Current Affairs Exam

Biomass Mission

April 15, 2025April 15, 2025 by rawan239

ESA’s Biomass Mission Launch: Scheduled for April 29, 2025, aboard a Vega C rocket from Korou Spaceport, French Guiana.
Orbit: Sun-synchronous orbit at 666 km altitude for consistent Earth observation.
Objective: To produce the first comprehensive global measurements of forest biomass. Addresses a severe lack of planetary-scale forest biomass data.
Significance: Will map forests, track
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changes, and improve understanding of the global carbon cycle, deforestation, and climate change. Forests store 861 gigatonnes of carbon and absorb 16 billion metric tonnes of CO₂ annually.
Urgency: In 2023, 3.7 million hectares of tropical forests were lost, contributing to 6% of global CO₂ emissions.
Technology: Uses a 12-meter antenna and P-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), the first of its kind in space. P-band SAR penetrates dense canopies for 3D forest imaging.
Carbon Measurement: Measures carbon stored in the canopy and on the forest floor, assessing biomass and carbon content changes.
Climate Action Support: Provides data for REDD+ initiatives and monitors illegal logging.
Beyond Forests: Will also observe ice sheet movement in Antarctica and generate digital terrain models.
Understanding the Carbon Cycle: Aims to measure how carbon distribution changes as humans cut down trees and increase atmospheric CO2. Knowing the carbon balance flowing to/from the atmosphere is crucial.

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Electric Sense

April 15, 2025April 15, 2025 by rawan239

Fruit Fly Larvae Exhibit Electroreception: Researchers at UC Santa Barbara discovered that fruit fly larvae can detect and respond to electric fields, a sensory ability called electroreception.
Electroreception Defined: Electroreception is the ability to detect weak electrostatic fields in the environment, used by animals for sensing living organisms or environmental factors.
Specific Neurons Involved: Only a small cluster of sensory neurons on either side of the larva’s head are responsible for this electroreceptive behavior. A single neuron in this cluster directly detects the electric field.
Directional Sensitivity: The neuron is inhibited when a negative electrode is in front of the head and activated when behind, causing the larva to reorient and move.
Confirmed Response to Electric Field: Scientists eliminated other stimuli to confirm the larval response was specifically due to the electric field.
Navigation Using Electric Fields: Larvae immersed in an electric field reoriented their movement and navigated towards the negative electrode.
Electroreception in Other Species: Previously known in sharks, bees and platypus, this discovery adds fruit fly larvae to the list of organisms with electroreception.
Electroreception uses: Electroreception is used for navigation, hunting, and communication in aquatic animals.
Electroreceptive species in India: Gangetic dolphins and electric rays are electroreceptive species found in India.

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Wall of Lead

April 14, 2025April 14, 2025 by rawan239

China’s Norinco has developed the “Bullet Curtain,” a close-in anti-drone barrage weapon.
It’s the first of its kind, designed to counter drones, rockets, helicopters, and missiles.
The system is inspired by the Metal Storm rapid-fire weapon concept.
It uses a “plane-to-point” interception model, creating a wall of projectiles.
This differs from conventional anti-air systems which use “point-to-point” interception.
It employs a 4×4 arrangement of 35mm gun barrels with advanced ammunition.
AHEAD ammunition disperses numerous sub-projectiles to form a barrage.
It integrates radar, optical detection, fire control, and management systems.
The system is road-mobile, mounted on a 6×6 truck, for mechanized unit air defense.
Its modular design allows integration with various platforms (vehicles, ships, installations).
A computer system dynamically adjusts the fire based on the threat.
Primary function: Close-in defense against drones and aerial threats.
Country of origin: China.
Interception Model: Plane-to-point.

IMEEC: A New Silk Road?

April 14, 2025April 14, 2025 by rawan239

India-Italy Cooperation Deepening: India and Italy are strengthening strategic cooperation across trade, defense, clean energy, and high technology, formalized under the Joint Strategic Action Plan (JSAP) 2025-2029.
JSAP as Roadmap: The JSAP, announced in November 2024, provides a structured framework for diversifying bilateral cooperation.
IMEEC Commitment Reaffirmed: Both
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nations reiterated commitment to advancing the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC).
Italian Envoy for IMEEC: India welcomed Italy’s appointment of a special envoy for IMEEC.
IMEEC Structure: The IMEEC is a multimodal transport network comprising:
- Eastern Corridor: Connecting India to the Gulf region.
- Northern Corridor: Connecting the Gulf to Europe.
IMEEC Objectives: The corridor aims to enhance trade efficiency, counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and integrate energy grids and digital infrastructure.
IMEEC Participants: Key countries involved include India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, EU nations, and the US (as a strategic partner).
Expansion Sectors: Focus on AI, cybersecurity, telecommunications, digital technologies, renewable energy, biofuels, higher education, and youth mobility.
Tajani’s Visit: Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani’s visit to India focused on furthering the strategic partnership.
Global and Regional Issues: Ministers exchanged views on global and regional developments, with India welcoming Italy’s focus on the Indo-Pacific.

