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GS Paper: GS3

  • NISAR to map Himalayas’ Seismic Zones

    nisar

    Central idea

    • The ISRO and the NASA have jointly developed a forthcoming satellite called NISAR.
    • It will map the most earthquake-prone regions in the Himalaya.

    What is NISAR?

    • NISAR stands for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar.
    • The mission aims to provide global measurements of the causes and consequences of land surface changes using advanced radar imaging.
    • The satellite is equipped with two types of synthetic aperture radars (SAR): L-band and S-band, which will allow for high-resolution, all-weather imaging of the Earth’s surface.
    • The NISAR satellite is expected to be launched in January 2024.

    How it will be used for earthquake monitoring?

    • It will generate data that can potentially give advance warning of land subsidence and identify places that are at greatest risk from earthquakes.
    • The geoscience community can use this to determine how strain is building up in various parts of the Himalayas.
    • Strain refers to the deformation that occurs in rocks when it is under pressure from other rocks.
    • Movements of continental plates that are sliding, colliding, or subducting against each other cause strain.
    • With a frequency of 12 days and the ability to provide images even under cloudy conditions, NISAR would be a valuable tool to study deformation patterns, such as in Joshimath.

    Strain Map already in place

    • In 2021, scientists from the Geological Survey of India published a “strain map” of the Himalayas based on data from 1,252 GPS stations along the Himalayas.
    • It identified regions that had the greatest odds of generating earthquakes of magnitude above 8 and their extent.
    • However, these many stations are still too few, and there’s only one satellite (Sentinel) that we rely on.
    • With NISAR, the costliest space mission ever, we can have a game-changer in earth-science observation.

     

    Seismic Zones of India

    nisar

    India is divided by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) into 4 seismic zones based on the level of seismicity and the frequency of earthquakes that occur in that particular region.

    These zones are as follows:

    1.      Zone 2: This is a low seismic zone comprising of areas with the lowest risk of earthquakes. It includes regions like the northeastern states of India, parts of J&K, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

    2.      Zone 3: This is a moderate seismic zone comprising of areas that are at moderate risk of earthquakes. It includes regions like Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi, parts of UP, Bihar, West Bengal, and parts of Jharkhand.

    3.      Zone 4: This is a high seismic zone comprising of areas that are at high risk of earthquakes. It includes regions like the A&N Islands, parts of Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Uttarakhand, and the entire northeastern region.

    4.      Zone 5: This is a very high seismic zone comprising of areas that are at the highest risk of earthquakes. It includes regions like the entire state of J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, the entire northeastern region, parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and the A&N Islands.

     

     

     

  • What is Magnetoresistance?

    magnet

     

    Researchers in the UK, led by Nobel laureate Andre Geim, have discovered magnetoresistance in graphene – a single-atom-thick layer of carbon atoms bonded in a honeycomb pattern – that further distinguishes this ‘wonder’ material.

    Graphene’s anomalous Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR)

    • Graphene displayed an anomalous giant magnetoresistance (GMR) at room temperature.
    • GMR is the result of the electrical resistance of a conductor being affected by magnetic fields in adjacent materials.
    • It is used in hard disk drives and magnetoresistive RAM in computers, biosensors, automotive sensors, micro-electromechanical systems, and medical imagers.

    What is GMR?

    • GMR is a phenomenon where the electrical resistance of a conductor is affected by magnetic fields in adjacent materials.
    • Say a conductor is sandwiched between two ferromagnetic materials (commonly, metals attracted to magnets, like iron).
    • When the materials are magnetised in the same direction, the electrical resistance in the conductor is low.
    • When the directions are opposite each other, the resistance increases.

    Significance of the finding

    • The magnetoresistance observed in the graphene-based device was almost 100 times higher than that observed in other known semimetals in this magnetic field range.
    • In the study, the magnetoresistance in monolayer graphene at 27º C held between two layers of boron nitride increased by 110% under a field of 0.1 tesla.
    • To compare, the magnetoresistance in these conditions increases by less than 1% in normal metals.
    • The team attributed this to the presence of a ‘neutral’ plasma and the electrons’ mobility.

