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  • Teja Singh Sutantar: Remembering the revolutionary leader

    teja

    Punjab Chief Minister unveiled a statue of Teja Singh Sutantar, a former MP and revolutionary leader.

    Teja Singh Sutantar

    • Teja Singh was born as Samund Singh in 1901 in Aluna village of Gurdaspur district.
    • After completing his schooling, he joined Khalsa College in Amritsar.
    • Following the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919, he joined the Akali Dal to participate in the movement to liberate gurdwaras from degenerate mahants.
    • However, in September 1921, he formed his own squad called the Sutantar Jatha, which successfully liberated a gurdwara in a village called Teja in Gurdaspur district from the mahants.
    • He later freed another gurdwara in Othian village from mahants.

    Early life and revolutionary activities

    • In early 1923, Teja Singh went to Kabul as a Sikh missionary and there he came into contact with a few leaders of the Ghadar Party, who were preparing for their second attempt to overthrow the British government.
    • They persuaded Teja Singh to undergo military training, so he joined the Turkish military academy in 1925 under the pseudonym Azad Beg.
    • He later moved to Berlin and then to Canada and the United States, where he addressed congregations of Indians, mainly Punjabi Sikh immigrants.

    Political Career

    • After visiting several countries, Teja Singh returned to India and became a prominent leader of the communist party (CPI).
    • He contributed revolutionary articles to the party journal, the Kirti, frequently writing about issues that plagued peasants.
    • In May 1937, he was elected unopposed to the Punjab Legislative Assembly as a nominee of the Indian National Congress while he was still in prison.
    • He continued to remain a member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly till 1945.
    • He was also the secretary of the Communist Party (Punjab) from 1944 to 1947.

     

  • 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.

     

  • The Legend of Guru Tegh Bahadur

    guru

    The Parkash Purab (birth anniversary) of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth guru of the Sikhs, was celebrated on April 11.

    Who was Guru Tegh Bahadur?

    • Guru Tegh Bahadur was born on April 1, 1621, in Amritsar, Punjab.
    • He was the ninth Guru of the Sikhs and the son of Guru Hargobind, the sixth Guru of the Sikhs, and Mata Nanaki.
    • His birth name was Tyag Mal, which means “master of renunciation.”
    • He spent his early years in Amritsar and was trained in religious studies, martial arts, and horse riding.
    • He was also trained in music and poetry, and he became a skilled poet and musician.

    His teachings and beliefs

    • Guru Tegh Bahadur’s teachings were based on the importance of meditation, self-discipline, and living a moral and ethical life.
    • He believed in the idea of one God and the unity of all religions.
    • His term as Guru ran from 1665 to 1675. One hundred and fifteen of his hymns are in Guru Granth Sahib.
    • He emphasized the importance of serving others and treating everyone with respect and dignity, regardless of their religion or social status.
    • He also believed in the principle of selfless service and encouraged his followers to help those in need.

    Significance in Indian History

    • Guru Tegh Bahadur played a crucial role in Sikh history by defending the religious freedom of Hindus against the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
    • Aurangzeb was known for his intolerance towards non-Muslims and had imposed a tax on Hindu pilgrims visiting the holy city of Varanasi.
    • When a group of Kashmiri Pandits approached Guru Tegh Bahadur for help, he decided to defend their right to practice their religion freely.
    • He refused to convert to Islam despite facing torture and persecution, and was eventually executed by Aurangzeb in 1675.
    • His martyrdom is remembered as a significant event in Indian history, and he is considered a hero and a martyr by Sikhs around the world.

    His legacy

    • His legacy continues to inspire Sikhs and people of all religions and backgrounds.
    • His teachings and beliefs are an essential part of Sikhism today and are embodied in the Sikh scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib.
    • He is remembered as a saint, scholar, and warrior who sacrificed his life to defend the rights of others.
    • Many Gurudwaras (Sikh temples) around the world are dedicated to him, including the Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Delhi, where he was martyred.
    • His martyrdom is commemorated each year on the occasion of Guru Tegh Bahadur’s Martyrdom Day, which is observed on December 19.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q.Consider the following Bhakti Saints:

    1. Dadu Dayal
    2. Guru Nanak
    3. Tyagaraja

    Who among the above was/were preaching when the Lodi dynasty fell and Babur took over?

