24 Dec | UPSC Current Affairs: Rann Utsav, Panama Canal, Hybrid Aerogel, No-Confidence Motion, and More

UPSC GS 1

Rann Utsav

• News:  Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has invited everyone to Rann Utsav, which will go on till March 2025.
• Definition: 
• • Rann Utsav is an annual cultural festival organized by the Gujarat Tourism Department.
  • It takes place in the Great Rann of Kutch, India’s largest salt desert, and celebrates the rich cultural and artistic heritage of the Kutch region.
  • The festival attracts both domestic and international tourists, offering a vibrant display of local crafts, music, dance, and cuisine.

• About the Rann of Kutch:
• • The Rann of Kutch is a vast salt marsh that stretches across the border between India and Pakistan.
  • It is primarily situated in the Kutch district of Gujarat, with a smaller portion extending into Sindh province, Pakistan.
  • The Rann has been a site of neolithic settlements and was later a part of the Indus Valley Civilization.
  • Great Rann of Kutch: This is the larger of the two sections, extending east to west, bordered by the Thar Desert to the north and Kutch Hills to the south.
  • Little Rann of Kutch: Located southeast of the Great Rann, it stretches southward to the Gulf of Kutch.
    • The region is located close to sea level and is connected to the Arabian Sea through the Kori Creek to the west and to the Gulf of Kutch to the east.
    • It is the only significant flooded grassland zone in the Indomalayan biogeographic realm, which includes regions across South and Southeast Asia.
    • The Little Rann of Kutch is home to the Indian Wild Ass (Khur), an endangered species. The region also hosts a mix of mangroves, desert vegetation, and grass-covered patches known as baits, all of which support local wildlife.
    • The area is part of the Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary, India’s largest wildlife sanctuary.
• The Kutch Desert: The Kutch Desert spans a vast expanse and is bordered by:
  • Sindh (Pakistan) to the northwest,
  • The Arabian Sea to the southwest,
  • Rajasthan to the northeast.
  • It is a notable example of Holocene sedimentation, showcasing a rich geological and environmental diversity.

Read also: India-China Special Representative Meeting | UPSC

Thanka Anki Procession

• News: The four-day procession carrying the ‘Thanka Anki’ set off its journey from Aranmula Lord Parthasarathy temple recently.
• Definition: 
  • This religious procession involves the transportation of the Thanka Anki (a royal ornament or golden attire) from the Parthasarathy Temple in Aranmula, Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, to the Sabarimala Temple.
  • The procession concludes at Sabarimala Temple on December 25, where the Deeparadhana ceremony is performed after adorning the idol of Lord Ayyappa with these sacred ornaments.
  • The Thanka Anki, weighing 420 sovereigns, is transported in a specially designed chariot that is modeled after the Sabarimala Temple.
  • Along its journey, the procession makes stops at three temples.
  • This golden attire was offered to the Sabarimala Temple in 1973 by the late Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, the former ruler of the Travancore royal family.

• About Sabarimala Temple: 
• • Sabarimala Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Ayyappan (also known as Dharma Shasta), who is considered the son of Shiva and Mohini (the female avatar of Lord Vishnu).
  • Location: The temple is situated on Sabarimala Hill, in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, India.
  • The temple is nestled amidst 18 hills, forming part of the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
  • Sabarimala is recognized as one of the largest annual pilgrimage destinations in the world, attracting over 10 to 15 million devotees each year.
  • Temple Practices: The temple follows a tradition that prohibits women between the ages of 10 and 50 years from entering the temple premises.

Panama Canal

• News:  US President-elect Donald Trump has hinted that his administration might attempt to regain control of the Panama Canal. 
• About the Panama Canal:
• • The Panama Canal is a man-made waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Isthmus of Panama.
  • It spans 40 miles from shoreline to shoreline and is owned and operated by Panama.
  • Originally constructed by the United States, the Panama Canal was completed in August 1914.
  • It is considered one of the two most strategically important artificial waterways in the world, the other being the Suez Canal.

