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UPSC Daily Current Affairs | Prelim Bits 25-10-2024

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October 25, 2024

Bhu-Aadhar or ULPIN

Rural development ministry’s portal data reveals that only 30% of the rural land parcels have Bhu-Aadhaar, Centre pushes for 100% completion by 2026.

  • Bhu-Aadhaar is also known as Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN).
  • Launched in – 2021.
  • ULPIN - It is an initiative to give a 14-digit alpha-numeric identity to each land parcel. The ULPIN contains
    • State code
    • District code
    • Sub-district code
    • Village code
    • Unique plot ID number
  • It is generated using the longitude and latitude coordinates of the land parcel.
  • It is part of the Centre’s Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP).

DILRMP is a Central Sector Scheme aims to modernize the management of land records, reduce land/property disputes, and enhance transparency in land transactions.

  • ULPIN is to streamline and bring uniformity to the process adopted by states in assigning unique identification numbers to land parcels.
  • Once the ULPIN is generated, it is stamped on the physical land record document held by the owner.
  • The same ULPIN will be permanently attached to the plot of land.
  • Even if the land is transferred, sub-divided, or undergoes any change, the ULPIN will remain the same for that geographic boundary.
  • Objectives
    • To assign a unique ID to each plot of land for easy identification and retrieval of records
    • To create accurate digital land records with details of land owners, plot boundaries, area, usage, etc.
    • To link land records and property registration processes
    • To facilitate online delivery of land record services
    • To assist in government planning by maintaining updated land data
  • Coverage - Andhra Pradesh was the 1st State to complete 100% ULPIN coverage.
  • The States of Karnataka, Odisha, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have achieved 60-90% ULPIN coverage.
  • Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Assam are lagging behind in ULPIN implementation due to administrative and operational challenges.

Reference

The Print | Bhu-Aadhaar or ULPIN

 

Great Eared Nightjar

The Great Eared Nightjar is one of the most mesmerizing creatures, due to its striking resemblance with a mythical dragon, especially when perched.

  • The Great Eared Nightjar is a dragon-like appearance bird native to Southeast Asia.
  • Scientific Name - Lyncornis macrotis.
  • Family - Caprimulgidae.
  • Nomenclature - The name 'nightjar' comes from the bird's nocturnal habits and its calls are often called as jarring.
  • Appearance - They have large, forward-facing eyes, big head, and intricate patterning of brown, black, and gray on its feathers.
  • It has a white throat band but has no white on its wings or on its tail.
  • Habitat - These birds prefer to dwell in thick forests, woodlands and mangroves. Instead of making nests really high up on trees, they typically roost on the ground or low branches.
  • Distribution - It can be found roaming the skies from parts of India and Sri Lanka to the Malay Peninsula, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
  • Diet – Insectivores include moths, beetles, and other nocturnal insects.
  • Breeding - They blend into surroundings easily and lay eggs on the ground.
  • Flight - Nightjars are well known for their silent flight, which is due to the structure of their feathers.
  • Hence they can easily sneak up on their prey and also move away without anyone noticing, if faced with a potential threat.
  • Conservation status
    • IUCN - Least Concern.
  • Threat - Habitat loss.

Great Eared NightJar

Reference

Times of India | Great Eared Nightjar

 

World Polio Day

World polio day was organized recently by Rotary International in collaboration with global health organisations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.

  • World Polio Day is observed annually on October 24.
  • The Day was established by Rotary International to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk, who led the first team to develop the vaccine against the disease in the 1950s.
  • Aim - To raise awareness about the importance of polio vaccination and to recognize progress made toward a polio-free world.
  • Theme, 2024 - A Global Mission to Reach Every Child.

Polio

  • Polio (Poliomyelitis) is a highly viral infectious disease, mainly affecting children under 5.
  • Transmission - The virus is spread from person to person, mainly through the faecal-oral pathway or, less frequently, by a shared object (such as contaminated food or water).
  • It multiplies in the intestine, from where it can enter the nervous system and cause paralysis.
  • Severity - There are cases of paralytic poliomyelitis due to a loss of viral attenuation in the oral polio vaccine (OPV), known as vaccine-associated paralytic poliovirus (VAPP).
  • Vaccine-associated paralytic poliovirus (VAPP) is very rare, occurring approximately 3.8 times per lakhs of cases in countries using the oral poliovirus vaccine. It can cause sometimes death.
  • Prevention - Along with vaccination, it is required to wash hands, boil drinking water, and give only breastmilk to babies under 6 months of age.

