Current Affairs July 24, 2023: Private Mining of Critical Minerals, National Financial Reporting Authority, Tele-MANAS, India’s First Satellite Network Portal Site, Guam Kingfisher

{GS1 – Geo – EG – Mineral Resources – 2023/07/24} Private Mining of Critical Minerals

• Context (DTE): GoI amended the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act of 1957, allowing private players to mine six critical minerals — lithium, titanium, beryllium, zirconium, niobium, and tantalum.
• These six minerals have been removed from the country’s atomic minerals lists to allow private players to mine them.

Atomic minerals: naturally occurring minerals that contain significant quantities of radioactive elements.

Critical Minerals

• GoI has unveiled the first report of the country on “Critical Minerals for India” and has identified 30 critical minerals.
• The identification of the critical minerals is a part of multiple strategic value chains, which include:
  • clean technologies initiatives (such as zero-emission vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panels);
  • information and communication technologies (including semiconductors);
  • advanced manufacturing inputs and materials (such as defence applications, permanent magnets, and ceramics).
• These are minerals that are essential for economic development and national security.
• The lack of availability of these minerals or the concentration of extraction or processing in a few geographical locations can lead to “supply chain vulnerabilities and even disruption of supplies”.
• A mineral is critical when the risk of supply shortage and associated economic impact is (relatively) higher than other raw materials.

Ciritical Minerals of India

• The minerals were identified based on a report by an Expert Committee of the Ministry of Mines.
• These 30 critical minerals are Antimony, Beryllium, Bismuth, Cobalt, Copper, Gallium, Germanium, Graphite, Hafnium, Indium, Lithium, Molybdenum, Niobium, Nickel, PGE, Phosphorous, Potash, REE, Rhenium, Silicon, Strontium, Tantalum, Tellurium, Tin, Titanium, Tungsten, Vanadium, Zirconium, Selenium and Cadmium.
• The committee also recommended the creation of the Centre of Excellence for Critical Minerals (CECM) under the Ministry of Mines.
• This proposed Centre will periodically update the list of critical minerals for India.

India’s import dependency

Critical Mineral	Percentage dependency	Major Import Sources (2020)
Lithium	100%	Chile, Russia, China, Ireland, Belgium
Cobalt	100%	China, Belgium, Netherlands, US, Japan
Nickel	100%	Sweden, China, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines
Vanadium	100%	Kuwait, Germany, South Africa, Brazil, Thailand
Niobium	100%	Brazil, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Indonesia
Germanium	100%	China, South Africa, Australia, France, US
Rhenium	100%	Russia, UK, Netherlands, South Africa, China
Beryllium	100%	Russia, UK, Netherlands, South Africa, China
Tantalum	100%	Australia, Indonesia, South Africa, Malaysia, US
Strontium	100%	China, the US, Russia, Estonia, Slovenia
Zirconium(zircon)	80%	Australia, Indonesia, South Africa, Malaysia, US
Graphite(natural)	60%	China, Madagascar, Mozambique, Vietnam, Tanzania
Manganese	50%	South Africa, Gabon, Australia, Brazil, China
Chromium	2.5%	South Africa, Mozambique, Oman, Switzerland, Turkey
Silicon	<1%	China, Malaysia, Norway, Bhutan, Netherlands

Description of the Six Critical Elements Opened for Private Mining

Lithium

• Lithium is a non-ferrous, soft, silvery-white alkali metal.
• It is also called ‘white gold’ due to its high demand for rechargeable batteries.

Properties

• Under standard conditions, it is the least dense metal and the least dense solid element.
• Like all alkali metals, it is highly reactive and flammable, so it must be stored in vacuum, inert atmosphere, or inert liquid (such as purified kerosene or mineral oil).
• It exhibits a metallic lustre. But it corrodes quickly in the air to a dull silvery grey, then black tarnish.

Occurrence

• It never occurs freely in nature but occurs mainly as pegmatitic minerals.
• Due to its solubility as an ion, it is present in ocean water and commonly obtained from brines (high-concentration salt solution in water).
• Lithium metal is isolated electrolytically from a mixture of lithium chloride and potassium chloride.

Pegmatite is a coarse-textured igneous rock that forms during the final stage of magma’s crystallisation. It contains large crystals and minerals rarely found in other types of rocks.

