TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 09.10.2024

1. INTERNATIONAL

INDIA : CONCERNED OVER DETERIORATING SITUATION IN W ASIA, MONITORING CLOSELY

• Intensified fighting between Israel and Hezbollah along the Blue Line in southern Lebanon, raising concerns about the safety of UN peacekeepers, including Indian troops.
• Escalation of violence:Cross-border incursions and clashes between Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Hezbollah.
• UNIFIL’s concern:Reports of widespread destruction in southern Lebanon and clashes near UN outposts.
• India’s stance:Expresses concern over the deteriorating security situation and emphasizes the need to respect UN premises and ensure the safety of peacekeepers.
• Israel’s perspective:Accuses Hezbollah of using UNIFIL outposts as shields and vows to take measures to protect UN forces.
• Relevant Concepts: Blue Line:A UN-demarcated line between Lebanon and Israel (including the Golan Heights), established after Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon. It’s not an official international border.
• UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon):A UN peacekeeping mission established in 1978 to confirm Israeli withdrawal, restore international peace and security, and assist the Lebanese government in ensuring the return of its effective authority in the area.
• Hezbollah:A Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon.
• India’s Involvement: India is a contributing country to UNIFIL, with Indian peacekeepers present in the region.
• India’s statement emphasizes the importance of respecting UNIFIL’s mandate and ensuring the safety of its personnel.
• Potential Implications: Regional instability:Further escalation of violence could destabilize the region.
• Threat to peacekeepers:UNIFIL personnel are at risk due to the intensified fighting.
• Impact on India:India’s peacekeepers are directly involved, raising concerns about their safety and the potential for India to be drawn further into the conflict.

2. BILATERAL

CHINA, INDIA AND NEW DELHI’S QUAD DILEMMA

• India’s dilemma regarding its relationship with China and its participation in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad):
• India-China Relations: Stalemate and Deterioration:The relationship is characterized by a stalemate along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), particularly in the Galwan region, Depsang Plains, and Demchok. Despite talks, disengagement hasn’t been achieved, and friction points have increased.
• Military Buildup:Both India and China are strengthening their military presence along the border. India is deploying new weaponry, while China remains confident in its superior defense capabilities.
• China’s Assertiveness:China, under Xi Jinping, has adopted a more assertive foreign policy, willing to test the waters with its neighbors, including India.
• The Quad and its Implications for India: Wilmington Declaration:The Quad meeting resulted in the Wilmington Declaration, solidifying the group’s focus on containing China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific. While not a formal defense pact, it signals a shared objective among the four nations.
• India’s Dilemma:India faces a dilemma in balancing its relationship with China and its participation in the Quad. Aligning too closely with the Quad could provoke China, while distancing itself could weaken a valuable strategic partnership.
• China’s Perspective: Sensitivity to the Quad:China views the Quad with suspicion, seeing it as a U.S.-led effort to encircle and contain its rise. India’s involvement is particularly concerning to Beijing.
• Differentiation of Threats:China distinguishes between “real” threats and peripheral dangers. While border disputes with India are seen as less critical, challenges to its maritime claims are considered existential threats.
• Potential Misinterpretation:China might interpret India’s increased engagement with the Quad as a shift in its stance, potentially leading to miscalculations and further tensions.
• Recommendations for India: Cautious Approach:India should proceed cautiously in its dealings with both China and the Quad, avoiding actions that could be perceived as provocative by China.
• Clarity of Stance:India needs to communicate its position clearly to both sides, emphasizing that it does not intend to be part of a containment strategy against China.
• Strategic Autonomy:India should maintain its strategic autonomy and avoid being seen as aligning too closely with any one bloc. Its interests lie in maintaining balanced relationships with all major powers.

3. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

WHAT IS WAYANAD’S NEW X-BAND RADAR

• Wayanad’s New X-Band Radar
• Wayanad to receive an X-band radar following devastating floods and landslides in July 2024.
• The initiative included installing a C-band radar (4-8 GHz) with an observational range of 250 km in Mangaluru
• Radar (Radio Detection and Ranging):Uses radio waves to determine distance, velocity, and characteristics of objects. A transmitter sends a signal, and a receiver analyzes the echoed signal.
• Doppler Radar (Weather Radar):Utilizes the Doppler effect (change in frequency of waves due to relative motion) to determine the speed and direction of moving objects (e.g., clouds). Pulse-Doppler radar measures intensity of precipitation.
• X-Band Radar:Operates in the X-band (8-12 GHz frequency, 2-4 cm wavelength) of the electromagnetic spectrum. Offers higher resolution images but shorter range due to faster attenuation. Suitable for detecting smaller particles like rain droplets and fog. Wayanad’s new radar will use this technology for landslide warnings by monitoring soil movement.
• Other Radar Bands: S-Band:2-4 GHz, longer range, used for cyclone detection.
• C-Band:4-8 GHz, medium range.
• L-Band:~1.25 GHz, longer wavelength, used in NISAR.
• India’s Radar Network: First indigenous X-band radar: 1970, New Delhi.
• First S-band cyclone detection radar: 1970, Visakhapatnam.
• First indigenous S-band radar: 1980, Mumbai.
• Expansion: Plan to add 56 Doppler radars, including 10 X-band radars for northeast states and Himachal Pradesh. Mission Mausam (₹2,000 crore) to upgrade infrastructure, including installing up to 60 radars by 2026.
• NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar):Joint project to map Earth’s landmasses using L-band (NASA) and S-band (ISRO) radars. Launch expected in 2025.

