08.04.25

Antarctic Three Gorges

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  • China Launches “Three Gorges Antarctic Eye”: A new 3.2-metre radio/millimetre-wave telescope deployed at Zhongshan Station in Antarctica.
  • Purpose: To study interstellar gas (hydrogen and ammonia) and star formation.
  • Location Advantage: Antarctica offers unique observational opportunities.
  • Developed By: Collaboration between China Three Gorges University and Shanghai Normal University.
  • Builds on Prior Efforts: Expands China’s Antarctic astronomical capabilities, following the Antarctic Survey Telescopes (AST3).
  • Technological Achievement: Designed to withstand Antarctica’s extreme cold and strong winds.
  • Strategic Significance: Demonstrates China’s growing capabilities and ambition in polar science and astronomy.
  • Comparison to Other Observatories: The “Three Gorges Antarctic Eye” joins a global network of neutrino and astronomical observatories like India’s INO, the USA’s IceCube and DUNE, and China’s JUNO and TRIDENT. The telescopes all contribute to the global effort to discover and advance neutrino properties.
  • Three Gorges Dam Relation: The name of the telescope has similarity to China’s 22.5 GW Three Gorges Dam hydropower project.

US-India Nuclear Deal

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  • US Approval for Tech Transfer: The US has authorized Holtec International to transfer unclassified Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology to three Indian private entities: Holtec Asia, Tata Consulting Engineers Ltd, and Larsen & Toubro Ltd.

  • Peaceful Use Only: The SMR technology is strictly for peaceful civilian purposes, adhering to IAEA safeguards and excluding military applications.

  • Revival of Civil Nuclear Deal: This move operationalizes the 2008 India-US Civil Nuclear Deal by overcoming previous barriers to technology transfer.

  • Private Sector Involvement: It marks the first direct US technology transfer to Indian private firms, shifting from a state-controlled model to public-private partnership.

  • Boost to Indigenous Capability: Facilitates local manufacturing of SMRs, positioning India as a potential hub for nuclear innovation and export.

  • Regulatory Hurdles: India’s Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (2010) and Atomic Energy Act (1962) pose challenges, with amendments being considered to enable private sector participation and allay foreign investment concerns.

  • SMR Advantages: SMRs offer fuel efficiency, scalability, passive safety, and low-carbon energy, making them suitable for diverse power systems and remote areas.

  • Indian Initiatives: India aims to develop at least 5 indigenously designed SMRs by 2033 and deploy Bharat Small Reactors (BSRs) as captive power plants for industries.

  • Competing with China: The collaboration enables India and the US to compete with China’s SMR ambitions.

  • Conditions: Technology cannot be retransferred without US consent and is strictly for peaceful uses under IAEA safeguards, excluding enrichment or sensitive nuclear technology.

CAPTCHA

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  • CAPTCHA Definition: Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart. It is a security measure to distinguish between human users and bots.
  • Purpose: Protect websites from automated attacks like spam, fake accounts, and data theft.
  • Origin: Introduced in the early 2000s due to increasing bot activity. The first patent was filed in 2003 by Luis von Ahn and his team.
  • How it works: Presents challenges that are easy for humans but difficult for computers, such as identifying distorted text or specific objects in images. Based on the Turing Test.
  • Evolution: Started with distorted text, evolved to include image recognition, audio challenges, and behavioral analysis (e.g., mouse movements with “Invisible reCAPTCHA”). reCAPTCHA was introduced in 2009 to digitise printed text.
  • Applications: Used in website forms, comment sections, registration pages, financial transactions, account recovery, and online surveys.
  • Limitations: Can be bypassed by increasingly sophisticated bots. Presents accessibility challenges for users with disabilities. Can be annoying and time-consuming for users.
  • Future: Needs to become more accessible and user-friendly while remaining effective against evolving bot technology.

