27 Aug | UPSC Current Affairs: Wular Lake, Classical Language, South China Sea, NCB, ULI, and More

UPSC GS 1

Wular Lake

• News:  The Wular lake is slowly choking up due to ingress of silt-laden waters gushing in the form of streams from mountains in its catchments.
• Location and Size:
  • Largest freshwater lake in India and the second-largest in Asia.
  • Located in Bandipore district, Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Spread over 200 sq. km, with a length of 24 km and a breadth of 10 km.
  • Situated at an altitude of 1,580 meters on the foothills of Haramuk Mountain.

• Formation:
  • The lake basin was formed due to tectonic activity.
  • It is believed to be a remnant of the ancient Satisar Lake.
• Feeding River:
  • Wular Lake is fed by the Jhelum River.
• Island Feature:
• • • The lake has an island at its center called ‘Zaina Lank,’ which was built by King Zainul-Abi-Din.
• International Importance:
• • • Designated as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1990.
• Ecological Significance:
• • • An important area for wintering, staging, and breeding birds.
    • Notable bird species include the black-eared kite, Eurasian sparrow hawk, short-toed eagle, Himalayan golden eagle, and Himalayan monal.
• Fish Habitat:
• • Wular Lake plays a significant role in fish production, contributing to 60 percent of the total fish output in Jammu and Kashmir.

Classical Language

• News: Centres for promotion of classical Telugu, Odia, Kannada and Malayalam now demand autonomy for proper functioning.
• Criteria for Declaring a Language as Classical in India
  • Long Historical Record: The language must have a documented history of at least 1,500-2,000 years in early texts.
  • Cultural Heritage: It should have a body of ancient literature that is highly regarded as a cultural heritage by its speakers across generations.
  • Original Literary Tradition: The language’s literary tradition should be original and not borrowed from another community.
  • Distinct from Modern Forms: The classical language should be distinct from its modern form, often showing a discontinuity between the classical version and later developments or offshoots.
• Recognized Classical Languages in India: India has six classical languages — Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia
  • Tamil (2004): First language to be accorded classical status.
  • Sanskrit (2005):
  • Telugu (2008):
  • Kannada (2008):
  • Malayalam (2013):
  • Odia (2014): Latest language to be recognized.
• Benefits of Classical Language Status:
  • Awards for Scholars: Two major international awards are given annually to scholars of eminence in the classical language.
  • Centre of Excellence: A Centre of Excellence for Studies in the Classical Language is established.
  • University Support: The University Grants Commission (UGC) is requested to create Professional Chairs in Central Universities to promote and study the classical language.

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UPSC GS 2

South China Sea Dispute

• News: Recently, the Philippine government accused China of carrying out “repeated aggressive, unprofessional and illegal” actions in the South China Sea.
• South China Sea:
• • The South China Sea is a marginal sea in western Pacific Ocean that borders the Southeast Asian mainland.
  • The South China Sea is situated just south of the Chinese mainland. 
  • It is bordered by the countries of Brunei, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. 

• Importance of the South China Sea:
  • • There are 11 billion barrels of oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in deposits under the South China Sea.
    • Sea is home to rich fishing grounds, a major source of income for millions of people across the region. 
    • More than half of the world’s fishing vessels operate in this area.
    • The main route to and from Pacific and Indian ocean ports is through the Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea. 
    • As one of the busiest maritime routes in the world, it serves as a vital artery for international trade, facilitating the flow of 64% of total goods discharged worldwide. 
    • South China Sea trade accounts for 5.72 % of all trade in goods for the United States.
• Nine-dash Line:
  • The nine-dash line demarcates China’s territorial claims in the sea on Chinese maps.
  • It was initially the “eleven-dash line” but in 1953.
  • China asserts a claim to 90% of the South China Sea, based on the historical U-shaped nine-dash line drawn on a map in the 1940s and encompassing several islands, esp. the Paracels and Spratlys.
  • The line runs 2,000 km from the Chinese mainland to within a few hundred kilometres of the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam.
• Marginal Sea:
• • These are semi-enclosed seas.
  • They are partially enclosed bodies of water that are adjacent to larger oceans or major landmasses.
  •  They have shallower depths, relative isolation from open oceans, and unique hydrographic conditions.

Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)

• News: Amit Shah has inaugurated NCB’s zonal office in Chhattisgarh’s Raipur.
• Role and Authority:
• • The NCB is the nodal drug law enforcement and intelligence agency in India, operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
  •  It was constituted on 14th November 1985 under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

• Key Functions and Powers:
  • Coordination: Coordinates actions by various state governments, offices, and authorities under multiple laws such as the NDPS Act, Customs Act, and Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
  • International Obligations: Implements India’s commitments to international conventions and protocols concerning countermeasures against illicit drug trafficking.
  • Global Cooperation: Assists foreign authorities and international organizations to facilitate coordinated action in the prevention and suppression of drug trafficking.
  • Inter-Ministry Coordination: Coordinates efforts of various ministries, departments, and organizations related to combating drug abuse.
• Enforcement Role: The NCB functions as an enforcement agency through its zonal offices, which are responsible for:
• • Collecting and analyzing data on drug seizures.
  • Studying trends and modus operandi of drug traffickers.
  • Disseminating intelligence and working closely with customs, state police, and other law enforcement agencies.
• Headquarters:
  • The NCB’s headquarters is located in Delhi.

