UPSC QUIZ 17.11.2023

Explanation:

• 6th High-Level Meeting of the India-OPEC Energy Dialogue took place on 9 November 2023, at the OPEC Secretariat in Vienna, Austria.
• The co-chairs of the meeting were HE Haitham Al Ghais, Secretary General of OPEC, and HE Hardeep Singh Puri, Honourable Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs of the Republic of India.

Key Highlights of India-OPEC Energy Dialogue

• The Meeting focused on key issues related to oil and energy markets with a specific emphasis on ensuring availability, affordability and sustainability, which are necessary to ensure the stability of energy markets.
• The meeting concluded with both parties underscoring the importance of fostering enhanced cooperation between OPEC and India moving forward.
• World Oil Outlook 2023, which forecasted that India would be the fastest-growing major developing economy, averaging long-term growth of 6.1% between 2022-2045 and accounting for over 28% of incremental global energy demand during the same period.

Explanation:

• The scheme Scholarships for Higher Education for Young Achievers Scheme (SHREYAS), has been proposed to be implemented during the 2021-22 to 2025-26 by placing two ongoing Central Sector Schemes for OBC (Other Backward Classes) and EBC.
• These schemes are, National Fellowship for OBC and Dr.Ambedkar Central Sector Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans for Overseas Studies for OBCs and Economically Backward Classes (EBCs).
• The main objective of the schemes is Educational Empowerment of OBC & EBC students by way of awarding fellowship (financial assistance) in obtaining quality higher education and interest subsidy on educational loan for overseas studies.

National Fellowship for OBC Students

• It aims to provide financial assistance to OBC students pursuing higher education, specifically M.Phil and Ph.D. degrees in various recognized universities, research, and scientific institutions.
• The scheme offers 1000 Junior Research Fellowships annually for advanced studies and research. These fellowships are awarded to students who have qualified through specific tests like the UGC-NET or UGC-CSIR NET-JRF Joint Test.
• Key Features: Financial assistance is provided through the National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (a Government of India Undertaking, under the administrative control of Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment).

Explanation:

• In October 2023, India's Wholesale Price Index (WPI) recorded an annual inflation rate of -0.52%, down from -0.26% in September 2023.
• The negative inflation is due to price declines in sectors such as chemicals, electricity, textiles, basic metals, food products, and paper compared to October 2022.
• This deflationary trend is influenced by a high base effect from October 2022 when wholesale price inflation was 8.4%.
• In terms of food prices, the Wholesale Food Index increased by 1.07% compared to the 2022.
• Within the food basket, there were divergent trends, notably a substantial 21% decrease in vegetable prices, while inflation in paddy and cereals experienced an acceleration.

Explanation:

• A recent study has identified a connection between the significant increase in soy/soyabean production in Brazil's Amazon and Cerrado regions over the past two decades and a rise in pediatric cancer-related deaths.
• The expansion of soy farming in these areas has been accompanied by a substantial increase in pesticide usage.

Key Highlights of the Study

Correlation Between Soy Production and Pediatric Cancer Deaths

• The study conducted revealed a statistically significant correlation between the increase in soy production and deaths from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) in children from 2008 to 2019.

Pesticide Exposure through Water Supply

• The study suggested that pesticide exposure likely occurred through water supply penetration. In essence, a 10% increase in the municipal area dedicated to soy farming raised the likelihood of a child under five dying from ALL by 1.3% and by 1.6% for children under ten.

Policy Recommendations

• The research highlighted a strong and persistent relationship between the expansion of high-intensity agriculture in the region and adverse human health outcomes.
• However, access to high-quality healthcare systems could mitigate these links, especially for treatable conditions like ALL.

Explanation:

• Numerous countries including Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, Paraguay, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom and international entities have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization.
• The United States and the European Union have already designated Hamas a terrorist organization.
• Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out a precise and targeted operation against Hamas in a specified area in the Al Shifa Hospital.
• Al-Shifa is the largest hospital in the Gaza Strip. Israel and the US claimed that Hamas has a command base in the hospital.

Hamas

• HAMAS stands for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya (Islamic Resistance Movement.
• It emerged in 1987 during the first Palestinian uprising.
• It was founded by Palestinian imam and activist Ahmed Yassin.
• It is committed to armed resistance against Israel and the creation of an Islamic Palestinian state in Israel’s place.
• Hamas is a Palestinian Islamic terrorist group that rules the Gaza Strip.
• Hamas has vowed Israel's destruction and has fought several wars with Israel since taking power in Gaza in 2007.