 Good evening aspirants, welcome to daily news analysis brought to you by Shankar A.S. Academy. Today's date is 11th January 2024. Displayed here are the list of topics we are going to see today. Now before we get into the discussion, I have an important announcement. Shankar A.S. Academy is starting prelims fitness test series, which is called pre-fit test series. And the batch one will be starting on 22nd January 2024. There were totally 63 tests out of which 37 are half test and 6 full revision test and 7 full test. It also includes 10 C-SAT test. The test mode will be conducted both offline and online. So, other details regarding this test series is given in the link in the description. Kindly check it. With this, let us start the discussion. Look at this article. It talks about a very high energy cosmic ray event occurred in 2021. This cosmic ray event is named as Amaterasu. So, in this news article discussion, first let us understand what is cosmic rays and then we shall see what is ultra high energy cosmic rays. So, what are cosmic rays? See, cosmic rays are invisible stream of energetic clusters coming from outer space and from the sun. They include protons and alpha particles. Here alpha particles are nothing but helium nuclei with the two protons and two neutrons. Cosmic rays were first discovered in 1912 by Victor Franz Hess. Remember, cosmic rays can be divided into two types. Firstly, those originating from beyond our solar system, they are called galactic cosmic rays. These rays originate outside the solar system from the events like supernova. Here supernova is an explosion that occurs when a massive star nears the end of its life after running out of its energy. Secondly, high energy particles emitted by the sun also releases cosmic rays and they are called solar cosmic rays. So, these are the two types of cosmic rays. One is galactic cosmic rays and other one is solar cosmic rays. Understood? Remember, only low intensity cosmic rays reach the Earth's surface. This is because they smash into atoms of atmospheric gases and produce a shower of other particles. During this process, they lose most of their energy in the atmosphere itself. So, this is the reason why the discovery of Amaterasu cosmic ray is most significant. Now, let us see the applications of cosmic rays. Cosmic rays provides one of our few direct samples of matter from the outside of solar system. So, they are high energy particles that move through space at nearly the speed of light. So, it can tell about space and the universe. In 20th century, cosmic rays helped scientists to discover antimatter and the muons. Antimatter and muon are subatomic particles beyond proton, neutron and electron. So, cosmic rays tells us about the chemical and physical makeup of the universe. It can tell us about how the universe has changed over time and what happens around the supermassive black holes. Most importantly, they help us to understand unknown astronomical phenomena and new physical origins beyond the standard models. So, this is all regarding this discussion. Now, let us move to the next topic. Look at this news article. Tamil Nadu is planning to declare four new sites as biodiversity heritage site. As we all know that Aritapatti in Madurai was the first biodiversity heritage site in Tamil Nadu. So, there will be four new sites which will be selected from Tamil Nadu. So, this is the article. In our discussion, let us see about biodiversity heritage site and Aritapatti site for our plumes exam. See, first of all, what is biodiversity heritage site? They are well-defined heritage areas with unique ecologically fragile ecosystem. It can be terrestrial, coastal, inland water or marine ecosystem. Know that under section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act 2002, the state government in consultation with the local body can notify a site as biodiversity heritage site. We should know that Nallur Tamarin Group in Bengaluru was the first biodiversity heritage site selected in India. It is declared as biodiversity heritage site in 2007. At present, there are 44 biodiversity heritage sites in India. So, this is all about the basics of biodiversity heritage site. Now, let us see the characteristics of these sites. They have specious richness, high endomism, presence of rare and threatened species, keystone species, presence of wild ancestors of domestic species, etc. Now, let us see the process of declaring a site as biodiversity heritage site. Firstly, the state biodiversity boards may invite suggestions for the declaration of such sites. Moreover, it can also receive suggestions from communities through Gamsabha, urban wards, forest protection communities, tribal councils, etc. Know that all these processes will go through the Biodiversity Management Committee. Then after several scrutiny, state biodiversity board issue a preliminary notification. After 30 days of draft notification, there will be a public hearing. And after this, the announcement of biodiversity heritage site is done. You should also know that declaration of such area as biodiversity heritage site does not put any restriction on the prevailing practices and usages of local communities. So, this is about the Biodiversity Heritage Site. Now, let us see about Aritapatti Biodiversity Heritage Site, which is the only such site in Tamil Nadu. It has rich biological and historical significance. This site has presence of around 250 bird species, including three flagship raptor species. So, these three species are Lager Falcon, Shaheen Falcon, Monally Eagle. Moreover, this site is surrounded by a chain of seven hills that serve as a watershed. It has 72 lakes, 200 natural springs and three check dams. Know that Anaykondan lake, which is built during Pandian kings in 16th century, is also one among the lake in this region. This Aritapatti site also has several Mahalithic structures, rock cut temples, Tamil Brahmi inscription and Jain caves in this area. So, this is all about the discussion. Now, let us move to the next topic. Look at this editorial article. It is about the recent conflict between India and Maldives. The article says that the tension between India and Maldives was triggered by a series of tweets by few Maldivian ministers and the main cause is the shifting Maldives foreign policy. The new president has prioritized