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  • Gaganyaan Analog Experiments (Gyanex)

    Why in the News?

    Gyanex (Gaganyaan Analog Experiments) ground-based astronaut simulations are being conducted by ISRO with ICMR and Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Bengaluru, to prepare Indian astronauts for the 2027 Gaganyaan mission.

    What are Gaganyaan Analog Experiments (Gyanex)?

    • Purpose: India’s first systematic programme in space medicine and astronaut psychology, preparing protocols for Gaganyaan and future missions like space stations and lunar expeditions.
    • Setup: Conducted at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Bengaluru, with ICMR support. Astronauts and defence personnel live in a mock spacecraft simulator under confinement, consuming DRDO-developed space food.
    • Activities: Strict space-like routines involving scientific experiments, resource management, schedules, and limited supplies. Tests also cover communication with time-delay simulation.
    • Gyanex-1: Group Captain Angad Pratap and two others confined for 10 days; completed 11 experiments on psychology, biomedicine, and communications.
    • Microgravity Simulation: Weightlessness cannot be reproduced on Earth; instead, 7-day bed-confinement at 6° head tilt studied microgravity effects.
    • Other Indian Analog Missions:
      • Ladakh Human Analog Mission (Nov 2024): Simulated interplanetary survival in cold, barren terrain.
      • HOPE Habitat at Tso Kar (Aug 2025): Tested 8 m habitat + 5 m utility module in Mars-like conditions of low pressure, saline permafrost, and high UV radiation.

    About Gaganyaan Mission:

    • Overview: India’s first human spaceflight mission, initiated in 2007, to send 3 astronauts into Low Earth Orbit (400 km) for 3 days, followed by Arabian Sea splashdown.
    • Rocket: Human-Rated LVM3 (HLVM3), adapted from GSLV Mk3, certified in 2025 for safe human use.
    • Significance: India to become the 4th nation (after US, Russia, China) with crewed spaceflight capability.
    • Latest Timeline (as of Sept 2025):
      • Dec 2025: First uncrewed mission (G1) with humanoid Vyommitra.
      • 2026: Two more uncrewed flights for life-support, avionics, and escape tests.
      • Early 2027: First crewed mission – 3 astronauts in orbit for 3 days.
    • Progress so far:
      • 80–85% development complete: avionics, parachutes, crew safety systems validated.
      • Integrated Air Drop Test (Aug 2025): Confirmed crew module deceleration.
      • Crew Escape System: Multiple ground and flight tests successful.
      • Recovery: Indian Navy and Australian Space Agency conducting splashdown drills.
      • Four IAF test pilots shortlisted: Shubhanshu Shukla, Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Angad Pratap, Ajit Krishnan.
      • All trained in Russia, now in advanced Indian training. Final crew of three will be chosen for maiden flight.
    [UPSC 2016] Consider the following statements: The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO

    1. is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission

    2. made India the second country to have a spacecraft orbit the Mars after USA

    3. made India the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit the Mars in its first attempt.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    Options: (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only * (d) 1, 2 and 3

     

  • Ecological Impact of the ELSA 3 Shipwreck in the Arabian Sea

    Why in the News?

    The sinking of the ELSA 3 ship off the Kerala coast in May led to a significant ecological disruption in the south-eastern Arabian Sea, a new study has confirmed.

    Ecological Impact of the ELSA 3 Shipwreck in the Arabian Sea

    About the Pollution and Contaminants:

    • Oil Slick: Wreck of ELSA 3 released petroleum pollutants, initially forming a slick of about 2 square miles.
    • Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs): Compounds like naphthalene, fluorene, anthracene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene detected; toxic, carcinogenic, and bioaccumulative.
    • Naphthalene Marker: High levels confirmed continuous leakage from fuel tanks.
    • Trace Metals: Nickel, lead, copper, vanadium found in elevated levels in water and sediments, worsening toxicity.
    • Distribution: Oil spread shifted with sea turbulence—first mid-depth concentration, later visible on the surface.

