Daily Prelims Notes 11 November 2024

Daily Prelims Notes

11 November 2024

Table Of Contents

1. The significance of Lignosat, the first wooden satellite launched into space
2. Private property and the ‘common good’: Unpacking the SC verdict
3. Why Cambodia’s Novel H5N1 Reassortant Virus Requires Vigilant Monitoring: Key Insights and Implications
4. 23 T.N. fishermen held for poaching by Lankan navy
5. France evaluating India’s Pinaka rocket system for its use
6. Gluten: animator of the dough
7. Revitalizing Wind Energy in Tamil Nadu: Examining the Challenges and Opportunities
8. Understanding the Role of Lightning Rods in Protecting Structures and Lives
9. Human-to-Human Transmission of Mpox Clade Ia: New Findings and Implications

1. The significance of Lignosat, the first wooden satellite launched into space

Sub : Sci

Sec: Space sector

World’s First Wood-Panelled Satellite: LignoSat

• On November 5, the first wood-panelled satellite, LignoSat, was launched into space to explore the potential of timber as a renewable material for future space construction.

Details:

• Development: LignoSat was created by Kyoto University in collaboration with Sumitomo Forestry.
• Launch Details: The satellite was sent to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule. It arrived on November 5 and will be released into orbit after a month, remaining there for six months.

What is LignoSat?

• Specifications:
  • Size: 4 inches (10 cm) on each side.
  • Weight: 900 grams.
• Design:
  • The satellite’s name, “LignoSat,” is derived from the Latin word for wood.
  • Built from magnolia wood using traditional Japanese craftsmanship, with no screws or glue.

Purpose and Testing:

• The primary goal is to test the durability of wood in space, where temperatures can fluctuate between -100°C to 100°C every 45 minutes.
• LignoSat will assess:
  • The wood’s resilience in extreme space conditions.
  • Its potential to reduce space radiation impact on electronic components.

Why Use Wood in Space?

• Durability: Wood could be more durable in space than on Earth because it lacks water and oxygen, which can cause decay or combustion.
• Historical Use: Wood was used in early 1900s airplanes and even in spacecraft outer shells, such as cork, to withstand re-entry heat.
• Sustainability Goal: The research team envisions building wooden structures on the Moon and Mars within the next 50 years.

Design and Structure:

• LignoSat is not entirely made of wood. It features:
  • Aluminium framework and standard electronic components.
  • Wood panels serving as the satellite’s casing.
• Sensors onboard will monitor how the wood reacts to the space environment during its six-month orbit.

Environmental Benefits:

• Reduced Pollution: Conventional aluminium satellites can generate aluminium oxides when they burn up during re-entry, potentially harming the ozone layer.
• Sustainability Advantage: By using magnolia wood instead of aluminium, LignoSat aims to be less polluting when it eventually re-enters Earth’s atmosphere.

Broader Implications

• With the increasing number of satellites, including mega-constellations like SpaceX’s Starlink (6,500 active satellites), sustainable alternatives are crucial.
• LignoSat’s successful testing could demonstrate that wooden satellites offer a more environmentally friendly option.

2. Private property and the ‘common good’: Unpacking the SC verdict

Sub : Polity

Sec : Constitution

Supreme Court Verdict: Property Owners Association & Ors v. State of Maharashtra

• The Supreme Court of India, led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud (before his retirement), delivered a landmark judgment addressing two critical constitutional questions:

1. Status of Article 31C: Does this article still exist after certain amendments were struck down by the Supreme Court?
2. Scope of Article 39(b): Does it allow the state to acquire private property as part of the “material resources of the community”?

Context of the case: Articles 39(b) and 31C

• The case focused on a Maharashtra law that enabled a public housing body to acquire old, privately owned buildings in Mumbai.
• The law claimed to give effect to Article 39(b), which mandates that the state ensure the equitable distribution of material resources for the common good.
• The Bombay High Court (1991) ruled that laws implementing Article 39(b) are protected by Article 31C.

Background of Article 31C:

• Introduced in 1971 via the Constitution (Twenty-Fifth Amendment) Act, Article 31C aimed to promote socialist policies by:
  • Protecting laws that implement Article 39(b) and 39(c) from being declared void if they conflict with Article 14 (Right to Equality), Article 19 (Fundamental Freedoms), or Article 31 (Right to Property, repealed in 1978).
  • Shielding such laws from judicial scrutiny if they were declared to give effect to these policies.
• The Supreme Court in Kesavananda Bharati (1973) struck down the part that prevented judicial review but retained the protection for laws enforcing Article 39(b) and (c).
• In the Minerva Mills case (1980), the expanded scope of Article 31C to cover all Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV) was invalidated.

