Daily Prelims Notes 30 April 2023

April 30, 2023
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

Daily Prelims Notes

30 April 2023

Table Of Contents

1. Hydrogen to massively greenify steelmaking

Subject: Economy

Context: If iron oxide can be heated with hydrogen instead of coke, to remove oxygen, the sector’s carbon emissions could nosedive.

Background:

Hydrogen is a crucial part of the world’s plans to greenify its manufacturing and automobile industries as a fuel whose production and use needn’t emit carbon. But in the steelmaking industry, hydrogen can also be used instead of carbon in an important chemical reaction that contributes to 5-7% of the global greenhouse-gas emissions and 11% of carbon dioxide emissions. That is, if scientists can surmount an old roadblock.
Researchers in Germany have reported that they may have figured out why using hydrogen as a reactant in a reaction with iron oxide proceeds more slowly than expected, a fact that currently renders the element infeasible as a substitute for carbon.

What is the new study’s context?

India is the world’s second-largest steelmaker, having produced 118.2 million tonnes in 2021. Making one tonne of steel releases 1.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide, making the sector’s decarbonisation plans an integral part of the country’s ability to achieve its climate commitments.
Strong steel consists of a tiny amount – less than 1% – of carbon. To achieve this mix, iron oxide is heated with coke (a form of coal with high carbon content) at 1,700 C inside a blast furnace. The carbon reacts with oxygen to form carbon dioxide, leaving iron with around 4% carbon behind. This iron is remelted and oxygen is blown through it, producing more carbon dioxide and reducing the amount of carbon in the iron to a desirable level.
The blast furnace ironmaking process is the predominant primary metal production process, with the carbon emissions accounting for approximately 90% of the total value of the entire steelmaking route,” a paper published in December 2021 said.

What is the barrier?

In the first step, when oxygen leaves the iron oxide, scientists know that it leaves behind minuscule pores in the iron.
The German team used phase-field models – a mathematical technique that uses partial differential equations to simulate reactions at interfaces – and electron microscopy to find that when hydrogen is the reactant, the departing oxygen combines with it to form water that becomes trapped inside these pores. From here, the water reoxidises the iron and considerably slows the oxygen-removal process.
The researchers suggested a solution. Some pores on the iron oxide surface were connected by narrow channels, and they found that the water content in these channels was “almost always” lower than in the pores.
They hypothesised that the trapped water drained through these channels, allowing hydrogen to replace it and continue the oxygen-removal reaction.

How can the barrier be overcome?

To encourage such channels to be created when the iron oxide is processed, they proposed that a “microfracture structure” should be created on the feedstock to “increase reduction kinetics and improve metallisation,” per their paper.
Creating channels can be achieved by adjusting reduction pressure, temperature, gas composition, and chemical composition or by introducing mechanical deformation to the oxides. This aspect of the research is currently being investigated.
Currently, multiple hydrogen-based steelmaking technologies are under development. A promising one is shaft furnace hydrogen direct reduction, which uses clean hydrogen as the oxygen-removal agent. With some fine-tuning, it is expected to be able to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 91%.

2. H5N1 spreads to mammals

Subject: Science and tech

Context: Uncontrolled spread of the virus can be catastrophic to the already endangered bird species globally, leading to the mass extinction of several species.

More on the News:

Since 2022, the virus has infected over 100 million birds across the globe, resulting in the deaths of over 50 million and culling of millions of poultry.
This year, the world has been witnessing one of the worst-ever documented outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 killing millions of birds. The virus, which is known to cause severe disease and death in birds, has also been detected in mammalian species and also in humans.
This has put health authorities on high alert regarding the implications of the large outbreak on public health.
The transmission of H5N1 from birds to mammals is rare, but when it does occur, it can be a cause for concern, as the virus could accumulate mutations and acquire the ability to potentially initiate human outbreaks.
H5N1 has a high mortality rate of over 60% in humans and is primarily transmitted to humans through close contact with infected birds or animals, either through handling infected poultry or exposure to contaminated environments.
In the recent months, a few sporadic cases of human H5N1 infections have also been reported from Ecuador, Cambodia, and more recently in Chile.
Given the ongoing threat of an influenza pandemic, monitoring the spread in mammalian populations is important in areas of close contact between humans and animals. However, since the virus does not yet transmit efficiently among humans, the World Health Organization (WHO) has assessed the risk of H5N1 to humans to be low.
However, the large and unabated outbreak in avian species and not so rare mammalian spillovers could potentially provide the virus a chance to adapt for mammalian transmission.

