UPSC GS 1

Chakravarti Rajagopalachari

• News: Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla paid floral tributes to Bharat Ratna Shri Chakravarti Rajagopalachari in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan on his Birth Anniversary recently.
• About C. Rajagopalachari:
  • Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, affectionately known as Rajaji, was born on December 10, 1878, in Thorapalli, Tamil Nadu.

• Role in India’s Independence Movement:
  • Rajaji’s meeting with Mahatma Gandhi in 1919 inspired him to leave his legal profession and dedicate himself to India’s freedom struggle.
  • He actively participated in protests against the Rowlett Act, the Non-Cooperation Movement, the Vaikom Satyagraha, and the Civil Disobedience Movement.
  • Between 1912 and 1941, his involvement in these movements led to his imprisonment five times.
  • Rajaji was elected to the Constituent Assembly as a representative from Madras under the Congress party’s banner.
  • In the Assembly, he played a significant role in discussions on religious freedom and citizenship rights.
  • For his immense contributions to Indian politics and literature, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1954.
• Key Writings:
• • Rajaji was an accomplished writer, known for his engaging storytelling and literary contributions.
  • He authored English adaptations of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, which remain widely acclaimed.
  • His Tamil work Ramayana – Chakravarti Thirumagan is also considered a classic.

Guruvayur Temple

• News: The Supreme Court has questioned Kerala’s Guruvayur Temple for deciding not to conduct the age-old ‘Udayasthamana Pooja’ on Guruvayur Ekadashi day.
• About Guruvayur Temple:
  • The Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Swamy Temple, often referred to as the Dwarka of the South, is a Hindu temple devoted to Lord Krishna.
  • It is located in the town of Guruvayur, in the Thrissur District of Kerala.
  • While the earliest temple records date back to the 17th century, legends and literary texts suggest that the temple may be around 5,000 years old.
  • The temple was plundered and set ablaze by the Dutch in 1716 AD but was rebuilt in 1747 AD.
  • It is the fourth largest shrine in India in terms of daily devotees.

• Key Features:
  • Lord Krishna, also known as Guruvayoorappan, is the presiding deity.
  • The temple is designed in the traditional Kerala architectural style.
  • The central shrine of the temple is believed to have been reconstructed in 1638 CE.
  • The premises feature structures such as:
  • Nalambalam: A structure surrounding the sanctum sanctorum.
  • Balikkal: A sacrificial stone.
  • Deepastambam: A pillar of lights.
  • The walls of the sanctum sanctorum are adorned with ancient murals from the 17th century.
  • The Dwajasthamba (flagstaff) is a striking feature, standing at around 70 feet tall and fully covered with gold.
• Offerings and Rituals:
  • The Thulabharam ritual is among the temple’s most popular offerings. Devotees are weighed on a large scale against items like jaggery, coconuts, sugar, or bananas, and the corresponding quantity is offered to the Lord.
• Elephants:
• • The temple is home to a large population of captive male Asian elephants.
  • The Punnathur Kotta elephant sanctuary, which houses 56 elephants, is located near the temple.

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UPSC GS 2

Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024

• News: The Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was passed recently in the Lok Sabha, despite disruptions.
• About the Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024:
  • The Bill seeks to incorporate all provisions of the colonial-era Indian Railway Board Act, 1905, into the Railways Act, 1989, consolidating legal frameworks and minimizing the need to refer to separate legislations.
  • It aims to provide statutory backing to the Railway Board, which has operated without such formal sanction since its inception.
  • The statutory powers are expected to enhance the efficiency and independence of the Railway Board.
  • The Bill authorizes the Union government to determine the composition of the Railway Board, including:
    • The number of members.
    • Terms of service.
    • Required qualifications and experience.

• Provisions for an Independent Regulator: The Bill proposes the establishment of an independent regulatory body to oversee:
  • Tariff structures.
  • Safety measures.
  • Private sector participation in railway operations.
• Improved Operational Efficiencies:
  • It seeks to enhance operational efficiency by decentralizing powers, granting greater autonomy to individual railway zones.
  • The amendment aims to expedite the approval process for new train services, addressing long-standing demands from various regions.
• Impact on Infrastructure Development:
• • The Bill will facilitate faster infrastructure development and the rollout of superfast train operations, contributing to modernizing the rail network.

Yuva Sahakar Scheme

• News:  “Yuva Sahakar – Cooperative Enterprise Support and Innovation Scheme” is being implemented by National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) across the country.
• Definition: 
  • The Yuva Sahakar – Cooperative Enterprise Support and Innovation Scheme is designed to promote innovative ideas among newly formed cooperative societies.
  •  It aims to encourage young entrepreneurs and foster innovation in cooperative societies across the country.
• Key Objectives:
  • The scheme is intended to support young entrepreneurial cooperative societies with innovative ideas.
  • It targets cooperatives that have been operational for a minimum of three months.
• Loan and Financial Benefits:
  • A long-term loan is provided under the scheme, with a repayment period of up to five years.
  • An interest subvention of 2% is offered by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) on the applicable term loan interest rates for project-related activities.
  • The loan can be integrated with subsidies available under other Government of India schemes.
  • The funding is project-based, ensuring focused financial support.
• Features of the Scheme:
  • The NCDC has created a dedicated fund with flexible provisions, enabling youth to benefit from the scheme.
  • The scheme is tied to the Cooperative Start-up and Innovation Fund, valued at ₹1,000 crores, approved by the NCDC.
  • Additional incentives are provided to cooperatives in the North-Eastern region and aspirational districts.
  • Special benefits are available for women and individuals belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).
• Implementation:
  • The scheme is implemented nationwide by the NCDC.
• Alignment with Sahakar 22:
  • The Yuva Sahakar Scheme is a key component of the Sahakar 22 mission, which focuses on doubling farmers’ income by the year 2022.