relations with China and sidelined India. The article adjusts both countries to reassess their responses, emphasizing the significance of their historical ties. The article also highlights the benefits of previous strong relationship amid rising nationalist sentiments. So, this is about the editorial given here. In this context, let us answer a main question related to India-Maldives relations. Now, look at the question. The historical and geographical ties between India and Maldives are significant but the expanding presence of China in Indo-Pacific region has become a source of concern. Assess the strategic significance of Maldives for India and explore how China's influence is affecting the relationship between India and Maldives. So, this is the question. The question is expecting us to address two things. Firstly, we have to write about the strategic significance of Maldives for India and then we have to write about how Chinese influence is affecting India-Maldives relations. This may look like a long question, but it is a simple, straightforward question. In the introduction, we can write about general points about ties between India and Maldives. The Maldives, as India's closest neighbour, has historically relied on India for essential support and assistance. Even during the British rule, it relied on India for essential commodities. Currently, the economic ties have expanded to include infrastructure projects, trade partnerships and a bilateral USD currency swap agreement. For example, Hanimado International Airport Development Project and Greater Malay Connectivity Project. The defence cooperation between India and Maldives include joint exercises, training for Maldivian National Defence Force and collaborative efforts like Operation Cactus in 1980. Even recently during the pandemic, Maldives was the first nation to receive vaccines from India under Vasin Maitri initiative. India also supplied essential medicines to Maldives under Operation Sanjivani. So, you can include these points in our introduction. Now, coming to the body of the answer. Here, we have to write about strategic importance of Maldives for India. Before answering this part, first we have to know what is strategic importance. The strategic important location refers to a place or an area that holds significant importance due to its advantageous position for military, economic and political reasons. So, you must not restrict your answer only to the military importance. You must address other aspects also. Now, let us start with the military importance of Maldives to India. The first one is India's maritime security. Maldives is strategically located in Indian Ocean and its stability is crucial for India's maritime security. It serves as buffer between India and potential threats coming from India's adversaries. Secondly, India views the Maldives as the first line of defence against various security threats. Both countries collaborate to counter these challenges and contribute to regional stability. Now, moving on to the economic aspect. Here, you can mention that India has undertaken various infrastructure projects in Maldives such as the Greater Malay Connectivity Project and these projects not only contribute to the economic development of Maldives but also enhance India's influence in the region. Secondly, Maldives is located at the hub of commercial sea lanes which is running through Indian Ocean. So, having a stable and friendly Maldives will ensure security for Indian trade. Now, moving on to the political aspect. Maldives play an important role in India's strategic outreach in Indian Ocean as part of India's broader vision for Indo-Pacific region. The stability in Maldives is essential for India. India seeks to strengthen its partnership in the region to ensure a secure and cooperative geopolitical environment. So, these are some points regarding Maldives' strategic importance for India. Now, let us see how Chinese influence is affecting India-Maldives relations. In this, you can first mention about the increasing Chinese influence. See, in 2011, China opened its embassy in Maldives. Since then, it has been trying to attract Maldives towards China's foreign policy. Firstly, the Maldives has received substantial investment from China and has actively participated in China's built and road initiative. China has provided funding and undertaken construction of several key projects in Maldives. Secondly, in 2017, Maldives and China signed a free trade agreement. This shows that Maldives and China are growing closer. Now, how this relation is affecting India? The new Maldives president came to power by taking anti-India stand. Normally, the Maldivian president will visit India as a part of their first bilateral visit. But contrary to this trend, the new president visited Turkey as a part of his bilateral visit. Also, the new president requested India to withdraw India's troops from the Maldives. The president also made a visit to China during the ongoing conflict between India and Maldives relations. So, this shows his pro-China stance. So, all these reasons are affecting India's friendly relations with the Maldives. So, we have addressed the need of the question. Now, coming to the conclusion part. In conclusion, we can mention that both India and Maldives should pause and reconsider their actions. Maldives cannot afford to provoke India, considering its close proximity, economic strength and historical role as a primary security provider in India. Similarly, India should recognize the impracticality of exerting pressure on a significantly smaller neighbor. India should also use neighborhood-first policy to reduce Chinese influence in Maldives. In addition to this, both India and Maldives should prioritize diplomatic solutions and cooperation over confrontational approaches. So, in this way, you can end the answer. With this, let us conclude the discussion and move to the next topic. Look at this news article. It says that Tamil Nadu is not willing to ask Krishna water from Andhra Pradesh. This is because the reservoirs in Chennai have enough storage due to rains from Cyclone Michuang and Northeast Monsoon. So, this is the crux of the news article given here. In this context, let us discuss in brief about Krishna River from our Prolims perspective. See, Krishna River is an interstate