Daily Current Affairs 2nd and 3rd September

Arihant-Class Submarines

Why in news?

Recently, the Indian Navy has commissioned its second Arihant-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN).

About Arihant-Class Submarines

• The Arihant-class is a class of Indian nuclear ballistic missile submarines, built by Navy Shipbuilding Centre, Visakhapatnam. 
• They were developed under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project to design and build nuclear-powered submarines. These vessels are classified as 'strategic strike nuclear submarines' by India
• The Submarines are powered by an 83 MW pressurised water reactor. 
• The submarine is reportedly capable of achieving a maximum speed of 12–15 knots (22–28 km/h) on the surface and up to 24 knots (44 km/h) while submerged. It features four launch tubes in its hump, allowing it to carry either four nuclear-capable K-4 SLBMs with a range exceeding 3,500 kilometres or twelve K-15 SLBMs with a range of approximately 750 kilometres.
• Arihant was launched in 2009, and commissioned into the Navy in 2016 as its first nuclear-powered submarine.
• Arihant holds the distinction of being the first ballistic missile submarine to have been built by a country other than one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
• Induction of INS Arighaat, the second nuclear-powered submarine of the Arihant class, significantly boosts India’s nuclear deterrence capabilities. It strengthens the nuclear triad, the ability to launch missiles from land, air, and maritime platforms

Difference between SSBN & SSN

• An SSBN (Ship, Submersible, Ballistic, Nuclear), or nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, is a vessel equipped to launch submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) armed with nuclear warheads, serving as a crucial component of a nation's nuclear deterrence.
• SSNs (Ship Submersible Nuclear) are primarily designed for anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship operations, and intelligence gathering. These vessels are equipped with torpedoes and occasionally cruise missiles, but they do not carry ballistic missiles. Their main focus is on tracking and engaging enemy submarines and surface vessels, as well as providing support for land operations through precision strikes using cruise missiles. 
• SSNs can be powered either by nuclear reactors or conventional diesel-electric systems, making them versatile and capable of performing a wide range of missions, including reconnaissance and special operations support.

Samudra Pratap

Why in news?

Recently, the first indigenously built Pollution Control Vessel Samudra Pratap was launched in Goa.

About

• The Ship has been built by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). The vessel will help to check the oil spillage in the country’s sea coast.
• This vessel, with an indigenous content of 72%, underscores India’s growing capability in shipbuilding and technological advancement.
• The Indian Coast Guard is a maritime law enforcement and search and rescue agency of India with jurisdiction over its territorial waters including its contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone.
• It was established under the Coast Guard Act, 1978 of the Parliament of India.
• It operates under the Ministry of Defence.

Project NAMAN

Why in news?

Recently, the Indian Army launched the first phase of Project NAMAN.

About 

• The project is designed to provide dedicated support and services to Defence pensioners, veterans, and their families.
• Project NAMAN is centred around the implementation of the SPARSH (System for Pension Administration Raksha), digital pension system, which streamlines pension related processes for Defence Pensioners, addressing the critical need for accessible facilitation points for Veterans and Next of Kin (NOK) across the country.
• The project aims to establish approximately 200 Common Services Centres nationwide over the next 2 to 3 years. 
• These Common Service Centres (CSCs) are dedicated to Army Veterans, Pensioners, War Widows, and NOKs, offering SPARSH-enabled pension services, Government to Citizen (G2C) services, and Business to Consumer (B2C) services, all at a single, convenient location.

Aravalli Engines

Why in news?

Recently, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and SAFHAL Pvt. Ltd. have signed a contract to commence development, manufacture & supply of Aravalli Engines.

About

• The 'Aravalli' high-power engines are used for the 13-ton Medium Lift class, the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH) and the Deck-Based Multi-Role Helicopter (DBMRH), being designed and developed by HAL.
• This collaboration involves state-of-the-art design, advanced manufacturing processes and rigorous testing protocols to meet the highest global standards.
• The engines will be designed to operate in diverse and challenging environments in which these Helicopters will be deployed.
• The name Aravalli derived from the mighty mountain range of India, symbolises the aspirations in achieving Atma Nirbharta in critical engine technologies.

Cyclone Asna

Why in news?

Cyclone Asna brought havoc to the Kutch coast in Gujarat.

More about the news

• Unlike typical cyclones that form over warm ocean waters, Asna developed over land in Rajasthan, moved through North Gujarat, and then intensified upon reaching the Arabian Sea.
• This is a rare occurrence. The last time something similar happened was in 1976, when a depression formed on land, transitioned into a cyclone, and then moved out to sea.
• Recent studies show that cyclones are becoming more frequent on the western coast due to the climate crisis and the warming of the Arabian Sea, with states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan facing increasingly intense storms.

