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Type: Prelims Only

  • International Space Agencies – Missions and Discoveries

    Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD)

    8 December 2021 | Prelims Only | Science and Technology
    Mains GS3: GS3-17.Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-technology, Bio-technology and issues relating to Intellectual Property Rights.

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: LCRD

    Mains level: NA

    NASA has launched its new Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) — the agency’s first-ever laser communications system.

    What is LCRD?

    • LCRD involves laser communications – also called optical communications which uses infrared light to send information.
    • LCRD is launched in a geosynchronous orbit, over 35,000km above Earth.
    • LCRD has two optical terminals – one to receive data from a user spacecraft, and the other to transmit data to ground stations.
    • The modems will translate the digital data into laser signals. This will then be transmitted via encoded beams of light.

    Benefits offered by LCRD

    • Currently, most NASA spacecraft use radio frequency communications to send data.
    • Optical communications will help increase the bandwidth 10 to 100 times more than radio frequency systems.
    • The LCRD will help the agency test optical communication in space.

    Laser vs Radio

    • Laser communications and radio waves use different wavelengths of light. It uses infrared light and has a shorter wavelength than radio waves.
    • This will help the transmission of more data in a short time.
    • Using infrared lasers, LCRD will send data to Earth at 1.2 gigabits-per-second (Gbps).
    • It would take roughly nine weeks to transmit a completed map of Mars back to Earth with current radio frequency systems. With lasers, we can accelerate that to about nine days, says NASA.

    Other advantages

    Optical communications systems are smaller in size, weight, and require less power compared with radio instruments.

    • A smaller size means more room for science instruments.
    • Less weight means a less expensive launch.
    • Less power means less drain on the spacecraft’s batteries.

     

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  • New Species of Plants and Animals Discovered

    Species in news: Physella Acuta

    7 December 2021 | Prelims Only | Environment
    Mains GS3: GS3-18.Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Snail Physella Acuta

    Mains level: Not Much

    A tiny snail with a striking, pellucid golden-yellow shell found in the Edappally canal in Kochi has been flagged as an invasive species that could play havoc with native ecosystems.

    Snail Physella Acuta

    • First described by J.P.R. Draparnaud in 1805, Physella acuta is considered native to North America but is now found in all continents except Antarctica.
    • The snail was first reported in India in the early 1990s.
    • It is believed to have reached Kerala through the aquarium trade, a major vector for invasive species.
    • In Kerala, the snail had made its home in a highly polluted reach plagued by high sedimentation, untreated sewage, commercial effluents, construction wastes and a thick growth of invasive aquatic weeds.

    Threats posed

    • This snail plays host to worms that can cause food-borne diseases and skin itches in humans.
    • Moreover, its rapid growth rate, air-breathing capability, and tolerance to pollution make it a potential competitor to native fauna.

     

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  • Agmark, Hallmark, ISI, BIS, BEE and Other Ratings

    How is Gold Hallmarking being implemented?

    6 December 2021 | Prelims Only | Economics
    Mains GS3: GS3-12.Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Hallmark Gold

    Mains level: Not Much

    The Government has made it mandatory for the introduction of a Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number in every piece of jewellery.

    What is HUID?

    • HUID is a six-digit alphanumeric code, or one that consists of numbers and letters. It is given to every piece of jewellery at the time of hallmarking and is unique for each piece.
    • It is being implemented by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in a phased manner.
    • Hallmarking & HUID are mandatory for 14-, 18- and 22-carat gold jewellery and artefacts.
    • Before buying any piece of gold jewellery, the buyer should check all these three symbols.

    Implementation of HUID

    • Symbols: The hallmark consists of three symbols which give some information about the jewellery piece. The first symbol is the BIS logo; the second indicates purity and fineness; and the third symbol is the HUID.
    • A&H centre: Jewellery is stamped with the unique number manually at the Assaying & Hallmarking centre.

    Why is it being introduced?

