Prelims Nuggets

Lynx U2 fire control systems

Context: Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Bharat Electronics Limited for the procurement of 13 Lynx-U2 fire control systems for the Navy at a cost of over Rs 1,700 crore, under the Buy Indian – IDMM (Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured) category.

Lynx-U2 fire control system:

  • The Lynx-U2 system is a naval gun fire control system capable of accurately tracking and engaging targets amid sea as well as air or surface targets.
  • The fourth generation, completely indigenous systems, will be installed on New Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels to be built indigenously at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers and Goa Shipyard Limited. 

Next-generation Offshore Patrol Vessels

Context: Ministry of Defence has signed a deal to buy eleven Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels and six Next Generation Missile Vessels at Rs 19,600 crore. 

Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPV):

  • The contract for 11 NGOPVs worth Rs 9,781 crore was signed between Goa Shipyard Limited and Garden Reach Shipyard Limited under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category. 
  • NGOPVs will increase the Navy’s various operational capabilities such as Anti-Piracy, Counter-Infiltration, Anti-Poaching, Anti-Trafficking, Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations, Search and Rescue (SAR), Protection of Offshore Assets etc.
    • An offshore patrol vessel (OPV) is a small surface ship designed for coastal defence.
    • They can carry a crew of up to 80-90 sailors, but are much more lightly armed — and therefore much cheaper — than capital warships like corvettes, frigates, or destroyers.
    • For performing tasks that do not require heavy fighting, OPVs offer a far more economical option than using heavily armed capital warships.
    • These warships are well equipped to tackle a range of roles such as maritime security, border control, anti-smuggling, counter-terrorism, disaster relief etc.

Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMV):

  • The contract for constructing six Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMVs) was signed with Cochin Shipyard (CSL) at Rs 9,805 crore.
  • NGMVs would be heavily armed war vessels incorporating stealth, high speed and offensive capability.
  • The primary role of the ships would be to provide offensive capability against enemy warships, merchantmen and land targets.
    • These warships will be capable of conducting maritime strike operations, Anti-Surface Warfare Operations and would be a potent instrument of sea denial for enemy ships, especially at choke points. 
    • In the defensive role, these ships would be employed for Local Naval Defence operations and seaward defence of the Offshore Development Area. 

Next-generation mobile maritime coastal batteries and BrahMos missile

Context: Ministry of Defence has signed a deal with BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited (BAPL) for the procurement of Next Generation Maritime Mobile Coastal Batteries (Long Range) and BrahMos missiles, valued at over Rs 1,700 crore, under Buy (Indian) category. 

Aim: To enhance the Indian Navy's maritime strike capabilities along the coast. 

Next-Generation Maritime Mobile Coastal Batteries (Long Range)

  • Next-Generation Maritime Mobile Coastal Batteries come equipped with new missiles like the BrahMos surface-to-surface cruise missiles. 
  • This system will allow the Indian Navy to target enemy platforms operating close to the Indian coast. 

Supersonic BrahMos missiles

  • BrahMos is the fastest cruise missile in the world with a top speed of Mach 2.8 or almost three times the speed of sound.
  • It is a two-stage missile (solid propellant engine in the first stage and liquid ramjet in the second stage) with a range of 290 km.
  • The multiplatform missile can be launched from land, air, and sea with pinpoint accuracy during day and night irrespective of weather conditions.

Special features of BrahMos

  • Universal for multiple platforms
  • Stealth technology and guidance system
  • “Fire and Forget” principle of operation
  • Pinpoint accuracy with high lethal power 
  • Quicker engagement time and non-interception by any known weapon system
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Significance

  • Enhance the multi-directional maritime strike capability of the Indian Navy. 
  • Boost indigenous production of the critical weapon system and ammunition with the active participation of indigenous industries.
  • Generate employment of more than 90,000 man-days over a period of four years.

BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd (BAPL)

  • BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd is a joint venture between India and Russia that produces supersonic cruise missiles that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms.
  • BrahMos was established through an inter-governmental agreement in 1998 as a joint venture between India's state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation and NPO Mashinostroyenia of Russia.
  • Although BrahMos missiles still depend on Russian parts and raw materials, the percentage of local input had gone up to over 70% from around 15% at the start of the venture.