Key Question 1: Status of Article 31C

• Petitioners argued that the Minerva Mills ruling effectively nullified Article 31C, making the Maharashtra law invalid for violating Article 14.
• The Supreme Court clarified:
  • The original protection under Article 31C (as upheld in Kesavananda Bharati) still stands.
  • The 42nd Amendment changes struck down in Minerva Mills did not eliminate the earlier version of Article 31C.
  • This decision was unanimous, including a dissenting view by Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia who agreed on this specific point.

Key Question 2: Interpretation of Article 39(b):

• Article 39(b) deals with the state’s role in distributing resources to benefit the community.
• Past Interpretations:
  • Justice Krishna Iyer (1977) held that both natural and man-made resources, whether publicly or privately owned, fall under “material resources of the community”.
  • In the Sanjeev Coke Manufacturing Co. (1983) case, the Court upheld nationalization as being protected under Article 39(b), exempt from challenges based on Article 14.
• Current Ruling:
  • The Court disagreed with a blanket inclusion of all private property as “material resources of the community”.
  • It stated that if this was the intent, Article 39(b) would have been worded differently.
  • The Court noted that economic policies have evolved, and today’s mixed economy (public and private investments) does not align with a rigid view prioritizing state acquisition of private property.
• Majority Opinion: Four factors must be considered when deciding if private property can be deemed a “material resource of the community”:

1. The nature and characteristics of the resource.
2. The impact on community well-being.
3. The scarcity of the resource.
4. The consequences of private ownership on resource concentration.

• Justice Nagarathna’s View:
  • Disagreed with the majority, asserting that the interpretation of Article 39(b) should not change based solely on shifts in socio-economic policies.
• Dissenting Opinion by Justice Dhulia:
  • Argued for the continued recognition of all private resources as “material resources of the community”.
  • Highlighted that despite reduced poverty, the gap between the rich and the poor persists, necessitating welfare measures under Articles 39(b) and (c).

Source: IE

3. Why Cambodia’s Novel H5N1 Reassortant Virus Requires Vigilant Monitoring: Key Insights and Implications

Sub: Sci

Sec: Health

Why in News

• Cambodia has seen a resurgence of H5N1 bird flu cases after over a decade, with a notable rise in cases linked to a novel reassortant strain of the virus, reported between February 2023 and August 2024. This new strain, a result of genetic mixing between two H5N1 clades, poses potential zoonotic risks, highlighting the urgent need for heightened surveillance and control measures to prevent human infection.

Background:

• After more than ten years without reported H5N1 cases, Cambodia recorded 16 human infections from February 2023 to August 2024.
• The novel reassortant virus combines gene segments from clade 2.3.2.1c (circulating in Southeast Asia) and clade 2.3.4.4b (detected worldwide).
• This reassortment appears to have emerged due to factors such as high-density poultry farming, migratory birds, and cross-border poultry trade in Southeast Asia.
• The novel reassortant virus has caused deaths but, as of now, there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
• A collaborative One Health approach was used, employing rapid whole-genome sequencing to trace human infections back to poultry.
• Key Genetic Mutations: Researchers detected the PB2 627K mutation in the reassortant virus, a mutation associated with enhanced mammalian adaptation and airborne transmission, particularly concerning for zoonotic potential.
• Other mutations in clade 2.3.4.4b suggest an increased capability for mammalian infection, prompting calls for further risk assessment through in silico, ex vivo, in vivo, and in vitro studies.

What is the PB2 627K Mutation?

• The PB2 gene in influenza virus codes for a protein critical for the replication and transcription of viral RNA.
• The mutation refers to a change at position 627 in the PB2 protein, where lysine (K) replaces glutamic acid (E). This is represented as E627K (glutamic acid to lysine).
• The PB2 627K mutation has been associated with increased efficiency of viral replication in mammalian hosts, including humans.
• It allows avian influenza viruses, which primarily circulate among birds, to infect and spread more easily in mammals. This adaptation is particularly concerning in terms of zoonotic transmission—the ability of the virus to jump from animals to humans.
• In the recent novel reassortant H5N1 strain detected in Cambodia, the PB2 627K mutation was found. This presence raises concerns as it suggests the virus might be more adaptable to humans and potentially transmissible in mammalian populations.

What is the H5N1 virus?

• Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 (A/H5N1) is a subtype of the influenza A virus, which causes influenza (flu), predominantly in birds.
• It is enzootic (maintained in the population) in many bird populations, and also panzootic (affecting animals of many species over a wide area).
• A/H5N1 virus can also infect mammals (including humans) that have been exposed to infected birds; in these cases, symptoms are frequently severe or fatal.
• Ever since it emerged in 1996, H5N1 has resulted in the mass killing of billions of wild birds as well as fowls.
• According to scientists, the virus lacks changes that would make it better adapted to transmit between people and therefore, the risk to human health remains low.
• The potential for influenza viruses to rapidly evolve and the wide geographic spread of H5N1 signals that more human infections should be expected.
• New Clade Emergence: The Avian Influenza H5N1 (clade 2.3.4.4b) emerged in late 2020, leading to a global outbreak primarily spread by migratory birds.

4. 23 T.N. fishermen held for poaching by Lankan navy

Sub : IR

Sec: Places in news

Context:

• The Sri Lankan Navy arrested 23 Indian fishermen from Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and poaching in the Palk Bay near the Katchatheevu islet.
• Fishermen associations have urged the Union government to secure their release.

Background of the dispute:

• The India-Sri Lanka fishermen issue has been ongoing for decades, centred around fishing rights and marine boundaries in the Palk Strait, a narrow body of water between Tamil Nadu in India and Northern Sri Lanka.
• Indian fishermen, attracted by the richer marine resources in Sri Lankan waters, often cross the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and enter Sri Lankan territory.
• This has led to frequent arrests and sometimes even violent encounters with the Sri Lankan Navy, which accuses Indian fishermen of depleting fish stocks and damaging the marine ecosystem using mechanized trawling techniques that harm local fisheries.

Katchatheevu Island:

• Katchatheevu is a small, uninhabited island located in the Palk Strait, about 15 miles northeast of Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.
• In 1974, under a bilateral agreement, India ceded control of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka. This agreement was later reaffirmed in 1976 through a maritime boundary demarcation, which also involved India giving up fishing rights in the area.
• Although the agreement stipulated that Indian fishermen could access Katchatheevu for resting and drying nets, enforcement of boundaries has often led to disputes.

5. France evaluating India’s Pinaka rocket system for its use

Sub : Sci

Sec: Defence

Context:

• France is considering India’s indigenously developed Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) system for its defence needs.
• The French Army is organizing a detailed evaluation of Pinaka, among other global options to replace its M270 Lance-Roquettes Unitaire (LRU) rocket systems.

India – France defence cooperation:

• Four Domains of Cooperation: capability-building; education, training, and information sharing; procurement; and strengthening bonds between senior military leaders.
• India and France recently held the seventh edition of joint military exercise, Exercise Shakti.
• Additionally, both countries are advancing defence projects, including discussions for India to acquire 26 Rafale-M fighter jets, three Scorpene-class submarines, and a potential joint project to develop a jet engine for India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

About Pinaka Missile System:

• Pinaka is an indigenously developed rocket system named after Lord Shiva’s mythological bow.
• It is used for attacking the adversary targets prior to the close-quarter battles which involve smaller range artillery, armoured elements and the infantry.
• The development of the Pinaka was started by the DRDO in the late 1980s, as an alternative to the multi-barrel rocket launching systems of Russian make, called like the ‘Grad’, which are still in use.
• After successful tests of Pinaka Mark-1 in late 1990, it was first used in the battlefield during the Kargil War of 1999, quite successfully.
• The Indian Army currently has four Pinaka regiments.

Capabilities:

• The Pinaka, which is primarily a multi-barrel rocket system (MBRL) system, can fire a salvo of 12 rockets over a period of 44 seconds.
• The Pinaka Mk1 has a range of 38 km, and the ongoing development of extended-range and guided ammunition could enhance its range to over 75 km, with future plans aiming for ranges up to 300 km.
• The navigation system of the missile is linked with the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System.

Global Interest:

• Armenia recently became the first export customer for the Pinaka system, with other countries showing interest.

6. Gluten: animator of the dough

Sub: Sci

Sec: Health

What is Gluten:

• Many cereal grains, particularly barley, wheat, and rye contain specific proteins that, when mixed with water and kneaded, create an elastic mass. This mass is called gluten.
• At the microscopic level, gluten is an elastic mesh of the protein molecules. It allows the dough to rise and gives it its chewy character.
• Two important types of these proteins are gliadins and glutenins.

Gluten intolerance:

• The enzyme protease, responsible for breaking down proteins, does not effectively digest gluten. As a result, undigested gluten may reach the small intestine, causing gastrointestinal issues for some individuals.

