Development of Cloud Chamber as Part of Mission Mausam
Syllabus: GS 1/Geography
In News
- India is establishing a first-of-its-kind cloud chamber at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) under Mission Mausam.
| Do you know ? – Mission Mausam is led by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, and aims to enhance India’s capabilities in weather and climate science, research, and services. – The mission’s focus will include improving observations and understanding for providing highly accurate and timely weather and climate information across temporal and spatial scales, including monsoon forecasts, alerts for air quality, extreme weather events and cyclones, weather interventions for managing fog, hail, and rain, etc., capacity building and generating awareness. |
Background
- India has previously conducted experiments on cloud seeding through the Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment (CAIPEEX), which showed that, under the right conditions, cloud seeding could enhance rainfall by up to 46%.
- However, it is acknowledged that cloud seeding alone cannot solve all rainfall issues.
What is a Cloud Chamber?
- A cloud chamber is a closed environment where water vapor and aerosols are injected under controlled humidity and temperature, allowing clouds to form.
- It will be Located at Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune.
- It is First-of-its-kind in India, focusing on convective properties to study Indian monsoon clouds.
Relevance
- India’s cloud chamber will focus on understanding cloud physics specific to Indian weather systems, particularly monsoon clouds.
- This facility is unique as it will have convection properties, which are rare globally, allowing for detailed studies of cloud behavior under various conditions.
- It will enable scientists to study the particles that contribute to cloud formation and behavior.
Plans for Use
- Tailored Studies: Ability to adjust atmospheric parameters to simulate different environmental conditions.
- Instrumentation Development: Advanced tools will be created over the next 18-24 months to monitor cloud behavior.
- Seed Particle Injection: Techniques to test various scenarios affecting cloud formation.
Future Outlook
- Overall, the convective cloud chamber represents a significant step in advancing India’s capabilities in weather modification and research in cloud physics.
Bail Provisions Under BNSS for Undertrial Prisoners
Syllabus: GS2/Polity and Governance
Context
- The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has advised all states and Union Territories (UTs) to implement Section 479 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), which aims to provide significant relief to undertrial prisoners.
Background
- The advisory comes amid rising concerns over overcrowded prisons and the prolonged detention of undertrial prisoners, many of whom have yet to face trial.
- India has one of the highest proportions of undertrial prisoners in the world.
- As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) Prison Statistics India 2021, over 77% of the prison population in India consists of undertrial prisoners.
- The occupancy rate of Indian prisons in 2021 was around 130%.
Reasons for overcrowded prisons
- Stringent Bail Provisions: Courts are hesitant to grant bail, particularly for minor offenses, resulting in more undertrials being imprisoned for extended periods even when they are eligible for release on bail.
- Delayed Remission and Parole: Although provisions exist for parole and remission, bureaucratic hurdles and delays in processing these requests prevent eligible prisoners from being released.
- Insufficient Prison Infrastructure: The prison capacity has not kept pace with the growing prison population.
Provisions of bail under BNSS, 2023
- Under Section 479, prisoners who have completed half the maximum imprisonment period prescribed for their alleged offense are now eligible for bail.
- The first-time offenders are entitled to release on a personal bond if they have served one-third of the maximum sentence.
e-Prisons portal
- For assisting prison authorities in quick identification of eligible prisoners, the MHA made appropriate provisions in the national e-Prisons portal enlisting the;
- Types of offenses that prisoners have been charged with,
- The maximum sentence for the offense committed,
- The date of completion of one-half or one-third of the maximum period of imprisonment specified for an offense under the relevant law by a prisoner, etc.
Other initiatives taken by government
- Model Prison Manual, 2016: Provides updated guidelines for improving prison administration with a focus on prisoners’ welfare, rehabilitation, and the protection of their rights.
- Legal Aid for Prisoners: The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) provides free legal aid to undertrials and convicts who cannot afford legal representation.
- All India Committee on Jail Reforms (Mulla Committee) 1980: The committee recommended measures to expedite trials and decongest prisons, focus on rehabilitation and reintegration, programs for skill development, education, and mental health support for inmates.
- The Ministry of Home Affairs launched the Support for Poor Prisoners’ Scheme in 2024, allocating ₹20 crore to provide financial assistance to poor prisoners who are unable to afford bail or sureties.
Way Ahead
- Fast-track Courts: Expanding fast-track courts for quicker disposal of cases, especially for undertrial prisoners, will reduce their prolonged detention.
- Leveraging technology for e-filing, virtual hearings, and automated case management to reduce delays in court processes.
- Undertrial Review Committees (URCs): Strengthening URCs at the district level to regularly review the status of undertrial prisoners and expedite their release where appropriate, especially for petty offenses.
India and China Reach Breakthrough Agreement on Border Tensions
Syllabus: GS2/International Relation
Context
- India and China have reached an agreement on the “patrolling arrangements” and the resolution of themilitary stand-off at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
- It includes the remaining friction points of Demchok and Depsang.