    (a) 1 and 3

    (b) 2 only

    (c) 2 and 3

    (d) 1 and 2

     

     

    [wpdiscuz-feedback id=”24618ltpkt” question=”Please leave a feedback on this” opened=”1″]Post your answers here.[/wpdiscuz-feedback]

     

  • Zojila Tunnel to revolutionise connectivity to Ladakh

    zojila

    Union Transport Minister recently visited the Zojila Tunnel In Jammu & Kashmir which is Asia’s longest as well as highest.

    About Zojila Tunnel

    • The Zojila tunnel is an upcoming 14.15 km road tunnel that will connect Srinagar and Leh in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
    • It is being constructed as part of a project to improve connectivity in the region, with a connecting tunnel from Z-Morh to the Zojila tunnel also being built.
    • The tunnel is being built at a cost of more than Rs 4,600 crore and is expected to be completed by December 2023.

    Need for the tunnel

    • All weather connectivity: The Zojila Pass is closed during harsh winters due to fears of avalanches, landslides, and slippery roads, cutting off areas beyond the pass from the rest of the country for at least five months.
    • Military mobilization: The upcoming Zojila tunnel will provide perennial connectivity between Ladakh and the rest of the country and benefit both civilians and the military.
    • Time and effort saving: The distance from Baltal to Minamarg, currently 40 km, will come down to 13 km, with travel time expected to be cut by an hour and a half.

  • [pib] State Energy Efficiency Index, 2021-22

    energy

    The Union Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy has released the report of State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2021-22.

    State Energy Efficiency Index

    • The SEEI 2021-22 has been developed by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) in collaboration with Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE).
    • SEEI 2021-22 consists of 50 indicators (common and programme-specific) spanning 7 sectors – buildings, industry, municipal services, transport, agriculture, DISCOMs, and cross-sector.
    • 36 states and union territories have been assessed for their energy efficiency progress in FY 2020- 21 and FY 2021-22 in SEEI 2021-22.
    • Based on their efforts and achievements, states have been classified as ‘Front runner’, ‘Achiever’, ‘Contender’, and ‘Aspirant’.

    Highlights of the 2021-22 report

    Category States
    Front Runner (>60 points) Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Telangana
    Achiever (50-60 points) Assam, Haryana, Maharashtra, Punjab

     

    Importance of SEEI

    • The SEEI improves data collection, enables cross-state collaboration, and develops energy efficiency program ideas.
    • It helps states identify areas for improvement, learn from best practices, and adopt an economy-wide approach to energy efficiency implementation.
    • By prioritizing energy efficiency, it aims at driving decarbonization efforts and achieving a more sustainable future.

    Key recommendations of the report

    The report outlines the following recommendations to help states drive change in EE which will contribute towards the fulfillment of SDGs and NDC:

    • Enabling fiscal assistance for energy efficiency in the focus sectors.
    • Developing institutional capacity in states and UTs to address emerging needs and challenges in energy efficiency implementation.
    • Enhancing cross-functional collaborations across financial institutions, energy service companies, and energy professionals in large-scale energy efficiency implementation in states.
    • Mainstreaming energy data reporting and monitoring across sectors.

    Back2Basics: Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)

    • BEE was established by the Government of India on 1st March 2002 under the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
    • The primary objective of BEE is to reduce the energy intensity of the Indian economy by developing policies and strategies based on self-regulation and market principles.
    • BEE coordinates with designated consumers, designated agencies, and other organizations to perform its functions under the Energy Conservation Act.
    • The Energy Conservation Act provides for both regulatory and promotional functions for BEE.
    • BEE’s role includes recognizing, identifying, and utilizing existing resources and infrastructure to promote energy conservation and efficiency.
    • It works towards driving energy efficiency policies and programs at the state and local level, enabling cross-state collaboration and developing energy efficiency program ideas.

     

  • CSIR scientists identify Rare-Earth deposits in AP

    rare

    Scientists at the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) in Hyderabad have discovered the presence of rare-earth elements (REEs) in Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh.

    What are Rare-Earth Elements?

