Martian Meteorites

Context: Recently a Martian meteorite named NWA 16788 sold for a record $5.3 million at a Sotheby’s auction.

About NWA 16788

• The meteorite NWA 16788, weighing 54 pounds (24.5 kg), is the largest known Martian rock found on Earth.
  • It was discovered in November 2023 by a meteorite hunter in Niger’s Agadez region, part of the Sahara Desert.
• Its Martian origin was confirmed through lab testing that matched its chemical signature with known Martian compositions.

What are Martian Meteorites?

• Martian meteorites are rare space rocks ejected from the surface of Mars due to asteroid or comet impacts, later landing on Earth after long journeys through space.

Scientific Significance

• Rare Window into Martian Geology: Martian meteorites offer direct samples of Mars’ crust, helping scientists study the planet’s composition, geological activity, and volcanic history without launching missions.
• Tracing Martian Impact History: The NWA 16788 meteorite is believed to have been ejected from Mars around 5 million years ago, after a massive asteroid or comet strike.
• Planetary Journey and Survival: The meteorite traveled nearly 140 million miles through space and survived Earth’s atmosphere, making it scientifically and statistically extraordinary.
  • Its preservation and recovery in a desert environment, rather than the ocean, allowed for its intact discovery and analysis.

SASCI Scheme

Context: Recently,  the Government of India launched the SASCI scheme for developing selected  tourist destinations.

About SASCI Scheme

• The Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) for Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale was launched in July 2025.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Tourism

Key Features of SASCI Scheme

• End-to-End Tourist Experience: SASCI focuses on strengthening the entire tourism value chain such as infrastructure, branding, sustainability, service delivery, and operations.
• Sustainability and Expertise: The scheme emphasizes design quality, sustainable operations, and local stakeholder involvement for long-term impact
• Project Selection Criteria: Project proposals from State Governments were evaluated based on
  • Connectivity to the site
  • Tourism ecosystem and infrastructure
  • Ecological sustainability and carrying capacity
  • Potential socio-economic impact
  • Project marketing and management models
• Funding and Timeline: The Centre will fund projects till March 31, 2026, while state governments will execute and manage the projects.
  • The projects are to be developed and completed within maximum 2 year’s period
• Achievement So Far: As of July 2025, 40 Projects have already been sanctioned based on state proposals, marking a major step in India’s effort to position itself as a global tourism hub.
• For example 100 Cr has been sanctioned for Iconic City Rishikesh to develop Rafting Base Station in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand.

International Moon Day

Context: On July 20, 2025, the world celebrated International Moon Day under the theme “One Moon, One Vision, One Future”, promoting global unity in lunar exploration.

About International Moon Day

• Objective: To mark the anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing in 1969, the first human mission to the lunar surface.
• UN Recognition: The UN General Assembly designated this day in 2021 through Resolution 76/76, based on recommendations from the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).
• Significance: The day celebrates human achievements in lunar exploration, raises awareness about peaceful and sustainable use of the Moon, and promotes international cooperation in space activities.

Global Achievements in Moon Exploration

• Apollo 11 (1969): First successful manned mission; Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the Moon.
• Lunar Missions by Multiple Nations: The US, Russia, China, and the EU have conducted robotic and crewed missions, expanding lunar science and technology.
• Recent Missions:
  • China’s Chang’e missions have returned lunar samples.
  • NASA’s Artemis programme aims to return humans to the Moon, including the first woman and person of colour and to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon.

India’s Contributions to Lunar Exploration

• Chandrayaan-1 (2008): Discovered water molecules on the Moon’s surface.
• Chandrayaan-2 (2019): Deployed an orbiter still functioning and gathering data.
• Chandrayaan-3 (2023): Achieved a historic soft landing near the lunar south pole, positioning India among top spacefaring nations.

International Moon Day serves as a reminder of past milestones and inspires future global collaboration for peaceful and sustainable lunar exploration.

About COPUOS

• It is a United Nations committee established in 1959 to oversee and promote international cooperation in the peaceful exploration and use of outer space.
• It serves as a forum for discussing legal and technical issues arising from space activities, ensuring space remains a domain for peaceful purposes.

IUCN World Conservation Congress

Context: The IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi will vote on whether to ban the use of Synthetic Biology tools in conservation practices.

About IUCN

• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) was established in 1948 and is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental network.
• Members: The IUCN, or International Union for Conservation of Nature, has over 1,400 member organizations from over 170 countries.
  • These members include government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and Indigenous Peoples’ Organizations.
  • India has been a State Member of IUCN since 1969.
• Contributions: IUCN plays a critical role in global biodiversity conservation through tools like the Red List of Threatened Species, scientific research, and policy guidance to governments and institutions.

About IUCN World Conservation Congress

• Introduction: The World Conservation Congress is IUCN’s flagship event held every four years, bringing together governments, scientists, NGOs, and communities to shape global conservation policy.
• 2025 Congress: The 2025 edition, scheduled for October in Abu Dhabi, with the theme “Powering transformative conservation”
• Components of the Congress
  • Forum : Global platform for discussing science, innovation, and conservation policy.
  • Exhibition : An interactive space for showcasing research, innovations, and partnerships.
  • Members’ Assembly: The highest decision-making body where member organizations vote on motions.
    • All motions are discussed online for two months before the Congress.
    • Once adopted, motions become Resolutions and Recommendations, guiding IUCN’s policy and program
• Focus Areas of 2025 Congress
  • Motion 133 proposes a ban on synthetic biology research in conservation due to ecological and ethical concerns.
  • Motion 087 suggests a case-by-case, policy-driven approach that balances innovation with precaution.