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Kathak: Dance of Story

April 14, 2025April 14, 2025 by rawan239

Kumudini Lakhia’s Passing: Renowned Kathak dancer Kumudini Lakhia passed away at 94, leaving a legacy that reshaped the dance form.
Lakhia’s Kathak Innovation:
- Challenged the traditional storytelling focus of Kathak (Krishna-Radha, Shiva-Parvati).
- Emphasized “art for art’s sake,” focusing on movement, rhythm, and form.
- Transformed Kathak from solo to group ensemble performances.
- Incorporated contemporary themes and abstract concepts.
Pioneer and Influencer: She encouraged questioning tradition and expressing the “unsaid” in Kathak.
- She charted her course in Kathak — in form, presentation, costumes and influencing several young dancers of succeeding generations
Notable Works: Duvidha (1971), which delved into internal conflict of a woman yearning for a life beyond domestic confines & Dhabkar (Pulse), Lakhia removed the dupatta from the torso and let the girls dance comfortably.
Awards and Recognition: Padma Shri (1987), Padma Bhushan (2010),
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Padma Vibhushan (2024).
Early Training: Trained under Pt Sundar Prasad (Jaipur gharana) and Pt Shambhu Maharaj (Lucknow gharana)
PM Modi’s Condolences: Called her an “outstanding cultural icon” and a “true pioneer.”
Kathak Basics:
- Classical Indian dance from North India, blending Hindu and Mughal traditions.
- Key elements: Tatkar (footwork), Chakkar (spins), Abhinaya (expression).
- Major gharanas: Jaipur, Lucknow, and Banaras.
- Linked to Hindustani (North Indian) music.

Saras Mk2

April 14, 2025April 14, 2025 by rawan239

Saras Mk2 Test Flight: The updated Indian-designed civilian aircraft, Saras Mk2, is scheduled for test flights in December 2027.
Development & Purpose: Developed by CSIR-NAL, it’s
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a 19-seater light transport aircraft intended for passenger transport to Tier-2/Tier-3 cities, medical emergencies, and disaster relief.
IAF Interest: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has shown interest in potentially purchasing at least 15 aircraft, pending successful flight tests and airworthiness certification.
Specifications: It’s a 7.5-ton aircraft with a 6-hour endurance, a service ceiling of 29,000 ft, a maximum range of 775 km with 19 passengers and 2450 km with 7 passengers, powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67A turboprop engines.
Manufacturing: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will be involved in manufacturing. Wings and composites will be made in-house, metallic parts will be outsourced.
Prototypes: Two Mk2 prototypes will be built to expedite the certification process.
Avionics: Avionics will be sourced from Genesis, with reliance on NAL’s in-house computer for several systems.
Delays: Project delays are attributed to regulatory processes, manufacturing requirements, and the availability of certified pilots. It was originally planned for 2026.
Legacy: The original 14-seater Saras (PT1N) is being used as a testbed for future planes, it was showcased at Aero India 2019.

Microplastics: Tiny Threat

April 14, 2025April 14, 2025 by rawan239

Plant leaves absorb microplastics and nanoplastics directly from the air: A new multinational study published in Nature shows plants can uptake these particles.
Entry Pathways: Microplastics enter leaves via stomata (pores for gas exchange) and the cuticle (protective wax layer).
Internal Movement: Once inside, microplastics move between plant cells and accumulate in trichomes
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(hair-like structures) and can travel through plant’s water and nutrient transport systems.
Microplastics Defined:
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Microplastics are plastic particles up to 5mm in diameter; nanoplastics are <1,000 nanometres.
Sources of Microplastics: Originate from degraded plastics, cosmetics, textiles, and industrial waste.
Environmental Entry: Enter ecosystems through wastewater, runoff, atmospheric deposition, and product use. A 2022 study showed microplastics in 90% of Ganga River samples.
Ecological Impact: Poses ecological and public health risks as microplastics accumulate in plants and potentially bioaccumulate in the food chain via herbivores and crops.
Human Health Concerns: Long-term human health impacts are unclear. Further research is needed on dietary exposure, absorption in the digestive system, and potential organ distribution.
Chemical Risks: Microplastics can carry pollutants and toxic chemicals, increasing health dangers.
Study Collaboration: The study was conducted by scientists from Nankai University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Northeastern University, and the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences.

