Knowledge Funnel

Andhra Pradesh  and Odisha CM recently held talks to iron out all differences with regard to the sharing of Vamsadhara River waters. Vamsadhara River River Vamsadhara is an important east-flowing river between Rushikulya and Godavari, in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. The river originates in the border of Thuamul Rampur in the Kalahandi district and Kalyansinghpur in Rayagada district of Odisha. It runs for a distance of about 254 kilometres, where it joins the Bay of Bengal at Kalingapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The total catchment area of the river basin is about 10,830 square kilometres. The dispute Andhra Pradesh wants to build the Neradi bridge across the river which will be possible only after Odisha’s consent. Odisha argues that the flood flow canal would result in drying up the existing river bed and consequent shifting of the river affecting the groundwater table. Odisha also raised the issue of scientific assessment of available water in Vamsadhara at Katragada and Gotta Barrage, ...

In the reporting on the LAC stand-off, the Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie (DSDBO) road has often appeared in news. Practice questions for mains: Q. Discuss how India’s all-weather border infrastructure has created new festering points for the Sino-Indian border skirmished. Daulat Beg Oldie DBO is the northernmost corner of Indian Territory in Ladakh, in the area better known in Army parlance as Sub-Sector North. DBO has the world’s highest airstrip, originally built during the 1962 war but abandoned until 2008 when the Indian Air Force (IAF) revived it as one of its many Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) along the LAC. The DSDBO Road DSDBO is an all-weather 255-km long road 255-km long built by India over nearly 20 years. Running almost parallel to the LAC, the DSDBO road, meandering through elevations ranging between 13,000 ft and 16,000 ft, took India’s Border Roads Organisation (BRO) almost two decades to construct. Its strategic importance is that it connects Leh to DBO, virtually at ...

There has been a call for expansion of G7 by the U.S. President. Against this backdrop, this article examines the historical background in which the group emerged. But a lot has changed since. So, it would be appropriate for G7 to adjust to the new reality. But what would be the focus of a new mechanism? What are the areas in which India would be interested? All such questions are answered in this article. Call for expansion of G7 and China’s objection Recently, the U.S. President proposed the expansion of G7 to G10 or G11,  with the inclusion of India, South Korea, Australia and possibly Russia. Elaborating this logic, the White House Director of Strategic Communications said the U.S. President wanted to include other countries, including the  Five Eyes countries. Five Eye is an intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. The U.S. also stressed said the expanded group should talk about the  future of China. A...

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has issued an order mandating a coloured strip to identify four-wheeled BSVI vehicle. Note important PM levels allowed under BS VI norms. Note how it is different from the earlier BS IV norm. Details of the colour band MoRTH has mandated a strip of green colour of 1 cm width on top of the existing sticker carrying details of registration for BS-VI. Vehicles of any fuel type will carry the green strip irrespective of their original stickers i.e. for petrol or CNG which have a light blue colour sticker and a diesel vehicle which is of orange colour. These stickers will now have a green strip of 1 cm on top for BS-VI, as mandated. Back2Basics:  Bharat Stage Norms Standard Reference Date of Implementation Bharat Stage II Euro 2 1 April 2005 Bharat Stage III Euro 3 1 April 2010 Bharat Stage IV Euro 4 1 April 2017 Bharat Stage VI Euro 6 April 2020 with a mandate (proposed) Minutes of BS-VI Carmakers would have to put three pieces of equ...

The Ministry of Shipping has informed about the steps taken for prevention and control of pollution arising from ships in the sea and in the inland waterways under the MARPOL Convention. MARPOL Convention MARPOL is the main international convention aimed at the prevention of pollution from ships caused by operational or accidental causes. The Protocol of 1978 was adopted in response to a number of tanker accidents in 1976–1977. It is one of the most important international marine environmental conventions. It was developed by the IMO with an objective to minimize pollution of the oceans and seas, including dumping, oil and air pollution. The Convention includes regulations aimed at preventing and minimizing pollution from ships – both accidental pollution and that from routine operations – and currently includes six technical Annexes. India is a signatory to MARPOL. It has six annexes (I to VI) and it deals with prevention of  (1)  Pollution from ships by Oil,  (2)  ...

Indian scientists have found a new process for synthesizing crystalline rubrene for the development of optoelectronic devices and also for preparation of Electronic Skin (E-Skin). What is crystalline rubrene? Crystalline rubrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-based thin film. It is a water-free, solvent-free, environmentally friendly one-step plasma process. It demonstrated optoelectronic properties (which detect and control light). A highly uniform pin-hole-free thin film can be deposited by this process, which is useful for the fabrication of high-end devices. Working principle Devices made of pyro-electric materials (that generate electric charge when they are heated or cooled) and piezo-electric materials (that generate electric charge under the effect of mechanical pressure), can help detect change in temperature and pressure. Pyro-electric materials also show pyro-phototronic effect where pyro-electricity is associated with the change in temperature of a material when it ab...

The principal reason that led to the recent 20,000-tonne oil leak at an Arctic region power plant in Russia that is now being recognised is the sinking of ground surface due to permafrost thaw. What is Permafrost? Permafrost is ground that remains completely frozen at 0 degrees Celsius or below for at least two years. It is defined solely based on temperature and duration. The permanently frozen ground, consisting of soil, sand, and rock held together by ice, is believed to have formed during glacial periods dating several millennia. Where are they found? These grounds are known to be below 22 per cent of the land surface on Earth, mostly in polar zones and regions with high mountains. They are spread across 55 per cent of the landmass in Russia and Canada, 85 per cent in the US state of Alaska, and possibly the entirety of Antarctica. In northern Siberia, it forms a layer that is 1,500 m thick; 740 m in northern Alaska. At lower latitudes, permafrost is found at high altitude location...

The RBI has created a Payments Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) with an outlay of Rs. 500 Cr. Payments Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) PIDF aims to encourage acquirers to deploy Points of Sale (PoS) infrastructure — both physical and digital modes in tier-3 to tier-6 centres and north eastern states. The setting of PIDF is in line with the measures proposed by the vision document on payment and settlement systems in India 2019-2021. It is also in line with the RBI’s proposal to set up an Acceptance Development Fund which will be used to develop card acceptance infrastructure across small towns and cities. Its working The PIDF will be governed through an Advisory Council and managed and administered by RBI. It will also receive recurring contributions to cover operational expenses from card-issuing banks and card networks. RBI will also contribute to its yearly shortfalls, if necessary. Why need PIDF? Over the years, the payments ecosystem in the country has evolved with a ...

A rare band-tail scorpionfish was recently found in the Gulf of Mannar. A stand-alone species being mentioned in the news for the first time (and that too from Southern India) find their way into the prelims. Make special note here. Usually, note the species and its habitat location (IUCN status if available), in the purview of a generic prelims question. Band-tail scorpionfish The band-tail scorpionfish (Scorpaenospsis neglecta) camouflages within the seagrass meadows. It is well-known for its stinging venomous spines and ability to change colour. The fish has the ability to change colour and blend with its surrounding environment to escape from predators and while preying. The fish is called ‘scorpionfish’ because its spines contain neurotoxic venom. Posted on June 1, 2020  |  The Hindu New Species of Plants and Animals Discovered Species in news: Amaltas or Indian Laburnum Prelims Only ENVIRO & BIODIVERSITY  |  MAINS PAPER 3 : CONSERVATION, ENVIRONMENTAL POLLU...