Mahabodhi

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  • Protests for BTA Repeal: Buddhist monks under the All India Buddhist Forum (AIBF) are protesting at the Mahabodhi Temple demanding the repeal of the Bodh Gaya Temple Act (BTA), 1949. The Act establishes a management committee for the temple with equal Hindu and Buddhist representation.
  • Grievance: Buddhist bodies want full control over the Mahabodhi Temple (Mahavihara).
  • BTA Provisions: The BTA created an eight-member management committee with equal representation from Hindus and Buddhists. The district magistrate, traditionally a Hindu, is the ex-officio chairperson, leading to a perceived Hindu majority in the committee.
  • Historical Context: Emperor Ashoka built the Mahabodhi Temple in the 3rd century BCE. It remained a Buddhist site until the 13th century, when Buddhism declined. In 1590, a Hindu monk established a mutt, bringing the temple under Hindu control. The BTA (1949) aimed to resolve the dispute between Buddhist and Hindu heads but the fact that the DM was an ex-officio chairman and traditionally from the Hindu community was a source of contention.
  • Past Protests: Protests and memorandums have been submitted in the past, including a Supreme Court writ petition in 2012 that is yet to be heard.
  • Government Intervention: In 2013, the rule was amended to allow the ex-officio chairman to be of any faith. In the early 1990s, there was an attempt to pass the Bodh Gaya Mahvihara Bill that would give control to the Buddhist community, but it went into cold storage.

TopoMat

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  • Topological materials are a new class of quantum matter exhibiting unique properties: conducting electricity on their surface like a metal but insulating internally like glass.

  • Discovery & Recognition: Discovered in the late 20th century, groundbreaking work in this field was recognized with the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics.

  • How They Work: This behavior stems from quantum mechanics, particularly the topology of electronic band structures and spin-orbit coupling. Electrons behave differently on the surface (free-moving) versus the inside (localized).

  • Mirror Analogy: A mirror, composed of a glass front (insulator) and a metallic back (conductor), helps illustrate this duality.

  • Quantum Foundation: Understanding topological materials requires quantum mechanics. The UN declared 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology.

  • Significance: These materials hold potential for next-generation electronics, quantum computing, and low-power devices. An example of a chip made from topological material is already released by Microsoft.

  • Electron Behavior: In metals, electrons are free (“unruly”) forming a “soup” that conducts electricity and reflects light. In insulators, electrons are bound (“shy”), preventing conduction and allowing light to pass through. The behavior decides how light interacts with the materials.

Transgender India: Barriers

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  • International Transgender Day of Visibility: Highlights ongoing discrimination and violence against transgender individuals despite legal advancements.

  • Implementation Gaps in the 2019 Act:

    • Delays in ID card processing; only 65% processed by Dec 2023.
    • Bureaucratic certification hinders self-identification.
    • Lacks provisions for police harassment and family rejection.
    • In Delhi, only 23 cards were issued by April 2022 despite 4,200 population

  • Social Discrimination:

    • Rejection, bullying, and discrimination lead to poor mental health.
    • 27% denied healthcare due to gender identity.

  • Economic Exclusion:

    • 92% face economic exclusion (NHRC 2018).
    • 48% unemployment rate (ILO 2022).
    • Hiring biases, workplace hostility, lack of facilities.
    • Limited financial access despite joint bank account circular.

  • Barriers in Education:

    • Literacy rate of 56.1%, below the national average.
    • Bullying, harassment, and unsupportive environments.
    • Lack of a nationwide gender-sensitive curriculum.

  • Healthcare Access Issues:

    • Limited access despite National Health Policy and Ayushman Bharat.
    • Gender-affirming treatments are costly, with limited insurance coverage.
    • Lack of trained healthcare professionals.
    • Ayushman Bharat TG Plus has implementation gaps.

  • Need for Societal Change:

    • Address prejudices in families, schools, and workplaces.
    • Promote gender sensitization and diverse media representation.

  • Way Forward:

    • Enforce anti-discrimination laws, and inclusive hiring.
    • Support transgender entrepreneurs, and awareness campaigns.
    • Need workplace inclusion policies, diversity hiring, targeted financial programmes, and government-backed loans.
    • Promote gender sensitisation in educational institutions and workplaces.

