Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Nauka)

What's the NEWS

• Russia upgraded its capabilities on the International Space Station after its new Nauka module, set to serve as a research lab, storage unit and airlock, successfully docked with it

• The Russian Multipurpose Research Module (MLM), also known as Nauka, blasted off toward the International Space Station atop a Proton-M rocket from Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
• It is successfully integrated with the ISS on July 29.
• Nauka is the biggest space laboratory Russia has launched to date.
• It will replace Pirs, a Russian module on the International Space Station (ISS) used as a docking port for spacecraft and as a door for cosmonauts to go out on spacewalks.
• Nauka will serve as the country's main research facility on the space station.
• It is also bringing to the ISS another oxygen generator, a spare bed, another toilet, and a robotic cargo crane built by the European Space Agency (ESA).
• On the ISS, Nauka will be attached to the critical Zvezda module, which provides all of the space station's life support systems and serves as the structural and functional centre of the Russian Orbital Segment (ROS) - the Russian part of ISS.

• Launched in 1998, the ISS is a multinational project and comprises two segments, a Russian one and another one used by the United States and other space agencies.
• A space station is essentially a large spacecraft that remains in low-earth orbit for extended periods of time.
• It is a result of cooperation between the five participating space agencies that run it: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada).
• The ISS circles the Earth in roughly 93 minutes, completing 15.5 orbits per day.
• The ISS serves as a microgravity and space environment research laboratory in which scientific experiments are conducted in astrobiology, astronomy, meteorology, physics, and other fields.

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Pneumonia) + Mains ( GS II Health - steps taken by the health Ministry)
What's the NEWS

• As per Sample Registration System Report (2010-13) of Registrar General of India, Pneumonia contributes 16.9% of infant deaths and it is the 2nd highest cause of infant mortality.

Know! about Pneumonia

• Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection of the lungs.
• It is also a Pneumococcal disease caused by bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae or pneumococcus.
• It doesn't have one single cause - it can develop from either bacteria, viruses or fungi in the air.
• Children whose immune systems are immature (i.e. newborns) or weakened - such as by undernourishment, or diseases like HIV - are more vulnerable to pneumonia.
• Pneumonia is contagious and can be spread through coughing or sneezing.
• It can also be spread through fluids, like blood during childbirth, or from contaminated surfaces.
• Pneumonia caused by bacteria is easily preventable with vaccines.
• 3 doses of the primary vaccine (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) to prevent it are recommended.
• A new vaccine for one of the main viral causes of pneumonia is under development.
• India has introduced nationwide rollout of PCV under Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP).

Initiatives taken by the government

• Pneumonia Social Awareness and Action to Neutralise Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS): The aim is to reduce child mortality due to pneumonia, which contributes to around 15% of deaths of children under the age of five annually.
• The government aims to achieve a target of reducing pneumonia deaths among children to less than three per 1,000 live births by 2025.
• In 2014, India launched ‘Integrated Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhoea (IAPPD)' to undertake collaborative efforts towards prevention of diarrhoea and Pneumonia related under-five deaths.
• The WHO and UNICEF had launched an integrated Global Action Plan for Pneumonia and Diarrhoea (GAPPD).

National
Assam-Mizoram Border Dispute

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the border dispute + Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act, 1873 + ILP)
What's the NEWS

• Recently violence erupted at the borders of the northeastern states of Assam and Mizoram due to a sudden escalation of a border dispute.

Know! all about the dispute

• The history of these clashes dates back to 1972, when Mizoram was carved out of Assam as a Union Territory resulting in a border dispute. It became a full-fledged state in 1987
• There have been several rounds of talks between the two States since 1995, but none of them succeeded in resolving the issue.
• The dispute over the 165-km Assam-Mizoram border has its origin in British era demarcations and has since led to persistent conflict.

Notification 1 (1875)

• In 1875, the first exercise to demarcate present-day Mizoram, then Lushai Hills, from the plains of Cachar in Assam was undertaken to introduce the inner line permit (ILP) regime.
• The British government demarcated the Lushai Hills under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873.
• The regulation introduced the ILP regime in the northeast.
• ILP is a document issued for allowing the travel of an Indian citizen into a protected area for some time.

Notification 2 (1933)

• In 1933, the British conducted demarcations in the northeast for separate districts based on culture, linguistic and tribal lines.
• This led to a new boundary separating Lushai Hills, Cachar, and the former princely state of Manipur.
• As part of this trifurcation, some parts of Lushai Hills went to Manipur.
• The 1933 demarcation marks a boundary between Lushai Hills and Manipur, beginning at the tri-junction of Lushai Hills, Cachar district and Manipur.

