Weekly Brief 1-5/1/2024

1 .Brahmputra River:

(GS Paper II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations)

(GS Paper I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society.)

China has approved the construction of what will be the world's largest hydropower dam, stoking concerns about displacement of communities in Tibet and environmental impacts downstream in India and Bangladesh.

The dam, which will be located in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo river, could generate three times more energy than the Three Gorges Dam, currently the world's largest hydropower plant.

The Brahmaputra River, a mighty force of nature, originates in the Tibetan Plateau and journeys through Tibet, India, and Bangladesh before culminating in the Bay of Bengal. Known for its immense power and unpredictable nature, the river is vital for the region, providing transportation, irrigation, and hydropower potential.

However, its ferocity also presents challenges, with frequent flooding and erosion causing significant damage to communities and infrastructure along its banks.

It enters India in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, where it's known as the Siang or Dihang River.

Key North Bank Tributaries:

• Subansiri: A major tributary known for its hydropower potential.   

• Kameng: Another significant tributary, also with hydropower potential.   

• Manas: Famous for the Manas National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.   

• Teesta: An important river originating in the Himalayas.

Key South Bank Tributaries:

• Lohit: A major tributary joining the Brahmaputra in Assam.   

• Dibang: Another significant tributary flowing through Arunachal Pradesh.   

• Dhansiri: A major tributary contributing to the river's flow.   

• Kopili: An important tributary with hydropower potential.

2 .Why is Nitrate Contamination a Problem?

(GS Paper I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society.)

Health Risks:

• Methemoglobinemia (Blue Baby Syndrome): In infants, high nitrate levels in drinking water can interfere with oxygen transport in the blood, leading to this potentially fatal condition.   

• Cancer Risks: Some studies suggest potential links between high nitrate exposure and increased cancer risks.   

• Other Health Issues: Potential for thyroid problems, reproductive issues, and other health complications.   

• Environmental Impact:

  • Eutrophication: Nitrate runoff into surface waters can lead to excessive plant growth (algae blooms), depleting oxygen levels and harming aquatic life.   

Sources of Nitrate Contamination:

• Agricultural Runoff:

  • Excessive use of nitrogen-rich fertilizers   

  • Animal waste from livestock farms   

• Septic Tank Leakage:

  • Improperly maintained septic systems can allow nitrate-rich wastewater to seep into groundwater.   

• Industrial Waste:

  • Some industrial processes release nitrate compounds into the environment.

What India Needs to Do:

• Promote Sustainable Agriculture:

  • Precision Agriculture: Encourage the use of technologies like soil testing and variable rate fertilization to minimize fertilizer use.   

  • Organic Farming: Promote organic farming practices that rely on natural fertilizers and pest control methods.

  • Crop Rotation: Implement crop rotation strategies to improve soil health and reduce the need for excessive fertilization.   

    
    

• Improve Wastewater Management:

  • Properly Constructed and Maintained Septic Systems: Ensure proper construction and regular maintenance of septic systems to prevent leakage.

  • Wastewater Treatment: Upgrade and expand wastewater treatment plants to remove nitrates before discharge into the environment.   

    
    

• Groundwater Monitoring:

  • Regular Testing: Conduct regular monitoring of groundwater quality to identify areas with high nitrate levels.

  • Public Awareness: Raise public awareness about the dangers of nitrate contamination and the importance of safe drinking water

    
    

    Policy and Regulations:

    
    

    Stricter Regulations: Implement and enforce stricter regulations on fertilizer use, wastewater disposal, and industrial emissions.   

  • Incentives: Provide incentives for farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices.   

    
    

Blue baby syndrome, also known as infant methemoglobinemia, is a serious condition where a baby's skin turns blue or gray due to a lack of oxygen in the blood.

Causes:

• High Nitrate Levels in Water: The most common cause is exposure to high levels of nitrates in drinking water. When infants consume water contaminated with nitrates, bacteria in their digestive system convert nitrates into nitrites. Nitrites then interfere with the blood's ability to carry oxygen, leading to the bluish discoloration.

Symptoms:

• Bluish or grayish discoloration of the skin, especially around the lips, fingertips, and toes

• Difficulty breathing

• Rapid heart rate

• Choking

• Seizures

• Coma (in severe cases)

3 .Rani Velu Nachiyar: 

(GS Paper I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society.)

  was the first Indian queen to fight against the East India Company in India. She was a princess of Ramanathapuram and the only child of King Chellamuthu Vijayaragunatha Sethupathy and Queen Sakandhimuthathal of the Ramnad kingdom.

4 .Mula Gabharu, 

(GS Paper I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society.)

a legendary warrior queen from the Ahom kingdom in Assam, India, was the daughter of King Supimphaa and wife of Borgohain Frasengmung. After her husband fell in battle against the invading Turbak, sent by the Sultan of Bengal in 1532, Mula Gabharu rallied women warriors and led them into battle.

