23 Aug | UPSC Current Affairs: Dhangars, Shiveluch, Lunar Magma, Waterspouts, and More

UPSC GS 1

Dhangars

• News: A large group of Dhangars recently marched to the office of the subdivisional officer in Khamgaon of Maharashtra’s Buldhana district, demanding a “grazing corridor” for their sheep and goats.
• About the Dhangar Community
  • • The Dhangars are a community of shepherds with populations spread across several Indian states, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
    •  In Maharashtra, the Dhangar community is classified under the Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes (VJNT) list.

• Lifestyle
  • • Dhangars often lead an isolated life, moving primarily through forests, hills, and mountains. 
    • Their households are typically small and close-knit, with family playing a central role in their daily lives.
• Population
  • • The Dhangar community is estimated to have a population of around 1 crore (10 million), which constitutes about 9% of Maharashtra’s total population.
• Clusters and Sub-Castes
  • • Within the Dhangar tribe, there are around 20 sub-castes and clusters, each with its own distinct customs, traditions, and way of life.
• Occupation
  • • The Dhangars rely primarily on sheep and goat herding as their main livelihood. They practice both nomadic pastoralism and semi-nomadic agrarian lifestyles in rural areas.
• Seasonal Migration
  • • With the end of the bajra harvesting season in October, the Dhangar tribe embarks on an annual migration in search of greener pastures for their cattle. 
    • This seasonal migration is a crucial aspect of their way of life.
• Culture
  • • Dhangar culture is rich with customs and rituals that they practice during their migrations.
    •  Ancestor worship is an essential part of their religious practices. 
    • Additionally, the tradition of singing songs, particularly during the night, holds a special place in their culture. 
    • These songs, known as sumbaran, form an oral tradition that serves to preserve their history and heritage.

Read also: Patent Regime in India: Overview and Strategic Insights | UPSC

Shiveluch Volcano

• News: The Shiveluch volcano in Russia recently began sputtering.
• About Shiveluch
  • • Shiveluch is a stratovolcano, characterized by its structure of alternating layers of solidified ash, hardened lava, and volcanic rocks.
• Location
  • • Shiveluch is the northernmost active volcano in Kamchatka Krai, Russia.

• Activity and Eruptions
  • • Shiveluch is one of the most active volcanic structures in Kamchatka, with over 60 significant eruptions recorded during the Holocene period.
    •  The current phase of volcanic activity began around 900 BC and continues to this day, with frequent eruptions.
• Impact on Air Traffic
  • • Eruptions from Shiveluch often produce volcanic ash emissions, which can disrupt air traffic, especially on flight routes connecting Asia and North America.
• 2024 Eruption
  • • In 2024, Shiveluch experienced a major eruption following a powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake off the east coast of Kamchatka. This event is part of the volcano’s ongoing active phase.

Waterspouts

• News: Recently, a tragic event occurred off the coast of Sicily, Italy, where a luxury yacht sank during a violent storm. The storm, potentially involving a waterspout, resulted in one confirmed death and six individuals missing.
• About Waterspouts
  • • Waterspouts are remarkable atmospheric phenomena that resemble tornadoes but form over bodies of water. 
    • These rotating columns of air are often seen over oceans or large lakes and serve as a stunning yet dangerous display of nature’s power. 
    • Waterspouts are typically weaker than tornadoes, with most lasting between 5 to 10 minutes. 
    • The average diameter of a waterspout is around 165 feet (50 meters), and wind speeds can reach up to 100 km/h (60 mph).

• Formation of Waterspouts: The formation of a waterspout depends on its type:
  • • Fair-Weather Waterspouts: These occur when cool air flows over open water, pulling water upwards and creating the waterspout.
    • Tornadic Waterspouts: These are more likely to form during thunderstorms and may even begin as tornadoes on land before moving over water. Tornadic waterspouts typically develop in the sky and extend downward toward the water.
• Waterspouts evolve through a five-stage process:
  • • Dark Spot: A light-colored disk appears on the water’s surface, surrounded by a darker area with blurred edges.
    • Spiral Pattern: Bands of light and dark colors spiral outward from the dark spot.
    • Spray Ring: The dark spot produces a swirling mass of sea spray, resembling the eye of a hurricane.
    • Mature Vortex: The spray ring forms a spinning funnel stretching from the water’s surface to the clouds above.
    • Decay: As warm air disrupts the vortex, the waterspout weakens and eventually dissipates.
    • The key to waterspout formation lies in the interaction of cold air cycling over warm water. 
    • When these conditions align, a waterspout can form. 
    • Waterspouts are most common in tropical and subtropical regions but can occur in various locations worldwide, including Europe, the Middle East, and even Antarctica.
• Types of Waterspouts
  • • Tornadic Waterspouts: These are essentially tornadoes that form over water, often associated with severe thunderstorms. Tornadic waterspouts can bring dangerous conditions, including high winds, large hail, and frequent lightning.
    • Fair-Weather Waterspouts: These form under calmer conditions, often at the base of developing cumulus clouds. They are typically not linked to thunderstorms and develop from the water’s surface upward. Fair-weather waterspouts generally remain stationary due to light wind conditions.
    • Snowspouts: These are exceptionally rare waterspouts that develop beneath the base of a snow squall. Also known as snow devils, snowspouts are typically weak, though some can reach the strength of an EF1 tornado.
• Recent Research and Climate Impact
  • • Recent research from the University of Barcelona suggests that warmer sea surface temperatures are linked to increased waterspout formation. 
    • For example, the sea surface near Sicily has been observed to be 2.5 to 3 degrees Celsius warmer than the 1990–2020 average. This warming may contribute to the rising frequency of waterspouts in the region.