Swathi Weapon locating radar

Context: Ministry of Defence signed a contract for the Weapon locating radar Swathi (Plains) with Bharat Electronic Limited (BEL) at a cost of over Rs 990 crore. 

WLR Swathi:

  • Swathi weapon-locating radars provide fast, automatic, and accurate location of enemy weapons like mortars, shells and rockets within a 50-kilometre range.
  • The radars can simultaneously detect multiple projectiles fired from different weapons at different locations.
  • Indigenously developed by: Defence Research and Development Organisation 
  • Induction is planned to be completed in 24 months. 

CERT-in may be exempted from giving information under RTI Act

Context: Central Government has informed Parliament that Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-in) may soon be exempt from responding to queries under the Right to Information Act.

Major Highlights: 

  • The Department of Personnel and Training has reviewed a proposal from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to include CERT-in in the Second Schedule to the RTI Act, which deals with exempted organisations like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Border Security Force.
  • The exemption would allow CERT-in to reject any application for information, even on policy-related matters. 

About CERT:

  • Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN) is the nodal agency to deal with cyber security threats like hacking and phishing and strengthens the security-related defence of the Indian Internet domain. 
  • CERT-IN was formed in 2004 by the Government of India under Information Technology Act, 2000 Section (70B). 
  • It is an office within the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. 
  • CERT-In has been designated to serve as the national agency to perform the following functions in the area of cyber security:
    • Collection, analysis and dissemination of information on cyber incidents.
    • Forecast and alerts of cyber security incidents.
    • Emergency measures for handling cyber security incidents.
    • Coordination of cyber incident response activities.
    • Issue guidelines, advisories, vulnerability notes and whitepapers relating to information security practices, procedures, prevention, response and reporting of cyber incidents.

COVID variant XBB.1.16

Context: As per the World Health Organization’s (WHO) latest data for February 27 to March 26, 2023, the South-East Asia Region has reported over 27,000 new COVID-19 cases, a 152% increase as compared to the previous 28-day period. 

  • The reason for the spike in cases is the XBB.1.16, the new Omicron variant. 
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XBB.1.16 variant:

  • XBB.1.16 is the new sub-variant of Omicron which is a highly transmissible variant with a high infectivity rate. It can elude hybrid immunity and immunity gained by vaccination. 
    • It is a recombination of two omicron variants.
    • Omicron and its variants are usually more easily transmitted and has has more chances to escape immunity.
  • The sub-variant rapidly transmits and has additional mutations in its nucleotide and amino acids which have been associated with decreased antibody neutralisation, increased transmissibility, and pathogenicity. 
  • Symptoms: High-grade fever for more than 48 hours, cough, sore throat, body pain, severe headache, cold and abdominal discomfort. 

At-risk population: Patients with co-morbidities such as elderly population, or with cardiac conditions, previous pulmonary issues such as asthma, tuberculosis, diabetic and chronic kidney disease patients.

Centre allows the sale of declared hallmarked gold jewellery till Jun 30

Context: Recently the Central government allowed those jewellers to sell their old stock of gold jewellery or gold artefacts with old ‘four marks hallmarking’ till June 30, 2023, which they had declared prior to July 1, 2021—the date on which the 6-digit hallmarking ID (HUID) was introduced in the country.

About Hallmarking

  • Hallmarking is the accurate determination and official recording of the proportionate content of precious metal in the jewellery/artefacts or bullion/coins. 
  • Quality control order for mandatory hallmarking of gold jewellery/artefacts has been issued on 23 June 2021 by the Govt. of India which makes hallmarking mandatory in 256 districts of the country where there is at least one assaying and hallmarking centre. 
  • The Indian Standard on Gold Hallmarking IS 1417:2016 specifies three grades for hallmarking of gold jewellery/ artefacts which are 14 Carat, 18-carat and 22-carat. 
  • The same has been amended to include additional grades of 20 carats, 23 carats and 24 carats. 
  • Indian standard on silver hallmarking IS 2112: 2014 specifies six grades of silver alloys viz 990,970,925,900,835,800 used in the manufacture of jewellery/artefacts of silver.
  • For hallmarking of gold bullion and coins of fineness 995 and 999 parts per thousand, a refinery or a mint obtains a license and applies a hallmark during the manufacturing. At present 44 refineries have taken licences from BIS for refining gold.

