Centre plans nationwide events under ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ campaign in August

Meri Maati Mera Desh campaign

• Under this campaign soil collected from different parts of the country in August will be used to develop a garden along the Kartavya Path in Delhi.
• Events have been planned at the panchayat, village, block, urban local body, and State and national levels, respectively.
• The five-point agenda includes the installation of a shilaphalakam (memorial plaque), as per specifications, bearing the “names of those who have made the supreme sacrifice”.
• Work for the shilaphalakam may be executed through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), leveraging local materials and resources.
• ‘Vasudha Vandhan’ envisages every gram panchayat or village renewing “Mother Earth by planting 75 saplings of indigenous species and developing an Amrit Vatika”.
• ‘Veeron Ka Vandan’ will felicitate freedom fighters, and the families of deceased freedom fighters.
• Young volunteers and others will collect soil from every panchayat/village and bring it to the block, from where the ‘Mitti Kalash’ will be transported to Delhi.
• In urban areas, events will be organised at local bodies, notified area councils, Cantonment Boards, and town panchayats from August 9 and 15, and in bigger municipalities and municipal corporations from August 16 to 20.
• The ‘Mitti Kalash’ are to be brought ceremoniously to the larger municipalities/corporations and transported to Kartavya Path.

Will the Gulf Stream really collapse by 2025?

• The Gulf Stream is a swift and warm ocean current that flows along the eastern coast of North America and crosses the Atlantic Ocean towards Europe.
• Key characteristics:
  • Location: It originates in the Gulf of Mexico and is primarily formed by the convergence of warm waters from the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. It then travels northward along the eastern coast of the United States.
  • Direction: It follows a north-eastward path across the western North Atlantic Ocean.
  • Warmth: The current carries warm water from the tropics (around 25 to 28°C or 77 to 82°F) to higher latitudes.
  • Width and Speed: The Gulf Stream is several hundred kilometres wide and can flow at an average speed of about 2.5 meters per second. However, its speed can vary depending on the location and other factors.
  • Depth: The current is also very deep, extending to depths of up to 1,000 meters.
• Importance and Impact:
  • Climate Regulation: It moderates the temperatures along the eastern coast of North America, keeping the coastal areas warmer in winter and cooler in summer compared to inland regions at the same latitudes. Since the Gulf Stream also extends toward Europe, it warms Western European countries as well.
  • Weather Patterns: The warm and moist air above the Gulf Stream can lead to the formation of low-pressure systems, which may develop into storms or hurricanes. It can also contribute to the formation of fog in certain areas.
  • Maritime Navigation: The Gulf Stream has been a crucial factor in maritime navigation for centuries. It provides a fast and efficient route for ships travelling between North America and Europe, as it aids in faster travel times due to its speed.
  • Ocean Circulation: The Gulf Stream is an essential part of the larger oceanic circulation system known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). The AMOC plays a vital role in redistributing heat around the Earth and regulating global climate patterns.

Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC)

• It is a large system of ocean currents operating In the Atlantic, which circulates the waters between the north and the south.
• It is characterized by a northward flow of warm, salty water in the upper layers of the Atlantic, and a southward flow of colder, deep waters that are part of the thermohaline circulation.
• How it operates:
  • As warm water flows northwards in the Atlantic**, it cools, while evaporation increases its salt content.**
  • Low temperature and a high salt content raise the density of the water, causing it to sink deep into the ocean.
  • The cold, dense water deep below slowly spreads southward. Eventually, it gets pulled back to the surface and warms again, and the circulation is complete.
• Significance: AMOC ensures the oceans are continually mixed, and heat and energy are distributed around Earth.

Ocean Current

• An ocean current is a continuous, directed flow of seawater within the Earth''s oceans.
• These currents are like rivers within the ocean, moving large volumes of water in specific patterns and directions.
• They are a crucial component of the Earth''s climate system and play a vital role in regulating global climate, distributing heat around the planet, and influencing weather patterns.
• Ocean currents can be formed by various factors, including wind, temperature, salinity (salt content), and the Earth''s rotation.

BHEL synchronises 660 MW Unit-2 of Maitree thermal power project in Bangladesh

Maitree Super Thermal Power Project (STPP)

• Location:
  • It is a 1,320MW coal-fired power station under construction in Rampal, Bangladesh.
  • It is being developed on an 1,834-acre site on the bank of Passur River, approximately 14km away from the Sundarbans.
• It is being developed by Bangladesh India Friendship Power Company (BIFPCL), a 50:50 joint venture between India’s state-run National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).
• The construction of the project commenced in April 2017.
• It will be one of the biggest coal-fired power plants in Bangladesh, along with the Payra Power Plant in Pataukhali, which commenced test production in January 2020.
• Plant make-up:
  • The plant will consist of two ultra-supercritical coal-fired units of 660MW capacity each.
  • It will have a stack height of more than 275m.
  • The design features a twin-flue steel-lined reinforced concrete chimney.
  • Both the units will be equipped with flue gas desulfurization (FGD) and dry bottom ash-handling systems to control emissions.
• Finance:
  • It is being financed through a £1.3bn ($1.6bn) loan from the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of India.
  • BIFPCL entered into a loan agreement with the EXIM Bank of India in March 2017.
• Contractors involved:
  • BHEL was awarded an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract worth £1.15bn ($1.5bn) for the plant in July 2016.
  • BHEL subcontracted global technology company GE for the supply of pressure part components for the project in May 2017.

