Art and Culture

Sathan Thampuran's Importance to Thrashur, Indian Express.

Context

• Minister of State for Tourism and Thrissur recently pledged to replace a statue of Sakthan Thampuran that was knocked over by a state transport bus in June by a new bronze statue if the Kerala government did not do so within 14 days.

Sakthan Thampuran/ Raja Rama Varma Kunji Pillai/ Rama Varma IX

• About: He ruled over the Cochin kingdom from 1790 to 1805.
• Birth: Born in 1751 to Ambika Thampuran and Chendose Aniyan Namboodiri of the Cochin royal family, but was raised by an aunt who called him Sakthan, meaning 'powerful'.
• Literal Meaning of Thampuran: An appropriation of the Sanskrit samrat, meaning emperor.
• Cochin Kingdom: Part of the Late Chera Empire & covered the regions between Ponnani in Malappuram and Thottappally in Alappuzha in today's Kerala.
• Strategic Ruler: Sakthan is said to have orchestrated Mysore's attempt to invade the Travancore kingdom, which had established relations with the English East India Company. This resulted in the Powney treaty which freed the Cochin kingdom from its allegiance to Mysore, and helped formalise its relations with the British.
• Diplomacy: He put an end to the institution of the Yogiatirippads - the erstwhile spiritual heads of Vadakkumnathan and Perumanam temples, who conspired against the previous Cochin king in his wars against the Calicut Zamorin and entrusted temple management to the government.
• Capital: He transferred the seat of the Cochin kingdom from Thrippunithura to modern-day Thrissur.
• Trade: He encouraged merchants of all religions and British officials to relocate to the city.
• Revenue: He also overhauled and firmed up the kingdom's finances, personally overseeing revenue management.
• Festival: He started the Thrissur Pooram in 1797 as an alternative to the Arattupuzha Pooram, then the largest temple festival in the state.

 

Geography

Poltava - Indian Express

• About: A city in east-central Ukraine located 300 kilometres (189 miles) east of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine along the Vorskla River.
• Battle of Poltava: In 1709, Peter I the Great inflicted a crushing defeat on Charles XII of Sweden outside Poltava after Charles had laid siege to the town for three months in the Great Northern War. The battle ended with Sweden becoming a major power and marked the beginning of Russian supremacy in eastern Europe.
• Livelihood: A fertile agricultural region and has a range of industries processing farm produce.

 

 

 

Society

On the Challenges to Road Safety in India - The Hindu

Context

• The “India Status Report on Road Safety 2024,” prepared by the TRIP Centre at IIT Delhi, not only highlights India’s slow progress toward meeting international goals of reducing road accident fatalities, but also emphasises the organic connection between road construction, mobility, and the need for a differentiated approach to mitigate road accidents.

India Status Report on Road Safety 2024

• About: It analyses road safety in India using data from First Information Reports (FIRs) from six States and audits of State compliance with Supreme Court directives on road safety governance.
• Significance: It exposes disparities in road traffic death rates across States, emphasising the vulnerability of motorcyclists and the high rate of fatal crashes involving trucks.

Major Findings:

1. Road traffic injuries remain a major public health challenge in India, with little progress in reducing fatalities, despite advancements in other sectors.
2. Most Indian States are unlikely to meet the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety goal to halve traffic deaths by 2030.
3. In 2021, road traffic injuries were the 13th leading cause of death in India and the 12th leading cause of health loss (measured in Disability-Adjusted Life Years, or DALYs).
4. In six States (Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh), road traffic injuries ranked among the top 10 causes of health loss.

States in Road Safety:

• Differing Per Capita Death Rates: Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh recorded the highest death rates whereas West Bengal and Bihar had the lowest rates.
• Major States with Road Fatality: 6 states (UP, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu) account for nearly half of all traffic fatalities in India.
• Major Victims: Pedestrians, cyclists, and motorised two-wheeler riders.
• Major Cause of Accidents: Trucks are responsible for the highest proportion of impacting vehicles.
• Improper Audits: Only 8 States have audited more than half of their National Highway lengths, and very few States have done the same for their State Highways.
• Lack of Basic Traffic Safety Measures: Measures like traffic calming, markings, and signage are still lacking in most States.
• Use of Helmet: Helmet usage in rural areas is particularly low, and trauma care facilities are inadequate.

India’s Position Globally:

• In 1990, an Indian was 40% more likely to die in a road accident than someone in developed countries. By 2021, this figure had soared to 600%, indicating a sharp rise in road fatalities.

