Daily Current Capsules
02nd November 2022

Smiling Sun/Coronal Holes

 

What's the NEWS

• Recently, the @NASASun Twitter handle shared an image of the sun seemingly ‘smiling'. Captured by the NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory
• The image has dark patches on the sun's surface resembling eyes and a smile.
• NASA explained that the patches are called coronal holes, which can be seen in ultraviolet light but are typically invisible to our eyes.

 

Know! about coronal holes

 

• These are regions on the sun's surface from where fast solar wind gushes out into space. Because they contain little solar material, they have lower temperatures and thus appear much darker than their surroundings.
• Here, the magnetic field is open to interplanetary space, sending solar material out in a high-speed stream of solar wind.
• Coronal holes can last between a few weeks to months.
• The holes are not a unique phenomenon, appearing throughout the sun's approximately 11-year solar cycle.
• They can last much longer during solar minimum - a period of time when activity on the Sun is substantially diminished, according to NASA.
• While it is unclear what causes coronal holes, they correlate to areas on the sun where magnetic fields soar up and away, without looping back down to the surface as they do elsewhere.
• These ‘coronal holes' are important to understanding the space environment around the earth.
• Scientists study these fast solar wind streams because they sometimes interact with earth's magnetic field, creating what's called a geomagnetic storm, which can expose satellites to radiation and interfere with communications signals.

 

One nation, One ITR form

What's the NEWS

 

• The Income Tax Department on Tuesday proposed to introduce a user-friendly common ITR form for all taxpayers by merging all existing forms of return of income except ITR-7.

 

Know! about the proposal

 

• All taxpayers, except trusts and non-profit organisations, can file returns with the proposed new common ITR form, on which the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has invited stakeholder comments by 15 December.
• Currently, taxpayers are required to furnish their income tax returns in ITR-1 to ITR-7 depending upon the category.
• The draft ITR form aims to bring ease of filing returns and reduce the time for filing the ITR by individuals and non-business-type taxpayers considerably.
• It proposes to introduce a common ITR by merging all the existing returns of income except ITR-7. However, the current ITR-1 and ITR-4 will continue.
• This will give an option to such taxpayers to file the return either in the existing form (ITR-1 or ITR-4), or the proposed common ITR, at their convenience.

 

Know! about the kinds of ITR forms

 

• There are seven kinds of ITR forms, which are used by different categories of taxpayers. They are as follows:
• ITR Form 1, called ‘Sahaj', is for small and medium taxpayers. Sahaj forms can be filed by individuals who have an income up to Rs 50 lakh, with earnings from salary, one house property/ other sources (interest etc).
• ITR-2 is filed by people with income from residential property.
• ITR-3 is intended for people who have income as profits from business/ profession
• ITR-4 (Sugam) is, like ITR-1 (Sahaj), a simple forms, and can be filed by individuals, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) and firms with total income up to Rs 50 lakh from business and profession.
• ITR-5 and 6 are for limited liability partnerships (LLPs) and businesses respectively.
• ITR-7 is filed by trusts and non-profit organisations.

 

Emissions Gap Report 2022

What's the NEWS

 

• According to the Emissions Gap Report 2022, current pledges by countries for reducing greenhouse gas emissions would still leave the world warmer by 2.4-2.6 degrees celsius by the end of the century.

 

Know! about the report

 

• The report was released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
• It is managed by the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre.
• It serves as a "scientifically authoritative source of timely and policy-relevant information to key decision-makers," guiding the UNFCCC process and implementing the Paris Agreement.
• The Paris Agreement, adopted by 196 countries in 2015 at COP 21, was aimed at limiting global warming and maintaining the average global temperature rise, ideally, to below 1.5°C.

 

Know! about the report Highlights

 

• The report found that the updated pledges by countries, also known as nationally determined contributions (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, only reduce the projected greenhouse emissions by 1 per cent by 2030.
• It is roughly equivalent to 0.5 gigatonnes of CO2.
• This is when a 45 per cent reduction is required for the world to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
• The pre-industrial period is generally considered to be between 1850 and 1900.