Conjunctivitis Cases Spike In Delhi-NCR, 100 Cases In AIIMS Daily

Conjunctivitis

• Conjunctivitis, commonly known as Pink Eye, is an infection or inflammation of the transparent membrane that covers the eyelid and eyeball. This membrane is called the conjunctiva.
• Why do eyes appear Pink?
  • When small blood vessels in the conjunctiva become swollen and irritated, they''re more visible.
  • This is what causes the whites of the eyes to appear reddish or pink.
• Causative Agent:
  • It can be caused by viruses, bacteria or by allergies.
  • Both bacterial and viral conjunctivitis are highly contagious, while allergic conjunctivitis is not.
• Transmission:
  • It usually occurs through direct or indirect contact.
  • Direct transmission happens through droplets from the cough or sneeze of an infected person or through hand-to-eye contact.
  • Indirectly, it can spread via shared personal items like towels, makeup, pillows or contact lenses.
• Signs and symptoms:
  • Most common signs are redness, swelling and itching in the eyes.
  • The eyes can also feel watery during the start of the flu.
• Treatment:
  • For the treatment of conjunctivitis, one needs to use a combination of medicines.
  • One of the most useful treatments is using artificial tears or even any lubricating eye drops; these can help the infected person to maintain moisture.
  • A warm or cold compress will also help in giving relief from inflammation and swelling.

UK opens second ballot for Young Professional visa scheme for Indians

Young Professionals Scheme

• It was conceived as part of an India-U.K. Migration and Mobility MoU signed in May 2021 and was announced in November at the G20 summit in Bali.
• It was formally launched in February 2023.
• It will permit up to 3,000 of their degree-holding citizens aged between 18 and 30 to live and work in each other’s countries for two years.
• This scheme makes India the first visa-national country to benefit from the scheme.
• Features of India Young Professionals Scheme visa:
  • It allows Indian citizens between 18 and 30 years old to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years.
  • It will enable candidates to enter the UK at any time while their visa is valid and leave and return anytime during their stay.
  • A person must be selected in the India Young Professionals Scheme ballot before they can apply for a Young Professionals Scheme visa.
  • To be eligible for the India Young Professionals Scheme visa,
    • You have to be an Indian national aged between 18 and 30 years.
    • You must have a bachelor’s degree or above.
    • You must have 2,530 pounds in savings.
    • You must not have any children under the age of 18 who live with you or whom you are financially supporting.
  • In case the applicant is issued a visa, they must enter the UK within six months of the date on which the visa was issued. Once in the UK, the applicant can:
    • Studyfor certain degree programs, such as post-graduation or research in sensitive subjects in the UK, an additional certificate under the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) needs to be applied before starting the course or research.
    • Work in most jobs.
    • Be self-employed and set up a company - as long as your premises are rented, your equipment is not worth more than £5,000 and you do not have any employees.

2D nanoflakes of material extracted from iron ore can protect sensitive optical equipment from light-induced damage

• Nanoflakes of a material called hematene extracted from iron ore have been found capable of withstanding and acting as shield from high laser intensities.
• Hence it could be used to make devices called optical limiters that can protect sensitive optical equipment from light-induced damage.
• Radiation from laser sources is highly concentrated and powerful and can be detrimental to sensitive equipment such as sensors, detectors, and other optical devices.
• When the input intensity increases optical limiters control the amount of light that passes through, thereby preventing damage to the optical component.
• These devices are often useful in laser technologies, military, telecommunications, aircrafts, and scientific research in several ways.
• They found that 2D nanoflakes of hematene is capable of withstanding very high laser intensities, and they exhibited excellent optical limiting of green laser light (532 nm) while maintaining a high linear transmission (about 87%) for low-intensity light.

Hematene

• It is extracted from naturally occurring hematite, the mineral form of iron(III) oxide, using a combination of sonication, centrifugation and vacuum-assisted filtration.
• It measures 3 atoms thick and has a more efficient photocatalysis.
• It is ferromagnetic (the mechanism by which certain materials like iron form permanent magnets, or are attracted to magnets) like a common magnet.
• It is capable of withstanding and acting as shield from high laser intensities

In Baltic Sea, citizen divers restore seagrass to fight climate change

Seagrass

• It is flowering plant that grows submerged in shallow marine waters like bays and lagoons.
• They are so-named because most species have long green, grass-like leaves.
• Seagrasses have roots, stems, and leaves and produce flowers and seeds.
• Like terrestrial plants, seagrass also photosynthesizes and manufactures their own food and releases oxygen.
• They evolved around 100 million years ago, and there are approximately 72 different seagrass species that belong to four major groups.
• Distribution:
  • They are found on all continents except Antarctica.
  • The tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific hold the highest diversity of seagrasses in the world.
  • They occur all along the coastal areas of India mainly in the Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannarin Tamil Nadu.