    • Authentication: HUID gives a distinct identity to each piece of jewellery enabling traceability.
    • Credibility: It is critical to the credibility of hallmarking and to help address complaints against adulteration.
    • Registration: In HUID-based hallmarking, registration of jewellers is an automatic process with no human interference.
    • Prevents malpractice: It also helps check malpractice by members of the trade.
    • Data privacy: It is a secure system and poses no risk to data privacy and security.
    • Financial tracking: HUID provides traceability and financial tracking of purchases.

    Issues with HUID

    • Time-consuming: It is cumbersome to number each piece of jewellery
    • Intricate jewellery: HUID cannot be engraved in tiny pieces.
    • Unnecessary expense: Also it will increase cost for consumers.
    • Infrastructural issues: there needs to be ample AH Centres.

    What does this mean for the consumer?

    • Consumer protection: Given that gold plays a big role in the lives of Indians, mandating gold hallmarking is aimed at protecting consumer interests.
    • Assurance of quality: It provides ‘third-party assurance’ to consumers on the purity of gold jewellery.

    Conclusion

    • HUID concept is innovative, out-of-the-box thinking and more than makes up for stepping in late with mandatory hallmarking.
    • It is the sort of global leadership India has and needs to show in gold-related reforms.

     

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  • ISRO Missions and Discoveries

    Dhawan-1: India’s first privately developed Cryogenic Rocket

    6 December 2021 | Prelims Only | Science and Technology
    Mains GS3: GS3-16.Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Dhawan-1

    Mains level: Space startups in India

    Skyroot Aerospace successfully tested Dhawan-1 last month. It became the country’s first privately developed fully cryogenic rocket engine.

    Dhawan-1

    • The indigenous engine was developed using 3D printing with a superalloy.
    • It runs on two high-performance rocket propellants — liquid natural gas (LNG) and liquid oxygen (LoX).
    • This was after successfully designing and developing the solid propulsion rocket engine, the first private firm in the country to do so.

    Other projects by Skyroot

    • Skyroot is working simultaneously on different stages of both solid propulsion and liquid propulsion engines.
    • It is named after eminent scientists, like Kalam (Abdul Kalam) series for the former and Dhawan (Satish Dhawan).
    • The launch vehicles are named after Vikram Sarabhai.

     

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  • Tribes in News

    Tribes in news: Konyak

    6 December 2021 | Prelims Only | History
    Mains GS1: GS1-01.Indian Culture- Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Konyak Tribe

    Mains level: Not Much

    An angry mob allegedly vandalized an Assam Rifles camp and the office of the Konyak Union in Nagaland’s Mon district.

    Konyak Tribe

    • With a population of roughly 3 lakh, the area inhabited by the Konyaks extends into Arunachal Pradesh, with a sizeable population in Myanmar as well.
    • They are known to be one of the fiercest warrior tribes in Nagaland.
    • The Konyaks were the last to give up the practice of head-hunting – severing heads of enemies after attacking rival tribes – as late as the 1980s.

    Significance in Naga Peace Process

    • Mon is the only district in Nagaland where the separatist group has not been able to set up base camps, largely due to resistance from the Konyaks.
    • The Konyaks therefore, are imperative for a smooth resolution of the peace talks, as well as the post-talk peace process in the state.

    Also read:

    Naga Peace Accord

     

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  • Modern Indian History-Events and Personalities

    Who was St. Francis Xavier?

    4 December 2021 | Prelims Only | History
    Mains GS1: GS1-01.Indian Culture- Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: St. Francis Xaviers and his missions

    Mains level: Not Much

    The Prime Minister has greeted the people of Goa on the day of the Feast of St. Francis Xavier.

    St. Francis Xavier (1506-1552)

    • Francis Xavier venerated as Saint Francis Xavier, was a Catholic missionary and saint who was a co-founder of the Society of Jesus.
    • He was born in Javier, Kingdom of Navarre (in present-day Spain), he was a companion of Ignatius of Loyola and one of the first seven Jesuits.
    • He led an extensive mission into Asia, mainly in the Portuguese Empire of the time and was influential in evangelization work, most notably in India.