Know! about the dispute

• Mizoram backs 1875 demarcation, saying it took place in consultation with then Mizo tribal chefs.
• Mizoram has rejected the 1933 demarcation saying Mizo tribal chiefs were not consulted then.
• Assam backs the carving of districts in north-eastern states as per the 1933 demarcation.
• In 1972, Mizoram was carved as a Union territory on basis of 1933 demarcation
• When Mizoram was granted statehood in 1987, Mizo tribal leaders raised the border dispute claiming that Assam had taken away their land.

Assam's other border disputes

• Assam, which shares its boundary with all other Northeast states - and from which states such as Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram were carved out - has been involved in disputes with several of its neighbours.
• Manipur and Tripura had existed as separate entities.
• Assam became a constituent state of India in 1950 and lost much of its territory to new states that emerged from within its borders between the early 1960s and the early 1970s.
• The North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971, changed the political map of northeast India, by establishment of the states like Manipur and Tripura and the formation of Meghalaya.
• This reorganisation has resulted in many boundary disputes in the northeastern region, like Assam-Nagaland, Assam-Meghalaya, etc.

Know! about Inner Line Permit

• It is a document that allows an Indian citizen to visit or stay in a state that is protected under the ILP system.
• The ILP system is in force in four Northeastern States - Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and the recently added State to the system - Manipur. The system was formally introduced in Manipur on January 1, 2020.
• No Indian citizen can visit any of these states unless he or she belongs to that state, nor can he or she overstay beyond the period specified in the ILP.
• The concept comes from the colonial area.
• Under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act, 1873, the British framed regulations restricting the entry and regulating the stay of outsiders in designated areas.
• This was to protect the Crown's own commercial interests by preventing "British subjects" (Indians) from trading within these regions.
• In 1950, the Indian government replaced "British subjects" with "Citizen of India".
• This was to address concerns about protecting the interests of the indigenous people from outsiders belonging to other Indian states.
• An ILP is issued by the state government concerned.
• It can be obtained after applying either online or physically.
• It states the dates of travel and also specifies the particular areas in the state which the ILP holder can travel to.

Prelims Factoids
Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about TCFS + Ramsar Convention + Wetlands)
What's the NEWS

• The mangrove cell of the state forest department has proposed the biodiversity rich Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (TCFS) to be designated as a ‘Ramsar site'.
• If approved, TCFS, spread over 1,690.5 hectares, will be the first such site in Mumbai Metropolitan Region and third in the Maharashtra to be designated as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites).

Know! about the Sanctuary

• The Maharashtra Government has declared the area along the western bank of Thane Creek as the "Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary" since 2015.
• It is Maharashtra's second marine sanctuary after the Malvan sanctuary.
• It is recognized as an "Important Bird Area" by the Bombay Natural History Society.

Ramsar Convention

• UNESCO Convention for the conservation of wetlands was called the ‘Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat'.
• The convention got its name of Ramsar Convention from the city of Ramsar in Iran where it was signed in 1971 and came into force in 1975.
• It is an international agreement promoting the conservation and wise use of wetlands.
• It is the only global treaty to focus on a single ecosystem.
• The convention was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975.
• A Ramsar Site is a wetland area designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
• It provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
• India joined the convention in 1982 and since then 42 sites have been designated as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites)
• Nandur Madhameshwar, became the first site designated from Maharashtra
• The Lonar lake in Buldhana district was declared as the 41st Ramsar site of India and second in the state, last year.
• The advantages of being declared a Ramsar site are that it will help in conservation and wise use of the wetland, receive national and international cooperation for conservation and management, receive central funding, boost tourism, generate employment for locals and bring economic benefits for surrounding areas due to increased tourism and create awareness for conservation of other wetlands in the state.

Know! about Wetlands

• A wetland is a place where the land is covered by water. Marshes, ponds, the edge of a lake/ocean, the delta at the mouth of a river, low-lying areas that frequently flood - all of these are wetlands.
• Wetlands of international importance are also known as Ramsar sites.
• It provide fresh water and food and serve as nature's shock absorber.
• Wetlands, critical for biodiversity, are disappearing rapidly, with recent estimates showing that 64% or more of the world's wetlands have vanished since 1900.
• Major changes in land use for agriculture and grazing, water diversion for dams and canals, and infrastructure development are considered to be some of the main causes of loss and degradation of wetlands.