Baltic Sea

• It is part of the North Atlantic Ocean, situated in Northern Europe.
• It extends northward from the latitude of southern Denmark almost to the Arctic Circle and separates the Scandinavian Peninsula from the rest of continental Europe.
• The Baltic Sea connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the Danish Straits.
• It is the largest expanse of brackish water in the world. Its water salinity levels are lower than that of the World Oceans due to the inflow of fresh water from the surrounding land and the sea’s shallowness.
• Bordering Countries: Denmark, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Finland and Sweden.
• Major gulfs: The Gulf of Bothnia to the north, the Gulf of Finland to the east, and the Gulf of Riga slightly to the south of that.

Alert issued against scrub typhus in Alappuzha

Scrub typhus

• It is a life-threatening infection caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi bacteria which is a major public health threat in South and Southeast Asia.
• It spreads to people through bites of infected chiggers (larval mites).
• Symptoms: The most common symptoms of scrub typhus include fever, headache, body aches, and sometimes rash.
• Treatment: Scrub typhus should be treated with the antibiotic doxycycline. Doxycycline can be used in persons of any age.
• There is no vaccine available for this disease.
• It will not spread from person to person.
• India is one of the hotspots with at least 25% of the disease burden.

Typhus fever

• Typhus fevers are a group of diseases caused by bacteria that include epidemic typhus, scrub typhus, and murine typhus.
  • Epidemic typhus: It is caused due to Rickettsia prowazeki and it is spread to people through contact with infected body lice.
  • Scrub typhusis: It caused due to Orientia tsutsugamushi and spread by chiggers.
  • Murine typhus: It is caused due to Rickettsia typhi spread by fleas. It occurs in tropical and subtropical climates around the world

US Fed Raises Interest Rates Citing Inflation, Stands At 5.25%

US Federal Reserve

• The United States Federal Reserve, commonly referred to as the Federal Reserve or simply the Fed, is the central banking system of the United States.
• It provides the country with a safe, flexible, and stable monetary and financial system.
• The Federal Reserve System is composed of 12 regional Federal Reserve Banks that are each responsible for a specific geographic area of the U.S.
• The Fed''s main duties include conducting national monetary policy, supervising and regulating banks, maintaining financial stability, and providing banking services.

Impacts of US Federal Reserve Interest Hike:

• The US Fed is the world''s most powerful central bank.
• When the Fed adjusts interest rates, the effects are felt worldwide, influencing both developed and emerging economies.
• Conventional wisdom suggests that higher interest rates in the US would make American assets more appealing to investors, potentially leading to capital outflows from emerging and riskier markets.
• In such a scenario, capital-intensive sectors, which heavily rely on Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), could be the first to feel the impact.
• Higher US interest rates could lead to a tightening of global liquidity, making borrowing more expensive for foreign investors.
• Possible impacts on the Indian Economy:
  • After a rate hike by the US Fed, the difference between interest rates in US and India shrinks, which affects the currency trade negatively.
  • Foreign investors will be tempted to withdraw from the Indian market and invest in US assets, as the Dollar and the US Treasury yield become more attractive in the US and the Indian market begins to see capital outflow.
  • Thus, an interest rate hike in the US increases the relative returns on dollar investments, leading the US currency to strengthen.
  • This makes the rupee weaker, and it prompts RBI for a rate hike in India.
  • So, when the US Fed increases rates, RBI also has to increase interest rates here in India so that the outflows of funds from the FIIs (Foreign Institutional Investors) can be curtailed to save guard the rupee.
  • If the rupee falls significantly, the RBI may be forced to sell some dollars to help shore up the domestic currency. This depletes the domestic Forex reserve.

Harness silvopasture systems for local climate resilience

Silvopasture system

• It is an ancient and proven practice that harmoniously integrates trees, forage and livestock on the same land.
• Advantages
  • This system buffer against temperature and wind extremes, providing a favourable living environment for livestock.
  • Carbon sinks: The trees on silvopasture lands act as natural carbon sinks, sequestering significantly five-10 times more carbon then pastures without trees, all while maintaining or enhancing productivity.
  • Nutrient cycling: The extensive root systems of trees within silvopasture plots contribute to nutrient cycling, improved soil stability and quality, while effectively combating erosion.
  • Also, this system combine trees and livestock on the same land, silvopasture can play a vital role in reversing the negative trend of deforestation for pasture land.
  • It also regulates local climatic conditions, buffering against temperature and wind extremes, providing a favourable living environment for livestock.
  • Soil infiltration rates in silvopasture systems surpass those of open pastures, enhancing water storage potential.

Nutrient cycling

• The nutrient cycle is a system where energy and matter are transferred between living organisms and non-living parts of the environment.
• This occurs as animals and plants consume nutrients found in the soil, and these nutrients are then released back into the environment via death and decomposition.
• In forest environments, there is an exchange of nutrient elements such as hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen among the soil, plants and animals living within the environment.