    His works

    • He has asked for a special minister to the king of Portugal whose sole office would be to further Christianity in Goa.
    • He also was the first Christian missionary to venture into Japan, Borneo, the Maluku Islands, and other areas.
    • In those areas, struggling to learn the local languages and in the face of opposition, he had less success than he had enjoyed in India.
    • Xavier was about to extend his missionary preaching to China when he died on Shangchuan Island.
    • Known as the “Apostle of the Indies” and “Apostle of Japan”, he is considered to be one of the greatest missionaries since Paul the Apostle.

    Try this question from CSP 2021

    Q. Consider the following statements:

    1. Francis Xavier was one of the founding members of the Jesuit Order.
    2. Francis Xavier died in Goa and a church is dedicated to him there.
    3. The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated in Goa each year.

    Which of the statements given above are correct?

    (a) 1 and 2 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 1 and 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

     

    [wpdiscuz-feedback id=”bxt6o52qk5″ question=”Please leave a feedback on this” opened=”1″]Post your answers here.[/wpdiscuz-feedback]

     

     

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  • Modern Indian History-Events and Personalities

    Paika Rebellion to be included as ‘case study’ in history textbook

    3 December 2021 | Prelims Only |
    Mains GS1: GS1-02.Modern Indian History- Mid-18th century – Present (significant events, personalities, issues);

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: Paika Rebellion

    Mains level: Peasants uprising in India

    The 1817 Paika Rebellion of Odisha would be included as a case study in the Class 8 NCERT history textbook, informed the Union Culture Minister.

    Who were the Paiks?

    • The Paiks of Odisha were the traditional landed militia and enjoyed rent free land tenures for their military service and policing functions on a hereditary basis.

    Paika Rebellion

    • When the British started tinkering with the revenue system in 1803, the farming community of Odisha rose in rebellion.
    • At that critical juncture, Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar — the military chief of the King of Khurda — led his army of Paikas forcing the British East India Company forces to retreat.
    • The rebellion came to be known as Paika Bidroh (Paika rebellion).

    When did it take place?

    • The rebellion, by the landed militia of Khurda called Paiks, predates the first war of independence in 1857 but did not get similar recognition.
    • It took place when the British East India Company wrested the rent-free land that had been given to the Paiks for their military service to the Kingdom of Khurda.

    Try this PYQ from CSP 2020:

    Q. With reference to the history of India, ‘ulgulan’ or the great tumult is the description of the which of the following?

    (a) The revolt of 1857

    (b) The Mappila rebellion of 1921

    (c) The Indigo revolt of 1859-1860

    (d) Birsa Munda’s revolt of 1899-1900

     

    [wpdiscuz-feedback id=”5jsad1unuu” question=”Please leave a feedback on this” opened=”1″]Post your answers here.[/wpdiscuz-feedback]

     

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  • International Space Agencies – Missions and Discoveries

    James Webb Space Telescope

    3 December 2021 | Prelims Only | Science and Technology
    Mains GS3: GS3-17.Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, Robotics, Nano-technology, Bio-technology and issues relating to Intellectual Property Rights.

    The James Webb Space Telescope, NASA’s largest space science telescope ever constructed, is scheduled to be sent into orbit in December.

    James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)

    • It is a space telescope being jointly developed by NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
    • It has taken 30 years and $10bn to develop, and is being described as one of the grand scientific endeavors of the 21st Century.

    What is the goal of this telescope?

    • The telescope will be able to see just about anything in the sky.
    • However, it has one overriding objective – to see the light coming from the very first stars to shine in the Universe.
    • These pioneer stars are thought to have switched on about 100-200 million years after the Big Bang, or a little over 13.5 billion years ago.
    • Webb will be picking out groupings of these stars.
    • They are so far away their light – even though it moves at 300,000km per second – will have taken billions of years to travel the cosmos.

    JWST mirror

    • One of the most important objects it will carry is a large mirror which will help collect light from the objects being observed.
    • The primary mirror is made of 18 hexagonal-shaped mirror segments — each 1.32 metre in diameter — stitched together in a honeycomb pattern.
    • The primary mirror is a technological marvel.
    • The lightweight mirrors, coatings, actuators and mechanisms, electronics, and thermal blankets when fully deployed form a single precise mirror that is truly remarkable.
    • Each mirror segment weighs approximately 20 kilograms and is made from beryllium.

