Current Affairs – January 08, 2025

{GS1 – A&C – Languages} Deciphering Indus Script

Context (IE): Tamil Nadu’s CM announced a $1 million prize for deciphering the Indus Valley script.

Indus Valley Civilisation

Thrived between 3300 BCE and 1300 BCE; peak phase from 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE.
Covered 800,000 sq km across present-day Pakistan and northwestern India.
Urban Culture: Known for advanced trade, taxation systems & urban planning with elaborate drainage.

Features of the Indus Script

Symbols: Found on seals and terracotta tablets; include human & animal motifs and unknown characters.
Inscription Length: Typically short, with an average of five characters, the longest has 26 characters.
Signs Count: Varied scholarly estimates – 62 (S.R. Rao), 425 (Asko Parpola), 676 (Bryan K Wells).
Writing System: Believed to be logosyllabic, where signs represented objects, words or homophones.

Major Theories on Language and Script

Dravidian Hypothesis: Suggests Dravidian roots based on the rebus principle (e.g., fish sign linked to “star” in Dravidian); Supported by Brahui language in Balochistan and Old Tamil connections.
Sanskrit Connection: Proposed link to Vedic Sanskrit rejected due to Aryan migration after 2000 BCE.
Nonlinguistic Symbols Theory: Suggests symbols were used for trade, taxation, or religious purposes rather than encoding language.

Source: OneIndia

Challenges in Deciphering

No Rosetta Stone: Lack of multilingual inscriptions makes comparisons difficult.
Short Texts: Inscription brevity hinders pattern recognition.
Disagreements: Divergent scholarly views on the nature and purpose of the script.

Potential Implications of Deciphering the Indus Script

Economic Reconstruction: Insights into Harappan trade systems and administrative functions.
Cultural Heritage: Connection to modern Dravidian and South Asian languages and traditions.
Academic Impact: Could bridge gaps in early South Asian history.
Historical Importance: Can redefine understanding of early Indian civilisation and its global interactions.

{GS1 – Geo – PG – Climatology} Polar Vortex and Winter Storms in the US

Context (IE): The US is experiencing severe winter storms, affecting over 60 million people across 30 states. Seven states have declared emergencies due to extreme conditions caused by the polar vortex.

Polar Vortex

It is a large low-pressure area of cold air swirling at up to 155 mph around the Earth’s poles, rotating counterclockwise. Polar vortex events are seasonal but not guaranteed annually.
The term gained prominence after the 2013-14 winter storm due to its severe effects.
Types of Polar Vortex
- Tropospheric: Exists in the lowest atmospheric layer, directly influencing weather patterns.
- Stratospheric: Located 16-48 km above Earth, stronger in winter and dissipates in summer.

How the Polar Vortex Causes Extreme Cold

Weakened Vortex: When the polar vortex weakens, Arctic air breaks free, moving southward and bringing extreme cold to mid-latitude regions like the US, Europe, and Asia.
Jet Stream Influence: A weak polar vortex destabilises the jet stream, causing it to meander, allowing cold Arctic air to spill southward.

Role of Climate Change

Jet Stream Destabilization: Weaker temperature gradients disrupt the jet stream, making the vortex prone to southward shifts.
Warming Poles: Rapid Arctic warming reduces the temperature contrast between the poles and mid-latitudes, weakening the polar vortex.

Historical Impacts of Polar Vortex

2013-14 Winter: Severe cold affected the US and Canada, with record snow and ice coverage. 92.5% of the Great Lakes went frozen, with Lake Michigan recording 93.3% ice cover.
Urban Impact: Cities like New York and Chicago faced record snowfalls and freezing temperatures.

Significance of the Polar Vortex

Integral Role in global atmospheric circulation: The polar vortex is crucial for global atmospheric circulation, regulating weather and climate in the Northern Hemisphere.
Prediction and Preparation: Understanding its dynamics aids in forecasting severe weather events and mitigating their impacts.

{GS2 – IR – Groupings} Net-Zero Banking Alliance

Context (BS): Major U.S. banks, including Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and JPMorgan Chase, have recently exited the Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA).
Only 3 U.S.-based banks in NZBA: Amalgamated Bank; Climate First Bank; Areti Bank.

Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) is a UN-convened group of global banks committed to aligning their lending and investment portfolios with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Reasons for Exiting: Political pressure from Republican politicians warning that NZBA membership could breach antitrust rules, especially if it reduced fossil fuel companies’ financing.

Antitrust rules are laws designed to promote fair competition and prevent monopolistic practices. They ensure businesses do not engage in anti-competitive behaviour like price fixing or market manipulation.

Implications of Exits

Concerns among climate advocates about diminishing industry commitment to fossil fuel reduction.
Potential impact on global efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
European banks, subject to stricter climate regulations, continue their commitment to NZBA.

