The Madras High Court has issued directives to local bodies in Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Sivaganga, and Ramanathapuram districts to submit a comprehensive action plan with timelines to mitigate pollution in the Vaigai River.
About Vaigai River
Geographical Features and Location
Originates from the Varusanadu Hills in the Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu.
Flows through Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Sivaganga, and Ramanathapuram districts.
Length: Approximately 258 km, draining into the Palk Strait.
Major towns along the river include Madurai.
Historical site Keeladi is also located along the river.
Major and Minor Tributaries
Major Tributaries: Suruliyar River, Varaha River, Manjalar River, Kottagudi River, and Kridhumaal River.
Minor Tributaries: Sambanadi River, Kumilaar River, and Utharakosa Mangaiyar River.
Conservation Sites and Programs
Srivilliputhur Megamalai Tiger Reserve: Acts as a vital catchment area and supports biodiversity.
Vaigai Dam: Built near Andipatti, providing irrigation and drinking water.
Vaigai River Restoration Program: Focuses on cleaning, improving water quality, and promoting biodiversity.
PYQ:
[2021] Which one of the following statements is correct?
(a) Ajanta Caves lie in the gorge of Waghora river.
(b) Sanchi Stupa lies in the gorge of Chambal river.
(c) Pandu-lena Cave Shrines lie in the gorge of Narmada river.
(d) Amaravati Stupa lies in the gorge of Godavari river.
Union Minister of Commerce & Industry has announced an ambitious target to achieve 10,000 Geographical Indication (GI) tags by 2030.
About Geographical Indications (GI) Tags
A GI is a sign identifying a product as originating from a specific geographical location, possessing qualities, reputation, or characteristics inherently linked to that origin.
It is governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, effective from September 2003.
It is defined under Article 22(1) of the WTO’s TRIPS Agreement.
It is managed by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
GI tags are valid for 10 years and can be renewed upon expiry.
Darjeeling Tea was the first product to receive a GI tag in 2004–05.
Purpose and Benefits:
Protects the identity of unique products linked to specific regions.
Promotes economic development, cultural preservation, and export potential.
Procedural Implementation and Recognition of GI’s:
Authority for GI Tags:
The Controller-General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, under the Trade Marks Act, 1999, serves as the Registrar of Geographical Indications.
The register for GIs is divided into:
Part A: Registration of GIs.
Part B: Registration of authorized users.
Application Process:
Applications can be made by individuals, associations of persons, producers, or authorized organizations representing the producers’ interests.
Applications must include details about the product’s quality, nature, reputation, geographical environment, manufacturing process, natural and human factors, and a map of the production territory.
Scrutiny and Decision:
The Registrar conducts a preliminary review for deficiencies, with applicants given one month to address any issues.
Accepted applications are advertised in the GI Journal, inviting objections.
If unopposed, a certificate of registration is granted.
Timeframe:
Registration must be completed within 12 months; otherwise, the Registrar may abandon the application after notifying the applicant.
PYQ:
[2015] Which of the following has/have been accorded ‘Geographical Indication’ status?
1. Banaras Brocades and Sarees
2. Rajasthani Daal-Bati-Churma
3. Tirupathi Laddu
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Atmospheric CO₂ levels hit a record high in 2024 due to wildfires and human activities, as shown by the Keeling Curve, a 67-year record maintained at Mauna Loa Observatory since 1958.
What is Keeling Curve?
The Keeling Curve is a long-term record of atmospheric CO₂ concentrations, initiated by Charles David Keeling in 1958 at the Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii.
It tracks the rise in CO₂ levels and provides evidence of the impact of human activities on climate change.
Named after Charles David Keeling, it has become a globally recognized tool for understanding global warming.
Significant Features and Sources:
Steady Upward Trend: Demonstrates a consistent rise in atmospheric CO₂ levels since 1958, primarily due to fossil fuel combustion and deforestation.
Seasonal Fluctuations:
CO₂ levels decrease during spring and summer as plants absorb CO₂ through photosynthesis.
Levels increase during fall and winter when plant decay releases CO₂.
