Current Affairs

9th to 17th March 2013

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Marc h 2013

Current Affairs

9th to 17th
National, International, Bilateral, Science and Tech Issues Global wildlife conference
 The 12-day global wildlife conference, which brought together 178 member nations of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), concluded, after granting better protection to hundreds of threatened animal and plant species.  Itstarted with a pledge from Thailand to end its domestic ivory trade and ended with an historic agreement to restrict the commercial trade in sharks and manta rays.  The decision to regulate the trade of several species of shark and manta ray was seen by many observers as this yearsachievement.  Some 100 million sharks are taken from the sea each year for their fins, according to some estimates.  Other accomplishments included the listing ofhundreds of timbers species, including Thai rosewood, for the first time and the passage of proposals to limit the trade in tortoises and turtles.  The next meeting is due to take place in South Africa in 2016, where populations of rhino, listed since 1977 under CITES Appendix I, which bans all commercial trade, are under pressure.

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About CITES
 CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments.  Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.  When the ideas for CITES were first formed, in the 1960s, international discussion of the regulation of wildlife trade for conservation purposes was something relatively new.  Because the trade in wild animals and plants crosses borders between countries, the effort to regulate it requires international cooperation to safeguard certain species from overexploitation.  CITES was conceived in the spirit of such cooperation.  Today, it accords varying degrees of protection to more than 30,000 species of animals and plants, whether they are traded as live specimens, fur coats or dried herbs.  CITES was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of IUCN (The World Conservation Union).  The text of the Convention was finally agreed at a meeting of representatives of 80 countries in Washington, D.C., the United States of America, on 3 March 1973, and on 1 July 1975 CITES entered in force.

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Current Affairs

March 2013

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9th to 17th
India United Kingdom
 India and United Kingdom have signed an agreement to launch a joint programme to encourage industry in the two countries to work together towards commercialisation of research leads in a range of key areas, including energy and health care.  Under the new pact, the Global Innovation and Technology Alliance [GITA] sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology, and U.K.s Technology Strategy Board will provide financial and other support to Indian and U.K. businesses and academics in joint research and development and innovation projects.  The pact is valid for a period of three years.

Pakistan-Iran Gas Pipeline Project

 The long-pending Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project inched closer to reality with the launch its final phase under which a 781-km-long pipeline would be laid on the Pakistan side of the border.  To run from Irans border to Nawabshah in Sindh, the pipelines construction was inaugurated in the Iranian port city of Chabahar by the Presidents of the two countries.  The 900 km Iran-leg of the pipeline has been constructed but Pakistan could not get its end started owing to financing problems and the fear of sanctions.  It got kick-started only after Iran agreed to chip in.  Construction on the $1.5-billion pipeline is expected to be completed by December 2014.  Iran is to supply 21.5 million cubic metres of gas from its biggest gas field in South Pars to Nawabshah on a daily basis.

Fire ice
 Japan has become the first country in the world to succeed in extracting methane gas from a previously untapped off-shore fossil fuel resource that has been dubbed fire ice.  Methane hydrate, a sherbet-like substance buried beneath continental shelves around the world, has been tipped by energy experts to be the next major energy resource.  Consisting of methane trapped in ice, it was previously believed to only exist in the outer reaches of the solar system - but now scientists are saying it could be the new shale gas.  Japan is the worlds top importer of liquefied natural gas and the lure of domestic gas resources has become greater since the Fukushima nuclear crisis two years ago triggered a shake-up of the countrys energy sector.

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Current Affairs

9th to 17th
 Methane is a major component of natural gas and governments including Canada, the U.S., Norway and China are also looking at exploiting hydrate deposits as an alternative source of energy.  Engineers employed in the project had used depressurisation to turn methane hydrate to methane gas.

Formation of fire ice

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 Methane hydrate has long been regarded by oil and gas companies as a nuisance, because it can block marine drilling rigs.  The substance is formed within marine sediments where the gas is generated by chemical reactions or by microbes breaking down organic matter.  The gas then works its way up to the sea bed where sediments tend to be much cooler.  The cooling allows the methane molecules to form weak chemical bonds with the surrounding water molecules, producing solid methane hydrate.  However, such bonds also require high pressure - so methane hydrate forms only in deep water.

UN Human Development Report 2013

 According to the UN Human Development Report 2013 India has poor Gender Inequality Index, apart from the overall poor Human Development Index (HDI).  Apart from Afghanistan that got a rank of 147 in comparison to 132 of India, all the countries in the region of South Asia were ranked higher on Gender Inequality Index.  Women representation in Parliament in India is only 10.9 percent.  The only worse country than India is Iran with 3.1 percent.  The country that has best representation of women in Parliament is Nepal with 33.2 percent.  India ranks badly on the Maternal Mortality Ratio as well.  The only countries to have higher Maternal Mortality Ratio than India are Bangladesh (240), Pakistan (260) and Afghanistan (460).

