UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 1 November 2024
Kartavya Desk Staff
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 1 November 2024 covers important current affairs of the day, their backward linkages, their relevance for Prelims exam and MCQs on main articles
InstaLinks : Insta Links help you think beyond the current affairs issue and help you think multidimensionally to develop depth in your understanding of these issues. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background.
Table of Contents
GS Paper 2: (UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 1 November 2024)
• 1.5°C Goal & Climate Crisis
1.5°C Goal & Climate Crisis
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):
• Ultra-Enforcement Concrete
Ultra-Enforcement Concrete
Facts for Prelims (FFP):
• Luminescent Nanomaterials
Luminescent Nanomaterials
• Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve
Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve
Mapping:
• Chushul-Moldo Border
Chushul-Moldo Border
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 1 November 2024
#### GS Paper 2:
1.5°C Goal & Climate Crisis
Syllabus: Climate change
Source: IE
Context: As world leaders prepare for the annual climate conference in Baku, a renewed focus on climate finance and stringent emission reduction is crucial to prevent severe climate repercussions.
Unabated rise of emissions:
• Current emissions: In 2023, global emissions reached 57.1 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent, marking a 1.3% increase from 2022.
• Historical trend: Emissions have increased yearly except in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic briefly reduced global activity.
• Necessary target: To meet the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal, emissions must peak by 2025 and steadily decline by at least 43% from 2019 levels by 2030. Current projections fall significantly short of this target.
Why there is no quick relief from warming?
• Accumulated greenhouse gases: Global warming is driven by accumulated CO₂ in the atmosphere, which can persist for hundreds of years. Data point: Carbon dioxide concentrations reached 420 ppm in 2023, over 150% higher than pre-industrial levels.
• Data point: Carbon dioxide concentrations reached 420 ppm in 2023, over 150% higher than pre-industrial levels.
• Slow impact of reducing emissions: Even if emissions peak and decline, the impact on warming will be gradual due to the long atmospheric lifespan of pollutants.
• Methane and nitrous oxide levels: Other gases like methane and nitrous oxide have also reached record concentrations, further intensifying warming.
Missing the targets:
• Temperature threshold breach: In 2023, the global temperature was 1.45°C above pre-industrial levels, the highest on record. WMO projection: Average annual global temperatures could breach the 1.5°C threshold within the next few years.
• WMO projection: Average annual global temperatures could breach the 1.5°C threshold within the next few years.
• 2030 Milestone: The IPCC recommends a 43% reduction in emissions by 2030 from 2019 levels; however, current projections show only a 2.6% reduction, far from the required target.
• Decadal average: Between 2014-2023, global temperatures averaged 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels, pushing closer to the 1.5°C threshold.
Way Ahead
• Accelerated clean energy transition: Countries must expedite the shift to renewable energy sources to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
• Climate finance agreement: The upcoming Baku climate conference should finalize a global finance deal to support ambitious climate actions, especially in developing nations.
• Enhanced carbon reduction commitments: Nations should revise their 2030 emissions targets with more stringent reductions to approach the 43% goal.
• Invest in carbon capture: Technologies like carbon capture and storage should be scaled up to address the excess greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
• Focus on methane reductions: Reducing non-CO₂ emissions, especially methane, can have immediate benefits in slowing warming rates.
Conclusion:
Without drastic and immediate action, the 1.5°C target will likely remain out of reach. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “The climate crisis is a code red for humanity.” Achieving meaningful progress requires unwavering global commitment, substantial financial resources, and enhanced climate policies across all nations.
Insta Links:
• GHG-bulletin
• Climate-change-and-associated-issues
• Discuss global warming and mention its effects on the global climate. Explain the control measures to bring down the level of greenhouse gases which cause global warming, in the light of the Kyoto Protocol, 1997. (UPSC-2022)
• Describe the major outcomes of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). What are the commitments made by India in this conference? (UPSC-2021)
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 1 November 2024 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
Ultra-Enforcement Concrete
Context: The Government is working to reduce the cost of the construction of bridges and metros by 25 percent with the use of ultra-enforcement concrete, a technology adapted from Malaysia.
About Ultra-Enforcement Concrete (UEC):
• Definition: High-performance concrete offering enhanced strength, durability, and cost-efficiency.
• Source: Adapted from Malaysian technology, aimed at reducing construction costs in India.
• Key Feature: Reduces material usage while maintaining strength, with potential cost savings up to 25% in large infrastructure projects like bridges and metros.
Usage in UPSC Syllabus:
• Infrastructure: Relevant to GS Paper 3, focusing on Economic Development and Infrastructure (highways, railways, ports).
• Technology and Innovation: Links to technological advancements in sustainable construction.