    Try this MCQ

    Which of the following best describes magnetoresistance?

    (a) The magnetic resistance of a conductor to electrical current flow

    (b) The phenomenon where the electrical resistance of a conductor is affected by magnetic fields in adjacent materials

    (c) The ability of a conductor to produce a magnetic field when an electrical current is passed through it

    (d) The resistance of a magnet to demagnetization by an external magnetic field

     

    [wpdiscuz-feedback id=”pez2u7d573″ question=”Please leave a feedback on this” opened=”1″]Post your answers here.[/wpdiscuz-feedback]

     

  • Dabba Trading and its impact on the Economy

    dabba

    Central idea

    • The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has issued a series of notices warning retail investors about entities involved in ‘dabba trading’.
    • The NSE cautioned investors not to subscribe or invest using these products offering indicative, assured or guaranteed returns in the stock market as they are prohibited by law.
    • The entities involved in dabba trading are not recognized as authorized members by the exchange.

    What is Dabba Trading?

    • Dabba (Box) trading refers to informal trading that takes place outside the purview of the stock exchanges.
    • It involves betting on stock price movements without incurring a real transaction to take physical ownership of a particular stock as is done in an exchange.
    • In simple words, it is gambling centred around stock price movements.

    How does it work?

    • In dabba trading, investors place bets on stock price movements at a certain price point.
    • If the price point rises, they make a gain, and if it falls, they have to pay the difference to the dabba broker.
    • The broker’s profit from the investor’s loss, and vice versa.
    • Transactions are facilitated using cash and unrecognised software terminals or informal records, which helps traders stay outside the regulatory mechanism.

    What are the problems with dabba trading?

    • Since dabba traders do not maintain proper records of income or gain, they are able to escape taxation, which results in a loss to the government exchequer.
    • The use of cash also means that they are outside the purview of the formal banking system.
    • Investors in dabba trading do not have formal provisions for investor protection or grievance redressal mechanisms available within an exchange, which exposes them to the risk of broker defaults or insolvency.
    • Dabba trading also perpetuates a parallel economy, potentially encouraging the growth of black money and criminal activities.

    What is the current scenario?

    • Industry observers have reported that dabba brokers harass clients for default payments and refuse payments upon profit.
    • Potential investors are lured by aggressive marketing, ease of trading using apps with quality interfaces, and lack of identity verification.
    • Brokers keep their fees and margins open to negotiation depending on an individual’s trading profile.
    • The mechanism could potentially induce volatility and cause losses for the regulated bourse when dabba brokers look to hedge their exposures.

    What are the legal implications?

    • Dabba trading is recognised as an offence under Section 23(1) of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act (SCRA), 1956.
    • Upon conviction, it can invite imprisonment for a term extending up to 10 years or a fine up to ₹25 crore, or both.

     

  • What is MUDRA Scheme?

    mudra

    PM hit out at people ridiculing the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) and said those who gave loans to big businessmen “over phone” never understood the power of microfinance.

    MUDRA Scheme

    • MUDRA (Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency) Scheme is a financial initiative launched by the Government of India in April 2015 to provide financial support to micro-enterprises in India.
    • The scheme is designed to cater to the financial needs of the non-corporate, non-farm sector enterprises in the country.
    • The objective of the scheme is to promote entrepreneurship, employment generation, and to provide access to finance to small and micro-businesses in India.

    Range of loans

    • The MUDRA scheme provides loans ranging from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 10 lakhs to small and micro-businesses.
    • These loans are provided through various financial institutions such as banks, microfinance institutions, and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs).
    • The scheme also offers refinance support to these institutions.
    Category Loan Amount
    Shishu Up to Rs. 50,000
    Kishore Rs. 50,001 to Rs. 5 lakhs
    Tarun Rs. 5 lakhs to Rs. 10 lakhs

