AMIGOS IAS Current Affairs (17^th August 2024)

Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)

GS 3: Science and Technology: SSLV

Why is it in the news?

• On August 16, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the third developmental flight of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
• The SSLV-D3 precisely placed the Earth observation satellite EOS-08 into orbit, marking a significant achievement for the SSLV Development Project.
• This successful launch also signifies the completion of ISRO and the Department of Space’s SSLV Development Project.
• With this milestone, New Space India Limited (NSIL), ISRO’s commercial arm, and India’s private space sector are now positioned to produce SSLVs for commercial missions.

Launch Vehicles of ISRO:

About SSLV:

• The SSLV is a three-stage rocket equipped with solid propulsion stages and a liquid-based Velocity Trimming Module (VTM) for precise satellite placement.
• The primary aim behind the development of SSLVs is to provide a low-cost, rapid-turnaround solution for launching smaller satellites.
• Unlike previous launch vehicles that required extensive preparation and scheduling, the SSLV can be integrated within 72 hours—a dramatic reduction from the 70 days typically needed for other vehicles.
• This efficiency also translates into a significant cost reduction, with the SSLV projected to cost around Rs 30 crore.
• It can carry payloads of up to 500 kg, accommodating the growing demand from businesses, government agencies, universities, and laboratories for timely and flexible satellite launches.
• Before the SSLV, smaller payloads were launched as secondary payloads on larger rockets, often leading to delays due to the primary payload’s schedule.
• Former ISRO Chairman K. Sivan highlighted that the SSLV’s design requires only six people for integration, compared to 60 for other launch vehicles, further underscoring its streamlined approach.
• In contrast, ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) serve different needs.

• The PSLV, often termed as ISRO’s “workhorse,” has been in operation since 1994 and is renowned for its reliability in placing satellites into low Earth orbit, carrying up to 1,860 kg of payload.
• On the other hand, the GSLV is designed for launching heavier satellites into geosynchronous transfer orbits, with its higher capacity derived from advanced cryogenic engines that provide greater thrust.
• The GSLV Mk-II can carry up to 2,200 kg, while the Mk-III can handle payloads up to 4,000 kg. These vehicles are crucial for missions requiring more power and capacity, demonstrating the diverse capabilities of ISRO’s launch vehicle portfolio.Top of Form

Centre unveils new system to study weather, crop patterns

GS 3: Economy: Agriculture

Why it is in the news?

• The Union Agriculture Ministry has launched a new digital geo-spatial platform, the Krishi-Decision Support System (DSS), which provides real-time, data-driven insights into weather patterns, soil conditions, crop health, and water resources.
• The Krishi-DSS is described as a major advancement in agricultural innovation.
• It has been developed on the lines of Gati Shakti, by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in collaboration with the Department of Space utilizing RISAT-1A and the Visualization of Earth Observation Data and Archival System (VEDAS) for data analysis.

Key Objectives of Krishi-DSS:

• This system aims to serve farmers, experts, and policymakers by offering comprehensive data through satellite images, weather updates, reservoir storage levels, groundwater data, and soil health information.
• It facilitates crop mapping and monitoring, enabling the analysis of crop patterns and crop rotation practices over time, which supports sustainable agriculture by promoting diverse crop cultivation.
• Additionally, the platform is useful for monitoring drought conditions and helps to mitigate impact of extreme weather events and disasters, further enhancing its utility in agricultural management.

Pakistan records Asia’s first cases of mpox

GS 3: Science and Technology: Mpox

About the news

• Pakistan has reported its first cases of mpox, marking the disease’s first detection in Asia. Three patients from the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan, have tested positive for the virus.
• Two of these cases were identified upon their arrival from the United Arab Emirates, while the third’s samples are being confirmed in Islamabad.
• The government has responded by enhancing airport screening and quarantining the affected individuals, with contact tracing underway.
• In response to the global health emergency declared by the World Health Organization, China has announced a six-month screening program for people and goods entering the country. Travelers from regions with outbreaks or those showing symptoms are advised to declare their status to customs.
• The European Union health agency has also urged its member states to prepare for more mpox cases following Sweden’s report of the first case outside Africa.
• Pakistan’s Ministry of Health has issued an advisory to bolster screening at entry points and instructed federal hospitals to implement precautionary measures.
• Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, has caused significant concern due to its high contagion rate and recent deaths, including at least 450 in the Republic of Congo. Originally transmitted from animals, it now also spreads between humans.

Additional Information:

About Mpox Virus:

• Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a rare zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus from the Orthopoxvirus genus, related to smallpox, cowpox, and vaccinia.
• History: The virus was first identified in Denmark in 1958 and the first human case was reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 1970.
• Transmitted by: Mpox spreads from animals (primarily rodents and primates)  to humans through direct contact or contaminated objects, and from person to person via direct contact with body fluids, sexual contact, or contaminated materials.
• Two genetic clades exist: clade I, prevalent in central and east Africa, and clade II, mostly found in west Africa.
• Recently, the new Ib clade of the virus has been observed to spread more effectively through human-to-human transmission, particularly via close contact and sexual routes and is significantly more lethal than other variants that primarily spread from animals.