    Ecological Impacts of the Oil Spill:

    • Plankton: Zooplankton showed pollutant accumulation, marking entry into the marine food chain.
    • Fish Eggs & Larvae: Collected in the southwest monsoon spawning season displayed decay and mortality, threatening commercial species recruitment.
    • Benthic Organisms: Sensitive species declined within days; only pollution-tolerant worms and bivalves survived, reflecting seabed stress.
    • Higher Fauna: Brown Noddy seabird (Anous stolidus) recorded with oil-soaked plumage, highlighting risks to birds and larger marine life.
    • Overall Effect: A multi-level disruption from plankton to fish stocks to seabirds.

    Microbial Response and Bioremediation:

    • Bacterial Diversity: Metagenomic studies found hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria near the wreck.
    • Key Strains: Neptunomonas acidivorans, Halomonas tabrizica, Acinetobacter baumannii detected.
    • Implications: Their presence reflects both severe contamination and natural bioremediation potential.
    • Outlook: Microbial action may reduce pollution gradually, but contamination in the Arabian Sea remains significant.
    [UPSC 2017] In the context of solving pollution problems what is/are the advantage/disadvantages of bioremediation technique?

    1. It is a technique for cleaning up pollution by enhancing the same biodegradation process that occurs in nature.

    2. Any contaminant with heavy metals such as cadmium and lead can be readily and completely treated by bioremediation using microorganisms.

    3. Genetic engineering can be used to create microorganisms specifically designed for bioremediation.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    Options: (a) 1 only, (b) 2 and 3 only, (c) 1 and 3 only* (d) 1, 2 and 3

     

  • [19th Septmeber 2025] The Hindu Op-ed: Equalising Primary Food Consumption in India

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2019] What are the reformative steps taken by the Government to make food grain distribution system more effective?

    Linkage: The article’s proposal to restructure the PDS by trimming excess cereal entitlements and expanding pulse distribution directly links with UPSC 2019’s question. It highlights how reformative steps—like targeted subsidies, rationalised stocking by FCI, and focus on nutritional security beyond cereals—can make the food grain distribution system more effective. Thus, it connects poverty reduction with sustainable and equitable food security reforms.

    Mentor’s Comment

    The recent NSS household consumption survey, coupled with World Bank estimates, has painted a contrasting picture of India’s poverty and food deprivation. While global narratives celebrate the near-eradication of extreme poverty, ground-level consumption data tells a more sobering story, half of rural India still struggles to afford two simple thalis a day. This article unpacks the deeper meaning of food security beyond calorie intake, critiques the existing Public Distribution System (PDS), and explores how restructuring subsidies, especially towards pulses, can equalise food consumption in India. For UPSC aspirants, the debate is not only about statistics but also about welfare priorities, distributional justice, and the role of the state in ensuring dignified living standards.

    Introduction

    India has long battled poverty and hunger, but the release of the 2024 NSS Household Consumption Survey and the World Bank’s Poverty and Equity Brief (2025) has reshaped the debate. The World Bank report claims that extreme poverty has fallen from 16.2% in 2011-12 to just 2.3% in 2022-23, a historic achievement if true. Yet, when food consumption is measured through the “thali index” rather than calorie-based poverty lines, stark disparities emerge: 50% of rural India and 20% of urban India could not afford two thalis a day in 2023-24. This contradiction raises a crucial policy question—how can India ensure not just calorie intake but nutritional adequacy and equal access to primary food consumption?

    The contrasting narratives of poverty in India

    1. World Bank Estimate: Extreme poverty has “virtually disappeared,” with only 2.3% living below $2.15/day.
    2. Thali Index Reality: Despite rising incomes, half of rural India could not afford two balanced meals (thalis) daily in 2023-24.
    3. Deprivation Gap: The difference arises because food is residual expenditure after households spend on essentials like rent, health, and transport.

    Why measure poverty through the thali meal?