Lunar Magma Ocean

• News: India’s Chandrayaan-3 finds ancient magma ocean on Moon south pole.
• Chandrayaan-3’s Discovery
  • • Chandrayaan-3’s Pragyan rover recently made a significant discovery by identifying a rock type known as ferroan anorthosite in the lunar south pole region. 
    • This finding is notable as it supports earlier observations made by the Apollo and Luna missions, reinforcing the theory that these rocks are remnants of an ancient magma ocean that once covered the moon’s surface.

• What is the Lunar Magma Ocean (LMO)?
  • • The Lunar Magma Ocean (LMO) refers to a hypothesized early phase in the moon’s history when its entire surface was molten. 
    • This magma ocean is believed to have formed after a catastrophic impact between the early Earth and a Mars-sized body, leading to the creation of the moon. 
    • As the magma began to cool, various minerals crystallized at different depths, leading to the formation of the moon’s crust.
• Ferroan Anorthosite and Its Significance
  • • Ferroan anorthosite, a type of rock rich in calcium and aluminum, is crucial evidence of the LMO. 
    • As the magma ocean cooled and solidified, ferroan anorthosite floated to the surface, forming the moon’s initial crust.
    •  This discovery indicates that the moon’s surface has remained largely unchanged due to the absence of significant volcanic activity or plate tectonics, which contrasts with Earth’s dynamic geological processes.
• Importance of the LMO
  • • The LMO concept helps scientists understand the moon’s geologic history, particularly its differentiation process. 
    • In this process, heavier materials sank towards the moon’s core, while lighter materials, like ferroan anorthosite, floated to the surface. 
    • This led to the layered structure of the moon that scientists observe today.
• Scientific Implications
  • • The presence of ferroan anorthosite supports the theory that the moon’s early crust was formed from a global magma ocean.
    • The discovery indicates that the moon has not undergone significant volcanic activity or tectonic movement, preserving its ancient surface.
    • The finding also ties into broader scientific concepts like Einstein’s theory of general relativity. 
    • The moon’s lower gravity results in time ticking slightly faster on the moon than on Earth, a phenomenon explained by time dilation in general relativity.
• Key Points
  • • Impact Hypothesis: The widely accepted theory that the moon was formed from debris resulting from a collision between early Earth and a Mars-sized body.
    • South Pole-Aitken Basin: The largest impact crater in the solar system, located near where Chandrayaan-3’s Pragyan rover conducted its studies.
    • Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS): The instrument used by Pragyan to analyze the chemical composition of lunar soil, leading to the discovery of ferroan anorthosite.

UPSC GS 2

Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme

• News: The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has signed an MoU with the Department of Posts, where postal employees will physically verify new units set up under the Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP).
• About PMEGP
  • • The Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) is a central sector scheme administered by the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. 
    • The scheme aims to foster self-employment by facilitating the establishment of new ventures, micro-enterprises, and projects across rural and urban areas.

• Objectives
  • • Employment Generation: PMEGP aims to create employment opportunities in both rural and urban areas by supporting the establishment of self-employment ventures.
    • Empowerment of Artisans and Youth: The scheme seeks to provide self-employment opportunities to traditional artisans and unemployed youth by encouraging them to set up enterprises locally.
    • Sustainable Employment: PMEGP focuses on providing continuous and sustainable employment to traditional artisans and unemployed youth, thereby helping to reduce migration from rural to urban areas.
    • Enhancing Income: By facilitating employment, the scheme aims to increase the wage-earning capacity of workers and artisans and contribute to employment growth in rural and urban regions.
• Eligibility
  • • Age: Individuals above 18 years of age are eligible to apply.
    • Income Ceiling: There is no income ceiling for those seeking assistance under PMEGP.
    • Education Requirement: For projects costing over ₹10 lakh in the manufacturing sector and ₹5 lakh in the business/service sector, the applicant must have at least a standard VIII pass qualification.
• Implementing Agency: Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)
• The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC):
  • • It is a statutory body established under the Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act of 1956. 
    • It functions as the apex organization for the development of khadi and village industries in India, under the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. 
    • KVIC is responsible for planning, promoting, organizing, and implementing development programs for khadi and other village industries, particularly in rural areas.