Global Reserves and Production

• Countries with largest reserves: 1^st Bolivia > 2^nd Argentina > 3^rd Chile > 4^th US > Australia > China.
• 54% of the world’s lithium reserves are in three South American countries: Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. The area is referred to as the ‘Lithium Triangle’.
• Top Producers: 1^st Australia > 2^nd Chile > 3^rd China > 4^th Aregentina > 5^th Zimbabwe

Uses

• Lithium-ion batteries are used in laptops, mobiles, electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels, etc.
• It is used to make alloys with aluminium and magnesium, which are stronger but lighter.
• It is used in nuclear reactions, the ceramics and glass industry, and lubricating greases.
• It is also used for carbon dioxide removal and air purification (esp. in confined areas, such as spacecraft and submarines).

Titanium

• Titanium is a metal that has a silver-grey appearance.
• Properties: high strength, lightweight, and is corrosion-resistant, heat resistant (due to high melting point), and biocompatible (compatible with living tissues and has low reactivity with the human body).
• Occurrence: found in nature only as an oxide, not in its pure metallic form.
• It is found in various minerals, rocks, and soils. It is also present in plants, animals, natural waters, deep-sea dredgings, meteorites, and stars.
• Ores: The most abundant titanium ore is ilmenite. Other titanium ores include rutile and titanite.
  • Ilmenite: It is an iron-black, heavy, metallic oxide mineral. It is composed of iron and titanium oxide. It is commonly found in igneous rocks.
  • Rutile: It has a distinctive reddish-brown colour and a higher titanium dioxide content than ilmenite. It occurs in igneous and metamorphic rocks and is often found in association with ilmenite.
  • Titanite: It is a calcium titanium silicate mineral. It is green, yellowish-green, brown, or black in colour. It is commonly found in metamorphic and igneous rocks.

An oxide is a chemical compound that contains at least one oxygen atom bonded to one or more other elements. Oxides are formed when an element reacts with oxygen.

• Top Producers of Titanium: 1^st China > 2^nd Russia > 3^rd Japan > 4^th Kazakhstan > 5^th Ukraine

• Uses: nuclear applications, defence, aerospace, marine, and construction industries, high-performance alloys, electrical goods, medical implants, and jewellery.

Zirconium

• Zirconium is a greyish-white metal.
• Properties: soft, malleable, lustrous, ductile, and corrosion-resistant.
• Occurrence: zircon mineral (zirconium silicate) commonly found in beach sands.
• Baddeleyite (pure zirconium dioxide) is the only other important zirconium mineral.
• Top Producers: 1^st Australia > 2^nd South Africa > 3^rd China > 4^th Ukraine > 5^th Mozambique
• Uses: nuclear applications, aerospace and defence industries, production of superalloys, capacitors, medical implants, ceramics, and zircon Gemstones.

Beryllium

• Beryllium is a steel-grey metal with chemical properties resembling those of aluminium.
• Properties: light, high melting point, excellent thermal conductivity, low density and brittle.
• Occurrence: It does not occur freely in nature. It is primarily extracted from beryl and bertrandite minerals. Beryl forms gemstones, such as emeralds and aquamarine.

• Top Producers of Beryllium: 1^st United States > 2^nd China > 3^rd Mozambique > 4^th Brazil > 5^th Russia.
• Uses: nuclear applications, aerospace and defence industries, production of alloys and semiconductors (due to its ability to improve the electrical performance of semiconductors).
• Beryllium is transparent to X-rays, making it an ideal material for X-ray windows.

Niobium

• Niobium is a grey metal that looks like steel or, when polished, like platinum.
• Properties: It is soft, ductile, corrosion-resistant, and superconductive (at low temperatures).
• Occurrence: It is primarily obtained from the minerals columbite-tantalite (coltan) and pyrochlore.
• Top Producers of Niobium: 1^st Brazil > 2^nd Canada > 3^rd Rwanda > 4^th Nigeria > 5^th Mozambique.
• Uses: nuclear applications, alloys, electronic components, orthopaedic and dental implants, etc.

Tantalum

• Tantalum is bright, silver-grey metal.
• Properties: It is very hard and has high density, high melting point, and corrosion resistance.
• Occurrence: It is obtained from the mineral columbite-tantalite (coltan).
• Columbite-tantalite is a black-to-brownish-black mineral that contains both niobium and tantalum.
• Top Producers: 1^st Democratic Republic of Congo > 2^nd Brazil > 3^rd Rwanda > 4^th Nigeria > 5^th China.
• Uses: nuclear applications, aerospace and defence industries, production of capacitors, medical implants, super alloys, etc.

