18th September Current Updates

Moonquake
Shantiniketan gets its World Heritage Site Tag
Critical Raw Material Act
Leptospirosis
India-Brazil Sugar Dispute

Moonquake

The central focus of this research lies in the analysis of seismic data collected between 1976 and 1977, shedding light on the potential connection between the lunar lander left behind by the Apollo 17 astronauts and seismic activity on the moon.

It is important to note that the study posits that these moonquakes are not of natural origin; rather, they are attributed to vibrations emanating from the lunar module descent vehicle, which was deployed onto the lunar surface in 1972.

Apollo 17 Mission Overview Apollo 17, the culminating mission of the Apollo program, represented the sixth successful lunar landing.
It was launched on December 6, 1972, distinguishing itself with a rare night launch within the Apollo program.
This mission held distinct scientific objectives, setting it apart from its predecessors.
Its primary goals were to procure ancient highlands crustal material and explore the possibility of recent lunar volcanic activity.
Notably, Neil Armstrong, the first person to set foot on the lunar surface, was a part of the Apollo 11 mission on July 20, 1969.

Understanding Moonquakes

Moonquakes exhibit similarities to earthquakes, both involving seismological vibrations.
Researchers have classified four types of moonquakes, with three being relatively benign.
The most destructive among them are shallow moonquakes, occurring closest to the lunar surface.

Deep Moonquakes: These occur at depths of approximately 700 kilometers beneath the lunar surface.
Shallow Moonquakes: Manifesting at depths of only 20 to 30 kilometers, these events can last up to 10 minutes.
Vibrational Moonquakes: Typically triggered by meteorite impacts.
Thermal Quakes: These result from the moon’s crust expanding due to warming after subzero temperatures during the night.

Moonquakes manifest at intervals of roughly every 27 days, primarily due to temperature fluctuations during lunar day and night, amounting to approximately 7,000 moonquakes in a decade.

Moonquakes vs. Earthquakes Moonquakes, while generally of smaller magnitude compared to earthquakes, are noted for their extended duration. Shallow moonquakes, as recorded by Apollo astronauts, have reached magnitudes of up to 5.5.

Human Lunar Landings Several countries have undertaken lunar missions, with India being the most recent in 2023, following in the footsteps of the United States, Russia, and China.

India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission featured a seismometer, which successfully detected a moonquake, providing valuable data for future analysis.

Significance of Monitoring Moonquakes

Understanding moonquakes carries substantial importance for upcoming lunar missions, especially if NASA establishes a permanent lunar outpost.

Seismometers, akin to those employed on the moon, play a pivotal role in comprehending lunar geology and ensuring the safety of future lunar explorers.

Monitoring lunar seismic activity is indispensable for designing experiments and missions aimed at unraveling the mysteries of our closest celestial neighbor.

The moon offers a unique opportunity for comprehensive planetary exploration beyond the confines of Earth.

Shantiniketan gets its World Heritage Site Tag

Context:

Santiniketan, a small town nestled in West Bengal’s Birbhum district, has gained recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
This town holds special significance as it served as the primary residence of the esteemed Nobel laureate, Rabindranath Tagore, for a significant portion of his life.

About Santiniketan

Located in the Birbhum District of West Bengal, India, Santiniketan stands as an iconic cultural and heritage destination with a profound historical legacy.
Its prominence is primarily attributed to its deep-rooted association with Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel laureate.

Importance of Santiniketan

Rabindranath Tagore’s Home: Santiniketan not only housed Rabindranath Tagore but also served as the place where he penned numerous literary works, including songs, poems, and novels.

Artistic Abode:

The Santiniketan campus is adorned with splendid sculptures, frescoes, murals, and paintings created by celebrated artists such as Rabindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose, Ramkinkar, Binodbehari Mukhopadhyay, among others.

Cultural Celebrations:

The broader Birbhum District, which encompasses Santiniketan, is renowned for its lively fairs and festivals. Some noteworthy celebrations include Poush Mela (December), Joydev Mela (January), Basanta Utsav (Holi) in March, and the famous performances of the mystic Baul Singers.

Unique Occasions:

Santiniketan hosts special cultural festivities during Bengali New Year and Rabindra Janmotsav (Rabindranath Tagore’s birth anniversary) in the Bengali month of Boisakh, celebrated with great enthusiasm.

Distinctive Festivals:

The region observes unique festivals like Briksharopan (the festival of Planting Saplings) and Halakarshan (the festival of Plowing the Fields) on the 22nd and 23rd days of Sravana (August), respectively. Additionally, Varshamangal, the festival of rains, is celebrated in August/September.

Poush Mela:

Santiniketan annually hosts Poush Mela, commencing on the 7th day of the Poush month.
Although officially spanning three days, vendors often extend their stay throughout the month.
This festival is renowned for live performances of Bengali folk music, especially by Bauls, traditional wandering minstrels, and the display of tribal dances like Santali.

West Bengal’s UNESCO Recognition Santiniketan marks the second cultural treasure from West Bengal to earn a coveted spot on UNESCO’s prestigious list.

In 2021, UNESCO acknowledged ‘Durga Puja in Kolkata’ as part of its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list, shedding light on the rich cultural heritage of West Bengal.

CRITICAL RAW MATERIAL ACT

European Parliament’s Landmark Decision

In a significant development, the European Parliament has granted approval to the Critical Raw Materials Act, marking a pivotal decision.
A resounding 515 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) lent their support to this crucial legislation.

Reducing Dependence on China

One of the primary objectives of this Act is to reduce the European Union’s dependence on China for essential minerals, a move prompted by the imperative shift towards green technologies such as solar panels and electric vehicle batteries.

Currently, the EU relies on China for a staggering 99 percent of its rare earth metals, emphasizing the pressing need for diversification.

