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Current Affairs News Analysis for UPSC | 26th Dec 2020
Today's Must Read Articles :‘BBX11’ : Gene that greens plants
HEADLINES:
IISER scientists identify the gene that greens plants
WHY IN NEWS:
The study was recently published in the prestigious U.K. journal New Phytologist
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Science
ISSUE:
BBX11
- Dr. Sourav Datta, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, IISER Bhopal, and a PhD research student Nikhil Job have identified the gene ‘BBX11’.
- The synthesis of chlorophyll in plants is a lengthy, multi-step process.
- Using genetic, molecular and biochemical techniques, the duo found a mechanism where two proteins oppositely regulate the ‘BBX11’ gene to maintain optimum levels of ‘BBX11’.
PROTOCHLOROPHYLLIDE
- In order to facilitate quick synthesis of chlorophyll, plants make a precursor of chlorophyll called ‘protochlorophyllide’ in the dark.
- As soon as the plant comes out into the light from under the soil, light-dependent enzymes convert protochlorophyllide to chlorophyll.
- The amount of protochlorophyllide synthesised needed to be proportional to the number of enzymes available to convert them to chlorophyll.
PHOTOBLEACHING
- If it is less, plants are unable to efficiently ‘green’ in order to harvest sunlight.
- If the amount of protochlorophyllide is more, then plants bleach under the light.
IASbhai WINDUP:
- It can help provide leads to optimise plant growth under stressful and rapidly changing climatic conditions.
- This often leads to severe distress among the farming community as indicated by the high number of farmer suicides in Maharashtra for several years.
- Severe drought, high temperature and high light are some of the major reasons for crop failure.
- Young seedlings emerging out of the soil are extremely sensitive to high irradiance of light.
SOURCES: THE HINDU |Current Affairs News Analysis for UPSC | 26th Dec 2020
Army seeks to expedite helicopter deal
HEADLINES:
Army seeks to expedite helicopter deal
WHY IN NEWS:
It will seek a waiver from Defence Ministry as Cheetahs and Chetaks are in dire need of replacement
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Defence
ISSUE:
KA-226T UTILITY HELICOPTERS
- The deal for Ka-226T utility helicopters with Russia has not concluded five years after it was announced.
- The Army is set to approach the Defence Ministry for a waiver to take the deal forward.
OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY
- So the existing deficiencies will keep increasing.
BACKGROUND
- In 2015, India and Russia had concluded an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) for at least 200 Ka-226T twin-engine utility helicopters estimated to cost over $1 billion.
- The deal envisaged about 60 helicopters to be directly imported and remaining 140 manufactured locally.
- A joint venture India Russia Helicopters Ltd (IRHL) has been set up between Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and Russian Helicopters (RH) which will assemble the helicopters in India.
- The Request For Proposal (RFP) issued by the MoD to IRHL for 200 helicopters stated 70% localisation over which the final deal has been held up as the JV quoted localisation of 62.4% in its response.
- Efforts to resolve this impasse in the last few months by adopting a revised methodology has not made any progress, it has been learnt.
IASbhai WINDUP:
IMPORT CONTENT
- “Even indigenous platforms like Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) have significant import content.
- The Army has around 185 Cheetah and Chetak helicopters with around 20 helicopters with HAL for overhaul for around a year at any point of time.
SOURCES: THE HINDU | Current Affairs News Analysis for UPSC | 26th Dec 2020
Indian Institute of Skills
HEADLINES:
Skill Ministry and Tata launch first batch of Indian Institute of Skills, Mumbai
WHY IN NEWS:
- First batch will include two short-term courses in Factory Automation and Digital (Smart) Manufacturing
- TATA IIS, Mumbai offers 75% scholarship for first 100 students as early bird incentive
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Skill development
ISSUE:
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SKILLS
GOAL
- The institute aspires to become a beacon to other institutions of its kind in the years to come.
- It aspires to be one of the most premier training institutions in the country and will be equipped with world-class vocational training facilities.
JOIN VENTURE
- Formal agreement for setting up institute has been signed between MSDE and TATA IIS on 11th November, 2020.
VISION
The vision is :
- To provide an impetus to Skill India programme through private sector participation.
INITIATIVES
- The first batch at TATA-Indian Institute of Skills will commence training with two courses in Factory Automation, with duration ranging from 1 to 4 weeks, depending upon the pre-qualification profile of the trainee.
