CURRENT-AFFAIRS

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• Recent reports reveal that at least 172 cases of malnourished children have been identified among the Sahariya tribes in Baran district, Rajasthan, over the past two weeks, according to officials.
• About the Sahariya Tribe:
  • The Sahariya tribe is recognized as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) and is dispersed across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh. They are also known by various names such as Seher, Sair, Sawar, Saor, and Sahara.
  • Historically, the Sahariya people trace their origins to the era of the Ramayana and even earlier. They rank among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups in India. Typically, Sahariyas reside in segregated areas within villages, known as ‘Seharana,’ which are often clusters of houses.
  • Their dwellings are constructed with stone boulders and stone slabs, locally referred to as Patore. In some villages, mud structures are also used. The caste system remains a significant social structure in their communities, with individuals of the same caste living in close proximity.
  • Religion: The Sahariya tribe practices Hinduism.
  • Language: They communicate in a dialect influenced by Hindi and Brij Bhasha.
  • Culture: The Sahariya people are renowned for their traditional dance, the Saharia Swang, performed during Holi. This dance involves a male performer dressed in female attire dancing alongside other male dancers to the rhythms of the dhol, nagari, and matki.
  • Economy: The tribe largely depends on forest products, agriculture, and daily wage labor for their livelihood. They are particularly adept at producing catechu from khair trees.

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• The Council of Europe recently announced that the United States, Israel, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, among others, have signed the International AI treaty that was adopted last year.
• About the Council of Europe (CoE):
  • The Council of Europe is an international organization comprised of European countries dedicated to safeguarding democracy and human rights while promoting European unity through legal, cultural, and social cooperation. It is the oldest and largest intergovernmental organization in Europe, established in 1949. The CoE has 47 member states, 27 of which are part of the European Union (EU), and is headquartered in Strasbourg, France. Its official languages are English and French.
  • It is important to distinguish the CoE from the European Council, which is a policy-making body of the EU. The CoE addresses various common concerns of its members, such as human rights, crime prevention, drug abuse, environmental protection, bioethical issues, and migration. To manage these issues, the Council has developed over 160 international agreements, treaties, and conventions, which have replaced numerous bilateral treaties between European states.
  • Notable agreements include the European Convention on Human Rights (1950), the European Cultural Convention (1954), the European Social Charter (1961), the European Convention on the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment and Punishment (1987), the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (1995), and the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine (1997).
  • The Council of Europe is organized into four main bodies: the Committee of Ministers (which makes decisions), the Parliamentary Assembly, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe, and the Secretariat.
• How the CoE Differs from the European Union:
  • The CoE is not a supranational institution like the European Community.
  • It lacks legislative power.
  • Member states cooperate on a voluntary basis.
  • The CoE cannot impose rules on its member states.
  • Unlike the EU, the CoE does not function as an economic organization.

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• The United Arab Emirates has proudly completed the Arab world’s first nuclear power facility, the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant.
• About Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant:
  • Located in Al Dhafra, within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, UAE, on the Arabian Gulf, the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is situated approximately 53 km west-southwest of the city of Ruwais. It marks the first nuclear power plant in the Arab world.
  • Construction of the plant began in July 2012, with operations commencing in 2020 when the first of its four reactors was activated. The facility includes four nuclear reactors, which, when fully operational, are expected to prevent the emission of up to 21 million tonnes of carbon annually.
  • The plant is designed to generate 40 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity each year. It is projected to meet up to 25% of the UAE’s electricity requirements, roughly equivalent to New Zealand’s annual energy consumption.
  • The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant will supply power to major corporations, including the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), one of the world’s largest oil producers, Emirates Steel, and Emirates Global Aluminium.

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• Two new species of ginger, Globba tyrnaensis and Globba janakiae, have been discovered in the Double Decker Living Root Bridge area of Meghalaya.
• About Globba tyrnaensis and Globba janakiae:
• These delicate plants, often called "dancing girls" due to the movement of their flower structures in the breeze, belong to the genus Globba, which is part of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae). Globba species are native to tropical regions such as Southeast Asia, India, and the Eastern Himalayas and are renowned for their intricate and vibrant flowers.
• Globba tyrnaensis was identified in the renowned Double Decker Living Root Bridge area of Tyrna village, located in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya, at an elevation of 731 meters. A smaller population was also discovered near Thangkharang Park in Cherrapunji. This species is noted for its short inflorescence, orange flowers, and large anthers, and it produces bulbils for propagation. It thrives in the moist, shaded understory of forests and attracts bees, contributing to the local ecosystem. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines, it has been informally classified as endangered.
• Globba janakiae was also found in the Tyrna village area but is even rarer, with fewer than 10 mature individuals documented. This species is distinguished by its shorter inflorescence and the absence of inflorescence bracts. Its orange flowers feature heart-shaped labellum structures with small horn-like appendages. Named in honor of EK Janaki Ammal, a pioneering Indian botanist celebrated for her advocacy of native plants and her stance against deforestation, Globba janakiae has been assessed as critically endangered.

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• The government is set to launch the highly anticipated 'INDIAsize' initiative, according to recent statements by the Union Textiles Minister.
• About the INDIAsize Initiative:
  • The INDIAsize initiative, led by the Ministry of Textiles, is designed to establish standardized measurements that cater specifically to Indian body types.
• Need for INDIAsize:
  • Currently, both international and domestic brands operating in India use sizing standards based on US or UK measurements, which typically include 'small,' 'medium,' and 'large' sizes. However, these Western standards do not align well with Indian body types, which differ in terms of height, weight, and other body dimensions. This mismatch often leads to fitting issues and consumer dissatisfaction.
  • To address these challenges, the Ministry of Textiles has approved the INDIAsize project, which aims to develop standardized body sizes tailored for the Indian market. The project involves collecting anthropometric data from over 25,000 individuals, both male and female, aged between 15 and 65 years, using safe 3D body scanning technology.
  • The resulting body size chart will assist national and international retailers and manufacturers in producing garments that better fit Indian consumers, helping to balance demand and supply for well-fitted clothing. Once implemented, INDIAsize is expected to become a key reference for Indian and global fashion brands operating in India.

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• Recently, two NASA astronauts aboard Boeing’s Starliner will extend their stay on the International Space Station due to issues with a faulty propulsion system, including helium leaks.
• About Helium:
  • Helium is an inert gas that does not chemically react with other substances and is non-flammable. With an atomic number of 2, it is the second lightest element after hydrogen. Helium has a very low boiling point of -268.9°C, allowing it to remain a gas even in extremely cold conditions. While non-toxic, helium cannot be inhaled in large quantities as it displaces the oxygen necessary for human respiration.
• Uses in Rockets:
  • In rocket technology, helium serves two primary purposes:
    • Pressurization: Helium is used to pressurize fuel tanks, ensuring a continuous flow of fuel to the rocket engines. It also supports cooling systems within the rocket.
    • Maintaining Pressure: As fuel and oxidizer are consumed in the rocket's engines, helium fills the resulting empty spaces in the tanks to maintain pressure.
    • Due to its non-reactive nature, helium can safely interact with the residual contents of the tanks without causing adverse reactions.
• Susceptibility to Leaks:
  • Helium’s small atomic size and low molecular weight make it prone to escaping through minor gaps or seals in storage tanks and fuel systems. However, because helium is rare in the Earth's atmosphere, its presence can be easily detected, making it a useful indicator for identifying potential leaks or faults in a rocket or spacecraft’s fuel systems.