Avian Flu https://optimizeias.com/avian-flu/

3. Close to 4,000 painted storks nesting in two A.P. villages

Subject : Environment

Concept :

One of the largest flock of painted storks ( Mycteria leucocephala), approximately 4,000 birds, have made tall trees in Veepapuram and Venkatapuram villages in Andhra Pradesh.

About Painted Storks

The Painted Stork is a large wading bird in the stork family. Their distinctive pink tertial (flight) feathers of the wing are pink and give them their name.
The painted storks are usually seen in the freshwater wetlands and occasionally in the coastal regions.
They are found in Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) had categorized and evaluated these stork species and had listed them as ‘Near Threatened’.
These storks feed in groups, wading in shallow waters and avoiding deeper waters. They feed on small fish, frogs and reptiles.
The breeding season extends from July to October in north India and November to March in south India.
Though the population in India is considered secure, the painted stork are near threatened in other countries due to poaching.

4. Government likely to ask addicts to submit for rehabilitation to avoid jail time

Subject : Governance

Concept :

As the Union government debates decriminalising consumption of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, it is likely to bring in a policy where addicts and users will have to submit themselves before treatment centres and declare themselves as such in order to escape criminal prosecution.
Currently, under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, the consumption of any narcotic drugs or psychotropic substance may attract a jail term of up to one year and/or fines up to ₹20,000.
As of now, while enforcement agencies are targeting supply chains, the Social Justice Ministry is concurrently running countrywide awareness and rehabilitation campaigns to treat users and addicts like victims and not criminals.

Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985

The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act is an Act of the Parliament of India that prohibits a person to produce/manufacture/cultivate, possess, sell, purchase, transport, store, and/or consume any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance.
As per the NDPS Act, narcotic drugs include coca leaf, cannabis (hemp), opium and poppy straw.
Psychotropic substance means any natural or synthetic material or any salt or preparation covered under the 1971 convention on Psychotropic substances.
The following conventions various forms of control to limit the use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances
The UN Single Convention on Narcotics Drugs 1961
The Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971
The Convention on Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988
India is a signatory to all these three.
NDPS Act has made stringent provisions for the control and regulation of operations relating to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
As per the NDPS Act, the minimum sentence for dealing with drugs is 10 years rigorous imprisonment coupled with a fine of Rs. 1 lakh.
No bail is granted for those persons booked under this act.
In addition, no relief can be obtained by the drug convicts through suspension, remission and commutation of sentences passed.
NDPS Act prescribes even though the offence cannot be called as a heinous crime.

Other Important Sections :

Section 8(c) of the Act – The section has wide provisions for producing, manufacturing, possessing, selling, purchasing, transporting, using, consuming, importing, and exporting any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance.
Section 20 (b) relates to use of cannabis.
Section 27 relates to consumption of any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance.
Section 27 which is a charge for consumption has a maximum charge of one year.
Section 35 which is a presumption of culpable mental state. This means that it is upon the accused to show that he did not have an intention, motive, knowledge to commit the offences he is charged with.

Narcotics Control Bureau

It was constituted by the Government of India in1986 under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
It is the apex coordinating agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The National Policy on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances is based on Article 47 of the Indian Constitution which directs the State to endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption, except for medicinal purposes, of intoxicating drugs injurious to health.
Drug abuse control is the responsibility of the central government.

5. Nicobar project violates tribal rights : ST panel

Subject : Environment / Governance

Concept :

The NCST has cited alleged violations under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 with respect to the forest clearance granted for the Great Nicobar Island (GNI) Project.
The FRA provides for the recognition of wider community rights over forest land.
The legislation allows forest communities the right to control and manage the use of the forest land over which they hold titles and their consent is mandatory for diverting it.