    1. Beyond Calories: Traditional poverty lines only measure calorific intake, ignoring nutrition and satisfaction.
    2. Balanced Meal: A thali (rice, dal, roti, vegetables, curd, salad) represents a self-contained, nutritious unit of food consumption.
    3. Cost Factor: Crisil estimates a home-cooked thali costs â‚č30. Many households fall short of affording even two thalis/day per person.

    How effective is the Public Distribution System?

    1. Food Deprivation with PDS: Even after including PDS food supplies, deprivation persists—40% rural and 10% urban cannot afford two thalis daily.
    2. Subsidy Distribution: In rural India, a person in the 90–95% expenditure class receives 88% of the subsidy given to the poorest 5%, despite much higher consumption capacity.
    3. Urban Progressivity: The PDS is more progressive in urban areas, but still, 80% receive subsidised or free food, including those not in need.

    Why are cereals not enough

    1. Equalised Cereal Consumption: Both the poorest and richest consume similar amounts of rice and wheat, showing PDS success but also its limits.
    2. Expenditure Share: Cereals now account for only 10% of average household expenditure, so increasing cereal subsidy has diminishing returns.
    3. Need for Protein: Pulses consumption is half in the poorest 5% compared to the richest 5%, highlighting protein inequality.

    Policy path: Equalising food consumption through pulses

    1. Expand PDS Coverage: Redirect subsidies towards pulses, the main protein source for many Indians.
    2. Rationalise Cereals Subsidy: Trim excess rice/wheat entitlements, especially for better-off groups, reducing stocking costs for FCI.
    3. Compact and Targeted PDS: By focusing on pulses and eliminating subsidies beyond the “two thali/day” norm, the system becomes both cost-effective and equitable.
    4. Global Significance: Achieving equalised food consumption across social classes would be a unique welfare success story worldwide.

    Conclusion

    The thali index reveals a hidden crisis of food deprivation that headline poverty numbers obscure. While cereal consumption has been equalised through decades of PDS efforts, the next frontier lies in ensuring protein security via pulses distribution. Rationalising subsidies and targeting them effectively can not only optimise public spending but also equalise primary food consumption across India, a feat that would stand as a benchmark in global welfare policy.

  • How the DeepSeek-R1 AI model was taught to teach itself to reason

    Introduction

    Reasoning, the ability to reflect, verify, self-correct, and adapt, has historically been considered uniquely human. From mathematics to moral decision-making, reasoning shapes every facet of human civilisation. Large language models (LLMs) like GPT-4 have shown glimpses of reasoning, but these were achieved with human-provided examples, introducing cost, bias, and limits. In September 2024, researchers at DeepSeek unveiled their model R1, which demonstrated reasoning through reinforcement learning (trial and error with rewards), without supervised fine-tuning. This represents a paradigm shift in how machines may learn, reason, and potentially evolve intelligence.

    Why is DeepSeek-R1 in the News?

    For the first time, an AI model has taught itself to reason without human-crafted examples. The results were dramatic: DeepSeek-R1 improved from 15.6% to 86.7% accuracy in solving American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME) problems, even surpassing the average performance of top human students. It also demonstrated reflection (“wait
 let’s try again”) and verification—human-like traits of reasoning. The scale and quality of progress mark this as a milestone in AI research, contrasting sharply with traditional methods that heavily relied on human-labelled data.

    What is Reinforcement Learning in AI?

    1. Definition: Reinforcement learning (RL) is a trial-and-error method where a system receives rewards for correct answers and penalties for wrong ones.
    2. DeepSeek’s Application: Instead of providing reasoning steps, the model was only rewarded for correct final answers.
    3. Outcome: Over time, R1 developed reflective chains of reasoning, dynamically adjusting “thinking time” based on task complexity.

    How Did DeepSeek-R1 Achieve Self-Reasoning?

    1. R1-Zero Phase: Started with solving maths/coding problems, producing reasoning inside <think> tags and answers in <answer> tags.
    2. Trial-and-Error Learning: Wrong reasoning paths were discouraged, correct ones reinforced.
    3. Emergence of Reflection: Model started using “wait” or “let’s try again,” indicating self-correction.

