12 Nov | UPSC Current Affairs: Sutlej River, Toto Tribe, Kayakalp Scheme, Arpactophilus Pulawskii, and More

UPSC GS 1

Sutlej River

• News: Public unrest is growing in Sri Ganganagar district, Rajasthan, over alleged pollution in the Sutlej River, reportedly caused by factories in neighboring Punjab.
• About the Sutlej River:
  • • Sutlej River is the longest among the five tributaries of the Indus River and is also known as “Satadree.”
    • Geographically, the river lies to the north of the Vindhya Range, east of Pakistan’s Central Makran Range, and south of the Hindu Kush region.
• Course of the Sutlej River:
  • •  The river originates from Lake Rakshastal in southwestern Tibet, on the northern slope of the Himalayas, at an elevation exceeding 15,000 feet (4,600 meters).
    • It is one of only three rivers—alongside the Indus and Brahmaputra—that originate in the high Tibetan Plateau and cross the Himalayan ranges.
    • The Sutlej enters India through the Shipki La Pass in Himachal Pradesh at an altitude of 6,608 meters and then flows westward and southwestward.
    • Passing near Nangal in Punjab, it merges with the Beas River, forming a 105-kilometer stretch of the India-Pakistan border.
    • After the Beas confluence, it continues for an additional 350 kilometers before merging with the Chenab River.
    • The Sutlej and Chenab rivers together form the Panjnad, which eventually flows into the Indus River.
• Length:
  • • The Sutlej River spans a total length of 1,550 kilometers, with 529 kilometers flowing through Pakistan.
• Hydrology:
  • • The river’s flow is influenced by snowmelt from the Himalayas in spring and summer, as well as by the South Asian monsoon.
• Main Tributaries:
  • • Key tributaries of the Sutlej include Baspa, Spiti, Nogli Khad, and the Soan River.
• Water Allocation:
  • • Under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, India has rights to the water from the Sutlej River.
• Major Hydroelectric Projects: Significant hydroelectric facilities on the Sutlej include:
  • • Bhakra Dam (1,000 MW)
    • Karcham Wangtoo Hydroelectric Plant (1,000 MW)
    • Nathpa Jhakri Dam (1,530 MW)

Toto Tribe

• News: The efforts of a bureaucrat have helped get the Toto tribe’s spiritual center renovated.
• Definition:
  • • The Toto tribe is an indigenous Indo-Bhutanese community concentrated in Totopara village in Alipurduar district, West Bengal.
    • Totopara lies on the southern edge of the Bhutan-West Bengal border and is situated along the banks of the Torsa River within the vicinity of Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Anthropological Roots:
  • • The Toto people belong to the Tibetan-Mongoloid ethnic lineage, making them distinct in their cultural and physical attributes.

• Endangered Status:
  • • With a population of just over 1,600, the Toto tribe is among the world’s most endangered communities, often referred to as a “vanishing tribe” nearing extinction.
    • They are officially recognized as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).
• Language:
  • • The Toto language, a Sino-Tibetan dialect, is spoken by the community and is written in the Bengali script.
• Social Structure:
  • • Totos practice endogamy and are organized into 13 exogamous clans, with marriages occurring between different clans.
    • Unique cultural practices include monogamy and a strong stance against the dowry system, distinguishing them from neighboring tribes.

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• Housing:
  • • Their traditional homes are elevated bamboo structures with thatched roofs, reflecting their adaptation to local climatic conditions.
• Religious Beliefs:
  • • While identifying as Hindus, the Totos also hold nature in high reverence, integrating nature worship into their belief system.
• Economy:
  • • Historically, Totos were food gatherers and practiced slash-and-burn agriculture.
    • They also earned additional income as porters, transporting oranges from Bhutan’s orchards to Totopara.
    • Over time, the Totos have shifted to settled agriculture, diversifying their occupations to sustain their livelihood.

Scarborough Shoal

• News: China recently issued geographic coordinates outlining baselines around the Scarborough Shoal, a contested feature in the South China Sea.
• About Scarborough Shoal:
  • • Also known as Scarborough Reef, this oceanic coral atoll has developed atop a seamount into a triangular shape in the eastern South China Sea.
    • It is situated approximately 220 kilometers west of Luzon, a major island of the Philippines.
    • Recognized as the largest atoll in the South China Sea, it is mostly submerged at high tide with only a few rocks visible above sea level.
• Geographic Dimensions:
  • • The atoll stretches 18 kilometers along its northwest-southeast axis and spans 10 kilometers along its northeast-southwest axis.
• Ecological and Economic Importance:
  • • The deep waters around the shoal support a productive fishing zone, abundant in marine species.
    • The lagoon within the atoll is rich in commercially valuable shellfish and sea cucumbers.
• Territorial Dispute:
  • • The Scarborough Shoal is the center of a longstanding dispute between China and the Philippines, with both countries asserting territorial claims and exclusive rights over the waters.
    • Despite the absence of built structures on the shoal, China effectively controls the feature, maintaining a steady coast guard presence since 2012.
• Claims and Historical Context:
  • • China’s Position: Referred to as Huangyan Island by China, it asserts historical ownership dating back to the Yuan Dynasty in the 1200s.
    • Philippines’ Position: The Philippines bases its claim on proximity, as the shoal is closer to Luzon—only 220 kilometers away—compared to over 500 miles from mainland China.
• Legal Perspective:
  • • The Scarborough Shoal lies within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as per the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

