NEO IAS Daily Newsletter TPS 19 Daily Current Affairs 24th February, 2019 | Prelims Countdown: 98 Days Join our ECONOMY Prelims Telegram Channel: https://t.me/NEOIASECONOMYPRELIMS Join our Prelims Telegram Channel for Regular Updates: https://t.me/NEOIASPRELIMS Subscribe our YouTube channel for daily current affairs videos: www.youtube.com/neoias TABLE OF CONTENTS Science and Technology Standard Model, Dark Matter, Dark Energy, Anti- matter and Higgs Boson Polity and Governance Digital Communications Commission, BharatNet and Universal Service Obligation Fund World Affairs Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Culture Dongria Kondh Environment For any furthequeries, kindly contact us Arjuna Tree on: 9446331522, 9188152205 Map Aided Programme Note: We attempt to cover new issues Gulf of Aden every day and drop the issues which are Previous Year Questions Revision Series (Pqrs)- already covered. Therefore aspirants are advised to regularly follow NEO (2011) IAS daily current affairs material and video for a guaranteed success in Prelims 2019. NEO IAS daily current affairs stands out from other daily current affairs by its exclusive UPSC SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY prelims focus on aspects that lie in and STANDARD MODEL, DARK MATTER, DARK ENERGY, ANTI- beyond current affairs. MATTER AND HIGGS BOSON Why in news? The work of a Jaipur physicist on the standard model of particle physics, explaining new aspects of dark matter, dark energy and disappearance of anti-matter in the Universe, has been recognised by Belle Collaboration. More about the news Belle Collaboration is an international body of more than 400 physicists and engineers, head quartered at the High Energy Accelerator Research Organisation, Tsukuba, Japan. NEO IAS 0484-4030104, 9446331522 www.neoias.com|https://www.youtube.com/neoias Page 1 of 6 The team made measurements that cannot be explained by the standard model and are related to the decay of a subatomic particle known as “beauty meson”. About Standard Model of Particle Physics It is the theory describing the known fundamental forces except the gravitational force in the universe, and classifying all known elementary particles. The current formulation of the standard model was finalized in the mid- 1970s upon confirming the existence of quarks. The model has provided accurate experimental predictions but have fallen short in explaining some phenomena and hence not a complete theory of fundamental interactions. About Dark Energy and Dark Matter Dark Energy It is a hypothesized unknown form of energy that spreads throughout the space causing acceleration of the expansion of the universe. According to Standard Model, 68% of the total energy in the present- day observable universe. Dark Matter It is a hypothesized form of matter that is thought to account for approximately 85% of the matter in the universe, and about a quarter of its total energy density. Dark matter is called dark because it does not appear to interact with observable electromagnetic radiation, such as light, and is thus invisible to the entire electromagnetic spectrum. The majority of dark matter is thought to be composed of some as-yet undiscovered subatomic particles. About Anti-matter It is defined as a material composed of the antiparticles of the corresponding particles of ordinary matter. Antimatter is the opposite of normal matter. The sub-atomic particles of antimatter have properties opposite those of normal matter. The electrical charge of those particles is reversed. For example, the antimatter of an electron is an anti-electron or positron – an electron with properties opposite to that of electron like positive charge. For example, a hydrogen atom has one electron and one proton; so antihydrogen would have one antiproton and one positron. Likewise a Positronium is an electron-positron pairing. Antimatter was created along with matter after the Big Bang. When matter and antimatter come into contact, they annihilate – disappearing in a flash of energy. Antimatter was first predicted in 1928 by English physicist Paul Dirac. Higgs Boson The Higgs boson is an elementary particle in the Standard Model of particle physics, associated with the Higgs field supposed to be responsible for giving particles their masses. Its existence was confirmed in 2012 based on collisions in the LHC at CERN. The Higgs boson has often been called the "God particle". NEO IAS 0484-4030104, 9446331522 www.neoias.com|https://www.youtube.com/neoias Page 2 of 6 Fundamental Particles An elementary particle or fundamental particle is a subatomic particle with no sub structure, thus not composed of other particles. Particles currently thought to be elementary include o The fundamental fermions (quarks, leptons, antiquarks, and antileptons), which generally are "matter particles" and "antimatter particles". o The fundamental bosons (gauge bosons and the Higgs boson), which generally are "force particles" that mediate interactions among fermions. Fundamental Forces of Nature Gravitational Force – Weakest force; but infinite range. Weak Nuclear Force – Next weakest; but short range. Electromagnetic Force – Stronger, with infinite range. Strong Nuclear Force – Strongest; but short range. Mesons They are unstable subatomic particles composed of one quark and one antiquark. They are part of the hadron particle family – particles made of quarks. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION, BHARATNET AND UNIVERSAL SERVICE OBLIGATION FUND Why in news? Digital Communications Commission (DCC) has given an in-principle approval to monetise 2.5 lakh km of fibre laid under the government’s flagship BharatNet programme, by leasing or selling the assets to private players. About Digital Communications Commission Digital Communication Commission is an authority established to deal with various aspects of Telecommunications and is the highest decision- making body for the telecom sector. It was set up by the Government of India with administrative and financial powers of the Government of India as Telecom Commission. It was re-designated as the 'Digital Communications Commission' in 2018. Members • The Digital Communications Commission consists of o A Chairman . The Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Telecommunications is the ex-officio Chairman of the Digital Communications Commission Four full time members o . Ex-officio Secretaries to the Government of India in the Department of Telecommunications o Four part time members . The Secretaries to the Government of India in the concerned Departments Functions • The Digital Communications Commission is responsible for o Formulating the policy of Department of Telecommunications for approval of the Government; NEO IAS 0484-4030104, 9446331522 www.neoias.com|https://www.youtube.com/neoias Page 3 of 6 o Preparing the budget for the Department of Telecommunications for each financial year and getting it approved by the Government; & Implementation of Government's policy in all matters concerning o telecommunication. About BharatNet The Bharat Net Project is the new brand name of National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) which was launched in 2011. It seeks to provide broadband connectivity to all 2.5 Lakh gram panchayats (GPs) through optical fibre. It was renamed Bharatnet in 2015 and is being funded through Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF). Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) USOF is a fund formed by the Central Government to fund connectivity projects in rural India. It would be raised through a 'Universal Access Levy (UAL)', which would be a percentage of the revenue earned by the operators under various licenses. The Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Act, 2003 gave statutory status to the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF). The Fund is to be utilized exclusively for meeting the Universal Service Obligation (i.e. providing universal access to ICT). WORLD AFFAIRS ORGANISATION OF ISLAMIC COOPERATION Why in news? Sushma Swaraj invited to address Organisation of Islamic Cooperation meet. About OIC The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations with a membership of 57 states spread over four continents. The Organization is the collective voice of the Muslim world. It endeavors to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world. The OIC has permanent delegations to the United Nations and the European Union. The official languages of the OIC are Arabic, English, and French. There are also specialized organs under the banner of the OIC including the Islamic Development Bank and the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Head Quarter is in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Islamic Summits are organized by OIC. Members The OIC has 57 members, 56 of which are also member states of the United Nations, the exception being Palestine. The members, though with large Muslim populations, are not necessarily Muslim majority countries. A few countries with significant Muslim populations, such as Russia and Thailand, sit as Observer States, while others, such as India and Ethiopia, are not members. NEO IAS 0484-4030104, 9446331522 www.neoias.com|https://www.youtube.com/neoias Page 4 of 6 The OIC Observer states, or states with large Muslim populations at present are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Central African Republic (CAR), Thailand, Russia and ‘Northern Cyprus’. CULTURE DONGRIA KONDH