Over the past 35 years, cases of wild poliovirus have decreased by more than 99%.

  • There is no cure for polio, it can only be prevented through a vaccine.
  • Vaccination
  • Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV)
    • Developed by - Jonas Salk in 1955.
    • Administration - Given via injection.
    • Characteristics - IPV contains a killed virus, making it safe but less effective at inducing immunity in the intestines compared to oral vaccines.
  • Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV)
    • Developed by - Albert Sabin in the early 1960s.
    • Administration - Administered orally, often in a sugar cube form.
    • Characteristics - OPV contains a weakened live virus, which not only protects the vaccinated individual but can also help immunise others in the community through "herd immunity.
  • In India - In 2009, India had reported 741 polio cases, the highest in the world. In January 2011, India reported its last polio case.
  • India was declared polio-free in 2014 by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Global Polio Eradication Initiative

  • The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is a public-private partnership that aims to eradicate polio worldwide.
  • Goal - To ensure that no child will ever be paralyzed by polio.
  • Partners
    • Led by national governments, the GPEI's partners include:
    • World Health Organization (WHO)
    • Rotary International
    • US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
    • United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
    • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
    • Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
  • The GPEI uses a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) matrix to track progress and adjust to risks. The matrix includes milestones, outcomes, and key performance indicators (KPIs).

Reference

Indian Express | World Polio Day

 

India-China LAC Agreement

India has announced a pact on patrolling along the LAC, which is expected to set in motion the process ultimately leading to normalization.

  • India and China have made progress in resolving the military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, with both nations reportedly agreeing to restore patrolling rights.
  • Regions - Depsang Plains and Demchok region, allowing their troops to resume patrolling up to their old patrolling points along the LAC.
  • The frictions between the two sides in the Depsang Plains and Demchok region have long been regarded as "legacy issues" predating the Chinese incursions of 2020.
  • The Depsang Plains are located in the north of Ladakh and Demchok in the south.
  • At present, 7 friction points exist in eastern Ladakh.
  • These include PP 14 (Galwan), PP 15 (Hot Springs), PP 17A (Gogra), the north and south banks of Pangong Tso, the Depsang Plains, and Charding Nullah in Demchok.
  • The agreement allows Indian troops access to patrolling points (PP) 10 to 13 in the Depsang Plains, while in Demchok, patrolling will extend to Charding Nullah.
  • Mutual agreements have reportedly been reached for the eastern theatre as well, particularly in sensitive areas of Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Friction points like Galwan Valley and Pangong Tso remain unchanged.
  • Further discussions on other sectors in the eastern region will also take place between the two sides at a later stage.
  • Moreover, both sides will exchange their patrol schedules with each other.
  • In case of conflicting dates or times, adjustments will reportedly be made by mutual consent.

India-China LAC Agreement

Reference

Indian Express | India-China LAC Agreement

 

Lake Erie

Algae bloom in western Lake Erie was moderate compared to previous years, getting rid of problem algae starts with giving it less food.

  • Lake Erie is one of the 5 Great Lakes of North America and the 4th largest by surface area.
  • It is located on the border between Canada and the United States.
  • It is primarily bordered by the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, as well as the Canadian province of Ontario.
  • Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes, which contributes to its warmer temperatures and greater susceptibility to pollution and algal blooms compared to the other lakes.
  • Tributaries - The Detroit, Huron, and Raisin rivers are the main tributaries to Lake Erie.
  • Discharge - The Niagara River carries the water from Lake Erie to the east.
  • It is a key part of the St. Lawrence Seaway.
  • Pollution - The Great Lakes have been affected by pollution, and in the late 20th century, the U.S. and Canada investigated ways to reverse the damage.
  • Ice levels - The Great Lakes have experienced historically low ice levels for two years in a row.

LAke Erie

Reference

Physics Org | Lake Erie

 

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goovel5 1 min

Has anyone beaten Sprunki Game yet? Share your tips for climbing the ranks!


Wilma Eilerman 26 days

Struggling to keep up with UPSC current affairs? What helped me was focusing on concise summaries and then cross-referencing with a trusted news source. Did that work for me? Absolutely! It helped me build a better understanding of what was going on and recall the information much better than simply reading an article. Speaking of throwbacks, remember Pacman 30th Anniversary

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