    Key features of the MUDRA scheme

    • Refinance support: The scheme offers refinance support to various financial institutions, such as banks, microfinance institutions, and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), to provide loans to small and micro-businesses.
    • Employment generation: The scheme aims to promote entrepreneurship and employment generation in the country.
    • Digitalization of financial transactions: The scheme has helped in promoting the digitalization of financial transactions.
    • Focus on underprivileged and marginalized sections: The scheme aims to provide financial assistance to underprivileged and marginalized sections of the society, especially those belonging to the non-corporate, non-farm sector enterprises in the country.
    • Simplified loan processing: The loan processing under the scheme is simplified and requires minimal documentation.
    • No collateral requirement: The loans provided under the scheme do not require any collateral or security.
    • Competitive Interest rate: The interest rate for the loans provided under the scheme is competitive and affordable.

     

  • Inflation in India is Driven by Food Prices

    Inflation in India

    Central Idea

    • The recent trajectory of inflation in India is attributed to the pricing power of five big corporates or ‘Big 5’ according to former Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India, Viral Acharya. However, the argument is flawed as the Indian inflation is different from the rest of the world, and it is driven by food price inflation. While corporate pricing power does exist, it is limited, and the extent to which it drives overall inflation is still debatable.

    The factor of food price inflation

    1. Divergence between Indian and Western inflation rates is not new:
    • Sudden surge of Inflation in India: After the global financial crisis of 2008, Indian inflation surged higher than the economies of the US and UK due to food price inflation caused by negative agricultural shocks and high procurement price hikes.
    • Core inflation: Food-price inflation tends to feed into core inflation, so it would be hasty to conclude that Indian inflation is higher than the West today due to corporate pricing power.
    • Food price inflation: Evidence suggests that in India, food price inflation affects core inflation, and food price inflation enters costs of the non-agricultural sector.
    1. Corporate pricing power in India:
    • Corporate pricing power and overall inflation: Corporate pricing power exists in Indian industry, but the extent to which it drives overall inflation in India is debatable. The question is how much corporate power is driving inflation beyond its obvious role in elevating the price level.
    • Prices of food: To measure inflation without considering the price of food is to exclude what matters most to the public, as opposed to central bankers.
    • Inflation control strategy: India’s inflation control strategy needs to address the challenge of ensuring the production of food at affordable prices.
    1. Comparing WP inflation with CP inflation
    • Comparing WP inflation with CP inflation is to acquiesce in a mismatch.
    • The commodity basket corresponding to CP includes items that do not enter the wholesale price index, so we would be comparing apples with oranges.

    Inflation in India

    The argument is based on a short time period

    • WP inflation has eased considerably in the six months preceding March 2023, but CP inflation has not. However, a mismatch between WP and CP inflations is not new.
    • So, the maintenance of high price increases by firms in the retail sector even after wholesale price inflation has declined in 2022-23 may just be a compensating mechanism, i.e., the rising input cost of the retail sector is being passed on with a lag.

    Facts for prelims: WP inflation VS CP inflation

    Aspect Wholesale Price (WP) Inflation Consumer Price (CP) Inflation
    Definition Measures the change in average price level of goods sold by producers at the wholesale level Measures the change in average price level of goods and services purchased by households
    Captures Changes in prices of goods before they reach the retail market Changes in prices of goods and services at the retail level
    Indicator of Early indicator of changes in overall price level of economy Inflation that households experience in their day-to-day lives
    Impact Affects production cost and supply chain Affects purchasing power of consumers
    Calculation Based on price changes of goods sold in bulk to retailers or other businesses Based on price changes of goods and services purchased by households
    Usage Used by policymakers to monitor changes in cost of production and production-level inflation Used by policymakers to monitor inflation and make decisions related to monetary policy
    Examples Wholesale prices of raw materials, oil, and other commodities Retail prices of food, clothing, transportation, and other consumer goods and services

    Rising food prices driving current inflation

    • Over 75% of the direct contribution to inflation in the first three quarters of the financial year came from sectors in which the Big 5 are unlikely to be represented in a big way.
    • The contribution of food products alone was close to 50% in most time periods.
    • Rising food prices are driving current inflation in India.

