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Connect to Current -Daily Current Capsules - 27th March 2019

Space Awareness
PSLV-C45 project will mark several firsts for ISRO
Emisat mission scheduled for launch on April 1

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about PSLV -C 45)

What's the NEWS
• The PSLV-C45/Emisat mission scheduled for an April 1 lift-off from Sriharikota will be a memorable one for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Know! about the uniqueness of the mission

• For one, it will be ISRO's first attempt at placing payloads in three different orbits.

• The chief payload - the 436 kg Emisat - will be injected into a 749 km orbit. After that, the fourth stage of the rocket will be manoeuvred to a 504 km orbit for releasing 28 international satellites.

• Once that job is over, the fourth stage will be restarted and guided to an altitude of 485 km.

• For the next six months, this stage will serve as an orbital platform for space-based experiments. This is another first for the ISRO. Normally, the spent stage simply becomes space junk.

• The orbital platform will also sport solar panels, which too is a first,

• The launch vehicle itself is a new variant, designated PSLV-QL. For the first time, ISRO will be employing four XL strap-on motors on the first stage.

• Again, the PSLV-C45 mission marks a milestone for ISRO's Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST). One of the three experiments aboard the orbital platform is the IIST's Advanced Retarding Potential Analyser for Ionospheric Studies (ARIS).

• This is the first time that an IIST payload is flying aboard an ISRO mission, ARIS will study the structure and composition of the ionosphere.

• The other two experimental payloads aboard the orbital platform are the Automatic Identification System (AIS), an ISRO payload for maritime satellite applications, and the Automatic Packet Repeating System (APRS), meant to assist amateur radio operators.

Know! about Emisat
• Emisat, the chief payload on PSLV-C45, is meant for electromagnetic spectrum measurements, according to the ISRO.

• It will released into an orbit at 749 km, the C-45, which is set for lift-off from the second launchpad at Sriharikota, will mark the 47th flight of the PSLV.

• The 436-kg satellite would serve as the country's roving device for detecting and gathering electronic intelligence from enemy radars across the borders as it circles the globe roughly pole to pole every 90 minutes or so
Foreign co-passengers
• As many as 28 small foreign co-passenger satellites will also travel to space with it, but to a lower orbit at 504 km.

• They include 24 small satellites from the U.S., among them 20 which are part of previous customer Planet Labs' earth observation constellation. The other four customers are from Lithuania, Spain and Switzerland.

Energy Conservation
The Global Energy Transition index 2019
India ranks 76th on WEF's global Energy Transition index; Sweden on top

Relevance IN ( Prelims - about WEF) + Mains ( GS III energy conservation)

What's the NEWS

• The Global Energy Transition index 2019 report has been released by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

• The index compares the energy sectors of 115 countries and analyses their readiness for energy transition.

• The index benchmarks the countries energy systems based on an "energy triangle", comprised of energy security and access, economic development and growth, environmental sustainability and how well they are set-up to succeed in the future.

• The index takes into account six individual indicators: capital and investment, regulation and political commitment, institutions and governance, institutions and innovative business environment, human capital and consumer participation, and energy system structure.

Know! about the findings of WEF report w.r.t India

• India is amongst the countries with high pollution levels and has a relatively high CO2 intensity in its energy system

• India has moved up two places to rank 76th on a global energy transition index, which has ranked 115 economies on how well they are able to balance energy security and access with environmental sustainability and affordability.

• Sweden remains on the top on this annual list compiled by Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF) and is followed by Switzerland and Norway in the top three, as per its latest report released on Monday.

• The WEF said energy systems have globally become less affordable and less environmentally sustainable than they were five years ago, though access to energy has improved with less than 1 billion now living without access to electricity.

• It said India is amongst the countries with high pollution levels and has a relatively high CO2 intensity in its energy system.

• "Despite this, India has made significant strides to improve energy access in recent years, and currently scores well in the area of regulation and political commitment towards energy transition

• While India has scored low in terms of system performance (ranking 97 and 86, respectively), it ranks considerably higher when it comes to readiness (45 and 61, respectively). Overall, India has moved up two places from 78th last year.

• China is ranked even lower than India at 82nd position, though it ranks very high at seventh place in the world for regulation and political commitment.

• Despite its low ranking, India is the second best in the BRICS block of emerging economies, with Brazil being the best at 46th place globally. However, India is the only amongst the five economies to improve its rank since last year.

Know! more about the findings of the report

• The WEF said its index considers both the current state of the countries' energy system and their structural readiness to adapt to future energy needs.

