UPSC Daily Current Affairs | Prelim Bits 25-10-2024

Bhu-Aadhar or ULPIN

Rural development ministry’s portal data reveals that only 30% of the rural land parcels have Bhu-Aadhaar, Centre pushes for 100% completion by 2026.

• Bhu-Aadhaar is also known as Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN).
• Launched in – 2021.
• ULPIN - It is an initiative to give a 14-digit alpha-numeric identity to each land parcel. The ULPIN contains
  • State code
  • District code
  • Sub-district code
  • Village code
  • Unique plot ID number
• It is generated using the longitude and latitude coordinates of the land parcel.
• It is part of the Centre’s Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP).

DILRMP is a Central Sector Scheme aims to modernize the management of land records, reduce land/property disputes, and enhance transparency in land transactions.

• ULPIN is to streamline and bring uniformity to the process adopted by states in assigning unique identification numbers to land parcels.
• Once the ULPIN is generated, it is stamped on the physical land record document held by the owner.
• The same ULPIN will be permanently attached to the plot of land.
• Even if the land is transferred, sub-divided, or undergoes any change, the ULPIN will remain the same for that geographic boundary.
• Objectives
  • To assign a unique ID to each plot of land for easy identification and retrieval of records
  • To create accurate digital land records with details of land owners, plot boundaries, area, usage, etc.
  • To link land records and property registration processes
  • To facilitate online delivery of land record services
  • To assist in government planning by maintaining updated land data
• Coverage - Andhra Pradesh was the 1^st State to complete 100% ULPIN coverage.
• The States of Karnataka, Odisha, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have achieved 60-90% ULPIN coverage.
• Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Assam are lagging behind in ULPIN implementation due to administrative and operational challenges.

Reference

The Print | Bhu-Aadhaar or ULPIN

Great Eared Nightjar

The Great Eared Nightjar is one of the most mesmerizing creatures, due to its striking resemblance with a mythical dragon, especially when perched.

• The Great Eared Nightjar is a dragon-like appearance bird native to Southeast Asia.
• Scientific Name - Lyncornis macrotis.
• Family - Caprimulgidae.
• Nomenclature - The name 'nightjar' comes from the bird's nocturnal habits and its calls are often called as jarring.
• Appearance - They have large, forward-facing eyes, big head, and intricate patterning of brown, black, and gray on its feathers.
• It has a white throat band but has no white on its wings or on its tail.
• Habitat - These birds prefer to dwell in thick forests, woodlands and mangroves. Instead of making nests really high up on trees, they typically roost on the ground or low branches.
• Distribution - It can be found roaming the skies from parts of India and Sri Lanka to the Malay Peninsula, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
• Diet – Insectivores include moths, beetles, and other nocturnal insects.
• Breeding - They blend into surroundings easily and lay eggs on the ground.
• Flight - Nightjars are well known for their silent flight, which is due to the structure of their feathers.
• Hence they can easily sneak up on their prey and also move away without anyone noticing, if faced with a potential threat.
• Conservation status
  • IUCN - Least Concern.
• Threat - Habitat loss.

Reference

Times of India | Great Eared Nightjar

World Polio Day

World polio day was organized recently by Rotary International in collaboration with global health organisations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.

• World Polio Day is observed annually on October 24.
• The Day was established by Rotary International to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk, who led the first team to develop the vaccine against the disease in the 1950s.
• Aim - To raise awareness about the importance of polio vaccination and to recognize progress made toward a polio-free world.
• Theme, 2024 - A Global Mission to Reach Every Child.

Polio

• Polio (Poliomyelitis) is a highly viral infectious disease, mainly affecting children under 5.
• Transmission - The virus is spread from person to person, mainly through the faecal-oral pathway or, less frequently, by a shared object (such as contaminated food or water).
• It multiplies in the intestine, from where it can enter the nervous system and cause paralysis.
• Severity - There are cases of paralytic poliomyelitis due to a loss of viral attenuation in the oral polio vaccine (OPV), known as vaccine-associated paralytic poliovirus (VAPP).
• Vaccine-associated paralytic poliovirus (VAPP) is very rare, occurring approximately 3.8 times per lakhs of cases in countries using the oral poliovirus vaccine. It can cause sometimes death.
• Prevention - Along with vaccination, it is required to wash hands, boil drinking water, and give only breastmilk to babies under 6 months of age.

Over the past 35 years, cases of wild poliovirus have decreased by more than 99%.

• There is no cure for polio, it can only be prevented through a vaccine.
• Vaccination
• Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV)
  • Developed by - Jonas Salk in 1955.
  • Administration - Given via injection.
  • Characteristics - IPV contains a killed virus, making it safe but less effective at inducing immunity in the intestines compared to oral vaccines.
• Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV)
  • Developed by - Albert Sabin in the early 1960s.
  • Administration - Administered orally, often in a sugar cube form.
  • Characteristics - OPV contains a weakened live virus, which not only protects the vaccinated individual but can also help immunise others in the community through "herd immunity.
• In India - In 2009, India had reported 741 polio cases, the highest in the world. In January 2011, India reported its last polio case.
• India was declared polio-free in 2014 by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Reference

Indian Express | World Polio Day

India-China LAC Agreement

India has announced a pact on patrolling along the LAC, which is expected to set in motion the process ultimately leading to normalization.

• India and China have made progress in resolving the military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, with both nations reportedly agreeing to restore patrolling rights.
• Regions - Depsang Plains and Demchok region, allowing their troops to resume patrolling up to their old patrolling points along the LAC.
• The frictions between the two sides in the Depsang Plains and Demchok region have long been regarded as "legacy issues" predating the Chinese incursions of 2020.
• The Depsang Plains are located in the north of Ladakh and Demchok in the south.
• At present, 7 friction points exist in eastern Ladakh.
• These include PP 14 (Galwan), PP 15 (Hot Springs), PP 17A (Gogra), the north and south banks of Pangong Tso, the Depsang Plains, and Charding Nullah in Demchok.
• The agreement allows Indian troops access to patrolling points (PP) 10 to 13 in the Depsang Plains, while in Demchok, patrolling will extend to Charding Nullah.
• Mutual agreements have reportedly been reached for the eastern theatre as well, particularly in sensitive areas of Arunachal Pradesh.
• Friction points like Galwan Valley and Pangong Tso remain unchanged.
• Further discussions on other sectors in the eastern region will also take place between the two sides at a later stage.
• Moreover, both sides will exchange their patrol schedules with each other.
• In case of conflicting dates or times, adjustments will reportedly be made by mutual consent.

Reference

Indian Express | India-China LAC Agreement

Lake Erie

Algae bloom in western Lake Erie was moderate compared to previous years, getting rid of problem algae starts with giving it less food.

• Lake Erie is one of the 5 Great Lakes of North America and the 4^th largest by surface area.
• It is located on the border between Canada and the United States.
• It is primarily bordered by the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, as well as the Canadian province of Ontario.
• Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes, which contributes to its warmer temperatures and greater susceptibility to pollution and algal blooms compared to the other lakes.
• Tributaries - The Detroit, Huron, and Raisin rivers are the main tributaries to Lake Erie.
• Discharge - The Niagara River carries the water from Lake Erie to the east.
• It is a key part of the St. Lawrence Seaway.
• Pollution - The Great Lakes have been affected by pollution, and in the late 20th century, the U.S. and Canada investigated ways to reverse the damage.
• Ice levels - The Great Lakes have experienced historically low ice levels for two years in a row.

Reference

Physics Org | Lake Erie