Autonomous Surface Vessels

Context: Liquid Robotics, a Boeing company, and Sagar Defence Engineering, an Indian startup, have signed an MoU to co-develop and co-produce Autonomous Surface Vessels (ASVs), specifically the Wave Glider platform.

This is a key area of cooperation for both countries (India- US) in the Indo-Pacific region.

About Autonomous surface vessels

• ASVs are robotic vehicles that operate on the sea surface to collect data related to oceanography.
• Types of Propulsion: These vehicles are powered either by waves or by propellers.
• These vessels rely on advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), sensors, radar, GPS, and communication systems to navigate, perform tasks, and adapt to their environment.
• Features of ASVs
  • Larger Size: ASVs are bigger than Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), allowing them to carry more equipment and batteries.
  • Renewable Energy Use: Since ASVs stay on the water’s surface, they can harness solar or wind energy to power themselves.

Demands for Grants

Context: The Lok Sabha has approved the Demands for Grants of various Ministries for 2025-26 to the tune of more than ₹50 lakh crore.

• The Demands for Grants was passed by the house by applying the guillotine motion.

About Demand for Grants

• Demand for Grants is a part of the annual budgetary process and is presented to the Lok Sabha.
• It is a formal request for funds made by various ministries or departments of the government  to the Lok Sabha, outlining the estimated expenditures for the upcoming financial year
• Examples: 
  • Revenue Expenditure: Salaries, wages, travel expenses, office expenses, professional and special services, rent, rates and taxes, etc. 
  • Grants-in-aid to various institutions, organizations, and schemes. 
  • Capital Expenditure: Specific schemes and programs of the government.
• Constitutional Basis: They are submitted in pursuance of Article 113 of the Constitution (It deals with the presentation of the annual financial statement and the estimates of expenditure from the Consolidated Fund)
• Objective: To ensure legislative oversight over executive spending, embodying the principle of “no taxation or expenditure without representation
• Parliamentary Process:
  • Budget Presentation: The government presents the budget, including Demands for Grants, to the Lok Sabha
  • Departmental Demands: Each ministry or department of the government prepares a detailed estimate of its expenses for the next fiscal year which are compiled into individual demands for grants.
  • Role of Departmental Standing Committees: Departmental standing committees examine the Demands for Grants and scrutinize the expenditure of ministries.
  • Cut Motions: MPs during discussions can propose cut motions, which are formal objections to a demand allowing MPs to express their disagreement with certain aspects of it.
    • Types of Cut Motions: Disapproval of Policy Cut, Economy Cut, and Token Cut. 
  • Voting: The Lok Sabha takes up the voting of Demands for Grants as it has the power to assent, reduce, or reject a demand.
    • The voting of demands for grants is the exclusive privilege of the Lok Sabha.

About Guillotine Motion

• In legislative parlance, to “guillotine” means to bunch together and fast-track the passage of financial business by putting to vote all the outstanding demands for grants at once. 
• This usually happens on the last day earmarked for the discussion on the Budget. 
• Purpose: The intention is to ensure timely passage of the Finance Bill, marking the completion of the legislative exercise with regard to the Budget.

Senior Citizens Commission

Context: Kerala has become the first state in India to pass a law to establish a Senior Citizens Commission. 

About Senior Citizens Commission

• It is a  statutory body established under the Kerala State Senior Citizens Commission Act, 2025.
• Purpose:
  • Safeguard the rights and dignity of senior citizens.
  • Provide welfare measures for the elderly population.
  • Address issues like neglect, exploitation, and loneliness.
• Functions:
  • Offer a platform for senior citizens to raise concerns.
  • Develop and implement policies focused on elderly welfare.
  • Promote rehabilitation programs and social inclusion of senior citizens.
  • Advocate for skill utilization of senior citizens for societal development.

ADMM-Plus EWG on Counter-Terrorism Meeting

Context: At the 14th meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts’ Working Group on Counter-Terrorism (EWG on CT), India and Malaysia announced plans for a table-top exercise in Malaysia in 2026 and a field training exercise in India in 2027.

About ASEAN ADMM-Plus

• The ADMM-Plus is a platform for ASEAN and its eight Dialogue Partners Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States (collectively referred to as the “Plus Countries”).
• Aim: To strengthen security and defence cooperation for peace, stability, and development in the region.

ADMM-Plus EWG on Counter-Terrorism (CT) Meeting

• Participants: ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN member states (Lao PDR, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam), and ADMM-Plus dialogue partners (China, the U.S., Russia, Australia, Japan, South Korea).
• Objective: Formulating a comprehensive strategy to counter terrorism and extremism.
• Outcome: Laid the foundation for planned activities, exercises, and workshops for 2024-2027.
• Handover of Co-Chairmanship
  • Previous Co-Chairs (2021-2024): Myanmar and Russia.
  • New Co-Chairs (2024-2027): India and Malaysia.
• Planned Counter-Terrorism Exercises (2024-2027)
  • Table-Top Exercise (2026): To be conducted in Malaysia.
    • A tabletop exercise is a scenario-based discussion designed to test strategies, coordination, and decision-making without actual field deployment.
  • Field Training Exercise (2027): Scheduled in India.

Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)

Context: Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will investigate all the IndiGo tail strikes incidents involving A321 Neo planes.

About Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau

• Nodal Ministry: The Bureau is  an attached office of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India
• Establishment: The Bureau was established to inculcate the ‘Standards and Recommended Practices’ (SARPS) contained in Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation and Government of India’s ‘State Safety Programme’ (SSP) in 2012
• Objective: The sole objective of the investigations carried out by AAIB is prevention of accidents and incidents and not to apportion blame or liability as per the Rule 3 of Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017. 
• Roles: 
  • Classify Accidents: AAIB India is responsible for classification of ‘Safety Occurrences’ into Accidents, Serious Incidents and Incidents.
  • Investigations: All Accidents and Serious Incidents involving aircraft with AUW more than 2250 Kgs or Turbojet aircraft are investigated by AAIB.
    • It may also investigate serious incidents or incidents to aircraft if it appears expedient to hold an investigation.
  • Investigation Reports: The accepted ‘Final Investigation Reports’ by DGCA, India and its recommendations are also forwarded to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and participating states.
    • The  investigation reports are made public and published by AAIB on its website.
  • AAIB also conducts safety studies from time to time.

South Cascade Glacier

Context: South Cascade Glacier, located in the US, is one of the most studied glaciers in the world.

About South Cascade Glacier

• South Cascade Glacier was recently named “Glacier of the Year” by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). 
• It is one of five “benchmark” glaciers in the US, providing critical data on how glaciers are responding to climate change.  
• For nearly 70 years, it has served as a living laboratory for glaciologists, helping them develop methods to measure and understand glaciers globally. 

Key Features of the South Cascade Glacier

• Location: It is located in Washington state of USA in a basin at the head of the South Fork of the Cascade River.  
• Size: The glacier covers a basin of over 6 square kilometers.  
• Geometry: Its straightforward shape and size make it ideal for scientific study.  

Scientific Significance of South Cascade Glacier

• Long-Term Monitoring: The US Geological Survey (USGS) started studying the glacier in the late 1950s.  
  • Since 1959, scientists have tracked streamflow, precipitation, temperature, snow thickness, ice loss, and surface altitude. This provides a detailed record of the glacier’s health over time.  
• Development of Glacier Science: Methods like ice radar, which measures ice thickness, were developed here.  
  • The skills and knowledge gained at South Cascade Glacier are now used to study glaciers worldwide.  

Climate Change Impact

• Retreating Glacier: Over the past 70 years, South Cascade Glacier has lost about half its size. This retreat is a direct result of rising global temperatures.  
• Visible Evidence: The shrinking glacier is a clear indicator of climate change, showing how rising temperatures reduce snowfall and increase melting.

Ulaa-Make in India Web Browser

Context: Ulaa is a Made-in-India web browser, which won the Indian government’s ₹1 crore web browser development challenge. 

About Ulaa Browser

• Ulaa is a Made-in-India web browser developed by Zoho Corporation, a company known for its suite of business and productivity tools
• It is designed to enhance cybersecurity, digital sovereignty, and internet resilience for the country.
• It blocks trackers, prevents data collection, and provides a seamless browsing experience with built-in privacy tools.

Key Features of Ulaa Browser

• Privacy and Security: ULAA emphasizes user privacy by blocking trackers, ads, and third-party cookies. It prevents websites from collecting personal data without consent.
• Built-in VPN and Ad Blocker: The browser includes an integrated VPN for anonymous browsing and an ad blocker to remove intrusive advertisements, improving the browsing experience.
• Customizable User Interface: Users can personalize their browsing experience with themes, layouts, and extensions, allowing for greater control over their online interactions.
• Cross-Platform Availability: ULAA is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and mobile devices, ensuring a seamless experience across different devices.
• Performance Optimization: The browser is designed for speed and efficiency, reducing memory usage while maintaining fast page loading times.
• Open-Source and Transparent: Being open-source, ULAA allows users to inspect its code for security vulnerabilities, fostering trust and transparency.

Equinox

Context: March 20, 2025 marked the beginning of the vernal or spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere.

• March 20: The arrival of the vernal equinox will mark the start of the spring season for the Northern Hemisphere and fall in the Southern Hemisphere.

About Equinox

• Etymology: The term is derived from the Latin words “aequus” meaning “equal”, and “nox” (meaning “night”)
  • Equinox marks that time of the year when the sun appears directly above the Equator at noon.
• Equinoxes are the only times when both poles are sunlit at the same time.
• Occurrence: They occur twice a year, in March and in September on both hemispheres.
  • Northern Hemisphere: 
    • The vernal or spring equinox typically occurs between March 19 and 21
    • The autumnal or fall equinox occurs between September 21 and 24.
  • Southern Hemisphere: The names are switched for the Southern Hemisphere, so March 20, 2025, marks the autumnal equinox there.
• Significance: 
  • Equinoxes reflect the time of the year when the day and night are of equal length
  • The Earth’s axis and orbit align just so that both hemispheres obtain an equal amount of sunlight.
• Significance of Spring Equinox in Different Cultures:
  • The Persian new year, Nowruz, coincides with the vernal equinox in the northern hemisphere. 
    • Nowruz begins on the first day of the Farvardin, the first month of the Iranian solar calendar at the spring equinox, and continues for 12 days.
  • The Vernal Equinox Day is a national holiday in Japan
  • Easter Holiday, of the Christian calendar, is determined according to the vernal equinox.
  • Passover, the Jewish festival begins on the first full moon following a vernal equinox.

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