About Cyclones 

• A cyclone is a system of winds rotating counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, characterized by low-pressure centres, rotating winds, and atmospheric instability.
• Occurrence: They originate over warm tropical oceans except the equatorial belt. They are known by various names in different parts of the world. It is called a 'typhoon’ in Japan and the Philippines, Hurricanes in the Americas and willy-willies in Australia, etc.
• Ideal Temperature Range: 27°C temperature is ideal for the formation of a tropical cyclone.
• Air circulation: The air circulates clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere and anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.
• Eye: The eye is a region of mostly calm weather at the centre of a tropical cyclone. It is marked by clear sky, warm temperatures, and low atmospheric pressure.
• Eye-wall: The eyewall consists of a ring of tall thunderstorms that produce heavy rains and usually the strongest winds.
• Storm surge: The abnormal rise in sea level due to cyclonic storms.

Cocoa

Why in news?

Scientists and entrepreneurs are working on ways to make more cocoa that stretch well beyond the tropics.

About Cocoa

• Cocoa is a tropical crop that's grown for its beans, which are used to make chocolate.
• Cocoa is native to the Amazon region of South America.
• Cocoa is grown in tropical regions around the equator, such as Southeast Asia, Latin America, and West Africa. In India, it's mainly grown in the southern states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
• Cocoa trees grow best in humid climates with temperatures between 18 and 30 degrees Celsius, and with fairly constant precipitation. They also need loose soil and shouldn't be exposed to too much sun or shade.
• Cocoa is a perennial crop, and it can withstand different seasonal variations with good health and yield potential. Cocoa is normally cultivated at altitudes up to 1200 m with an annual rainfall of 1000mm to 2000mm and a relative humidity of 80 %.
• Andhra Pradesh is the largest producer of cocoa in India, followed by Kerala.
• Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana are the two largest cocoa-producing countries, accounting for 50% of the world's cocoa production. Ecuador is the third largest producer.

Gray Wolf

Why in news?

Recently, the Uttar Pradesh forest department has managed to capture four grey wolves under 'Operation Bhediya'.

About

• The Indian wolf (Canis lupus Pallipes) is a subspecies of gray wolf that ranges from Southwest Asia to the Indian subcontinent.
• India has two species of wolves that are Indian Wolf (Canis Lupus Pallipes) and Himalayan wolf or Tibetan wolf (Canis Lupus Chanco). 
• Indian Gray Wolf is widely distributed in the parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
• The Himalayan Wolf or the Tibetan Wolf roam the wastelands of the upper-trans Himalayan range which include Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim
• Wolves in the Himalayan Region prefer colder, steeper habitats while those in the Peninsular Region are mostly found in agro pastoral areas that have less forest density.
• Wolves are known for their speed and can run up to 45 km/hour. Being a natural predator; they tend to prey mainly on rodents, hares, and livestock.
• Wolves generally live in a pack of 6-8 individuals that requires a bigger home range of about 180-200 sq. km.
• There are approximately 400-1,100 wolves living in the Himalayan Region and 4,000-6,000 wolves in the Peninsular Region.
• The Indian grey wolf is threatened by a number of factors, including: habitat loss, unregulated hunting, loss of prey, fencing and tar roads and expanding cities.
• It is protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

India Semiconductor Mission

Why in news?

Recently, the Union Cabinet approved one more semiconductor unit in Gujarat, under India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).

More about the news

• The capacity of this unit will be 60 Lakh chips per day.
• The chips produced in this unit will cater to a wide variety of applications which include segments such as industrial, automotive, electric vehicles, consumer electronics, telecom, mobile phones, etc.

About India Semiconductor Mission (ISM)

• The ISM was launched in December 2022 with the aim of establishing a robust semiconductor ecosystem within the country.
• This initiative is housed under the Digital India Corporation, is tasked with catalysing semiconductor manufacturing, packaging, and design capabilities in India.
• The ISM represents a strategic endeavor to position India as a key player in the global semiconductor landscape.
• India is focused on developing semiconductor manufacturing for a variety of reasons, including:
  • Economic growth: A robust semiconductor sector can boost India's economy by bringing in foreign investment and generating jobs.
  • Technological sovereignty: India can gain more technological sovereignty by developing an industry for semiconductor design. The global semiconductor supply chain faced a severe disruption during the Covid-19 pandemic, underscoring the critical role the components play in various industries.
  • Global strategic positioning: India has the potential to grow into a significant center for the design and production of semiconductors, which would benefit the global technology industry.
  • National security: Since semiconductors are essential to contemporary electronics, nations are attempting to depend less on one supplier for their supply. Semiconductors are important for defense systems because they can process and transmit large amounts of data quickly and efficiently.
  • Innovation: Innovation in many industries, such as consumer electronics, automotive, and healthcare, can be stimulated by a robust semiconductor industry.

Parkinson Disease

Why in news?

Researchers are investigating the role of mitochondria in Parkinson's disease.

