Daily Prelims Notes 19 March 2025

March 19, 2025
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN

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Daily Prelims Notes

19 March 2025

Table Of Contents

1. Water Ice on the Moon: Chandrayaan-3’s Revelations

Sub: Sci

Sec: Space Sector

Why in News

The Chandrayaan-3 mission, conducted by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has provided new insights into the presence of water ice on the Moon. Data from the Vikram lander reveals that water ice may be more accessible than previously believed.

Key Findings from Chandrayaan-3:

The Vikram lander recorded a peak surface temperature of 82°C at Shiv Shakti Point, while a location just a meter away showed a temperature of 58.85°C.
Nighttime temperatures dropped drastically to approximately -181°C.
The study confirms that temperature variations occur at the meter scale, influencing conditions for water ice stability.
As countries like the US, China, Russia, and India plan long-term lunar missions, the availability of water on the Moon is crucial.
Water ice can serve multiple purposes, including:
- Sustaining human missions (drinking and sanitation needs).
- Supporting fuel generation for rockets launched from the Moon.
- Enabling future lunar habitation and resource utilization.

Chandrayaan-3:

Objective: Demonstrate end-to-end capabilities in safe landing and roving on the lunar surface.
Consists of a Lander Module (Vikram) and a Rover (Pragyan).
Launched aboard India’s LVM3 rocket, capable of placing about 8 metric tons into low-Earth orbit.
Launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
Achieved a soft landing near the Moon’s south pole on August 23, 2023, making India the first country to land a spacecraft in this region.
The Pragyan rover analysed soil samples near the south pole, detecting the presence of ferrous anorthosite, which supports theories about the Moon’s early molten state.
India became the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the Moon, following the USA, Russia, and China.

Data Collection by the ChaSTE Experiment:

The Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) onboard Vikram lander conducted in-situ temperature measurements at 69.373° south, 32.319° east.
The temperature measurements were higher than predicted by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Diviner instrument.
The study highlights that higher latitude regions on the Moon experience extreme temperature variations, affecting ice stability.

Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE):

Equipped with 10 platinum Resistance Temperature Devices (RTDs) positioned at various depths to capture temperature gradients.
Integrated near the probe’s tip to facilitate thermal conductivity assessments.
Mounted on the Vikram lander of Chandrayaan-3, the probe was inserted into the lunar soil post-landing.
First in-situ thermal measurements near the Moon’s south pole.

2. Houthis claim third attack in 48 hours on U.S. ships in Red Sea

Sub: IR

Sec: Places in news

Context:

The Houthis in Yemen claimed responsibility for their third attack on American warships in 48 hours, following U.S. strikes on the Iran-backed rebels that sparked widespread protests in Houthi-controlled areas.

Background:

The Houthis have previously targeted ships in the Red Sea since the start of the Gaza war, citing solidarity with Palestinians.
The rebels had temporarily ceased attacks after a January ceasefire but threatened to escalate once again in response to Israel’s aid blockade on Gaza.
The U.S. launched its first strikes on Yemen under President Donald Trump after the Houthis threatened to target Israeli shipping.

About the Red Sea:

The Red Sea (Erythraean Sea) is an inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia.
The Red Sea is a crucial shipping route, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Arabian Sea, making it a vital waterway for global trade.
It connects to the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal to the north and to the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea via the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to the south.
The sea is underlain by the Red Sea Rift which is part of the Great Rift Valley.
The six countries bordering the Red Sea are: Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti.
Islands include the Dahlak Archipelago, the Farasan Islands, and Zubair Archipelago.
Key ports of the Red Sea are Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Port Sudan (Sudan), Djibouti Port (Djibouti), Aqaba Port (Jordan).

3. India takes 24th spot in free speech survey

Sub: IR

Sec: Report and Indices

Context:

A global survey conducted by the Future of Free Speech, an independent U.S.-based think tank, ranked India 24th out of 33 countries on the issue of support for free speech.
The report, titled “Who in the World Supports Free Speech?” reveals significant findings about the state of free speech across the globe.

Key findings:

While abstract support for free speech remains strong worldwide, the survey found a growing erosion of support for controversial speech, with democratic nations like the U.S., Israel, and Japan showing the most significant declines since 2021.
Scandinavian countries dominated the top rankings, with Norway and Denmark scoring the highest with 87.9 and 87.0, respectively.
Indonesia, Malaysia, and Pakistan showed the most improvement, though they remained lower-ranked.
Interestingly, authoritarian-leaning nations like Hungary and Venezuela scored high in public support for free speech despite government restrictions.

India’s Position:

India ranked 24th with a score of 62.6, placed between South Africa (66.9) and Lebanon (61.8).
While many Indians consider it very important to speak freely without government censorship, there was lower support for criticism of government policies.
37% of Indian respondents supported the idea that governments should be able to prevent people from criticizing government policies. This was the highest percentage among the countries surveyed.

Disconnect Between Support and Protection of Free Speech:

The survey noted a disconnect in countries like India, Hungary, and Venezuela, where public support for free speech is high, but actual protection of free speech is low.
India, despite having a relatively high public support for free speech, has been identified as an example of democratic backsliding, where freedom of expression is under threat despite public opinion.

4. Right to Development a priority under fundamental rights

Sub: Polity

Sec: Constitution

Context:

The Supreme Court emphasized the need to strike a “golden balance” between the right to development and the right to a clean environment while setting aside two judicial orders halting development activities in Auroville.
The verdicts uphold the principles of sustainable development, integrating Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution.

Key Supreme Court Observations

While the precautionary principle and polluter pays principle are part of environmental law, the right to industrialisation and development is also a fundamental right.
The right to a clean environment is guaranteed under Articles 14 and 21, while the right to development equally holds priority under Articles 14, 19, and 21.

NGT Order on Auroville Township (April 2022)

The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Chennai, had ordered the Auroville Foundation to stop construction in its township project until environmental clearance was obtained.
The Supreme Court found that the NGT had “committed a gross error” in assuming jurisdiction and giving directions that were untenable in law.
The primary grievance raised was regarding road construction in the Master Plan, allegedly affecting the Darkali forest.

Supreme Court’s Rationale for Setting Aside NGT Order

The Master Plan was approved by the Auroville Foundation’s governing board in 1999, sanctioned by the Ministry of Urban Development in 2001, and published in the Gazette in 2010.
The area termed “Darkali forest” was not officially recognized as a forest but was a man-made plantation, not requiring environmental clearance under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
The NGT had misdirected itself by interfering in the restricted domain of judicial review under the guise of the precautionary principle.

Madras High Court Order on Auroville Town Development Council (March 2024)

The High Court had set aside a June 2022 notification issued by the Auroville Foundation regarding the reconstitution of the Auroville Town Development Council.
The Supreme Court overturned the High Court’s decision and criticized “disgruntled and discontented” residents for dragging the matter into unnecessary litigation.
Respondent Natasha Storey was ordered to deposit Rs. 50,000 as costs to the Supreme Court Legal Service Committee within two weeks.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court’s judgment reaffirms the constitutional validity of industrialisation and development, alongside environmental protection.
It establishes that judicial interference in approved and finalized developmental projects must be carefully exercised, ensuring sustainable development while respecting statutory approvals.