    The current inflation control strategy

    • Considerable rise in food prices: In India, food prices have only risen, and in recent years their rate of inflation has been very high. For all the reforms since 1991, the real price of food, i.e., its price relative to the general price level, has risen considerably.
    • What matters most to public must be considered: In the context, to measure inflation without considering the price of food is to exclude what matters most to the public, as opposed to central bankers.
    • Current strategy restricted to using the interest rate to dampen aggregate demand: India’s inflation control strategy is currently restricted to using the interest rate to dampen aggregate demand. This strategy avoids addressing the challenge of ensuring the production of affordable food.
    • Question mark on RBI’s ability to control inflation: The RBI has been unable to control even the core inflation which central banks are assumed to be able to control. A recent intervention explaining core inflation in India has highlighted the RBI’s inability to control inflation.

    Conclusion

    • Inflation is being discussed only in terms of core inflation, which excludes the inflation in food and fuel prices because these prices tend to fluctuate and even out the changes, so it is assumed that they do not require a policy response. However, this assumption is flawed in the context of India’s economy, as food and fuel prices have a significant impact on the economy and people’s livelihoods. Therefore, limiting the discussion to core inflation ignores the role of corporate pricing power and the impact of food and fuel prices on the economy.

    Mains Question

    Q. What is the factor that primarily drives inflation in India? Highlight the relationship between food price inflation and overall inflation in India?

  • AI Regulation in India: Ensuring Responsible Development and Deployment

    AI

    Central Idea

    • As the deployment of Artificial intelligence (AI) based systems continues to grow, it is important for India to develop and implement regulations that promote responsible development and deployment, while also addressing concerns related to privacy, competition, and job losses.

    The Potential of AI and its Risks

    • Limitless potential: The potential of AI is vast and encompasses a wide range of applications across various fields. AI has the potential to improve productivity, increase efficiency, and provide personalized solutions in many areas such as healthcare, finance, education, manufacturing, transportation, defense, space technology, molecular biology, deep water mining, and exploration.
    • Significant risks: While the potential of AI is immense, it also comes with significant risks that need to be addressed. Some of the risks associated with AI include biased algorithms, misdiagnosis or errors, loss of jobs for professionals, unintended harm or civilian casualties, and cybersecurity threats. It is important to ensure that AI development and deployment are carried out with caution and that potential risks are mitigated.

    AI

    Takeaway keyword Box from civilsdaily: AI applications in various fields, advantages, challenges and associated risks.

