Current Affairs 29 August 2022 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 29 August 2022 focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

Third La Nina Event

Source: DTE
GS I: World Geography and Indian Geography

What is discussed under the Third La Nina Event?

1. What Is La Nina and El Nino?
2. Rare ‘triple’ La Niña Climate Event
3. Impacts of Third Consecutive La Nina in India

Why in News?

• According to a forecast made by Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) on August 25, 2022, a third consecutive La Nina event may be in the process, which would increase rainfall along the country’s east coast this summer.
• The BOM predicted a 70% chance of the La Nina event. 
• The US and UK weather services, however, say that the phenomenon has already begun.

What Is La Nina and El Nino?

• La Niña and El Niño are climate patterns in the Pacific Ocean that can affect weather worldwide.
• Trade winds blow west along the equator in the Pacific Ocean under normal conditions, carrying warm water from South America towards Asia.

  

• Upwelling is the process by which cold water rises from the depths to replace that warm water.
• These normal circumstances are disrupted by the opposing climatic patterns El Nino and La Nina.
• The El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle is the name given to these events by scientists.
• Both El Nino and La Nina have the potential to affect weather, wildfires, ecosystems, and economies on a worldwide scale.
• El Nino and La Nina episodes normally last between nine and twelve months, although can may persist for years.
• In general, El Nino and La Nina occurrences happen every two to seven years, although they don’t always happen at the same time.
• El Nino often happens more frequently than La Nina.

What Is El Nino?

• El Niño means Little Boy, or Christ Child in Spanish.
• El Nino de Navidad was the full term they used because it usually peaks in December.
• During El Niño, trade winds weaken.
• Warm water is pushed back east, toward the west coast of the Americas.
• In the 1600s, South American fishermen noticed areas of unusually warm Pacific Ocean water. 

Impacts on whether

• El Nino has a big impact on the weather. 
• The Pacific jet stream moves south of its neutral location due to the warmer seas.
• The northern U.S. and Canada are experiencing drier and warmer weather than typical as a result of this change.
• However, these periods are wetter than usual and have more flooding in the Southeast and Gulf Coast regions of the United States.

Impacts on marine life

• El Nino has a significant impact on marine biodiversity off the Pacific coast as well.
• Under normal circumstances, upwelling delivers cold, nutrient-rich water from the depths to the top.
• Upwelling weakens or ceases entirely during El Nino.
• There is fewer phytoplankton off the shore when the nutrients from the deep are lacking.
• This has an impact on fish that consume phytoplankton, which has an impact on everything that consumes fish.
• Additionally, tropical species like yellowtail and albacore tuna may enter regions that are often too cold due to the warmer seas.

What Is La Niña?

• La Nina is Spanish for ‘Little Girl’.
• La Nina is also frequently referred to as El Viejo, the opposite of El Nino, or just ‘a cold event’. 
• La Niña has the opposite effect of El Niño .
• Trade winds are much stronger than usual during La Nina occurrences, bringing more warm water into Asia.
• Upwelling increases off the west coast of the Americas, sending cold, nutrient-rich water to the surface.

Impacts on whether

• The Pacific’s cold waters push the jet stream northward.
• Drought in the southern United States and severe rainfall and flooding in the Pacific Northwest and Canada are often the results of this.
• Wintertime temperatures are often warmer in the South and colder in the North during a La Nina year.
• Another effect of La Nina is a more intense storm season.

Impacts on marine life

• The waters off the Pacific coast are colder and richer in nutrients during La Nina.
• Because of this environment, areas like the California coast are home to more marine life and cold-water animals like squid and salmon.

Rare ‘triple’ La Niña Climate Event

• According to the most recent predictions, a prolonged La Nina event that has aggravated droughts in the US and East Africa and caused flooding in eastern Australia may continue into 2023.
• In the Northern Hemisphere, two consecutive La Nina winters are common, but three consecutive ones are exceedingly uncommon.
• Only twice since 1950 has there been a “triple dip” La Nina, which lasts for three years straight.
• According to experts, this abnormally prolonged La Nina is probably simply a random blip in the climate.
• However, other researchers are cautioning that climate change may increase the likelihood of future La Nina-like situations.
• More instances of La Nina would increase the likelihood of floods in Southeast Asia, raise the danger of droughts and wildfires in the Southwest of the United States.
• Also, it may alter the pattern of storms, cyclones, and monsoons across the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, among other regional effects.

