the Central Government, involves moral turpitude.
Powers:
- - summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person from any part of India and examining him on oath;
  - requiring the discovery and production of any document;
  - receiving evidence on affidavits;
  - requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office;
  - issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses and documents; and

UPSC GS 3

Gastrodia Indica

News: A unique orchid species- Gastrodia indica was recently discovered in Fambonglho Wildlife Sanctuary, Sikkim.
First Orchid from India That Never Opens: Gastrodia indica is the first known Indian orchid species that does not open its flowers.
Elevation: Found at an altitude between 1,950 and 2,100 meters above sea level.

Unique Botanical Features:
- - Cleistogamous Species: This orchid is the first cleistogamous species of the genus Gastrodia discovered in India. Cleistogamous plants are self-pollinating and do not rely on external factors such as insects or wind for reproduction.
  - Holomycotrophic Nature: Gastrodia indica lacks chlorophyll and relies entirely on underground fungi for nourishment, drawing carbon from its fungal host.
Morphological Relations:
- - Related Species: Though morphologically related to G. exilis and G. dyeriana, significant differences in floral morphology were observed upon critical examination.
Preferred Environment: Thrives in dense, decaying leaf litter and is often found in association with tree species such as Magnolia doltsopa, Acer campbelli, and Quercus lamellose.
Contribution to Botanical Diversity:
- - New Addition: This discovery brings the total number of Gastrodia species in India to 10, further enriching the country’s botanical diversity.
Threats to Survival:
- - Potential Threats: Gastrodia indica faces significant threats due to its limited population size and specific habitat requirements.

Prokaryotes

News: Scientists have discovered that prokaryotes are incredibly resilient to climate change and may increasingly dominate marine environments as a result.
Definition: Prokaryotes are single-celled organisms that lack a distinct nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles.

Shape and Size: Prokaryotes exhibit diverse shapes, including:
- - - Rod-like (bacillus)
    - Spherical (coccus)
    - Comma-shaped (vibrio)
    - Spiral (spirillum)
    - They generally range in size from 0.5 to 5 µm.
Cell Organization: Prokaryotic cells have a simple structure consisting of:
- - A cell wall (except in mycoplasma species)
  - Cytoplasm
  - Plasma membrane
  - They lack a well-defined nucleus and have no membrane-bound organelles except for ribosomes.
Special Structures:Prokaryotes possess unique structures called mesosomes, which are plasma membrane extensions used for various cellular functions.
Reproduction: Prokaryotes reproduce primarily through binary fission, an asexual reproduction method where the cell divides into two genetically identical cells.
DNA Structure:
- - Prokaryotic cells typically contain a single chromosome carrying hereditary genes in the form of DNA.
Types of Prokaryotes: Prokaryotes are single-celled organisms of the domains Bacteria and Archaea. These are considered the oldest forms of cell-based life on Earth.
Global Distribution: Prokaryotes inhabit virtually all environments on Earth, from land to oceans, and from tropical regions to polar areas.
Role in Ecosystems: Prokaryotes play an essential role in global food chains, supporting the nutrient requirements of fish that humans consume.
Marine Prokaryotes: They grow rapidly in marine environments, a process that contributes to significant carbon emissions.

Californium

News: The Gopalganj police in Bihar have seized approximately 50 grams of californium, a highly radioactive element.
Element: Californium is a silvery-white synthetic radioactive metal with the atomic number 98 on the periodic table.
Discovery: It was first synthesized in 1950 by a team at the University of California, Berkeley, and named after the state of California and the university where it was discovered.
Production: Californium is not found naturally. It is produced in nuclear reactions by bombarding curium with helium ions.

Radioactivity: Californium is known for its intense radioactivity, making it both valuable and hazardous.
Series: It belongs to the actinide series of the periodic table.
Isotopes: The most notable isotopes include:
- - Cf-251, the most stable isotope with a half-life of 898 years.
  - Cf-249 and Cf-250, which have shorter half-lives.
Applications:
- - Neutron Emitter: It is a strong neutron emitter, used in several fields:
  - Detection: Portable metal detectors, gold and silver ore identification, and detection of water and oil layers in wells.
  - Industrial Uses: Detecting metal fatigue and stress in airplanes.
  - Nuclear: Starting nuclear reactors and optimizing coal power plants.
  - Medical Uses: Treating certain cancers.
  - Additional Applications: Used in radiography, gold prospecting, and as a neutron source in various industrial applications.

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MPox

News: WHO declared mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern for the second time in two years following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Viral Infection: Mpox is a viral infection caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV). It was first reported in humans in 1970, predominantly in African regions.

Types of Mpox:
- - Clade I: Originated in Central Africa.
  - Clade II: Originated in West Africa.
Common Symptoms: Fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, swollen lymph nodes, and pox-like rashes lasting 2-3 weeks.
Transmission
- - Zoonotic Transmission: Spread from animals to humans.
  - Human-to-Human Transmission: Direct contact with body fluids or sexual contact.
Public Health Emergency of International Concern:
- - New Clade (Clade Ib): This new variant is spreading predominantly through sexual contact, unlike earlier strains, which mainly spread through animal-to-human transmission.
  - Exponential Spread: Since 2022, over 99,000 cases and 208 deaths have been reported globally, with the virus mutating and becoming harder to control.
  - Geographic Spread: Clade Ib has been reported in new areas, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, which previously did not have mpox cases.
Vaccines and Preventive Measures:
- - Vaccines: WHO recommends two vaccines for mpox and is working to ensure access in low-income countries through emergency listings and partnerships.
  - Global Response: WHO and health experts stress the importance of a coordinated global effort to prevent further spread and reduce fatalities.