Defence
INS TABAR PARTICIPATES IN EXERCISE 'INDRA NAVY - 21'

Relevance IN - Prelims ( INDRA - 21 )
What's the NEWS

• The 12^th edition of exercise INDRA NAVY, a biennial bilateral maritime exercise between Indian Navy and Russian Navy was held in the Baltic Sea from 28 to 29 July 2021.

Know! about Exercise INDRA NAVY-21

• Initiated in 2003, Ex INDRA NAVY epitomises the long-term strategic relationship between the two navies.
• This exercise was undertaken as part of the visit of INS Tabar to St Petersburg, Russia to participate in the 325th Navy Day celebrations of the Russian Navy.
• The primary aim of this year's edition is to further consolidate inter-operability built up by the two Navies over the years and also to enhance understanding and procedures for multi-faceted maritime operations.
• The scope of this edition includes wide-ranging and diverse activities across the spectrum of maritime operations.
• The Indian Navy was represented by the stealth Frigate INS Tabar
• The exercise was progressed over two days and included various facets of fleet operations such as anti-air firings, underway replenishment drills, helicopter ops, boarding drills and seamanship evolutions.

12^th edition of Indo-Russia joint Military Exercise INDRA-2021

• It will be held at Volgograd, Russia from 1^st to 13^th of next month.
• The exercise will entail conduct of counter terror operations under the United Nations mandate by a joint force against international terror groups.
• The Indian Army contingent comprising of a Mechanised Infantry Battalion underwent rigorous training at different locations in India to refine their drills for participation in the joint exercise.
• Exercise INDRA-2021 will further strengthen mutual confidence and interoperability between the Indian and Russian Armies and enable sharing of best practices between the contingents of both the countries.

Mechanised Infantry Battalion

• The Mechanised Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army, comprising 27 battalions dispersed under various armoured formations throughout India.
• It is one of the youngest regiments in the army, and though it was formed as a result of lessons learned in the 1965 Indo-Pak War, to give infantry battalions greater mobility

Space Awareness
Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB)
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about GRB)
What's the NEWS

• A group of astronomers, including from India, has detected a very short, powerful burst of high-energy radiation that lasted for about a second and had been racing towards the earth for nearly half the present age of the universe
• The burst detected by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope turned out to be one for the record books -- the shortest gamma-ray burst (GRB) caused by the death of a massive star

Know! about GRBs

• GRBs are the most powerful events in the universe, detectable across billions of light-years.
• Astronomers classify them as long or short based on whether the event lasts for more or less than two seconds.
• They observe long bursts in association with the demise of massive stars, while short bursts have been linked to a different scenario.
• A light-year is the distance a beam of light travels in a single Earth year, or 9.5 trillion kilometers
• The identification of this short event GRB showed for the first time that a dying star can produce short bursts too.

Black hole.

• When a star much more massive than the Sun runs out of fuel, its core suddenly collapses and forms a black hole.
• Black hole refers to a point in space where matter is so compressed as to create a gravity field from which even light cannot escape.
• As matter swirls toward the black hole, some of it escapes in the form of two powerful jets that rush outward at almost the speed of light in opposite directions.
• Astronomers only detect a GRB when one of these jets happens to point almost directly toward Earth.
• Each jet drills through the star, producing a pulse of gamma rays - the highest-energy form of light - that can last up to minutes.
• Following the burst, the disrupted star then rapidly expands as a supernova.
• A supernova is the name given to an exploding star that has reached the end of its life.

Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope:

• It is a space observatory being used to perform gamma-ray astronomy observations from low Earth orbit.
• It was launched in June 2008.
• Fermi is an astrophysics and particle physics partnership, developed in collaboration with the US Department of Energy, along with important contributions from academic institutions and partners in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Sweden, and the U.S.
• It maps the entire sky every three hours.
• It provides an important window into the most extreme phenomena of the universe, like GRBs, black-hole jets, and pulsars.
• Pulsars are types of neutron stars which emit radio pulses at regular intervals.

Gamma Rays

• They are the highest-energy light in the universe.
• They are produced by the hottest and most energetic objects in the universe, such as neutron stars and pulsars, supernova explosions, and regions around black holes.
• The gamma rays possess high energy;they can pass right through any lens or mirror, making it very difficult to focus them in a visible-light telescope.
• Gamma rays are so energetic that they are harmful to life on Earth.
• Earth's atmosphere absorbs gamma rays, preventing them from affecting life on the ground.
• Astronomical observations of gamma-ray sources are therefore done with high-altitude balloons or satellites, above the protective blanket of Earth's atmosphere.

KEEP Learning KEEP Evolving
TEAM CL IAS