Though she ultimately sacrificed her life defending her homeland, Mula Gabharu remains a symbol of courage and bravery in Assamese history, embodying the strength and resilience of women warriors.

5 .Savitribai Phule:

(GS Paper II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations)

(GS Paper I: Indian Heritage and Culture, History, and Geography of the World and Society.)

was an Indian social reformer and educator. Born in 1831, she married Jyotirao Phule, another prominent social reformer. Together, they championed women's education and the rights of marginalized communities in India.

Savitribai faced immense societal opposition as she pioneered the education of girls in a time when it was considered taboo. She opened the first school for girls in India alongside her husband and became the first female teacher in the country.

Beyond education, Savitribai actively worked to improve the lives of women and lower castes. She provided shelter and support to widows and those affected by social injustice.

Savitribai Phule's contributions to Indian society are significant. She is remembered as a trailblazer who challenged social norms and paved the way for greater equality and empowerment for women.

SpaDeX: is a cost-effective technology demonstrator mission for the demonstration of in-space docking using two small spacecraft launched by PSLV. This technology is essential for India’s space ambitions such as Indian on Moon, sample return from the Moon, the building and operation of Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), etc.

 In-space docking technology is essential when multiple rocket launches are required to achieve common mission objectives. Through this mission, India is marching towards becoming the fourth country in the world to have space docking technology.

Objectives:

The primary objective of the SpaDeX mission is to develop and demonstrate the technology needed for rendezvous, docking, and undocking of two small spacecraft (SDX01, which is the Chaser, and SDX02, the Target, nominally) in a low-Earth circular orbit. Secondary objectives include:

• Demonstration of the transfer of electric power between the docked spacecraft, which is essential for future applications such as in-space robotics,

• Composite spacecraft control, and

• Payload operations after undocking.

Mission Concept:

The SpaDeX mission consists of two small spacecraft (about 220 kg each) to be launched by PSLV-C60, independently and simultaneously, into a 470 km circular orbit at 55° inclination, with a local time cycle of about 66 days. The demonstrated precision of the PSLV vehicle will be utilized to give a small relative velocity between the Target and Chaser spacecraft at the time of separation from the launch vehicle.

This incremental velocity will allow the Target spacecraft to build a 10-20 km inter-satellite separation with respect to the Chaser within a day. At this point, the relative velocity between the Target will be compensated using the propulsion system of the Target spacecraft.

At the end of this drift arrest maneuver, the Target and Chaser will be in the same orbit with identical velocity but separated by about 20 km, known as Far Rendezvous. With a similar strategy of introducing and then compensating for a small relative velocity between the two spacecraft, the Chaser will approach the Target with progressively reduced inter-satellite distances of 5 km, 1.5 km, 500 m, 225 m, 15 m, and 3 m, ultimately leading to the docking of the two spacecraft.

 After successful docking and rigidization, electrical power transfer between the two satellites will be demonstrated before undocking and separation of the two satellites to start the operation of their respective payloads for the expected mission life of up to two years.

The indigenous technologies developed for enabling this docking mission are as follows:

• Docking mechanism,

• A suite of four rendezvous and docking sensors,

• Power transfer technology,

• Indigenous novel autonomous rendezvous and docking strategy,

• Inter-satellite communication link (ISL) for autonomous communication between spacecraft, incorporated with inbuilt intelligence to know the states of the other spacecraft,

• GNSS-based Novel Relative Orbit Determination and Propagation (RODP) processor to determine the relative position and velocity of the other spacecraft,

• Simulation test beds for both hardware and software design validation and testing.

In addition, SpaDeX, because of its small size and mass, is even more challenging due to the finer precision required for the rendezvous and docking maneuvers compared to docking two large spacecraft. This mission will be a forerunner for autonomous docking needed for future lunar missions like Chandrayaan-4 without the support of GNSS from Earth.

6.BIO-E3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Employment, and Environment) Policy: is a significant initiative by the Indian government. Here's a breakdown:

Key Objectives:

• Boosting Biomanufacturing: The core focus is on scaling up high-performance biomanufacturing in India. This involves producing a wide range of products like medicines, materials, and biofuels using biological processes.

• Economic Growth: The policy aims to contribute substantially to India's economic growth by establishing a strong bioeconomy. This includes fostering innovation, attracting investments, and creating a thriving ecosystem for bio-based industries.

• Environmental Sustainability: A key aspect is promoting environmentally friendly and sustainable practices. This involves utilizing renewable resources, reducing carbon emissions, and developing solutions for environmental challenges like pollution and climate change.

• Job Creation: The policy seeks to generate numerous employment opportunities, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, by supporting the growth of the biotechnology sector.