• Symptoms:
• Include rashes that develop into itchy or painful blisters, fever, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.
• Symptoms generally appear within a week of infection but can take 1–21 days to manifest and last 2–4 weeks.
• Severe cases may require medical care, especially for children, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals.
• Treatment:
• There is no specific treatment for mpox. WHO advises supportive care, including pain and fever management, hydration, and skin care.
• An antiviral, tecovirimat, used for smallpox, is available under exceptional circumstances but has limited experience.
• Vaccines developed for smallpox—MVA-BN, LC16, and OrthopoxVac—are approved for high-risk individuals, though mass vaccination is not recommended.

UPSC Civil Services Prelims PYQ:

Consider the following diseases: (2014)

1. Diphtheria

2. Chickenpox

3. Smallpox

Which of the above diseases has/have been eradicated in India?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 only

(c) 1, 2 and 3

(d) None

Answer: B

Great Calcutta Killings

GS 1: Culture and history: Communal Violence

About the news

• Between August 16 and August 19, 1946, Calcutta (now Kolkata) experienced one of the worst episodes of communal violence in its history, known as the ‘Great Calcutta Killings’.
• This tragic event resulted in the deaths of an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 people, with around 15,000 wounded. The violence unfolded as part of the broader turmoil leading up to India’s independence and partition.
• The immediate trigger for this bloodbath was Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s call for ‘direct action’ on August 16, 1946, after the failure of the Cabinet Mission Plan.
• ‘Direct Action Day’ initiated a series of violent incidents over several days, known as the ‘Week of the Long Knives’.
• The plan had proposed a federal structure for post-colonial India, but its collapse deepened the rift between the Muslim League and the Indian National Congress.
• Jinnah’s call was intended to rally support for the League’s resolution for a separate Muslim state, but it led to widespread violence, particularly in Calcutta. The city’s political context further exacerbated the violence.
• While Muslims were a majority in Bengal, they were largely concentrated in rural areas, with Calcutta itself being predominantly Hindu. Tensions between the communities had been rising for years, with periodic instances of communal strife.
• Huseyn Suhrawardy, the Chief Minister of Bengal at the time, played a controversial role. Known for his inflammatory rhetoric and previous mismanagement during the Bengal famine of 1943, Suhrawardy’s actions during the riots are widely criticized.
• Historians argue that his public statements and actions—or lack thereof—contributed significantly to the escalation of violence. Suhrawardy reportedly failed to control the riots effectively and allowed the violence to escalate.
• The Great Calcutta Killings were marked by extreme brutality, with reports of grotesque mutilations and the use of rape as a weapon of terror. The scale and savagery of the violence were unprecedented, setting a grim precedent for the communal horrors that would follow during the partition of India.
• The event remains a poignant reminder of the intense communal tensions that plagued the subcontinent in the run-up to independence.

Background: What caused this situation?

Cabinet Mission,1946

• In 1946, as the Indian independence movement neared a critical juncture, British Prime Minister Clement Attlee sent a three-member Cabinet Mission to India to discuss and finalize the transfer of power from the British Raj to Indian leaders.
• It had three British cabinet members: Penthick Lawrence (Chairman), Secretary of State for India; Stafford Cripps, President of the Board of Trade; and A.V. Alexander, First Lord of Admiralty

Salient Features of the Cabinet Mission Plan:

• In 1946, the Cabinet Mission arrived in India and held talks with leaders of all major political parties, proposing the establishment of a Federal Government.
• It rejected the demand for Pakistan and instead suggested an Indian Union comprising British provinces and Princely States.
• The plan introduced the concept of grouping, allowing provinces and princely states to form autonomous groups under the Union.
• An Interim Government was to be formed from the Constituent Assembly.
• Muhammad Ali Jinnah, leader of the Muslim League, had initially accepted the Cabinet Mission Plan of June 16, which was also agreed upon by the central presidium of the Congress.
• However, on July 10, Congress President Jawaharlal Nehru announced that while the Congress would participate in the Constituent Assembly, it reserved the right to modify the plan.
• This led to concerns among Muslim League leaders about potential Hindu dominance in the central government, prompting Jinnah to abandon his previous acceptance and reject the plan.
• Subsequently, Jinnah called for a boycott of the Constituent Assembly and declared August 16, 1946, as “Direct Action Day,” signalling the beginning of a planned struggle by the Muslim League to press for Pakistan.

Land related reforms in Rural and Urban Areas

GS 3: Economy: Land Reforms

Why is it in the news?

