Current Affairs – October 08, 2024

{Prelims – Bio – Disease} Progeria Disease

• Context (TOI): The longest-living survivor of rapid-ageing disease progeria died at the age of 28.

About Progeria

• Also called Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, it is a rare genetic disorder that causes children to age rapidly. Diseased Newborns appear healthy at birth but show signs of ageing within 1-2 years.
• Affected children experience slowed growth and have difficulty gaining weight.
• Progeria does not affect intelligence or brain development.
• Symptoms: Hair loss (baldness), Prominent eyes, Wrinkled, aged skin, thin, beaked nose, small face compared to head size, loss of fat under the skin.
• As they grow older, children develop age-related conditions like bone loss, hardening of the arteries and heart disease. It is fatal, with most children dying from heart problems or strokes.
• The average life expectancy is around 15 years, but some may live up to 20 years.
• There is no cure, but the drug lonafarnib can slow disease progression.

{Prelims – Envi} Annual Review by IRENA

• Context (PIB): A report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) highlighted the achievements of India’s RE sector.

Key Findings

• The renewable energy (RE) workforce increased to 16.2 million globally in 2022 from 13.7 million.
• An estimated 1.02 million jobs in India will be related to renewable energy in 2023.
• Hydropower was India’s largest employer in the renewable sector, providing around 453,000 jobs and accounting for 20% of the global total, second only to China.
• India added 9.7 GW of solar PV capacity in 2023 and ranked fifth globally for new installations and cumulative capacity, which reached 72.7 GW by the end of the year.
• India is the second-largest PV manufacturer globally after China. In 2023, India had a cumulative installed wind power capacity of 44.7 GW, ranking fourth globally.

{Prelims – Envi} Plankton Bloom

• Context (DTE): A recent study highlights an unusual plankton bloom off the coast of Madagascar. Dust emissions from drought-stricken Southern Africa drove the bloom.

• A plankton bloom refers to a rapid increase in the population of plankton in an aquatic environment, often resulting in a visible change in the water’s colour.

Causes of the Recent Plankton Bloom

• Dust Emissions: Dust was carried by wind from Southern Africa to Madagascar. Dust deposition in nutrient-poor waters southeast of Madagascar.
• Drought Conditions: Climate change has intensified droughts in Southern Africa. Vegetation loss leads to increased soil erosion and dust emissions.
• Nutrient Availability: High levels of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. Nutrient runoff from agricultural and urban areas.
• Light and Temperature: Adequate sunlight for photosynthesis and favourable water temperatures.

{Prelims – S&T – Defence} ADITI 2.0 and DISC Scheme

• Context (PIB): Recently, the Defence Minister launched ADITI 2.0, the second edition of Acing Development of Innovative Technologies and the 12^th edition of Defence India Start-up Challenges (DISC-12) during DefConnect 4.0.

• Aim: Develop 30 critical and strategic deep-tech defence technologies within the proposed timeframe.
• Eligibility: Start-ups can receive a grant-in-aid of up to Rs 25 crore for research, development, and innovation in defence technology.
• Technology Watch Tool: Aims to bridge the gap between the expectations and requirements of the modern Armed Forces and the capabilities of the defence innovation ecosystem.

Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC)

• Aim: To support Start-ups, MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises), and Innovators to develop prototypes and commercialise products/solutions for National Defence and Security.
• Launched by: Ministry of Defence in partnership with Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) in 2018.
• Eligible Participants: Start-ups, Indian companies, individual innovators, and academic institutions.