Daily Prelims Notes 26 August 2023

Daily Prelims Notes

26 Aug 2023

Table Of Contents

1. Nataraja Bronze Sculpture for G20 Summit Venue
2. Chandrayaan-3’s Landing on the Moon’s Near Side
3. Nod for game-changer jet engine technology transfer expected soon: U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti
4. 7th GEF Assembly: Global Biodiversity Framework Fund ratified
5. Almost half of Moon missions fail. Why is space still so hard?
6. Dholpur-Karauli to be Rajasthan’s 5th tiger reserve & India’s 54th
7. State of Birds: Most species dip, India Peafowl among those flourishing

1. Nataraja Bronze Sculpture for G20 Summit Venue

Subject: History

Section: Art and Culture

Introduction:

• A 28-feet Nataraja bronze sculpture, considered the world’s tallest of its kind, is set to adorn the G20 Leaders’ Summit venue in New Delhi.
• The statue hails from Swamimalai, a small town in Tamil Nadu’s Thanjavur district known for its bronze sculptures. (GI Tag)
• The Union Culture Ministry commissioned the sculpture on February 20, 2023.

Details of the Sculpture:

• The statue weighs 19 tonnes and is made from eight metals, including gold, silver, lead, copper, tin, mercury, iron, and zinc (Ashtadhatu).
• Crafted by Srikanta Stapathi and his brothers Radhakrishna Stapathi and Swaminatha Stapathi, sons of the renowned sculptor Devasenapathy Stapathi.
• The sculpture follows the Chola period’s Nataraja models, specifically those from Chidambaram and Konerirajapuram.
• It stands at 22 feet in height, with a 6-foot pedestal, making the complete structure 28 feet tall.

Significance and Symbolism:

• The Nataraja statue symbolizes Lord Shiva’s dance and is an iconic representation of Tamil culture.
• Chola bronzes, noted for their beauty and craftsmanship, hold a prestigious place in the art world.

Swamimalai Bronze Statues of Tamil Nadu: GI-Tagged Craft

Origins:

• Swamimalai artisans (sthapathi) create bronze statues using the ancient lost wax technique.
• The tradition started during the Chola dynasty with temple construction fostering diverse crafts.

Crafting Tools:

• Traditional tools like leaf strips for measurements, spatula for wax shaping, and knife for carving.
• Scraper refines relief, soldering iron smooths wax, hammer-chisel removes excess metal.
• Engraving tools, files, and forceps for intricate carving.

Casting Process:

• Sculptors utilized the ‘lost-wax’ casting method, a time-tested technique since the Chola era.
• Beeswax-resin-groundnut oil mixture is used to create a wax model based on Agama Shastra.
• The process involves creating a wax model encased in clay; the clay is sourced from the alluvial soil near the Cauvery River in Swamimalai.
• Model covered in loam, holes drilled for metal pouring, then cooled to harden.
• Molten bronze is poured into the hot mold, breaking it after cooling, and details are carved, with emery paper polish.

Evolution:

• The Chola dynasty’s temple construction attracted artisans to Swamimalai.
• Sthapatis continued the bronze statue-making tradition over centuries.

Diverse Creations:

• Initially religious statues, primarily Hindu deities.
• Present demand extends to cultural figures, like Ramayana and Mahabharata heroes.

GI Tag:

• Swamimalai Bronzes was awarded a Geographical Indicator (GI) tag.
• Assures authenticity for consumers, especially for international buyers.
• Guarantees genuine, original craft from the region.

2. Chandrayaan-3’s Landing on the Moon’s Near Side

Subject: Science and technology

Section: Space technology

Context

Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander executed a controlled descent, achieving one of the closest approaches to the moon’s South Pole, enhancing its scientific potential.

Moon’s Near and Far Sides:

• The moon’s near side (60% visible) always faces Earth because the moon takes the same time to rotate about its axis as it does to circle around the Earth.
• The “dark side” is not permanently dark; it receives sunlight during the “new moon” phase.
• The far side was revealed by Luna 3 in 1959 and seen by Apollo 8 astronauts in 1968.

Near vs. Far Side Differences:

• The near side is smoother with volcanic plains (“maria”).
• The far side features large craters from asteroid impacts.
• The thinner crust on the near side allowed volcanic lava to fill craters, creating flat plains ideal for landers.
• Chang’e 4 is the only mission to land on the far side.
  • Von Karman crater, situated within a larger 2,500 km wide crater called the South Pole Aitken basin

Chandrayaan-3’s Special Landing:

• Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram landed close to the lunar South Pole (69.36 S, 32.34 E), about 600 km away from the South Pole.
• Aimed for a “permanently shadowed region” rich in potential water-ice and resources.
• Balanced proximity to the pole for scientific exploration with the need for sunlight to power the lander and rover.