Initial Measurements: Recorded CO₂ levels at 315 ppm in 1958.
Current Levels: As of January 2025, CO₂ concentrations have reached 427.1 ppm, the highest in millions of years.
Data Sources: Measurements are taken from Mauna Loa Observatory and other global monitoring stations.
Observations around the Curve
Key Milestones:
1988: CO₂ levels reached 350 ppm, drawing global attention to climate change.
2023: Levels exceeded 420 ppm, marking a critical point in atmospheric history.
2024: Record growth of 3.58 ppm in average annual CO₂ concentrations compared to 2023.
Contributing Factors:
El Niño: Surface temperature rise in the Pacific Ocean boosted CO₂ emissions during 2024, exacerbated by wildfires in North and South America.
Anthropogenic Emissions: Burning fossil fuels and land-use changes remain major contributors.
Global Implications:
Contradicts IPCC scenarios for limiting global warming to 1.5°C, as emissions continue to rise.
Record increases in CO₂ levels during El Niño events highlight the interplay between natural phenomena and human activities.
PYQ:
[2011] Consider the following:
1. Photosynthesis
2. Respiration
3. Decay of organic matter
4. Volcanic action
Which of the above add carbon dioxide to the carbon cycle on Earth?
Q) Discuss the multi-dimensional implications of uneven distribution of mineral oil in the world. (UPSC CSE 2021)
Mentor’s Comment: UPSC mains have always focused on Chinese dominance in Geopolitics (2024) and Mines and Minerals in Indian Economy (2021 & 2022).
Despite having the fifth-largest reserves of rare earths globally, India currently lags in all stages of rare earth development. India heavily relies on China for critical minerals, with significant import percentages for essential resources such as lithium (82%), bismuth (85.6%), and silicon (76%). This dependency poses risks to India’s economic security. The International Energy Agency predicts that demand could double by 2030 and quadruple by 2040.
Today’s editorial emphasizes the challenges posed by the Critical Mineral industry at national and Global level. This content can be used for presenting the challenges in the Indian Economy with respect to Critical Mines and Minerals and Trade issues.
_
Let’s learn!
Why in the News?
China’s recent actions (expanded its export control list by including 28 entities), including potential export restrictions, have heightened fears about India’s reliance on Chinese supplies of critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements.
China controls a substantial portion of the global supply of critical minerals, producing about 60% of rare earth elements, 50% of lithium, and 70% of cobalt.
This dominance extends to processing, where China handles approximately 80% of the world’s critical mineral processing, allowing it to influence global prices and availability significantly.
What are the implications of China’s dominance in the critical minerals supply chain for India’s Economic Security?
Supply Chain Vulnerability: India’s heavy reliance on Chinese imports for critical minerals like lithium and cobalt creates significant risks, as China’s control over a large share of global production and processing capacity could lead to supply disruptions or price increases.
Geopolitical Leverage: China’s ability to restrict access to critical minerals during geopolitical tensions poses a direct threat to India’s energy transition and economic stability, potentially hindering its renewable energy goals.
Need for Strategic Diversification: In response to these challenges, India must pursue strategic partnerships with resource-rich countries and invest in domestic mineral exploration and processing capabilities to reduce dependence on China.
Global Competition and Sustainability: As global competition for critical minerals intensifies, India must balance its pursuit of resource independence with sustainable mining practices, ensuring long-term availability while addressing environmental concerns.
What are the key challenges in developing India’s domestic critical mineral production?
Limited Exploration and Development: Complex geology, lack of advanced exploration technologies, and regulatory hurdles slow down the discovery and commercial extraction of resources like lithium and cobalt.
Processing Capacity Gaps: India lacks sufficient domestic processing and refining facilities for critical minerals. This gap forces the country to depend on foreign processing.
Regulatory and Policy Constraints: Existing regulations reserve certain critical minerals for public sector undertakings, limiting private sector participation in exploration and mining.
Additionally, the need for an updated list of critical minerals in the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act hampers timely exploration efforts.
Establishing new exploration and processing activities involves long gestation periods, which can delay India’s efforts to become self-reliant in critical minerals.
