AMIGOS IAS Daily Current Affairs (31^st August 2024)

INS Arighaat: Significance for India’s Nuclear Submarine Fleet

GS 3: Defence: Nuclear Submarine

Why is it in the news?

• India’s second nuclear submarine, INS Arighaat, was commissioned into the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam.
• According to the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Arighaat will strengthen India’s nuclear triad, improve nuclear deterrence, establish regional strategic balance, and enhance national security.

About INS Arighaat

• The 6,000-tonne INS Arighaat joins its predecessor, INS Arihant, as part of India’s nuclear triad, enabling nuclear missile launches from land, air, and sea. India, along with the US, Russia, China, and France, is part of this elite group.
• INS Arihant, commissioned in 2016, was India’s first nuclear submarine. INS Arighaat will enhance this capability further, armed with K-15 missiles with a range of over 700 km and powered by an 83 MW pressurized light-water nuclear reactor, allowing it extended submerged operations. This contributes to India’s “No First Use” nuclear policy, serving as a strong deterrent.
• INS Arighaat features advanced technology compared to Arihant, including cutting-edge design, manufacturing, and engineering. It integrates indigenous systems and equipment developed by Indian scientists and naval personnel.

About INS Arihant

• India’s nuclear submarine program, involving private firms and DRDO with Russian assistance, began over thirty years ago. INS Arihant, launched in 2009 and commissioned in 2016, marked India’s first nuclear-powered submarine.
• It completed its first deterrence patrol in 2018, solidifying India’s nuclear triad. In October 2022, Arihant successfully launched a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) with high accuracy.

Current and Future Submarine Fleet

• India is constructing two larger nuclear ballistic submarines (SSBNs) of around 7,000 tonnes each. The first, launched in 2021, is undergoing trials, while the second is under development.
• Comparatively, the US operates 14 Ohio-class SSBNs and 53 fast-attack submarines, and China has 12 nuclear submarines, including six nuclear-powered attack submarines.
• The Indian Navy’s current fleet includes 16 conventional submarines: seven Kilo class, four Shishumar class, and five Kalvari class attack submarines. The Kilo-class boats, acquired in the mid-1980s, and the Shishumar class, developed with German collaboration, are aging but have been upgraded.
• The Kalvari class, built with French assistance, began commissioning in 2017. The commissioning of INS Arighaat completes the Navy’s authorized fleet of 18 submarines, although around 30 percent are usually under refit, affecting operational availability.

WMCC on India-China Border Affairs

GS 2: International Relations: India-China

Why is it in the news?

• The 31st meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination (WMCC) on India-China Border Affairs recently took place in Beijing.
• The discussions were described as ‘in-depth, constructive, and forward-looking,’ with both sides committed to continuing the dialogue through established diplomatic and military channels.
• These talks come amid signs that both countries are working towards resolving the ongoing stand-off in eastern Ladakh.

About the WMCC

• Established in 2012 through an India-China agreement, the WMCC was created to improve communication and coordination regarding border issues between the two countries.
• The concept was initially proposed by Wen Jiabao, the then Premier of China, in 2010.
• The WMCC aims to institutionalize information exchange and address border-related concerns more effectively.
• The WMCC comprises representatives from the Foreign and Defence Ministries of both India and China.
• Its main goals are to manage border issues, enhance dialogue, and foster cooperation. The mechanism specifically addresses disputes and tensions in the border areas between India and China.
• The WMCC was activated in response to the face-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) that began in 2020.

Importance of Peace for India and China

• Economic Cooperation: As two of the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies, improved relations between India and China can enhance trade and investment opportunities, driving economic growth for both nations.
• Regional Stability: Both India and China are major powers in Asia, and their relationship significantly impacts regional stability. A stable bilateral relationship contributes to a more secure and predictable regional environment.
• Border Security: Ensuring peace between the two countries is crucial for maintaining border security and preventing conflicts or misunderstandings along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
• Geopolitical Impact: India and China are key players in the global geopolitical arena. Their peaceful coexistence is essential for fostering a stable and predictable international order.

Challenges in the Peace Process

• Military Build-up: The increased military presence along the border by both countries has escalated tensions and complicated the peace process.
• Historical Issues: Historical disputes, including the 1962 Sino-Indian War, continue to influence the dynamics between the two nations.
• Border Disputes: Despite multiple rounds of talks, a durable solution to the border disputes, particularly along the LAC, remains unachieved.

Way Forward

• To achieve lasting peace, both India and China must engage in sustained efforts to overcome these challenges and build mutual trust.
• Ongoing dialogue through military and diplomatic channels is essential, along with the effective implementation of agreements reached by the leaders of both countries.