Reasons for Near Side Landing:

• Choosing the near side allowed continuous line-of-sight communication with Earth, crucial for real-time updates.
• Landing on the far side would require relay systems, causing delays and reorienting the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter’s orbit.
• Mission objectives guided the landing site selection.

3. Nod for game-changer jet engine technology transfer expected soon: U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti

Subject: Science and technology

Section: Defence

Context:

• U.S. Congressional approval for the GE-HAL jet engine deal involving the first ever such technology transfer between India and the U.S. is expected to come through in days.

Jet engine tech transfer:

• Both the countries have announced to sign a MoU for the co-production in India of ‘GE 414 Jet Engines’ for the Tejas Mk2 light combat aircraft.
• The deal is about manufacturing jet engines in India for Light Combat Aircraft `Tejas’Mk2 and later for AMCA.
• The deal was between the US engine manufacturer General Electric and state owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

The GE-414 engine:

• The turbo engine has been in use by the US Navy for more than 30 years.
• The engines are in the thrust class of 22,000 lb or 98 kN and feature advanced technology such as Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC)– the latest aircraft ignition and engine control system that controls engine performance digitally- according to GE.
• The use of advanced material and cooling techniques improves performance and extends component life.

F414-powered jets:

• Eight nations have F414-powered aircraft in operation.
• F414-GE-400 engines power the US Navy’s Boeing F/A- 18E/F Super Hornet and EA18G Growler electric attack aircraft.
• Saab’s Gripen E/F fighters use the F414G, the single-engine variant of the F414-GE-400.
• As per the company, it can also power emerging platforms like Korean KF-X.

Significance of the deal:

• Only US, Russia, the UK and France have mastered the technology of this engine.
• It is a major push for self-reliance in manufacturing several critical technologies, including cryogenic rockets engine.
• Earlier the DRDO developed the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), which developed the GTX-37 engine for the LCA. Later the Kaveri engine project was sanctioned in late 1989 but found unsuitable for fighter aircraft.

Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF):

• It is a US-led initiative that aims to strengthen economic partnership among participating countries to enhance resilience, sustainability, inclusiveness, economic growth, fairness, and competitiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.
• The IPEF was launched in 2021 with a dozen initial partners who together represent 40% of the world GDP.
• The IPEF is not a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) but allows members to negotiate the parts they want to. The negotiations will be along four main “pillars”.

1. Supply-chain resilience
2. Clean energy, decarbonisation & infrastructure
3. Taxation & anti-corruption
4. Fair & resilient trade.

• Currently, India and 13 countries located in the Pacific Ocean are its members,

1. Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, United States, and Vietnam.

• India agreed to three out of four pillars, which are Supply Chains, Tax & Anti-Corruption and Clean Energy, while India decided to stay away from the Fair & resilient trade Pillar.

4. 7th GEF Assembly: Global Biodiversity Framework Fund ratified

Subject: Environment

Section: International Conventions

Context:

• The Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) was finally ratified and launched at the Seventh Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in Vancouver, Canada.

Ratification of the GBF Fund:

• Governments, non-profits and the private sector can now contribute their funds here to ensure that the world meets the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) formulated by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) by 2030.
• Canada and the United Kingdom have already donated 200 million Canadian dollars and 10 million pounds respectively to the GBFF.
• It will prioritise support for Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries, which will receive more than a third of the fund’s resources.
• This is the first time there would be funds channeled to non-state actors like the indigenous communities.
• Under Target 19 of GBF, at least $200 billion per year will need to be raised by 2030.
• The first GBFF Council meeting will be held in January 2024.

For details of Global Biodiversity Framework: https://optimizeias.com/cop15-kunming-montreal-global-biodiversity-framework-adopted/

5. Almost half of Moon missions fail. Why is space still so hard?

Subject: Science and technology

Section: Space technology

Context:

• The Chandrayaan-3 lander successfully touching down near the south pole of Earth’s rocky neighbour.

An exclusive club:

• The Moon is the only celestial location humans have visited so far.
• Only four countries have achieved successful “soft landings” – landings in which the spacecraft survives – on the lunar surface.

1. The USSR (Luna-9 mission, February 1966),
2. The USA (Survayor-1 mission, June 1966),
3. China (Chang’e 3 mission, 2013) and
4. India (Chandrayaan-3 mission, 2023).

• Missions from Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Russia, the European Space Agency, Luxembourg, South Korea and Italy have also had some measure of lunar success with fly-bys, orbiters and impacts.

Crashes are not uncommon:

• Communication with the Luna 25 spacecraft was interrupted on 19 August 2023.
• In April 2019, the Israeli Beresheet lander crash-landed after a gyroscope failed during the braking procedure, and the ground control crew was unable to reset the component due to a loss of communications.
• In September 2019, India sent its own Vikram lander down to the surface of the Moon – but it did not survive the landing.

Despite challenges, why ISRO chose the south pole for soft-landing?