Skilled Workforce Shortage: There is a shortage of skilled manpower in the materials, minerals, and metals sectors due to gaps in specialized training and advanced skills development.
Environmental Concerns: Mining activities can lead to significant environmental degradation, including biodiversity loss, water depletion, and pollution. Addressing these concerns while developing mineral resources poses a challenge for sustainable practices.
How can India effectively reduce its dependency on Chinese imports for critical minerals?
Domestic Exploration and Production: India is focusing on enhancing its domestic mining capabilities by identifying and exploring critical mineral reserves within its territory.
For Example, the recent discoveries of lithium deposits in states like Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Karnataka highlight the potential for self-reliance in critical minerals essential for renewable energy technologies.
Critical Minerals Mission: Government has launched a Critical Mineral Mission aimed at securing domestic production, recycling, and overseas acquisition of critical minerals.
This mission includes incentives for private companies to establish processing facilities and aims to reduce import duties on key minerals, thereby promoting local processing and refining.
International Partnerships: India is actively seeking to forge strategic partnerships with resource-rich countries, particularly in Africa and Latin America, to secure mineral blocks through government-to-government agreements.
This includes investments in countries like Australia, Chile, Ghana, and South Africa to diversify supply sources and mitigate risks associated with over-reliance on China.
Regulatory Reforms and Investment: The Indian government is implementing regulatory reforms to attract private investment in the critical minerals sector.
This includes auctioning critical mineral blocks to both state-owned and private companies, establishing entities like Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (KABIL) for overseas acquisitions, and enhancing the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) to support exploration efforts.
Key Significant Features of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023
Private Sector Involvement: The amendment allows the private sector to explore and mine six critical minerals previously restricted to state agencies, including lithium, beryllium, niobium, titanium, tantalum, and zirconium. This shift encourages private investment and expertise in the mining sector.
Exploration Licenses (EL): The introduction of Exploration Licenses enables private companies to conduct reconnaissance and prospecting for critical minerals. This is expected to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and engage junior mining companies, thereby boosting exploration efforts for deep-seated minerals.
Exclusive Auctions for Critical Minerals: The central government is empowered to auction mineral concessions for critical minerals such as rare earth elements, cobalt, and nickel. This streamlined auction process is designed to accelerate production and generate revenue for state governments.
Revenue-Sharing Mechanism: If resources are proven after exploration, the state government must conduct an auction for mining leases within six months. The exploration licensee will receive a share in the auction value of the subsequent mining lease, incentivizing exploration activities.
What role do global market dynamics play in shaping India’s critical mineral policies?
Geopolitical Influences: The competitive landscape of critical minerals is heavily influenced by geopolitical tensions, particularly with China, which dominates the supply chain.
India’s policies need to be increasingly designed to mitigate reliance on Chinese imports by fostering partnerships with countries like the U.S., Australia, and members of the Quad, aiming for a more diversified and secure supply chain.
Investment in Domestic Capabilities: To counteract dependency on imports, India should implement regulatory reforms to attract private investment in the mining sector.
This includes auctioning mineral blocks and promoting initiatives like the National Critical Minerals Mission, which aims to strengthen the entire value chain from exploration to processing.
Need for Strategic Sourcing: Global market fluctuations can lead to price volatility for critical minerals, prompting India to develop a carefully crafted import strategy.
This strategy focuses on establishing stable relationships with resource-rich nations and diversifying sourcing options to mitigate risks associated with supply disruptions.
Fiscal Incentives: A possible remedy is to offer larger upfront fiscal incentives during the exploration phase. In other words, pledging direct capital support early in the construction phase might be to approach critical minerals extraction as a semiconductor fabrication project.
Q) Discuss the multi-dimensional implications of uneven distribution of mineral oil in the world. (UPSC CSE 2021)
Mentor’s Comment: UPSC mains have always focused on Chinese dominance in Geopolitics (2024) and Mines and Minerals in Indian Economy (2021 & 2022).
