Daily Prelims Notes 19 September 2024

Daily Prelims Notes

19 September 2024

Table Of Contents

1. ₹5 lakh each to transform tribal houses into homestays
2. to frame social security norms for gig workers
3. We are sharing state-of-the-art expertise with ISRO for Gaganyaan: French space agency chief
4. India’s Space Programme: Boost with Approval for Key Missions
5. Ultrafast Lasers Revolutionize Future Hard Drive Technology with Spin Currents
6. India’s Pursuit of Renegotiation and Review of the Indus Waters Treaty
7. Termed as ‘more contagious’; COVID-19’s XEC variant spreads to 27 countries
8. MOIL eyes overseas expansion

1. ₹5 lakh each to transform tribal houses into homestays

Sub: Schemes

Sec: Vulnerable

Context:

• The Union Cabinet approved a package that will provide up to ₹5 lakh each to tribal households and villages across the country, to turn their homes into tourist homestays or to build new ones under the Tourism Ministry’s Swadesh Darshan scheme.

About the initiative:

• It is meant to tap the tourist potential of tribal areas and to provide alternative livelihood.
• This is one of the 25 interventions planned under the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PMJUGA).

Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PMJUGA):

• PMJUGA is an umbrella package to implement existing schemes in 63,000 Scheduled Tribe-majority villages.
• For example, the Swadesh Darshan scheme was launched a decade ago, in 2014-15, though the tribal homestay proposal is a new element.
• The PMJUGA package is aimed at ensuring the saturation of basic schemes in tribal villages, through 25 interventions to be implemented by 17 Ministries.
• The funding comes from each Ministry’s allocated share in the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes.
• It focuses on the holistic development of tribal villages by improving infrastructure, livelihood, education, health, and ensuring sustainable development.

Initiatives under PMJUGA:

• Impart knowledge of sustainable agricultural practices to all Forest Rights Act (FRA) pattaholders.
• Impetus to existing development schemes to build 20 lakh pucca homes for ST families.
• Broadband connectivity to 5,000 tribal villages under the BharatNet project.
• Set up 100 tribal multipurpose marketing centres.
• The tourism section of the scheme aims to create five to 10 homestays in each target tribal village, with an overall goal of setting up 1,000 such homestays.

2. Govt. to frame social security norms for gig workers

Sub: Schemes

Sec: Vulnerable

Context:

• The Centre is set to introduce a social security policy for gig workers within a few months, aiming to provide mandatory benefits like life insurance and maternity benefits.

Details:

• Labour ministry will form a dedicated committee to deliberate with all stakeholders on key issues related to gig and platform workers and to provide a robust social security framework for these workers.
• The ministry also set a target of three months for registering all gig and platform workers on the e-Shram portal as the registration is crucial for extending benefits under various government initiatives to these workers.
• It also urged the aggregators to list their job opportunities in National Career Service (NCS) portal, which provides a variety of employment related services for job seekers and employers.

Gig workers:

• Gig workers are individuals who engage in income-earning activities outside the traditional, long-term employer-employee relationship.
• They often work on short-term contracts or freelance jobs in the “gig economy.
• The number of gig workers in India is expected to rise significantly, reaching 23 million by 2030 from 7.7 million in 2020.

Types of Gig Workers:

• Platform-based: Use online platforms to find work (e.g., Uber, Zomato, Amazon delivery).
• Non-platform-based: Freelancers, independent contractors, etc.

Gig economy:

• The gig economy refers to a labour market characterized by the prevalence of short-term, temporary, or freelance work as opposed to permanent jobs.
• Workers in this system often rely on digital platforms to find and complete work.

E-shram portal:

• E-Shram Portal is an initiative by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
• It aims to create a National Database of Unorganized Workers (NDUW) and provide them with unique identification.
• The targeted beneficiaries are unorganised workers such as construction labourers, migrant workforce, street vendors and domestic workers
• The portal facilitates targeted social security schemes and benefits for unorganized workers.
• Upon registration, workers will receive a Universal Account Number (UAN), which will allow them access to key social security benefits.

