Science and Technology
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) solution
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about QKD + about C-DOT + Quantum Technologies) + Mains ( GS III awareness in the field of science and technology - indigenisation of technology)
What's the NEWS

• Digital Communications Commission, Department of Telecommunications unveiled the indigenously developed Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) solution by C-DOT which can support a distance of more than 100 kilometers on standard optical fiber.
• Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT ) is the premier Telecom R&D centre of the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, Government of India.

Benefits of QKD

• Development of indigenous QKD solution is essential to address the threat that rapid advancement in Quantum Computing poses to the security of the data being transported by various critical sectors through the current communication networks.
• C-DOT has become the first organization in India to offer complete portfolio of indigenous Quantum Secure telecom products & solutions to comprehensively address the requirements of Telecom Service Providers as well as Strategic and Defense sector in India.

Know! about Quantum Technologies and QKD:

• Quantum Technologies can broadly be divided into four verticals viz. Quantum Computing, Quantum Communications, Quantum Sensors and Quantum Materials.
• To comprehensively address all these verticals and leapfrog India in this crucial & niche area, India has launched National Mission on Quantum Technologies & Applications (NM-QTA).
• This initiative, with a budget of more than USD 1 Billion spanning over eight years, will be led by Department of Science and Technology (DST) and will have active participation from various other ministries e.g. Department of Telecommunications, Department of Space, Department of Atomic Energy etc.
• Quantum Technologies are based upon phenomena exhibited by microscopic particles (like photons, electrons, atoms etc.) which are quite distinct from the way normal macroscopic objects behave.
• Behavior of these microscopic particles can't be described by Classical (or Conventional) Physics based on Newtonian Mechanics, and consequently Quantum Mechanics came into picture, around 100 years back, to formulate theory to describe such behavior.
• One of the most quoted such phenomena is the "Photoelectric effect" for which Einstein was awarded the Noble Prize in Physics in the Year 1921.
• Quantum Mechanics is probabilistic in contrast to Classical Mechanics which is deterministic.
• Quantum Mechanics is counterintuitive as the phenomena of Superposition, Entanglement, Teleportation & Tunneling etc. exhibited by microscopic particles appears weird and have no equivalence in everyday life.
• These aspects of Quantum Mechanics have, however, led to number of interesting applications such as exponential increase in computing power, inherently secure communication (teleportation of information), interaction free measurements, extremely precise & sensitive sensors etc.

Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT)

• Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), a premier telecom research & development organization under Department of Telecommunications, Government of India, is leading the effort in the Quantum Communications vertical of NM-QTA.
• C-DOT has developed Product in one of the most promising applications of Quantum Communications viz. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and is continuing to pursue research in this area.

Prelims Factoids
Multilateral Maritime Exercise Malabar 2021 - Phase II

Relevance IN - Prelims (about Malabar exercise)
What's the NEWS

• The Indian Navy (IN) would be participating in the Second Phase of Multilateral Maritime Exercise Malabar along with the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF), Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the United States Navy (USN).
• The exercise is being conducted in the Bay of Bengal from 12 - 15 Oct 2021.
• First Phase of the exercise was conducted in the Phillipines Sea from 26 - 29 Aug 2021.
• Theme - to support a free, open, inclusive Indo-Pacific as well as a rules-based international order.
• The Second Phase of the exercise would build upon the synergy, coordination and inter-operability developed during the First Phase of the exercise and would focus on advanced surface and anti-submarine warfare exercises, seamanship evolutions and weapon firings.
• The Malabar series of exercises, which began as an annual bilateral naval exercise between India and the US in 1992, has seen increasing scope and complexity over the years.
• The 25th edition of MALABAR, being conducted in two phases

Prelims Factoids
Railways successfully operated two long haul freight trains ‘Trishul' and ‘Garuda' for the first time over South Central Railway

Relevance IN - Prelims (about freight trains trishul and Garuda)
What's the NEWS

• Indian Railways has successfully operated two long haul freight trains "Trishul" and "Garuda" for the first time over South Central Railway(SCR).
• Long haul trains, which are twice or multiple times longer than the normal composition of freight trains, provide a very effective solution to the problem of capacity constraints in critical sections.
• Trishul is SCR's first long haul comprising of three freight trains, i.e., 177 wagons.
• SCR followed it up with running of yet another similar one named Garuda
• SCR is a one of the five major freight loading railways on IR.