Coding of Hallmarked article

  • The jeweller will submit the request for hallmarking online and the data for all the processes undertaken in the centre from inward receipt and weighing, XRF, Sampling, Fire assay and laser marking is maintained online and can be monitored on a real-time basis.
  • At the end of the testing, a unique six-digit alphanumerical code is generated from the BIS server for each jewellery article and is laser marked by the assaying and hallmarking centre on the jewellery along with the BIS logo and purity mark. 
  • Earlier (Before 1 July 2021) hallmarked Jewellery consists of the following four marks:
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With the introduction of a six-digit alphanumeric code from 1 July 2021, the four marks have now been replaced by three marks for gold jewellery/ artefacts as given below

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Registration of Jeweller with BIS

  • For hallmarking of jewellery, a jeweller who wants to sell hallmarked jewellery has to obtain a registration from BIS. 
  • The registration of the jeweller’s process has been made online. 
  • The registration of jewellers is free and valid for a lifetime. 
  • The registered jeweller submits the jewellery for hallmarking to BIS recognized Assaying & Hallmarking (A&H) centre.

About Assaying & Hallmarking (A&H) centre.

  • A&H centres are the testing centres where the jewellery is tested. 
  • After testing, the A&H centre applies a hallmark on the jewellery which is found to meet the requirement of the standard. 
  • The A&H centre can apply for recognition to BIS online. 
  • BIS has developed a digital solution wherein the entire workflow in the assaying and hallmarking centre is automated and made online. 
  • BIS also carries out periodic surveillance audits of the A&H centre to ascertain its continuation with the specified requirements. 

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Context: NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said that Finland would formally become a member within days, as he congratulated its President on clearing the final hurdle to joining.

Earlier Finland and Sweden initial applied for membership last May, prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. And while the two countries were formally invited to join the alliance last summer, both Turkey and Hungary have been stalling on ratifying their memberships.  

About NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

  • Russia attacked Ukraine, highlighting that Ukraine acceding to NATO would be a security threat to Russia.
  • Ukraine has been seeking NATO’s support against Russia.
  • This attack started a debate about the cold war alliances. NATO is a Military alliance of countries from Europe and North America. It provides a link between the ‘Western countries’ of the two continents.
  • NATO membership is open to any other European country which adheres to the principles of NATO and contributes to the security of the North Atlantic area.
  • A NATO decision is the expression of the collective will of all 30 member countries since all decisions are taken by consensus.
  • NATO's core tasks are Collective defence, Crisis management & Cooperative security.
  • Principle of ‘Collective Defence’ under which an attack against one or several NATO members is considered an attack against all.
  • The principle of collective defence is enshrined in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty.
  • NATO invoked Article 5 for the first time in its history after the 9/11 terrorist attacks against the United States.
  • NATO has taken collective defence measures on several occasions, for instance in response to the situation in Syria and the wake of the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
  • NATO follows 'Open Door Policy' is based on Article 10 of its founding treaty.
  • Any decision to invite a country to join the Alliance is taken by North Atlantic Council based on consensus among all Allies (i.e., Existing Members of NATO).

Steps to Accession Process

  1. NATO members decide to invite a country to become a member of NATO and they officially invite the country to begin accession talks with the NATO.
  2. Accession Talks place between individual invitees and NATO experts at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
  3. Invitees send letters of intent to NATO, along with timetables for completion of reforms.
  4. Accession protocols are signed by NATO countries.
  5. Accession protocols are ratified by NATO countries. Once Accession Protocols are ratified the invitee countries become eligible to participate in NATO meetings as non-members.
  6. NATO Secretary General invites potential new members.

