From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: Gaganyaan Mission
Mains level: Significance of manned space mission for India
In the news
Prime Minister announced the astronaut designates for India’s inaugural crewed spaceflight, Gaganyaan, slated for a 2025 launch.
About Gaganyaan Mission
The Gaganyaan Mission is India’s initiative to demonstrate human spaceflight capabilities by sending a crew of 4 members into a 400 km Low Earth Orbit.
It aims to demonstrate India’s indigenous capability in undertaking human space flights, with an immediate goal of executing a manned mission.
GSLV Mk III, also known as LVM-3, will be used as a launch vehicle in Gaganyaan mission.
Technological Requirements
Human-Rated LVM3: A modified version of ISRO’s LVM3 serves as the launch vehicle, equipped with Crew Escape System (CES) and an Orbital Module to ensure crew safety.
Orbital Module (OM):
Crew Module (CM): Provides a habitable space for crew members, featuring a double-walled rigid construction and essential life support systems.
Service Module (SM): Supports the Crew Module in orbit, housing propulsion, thermal, and power systems.
Crew Escape System (CES): Facilitates emergency escape mechanisms for astronauts during critical phases of the mission, ensuring their safety.
Life Support System: Ensures a conducive environment for crew members in space, addressing physiological needs and emergency provisions.
Phases of Gaganyaan Mission
Testing Phase: Included Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT) and Pad Abort Test (PAT), crucial for validating safety mechanisms and system performance.
Unmanned Missions: Technology demonstration and safety verification precede the manned mission, involving advanced tests and flight trials. Vyommitra AI humanoid underwent tests for this mission.
Manned Mission: Culminates in executing the human spaceflight module of Gaganyaan, following successful unmanned missions.
Significance of the Mission
Technological Advancement: Propels India towards future technological capabilities, fostering affordable space programs and scientific exploration.
Youth Inspiration: Inspires youth towards careers in science and technology, igniting innovation and creativity in space science.
Diplomatic Collaboration: Opens avenues for international cooperation in space exploration, enhancing diplomatic ties and knowledge exchange.
Scientific Breakthrough: Enables groundbreaking discoveries in medicine, material science, and biology through microgravity experiments.
Economic Growth: Stimulates economic development, technology spin-offs, and job creation, contributing to India’s overall progress.
Challenges Associated
Indigenous Technology: Reliance on indigenous technology necessitates complex research and development efforts, ensuring program safety.
Space Transportation Vehicle: Development of customized launch vehicles poses challenges due to payload constraints and weight limitations.
Training and Simulation: Lack of critical space training facilities necessitates dependence on other space agencies, augmenting challenges.
Regenerative Environment: Creation of self-sustaining life support systems in space remains a daunting task, requiring innovative solutions.
Crew Safety: Mitigating risks associated with crew safety, including psychological and physiological effects of space travel, is imperative.
Conclusion
The Gaganyaan Mission epitomizes India’s leap towards space exploration, encapsulating aspirations of scientific discovery, technological innovation, and international collaboration.
Amidst challenges and complexities, India stands poised to script a new chapter in its space odyssey, inspiring generations and propelling towards the frontiers of the cosmos.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: Genome India Project
Mains level: NA
In the news
The completion of the ‘10,000 genome’ mapping under the Genome India Project marks a significant milestone in India’s quest to establish a comprehensive reference database of whole-genome sequences, representing the diverse genetic makeup of its population.
About the Genome India Project
Details
Initiative
Launched in 2020 by Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and ISRO
Aim
To sequence 10,000 Indian genomes for a reference genome.
Objective
Understand Indian genetic variations for predictive diagnostics.
Scope
Involves 20+ institutions to collect samples and create a reference grid.
Significance
Addresses India’s genetic diversity for personalized healthcare.
Applications
Advances biotech, agriculture, and healthcare for diseases like diabetes and cancer.
What is Genome Sequencing?
Genome sequencing involves deciphering the complete set of genetic instructions contained within an organism’s DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid).
