- Inside India’s ‘Deep Ocean Mission’(DOM), a challenge harder than going to space
- Road Accidents in India-2022 Report
- INFUSE Mission
- Akhaura-Agartala Rail Link
- UN report on groundwater extraction: Every drop counts
Inside India’s ‘Deep Ocean Mission’(DOM), a challenge harder than going to space
Context:
- India’s “Samudrayaan” is set to make a historic crewed expedition to explore the ocean bed at a depth of 6,000 meters in the central Indian Ocean.
- This ambitious mission is part of the Development of Ocean Ministry (DOM), one of nine initiatives guided by the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PMSTIAC).
- The DOM mission aligns with India’s focus on the blue economy, including areas like blue trade and blue manufacturing. Samudrayaan encompasses six core pillars:
- Technological advancements for deep-sea mining and a manned submersible capable of carrying a crew of three to the ocean’s 6,000-meter depth.
- Development of services for ocean climate change advisory, incorporating an array of ocean observations and models to understand and forecast future climate trends.
- Technological innovations for the exploration and conservation of deep-sea biodiversity.
- Deep-ocean survey and exploration with the goal of identifying potential sites rich in multi-metal hydrothermal sulfides mineralization along the Indian Ocean mid-oceanic ridges.
- Utilization of energy and freshwater resources from the ocean.
- Establishment of an advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology, serving as a hub for nurturing talent and creating new opportunities in ocean biology and blue biotechnology.
Samudrayaan:
- India’s “Samudrayaan” initiative represents a groundbreaking endeavor to explore the ocean bed at a depth of 6,000 meters in the central Indian Ocean.
- This remarkable voyage will be carried out by “Matsya6000,” a deep-ocean submersible specifically designed to accommodate a crew of three.
- Matsya6000 is equipped with an array of scientific sensors and tools, enabling it to operate for 12 hours continuously, with the capability to extend this to 96 hours in case of emergencies.
Polymetallic Nodule Mining:
- Additionally, the Ministry is actively developing an integrated system for mining polymetallic nodules of precious minerals from the ocean bed in the central Indian Ocean region.
- These minerals, including copper, manganese, nickel, and cobalt, have been allocated to India by the United Nations International Seabed Authority (ISA).
- The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) has successfully conducted deep-sea locomotion trials on the seabed at a depth of 5,270 meters using the underwater mining system known as “Varaha.”
- This achievement marks a significant milestone on the path to future exploration and extraction of deep-sea resources.
Matsya6000:
- Matsya6000 stands as India’s premier deep-ocean human submersible, with a primary objective of exploring the ocean bed at a remarkable depth of 6,000 meters.
- Manned by three “aquanauts,” this vessel is equipped with a diverse range of scientific tools for observations, sample collection, and experiments.
- Matsya6000’s mission is set to position India alongside countries like South Africa, Russia, China, France, and Japan, which have successfully conducted deep-ocean crewed missions, showcasing India’s prowess in this domain.
- Despite its limited sub-sea endurance, Matsya6000 prioritizes deep-sea exploration, featuring free-floating movement, unique six-directional propeller-based mobility, and real-time observation capabilities.
- Constructed from a robust titanium alloy, the submersible’s human sphere is engineered to withstand pressures up to 6,000 bar, providing a secure environment for the crew with oxygen supply and carbon dioxide scrubbing.
- The interior is equipped with advanced equipment, including cameras, lithium polymer battery-powered lights, and navigation systems for communication and positioning during underwater missions.
- Operating at a speed of approximately 5.5 km/hr using underwater thrusters, Matsya6000 represents a significant stride for India in demonstrating its deep-ocean exploration capabilities on the global stage.
Road Accidents in India-2022 Report
In the context of the recently released Annual Report on ‘Road Accidents in India-2022’ by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, several significant findings were presented:
- The report is primarily based on data collected from various police departments across States and Union Territories.
- In 2022, India witnessed a total of 461,312 road accidents, resulting in 168,491 fatalities and 443,366 injuries.
- When compared to the previous year, there was an alarming 11.9% increase in the number of accidents, a 9.4% rise in fatalities, and a 15.3% increase in injuries.
Key findings from the report include:
– Among the total accidents, 32.9% took place on National Highways, 23.1% on State Highways, and 43.9% on Other Roads.
– Fatalities were distributed as 36.2% on National Highways, 24.3% on State Highways, and 39.4% on Other Roads.
– Fatal accidents were distributed as 35.7% on National Highways, 24.3% on State Highways, and 40% on Other Roads.
– Overspeeding played a major role, contributing to 71.2% of fatalities, followed by driving on the wrong side (5.4%).
– Nearly half (47.7%) of accidents occurred in open areas without significant human activity nearby.
– The majority (67%) of accidents happened on straight roads, with curved roads, pothole roads, and steep grades accounting for 13.8%.
– Young adults aged 18-45 comprised 66.5% of victims, while the working-age group of 18-60 accounted for 83.4% of fatalities.
– Two-wheelers were involved in the highest number of accidents and fatalities, with two-wheeler riders representing 44.5% of total fatalities and pedestrian road-users at 19.5%.
– Tamil Nadu reported the highest number of accidents, while Uttar Pradesh had the highest number of accident fatalities in 2022.
– Million Plus Cities were responsible for 16.6% of total accidents and 10.1% of accident fatalities in 2022.
– The majority of road accidents and fatalities occurred in rural areas (68%) compared to urban areas (32%).
The report also delved into international comparisons of road accidents and highlighted the Ministry’s multi-pronged road safety strategy based on Education, Engineering, Enforcement, and Emergency Care.