Gujarat HC sets aside CIC order seeking information on Prime Minister’s MA degree, fines Arvind Kejriwal

Central Information Commission

  • It is constituted under the provision of Section-12 of RTI Act 2005.
  • The Central Information Commission shall consist of the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and such number of Central Information Commissioners not exceeding 10 as may be deemed necessary. 
  • The jurisdiction of the Commission extends over all Central Public Authorities.

Appointment

Chief information Commissioner and other commissioners are appointed by the president on the recommendation of a committee for which Section 12(3) of the RTI Act 2005 provides as follows :

(i) The Prime Minister, who shall be the Chairperson of the committee;
(ii) The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha ; and
(iii) A Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister.

Eligibility 

  • The Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners shall be persons of eminence in public life with wide knowledge and experience in law, science and technology, social service, management, journalism, mass media or administration and governance.
  • The Chief Information Commissioner or an Information Commissioner shall not be a Member of Parliament or Member of the Legislature of any State or Union Territory as the case may be , or hold any other office of profit or connected with any political party or carrying on any business or pursuing any profession.

Term of office 

  • The Chief Information Commissioner shall hold office for such term as may be prescribed by the Central Government and shall not be eligible for reappointment
  • No Chief Information Commissioner shall hold office as such after he has attained the age of sixty-five years.
  • Every Information Commissioner shall hold office for such term as may be prescribed by the Central Government or till he attains the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier, and shall not be eligible for reappointment as such Information Commissioner. 
  • However, Information commissioners are eligible for appointment as the Chief Information Commissioner .

Removal

  • The Chief Information Commissioner or any Information Commissioner shall be removed from his office only by order of the President on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity. 
  • Removal can be done only after the inquiry report of the Supreme Court ,on a reference made to it by the President.

Powers and functions of Information Commissions

  1. As per the RTI Act 2005, it shall be the duty of the Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, to receive and inquire into a complaint from any person,

(a) Who has been unable to submit a request to a Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer

(b) Who has been refused access to any information requested under this Act

(c) Who has not been given a response to a request for information or access to information within the time limit specified under this Act

(d) Who has been required to pay an amount of fee which he or she considers unreasonable

(e) Who believes that he or she has been given incomplete, misleading or false information under this Act 

(f) In respect of any other matter relating to requesting or obtaining access to records under this Act.

2. Where the Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to inquire into the matter, it may initiate an inquiry in respect thereof. ( i.e. Suo moto power)

3. The Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, shall, while inquiring into any matter under this section, have the same powers as are vested in a civil court .

ISRO releases images of Earth captured by its EOS-06 satellite

Context: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has released images of Earth captured by the EOS-06 satellite. The space agency said that the images are a mosaic generated by the ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC). ”NRSC/ISRO has generated a global False Colour Composite (FCC) mosaic from the images captured by the Ocean Colour Monitor (OCM) payload on board EOS-06.

About ISRO

  • The main space agency of the nation is the Indian Space Research Organisation, which has its headquarters in Bangalore.
  • The Chairman of ISRO also acts as the administrator of the Department of Space (DOS), which is overseen by the Prime Minister of India directly.
  • India's primary agency for tasks relating to space-based applications, space exploration, and related technology development is ISRO.
  • Just six government space agencies worldwide have comprehensive launch capabilities, cryogenic engines, the ability to launch interplanetary missions, and the capacity to manage vast networks of artificial spacecraft.

Earth Observation Satellites

  • The spacecraft with remote sensing capabilities are earth observation satellites. Information on the planet's physical, chemical, and biological processes is gathered via earth observation.
  • The use of several earth observation satellites in sun-synchronous orbit is common.
  • They are made to observe the planet from orbit for both military and non-military purposes, such as meteorology and mapping.