Violations under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006

According to Rule of Forest Conservation Rules-2017 (FCR), any diversion of forest land would first require the District Collector to recognise and vest rights to locals under the FRA.
Only then do the rules permit authorities to seek consent of the now-rights-holding gram panchayats for the diversion of this land.
These provisions were envisioned to give primacy to rights of indigenous forest-dwelling communities.
However, the district administration did not receive or process a single claim over forest land under the FRA.
Instead, a special Gram Sabha meeting was called and a resolution was purportedly passed.
The resolution consented to diversion of the forest land adjacent to their villages for the purpose of the project.

NCST had also opposed the Forest (Conservation) Rules (FCR) 2022

FCR 2022 make a provision for private parties to cultivate plantations and sell them as land to companies who need to meet compensatory forestation targets.
The rules allow private developers to clear forests without first seeking the permission of the forest dwellers.
NCST opposed the FCR-2022, which had done away with the consent clause altogether.

Nil implementation of FRA

The Andaman and Nicobar administration had reported nil implementation of FRA.
The justification of the administration has been that the islands have the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Act, 1956 (PAT56).
This act already provides for the full protection of the interests of forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes.
So, there is no claim as such for settlement under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
NCST claimed that, under the PAT56, a significant portion of the forest land in Great Nicobar has been marked as a Tribal Reserve.
Over these reserves, local tribespeople have been given rights to use and collect resources as and when needed for their daily sustenance.
However, the power of notification and de-notification of the land as a Tribal Reserve is solely with the administrator of the islands under PAT56.

For further notes on the GNI Project, refer – https://optimizeias.com/great-nicobar-project-2/

For further notes on the NCST, refer – https://optimizeias.com/ncst-functioning-with-less-than-50-of-sanctioned-strength-ministry-in-ls/

6. In malaria vaccine research, bright hopes and formidable challenges

Subject: Science and technology

Section:

Malaria Facts and Features

Life-threatening disease spread to humans by some types of mosquitoes
Mostly found in tropical countries
Higher risk of severe infection – Infants, children under 5 years, pregnant women, travellers and people with HIV or AIDS
Preventable by avoiding mosquito bites and curable with medicines
Malaria infection during pregnancy can also cause premature delivery or delivery of a baby with low birth weight.
Kills over 4,00,000 people each year

Vector and Causes

Spreads through the bites of some infected female Anopheles mosquitoes
Blood transfusion and contaminated needles transmit malaria

Disease causing Microbes

5 Plasmodium parasite species cause malaria in humans.
falciparum and P.vivaxpose the greatest threat.
falciparum – deadliest malarial parasite and the most prevalent on the African continent. 95% of all cases of P.falciparum occur in the African region and are associated with severe disease and disease-associated mortality.
vivax – geographically most widespread in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Dominant in most countries outside of sub-Saharan Africa
Other 3 Plasmodium species infecting humans – malariae, P. ovale and P. knowlesi

Symptoms

Most common early symptoms – fever, headache and chills
Symptoms usually start within 10–15 days of getting bitten by an infected mosquito
Symptoms may be mild to severe
Severe symptoms include – Abnormal bleeding, difficulty in breathing, jaundice, impaired consciousness, multiple convulsions
Early treatment for mild malaria stops infection from becoming severe
The vaccine has been shown to significantly reduce malaria, and deadly severe malaria, among young children.

Two New Breakthrough in Vaccination

Since October 2021, WHO recommends broad use of the RTS, S /AS01 malaria vaccine among children living in regions with moderate to high falciparummalaria transmission – high transmission African countries
R21, which like RTS, S works against the liver stage of the parasite

About RTS, S Vaccine

A result of collaborative efforts of several organisations around the world including GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Wellcome Trust.
Taken more than 30 years and several hundred million dollars to develop
Relatively low efficacy of 30-40%
Already been administered to over a million children in pilot trials since 2019
Resulted in a significant reduction in severe malaria and hospitalization in malaria-endemic countries like Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi.
Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech – granted a licence to manufacture this vaccine. Expected to be the only global manufacturer of the vaccine by 2029. GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) will provide the vaccine’s key ingredient adjuvant.