Additionally, the report provided insights into the road infrastructure in India:
– India boasts the world’s second-largest road network, spanning 5.89 million kilometers.
– It facilitates 64.5% of freight and 90% of passenger traffic in the country, contributing significantly to economic development and improved connectivity.
– Indian roads are categorized into National Highways, State Highways, District Roads, and Village Roads:
– National Highways, which encompass around 132,500 km, serve as crucial links between major cities and towns and are maintained by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
– State Highways, totaling approximately 150,000 km, connect major cities and towns within a state and are maintained by state governments.
– District Roads, covering about 470,000 km, connect smaller towns and villages within a district and are maintained by district authorities.
– Rural Roads, with a collective length of about 2,650,000 km, connect individual villages and hamlets to the rest of the country and are maintained by local Panchayats.
INFUSE Mission
Context:
NASA is embarking on a mission to explore the demise of a star and the emergence of a new galaxy, situated more than 2,600 light-years away from our planet.
- A spacecraft has been designated to conduct the Integral Field Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Experiment (INFUSE).
- The mission’s objective is to capture the light wavelengths generated by the interaction between the energy from a supernova and cold gas pockets in outer space.
3. The supernova being investigated is named the Cygnus Loop, situated within the Cygnus constellation, which resembles a swan in shape, complete with stars forming the figure of the bird and its wings.
- Astronomers are keen on supernovae like the one responsible for the Cygnus Loop, as they have a significant impact on the formation of galaxies.
- NASA’s INFUSE mission, a sounding rocket project, is being launched to study the remnants of the Cygnus Loop supernova.
- INFUSE utilizes a specialized instrument that combines imaging and spectroscopy techniques.
- The primary goal of the mission is to unravel the mysteries surrounding stellar explosions and their effects on the formation of celestial bodies.
- The mission involves employing the Hubble Space Telescope to capture detailed images of the Veil Nebula, a component of the Cygnus Loop, showcasing emissions from doubly ionized oxygen, ionized hydrogen, and ionized nitrogen in various colors.
The Cygnus Loop:
- The Cygnus constellation, known as “swan” in Latin, is visible in the northern hemisphere’s night sky for several months each year.
- The Cygnus Loop, also referred to as the Veil Nebula, is a prominent celestial feature located just above the wing of the constellation.
- This remnant of a massive star, which was once 20 times the size of our Sun, underwent a supernova explosion around 20,000 years ago, despite being located 2,600 light-years away. The flash of light from this event was estimated to be visible during daylight on Earth, offering a rare opportunity to observe an ongoing supernova blast.
- The expanding cloud, which now covers more than 120 light-years, continues to grow at a remarkable speed of approximately 930,000 miles per hour (about 1.5 million kilometers per hour).
- Telescopes capture the superheated dust and gas illuminated by the shockwave, rather than the supernova blast itself, as it cools down.
Supernova:
- A supernova is a powerful and brilliant explosion of a star that occurs in the final stages of a massive star’s life or when a white dwarf experiences runaway nuclear fusion.
- Supernovae lead to the formation of a neutron star, black hole, or a diffuse nebula, with their peak brightness rivaling that of an entire galaxy before gradually fading over weeks or months.
- Notable supernovae in the Milky Way include Kepler’s Supernova in 1604 and the most recent naked-eye supernova, SN 1987A, located in the Large Magellanic Cloud.
- Theoretical research suggests two primary triggers for supernovae: reignition of nuclear fusion in a white dwarf and sudden gravitational core collapse in massive stars.
- Supernovae can expel substantial material at high velocities, creating shock waves in the interstellar medium, forming supernova remnants, and contributing to the enrichment of elements in space.
- These explosions can also trigger star formation and serve as a significant source of cosmic rays. Gravitational waves may be generated during supernovae, although they have primarily been observed in black hole and neutron star mergers.
Akhaura-Agartala Rail Link
Context:
The Akhaura-Agartala rail link has been inaugurated, re-establishing rail connectivity between Bangladesh and northeastern India through Tripura after a gap of nearly seventy-five years.
Akhaura-Agartala Rail Link:
The newly inaugurated rail connection spans a total length of 12.24 kilometers, consisting of a 6.78-kilometer dual gauge rail segment in Bangladesh and a 5.46-kilometer segment in Tripura.
Historical Significance:
- The Akhaura junction, located in Bangladesh’s Brahmanbaria district, has a historical association with India’s northeastern region, dating back to the colonial era.
- Originally constructed in the late 19th century, the rail link served the demand of Assam’s tea industry for access to the Chittagong port.
Project Development:
The project gained momentum in 2010 when then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh signed an agreement to rebuild the rail link during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to Delhi.
Significance of the Project:
- Multilevel Connectivity: Akhaura is well-connected by rail, river, and road to several industrial areas in Bangladesh, including Dhaka, Chittagong, and Sylhet.
- Northeast India Connectivity: The rail link to Agartala is expected to enhance connections between India’s northeast and Chittagong, facilitating the transportation of goods.
- Shortened Routes: The Akhaura link has the potential to significantly reduce travel time and distance for trains traveling to Tripura, southern Assam, Mizoram, Kolkata, and the rest of India compared to the longer route via Guwahati and Jalpaiguri stations.
- Unique Event: This marks the first direct rail connection between Akhaura and Agartala, with the first trains anticipated to run between Nishchintapur and Gangasagar stations.
Commercial Benefits:
- The rail link is expected to boost India-Bangladesh trade across various sectors, including agriculture products, tea, sugar, construction items, iron and steel, and consumer goods.
It also holds the potential to foster people-to-people relationships and enhance India’s connectivity with Southeast Asian regions, thereby promoting regional economic growth.