Key Features:

• Focus on Thematic Sectors: The policy identifies six key sectors for targeted development:

  • Smart Proteins & Functional Foods

  • High-Value Bio-based Chemicals, Biopolymers & Enzymes

  • Precision Biotherapeutics

  • Climate-Resilient Agriculture

  • Carbon Capture 1  & Utilization   

7 .One Nation One Subscription: Nearly 6,400 institutions across the country including Higher Educational Institutions i.e. central and state universities, colleges (including all medical colleges) and central government R&D institutions will benefit from ONOS.

 This translates to nearly 1.8 Crore students, faculty and researchers across the country getting access to more than 13,000 journals from 30 publishers including the top 4 global publishers i.e. Elsevier, Springer-Nature, Taylor & Francis and Wiley.

As part of the recent Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) Act, the Government plans to seed and promote a vibrant research culture in the tier-2 and tier-3 higher educational institutions.

Through ONOS, many such institutions will begin to get access to journals, which is a necessity for doing research. Under ONOS, the govt. has negotiated for national licenses for e-journal subscriptions with 30 publishers, thus consolidating various consortia/institutional subscriptions. In addition to the above, it is also planned to have a consolidated central funding to support Indian authors to pay for APCs for good quality OA journals

8 .ONDC:  Open Network for Digital Commerce. It's a government-backed initiative in India aimed at creating a more open and inclusive e-commerce ecosystem

.India’s total renewable energy capacity crosses 200 GW mark: Glimpses of 2024

General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management

 in the special Year-Ender series. Take a look at the key initiatives and achievements of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

The government continued its remarkable journey toward transforming India’s energy landscape in 2024.

This progress is in line with India’s commitment to achieving its 500 Giga Watt of non-fossil fuel energy in line with the Panchamrit goals

Akashvani correspondent reports, India crossed the 200 Giga Watt milestone of total installed Renewable Energy capacity in September 2024, marking a 14 per cent increase compared to the previous year.

In February 2024, the government launched the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana to install rooftop solar panels in one crore households. India’s cumulative installed solar energy capacity has reached over 94 GigaWatt.

The National Green Hydrogen Mission with an outlay of 600 crore rupees was also launched to reduce fossil fuel imports by one lakh crore and cut carbon emissions by five Million Metric Tonnes by 2030.

This mission aims to position India as a global hub for green hydrogen production and export, creating over 6 lakh jobs and attracting investments worth 8 lakh crore rupees by 2030.

Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT): In the initial stage, two distinct financial incentive mechanisms proposed with an outlay of ₹ 17,490 crore up to 2029-30:

• Incentive for manufacturing of electrolysers

• Incentive for production of green hydrogen.

Depending upon the markets and technology development, specific incentive schemes and programmes will continue to evolve as the Mission progresses.

To ensure quality and performance of equipment, the eligibility criteria for participation in competitive bidding for procurement of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives will specify that the project must utilize equipment approved by Government of India as per specified quality and performance criteria.

Green Hydrogen Hubs

The Mission will identify and develop regions capable of supporting large scale production and/or utilization of Hydrogen as Green Hydrogen Hubs.

Development of necessary infrastructure for such hubs will be supported under the Mission.

It is planned to set up at least two such Green Hydrogen hubs in the initial phase.

Outlay of ₹ 400 crore up to 2025-26 for Hubs and other projects.

9 .Red Sea:

General Studies-II (250 marks)Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations.

 a narrow body of water separating Africa from the Arabian Peninsula, is renowned for its unique characteristics. As one of the world's warmest and saltiest seas, it boasts a vibrant ecosystem teeming with diverse marine life, including stunning coral reefs and a myriad of colorful fish species. Formed by the ongoing separation of tectonic plates,

 the Red Sea continues to evolve geologically, contributing to its unique features. Historically, it has served as a crucial trade route for centuries, connecting ancient civilizations and playing a significant role in regional commerce and cultural exchange.

The Red Sea has been a site of various disputes throughout history, often stemming from its strategic location and valuable resources. Some of the key disputes include:

• Yemen Civil War: The ongoing conflict in Yemen has significantly impacted the Red Sea. Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, have launched attacks on shipping in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial chokepoint for global trade, disrupting maritime traffic and raising tensions in the region.

• Territorial Disputes: Several countries bordering the Red Sea have territorial disputes, including island claims and maritime boundaries. These disputes can lead to increased tensions and the potential for conflict.

• Competition for Resources: The Red Sea is rich in resources, including fish stocks, oil and gas reserves, and potential for renewable energy. Competition for these resources among coastal states can lead to disputes and conflicts.

• Geopolitical Rivalry: The Red Sea region is a major geopolitical arena, with various regional and international powers vying for influence. This competition can exacerbate existing tensions and create new sources of conflict.

Thanks For Visiting!!