It entails determining the sequence of the four nucleotide bases: adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T).
The human genome comprises over 3 billion of these genetic letters, but current DNA sequencing methods can only handle short stretches at a time.
While human genomes consist of DNA, viruses can have genomes composed of either DNA or RNA (Ribonucleic acid).
Notably, viruses like the coronavirus possess RNA genomes.
Each organism possesses a unique genome sequence, making genome sequencing a vital technique for understanding genetic information encoded in DNA or RNA.
Outcomes of the Genome India Project
Population Complexity: India’s vast population, comprising over 4,600 distinct groups, exhibits significant genetic diversity, owing to factors such as endogamy.
Unique Variations: Various disease-causing mutations are amplified within specific population groups, highlighting the importance of understanding India’s genetic landscape.
Future Implications
Insight into Population Diversity: The project aims to provide deeper insights into India’s genetic diversity, facilitating improved diagnostic methods and medical counselling.
Personalized Medicine: Identifying genetic predispositions to diseases and developing personalized drugs are envisioned outcomes, enhancing healthcare interventions.
Biobank Establishment: A biobank housing 20,000 blood samples, located at the Centre for Brain Research, IISc, supports genome sequencing efforts.
Data Archiving: Data archiving at the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC), set up by the DBT at the Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad, underscores the project’s commitment to transparency and collaboration.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: Obelisks, Viroids
Mains level: NA
In the news
Recently identified by scientists at Stanford University, obelisks represent a distinct class of virus-like entities residing within the human body.
What are Obelisks?
Novel Discoveries: Recently identified, obelisks represent a distinct class of virus-like entities residing within the human body.
Genetic Diversity: Comprising diverse RNA molecules, obelisks have pervaded both human and global microbiomes, yet remained unnoticed until now.
Distinctive Characteristics:
Structural Symmetry: Named after the rod-like, highly symmetrical structures formed by their twisted RNA strands.
Genetic Makeup: Obelisks boast compact genetic sequences of approximately 1,000 nucleotides, devoid of known similarities to other biological agents.
Size Disparity: Significantly larger than conventional genetic molecules like plasmids, which are primarily composed of DNA.
Taxonomic Position: Positioned between viruses and viroids, obelisks constitute a unique class of organisms with intriguing properties.
Host Interaction: While the hosts of certain obelisks remain unidentified, bacterial associations are speculated, hinting at a broader ecological significance.
Spatial Distribution: Various types of obelisks inhabit diverse regions within the human body, highlighting their pervasive presence and potential physiological roles.
Understanding Viroids: Nature’s Tiny RNA Loops
Genetic Cousins: Viroids are compact loops of RNA, closely related to DNA, primarily infecting plant organisms.
Discovery: In 1971, Theodor Diener identified viroids during research on potato spindle tuber disease, revealing naked RNA entities devoid of protein coats or lipid layers.
Unique Features:
Lack of Encapsulation: Unlike larger RNA viruses, viroids lack protective shells, relying solely on their RNA structure for stability.
Genetic Composition: Viroid RNA does not encode protein-building instructions, contrasting with viruses that carry genetic blueprints for their replication machinery.
Host Interactions: Viroids exploit host enzymes for replication, highlighting their parasitic nature within plant cells.
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: Enforcement Directorate (ED)
Mains level: Controversies associated with the Jurisdiction of CBI, ED
In the News:
The Supreme Court witnessed a clash between the Tamil Nadu government and the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) concerning the jurisdiction of the ED to probe “illegal” sand mining activities in the state.
TN contested the ED’s authority to investigate sand mining under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), asserting that sand mining offenses were not scheduled under the PMLA.
Why did the ED step in?
Whenever any offence is registered by a local police station, which has generated proceeds of crime over and above ₹1 crore, the investigating police officer forwards the details to the ED.
Alternately, if the offence comes under the knowledge of the Central agency, they can then call for the First Information Report (FIR) or the chargesheet if it has been filed directly by police officials.
This will be done to find out if any laundering has taken place.