About

• Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons.
• A British physician named James Parkinson published An Essay on the Shaking Palsy, describing for the first time, Parkinson's disease. 
• Mitochondrial dysfunction is widely believed to play an essential role in the pathogenesis of PD and other related neurodegenerative diseases.
  • Mitochondria are semi-autonomous organelles of eukaryotic cells that carry their own DNA (mtDNA). 
  • Mitochondria are surrounded by two membranes, both composed of phospholipid bilayers, comprising the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) and the inner mitochondrial membrane.
  • The compartment between the OMM and the IMM is called the intermembrane space (IMS), and the compartment wrapped by the IMM is the mitochondrial matrix. Mitochondrial matrix is an important site for organelle DNA replication, transcription, protein biosynthesis, and many enzymatic reactions.
  • The mitochondrial dynamics are vital to not only the function of mitochondria but also the health of cells overall.
• Emerging studies have linked imbalances in mitochondrial processes to different neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease.
• Impaired mitochondrial dynamics also take down the cell’s cleaning and waste recycling processes, leading to a pileup of toxic proteins that form harmful aggregates inside the cell. In Parkinson’s, the presence of these toxic protein aggregates is a hallmark of the disease.

India Post Payment Bank

Why in news?

Recently, India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), celebrated its 7th Foundation Day. 

About

• India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has been established under the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communication with 100% equity owned by the Government of India.
• The bank has been set up with the vision to build the most accessible, affordable and trusted bank for the common man in India. 
• The fundamental mandate of India Post Payments Bank is to remove barriers for the unbanked & underbanked and reach the last mile leveraging the Postal network.
• The IPPB’s reach and its operating model is built on the key pillars of India Stack - enabling paperless, cashless and presence-less banking in a simple and secure manner at the customers' doorstep, through a CBS-integrated smartphone and biometric device.
• It delivers simple and affordable banking solutions through intuitive interfaces available in 13 languages.
• IPPB offers savings accounts, money transfer and insurance through third parties, bill and utility payments.
• IPPB is a payments bank that is governed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). It is subject to the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR).

Digital Agriculture Mission 

Why in news?

Recently, the Union Cabinet Committee approved the Digital Agriculture Mission.

About

• The Mission is conceived as an umbrella scheme to support digital agriculture initiatives, such as creating Digital Public Infrastructure, implementing the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES), and taking up other IT initiatives.
• The mission aims to create Digital Public Infrastructure in the agriculture sector similar to the government’s flagship e-governance initiatives in other sectors.
• Three major components of DPI are envisaged under the Digital Agriculture Mission: AgriStack, Krishi Decision Support System (DSS), and Soil Profile Maps.
1. AgriStack:
   • It is a farmer-centric DPI that will enable efficient, easier, and faster services and scheme delivery to farmers. 
   • It is being built in a federated structure as a collaborative project between the various agencies of the Central and State Governments.
   • It consists of three foundational registries or databases in the agriculture sector, i.e., the Farmers’ Registry, Geo-referenced village maps and the Crop Sown Registry, all created and maintained by the State Governments/ Union Territories.
   • Under AgriStack, farmers will be given a digital identity (Farmer ID) similar to Aadhaar, which will be a trusted ‘Kisan ki Pehchaan’. 
   • This ‘Farmer ID’ will be linked dynamically to the State’s land records, livestock ownership, crops sown, demographic details, family details, schemes and benefits availed etc. 
   • Crops sown by farmers will be recorded through mobile-based ground surveys i.e. Digital Crop Survey to be conducted in each season.
2. The Krishi Decision Support System:It will create a comprehensive geospatial system to unify remote sensing-based information on Crops, Soil, Weather, water resources, etc.
3. Soil Profile Maps:
   • Under the Mission, detailed Soil Profile Maps on a 1:10,000 scale of about 142 million ha of the country's agricultural land is envisaged to be completed. 
   • The Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES) will provide yield estimates based on scientifically designed crop-cutting experiments. This initiative will prove very useful in making accurate estimates of agricultural production.

Significance of the Mission

• The mission will enable the stakeholders in the agriculture ecosystem to establish efficient value chains for agricultural inputs and post-harvest processes.
• It will also help in developing solutions for customized advisory services to farmers relating to crop planning, crop health, pest and disease management, and irrigation requirements, ensuring that our farmers receive the best possible and timely guidance and services.

Report on Road Safety

Why in news?

Recently, the WHO has released the report titled “South-East Asia Regional Status Report on Road Safety”.

Key highlights of the report

• The report outlines road traffic injury patterns in South-East Asian countries and highlights best practices and country-specific interventions.
• The region accounted for 28% of the global road traffic deaths in 2021. 
• India has reported an increase in estimated road traffic deaths by two per cent during 2010-2021.
• Globally, 30 % of reported road traffic deaths involved users of powered two and three-wheelers.
• Challenges faced by South-East Asia: rapid urbanisation, inadequate traffic injury data, poor pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure, and limited emergency services.
• The WHO has recommended a holistic, multi-sectoral approach, requiring collaboration with local governments, urban planners, traffic policing, law enforcement among others.