    Fields AI Applications Advantages Challenges Risks
    Healthcare Diagnosis and medical imaging, drug discovery, personalized medicine, virtual nursing assistants, remote monitoring of patients, health data analysis Improved accuracy and speed of diagnoses, personalized treatment plans, faster drug discovery, remote patient monitoring Integration with existing healthcare systems, ethical and regulatory concerns, data privacy and security Misdiagnosis or errors, biased algorithms, loss of jobs for healthcare professionals
    Finance Fraud detection, customer service chatbots, personalized financial advice, risk assessment and management, trading algorithms Improved fraud detection and prevention, personalized customer support, optimized risk management, faster trading decisions Integration with existing financial systems, ethical and regulatory concerns, data privacy and security Biased algorithms, systemic risks, cyber attacks
    Education Personalized learning, adaptive learning, intelligent tutoring systems, student engagement analytics, automated grading and feedback Improved student outcomes, personalized learning experiences, increased student engagement, reduced workload for educators Integration with existing education systems, ethical and regulatory concerns, data privacy and security Biased algorithms, loss of jobs for educators, lack of human interaction
    Manufacturing Quality control, predictive maintenance, supply chain optimization, collaborative robots, autonomous vehicles, visual inspection Increased efficiency and productivity, reduced downtime, optimized supply chains, improved worker safety Integration with existing manufacturing systems, ethical and regulatory concerns, data privacy and security Malfunctioning robots or machines, loss of jobs for workers, high implementation costs
    Transportation Autonomous vehicles, predictive maintenance, route optimization, intelligent traffic management, demand forecasting, ride-sharing and on-demand services Reduced accidents and fatalities, reduced congestion and emissions, optimized routing and scheduling, increased accessibility and convenience Integration with existing transportation systems, ethical and regulatory concerns, data privacy and security Malfunctioning autonomous vehicles, job displacement for drivers, cybersecurity threats
    Agriculture Precision agriculture, crop monitoring and analysis, yield optimization, automated irrigation and fertilization, pest management, livestock monitoring Increased crop yields, reduced waste and resource use, optimized crop health, improved livestock management Integration with existing agriculture systems, ethical and regulatory concerns, data privacy and security Malfunctioning drones or sensors, loss of jobs for farm workers, biased algorithms
    Defense Intelligent surveillance and threat detection, unmanned systems, autonomous weapons Improved situational awareness and response, reduced human risk in combat situations Ethical and legal concerns surrounding the use of autonomous weapons, risk of AI being hacked or malfunctioning in combat scenarios Unintended harm or civilian casualties, loss of jobs for military personnel
    Space technology Autonomous navigation, intelligent data analysis, robotics Increased efficiency and productivity in space exploration, improved accuracy in data analysis Risk of AI being hacked or malfunctioning in space missions, ethical and regulatory concerns surrounding the use of autonomous systems in space Damage to equipment or loss of mission due to malfunctioning AI
    Molecular biology Gene editing and analysis, drug discovery and development, personalized medicine Faster and more accurate analysis of genetic data, improved drug discovery and personalized treatment plans Ethical and regulatory concerns surrounding the use of AI in gene editing and personalized medicine Misuse of genetic data or personalized treatment plans, loss of jobs for medical professionals
    Deep water mining and exploration Autonomous underwater vehicles, intelligent data analysis Increased efficiency and productivity in deep sea exploration and mining, improved accuracy in data analysis High costs and technical challenges of developing and deploying AI systems in deep sea environments Malfunctioning AI systems, environmental damage or destruction due to deep sea mining activities

    The Need for Regulation

    • Current regulatory system not well equipped: The current regulatory system may not be equipped to deal with the risks posed by AI, especially in areas such as privacy and competition.
    • Develop regulations in collaboration: Governments need to work with tech companies to develop regulations that ensure the responsible development and deployment of AI systems.
    • Balanced regulations: The regulation needs to be adaptive, flexible and balance between the benefits and risks of AI technology. This way, AI technology can be developed while taking into account societal concerns.
    • Privacy Concerns and responsible usage: AI-based systems, such as facial recognition technology, raise concerns related to privacy and surveillance. Governments need to develop regulations that protect citizen privacy and ensure that data is collected and used in a responsible way.
    • Risk assessment: Risk assessment could help in determining the risks of AI-based systems and developing regulations that address those risks.
    • For instance: Europe’s risk assessment approach may serve as a useful model for India to develop such regulations.

    Competition and Monopolization

    • AI powered checks and balance: The dominance of Big Tech in the tech landscape raises concerns of monopolization and the potential for deepening their control over the market. However, the presence of multiple players in the AI field generates checks and balances of its own.
    • Healthy market for AI technology: The development of new players and competitors can promote innovation and ensure a healthy market for AI technology.

    AI

    Conclusion

    • AI technology holds immense potential, but its risks need to be mitigated, and its development and deployment need to be carried out responsibly. Governments must work towards developing regulations that ensure that AI technology benefits society, while addressing concerns related to privacy, competition, and job losses. Responsible development and deployment of AI technology can lead to a brighter future for all.

    Mains Question

    Q. AI has limitless potential in various fields. In this light of this statement enumerate some of its key revolutionary applications in various fields and discuss challenges and associated risks of deploying AI in various fields.

  • Women Cadres (Maoist): Structural Violence and Exploitation

    Women Cadre

    Central idea

    • The Communist Party of India (Maoist) claims to fight for gender equality, but the reality is that women cadres are subject to structural violence and exploitation.

