InstaLinks : help you think beyond the issue but relevant to the issue from UPSC prelims and Mains exam point of view. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions ina your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background. This helps you study a topic holistically and add new dimensions to every current event to help you think analytically
Table of Contents:
GS Paper 3:
- India’s Deep Ocean Mission (DOM)
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
- Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)
- Environmental DNA
- Composite Water Management Index report
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) to Carbon monoxide (CO) Conversion
- Project Kusha
- Leave benefits for women in the armed forces
Sports:
- Cricket: Timed Out
- Asian Para Games 2022 (Hangzhou, China)
Mapping
- Mount Celia Gold Operation (Western Australia)
India’s Deep Ocean Mission (DOM)
GS Paper 3
Syllabus: Science and Technology
Source: TH
Context: India’s Deep Ocean Mission (DOM) is a comprehensive effort to explore and harness the potential of the ocean’s depths. The article discusses various aspects of DOM.
What is Deep Ocean Mission?
It is India’s ambitious program to explore and harness the depths of the ocean. The mission aims to address scientific and economic challenges associated with ocean exploration and resource utilization.
In line with Blue Economy:
The Blue Economy aims to sustainably utilize ocean resources for economic growth, livelihood improvement, job creation, and the health of ocean ecosystems.
The DOM is in line with the Ministry of Earth Sciences’ Blue Economy Initiatives, including recently released the draft Blue Economy Policy. DOM is one of nine missions under the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PMSTIAC)
Major Components of DOM:
| Components | Description |
| Pillar 1: Technology | |
| Development of Technologies for Deep Sea Mining | Design of an Integrated Mining System for extracting polymetallic nodules from the central Indian Ocean, which contain valuable minerals like iron, manganese, nickel, and cobalt. |
| Exploration studies to pave the way for future commercial exploitation under the International Seabed Authority. | |
| Development of Manned Submersible Vehicle | Creation of a manned submersible capable of carrying three people to a depth of 6,000 meters in the ocean, equipped with scientific sensors and tools |
| Submersible, named Matsya6000 (Joint development by NIOT and ISRO) | |
| Energy and Freshwater from the Ocean | Studies and engineering design for offshore Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) powered desalination plants, which utilize temperature differences in the ocean to extract energy. |
| Pillar 2: Mineral Exploration | |
| Deep Ocean Exploration | Exploration and identification of potential sites of multi-metal Hydrothermal Sulphides mineralization along the Indian Ocean mid-oceanic ridges. |
| Pillar 3: Climate Services | |
| Development of Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services | Development of observational tools and models to understand and project important climate variables on seasonal to decadal time scales. |
| Pillar4: Ocean Biodiversity | |
| Conservation of Deep-sea Biodiversity | Bio-prospecting of deep-sea flora and fauna, including microbes, and sustainable utilization of deep-sea bio-resources. |
| Advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology | Focused on human capacity and enterprise development in ocean biology and engineering |
Major Advancements in DOM Objectives:
- Samudrayaan and Matsya6000: Samudrayaan (2021) is a crewed mission to explore the ocean’s depths, reaching 6,000 meters in the Central Indian Ocean. This mission will be carried out using Matsya6000, a deep-ocean submersible designed to accommodate a three-member crew.
- 6000m depth is strategically significant due to the presence of valuable resources such as polymetallic nodules and sulphides, containing essential metals, found between depths of 3,000 to 5,500 meters.
- Varaha – India’s Deep-Ocean Mining System: The National Institute of Ocean Technology conducted successful deep-sea locomotion trials using ‘Varaha,’ an underwater mining system, at a depth of 5,270 meters in the central Indian Ocean.