- An early bird scholarship scheme of 75% has also been announced for the first 100 students/trainees.
IASbhai WINDUP:
- The institute plans to provide trainings in highly specialized areas such as defense, oil & gas, aerospace, and other emerging businesses to meet industry demands.
- Training and learning at Tata-IIS Mumbai will be driven through strong industry connect in both public and private sectors.
- The institute is quipped with modern training methodologies leveraging digital and augmented learning platforms.
SOURCES: PIB | Current Affairs News Analysis for UPSC | 26th Dec 2020
IFFCO gas leak: How dangerous is ammonia?
HEADLINES:
IFFCO gas leak: How dangerous is ammonia?
WHY IN NEWS:
Ammonia is stored for industrial use in liquid form under high pressure or in gaseous form at low temperature, as was the case in the IFFCO unit where the accident took place.
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Science
ISSUE:
AMMONIA AND HUMAN BODY
- The victims had come in contact with the concentrated form of ammonia gas that leaked heavily from the plant.
- Ammonia is stored for industrial use in liquid form under high pressure or in gaseous form at low temperature.
HOW AMMONIA GAS AFFECTS THE HUMAN BODY?
- Ammonia, even in moderate concentration, can cause irritation to eyes, skin, nose and throat.
- Ammonium hydroxide is very caustic and disrupts the cell membrane lipids, ultimately leading to cellular destruction.
- As cell proteins break down, water is extracted, resulting in an inflammatory response that causes further damage.
- Ammonia is highly soluble in water, is found in soil, air, and water.
- It is naturally present in the body and secreted by the kidneys to neutralise excess acid.
- However, it is highly diluted when in the environment and does not affect the human body to a noticeable level.
IASbhai WINDUP:
APPLICATIONS
- More than 80 per cent of ammonia made is consumed in the manufacturing of fertilizer, and most of the remainder goes into the production of formaldehyde.
SOURCES: IE | Current Affairs News Analysis for UPSC | 26th Dec 2020
India’s first driverless metro
HEADLINES:
India’s first driverless metro in Delhi and why it is significant
WHY IN NEWS:
The first ‘driverless’ train will roll out on the 38-km-long Line 8 or Magenta Line of the Delhi Metro, which has a 390-km-long network spread across the national capital and adjoining cities such as Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Bahadurgarh.
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Transport
ISSUE:
DRIVERLESS TRAIN
- Delhi Metro, the country’s largest urban mass rapid transit system, had commenced operations on December 24, 2002.
- Since then, its network has been growing, with another 61-km set to be added under the Phase IV expansion project.
- The transition to ‘driverless’ mode is the latest in the series of changes over the last 18 years.
HOW MUCH CONTROL DO DRIVERS HAVE?
- Even now, trains are mostly remotely controlled from the command rooms of the DMRC known as Operations Control Centre (OCC).
- The OCCs are akin to air traffic control towers equipped with large display walls and communication technology.
- The level of control that the drivers or train operators have over trains vary from line to line.
DRIVERS HAVE MORE CONTROL?
- The target speed is, however, decided by the Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, which means drivers cannot run trains above a certain limit.
- Under this mode, drivers only press the departure command after closing doors at every platform.
- But the ATO mode is occasionally switched off even on these lines and drivers are made to run trains manually so that they remain prepared to intervene in case of emergencies.
WHAT WILL CHANGE ON THE TRACK?
- From ATP and ATO, metro will switch to Driverless Train Operation (DTO) mode.
- In this mode, trains can be controlled entirely from the three command centres of the DMRC, without any human intervention.
- Rolling stock controllers will monitor train equipment in real-time, download faults and other events captured by CCTVs and assist traffic controllers in executing commands remotely.
- All station controllers will also have access to on board CCTV feed.
- But the system will still be one step away from the Unattended Train Operation (UTO) mode, the final stage of driverless services.
HOW SAFE WILL BE TRAINS RUNNING?
- DMRC points out its train operations already involve a considerable degree of automation.
- And the high-resolution cameras, once installed, will obviate the need for manual monitoring of tracks from the drivers’ cabins.
- DMRC has also engaged a consultant (consortium of Systra MVA and Systra France) for inspection and review of systems for implementation of UTO operation.
SOURCES: IE | Current Affairs News Analysis for UPSC | 26th Dec 2020
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