Why Private Mining is Allowed for These Critical Minerals

• Critical minerals are in high demand as countries move towards green transition and e-mobility.
• Allowing private players in the mining of critical metals will bring more capital and foster the use of new and emerging technologies for exploration and mining processes.
• India currently is heavily dependent on imports of these minerals. So, the need to increase their production is on high priority.

Concerns Associate with Mining of These Critical Minerals

• Radioactivity: These six critical minerals are also atomic minerals. So the processing of these minerals may expose workers to radioactivity.
• Nuclear Waste Management: These minerals are used in nuclear applications and they are also corrosion-resistant. So the waste generated after their use in nuclear applications must be safely stored and isolated to prevent any potential environmental or health hazards.
• Environmental Impact: Mining activities of these minerals may disturb natural habitats, affect local ecosystems, and potentially contribute to soil and water pollution.
• Ethical Sourcing: In some regions, mining practices have been associated with social and human rights issues, including unethical labour practices and armed conflicts financed by the illegal trade of minerals.
• High-Temperature Processing Challenges: These minerals are high-temperature resistant. So, they require high-temperature processing which is energy-intensive and complex.
• Health Hazards: Inhaling the gases and fumes released during the mining and processing of these minerals cause different diseases. For e.g., prolonged exposure to beryllium can cause a lung disease called berylliosis.

{GS1 – MIH – Personalities – 2023/07/24} Bal Gangadhar Tilak (Lokmanya Tilak)

• Context (PIB): PM Modi has paid tributes to Lokmanya Tilak on his Jayanti.

• Tilak was born on 23^rd July 1856 in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra.
• He passed away on 1^st August 1920, just before the launch of the Non-Coperation Movement.

Ideology

Nationalist Revolutionary

• Tilak was a revolutionary nationalist and extremist leader.

• He preached the message of self-respect, Swadeshi, and Swarajya (self-rule).
• He stressed that there could be no progress without self-rule (swarajya).
• He publicly supported the efforts to assassinate Presidency Magistrate Douglas Kingsford in 1908.
• Mahatma Gandhi called him The Maker of Modern India, while Jawaharlal Nehru described him as The Father of the Indian Revolution (Unrest).

Devout Hindu

• Tilak was a devout Hindu who advocated for cultural and religious revival and used Hindu scriptures to inspire people to fight oppression.
• He popularised Ganesh Chaturthi and propounded the celebration of Shiv Jayanti on the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji to propagate nationalist ideas and foster a sense of national identity.

Swadesh

• Swadeshi Wastu Pracharini Sabha was started by Tilak in 1905.
• It aimed to start certified Swadeshi shops.

Contribution Towards Education

• Tilak and others started the New English School (1880) in Pune.
• He and his associate Gopal Ganesh Agarkar founded the Deccan Education Society (1884).
• He is among the founders of Fergusson College (1885), Pune.
• The New English School and the Fergusson College functioned under the Deccan Education Society.

Books by Tilak

1. The Orion, Or, Researches Into the Antiquity of the Vedas (English)
2. The Arctic Home in the Vedas (English; about the origins of the Indo-Aryan people)
3. Gita Rahasya (Marathi; authored in 1915 while he was in prison at Mandalay, Burma. According to him, the real message behind the Bhagavad Gita is Nishkam Karmayoga (selfless action), rather than Karma Sanyasa (renouncing of actions))

Freedom of the Press

• Tilak started two newspapers in 1881:
  1. Kesari (Marathi)
  2. The Mahratta (English)

Sedition Charges

• Tilak’s activism, appealing to Hindu symbolism and Maratha history, excited the populace and brought him into conflict with the British government.
• His articles criticising the British government’s handling of the plague epidemic in Pune inspired the Chapekar brothers to assassinate Commissioner Rand and Lt. Ayerst in 1897.
• He had been tried for sedition charges thrice by British Indian Government— in 1897, 1908 and 1916.
• He was sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment in 1897 and 6 years in 1908.
• His prosecution for sedition gained him more popularity, earning him the title Lokamanya (”Beloved Leader of the People”).

