Rapid Fire Current Affairs | 13 Nov 2023

Supreme Court's Directives on Pollution Control

The Supreme Court's recent directives to multiple state governments underscore an urgent call to address the escalating issue of air pollution. 

• Emphasizing the immediate cessation of stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Delhi, the Court voiced concern over the detrimental impact on people's lives and health. 
• Notably, the Court denounced pollution as a severe health hazard, describing it as a 'murder of the people's health.' 
• Additionally, it critiqued the 'odd-even' scheme for being an inadequate method to control vehicular pollution and suggested prohibiting out-of-state taxis from entering Delhi. 

Read more: Air pollution

CORPAT & EX-BONGOSAGAR

The 4th edition of the Bilateral Exercise between the Indian Navy and the Bangladesh Navy, BONGOSAGAR-23, and the 5th edition of Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) by the two navies were conducted in the Northern Bay of Bengal recently. 

• Ships and aircraft from both navies undertook joint patrolling along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and subsequently conducted maritime exercises to enhance interoperability. 
• CORPAT-23 (India -Bangladesh) also included the maiden Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) drills conducted between the two navies, wherein a Search and Rescue scenario at sea was exercised.
• Other Related Exercises:
  • SAMPRITI: Annual Military Exercise (11^th edition conducted in October 2023 in Umroi, Meghalaya).

Read More: Bongosagar Exercise, India-Bangladesh Relations

Saturn’s Rings 

Saturn's rings will briefly disappear from view in 2025 due to an optical illusion caused by the planet's tilt (which happens every 13 to 15 years), and the alignment of its rings with Earth's line of sight.

• The rings will gradually reappear as Saturn continues to revolve around the Sun.
• According to NASA, Saturn is expected to lose its rings completely in the next 300 million years due to the gravitational pull of the planet and its magnetic field.
  • The phenomenon of "ring rain" causes ice particles from the rings to be pulled into the planet by its gravity under the influence of Saturn's magnetic field.
• About Saturn:
  • 6^th planet from the Sun
  • 2^nd largest in the solar system
  • Composed mostly of hydrogen and helium
  • Spectacular and complex rings made of ice, rock, and dust 
  • 146 moons, including Enceladus and Titan
  • Shortest day in the solar system (10.7 hours)
  • One orbit around the Sun takes about 29.4 Earth years

Read More: Saturn’s Mysterious Rings & Extreme Tilt, Methane in the Moons of Saturn, Jupiter Saturn Great Conjunction

Acharya JB Kripalani Birth Anniversary

Recently, the Prime Minister of India has paid tributes to Acharya Jivatram Bhagwandas(JB) Kripalani on his birth anniversary (11^th November 1888 in Hyderabad, Sindh).

• He Joined Gandhi's cause in 1917, associated with the Non-Cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, and Quit India Movement.
• J.B. Kripalani was the president of the Indian National Congress(INC) in 1947. He was one of the founders of the Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party (KMPP) after the independence leaving INC.
• He moved the first-ever No confidence motion in Lok Sabha in 1963, immediately after the India-China War (1962).
• He is the author of several books, including "Gandhi: His Life and Thought" (1970). The autobiography titled "My Times" was published posthumously in 2004.                                   

Read more: Acharya Kripalani 

Maulana Azad Birth Anniversary

Recently, the Prime Minister of India has paid tributes to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on his birth anniversary (11^th November 1888 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia).

• He adopted the pen name ‘Azad’ meaning ‘free’ to indicate his rejection of orthodox and narrow views.
• Azad supported the Non-Cooperation Movement started by Gandhiji and entered the Indian National Congress in 1920.
• He was the first education minister of independent India and under his tenure as the education minister established the University Grants Commission, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, and the Indian Institutes of Technology.
  • National Education Day is observed on 11^th November in India to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Azad. 
• He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, posthumously in 1992.

Read more: Maulana Abul Kalam Azad