EOS-06 Satellite

  • The Oceansat EOS-06 third-generation satellite and eight Nano-satellites were launched by ISRO on November 26 on the PSLV-C54.
  • With a larger payload capacity and four payloads—OCM, Sea Surface Temperature Monitor, Ku-Band Scatterometer, and ARGOS—EOS-06 continues Oceansat-2's activities.
  • For use in oceanography, climatology, and meteorology, the EOS-06 is intended to gather data on ocean colour, sea surface temperature, and wind vector.
  • In addition, the satellite offers value-added services like potential fishing areas based on data from land-based geophysical systems, SST, wind speed, and chlorophyll.
  • With the OCM's ability to detect the Earth in 13 distinct wavelengths, the images provide information on the global plant cover on land and ocean biota.
  • A kind of nanosatellite known as Oceansat-3 was launched by ISRO as part of a larger collection of spacecraft used for oceanographic and atmospheric research.

Ocean Color Monitor

  • The sophisticated 13-channel OCM, which has a 1400 km swath and a spatial resolution of 360 m, will continuously monitor the dayside of the globe and provide vital information on the distribution of ocean algae, the building blocks of the marine ecosystem's food chain.
  • With a high signal-to-noise ratio, the OCM-3 is expected to improve accuracy in daily phytoplankton monitoring, which will be useful for a variety of operational and research purposes, such as managing fisheries resources, absorbing ocean carbon, warning of dangerous algal blooms, and analysing climate change.

Space design lab for startups opens in Ahmedabad

Context: India has unveiled a state-of-the-art design facility in Ahmedabad to help startups in the space industry convert their innovative concepts into workable models. V. Somanath, the chairman of ISRO, inaugurated the Space Systems Design Lab of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) at Bopal near Ahmedabad. 

More about the news: 

  • The IN-SPACe design lab is equipped with cutting-edge analysis and simulation software for IN-SPACe, which models, visualises, and optimises payload and spacecraft, ground station, and launch vehicle avionics. 
  • Lab resources will assist in creating prototypes with the fewest iterations possible, drastically lowering turnaround time and R&D expenses for start-ups. 
  • The lab is equipped with 16 workstations and high-performance multi-core (400 core) servers for computation.

IN-SPACe for a New India Space Sector

  • In June 2020, the Indian government announced significant space reforms aimed at boosting the private sector space industry, including start-ups. 
  • Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), an independent nodal organisation under the Department of Space (formally launched in June, 2022), is the focal point of the country's space reforms.
  • Purpose:
    • Encourage, enable, authorise and supervise private firms and start-ups to engage in space operations. 
    • Tap into the vast untapped potential of the nation's technical know-how and human resources. 
    • Provide private and non-governmental organisations the ability to conduct their own autonomous space operations.

VISION:

To promote the space economy in the nation, and empower non-governmental entities (NGEs) to participate in space operations for a resurgent AatmaNirbhar Bharat.

Organisational Structure of In-SPACe

  • Headquarters: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
  • IN-SPACe is operating with three directorates and a joint secretary

Functions

  • The organization serves as the link between NGEs and ISRO and offers suggestions for improving the utilisation of India's space assets and boosting space-based activities.
  • To enable interested parties to carry out their space-related operations through IN-SPACe, and make use of already-existing ISRO infrastructure on both the ground and in space as well as data and scientific and technological resources.
  • In collaboration with ISRO, the organisation will assess the expectations of private sector businesses, particularly educational institutions, and determine how to better meet those wants.
  • The decisions of the organisation would be binding on- ISRO and private sector organisations. The organisation will concentrate on research and development, which was the core function of ISRO.

Improved Akash Weapon System

Context: Ministry of Defence signed a contract for procurement of an improved Akash Weapon System (AWS) with Bharat Dynamics Limited for over Rs 8,160 crore for the third and fourth regiments of Army Air Defence, comprising live missiles and launchers with upgrades, ground support equipment, vehicles and infrastructure. 

Akash Weapon System

  • The AWS is a Short Range Surface to Air Missile (SRSAM) Air Defence System, indigenously designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation.
  • Improved AWS has Seeker technology, reduced footprint, 360° engagement capability and improved environmental parameters.

Relevance of AWS

  • Increase India's self-reliance in Short Range Missile capability.
  • Boost the overall economy by avoiding the outgo of precious foreign exchange to other countries.
  • Increasing employment avenues in India. 
  • Boost the Indian missile manufacturing industry in particular and the indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem (Indian MSMEs) as a whole.