 

Zojila Day

 

 

What's the NEWS

 

• Zojila Day was commemorated at Zojila War Memorial near Drass on November 1 to celebrate the gallant action by Indian troops in ‘Operation Bison' in 1948 which was launched on the icy heights of Zojila pass, the gateway to Ladakh.
• The commemoration of the day was marked with a solemn wreath-laying by Commander Dras Warriors of the Leh-based Fire and Fury Corps, to pay homage to the gallant bravehearts, who have etched their names in history by liberating the Zojila pass from Pakistani Intruders.
• Zojila day epitomises the indomitable spirit of bravery and ‘Never Say Die' attitude of the Indian Army.
• This battle was also historic for the reason that tanks were used for the first time at such heights.

Know! about Zojila Pass

 

 

• Zojila is a pass connecting the Kashmir Valley with the cold Indus valley desert in Ladakh region through the 434-km strategic Srinagar-Leh National Highway.
• It runs at an elevation of approximately 3,528 metres (11,575 ft), and is the second highest pass on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway after Fotu La.
• It is often closed during winter. The Beacon Force unit of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is responsible for its clearing and maintenance during Winter.

 

Rhino horns are shrinking due to the impact of hunting

 

What's the NEWS

 

• The horns of rhinoceroses may have become smaller over time due to the impact of hunting, according to a recent study which used an interesting research approach-analysing artwork and photographs of the animal spanning more than five centuries.
• Rhinos have long been hunted for their horns. The five surviving rhino species are threatened by habitat loss and hunting.
• The study found that the rate of decline in horn length was highest in the critically endangered Sumatran rhino and lowest in the white rhino of Africa, the most commonly found species in the wild and in captivity.
• This observation follows patterns seen in other animals, such as tusk size in elephants and horn length in wild sheep, which have been driven down by directional selection due to trophy hunting.

 

The Greater One-horned Rhinoceros:

 

• The greater one-horned rhino (or "Indian rhino") is the largest of the rhino species.
• It is identified by a single black horn and a grey-brown hide with skin folds.
• This species of rhino is commonly found in Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan and in Assam, India.
• It is one of the five species of Rhinos.

 

Five species of rhinos

 

• There are five species of rhinos that are found in only two continents - Asia and Africa.
• The continent of Asia is home to three rhino species, namely the Greater one-horned or the Indian rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis), the Lesser one-horned or Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus; also known as the Sunda rhino) and the Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis).
• Africa, on the other hand, acts as a refuge for the African White rhino (Ceratotherium simum) and the African Black rhino (Diceros bicornis).

 

The other species are

1. White rhino: It is native to northern and southern Africa
2. Black rhino: It is native to eastern and southern Africa
3. Javan rhino: It is also known as Sunda rhino or lesser one-horned rhino
4. Sumatran rhino: Critically Endangered species of rhino

 

Protection Status

• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
• CITES: Appendix I

 

 

Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) interceptor AD-1 missile

 

What's the NEWS

 

• Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has recently conducted a successful maiden flight-test of Phase-II Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) interceptor AD-1 missile from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.

 

Know! about AD -1

 

• The AD-1 is a long-range interceptor missile designed for both low exo-atmospheric and endo-atmospheric interception of long-range ballistic missiles as well as aircraft.
• It is propelled by a two-stage solid motor and equipped with indigenously-developed advanced control system, navigation and guidance algorithm to precisely guide the vehicle to the target that move at very high speeds.
• The fully functional ballistic missile defence system contained high-power radars and could potentially protect large areas from the adversary missile or other air attacks.

 

Know! about Anti-ballistic missiles

 

• The development of anti-ballistic missiles is said to have started by the DRDO around the 2000s in view of the development of ballistic assets by Pakistan and China.
• The phase-1 of the programme is said to have been completed towards the end of 2010s and consisted of the advanced air defence systems and air defence systems based on the Prithvi missile.
• The second phase, according to sources, focuses on the development of anti-ballistic defence systems like the US's Theatre High-Altitude Area Defence system, which can neutralise intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
• The AD-II, which is capable of neutralising missiles of even higher ranges, is also said to be under development.

 

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