News In Short-17-03-2025

Starlink

Syllabus: GS3-Science and Tech

Context

• Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio have signed distribution pacts with SpaceX’s Starlink service to bring satellite internet access to India.

Starlink 

• It is a low-earth orbit satellite constellation of over 7,000 satellites providing internet access globally.
  • Launched in 2019.
• It offers speeds of around 100 megabits per second, comparable with many home broadband connections.
  •  However, the “latency,” or the time it takes for a given data packet to travel between a user and terrestrial internet networks, is higher than wired broadband connections in offices and homes.
• It works by connecting ground stations to satellites to provide internet access.

Status in India 

• Starlink may not be as useful in cities with good 5G or wired broadband, but can be beneficial in rural and remote areas where terrestrial networks are lacking.
• Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio have signed distribution pacts with SpaceX to bring Starlink to India.

 Regulatory Challenges

• Starlink must obtain a Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite (GMPCS) authorization under India’s Telecommunications Act, 2023.
• SpaceX faces hurdles related to corporate ownership disclosure, security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs, and obtaining wireless spectrum for the service.
• The Indian government has not yet issued rules for satellite spectrum allocation, and telecom companies have insisted that it be auctioned.
• Reliance Jio has taken legal positions arguing that spectrum should be auctioned.

Future Outlook 

• Starlink’s availability in India is uncertain due to regulatory hurdles, including the security clearance and spectrum allotment.
• Speculation exists that Musk’s influence and U.S. trade pressure may facilitate faster regulatory approval.

Source:TH

Indian Long-billed Vulture

Syllabus: Species in News

Context

• Recently, an Indian long-billed vulture was spotted with its chick at Ramadevarabetta in Karnataka, India’s only vulture sanctuary.

About Indian Long-billed Vulture (Gyps Indicus)

• It is a medium-sized bird with pale brown body feathers, and a semi-bald head. 
• Its long bill and broad wings are distinctive features. 
• It primarily inhabits cliffs, hilly crags, and open landscapes in central and southern India.
• Vultures are nature’s most efficient scavengers, and play a crucial role in preventing the spread of diseases by efficiently disposing of animal remains.

Concerns

• Indian long-billed vulture has experienced a population decline of over 97% since the 1990s, primarily because of poisoning from theveterinary drug diclofenac, associated with fatal kidney failure.
  • Although the drug was banned in India, Pakistan, and Nepal in 2006, its illegal use continues to pose a threat.
• Declining vulture population has led to an increase in feral dogs and other scavengers, which can spread diseases like rabies and anthrax.

Conservation Status (IUCN Red List)

Source: TH

Bodo Peace Accord

Syllabus: GS3/Internal Security

Context

• Recently, the Union Home Minister addressed the 57th annual conference of the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) in Kokrajhar, Assam, where he highlighted the success of the Bodo Peace Accord.

Background: Bodo Movement – The Bodos are one of the largest tribal communities in Assam, with a rich cultural and linguistic heritage.  1. However, they have long felt marginalized in Assam’s political and administrative landscape. – It led to the demand for a separate Bodoland in the 1980s, which resulted in agitation, violence, and insurgency led by groups like the NDFB and the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT). Earlier Attempts To Resolve Issue – Bodo Accord (1993): It led to the creation of the Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC). – Accord (2003): It formed the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

About the Bodo Peace Accord (2020)

• It was aimed at bringing peace and stability to the Bodo-dominated areas of Assam, particularly the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).
• The agreement was signed between the Government of India, the Assam Government, and Bodo organizations, including the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).
• Key Features:
  • BTC was renamed as the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) with greater autonomy.
  • Non-Bodo villages within the existing BTC were excluded.
  • BTC’s powers were expanded under the Sixth Schedule.
  • Bodo was recognized as an associate official language of Assam.

Source: TH

Fourth Conference on Global Intelligence

Syllabus: GS3/ Internal Security

Context

• The fourth conference of global intelligence and security chiefs, hosted by India’s National Security Advisor (NSA), brought together high-ranking officials from over 28 countries.

About

• The conference was held for the first time in 2022.
• The conference took place a day before the annual Raisina Dialogue, India’s flagship conference on “geopolitics and geo-strategy”, organised by the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with the Observer Research Foundation (ORF).
• The discussions were centered around the following pressing global concerns:
  • Counterterrorism and Intelligence Sharing: Terrorism remains a major global threat, making intelligence-sharing a key focus. 
  • Indo-Pacific Cooperation: Strategic collaboration in the Indo-Pacific was highlighted as crucial for regional trade, security, and political stability.
  • Transnational Crimes and Terror Funding: Countries discussed tackling organized crime, narcotics trade, and terror financing through joint efforts.
  • Immigration and Extradition: Strengthening legal frameworks for handling illegal immigration, extradition, and human trafficking was a major topic of discussion.
• Five Eyes Representation: The presence of the Five Eyes intelligence chiefs underscores India’s increasing role in global intelligence-sharing.

Source: TH

Menhir

Syllabus :GS 1/History 

In News

The Mudumal megalithic menhirs in Telangana’s Narayanpet district will soon be the second UNESCO World Heritage Site in the state following a nomination in 2025.