UPSC GS 2

Kayakalp Scheme

• News: The Rajasthan College Education Commissionerate has directed 20 government colleges to get the front facade of their buildings and entry halls painted orange under the Kayakalp scheme.
• Definition:
  • • The Rajasthan College Education Commissionerate has instructed 20 government colleges to paint the facade and entry halls of their buildings in orange as part of the Kayakalp Scheme.
• About the Kayakalp Scheme:
  • • The Kayakalp Scheme, launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on May 15, 2015, is an initiative under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan aimed at promoting cleanliness and enhancing the quality of healthcare facilities across India.
• Objectives:
  • • To encourage high standards of cleanliness, hygiene, and infection control, while fostering environment-friendly practices within Public Health Facilities (PHFs).
    • To recognize and reward PHFs demonstrating exemplary adherence to cleanliness and infection control standards.
    • To develop a culture of continuous assessment and peer review focusing on hygiene, sanitation, and cleanliness.
    • To create and disseminate sustainable practices associated with improved cleanliness in PHFs, with a view toward positive health impacts.
• Assessment Process:
  • • The Kayakalp evaluation consists of a three-tier assessment involving internal, peer, and external reviews.
    • At the start of each fiscal year, health facilities undergo an assessment based on a pre-defined evaluation tool, with scores and documentation of performance.
• Assessment Criteria: Facilities are judged on the following parameters:
  • • Facility Upkeep
    • Sanitation and Hygiene Standards
    • Waste Management Protocols
    • Infection Control Measures
    • Support Services
    • Hygiene Promotion Efforts
• Awards and Recognition: To honor the dedication of healthcare facilities, the scheme provides five awards:
  • • Two awards for the best district hospitals.
    • Two awards for the best community health centres or sub-district hospitals.
    • One award for the best primary health centre in each district.
    • Winners receive cash prizes and citations based on their performance according to the assessment criteria.

UPSC GS 3

Arrow-3 Missile Defence System

• News: Israel, with U.S. approval, agreed last year to sell the Arrow-3 system to Germany in a $3.5 billion deal, its biggest defence sale to date.  
• Definition:
  • • The Arrow-3 is an exo-atmospheric missile defense system designed for intercepting long-range threats.
    • It is a part of the Arrow Weapon System (AWS), recognized as the world’s first fully operational, independent anti-tactical ballistic missile (ATBM) defense solution.

• Development and Deployment:
  • • Jointly developed by Israel Aerospace Industries and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, the Arrow-3 was initially deployed in 2017.
    • It serves as the uppermost layer of Israel’s advanced air-defense network, which also includes the Arrow-2, David’s Sling, and Iron Dome systems.
    • The system is specifically engineered to intercept ballistic missiles beyond the Earth’s atmosphere.
• Key Features:
  • • Equipped with two-stage, solid-fueled interceptors, the Arrow-3 is capable of engaging short- and medium-range ballistic missiles.
    • The system comprises a launcher, radar unit, and battle management setup.
    • It operates at hypersonic speeds, traveling at five times the speed of sound.
    • With an operational range of 2,400 km, the Arrow-3 can intercept targets at altitudes up to 100 km.
    • Its radar provides early warning and fire control, with extended-range detection and the ability to track multiple targets simultaneously.
• Working Mechanism:
  • • The Arrow-3 uses hit-to-kill technology to neutralize incoming threats.
    • Upon vertical launch, the missile adjusts its direction towards the predicted interception point.
    • A high-resolution electro-optical sensor acquires and locks onto the target, enabling the kill vehicle to intercept and destroy the warhead.

Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary

• News: A highly decomposed carcass of an elephant has been discovered in the Khanapara range of the Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Overview of Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary:
  • • Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the state of Assam.
• Geographical Extent:
  • • The sanctuary consists of three reserve forests: Khanapara, Amchang, and South Amchang.
    • It spans from the Brahmaputra River in the north to the hilly forests in Meghalaya to the south, creating a continuous forest stretch that connects with the Maradakdola Reserve Forests in Meghalaya.
• Flora: The sanctuary features diverse forest types, including:
  • • Khasi Hill Sal Forests
    • East Himalayan Mixed Deciduous Forest
    • Eastern Alluvial Secondary Semi-evergreen Forests
    • East Himalayan Sal Forests
• Fauna: The sanctuary is home to a variety of wildlife, including:
  • • Mammals: Flying fox, Slow loris, Assamese macaque, Rhesus macaque, Hoolock gibbon, and Porcupine.
    • Birds: White-backed Vulture and Slender-billed Vulture.
• Unique Species:
  • • The Tree Yellow butterfly (Gancana harina) is also found in Amchang, a species that is native to regions including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Northeast India.

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Arpactophilus Pulawskii

• News: In a groundbreaking discovery for Indian entomology, researchers have identified a new species of aphid wasp, Arpactophilus pulawskii, in Nagaland’s Khuzama district. 
• Species Overview: This newly identified species of aphid wasp preys on aphids and is named Arpactophilus pulawskii.

• Discovery Location: Found in Nagaland’s Khuzama district at an altitude exceeding 1,800 meters.
• Geographic Range: While Arpactophilus species are primarily native to the Australasian region, this discovery represents the first record of the genus outside Australasia.
• Morphological Characteristics:
  • • Members of this genus show notable morphological diversity, particularly in body length and head shape. Some even display unique modifications in head size and shape.
    • Arpactophilus pulawskii is distinguished by a distinct square-shaped head with an inverted V-shaped uplifted clypeus, rust-colored body markings, and a uniquely textured thorax.
• Behavioral Traits:
  • • Arpactophilus wasps are notable for their rare social behavior among wasp species.
    • Females use silk from their abdomen to create protective cells, often nesting in old termite galleries or mud nests, displaying a unique nesting strategy.