{GS2 – IR – Groupings} World Gold Council

Context (TH): World Gold Council (WGC) report, ‘Central Bank gold Statistics November 2024’, noted that the RBI continued its 2024 buying streak, adding 8 tonnes to its gold reserves in November 2024.

This lifted RBI‘s year-to-date buying to 73 tonnes and total gold holdings to 876 tonnes, maintaining its position as the second largest buyer in 2024 after Poland.
The WGC is an international trade association for the gold industry, formed in 1987 by mining companies.
Currently, 32 gold mining companies are its members.
It is headquartered in London and has offices in India, China, Singapore, the UAE and the United States.
It aims to stimulate and sustain demand for gold through market development.

{GS2 – IR – India-US} Strengthening Indo-US Nuclear Collaboration

Context (IE): The US is easing regulatory barriers to advance the Indo-US nuclear deal, with plans to remove Indian nuclear institutions like BARC and IGCAR from the US Entity List.

U.S. Entity List is a trade restriction tool the U.S. government uses to impose export controls on foreign entities believed to pose risks to national security or foreign policy interests.

Current Challenges

Legal Barriers

US Regulatory Impediments (10CFR810): Restricts US vendors from manufacturing/designing nuclear equipment in India, hindering joint manufacturing & participation in the nuclear value chain.
India’s Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010: Channels liability for nuclear accidents to equipment suppliers; Deters foreign companies due to concerns over potential future liabilities.

Technological and Operational Limitations

Outdated Reactor Technology: India relies on Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), less competitive than globally preferred LWRs.
High Costs: Nuclear projects require significant investment, less competitive than renewable energy.
Regulatory and Bureaucratic Delays: Persistent delays in clearances impede project execution.
Resistance: Safety concerns due to incidents like Fukushima (2011) cause resistance to nuclear expansion.

Opportunities in Collaboration

Strategic Partnership: Joint efforts enhance competition with China in nuclear reactor markets and deepen bilateral ties under the US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET).
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs): India seeks to become a global hub for cost-effective, scalable SMRs (30-300 MWe), countering China’s dominance in the Global South.
Technological Modernization: Access to advanced Light Water Reactor (LWR) technology for India.
Regional Peace: Strengthened cooperation fosters peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Energy Security: Enhances India’s energy mix with cleaner nuclear power.
Cost Efficiency: Collaboration leverages India’s low-cost manufacturing to offset US labour costs and protectionist policies.

Way Forward

Regulatory Reforms: Amendments to 10CFR810 and India’s Civil Liability Act to address legal hurdles.

{GS2 – Polity – Misc} National Anthem Protocol

Context (TH): Tamil Nadu Governor walked out of the Legislative Assembly without delivering his opening address for the year, citing the absence of the National Anthem before his speech.

About the National Anthem

Composed by Rabindranath Tagore in Bengali; first sung on December 27, 1911, during the Indian National Congress session in Kolkata.
Officially adopted on January 24, 1950, the Hindi version uses the first stanza of the original poem.
Duration: The full version runs 52 seconds when sung or played in its entirety; the shorter version is approximately 20 seconds.

Constitutional and Legal Provisions

Article 51(A)(a): Enlists respecting the National Anthem as a fundamental duty for all citizens; Does not mandate specific occasions for playing or singing the anthem.
Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971: Deliberate insult or disturbance during the National Anthem is punishable by up to 3 years of imprisonment, a fine, or both.

Judicial Interpretations

Madras HC Ruling (2019): Dismissed a petition demanding punishment for non-playing of the anthem, citing no legal mandate for mandatory singing or playing at all official functions.
SC Observations: Playing the National Anthem in cinemas or other settings is encouraged but not mandatory unless specified.

Government Guidelines on Playing the National Anthem

Ceremonial Events: Played during civil and military investitures and parades.
State Events: Played during the arrival & departure of the President/Governor at formal state functions.
Dignitaries’ Presence: Played during national salutes involving the President, Governor, or dignitaries.
Naval Ceremonies: Played during flag hoisting in naval ceremonies.
Flag Hoisting: Mass singing is required during flag hoisting on Independence Day and Republic Day.

Key Practices in Legislative Assemblies

Tamil Nadu Assembly Protocol: Tamil Thai Vazhthu (State Anthem) is sung at the start of Governor’s address; National Anthem is played at the end. This convention began in 1991 under AIADMK rule.
Parliamentary Practice: The National Anthem is played as the President enters and exits during the joint session of Parliament.
Variations Across States: Different conventions exist; some states, like Nagaland, only recently began playing the anthem.

Significance of Playing the National Anthem

Fostering Unity: Reinforces a sense of national pride, unity, and shared identity, transcending regional and linguistic differences.
Promoting Constitutional Values: Emphasises respect for national symbols as a cornerstone of civic responsibility and national ethos.