• Small economies have achieved higher scores on readiness, with the UK being the only G7 economy in the top 10.

• The biggest challenge facing attempts to future proof global energy is the lack of readiness among the world's largest emitters. The 10 countries that score the highest in terms of readiness account for a mere 2.6 per cent of global annual emissions, the study found.

• It said continued use of coal for power generation in Asia, increasing commodity prices and slower-than-needed improvements in energy intensity have contributed to this year's stagnation in performance.

• The ‘transition readiness' component of the index has taken into account six individual indicators: capital and investment, regulation and political commitment, institutions and governance, institutions and innovative business environment, human capital and consumer participation, and energy system structure.

• The WEF said fossil fuels' share of total primary energy supply at 81 per cent has been constant over the past three decades.

• Also, the global CO2 emissions are expected to have increased by more than 2 per cent in 2018, the highest since 2014.

Defence
AUSINDEX
Australia, India's Naval Exercise To Focus On Anti-Submarine Warfare

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about AUSINDEX)

What's the NEWS
• Third instalment of the "AUSINDEX" exercise will be held off the coast of Vishakhapatnam from April 2 to 16 and will see the largest Australian defence forces group deployment in India.

• The joint exercise will focus on anti-submarine warfare, as part of efforts to ramp up bilateral naval cooperation in the strategic Indian Ocean region.

Know! more about AUSINDEX 2019

• Over 1,000 Australian defence personnel, HMAS Canberra (landing helicopter dock), Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment vessel, and two frigates -- HMAS Newcastle and HMAS Parramatta -- will take part in the exercise.
• Another interesting feature of the exercise will be the deployment of Australian personnel on Indian ships and vice versa. Also, P8I and P8 maritime patrol aircraft will be involved in the exercise.


Bilateral Relations
Pakistan Approves Plan to Open Sharda Temple Corridor in PoK for Hindu Pilgrims

Highlight

The Sharda Peeth corridor, when opened, will be the second religious tract after Kartarpur corridor in Pakistan-controlled territory that will connect the two neighbouring nations

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about sharda peeth corridor) + Mains ( GS II bilateral relations)

What's the NEWS

• The Pakistan government approved a proposal to establish a corridor that will allow Hindu pilgrims from India to visit Sharda Peeth, an ancient Hindu temple and cultural site in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

• The Sharda Peeth corridor, when opened, will be the second religious tract after Kartarpur corridor in Pakistan-controlled territory that will connect the two neighbouring nations.

• India had already sent a proposal to Pakistan to open the temple corridor

Know! about Sharda Peeth

• Established in 237 B.C. during the reign of Emperor Ashoka, the 5,000-year-old Sharada Peeth is an abandoned temple and ancient centre of learning dedicated to the Hindu goddess of learning.

• Between the 6th and 12th centuries C.E, Sharada Peeth was one of the foremost temple universities of the Indian subcontinent.

• Sharada Peeth is believed to be a foremost centre of learning Between the 6th and 12th centuries CE hosting scholars such as Kalhana, Adi Shankara, Vairostana, Kumarajiva, and Thonmi Sambhota.

• The temple is about 150 km from Muzaffarabad capital of PoK and 130 Km from Srinagar currently under the control of Pakistan.

• It is also one of the three famous holy sites for Kashmiri Pandits, the other two being the Martand Sun Temple in Anantnag and the Amarnath temple.

Know! about Kartarpur corridor
• In November last year, the Pakistani premier had laid the foundation stone for the 4-km Kartarpur corridor at Shakargarh in Narowal district of Pakistan's Punjab province.

• The corridor is expected to be completed by 2019 and will connect Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur -- the final resting place of Sikh faith's founder Guru Nanak Dev -- with Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Gurdaspur district and facilitate visa-free movement of Indian Sikh pilgrims, who will have to just obtain a permit to visit Kartarpur Sahib, which was established in 1522 by Guru Nanak Dev.

Prelims Practise Question

Consider the following statements

1. The PSLV-C45/Emisat mission OFthe Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will be ISRO's first attempt at placing payloads in three different orbits.

2. India has moved up two places to rank 76th on a global energy transition index, which has ranked 115 economies on how well they are able to balance energy security and access with environmental sustainability and affordability.

3. India has made significant strides to improve energy access in recent years, and currently scores well in the area of regulation and political commitment towards energy transition
Find the correct statement from the option given below
a. All
b. 1 and 2
c. 2 and 3
d. None


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