4. GEOGRAPHY

LADAKH AURORAE VALIDATE SPACE WEATHER TRACKING, SCIENTISTS

• Significance of recent aurora sightings in Ladakh, India:
• Aurorae Observed:Multiple aurorae have been observed in Ladakh recently, including events in May and November 2023, May 2024, and October 2024. These events are notable because Ladakh is at a lower latitude than where aurorae are typically seen.
• Significance for Space Weather Tracking:Scientists at the Center of Excellence in Space Sciences India (CESSI)predicted these auroral displays, demonstrating the effectiveness of their space weather monitoring efforts. Accurate predictions are crucial for mitigating the potential impact of solar storms on satellite-based technologies.
• Cause of Aurorae:The aurorae are caused by heightened solar activity, specifically coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which are essentially solar storms. These storms are a regular part of the sun’s 11-year activity cycle.
• Solar Cycle Peak:The CESSI team predicted in 2018 that the current solar cycle would peak in 2024. The recent aurorae in Ladakh seem to support this prediction.
• Impact of Solar Storms:While aurorae are visually stunning, the underlying solar storms can disrupt satellite communications and other technologies crucial to modern society. The ability to predict these events is vital for protecting these systems.
• Unusual Location:Aurorae are typically observed in high-latitude regions near the Arctic Circle. Their appearance in Ladakh, a lower-latitude region, indicates the intensity of the current solar activity.

5. ENVIRONEMENT

WHY PRECISION MEDICINE IN INDIA CAN’T ADVANCE WITHOUT BIOBANK LAWS

• Precision medicinetailors treatments based on individual genetic makeup, promising more effective therapies for diseases like cancer, chronic illnesses, and genetic disorders.Genomics, gene editing, mRNA therapeutics, and organ-on chips are driving precision medicine forward.
• Examples of Biobank-Driven Research:The article cites studies using biobanks to identify rare genetic disorders and develop organoids for drug screening in sarcoma research. Biobanks
• Biobanks store biological samples (blood, DNA, tissues, etc.) and associated genetic data, crucial for precision medicine research.
• Large, diverse biobanks are essential for research findings to benefit a wide population, not just a select group.
• The Current State of Biobanks in India: Existing Initiatives:India has several biobank initiatives like Genome India, Phenome India, and PRaGeD, collecting diverse genetic data.
• Regulatory Gaps:Despite these initiatives, India lacks comprehensive biobank regulations, creating significant hurdles for precision medicine. The Need for Robust Biobank Laws: • Protecting Individual Rights:Current guidelines lack clarity on informed consent, data usage, access, storage, and withdrawal rights, potentially leading to misuse and discrimination. Genetic information can reveal sensitive details about individuals and their families.
• Ensuring Ethical Conduct:The absence of a central regulatory authority and penalties for misconduct increases the risk of sample mishandling and ethical violations like unauthorized data sharing.
• Safeguarding National Interests:Without proper regulations, foreign pharmaceutical companies could access Indian samples without adequate benefit-sharing agreements, potentially depriving India of ownership and profits from research findings.
• The Call for Action: Building Public Trust:Strong data privacy protections and regulatory oversight will encourage greater public participation in biobanks by alleviating concerns about data misuse.
• Aligning with Global Standards:Comprehensive biobank laws will align India with international best practices, strengthening its position as a global leader in pharmaceuticals and next-generation therapeutics. This is particularly important given India’s role in international collaborations like Quad and BRICS. India’s Growing Market:India’s precision medicine market is projected to reach $5 billion by 2030, contributing significantly to the national bioeconomy. Government initiatives and private sector investments are fueling this growth.

ONE LINER

1. The Ministry of Statistics (MoPI) has compiled and released the 7^th consecutive issue of the publication “ EnviStats India 2024: Environment Accounts”
2. The Banjara Virasat Museum has been inaugurated in Pohardevi at Washim in Maharastra to celebrate the rich heritage of the Banjara community

BANKING – QUESTION

1. What did ISRO achieve with its third nuclear reactor at the Rajasthan Atomic Power Project?

Ans: Achieved criticality.

2. Who joined the board of directors at Stability AI?

Ans:  James Cameron.