    Why beryllium?

    • NASA explains that beryllium was used as it is both strong and light.
    • Beryllium is very strong for its weight and is good at holding its shape across a range of temperatures. Beryllium is a good conductor of electricity and heat and is not magnetic.
    • Because it is light and strong, beryllium is often used to build parts for supersonic airplanes and the Space Shuttle.
    • It added that special care was taken when working with beryllium because it is unhealthy to breathe in or swallow beryllium dust.

    So, it does not have gold?

    • After the beryllium mirror segments were polished a thin coating of gold was applied to it. Gold helps improve the mirror’s reflection of infrared light.
    • The gold was coated using a technique called vacuum vapour deposition.
    • The mirrors are kept inside a vacuum chamber and a small quantity of gold is vapourised and deposited on the mirror.
    • The thickness of the gold is just 100 nanometers. So less than 50 grams of gold was used for the entire mirror.
    • A thin layer of glass was also deposited on top of the gold layer to protect it from scratches.

     

     

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  • Air Pollution

    Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) Scheme

    3 December 2021 | Prelims Only | Environment
    Mains GS3: GS3-18.Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: PAT Scheme

    Mains level: Schemes for emission control

    A recent report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has attributed the inefficiency of the PAT scheme to non-transparency, loose targets and overlooked deadlines.

    PAT Scheme

    • Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme is a flagship program of Bureau of Energy Efficiency under the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE).
    • NMEEE is one of the eight national missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) launched by the Government of India in the year 2008

    Working of the scheme

    • PAT is a market-based compliance mechanism to accelerate improvements in energy efficiency in energy-intensive industries.
    • The energy savings achieved by notified industries is converted into tradable instruments called Energy Saving Certificates (ESCerts).
    • The ESCerts after issuance by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency are traded at Power Exchanges.

    What is PAT cycle?

    • The government shortlists industries and restricts the amount of energy they can consume and defines a time limit of three years by when this restriction should be met as part of PAT.
    • These three years of time are called one PAT cycle.
    • The industries are chosen after in-depth, sector-wise analysis by the government.
    • Industries that participate in this scheme are called designated consumers (DC).
    • Those that overachieve their targets are issued energy savings certificates (ESCerts) that can be traded with industries that have not achieved their targets.
    • Non-achievers have to buy the ESCerts after the three years for compliance.

    Various PAT cycles

    • PAT covered about 13 energy-intensive sectors
    • Sectors included are thermal power plants (TPP), cement, aluminium, iron and steel, pulp and paper, fertilizer, chlor-alkali, petroleum refineries, petrochemicals, distribution companies, railways, textile and commercial buildings (hotels and airports)
    • Announcements for six cycles since 2012 have been made so far

     

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  • Higher Education – RUSA, NIRF, HEFA, etc.

    [pib] Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages of India (SPPEL)

    3 December 2021 | Prelims Only | History
    Mains GS1: GS1-01.Indian Culture- Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

    Note4Students

    From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:

    Prelims level: [pib] Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages of India (SPPEL)

    Mains level: Not Much

    The Government of India has initiated a Scheme known as “Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages of India” (SPPEL) informed the Minister of Culture and Tourism.

    About SPPEL

    • The Scheme was instituted by Ministry of Human Resource Development in 2013.
    • The sole objective of the Scheme is to document and archive the country’s languages that have become endangered or likely to be endangered in the near future.
    • The scheme is monitored by the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) located in Mysuru, Karnataka.
    • The CIIL has collaborated with various universities and institutes across India for this mission.
    • University Grants Commission (UGC) is also providing financial assistance for the creation of centres for endangered languages at Central and State Universities.

    What are Endangered Languages?

    • At the moment, the languages which are spoken by less than 10,000 speakers or languages that are not been linguistically studied earlier are considered endangered language.

    Present status of the scheme

    • Presently, 117 languages have been listed for the documentation.
    • Documentation in the form of grammar, dictionary and ethno-linguistic profiles of about 500 lesser known languages are estimated to be accomplished in the coming years.

     

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