Need for Crash Surveillance:

• Insufficient National Road Safety Data Systems: For guiding public policy.
• No National Crash-Level Database: Road safety statistics allow only the most basic analyses, preventing effective intervention or program evaluation.
• Inaccuracy of the Information: Comparisons with other datasets, such as the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study and Sample Registration System (SRS) suggest that these tables often contain inaccurate information on key variables like the victim’s mode of transport.
• Limited Scope: In the absence of a crash surveillance system, the report has to rely on FIRs from six States and State road safety governance audit reports.

Way Forward:

• Need to prioritise the scale-up of road safety interventions.
• A national database for fatal crashes should be established.
• Public access to this system to improve understanding of specific risks to road users and the effectiveness of various interventions implemented in the States.

 

Sugamya Bharat Mobile Application - The Hindu

• About: An initiative of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• Aim: To aid people with disabilities and the elderly, the Sugamya Bharat app allows users to report accessibility problems in public infrastructure, transportation, and buildings.

Objectives:

1. Identification of issues/complaints from the public related to accessibility at public places.
2. Uploading geotagged pictures to understand and identify which type of public place is having issues related to accessibility for disabled people.

Features:

• Any person facing difficulty or issue related to accessibility in India can raise their concerns/grievances on the App.
• Only accessibility-related issues pertaining to Buildings, Transportation Systems, and ICT can be registered at the App.
• Complaints are filed by uploading photos, which are then forwarded to relevant authorities.
• AI Capabilities: It will include an AI-powered chatbot and multilingual interface.

 

World Affairs

Nuclear to LNG, India & UAE Ink 4 Key Pacts to Expand Energy Ties - Indian Express

Context

• India and the United Arab Emirates recently signed four pacts to expand energy cooperation as Indian Prime Minister held bilateral talks with the visiting Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Agreements

1. Two Agreements for Long-Term LNG Supply: Signed between Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and IOC Ltd & between ADNOC and India Strategic Petroleum Reserve Ltd (ISPRL).
2. Agreement on Nuclear Energy: Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) also inked an MoU for operation and maintenance of Barakah Nuclear Power Plant.
3. Production Concession Agreement: Signed for Abu Dhabi Onshore Block 1 between Urja Bharat and ADNOC.
4. Agreement on Food Parks: A separate pact was inked between the Gujarat government and Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company PJSC on setting up food parks in India.

 

Oil-Rich UAE Completes Arab World’s First Nuclear Plant - Indian Express

Context

• The United Arab Emirates has successfully completed the Arab world's first nuclear power plant, the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, the state-owned Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) said in a statement.

Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant

• Location: Al Dhafra within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, UAE, on the Arabian Gulf, about 53 km west-southwest of the city of Ruwais.
• Construction: Started in July 2012 & started operations in 2020.
• Components: 4 nuclear reactors which once fully operational will prevent the release of up to 21 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year.
• Capacity: It will produce 40 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity annually.
• Significance: Can provide up to 25% of the UAE's energy needs.

 

 

Economy

GoM to decide on tax on health, life covers soon - The Hindu

Context

• To soothe the growing clamour for a reduction in the 18% tax levy on the premium paid for health and life insurance policies, the GST Council recently set the stage for a possible rethink by mandating a stiff 50-day deadline for a new Group of Ministers (GoM) to review the tax rate.

GST Council

 

 

The role of district agro-met offices in supporting farmers - The Hindu

Context

• India Meteorological Department (IMD) is planning to revive District Agro-Meteorology Units (DAMUs) under the Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) scheme.

District Agro-Meteorology Units (DAMUs)

• Establishment: 199 DAMUs were established in 2018 in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
• Aim: To use weather data to prepare and disseminate sub-district level agricultural advisories.
• Significance: Addressing needs of small and marginal farmers: They largely practise rain-fed agriculture now overlaid with climate change-related weather variability. So farmers should have this information because it affects crops.
• Information sharing: Advisories shared via text messages, WhatsApp groups, newspapers, and also through in-person communication from DAMU staff and KVK officers.

Reasons for shutting down DAMUs

• Misrepresentation of the role of DAMUs: NITI Aayog claimed that agro-met data was automated, thereby undercutting the role of DAMU staff.
• Monetisation: NITI Aayog also sought monetisation of such services as opposed to the current scheme where agro-met information was provided free-of-cost to all farmers.

Role of private players

• Low numbers: At present, there are a handful of private players in the weather advisory space.
• Concerns about affordability: Private companies work with a profit motive, and the prices become exorbitant for small and marginal farmers who are the majority.