About R21 Vaccine

Developed by scientists at Oxford University.
Formulated with proprietary adjuvant from Novavax called Matrix M
This adjuvant has also been used in the protein based Covid-19 vaccine manufactured and marketed in India by SII under the brand name
Crucial large scale phase 3 trials of this vaccine have been conducted in several malaria endemic countries in Africa after successful phase 2 clinical studies.
Regulatory authorities in Ghana and Nigeria have already approved the vaccine in their countries. Submitted for WHO consideration.

What is an Adjuvant

An adjuvant is an ingredient used in some vaccines that helps create a stronger immune response in people receiving the vaccine. In other words, adjuvants help vaccines work better.

Initiatives to reduce malarial causes and deaths

Roll Back Malaria launched by WHO in 1998 – to reduce deaths from malaria by half by 2010
A major malaria eradication programme launched in 2015

These have resulted in significant reduction in malaria causes and deaths.

Challenges Associated

Malaria parasite is extremely complex and elusive, with a life cycle involving multiple stages – very difficult to develop efficacious vaccines against malaria.
Of the more than 100 candidates that have entered clinical trials in the last three decades, none shown the benchmark efficacy of 75% set by the WHO.
Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted malaria control, diagnosis, and treatment measures.

Other Facts

WHO’s guiding theme 2023 – “Time to deliver zero malaria: invest, innovate, implement”
World Malaria Day— observed every year on April 25

Serum Institute of India

Serum Institute of India (SII) is a Pune based world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by number of doses produced and sold globally. SII has already established the capacity to produce 200 million doses annually, underlining its commitment to the fight against malaria and its eradication.

Research in India

Controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) studies have the potential to fast-track initial assessments of vaccine efficacy and also facilitate the first clinical evaluation of vaccines involving fewer adult subjects.
Basic malaria research is being carried out in many academic institutions in India. But human challenge model or CHMI is not set up.
Scientists at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi have successfully developed and produced two experimental recombinant blood stage malaria vaccines against falciparum and P.vivax and carried out phase1 first-in-man clinical trials in India.
CHMI studies with P.vivax vaccine for efficacy assessment has been completed in collaboration with scientists at Oxford University.

Current and future vaccines for lower-and middle-income countries will mostly be manufactured in India. So India has to invest, integrate, and be the leader in finding solutions to combat deadly infectious diseases in the world.

About International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB)

The ICGEB is a unique intergovernmental organisation initially established as a special project of UNIDO.
Autonomous since 1994, it runs over 45 state-of-the-art laboratories, in Trieste, Italy, New Delhi, Indiaand Cape Town, South Africa.
Forms an interactive network with almost 70 Member States, with operations aligned to those of the United Nations System.
It plays a key role in Biotechnology, promoting Research excellence, Training, and Technology Transfer to industry, to contribute in concrete terms to sustainable global development.
The ICGEB currently has 66 full Member States, a further 19 countries are still pending ratification of, or accession to, the Statutes of ICGEB.

7. Referendum for New Constitution in Uzbekistan

Subject: International Relations

Section: Places I News

Why in News?

Uzbekistan holds referendum on new Constitution that puts human rights at the forefront. In the referendum, the voters would be asked if they support rewriting the Constitution. Constitutions of 190 countries, including that of India, were studied to bring in holistic and comprehensive changes to the Constitution of the country.

What’s in the New Draft Constitution

The new draft would rewrite over 60% of the current charter.
Promises more freedoms, better social protection, gender equality, and abolition of death penalty, among others
Defines Uzbekistan as a sovereign, democratic, rule of law, social and secular state
All changes are based on the idea that human rights and freedoms are paramount.
The new charter is believed to better the investment and business environment of the country.
Constitutional Amendments represent “a transformation of the new Uzbekistan, where once the state came first, now the citizen comes first”.
Seeks to make Uzbekistan a more social and welfare state where the social protection of the common citizen is enhanced.
A lot of thought has been given to vulnerable families and people in need of education, medicare, etc.
There’s greater decentralisation of power.

Critic’s View

If the new Constitution is adopted the presidential term would be extended to seven years with a two consecutive term limit. Mr. Mirziyoyev, whose current term expires in 2026, can serve as President for two more seven year terms. He came to power in 2016 and is currently serving his second term, which is the last under the current Constitution.