Home Rule League

• Tilak founded the All India Home Rule League in 1916 with Joseph Baptista, Annie Besant and Muhammad Ali Jinnah to reunite with his fellow nationalists and to propagate the message of Swaraj.
• It was restricted to Maharashtra (excluding Bombay City), Karnataka, Central Provinces, and Berar.
• Poona was the headquarters of his league. He held his first home rule meeting at Belgaum.

{GS2 – MoCA – 2023/07/24} National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA)

• Context (PIB | LM): The resignation of the auditor of Think and Learn Pvt. Ltd (Byju’s) has exposed a gap in the regulatory framework for auditors.

Origins of NFRA

• NFRA is an independent regulator overseeing the auditing profession.
• The idea for an NFRA came following the Satyam scam in 2009.
• Section 132 of the Companies Act, 2013, provided for the setting up of the NFRA.
• The NFRA committee was constituted in 2018 by GOI under Sub Section (1) of Section 132.
• Composition: Chairman, three full-time members, and one secretary.

Functions and Duties

• As per Sub Section (2) of Section 132 of the Companies Act, 2013, the duties of the NFRA are to:
  1. Recommend to GoI the accounting and auditing standards to be adopted by companies/auditors.
  2. Monitor and enforce such standards and policies.
  3. Oversee the professions associated with the compliance of these standards and policies.

Powers of NFRA

• It can investigate the professional misconduct of any member or a firm of chartered accountants.
• It can issue summons and examine on oath.
• It can also inspect any books, registers and documents of professionals/firms probed.
• It can impose penalties and debar a firm member.

Purview

• Under the NFRA Rules, 2018, the NFRA has the power over:
  1. Listed companies
  2. Large unlisted companies
     • Having paid-up capital of rupees five hundred crores or more, or
     • Having an annual turnover of rupees one thousand crores or more, or
     • Having aggregate outstanding loans, debentures, and deposits of five hundred crores or more.
• NFRA’s mandate also covers any company/person, if referred by GoI in the public interest.

Blindspot

• The oversight of audit regulator NFRA extends ONLY to statutory auditors of listed companies, banks, insurers, power utilities, and large unlisted public limited companies.
• It excludes private limited companies, no matter how big they are.
• This certainly makes a case for amending the NFRA Rules of 2018, which defines the public interest entities, the auditors of which come under the regulator’s ambit.

Alternate Viewpoint

• Self-regulator, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), can address any governance issue relating to entities outside NFRA’s mandate.
• Large investors in private limited companies are financially well-informed. NFRA must focus its resources on companies where the public interest is involved.
• Startups are expected to innovate, and a greater regulatory burden is not in their interest.

Under Section 143 of the Companies Act, a statutory auditor quitting an audit assignment must report to the government any fraud in the company. Independent regulators such as registrars of companies and NFRA and probe agencies such as the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) are within the MoCA’s regulatory ecosystem. Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) SFIO is a multi-disciplinary organisation under MoCA, consisting of experts in accountancy, forensic auditing, company law, taxation, etc., for detecting and prosecuting white-collar crimes/frauds. SFIO also has powers to arrest people for violating Company law. Section 211 of the Companies Act, 2013, has accorded statutory status to SFIO.

{GS2 – MoHFW – 2023/07/24} Mental Health: Tele-MANAS

• Context (TH I PIB): Tele-MANAS receives 2,00,000 calls since its launch in 2022.
• The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS) under National Tele Mental Health Programme in 2022.
• The Tele Mental Health Programme aims to nationally strengthen mental health service delivery.
• The Tele-MANAS is organised as a two-tier system:
  1. Tier 1: State Tele-MANAS cells with trained mental health specialists for teleconsultation through a customised Interactive Voice Response system (IVRS),
  2. Tier 2: District Mental Health Programme (DMHP)/Medical College resources for physical consultation and/or eSanjeevani for audio-visual consultation.

