UPSC Daily Current Affairs | Prelim Bits 03-08-2024

Bent-toed geckos

Scientists from India and the UK have recently discovered 6 new species of bent-toed geckos in Northeast India.

• Bent-toed geckos are a diverse group of geckos known for their distinctive bent or curved toes.
• Genus- Cyrtodactylus.
• Size- Typically small to medium-size.
• Body- Their toes are notably bent, which aids in their climbing abilities.
• Habitat- They inhabit a variety of environments including forests, rocky areas, and sometimes urban areas.
• Diversity- They are predominantly found in Southeast Asia, including countries like India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Malaysia.
• Behaviour- Most are nocturnal, meaning they are active during the night.
• Diet- They are insectivorous, feeding on small insects and other invertebrates.
• Reproduction- Bent-toed geckos lay eggs, with the number and size of eggs varying by species.
• They typically lay them in hidden or secure locations.

References

1. Down to Earth | bent-toed geckos
2. Eastmojo | Bent-Toed Geckos

Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI)

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has used the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) to study trends in precipitation and drought conditions across India.

• SPI – It is a drought index that measures how observed precipitation compares to the long-term average over a given time (e.g. over the last 30 or 60 days).
• It can also be used to measure drought impacts on soil moisture, groundwater, streamflow, and reservoir storage. 
• Calculation – It is calculated by dividing the difference between the observed precipitation and the long-term average by the long-term standard deviation of precipitation for that period.
• Time Scales- The SPI is calculated for a selection of time scales, including 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months.
• Developed by - T. B. McKee, N.J. Doesken, and J. Kleist in 1993.
• It uses a legend to indicate drought conditions, with D4 representing exceptional drought, D3 representing extreme drought, D2 representing severe drought, and D1 representing moderate drought.

• Transformation- Precipitation data is transformed using probability distributions like gamma or Pearson III to fit a normal distribution.
• SPI Values
  • Positive SPI – It indicates wet conditions (greater than median precipitation).
  • Negative SPI – It indicates dry conditions (less than median precipitation).

References

1. PIB | Environmental hazards in the North-Eastern States
2. NASA | Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI)

Price Monitoring System (PMS) version 4.0

Union Food and Consumer Affairs Ministry has launched the Price Monitoring System (PMS) Version 4.0  and Mobile App.

• Price Monitoring System - The price Monitoring Division (PMD) in the monitors prices of selected essential commodities.
• Ministry - Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
• It monitors retail and wholesale prices and spot and future prices of selected essential commodities daily.
• It also implements commodity-specific market intervention schemes in the event of shortage and to control prices.
• Civil Supplies Departments of 34 States/UTs provide information on 550 market centers.
• Monitored Commodities – 38
  • Earlier 22 - Rice, Wheat, Atta, Gram Dal, Tur (Arhar) Dal, Urad Dal , Moong Dal, Masur Dal, Sugar, Gur, Groundnut Oil, Mustard Oil, Vanaspati, Sunflower Oil, Soya Oil, Palm Oil, Tea, Milk, Potato, Onion, Tomato and Salt.
  • 16 new commodities under  Version 4 - Bajra, Jowar, Ragi, Suji (wheat), Maida (wheat), Besan, Ghee, Butter, Brinjal, Egg, Black Pepper, Coriander, Cummin seed, Red chilies, Turmeric powder and Banana.
  • The new commodities will be monitored from 1^st August 2024.
• The 38 commodities constitutes close to 31% of the total CPI weights.
• Benefit of Monitoring - Facilitate policy interventions to stabilize price volatility in food items and to control the overall inflation.
• Price Monitoring System (PMS) mobile app - It is a tool designed to track and analyze pricing data for products across various retailers.
• It helps users to monitor price changes in real-time, compare prices, and receive alerts for price drops or promotions, making it easier to make informed purchasing decisions.

References

PIB | Price Monitoring System version 4

Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX)

Recently, Indian Navy successfully conducted the Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) at Baltic Sea.

• MPX – A multilateral event conducted by Indian Navy in which naval forces of foreign countries participate.
• Aim – To enhance Indian Navy’s operational capabilities and strengthen its partnerships with friendly nations.
• Importance – It enhances the ability of different naval forces to operate together seamlessly, which is crucial in times of crisis or conflict.
• It strengthens diplomatic and military ties between participating nations, fostering greater regional and global stability.
• It also allows participating navies to train and refine their tactics, techniques, and procedures, leading to improved operational effectiveness.
• MPX 2024 – It is between India and Russia, which involved naval ships from both nations
  • India- INS Tabar
  • Russia- Soobrazitelny

INS Tabar was built in Russia and was commissioned into the Indian Navy, on April 19, 2004.

• Activities – It involved a series of complex naval manoeuvres, including
  • Communication drills
  • Search-and-rescue tactics
  • Replenishment at sea procedures
• Significance – The Indian Navy's participation in the 328th Russian Navy Day Parade and MPX highlights a key step in maritime cooperation for regional peace and security.

In 2023, Indian Naval ships INS Rana and INS Sumedha undertook a Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) with French Navy ship FS Surcouf, in the Bay of Bengal on 30 June 2023.

Reference

1. PIB | Maritime Partnership Exercise