Justice Hema Committee Report

• News: The Kerala High Court recently ordered the state to place before it in a sealed cover the entire Hema Committee report, including sections redacted for confidentiality. 
• Formation and Purpose
  • • The Justice Hema Committee was constituted by the Kerala government in July 2017.
    • It was established following the abduction and sexual assault of a prominent Malayalam actress, bringing attention to the widespread discrimination against women in the Malayalam film industry.
    • The committee’s mandate was to investigate issues of sexual harassment and gender inequality in the industry.
• Key Findings of the Justice Hema Committee Report
  • • Prevalence of Sexual Harassment: The report uncovers a deep-seated culture of sexual harassment, including the presence of the casting couch, vulgar remarks, and instances of male co-actors forcing themselves into the rooms of female colleagues.
    • Fear of Retribution: Many women refrain from reporting sexual harassment due to a well-founded fear of retribution, including cyber harassment by fan clubs, which serves as a form of intimidation.
    • Male-Dominated Mafia: The report exposes the existence of a male-dominated “mafia” comprising influential actors and producers who control the industry and suppress any form of dissent or resistance.
    • Lack of Basic Facilities for Women: The report highlights the inadequate basic amenities for women on film sets, such as the absence of proper toilets and changing rooms, leading to health risks like urinary tract infections.
    • Gender Pay Disparity: The gender pay gap is largely attributed to the lack of written contracts in the industry, disproportionately affecting women, who often receive lower wages than their male counterparts.

UPSC GS 3

Antihyper Hydrogen-4

• News:  The discovery of a newly found antiparticle, antihyper hydrogen-4, could provide significant insights into the potential imbalance between matter and antimatter, which might help scientists understand the origins of our universe.
• More on News:
  • • Antihyper hydrogen-4, composed of an antiproton, two antineutrons, and one antihyperon (a baryon containing a strange quark), was recently identified by physicists. 
    • The discovery was made from particle tracks observed during 6 billion collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York.
• Key Findings
  • • Both hyperhydrogen-4 and its antimatter counterpart, antihyper hydrogen-4, exhibit extremely short lifetimes, quickly disappearing from existence.
    • No significant difference was found between the lifetimes of the matter and antimatter versions.
    • Moving forward, physicists plan to compare the masses of these particles and their corresponding antiparticles in hopes of uncovering clues about the matter-heavy nature of our universe.
• Understanding Antimatter
  • • Antimatter mirrors the properties of matter, with the exception of having opposite electric charges. 
    • Antimatter particles possess the same mass, lifetime before decaying, and engage in similar interactions as their matter counterparts.
• What Is an Antiparticle?
  • • An antiparticle is a subatomic particle that shares the same mass as another particle but has equal and opposite values for certain properties.
    •  For example, the antiparticle of the electron is known as the positron, which has the same mass as the electron but carries a positive charge instead of a negative one.

Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR)

• News: Similipal Tiger Reserve authorities have decided to grow bamboo grass in the national park as part of an initiative to provide sufficient fodder for elephants.
• Location:
  • • Similipal Tiger Reserve is situated in the northernmost part of Odisha, within the Mayurbhanj District.
    •  Spanning over 2,750 sq km, it is home to picturesque waterfalls like Joranda and Barehipani.
• History and Current Status
  • • Project Tiger: Similipal was formally designated as a tiger reserve under Project Tiger in May 1973.
    • Wildlife Sanctuary: The Government of Odisha declared it a wildlife sanctuary in 1979.
    • National Park Proposal: In 1980, 303 sq km of the sanctuary was proposed as a national park by the Government of Odisha.
    • UNESCO Biosphere Reserve: In May 2009, Similipal National Park was added to UNESCO’s list of Biosphere Reserves.
    • Elephant Reserve: It is part of the Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve, which also includes the Hadgarh and Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuaries.
• Terrain and Geography
  • • The reserve is surrounded by high plateaus and hills, with the highest peaks being Khairiburu and Meghashini, standing at 1,515 meters above sea level. 
    • The landscape is primarily undulating and hilly, with open grasslands and wooded areas interspersed.
• Vegetation
  • • Similipal’s vegetation is diverse, comprising various forest types and habitats. 
    • Northern tropical moist deciduous forests dominate the area, along with some semi-evergreen patches.
• Fauna
  • • Key Species: Tigers, elephants, and hill mynahs are prominent inhabitants. Also it has the only population of melanistic tigers in the world.
    • Wildlife Diversity: The reserve houses 55 species of mammals, 304 species of birds, 60 species of reptiles, 21 species of frogs, 38 species of fish, and 164 species of butterflies.
• Floral Diversity: An impressive 1,078 plant species, including 94 species of orchids, thrive in Similipal.