About the Referendum

Uzbekistan’s Constitutional Commission received more than 2, 20,000 proposals from citizens during the drafting process.
Election Commission officials made all arrangements for a free vote which would be held in the presence of international observers.
The voting would take place in the presence of the representatives of all five recognized political parties in the country as well as international observers, media and civil society representatives.

What is Referendum?

Referendum is a procedure whereby a proposed legislation is referred to the electorate for settlement by their direct votes.
Politically, referendums are a tool for the expression of direct democracy.
In modern times, most referendums are seen in the perspective of representative democracy.

About Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is a landlocked Central Asian country of 35 million population.
Became independent in 1991 following the disintegration of the Soviet Union

About Bukhara – has 84 voting stations for the referendum

2000 year old Ancient City in Uzbekistan situated in the Silk route.
Bukhara, Fergana and Samarkand in Uzbekistan emerged as major towns on the trade routes linking India with Europe and China.
Indian merchants based in Samarkand and Bukhara were an integral part of the local economy in Uzbekistan.

India-Uzbekistan

India’s Election Commission has been invited to witness the “historic” referendum on the constitutional reforms.
The ties between India and Uzbekistan have been on an upswing in the last few years.
Both sides have shown keen interest in further expanding the ties in a number of areas including trade and investment, energy and people-to-people exchanges.

8. Ancient Sanskrit poetess Shilabhattarika

Subject: History

Section: Art and Culture

Why in News?

Copper plates decoded by Pune-based Bhandarkar Institute shed light on celebrated ancient Sanskrit poetess Shilabhattarika. A copperplate charter with five copper plates said to be dating from the reign of the Badami Chalukyan ruler Vijayaditya (696-733 CE) were brought for decipherment.

The Charter

The copper plate charter dated from the time of Chalukyan ruler Vijayaditya.
The charter had five plates measuring 23.4 cm by 9.4 cm, held together by a copper ring bearing a beautiful varaha (boar) seal.
The varaha seal is the trademark of the Badami Chalukyas.
The charter contained a Sanskrit text of a total of 65 lines inscribed in late-Brahmi script.

Shilabhattarika

Inscriptions on Pune copper plates establish the poetess as a Chalukyan Princess.
Shilabhattarika is the daughter of the Chalukyan ruler Pulakeshin II of Badami (in modern Karnataka), who defeated Harsha.
Pulakeshin II ruled from 610-642 CE. He defeated Harshavardhan of Kanauj in a battle near the banks of the Narmada River in 618 CE.
This decipherment revealed Shilabhattarika, as a poetess in the ancient Indian world in the heavily male-dominated field of classical Sanskrit literature.
The Sanskrit poet-critic Rajashekhara (who lived in the 9th-10th century CE) and was the court poet of the Gurjara-Pratiharas, has praised Shilabhattarika for her elegant and beautiful compositions.

Noted Marathi poetess, Shanta Shelke drawn inspiration from Shilabhattarika’s verse to compose one of her most iconic songs— toch chandrama nabhat (translated as ‘it is the same moon in the sky’). The decoding marks a notable shift in the historiography of Badami Chalukyas by placing Shilabhattarika as having lived in the 7th century CE rather than the current theory which has her as a wife of the 8th century Rashtrakuta ruler, Dhruva.

King Vijayaditya Donating a Village

King Vijayaditya, a Chalukyan ruler ruled from 696 CE to 733 CE. His reign was marked by general peace and harmony. He built a number of temples.
A primary reading of the plates revealed that Vijayaditya had donated the village of Sikkatteru in the Kogali Vishaya to a Vedic scholar named Vishnusharma in the month of Magha, Shakayear 638, corresponding to January-February 717 CE.
Sikkatteru is identified as Chigateri situated near Kogali in the Vijayanagar district of Karnataka.
The plates revealed that the village was donated on request by Mahendravarma, the son of Shilabhattarika, the daughter of ‘Satyashraya’.
While other Badami Chalukyan rulers affixed the title of ‘Satyashraya’ (translated as “patron of truth”) to their names, the only ruler to be known purely by this title was Pulakeshin II. Pulakeshin II was the great-grandfather of Vijayaditya.