3. We are sharing state-of-the-art expertise with ISRO for Gaganyaan: French space agency chief

Sub :Sci

Sec: Space sector

Context:

• Philippe Baptiste, President of the French Space Agency, Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES), who is in India to participate in the Bengaluru Space Expo 2024, spoke on a wide range of topics from celebrating 60 years of French-India space cooperation to the Gaganyaan and the TRISHNA missions.

India – France space cooperation:

• ISRO and its French counterpart CNES have a rich history of cooperation and collaboration spanning more than six decades.
• The cooperation started with the setting up of sounding rocket launching facilities at Thumba (India) in the early 1960s and progressed to various areas of space activities in the coming years.
• Currently, ISRO and CNES are closely working on a number of cooperative programs on earth observation, human spaceflight, future launch vehicle technologies and planetary exploration.

Indo-French Thermal Infrared Imaging Satellite for High-resolution Natural Resource Assessment (TRISHNA) mission:

• TRISHNA is a collaborative effort between the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the French Space Agency (CNES).
• The mission aims to deliver high resolution monitoring of Earth’s surface temperature, emissivity, biophysical and radiation variables.
• It will monitor surface temperature and water management
• It will greatly help to get information on climate, agriculture, drought forecasting and urban heat island monitoring.
• The project expected to be launched in 2026.

Gaganyaan mission:

• Gaganyaan is India’s first manned space mission.
• India and France in 2021 had signed an agreement for cooperation for the Gaganyaan mission.
• The collaboration focuses on life-support systems, space medicine, and training for Indian astronauts.
• Astronaut Training: India signed an agreement with CNES for training Indian astronauts at French facilities.
• Space Medicine and Life Support: France, with its experience in human spaceflight, provides support in developing space medicine protocols and life support systems for Gaganyaan.
• Technological Assistance: Collaboration on technologies required for human spaceflight, such as crew modules, environmental control, and life support systems (ECLSS).
• Post-Mission Support: Discussions on providing earth station support from France for tracking the Gaganyaan spacecraft and recovery operations after re-entry.

4. India’s Space Programme: Boost with Approval for Key Missions

Sub: Sci

Sec: Space sector

Why in News?

The Union Government recently approved four major space projects, including the Chandrayaan-4 mission and India’s first mission to Venus, signalling a significant advancement in India’s space capabilities. These decisions are part of ISRO’s Vision 2047, which aims to enhance India’s role in space exploration.

Key Approvals for Space Missions

Chandrayaan-4 Mission

Mission: Aimed at bringing lunar samples back to Earth.

Launch Plan: The mission will be conducted in two stages with separate launches to assemble the lander and other modules in space.

Budget: The mission is budgeted at ₹2,014 crore and involves complex maneuvers such as docking and undocking, using five different modules and two launches, a first for India.

Timeline: Expected by 2027.

Relevance: Strengthens India’s space capabilities in sample collection and lunar exploration​.

Shukrayaan (Venus Mission)

Mission: ISRO’s first mission to Venus.

Objective: To study Venus’ surface and atmosphere using synthetic aperture radar and atmospheric sensors.

Instruments: Includes Swedish-Indian collaboration (Venusian Neutrals Analyzer) and French collaboration (VIRAL).

Launch: The mission is scheduled for a March 2028 launch with a budget of ₹1,236 crore.

Significance: A key step in planetary exploration, enhancing India’s planetary science portfolio​.

Gaganyaan

Mission: India’s first manned spaceflight program.

Gaganyaan is an ISRO mission aiming to send Indian astronauts to low-Earth orbit using an Indian launch vehicle.

It is a demonstration mission to test technologies essential for human spaceflight, showcasing India’s capability in producing, qualifying, and utilizing these technologies.

Future goals for ISRO include establishing an indigenous space station by 2035 and landing an Indian on the moon by 2040.

ISRO plans to integrate these ambitious projects with future lunar explorations, starting with a joint mission with Japan for lunar rover landing and a mission to return lunar soil samples to Earth.

The Indian government has expanded spaceflight and services responsibilities beyond ISRO to New Space India Ltd. (NSIL) for commercialization and the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) for authorizing space activities.

Additionally, ISRO has established the Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) to coordinate the Gaganyaan mission.