    • Rare-earth elements (REEs) are a group of 17 elements, including lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, yttrium, hafnium, tantalum, niobium, zirconium, and scandium.
    • These elements are widely used in modern electronics, such as smartphones, computers, jet aircraft, and other products, due to their unique magnetic, optical, and catalytic properties.
    • These elements are crucial components in various electronic devices and have industrial applications in sectors like imaging, aerospace, and defense.

    SHORE Project and discovery of REEs

    • The discovery was part of a study funded by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) under a project called ‘Shallow subsurface imaging Of India for Resource Exploration’ (SHORE).
    • NGRI scientists found enriched quantities of REEs in “whole rock analyses”.
    • Drilling for at least a kilometer deep will help ascertain the consistency of the elements’ presence underground.

    Significance of the discovery

    • The discovery of REEs in Anantapur district is significant as these elements are in high demand worldwide, and their supply is limited.
    • REEs have become a subject of geopolitical concern due to their increasing demand and limited supply.
    • China is currently the world’s largest producer and exporter of rare-earth elements (REEs), accounting for more than 80% of global production.
    • The country has significant reserves of REEs and has invested heavily in mining and processing infrastructure.

  • LIGO-India: India’s Node in Global Universe Probe

    ligo

    India has given the final approval to build its biggest scientific facility, Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), in the Hingoli district of Maharashtra. The facility will join the global project to detect and study gravitational waves.

    Gravitation and General Theory of Relativity

    • Newton’s law of gravitation, proposed by Sir Isaac Newton in the 17th century, explains that the force that makes an object fall to the ground is also responsible for making heavenly bodies go around in their orbits.
    • However, the theory did not explain the existence of an attractive force between any two bodies or the instantaneous propagation of the gravitational force over large distances.
    • In 1915, Albert Einstein proposed the General Theory of Relativity, which altered our understanding of gravitation. Einstein proposed that space-time interacted with matter, was influenced by it, and in turn, and influenced events.
    • The curvature in space-time produced by matter was the reason other smaller bodies in the vicinity felt the gravitational pull.
    • General Relativity also predicted that moving objects would generate gravitational waves in space-time.

    What is LIGO?

    What is it?

    		 Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO)
    Purpose Detect and study gravitational waves
    Cause Ripples in spacetime caused by violent and energetic events in the universe
    Location Livingston, Louisiana and Hanford, Washington
    Detector Michelson interferometer
    Function Measure changes in length caused by passing gravitational waves
    Benefits Improving our understanding of the universe and its origins
    Discovery Detected gravitational waves for the first time in 2015
    Significance Confirmed a prediction made by Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity
    Field Gravitational wave astronomy
    Discoveries Many exciting discoveries about the nature of the universe

    About LIGO-India

    • LIGO-India will be the fifth node of this international network of gravitational wave observatories, and possibly the last.
    • The instrument is so sensitive that it can easily get influenced by events like earthquakes, landslides, or even the movement of trucks, and produce a false reading.
    • That is why multiple observatories are needed to revalidate the signals.
    • India’s involvement in LIGO is crucial to demonstrating its intent and capability to pull-off complex science projects independently.

    Significance

    • The detection and study of gravitational waves could help in understanding the universe’s structure, the origin of the universe, and the functioning of black holes.
    • The LIGO project also has huge spin-off benefits for India’s science and technology sector.

     

  • Physicists discover new Uranium Isotope

    uranium

    Physicists in Japan have discovered a new isotope of uranium, with atomic number 92 and mass number 241.

    Uranium

    • Uranium is a naturally occurring chemical element with the symbol U and atomic number 92.
    • It is a heavy metal that is radioactive and found in small quantities in rocks and soils worldwide.
    • Uranium has several isotopes, which are atoms that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

    Isotopes of Uranium

    The most common isotopes of uranium are uranium-238 and uranium-235.