UPSC GS 3

Unified Lending Interface (ULI)

• News:  Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the upcoming launch of the Unified Lending Interface (ULI) in ‘due course’ to transform the lending ecosystem of India.
• What is ULI?
  • ULI is a credit digital public infrastructure (DPI) platform, designed and developed by the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH).
• Aim:
  • It aims to enable a seamless and consent-based flow of digital information, including land records from various states, from multiple data service providers to lenders.

• Working of ULI:
  • Currently, the data needed for credit appraisal is scattered across multiple entities such as governments, banks, account aggregators, and credit information companies. 
  • However, these data sets are in separate systems, creating hindrance in frictionless and timely delivery of rule-based lending.
  • ULI’s architecture addresses this challenge with a plug and play approach that enables quicker access to information from diverse sources.
  • The platform will have common and standardised application programming interfaces (APIs) to ensure access to information from diverse sources. 
• Benefits:
• • Facilitate a seamless flow of digital information, including land records of various states, from multiple data service providers to lenders. 
  • Cater to a large unmet demand for credit particularly for agricultural and medium small and micro enterprises (MSME) borrowers.
  • Reduce the turnaround time or TAT for processing and sanctioning loans without requiring extensive documentation.
  •  Reduce the complexities for the parties involved in the process i.e. lenders and borrowers.
• Importance:
  • As per RBI, the ‘new trinity’ of JAM-UPI (Unified Payments Interface)-ULI will be a revolutionary step forward in India’s digital infrastructure journey. 
  • The JAM (Jan Dhan, Aadhar and Mobile) trinity is a tool used by the government to transfer cash benefits directly to the bank account of the beneficiary.
  • Just like the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) changed the payments ecosystem, similarly RBI expects ULI to transform the lending landscape of India. 

BHISHM Cubes

• News: PM Modi recently presented four BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri) Cubes to the Ukrainian government during his historic visit to Kyiv. 
• BHISHM Cubes: Overview
• Purpose:
  • The BHISHM Cubes are compact, portable medical units designed to provide first-line care in emergency situations, particularly in conflict zones or disaster-stricken areas. 
  • BHISHM stands for Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri, symbolizing India’s spirit of cooperation and friendship.

• Features of BHISHM Cubes
• Medical Capabilities:
• • BHISHM Cubes are stocked with essential medicines and equipment to handle a wide range of injuries such as trauma, bleeding, burns, and fractures.
• Surgical Capabilities:
  • Each Cube is equipped with the tools necessary for a basic Operation Room (OR), capable of performing 10-15 surgeries per day, covering both minor and complex procedures.
• Patient Management:
  • A single BHISHM Cube can manage approximately 200 cases, addressing various medical needs where local facilities may be overwhelmed or inaccessible.
• Self-Sufficiency:
  • The Cube can generate its own power and produce limited amounts of oxygen, allowing it to operate independently in remote or war-torn areas.
• Ukraine Deployment:
  • A team of Indian medical experts has been deployed to Ukraine to provide initial training to local personnel.
  •  This training is crucial to ensure the effective operation of the BHISHM Cubes and to maximize their life-saving potential in challenging environments.

Alpkarakush Kyrgyzicus

• News: The remains of a dinosaur named Alpkarakush kyrgyzicus were recently unearthed in Kyrgyzstan, marking the first-ever find of a theropod dinosaur in the region.
•  Discovery:
  • A new species of large theropod dinosaur, Alpkarakush kyrgyzicus, was recently discovered in the Middle Jurassic Balabansai formation in the Fergana Depression, northern Kyrgyzstan.
• Time Period:
  • This dinosaur roamed the Earth during the Callovian age of the Jurassic period, approximately 165 to 161 million years ago.

• Size and Physical Traits:
  • Estimated body length: 7 to 8 meters.
  • Notable feature: A distinct, protruding ‘eyebrow’ on the postorbital bone, suggesting the presence of a horn above the eye.
•  Classification:
  • Belongs to the Metriacanthosauridae family, a group of medium-to-large allosauroid theropods.
  • Characteristics of this family:
  • High-arched skulls.
  • Elongated, plate-like neural spines.
  • Slender hindlimbs.
•  Significance:
  • This species is the first large Jurassic predatory dinosaur unearthed in the region between central Europe and East Asia.
  • Theropods are one of the most prominent groups of dinosaurs, which include well-known predators like Tyrannosaurus, Allosaurus, and modern birds.