Significance of DOM:
| Significance | Explanation |
| Leveraging Ocean Resources | Oceans play a crucial role in supporting fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, livelihoods, and blue trade. The UN has declared the decade 2021-2030 as the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. |
| Discovery of new bio-resources could lead to the development of life-saving medicines. | |
| Leveraging Long Coastline (7517 Km and 1382 Islands) | The Government of India’s Vision of New India by 2030 emphasized the Blue Economy as a core dimension of growth. |
| Gain Technology Expertise | The technology and expertise required for deep-sea missions are available in only five countries: the US, Russia, France, Japan, and China. India’s participation makes it the sixth country with this capability. |
| Climate change solutions | Scientific findings from deep-sea research can inform climate change solutions. |
| Accurate climate projections help coastal areas prepare for sea-level rise and extreme weather events. | |
| Economic Growth | Mining polymetallic nodules contributes to economic growth, Job creation and increased revenue. |
| Coastal communities benefit from access to clean drinking water and reliable energy sources. |
Major Challenges in Deep Ocean Exploration:
| Major Challenges | Description |
| Oceanic Pressure | The deep ocean exerts immense pressure, equivalent to carrying about 10,000kg per square meter, posing significant challenges. |
| Equipment Design | The equipment requires robust materials. Also, electronics perform differently underwater compared to space or vacuum environments. |
| Challenges of Landing | The soft and muddy ocean bed makes it difficult for heavy vehicles to land or manoeuvre effectively. |
| Material Extraction | Extracting materials from the ocean floor requires substantial power and energy to pump them to the surface. |
| Limited Use of Remotely Operated Vehicles | Remotely operated vehicles are less effective in deep oceans due to the absence of electromagnetic wave propagation. |
| Limited Visibility | Visibility in the deep ocean is limited, with natural light penetrating only a few tens of meters, unlike space observations. |
| Other Compounded Challenges | Temperature variations, corrosion, and salinity add complexity to deep-sea exploration, necessitating comprehensive solutions. |
Conclusion:
The future of deep ocean exploration relies on biologically-inspired engineering solutions, drawing from nature, especially marine organisms. Biomimicry can lead to the development of materials and structures tailored for the challenging deep-sea environment, offering enhanced adaptability and resilience overcoming limited visibility in the deep ocean requires integrating diverse sensor technologies like sonar and lidar to enhance navigation and exploration. Additionally, environmental impact mitigation is vital, necessitating international regulations for responsible deep-sea exploration, and balancing scientific progress with ecological preservation.
Other Blue Economy Initiatives:
- India-Norway Task Force on Blue Economy: A collaborative effort between India and Norway established in 2020 to pursue joint initiatives for sustainable development.
- Sagarmala Project: A strategic initiative aimed at modernizing ports and fostering port-led development through IT-enabled services.
- O-SMART: India’s comprehensive program regulating ocean and marine resource use for sustainable development.
- Integrated Coastal Zone Management: Focused on conserving coastal and marine resources and improving livelihood opportunities for coastal communities.
- National Fisheries Policy: Promotes the ‘Blue Growth Initiative’ for the sustainable use of marine and aquatic resources in India.
Insta links
Prelims Links
With reference to the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea, consider the following statements: (UPSC 2022)
- A coastal state has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles, measured from a baseline determined in accordance with the convention.
- Ships of all states, whether coastal or land-locked, enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea.
- The Exclusive Economic Zone shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans: D
What is blue carbon? (UPSC 2021)
(a) Carbon captured by oceans and coastal ecosystems
(b) Carbon sequestered in forest biomass and agricultural soils
(c) Carbon contained in petroleum and natural gas
(d) Carbon present in the atmosphere
Ans: A
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: ET
Context: PM announced the extension of the free-food grain program for 80 crore people for an additional five years from January 2024 to December 2028.
Previously, PMGKAY was launched in 2020 as a pandemic relief measure initially set to conclude on December 31, 2023. Later, this year, a scheme with the same name was launched to provide free-of-cost food grains for a year under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013. Now it has been extended till 2028.
Environmental DNA
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: Business Line
Context: Researchers at the Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES), a part of the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) have developed a novel method for detecting all life forms in an ecosystem using environmental DNA (eDNA).
- This innovative approach involves collecting water, soil, or air samples and then sequencing the DNA fragments found in these samples to assess the total biodiversity of the ecosystem.
- It can identify a wide range of organisms, including viruses, bacteria, archaea, fungi, plants, insects, birds, fish, and other animals.
- This non-invasive technique is cost-effective, fast, and scalable for monitoring and conserving biodiversity in both freshwater and marine ecosystems.
Traditional biodiversity assessment methods are limited in their ability to account for all organisms and are expensive, labor-intensive, and time-consuming.
This approach offers a promising way to comprehensively monitor and conserve ecosystems without the need for extensive taxonomic expertise and direct capture or species counting.
Composite Water Management Index report
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: IE
Context: NITI Aayog, the Indian government’s think tank, is considering discontinuing the ‘Composite Water Management Index’ (CWMI) report, which was launched five years ago to assess water management in Indian states.
- The latest edition of the report highlights that water scarcity is a national problem, with decreasing annual per capita water availability.
- While the third and fourth editions of the report have been delayed due to the unavailability of updated data during the COVID-19 pandemic, NITI Aayog has considered combining these editions with future rounds to extend the data coverage to district levels.
The report aimed to support evidence-based policy decisions for water resource management and promote competitive and cooperative federalism among Indian states.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) to Carbon monoxide (CO) Conversion
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: PIB
Context: IIT Bombay’s National Centre of Excellence in Carbon Capture and Utilisation (NCoE-CCU) has developed an energy-efficient technology that converts carbon dioxide (CO2) to carbon monoxide (CO) at ambient temperatures.
