13.04.25

Wall of Lead

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  • 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
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    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?

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  • 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 nations reiterated commitment to advancing the
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    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
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    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.

Kathak: Dance of Story

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  • 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
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      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), Padma Vibhushan (2024).

  • Early Training: Trained

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    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

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  • 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 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
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    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
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    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

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  • 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 (hair-like structures) and can travel through plant’s water and nutrient transport systems.
  • Microplastics Defined: 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
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    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*

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  • 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
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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 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 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

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    • 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:

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        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

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        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 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.

    Ramgarh Lake

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    • 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
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      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
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      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 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.

    rt-LAMP Assay

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    • New rt-LAMP Assay for TB Detection: Researchers at SCTIMST have developed a novel, cost-effective rt-LAMP assay for early TB diagnosis.
    • High Sensitivity and Specificity: Similar to GeneXpert and Truenat, it’s a molecular
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      test detecting TB DNA at low concentrations (10 copies/microlitre).
    • Overcomes Dye Inhibition: Uses Syto 16 fluorescent dye, resolving false negatives in earlier LAMP tests.
    • Rapid Results: Provides results in 10-20 minutes, significantly faster than RT-PCR.
    • Simplified Process: Works at a single temperature, unlike RT-PCR’s three temperature cycles.
    • Enhanced Amplification: Uses six primers for faster, more specific DNA amplification.
    • Cost-Effective: No probe is used, and the dye and primers are inexpensive.
    • Open Platform System: Existing RT-PCR machines can be repurposed for TB diagnosis by programming them to run at one temperature setting.
    • High-Throughput Testing: Allows processing of 96 or 384 tests in a single run.
    • Validation and Approval: Licensed to industry, approved by CDSCO, being validated by ICMR, and evaluated by WHO’s HTAP (pending ICMR validation).
    • Addresses Diagnostic Gap: Aims to replace reliance on sputum smear microscopy (used in 79% of presumptive cases in
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      India).
    • Supports TB Elimination: Enables faster case detection and improved public health outcomes, supporting India’s National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP).
    • Superior Performance: Showed 89.36% sensitivity and 94.06% specificity compared with MRS.

    Phawngpui National Park

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    • Forest Fires: Recent fires in Phawngpui National Park impacted approximately one-ninth of the park’s area.
    • Fire Under Control: The blazes were contained by March 28th with local assistance, minimizing the risk of a larger wildfire.
    • Location: The park is situated in southeastern Mizoram, near the India-Myanmar border. It’s also known as Blue Mountain National Park.
    • Significance: Phawngpui is Mizoram’s highest peak (2,157 meters).
    • Cultural Importance: The area is considered sacred by local Mizo people, believed to be inhabited by
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      ancestral spirits.
    • Flora & Fauna: The park features montane subtropical forests with diverse flora, including oak, rhododendrons, and bamboo. It’s a habitat for rare birds like Blyth’s Tragopan and Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant (Mizoram’s state bird), as well as endangered mammals like the Slow Loris, Tiger, and Asiatic Black Bear.
    • “Blue Mountain” Name: The park is often enveloped in clouds, giving it a blue appearance from a distance.