• Tele-MANAS will integrate various mental health services and professionals, including the National teleconsultation service, e-Sanjeevani, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, etc.
• Sadness, sleeplessness, stress and anxiety are the top mental health concerns shared on Tele MANAS.
• Features of Tele-MANAS:
  • It is a free service (Toll-free number 14416).
  • It is available 24/7 in 20 languages with over 1,900 trained counsellors.
  • It can link to appropriate services and nearby healthcare facilities.

eSanjeevani eSanjeevani was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2019. It is a web-based teleconsultation service. eSanjeevani platform has enabled two types of telemedicine services: Doctor-to-Doctor (eSanjeevani) teleconsultation, and Doctor-to-Patient (eSanjeevani OPD) Tele-consultations. Doctor-to-Patient (eSanjeevani OPD) Teleconsultation was rolled out during the COVID pandemic. It aims to provide healthcare services to patients in their homes. Mental Health WHO defines mental health as a “condition of well-being in which every person is able to reach their full potential, manage everyday pressures, engage in productive and fruitful employment, and contribute to their community.” WHO emphasises that having a healthy mental state involves “more than just being free of mental impairments or illnesses.” Mental Health is a fundamental human right essential for socioeconomic, communal, and personal growth. Causes Of Mental Health Issues Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 aims to provide mental health care and services to people with mental illness in India. The Act repeals the Mental Health Act, 1987. Mental health is defined in section 2 under the act according to which “Mental illness indicates a substantial disorder of thinking, mood, perception, orientation or thought that seriously impairs behaviour, capacity to recognise reality, or ability to meet daily needs”. The provisions of the act ensure the following rights: Right to access mental healthcare. Right to protection from cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. Right to equality and non-discrimination. Right to information. Right to confidentiality. Right to legal aid. Right to make complaints about deficiencies in the provision of services. (It means one can not ask a person to go to Pakistan in case they complain about deficiencies in services!) Right to make an advance directive that states how he wants to be treated for the illness and who his nominated representative shall be. Mental Health Review Commission and Board The Mental Health Review Commission will be a quasi-judicial body that will periodically review the procedure for making advance directives and advise the government on mentally ill persons. The Commission shall, with the concurrence of the state governments, constitute Mental Health Review Boards in the districts of a state. Decriminalising suicide A person who attempts suicide shall be presumed to be suffering from mental illness at that time and will not be punished under the Indian Penal Code. Prohibiting electro-convulsive therapy Electro-convulsive therapy is allowed only with muscle relaxants and anaesthesia. It is prohibited for minors. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a procedure done under general anaesthesia in which small electric currents are passed through the brain, intentionally triggering a brief seizure. ECT seems to cause changes in brain chemistry that can quickly reverse symptoms of certain mental health conditions. Penalties and offences Any infringement of a provision is punishable by a six-month prison sentence and/or Rs. 10,000 fine. Repeat offenders may face a further two years in prison and/or 50,000 to 5 lakh rupees.

{GS2 – MoJS – 2023/07/24} Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)

• Context (PIB): An MoU was signed between the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation and Echo India (NGO) to establish JJM Digital Academy.
• JJM Digital Academy aims to build the capacity of various stakeholders associated with water supply programmes like administrators, Panchayat functionaries, sanitation workers, etc.

Jal Jeevan Mission – Rural (JJM Rural)

• JJM Rural is a centrally sponsored scheme announced by the Prime Minister in 2019.
• It works under the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS).
• It aims to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual functional household tap connections (FHTC) by 2024 to all households in rural India.
• It envisages the supply of 55 litres of water per person per day to every rural household.
• JJM will also implement source sustainability measures as mandatory elements, such as recharge and reuse through grey water management (used wastewater that has not come into contact with faeces), water conservation, rainwater harvesting, etc.
• JJM will be based on a community approach to water (Jan Andolan for water — making water everyone’s priority) and will include extensive Information, education, and communication.
• The Mission will converge with other Central and State Government Schemes to achieve its objectives

  of sustainable water supply management across the country.

• The fund-sharing pattern between the Centre and states is:
  • 100% for Union Territories.
  • 90:10 for Himalayan and North-EasternStates,
  • 50:50 for other states.

• A dedicated fund called Rashtriya Jal Jeevan Kosh was set up for the mission.

Har Ghar Jal certified States/UTs: As of May 16, 2023, 5 States (Goa, Telangana, Haryana, Gujarat and Punjab) and 3 UTs (Puducherry, Diu and Daman and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Andaman and Nicobar Islands) have reported 100% coverage. Jal Jeevan Mission – Urban (JJM Urban) JJM Urban has been announced under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoUHA). It aims to provide universal coverage of water supply to all households through functional taps in all statutory towns in accordance with SDG- 6 (clean water and sanitation for all). It also aims to provide liquid waste management connections to households in 500 AMRUT cities. Objectives Rejuvenation of water bodies to augment sustainable fresh water supply and create green spaces. To reduce floods and enhance amenity value through Urban Aquifer Management plans. To promote a circular water economy by focusing on recycling/reusing treated sewage, rejuvenating water bodies, and water conservation. To conduct Pey Jal Survekshan in cities to ascertain equitable water distribution and wastewater reuse.