Context (TH): Obesity lies at the heart of the non-communicable disease (NCD) epidemic, requiring urgent lifestyle changes, awareness and preventive measures to curb its impact.

Obesity is a chronic, complex disease marked by excessive fat deposits that impair overall health.
WHO estimates: One in eight people globally is obese, and one in three is overweight.

Global and Indian Scenario

Obesity rates have doubled globally since 1990; adolescent obesity has quadrupled.
Childhood obesity is a growing concern, with India ranking second globally for the highest number.
Increased waist circumference with normal BMI is common, with 65% of men & women affected.
In India, obesity affects about 13% of the population, which is higher than many middle-income nations.
Normal-weight obesity & sarcopenic obesity (high fat, low muscle mass) are emerging challenges.

Causes of Obesity

Excessive food intake: Increased availability & high-calorie diets (fast foods, fizzy drinks, sugary snacks).
Lack of physical activity: Sedentary lifestyles due to tech & urbanisation contribute to obesity.
Genetic and hormonal factors can play a role in childhood obesity and in people with a predisposition to weight gain.

Challenges of Obesity

Health Risks: Obesity leads to diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and certain cancers and negatively affects mobility and sleep.
Psychological impact: Mental health issues such as low self-esteem, mood disorders, and poor body image are common among obese individuals.
Economic burden: The medical costs, loss of productivity, absenteeism from work, and premature mortality due to obesity strain healthcare systems and economies.
Under-diagnosis of normal weight obesity: Waist circumference, a critical indicator of health, is often ignored in India.

Steps to Address Obesity

Lifestyle Changes: Encourage regular physical activity (6,000-8,000 steps daily), avoid high-carb and junk food, and reduce sedentary behaviour like screen time.
Simple Interventions: Promote walking over driving, using stairs instead of lifts, and regularly monitoring weight and waist circumference.
Bariatric Surgery: Effective for significant weight loss but is costly & has potential nutritional challenges.
Awareness Generation: Increase advocacy about obesity prevention and healthy lifestyle choices.
Corporate Support: Companies should promote physical activity by setting walking goals for employees.
Regular Monitoring: Frequent weight and waist measurement checks can help manage obesity.

Also refer to ICMR Dietary Guidelines.

{GS3 – IE – Exports} PLI Scheme 1.1 for Specialty Steel

Context (PIB): Union Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries launched the second round of PLI scheme for Specialty Steel, termed PLI Scheme 1.1.

Key Features of PLI Scheme 1.1

Operates within the original allocation of ₹6,322 crore, implemented from FY 2025-26 to FY 2029-30.
Eligibility: Companies investing in either new mills or augmenting existing capacities are eligible.

Speciality steel refers to high-performance steel alloys with enhanced properties such as strength, corrosion resistance, or heat resistance, designed for specific applications.
- Examples: Coated/Plated Steel, High Strength/Wear-resistant Steel, Specialty Rails, Alloy Steel & Wires, Electrical Steel including Cold-Rolled Grain-Oriented Steel (CRGO).
Cold-rolled grain-oriented steel (CRGO): High-value steel used in production of power transformers used in HT power distribution. As of now, No Indian steelmaker has CRGO manufacturing tech.

Major Changes Introduced

CRGO Steel Investment Threshold: Reduced to ₹3,000 Cr, capacity creation threshold of 50,000 tonnes.
Existing Capacity Augmentation: Investment threshold reduced by 50% for capacity expansion.
Incentive Carry Forward: Companies can carry forward excess production to offset future shortfalls.
Investor-Friendly Modifications: Changes made based on industry feedback to boost participation.

Strategic Significance of the Scheme

Promotion of Value-Added Steel: Encourages manufacturing of advanced steel grades domestically.
Import Reduction: Helps reduce dependency on imports for Specialty Steel, contributing to Make in India and Atma Nirbhar Bharat.
CRGO Production: Aimed at achieving self-reliance in CRGO, currently not produced domestically.
Tech Advancement: Facilitates tech improvement & enhances India’s position in global steel value chain.
Employment Generation: Ensures job creation through new investments and capacity expansion.

{Prelims – In News} BHARATPOL portal

Context (PIB): The BHARATPOL portal by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will be launched.

The portal will streamline processing all requests for international assistance through INTERPOL, including issuing INTERPOL Notices.
CBI is the National Central Bureau (NCB-New Delhi) for INTERPOL in India.
Through the portal, the country’s law enforcement agencies will be able to access real-time information

{Prelims – In News} Dozer Push Mining Method

Context (PIB): CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CSIR-CIMFR) has conducted the first trial blast for the Dozer Push Mining Method at Coal Mine in Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh.