    What Were the Major Successes?

    1. Mathematical Benchmarks: R1-Zero improved from 15.6% to 77.9%, and with fine-tuning, to 86.7% on AIME.
    2. General Knowledge & Instruction Following: 25% improvement on AlpacaEval 2.0 and 17% on Arena-Hard.
    3. Efficiency: Adaptive thinking chains—shorter for easy tasks, longer for difficult ones—conserving computational resources.
    4. Alignment: Improved readability, language consistency, and safety.

    What Are the Limitations and Risks

    1. High Energy Costs: Reinforcement learning is computationally expensive.
    2. Human Role Not Fully Eliminated: Open-ended tasks (e.g., writing) still require human-labelled data for reward models.
    3. Ethical Concerns: Ability to “reflect” raises risks of generating manipulative or unsafe content.
    4. Need for Stronger Safeguards: As AI reasoning grows, so does the risk of misuse.

    Why Does this Matter for the Future of AI?

    1. Reduces Dependence on Human Labour: Cuts costs and addresses exploitative conditions in data annotation.
    2. Potential for Creativity: If reasoning can emerge from incentives, could creativity and understanding follow?
    3. Shift in AI Training Paradigm: From “learning by example” to “learning by exploration.”
    4. Global Implications: Impacts education, coding, mathematics, governance, and ethics of AI.

    Conclusion

    DeepSeek-R1 marks a turning point in AI evolution. By demonstrating reasoning through reinforcement learning alone, it challenges the notion that human-labelled data is indispensable. Yet, this very capability opens new debates—about creativity, autonomy, and control. For policymakers and citizens alike, the task is to harness AI’s promise while ensuring safety, fairness, and ethical integrity.

    PYQ Relevance:

    [UPSC 2023] Introduce the concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI). How does Al help clinical diagnosis? Do you perceive any threat to privacy of the individual in the use of Al in healthcare?

    Linkage: The breakthrough of DeepSeek-R1 shows how AI can now reason through reinforcement learning without human-labelled data, making it more efficient and adaptive. Such reasoning ability can enhance clinical diagnosis by enabling AI to self-correct and refine decision-making in complex medical cases. However, as with healthcare AI generally, the privacy threat persists if sensitive patient data is fed into models without strong safeguards.

  • What is PM MITRA Park?

    Why in the News?

    Prime Minister recently laid the foundation stone for India’s first PM MITRA (Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel) Park in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh.

    About PM MITRA Scheme:

    • Overview: Introduced by the Ministry of Textiles in 2021, the scheme aims to strengthen India’s textile sector by creating 7 world-class integrated parks.
    • Concept: Designed on the vision “Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign”, each park consolidates the entire textile value chain—spinning, weaving, dyeing, processing, printing, and garment-making—within a single ecosystem.
    • Sites Selected: Tamil Nadu (Virudhunagar), Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh (Dhar), and Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow).
    • Timeline: All parks are targeted to be established by 2026–27, with each covering around 1,000+ acres.
    • Implementation Structure:
      • Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV): Each park will be developed by an SPV jointly owned by the Centre and State Governments, operating in Public–Private Partnership (PPP) mode.
      • Development Capital Support (DCS): Up to â‚č500 crore per park provided by the Centre to SPVs.
      • Competitive Incentive Support (CIS): Up to â‚č300 crore per park offered to manufacturing units to encourage rapid implementation.

    Key Features and Benefits:

    • Integrated Value Chain: All stages of textile production are located in one hub, reducing transport costs, delays, and inefficiencies.
    • World-Class Infrastructure: Includes incubation centres, design/testing labs, effluent treatment plants, reliable utilities, logistics facilities, and worker hostels.
    • Employment Generation: Each park expected to create ~1 lakh direct and ~2 lakh indirect jobs, especially benefiting women and rural youth.
    • Investment Boost: Scheme aims to attract over â‚č70,000 crore in investments in the textile sector.

  • Govt to push Geothermal Pilots under New Policy

    Why in the News?