About Enforcement Directorate (ED)
Details
Establishment
May 1, 1956
Initially set up as an ‘Enforcement Unit’
Nodal Agency
Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance
Jurisdiction
Nationwide
Functional Focus
Economic and financial offenses including money laundering, foreign exchange irregularities
Investigative Powers
Attachment, confiscation, and arrest
Conduct raids and searches
Summon and question individuals
Collaboration
Coordinates with various agencies (CBI, local police) and banks
Reporting Authority
Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance
Corruption Investigations
Has a separate Economic Offenses Division
Notable Cases
Vijay Mallya extradition
PNB fraud case
Augusta Westland VVIP chopper scam
International Cooperation
Works with international law enforcement for cross-border investigations (Interpol, FATF)
Public Interface
Accepts complaints and information regarding economic offenses
Transparency and Accountability
Regular reports to the Ministry of Finance; subject to oversight by judiciary and government bodies
Legal Authority of the ED
Description
Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA), 1974
To sponsor cases of preventive detention related to contraventions of FEMA.
Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999
ED to investigate suspected contraventions of foreign exchange laws and regulations, adjudicate and impose penalties, and
Trace assets derived from proceeds of crime.
Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002
ED to investigate, trace assets derived from proceeds of crime, provisionally attach property, and
Ensure prosecution and confiscation by Special Court (PMLA Court under Section 4 of PMLA).
Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA), 2018
ED to enforce provisions related to attachment and confiscation of properties belonging to FEOs who have fled India to evade the legal process.
This newscard is an excerpt from an original article published in the TIE.
What are Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs)?
The Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) were rolled out as part of the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) of the IPCCin 2014.
These are basically emission scenarios that depict pathways of greenhouse gas and aerosol emissions resulting from human activities over time, crucial for climate modelling and forecasting.
These pathways were introduced to provide a consistent set of GHGs concentration trajectories for climate modelling and research purposes.
The RCPs were officially selected and defined based on their total radiative forcing levels in the year2100.
These pathways describe various climate change scenarios based on the amount of greenhouse gases emitted.
RCP 2.6: Limits global warming to less than 2°C above pre-industrial levels while also attempting to keep ocean acidification under control. Greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced significantly compared to current levels.
RCP 4.5: Reflects an intermediate scenario where emissions peak around 2040 and then gradually decrease. Global mean temperature rise is projected to reach approximately 2°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100.
RCP 6: Stabilizes radiative forcing at 6 watts per square meter (W/m²) after 2100 following peaking around mid-century. It aims to achieve a lower level of global warming but does not exclude temporary overshoots beyond 2°C.
RCP 8.5: Presents a high-emission scenario characterized by increasing radiative forcing throughout the century. By 2100, it results in a global mean temperature increase of over 4°C above pre-industrial levels.
Back2Basics:Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Description
Establishment
Established in 1988 by WMO and UNEP
Membership
195 member countries.
Objective
Assess scientific info on human-induced climate change, impacts, and mitigation/adaptation options.
Main Activity
Prepares assessment, special, and methodology reports, crucial for international climate negotiations.
Scientific Research
Relies on global scientific community for literature review and conclusions.
Working Groups
Comprises three groups:
I (climate physics),
II (impacts/adaptation), and
III (mitigation)
Reports
Each group issues reports, compiled into a synthesis report.
Try this PYQ from CSP 2018:
“Momentum for Change: Climate Neutral Now” is an initiative launched by:
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: Qubits, Quantum Mechanics etc.
Mains level: NA
In the news
Quantum computing holds immense potential, yet many systems operate only at extremely low temperatures, making them costly and commercially unfeasible.
Researchers are exploring alternative technologies to drive down costs and enhance the commercial viability of quantum computers.
Quantum Computing
Quantum computing is a paradigm of computation that utilizes principles from quantum mechanics to process information.
In quantum mechanics, particles exhibit wavelike properties, and their behavior is governed by the Schrodinger equation, which describes how these waves behave.