Despite having the fifth-largest reserves of rare earths globally, India currently lags in all stages of rare earth development. India heavily relies on China for critical minerals, with significant import percentages for essential resources such as lithium (82%), bismuth (85.6%), and silicon (76%). This dependency poses risks to India’s economic security. The International Energy Agency predicts that demand could double by 2030 and quadruple by 2040.
Today’s editorial emphasizes the challenges posed by the Critical Mineral industry at national and Global level. This content can be used for presenting the challenges in the Indian Economy with respect to Critical Mines and Minerals and Trade issues.
_
Let’s learn!
Why in the News?
China’s recent actions (expanded its export control list by including 28 entities), including potential export restrictions, have heightened fears about India’s reliance on Chinese supplies of critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements.
China controls a substantial portion of the global supply of critical minerals, producing about 60% of rare earth elements, 50% of lithium, and 70% of cobalt.
This dominance extends to processing, where China handles approximately 80% of the world’s critical mineral processing, allowing it to influence global prices and availability significantly.
What are the implications of China’s dominance in the critical minerals supply chain for India’s Economic Security?
Supply Chain Vulnerability: India’s heavy reliance on Chinese imports for critical minerals like lithium and cobalt creates significant risks, as China’s control over a large share of global production and processing capacity could lead to supply disruptions or price increases.
Geopolitical Leverage: China’s ability to restrict access to critical minerals during geopolitical tensions poses a direct threat to India’s energy transition and economic stability, potentially hindering its renewable energy goals.
Need for Strategic Diversification: In response to these challenges, India must pursue strategic partnerships with resource-rich countries and invest in domestic mineral exploration and processing capabilities to reduce dependence on China.
Global Competition and Sustainability: As global competition for critical minerals intensifies, India must balance its pursuit of resource independence with sustainable mining practices, ensuring long-term availability while addressing environmental concerns.
What are the key challenges in developing India’s domestic critical mineral production?
• Limited Exploration and Development: Complex geology, lack of advanced exploration technologies, and regulatory hurdles slow down the discovery and commercial extraction of resources like lithium and cobalt. • Processing Capacity Gaps: India lacks sufficient domestic processing and refining facilities for critical minerals. This gap forces the country to depend on foreign processing. • Regulatory and Policy Constraints: Existing regulations reserve certain critical minerals for public sector undertakings, limiting private sector participation in exploration and mining. Additionally, the need for an updated list of critical minerals in the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act hampers timely exploration efforts. Establishing new exploration and processing activities involves long gestation periods, which can delay India’s efforts to become self-reliant in critical minerals. • Skilled Workforce Shortage: There is a shortage of skilled manpower in the materials, minerals, and metals sectors due to gaps in specialized training and advanced skills development. • Environmental Concerns: Mining activities can lead to significant environmental degradation, including biodiversity loss, water depletion, and pollution. Addressing these concerns while developing mineral resources poses a challenge for sustainable practices.
How can India effectively reduce its dependency on Chinese imports for critical minerals?
Domestic Exploration and Production: India is focusing on enhancing its domestic mining capabilities by identifying and exploring critical mineral reserves within its territory.
For Example, the recent discoveries of lithium deposits in states like Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Karnataka highlight the potential for self-reliance in critical minerals essential for renewable energy technologies.
Critical Minerals Mission: Government has launched a Critical Mineral Mission aimed at securing domestic production, recycling, and overseas acquisition of critical minerals.
This mission includes incentives for private companies to establish processing facilities and aims to reduce import duties on key minerals, thereby promoting local processing and refining.
International Partnerships: India is actively seeking to forge strategic partnerships with resource-rich countries, particularly in Africa and Latin America, to secure mineral blocks through government-to-government agreements.
This includes investments in countries like Australia, Chile, Ghana, and South Africa to diversify supply sources and mitigate risks associated with over-reliance on China.
Regulatory Reforms and Investment: The Indian government is implementing regulatory reforms to attract private investment in the critical minerals sector.
This includes auctioning critical mineral blocks to both state-owned and private companies, establishing entities like Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (KABIL) for overseas acquisitions, and enhancing the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) to support exploration efforts.