Coeliac Disease:

• Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten, prompting the immune system to produce a large number of antibodies that attack the body’s own proteins.
• Coeliac disease affects about 2% of the population.
• Primary symptoms include severe diarrhea and anemia.
• Doctors can diagnose coeliac disease through a blood test, an endoscopy, or genetic testing for predisposition. However, diagnosis is often delayed as symptoms are sometimes attributed to other conditions.

Treatment:

• At present, the only effective way to manage coeliac disease is adhering to a diet that is very low in gluten, which helps manage and alleviate symptoms.

7. Revitalizing Wind Energy in Tamil Nadu: Examining the Challenges and Opportunities

Sub : Geo

Sec :Eco geo

Why in News

• In August 2024, the Tamil Nadu government introduced the “Tamil Nadu Repowering, Refurbishment, and Life Extension Policy for Wind Power Projects.” However, this policy has stirred controversy, as wind energy generators have challenged it, leading to a stay by the Madras High Court. The generators argue that the policy lacks sufficient incentives to promote wind energy, sparking a significant debate on its implications for the sector.

Wind Energy in India:

• Wind energy harnesses wind power to generate electricity through wind turbines, converting kinetic energy from the wind into electrical power.
• India has an installed wind power capacity of approximately 47,362 MW as of September 2024, making it the fourth-largest globally in wind energy generation.
• Leading States in Wind Power: Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh are leaders in installed wind capacity, collectively contributing 93.37% of India’s wind energy output.
• According to the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE), India’s wind energy potential is 1,163.86 GW at a height of 150 meters.
• At the standard turbine height of 120 meters, the potential reduces to 695.51 GW, including Tamil Nadu’s share of 68.75 GW.
• India utilizes only about 6.5% of its wind potential, while Tamil Nadu harnesses approximately 15%.

Top Wind Power Plants in India:

• Muppandal Wind Farm (Tamil Nadu) – Over 1,500 MW capacity
• Jaisalmer Wind Park (Rajasthan) – Around 1,064 MW capacity

The largest onshore wind farm in the world is the Gansu Wind Farm in China, with a target capacity of 20,000 MW.

Wind Turbines and Types:

• Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbines (HAWT): Most commonly used due to efficiency.
• Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines (VAWT): Less common, often used in urban settings where wind direction is variable.

Offshore Wind Energy: Offshore wind projects are gaining interest due to stronger and more consistent winds. India is exploring offshore wind along its coasts, with Gujarat and Tamil Nadu identified for initial projects.

Onshore Wind Energy: India’s onshore wind farms are primarily located in high-potential states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.

About Wind Turbine Modernization:

• Repowering: This involves completely replacing outdated turbines, particularly those older than 15 years or with less than 2 MW capacity, with newer, more efficient models.
• Refurbishment: Upgrading existing turbines by increasing their height, changing blades, or enhancing components like the gearbox to boost energy output.
• Life Extension: Adding safety features to extend the operational life of aging turbines without fully replacing them.
• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) introduced the “Policy for Repowering of the Wind Power Projects” in 2016, updated to the “National Repowering & Life Extension Policy for Wind Power Projects – 2023” after stakeholder consultations.
• NIWE estimates that repowering could add up to 25.4 GW of capacity if all turbines under 2 MW are upgraded.

Recommendations for Policy Enhancement:

• Introduce subsidies or financial incentives for generators to repower or refurbish aging turbines.
• Reinstate energy banking for repowered turbines to improve financial viability.
• Accelerate upgrades in transmission infrastructure to support increased energy output from modernized turbines.
• Address land acquisition and usage concerns, allowing for larger, high-capacity turbines where feasible.
• Regular consultations with industry players can ensure the policy addresses practical challenges in implementation.

8. Understanding the Role of Lightning Rods in Protecting Structures and Lives

Sub : Geo

Sec: Climatology

Why in News

• With climate change causing an increase in lightning frequency and severity, lightning strikes have become more common and hazardous. India recorded 2,887 lightning-related deaths in 2022, leading to calls for lightning to be recognized as a natural disaster for better access to institutional protection. Lightning rods play a critical role in safeguarding people and structures from the destructive power of lightning strikes.

What is Lightning?

• Lightning is an intense electrical discharge between charged particles in a cloud and the ground. It occurs when the charge buildup in a cloud exceeds the insulating capacity of the surrounding air.
• Objects can act as conductors or insulators based on the electrical energy applied. For instance, air usually acts as an insulator but becomes conductive at high voltages (around 3 million V/m), enabling it to carry an electric current.
• Cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning is dangerous because it can electrocute people due to its high electric voltage and current. Inter- or intra-cloud lightning is visible and safe.