UPSC GS 3

Haemophilia A

• News: Scientists in India have reported success with using gene therapy to treat severe haemophilia A.
• About Haemophilia A:
  • Haemophilia A, also known as classic hemophilia, is one of three types of hemophilia, a rare inherited disorder affecting blood clotting.
  • The condition occurs when the blood does not clot as it should, resulting in difficulty stopping or slowing down bleeding.
  • It is a sex-linked disorder, as the gene responsible is located on the X chromosome.
• Causes:
  • When bleeding occurs, a complex process called the coagulation cascade initiates to form blood clots.
  • This process involves nearly 20 specialized proteins, known as clotting factors or coagulation factors.
  • A higher risk of excessive bleeding arises if one or more clotting factors are missing or not functioning correctly.
  • Haemophilia A specifically results from a deficiency in clotting factor VIII. Without sufficient levels of factor VIII, blood cannot clot properly to control bleeding.

• Symptoms: Prolonged bleeding.
• Treatment: The condition is managed by increasing clotting factor levels or replacing the missing clotting factors through replacement therapy.

Willow Chip

• News:  Google has announced a significant advancement in quantum computing as it unveiled its next-generation chip called ‘Willow’.
• Definition: Willow Chip is a cutting-edge quantum computing chip developed by Google. The chip includes several key components:
  • Single and two-qubit gates
  • Qubit reset
  • Readout
  • These components have been carefully engineered and integrated to ensure seamless operation without lag, as delays between components could negatively affect system performance.

• Key Facts:
  • The Willow Chip solved a complex mathematical problem in just five minutes—a task that would take classical computers longer than the entire history of the universe.
  • It performed a standard benchmark computation in less than five minutes, which would take one of today’s fastest supercomputers approximately 10 septillion years (10^25 years) to complete.
  • The chip operates using superconducting transmon qubits, which are tiny electrical circuits that display quantum behavior at extremely low temperatures. These circuits are designed to function like artificial atoms in a quantum state.
• What is a Quantum Chip?
  • A quantum chip is a specialized type of computer chip built to leverage the principles of quantum mechanics, the science of very small particles such as atoms.
  • Unlike regular chips that use bits (which represent data as either 0 or 1), quantum chips use qubits. These qubits can represent data as 0, 1, or both at the same time, a phenomenon known as superposition.
  • This ability allows quantum chips to process complex calculations much more efficiently than traditional computers, making them vastly more powerful for certain types of problems.

Indian Rock Python

• News: The population of the Indian Rock Python is believed to have significantly declined across Tamil Nadu.
• About Indian Rock Python:
  • The Indian Rock Python is a large, nonvenomous python species.
  • It is also commonly referred to as the Black-tailed Python and Asian Rock Python.

• Appearance:
  • Indian Rock Pythons typically exhibit a whitish or yellowish base color with blotched patterns that range from tan to dark brown. The coloration varies depending on the terrain and habitat: 
  • Hill forests of the Western Ghats and Assam: Darker coloration.
  • Deccan Plateau and Eastern Ghats: Lighter shades.
• Habitat: The species thrives in diverse habitats, including:
  • Grasslands and savannas.
  • Swamps and marshlands.
  • Rocky foothills.
  • Woodlands and open forests.
  • River valleys.
• Distribution: Indian Rock Pythons are found in India, southern Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and possibly in the northern regions of Myanmar.
• Behavioral Traits:
  • They are primarily nocturnal and spend most of their time on the ground.
  • These pythons are excellent climbers, often seen on tree branches.
  • They are also strong swimmers and can traverse water bodies with ease.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Near Threatened.
  • CITES: Listed under Appendix II.
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Included in Schedule I.

See more: 11 Classical Languages of India – Complete UPSC Guide

Hyperloop Train Test Track

• News:  IIT Madras has successfully completed India’s first Hyperloop train test track, marking a significant milestone in futuristic transportation.
• About Hyperloop Track: Hyperloop is an advanced high-speed transportation system where pods, acting as pressurized vehicles, travel at extraordinary speeds through low-pressure tubes.
• Origin and Concept: The Hyperloop concept gained popularity in 2012, with Elon Musk playing a pivotal role in promoting it.

• Working Mechanism:
  • Hyperloop operates within vacuum-sealed tubes, drastically reducing friction and enabling unmatched travel speed and energy efficiency.
  • Pods are designed to achieve speeds up to 1,100 kmph, with an operational cruising speed of approximately 360 kmph.
• Key Components:
  • Low-Pressure Tubes: These are sealed tubes that minimize air resistance.
  • Magnetic Levitation (Maglev): Pods “float” using magnets, eliminating surface friction entirely.
  • Linear Electric Motors: These motors ensure smooth and efficient propulsion of the pods.
• Features and Benefits:
  • By combining these technologies, Hyperloop achieves exceptional speed and efficiency.
  • The system is eco-friendly, with zero direct emissions, making it a pioneering step in green transportation.
  • Hyperloop in India: India’s Hyperloop project is a collaborative effort involving Indian Railways, IIT-Madras’ Avishkar Hyperloop team, and TuTr, a startup incubated at IIT-Madras.
  • Significance for India: This innovative technology offers a sustainable and efficient solution to meet the increasing demands for modern transportation in the country.