Today's Brief 1/02/2025

IE Analysis:https://youtu.be/wx6E2VtivqI?si=3Na_8GNdfsvMBErF

JN Analysis:https://youtu.be/6bnlUVcTmMM?si=jwx5roVVNtzrgqm2

1 .2025 Asian Winter Games:

 (GS Paper II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations)

officially known as the 9th Asian Winter Games, will be held in Harbin, Heilongjiang, China from February 7th to 14th, 2025.

The 2025 Asian Winter Games, officially known as the 9th Asian Winter Games, will be held in Harbin, Heilongjiang, China from February 7th to 14th, 2025.1

This will be the second time that Harbin has hosted the Asian Winter Games, having previously done so in 1996.

The Games will feature 64 events across 11 winter sports disciplines, including:

• Alpine skiing

• Biathlon

• Cross-country skiing

• Curling

• Figure skating

• Freestyle skiing

• Ice hockey

• Short track speed skating

• Ski mountaineering

• Snowboarding

• Speed skating

A record 34 nations and regions are expected to participate in the Games, surpassing the previous record of 30 from the 2017 Games in Sapporo, Japan.

The Games are expected to have a significant economic impact on Harbin and the surrounding region, boosting tourism and creating jobs. They will also provide a platform for athletes from across Asia to compete at the highest level of winter sports.

2 .Core sector industries record 4% growth in December:

(General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management)  (GS Paper II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations)

India's eight core sector industries, which comprise 40.27% of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), registered a 4% year-on-year growth in December 2024. This growth was primarily driven by increased production in coal, steel, and electricity.

Here's a breakdown of the performance of each sector:

• Coal: 5.3% growth   

• Refinery Products: 2.8% growth   

• Crude Oil: 0.6% growth   

• Fertilizers: 1.7% growth   

• Cement: 4% growth

• Steel: 5.1% growth   

• Electricity: 5.1% growth

• Natural Gas: 1.8% decline   

While most sectors showed positive growth, natural gas production declined during the month. Overall, the core sector growth for the April-December 2024 period stood at 4.2%, compared to 8.3% in the same period of 2023.

3 .Kisan credit cards reach 7.75 crore as of March 2024:

 (GS Paper II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations)

The Economic Survey 2024-25, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, revealed that as of March 2024, a remarkable 7.75 crore Kisan Credit Card (KCC) accounts were operational in India. This signifies the widespread reach of this crucial credit facility among farmers across the country.

The total outstanding loan amount under these KCC accounts stood at ₹9.81 lakh crore, highlighting the significant financial support provided to the agricultural sector. The survey also mentioned the issuance of KCCs for allied activities like fisheries and animal husbandry, with 1.24 lakh and 44.40 lakh KCCs issued for these sectors, respectively.

To streamline the process, the claim processing under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) has been digitized through the Kisan Rin Portal (KRP) from FY25 onwards.

This will enable faster and more efficient settlement of claims. The government has mandated banks to allocate a significant portion of their credit to priority sectors, including agriculture, with a focus on supporting small and marginal farmers.

The Economic Survey emphasizes the importance of providing adequate credit support to farmers, especially those belonging to vulnerable sections, to enhance agricultural productivity and incomes. The KCC scheme plays a vital role in achieving this objective by providing timely and affordable credit to farmers for their various agricultural needs.

4 . India Adds 4 New Ramsar Sites, Tamil Nadu Leads With 20 Wetlands:

(General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management)

(General Studies-I (250 marks)Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society)

The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty that provides a framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. By adding these new sites, India is reaffirming its commitment to protecting these valuable ecosystems for future generations.

t's named after the city of Ramsar in Iran, where the treaty was adopted. While it was signed in 1971, it actually came into force a few years later, in 1975

• Signed: 1971

• Came into force: 1975

What does it do?

The Convention encourages countries to:

• Designate wetlands of international importance as "Ramsar sites"   

• Promote the "wise use" of all wetlands within their territory   

• Cooperate internationally on transboundary wetlands, shared wetland systems, and shared species

4 new Ramsar sites:

• Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu   

• Therthangal Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu   

• Khecheopalri Wetland in Sikkim   

• Udhwa Lake in Jharkhand

5 .Magnetic Pole Shift:

(General Studies-I (250 marks)Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society)

(General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management)

 Scientists have updated the position of Earth’s magnetic north pole, revealing that it has moved closer to Siberia and continues to drift toward Russia.

Unlike the geographic North Pole, which remains fixed, the magnetic north pole is determined by Earth’s ever-changing magnetic field.

Over the past few decades, its movement has been erratic—speeding up dramatically before slowing down recently—leaving scientists puzzled about the underlying causes.

Why Does Magnetic North Move?

The geographic North Pole, or “true north,” is a fixed point at the top of the Earth. In contrast, the magnetic north pole is determined by Earth’s magnetic field, which is generated by the movement of molten metals in the planet’s core.

This constant motion causes the magnetic north pole to shift over time.

Since its discovery in 1831 by British explorer Sir James Clark Ross, magnetic north has drifted from Canada toward Russia.

 In recent years, its movement has been unusually rapid, accelerating from 9.3 miles (15 kilometers) per year in 1990 to 34.2 miles (55 kilometers) per year before slowing down again around 2015.

6 .Polar bear fur 

(General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management)

is oily, or greasy, due to a substance called sebum. This sebum protects the fur from ice and water, and helps polar bears survive in the Arctic.

Why is it Scientifically Unique Explanation?

Sebum: The greasy substance that coats polar bear fur is made up of cholesterol, fatty acids, and diacylglycerols.

Anti-icing: The sebum creates a barrier that prevents ice from sticking to the fur.

Waterproofing: The oily fur also makes polar bears waterproof.

Freezing delay: The sebum helps delay the freezing of water on the fur.

Washing: Washing polar bear fur removes the sebum, making it similar to human hair, which ice sticks to easily.

7 .GRAP:

(General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management)

 The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a set of emergency measures implemented by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in Delhi-NCR to control air pollution based on different severity levels. It was introduced in 2017 following Supreme Court directives and is enforced by EPCA (Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority) and now by CAQM.

Bodies which Implements GRAP?

CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management) – Overall monitoring

CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) – Pollution control oversight

State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) – Regional enforcement

Municipal Corporations – Local implementation

GRAP is divided into four stages based on AQI levels:

8 .Official logo, mascot of 23rd National Para Athletics Championship 2025 unveiled: The official logo and mascot for the 23rd National Para Athletics Championship 2025 were unveiled at a grand press meet in Chennai, setting the stage for India’s premier para-athletics event.

The championship, scheduled to take place from February 17 to 20, will bring together over 1,700 para-athletes from across the country, celebrating resilience, determination, and sporting excellence, a release from the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) stated.

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