Menhirs

• Menhirs are upright, man-made, large stones, typically tapered at the top.
• The largest known menhir is the Grand Menhir Brisé in France, once 20.6 meters tall.
• Historical Linkages : The word “menhir” comes from the Brittonic words “maen” (stone) and “hîr” (long).
  • It was first used by French military officer and Celticist antiquarian Théophile Corret de la Tour d’Auvergne.
• Culture Reference: Menhirs are popularly known through the character Obelix from the Asterix comics, who carries them due to his superhuman strength.
• Age of Menhirs: European menhirs date back to the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age (4,800 to 3,800 years ago).
  • The Mudumal menhirs are about 3,500 to 4,000 years old, making them the oldest in India.
• Purpose  :  Menhirs may have had ceremonial functions, acted as grave markers, or served astronomical purposes, such as tracking solstices.
  • The Mudumal menhirs are aligned with the sun’s rising and setting during solstices, suggesting they were used as an ancient observatory.
• Significance: The Mudumal menhirs are associated with local legends, such as the worship of one menhir as Goddess Yellamma.

Importance of UNESCO Recognition

• Menhirs show early human understanding of physics and astronomy.
• They help us understand ancient cultures that left no written records, reflecting the cultural significance to the people who built them.

Source :TH

Chandrayaan-5 Mission Approval

Syllabus :GS 3/Space 

In News

The Indian government has approved the Chandrayaan-5 mission to study the Moon.

Chandrayaan Missions

• Chandrayaan-1(2008) : Made chemical, mineralogical, and photo-geological maps of the Moon in 
• Chandrayaan-2 (2019): Its lander crashed, but the orbiter sent hundreds of images of the Moon’s surface.
• Chandrayaan-3 (2023): It was a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2, to demonstrate end-to-end capability in safe landing and roving on the lunar surface. It was able to have the Vikram lander successfully soft-land on the moon’s south pole region on August 23, 2023.
• Chandrayaan-4 Mission : It is expected to be launched in 2027. It will aim to collect samples of the lunar soil from the moon and bring the back to the earth for further study.
• Chandrayaan-5 Collaboration with Japan: The mission will be conducted in association with Japan.
  • Unlike the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which carried a 25-kg rover, Chandrayaan-5 will carry a 250-kg rover to study the Moon’s surface.

Do you know ? – Apart from various missions including Gaganyaan, plans are afoot to establish India’s own space station, called Bharatiya Antariksh Station.

Gomira Dance

Syllabus: GS1/ Art and Culture

Context

• Artists performed the ‘Gomira’ dance during the Chanchala Kali Mata Puja in West Bengal.

About

• The Gomira masked dance is a traditional folk performance primarily practiced by the Rajbongshi and Polia communities of North Bengal. 
• It is influenced by Mahayana Buddhism, Tantric Buddhism, and Shaivite and Shakta traditions. The dance emerged from a fusion of these spiritual influences.
• Masks: The masks used in the dance are made from various materials like papier mache, sholapith, bamboo, wood, sponge wood, clay, and paper.
• Performance Style: The Gomira dance is performed to the rhythmic beats of traditional percussion instruments like Dhak and Kansar.

Source: TH

Birefringence

Syllabus: GS3-Science and Tech

Context

• A study reveals that Birefringent materials are used in LCD screens, medical microscopes, optical switches, waveplates, frequency converters, and high-power lasers.

About Birefringence (aka double refraction)

• It is an optical phenomenon where a material splits a single light ray into two distinct rays, each traveling at different speeds and refracting in different directions.
• It arises due to the anisotropic nature of certain materials, meaning their optical properties vary depending on the direction of light propagation.

Science Behind Birefringence

• Birefringence occurs in materials that lack isotropy, such as calcite, quartz, and certain polymers. When unpolarized light enters a birefringent material, it splits into two rays:
  • Ordinary ray (o-ray): It follows the standard laws of refraction; and,
  • Extraordinary ray (e-ray): It deviates due to the material’s directional dependence on refractive indices.

Types of Birefringence

• Intrinsic Birefringence: Found in materials with non-cubic crystal structures, such as calcite and quartz.
• Stress-Induced Birefringence: Occurs in isotropic materials like glass or plastics when subjected to mechanical stress.
• Electric Field-Induced Birefringence: Observed when an external electric field alters the optical properties of a material.

Applications of Birefringence

• Optics and Photonics: Used in polarizing filters, wave plates, and optical fibers.
• Material Science: Helps in stress analysis of transparent materials.
• Biology: Assists in studying the structural properties of biological specimens under polarized light microscopy.

Source:TH

Pravaah and Sarthi initiatives of RBI 

Syllabus: GS 3/Economy 

Context

• Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been awarded the Digital Transformation Award 2025 for Digital Initiatives by Central Banking, London.
  • It highlights the RBI’s commitment to innovation and efficiency in governance through its groundbreaking digital initiatives, Pravaah and Sarthi.

Digital Initiatives By RBI

• Sarthi System: It is an internal workflow digitization system that has streamlined record management, automated processes, and enhanced data analysis.
  • It has eliminated the reliance on manual paperwork, boosting operational efficiency across RBI departments by enabling secure digital submissions and improving collaboration.
• Pravaah System: It serves as a digital regulatory application platform for external users.
  • It allows seamless submission and processing of regulatory applications, integrating directly with the Sarthi database.
  • It has significantly reduced paperwork, enhanced transparency, and improved cybersecurity in financial documentation.

Impact of the Initiatives

• Both the initiatives have empowered RBI employees and external stakeholders by providing user-friendly platforms for data management and regulatory processes.
• The success of these projects underscores the importance of in-house innovation and collaboration in achieving digital excellence.

Source: AIR