Daily Current Affairs 17 October 2023 – IAS Current Affairs
Current Affairs 17 October 2023 focuses on the Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :
Tilapia Parvovirus (TiPV)
Source for Tilapia Parvovirus (TiPV): The Hindu
GS II: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate
Overview
- News in Brief
- Tilapia Parvovirus (TiPV)
- About Tilapia
Why in the News?
The occurrence of tilapia parvovirus (TiPV) affecting farm-bred tilapia, a freshwater fish species, and causing a huge mortality rate has been reported for the first time in India at ponds in Walajah in Ranipet district of Tamil Nadu.
News in Brief
- Fish samples were collected from 10 ponds on the farm.
- Samples from eight ponds showed TiPV-positive by PCR.
- While screening the fish for viral pathogens in the months of February and March 2023, the research team reported the occurrence of Tilapia parvovirus.
- Research finding has been validated by ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow, ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar and Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Cochin.
- Research should be initiated to develop a vaccine against TiPV to help fish farmers prevent the loss due to TiPV.
- Action must be taken immediately to prevent its spread to other regions of India.
Tilapia Parvovirus (TiPV)
- A DNA virus causes mortality ranging from 30 to 50% in the farm and 100% in the laboratory.
- It was first reported in China in 2019 and Thailand in 2021.
- India is the third country to report the occurrence of TiPV.
- This virus was localized in the gills, heart, brain, liver, pancreas, spleen, intestine, kidney, eyes, and muscles of tilapia.
About Tilapia
- Mozambique tilapia
- Mozambique tilapia was introduced to Indian freshwater bodies in the 1950s
- It is called Jilabi in Tamil.
- Tilapia is capable of surviving in low oxygen levels in water.
- The fish has turned invasive across the country.
- Nile tilapia
- It was introduced in the 1970s.
- It is a little bigger.
- It is cultured on a large scale and available in the market for ₹100 to ₹150 per kg.
Tilapia Farming in India
- Tilapia farming is being carried out in different parts of Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.
- It is sold in domestic markets as whole fish.
- In 2022, tilapia production was estimated at about 70,000 tonnes, of which 30,000 tonnes come from aquaculture.
Setu Bandhan Scheme
Source: PIB
GS III: Infrastructure
Overview
- News in Brief
- Setu Bandhan Scheme
Why in the News?
Recently, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways said that Setu Bandhan Scheme approval has been granted for seven bridge projects in Arunachal Pradesh under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF).
News in Brief
- Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari in a post said in Arunachal Pradesh under the Setu Bandhan Scheme approval has been granted for 7 bridge projects with a cumulative cost of ₹118.50 Crores, in the fiscal year 2023-24.
- Enhancing connectivity across regions, and fostering economic development, these projects align with our commitment to improving the overall quality of life and promoting the socio-economic growth of Arunachal Pradesh.
Setu Bandhan Scheme
- The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways launched the “Setu Bandhan Scheme”.
- The goal of make it easier to build bridges on state roads as well as rail under bridges (RUBs) and over bridges (ROBs).
- By building bridges in place of the current level crossings, this effort aims to improve road safety and eventually lower accident rates at these locations.
- It is aimed at replacing railway line Level Crossings (LCs) with Road Over Bridges (ROBs)/Rail Under Bridges (RUBs) in states.
Central Road and Infrastructure Fund
- Established under the Central Road Fund Act, 2000.
- The fund consists of a cess imposed along with excise duty on petrol and diesel.
- Earlier it was under the domain of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, now its under the Ministry of Finance.
Gaganyaan Mission
Source: PIB
GS III: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights
Overview
- News in Brief
- About Gaganyaan Mission
Why in the News?
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting to assess the progress of India’s Gaganyaan Mission and to outline the future of India’s space exploration endeavours.
News in Brief
- The Department of Space presented a comprehensive overview of the Gaganyaan Mission, including various technologies developed so far such as human-rated launch vehicles and system qualification.
- It was noted that around 20 major tests, including 3 uncrewed missions of the Human Rated Launch Vehicle (HLVM3) are planned.
- The first demonstration flight of the Crew Escape System Test Vehicle is scheduled on 21 October. The meeting evaluated the mission’s readiness, affirming its launch in 2025.
- India now aims for new and ambitious goals, including setting up ‘Bharatiya Antariksha Station’ (Indian Space Station) by 2035 and sending the first Indian to the Moon by 2040.
About Gaganyaan Mission
- Gaganyaan project envisages a demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of 3 members to an orbit of 400 km for a 3-day mission and bringing them back safely to earth, by landing in Indian sea waters.
- The project is accomplished through an optimal strategy by considering in-house expertise, experience of Indian industry, intellectual capabilities of Indian academia & research institutions along cutting-edge technologies available with international agencies.
- The pre-requisites for the Gaganyaan mission include the development of many critical technologies including a human-rated launch vehicle for carrying the crew safely to space, a Life Support System to provide an earth-like environment to crew in space, crew emergency escape provision and evolving crew management aspects for training, recovery and rehabilitation of crew.
- Various precursor missions are planned to demonstrate the Technology Preparedness Levels before carrying out the actual Human Space Flight mission.
- These demonstrator missions include the Integrated AirDrop Test (IADT), Pad Abort Test (PAT) and Test Vehicle (TV) flights.
- The safety and reliability of all systems will be proven in unmanned missions preceding manned missions.
- LVM3 rocket – The well-proven and reliable heavy lift launcher of ISRO, is identified as the launch vehicle for the Gaganyaan mission.
- The orbital Module (OM) that will be Orbiting Earth comprises of Crew Module (CM) and a Service Module (SM).
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