UPSC Daily Current Affairs | Prelim Bits 20-08-2024

Purandar figs

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has recently facilitated the export of India's first ready-to-drink Purandar fig juice to Poland.

• Purandar figs are a variety of fig grown in the Purandar taluk of Pune district, Maharashtra.
• They are known for their sweet taste, size, and nutritional value, and are considered one of India's best figs.
• First cultivation- Figs were commercially cultivated in 1904 at Jadhavwadi in Dive village of Purandar tehsil.
• Popularity- This fig variety gained recognition in the 1920s.
• GI tag- Acquired in 2016, providing legal protection and promoting exports.

• Taste and texture- Known for their unique sweet taste, Purandar figs have an attractive violet color due to the high calcium and potassium content of the region's red and black soil.
• Shape and size- Bell-shaped, larger than other varieties.
• Pulp content- Over 80% pulp, with a pinkish-red color, rich in vitamins and minerals.
• Leading region- Pune district is the top fig-producing area in Maharashtra.
• Ripening seasons- Figs ripen twice a year, from May to June and December to January.
• Climate and soil- Purandar figs are grown in areas with dry weather, hilly slopes, and well-drained medium land, and are cultivated using a salt-free irrigation technique.
• Export milestones
  • Exported to Germany in 2022.
  • Showcased at Macfrut 2024 in Rimini, Italy.
• Patent- The product was granted a provisional patent, marking significant agricultural innovation.

References

1. The Print | Purandar figs
2. Village Square | Purandar figs

Super Blue Moon

Recently, a rare super blue Moon light up the skies, visible across different parts of the world depending on local time zones.

• Apogee & Perigee - The point closest to earth in the moon’s elliptical orbit is called perigee, and the point that is farthest is called apogee.

• Supermoon- A supermoon occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth (perigee) during a full moon. (This happens with a new moon as well but it is not visible.)
• The term 'supermoon,' coined by astronomer Richard Nolle in 1979.
• This makes the moon appear about 14% bigger and 30% brighter than when it is farthest from Earth (apogee).
• Supermoons occur roughly 25% of the time during full moons.
• Blue Moon- NASA describes it as the situation when a full moon is seen twice in a single month. This happens every 2 to 3 years.

A full moon occurs when the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon occurs roughly once a month, on average.

• Another widely accepted explanation relies on the astronomical season, defined as a period between a solstice and an equinox.
• It defines blue Moon is the 3^rd full Moon in a quarterly season of four full Moons.
• Super Blue Moon- It is a rare astronomical phenomenon that combines 2 distinct events, a "supermoon" and a "blue moon."
• Appearance- The Super Blue Moon will not appear blue in colour. The name "blue moon" does not relate to its colour.
• During a supermoon, the moon appears larger and brighter in the sky compared to a typical full moon.
• Next Super blue moon- The next Super Blue Moon will be seen in January 2037.

References

1. Indian Express | Super Blue Moon
2. Space | Blue Moon

DengiAll

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Panacea Biotec have launched India's first-ever phase 3 clinical trial for a dengue vaccine.

Dengue

• Dengue- It is a viral infection, and there are 4 serotypes of the dengue virus - DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4.
• Spread – Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas.
• Vector borne disease – It is spread through the mosquito vector and is the world’s fastest-growing vector borne disease.
• Transmission – It is transmitted to humans by the Aedes mosquito species, which also spreads Chikungunya and Zika virus.
• It is primarily caused by the Aedes aegypti mosquito while other species within the Aedes genus are normally secondary to Aedes aegypti.

Global dengue incidence is increasing, with over 129 countries affected as of 2023 (WHO data) and India ranks among the top 30 countries with the highest dengue incidence.

• Symptoms – Mostly asymptomatic, but the most common symptoms are high fever, headache, body aches, nausea and rash.
• Diagnosis – IgM, IgG antibodies test and NS1 antigen test.
  • Both are done through ELISA kits and hence are popularly known as Elisa test.
• Treatment – No specific treatment but generally treated with pain medicine.
• Prevention - Prevention and control of dengue depend on vector control.
• Disease severity- Higher risk of hospitalization and mortality in children, severe conditions like dengue hemorrhagic fever can occur.
• Vaccination - No current antiviral treatment or licensed vaccine in India.
• Dengvaxia was the first vaccine to receive a nod in 2015 and has been licensed in 20 countries since.  It is a live attenuated vaccine.
• WHO recommends ‘Dengvaxia’ for children aged 9 to 16 years.