The project’s primary objective was to develop a method that optimises the mining process and ensures that vibration and fly rock are controlled within safe limits.
It introduces a paradigm shift by utilising unmanned, automated machinery for mining operations.
It offers a viable alternative to conventional truck shovel mining or shovel-dumper and dragline methods.
It provides advantages such as improved efficiency by enabling faster coal recovery and reducing delays caused by adverse weather conditions such as the monsoon season.
It is cost-effective, with an estimated 7-10% reduction in operational costs compared to conventional.
Moreover, the unmanned operation of the Dozer Push Mining method greatly enhances worker safety.

{Prelims – In News} Recent Discoveries and Studies in News

Context (TP): Recent studies have uncovered key facts about noctule bats, lunar magnetism, ice age wildfires, and cancer metastasis.

Migration Strategy of Noctule Bats (Nyctalus noctula)

Source: NatureRules1 Wiki

Common noctule bats migrate thousands of kilometres every spring across Europe. Warm storm fronts aid bats in conserving energy during migration. Bats cover up to 400 km in a single night.
Unique features: Unlike birds, noctule bats do not store significant fat before migration.
Bats adopt a hopping migration pattern with frequent stops for feeding.
Conservation Status: IUCN: Least Concern.

Moon’s Magnetic Field History

Chinese scientists analysed samples from the Chang’e 5 mission and revealed that the Moon had a weak magnetic field until about 2 billion years ago.
Magnetisation tests revealed a magnetic field intensity of 2 to 4 microtesla in ancient lunar rocks.
Thermal convection within the Moon may have sustained the magnetic field.

Ice Age Wildfires and Methane Spikes

The last ice age lasted from approximately 100,000 to 25,000 years ago. Abrupt climate change events during the ice age coincided with increased wildfires.
Methane bubbles trapped in Antarctic ice revealed spikes in atmospheric methane.
US and Swiss scientists used mass spectrometry to analyse ancient gas bubbles.
Forest fires were identified as a major contributor to methane spikes during glacial periods.

Mass spectrometry

It is an analytical technique used to measure the mass-to-charge ratio of ions. It is widely used to identify the composition of a sample, determine the structure of molecules, and quantify substances.
The process involves ionising chemical compounds to generate charged molecules or molecule fragments and measuring their mass-to-charge ratios.

How it works?

Ionization: The sample is introduced into a mass spectrometer, where it is ionised. This means that atoms or molecules are converted into ions (charged particles).
Acceleration and Separation: The ions are accelerated through electric or magnetic fields. They then pass through a mass analyser, which separates them based on their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z). Lighter ions move faster and are deflected more than heavier ions.
Detection: The separated ions are detected, typically by a detector that produces a spectrum. The spectrum provides information about the relative abundance of ions and their mass, helping to determine the molecular weight and structure of the compounds in the sample.

Aspartate and Cancer Metastasis to Lungs

More than 50% of cancer patients develop lung metastasis.
The presence of aspartate in the lungs facilitates cancer cell growth and spread.
Aspartate enhances protein synthesis, enabling aggressive cancer growth in the lungs.
Researchers aim to develop therapies targeting this translation process to reduce lung metastasis.

Lung metastasis refers to the spread of cancer cells from a primary tumour in another body part to the lungs. It is a common site for metastatic growth, as cancer cells travel through the bloodstream or lymphatic system, causing secondary tumours that can affect lung function & require specific treatment.

{Prelims – S&T – Space} Galaxy-sized Gravitational Waves Detector

Context (TH): Scientists confirmed that the universe’s fabric constantly vibrates due to gravitational waves from supermassive black hole collisions using a galaxy-sized detector.

Gravitational Waves: First detected in 2015 using earth-based detectors like LIGO, these are ripples in space-time caused by massive objects like black holes orbiting, colliding or mergers at galactic centres.

Also, refer to How Gravitational Waves are Detected?

Detectors Used

Detector Type: Pulsar Timing Arrays (PTAs) use rapidly spinning neutron stars (pulsars) as detectors.

Pulsars: Neutron stars emitting radiation pulses, used for detecting gravitational waves.

MeerKAT is the largest PTA, observing 83 pulsars using South Africa’s MeerKAT radio telescope, which measures timing variations in pulsar signals caused by spacetime distortions from gravitational waves.
International Pulsar Timing Array (IPTA) is a collaborative effort combining global PTA data for enhanced precision.

Findings

Gravitational Wave Background (GWB): A cosmic “ocean” of waves from all galactic mergers in history.
Unexpected Intensity: GWB is louder than predicted, meaning more supermassive black hole mergers.
Hot Spot Discovery: Anomalous gravitational wave activity identified in the Southern Hemisphere sky.

Implications of the Findings

Enabled precise mapping of cosmic architecture from gravitational wave signals.
Potential Origins of GWB: Likely caused by black hole interactions but could include early universe events or exotic phenomena.