Advertisement

Hindu Notes from General Studies-01

Editorials are covered separately. HINDU NOTES are available free date wise| CLICK HERE

Kodagu devastation aggravated by human interference: Reports

kodagu devastation

News

  • Two reports paint a clearer picture of the human interferences that aggravated the devastation in Kodagu district in August.

Findings

  • While the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has tabulated 105 landslips in human-habited areas, a team from the World Resources Institute (WRI) used satellite imagery to enumerate at least 254 various landslip instances affecting 1,060 hectares (nearly 10.6 sq km) of land.
  • Using imagery from the Copernicus Sentinel satellites (deployed by the European Commission), a Senior Project Associate at WRI India, and Director (Hydrology), WRI, counted the changes in landscapes and the crowns (the area from where soil has slipped) to determine the number and pattern in landslips.
  • Not surprising, nearly four in five landslips are in areas with human habitation.
  • These are concentrated around the twists and turns of the Harangi river as well as major roads that criss-cross the district (as seen in the cluster of land slips close to Madikeri and particularly on the Mandalpatti road).
  • While heavy rainfall was the trigger, lack of proper drainage, unscientific slope cutting for agriculture or road works, construction of houses close to slopes or natural streams, as well as geological causes, have been identified as having aggravated the situation.
  • These landslips were also found to be entirely within areas that were marked in GSI’s landslip susceptibility maps in 2014-15.
  • The maps and reports had a list of recommendations involving slope stabilisation along roads and construction measures to ensure high slopes are protected. Most of these had not been followed.
  • Their investigation has found that in many human-inhabited areas, the landslips had led to a cascading effect.
  • In the rains of August 14, smaller landslips had blocked streams creating a temporary dam. As the rains continued and water accumulated, the dam breached, letting out a torrent of water that flooded houses downstream as well as triggered further landslips.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-02

Sikkim gets its first airport and the country its 100th at Pakyong

News

  • Sikkim is now part of India’s aviation map as Prime Minister inaugurated the State’s first airport at Pakyong. This is also the 100th airport in the country.

Beyond News

  • The greenfield airport, located 30 km from capital Gangtok, will start its commercial operations from the first week of October, according to the State Chief Secretary. Spicejet’s Bombardier Q-400 aircraft will ferry passengers to and from Sikkim, Guwahati, and Kolkata.
  • Under the Union government’s UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) regional connectivity scheme, the private carrier will operate daily direct flights between Pakyong and Kolkata and between Pakyong and Guwahati from. Pakyong is SpiceJet’s ninth destination under the scheme.
  • The reinforcement wall of the project is 80-metre-high, one of the tallest in the world.
  • The Pakyong airport is located around 60 km from the India-China border.

Alcohol intake in India doubles in 11 years

Alcahol intake report mind map

News

  • Per capita alcohol consumption in India has more than doubled from 2005 to 2016, according to a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
  • The consumption of alcohol has increased from 2.4 litres in 2005 to 5.7 litres in 2016 with 4.2 litres being consumed by men and 1.5 litre by women, the report said.
  • However, diverging trends were noticed in different regions of the world.

Harmful impact of alcohol

  • The harmful impact of alcohol is one of the leading risk factors for populations worldwide and has a direct impact on many health-related targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including those for maternal and child health, infectious diseases (HIV, viral hepatitis, tuberculosis), non-communicable diseases and mental health, injuries and poisonings.
  • In 2016, the harmful use of alcohol resulted in some three million deaths (5.3% of all deaths) worldwide and 132.6 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).
  • Mortality resulting from alcohol consumption is higher than that caused by diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and diabetes.
  • Among men in 2016, an estimated 2.3 million deaths and 106.5 million DALYs were attributable to the consumption of alcohol. Among women 0.7 million died and they experienced 26.1 million DALYs attributable to alcohol consumption.
  • The harmful use of alcohol is a causal factor in more than 200 diseases and injury conditions, the report stated. Some 2.3 billion people are current drinkers. Globally more than a quarter (26.5% ) of all 15-19 year-olds are current drinkers, amounting to 155 million adolescents.

Commander Abhilash Tomy of Indian Navy rescued by French vessel

News:

  • After three days of a global search and rescue effort, Commander Abhilash Tomy of the Indian Navy was rescued by a French shipping vessel.

Beyond News:

  • Cdr Tomy was stranded in the south Indian Ocean, approximately 1,900 nautical miles (nm) from Perth and 2,700 nm from Cape Comorin near Kanyakumari.
  • An Indian Navy P-8I maritime patrol aircraft reached the location in the morning to coordinate the rescue efforts.
  • The Australian Rescue Coordination Centre (ARRC) in Canberra is coordinating the rescue mission in conjunction with many agencies, including the Australian Defence Department and the Indian Navy. The Indian Naval Defence Attaché in Australia is camping in the regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC).
  • Cdr Tomy is using a portable texting unit for messaging.
  • Indian Navy’s stealth frigate INS Satpurawith a Chetak Helicopter and tanker INS Jyoti, operating in the Indian Ocean, are also enroute.
  • GGR 2018 is conducted by Sir Robin Knox Johnston of the U.K. to commemorate 50 years since the world’s first solo non-stop circumnavigation was undertaken by him in 1968 on board the Indian built boat, Suhaili.
  • Cdr Tomy is the only Indian to complete solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the globe in 2012-13 on board the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Mhadei, and has covered 53,000 nautical miles under sail.

500 homeless in Bengal as Ganga swallows land

ganga swallows homes

News

  • Nearly 500 people have become homeless in the Hossainpur area of Murshidabad district due to severe river bank erosion by the Ganga.

Beyond News

  • The Ganga has swallowed large swaths of land in the area, making locals to flee to the neighbouring Malda district.
  • While a section of the affected people have fled to Malda district, nearly half of them are living in makeshift camps.
  • Denying the allegation, an official of the Anti Erosion Division of the Farakka Barrage Project said that “adequate preventive measures” have been taken to check the erosion and the situation was now under control.
  • District administration officials said the “preliminary measures” taken by the project authorities were not very effective.
  • Confirming that about 500 people have lost their homes due to river bank erosion, a senior district administration official said they have distributed 250 trampolines among the villagers and also set up a medical camp in the area.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-03

Hyderabad Metro Rail is now second largest metro network in country

News

  • With the opening of this 16 km stretch, the entire Corridor One of Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) project of 29 km from Miyapur to L.B.Nagar has been completed.

Beyond News

  • It will be the first corridor to be completed in all respects and has been opened to general public.
  • More than a lakh passengers have been riding on the trains and it is expected to double now.
  • With opening of another metro stretch, the Hyderabad Metro Rail will be covering 46 km and has become the second largest metro rail network in the country after New Delhi, announced Minister for Municipal Administration.
  • It is also the world’s largest public-private partnership project.
  • The Minister said HMR was also taking care of improving ground level infrastructure all along the metro corridors like designer footpaths, drains and signages while barricading is being taken up underneath stations to prevent spillover of passengers onto the main road. Skywalks are in the offing and all metro stations could be used as road crossovers.
  • First and last mile connectivity is being provided through bicycles, bikes and taxis. Soon electric charging points will be provided for bringing in electric vehicles into its fold.

As incessant rain lash the North, Punjab puts state machinery on high alert

News

  • As incessant rains continue to lash several parts of the Punjab, Haryana and the joint capital Chandigarh during the past 48 hours, the Punjab government put the state machinery on high alert.

Beyond News

  • The Punjab government has asked all district authorities to remain on constant vigil and the disaster control rooms are being activated.
  • The Chief Minister’s Office has ordered that the Army and other officials have been requested to be on standby.

Citizen science initiative helps save hornbills

Great indian horn bill image

News

A citizen science initiative of documenting Indian hornbills is providing valuable inputs for the conservation of the unique bird.

Beyond News

  • The data on hornbill presence outside protected areas would be be crucial in identifying and protecting their habitats from possible threats and development projects, scientists said.
  • The Hornbill Watch initiative is an interactive web interface that allows a person to report on hornbills anywhere in India. People can record the observation of a live hornbill, note its call or report a dead, hunted or captive bird.
  • There are nine hornbill species in India, but experts say that information on hornbill distribution in the country is not very clear.
  • Between June 2014 and February 2017, the website, Hornbill Watch, had received 938 records from 430 contributors across 26 States including the national capital and two Union Territories.
  • Contributors to Hornbill Watch described 57 sites where the birds were reported to nest and 36 sites where the birds were reported to roost. The reports included notes on the endangered Narcondam hornbill, restricted to an area of 6 sq.km. of the Narcondam Island in the Andamans.
  • Vulnerable or near threatened species such as the rufous-necked hornbill, the Austen’s brown hornbill and the great hornbill were observed in several States in northeastern India.