{GS3 – S&T – IT – 2023/07/24} India’s First Satellite Network Portal Site

• Context (AIR | IE | ET): Gujarat government signed an MoU with OneWeb India Communications Pvt Ltd for setting up India’s First Satellite Network Portal Site at Mehsana in Gujarat.

Satellite Broadband Technology

• Satellite broadband technology utilises communication satellites to provide high-speed internet access.
• It can provide internet connectivity to users in remote or rural areas where traditional terrestrial broadband infrastructure is limited or unavailable.

Key features of satellite broadband technology

1. A constellation of communication satellites orbiting the Earth: These satellites relay internet data between the user’s satellite dish (terminal) and ground stations.
2. Two-Way Communication:
   1. Data is transmitted from the user’s satellite dish to the satellite (uplink), and
   2. Data is received from the satellite back to the user’s dish (downlink).
3. Geostationary satellite constellations: remain fixed relative to the Earth’s surface, providing continuous coverage to specific geographic areas.
4. Non-geostationary satellite constellations: involve non-geostationary satellites, especially Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites that revolve around the earth at low Earth orbits (LEO).

Advantage of non-geostationary satellites over geostationary satellites Non-geostationary satellites provide better coverage and reduced latency. GEO satellites tend to have higher latency due to the long distances. (Geostationary satellites are positioned in geostationary orbits (GEO) at 35,786 km above the Earth’s equator.)

Satellite Network Portal (SNP) Site

• Satellite network portal (SNP) site serves as a data downlink and uplink terminal or base station on the ground, an intermediary for data transmission through satellite tracking antenna systems.
• The portal enables tracking the position and monitoring the health of the satellites in real-time.
• Based on the data received, SNP sends commands to the satellites to adjust their orbits.

OneWeb Satellite Constellation

• OneWeb satellite constellation is a planned network of 648 Low-earth Orbit (LEO) satellites.
• It is the brainchild of London-based satellite communications satellite company OneWeb.
• It aims to deliver global broadband internet service with high data throughput, low latency, and true global coverage.
• Satellites are arranged in 12 rings (Orbital planes), with 49 satellites in each plane.
• The orbital planes are 1200 km above the Earth and are inclined to be near polar (87.9°)
• Each satellite completes an entire trip around the Earth every 109 minutes.

Low-earth Orbit (LEO): It is relatively closer than other orbits (altitude from the earth’s surface is between 200 to 2000 km). It is generally used by telecommunication and satellite imaging satellites. Throughput: In data transmission, throughput is the amount of data moved successfully from one place to another in a given time period.

Impact of Russia-Ukraine Crisis on OneWeb Satellite Constellation

• Prior to February 2022, all OneWeb’s satellites were launched onboard the Russian Soyuz rocket.
• After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, sanctions were imposed on Russia, which impacted OneWeb’s supply chain, and indirectly, on its constellation service.

OneWeb-NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) Partnership.

• OneWeb entered into a partnership with the NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) for launching OneWeb’s Low-earth Orbit (LEO) satellites on board ISRO’s LVM3.
• This partnership comes with the commitment that OneWeb will provide connectivity across the length and breadth of India by 2023, including the hardest-to-reach areas across the country.
• India’s Bharti Enterprises, which owns Bharti Airtel, is a major investor and shareholder in OneWeb.

LVM3 M2/OneWeb India-1 Mission

• LVM3-M2 mission is a commercial mission for a foreign customer OneWeb, through NSIL.
• Salient features of the mission are:
  • First Multi-Satellite mission with 36 OneWeb Satellites onboard
  • First Commercial Mission of LVM3
  • First NSIL Mission with LVM3
  • First launch of LVM3 to LEO
  • First Indian Rocket with a six-ton payload

LVM3 M3/OneWeb India-2 Mission

• This mission marked OneWeb’s second satellite deployment by NSIL.
• It is the second commercial mission of LVM3.
• It was OneWeb’s 18^th launch bringing the total of OneWeb’s constellation to 618 satellites.

Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) LVM3 is the heaviest launch vehicle of ISRO. Previously it was known as the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mk III). It was renamed as LVM3 after it successfully transferred satellites into LEO in LVM3-M2 mission. Earlier GSLV Mk III only used to place satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) and GEO. LVM3 is three stage launching system. GTO: It is a special geocentric orbit which serve as an intermediate orbit for satellites that are destined for GEO. From GTO satellites use engine thrusts to reach the destined GEO. GSLV Mk III (or LVM3) Successful Launches till Chandrayaan-3 Launch Payload Orbit User Crew module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE) Sub-orbital ISRO GSAT-19 GTO INSAT GSAT-29 GTO INSAT Chandrayaan-2 EPO ISRO 36 OneWeb Satellites LEO OneWeb Chandrayaan-3 EPO ISRO Sub-orbital: A suborbital satellite flight doesn’t have the power to achieve orbit. Instead, it will fly up to a certain height that depends on its speed, and then come back down once its engines are shut off. Elliptic Parking Orbit (EPO): It is a elliptical parking orbit. A parking orbit is a temporary orbit used during the launch of a spacecraft. A launch vehicle boosts into the parking orbit, then coasts for a while, then fires again to enter the final desired trajectory. It will carry Gaganyaan (the first crewed mission under Indian Human Spaceflight Programme). New Space India Ltd (NSIL) New Space India Ltd (NSIL) is a Public Sector Enterprise (under the Companies Act, 2013) It is under the administrative control of the Department of Space. It is the commercial wing of the ISRO. The main objective is to commercially exploit the Research and Development work of the ISRO. Mandate of NSIL includes the following Space Business Activities: Owning satellites for Earth Observation and Communication applications and providing space-based services Building satellites and launching them as per demand Providing launch services for satellite belonging to customer Building launch vehicles through Indian Industry and Launch as per satellite customer requirement Space-based services related to Earth Observation and Communication satellites on a commercial basis Satellite building through Indian Industry Technology Transfer to Indian Industry Marketing spin-off (commercial) technologies and products/ services emanating out of ISRO’s activities

{Prelims – Bio – Diseases – 2023/07/24} Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF)

• Context (IE): A person succumbed to Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Gujarat.
• CCHF is a viral haemorrhagic fever usually transmitted by ticks.
• CCHF was first detected among soldiers in the Crimean Peninsula (near the Black Sea) in 1944.
• In 1969, it was found that the same pathogen caused an ailment identified in the Congo Basin. Thus, the disease was named the Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever.
• Animals such as cattle, goats, sheep and hares serve as amplifying hosts for the CCHF virus.
• Transmission to humans occurs through contact with infected ticks or animal blood.
• There is no vaccine for the virus in either humans or animals.
• Treatment generally consists of managing symptoms.
• It is challenging to prevent and treat and has a high case fatality ratio (10–40%).

{Prelims – Envi – Invasive Species – 2023/07/24} Ludwigia Peruviana

Annamalai (Indira Gandhi) National Park, Tiger Reserve, Wildlife Sanctuary Annamalai (Indira Gandhi) National Park is located in the Anaimalai Hills, Tamil Nadu. Vegetation: Wet evergreen forest to shola grassland. Major Fauna: Bengal tiger, Indian elephant, Nilgiri tahr, lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, etc. Threats: Tea and coffee plantations, invasive species, and tourism. Annamalai Hills: Also known as the Elephant Mountains, it is situated in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It is a part of the Western Ghats.

{Prelims – Envi – Species – 2023/07/24} Guam Kingfisher

• Context (TG): The Guam kingfishers, saved from extinction, will be introduced to the wild.
• They were almost wiped out due to the accidental introduction of brown tree snakes to the Pacific island of Guam at the end of WWII.
• However, the Guam Kingfisher will not be reintroduced to Guam. They will be introduced to a new wilderness home on Palmyra Atoll (almost 6,000km from Guam).

Guam Kingfisher (Todiramphus cinnamominus)

• Distribution: Restricted to captive breeding.
• Habitat: Tropical forests of Gaum.
• Threats: Predation by brown tree snakes and feral cats.
• Conservation Status: IUCN Red List: Extinct in the Wild

Guam

• Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the western Pacific Ocean.
• It is the westernmost point and territory of the United States.
• It is the largest of the Mariana Islands.
• It is the largest island in Micronesia, a sub-region of Oceania.
• Chamorro are the indigenous people of the island.