Impacts of Third Consecutive La Nina in India

• Due to La Nina, the monsoon season in India will last till October.
• According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), although the monsoon retreat may start in the first week of September, some areas of India may still get significant rainfall.
• Even if the monsoon in India was expected to be surplus this year, there are several regions where the rainfall has been below average.
• This is because the monsoon is being impacted by warming in the Pacific and Arctic.

Effect on agriculture

• If it rains at this time, farmers run the danger of losing their standing Kharif crops.
• Beginning at the end of September or early October is the Kharif crop harvesting season.
• Any rainfall before then would be harmful to the crops that are now in place.
• Already, the overall area sown under Kharif this season lags by 2.5 million hectares (mha) as of August 18, 2022, compared to the corresponding period in 2021.
• This is according to data on the website of the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
• The area under paddy, the main Kharif crop, is short by 3.09 mha (8.2 per cent less), compared to 2021.
• A lot of farmers also harvest their produce and store it for a few days since the procurement process takes longer than expected.
• Rains at that time would ruin the produce that had been gathered.

National Sports Day 2022

Source: PIB
GS II: Policies and Developmental Studies; Prelims

What is discussed under National Sports Day 2022?

1. Major Dhyan Chand
2. National Sports Day

Why in News?

Every year on August 29th, India observes National Sports Day to commemorate the anniversary of the birth of Major Dhyan Chand, the hockey legend.

Major Dhyan Chand

• Dhayan Chand was born in Allahabad (Prayagraj) in Uttar Pradesh on August 29, 1905. 
• During his time in the British Indian Army, Dhyan Chand began taking his hockey seriously.
• Between 1922 and 1926, he participated in a lot of army hockey competitions and regimental games.
• He was called “Chand” by his classmates since he frequently practised at night beneath the moonlight after his duty hours.

  

• When the newly established Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) planned to send a team for the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, Dhyan Chand was invited for the trials because he had pleased observers of the game during his time in the army.
• The prolific Dhyan Chand was the star of the Indian hockey team that won three straight Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932, and 1936.
• At the Berlin Olympic Games of 1936, Dhyan Chand was elected the captain of the Indian Hockey team.
• Between 1926 and 1948, Major Dhyan Chand scored approximately 1,000 goals in his whole career, including more than 400 goals on the international stage.
• Dhyan Chand had such remarkable ball control and game mastery that he was given the nicknames ‘Hockey Wizard’ and ‘The Magician’.
• The Indian government awarded him the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian honour, the same year he resigned from the Indian Army as a Major from the Punjab Regiment.
• The Indian Postal Department paid respect to Major Dhyan Chand after his demise in 1979 and issued stamps in his honour.
• The National Stadium of Delhi has been renamed Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, Delhi as a tribute to him.

20 Year of Kaziranga Wildlife Rehab Centre

Source : The Hindu
GS III : Environment

What is discussed under 20 Year of Kaziranga Wildlife Rehab Centre?

1. Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC)
2. Kaziranga National Park

Why in News ?

The Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) at Panbari near the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve has completed 20 years of providing emergency care, treatment and rehabilitation to indigenous wild animals displaced due to various reasons.

Key Facts

• The park provided shelter to more than 7,000 such wildlife in distress since its inception 20 years ago.
• The CWRC has become a model now in the field of wildlife conservation.
• Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve was awarded the Best Wildlife Destination in India

Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC)

• The only facility in India that raises and treats injured, orphaned wild animals of various types before releasing them back into the wild is the

  

  CWRC.

• It is Panbari Reserve Forest near Kaziranga National Park launched in 2002
• The area handled 7,397 animals out of which 4,490 (65%) could be sent back to the wild after proper care and treatment.
• This including elephant, leopard, rhino, tiger, clouded leopard, black bear, wild buffalo, hog deer, muntjac, wild boar and monkeys.
• Rhino and Elephant Rehabilitation.
  • CWRC has been rehabilitating rescued rhino and elephant calves.
  • One of the most successful programmes for orphan animals and a critical conservation success.