Indian Space Station (BAS – Bharatiya Antariksh Station)

Mission: India’s project to develop its own space station by 2035.

Objective: To have an independent platform for long-term space research.

Timeline: Expected to start by 2035, following phases in human spaceflight programs like Gaganyaan​

Next-Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV)

Mission: New launcher under development to replace current launch vehicles.

NGLV will be a three-stage reusable heavy-lift vehicle.

Pay load capacity will be around 10 tonnes to Geostationary transfer orbit(GTO) and twice the capacity to Low earth orbit(LEO).

NGLV will feature semi-cryogenic propulsion for the booster stages which is cheaper and efficient.

Potential applications will be in the areas of deep space missions, launching communication satellites, future human missions and cargo missions.

It allows bulk manufacturing and the turnaround time is minimal.

Till now, PSLV and GSLV are the major launch vehicles employed by the ISRO for satellite launches.

ISRO Vision 2047

Long-Term Vision: ISRO’s roadmap for India’s space sector by 2047.

Develop a fully functional space station by 2035.

Land humans on the Moon by 2040.

Key Aspects: Developing space technology, infrastructure, and human resources to enhance national security and economic growth.

Emphasis: Prioritizing space research and sustainable development goals (SDGs)​.

5. Ultrafast Lasers Revolutionize Future Hard Drive Technology with Spin Currents

Sub: Sci

Sec: Awareness in IT & Computers

Why in News:

On September 6, a study published in Physical Review Letters by an international team of researchers presented a breakthrough in the field of spintronics. The study demonstrates how ultrafast lasers can create spin currents in as little as 2 femtoseconds (fs), paving the way for next-generation data storage solutions that promise faster speeds and greater energy efficiency.

Spintronics: It is a cutting-edge branch of physics, holds the potential to revolutionize data storage by using electron spin states (up or down) to represent binary data (0s and 1s). This technology exploits the intrinsic spin of electrons and their associated magnetic moment, in addition to their charge, for storing and processing information. Unlike traditional electronics that rely on the flow of electron charge, spintronics uses the quantum property of electron spin, offering the potential for faster, more efficient devices​.

How Does Spintronics Work?

Spintronic devices manipulate the orientation of an electron’s spin (up or down) to represent binary data. This is achieved by leveraging magnetic materials or external magnetic fields to control and maintain spin states. By reading and writing data through spin rather than charge, spintronics devices can store data even without a power supply, making them energy-efficient​.

Understanding Spin Currents:

Electron Spin: Every electron has a property called quantum spin, measured as either “up” or “down.” This property can be used to store binary data.

Spin Current: A spin current refers to the transmission of electron spin states through a material, where electrons pass on their spin states without being physically displaced.

Application in Data Storage: Spin currents can help store and retrieve data by representing 0s and 1s, which forms the basis for future spintronic hard drives.

Types of Spintronics:

Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR):
GMR is a spintronic phenomenon where the electrical resistance of materials changes dramatically in response to an external magnetic field. It occurs in multi-layered structures of magnetic and non-magnetic materials. The varying magnetization of these layers alters the resistance, which can be used to read data in magnetic storage devices like hard drives. GMR technology was key in the miniaturization of hard drives.

Spin Transfer Torque (STT):
STT uses the transfer of spin angular momentum from one layer of magnetic material to another, allowing the manipulation of the magnetization state without the need for an external magnetic field. This technology is used in STT-MRAM (Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory), providing faster writing speeds and reduced energy consumption compared to traditional memory types.

Metal-Based Spintronics:
Metal-based spintronics focuses on utilizing the spin properties of electrons in metals. Metal spintronics is advantageous due to its higher electrical conductivity and minimal spin loss. GMR and TMR (Tunnel Magnetoresistance) are examples of metal-based spintronics applications, playing an important role in magnetic sensors and memory technologies.

Semiconductor-Based Spintronics:
In semiconductor spintronics, spin is injected into semiconductor materials, combining spin with charge transport. This could lead to more efficient devices with spin and charge-based operations, and faster data processing in future computing technologies. Researchers are exploring spin-based transistors that could outperform conventional charge-based transistors by combining the advantages of semiconductors with magnetic properties.