 

Environment

Critically endangered elongated tortoise spotted in Aravallis for first time - Indian Express

Context

• A critically endangered species, the elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata), was spotted in Haryana’s Damdama area during a research survey in the Aravallis.

Elongated tortoise/ Sal Forest Tortoise

• Scientific name: Indotestudo elongata
• Habitat: Eastern, northern India, and Southeast Asia.
• IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered.
• CITES: Appendix II
• Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972: Schedule IV
• Threats: Hunted for food, local use, and international wildlife trade.

 

India’s first ‘teal carbon’ study bets on wetlands to address the challenges of climate adaptation and resilience - The Hindu

Context

• India’s first study on ‘teal carbon’, undertaken at Keoladeo National Park (KNP) in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur district, has highlighted the significance of wetland conservation to address the challenges of climate adaptation and resilience. The pilot project sought to develop holistic nature-based solutions to address climate change.

Teal Carbon

• About: Carbon stored in non-tidal freshwater wetlands, encompassing carbon sequestered in vegetation, microbial biomass, and dissolved and particulate organic matter.
• Significance: These ecosystems are considered to be more effective at carbon capture and storage than terrestrial forest ecosystems.
• Storage capacity: At the global level, the storage of teal carbon across the ecosystems is estimated to be 21 petagrams of carbon (PgC), which is a unit to measure carbon.
• Major sources: Peatlands, freshwater swamps, and natural freshwater marshes.
• Threats: Pollution, land use changes, water extraction, and landscape modifications.

 

Swachh Vayu Survekshan Award, 2024 - PIB

Context

• The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies (Swachh Vayu Diwas) was observed on 07.09.24 at Jaipur. Swachh Vayu Survekshan Awards were presented to the best performing cities.

Swachh Vayu Survekshan Award

• About: An initiative by MoEF&CC to rank cities based on the implementation of activities approved under the city action plan and air quality in 130 NCAP cities.
• Aim: To give a ranking to 130 cities in the country for implementing City Action Plans prepared as part of NCAP for reducing air pollution by up to 40% by 2025-26.

Objectives:

1. To create awareness among all sections of society.
2. To inform citizens about the health impacts related to exposure.
3. To compare air quality conditions at different locations/cities.
4. To achieve the goal of NCAP “Clean air for all”.

Assessment:

• All 130 cities covered under NCAP are assessed based on information submitted under the ranking framework by cities/ULBs on the PRANA portal.

Categories:

• Category-1 (population over 10 Lakhs): Surat, Jabalpur, and Agra;
• Category-2 (population between 3 and 10 Lakhs): Firozabad, Amravati, and Jhansi;
• Category-3 (population under 3 Lakhs): Raebareli, Nalgonda, and Nalagarh.

 

Sci and Tech

Why do rockets require helium? - The Hindu

Context

• Two NASA astronauts aboard Boeing’s Starliner will stay on the International Space Station for months because of a faulty propulsion system whose problems included helium leaks. Back on Earth, SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission has been delayed because of helium issues on ground equipment.

Helium

• About: An inert gas i.e. it does not react with other substances or combust - and its atomic number is 2, making it the second lightest element after hydrogen.
• Features:
  • Very low boiling point (-268.9° C) allowing it to remain a gas even in super-cold environments.
  • Non-toxic but cannot be breathed on its own because it displaces the oxygen humans need for respiration.

Usage:

• Used to pressurize fuel tanks, ensuring fuel flows to the rocket’s engines without interruption, and for cooling systems.
• As fuel and oxidiser are burned in the rocket’s engines, helium fills the resulting empty space in the tanks.
• Being non-reactive, it can safely mingle with the tanks’ residual contents.

Leakage:

• Because there is very little helium in the Earth’s atmosphere, leaks can be easily detected - making the gas important for spotting potential faults in a rocket or spacecraft’s fuel systems.

 

Superfast studies of photoelectric effect reveal the secrets of matter - The Hindu

Context

• In the early 20th century, physicists found that when a metal is irradiated with light, it emits some electrons. Curiously, they found the emitted electrons’ kinetic energy depended on the incoming rays’ frequency, not intensity.

Photoelectric effect

• Meaning: The phenomenon of emission of electrons from the surface of the metal when the light of suitable frequency falls on it.
• Photoelectrons: Ejected electrons.
• Photocurrent: The current produced due to emitted electrons (Photoelectrons).
• Discovery: Hallwach is credited with the discovery of the photoelectric effect.