Significant Features of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023
• Private Sector Involvement: The amendment allows the private sector to explore and mine six critical minerals previously restricted to state agencies, including lithium, beryllium, niobium, titanium, tantalum, and zirconium. This shift encourages private investment and expertise in the mining sector. • Exploration Licenses (EL): The introduction of Exploration Licenses enables private companies to conduct reconnaissance and prospecting for critical minerals. This is expected to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and engage junior mining companies, thereby boosting exploration efforts for deep-seated minerals. • Exclusive Auctions for Critical Minerals: The central government is empowered to auction mineral concessions for critical minerals such as rare earth elements, cobalt, and nickel. This streamlined auction process is designed to accelerate production and generate revenue for state governments. • Revenue-Sharing Mechanism: If resources are proven after exploration, the state government must conduct an auction for mining leases within six months. The exploration licensee will receive a share in the auction value of the subsequent mining lease, incentivizing exploration activities.
What role do global market dynamics play in shaping India’s critical mineral policies?
Geopolitical Influences: The competitive landscape of critical minerals is heavily influenced by geopolitical tensions, particularly with China, which dominates the supply chain.
India’s policies need to be increasingly designed to mitigate reliance on Chinese imports by fostering partnerships with countries like the U.S., Australia, and members of the Quad, aiming for a more diversified and secure supply chain.
Investment in Domestic Capabilities: To counteract dependency on imports, India should implement regulatory reforms to attract private investment in the mining sector.
This includes auctioning mineral blocks and promoting initiatives like the National Critical Minerals Mission, which aims to strengthen the entire value chain from exploration to processing.
Need for Strategic Sourcing: Global market fluctuations can lead to price volatility for critical minerals, prompting India to develop a carefully crafted import strategy.
This strategy focuses on establishing stable relationships with resource-rich nations and diversifying sourcing options to mitigate risks associated with supply disruptions.
Fiscal Incentives: A possible remedy is to offer larger upfront fiscal incentives during the exploration phase. In other words, pledging direct capital support early in the construction phase might be to approach critical minerals extraction as a semiconductor fabrication project.
The U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) created a system with different levels to control the sale and export of AI chips and technology more effectively.
What is the main objective behind one of the last orders of the Biden administration?
National Security and Foreign Policy: The primary goal of the BIS regulations is to enhance control over the circulation of advanced AI technology and chips to align with U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.
The regulations aim to prevent sensitive technologies from reaching adversarial nations, thereby mitigating risks associated with military advancements and cyber operations.
Secure Technology Ecosystem: The regulations are designed to cultivate a secure and trusted technology ecosystem that promotes the responsible use and diffusion of AI technologies, ensuring that advanced AI capabilities do not fall into the hands of U.S. adversaries.
How will the tiered framework for licensing and exporting Artificial Intelligence chips work?
Three-Tier System: The new regulations categorize countries into three tiers based on their relationship with the U.S.:
Tier 1: No restrictions for exports to 18 U.S. allies, including Australia, Canada, and Japan.
Tier 2: Countries like China and India face caps on volumes and require Validated End User (VEU) authorization for transactions contributing to advanced AI development.
Tier 3: Arms-embargoed countries such as North Korea and Iran have no access to advanced AI technology.
How has the tech industry responded to the move?
Concerns Over Competitiveness: Major tech companies, including NVIDIA and Oracle, have expressed apprehension that these regulations could undermine U.S. competitiveness in the global tech landscape.
They argue that restricting access to widely available technologies may not enhance security but instead hinder innovation.
Call for Revisions: Industry leaders hope that the incoming administration will reconsider or withdraw these regulations, citing potential disruptions to business operations and global supply chains.
Will it affect the Indian Economy?
Impact on AI Growth: As India invests heavily in its National AI Mission, which aims to develop infrastructure with over 10,000 GPUs through a ₹10,000 crore investment, the restrictions could pose substantial challenges in scaling up AI capabilities post-2027.
The limits on GPU imports may deter innovation and slow down the growth of India’s tech sector.