About Synthetic Biology

• Synthetic biology involves redesigning organisms by engineering their DNA to perform new functions. It combines biology, engineering, and computer science.
• Application in Conservation
  • Gene-edited algae to protect coral reefs from rising temperatures.
  • Genetically modified mosquitoes that can’t transmit malaria.
  • Engineered mice that prevent invasive species from breeding on islands.

NISAR Satellite Set for Launch

Context: ISRO will launch the NISAR Earth Observation Satellite soon from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh in collaboration with NASA.

About the Launch

• Launch Vehicle and Orbit: The satellite will be placed into a 743 km Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) using Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F16) , a heavy-lift launch vehicle from ISRO.
• Joint Development and Technology: NISAR has been jointly developed by ISRO and NASA, integrating NASA’s L-band radar with ISRO’s S-band radar, and mounted on NASA’s 12-meter unfurlable mesh reflector antenna.

About NISAR Satellite

• NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) is the world’s first dual-frequency SAR mission, using both L-band and S-band radars to provide high-resolution, all-weather, day-and-night imaging of Earth.

Key Features

• Dual-Band Radar Capability:
  • L-band radar (1–2 GHz): Developed by NASA, penetrates dense forests and vegetation.
  • S-band radar (2–4 GHz): Developed by ISRO, offers detailed surface imaging.
    
• Large Deployable Antenna: Equipped with a 12-meter deployable antenna with an 18-meter radar swath, enabling wide-area coverage.
• SweepSAR Technology: NISAR uses SweepSAR, allowing efficient and detailed Earth surface mapping over large areas
  • It will enable NISAR  to  observe earth with a swath of 242 km and high spatial resolution for the first time.

Applications

• Environmental and Resource Monitoring: NISAR enables global scanning every 12 days to monitor tectonic activity, glaciers, permafrost, soil moisture, and surface water, aiding in climate research, agriculture planning, and resource management.
• Disaster and Ecosystem Management: The satellite supports natural disaster tracking, forest monitoring, and biodiversity conservation, improving disaster preparedness, coastal resilience, and sustainable land-use strategies.

West Bank

Context: Recently, Israeli settlers attacked the Ein Samiyah spring in the occupied West Bank, threatening the water supply of 110,000 Palestinians.

About the West Bank

• Location: The West Bank is a landlocked territory located to the west of the Jordan River, bordered by Israel to the west and Jordan to the east.
  • It includes key Palestinian cities like Ramallah, Hebron, Nablus, and Bethlehem.
• Geography: Mostly composed of north-south–oriented limestone hills ( Samarian Hills north of Jerusalem and the Judaean Hills south of Jerusalem).
  • The hills descend eastwardly to the low-lying Great Rift Valley of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea.
• Water Source: The Ein Samiyah spring, a major water source in the central West Bank.
• Political Status and Dispute: The West Bank has been under Israeli military occupation since 1967, following the Six-Day War.
  • It is internationally recognized as occupied Palestinian territory, though Israel disputes this status and has established numerous settlements there.
• Palestinians seek the West Bank as a central part of a future independent state, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Kashi Declaration for Drug-Free India

Context: Recently, the Youth Spiritual Summit in Varanasi, themed “Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat”, concluded with the Kashi Declaration. 

About Kashi Declaration

• Organized By: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
• Time Frame: Sets a 5 year roadmap for the De-Addiction Movement.
• Multi-Ministerial Collaboration: Involves Ministries of Youth Affairs, Social Justice, Culture, Labour, and Home Affairs.
  • Including the formation of a Joint National Committee, annual progress reporting, and a national platform for linking affected individuals to support services.
• Core Objectives:
  • To treat substance abuse as a multi-faceted public health and societal challenge.
  • To prevent addiction and support recovery.
  • To foster a national culture of sobriety.
  • To create “Nasha Mukt Yuva” as the foundation for “Viksit Bharat by 2047”.
  • To leverage India’s spiritual capital as a catalyst for healing and transformation.
• Digital Platform Monitoring: Targets online drug sales and digital addictions among school children.
• Community Outreach: Promotes pledge drives, Sunday on Cycle fitness campaign, and grassroots awareness through youth networks.
• Annual Review Mechanism: Progress to be assessed via Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) 2026.
• Support Services Integration: A proposed national digital platform to connect at-risk individuals with counseling, rehabilitation, and emergency help.

Day Zero

Context: Kabul is facing a severe water crisis that could make it the first modern capital city to run dry by 2030, warns a new report. 

What is Day Zero ? 

• “Day Zero” refers to the point when a city or region’s water supply runs dry, leaving residents without access to tap water. 
• It signals extreme water scarcity, often caused by drought, climate change, and poor water management.

Key Factors Behind Kabul’s Water Crisis

• Rising Demand: Population surged from under 1 million (2001) to nearly 6 million (2025), overwhelming water resources.
• Climate Impact: Severe drought (2021–24) and reduced snowmelt have caused groundwater depletion.
• Water Contamination: Up to 80% of groundwater is polluted, leading to health crises and school closures.
• Weak Infrastructure & Funding Gaps: Decades of underinvestment, project delays, and frozen international aid since 2021 have crippled water systems.

Notable Examples

• Cape Town (2018): Officials warned the city was three months away from running out of water. Dam levels dropped to 13.5%.
• Chennai (2019): Faced a severe drought and came close to a Day Zero situation.

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