Kaziranga National Park

• It is located in Northeast Indian state of Assam The park is approximately 40 km (25 mi) in length from east to west, and 13 km (8 mi) in breadth from north to south.
• It is a world heritage site, notified by the UNESCO in 1985.
• World’s largest population of the greater one-horned rhinoceros is seen in this park.
• The park is a shelter to endangered Royal Bengal tiger and the Asian elephant.
• Brahmaputra river flowing through this region.
• Another important fact is that Kaziranga contains significant breeding populations of 35 mammalian species of which 15 are threatened as per the IUCN Red List.

Arth Ganga Model

Source : PIB
GS III : Economy

What is discussed under Arth Ganga Model?

1. About Arth Ganga Model
   
2. What are the benefits?

Why in News ?

Recently National Mission for Clean Ganga organized a virtual session mentioned National Mission for Clean Ganga on Arth Ganga: Model for Economic River-People Connect for Sustainable River Rejuvenation using Economic Bridge. 

Key Facts

• World Water Week is an annual event organized by Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) to address the global water issues and related concerns of international development.
• Adopting sustainable practices like Natural Farming and ensuring the maximum possible conservation of water could bring a bright future to the country discussed. 

World Water Week 2022

• World Water Week is the leading conference on global water issues, held every year since 1991.
• The Week attracts a diverse mix of participants from many professional backgrounds and every corner of the world.
• Together we develop solutions to the planet’s greatest water-related challenges, such as poverty, the climate crisis, and biodiversity loss.

Arth Ganga Model

• The model  was conceptualised during the first meeting of the National Ganga Council in Kanpur on December 2019.
• Arth Ganga aims to energise the economic activity along the Ganga river bank, economic benefit of more than Rs 1000 crores over the next 5 years.
• Project Arth Ganga energise economic activity along river banks in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
• About 40 floating jetties and 10 pairs of Ro-Ro terminals are being planned on River Ganga in the four states in the Gangetic belt.
• This will bring down the logistics cost for farmers in the movement of local produce.
• Project will also ensure large scale skills enhancement and public/private sector capability development.
• The central idea of “Arth Ganga” is linking people and Ganga through the bridge of economics in line with the slogan of “Banking on River Ganga”.

• Livelihood Generation Opportunities such as ‘Ghat Mein Haat’, promotion of local products, Ayurveda, medicinal plants, capacity building of volunteers like Ganga Praharis is also being done under Arth Ganga.
• NMCG plans to launch 75 Jalaj Kendras across the Ganga basin to create livelihood opportunities for the local people, out of which 26 were launched on 16th August.

Taiwan Strait and Dispute

Source : The Hindu
GS II : International Relation

What is discussed under Taiwan Strait and Dispute?

1. Taiwan Strait
2. About Taiwan

Why in News ?

U.S. Navy is sailing two warships through the Taiwan Strait  recently in the first such transit publicised since U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan earlier in August, at a time when tensions have kept the waterway particularly busy.

Key Facts

• China conducted many military exercises in the strait as it sought to punish Taiwan after Pelosi visited the self-ruled island against Beijing’s threats.
• China views the island as part of its national territory and opposes any visits by foreign governments as recognising Taiwan as its own state.
• The U.S. regularly sends its ships through the Taiwan Strait as part of what it calls freedom of navigation maneuvers.

Taiwan Strait

• The Taiwan Strait, also known as the Formosa Strait, is a 180 km wide strait separating Taiwan and mainland China.
• The strait is currently part of the South China Sea and connects to the East China Sea to the north.
• The narrowest part is 130 km wide.
• The entire strait is on Asia’s continental shelf.
• Historically both the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Taiwan considered the strait part of the exclusive economic zone of a single China.
  • This position has drawn strong objections from the United States, Australia, France and Taiwan.

About Taiwan

• Taiwan is an island territory across the Taiwan Strait, located off the coast of mainland China.
• The ruling Kuomintang government of China fled to Taiwan after defeated by the communist forces in the Chinese civil war of 1945-1949.
• World’s global supply chain of semiconductors is mostly in Taiwan.
  • Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company or TSMC – has over half of the world’s market.
• China is Taiwan’s biggest export partner followed by US.

