UPSC Prelims Bits For Today (August 20, 2022) | UPSC Prelims Specific Current Affairs

In the ''UPSC Prelims Bits For Today'' article, we focus on UPSC Preliminary exam-oriented current affairs & prepare an easy-to-read and easy-to-understand digest from leading National Newspapers.

Table of Contents

”UPSC Prelims Bits For Today” is every day published in the morning between 11:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and contains selective current affairs articles. ”UPSC Prelims Bits For Today” covers various topics from UPSC Prelims Syllabus and is very helpful and time managing for UPSC Aspirants. The framing of this daily current affairs compilation article is easy to read and understandable also.

In the ”UPSC Prelims Bits For Today” article, we focus on UPSC Preliminary exam-oriented current affairs covering various sections from leading National Newspapers, PIB, and other various official sources.

Aranmula Vallasadhya

Aranmula Vallasadhya: Why in News?

Ashtami Rohini Vallasadya, the annual ritualistic mass feast, was held in full religious fervour at the Sree Parthasarathy temple at Aranmula on Thursday.

Aranmula Vallasadhya: Key Points

Aranmula Vallasadhya is a ritual offering to the deity Lord Parthasarathy in which the oarsmen of the snake boats are offered a feast.
On Ashtami Rohini Vallasadya, the annual ritualistic mass feast is held in full religious fervour at the Sree Parthasarathy temple at Aranmula.
Snakeboat parade: A ceremonial parade of the Palliyodams is also held in the Pampa as a prelude to the mega feast.
Keeping with the tradition, a team of devotees from Chenappadi village in Kottayam provided specially prepared curd for the feast.
With over 70 dishes it is probably one of the largest vegetarian feasts in India.

Ocean Diversity Pact!

Ocean Diversity Pact: Why in News?

A delegation from India and other member countries of the United Nations are in New York to deliberate on a one-of-its-kind agreement to conserve marine biodiversity in the high seas, namely the oceans that extend beyond countries’ territorial waters.

Ocean Diversity Pact: Key Points

The UN High Seas Treaty has been through 10 years of negotiations but has yet to be signed.
If agreed, it would put 30% of the world’s oceans into conservation areas by 2030.
Hopefully, it will protect marine life from overfishing and other human activities.
Two-thirds of the world’s oceans are currently considered international waters, which means all countries have a right to fish, ship and do research there. But only 1.2% of these high seas, as they are referred to, are protected.
This leaves the marine life living outside those areas at risk of exploitation from the increasing threats of climate change, overfishing and shipping traffic.

Deep Sea Mining

Deep Sea Mining: What is Deep-sea mining?

Deep-sea mining is when minerals are taken from the sea bed that is 200m or more below the surface.
These minerals include cobalt which is used for electronics, but the process could also be toxic for marine life, according to the IUCN.
As of March 2022, the International Seabed Authority, which regulates these activities, had issued 31 contracts to explore the deep sea for minerals.

Surge In Solar Capacity

7.2 In gigawatts (GW), the amount of solar capacity installations added in the first half of 2022 by India, according to Mercom India Research.
In January-June of 2021, the country had added 4.5 GW solar capacity, the research firm’s ‘Q2 2022 India Solar Market Update’ released on Thursday said.
India’s cumulative installed solar capacity now stands at 57 GW.
Cumulative large-scale solar PV installations in Rajasthan reached almost 13 GW as of June 2022, and the State accounted for almost 27% of the total installations in the country.