    The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) has launched its first National Policy on Geothermal Energy, aiming to create a regulatory and developmental framework for tapping geothermal resources.

    Govt to push Geothermal Pilots under New Policy

    India’s Geothermal Policy, 2025: Key Highlights

    • Launch: India’s first National Policy on Geothermal Energy was officially notified in September 2025 by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
    • Alignment with Goals: The policy is designed to support Net Zero by 2070, dovetailing with India’s renewable energy targets.
    • Scope: Applies to both power generation and direct-use applications such as district heating, agriculture, aquaculture, spa tourism, and industrial cooling.
    • Implementation Agency: MNRE is the nodal agency; other ministries, state governments, oil & gas firms, and academic institutions will collaborate.
    • Financial & Regulatory Support:
      • Tax incentives, grants, concessional financing, long-term leases (up to 30 years).
      • Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to offset high upfront costs (â‚č36 crore per MW).
      • Open access waivers, must-run status, and parity with other renewables.
    • Repurposing Wells: A strong focus on repurposing abandoned oil & gas wells for geothermal energy; MNRE already working with ONGC, Vedanta Ltd’s Cairn Oil & Gas, Reliance.
    • Global Collaboration: Partnerships with Iceland, Norway, US, and Indonesia for R&D, Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) and Advanced Geothermal Systems (AGS).
    • Pilot Projects: Five sanctioned projects for resource assessment and demonstration across multiple regions.

    Geothermal Energy Scenario in India:

    • Potential: Estimated at 10.6 GW (10,600 MW), as identified by the Geological Survey of India (GSI).
    • Mapping: Over 381 hot springs mapped with surface temperatures ranging 35°C – 89°C.
    • Global Context: According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), India, US, and China together account for 75% of global potential for next-gen geothermal.
    • Projects & Status:
      • NO grid-connected geothermal plants yet; focus is on pilot, demo, and R&D projects.
      • 20 kW pilot binary-cycle plant commissioned at Manuguru, Telangana.
      • Ongoing pilots: Puga (Ladakh), Chhumathang (Ladakh), Cambay (Gujarat), Barmer (Rajasthan).
      • IIT Madras + Vedanta project: retrofitting abandoned oil wells in Barmer to generate 450 kWh of electricity.
    • Future Roadmap:
      • 10 GW target by 2030, ~100 GW potential by 2045.
      • Vision 2047: Viksit Bharat, hybrid solar-geothermal projects, and heating for cold regions (Ladakh, NE, Andamans).

    Govt to push Geothermal Pilots under New Policy

    Major Geothermal Sites in India

    Region/State Site/Province Key Features & Notes
    Ladakh (Himalayan Province) Puga Valley High-temperature hot springs; identified by US ITA (2024) as most promising; pilot projects underway.
    Chhumathang Similar potential as Puga; targeted for power generation and direct heating applications.
    Himachal Pradesh Manikaran Popular hot spring zone; suitable for pilot geothermal plants and tourism-linked heating.
    Satluj, Beas, Spiti Valleys Multiple geothermal spots mapped by GSI; moderate-to-high potential.
    Uttarakhand Tapoban & Alaknanda Valley Himalayan geothermal systems; identified for research and pilot use.
    Gujarat Cambay Graben Abandoned oil wells available for repurposing (ONGC, Reliance, Vedanta pilots).
    Lasundra (Vadodara) Known hot spring site; potential for direct-use applications.
    Chhattisgarh Tattapani Field Well-studied geothermal site; suitable for direct heat use and demonstration projects.
    Jharkhand / West Bengal Damodar Valley Identified geothermal prospects; part of GSI mapping.
    Surajkund (Jharkhand) Among hottest springs in India (85–87°C).
    Andaman & Nicobar Islands Volcanic geothermal fields High geothermal promise; strategic as islands rely on costly power (â‚č30–32/unit → could drop below â‚č10–11).
    Telangana Manuguru 20 kW pilot binary-cycle geothermal power plant commissioned.
    Other States Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Meghalaya Multiple small hot spring clusters mapped by GSI; low-to-moderate potential.

