Current Affairs 26th Sep 2024 for UPSC Prelims Exam

Project Cheetah

Context: Recently Project Cheetah has completed 2 Years of its launch. Two years in, Project Cheetah has seen marginal successes but many challenges remain regarding its long-term outlook.

About Project Cheetah

• The project involves moving cheetahs from South Africa and Namibia to Kuno National Park located in Madhya Pradesh.
• Launched: on September 17, 2022.
• Aim: To replenish the cheetah population in India.
  • It was declared extinct in 1952.
• Cheetah Action Plan:
  • It is a project to conserve cheetahs and restore ecosystem functions in India.
  • Prepared by:
    • National tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
    • Wildlife Institute of India (WII)
    • Madhya Pradesh Forest Department.
  • Objectives:
    • To contribute towards global conservation of the cheetah species.
    • To restore open forest and savanna ecosystems, which will benefit biodiversity and ecosystem services.
    • To improve the livelihoods of local communities through eco-tourism and eco-development

Assam Accords

Context: The Assam government has initiated implementing 52 recommendations from the Clause 6 Committee of the Assam Accord. Also it has postponed some key provisions that require constitutional amendments.

What are Assam Accords ?

• Historical Context:
  • It was signed in 1985 between the Indian government led by Rajiv Gandhi and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU).
  • It aimed to resolve the six-year-long agitation against illegal immigration, particularly from Bangladesh.
• Key Clauses:
  • The Accord includes several clauses, with Clause 6 being one of the most important.
  • It states that “Constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.”
• Formation of the Biplab Sarma Committee:
  • In July 2019, a committee was formed by the Union Home Ministry under retired Justice Biplab Kumar Sarma to recommend ways to implement Clause 6.
  • The committee consisted of judges, bureaucrats, AASU leaders, and journalists.
• Key Recommendations:
  • The committee defined “Assamese people” to include Indigenous Tribes, Other Indigenous Communities of Assam, and Indian citizens residing in Assam before January 1, 1951.
  • Recommendations included reservations for Assamese people in Parliament, state assemblies, local bodies, and jobs.
  • Land Rights:
    • Establishment of Revenue Circles where only Assamese can own land.
    • A program to allot land titles to Assamese individuals who have occupied land without documentation.
  • Language Safeguards:
    • Assamese will remain the official language of Assam.
    • Compulsory teaching of Assamese in schools up to class VIII or X.
  • Cultural Heritage Initiatives:
    • Creation of an autonomous authority for the development of sattras (Vaishnavite monasteries).
    • Establishment of cultural complexes to promote the heritage of all ethnic groups in Assam.

Mineral Security Finance Network (MSFN)

Context: Recently, India has officially joined the US-led Minerals Security Finance Network

About MSFN

• It is a US-led initiative that aims to strengthen global cooperation in securing critical mineral supply chains. It has emerged from the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP).
• Objective:
  • To promote cooperation, information exchange and co-financing among institutions from the Indo-Pacific region and Europe.
• Members (14): United States, Australia, Canada, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.
• Significance for India:
  • India’s membership in the MSFN can help diversify and secure its supply of critical minerals.
  • India can also leverage the MSFN to help its public sector undertakings (PSUs) acquire critical mineral assets abroad.

Artificial Intelligent (AI) PC

Context: Worldwide shipments of AI PCs are projected to reach 114 million units by 2025. AI PCs are anticipated to account for 43% of all PCs sold globally in 2025.

What is an AI PC ?

• It is a computer that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance performance, efficiency, security and the user experience.
• AI PCs have built-in AI processors, such as neural processing units (NPUs), that work in parallel with the CPU and GPU to process AI workloads.

Features:

• Neural processing unit (NPU)
  • AI PCs have an NPU that handles AI workloads at low power, which can improve efficiency.
• CPU, GPU, and NPU
  • AI PCs have a CPU, GPU, and NPU that work together to handle AI tasks. The CPU is responsible for smaller workloads, the GPU is for large workloads, and the NPU handles sustained AI workloads.
• AI-optimised software
  • AI PCs come with AI-optimised software and features for productivity, creativity and user experience.
• Intelligent automation
  • AI PCs can learn from user behaviour and system performance to optimise tasks, such as managing system resources, predicting which applications users will access next, and improving responsiveness.
• Noise cancellation
  • AI PCs can perform intelligent noise cancellation when using the microphone.
• Resource management
  • AI PCs can manage resources better when running multiple programs or playing a game.

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