Flexible Use of Airspace

 The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) today cleared Flexible Use of Airspace (FUA) by civil and military users, which was unresolved for last so many years.  There was a need to fulfill the demand of national security, where the need of airspace by the military was to be fulfilled in the fast changing environment of air warfare.

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Current Affairs

March 2013

Alternative Learning Systems

9th to 17th
 Therefore, sharing of airspace on a need basis, by civil and military users was an urgent national requirement.  The primary objective of FUA is to enhance airspace Capacity, minimize delays, fuel conservation, emission reduction and ultimate benefits to travelling public.  Implementation of FUA through efficient civilian military co-ordination is an essential requirement to foster the traffic growth with ultimate benefit to the nations economy.  FUA permits both military and civil user to efficiently and effectively utilize the available airspace on sharing basis to gain optimum usage, thereby enhancing its capacity, which results into efficient operations.

 As a first step for implementation of the FUA in India, a National High Level Airspace Policy Body (NHLAPB) for airspace use, be set up, to take up the job of strategic planning and assess/ reassess the national airspace requirements of various stakeholders.  It will establish flexible airspace use structure/committees and introduce procedures for allocation of these airspace structures.  The NHLAPB will be chaired by Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation with representation from Ministry of Defence, Indian Air force, Indian Navy, Indian Space Research Organization, Airport Authority of India and Directorate General of Civil Aviation.  It can co-opt new members in future depending upon requirement.  The airspace of the nation is a finite sovereign asset, which is used by civil, military and aerospace authorities.  Flexible utilization of airspace is important from the view point of efficiency of operation, viability of airlines and minimizing damage to environment.  This can be achieved by the introduction of the concept of Flexible Use of Airspace.

National Awards for Prevention of Drug Abuse and Alcoholism

 The Union ministry of social justice and empowerment for the first time instituted national awards in order to recognise the efforts and encourage excellence in the field of prevention of Alcoholism and Drug abuse and rehabilitation of its victims.  The awards shall be conferred on the awardees in a function to be held in New Delhi on the 26 June every year, which has been declared as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.  The Awards are open to all Indian Institutions, Organisations including Gram Panchayats and Individuals.  In some of the states the problem has become very serious like Punjab, Manipur and some of the other states.  Therefore apart from the government lot of NGOs are involved in the prevention of drug abuse and alcoholism.

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 In this model a coordinated procedure between the civil and the military and vice versa, as per need and on a real time basis if it is not being used by the user assigned with the responsibility for its control.

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Marc h 2013

Current Affairs

9th to 17th
Arctic turning greener
 Scientists and researchers have found that vegetation found in areas several degrees to the south of the region 30 years ago was now showing up in parts of the Arctic due to global warming linked temperature rise.  The researchers found a 10% increase in Arctic plant growth since the early 1980s.

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 This increase was seen in more than one-third of the vegetated lands.  During the same period, the mean temperature of land in the region, excluding ice sheets, rose by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius.  The study also found that temperature seasonality the temperature difference between summer and winter was reducing in many Arctic regions because the colder seasons were warming more rapidly than the summers.  The Arctic region is witnessing some of the most dramatic fallouts of climate change.  Changes in vegetation and seasons may hit availability of food and alter the life pattern of many animals like the polar bear.  These could also hit migratory birds.  A warmer Arctic has implications for the rest of the world, too.  The warming reduces polar sea ice and snow cover in the Arctic land mass, thereby increasing the solar energy absorbed by the no longer energy-reflecting surface.  This sets in motion a cycle of positive reinforcement between warming and loss of sea ice and snow cover.

Mars; new findings

 Curiosity mission has attained a major breakthrough with the six wheeled one tonne rover finally establishing that ancient Mars could have supported life in the form living microbes.  The announcement said that scientists identified sulphur, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and carbon which are some of the key chemical ingredients for life.  These were found in the powder Curiosity drilled in February out of a sedimentary rock near an ancient stream bed in Gale Crater of the Red Planet.  Clues to this habitable environment came from the data returned by Curiositys Sample Analysis at Mars and Chemistry and Minerology instruments.  The data indicated that the Yellowknife Bent river system or an intermittently wet lake bed that could have provided chemical energy and other favourable conditions for microbes.  The rock is made up of a fine-grained mudstone containing clay minerals, sulphate minerals and other chemicals.  According to NASA this ancient wet environment, unlike some others on Mars was not harshly oxidising, acidic or extremely salty.

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Current Affairs

March 2013

Alternative Learning Systems

9th to 17th
ALMA
 The Atacama Large Millimeter-submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile is a joint effort among North American, European and Asian agencies.  The speciality of the location is that it is entirely devoid of water vapour.  There is just so little that whatever light is emitted from a heavenly body, galaxy or star, it gets here with no interference.