• There is strong evidence that the lunar south pole has the presence of ice molecules in it.
  • The ancient water ice present could also provide a record of lunar volcanoes and origins of oceans.
  • The water, if it exists in sufficient quantities, could be a source of drinking water for explorers and keep equipment cool.
  • The water could be broken down to produce hydrogen and oxygen, which would be monumental in space exploration missions and Mars missions.
• Moreover, the south pole could hold volatiles such as ammonia and methane.
• This extremely-cold – in fact, frozen – region could have potentially preserved clues to the earlier days of the Solar System.

Space is still risky:

• Just over 50% of lunar missions succeed.
• Even small satellite missions to Earth’s orbit don’t have a perfect track record, with a success rate somewhere between 40% and 70%.
• Crewed missions are more successful (around 98% success rate). Due to:
  • Ground staff working to support a crewed mission will be more focused,
  • Management will invest more resources, and
  • Delays will be accepted to prioritise the safety of the crew.

Challenges in space travel:

• Better radiation shielding
• Self-sustaining ecosystems
• Autonomous robots
• Extracting air and water from raw resources, and
• Zero-gravity manufacturing.
• Faster-than-light travel,
• Instantaneous communication, and
• Artificial gravity.

6. Dholpur-Karauli to be Rajasthan’s 5th tiger reserve & India’s 54th

Subject: Environment

Section: Protected Areas in news

Context:

• The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) approved Dholpur-Karauli in Rajasthan as a new tiger reserve bringing the count of tiger reserves in the country to 54.

Details:

• The ministry also gave in-principle approval to declare Kumbhalgarh as a tiger reserve in Rajasthan.
• Dholpur-Karauli the fifth tiger reserve in Rajasthan. The other four tiger reserves in Rajasthan are:
  • Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in Sawai Madhopur,
  • Sariska Tiger Reserve in Alwar,
  • Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve in Kota and
  • Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve in Bundi.
• Notably Rajasthan has witnessed an increase in tiger population from 32 in 2006 to 88 in 2022.

Project tiger and NTCA: https://optimizeias.com/50-years-of-project-tiger/

7. State of Birds: Most species dip, India Peafowl among those flourishing

Subject: Environment

Section: Species in news

Context:

• There is a general decline in numbers in most bird species in the country – some recording current decline and others projected to decline in the long term, according to a report based on data from about 30,000 birdwatchers.

About the Report:

• Report title: The State of India’s Birds 2023
• Released after three years.
• The report is an assessment of distribution range, trends in abundance and conservation status of 942 of India’s 1,200 bird species.
• The survey has been carried out by 13 partner organisations, including the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).
• The assessments rely on three indices.
  • Two of them are related to change in abundance — long-term trend (change over 30 years) and current annual trend (change over past seven years) — and the third is a measure of distribution range size in India.
• According to the report, long-term trends as well as current annual trends could not be established for many of the 942 species.

Key findings of the Report:

• Raptors, migratory shorebirds and ducks have declined the most.
• Of the 338 species, for which long-term trends have been identified:
  • 204 or 60% have declined in the long term,
  • 98 species are stable
  • 36 have increased.
• Current annual trends could be determined for 359 species, of which:
  • 142 species or 39% are declining,
  • 64 are in rapid decline,
  • 189 are stable and
  • 28 bird species are increasing.
• The range size, or measurement of a bird species’ territory and home range, was assessed for all 942 bird species.
  • The range size of 39% bird species is moderate,
  • 33% is very large
  • 28% species inhabit a “restricted and very restricted” area.

Birds that are declined are:

• Specialist birds (having narrow range),
• Shorebirds (migratory birds),
• Raptors (due to agro-chemicals),
• Vultures (White-rumped Vulture, Indian Vulture, and Red-headed Vulture),
• Birds that feed on invertebrates and insects,
• Woodpecker,
• Birds endemic to western ghats and Sri-Lanka biodiversity hotspots,
• Bustard species of birds (Great Indian Bustard, Lesser Florican and Bengal Florican).

Birds with stable population:

• Resident birds,
• Birds that feed on fruits and nectars,
• Generalist birds (having wide ranging habitats).

Birds with increasing populations:

• Several bird species such as the Indian Peafowl, Rock Pigeon, Asian Koel and House Crow are not healthy in both abundance and distribution, but showing “increasing trend”.
• Indian Peafowl:
  • The Peafowl, India’s national bird, is one of the most rapidly increasing species in the country today.
  • It is expanding into habitats where it has never occurred previously.
  • In the last 20 years, Indian Peafowl has expanded into high Himalaya and the rainforests of the Western Ghats.
  • It now occurs in every district in Kerala, a state where it was once extremely rare.
  • Apart from expanding its range, it also appears to be increasing in population density in areas where it occurred earlier.
• The Asian Koel has shown a rapid increase in abundance of 75%, with an annual current increase of 2.7% per year.
• Similar increase is seen in the populations of House Crow, Rock Pigeon and the Alexandrine Parakeet.