About
- After the beginning of the stand-off in eastern Ladakh in 2020, India and China had deployed thousands of troops in forward posts along the LAC.
- After negotiations were held in a variety of forums, agreement has been arrived at leading to resolution of the issues.
- Certain mutual agreements have also been made for the eastern theatre, especially in the sensitive sectors of Arunachal Pradesh.
The India-China Borders
- India considers the LAC to be 3,488 km long, while the Chinese consider it to be only around 2,000 km.
- It is divided into three sectors: the eastern sector which spans Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, the middle sector in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, and the western sector in Ladakh.
- Western Sector or Aksai Chin Sector: The region is claimed by the Chinese government post-1962 war as an autonomous part of the Xinjiang region which was originally a part of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
- Middle Sector: It is the less disputed section of the Indo-China border but the recent Doklam standoff and Nathu La Pass trading issues have brought distress at all levels.
- Eastern Sector or Arunachal Pradesh:McMahon Line had differentiated India and China in this sector but in the 1962 war the People’s Liberation Army covered 9000 sq. km. area.
- The announcement of a unilateral ceasefire made them step back on the international borderline.
- However, China has been claiming that area as their own and recently they have started to claim the whole of Arunachal Pradesh as their own.
Why did China Encroach on Indian Territory?
- To show its dominance: China felt that somehow India was not recognising the growing gap in their relative economic status, when China perceived that India was seeking to get closer to the United States (US) to balance China it decided that it needed to demonstrate its power.
- From the Chinese point of view, the basis of this “stability” does not come from settling its border issues with India, but dominance on the border and deterring Indian challenges.
- India’s stand on China’s Aggressive Foreign Policy: India sought to challenge the Chinese point of view in many ways.
- By building up its border infrastructure to more effectively maintain a deterrence capacity against the PLA along its borders.
- By developing a relationship with the US which appeared to merge the threats from China’s primary and secondary strategic directions.
- By promoting its ties with exiled Tibetans and maintaining its relationship with the Dalai Lama.
- Challenging China’s efforts to develop ties in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region.
- Leading the global critique of China’s Belt & Road Initiative.
- Threat to Chinese efforts in the South-Asian region: China needs to be accepted in its periphery as the foremost economic and military power, before it is taken seriously as a global power.
- In its southwest is India, equally huge and populous and with aspirations of its own, and its neighbors most certainly see India as being the naturally pre-eminent power in South Asia.
- India’s engagement with Chinese Adversaries: In recent years, India has developed strong military ties with the country which China believes is its primary threat, the United States.
- China would like to focus on the western Pacific challenge and retain stable ties with India in South Asia.
- India’s constant efforts, however, to upgrade its border infrastructure and strengthen its partnership with the US destabilise China’s calculations.
Way Forward
- Disengaging from the points of friction is undoubtedly a step forward, and India and China must go a long way to solve the border dispute.
- India should continue to press for complete disengagement and de-escalation from all friction areas.
- Also, the Corps Commanders level talks must continue as the relationship cannot go back to normal as long as the situation along the stand-off lingers.
- India must keep its stand firm over restoring the status quo and rebuilding peace all along the LAC.
- The Indian government must constantly watch all developments that affect India’s security and take all essential measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
COP 16 of Convention on Biological Diversity
Syllabus: GS3/ Environment
Context
- The Sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 16) will be held in Cali, Colombia.
Convention on Biological Diversity
- Origin: The Convention was opened for signature in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio Earth Summit).
- The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) entered into force on 29 December 1993.
- The first session of the COP was scheduled in 1994 in the Bahamas.
- Secretariat: Montreal, Canada.
- Ratification: The CBD has been ratified by 196 nations, making it one of the most widely adopted international treaties.
- The United States is the only UN member state that has not ratified the convention.
- It has 3 main objectives;
- The conservation of biological diversity
- The sustainable use of the components of biological diversity
- The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.
- Governing body is the Conference of the Parties (COP), which meets every two years.
Supplementary Agreements of CBD
- Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety: This international treaty governs the transboundary movements of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology, ensuring that countries can manage risks associated with biotechnology.
- It was adopted in 2000 and entered into force in 2003.
- Nagoya Protocol: This agreement focuses on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits arising from their utilization (ABS), aimed at ensuring that benefits derived from genetic resources are shared fairly with the countries of origin.
- It was adopted in 2010 and entered into force in 2014.
| Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework – The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was concluded at COP15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), held in Montreal, Canada, in 2022. – This framework is a landmark agreement aimed at addressing the global biodiversity crisis. – It features 23 targets to be met by 2030 and four global goals to preserve biodiversity for current and future generations. – The agreement is not binding on members. |
Momentum for 30 x 30
- One of the main objectives of COP16 is to expedite progress on the 30 x 30 targets which are the most immediate.