Key Concepts:
Wave-Particle Duality: Quantum objects, like electrons and photons, exhibit both particle-like and wave-like properties simultaneously, known as wave-particle duality.
Superposition: Objects in quantum science can exist in superposition states, where their quantum state is a combination of multiple states until measured. This concept allows qubits to represent multiple states simultaneously.
Quantum States and Qubits: Qubits are the fundamental units of quantum information, representing a two-state quantum system that can be in a superposition of 0 and 1 until measured.
Quantum Gates: Quantum computers use quantum gates to manipulate qubits through reversible unitary transformations, enabling complex computations based on algorithms.
Entanglement: Quantum entanglement is a unique property where multiple qubits can be correlated in such a way that the state of one qubit is dependent on the state of another, allowing for powerful computational capabilities.
Understanding Qubits and their Fragility
Classical vs. Quantum: Similar to classical computers, which rely on bits with two states (0 and 1), quantum computers operate using qubits—physical systems with two quantum states.
Unique Feature: Unlike classical bits, qubits can exist not only in one of the two states but also in a superposed state, where they simultaneously hold both states. However, this superposition is fragile and prone to disruption from external interactions.
Challenges in Qubit Implementation
Requirement for Identical Qubits: A collection of qubits is necessary for a quantum device, each needing to be identical—a challenge due to manufacturing imperfections.
Controllability and Robustness: Qubits must be controllable, allowing manipulation and interaction, while also being robust enough to maintain quantum features at room temperature over extended durations.
Exploring Qubit Systems
Diverse Options: Various physical systems serve as qubits, including superconducting junctions, trapped ions, and quantum dots. However, these systems typically require low temperatures or vacuum conditions for operation.
High Cost Barrier: The necessity for such conditions renders quantum computers based on these technologies expensive, prompting research into simpler, cost-effective alternatives.
Breakthrough in Room-Temperature Qubits
Metal-Organic Framework (MOF): In a recent collaborative study reported in Science Advances, researchers in Japan achieved qubits at room temperature within a metal-organic framework.
Composition: The MOF consists of repeated molecular arrangements, with zirconium as the metal component and an organic molecule containing the chromophore pentacene bridging the metal atoms.
Singlet Fission Mechanism: Singlet fission, facilitated by interaction between chromophores within the porous MOF networks, generates two triplet excited chromophores from a singlet excited state.
Enhanced Stability: The rotation of chromophores within the MOF networks modulates interactions, ensuring long-lived coherence of triplet states even at room temperature.
Just as the sporting world anticipates the Olympics every four years, the cryptocurrency community eagerly awaits its own quadrennial event: the Bitcoin halving.
Scheduled for April, this event marks a crucial milestone in the world of Bitcoin mining and trading.
Bitcoin
Bitcoin is a digital currency created in 2009 by an unknown person or group using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto.
It operates on a decentralized distributed ledger called blockchain, which records all transactions.
The blockchain acts as a public ledger where each new set of verified transactions (a “block”) is added to the existing chain, creating an unalterable history of all Bitcoin transactions.
The process of verifying these blocks, referred to as mining, requires solving complex mathematical problems, which not only secures the network but also rewards miners with newly minted Bitcoins.
What is Bitcoin Halving?
Reward Reduction: Bitcoin halving entails a 50% reduction in the reward paid to Bitcoin miners for successfully processing cryptocurrency transactions. This reduction aims to maintain the scarcity of Bitcoin and regulate its supply.
Mining Process: Bitcoin miners utilize advanced computer equipment to solve complex mathematical puzzles through a process called ‘Proof of Work,’ crucial for expanding Bitcoin’s blockchain.
Blockchain Integrity: The halving mechanism ensures the integrity and security of the Bitcoin blockchain by adjusting the rate at which new coins are created, maintaining a controlled inflation rate.
Analogical Explanation
Grocery Store Contest: Analogous to a group of cashiers competing to tally up items in a grocery store, Bitcoin miners race to solve cryptographic puzzles to claim rewards.