DengiAll Vaccine

• DengiAll- It is a tetravalent recombinant live attenuated vaccine which works against all 4 serotypes of dengue.
• Indigenously developed by - Panacea Biotec.
• The vaccine is based on the tetravalent dengue vaccine strain (TV003/TV005), originally developed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S.

References

1. The Hindu | DengiAll
2. The Indian Express | Dengue vaccine

Guam Island

Recently, INS Shivalik arrived in Guam for an Operational Turnaround after successfully participating in RIMPAC 2024, the world's largest multinational maritime exercise.

• Guam Island- Guam is an island located in the western Pacific Ocean and is the largest and southernmost of the Mariana Islands, United States.
• Capital - Hagatna.
• Location- Guam is situated in east of the Philippines and west of Hawaii.

• Status- Guam is not a country but a U.S. territory.
• It is governed by an elected governor and legislature but is under federal control, similar to U.S. states.
• Topography- It features a mix of rugged limestone plateaus and low-lying coral reefs.
• The northern part of the island is relatively flat, while the southern part is mountainous with lush valleys and waterfalls.
• Climate- Pleasant tropical climate tempered by the northeast trade winds and the north equatorial ocean current.
• Ancient Inhabitants- The indigenous Chamorro people have lived on Guam for over 4,000 years.
• Colonial Era- Guam was first discovered by Europeans when Ferdinand Magellan arrived in 1521.
• It was later colonized by Spain in 1668 and remained under Spanish control for over 200 years.
• Flora and Fauna- Guam is home to unique flora and fauna, including some endangered species like the Guam rail.

References

1. The Hindu | Guam island
2. Britannica | Guam
3. Worldatlas | Guam

Banni grasslands

In a new study, researchers have assessed the suitability of different areas of Banni for sustainable grassland restoration, considering ecological value to be the primary criterion.

• Banni Grasslands – It is a largest tracts of arid grasslands in Kachchh district in Gujarat.
• It is a unique ecosystem combining  wetlands, grasslands, and salt pans.
• Bannis fall under Dichahnthium-Cenchrus-Lasiurus type of grass cover.

• Traditionally, Banni grasslands were managed following a system of rotational grazing.
• Area - It once covered an area of approximately 3,800 sq. km but it has now decreased to about 2,600 sq. km.
  • In India, grasslands account for about 24% of the country’s total land area.
• Climate - Banni is situated in Arid climate, with high temperature up to 48°C -50°C during May and June .
• Winter temperature goes down to 5°C – 8°C during December January.
• Rainfall - Average Annual rainfall, occurring through Southwest monsoon between June to September, is very low of 317mm with coefficient of variation of 65%.
• Wetlands - There have been numerous natural wetlands in Banni and the larget one is known as Chhari – Dhandh.
  • It is a saucer shaped wetland which is recently declared as Conservation Reserve.
• Bio Diversity - Banni grasslands is  home to 192 species of plants, 262 species of birds  including native and migratory as well as several species of mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.
  • Flora - Salvadora persica,Cressa cretica, Cyperus spp,  grasses in the genera Sporobolus, Dichanthium, and Aristida.
  • Fauna - Nilgai , Chinkara, Blackbuck, Wild boar, Golden jackal, Indian hare, Indian wolf caracal, Asiatic wildcat, Desert fox , Indian wild ass.
  • Migratory species - During rainfall season flamingos, migratory cranes visit here.
  • Cheetah Reintroduction - Banni Grasslands Reserve and Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary, both in Kutch, have been classified as the last remaining habitats of the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) in India.
• Breeding ground - Many bird species such as the great Indian bustard and the Bengal florican prefer to breed in grasslands.
• Tribal Communities - It is home to Sindhi speaking Maldhari (cattle breeders),  Halaypotra, Hingora, Hingorja, Jat and Mutwa tribes .
• Threat - Degradation due to deforestation, overgrazing, agriculture, urbanisation, tree-based plantation projects, invasive species, and mega-development projects.
  • As much as 49% of grassland areas worldwide are estimated to be experiencing degradation.    
• Findings of the recent study
  • The recent study has suggested measures for restoring the grassland.
  • Providing them with adequate water sources, either through irrigation or rainwater harvesting.
  • Providing supplementary inputs like fertilizers.
  • Terracing to protect from high water run-off , erosion and soil  intrusion.

References

1. The Hindu | Banni Grasslands
2. Gujarat Ecology Commission | Banni Grasslands
3. Banni |Banni Grassland