Working:
The CO2-to-CO conversion technology operates through an electrocatalytic process. Unlike traditional methods that require high temperatures (400-750 °C), and the presence of the equivalent amount of hydrogen, this process can operate at ambient temperatures (25-40 °C) in the presence of water, eliminating the need for high-temperature conditions.
Significance: This technology is significant for the steel industry as CO is essential for converting iron ores to metallic iron in blast furnaces. The traditional method for CO production results in significant CO2 emissions. The newly developed process is energy-efficient and can be powered by renewable energy sources like solar panels or windmills, making it environmentally friendly and sustainable.
About CO:
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless gas, slightly less dense than air. It’s produced from incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons, like fossil fuels, wood, and vehicle exhaust. CO is toxic as it displaces oxygen in the blood. In the atmosphere, it’s short-lived and contributes to ground-level ozone formation.
Project Kusha
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TOI
Context: India is embarking on Project Kusha, a mission designed to enhance its air defence capabilities with a system rivalling the effectiveness of the renowned S-400.
- It includes the acquisition of three long-range Interceptor missiles with ranges of 150km, 250km, and 350km, ensuring comprehensive protection against aerial threats.
- These missiles have a high single-shot kill probability of at least 85% and can increase this to 98.5% when two different missiles are launched sequentially with a short gap.
About S-400 Triumf:
The S-400 Triumf is a mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed by Russia.
The S-400 is capable of intercepting and destroying various aerial targets, such as aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.
It has an operational range of up to 400 kilometres and a surveillance range of up to 600 kilometres. It can engage targets up to an altitude of 30 kilometers flying at a speed of 17,000 kilometers per hour or around 13 Mach – 13 times the speed of sound.
The S-400 is considered one of the world’s most advanced air defence systems that can simultaneously track and neutralize a range of incoming aerial threats.
Leave benefits for women in the armed forces
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TH
Context: The Defence Minister has approved a proposal to provide maternity, childcare, and child adoption leave to women soldiers, sailors, and air warriors, bringing their leave benefits in line with officers in the armed forces.
- This decision aims to promote the “inclusive participation” of women in the military, regardless of their ranks and is intended to improve the work-life balance for women in the armed forces.
- Maternity leave is governed by the Maternity Benefit Act of 1961, amended in 2017. It allows working women to take paid maternity leave for twenty-six weeks for the first two children.
Currently, women officers receive 180 days of maternity leave with full pay for each child (up to a maximum of two children), 360 days of childcare leave in their total service career (for children under 18), and 180 days of child adoption leave for children under one year.
Cricket: Timed Out
Sports:
Source: IE
Context: Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews was timed out during a World Cup match (Sri Lanka Vs Bangladesh), a rare incident in international cricket.
What is the Timed Out Rule in Cricket?
In cricket, the “Timed Out” rule states that after the fall of a wicket or the retirement of a batter, the incoming batter must be ready to receive the ball or for the other batter to be ready to receive the next ball within 2 minutes. If the batsman fails to do so, they will be considered out.
In a past test match in 2007, India’s Sourav Ganguly came close to being timed out due to unusual circumstances, but the situation was resolved without an appeal.
Asian Para Games 2022 (Hangzhou, China)
Source: ET
Context: India concluded the Asian Para Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China, with its best-ever medal tally of 111 medals, including 29 gold, 31 silver, and 51 bronzes. This achievement surpassed their previous record of 72 medals, including 15 gold, from the 2018 Asian Para Games. India sent 303 athletes, its largest-ever contingent to the event. The country finished fifth in the medal tally behind China, Iran, Japan, and South Korea. Indian para-athletes also set three world records during the games.
- Para Games are a multi-sport event for athletes with physical disabilities.
The first Para Asian Games was held in 2010 in Guangzhou, China, where India finished 15th with 14 medals, including one gold
Government incentives for sports:
- Increase of sports budget by three times as compared to 2014
- Khelo India Scheme
- Target Olympic Podium Scheme
Mount Celia Gold Operation (Western Australia)
Mapping
Source: PIB
Context: NMDC, a State-owned Steel CPSE, has expanded its mineral portfolio by inaugurating the Mount Celia Gold Operation in Western Australia.
This marks NMDC’s first venture into gold mining.
The Mt Celia project is located 180km northeast of Kalgoorlie. Kalgoorlie is famous for its rich gold mining history. It played a significant role in the Western Australian gold rush of the late 19th century. The “Golden Mile,” a vast stretch of gold-bearing land, is located in the Kalgoorlie-Boulder area, making it one of the most productive gold mining regions in the world
NMDC Limited (founded 1958; HQ: Hyderabad), formerly National Mineral Development Corporation, is a public sector undertaking involved in the exploration of iron ore, copper, rock phosphate, limestone, dolomite, gypsum, bentonite, magnesite, diamond, tin, tungsten, graphite, coal etc.
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