Other Facts Revealed from the Copper Plates

The names of Shilabhattarika’s father-in-law Mokkara (or Mushkara), and his father Durvinita (the most important ruler of the Western Ganga dynasty who ruled from 529-579 CE) are also given in the plates.
Shilabhattarika was married to Dadiga, a prince of the Ganga lineage of Talakkad. The most important ruler of the Western Ganga dynasty, Durvinita, was succeeded by Mokkara, who ruled till 604 CE. Dadiga was the son of Mokkara.
Mokkara was succeeded by Polavira, his eldest son while his younger son Dadiga (Shilabhattarika’s husband) was possibly deputed to Kogali as its governor.
His son Mahendravarma continued in the same position.

Badami Chalukyas, Ganga Dynasty and Pallavas

The Gangas acted as subordinates to the Chalukyas of Badami and fought against the Pallavas of Kanchi. Hence Mahendravarma’s age was estimated to be above 70 years old when these plates were issued. The Pallavas were the sworn nemesis or arch-rivals of the Badami Chalukyas, with Pulakeshin II being defeated (and possibly killed) in 642 CE in the invasion by the Pallava Narasimhavarman I.

The importance of Shilabhattarika and her poetry

Over 40 of Shilabhattarika’s verses are said to be still existing.
Rajashekhara, the great 9th-century critic lauds her compositional style. According to him, Shilabhattarika’s works adhere to the Panchali style that calls for a balance of the word with its meaning.
In this regard, Rajashekhara even places her at par with Banabhatta, the court poet of Harsha.

Literature Lineage of Shilabhattarika

It was decoded how Shilabhattarika might have acquired such a high degree of proficiency in composing poetry, which placed her on an equal footing with the most exalted male poets of the age. Badami Chalukyas and the Western Gangas were great patrons of literature. Shilabhattarika’s great-grandfather-in-law, Durvinita (noted ruler of the Western Gangas), was himself a proficient composer, and had patronised Bharavi, the author of a classical epic Kiratarjuniya. Shilabhattarika was born in Badami Chalukya family and got married in Western Gangas family. With an illustrious literary pedigree on both sides of her family, it is not surprising that Shilabhattarika turned out to be a poetess of a high order.

9. Golden Globe Race

Subject: History

Section: Art and Culture

Why in News?

Commander Abhilash Tomy (retd.) created history as the first Indian to complete the Golden Globe Race on April 29, finishing in second place after a gruelling 236 days alone at sea in his sail boat named Bayanat. South African sailor Kirsten Neuschafer also became the first woman to win the Golden Globe Race (GGR), a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the globe without using any modern technological aids, recreating the 1960s on the high seas.

About Golden Globe Race (GGR)

The historic race is being conducted by the K.’s Sir Robin Knox Johnston, to commemorate the world’s first solo non-stop circumnavigation undertaken by him in 1968, onboard the Indian-built boat Suhaili.
Participants in the GGR are required to sail around the world, single-handed and non-stop.
The uniqueness of the race is that boat designs and technology newer than 1968 are not permitted.
Also the use of the Global Positioning System (GPS), satellite communication and navigational aids are forbidden in the 30,000 mile journey.
The sailors each have a satellite phone and emergency locator beacons to be used for medical emergencies only.
Entrants are limited to sailing similar yachts, between 32 ft and 36 ft, designed prior to 1988 with a full-length keel with a rudder.
Equipment similar to what was available to Sir Robin in that first race was to be used.
16 sailors from 11 countries depart from Les Sables-d’Olonne, France.
Sail solo, non-stop around the world, via the five Great Capes and return to Les Sables-d’Olonne.

About Cdr.Abhilash Tommy

Abilash Tommy is the only Indian to complete a solo, non-stop circumnavigation of the globe in 2012-13, onboard the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Mhadei, covering 53,000 nautical miles under sail.
The naval veteran had been critically injured in a storm when he competed in the GGR in 2018 and had a spinal injury. The mast of his boat Thuriyabroke due to extremely rough weather and sea conditions.