April 1, 2024 | DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS FOR APSC/UPSC
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Thunderstorms in State (Assam)
- Why in News?
- LGBI airport terminal experienced leakage and a portion of the ceiling collapsed.
- No injuries reported, but operations were affected.
- IMD recorded 52 mm rainfall at Guwahati airport.
- Adverse weather conditions caused uprooting of trees and waterlogging.
- Artificial flooding was observed in areas like Chandmari Colony and Rajgarh.
- Possible Causes:
- Cyclonic circulation over northeast Assam and humid winds from the Bay of Bengal contributed to the heavy rainfall.
- Similar conditions expected to persist, with heavy rain forecasted for isolated places on Monday.
GI Tag for 19 Traditional Items of Assam
- Why in News?
- Recently 19 traditional items from Assam got GI Tags.
- Assam Japi: Traditional hat.
- Bihu Dhol: Drum used in Bihu dance.
- Sarthebari Metal Craft: Craft dating back to the 7th century AD.
- Asharikandi Terracotta Craft: Terracotta items from Asharikandi village in Dhubri district.
- Assam Pani Meteka Craft: Products made from Eichhornia crassipes.
- Assam Mising Handloom Products: Handloom products of the Mising community.
- Bodo Dokhona
- Bodo Eri Silk
- Bodo Jwmgra
- Bodo Gamsa
- Bodo Keradapini
- Bodo Thorkha
- Bodo Gongar Dunjia
- Bodo Kham
- Bodo Serja
- Bodo Sifung
- Bodo Khardwi
- Bodo Gongona
- Bodo Jotha
- Crafts deeply rooted in history, supporting nearly one lakh people directly.
- Recognition will boost promotion and continue the legacy of these cultural items.
- Sarthebari metal craft dates back to the 7th century AD, with craftsmen still using age-old techniques.
- Asharikandi terracotta craft involves over 200 artisan families, producing items inspired by tradition and present-day demands
President Confers Bharat Ratna on LK Advani
- Why in News?
- President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor, on BJP stalwart and former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani at his residence
Passing of Eminent Linguist Bishweshwar Hazarika
- Contributions and Publications:
- Hazarika authored several books including "Assamese Language Origin and Development" and "Asomiya Bhasar Utpatti Aru Kramabikash."
- He was an editor of "Asomiya Sahityar Buranji" and translated significant works like "Assamese: its Formation and Development."
- Recognition and Honors:
- Hazarika was honored with the title 'Sahityacharya' by the Asam Sahitya Sabha in 2014 for his contributions to Assamese language and literature.
RBI's Plan to Combat Illegal Lending Apps
- Why in News?
- In response to the growing cyber fraud, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is contemplating the creation of a Digital India Trust Agency (DIGITA).
- DIGITA's primary objective would be to curb the proliferation of illegal lending apps.
- Apps lacking the 'verified' signature from DIGITA would be deemed unauthorized for law enforcement purposes, acting as a crucial checkpoint in combating financial crimes in the digital domain.
- Role and Responsibility:
- DIGITA, upon establishment, will be tasked with vetting digital lending apps to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
- Transparency and Accountability:
- The RBI has shared a list of 442 unique digital lending apps with the IT Ministry to whitelist with Google.
- Google has removed over 2,200 digital lending apps from its app store from September 2022 to August 2023.
- This action follows Google's policy update regarding loan apps enforcement on the PlayStore, allowing only those apps published by RBI-regulated entities or their partners
Vande Bharat Express to Commence Service in Tripura
- Why in News?
- The train service aims to connect Guwahati by July, facilitating quicker travel within the region.
South Africa Drought Leaves 20 Million Facing Hunger
- Why in News?
- Southern Africa, including Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi, is facing a severe drought, threatening the food security of approximately 20 million people.
- The drought, which began in late 2023, has scorched crops crucial for survival, affecting millions who rely on agriculture for sustenance.
- Humanitarian Aid Efforts:
- The United States government, through USAID, has funded food aid programs in partnership with organizations like the World Food Programme.