Potential Delays in Infrastructure Development: Major data center providers in India, such as Tata Communications and CtrlS, may face delays or downsizing of their plans due to restricted access to GPUs. This could place Indian companies at a competitive disadvantage compared to their U.S. counterparts.
India’s Exclusion from Trusted Allies: India is not included in the list of trusted U.S. allies due to concerns over the leakage of chips to countries like Russia.
Way forward:
Strengthen Domestic AI Capabilities: India should accelerate the development of indigenous AI technologies and chips to reduce reliance on foreign imports, invest in local R&D and foster partnerships with global tech firms for technology transfer.
Diversify Global Alliances: India could strengthen its technological partnerships with countries outside the U.S. and explore alternative markets to source AI chips, ensuring the diversification of its supply chains to mitigate the impact of export restrictions.
Mains PYQ:
Q “The emergence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Digital Revolution) has initiated e-Governance as an integral part of government”. Discuss. (UPSC IAS/2020)
The Department of Commerce under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has launched the Diamond Imprest Authorization (DIA) Scheme to bolster the global competitiveness of India’s diamond sector.
About the Diamond Imprest Authorization (DIA) Scheme
The DIA Scheme permits duty-free import of natural cut and polished diamonds for export purposes.
It mandates an export obligation with a value addition of 10%.
Objective: To retain India’s leadership in the global diamond industry value chain by facilitating ease of doing business.
It will be implemented starting April 1, 2025.
Features of the Scheme:
Duty-Free Import: Allows duty-free import of natural cut and polished diamonds of less than ¼ Carat (25 Cents).
Export Obligation: Requires a minimum 10% value addition to ensure beneficiation.
Eligibility: Open to Two Star Export Houses and above; Exporters with annual exports of at least USD 15 million are eligible.
Support for MSMEs: Provides a level playing field for smaller exporters, enabling them to compete with larger players.
Global Beneficiation Practices: Inspired by beneficiation policies in diamond-mining countries like Botswana, Namibia, and Angola, where manufacturers must establish cutting and polishing facilities.
India’s Diamond Industry: Current Status
India processes over 90% of the world’s diamonds and provides jobs to approximately 5 million people.
India contributes 19% of total global diamond exports.
Challenges:
Exports Decline:
2022: Exports valued at $23 billion.
2023: Declined to $16 billion, with further declines anticipated.
Rough Diamond Imports: Fell by 24.5%, from $18.5 billion (FY 2021-22) to $14 billion (FY 2023-24).
Exports of Cut and Polished Diamonds: Dropped by 34.6%, from $24.4 billion (FY 2022) to $13.1 billion (FY 2024).
Inventory Challenges: The gap between net imports of rough diamonds and net exports of cut and polished diamonds widened from $1.6 billion (FY 2022) to $4.4 billion (FY 2024).
Returns of Unsold Diamonds: The percentage of unsold diamonds returned to India rose from 35% to 45.6% between FY 2022 and FY 2024.
PYQ:
[2018] Which one of the following foreign travellers elaborately discussed about diamonds and diamond mines of India?
The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) in Mumbai is on track to become India’s first port to join the ranks of top global ports by handling 10 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) annually by 2027.
About the Jawaharlal Nehru Port
JNP is situated in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, covering an area of 200 square kilometers. Its strategic location enables vital trade links with international shipping routes.
Key Features:
India’s first 100% Landlord Major Port.
Operates five container terminals, including BMCT, NSICT, and GTIPL.
Customs facilities: 30 container freight stations and connectivity to 52 inland depots.
Handles vessels with 9,000 TEUs capacity, soon upgrading to 12,200 TEUs.
Processes 200 international ships monthly.
Future Developments:
Fourth Container Terminal operational by April 2025, adding 4.8 million TEUs capacity.
Developing a satellite port at Vadhvan and dry ports at Jalna and Wardha.
Key Highlights of JNPA’s Expansion
In 2024, JNPA handled its highest-ever container volume of 7.05 million TEUs, operating at more than 90% capacity.
The port recorded an 11% year-on-year growth compared to the previous year.
The second phase of Bharat Mumbai Container Terminal will add 2.4 million TEUs to JNPA’s total capacity.
