10 Jul | UPSC Current Affairs: Panchagnaga River, Graphene, UN High Seas Treaty, and More

UPSC GS 1

Panchagnaga River

• News: Panchaganga has risen again after moderate rainfall in Kolhapur.
• Overview: 
  • • The Panchaganga River is an ancient river and a tributary of the Krishna River.
    • It originates from the Sahyadri mountain ranges in Maharashtra.
• Origin: 
  • • The river emerges from Prayag Sangam in Chikhlee Taluka, a small village in the Kolhapur district of Maharashtra.
    • At Prayag Sangam, five rivers—the Kasari, the Kumbhi, the Tulsi, the Bhogawati, and the Saraswati—convene to form the Panchaganga River.

• Course and Confluence: 
  • • The Panchaganga River flows and concludes into the Krishna River at Kurundvad, Maharashtra.
• Geography and Agriculture: 
  • • The valley of the Panchaganga River is very fertile, with sloping banks that yield rich crops during the winter season.
    • The Panchaganga and its feeders are fordable during the hot season.
• Environmental Concerns: 
  • • In recent years, the pollution level of the Panchaganga River has been increasing rapidly.
    • The primary cause of pollution is the disposal of untreated municipal sewage from Kolhapur town.

Chandravalli Cave

• News:  The remains of ancient dynasties illuminate the dark interiors of the Chandravalli cave complex in Chitradurga district, Karnataka.
• Location:
  • • It is located in Chitradurga district of Karnataka.
    • It is also known as the Ankali Math, named after a saint from Ankalagi in Belagavi district who is believed to have settled here.

• Features:
  • • It is a pre-historic site which is semilunar in shape. 
    • The cave complex has several chambers, including a puja place with a shivlinga, a drawing room, a bedroom, and a water outlet that connects to an internal tank.
    • There is a rock inscription of King Mayurasharma, the founder of the first Kannada dynasty, the Kadambas, dating back to 450 CE. 
    • A rock inscription can be found in the Bhairaweshwara temple at Chandravalli. Stone carvings indicate both Hindu and Buddhist influences.
    • Excavations have revealed coins, painted bowls, and earthen pots dating back to various dynasties such as the Hoysala, the Satavahana, and the Vijayanagara.
    • The region had historical connections with Rome and China, as evidenced by some of the coins discovered.
    • Some of the walls are adorned with paintings created using organic paint.
    • Findings and some inscriptions found in the surrounding areas of this sire reveal that Chandravalli has been home to human habitation ever since the megalithic age and neolithic age.
• Mythological Significance:
  • •  Chandravalli was earlier known as Chandanavati.
    •  Mythology has it that this place was once ruled by Chandrahasa, a king of Kuntala. The name, Chandravalli, is attributed to this king by some scholars.
    • Another explanation has it that the place was named Chandravalli because it was moon shaped.

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Order of Saint Andrew

• News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been awarded the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, during his visit to Russia.
• Definition:
  • • The Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle is Russia’s highest civilian honour.
• Establishment:  
  • • It was established in 1698 by Tsar Peter the Great in honor of Saint Andrew, the first apostle of Jesus and patron saint of Russia. 
    • It was bestowed in a single class and was only awarded for the most outstanding civilian or military merit. 
• Criteria and Recipients: 
  • • The award is given to prominent government figures, military leaders, and outstanding representatives of science, culture, art for exceptional services to Russia.
    • It is  awarded to heads of foreign states for outstanding services to the Russian Federation.
    • Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honoured with this award, highlighting the deep foundation of friendship between India and Russia.

• Symbolism and Design: 
  • • The chain of the Order consists of 17 alternating links, featuring a gilded image of the State Emblem of the Russian Federation, a double-headed eagle. 
    • It also includes a badge, a star, and a light blue silk moire ribbon.
    • For those recognised for distinction in combat, the badge and star are adorned with swords.
• Other International Awards Bestowed Upon PM Modi:

Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour	France
Order of Nile	Egypt
Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu	Papua New Guinea
Companion of the Order of Fiji	Fiji
Order of the Druk Gyalpo	Bhutan
Legion of Merit	US
Order of Zayed Award	United Arab Emirates
Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan	Afghanistan
King Abdulaziz Sash	Saudi Arabia
Grand Collar of the State of Palestine Award	Palestine

UPSC GS 2

Project PARI (Public Art of India)

• News:  The Ministry of Culture has initiated Project PARI for the 46th World Heritage Committee Meeting.
• More on News: The 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee Meeting is being held in New Delhi from 21st-31st July 2024. 
• Overview: 
  • • It is an initiative by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
    • It is being executed by Lalit Kala Akademi and the National Gallery of Modern Art.

