Current Affairs 19th December 2023 for UPSC Prelims Exam

Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB)

Context: Recently, India has been chosen as the Partner Administration for the Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) programme and will provide Tax Experts for this.

About Tax Inspector without Borders

• A joint effort by UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) + OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development).
• Launched in 2015
• Aims to bolster developing countries’ auditing capabilities + enhance multinational compliance with reporting standards globally. It does so by utilising automatic information exchange under the Common Reporting Standard Framework

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Dare to Dream (D2D) Scheme

Context: Recently Minister of State for Defence has filed a reply in Parliament regarding the successful implementation of the Dare to Dream (D2D) scheme.

About D2D Scheme

• The Dare to Dream Contest is an annual initiative (In honour of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam)
• Launched by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in 2019.
• Best-awarded ideas getting Funding under the Technology Development Fund to realize them into a prototype.
• Individual (Indian citizen above 18 yrs) + Start-ups (Registered with Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade + Indian Founder).

Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) Therapeutics

Context: A significant breakthrough with the approval of CRISPR-based therapies for sickle-cell disease and β-thalassemia was witnessed in the medical field in the U.K. and the US.

About CRISPR Therapeutics

• CRISPR-Cas9 is a groundbreaking gene-editing technology.
• Two key components:
  • Cas9 is an enzyme acting as ‘molecular scissors’ to cut DNA at specific locations.
  • Guide RNA (gRNA), is designed to direct Cas9 to a precise genome spot.
    • The gRNA binds to a matching DNA sequence, guiding Cas9 to make strategic cuts.
  • Cells then attempt to repair this DNA break, allowing scientists to manipulate genes by adding, removing, or altering DNA segments.

Zero Trust Authentication (ZTA)

Context: The Centre has implemented a secure email system for 10,000 users across critical ministries and departments.

What is Zero Trust Authentication (ZTA)?

• Zero trust architecture is a security strategy where every system, network, and user is considered untrusted, demanding constant verification of devices, users, and applications.
• This approach includes two-factor authentication, facial recognition or biometrics + password.
• It further meticulously tracks and records the times of user log-ins and log-outs.

Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary

Context: In the Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary in Sikkim, a tiger has been sighted at an altitude of 3,640 metres, setting a new record for the highest elevation in India where tigers have been found.

About the Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: Sikkim, Situated at the tri-junction of Sikkim, Bengal and Bhutan.
• Largest Wildlife Sanctuary of Sikkim
• Linked to Neora Valley National Park of West Bengal, forests of Samtse and Haa district in Bhutan.
• Vegetation: Alpine – Temperate – Sub Tropical
• Consists of high-altitude lakes like Lake Tsongmo, a biodiversity hotspot for migratory birds.
• Rivers Rangpo and Jaldhaka originate from lakes within the sanctuary.
• Flora includes Juniper, moss-covered oaks, R​​rhododendrons, silver fir
• The Main Fauna found in the sanctuary includes Red Panda (Sikkim’s state animal), Himalayan Black Bear, Musk Deer etc.
• Various eco-regions like the Terai-Duar savanna, Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests, and Himalayan subtropical pine forests are found in the sanctuary.

Sierra Leone

Context: Sierra Leone faces political unrest, economic crisis, and police aggression amid recent coup attempts, raising concerns about potential ECOWAS intervention.

Facts About Sierra Leone

• Location: Between Liberia and Guinea, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean in West Africa.
• Capital: Freetown.
• Languages: English and Krio.
• Highest Peak: Mount Bintumani (also known as Loma Mansa).
• Climate:
• Terrain: Includes mountains in the east, an upland plateau, wooded hills, and coastal mangrove swamps.
• International/ Regional Affiliation: Member of the International Solar Alliance + ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States)
• India’s Contribution: Provided a 4,000-strong military contingent to the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL).

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