• History of Control:
  • From its opening in 1914 until 1979, the Panama Canal was under the exclusive control of the United States.
  • In 1979, the Panama Canal Commission, a joint agency of the United States and Panama, took over the canal’s administration.
  • Complete control of the Panama Canal was handed over to Panama on December 31, 1999, at noon.
• Engineering and Function:
  • The Panama Canal is a highly sophisticated engineering marvel that utilizes a system of locks and elevators to move ships from one end of the canal to the other.
  • This system is necessary because the Pacific Ocean, which is slightly higher in elevation than the Atlantic Ocean, connects the two bodies of water.
  • Ships traveling from the Atlantic Ocean must be raised to a higher elevation to reach the Pacific, and this is achieved through the lock system.
  • The locks function as water elevators, either flooding to lift ships or draining to lower them to the required elevation.
  • The Panama Canal features three sets of locks, with a total of 12 locks in service, all operated using artificial lakes and channels.

UPSC GS 2

No-Confidence Motion

• News: Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh dismissed the Opposition’s notice for a motion of no-confidence against Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar.
• About the Vice President of India:
• • The Vice President of India holds the second-highest constitutional office, after the President of India.
  • Article 63 of the Indian Constitution mandates the establishment of the office of the Vice President.
  • The role of the Vice President is modeled similarly to the American Vice President, and they serve a dual function.

• Eligibility Criteria: According to Article 66 of the Constitution, the following criteria must be met for a person to be eligible for the office of Vice President:
• • The candidate must be an Indian citizen.
  • The individual must be at least 35 years old.
  • The candidate must be qualified to be elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha.
  • The candidate must not hold any office of profit under the Union, state government, or any local or public authority.
• Election Process:
  • The Vice President is elected using a proportional representation system, which includes an electoral college of both elected and nominated members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
  • Unlike the Presidential election, the election of the Vice President does not involve state legislative assemblies.
  • The election is conducted through a single transferable vote system, and the voting process is carried out by secret ballot.
  • Any disputes or uncertainties regarding the Vice President’s election are resolved by the Supreme Court, whose decision is final.
• Tenure and Removal:
  • Tenure: The Vice President serves a five-year term, beginning on the date of assumption of office.
  • The Vice President remains in office until a successor is elected, even after the completion of the term.
  • The Vice President is eligible for re-election.
  • Resignation: The Vice President may resign from office by submitting a formal letter of resignation to the President of India.
  • Removal Process:
  • Under Article 67(b), the Vice President can be removed from office through a resolution passed by the Rajya Sabha with an effective majority (majority of all current members).
  • The resolution must also be approved by the Lok Sabha with a simple majority.
  • A 14-day notice is required before the resolution can be moved.

UPSC GS 3

Hybrid Aerogel 

• News: A group of researchers from Pune have developed a novel hybrid aerogel capable of easily extracting gold from electronic waste.
• Definition:
• • Aerogels are some of the lightest solid materials in existence.
  • They are produced by combining a polymer with a solvent to create a gel, which is then dried to replace the liquid with air.

• Properties:
  • Extremely porous and exceptionally low in density.
  • Surface chemistry can be tailored to specific needs.
  • Often referred to as ‘solid air’ or ‘frozen smoke.’
  • Known for being outstanding adsorbents, aerogels are lightweight and effective in removing contaminants.
• Applications:
  • Commonly used for environmental clean-up, such as oil spills.
  • Widely employed for insulation purposes.
• Key Features of the Newly Developed Hybrid Aerogel:
  • Design and Composition:
  • The hybrid aerogel was synthesized as a lightweight, porous material designed to act as a sponge-like absorbent.
  • Its structure was enhanced with iron nitrate salts, processed at room temperature for two to five minutes.
  • Gold Extraction Efficiency:
  • The aerogel proved capable of extracting and recovering up to 99% of gold ions from electronic waste.
  • Under daylight, it could retrieve 1689 mg of gold per gram of aerogel, while under blue light, the extraction increased to 2349 mg per gram.
  • Dual-Process Mechanism:
  • The aerogel’s recovery process involves both adsorption and reduction, yielding reasonably pure gold that minimizes the need for additional purification steps.

Dark Patterns

• News:  The Department of Consumer Affairs is set to launch three new apps in a bid to enhance consumer protection against deceptive online practices known as “dark patterns”. These apps are ‘Jago Grahak Jago App,’ ‘Jagriti App,’ and ‘Jagriti Dashboard’.
• ‘Jago Grahak Jago App,’ ‘Jagriti App,’ and ‘Jagriti Dashboard’:
  • These apps are part of an intelligent cyber-physical system that operates in real-time, powered by the Airawat AI Supercomputer under the National Supercomputing Mission for AI and Data Analytics.
  • The system analyzes text and design elements on e-commerce platforms to detect whether they are being used to influence consumer psychology.