    1. Uranium-238: It is the most abundant isotope of uranium, accounting for over 99% of natural uranium. It has 92 protons and 146 neutrons in its nucleus. It is not fissile, which means it cannot sustain a nuclear chain reaction. However, it is fertile, which means it can absorb neutrons and undergo radioactive decay to produce other isotopes such as plutonium-239, which is fissile.
    2. Uranium-235: It is the second most abundant isotope of uranium, accounting for less than 1% of natural uranium. It has 92 protons and 143 neutrons in its nucleus. Unlike uranium-238, it is fissile, which means it can sustain a nuclear chain reaction. It is used as fuel in nuclear reactors and as the primary material for nuclear weapons.

    How are isotopes created?

    • Isotopes can be created through natural processes or artificial processes in a laboratory.
    • Isotopes are created through natural processes such as radioactive decay, cosmic ray interactions, and nuclear fusion reactions in stars.
    • For example, carbon-14 is created in the Earth’s upper atmosphere when cosmic rays interact with nitrogen atoms.
    • Isotopes can also be created artificially through nuclear reactions.
    • This involves bombarding atoms with particles such as protons, neutrons, or alpha particles, which can change the number of protons and/or neutrons in the nucleus.

    How uranium-241 was found?

    • To find uranium-241, the researchers accelerated uranium-238 nuclei into plutonium-198 nuclei using the KEK Isotope Separation System (KISS).
    • In a process called multinucleon transfer, the two isotopes exchanged protons and neutrons, resulting in nuclear fragments with different isotopes.
    • The researchers identified uranium-241 and measured the mass of its nucleus using time-of-flight mass spectrometry.
    • Theoretical calculations suggest that uranium-241 could have a half-life of 40 minutes.

    Significance of the discovery

    • The discovery is significant because it refines our understanding of nuclear physics, particularly the shapes of large nuclei of heavy elements and how often they occur.
    • This information helps physicists to design models for nuclear power plants and exploding stars.

    Also, what are Magic numbers?

    • There is a particular interest in ‘magic number’ nuclei, which contain a certain number of protons or neutrons that result in a highly stable nucleus.
    • Lead (82 protons) is the heaviest known ‘magic’ nucleus, and physicists have been trying to find the next element with magic numbers.
    • The researchers hope to extend their systematic mass measurements towards many neutron-rich isotopes, at least to neutron number 152, where a new ‘magic number’ is expected.

    Conclusion

    • The discovery of the new neutron-rich uranium isotope is a major breakthrough in nuclear physics, as it provides essential information for understanding the behavior of heavy elements.
    • The researchers’ aim to extend their measurements to other neutron-rich isotopes reflects their commitment to exploring the frontiers of nuclear science and to improve our understanding of the universe.
    • Discovering new magic number nuclei through these measurements could have practical applications in designing safer and more efficient nuclear power plants and understanding the properties of exploding stars.

     

  • The Statistical Genius: C. R. Rao

    rao

    Central idea: Indian-American statistician Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao has been awarded the 2023 International Prize in Statistics, which is considered the Nobel Prize for statistics.  He is 102 YO.

    Who is C. R. Rao?

    • R. Rao, is an Indian-American mathematician and statistician.
    • He is currently professor emeritus at Pennsylvania State University and Research Professor at the University at Buffalo.
    • Rao has been honoured by numerous colloquia, honorary degrees, and festschrifts and was awarded the US National Medal of Science in 2002.
    • The American Statistical Association has described him as “a living legend whose work has influenced not just statistics, but has had far reaching implications for fields as varied as economics, genetics, anthropology, geology, national planning, demography, biometry, and medicine.”
    • The Times of India listed Rao as one of the top 10 Indian scientists of all time.

    Rao’s Groundbreaking Paper

    • The research paper, “Information and accuracy attainable in the estimation of statistical parameters,” was published in 1945 in the Bulletin of the Calcutta Mathematical Society.
    • The paper provided a lower limit on the variance of an unbiased estimate for a finite sample, which has since become a cornerstone of mathematical statistics.

    Key outcomes of his research

    Rao’s 1945 paper has three outcomes-

    1. Cramer-Rao inequality: It provides a lower limit on the variance of an unbiased estimate for a finite sample.
    2. Rao-Blackwell Theorem: It provides a method to improve an estimate to an optimal estimate.
    3. Information geometry: It is a new interdisciplinary area called “information geometry,” which integrated principles from differential geometry into statistics, including the concepts of metric, distance, and measure.