December 26, 2024 marks the Communist Party of India’s (CPI) its 100th foundation day.

About CPI

• Foundation: Kanpur (then Cawnpore) Conference of December 1925 marked the foundation of CPI.
  • Conference met under the presidency of Singaravelu Chettier.
• Reasons for formation: Growing dissatisfaction with British imperial rule and global ideological shift post-Russian Revolution of 1917. 
• Prominent leaders: M.N. Roy, Abani Mukherji, etc.
• Key Contributions in freedom struggle
  • M.N. Roy was the first to propose the idea of a constituent assembly to draft Constitution of free India in 1934.
  • Played instrumental role in organizing worker’s and peasant’s movements and organizations such as All India Kisan Sabha, etc.

Study of archaea have given scientists clues to survival strategies of microorganisms by adapting to harsh conditions with the help of their Toxin-Antitoxin (TA) systems.

• TA Systems are found in many bacteria and archaea, and are usually composed of a toxin that inhibits an essential cellular process and an antitoxin that counteracts its cognate toxin. 

About Archaea

• Archaea are organisms consisting of a single cell without a nucleus.
• Archaea form one of the three domains of life; the others are bacteria and eukaryotes.
• They inhabit a wide range of habitats, including extreme environments such as near rift vents in deep sea or heat springs.

Centenary of 1924 Belgaum Congress Session is being celebrated in Belagavi (earlier Belgaum), Karnataka on December 26-27.

About 1924 Belgaum Congress session

• It was 39^th Session of the Indian National Congress and was the only session presided over by Mahatma Gandhi.
• Significance 
  • Discussed his dream of ‘Swaraj’ and ‘Sarvodaya’.
  • Revamped organisational structure and functioning of congress with 90% fee cut, focusing on social change, etc.
  • Held separate conferences against untouchability.
  • Strong resolutions were passed to stress upon Hindu-Muslim unity, paid social service, and making khadi spinning mandatory.

Recently, UN Secretary General paid tribute to Brigadier Amitabh Jha, who was serving with United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) at Golan Heights.

About UNDOF

• Headquarters: Camp Faouar (Syrian side of the Golan Heights).
• Genesis: Established by UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution 350 (1974), following the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement between Israel and Syria.
• Mandate: Maintain the ceasefire and supervise the area of separation — a demilitarized buffer zone — as well as the area of limitation — where Israeli and Syrian troops are restricted — in the Golan.
  • Mandate is renewed every 6 months by UNSC and has been renewed till June 2025.
• India is third largest military contributor to UNDOF.

Recently, Public Accounts Committee (PAC) flagged excess spending by four ministries in the Union Government.

About Excess Grant

• Article 115 of the Indian Constitution provides for supplementary, additional, or excess grants.
• Excess grants: The President shall cause to be laid before both Houses of Parliament a demand if any money has been spent on any service during a financial year in excess of the amount granted for that service and for that year.

Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution launches some key initiatives on National Consumer Day 2024.

• Every year, National Consumer Day is celebrated on 24^th December commemorating the receipt of Presidential assent for Consumer Protection Act, 1986. 

Key Initiatives Launched

• 'Jago Grahak Jago App,' 'Jagriti App,' and 'Jagriti Dashboard’ to protect Consumers from Dark Patterns.
• National Legal Metrology e-Mapp, which enhances transparency, efficiency, and accountability in governance and operations.
• Revamped National Consumer Helpline Portal (NCH 2.0) offers faster grievance resolution, multilingual support, and AI-powered features.

Recently, some experts have raised concerns over nondescript pond, created by landslide, growing into a massive lake in less than a year in the Kumaon-Himalaya range in Uttarakhand.

About Landslide Dam Lake

• Formation: Created as a result of a broad range of mass movements in different geomorphological settings.
• Process
  • Formation of dam:  Due to result of earth slumps & slides, mudflows, rock and debris avalanches in areas where narrow river valleys are bordered by steep and rugged mountain slopes.
  • Formation of lake: Behind the dam as a result of the continuous inflow of water from the river.
• Associated phenomenon: Landslide Dam Outburst Floods (LDOFs).

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Yemen is the most affected country globally by cholera.

About Cholera

• Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
• Most people with cholera have no or mild symptoms and can be treated with oral rehydration solution. 
  • It can be fatal if treatment is not quickly accessible. 
• Population’s access to safe Water, Sanitation And Hygiene (WASH) is essential to prevent cholera.
• The Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV) can help prevent and control cholera.

Kaveri engine, developed by Gas Turbine Research Establishment under DRDO, has been cleared for inflight testing, marking a major step in India's aerospace self-reliance.

About Kaveri Engine project

• Initiation: The Kaveri engine project began in the late 1980s to power the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.    
  • Later, DRDO focused on developing a dry version of the Kaveri engine for UAV applications.
• Current Capability: The dry Kaveri engine produces 49-51 kN of thrust, suitable for UAVs like the Ghatak stealth UCAV.
• Significance: Marks a strategic achievement, enhancing India’s self-reliance in aero-engine technology.

Recently, Kilauea volcano erupted on Hawaii’s Big Island.

• 99% of gas molecules emitted during a volcanic eruption are Water Vapor (H₂O), Carbon Dioxide (CO₂), and Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂).
• Remaining 1% is comprised of small amounts of hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride etc.

About Kilauea volcano

• About: Among one of world’s most active volcanoes.
• Location: Southeastern part of the island of Hawaii, Hawaii state, U.S.
• Features:
  • The Volcano’s summit has collapsed to form a caldera, a broad shallow depression.
  • Its slopes merge with those of the nearby volcano Mauna Loa (present in Hawaii’s Volcanoes national park).