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea(OSA)

 The department of health research, Government of India, has, called an experts group meeting involving top scientists to frame the first national guidelines on sleep apnoea.  OSA is a condition in which there is collapse of the upper airway during sleep leading to decrease or cessation of airflow.  It has been recognized in the western world as a public health problem but in India awareness about the disorder is insignificant.  Studies have shown a link between OSA and metabolic syndrome which includes disorders like obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and insulin resistance that in combination increases the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease leading to mortality.  In India, 36 million are likely to be suffering from OSA and 90% of those with the condition are unaware of this fact.

INS Viraat
 INSViraat is aCentaurclassaircraft carrierin service with theIndian Navy.  INSViraatis theflagshipof the Indian Navy, the oldest carrier in service and one of twoaircraft carriersbased in the Indian Ocean Region.  INSViraatwas completed and commissioned in 1959 as the England Royal NavysHMSHermesand was transferred to India in 1987.  It then underwent several re-fits withnew fire control equipment, navigation radars, improvedNBCprotection, and installations of deck landing aids for its properfunctioningand increased life span.  INS Viraat has been maintained and run by the Indian Navy for a quarter century after 28 years as HMS Hermes in service with Royal Navy, making Hermes-Viraat one of the longest serving aircraft carrier in the history of naval operations anywhere in the world.

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 As there is virtually no humidity to get in the way, ALMAs 66 antennas, ranging in diameter from 7 to 12 metres, can glimpse at things in the darkest and remotest regions of the universe.

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Marc h 2013

Current Affairs

9th to 17th
 INS Viraatis fitted with a 12ski jumpto operate theSea Harriers,a reinforced flight deck, and 1.2 inches of armour over the magazines and machinery spaces.  The magazine capacity includes at least 80 lightweighttorpedoes.  The vessel retains commando transport capability for up to 750 troops and carries fourLCVP landing craftin the aft section.  In a wartime scenario, the INSViraatcan embark up to 30 combat aircraft.  INSViraatis suited for two missions: supportingamphibious operationsand conductingASWoperations.

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 INS Viraats Aircomplementcomprises of 15 Sea Harriers for Air Craft Defence,Kamov Ka-31 Helix-B as Airborne Early Warning system, Sea King Mk. 42BandKamov Ka-28 Helix-Afor Anti-submarine warfare, andSea King Mk. 42C for commando assault.

Uhuru Kenyatta
 Uhuru Kenyatta, the son of Kenyas first Prime Minister and President Jomo Kenyatta, has won the presidential election of Kenya.  Mr. Kenyattas victory is likely to pose difficult questions for the international community as the International Criminal Court (ICC) has indicted him for his role in the violence that marred the previous election in 2007.  More than 1, 200 Kenyans were killed that year, when Mr. Odinga accused the government of the time of rigging the vote, prompting widespread ethnic violence.  The ICC has accused Mr. Kenyatta, one of the countrys wealthiest men, of financing and arming ethnic militias who participated in the carnage.

IRNSS-1
 Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans to launch the countrys first regional navigational satellite, IRNSS-1, in June.  IRNSS-1 is being assembled at the centre here and is to be flown on the domestic PSLV-C22 rocket from Sriharikota.  The navigational spacecraft are expected to provide a sub-continental system similar to the GPS and vastly improve location and movement on ground, air or sea when they are fully in place.  Apart from IRNSS-1, three satellites were in the final stages of integration the GSAT-7, GSat14 and the advanced meteorology satellite INSAT-3D.  GSAT-7 and INSAT-3D are planned to be flown on the European Ariane rocket around August and September depending on the schedule of the launch service agency Arianespace.

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Current Affairs

March 2013

Alternative Learning Systems

9th to 17th
Gollapudi Srinivas National Award
 Gollapudi Srinivas Award is a national-level award given to a first-time director in Indian Cinema every year.  It is given out in the memory of Gollapudi Srinivas who died in an accident at an age of 26 while shooting for his debut film.  He is the youngest son of veteran Telugu film personality Gollapudi Maruthi Rao.  It carries a cash prize of Rs.1.50 lakh and a memento which will be presented at a ceremony on August.

Kakatiya temples
 The ancient and historical temples of Kakatiyas and Kalyani Chalukyas, which are lying in a dilapidated condition in Nagunuru of Karimnagar district, would now get a facelift and will be relocated.  The Endowments Department, in coordination with the Archaeology Department, had decided to reconstruct and relocate the ancient temples built by monarchs of the Kakatiya dynasty with the help of the Kasuganti Narayana Rao Memorial Trust.  The Archaeology Department would ensure that the ancient structures would be relocated on a sprawling five acres of land near the village and rebuild the structures as it is without causing any harm to the ancient carvings, pillars etc.

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 This award was first announced in 1997 at Chennai.