India’s Urban Mobility

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  • Bengaluru Metro Fare Hike: Namma Metro in Bengaluru has become India’s most expensive metro service after a significant fare increase in February 2025, raising concerns about affordability.
  • Affordability Concerns: Increased fares impact low and middle-income commuters, making daily travel expensive, contradicting national policies on affordable transport. A commuter mentioned paying ₹9 more for each trip, which adds up to ₹18 daily and over ₹500 a month.
  • High Court Intervention Declined: The Karnataka High Court declined to intervene in the fare hike decision, disappointing many commuters.
  • Fare Revision Details: Maximum ticket prices increased by 50%, with fares for longer distances (over 30 km) now costing ₹90.
  • Discount Changes: QR code-based fare discounts were discontinued, and smart card discounts reduced, affecting commuter benefits.
  • Ridership Decline: Ridership data shows a noticeable drop after the fare hike, indicating a shift to alternative transport options.
  • Cost Comparison: Bengaluru Metro’s fares are higher compared to metros in Delhi, Chennai, and Kolkata. Kolkata Metro is heavily subsidized by Indian Railways, keeping fares low.
  • BMRCL Justification: BMRCL cites rising operational costs, staff salaries, and loan repayment obligations as reasons for the fare hike. They have to repay ₹647.66 crore in loans and ₹122.94 crore in interest, bringing total liabilities to ₹770.60 crore for 2024-25.
  • Expert Criticism: Transportation experts criticize the fare hike as poorly planned and lacking transparency, emphasizing the need for gradual fare revisions.
  • Political Debate: The fare hike has sparked a political dispute between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP, each blaming the other.
  • Alternatives Becoming Economical: Increased metro costs make shared cabs or autos a more economical option for families, especially with limited feeder bus services and the ban on bike taxis.

Threat Report 2024

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  • Launch of Digital Threat Report 2024: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology released the Digital Threat Report 2024, focusing on the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector.
  • Collaborative Effort: The report is a joint effort by SISA, CERT-In, and CSIRT-Fin, providing an in-depth analysis of cybersecurity risks.
  • Social Engineering Increase: Business Email Compromise (BEC) and phishing attacks are becoming more targeted and successful against BFSI institutions. Why: These attacks bypass traditional security measures, causing significant damage.
  • Supply Chain Risks: Vulnerabilities in third-party vendors and open-source software are major threats. Why: Highlights the need for improved vendor risk management.
  • Evolving Compliance: Regulatory frameworks are becoming more harmonized. Why: Compliance should be seen as a strategic tool for growth and cyber resilience.
  • Persistent Control Gaps: Misconfigurations and weak access controls remain a problem. Why: These gaps provide easy entry points for attackers.
  • AI-Powered Threats: The report warns of AI being used for personalized and large-scale attacks. Why: AI enhances the sophistication and scale of cyber threats.

Governor’s Bill Power

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  • SC Verdict: Governors must act on state bills in a timely manner, adhering to the advice of the council of ministers (Article 200), without undue independent discretion.
  • Tamil Nadu Case: Governor’s delay in assenting to 10 bills and subsequent referral to the President after re-enactment by the Assembly was deemed “erroneous in law” by the SC.
  • No “Absolute Veto”: The SC clarified that Governors do not possess an “absolute veto” or “pocket veto” under Article 200, preventing indefinite delays.
  • Timelines Prescribed: The SC set timelines for Governors: one month to withhold assent, three months if acting against State Cabinet advice, and one month for re-presented Bills.
  • Governor’s Role: Emphasized as a constitutional head, not a political actor, bound to act with deference to parliamentary democracy and the will of the people. Must act as a “catalyst and not an inhibitor”.
  • Limited Discretion: Governor can only refuse assent to a bill when a bill is different and Governor’s discretion is subject to judicial review.
  • Implications: Curbs misuse of gubernatorial powers, reinforces the legislative process, and sets a precedent for states facing similar issues (Kerala, West Bengal, Telangana, Punjab).
  • Article 142: Exercising powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, the bench also declared the 10 Bills as having received assent given “the unduly long period of time for which these Bills were kept pending by the Governor before the ultimate declaration of withholding of assent and in view of the scant respect shown by the Governor”.
  • Kerala’s Plea: Kerala government requested its similar case against its Governor be transferred to Justice Pardiwala’s court, given the ruling’s relevance.