river in southern India. It is the second largest river in our peninsula, India. Now that, the largest river in Peninsular India is Godavari. Now, what is the source of Krishna? Krishna rises in the western gods at an altitude of 1337 meters near Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra. Then it flows across the whole width of Peninsular from west to east for a length of about 1400 km. It forms a fertile delta in Andhra Pradesh before draining into Bay of Bengal. Now, let us see the drainage and tributaries of river Krishna. See, the Krishna basin extends over the state of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Its total catchment area is more than 2.58 lakh square km. Know that the basin is roughly triangular in shape and is bounded by Bala God Range on north, eastern gods on south and by western gods on west. Now, let us see the tributaries. The right bank tributaries of Krishna, Godprabha, Malaprabha and Thungabhatra. The left bank tributaries are Bhima, Musi and Munneru. Note that Thungabhatra River is the largest tributary of Krishna River and the longest tributary of Krishna is Bhima River. Now, let us see the important projects located on Krishna River. Firstly, Nagarjuna Sagar Dam. It is the world's largest masonry dam located in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana border. The other important dams are Almathi Dam in Karnataka, Sri Salem Dam in Andhra Pradesh, Thungabhatra Dam again in Karnataka and moreover know that Koina River in which the Koina Dam is located is also a tributary of Krishna and this river flows in Maharashtra. This dam is known for 1967 dam-induced earthquake which killed hundreds of people. So, these are some of the important projects on Krishna River. With this, let us conclude the discussion and move to the next topic. Look at this article. It is about a recent report called World Employment and Social Outlook Trends 2024. This was released by International Labour Organization. The report says that global unemployment will increase in 2024. The report also stated that real wages declined in the majority of G20 countries as the wages increases and it failed to keep pace with inflation. So, this is about the news article. In this context, let us see some points about International Labour Organization. The ILO was established in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles and initially, it served as an affiliated agency of League of Nations. In 1946, it became the first affiliated specialized agency of United Nations. The headquarters of ILO is located in Geneva and Switzerland. ILO plays a significant role in promoting social justice and fair labour practices since its establishment. The organization brings together representatives from government, employers and workers of 187 member states to set labour standards. Now, let us see the organizational structure of ILO. The ILO operates through three main bodies, International Labour Conference, Governing Body and International Labour Office. These bodies consist of representatives from governments, employers and workers. First, let us see about International Labour Conference. This body sets international labour standards and formulates the broad policies of ILO. It is often referred to as International Parliament of Labour and it meets annually in Geneva. Next, let us take the Governing Body. Saving as an executive council, the Governing Body meets three times a year in Geneva. It makes policy decisions, establishes programs and budgets which are then submitted to International Labour Conference for adaptation. Lastly, there is International Labour Office. The International Labour Office acts as a permanent secretary of ILO. It serves as a focal point for organizations' activities. It prepares reports under the scrutiny of Governing Body and the leadership of Director-General. The ILO performs various functions to address social and labour issues. It works towards the creation of coordinated policies and programs aimed at solving social and labour problems. It ensures the adoption of international labour standards through conventions and recommendations and also monitor their implementation. It ensures the protection of human rights including the right to work, freedom of association, collective bargaining, protection against forced labour and protection against discrimination. Lastly, it conducts research and publishes work on social and labour issues. So, these are some important functions performed by International Labour Organization. So, this is all regarding this discussion. Now, we have come to the problems practice question discussion. Look at the first question. Krishna is a mighty east flowing river of Peninsula India that rises from western gods in Karnataka. Yes, this statement is correct. Musi river is one of the tributaries of river Krishna. Yes, this statement is also correct. As we have seen in the discussion, there are 13 major tributaries of which six are right bank tributaries and seven are left bank tributaries. And the Musi river is one of the left bank tributaries of Krishna. Now, coming to the second question, look at the biodiversity heritage sites and the states in which they are present. So, how many of the pairs are not correctly matched? The correct answer is option B, only two pairs. Now, look at the third question. Consider the following statements with reference to International Labour Organization. It promotes internationally recognized human and labour rights. This statement is correct. India is one of the founding member of ILO. Yes, this statement is also correct. The third statement is incorrect. India has ratified all the eight core fundamental ILO conventions. India has ratified only six of the eight core ILO conventions. So, it has ratified the remaining two conventions. And the two conventions which India has ratified is freedom of association and production of right to organize convention, which is implemented in 1948 and the right to organize and collective bar gaining convention, which is implemented in 1949. So, these two conventions are not ratified by India. So, the correct answer is option B, only two. With this, we have come to the end of the discussion. If you like the video, please share it with your friends and don't forget to subscribe to Shankara IS YouTube channel. Thank you.