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Current Affairs News Analysis for UPSC | 30th Nov 2020

New species of gecko found
HEADLINES:
New species of gecko found in the Eastern Ghats
WHY IN NEWS:
This is the twelfth species to be discovered outside the Western Ghats
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3 : Flora and Fauna : Recent Findings
ISSUE:
INDIAN GEKKONID
- A new species of lizard, the smallest known Indian gekkonid, has been discovered in the Eastern Ghats.
- Studies show that the species belonged to the genus Cnemaspis.
- In India, 45 diverse species of Cnemaspis have been found, of which 34 are from the Western Ghats.
- It is also the first species reported from the Velikonda Range in Andhra Pradesh.
- “Cnemaspis is one of several groups of gecko that we now know are very diverse and widespread over much of peninsular India.
FEATURES
- The new species was sighted in a dry evergreen forest among the rocks beneath a small stream at a height of less than 200 metres above sea level.
- It is measured less than 2.9 cm (snout to vent length).
- The dorsal colour of the head, body and tail of the reptile is grey-pink with six pairs of dark brown patches.
FEMORAL SPORES
- The most interesting find was that the males of the species lacked femoral pores.
- Lacking femoral pores doesn’t mean that a male gecko is not adequately supplied with chemical means of communication.
- It may also be possible that geckos are able to release pheromones to attract or communicate with possible mates.
- Cnemaspis also have good vision, so visual signalling may play a part in mate attraction in these geckos.
IASbhai WINDUP:
- For now there is ‘deficient data’ on its conservation status.
SOURCES: THE HINDU | Current Affairs News Analysis for UPSC | 30th Nov 2020
Green light for semi-high-speed train line
HEADLINES:
Green light for semi-high-speed train line
WHY IN NEWS:
Responding to NITI Aayog, Kerala lists measures to reduce cost
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Infrastructure
ISSUE:
- The cost per kilometre of ₹120.77 crore for laying the corridor is “reasonable”.- Kerala Govt.
- Public-private partnership component of the joint venture between the Indian Railways and Kerala would be “improved”.-Centre
- The “equity cash contribution” of Railways had been brought down from ₹7,720 crore to ₹2,150 crore.
MEASURES ADOPTED TO REDUCE THE COST
- Alignment through vacant land or least populated villages
- 10 stations at the rate of 1.87 in 100 km
- Stone ballast for 475 km of track
- Modern technology for designing embankments on soft soil
- Pre-cast construction for viaducts and bridges.
IASbhai WINDUP:
- The detailed project report (DPR) had been prepared.
- The project was self-sustainable, the government submitted.
SOURCES: THE HINDU | Current Affairs News Analysis for UPSC | 30th Nov 2020
4th National Security trilateral Cooperation meeting
HEADLINES:
Neighbours agree on intel sharing
WHY IN NEWS:
India, Sri Lanka, Maldives deliberate on common security threats at trilateral
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Security : IR
ISSUE:
- A meet named – “common security threats”.NSA , Sri Lankan Defence and Maldives Foreign Minister Mariya Didi met at a trilateral meeting in Colombo.
- Mauritius and Seychelles were represented virtually at the senior officials’ level.
REVIVED AFTER SIX YEARS
- It sought to promote meaningful cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region.
- It with focus on common issues pertaining to maritime security.
BROAD COOPERATION
- Members agreed to broad-base cooperation by expanding the scope to improve intelligence sharing.
- Also, money laundering, cyber security and effect of climate change on maritime environment, according to the statement.
IASbhai WINDUP:
- The three countries also exchanged views on common security threats.
SOURCES: THE HINDU | Current Affairs News Analysis for UPSC | 30th Nov 2020
China’s first domestically made nuclear reactor- Hualong One
HEADLINES:
China’s first domestically made nuclear reactor goes online
WHY IN NEWS:
Work on Hualong One began in 2015; 6 others in the works
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 2 : 3 : Energy : IR
ISSUE:
HUALONG ONE REACTOR
- The reactor, can generate 10 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity each year.