Read this: Understanding the State’s Power to Tax Mining Activities | UPSC

ICGS Sujay

• News:  Indian Coast Guard’s Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) ICGS Sujay with integral helicopter made a port call at Jakarta, Indonesia recently, as part of its ongoing overseas deployment to East Asia.
• Aspects and Description of ICGS Sujay
  • • ICGS Sujay is an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
    • It is stationed at Paradip, Odisha.
    • The vessel operates under the command of the Coast Guard Region (North-East) and is frequently deployed for a variety of missions.

• Features
  • • The ship is equipped with a 30mm CRN 91 gun and features advanced navigational and communication systems, sensors, and machinery.
    • Measuring 105 meters in length, ICGS Sujay is crewed by 12 officers and 94 men. 
    • Two women ICG officers have participated in cooperative maritime engagements, promoting “Women in Maritime Security and Safety.”
    • ICGS Sujay is designed for extended deployments in diverse maritime zones, performing missions such as surveillance, search and rescue, and law enforcement.
• Professional Interactions & Engagements
  • • The crew participated in professional exchanges centered on Marine Pollution Response (MPR), Maritime Search and Rescue (M-SAR), and Maritime Law Enforcement.
    • Ten National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets aboard ICGS Sujay will collaborate with local youth organizations in an Environmental Protection Walkathon aimed at combating marine plastic pollution.
• Significance of the Deployment
  • • MoU with BAKAMLA: This deployment aligns with the Memorandum of Understanding between the Indian Coast Guard and BAKAMLA (Indonesia), signed on July 6, 2020, to strengthen maritime cooperation.
    • Reinforcing Bilateral Relationships: The deployment enhances relationships with key maritime agencies, emphasizing safety, security, and environmental sustainability.
    • Addressing Maritime Challenges: The mission aims to address contemporary maritime challenges through collaborative and cooperative efforts.

Genome Editing- ISDra2TnpB

• News:  A recent advancement in plant genome editing has emerged from a collaborative effort between ICAR-National Rice Research Institute in Cuttack, India, and Pennsylvania State University, USA.
• About Genome Editing
  • • Genome editing is a technique that allows scientists to make precise alterations to the Deoxy-Ribonucleic Acid (DNA) sequence of living organisms. 
    • This technology holds significant potential in agriculture by:
    • Enhancing crop yields
    • Improving resistance to pests and diseases
    • Introducing traits like drought tolerance
    • The most well-known genome-editing tool is CRISPR, which has transformed genetic research due to its precision and efficiency.

• CRISPR and Its Limitations in Plant Genome Editing
  • • CRISPR technology, especially using proteins like Cas9 and Cas12, has been extensively used for genome editing. 
    • These proteins cut DNA at specific sites, enabling the removal, addition, or replacement of genetic material. 
    • However, a key limitation in plant genome editing is the size of these proteins, which are often too large to be efficiently incorporated into plant cells. 
    • This limitation necessitates the development of smaller, more efficient genome-editing tools for plant systems.
• The ISDra2TnpB Genome Editor
  • • Researchers have introduced a new genome-editing tool named ISDra2TnpB, derived from the bacteria Deinococcus radiodurans.
      This tool addresses the size limitation of traditional CRISPR-associated proteins, making it more suitable for plant cells.
• Key Features of ISDra2TnpB
  • • Size Advantage: ISDra2TnpB is less than half the size of Cas9 and Cas12, facilitating more efficient delivery and function within plant cells.
    • High Editing Efficiency: Demonstrates a 33.58% editing efficiency in average plant genomes, making it a promising tool for various crops.
    • Versatility: Effective in editing both monocot plants (such as rice) and dicot plants (such as Arabidopsis).
    • Base Editing Capabilities: Enhanced to include a hybrid base editor that can swap single nucleotides in the DNA sequence, allowing for more precise genetic modifications.
• Potential Applications in Agriculture
  • • Reducing Crop Susceptibility to Pests: By editing genes associated with pest vulnerability, ISDra2TnpB could help develop more pest-resistant crop varieties.
    • Enhancing Nutritional Value: The tool can be used to remove anti-nutrient factors from crops, thereby improving their nutritional content.
    • Increasing Crop Resilience to Environmental Stress: ISDra2TnpB could be used to create shorter rice crops that are less prone to damage during cyclones, particularly beneficial in cyclone-prone regions.