Daily Current Affairs and GK | 23 January 2025

Topic: Biotechnology and Diseases

1. 23 species of blood-sucking flies discovered by ZSI scientists in A&N.

• In a groundbreaking study, 23 species of blood-sucking flies belonging to the Culicoides genus were identified by researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Among these, 13 species were registered for the first time in India.
• Recently published in the prestigious international journal ‘Parasites and Vectors’, these findings are the first comprehensive survey of these pests in the archipelago.
• These small insects, known locally as "Bhusi flies," though similar in appearance to flies, their feeding habits more closely resemble mosquitoes.
• They drink the blood mainly of livestock such as sheep, goats, and cattle, as well as wild animals such as deer.
• Of particular concern, five species are known to spread the blue tongue disease virus, which can be fatal to livestock and causes significant economic losses to the animal husbandry sector.
• Studies conducted in 2022 and 2023 showed that of the 23 species identified, 17 are known to bite humans, although the researchers assure that no human disease transmission has been reported so far.

Topic: Important Days

2. Parakram Diwas 2025: 23 January

• "Parakram Diwas" (Courage Day) is celebrated on 23 January every year.
• The day is commemorated as the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
• On this day in 1897, Netaji was born in Cuttack, Odisha.
• This year marks the 128th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
• The day is observed to commemorate his outstanding contribution to India's freedom movement. He is known for his selfless service to the country.
• In 2021, the Modi government had announced that January 23rd would be celebrated as "Parakram Diwas".
• The first Parakram Diwas was held in 2021 at Victoria Memorial in Kolkata.
• The three-day event to be held from January 23-25, 2025 at Barabati Fort in the historic city of Cuttack, the birthplace of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, was inaugurated by Odisha CM Shri Mohan Charan Majhi on 23 January.
• This year, the Parakram Diwas celebrations are being organised by the Ministry of Culture

(Source: PIB)

Topic: International News

3. World Bank Neutral Expert said it is competent to resolve the Indus Water Treaty dispute.

• World Bank Neutral Expert has been appointed under the terms of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), 1960.
• It said it is “competent” to decide on differences between India and Pakistan on the design of hydroelectric projects built on the Indus Treaty rivers.
• The Neutral Expert has rejected Pakistan’s request to facilitate the establishment of a Court of Arbitration to resolve the issue.
• A neutral Expert has the right to decide on all seven questions over the Kishenganga, and Ratle projects.
• India welcomed the decision given by the Neutral Expert under Paragraph 7 of Annexure F to the Indus Waters Treaty, 1960
• A neutral Expert and a chairman of the Court of Arbitration regarding the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric power plants were established in 2022.
• Under the Indus water treaty, India has been granted access to the water from the ‘Eastern Rivers’ — the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi — and Pakistan retained rights to the waters from the ‘Western Rivers’ Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

4. 1st Olympic Research Conference will be hosted by Gujarat.

• The event will be held at the Gandhinagar-based Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) campus.
• Officials from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) will gather to discuss the strategies and innovative economic models for financing and building “sustainable” sports infrastructure.
• It will help India position itself as a strong contender to host the 2036 Olympics.
• They will also discuss how sustainable sports infrastructure can be built from large events like the Olympics.
• The 1st International Olympic Research Conference will take place from January 27-30.
• It will discuss financing and innovative economic models for hosting the Olympics in India.
• Bharat Centre of Olympic Research and Education (BCORE) is collaborating with government agencies, and sports bodies to organize sports events including the Olympics.