- This will and carbon emissions by 8.16 million tons -China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC).
SIGNIFICANCE
- This marks China breaking the monopoly of foreign nuclear power technology.
- Nuclear plants supplied less than five percent of China’s annual electricity needs in 2019.
- Reducing its dependence on Western allies in critical high-tech sectors such as power generation is a key goal in Beijing’s “Made in China 2025” plan.
IASbhai WINDUP:
- Beijing has invested billions of dollars to develop its nuclear energy sector in recent years as it struggles to wean its economy from coal.
- Thirteen nuclear plants are under construction, more than in any other country.
SOURCES: THE HINDU | Current Affairs News Analysis for UPSC | 30th Nov 2020
Lifetime risk of diabetes
HEADLINES:
Lifetime risk of diabetes in metros alarming: study
WHY IN NEWS:
- 55% of men and 65% of women aged 20 are likely to develop the disease, it says
- Disturbing new research published this in Diabetologia (journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes)
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Diseases
ISSUE:
DIABETES : HIDDEN EPIDEMIC
SOURCES : THE HINDU
RESEARCH TITLE
- Lifetime risk of diabetes in metropolitan cities in India
KEY OBSERVATIONS
- Around 77 million adults have diabetes and this is expected to almost double to 134 million by 2045.
- Also out-of-pocket expenditure on diabetes treatment by patients will cause economic burden.
- [wc_highlight color=”yellow” class=””]ALSO READ : DIABETES DAY 2020 [/wc_highlight]
VARIOUS FACTORS
- Urbanisation, decreasing diet quality and decreased levels of physical activity — are all contributing to this hidden epidemic.
- Remaining lifetime risk of developing diabetes declined with age.
- Around 38% of women and 28% of men would develop diabetes.
- Obesity had a substantial impact on these projections.
- The risk was highest among obese metropolitan Indians — 86% among 20-year-old women and 87% among men.
IASbhai WINDUP:
- Diabetes must be immediately acknowledged for what it is: one of the most important threats to public health in India.
SOURCES: THE HINDU | Current Affairs News Analysis for UPSC | 30th Nov 2020
China nod for downstream dam on Brahmaputra
HEADLINES:
China nod for downstream dam on Brahmaputra
WHY IN NEWS:
Project marks a new phase in the exploitation of the river, with potential ramifications for India
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 2 : IR
ISSUE:
CHINESE FIRST DOWNSTREAM DAM NEAR ARUNACHAL PRADESH
- It will be first downstream dam on the lower reaches of the Brahmaputra river, or Yarlung Zangbo as it is known in Tibet.
- Chinese media said the state-owned hydropower company POWERCHINA had last month signed “a strategic cooperation agreement” with the Tibet Autonomous Region.
- The company will “implement hydropower exploitation in the downstream of the Yarlung Zangbo River” as part of the new Five-Year Plan (2021-2025).
OTHER PROJECTS
- China in 2015 operationalised its first hydropower project at Zangmu in Tibet.(MAP THEM)
- The report said this will be the first time the downstream sections of the river will be tapped.
- [wc_highlight color=”yellow” class=””]ALSO READ : SICHUAN-TIBET RAILWAYS [/wc_highlight]
POTENTIAL SPOT
- No official statement yet has been made by China on location of this project yet.
- The river falls spectacularly over a 2,000 metre-drop and turns sharply to flow across the border into Arunachal Pradesh.
- This 50-km section alone offered the potential of developing 70 million kWh “which equals more than Three Gorges power stations”.
IASbhai WINDUP:
- A dam at the Great Bend, if approved, would raise fresh concerns, considering its location downstream and just across the border from Arunachal Pradesh.
SOURCES: THE HINDU | Current Affairs News Analysis for UPSC | 30th Nov 2020
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