Science and Technology
NRC backs Linear No-Threshold model for radiation safety
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the terminology Linear No-Threshold model)
What's the NEWS

• The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) decisively upheld the Linear No-Threshold model to prescribe radiation safety standards, ending the protracted controversy on the topic.

Know! about LNT model

• The LNT model states that biological effects such as cancer and hereditary effects due to exposure to ionising radiation increase as a linear function of dose, without threshold.
• The LNT model helps the agencies to regulate radiation exposures to diverse categories of licensees, from commercial nuclear power plants to individual industrial radiographers and nuclear medical practices.
• In 2015 three petitions requested the NRC, "to amend its regulations based on what they assert is new science and evidence that contradicts the linear no-threshold (LNT) dose-effect model that serves as the basis for the NRC's radiation protection regulations."
• The petitioners support "radiation hormesis," a concept that posits that low doses of ionising radiation protect against the deleterious effects of high doses of radiation and result in beneficial effects to humans.
• The NRC denied the three petitions because they failed to present an adequate basis supporting the request to discontinue use of the LNT model. Therefore, the NRC will maintain the current dose limit requirements.
• The NRC noted that although there are studies and other scholarly papers that support the petitioners' assertions, there are also studies and findings that support the continued use of the LNT model, including those by national and international authoritative scientific advisory bodies.

Bilateral Relations
INDIA-NEPAL cross-border railway links
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Jaynagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas and Jogbani-Biratnagar broad gauge railway lines -location based questions)
What's the NEWS

• India and Nepal held the ^5th Joint Working Group (JWG) and the 7th Project Steering Committee (PSC) meetings to review the implementation of ongoing cross-border railway links and overall bilateral cooperation in the railway sector.
• Both sides signed the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the start of passenger train services on the Jaynagar-Kurtha section and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Final Location Survey (FLS) of the proposed broad gauge railway line between Raxaul and Kathmandu.
• Both sides discussed the ongoing works of Jaynagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas and Jogbani-Biratnagar broad gauge railway lines between India and Nepal, being developed with grant assistance from the Government of India.
• The technical preparedness of the completed 34 km long section of the railway line, from Jaynagar (India) to Kurtha (Nepal) for the operationalization of passenger train services was also reviewed.

Prelims Factoids
Malayalam writer Benyamin bags Vayalar Award
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Vayalar Ramavarma awards)
What's the NEWS

• Well-known Malayalam writer Benyamin has bagged the 45^th Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Literary Award for his book "Manthalirile 20 Communist Varshangal".
• The prestigious award, instituted by the Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Trust, comprises a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh
• The award commemorates the celebrated poet and lyricist.

Manthalirile 20 Communist Varshangal

• A political satire, the novel revolves around a nondescript village called Manthalir and the influence of religion and politics in its culture in two decades.

International
GLOBAL MINIMUM TAX DEAL
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about global minimum tax deal)
What's the NEWS

• A global deal to ensure big companies pay a minimum tax rate of 15% and make it harder for them to avoid taxation has been agreed by 136 countries, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
• The OECD said four countries - Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sri Lanka - had not yet joined the agreement, but that the countries behind the accord together accounted for over 90% of the global economy.

Know! about global minimum tax

• With budgets strained after the COVID-19 crisis, many governments want more than ever to discourage multinationals from shifting profits - and tax revenues - to low-tax countries regardless of where their sales are made.
• The global minimum tax rate would apply to overseas profits of multinational firms with 750 million euros ($868 million) in sales globally.
• Governments could still set whatever local corporate tax rate they want, but if companies pay lower rates in a particular country, their home governments could "top up" their taxes to the 15% minimum, eliminating the advantage of shifting profits.
• A second track of the overhaul would allow countries where revenues are earned to tax 25% of the largest multinationals' so-called excess profit - defined as profit in excess of 10% of revenue.

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