Use and Advances of Spintronics:

Magnetic Hard Drives: Current magnetic hard drives rely on spintronics, using the principle of giant magnetoresistance (GMR) to read and store data.

Laser-Induced Spin Currents: To produce spin currents, researchers fire lasers at materials, apply magnetic fields, and scatter electrons in ways that separate the spin states.

Ultrafast Laser-Induced Spin Currents refer to the generation of spin currents in materials by using ultrafast laser pulses. These laser pulses, typically in the femtosecond range (10^-15 seconds), excite electrons in a material, causing their spins to become polarized and generating a flow of spin-polarized electrons, known as a spin current.

The new study showed that ultrafast lasers could produce spin currents in just 2 femtoseconds, utilizing a mechanism called Optical Intersite Spin Transfer (OISTR).

Petahertz Clock Rates: Researchers aim for spintronic devices capable of operating at petahertz clock rates, which are several orders of magnitude faster than current technologies.

Petahertz Clock Rates refer to an ultrafast operational speed, where devices would function at a frequency of 10^15 cycles per second (petahertz), which is several orders of magnitude faster than the gigahertz (10^9 cycles per second) speeds in current electronic technologies.

6. India’s Pursuit of Renegotiation and Review of the Indus Waters Treaty

Sub: IR

Sec: India and world

Why in News:

In 2023, India has once again formally notified Pakistan seeking a “review and modification” of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). This marks the second notice issued by India within a year, signalling its intent to renegotiate the 64-year-old treaty. The demand for renegotiation stems from multiple factors, including environmental concerns, terrorism, and the evolving geopolitical landscape.

INDUS WATER TREATY

In the year 1960, India and Pakistan signed a water distribution agreement came to be known as Indus Waters Treaty which was orchestrated by the World Bank.

This agreement took nine years of negotiations and divides the control of six rivers between the two nations once signed.

Water Distribution:

India was granted control over the three Eastern Rivers—Beas, Ravi, and Sutlej—enjoying “unrestricted use.”

Pakistan was allocated the three Western Rivers—Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum.

Under the treaty signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, all the waters of the three eastern rivers, averaging around 33 million acre-feet (MAF), were allocated to India for exclusive use.

The waters of the western rivers – Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab – averaging to around 135 MAF, were allocated to Pakistan except for ‘specified domestic, non-consumptive and agricultural use permitted to India,’ according to the treaty.

India must allow water to flow into Pakistan from the Western Rivers as per Article III (1) of the treaty.

Water Share: Under the treaty, India received approximately 30% of the water from the Indus River system, while Pakistan received 70%.

India has also been given the right to generate hydroelectricity through the run of the river (RoR) projects on the western rivers which, subject to specific criteria for design and operation, is unrestricted.

Why India Seeks Renegotiation:

Changes in Circumstances: India argues that significant changes in population demographics, environmental factors, and the urgent need to accelerate clean energy development to meet emission targets warrant a reassessment of the treaty’s obligations.

Cross-border terrorism: Impact of these activities have also influenced India’s decision to renegotiate the treaty.

Hydroelectric Power Projects: India has initiated two major run-of-the-river hydropower projects:

Kishanganga Project (330 MW) on the tributary of Jhelum in Bandipora district, Jammu & Kashmir.

Rattle Hydroelectric Project (850 MW) on the Chenab River in Kishtwar district.

Pakistan has raised concerns, alleging these projects violate the IWT despite India maintaining they comply with the treaty’s provisions.

Dispute Resolution Mechanism in the IWT:

Indus Commissioners: First level of resolving disputes.

Neutral Expert: Appointed by the World Bank for technical objections.

Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA): The final stage for adjudication.

Pakistan’s unilateral retraction of the Neutral Expert request and insistence on PCA arbitration was against the sequential process outlined in Article IX of the treaty.

World Bank’s Involvement: In 2016, the World Bank paused the dual processes (Neutral Expert and PCA) and urged India and Pakistan to resolve the matter through dialogue.

Eastern Rivers (India’s Control)

Beas River originates from Beas Kund in Himachal Pradesh, stretching 470 km before merging with the Sutlej. It is crucial for irrigation and hydropower, with the Pong Dam being a key project.

