Current Context : Recently, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), based in Hyderabad, issued advisories regarding swell waves for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands, and parts of India’s coastal regions.

ABOUT SWELL WAVES:

• Swell waves are long-wavelength surface waves that travel great distances across the ocean. They form not due to local winds but from distant storms or hurricanes, where energy is transferred from the air into the water. This energy can generate waves that propagate far from the storm center.
• Formation: Generated by energy transfer from storms like hurricanes or prolonged gale-force winds. The energy moves from air to water, creating waves that travel thousands of kilometers.

Features:

• Organized, consistent heights and periods.
• Can move in different directions than local wind waves.
• Swell wavelengths can exceed 150 meters and, in rare cases, reach 700 meters.
• INCOIS Role: Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) provides early warnings (up to 7 days) for swell surges, helping prepare coastal areas for potential flooding​

Current Context : Roopkund Lake in Uttarakhand is shrinking because of climate change, the lake is losing size and depth each year.

ABOUT ROOPKUND LAKE:

• Roopkund, also known as the ” lake of skeletons” is a glacial lake in Uttarakhand.
• Location: Situated in Uttarakhand’s Garhwal Himalayas at an altitude of 16,500 feet near Mt. Trishul in the Garhwal Himalayas.
• Size: Small glacial lake, approximately 130 feet wide, mostly frozen throughout the year.
• Mystery of Skeletons: Known for housing human skeletons, visible when the ice melts. The skeletons are believed to date back to the 9th century AD.
• Recent Studies: A 2019 study suggests the skeletons belong to different groups, who perished over a span of 1,000 years, not in a single event.

Impact of Climate Change: The lake is shrinking due to rising temperatures, affecting snow cover and the preservation of the remains.

Current Context : Recently, Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Labor & Employment launched the e-Migrate portal and mobile app.

• Purpose: It is an online platform designed to streamline the process for Indian workers seeking employment abroad. The aim is to ensure safer, transparent, and legal migration practices.
• It connects foreign employers, registered recruitment agents, and insurance companies, ensuring a coordinated and safe process for migration​

It particularly supports workers with Emigration Check Required (ECR) passports, targeting employment in 18 countries that include Gulf nations and others like Malaysia and Thailand

Current Context : Recently, the union minister inaugurated India’s first Demonstration Facility for Biopolymers in Pune.

ABOUT BIOPOLYMERS:

Biopolymers are materials derived from biological sources such as fats, vegetable oils, sugars, resins, and proteins.

Characteristics:

• More complex structures than synthetic polymers.
• Biodegradable, decomposing through oxidation, hydrolysis, or enzyme action.

BENEFITS

• Environmental Impact: Reduce pollution through natural decomposition, unlike synthetic polymers.
• Carbon Footprint: Help lower atmospheric CO2 levels, contributing to reduced carbon emissions.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN INDIA

• Demonstration Facility: India’s first facility for biopolymers inaugurated in Pune to boost research and production​
• Innovative Packaging: New biodegradable film made from chitosan and sodium alginate suitable for food packaging; decomposes in about 55 days​
• Global Bio-India 2024: Event highlighting advancements in biotechnology and the launch of 11 new biopolymer products by startups.​

Current Context : The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system is a sophisticated missile defense technology deployed by the United States, recently announced to be sent to Israel amid rising tensions with Hezbollah.

ABOUT THAAD MISSILE SYSTEM:

• Purpose: THAAD is designed to intercept and destroy short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during their terminal phase of flight.
• Engagement Method: It utilizes a “hit-to-kill” approach, which means it destroys incoming missiles by colliding with them, relying on kinetic energy rather than explosives.
• Operational Range: The system can engage targets at distances between 150 to 200 kilometers(93 to 124 miles).
• Origin: THAAD was developed by the United States following the Persian Gulf War(1991), specifically in response to threats from Iraq’s Scud missiles.
• Deployments: THAAD has been deployed in Israel since 2008, with subsequent deployments in 2012and 2019 to enhance the country’s missile defense capabilities.

Current Context : The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) announced the launch of the Mission for Advancement in High-Impact Areas -Electric Vehicle (MAHA- EV) Mission.

