< Daily Current Affairs & Important Editorials

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Tribal Pride Day

GS- I >> History >> Tribal Movement

Context: India celebrates Janjatiya Gaurav Divas (Tribal Pride Day) to honour tribal freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda.

About Janjatiya Gaurav Divas (Tribal Pride Day):

• Janjatiya Gaurav Divas is celebrated on 15th November (since 2021) to recognize the efforts of the tribal freedom fighters.
• India’s freedom struggle was strengthened by tribal movements by Santhals, Tamars, Kols, Bhils, Khasis and Mizos etc.
• The date is the birth anniversary of Sri Birsa Munda who is revered as Bhagwan by tribal communities across the country.

About Birsa Munda (1875-1900):

• Early life: Birsa Munda also known as Dharti Aaba, was born in Munda tribe at Ulihatu, Khunti district of Chotanagpur Plateau region (Jharkhand).
• Social reforms: He stressed on the importance of prayer, staying away from alcohol, having faith in God and observing a code of conduct.
• Based on these, he started the faith of Birsait.
• Ulgulan movement: Birsa started a movement called ‘Ulgulan’, or ‘The Great Tumult’ against the exploitation and discrimination against tribals.
• Led to Chotanagpur Tenancy Act being passed in 1908 which restricted the passing on of land from the tribal people to non-tribals.
• Ethical Values: Perseverance, courage, and resilience.

Source: www.livemint.com

National Health Claim Exchange (NHCX)

GS- II >> Social Justice >> Health

Context: The National Health Authority (NHA) and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) collaborated to operationalize the NHCX, a digital health claims platform.

About NHCX:

• It is a digital health claims platform that serves as a gateway for exchanging claims-related information among various stakeholders in the healthcare and health insurance ecosystem, enhancing efficiency and transparency in health claims processing.

About NHA:

• It is an autonomous entity established under the Society Registration Act, 1860, responsible for implementing Pradhan Mantri-Jan Aaroya Yojana (PM-JAY).
• It oversees the design, technological infrastructure, and implementation of the ‘National Digital Health Mission’ to create a National Digital Health Eco-system.
• It replaced the National Health Agency and operates as an attached office of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Source: pib.gov.in

Igla-S Air Defence System

GS- III >> Science & Technology>> Defence

Context: Russia recently signed a contract to supply Igla-S hand-held anti-aircraft missiles to India and has allowed the production of the Igla under license.

About Igla-S Air Defence System:

• Igla-S is a Russian-manufactured MANPADS (man-portable air defence system), also known as SA-24 Grinch.
• Its capabilities extend to identifying and neutralizing various air threats, including cruise missiles and drones.
• With a range of up to 6 km, the system can effectively destroy targets up to an altitude of 3.5 km.
• The 2.5 kg warhead is classified as high-explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG).
• Guidance is facilitated through homing via infrared technology.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar Mission (NISAR) Mission

GS- III >> Science & Technology >> Space

Context: ISRO has successfully conducted a 21-day-long thermal vacuum test for the upcoming launch of the NISAR satellite in 2024.

• A thermal vacuum test is tested in a facility that mimics expected flight conditions.

About NISAR:

• It is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) observatory being jointly developed by NASA and ISRO.
• NISAR will map the entire globe in 12 days and provide consistent data for understanding changes in Earth’s ecosystems, ice mass, etc.
• It 2,800 kilograms satellite consists of both L-band and S-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instruments, which makes it a dual-frequency imaging radar satellite.
• L-band radars are used for clear air turbulence studies and S-band radars are useful for weather observation.
• It has a 39-foot gold mesh antenna reflector that focuses radar signals from the upward-facing instrument.

Significance of NISAR:

• Large imaging area (>240km) allows full earth imaging in 12 days.
• High precision and resolution (<1cm) due to dual-band radars.
• Monitors Indian coasts, Antarctica, and deltaic region bathymetry changes.
• Observe ecosystem disturbances, ice sheet collapses, and natural hazards.

Applications:

• • Ecosystem and resource tracking: Measurement of forest cover and land usage, Oil and Gas exploration, water resources, etc.
  • Disaster management: tracking the source of earthquakes, landslides, and oil spills and mapping the after effects of the disaster.
  • Cryosphere tracking: changes in the permafrost, ice sheets glaciers, etc.

Source: www.thehindubusinessline.com

Tuvalu (Capital: Funafuti)

GS- III >> Environment >> Climate Change

Context: Australia inked an agreement with Tuvalu to offer residency to its citizens displaced by climate change.

About Tuvalu:

Political features:

• It is a nation of nine coral islands and is not landlocked.
• Bordering nations: Kiribati and Nauru, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, Tokelau and Fiji, Samoa, Wallis and Futuna, and Tonga.
• Bordering water bodies: Located midway between Hawaii and Australia in South Pacific Ocean.
• It is believed to be first nation to face climate change-induced complete submersion.

Geographical features:

• Archipelago is volcanic in origin and includes both atolls and reef islands.
• Largest atoll: Funafuti.

Source: www.downtoearth.org.in