     

    [UPSC 2013] Consider the following:

    1. Electromagnetic radiation

    2. Geothermal energy

    3. Gravitational force

    4. Plate movements

    5. Rotation of the earth

    6. Revolution of the earth

    Which of the above are responsible for bringing dynamic changes on the surface of the earth?

    (a) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only (b) 1, 3, 5 and 6 only (c) 2, 4, 5 and 6 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 *

     

  • Launch of Bima Sugam Portal

    Why in the News?

    Bima Sugam, envisioned as the world’s largest online marketplace for insurance, was officially launched by the Bima Sugam India Federation (BSIF) at the IRDAI headquarters in Hyderabad.

    What is Bima Sugam?

    • Overview: World’s largest unified digital marketplace for insurance products and services, initiated by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
    • Coverage: Includes life, health, motor, travel, property, agricultural, and commercial insurance.
    • Function: Works like Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for insurance, providing common infrastructure for purchase, renewal, management, and claims.
    • Stakeholders: Brings together insurers, intermediaries, agents, brokers, banks, and customers on a single platform.
    • Governance: Operated by the Bima Sugam India Federation (BSIF) with equity participation from insurance companies.
    • Policy Goal: Forms part of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), aligned with the vision of Insurance for All by 2047.
    • Working:  The simplified way for a user on the platform would be as follows:
      • Registration: A person can register using Aadhaar-based KYC or other valid ID.
      • e-Bima Account Creation: A secure, integrated insurance repository has been created.
      • Policy search and comparison: Products from all registered insurance companies are listed with standardized information for easy comparison.
      • Purchase: Policies can be purchased digitally with instant e-documentation and secure payments.
      • Service: Policyholders can renew, update, port, or cancel policies and receive real-time assistance.
      • Claims: Users can submit claims and track the process; insurance companies and TPAs will use backend access for faster verification and settlement.

    Key Features:

    • Phased Rollout: Begins as an information and guidance hub; full transactions enabled gradually.
    • Low-Cost Model: Minimal user charges, unlike private aggregators that rely on high commissions.
    • Centralised Database: Enables policy comparison, customer query resolution, and faster product adoption.
    • Secure Digital Storage: Provides safe policy storage with robust security and compliance standards.
    • Inclusive Ecosystem: All insurers mandated as members, ensuring transparency and fair access.
    [UPSC 2014] With reference to “Aam Admi Bima Yojana”. Consider the following statements:

    1. The member insured under the scheme must be the head of the family or earning member of the family in a rural landless household.

    2. The member insured must be in the age group of 30 to 65 years.

    3. There is a provision for free scholarship for up to two children of the insured who are studying between classes 9 and 12.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    Options: (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only* (d) 1, 2 and 3

     

  • In news: Almatti Dam

    1. Why in the News?

    Karnataka govt. has approved Upper Krishna Project Phase-III to raise Almatti dam height, while Maharashtra warned of moving the Supreme Court against it.

    Why is Maharashtra opposing it?

    • Fears submergence of villages and agricultural land in its territory if water levels rise further.
    • Worries about reduced water availability downstream, affecting its irrigation and drinking water projects.

    About Almatti Dam:

    • Overview: It is a hydroelectric and irrigation project built on the Krishna River in North Karnataka.
    • Completion: July 2005, as part of the Upper Krishna Irrigation Project (UKP).
    • Dimensions: Height 52.5 m, length 3.5 km.
    • Power Generation: A 290 MW station using vertical Kaplan turbines (five of 55 MW and one of 15 MW).
    • Two separate powerhouses: Almatti I and II generate power before releasing water into the Narayanpur Reservoir.
    • Functions: Provides irrigation, potable water, hydroelectric power, and helps in flood management.