Williamson’s Velvet Worm

April 14, 2025April 14, 2025 by rawan239

Rediscovery After 111 Years: Typhloperipatus williamsoni, a velvet worm species considered one of the oldest living fossils, has been rediscovered in the Siang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh after 111 years. This is significant because it was thought to be possibly extinct.
Ancient Lineage: The species belongs to Onychophora, a group over 350 million years old with limited diversity (only two families and fewer than 200 species). The species provides insight into the biogeographical story.
Historical Context: First collected in 1911 by Stanley Kemp during the Abor expedition, there had been no documented records since.
Molecular Data Insights: Molecular data indicates South Asian onychophoras diverged from Neotropical and African relatives around 237 million years ago.
Biogeographic Anomaly: Asian onychophoras surprisingly lack relation to Australian
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onychophoras, which is unusual for invertebrates in Southeast Asia and India, making this rediscovery important for understanding their unique distribution.
Team: The rediscovery was made by researchers at the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and The Environment (ATREE).
Habitat Threats: The natural habitat of
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T. williamsoni is threatened by agriculture, deforestation, and slash-and-burn cultivation, emphasizing the need for conservation.
Conservation Call: The study stresses the need to conserve habitats and conduct broader sampling in the region to protect this rare species.
Additional Discoveries: The expedition also led to the discovery of a metallic blue ant (Paraparatrechina neela) and more than 15 new species of parasitic wasps, a mollusc and a gecko.

Carbon Tax

April 14, 2025April 14, 2025 by rawan239

Global Carbon Tax on Shipping: India, along with 62 other nations, voted in favor of a global carbon tax on the shipping industry, established by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
- Why: Aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions from ships and encourage cleaner tech.
- Tax Implementation: Starting in 2028, ships must use lower-emission fuels or pay a pollution fee.
- Why: Creates financial incentives for shipping industry decarbonization.
- Revenue Generation: The tax is projected to generate up to $40 billion by 2030.
- Why: Provides funds for the shipping sector’s transition to cleaner practices.
- Limited Scope: The carbon pricing is expected to reduce shipping emissions by only 10% by 2030.
- Why: Falls short of the IMO’s target of at least 20%.
- Opposition: Oil-rich countries like Saudi Arabia opposed the deal. The U.S. delegation was absent.
- Why: Reflects differing national interests and climate policy priorities.
- Climate Finance Concerns: Developing countries wanted revenue for broader climate needs, but funds will be ring-fenced for maritime decarbonisation only.
- Why: Highlights tensions over climate finance and support for vulnerable nations.
- Pricing Structure: Ships will
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  be charged based on emissions intensity; conventional fuel users face higher fees.
- Why: Penalizes fossil fuel use, including liquefied natural gas.
- Future Refinements: Key details about revenue use and distribution are yet to be finalized.
- Why: Agreement is a framework, with crucial aspects pending.
- India’s Existing Carbon Tax Landscape: India lacks a nationwide carbon tax, despite earlier proposals and some state-level levies.
- Why: Shows that even with supporting the shipping tax India hasnt implemented it at country wide level.

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Ramgarh Lake

April 14, 2025April 14, 2025 by rawan239

Revival Efforts: Work has begun to revive the historic Ramgarh Lake near Jaipur, once a crucial water source for the city.
Encroachment Removal: A survey using remote sensing and drones will identify and remove encroachments and obstructions in the lake’s catchment area, aiming to restore water flow. The lake has been dry since 2000 due to these encroachments.
Government Action: The State government has formed a district-level committee, headed by the Jaipur Collector, to monitor and supervise the water flow and catchment area, following a Rajasthan High Court direction.
Historical Significance: Built in 1876 by Sawai Ram Singh II, the lake historically supplied water to Jaipur and hosted the 1982 Asian Games rowing event.
Current Situation: Deforestation and mining have dried up the rivers (Roda, Banganga, Tala, and Madhoveni) that once fed the lake.
Land Jurisdiction: The water flow area covers 3,610.80 hectares, managed by the Revenue Department (2,679.88 hectares) and the Jaipur Development Authority (930.92 hectares), with additional flow through private land.
Encroachment Removal Update: Obstructions and encroachments have been removed from 323.30 hectares, and anicuts/check dams exceeding 2 meters in height
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have been demolished to meet High Court directives.
NOC Review: The Water Resources Department is reviewing no objection certificates issued over the last five years to ensure compliance with rules.
Detailed Mapping: A current status map of the dam will be created after the survey, with a detailed record of the catchment area.