• The Centre has allocated ₹10,000 crore in incentives to states for implementing land-related reforms in both rural and urban areas and ₹5,000 crore for creating a Farmers’ Registry for the financial year 2024-25.
• These funds will be provided under the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2024-25.

More about the news

• In rural areas, states are required to implement several key reforms, including the assignment of a Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN or Bhu-Aadhaar) for all lands, digitization of cadastral maps, and the survey of map sub-divisions according to current ownership and the establishment of a comprehensive land registry.
• For urban areas, fiscal incentives will support the digitization of land records using Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping and the creation of an IT-based system for property record administration, updating, and tax management.
• An additional ₹5,000 crore will be allocated to develop a Farmers’ Registry, which will encompass details of six crore farmers and their lands.

Xerogel dressing can save lives by clotting blood faster

GS 3: Science and Technology: Xerogel applications

Why is it in the news?

• Researchers at the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) in Pune have developed an advanced xerogel dressing designed to rapidly clot blood and address uncontrolled hemorrhage.
• This new dressing incorporates silica nanoparticles and calcium, significantly enhancing clotting efficiency compared to commercial options.

About Xerogels Dressing:

• Xerogels are solid materials created by drying a gel at ambient temperature, which removes the liquid while preserving a highly porous network structure. This porosity and surface area make xerogels suitable for various applications.
• This xerogel dressing represents a significant advancement in trauma care, offering a promising solution to manage uncontrolled hemorrhage—a leading cause of traumatic death.
• Its rapid clotting ability and enhanced platelet aggregation make it a valuable tool for both military and civilian medical scenarios, potentially reducing blood loss, disability, and mortality during trauma and surgical procedures.Top of Form
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Key features and benefits:

• The xerogel dressing features pores around 30 µm in size, enhancing its ability to absorb blood quickly and facilitate clotting.
• The incorporation of silica nanoparticles and calcium boosts the clotting index by 13-fold compared to standard dressings, making it highly effective for severe hemorrhage control.
• The dressing aids platelet aggregation by promoting pseudopodia formation and stimulates calcium release and upregulation of the PAR1 gene on platelet surfaces, further enhancing clot formation.

Difference Between Xerogels and Aerogels

• Structure and Density: Xerogels are denser, created by drying gels at ambient temperature, while aerogels are lighter, formed under supercritical conditions.
• Absorbance Capacity: Xerogels excel in absorbance, making them ideal for hemostatic applications, unlike aerogels which are known for their lightweight and insulating properties.

70^th National Film Awards for 2022

Miscellaneous: Awards

About the news

• The 70^th National Film Awards for 2022, announced on Friday (16^th August), highlighted the prominence of regional films, with Malayalam film Aattam (The Play) emerging as the Best Feature Film. Directed by Anand Ekarshi, Aattam also secured awards for Best Editing, Best Screenplay, and shared the Best Screenplay award with Hindi film Gulmohar.
• Rishab Shetty was honoured with the Best Actor award for his role in Kantara (Kannada), while Nithya Menen and Manasi Parekh shared the Best Actress award for their performances in Thiruchitrambalam (Tamil) and Kutch Express (Gujarati), respectively.
• Thiruchitrambalam also won Best Choreography for Jani Master and Sathish Krishnan. The Best Direction award went to Sooraj R. Barjatya for Uunchai: Zenith (Hindi).
• Pavan Raj Malhotra received the Best Supporting Actor award for Fouja (Haryanvi), and Neena Gupta was awarded Best Supporting Actress for Uunchai: Zenith. Fouja was also recognized as the Best Debut Film.
• In other awards, Gulmohar was named Best Hindi Film, and Niki Joshi won Best Costume Designer for Kutch Express.
• Aparajito: The Undefeated (Bengali) was honoured with Best Production Design (Ananda Addhya) and Best Make-Up (Somnath Kundu).
• The Best Lyrics award went to Naushad Sadar Khan for Fouja.
• Mani Ratnam’s Ponnyin Selvan-Part 1 (Tamil) garnered multiple awards, including Best Music Director (Background Music) for A.R. Rahman, Best Tamil Film, Best Cinematography (Ravi Varman), and Best Sound Design (Anand Krishnamoorthi).
• Brahmastra-Part 1: Shiva saw Pritam winning Best Music Director (Songs) and Arijit Singh as Best Male Playback Singer for the song “Kesariya”.
• The Best Female Playback Singer award went to Padma Shri awardee Bombay Jayashri for “Chaayum Veyil” from Saudi Vellaka CC 225/2009, which also won Best Malayalam Film.
• Brahmastra-Part 1: Shiva was recognized as the best film in the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming & Comic category.
• Lastly, Ayena: Mirror (Hindu/Urdu) was awarded Best Non-Feature Film.