Equipment Advantage: Cashiers with superior equipment have a higher chance of winning the contest, akin to Bitcoin miners with cutting-edge technology.
Economic Incentives: The analogy highlights the economic incentives driving both miners and cashiers to optimize their resources for maximum efficiency and profitability.
Implications for Crypto Investors
Scarcity and Value: Bitcoin halving reduces the rate at which new coins are released, enhancing Bitcoin’s scarcity and potentially driving up its value, similar to gold.
Historical Context: Bitcoin halving occurs approximately every four years, with past events influencing market dynamics and investor sentiment.
Market Speculation: Investors often speculate on the impact of halving events, with some anticipating price surges while others remain cautious due to the unpredictability of market reactions.
Impact on Mining and Market Dynamics
Corporate vs. Individual Miners: Corporate miners may prioritize maximizing rewards before the halving, while individual traders and investors may strategize based on market trends.
Geopolitical Factors: Shifts in mining operations across different countries, driven by factors like regulatory changes and electricity costs, influence Bitcoin’s ecosystem.
Technological Advancements: The evolution of mining hardware and techniques plays a significant role in determining mining efficiency and profitability, especially in the lead-up to halving events.
Market Volatility: Despite attempts to predict market movements, Bitcoin’s journey remains highly volatile, influenced by factors beyond halving events.
Try this PYQ from CSP 2020:
It is a public ledger that everyone can inspect, but which no single user controls.
The structure and design of blockchain is such that all the data in it are about cryptocurrency only.
Applications that depend on basic features of blockchain can be developed without anybody’s permission.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: Theyyam Dance, Its unique features
Mains level: NA
In the news
This newscard is an excerpt from an image published in today’s edition of TH.
About Theyyam
Theyyam is a traditional ritualistic performance art form native to the northern region of Kerala.
It is believed to have evolved over centuries, combining elements of music, dance, and drama to honor various Hindu deities, especially Goddess Kali.
Key Features
Unique format: Theyyam performances take place at village shrines or in joint-family homes rather than on stages.
Lengthy duration: Performances can span from 12 to 24 hours, reflecting their importance within the community.
Ritual: The chief dancers live near the shrine during the entire event and do not eat after sunset.
Masks and costumes: Various types of masks and face paints are used, characterized by vibrant colors.
Musical accompaniment: Traditional Kerala instruments like chenda (drum), tuti (flute), kuzhal (wind instrument), and veekni (percussion instrument) support the dancers.
Dance steps: Specific dance steps called “Kalaasams” follow a structured sequence.
Religious influence: Certain aspects of Theyyam, such as abstaining from eating after sunset, indicate religious influences from Jainism and Buddhism.
Try this PYQ from CSP 2017:
Q. With reference to Manipuri Sankirtana, consider the following statements:
It is a song and dance performance.
Cymbals are the only musical instruments used in the performance.
It is performed to narrate the life and deeds of Lord Krishna.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: Indus Waters Treaty, Ravi River
Mains level: Reconsideration of IWT
Why in the News?
India has completed the Shahpur Kandi Barrage Project, halting the flow of water from the Ravi river into Pakistan after 45 years of waiting.
Under the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, India possesses exclusive rights to the waters of the Ravi river, enabling it to utilize the resource for local agricultural purposes.
What are the Potential Benefits for India of stopping Ravi River Water to Pakistan?
Water Security: Retaining Ravi river water can enhance water security for Indian regions. The Jammu and Kashmir region will now benefit from the 1,150 cusecs of water that was previously allocated to Pakistan.
Agricultural Productivity: By ensuring access to Ravi river water, India can support increased agricultural productivity and efficiency, promoting sustainable farming practices and boosting food security
Economic Opportunities: Retaining control over Ravi river water can lead to the creation of new job opportunities, additional revenue streams from commercial activities along the riverbanks, and improved habitat quality supporting biodiversity
Urban Development: Halting the flow of Ravi river water to Pakistan can facilitate the development of sustainable urban areas along the riverbanks, contributing to planned urban housing and economic growth in India.
