Uttar Pradesh Affairs
Toxic Foam in Yamuna River
Devotees offered prayers as a part of their four-day Chhath Puja celebrations at the banks of foam-coated Yamuna near Kalindi Kunj. The visuals have worried environmentalists and led political war of words between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and other state governments.
Between Wazirabad and Okhla, Yamuna runs for 22-kilometre. It is less than 2 per cent of its length of 1,370 kilometres between Yamunotri and Allahabad. But this stretch accounts for 80 per cent of the total pollution load in the river.
Phenomenon of froth formation takes place on several lakes and streams. These Foam bubbles are produced on the decomposition of organic matter. The foam-producing Molecules comprises of two ends. Its one end repels water while another attracts water. These molecules work to reduce the Surface Tension on the surface of water. Foam bubbles are lighter as compared to water. Thus, they float on the surface as a thin film and gets accumulated over time.
Major reason behind froth formation is presence of phosphates and surfactants in untreated sewage generating from Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Phosphates and Surfactants components comprise of 1 percent of the froth, while 99 per cent is air and water.
National and International Affairs
Global Drug Policy Index
The Harm Reduction Consortium released the first Global Drug Policy Index.
Highlights:
Norway, New Zealand, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and Australia are the top five countries in this rating when it comes to compassionate and Health-oriented drug regulations.
Brazil, Uganda, Indonesia, Kenya, and Mexico are the five countries with the lowest rankings.
Out of a total of 30 countries, India is positioned 18th, which received 46 out of 100 scores and 63 out of 100 on the “usage of severe sentences and responses” criterion.
It received a 49 out of 100 for health and harm reduction and received a score of 38 out of 100 for proportionality in criminal reaction.
India received a 33 out of 100 for the availability and accessibility of internationally prohibited medications for the alleviation of pain and suffering.
NASA and US Geological Survey led Landsat 9 mission collected and sent its first Light images of the Earth.
Images highlight the remote coastal islands and inlets of Kimberley region of Western Australia, Lake Erie, white sands of Pensacola Beach and Glaciers high in the Himalayas.
All the acquired images provide a preview of how this mission will help people in managing vital <a href="https://exam.pscnotes.com/natural-Resources“>Natural Resources and understanding the impacts of <a href="https://exam.pscnotes.com/Climate-change”>Climate Change.
Landsat 9 is an Earth observation satellite. It was launched from Space Launch Complex-3E at Vandenberg Space Force Base on September 27, 2021. The mission was launched through an Atlas V 401 launch vehicle. This is a joint mission of NASA and US Geological Survey (USGS). NASA looks after building, launching, and testing the satellite on the other hand, USGS operates this satellite, and manages & distributes the data archive.
Reserve Bank Of India (RBI) is set to organise its first global hackathon called HARBINGER 2021Innovation for Transformation focusing on digital payments.
The global hackathon will be organised under theme of Smarter Digital Payments.
It will witness participants to identify and develop solutions which can be used:
To make digital payments accessible to the under-served
To enhance the ease of payments & user experience
To strengthen the security of digital payments and
to promote customer protection.
Thehackathonis inviting innovative ideas in payment & settlement system.
Through this hackathon, RBIseeks ideas on easy-to-use, innovative, non-mobile digital payment solutions to convert small-ticket cash transactions into digital mode to remove physical act of payment. It also seeks to develop alternate authentication mechanism for digital payments. Under the hackathon, RBI will also seek Social Media analysis monitoring tool to detect digital payment fraud and disruption.
Airport was declared as major airport by exercising powers conferred by Sub-Section (i) of Section 2 of the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008.
Earlier on October 23, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had inaugurated international flight operations at Srinagar airport. First direct international flight was inaugurated between Srinagar, Sharjah and United Arab Emirates (UAE).
AERA has been mandated to determine tariff for aeronautical Services provided at major airports, under section 13 of the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008.
Amount of the development fees including user development fee and amount of passengers service fee are levied under Rule 88 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 which were formulated under Aircraft Act, 1934.