Process of Lightning:

• Lightning is caused by a difference in electrical charge between the top and bottom of a cloud, which generates a huge current of electricity.
• Water vapour in the cloud condenses and rises, generating heat and pushing water molecules further up until they become ice crystals.
• Collisions between the ice crystals trigger the release of electrons, leading to a chain reaction that results in a positively charged top layer and negatively charged middle layer in the cloud.
• When the difference in charge becomes large enough, a huge current of electricity flows between the layers, producing heat that causes the air column to expand and produce shock waves that create thunder sounds.
• Lightning seeks the closest object with high electrical potential, taking the path of least resistance. As it reaches the ground, it often targets tall structures, trees, or other elevated objects.

What is a Lightning Rod?

• A lightning rod is a metal conductor designed to intercept lightning strikes, providing a safe pathway for the electrical discharge to travel into the ground.
• Typically, lightning rods are pointed, which strengthens the electric field around them. This design creates an ionized path in the air, guiding the lightning to the rod and away from other structures.
• The rod’s pointed shape intensifies the electric field near it, similar to water flow speeding up at a nozzle. This concentrated electric field ionizes the surrounding air, forming a conductive path for the lightning.
• Lightning rods are connected to a grounding wire that directs the current safely into the earth, which has an almost infinite capacity to absorb charges.

About Lightning Arresters: Used in electrical systems, these devices divert high currents away from low-current components, protecting sensitive devices from surge damage.

The International Electrotechnical Commission sets guidelines on lightning rod design, installation standards, and risk assessment protocols. These standards help engineers minimize liability and maximize safety by establishing design priorities and points of failure.

Types of Lightning Rod Setups:

• Standard Rods: Installed on building tops to intercept direct strikes.
• Early Streamer Emission (ESE) Systems: Designed to initiate an upward streamer faster, attracting lightning to a preferred path.
• Dissipation Array Systems (DAS): Employ multiple small rods to reduce the electric field and prevent strikes in sensitive areas.

9. Human-to-Human Transmission of Mpox Clade Ia: New Findings and Implications

Sub : Sci

Sec : Health

Why in News

• Recent research has revealed evidence that Clade Ia of the mpox virus has evolved to spread through human-to-human transmission, a shift from the historically limited animal-to-human transmissions associated with this clade. This development raises concerns regarding the virus’s adaptability and the impact of human immune responses on its mutation patterns.

What is Mpox?

• Mpox is a viral zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus which was first recorded in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
• Mpox can be transmitted to humans through physical contact with someone who is infectious, with contaminated materials, or with infected animals.
• There are no specific treatments for Mpox virus infection.
• In 2022, the disease was declared a global emergency after it spread to some 70 countries. The emergency was withdrawn in 2023.

Mpox Clades: The mpox virus has two main clades: I and II, further divided into subclades Ia, Ib, IIa, and IIb.

Characteristics of Each Clade:

• Clade I: Known for severe effects in animal models; contains subclade Ia (oldest variant) and subclade Ib, recently responsible for central African infections.
• Clade IIb: Identified as the primary clade behind the 2022 global outbreak and still prevalent in parts of Africa.

Focus on Clade Ia: Traditionally, Clade Ia has caused only sporadic animal-to-human infections, mostly among children, with no confirmed human-to-human spread until now.

Role of the APOBEC Protein in Viral Mutation:

• Researchers identified an increase in specific mutations within the mpox virus linked to APOBEC, a family of proteins in the human immune system.
• Mutation Process: APOBEC proteins induce changes in viral DNA by converting cytosine to thymine during replication, which can create random mutations harmful to the virus.
• These mutations suggest that human immune responses may drive viral evolution, especially in facilitating new transmission pathways.
• A significant 63% of mutations in Clade Ia were consistent with APOBEC’s activity, supporting the hypothesis that these viruses had adapted to spread between humans.

How Mutations Occur in Viruses:

• Virus mutations occur through changes in their genetic material (DNA or RNA) during replication. As viruses replicate within a host’s cells, enzymes called polymerases create copies of their genetic code. Occasionally, these enzymes make errors, leading to mutations.
• The mutation rate varies by virus type: RNA viruses, like influenza, mutate faster due to the lack of a proofreading mechanism, while DNA viruses mutate more slowly because they have error-correction processes.
• Proofreading Mechanism in DNA Viruses: DNA viruses, such as those in the pox family, possess error-correction processes that reduce the mutation rate, averaging about one error every three years in a circulating strain.