India can implement modern waste management systems, promote recycling industries, and adopt circular economies for sustainable water usage and protection of ecosystems.
Health Benefits: India can ensure cleaner drinking water sources, reducing health risks associated with contaminated water and enhancing public health outcomes.
About Shahpur Kandi Barrage Project
It is located on the Ravi River, in Punjab’s Pathankot district, near the border of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.
Project Evolution:
The foundation stone of the Shahpur Kandi Barrage Project was laid by then Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao in 1995.
In 2016, the government started to optimize water resources from the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers for Indian farmers, leading to renewed efforts to complete the project.
Finally, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab signed an agreement in 2018 to resume work on the Shahpur-Kandi dam project, which had been hanging fire for the last 40 years.
Project Capacity:
The project comprises a 5 m high concrete gravity dam, a 7.7 km long hydel channel, two head regulators, and two powerhouses.
It is expected to generate up to 206MW of electricity and provide irrigation to Punjab (5,000 Ha) and Jammu and Kashmir (32,173 Ha).
Indus Waters Treaty
The Indus Waters Treaty is an agreement between India and Pakistan, mediated by the World Bank in 1960.
The treaty allocates the Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan and the Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India.
However, the treaty permits limited usage of the Eastern Rivers by Pakistan and vice versa.
The treaty created the Permanent Indus Commission, comprising one representative from each nation, to facilitate communication and dispute resolution.
The treaty facilitated the construction of dams, link canals, barrages, and tube wells, providing water to Pakistan as per its previous entitlement.
The treaty came into effect due to the partition in 1947, leading to the division of the water systems.
After the expiry of the temporary Standstill Agreement of 1947, India started holding back water from canals flowing towards Pakistan.
The Inter-Dominion Accord of May 4, 1948, mandated India to supply water to Pakistani areas of the basin in exchange for yearly payments.
Try this PYQ from CSP 2021:
d) Sutlej
Q. Present an account of the Indus Water Treaty and examine its ecological, economic and political implications in the context of changing bilateral relations. (UPSC 2016)
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: Circumstellar Discs
Mains level: Read the attached story
Introduction
The formation of planets within protostellar discs, swirling reservoirs of gas and dust, remains a captivating field in astrophysics.
Recent advancements in computer simulations have unveiled the unexpected flattened shapes of nascent gas planets within these discs, providing critical understanding of planetary genesis.
What are Circumstellar Discs?
Protoplanetary Discs: These discs, comprised of dust, gas, and other celestial objects, orbit newly formed stars and serve as the birthplace of planets.
Composition and Evolution: Initially predominantly gas, protoplanetary discs evolve, hosting various materials including asteroids, comets, and planets.
Findings: Hubble Space Telescope offers detailed views of these regions, aiding astronomers in studying planet formation dynamics.
Distinctive Shape of Protoplanets
Unique Structure: Protoplanets exhibit oblate spheroid shapes, highly flattened, resembling discs with up to 90% flattening.
Growth Dynamics: Gas accumulation primarily occurs through poles rather than equators, impacting observed properties and interpretation of observations.
Formation Mechanisms
Core Accretion vs. Disc Instability: These two prominent theories offer models for planet formation, emphasizing diverse mechanisms contributing to planetary systems’ complexity.
Role of Disc Instability: This mechanism, explaining rapid gas giant formation, aligns with observations of certain exoplanetary systems, highlighting the interplay of formation processes.
Challenges in Observation
Limited Detection: Observing nascent protoplanets within these discs poses challenges, with only a few detected to date, such as within the PDS 70 system.
Temporal Constraints: The short duration of planetary formation phases necessitates precise timing for observational opportunities.
Insights from Simulations
Computational Studies: High-resolution simulations elucidate thermal conditions influencing gas protoplanet properties within the discs, offering invaluable insights into their formation.
Resolution and Analysis: These simulations, computationally demanding, trace protoplanet evolution from condensation to provide a deeper understanding.