    Women’s representation in the party

    • Negligible representation in the council: Despite constituting 35%-40% of the party, women’s representation in the Central Committee and the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) is negligible
    • Members in the cadre: Only one-woman cadre is a Central Committee member out of more than 20 members, and only two women cadres are DKSZC members out of approximately 20 members

    Concerns over women’s health and nutrition

    • Health challenges: Women face additional health challenges in the jungle and receive inadequate nutrition and healthcare. Most women become anaemic due to the lack of proper nutrition.
    • Menstrual hygiene challenges: Women cadres do not receive menstrual leave and need to be alert all the time with a gun. Only one loin cloth is provided to two women cadres to be shared as a sanitary napkin for six months.
    • Fundamental necessities are not adequate: Women cadres are not allowed to liberally use water and are at the mercy of the unit commander who carries some medical necessities

    Conditions for marriage and reproduction

    • Marriage is not to enjoy family life: The party permits marriage only between willing partners to fight together, not to enjoy family life.
    • Forced vasectomy: Male cadres are forced to undergo vasectomy either before marriage or immediately after marriage.
    • Forced abortion: If a woman cadre gets pregnant, she has to undergo an abortion
    • Silent on divorce and polygamy: The party is silent on issues of divorce and polygamy

    Sexual exploitation and ill-treatment of women

    • Sexual exploitation and ill treatment: Sexual exploitation of women is not uncommon in the party, and instances of suicide by women cadres due to ill-treatment and suspicion are reported.
    • Nominal punishment: Disciplinary action is taken against cadres for moral turpitude, but the maximum punishment is only suspension for a year or demotion.

    Conclusion

    • Women who join the Communist Party of India (Maoist) in the hope of bringing about a revolution for the proletariat and the landless class are often subject to the same structural violence that they are supposed to fight. The party needs to ensure gender equality in reality, not just in its claims, and provide better conditions for women cadres.

    Mains Question

    Q. How do structural inequalities and power dynamics within political movements impact the fight for gender equality? Illustrate.

  • What is Large Hadron Collider (LHC)?

    hadron

    Central idea: The article provides an overview of the LHC, its construction, how it works, and what it has discovered. It also discusses the future of the LHC, including plans to upgrade it and build a bigger version.

    Large Hadron Collider (LHC)

    • The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the world’s largest science experiment built by the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN).
    • It is a collider that smashes two beams of particles in opposite directions and these particles are hadrons.
    • The LHC is on the energy frontier of physics research, conducting experiments with highly energized particles.
    • Currently, the LHC is being warmed up for its third season of operations following upgrades that have made it more sensitive and accurate.

    How does the LHC work?

    • Hadrons are subatomic particles made up of smaller particles, and the LHC typically uses protons.
    • Protons are energized by accelerating them through a narrow circular pipe that is 27 km long.
    • The pipe encircles two D-shaped magnetic fields created by almost 9,600 magnets.
    • Protons are accelerated through the beam pipe by rapidly switching the direction of the magnetic field.
    • Eventually, protons move at 99.999999% of the speed of light, according to the special theory of relativity.

    What happens when particles are smashed?

    • When two antiparallel beams of energized protons collide head-on, the energy at the point of collision is equal to the sum of the energy carried by the two beams.
    • The highest centre-of-mass collision energy the LHC has achieved so far is 13.6 TeV.
    • At the moment of collision, there is chaos, and energy coalesces into different subatomic particles under the guidance of the fundamental forces of nature.
    • Different particles take shape depending on the amount and flavour of energy available.

    What has the LHC found so far?

    • The LHC consists of nine detectors, and they study particle interactions in different ways.
    • The ATLAS and CMS detectors discovered the Higgs boson in 2012 and confirmed their findings in 2013.
    • Using the data from collisions, scientists have tested the predictions of the Standard Model of particle physics, observed exotic particles, and pieced together information about extreme natural conditions.

    What is the LHC’s future?

    • The LHC has not been able to find ‘new physics’ that can explain the nature of dark matter or why gravity is such a weak force.
    • One way forward is to improve the LHC’s luminosity by 10x by 2027 through upgrades.
    • Another idea is to build a bigger and more powerful version of the LHC, based on the hypothesis that it can find ‘new physics’ at even higher energies.
    • Physicists are divided on whether to invest in building a bigger machine or less expensive experiments with guaranteed results.