ABOUT MAHA-EV MISSION:

• Aim : to enhance the development of electric vehicle (EV) technologies to reduce import dependency and foster domestic innovation, thereby establishing India as a global leader in the EV sector.
• Part of ANRF: It is an initiative under the broader program for Advancement in High-Impact Areas (MAHA), promoting collaboration among various institutions and disciplines to address significant scientific challenges.
• Focus Areas: Concentrates on three critical technology sectors:

1. Tropical EV Batteries and Battery Cells
2. Power Electronics, Machines, and Drives (PEMD)
3. Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

The MAHA-EV Mission aligns with the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020, which aims to promote electric vehicle adoption and manufacturing in India.​

Current Context : A hundred million tonnes of nitrogen removed from the atmosphere and converted into fertilizer via the Haber-Bosch process, adding 165 million tonnes of reactive nitrogen to the soil.

ABOUT HABER-BOSCH PROCESS:

Purpose:

• It converts nitrogen (N₂) from the air and hydrogen (H₂) into ammonia (NH₃), a key component in fertilizers.

Developers:

• Invented by Fritz Haber in the early 1900s.
• Industrialized by Carl Bosch, making it possible to mass-produce fertilizers.

Significance:

• Enabled large-scale fertilizer production, supporting global agriculture.
• Considered one of the most important technological advances of the 20th century.

Process:

• Nitrogen and hydrogen are combined under high pressure and moderately high temperatures.
• An iron-based catalyst is used to facilitate the reaction.
• By continuously removing ammonia, the reaction is kept favorable for ammonia production.

Impact:

• Adds about 165 million tonnes of reactive nitrogen to soils annually, vital for plant growth.

Current Context : Mount Adams, the largest active volcano in Washington State, has recently shown an increase in seismic activity after being dormant for thousands of years

ABOUT MOUNT ADAMS:

Location & Size:

• Mount Adams is a stratovolcano located in Washington State, USA.
• It stands 12,277 feet (3,742 meters)tall, making it the largest volcano by volume in the state.

Recent Seismic Activity:

• After thousands of years of dormancy, Mount Adams has shown increased seismic activity.
• The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network(PNSN) is monitoring this activity.

Volcanic Field:

• Mount Adams is part of a 1,250 sq.km volcanic field containing over 120 smaller volcanoes, including spatter and scoria cones.

Last Eruption:

• The most recent eruption occurred 3,800 to 7,600 years ago.

WHAT IS A STRATOVOLCANO?

• Stratovolcanoes, also called composite volcanoes, are tall and steep with a cone shape.
• Structure: They are made up of many layers of ash and lava.
• Magma Characteristics: The magma inside is thick and often has trapped gas, which can lead to explosive eruptions.
• Location: Stratovolcanoes are found at the edges of tectonic plates, which are large sections of the Earth’s crust that move.
• Plate Interaction: Continental plates, which are lighter, can override denser oceanic plates. When the oceanic plate sinks, magma rises through cracks to the surface, causing eruptions.
• Global Presence: Stratovolcanoes make up about 60% of all volcanoes on Earth.
• Ring of Fire: About 85% of them are located around the Pacific Ocean, an area known as the “Ring of Fire.”

Current Context : Recently, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, while leading an Indian Parliamentary delegation to the 149th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva, highlighted the importance of multilateralism in addressing global issues.

ABOUT THE INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION (IPU):

• Founded: 1889 in Paris to promote peace and representative democracy.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland (since 1921).
• Members: 180 national parliaments and 15 associate members.
• Objective: Promotes parliamentary diplomacy, gender balance, youth representation, and defends MPs’ human rights.
• Funding: It is financed primarily by its members out of public funds.

STRUCTURE OF IPU:

• IPU Assembly: Main body that discusses international issues.
• Governing Council: Sets policy and budget, led by the IPU President.
• Executive Committee: 17 members managing IPU’s administration.
• Standing Committees: Assist the Assembly in its work.

Current Context : Recently, Indian suppliers rank as the third-largest providers of health and nutrition support for children globally, reflecting their major contribution to UNICEF’s efforts.

ABOUT UNICEF :

• Established: Formed in 1946by the United Nations General Assembly.
• Headquarters: Located in New York, USA.
• Mission: To promote and protect children’s rights, meet their basic needs, and help them reach their full potential.
• Global Work: Active in over 190 countries, UNICEF focuses on improving child protection, healthcare, education, and emergency assistance.
• Key Role: Works to uphold the Convention on the Rights of the Child, ensuring children’s rights are protected worldwide.
• Funding: Operates entirely on voluntary contributions from governments, organizations, and the private sector.
• Publication: Publishes the State of the World’s Children, a report analyzing the global status of children.
• Awards: UNICEF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1965 for its work..