Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 02 May 2024 | Download PDF

• The study was conducted by scientists from ISRO’s Space Applications Centre (SAC) in collaboration with researchers from IIT Kanpur, University of Southern California, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad.
• The research found evidence of an enhanced possibility of water ice occurrence in the polar craters of the moon.

Key points:

• The study suggests that drilling on the moon to sample or excavate that ice will be crucial for future missions and long-term human presence.
• The extent of water ice in the northern polar region is twice that in the southern polar region.
• The primary source of sub-surface water ice in the lunar poles is believed to be out-gassing during volcanism in the Imbrian period.
• The distribution of water ice is likely governed by mare volcanism and preferential impact cratering.

• South Korea is actively discussing participation in a landmark defence technology pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

About AUKUS:

• AUKUS is a trilateral security pact formed between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, announced in September 2021.
• The pact referred to is AUKUS, which was established in 2021 with two main goals:
  • “Pillar one” aims to provide Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarines. South Korea is not expected to be part of this project.
  • “Pillar two” focuses on developing advanced war-fighting capabilities such as artificial intelligence, undersea drones, and hypersonic missiles.

• The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act came into effect on May 1, 2014.

About act:

• The Act was enacted to legalise the vending rights of street vendors (SVs).
• It aims to protect and regulate street vending in cities through State-level rules and schemes, and execution by Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
• It commits to accommodating all ‘existing’ vendors in vending zones and issuing vending certificates (VCs).
• It establishes a participatory governance structure through Town Vending Committees (TVCs).
• The Act outlines mechanisms for addressing grievances and disputes, proposing the establishment of a Grievance Redressal Committee chaired by a civil judge or judicial magistrate.

• The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), through the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), will host the 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting and 26th Meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection in 2024.
• These meetings will take place from May 20 to 30, 2024, in Kochi, Kerala.

Key points:

• The 46th ATCM agenda includes strategic planning for sustainable management of Antarctica, biodiversity prospecting, addressing climate change impacts.
• The 26th CEP agenda focuses on Antarctic environment evaluation, impact assessment, management, climate change response, area protection and management plans, and conservation of Antarctic biodiversity.

Do you know:

• India’s first Antarctic research station, Dakshin Gangotri, was established in 1983. Currently, India operates two year-round research stations: Maitri (1989) and Bharati (2012).
• These permanent research stations facilitate Indian Scientific Expeditions to Antarctica.
• In 2022, India enacted the Antarctic Act, reaffirming its commitment to the Antarctic Treaty.

• Alok Shukla has been awarded the 2024 Goldman Prize from Asia.
• He is the convenor of the Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan.
• He is also a founding member of the Hasdeo Aranya Bachao Sangharsh Samiti.

About Goldman Prize from Asia:

• The Goldman Environmental Prize recognizes individuals for sustained and significant efforts to protect and enhance the natural environment, often at great personal risk. 
• It is also known as the Green Nobel.
• The prize recognizes grassroots environmental heroes from the world’s six inhabited continental regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands & Island Nations, North America, and South & Central America.
• The first Goldman Environmental Prize ceremony took place on April 16, 1990, timed to coincide with Earth Day.

All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of Adda247.