 

Kawasaki disease/ Kawasaki syndrome/ Mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome - The Hindu

About:

• A rare disease that causes fever and inflammation of the blood vessels, mainly in children under 5 years of age & is one of the most common forms of acquired heart disease in children.

Impact:

• The condition causes the immune system to attack blood vessels, which become inflamed and swollen.
• It tends to affect the coronary arteries, which carry blood to the heart muscle.
• It can also cause problems with lymph nodes, skin, and the lining of a child's mouth, nose, and throat.

Symptoms:

• Fever, rash, swelling of the hands and feet, irritation and redness of the whites of the eyes, swollen lymph glands in the neck, and irritation and inflammation of the mouth, lips, and throat.

Discovery:

• First discovered in Japan by Tomisaku Kawasaki in 1967.
• First case outside Japan: Hawaii in 1976.

Cause:

• The cause is unknown, although more cases happen in late winter and early spring.

 

Defence

Two anti-submarine warfare vessels for the Indian Navy launched at Cochin Shipyard - The Hindu

Context

Two anti-submarine warfare shallow watercrafts vessels (ASWCWC) of the Indian Navy were launched at Cochin Shipyard recently. The vessels are the fourth and fifth ships in the series of eight such watercraft.

About the vessels 

• Names: Once commissioned by the Indian Navy, the vessels will be called INS Malpe and INS Mulki.
• Dimensions: 78 metres long, 11.36 metres wide and with a draught of about 2.7 metres
• Maximum speed: 25 knots
• Endurance: 1,800 nautical miles.  
• Displacement: About 900 tons
• Development: The Mahe-class of ships will replace the in-service Abhay class ASW Corvettes of the Indian Navy.
• Total installed propulsion power: About 12 MW 
• Capabilities: 
  • Can fit the indigenously developed sonar for underwater surveillance.
  • Can undertake anti-submarine operations in coastal waters, low intensity maritime operations and mine-laying operations, apart from search and rescue.
  • Equipped with light-weight torpedoes, ASW rockets and mines, close-in weapon system (30mm gun) and 12.7mm stabilised remote-control guns.

 

FATH-360 Missiles - Indian Express 

Context

• As per a report, Iran has delivered short-range ballistic missiles, including the Fath-360, to Russia. 

Fath-360/ Fateh-360 Missile

• About: An Iranian short-range ballistic missile (SRBM/0 designed to carry out tactical strikes against various targets, including military installations and infrastructure.
• Launch weight: 787 kilograms
• Speed: Mach 3 to 4.
• Engine: Has a solid-fuel engine which allows for rapid deployment and quick launch times, making it a highly effective weapon on the battlefield.
• Range: Approximately 120 to 300 kilometers.
• Warhead: 150-kilogram warhead.
• Small and maneuverable design: It makes it more difficult for air defense systems to intercept.
• Guidance system: It consists of a combination of inertial guidance system and satellite navigation to achieve an accuracy of 30 m.
• Has a truck-mounted Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL): It can carry and launch multiple missiles. 

 

 

India’s Military diplomacy in top gear with back-to-back exercises for three Services - The Hindu 

Context

India-U.S. Army exercise Yudh Abhyas is set to begin on September 9; multilateral air exercise Tarang Shakti is in progress, while exercise Malabar is scheduled next month.

Yudh Abhyas	Tarang Shakti	Exercise Malabar
About: A joint military exercise conducted annually between India and USA. Maiden edition: 2004. Aim: To promote cooperation between the two militaries while sharing training, cultural exchanges and building joint operating skills. 2023 edition: Conducted at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, USA.  Yudh Abhyas 2024: 20th edition  Location: Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan Features: A range of advanced military tactics and coordinated manoeuvres aimed at improving the readiness of both armies in high-stakes scenarios.  US contingent: Around 600 personnel & U.S. Army is also set to deploy Stryker infantry vehicles and the M142 HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System).	About: The largest international air exercise ever conducted in India, with invitations extended to 51 countries. Aim: To strengthen strategic relations with our friends from the international community. Phase one: Conducted at Sulur in Tamil Nadu. Phase two: Held at Jodhpur in Rajasthan from September 1 to 14 with participation from Australia, Bangladesh, Greece, Singapore, UAE and the USA with their assets.	Maiden edition: 1992 as a bilateral naval exercise between India and US navy. Indian side: The first Malabar Exercise in the Bay of Bengal took place in 2007. Other participants: Japan joined it in 2015 whereas in 2020, the Australian Navy it. Aim: To coordinate for a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. Frequency: Annually in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans alternatively. Malabar 2024: 28th Malabar naval exercise