Ravi River rises in Himachal’s Dhauladhar Range, flows for 720 km through India and Pakistan, and is allocated to India under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), with the Ranjit Sagar Dam serving irrigation and energy needs.

Sutlej River, originating from Tibet, is the longest of the Punjab rivers (1,450 km), vital for irrigation in Punjab and Haryana, and hosts the Bhakra-Nangal Dam for hydropower.

Western Rivers (Pakistan’s Control)

Indus River starts near Lake Manasarovar in Tibet, flowing 3,180 km through China, India, and Pakistan. It is Pakistan’s primary water source.

Chenab River, originating from Himachal Pradesh, stretches 960 km, flowing into Pakistan and serving irrigation needs.

Jhelum River begins from Verinag Spring in Jammu & Kashmir, spans 725 km, and supports both irrigation and hydropower in Pakistan.

7. Termed as ‘more contagious’; COVID-19’s XEC variant spreads to 27 countries

Sub: Sci

Sec: Health

New COVID-19 Variant: XEC:

• Scientists have identified a new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus called XEC.
• This variant is believed to have the potential to become the dominant strain of COVID-19.

Key points:

1. Origin and Spread:
   • First observed in Germany in June
   • Now found in the United States, United Kingdom, Denmark, and other European countries
2. Current Prevalence:
   • 16-17% of COVID-19 cases in Denmark and Germany
   • 11-13% of cases in the UK and the Netherlands
3. Characteristics:
   • Sublineage of the Omicron variant
   • Hybrid of 1.1 and KP.3.3 sub-variants
   • May be more contagious than previous variants
   • XEC has a “slight transmission advantage”
4. Vaccine Effectiveness:
   • Existing COVID-19 vaccines are expected to remain effective against XEC
5. Symptoms:
   • Similar to previous COVID variants: Fever, Sore throat, Cough, Loss of sense of smell, Loss of appetite, Body aches

Source: TH

8. MOIL eyes overseas expansion

Sub: Geo

Sec: Eco Geo

Context:

• MOIL (Manganese Ore India Ltd), a state-owned company, is planning to expand its operations both domestically and internationally.
• MOIL HQ: Nagpur, India.

Key points:

1. International Expansion:
   • Seeking overseas acquisitions for manganese ore mines and other critical minerals
   • Target regions: Africa (South Africa, Gabon), Australia, and Latin America (Brazil)
   • South Africa has the largest manganese ore reserves globally
   • Gabon holds about 25% of the world’s manganese resources
   • Australia is a major manganese ore exporter
2. Domestic Expansion:
   • Exploring opportunities in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh
   • Advanced discussions for a joint venture (JV) with the Gujarat government and GMDC
     • 5 million tonnes of manganese ore reserves identified

3. Current Operations:
   • 10 existing mines across Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh
     • Maharashtra: Gumgaon, Kandri, Munsar, Beldongri, Dongri Buzurg, Chikia
     • Madhya Pradesh: Sitapatore, Tirodi, Balaghat, Ukwa
   • FY24 production: 56 lakh tonnes (up 35% year-on-year)
   • FY25 production target: 21 lakh tonnes
   • Planned capital expenditure: ₹320 crore
4. Market Position:
   • Accounts for over 50% of India’s manganese ore production
5. India’s Ferro Alloys Production (FY24):
   • Manganese alloys:5 million tonnes (1.8 million tonnes exported)
   • Chrome alloys:5 million tonnes (0.75 million tonnes exported)
   • Total ferro alloys:2 million tonnes (2.6 million tonnes exported)

Manganese:

• Manganese is a crucial element in the steel industry, used to enhance its strength, hardness, and resistance to corrosion. It’s also used in other applications like dry-cell batteries, pigments, and agricultural products.
• Global Producers of Manganese Ore: South Africa, China, Gabon, Australia, Ukraine.
• Global Exporters of Manganese Ore: South Africa, Gabon, Ukraine, Australia, China
• Global Importers of Manganese Ore: China, Japan, India, South Korea, United States
• Producer States of Manganese Ore in India: Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat