Syllabus:

• Mains – CURRENT EVENT

Context: Recently, India completed wet testing of its Matsya-6000 submersible, capable of diving up to 6 km below the surface to look for underwater minerals off the coast.

Background: –

• Globally, deep-sea technology is critical for economic development, resource exploitation, and national security.

Key takeaways

Importance of Deep Sea Exploration for India

• Economic Potential
  • Marine resources: The oceans hold vast reserves of minerals, hydrocarbons, and biodiversity.
  • Hydrocarbons & Gas Hydrates: Essential for India’s energy security and economic growth.
  • Fisheries & Nutraceuticals: Expansion of deep-sea fishing can enhance India’s Blue Economy.
  • Undersea Mining: Exploration of polymetallic nodules for rare earth elements (REEs).
• Strategic and Security Imperatives
  • Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA): Critical for monitoring deep-sea activities and securing maritime interests.
  • China’s Deep-Sea Capabilities: Largest fleet of submersibles and development of undersea infrastructure and cable-cutting technology.
• Communication & Infrastructure
  • Undersea Cables carry over 95% of global internet traffic and are crucial for digital economy, financial transactions, and secure communications. India must develop cable-laying and maintenance capabilities.
  • Undersea Pipelines & Mining Equipment – Infrastructure is required for resource exploitation and there is need for robust technology to maintain and protect these assets.

Challenges in Deep-Sea Exploration

• Extreme Pressure Conditions.
• Lack of indigenous deep-sea vehicles and submersibles and dependence on foreign technology for underwater research and exploration.
• Deep-sea technology development is capital-intensive.
• Limited Human Capital & Research Base: Need for specialized training in oceanography, marine engineering, and underwater robotics.

Way Forward

• Institutional & Policy Reforms
  • Upgrading the Department of Ocean Development to a full-fledged Ministry of Ocean Affairs.
  • A dedicated policy framework with clear funding, targets, and mission-mode execution.
• Establishing a National Deep-Sea Research Institute for technological development.
• Technological Advancements
  • Hydrographic Research: Developing precision oceanographic mapping tools.
  • Deep-Sea Sensors & Security Systems: Countering undersea cyber and military threats.
• Strategic Collaboration & Investments
  • Public-Private Partnerships (PPP): Encouraging investment in deep-sea exploration.
  • International Cooperation: Collaborating with leading maritime nations for deep-sea technology exchange.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus:

• Prelims & Mains – ENVIRONMENT

Context: A poaching network marked by an unusual coalition of groups from tribal communities in central India, using digital payments with “hawala funds” and separate supply lines to Nepal and Myanmar, has taken out “100 to any number” of tigers since 2022 from various parts of India, an investigation by The Indian Express has found.

Background: –

• As per the 2022-23 tiger census, India has 3,681 tigers occupying 89,000 sq km across five landscapes: Shivalik Hills & Gangetic Plains, Central Indian Highlands & Eastern Ghats, Western Ghats, North Eastern Hills & Brahmaputra floodplains, Sundarbans.

Key takeaways

Tigers as an Umbrella Species and their Ecological Role

• Tigers are apex predators and an umbrella species, meaning their conservation indirectly benefits the entire ecosystem by maintaining ecological balance.
• They regulate herbivore populations (e.g., deer), preventing overgrazing and habitat degradation.
• Tiger landscapes support critical ecosystems that provide freshwater to over 800 million people in Asia. These landscapes store significant carbon, making tiger conservation vital for mitigating climate change.

Cultural Significance of Tigers in India

• Hindu Mythology: The tiger is depicted as the mount (vahana) of Goddess Durga, symbolizing power and valor.
• Harappan Civilization: Seals from the Indus Valley, including the Pashupati seal, depict tigers, showing their early cultural significance.
• Rock Paintings: Bhimbetka cave paintings feature tigers alongside other animals, reflecting their historical importance.
• Folk Traditions:
  • Pulikali (Kerala): A tiger dance performed during Onam, symbolizing the deep connection between humans and nature.
  • Puli Vesham (Andhra Pradesh): A traditional tiger dance performed during festivals like Dussehra and Muharram.

Economic Contribution of Tiger Conservation

• Eco-tourism: Tiger reserves attract tourists, generating local employment and reducing reliance on unsustainable practices.
• Ecosystem Services: Healthy tiger habitats protect agricultural lands, fish nurseries, and water resources.
• Livelihood Support: Conservation projects provide alternative income sources to forest-dependent communities, reducing poaching and deforestation.

Status of Tiger Population in India – Largest Tiger Populations (2022):

• States: Madhya Pradesh (785), Karnataka (563), Uttarakhand (560), Maharashtra (444).
• Reserves: Corbett (260), Bandipur (150), Nagarhole (141), Bandhavgarh (135).

Key Government Initiatives for Tiger Conservation

• Project Tiger (1973)
  • Launched under Indira Gandhi, it is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) to ensure tiger conservation and habitat protection.
  • Initially started in nine tiger reserves, now expanded to 53 reserves covering 75,000 sq km.
• National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) (2006)
  • Statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC).
  • Conducts All India Tiger Estimation every four years. Also oversees implementation of Project Tiger and manages funds for tiger reserves.
• M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers: Intensive Protection and Ecological Status) – A technology-based surveillance system for tracking tigers, ensuring effective patrolling, and mitigating human-wildlife conflict.
• Transboundary Conservation Initiatives
  • India-Bangladesh Collaboration: Joint efforts for tiger conservation in the Sundarbans.
  • International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA) (2023): Initiative to protect seven big cat species (tiger, leopard, snow leopard, lion, cheetah, puma, and jaguar) through global cooperation.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus:

• Prelims – SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Context: The European Space Agency (ESA) shut down its space observatory mission, Gaia on March 27.

Background:

• ESA announced that the spacecraft had been “successfully passivated”, meaning it had been drained of any internal energy sources and will not reboot again. Shortly before, Gaia used its thrusters for the final time to slowly drift into its “retirement orbit” around the Sun.

Key takeaways

• GAIA (Global Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics) is a space observatory launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) on December 19, 2013.
• Its primary goal is to create the most precise 3D map of the Milky Way, tracking over 1.8 billion stars.
• Gaia was positioned in the Lagrange point 2 (L2), around 1.5 million kilometres ‘behind’ the Earth, when viewed from the Sun. This effectively allowed the spacecraft to view the larger cosmos unhindered by the planet, the Sun and the Moon.

Contributions of GAIA

• Gaia has transformed the way the Milky Way galaxy is viewed. Its data allowed scientists to recreate not just a 3-D map of the galaxy, but also how it will change over time.
• Scientists were able to understand the shape of milky way galaxy, which has a central bar and spiral arms. Viewed from its edge, the galaxy is seen as a disc with a bulge at the centre. However, Gaia shows that this disc is warped and wobbles – that is, it rocks left to right (very, very slowly). This is likely caused by collisions with a smaller satellite galaxy.
• Gaia has uncovered a new kind of black hole – including one close to the Earth. While black holes were previously discovered by light emitted by materials falling in, those discovered by Gaia are “truly black and can only be detected by their gravitational effects,” according to the ESA. 
• Gaia has also detected over 1,50,000 asteroids and projected their orbits, including those that may pose a threat to the Earth in the future.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus:

• Prelims – POLITY

Context: The Supreme Court, in a judgment held that it was a fraud played on the State’s power of eminent domain if land acquired by the government for public purposes is transferred back to the original owner by the beneficiary of the acquisition through a private agreement.

Background: –

• Litigation relating to acquired land, mainly because of creation of third-party rights, has been a key factor for delay in execution of many projects, especially national highways.

Key takeaways 

• The Doctrine of Eminent Domain refers to the sovereign power of the state to acquire private property for public use, with fair compensation to the owner.
• It is based on the principle that public interest is superior to individual property rights.

Constitutional Provisions in India

• Article 300A: Guarantees that no person shall be deprived of property except by authority of law (inserted by the 44th Amendment Act, 1978).
• Earlier, Right to Property (Article 31) was a Fundamental Right, but it was made a legal right under Article 300A.
• 5th Schedule & 6th Schedule: Provide special provisions regarding land acquisition in tribal areas.

Essential Elements

• Compulsory Acquisition: The state can take private property even without the owner’s consent.
• Public Purpose: The acquisition must serve a social, economic, or infrastructural goal (e.g., roads, railways, dams).
• Fair Compensation: The government must provide just and reasonable compensation to the affected landowners.

Important Laws in India

• Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (Repealed): Gave broad powers to the government but was criticized for inadequate compensation and forced acquisition.
• Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act (LARR), 2013:
  • Ensures fair compensation and rehabilitation of affected people.
  • Requires consent of 70% landowners for PPP projects and 80% for private projects.
  • Social Impact Assessment (SIA) is mandatory before acquisition.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus:

• Prelims – CURRENT EVENT

Context: Japanese mathematician Masaki Kashiwara was awarded this year’s Abel Prize.

Background: –

• First awarded in 2003, the Abel prize is often considered to be an equivalent of the Nobel prize, which does not have a category for mathematics. It has been modelled as such.

Key takeaways

• The Abel Prize recognises pioneering scientific achievements in mathematics. 
• It is named after Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel (1802-29), who in his short life made pioneering contributions to multiple fields.
• The prize was established by the Norwegian Parliament in 2002, on Abel’s 200th anniversary.
• The Abel Prize is awarded and administered by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters on behalf of the Norwegian government. The recipients are chosen by an expert committee appointed by the Academy under the advice of the International Mathematical Union (IMU) and the European Mathematical Society (EMS).

Source: Indian Express

Q1.) Consider the following statements regarding the GAIA Mission:

1. It was launched by NASA to create a 3D map of the Milky Way galaxy.
2. The spacecraft was positioned at the Lagrange point 2 (L2).
3. The European Space Agency (ESA) has shut down Gaia recently.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3

Q2.) With reference to the Doctrine of Eminent Domain, consider the following statements:

1. It allows the state to acquire private property for public purposes, provided fair compensation is given.
2. In India, the right to property is a Fundamental Right under Article 31 of the Constitution.
3. The Land Acquisition Act of 1894 is currently the governing law for land acquisition in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3

Q3.) Consider the following statements regarding the Abel Prize:

1. It is awarded annually by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.
2. The prize is named after the mathematician Niels Henrik Abel, who made significant contributions to the field of astronomy.
3. The Abel Prize is considered equivalent to the Nobel Prize in the field of mathematics.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3

Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!!

ANSWERS FOR ’  Today’s – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs

Q.1) – b

Q.2) – b

Q.3) – d