• Jago Grahak Jago App:
  • This app provides vital e-commerce information about all URLs during a consumer’s online activities. It alerts users if a URL may be unsafe and requires caution.
• Jagriti App:
  • This app enables users to report URLs where they suspect the presence of illegal dark patterns. These reports are registered as complaints to the CCPA for potential action and redressal.
• Jagriti Dashboard:
  • The dashboard generates real-time reports on e-commerce URLs to monitor the presence of dark patterns, helping enhance regulation and oversight of online consumer interactions.
• Significance:
  • This solution assists the CCPA in identifying dark patterns, streamlining the resolution of consumer disputes, and combating practices harmful to consumer interests.
• Dark Patterns:

Green Deposits

• News:  Considering the threat that climate change poses globally, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued a comprehensive framework for lenders to accept green deposits in April 2023.
• Definition:
• • Green deposits are fixed-term, interest-bearing deposits where the proceeds are exclusively allocated to finance green and sustainable projects.
  • These deposits are available only in Indian Rupees, in line with the framework set by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

• Purpose: The funds raised through green deposits are utilized for environmentally friendly and sustainable projects, which include:
• • Renewable energy projects, such as solar, wind, biomass, and hydropower.
  • Initiatives aimed at improving energy efficiency and promoting clean transportation.
  • Climate change adaptation efforts and sustainable water and waste management solutions.
  • Development of green buildings and projects aimed at protecting coastal and marine environments.
  • Support for certified organic farming practices.
• Key Features:
  • Green deposits are similar to regular fixed deposits, offering interest and a fixed tenure.
  • The allocation of funds is subject to an annual third-party audit to ensure adherence to green finance norms.
  • These deposits are insured under the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) framework, providing an added layer of security.
• Priority Sector Lending (PSL): If the green activities or projects funded through these deposits align with PSL guidelines, they can be classified as part of the priority sector, making them eligible for certain benefits and support.

See more: Kachchatheevu Island Dispute: Causes & Solutions | UPSC

Speed Gun

• News:  Speed guns are devices widely used by law enforcement officials to monitor traffic speed, by coaches to gauge the performance of their athletes, and in various other industries in need of accurate motion tracking.
• About Speed Gun:
  • A speed gun is a device used to measure the speed of a moving object without coming into direct contact with it.
  • It works by bouncing electromagnetic radiation of a specific frequency off the object, capturing the reflected signal, and using the Doppler effect to calculate the object’s speed.
  • Speed guns are electronic devices that incorporate complex circuitry to emit the necessary radiation for measurement.
  • Originally developed during World War II for military purposes, speed guns use radio waves instead of sound waves to apply the Doppler effect.

• How It Works:
  • A speed gun consists of a radio transmitter and a receiver.
  • The transmitter emits radio waves that are directed at the moving object. The receiver then captures the waves reflected back by the object.
  • If the object is moving towards the speed gun, the frequency of the returned waves will be slightly higher than that of the transmitted waves.
  • The speed gun’s internal computer processes this frequency difference to calculate the speed of the object.
• Link Between Speed and the Doppler Effect:
  • Electromagnetic waves, including radio waves, travel at a fixed speed — the speed of light in the given medium.
  • In a vacuum, this speed is denoted as c, which is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second.
  • Any change in frequency detected by the speed gun corresponds directly to the Doppler shift caused by the motion of the object.
  • This principle ensures that the speed gun can measure the speed of an object over varying distances and velocities, unaffected by air resistance.
  • The speed is calculated by multiplying the frequency difference (between the emitted and received frequencies) by c and dividing it by twice the emitted frequency.
  • This relationship reveals that the faster the object moves, the more significant the frequency difference, allowing for accurate speed measurement.
• Uses:
• • Speed guns are widely used by law enforcement to monitor vehicle speeds on the road.
  • Coaches use speed guns to assess the performance of athletes, particularly in sports like baseball and tennis.
  • The technology is also utilized in other industries where precise motion tracking is required.