• Environmental Impact: Aligns with sustainable development goals by reducing carbon footprints in construction projects.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 1 November 2024 Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Luminescent Nanomaterials
Source: PIB
Context: To combat the increasing issue of counterfeiting, scientists at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) have developed a novel security ink based on luminescent nanomaterials.
About Luminescent Nanomaterials:
• Unique properties: These materials, doped with rare earth ions, exhibit luminescence that varies based on the wavelength of light they’re exposed to.
• Multi-color display: The ink shows vibrant blue under 365 nm UV light, pink under 395 nm, and orange-red under 980 nm near-infrared light, enhancing its security features.
• Durability: Remains effective under a wide range of light, temperature, and humidity conditions, making it ideal for long-term use.
Counterfeiting in Currency and Other Goods:
• Advanced security feature: Traditional covert tags are only visible under UV light and are easily duplicated. This new ink offers enhanced security with multi-wavelength color changes.
• Applications: Can be applied to various items to ensure authenticity, including currency, certificates, branded goods, and medicines.
• Ease of verification: Enables consumers and manufacturers to verify authenticity easily, offering a practical solution to counterfeiting.
Insta links:
• 3D – hologram-technology
Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve
Source: IE
Context: A resort and a conference hall built within tiger reserve corridors at Madhya Pradesh’s Sanjay Dubri and Bandhavgarh have emerged as a point of contention between the state’s Wildlife and Tourism departments.
About Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve:
• Location: Situated in the Sidhi district of northeastern Madhya Pradesh, bordering Guru Ghasidas National Park to the south.
• Composition: Encompasses Sanjay National Park and Dubri Sanctuary, along with buffer zones from Sidhi and Shahdol districts.
• Ecological corridor: Part of the Bandhavgarh-Sanjay-Guru Ghasidas-Palamau landscape, forming a vital wildlife corridor between Bandhavgarh and Palamau Tiger Reserves.
• Rivers: Key rivers include Banas, Gopad, Mawai, Mahan, Kodmar, and Umrari.
• Flora: Dominated by moist deciduous and dry deciduous sal forests, with some areas featuring open sal forests and bamboo remnants.
• Fauna: Home to diverse species like tigers, leopards, sloth bears, chital, nilgai, wild dogs, jungle cats, and the Indian python.
About About Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve:
• Location: Situated between the Vindhyan and Satpura ranges in Umaria district, Madhya Pradesh.
• Status: Designated a national park in 1968, it gained Tiger Reserve status in 1993.
• Topography: Known for valleys, hills, and plains with the historic Bandhavgarh Fort, associated with Lord Rama and his brother Lakshmana, prominently located.
• Vegetation: Features tropical moist deciduous forests, including sal, mixed forests, and grasslands, with bamboo on the lower slopes.
• Flora: Includes notable species like Saj (Terminalia tomentosa), Dhaora (Anogeissus latifolia), Arjun (Terminalia arjuna), and Amla (Emblica officinalis).
• Fauna: Hosts the Royal Bengal Tiger noted for the highest density of tiger population in India and globally.
Insta links:
• MPonline
Source: IE
Context: Scientists have detected a lost Mayan city, hidden for centuries by the dense Mexican jungle, using LiDAR.
About LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging):
• Definition: Remote sensing technology using pulsed laser light to measure distances and create 3D models of Earth’s surface.
• Components: Comprises a laser, scanner, and GPS receiver; usually mounted on aircraft for terrain mapping.
• Functioning: Pulsed laser light travels to the ground, reflecting off various features. The system calculates the two-way travel time of the light to measure distances and create elevation data.
• Data output: Initially produces a “point cloud” representing reflections from structures, vegetation, and terrain; refined to form high-resolution Digital Elevation Models.
• Applications: Used in geography, conservation, policy planning, and archaeology for detailed surface mapping, especially useful for exploring areas obscured by vegetation.
• Archaeological use: Enables archaeologists to survey large areas quickly, revealing structures hidden under dense foliage, as demonstrated in the discovery of the Maya city, Valeriana, in Mexico.
Insta Links:
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 1 November 2024 Mapping:
Chushul-Moldo Border
- •Source: DD News*
Context: The Indian and Chinese armies observed Diwali with an exchange of sweets and greetings at the Chushul-Moldo border point in Ladakh, reflecting a continued tradition of goodwill despite ongoing tensions.
About Chushul-Moldo Border:
• Location: Chushul-Moldo is a key border meeting point situated in eastern Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China.
• Strategic importance: Located close to the contested Pangong Lake area, Chushul-Moldo has seen multiple military confrontations, making it crucial for diplomatic interactions.
• Altitude and terrain: Situated at a high altitude with challenging mountainous terrain, it serves as a significant location for monitoring troop movements and facilitating communication between the two armies.
Insta links:
• India China-patrolling-arrangement
Daily Current Affairs + PIB Summary 1 Nov 2024
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