Sonoluminescence

• News: Sonoluminescence has been in the news.
• Phenomenon: Sonoluminescence is a unique occurrence where small gas bubbles in a liquid emit brief flashes of light when subjected to intense sound waves. This phenomenon was first discovered in 1934 by two German engineers while studying sonar.
• How Sonoluminescence Works:
  • Sound Wave Interaction: 
  • The process starts when a small bubble in a liquid is trapped by powerful sound waves.
  • The bubble alternates between rapid expansion and contraction due to the sound waves’ high and low-pressure phases.
  • Extreme Conditions:
  • During the contraction phase, the bubble compresses so rapidly that its internal temperature rises to several thousand kelvins.
  • The gases inside the bubble become ionized from the heat, resulting in a flash of light energy that lasts for an incredibly short time—about a trillionth of a second.
• Natural Occurrence:
  • Pistol Shrimp:
  • Sonoluminescence also occurs in nature. The pistol shrimp (family Alpheidae) creates a similar effect with its specialized claw.
  • The shrimp snaps its claw shut rapidly, producing a high-velocity water jet that forms a low-pressure bubble.
  • When this bubble collapses, it emits a loud sound, intense heat, and a flash of light, akin to the sonoluminescence observed in labs.
• Applications:
  • Scientific Curiosity:
  • Though the phenomenon remains largely of academic interest, sonoluminescence has captivated scientists due to its mysterious nature and the extreme conditions it produces.
  • Potential applications have been discussed in areas like thermonuclear fusion and acoustic imaging, though much research is still ongoing.

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National Quantum Mission (NQM)

• News: India’s first quantum computer is set for launch under National Quantum Mission.
• Objective: 
  • After a delay of nearly four years, the National Quantum Mission aims to propel India’s advancements in quantum technologies, specifically across four verticals—quantum computing, communication, measurement, and sensing.
• Funding & Structure:
  • Allocated funding: Nearly ₹6,000 crore.
  • Establishment of four Section 8 companies under premier institutions like IITs and IISc, which will lead activities in the identified verticals.

• Mission Timeline:
  • Launched in 2023, the mission is planned to span eight years (2023-2031) under the leadership of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
• Key Focus Areas:
  • Quantum Computing:
  • Development of intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50-1000 physical qubits.
  • Platforms utilized: Superconducting and photonic technology.
  • Quantum Communication:
  • Establishment of satellite-based secure quantum communication networks, covering a range of 2000 km within India and extending to other countries.
  • Quantum Measurement and Sensing:
  • Development of highly sensitive magnetometers in atomic systems and precision atomic clocks for applications in timing, communications, and navigation.
  • Quantum Materials Development:
  • Support for the design and synthesis of quantum materials such as superconductors, novel semiconductor structures, and topological materials to fabricate advanced quantum devices.
  • Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs):
  • Four T-Hubs will be set up in premier research and academic institutes to foster both fundamental and applied research, and drive research and development (R&D) activities forward.
• Sectors Benefited:
  • The mission’s advancements will find applications in diverse sectors such as healthcare, diagnostics, defence, energy, and data security.
• How Quantum Computers Work: 
  • Qubits and Superposition:
  • Quantum computing uses the qubit as the basic unit of information, instead of the conventional bit.
  • Qubits allow for the coherent superposition of ones and zeros, enabling quantum computers to perform computations differently from classical computers.

INS Mumbai

• News: Indian Navy’s Destroyer ‘INS Mumbai’ has visited Sri Lanka.
• Commissioning:
  • INS Mumbai is the third ship in the Delhi-class of guided missile destroyers, indigenously built and commissioned into the Indian Navy on 22 January 2001.
  • Built at Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai.
• Awards & Recognition:
• • INS Mumbai has been adjudged the ‘Best Ship’ thrice and the ‘Most Spirited Ship’ twice, a rare accomplishment for any warship.

• Operational History:
  • Op Parakram (2002): Part of the naval operations during heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.
  • Op Sukoon (2006): Led the evacuation of Indian, Nepalese, and Sri Lankan citizens from war-torn Lebanon.
  • Op Rahat (2015): Played a crucial role in the evacuation of Indian and foreign nationals from Yemen.
  • Upgradation & Deployment: After completing a mid-life upgrade, INS Mumbai rejoined the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam on 8 December 2023.
• Key Features:
  • Displacement: Over 6,500 tons.
  • Crew: Manned by 350 sailors and 40 officers.
  • Dimensions: 163 meters in length and 17 meters at the beam.
  • Speed: Powered by four gas turbines, capable of exceeding speeds of 32 knots.
  • Armament & Technology: Equipped with state-of-the-art weapons, including Surface-to-Surface Missiles, Surface-to-Air Missiles, Anti-Submarine rockets, and torpedoes. The ship possesses lethal firepower to engage various threats.
  • Aviation Capabilities: Operates all types of helicopters in the Indian Navy’s inventory, serving as extended surveillance and reconnaissance platforms.