China And Taiwan

• Taiwan was under the control of China during the rule of Qing Dynasty, they lost Taiwan to Japan during Sino-Japanese War 1895.
• After the World War II the region again fell into the hands of China. 
• During the civil war Mao lead Communist party came in power and the nationalist government forces Kuomintang, led by Chiang Kai-shek fled to Taiwan.
•  Chiang Kai-shek ruled Taiwan for several decades and Kuomintang was the most powerful parties ruled Taiwan. 
• Later China claims region and Taiwan points the history that they were not the part of Modern Communist China. 
• China now wants to reunification of the region and pressurising other countries not to recognise Taiwan as an independent nation. 

India and Taiwan

• India and Taiwan have bilateral agreements on agriculture, investment, customs cooperation, civil aviation, industrial cooperation and other areas, the time has come to recalibrate India-Taiwan relations.
• Taiwan’s standing as the top semiconductor and electronics producer in the world helps India’s dominance in the ITES sector (Information Technology-Enabled Services).
• Taiwanese businesses are increasingly interested in shifting business ties from China to India.
• Bilateral trade has experienced significant growth in recent years.

One District One Product (ODOP)

Source : PIB

What is discussed under One District One Product (ODOP)?

1. What is ODOP?
2. What are the benefits ?

Why in News ?

Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles called for the integration of One District One Product (ODOP) initiative with Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).

Key Facts

• ODOP aims to increase the procurement, common services and marketing of product.

  

• There may be more than one cluster of ODOP products in one district.
• Also there may be a cluster of ODOP products consisting of more than one adjacent district in a State.
• An ODOP product could be a perishable agricultural product, a cereal-based product, or a food item that is widely produced in a district and its supporting industries.
  • Products includes mango, potato, litchi, tomato, tapioca, kinnu, bhujia, petha, papad, pickle, millet-based products, fisheries, poultry, meat etc.
• More focus should be on processing of Agri products in order to reduce wastage, proper assaying, and storage and marketing.
• The ODOP approach of the scheme would lead to easing in providing common facilities and other support services.

What are the benefits ?

• India’s districts and villages are home to crores of talented weavers, artisans and craftsmen.
• G20 summit which is set to take place in India soon is a great opportunity to showcase ODOP Products.
• Expansion of availability of genuine ODOP products to counter fakes in the market.
• Numerous micro-enterprises will benefit through access to information, better exposure to the market, and formalization.
• The project is likely to generate valuable skilled and semi-skilled jobs.
• There will be better integration with organized markets, boosting the artisans and local vendors.
• E-commerce opens more avenues for better outreach and impetus to product design and manufacturing by providing access to new markets.

Vajra Prahar 2022

Source : PIB
GS III : Internal Security; GS II :International Relation

What is discussed under Vajra Prahar 2022?

1. About the Exercise

Why in News ?

The 13th Edition of India – USA Joint Special Forces Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR 2022 culminated at Bakloh (HP) on 28 August 2022.

Key Facts

• This annual exercise is hosted alternatively between India and the United States.

  

• The 12th edition was conducted at Joint Base Lewis Mc Chord, Washington (USA) in October 2021.
• The 21-day joint training provided an opportunity for the Special Forces from both nations to train in Air Borne Operations, Special Operations and Counter Terrorism operations in a joint environment under United Nations Charter.
• The exercise was conducted in two phases
  • The first phase involved combat conditioning and tactical level special missions training exercises
  • Second phase included 48 hours of validation of training received by both contingents in the first phase.
• Both contingents expressed immense satisfaction on the outcomes of the exercise, in terms of the standards achieved and sharing of best practices.

List of Military Exercise by India with Other Countries : Military Exercise

• Both contingents undertook joint training, planning and execution of a series of mock operations in simulated conventional and unconventional scenarios in mountainous terrain.
• Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR with the US Special Forces is significant in terms of security challenges faced by both Nations in the backdrop of the current global situation.
• The joint military exercise has further strengthened the traditional bond of friendship between the special forces of both Nations as well as improved bilateral defence cooperation between India and the USA.

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