News In Short 01-1-2025

Digital Maha Kumbh

Syllabus: GS1/ Culture

Context

• The Maha Kumbh 2025, set to take place in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, promises to be a unique fusion of spirituality and cutting-edge technology. 

Cyber Security at Maha Kumbh

• Deployment of 56 dedicated cyber warriors and experts for cyber patrolling.
• Establishment of a Maha Kumbh cyber police station to counter cyber threats.
• 40 Variable Messaging Displays (VMDs) will be installed in both the fair area and the commissionerates for raising awareness about cyber threats.

Infrastructure and Land Digitalization

• A new district, Maha Kumbh Nagar, is being developed with state-of-the-art digital infrastructure.
• Drone surveys before and after the monsoon will map land topography accurately.
• GIS-based maps on Google Maps will provide real-time navigation of essential public utilities.

Enhanced Devotee Security

• Remote-controlled life buoys will be deployed to quickly respond to emergencies and ensure the safety of pilgrims in water.
• Underwater drones, capable of diving up to 100 meters, will monitor activities beneath the waters, transmitting real-time reports to the Integrated Command and Control Center (ICCC).

Key Facts About Kumbh

Source: PIB

Trinidad and Tobago

Syllabus: GS1/ Places In News

In News

• Trinidad and Tobago has declared a state of emergency due to a surge in violence, including gang-related shootings.

About Trinidad and Tobago

• Capital: Port of Spain
• Location: Southernmost Caribbean island nation, situated:
  • northeast of Venezuela
  • south of Grenada
  • In the Atlantic Ocean
• Geographic Features:
• Rivers: Ortoire River, Caroni River, Nariva River
• Mountains:Northern Range (Trinidad)
  • Highest Peak: El Cerro del Aripo (940 meters)

Source: IE

Dr. Pierre-Sylvain Filliozat

Syllabus: GS1/ Personalities

In Context

• French-Indian Sanskrit Scholar and Padma Shri awardee, Dr. Pierre-Sylvain Filliozat passed away. 

Key Contributions

• Sanskrit and Indian Literature: Dr. Filliozat is known for his expertise in classical Sanskrit and his interpretations of ancient texts.
• South Indian Architecture: He has conducted detailed studies on the art and architecture of South Indian temples.
• Publications: He has authored books and scholarly articles in French, English, and other languages on Indian philosophy, literature, and art.

Source: PIB

Vembanad Lake

Syllabus: GS1/ Geography, Places in News

Context

• The Alappuzha district administration in Kerala  undertook a mega plastic cleaning drive as part of the Vembanad Lake Rejuvenation Project.

About Vembanad Lake

• Name & Location: Locally known as Vembanad Kayal, it is the longest lake in India and the largest lake in Kerala (covering the districts of Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Ernakulam).
• Recognition: Declared a Ramsar site in 2002, signifying its global importance as a wetland.
• Rivers and Sea: Formed from four rivers – the Meenachil, Achankovil, Pampa, and Manimala, the lake also has an outlet to the Arabian Sea in the west.
  • It serves as a major source of freshwater for the state but also has brackish water areas.
• Snake Boat Race: It is a hub of backwater tourism in the state and hosts the renowned Nehru Trophy Boat Race, popularly known as the Snake Boat Race, in one of its sections.

Source: TH

Tobacco Board of India

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

In Context

• The Tobacco Board has undertaken several strategic initiatives to ensure the sustainability and growth of the tobacco industry.

Key Initiatives

• Crop Planning and Production Regulation: Aligns production with domestic and export demands.
• Support for Farmers: Provides handholding assistance for producing high-quality tobacco. 
• Promotion of Exports: Carries out export promotion activities to sustain and improve tobacco exports. Leverages an IT-enabled electronic auctioning system for better price discovery and transparency.

Brief about India’s Tobacco Industry

• 2nd Largest Producer of tobacco globally, after China.
• 4th Largest Producer of FCV Tobacco (Flue-Cured Virginia) after China, Brazil, and Zimbabwe.
• 2nd Largest Exporter of unmanufactured tobacco (in quantity) after Brazil.
• Contributed Rs.12,005.89 crore to the Indian exchequer through exports in 2023-24.

About Tobacco Board of India

• Statutory Body: Established under the Tobacco Board Act, 1975 (Act 4 of 1975). 
• Ministry: Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• Functions: Enhances the export of tobacco varieties, especially Flue-Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco.
  • Manages FCV tobacco production and distribution to meet domestic and export demands.
  • Maintains quality standards and supports farmers in meeting export requirements.