    Back2Basics: Krishna River

    In news: Almatti Dam

    • Origin: Near Mahabaleshwar (Satara, Maharashtra), in the Western Ghats.
    • Length: ~1,300 km, second-longest river in peninsular India after Godavari.
    • Course: Flows through Maharashtra (303 km), Karnataka (480 km), Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh, before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.
    • Major Tributaries:
      • Right-bank: Ghatprabha, Malprabha, Tungabhadra.
      • Left-bank: Bhima, Musi, Munneru.
    • Hydropower & Irrigation Projects: Includes Koyna, Tungabhadra, Srisailam, Nagarjuna Sagar, Almatti, Narayanpur, Bhadra.

     

    [UPSC 2005] The Almatti Dam is on the river:

    Options: (a) Godavari (b) Cauvery (c) Krishna* (d) Mahanadi

     

  • Ant Queens giving birth to different species

    Why in the News?

    A groundbreaking study published in Nature (2025) has revealed that Messor ibericus, a Mediterranean harvester ant species, can produce male offspring of a completely different species, Messor structor.

    Ant Queens giving birth to different species

    About the Specie Messor ibericus:

    • Overview: A Mediterranean harvester ant, widely distributed across Southern Europe, known for its grain-harvesting behaviour and large colonies.
    • Hybrid Workers: All workers are hybrids, carrying DNA from both Messor ibericus and Messor structor.
    • Cross-Species Male Production: About 10% of queen’s eggs develop into pure Messor structor males, even without nearby structor colonies.
    • Genetic Signature: These males retain Messor ibericus mitochondrial DNA, proving maternal origin.
    • Reproductive Strategy: As per the Nature study:
      • Ibericus sperm produces new queens.
      • Structor sperm produces hybrid workers and additional structor males.
    • Evolutionary Significance: First documented case of a species naturally producing offspring of another species, challenging classical species concepts.
    • Colony Advantage: By producing both hybrid workers and pure structor males, queens secure compatible mates for future generations, sustaining both lineages.
    [UPSC 2024] Which one of the following shows a unique relationship with an insect that has coevolved with it and that is the only insect that can pollinate this tree?

    Options:

    (a) Fig* (b) Mahua (c) Sandalwood (d) Silk cotton

     

  • Upgradation of Army Radars

    Why in the News?

    After Operation Sindoor and Pakistani drone incursions, the Army is upgrading air defence with advanced radars to counter low-RCS (radar cross-section) drones and other aerial threats along northern and western borders.

    What are Radars?

    • About: Radar stands for Radio Detection and Ranging; it uses radio waves to locate, track, and measure speed of objects.
    • Components: Transmitter emits radio signals, receiver captures reflections.
    • Functions: Measures direction, distance (via time delay), and velocity (via Doppler shift).
    • Types in air defence:
      • Surveillance radars: Monitor airspace and detect aerial objects, not directly linked to weapons.
      • Fire control radars: Provide targeting data to guide anti-aircraft guns or missiles.

    Current Indian Capabilities:

    • Indian Air Force: Operates High-Power Radars and Medium-Power Radars for long-range, high-altitude threats such as jets, AWACS, and large transport aircraft.
      • For fire control, the Air Force employs systems like the 3D Central Acquisition Radar and Rajendra radar.
    • Indian Army: Uses Low-Level Light-Weight Radars, designed to pick up low-flying, small radar cross-section objects like drones.
      • Upgraded Flycatcher and Air Defence Tactical Control Radar systems to aim weapons and manage local defence.

    India’s Air Defence Infrastructure:

    • Missile systems: Includes Russian S-400 and the indigenous Akash missile system.
    • Army’s Akashteer system: Integrates radars, sensors, air defence guns, and communications into a real-time operational air picture.
    • IAF’s IACCS (Integrated Air Command and Control System): Unifies data from multiple assets for coordinated detection and interception.
    • Mission Sudarshan Chakra: Ongoing modernisation programme; DRDO recently tested the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System.
    [UPSC 2024] Consider the following activities:

    1. Identification of narcotics on passengers at airports or in aircraft

    2. Monitoring of precipitation

    3. Tracking the migration of animals

    In how many of the above activities can the radars be used?

    (a) Only one (b) Only two* (c) All three (d) None