India plans $15 billion second push for chipmaking

GS 3: Economy: Semi-conductor industry

About the news

• India is planning to boost its semiconductor industry with a $15 billion investment for the second phase of its chip manufacturing incentive policy, up from the $10 billion committed previously.
• This phase includes funding for key projects, such as Tata’s collaboration with Taiwan’s Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC) to build India’s first commercial fabrication plant at a cost exceeding ₹91,000 crore.
• Additionally, the government has approved three assembly and testing plants: one by Micron Technology in June 2023, Tata’s assembly plant in Assam, and another by C G Power in partnership with Renesas Electronics.
• The total investment for these four projects is estimated at over ₹1.48 lakh crore, with the central government contributing nearly ₹59,000 crore in capital expenditure subsidies. State governments are also offering incentives such as discounted land and electricity.
• This push aims to enhance India’s semiconductor capabilities, an industry where the country currently has minimal presence compared to dominant players like Taiwan and the US.
• While the initiative is significant, it is important to recognize that the Tata-PSMC fabrication plant will not produce cutting-edge chips due to technological limitations.
• The high entry barriers and technological challenges in chip manufacturing are evident, as seen in China’s efforts with its Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) and the technological lead of companies like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd (TSMC).

Vadhvan Port

GS 3: Economy: Ports

Why is it in the news?

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid foundation stone of Vadhvan Port worth around Rs 76,000 crore in Palghar, Maharashtra.

About Vadhavan Port

• Vadhavan Port is a greenfield deep-sea port located in Vadhavan, Palghar District, Maharashtra. It is set to become an all-weather deep draft major port, developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.
• The port will be constructed by Vadhavan Port Project Limited (VPPL), a special purpose vehicle (SPV) established by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB), holding 74% and 26% shares respectively.
• The total estimated cost for the project, including land acquisition, is Rs. 76,220 crores.
• The port will feature a comprehensive range of facilities including nine container terminals, each 1,000 meters in length; four multipurpose berths, including a coastal berth; four liquid cargo berths; a Ro-Ro (Roll-on/Roll-off) berth; and a Coast Guard berth.
• The project involves reclaiming 1,448 hectares of sea area and constructing 10.14 km of offshore breakwater along with container and cargo storage areas.
• Vadhavan Port will have a total handling capacity of 298 million metric tons (MMT) per annum, including around 23.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) for container handling.
• The port will be connected to the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway via a link expressway, enhancing its accessibility.
• The port is expected to play a significant role as a gateway for the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) and the International North-South Transportation Corridor (INSTC).
• It is a critical component of the Indian government’s Sagarmala initiative, which aims to improve the efficiency of the country’s logistics sector.

Note:

• The Sagarmala Programme, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, embodies the Government of India’s strategic vision to revolutionize the maritime sector.
• Given India’s extensive coastline, navigable waterways, and key maritime trade routes, Sagarmala is designed to harness these assets for port-led development and the upliftment of coastal communities.
• Approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2015, the programme aims to boost the logistics sector’s efficiency by lowering logistics costs for both domestic and international trade.

The Role of Methane in Climate Change

GS 3: Environment and Biodiversity: Methane emissions

About the news

• Methane, a colourless and odourless gas that is the primary component of natural gas, plays a significant role in climate change by trapping large amounts of heat in the atmosphere.
• Over a 20-year period, methane is about 84 times more effective at trapping heat compared to carbon dioxide (CO2), the most well-known greenhouse gas primarily released from burning fossil fuels.
• Despite its potency, methane does not remain in the atmosphere as long as CO2. On average, methane persists for about 12 years, whereas CO2 contributes to warming over centuries.
• Consequently, while CO2 is the main driver of long-term climate change, methane contributes significantly to global warming, accounting for roughly one-third of the warming observed since the Industrial Revolution.
• Methane originates from both natural and human sources. Natural sources include wetlands, which contain permafrost—frozen ground rich in carbon from ancient plants and animals. As global temperatures rise, this permafrost thaws, releasing carbon as CO2 and methane into the atmosphere.
• However, human activities contribute approximately 60% of the methane emissions. Key human sources include agricultural activities, such as the methane produced by cattle and manure, as well as methane released from decomposing waste in landfills and the energy sector.
• Further, the energy sector is a major source of methane emissions, primarily due to the production, transport, and storage of fossil fuels like oil and gas.
• Methane emissions can occur unintentionally through equipment failures, such as rusted or damaged infrastructure and loose fittings. Additionally, gas flaring, which involves burning off natural gas associated with oil production, converts methane to CO2 but may still release raw methane into the atmosphere.
• Sometimes, companies also practice venting, where small amounts of natural gas are released directly into the atmosphere, often due to the high cost of processing or for safety reasons.
• According to the International Energy Agency, oil and gas companies could cut their methane emissions by up to 75% simply by detecting and repairing leaks, which involves basic maintenance and upgrading faulty equipment.
• In response to this issue, the European Union has enacted new regulations requiring fossil fuel companies to regularly measure, report, and reduce methane emissions.
• The regulations mandate that any detected leaks must be fixed within 15 working days and impose strict bans on flaring and venting, with exceptions only for safety emergencies or technical infeasibility of reinjecting or transporting the gas.