- Aid distribution efforts aim to provide essentials like cooking oil, sorghum, and peas to affected communities.
- Deteriorating Situation:
- Despite aid efforts, the situation remains dire, with dwindling resources and the prospect of worsening hunger.
- Some aid organizations, due to resource constraints, are unable to sustain their assistance, leaving communities uncertain about their future.
- Regional Crisis:
- Zambia and Malawi have declared national disasters, while Zimbabwe faces a similar prospect.
- The drought's impact extends to neighboring countries like Botswana, Angola, Mozambique, and Madagascar, exacerbating the crisis.
- Climate Change Dynamics:
- The region experiences a cycle of extreme weather events, from tropical storms to droughts, attributed to climate change.
- Scientists warn of increasing frequency and severity of such events, particularly affecting vulnerable populations.
Romania and Bulgaria Partially Join Europe's Schengen Travel Zone
- Why in News?
- Recenly, Romania and Bulgaria Partially Join Europe's Schengen Travel Zone
- What is Europe's Schengen Travel Zone?
- Europe's Schengen Travel Zone is an area comprising several European countries where people can travel freely without passport checks or border controls. Once you enter one Schengen country, you can move between other Schengen countries without having to show your passport again. This agreement aims to promote travel and trade between member countries and make it easier for people to move around within Europe.
- The Schengen Area, established in 1985, comprised 23 EU member countries, along with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
The Assam Tribune Editorial Summary (April 1, 2024)
Sensible move: Introduction of Indigenous Languages as Medium of Instruction
- Why in News?
- Recently, Department of School Education of the Assam government has taken a commendable step by introducing indigenous languages like Mising, Rabha, Karbi, Tiwa, Deuri, and Dimasa as mediums of instruction in the foundational stage of schooling.
- This move, aligned with the National Education Policy, 2020, aims to support tribal communities and promote linguistic diversity.
- Why so Impotance?
- In the context of early education, it's widely acknowledged that teaching children in their mother tongue is more beneficial than using a foreign language.
- The unfamiliarity of classroom settings combined with an alien language can create barriers to learning, hindering children's educational progress.
- Conversely, learning in a familiar language, often spoken at home, facilitates comprehension and builds confidence, laying a strong foundation for further learning.
- Way Forward:
- For this initiative to succeed, the Department of Education must ensure the availability of well-written primers and qualified teachers proficient in each of the indigenous languages.
- Without adequate support infrastructure, the intended benefits of the language-instruction policy may not be realized.
- Therefore, it's crucial to prioritize the development of resources and training for teachers to implement this sensible move in education policy.
Fish Consumption: Northeastern States Leading
- Why in News?
- A recent study conducted by WorldFish India in collaboration with the ICAR analyzed data from National Family Household Surveys spanning from 2005-06 to 2019-21, revealing trends in fish consumption over the past 15 years.
- Tripura leads in fish consumption with 99.35% of the population consuming it, followed closely by Manipur and Assam.
- Assam and Tripura also lead in weekly consumption, indicating a strong preference for fish in the diet.
- Even in areas where fish consumption traditionally wasn't prevalent, there has been a rising trend, reflecting changing dietary preferences and improved availability.
- The study forecasts a doubling of fish consumption in India by 2047, highlighting the need for government and private stakeholders to ramp up fish production to meet growing demand.
- The consumption of fish in Assam and other northeastern states has always been culturally significant, but recent years have seen a notable increase, likely due to greater availability and accessibility.
- Way Forward:
- Transforming Assam's natural water bodies into hubs of pisciculture could provide sustainable livelihoods for thousands of families and generate significant revenue for the state.
- Government intervention and support are crucial to popularize scientific fish rearing and proper management of water bodies.
- Encouraging entrepreneurship among youth and providing support for technology adoption and information dissemination can empower fish farming communities and drive growth in the sector.
- Overall, leveraging Assam's natural advantages and addressing the challenges in the fishery sector can unlock its full potential for economic development and food security.
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