    B2BASICS

    What is Hadron?

    • Hadron is any member of a class of subatomic particles that are built from quarks and thus react through the agency of the strong force. The hadrons embrace mesons, baryons (e.g., protons, neutrons, and sigma particles), and their many resonances.

    CERN

    • European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) is the world’s largest nuclear and particle physics laboratory.
    • CERN is based in Geneva on the French-Swiss border. It has 23 member states.
    • India in 2016 became an associate member of the CERN. Indian scientists have played a significant role in the ALICE experiment, which is a dedicated experiment for search and study of Quark Gluon Plasma (QGP).

    Try this MCQ

    Which of the following is a subatomic particle made up of smaller particles and is commonly used in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC)?

    (a) Protons

    (b) Electrons

    (c) Neutrons

    (d) Photons

     

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  • Exercise Cope India 23

    The Indian Air Force (IAF) fighters, including Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Rafale, SU-30MKI, and Jaguars, are set to participate in bilateral air Exercise Cope India 23 with US Air Force (USAF) F-15 fighters and B-1B long-range bombers.

    Exercise Cope India

    • Cope India began in 2004 as a fighter training exercise held at Air Station Gwalior.
    • The exercise has evolved to incorporate subject matter expert exchanges, air mobility training, airdrop training and large-force exercises, in addition to fighter-training exercises.
    • The exercise was last held in 2009.
    • The exercise showcases US and India’s efforts and commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

    Highlights of the 2023 version

    • The exercise will be conducted in two phases, with the first phase practicing the air-mobility component involving transport aircraft of both countries.
    • The IAF element will include the Su-30MKI, Rafale, Tejas, and Jaguar fighter aircraft, while Japan is taking part in the exercise as an observer.
    • The second phase of the exercise will witness the participation of B-1B bombers of USAF, and F-15 fighter aircraft of the USAF will join the exercise subsequently, according to an IAF statement.
    • The exercise will be supported by aerial refuellers, Airborne Warning and Control System, and Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft of the IAF.

     

  • ESA to launch Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) Mission

    juice

    The European Space Agency (ESA) is all set to launch the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, or Juice, mission from its spaceport in French Guiana on an Ariane 5 launcher.

    What is the Juice Mission?

    • Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) mission is a project by the European Space Agency (ESA) to explore the Solar System’s largest planet Jupiter and its three largest moons, Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa.
    • Juice is constructed by an industrial consortium led by Airbus Defence and Space and is planned to reach Jupiter in 2031 using remote sensing, geophysical, and in situ instruments.

    Goals of the Juice mission

    • Juice aims to create a detailed map of the surfaces of Jupiter’s moons and to look beneath them to probe their potential habitability by creating a comprehensive picture of Jupiter.
    • One of the primary goals of the Juice mission is to gain insight into how planetary systems form and evolve over time and how possibly habitable environments can arise in Jupiter-like systems around other stars.
    • Juice will also analyze the chemistry, structure, dynamics, weather, and climate of Jupiter and its ever-changing atmosphere.

    Ganymede: Focus of the Juice mission

    • Ganymede is the largest moon in the Solar System and the only one to generate its magnetic field.
    • Juice will move into Ganymede’s orbit after approximately four of arriving at Jupiter.
    • Juice will use its suite of ten sophisticated instruments to measure how Ganymede rotates, its gravity, its shape and interior structure, its magnetic field, its composition, and to penetrate its icy crust using radar down to a depth of about nine km.

    Can Juice detect life?

    • Juice is not equipped to detect life on Jupiter or its moons.
    • It is, however, capable of finding out whether there could be places around Jupiter, inside the icy moons, where the necessary conditions, such as water, biological essential elements, energy, and stability, to sustain life are present.
    • Scientists believe that there is a possibility that life is present on Jupiter’s moons, in the form of microbes or more advanced species, such as those found in deep-sea trenches and at hydrothermal vents on Earth.