India conducts successful interceptor missile test at night

News

  • India successfully conducted an interceptor missile test from Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha, achieving a major milestone in developing a two-layer Ballistic Missile Defence system.

Beyond news:

  • The Prithvi Defence Vehicle mission is for engaging targets at an altitude of above 50 km of the earth’s atmosphere.

NASA balloon mission may help improve weather forecasting

News

  • The images of a thin group of seasonal electric blue clouds on the cusp of our atmosphere captured by a new NASA balloon mission may lead to improved weather forecasting, the U.S. space agency has said.

Beyond News

  • Data from these clouds, known as noctilucent clouds or polar mesospheric clouds (PMCs), may help scientists better understand turbulence in the atmosphere, as well as in oceans, lakes and other planetary atmospheres, NASA said in a statement.

The NASA long-duration balloon mission observed these clouds over the course of five days at their home in the mesosphere.

CLICK HERE TO SEE DATE WISE CURRENT AFFAIRS

WHY IASTODAY IS BEST IN ONLINE COACHING?
FEATURESIASTODAY.inOTHERS
DAILY ANSWER REVIEWYES (in 60 minutes for core batch -before 10 PM for all lower courses)NO ( Not even weekly)
EXPERT SUPPORT24 hours x 7 days (In MASTER PLUS and above)NO/ During office hours only
GUARANTEE For Service & fee paid.Guaranteed till you clear (In LIFETIME membership)No guarantee at any cost.
Dedicated exclusive static testsYES(in MASTER PLUS and above)NO
TEST TYPEFull length similar to UPSC (In all dedicated courses)DEPENDS
FULL STATIC SYLLABUS COVERAGEYES (In all dedicated courses)DEPENDS
Full Day to Day current affairs coverageYES with review (All mains courses)NO
TEST REVIEW & MARKSYES throughout the course duration (In MASTER PLUS and above)YES during initial days.
NO after few tests
Effective cost for 30 MAINS static tests with reviewRs.10,000 (Master plus - Writing skill development 1 year)More than Rs.26,000
Flexible scheduleUnlimited. Reschedule based on demands.No flexibility.
Max delay in Mains Test review24 hours for core and In 4 working days for lower courses.Over 15 days
INDIVIDUAL MARKSYES (In all dedicated courses)NO
UPDATED NOTESYES(in all dedicated courses)NOT UPDATED

IASTODY DEDICATED COURSES IN A GLANCE

For 2023 & 24 Aspirants:
  1. Prelims TEST SERIES -PRO 2024- More than just a prelims test series for 2024 aspirants. 2024 PRELIMS in an integrated manner with mains and interview together with daily writing and review. {CLICK HERE for details}
  2. WRITING SKILL DEVELOPMENT(Daily review) (2 months- 6 months) Next is writing skill development- Available for 2 months and 6 months fixed. This can be used for 2024 or even 2025. Your answer will be reviewed as beginner in first day. Next day feedback will be based on first day performance and so on. You will develop a writing skill development better than aspirants outside IASTODAY by the end of this course- CLICK HERE TO KNOW MORE 
  3. DAILY REVIEW (Beginner) 2024 - Till mains 2024 We have Daily review (beginner) course available till Mains 2024. This course have 3 phases ie, Novice and then beginner phase till prelims examination and aggressive mode post prelims exam- You will write 1 answer a day as novice, then 2 till prelims and there after 4 daily.- CLICK HERE TO KNOW MORE
  4. ESSAY TEST SERIES 2023 & 24-Dedicated Essay test series for scoring high is now available for  2024. Real time exam environment, 24 hours accessibility and more @ a nominal fees-{CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS}
  5. Affordable Integrated Marathon (AIM 2024)-Dedicated All in one low cost series covering prelims test series, mains test series, daily answer review, interview, essay, optional and more in single version at lowest ever possible affordable version. Real time exam environment, 24 hours accessibility and more @ a nominal fees in comparison to features-{CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS}
  6. MASTER PLUS 2024-Dedicated mains 2024 @ Rs.50/day effective. Flagship MAINS 2024 program with all features including 29 mains tests, Daily answer review in 3-4 hours & value added notes and much more -{CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS}.
  7. PREMIUM 2024 - Full coverage @ Rs.55/day effective. Our Flagship prelims to interview with all premium features including daily answer review in 60 minutes, Prelims ,interview and much more -{CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS}.