The upgradation of Nhava Sheva Freeport Terminal in 2025 will further enhance the port’s capabilities.
The total container handling capacity is projected to increase from 7.6 million TEUs to 10.4 million TEUs by 2027.
PYQ:
[2016] Recently, which of the following States has explored the possibility of constructing an artificial inland port to be connected to sea by a long navigational channel?
The Indian Army is bolstering its artillery strength with a significant ₹10,200 crore order for ammunition associated with the Pinaka Multi-Launch Rocket System (MLRS).
About the Pinaka Rocket System
Details
A multi-barrel rocket launcher developed by DRDO and manufactured by Indian defence firms.
Named after the legendary bow of Lord Shiva, symbolizing power and precision.
Key Features
Multiple Launch Capability: Fires 12 rockets in just 44 seconds, delivering overwhelming firepower.
Mobility: Mounted on 8×8 or 6×6 trucks, allowing rapid deployment in diverse terrains.
Range:
– Pinaka Mk-I: 40 km.
– Pinaka Mk-II and Enhanced Versions: 60–75 km.
– Guided Variant: 90 km, with improved accuracy and reduced collateral damage.
Guidance and Precision: Equipped with satellite-based guidance for precision targeting.
Payload Options: Carries multiple warheads, including high explosives, incendiaries, anti-personnel, and anti-tank bomblets.
Quick Deployment and Reloading: Rapid deployment enables swift counter-strikes.
Modularity and Expandability: Modular design supports advanced technology integration for network-centric warfare.
Operational Use
Proven effectiveness in mountainous and rugged terrains.
Played a critical role in Indian Army operations, showcasing its adaptability and firepower.
Significance
Boost to Artillery Strength: Enhances the Indian Army’s firepower with new regiments and extended-range rockets.
Cornerstone of Modernization: Central to India’s artillery modernization for precision and operational flexibility.
Border Security and Deterrence: Secures borders and acts as a strategic deterrent against adversaries.
Global Success: Strengthens India’s defense export market and contributes to defense diplomacy.
PYQ:
[2014] Which reference to Agni-IV Missile, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It is a surface-to-surface missile.
2. It is fuelled by liquid propellant only.
3. It can deliver one-tonne nuclear warheads about 7500 km away.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Onboard SpaceX’s Transporter-12 mission, Indian space surveillance firm Digantara successfully launched SCOT (Space Camera for Object Tracking), the world’s first commercial Space Situational Awareness (SSA) satellite.
About Mission SCOT:
Details
World’s first commercial SSA satellite, designed to track and characterize Resident Space Objects (RSOs) in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
Launched via SpaceX’s Transporter-12 mission as part of a rideshare program.
Supported by Aditya Birla Ventures and SIDBI.
Note: As part of the Network for Space Objects Tracking and Analysis (NETRA), ISRO is also developing a Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST) network equipped with advanced radars and optical telescopes to strengthen threat analysis and safeguard space assets.
Aims and Objectives
Enhancing Space Safety: Prevent satellite collisions and optimize orbital resources.
Sovereign Surveillance: Strengthen India’s capabilities to protect its space assets.
Technological Leadership: Address gaps in global SSA technologies.
Sustainability: Promote safer and more sustainable space operations.
Features/Significance
Operates in a sun-synchronous orbit, unaffected by weather or geography.
Tracks RSOs as small as 5 cm with high revisit rates and accuracy.
Safeguardscritical satellites crucial for economic and strategic security.
Optimizes traffic management and enhances collision avoidance.
Contribution to India’s Growth
Demonstrates India’s leadership in SSA technologies.
Highlights the role of Indian startups in space innovation.
Establishes India as a reliable international space partner.
Fosters investment in advanced surveillance technologies for future space developments.
PYQ:
[2010] In the context of space technology, what is “Bhuvan”, recently in the news?
(a) A mini satellite launched by ISRO for promoting the distance education in India
(b) The name given to the next Moon Impact Probe, for Chandrayan-II
(c) A geoportal of ISRO with 3D imaging capabilities of India