- It is a commitment to put at least 30% of the world’s lands and oceans, especially biodiversity rich areas, under conservation by 2030, and to initiate restoration work in at least 30% of degraded land or marine ecosystems by 2030.
Way Ahead
- Implementation Gaps: Identifying and overcoming challenges in the implementation of existing biodiversity agreements.
- Equitable Access: Ensuring equitable access to genetic resources and fair sharing of benefits derived from their use.
- Monitoring and Reporting: Establishing effective mechanisms for monitoring and reporting on biodiversity targets.
Fourth Global Coral Bleaching Event
Syllabus: GS3/ Biodiversity and Conservation
Context
- According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the mass bleaching of coral reefs around the world since 2023 is now the most extensive on record.
About
- 77% of the world’s coral reef areas – from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Indian oceans – have so far been subjected to bleaching-level heat stress.
- The NOAA coral reef authority declared the global bleaching event in 2024, making it the fourth of its kind since 1998.
- Mass bleaching events on the Great Barrier Reef have been documented with full-scale surveys in 1998, 2002, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2022 and 2024.
- The previous record from the 2014 to 2017 mass bleaching affected just below 66 percent of the world’s reef area.
- In coming months and years scientists will conduct underwater assessments of dead corals to help tally up the severity of the damage.
What are Corals?
- Corals are invertebrates that belong to a large group of animals called Cnidaria.
- Corals are formed by multiple small, soft organisms known as polyps.
- They secrete a rocky chalk-like (calcium carbonate) exoskeleton around themselves for protection.
- Coral reefs are therefore created by millions of tiny polyps forming large carbonate structures.
- Appearance: Corals range in colour from red to purple and even blue, but are most commonly shades of brown and green.
- Coral are bright and colorful because of microscopic algae called zooxanthellae.
- There are three types of coral reefs – fringing reefs, barrier reefs and atolls.
- Fringing reefs form along shorelines, barrier reefs form in open water and atolls are circular reefs that have formed around sunken volcanoes.
- Significance: They provide food, shelter, resting and breeding grounds to a quarter of all marine life, acting as nurseries and refuges to protect critical biodiversity.
- They also support more than 1 billion people living in coastal regions around the world by providing food, livelihoods and recreation.
Coral Bleaching
- Coral bleaching occurs when corals expel the colourful algae living in their tissues.
- Without these helpful algae, the corals become pale and are vulnerable to starvation and disease.
- A bleached coral is not dead, but ocean temperatures need to cool off for any hope of recovery.
- At least 14% of the world’s remaining corals were estimated to have died in the previous two global bleaching events.
- Scientists had previously projected that coral reefs would cross a tipping point at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 F) of global warming, whereby up to 90% of reefs would be lost.
- The latest record bleaching adds to growing evidence that reefs have already passed a point of no return at just 1.3 C (2.3 F) of warming.
What triggers Coral Bleaching?
- The leading cause of coral bleaching is climate change.
- A warming planet means a warming ocean, and a change in water temperature—as little as 2 degrees Fahrenheit—can cause coral to drive out algae.
- Coral also bleaches for other reasons, like extremely low tides, pollution, or too much sunlight.
- The ongoing bleaching has been made worse by El Nino, a natural climate pattern that can temporarily warm some oceans, which ended in May.
Concerns
- Coral bleaching matters because once these corals die, reefs rarely come back.
- With few corals surviving, they struggle to reproduce, and entire reef ecosystems, on which people and wildlife depend, deteriorate.
- This would have dire implications for ocean health, subsistence fisheries and tourism.
Impact of Coral Bleaching
- Wildlife: Thousands of marine animals depend on coral reefs for survival.
- Coral reefs provide shelter, spawning grounds, and protection from predators.
- They also support organisms at the base of ocean food chains.
- As reef ecosystems collapse, already at-risk species may face extinction.
- Humans: Coral reefs are natural barriers that absorb the force of waves and storm surges, keeping coastal communities safe.
- Every year, reefs provide about $2.7 trillion in goods and services, according to a 2020 estimate by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network.
- Bleached coral also compounds the overfishing crisis by removing links in the food web and depriving some fish of a place to spawn and develop.
- Reef tourism brings in billions of dollars each year and supports thousands of jobs.
Can corals recover from bleaching?
- Corals can recover from bleaching over time, but only if temperatures drop and conditions return to normal.
- When this happens, the algae returns and the corals gradually regain their health.
Way Ahead
- Strengthening Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
- Implementing coral restoration techniques, such as coral gardening and breeding resilient coral species, to enhance recovery after bleaching events.
- Advocating for global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to limit temperature increases and ocean acidification.
- Increasing investment in research to better understand coral resilience, bleaching triggers, and recovery processes, alongside developing advanced monitoring technologies.