2030 Targets for Domestic Capacities

The Act outlines ambitious targets to be achieved by 2030 within the strategic raw materials value chain, encompassing extraction, processing, and recycling.

Specifically, these targets include: extracting at least 10% of the EU’s annual consumption, processing at least 40%, recycling at least 15%, and ensuring no more than 65% of the EU’s annual consumption originates from a single third country.

This proactive approach aims to mitigate the risks associated with supply disruptions.

Enhancing Supply Chain Security

By diversifying imports and limiting any single country to providing no more than 65% of the EU’s supply, the law seeks to enhance supply chain security.

Furthermore, the EU has set its sights on producing 10% of its critical raw materials by 2030, demonstrating a commitment to bolstering domestic production.

Critical Raw Materials Covered

Critical raw materials covered by the Act encompass pivotal elements like aluminium, cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements.

Additionally, the EU aspires to process 40% of these critical materials within its borders by 2030.

To achieve these goals, the Act encourages strategic partnerships with other nations, especially those in developing regions, while placing a significant emphasis on recycling and the utilization of secondary raw materials.

Balancing Resource Security and Sustainability

However, some concerns have arisen regarding environmental standards, as there is a need to balance resource security with sustainability. These concerns are underscored by past supply disruptions following natural gas issues during the Ukraine conflict.

Understanding Critical Minerals

In a broader context, critical minerals are elemental components of immense significance in modern technologies.

They are susceptible to supply chain interruptions and play pivotal roles in the production of various technologies, including mobile phones, computers, batteries, electric vehicles, and environmentally friendly innovations such as solar panels and wind turbines.

Dynamic Nature of Critical Minerals

The declaration of critical minerals is an evolving process, subject to changes driven by technological advancements, market dynamics, and geopolitical factors.
Different countries maintain their unique lists of critical minerals, tailored to their specific needs and priorities.
For instance, the United States recognizes 50 critical minerals, Japan identifies 31, the United Kingdom considers 18, the EU lists 34, and Canada acknowledges 31.

Critical Minerals in India

In the Indian context, an Expert Committee under the Ministry of Mines has identified 30 critical minerals crucial for the nation’s development.

This list includes elements like antimony, beryllium, cobalt, copper, and more.

The committee has proposed the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Critical Minerals (CECM) within the Ministry of Mines, tasked with regularly updating India’s list of critical minerals and devising strategies for their secure supply.

This initiative underscores the global importance of securing access to critical minerals for sustainable development.

LEPTOSPIROSIS

Context:

The state of Odisha is currently grappling with a concerning situation involving Leptospirosis, which has tragically claimed six lives. Additionally, there has been a notable surge in cases of scrub typhus in the region.

Leptospirosis

Description: Leptospirosis is a bacterial ailment that affects both humans and animals.
Symptoms: This illness manifests with symptoms such as high fever, headaches, chills, vomiting, red eyes, abdominal pain, rashes, and diarrhea.
Phases: Leptospirosis can progress in two phases:

Initially, patients experience symptoms like fever, chills, headaches, muscle aches, vomiting, or diarrhea.
In cases where a second phase occurs, it tends to be more severe, potentially leading to kidney or liver failure or even meningitis.

Consequences: Leptospirosis can result in various complications, including kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the brain and spinal cord’s protective membrane), liver failure, respiratory distress, and, in the worst cases, death.

Treatment: The duration of illness can range from a few days to as long as three weeks or more. Timely treatment is crucial as recovery without intervention may take several months.

Scrub Typhus

Description: Scrub typhus is a potentially life-threatening infection caused by the Orientia tsutsugamushi bacteria.
Transmission: This ailment is contracted when individuals are bitten by infected chiggers, which are larval mites.
Symptoms: Scrub typhus is characterized by symptoms such as fever, headaches, body aches, and, on occasion, a rash.

India-Brazil Sugar Dispute

Context:

In recent developments, India and Brazil have engaged in discussions aimed at resolving a trade dispute concerning the sugar industry within the World Trade Organization (WTO).

As part of their efforts to reach an amicable resolution, Brazil is contemplating the possibility of sharing its ethanol production technology with India.

Key Aspects of the Trade Dispute:

Back in 2019, Brazil, Australia, and Guatemala brought a case against India within the framework of the WTO’s dispute settlement mechanism. They alleged that India’s subsidies to sugar farmers were in violation of global trade regulations.

In January 2022, India appealed the panel’s ruling to the WTO’s appellate body, which serves as the final authority in such dispute cases.

Brazil stands as the world’s largest sugar producer and exporter, while India holds the position of the second-largest producer.

The complainants from Brazil, Australia, and Guatemala, all WTO members, contended that India’s support measures for sugarcane producers exceeded the de minimis threshold of 10 percent of the total value of sugarcane production.

Under WTO rules, any member can lodge a complaint with the Geneva-based multilateral body if they believe that a particular trade measure contravenes WTO norms.

Ethanol:

Ethanol functions as a fuel additive, typically blended with oil for use in vehicles.
It can be derived from sources such as sugarcane, broken rice, and various agricultural products.
India, being the world’s third-largest oil consumer and importer, could significantly reduce its dependence on foreign oil supplies, currently accounting for 85 percent of its consumption, by incorporating ethanol into its fuel supply.
The utilization of ethanol in fuels contributes to a reduction in carbon emissions.
India’s goal is to achieve a 20 percent ethanol blend in petrol by the year 2025.

World Trade Organization (WTO):

The WTO is the primary global organization responsible for regulating international trade among nations.
Established in 1995 through the Marrakesh Agreement, it succeeded the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
The organization’s headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland.

It has 164 member countries, with India being one of its founding members.