• Aim: 
  • • To showcase public art inspired by India’s artistic heritage (lok kala/lok sanskriti) while incorporating modern themes and techniques.
    • Highlights the intrinsic value of art in Indian society, reflecting the nation’s commitment to creativity and artistic expression.
• Proposed Sculptures: The proposed sculptures being created for Project PARI include nature, Natyashastra, Gandhi ji, toys of India, hospitality, ancient knowledge, Naad or Primeval Soun, Harmony of life, Kalpataru – the divine tree. 

Classical Language Criteria

• News:  Amid demand for classical status for many languages, the Union government has decided to modify the criteria for giving the special tag.
• Criteria for Declaring a Language as Classical
  • • Antiquity: The language must have early texts or recorded history spanning 1500-2000 years.
    • Literary Heritage: The language should have a body of ancient literature or texts considered valuable heritage by generations of speakers.
    • Original Literary Tradition: The literary tradition should be original and not borrowed from another speech community.
    • Distinctiveness: The classical language and its literature should be distinct from the modern form. There may be a discontinuity between the classical language and its later forms or offshoots.
• Languages with Classical Status: 
  • • Tamil: Declared in 2004.
    • Sanskrit: Declared in 2005.
    • Kannada: Declared in 2008.
    • Telugu: Declared in 2008.
    • Malayalam: Declared in 2013.
    • Odia: Declared in 2014.
• Advantages of Classical Language Status: 
  • • Awards: Two major annual international awards for scholars of eminence in classical Indian languages.
    • Centres of Excellence: Establishment of a Centre of Excellence for studies in Classical Languages.
    • Academic Support: The University Grants Commission is requested to create a certain number of Professional Chairs for the Classical Languages, at least in the Central Universities.

UPSC GS 3

Graphene

• News: It has been in the news. 
• Definition: 
  • • Graphene is a single layer (monolayer) of carbon atoms, tightly bound in a hexagonal honeycomb lattice.
• Properties:
  • • Graphene is an allotrope of carbon, along with diamond and graphite.
    • It is a two-dimensional material. 
    • Graphene is the world’s thinnest material.
    • It is stronger than diamond, more conductive than silver, more elastic than rubber, and lighter than aluminium. 
    • It is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. It conducts electricity better than copper.
    • It is almost transparent, as it absorbs only 2% of light.
    • It is impermeable to gases, even those as light as hydrogen and helium.

• Uses:
  • • As graphene is also strong and light, it means that it is a great material for making heat-spreading solutions, such as heat sinks or heat dissipation films.
    • Graphene is a very promising material for use in batteries and supercapacitors.
    • Graphene is used in anti-corrosion coatings and paints, efficient and precise sensors, faster and efficient electronics, flexible displays, efficient solar panels, faster DNA sequencing, drug delivery, etc. 

UN High Seas Treaty (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ)

• News:  The Indian government might soon sign and ratify the High Seas Treaty. 
• Definition: 
  • • The BBNJ Agreement, or the ‘High Seas Treaty’, is an international treaty under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
    • It is also known as the ‘Paris Agreement for the Ocean.’
• Aim: 
  • •  It is a legally binding treaty that aims to protect marine biodiversity. 
• Objectives: 
  • • Conservation and protection of marine ecology; 
    • Fair and equitable sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources; 
    • Establishment mandatory environmental impact assessments for any activity damaging to the marine ecosystem;
    • Capacity building and transfer of marine technologies to developing countries.
• UNCLOS:
  • • The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is an international treaty that was adopted in 1982.
    • It defines the rights and duties of nations regarding activities in the oceans.
    • Demarcations of territorial waters and EEZs are a result of UNCLOS. 
    • India became a signatory to the UNCLOS in 1982. 
• Highlights of the BBNJ Treaty:
  • • Marine Protected Areas (MPAs):  Protection and conservation of marine ecology are achieved through the demarcation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
    • Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs): The treaty mandates carrying out a prior EIA for activities that might pollute marine ecosystems.
    • Goals and Commitments: The treaty aims to place 30% of the seas into protected areas by 2030. 
    • Fair Sharing of Benefits: This includes sharing scientific information and monetary benefits through a “clearing house mechanism”.
    • Capacity Building and Marine Technology: The Scientific and Technical Body will play a significant role in environmental impact assessment, creating standards and guidelines for assessment procedures. 
• What Are High Seas? 
  • • The high seas are the maritime area that lies beyond the areas under the jurisdiction of States.
    • The high seas are open to all States, whether coastal or land-locked.
    • The high seas aren’t included in the exclusive economic zone, the territorial sea, or the internal waters of a country.
    • Internal Waters: Covers all water and waterways on the landward side of the baseline where the State can set laws, regulate use, and use any resource. 
    • Territorial Waters: Extend up to 12 nautical miles from the baseline where the coastal State is free to set laws, regulate use, and use any resource.
    • Contiguous Zone: Extends further 12 nautical miles beyond the territorial waters.  The State can enforce laws in customs, taxation, immigration, and pollution.

• • • Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs): EEZs extend up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline, where the coastal nation has sole exploitation rights over all natural resources. 

Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve (BRT)

• News:  A tiger was found dead in the Kollegal Wildlife Division of Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger reserve recently.
• Location: 
  • • Located in Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka State.
    • Situated at the confluence of the Western and Eastern Ghats, forming a unique bio-geographical habitat.
• Name and Significance:
  • • Named ‘Biligiri’ after the white rocky cliff that features a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, locally known as ‘Rangaswamy’.
    • Declared a Tiger Reserve in 2011, covering an area of 574.82 sq.km.
• Vegetation: 
  • • Predominantly dry deciduous forests.
    • Includes moist deciduous, semi-evergreen, evergreen, and shola patches at different altitudes.
• Flora: Anogeissus latifolia, Dalbergia paniculata, Grewia teliaefolia, Terminalia alata, Terminalia bellirica, and Terminalia paniculata.
• Fauna: Tigers, elephants, leopards, wild dogs, bison, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, four-horned antelope, sloth bears, wild boars, common langurs, and bonnet macaques.

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Mitochondrial Diseases

• News:  Researchers find weaker immune response to viral infections in children with mitochondrial disorders.
• Mitochondria:
  • • A mitochondrion is an organelle found in the cells of most eukaryotes, such as animals, plants and fungi.
    • Mitochondria are often referred to as the powerhouses of the cell.
    • The job of mitochondria is to process oxygen and convert substances from the foods you eat into energy. 
    • Mitochondria exist in nearly every cell in the human body. 
    • Mitochondria produce 90% of the energy our bodies need to function.
• Mitochondrial Disease:
  • • A group of diseases that affect mitochondria’s capacity to produce the energy organs need to function properly is known as mitochondrial disease (or Mito).
    • Any organ can be affected, but the heart, brain, and muscles are more frequently impacted due to their high energy requirements.

• Types of Mitochondrial Disease: 
  • • Nuclear DNA Fault: Caused by faulty genes in the nuclear DNA, which is inherited from both parents.
    • Mitochondrial DNA Fault: Caused by faulty genes in the mitochondrial DNA, which is inherited only from the mother. 
• Symptoms: 
  • • Mitochondrial disease in childhood often involves multiple organs, progresses quickly, and can have severe outcomes.
    • Sometimes only one organ, tissue, or cell type is affected. But often, the problem affects many of them. 
    • Muscle and nerve cells have especially high energy needs, so muscular and neurological problems are common.
• Causes:
  • • Mitochondria are unique in that they have their own DNA called mitochondrial DNA, or mtDNA. 
    • Mutations in this mtDNA or mutations in nuclear DNA (DNA found in the nucleus of a cell) can cause mitochondrial disorder. 
    • Environmental toxins can also trigger mitochondrial disease.
    •  A lack of energy production from mitochondria in your cells causes mitochondrial disease.
• Treatment:
  • • There are no cures for these diseases, but treatments may help with symptoms and slow down the disease.
• Mitochondrial Donation:
  • • Mitochondrial donation is an IVF-based method that allows individuals with faulty mitochondrial DNA to have genetically related children without passing on the faulty DNA.

Sentinel Nuclear Missile

• News:  The US Sentinel missile program is facing skyrocketing costs and possible program cuts. 
• Overview:
  • • The Sentinel Nuclear Missile, designated as LGM-35A Sentinel, is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
    • The L in LGM stands for silo-launched, G means surface attack while M stands for guided missile. 
    • It is currently being developed by Northrop Grumman in collaboration with the Air Force Global Strike Command for the US Air Force (USAF).
• Replacement of Minuteman III: 
  • • The Sentinel will replace the aging fleet of 400 LGM-30 Minuteman III ICBMs, which have been in service since the 1970s.

• Technological Advancements: 
  • • The LGM-35A Sentinel will incorporate digital engineering technologies.
    • It will employ a modular open system architecture, providing interoperability and reducing life-cycle costs.
    • The missile will feature fully integrated launch, flight, and infrastructure systems, along with modern command and control technology and ground equipment.
• Warhead and Launch Capabilities: 
  • • The Sentinel will be equipped with a W87-1 thermonuclear missile warhead.
    • It will be launched from silos, with silo doors capable of remaining closed during warhead maintenance, thereby eliminating any security threat.
• Range and Targeting: 
  • • The missile is expected to have a range exceeding 5,500 km.
    • It can reach any target across the world within 30 minutes post-launch, following a parabolic trajectory toward its target.