 Source: PIB

Neutrinos (Ghost Particles)

Syllabus: GS3/ Science and Technology

Context

• Scientists are using two telescopes, part of the Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope (KM3NeT), to detect high-energy neutrinos, beneath the Mediterranean Sea.

What are Neutrinos?

• Neutrinos, discovered in 1959,  are tiny, electrically neutral subatomic particles, similar to electrons.
• They are the second most abundant particles in the universe after photons.
  • They rarely interact with matter, earning them the nickname “ghost particles.”
• Neutrinos pass through vast amounts of matter, with billions passing through a cubic centimeter of space every second.

Challenges in Detection

• Neutrinos are extremely difficult to detect due to their minimal interactions with matter.
• Only a few neutrino interactions are detected even in large detectors.

Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope (KM3NeT) – KM3NeTThe KM3NeT is an underwater neutrino telescope deployed under the Mediterranean Sea. – It aims to detect high-energy neutrinos by observing flashes of Cherenkov radiation (light produced when neutrinos interact with water or ice molecules). – The dark, transparent depths of the sea provide ideal conditions for detecting these interactions, as they allow for the detection of Cherenkov radiation.

Source: IE

Belly-landing

Syllabus: GS3/ S&T

In News

• The tragic crash of Jeju Air flight 7C2216 at Muan International Airport, South Korea, raises critical questions about the possibility of Belly-Landing.

What is Belly-Landing?

• A belly landing, also sometimes called a gear-up landing, happens when a plane lands without its landing gear extended. This means the plane’s underside, or fuselage, makes contact with the runway instead of the wheels.
• Belly-landings are rare and typically used in emergencies when:
  • The landing gear fails to deploy.
  • Pilots opt for it due to safer stopping options without wheels.
• Risks of Belly-Landing:
  • Increased friction generates sparks, potentially causing fire.
  • Wings being close to the ground require precise alignment; any tilt could result in catastrophic damage.

Source: IE

Google Willow Chip

Syllabus :GS3/Science and Tech 

In News

• Google launched its latest quantum processor named ‘Willow,’ which created significant achievement in the potential of quantum computers to tackle practical problems.

About Willow

• Willow has 105 physical qubits and operates at extremely low temperatures.
• It boasts better error correction and faster performance than other quantum computers.
• Operates at near absolute zero temperatures (-273.15° C) for maximum stability.
• The coherence time of Willow’s data qubits is about 100 microseconds, improved by error correction protocols.
• Willow’s architecture allows for lower error rates with more qubits.
• Google tested Willow using Random Circuit Sampling (RCS), a computationally hard task, which Willow completed in a few minutes, outperforming classical computers by a massive margin.

Do you know ? – Classical computers use bits (0s and 1s) to process information. – Quantum computers use qubits, which can represent both 0 and 1 simultaneously through quantum superposition, making them more powerful. 1. Qubits are fragile and prone to errors, unlike robust classical bits. 2. Methods like error-correction protocols are needed to identify and fix these errors. – Surface Code Method arranges qubits on a grid, using data qubits and measurement qubits to detect and correct errors without violating quantum principles like the no-cloning theorem.

Source :TH

New Glenn Rocket

Syllabus: GS3/Science and Technology

Context

• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted Blue Origin a commercial space launch license for its New Glenn rocket.

What is the New Glenn rocket?

• New Glenn is a heavy-lift, two-stage rocket developed by Blue Origin.
  • It is named after John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth.
• The rocket stands at 320 feet, and has a 7-meter-wide payload fairing.
• The first stage of the rocket is reusable and powered by seven BE-4 engines, which are LNG-fueled and produce over 3.8 million pounds of thrust.
• The second stage is powered by two BE-3U engines, using liquid hydrogen and oxygen, generating over 320,000 pounds of vacuum thrust.

Source: IE

India’s First Glass Bridge Over Sea 

Syllabus :GS3/Infrastructure 

In News

• The Tamil Nadu CM inaugurated India’s first glass bridge over the sea.

About bridge 

• It connects the Tiruvalluvar Statue and Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanniyakumari.
• The inauguration was part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Tiruvalluvar Statue. 
  • The statue is officially named the “Statue of Wisdom.“
  • It represents the 133 chapters of Tirukkural.
• Bridge Features: The 77-meter-long, 10-meter-wide bridge allows safe passage between the two landmarks while providing views of the sea below.
  • The glass bridge was built to address issues faced by ferries, which are often unable to dock near the Tiruvalluvar Statue due to rough seas and low tides.

Source :TH