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Daily Current Capsules  - 25th May  2019

Defence
IAF successfully test fires aerial version of BrahMos missile
Relevance IN – Prelims ( about the successfully test fire and about BrahMos missile)

What’s the NEWS
  • The Indian Air Force  successfully test fired the aerial version of the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile from a Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft.
Know! more about the test fire
  • The 2.5 tonne air-to-surface missile has a range of around 300 km and it will significantly enhance the IAF's combat capability.
  •  The BrahMos cruise missile travels at a speed of Mach 2.8, nearly three times that of the sound.
  •  The IAF had become the first air force in the world to have successfully fired an air-launched 2.8 Mach surface attack missile of this category on a sea target on November 22, 2017.
  • The Su-30MKI jet had to be modified to enable it to carry and fire the cruise missile. The first such modified aircraft was handed by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to Brahmos Aerospace in February 2015.
  • The ship and land-launched versions of Brahmos are already in service with the Indian armed forces.
  • The missile has been developed jointly in collaboration with Russia.
  • Plans are afoot to develop a smaller version of the missile (Brahmos-NG) so that it can be fired from India's home-grown aircraft Tejas. One Tejas aircraft will reportedly be able to carry three Brahmos-NG missiles.
  • BrahMos provides IAF the capability to strike from large stand-off ranges on any target at sea or on land with pinpoint accuracy by day or night in any weather condition. Brahmos coupled with the superlative performance of Su-30MKI gives IAF the desired strategic reach
  • BrahMos Aerospace, an India-Russian joint venture, produces the supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or from land platforms.
Space Awareness
Shipment of India's largest liquid hydrogen storage tank flagged off
Relevance IN – Prelims ( about liquid hydrogen and its applications)

What’s the NEWS
  • ISRO Chairman K Sivan  flagged off the shipment of India's largest liquid hydrogen storage tank at the VRV Asia Pacific's manufacturing plant at Sri City in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh.
Know! more about the event
  • The storage capacity of the tank is 120 kilo litres. Liquid hydrogen is used as fuel for satellite launch vehicles.
  • The storage tank was manufactured by VRV Asia Pacific in collaboration with Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR under the Make in India initiative.
  • VRV Asia Pacific, a Chart Group company, designs and manufactures cryogenic equipment from its factory located in Sri City.
  • VRV's unit at Sri City is one of the most technologically sophisticated manufacturing facilities of cryogenic equipment in the world.
Know! about Liquid hydrogen (LH2 or LH2)
  • It  is the liquid state of the element hydrogen. Hydrogen is found naturally in the molecular H2 form.
  • To exist as a liquid, H2 must be cooled below hydrogen's critical point of 33 K.
  • However, for hydrogen to be in a fully liquid state without boiling at atmospheric pressure, it needs to be cooled to 20.28 K (−423.17 °F; −252.87 °C).
  •  One common method of obtaining liquid hydrogen involves a compressor resembling a jet engine in both appearance and principle.
  • Liquid hydrogen is typically used as a concentrated form of hydrogen storage.
  • As in any gas, storing it as liquid takes less space than storing it as a gas at normal temperature and pressure. However, the liquid density is very low compared to other common fuels. Once liquefied, it can be maintained as a liquid in pressurized and thermally insulated containers.
Environment Conservation
International Day for Biological Diversity
In past hundred years, more than 90 percent of crop varieties have vanished from farmers’ fields. Therefore, loss of varied food is directly linked to health risk factors.
Relevance IN – Prelims ( about IDB and facts regarding biodiversity statics ) + Mains ( GS III environment conservation)
What’s the NEWS
  • United Nations (UN) has adopted May 22 as The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.
  • Objective of observing this day is to spread awareness about species turning endangered or going to extinct.
  • Year 2019 theme is - “Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health.”
Know! more about IBD
  • First Biological Diversity International Day was observed by Second Committee of the UN General Assembly on December 29, 1993.
  • Few years later in year 2000, UN General Assembly adopted 22 May as International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB).
  • Celebrations of this year’s IDB focus on biodiversity as the foundation for our food and health and a key catalyst to transforming food systems and improving human health.
  • It aims to influence knowledge and spread awareness of the dependency of our food systems, nutrition, and health on biodiversity and healthy ecosystems.
  • Other focus areas of this years’ theme are - diversity provided by our natural systems for human existence and well-being on Earth, while contributing to other Sustainable Development Goals, including climate change mitigation and adaptation, ecosystems restoration, cleaner water and zero hunger, among others.
  • During last hundred years, more than 90% of yield varieties have vanished from farmers’ lands.
  • More than 50% of the breeds of many domestic animals have been lost, and all of the world’s 17 main fishing grounds are now being fished at or above their sustainable limits.
  • Local food production systems are also under threat, including related indigenous, traditional and local knowledge.
  • Due to this damage, agricultural biodiversity is disappearing, as well as essential knowledge of traditional medicine and local foods.
  • The loss of varied food is directly linked to health risk factors, such as diabetes, obesity and malnutrition, and has a direct impact on the availability of traditional medicines.
Environment Conservation
NGT directs 18 states, 2 UTs to submit action plan on utilisation of treated wastewater
Relevance IN – Prelims ( about NGT and its action plan) + Mains ( GS III environment conservation)
What’s the NEWS
  • The National Green Tribunal  directed 18 States and 2 Union Territories to submit their respective action plans on utilisation of treated wastewater to reduce pressure on the groundwater resources across the country.
  • The states and UTs were ordered to submit their action plan within 3 months time to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Know! more about the direction given by NGT
  • A bench headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, NGT Chairperson, further said that the states that have failed to furnish their plans are mere defaulters who are violating the directions of the NGT.
  • States were directed to submit the plans latest by June 30, 2019, failing which, the tribunal will consider coercive measures, including compensation for loss to the environment. The green panel noted that so far only 9 states and 5 UTs have submitted their action plan.
  • The action plan includes establishing a monitoring mechanism for coordination with the local bodies, which will be overseen by the chief secretaries of all the states and UTs.
Know! about NGT
  • The National Green Tribunal was established in October 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010.
  • The Tribunal was formed for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.
  • The principal bench of NGT is located in New Delhi.
  • Its zonal benches are located in Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai; while its circuit benches are in Shimla, Shillong, Jodhpur, and Kochi.
  • The NGT is composed of a full-time chairperson, judicial members, and expert members.
  • The minimum number of judicial and expert members prescribed is 10 in each category and the maximum number is 20 in each category.
  • The first chairperson of the tribunal was Justice Lokeshwar Singh Panta, who was appointed on October 18, 2010 and relinquished the post in 2011 when he was made 'Lokayukta' of Himachal Pradesh.
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