News in Shorts- 18 June

Titan’s fatal dive

• June 18 marks the one-year anniversary of the deadly implosion of an experimental submersible named Titan.

Titan Submersible

• About: Ocean Gate, a U.S. company, uses the Titan Submersible for underwater expeditions geared toward research and tourism. 
  • The Titan is constructed with “off-the-shelf” components, making it lighter and more cost-effective compared to other deep-diving submersibles.
• Objective:  To explore the wreck of the RMS Titanic, located nearly 4,000 meters deep in the cold North Atlantic Ocean.
• Specifications: The Titan, made of carbon fiber and titanium. It can dive to depths of 4,000 meters and travel at speeds of up to three knots per hour (5.56 kph).
• Reason for Implosion: As a submersible goes deep into the ocean, it faces strong water pressure. If the pressure becomes too much for the hull to handle, the vessel will violently implode.

DigiYatra

• The facial-recognition check-in service used at airports, Digi Yatra, could soon be implemented at hotels and public places like historical monuments, according to the CEO of Digi Yatra Foundation.

DigiYatra

• About:Digi Yatra is an innovative program for airport passengers that uses facial recognition to streamline processing from entry to boarding.
  • It simplifies self-bag drop and check-in by leveraging facial recognition for identification and data retrieval, enabling paperless travel and eliminating multiple identity checks.
• Nodal Ministry: The Ministry of Civil Aviation 
• Aim:  It aims to establish industry benchmarks and SOPs for digital transformation in Indian aviation.
  • Integrate digital identities like Aadhaar, Driving License, and Passport into a unified “DigiYatra” ecosystem for biometric boarding at all Indian airports.
  • Ensure a timely rollout of the DigiYatra system by coordinating efforts across airlines, travel agents, distribution systems, and airports.
  • Conduct widespread communication and marketing campaigns to educate the public about new standards and procedures.
• Implementation: Digi Yatra is implemented by the DigiYatra Foundation, which is a joint-venture supported by shareholders including the Airports Authority of India, Bengaluru Airport, Delhi Airport, Hyderabad Airport, Mumbai Airport, and Cochin International Airport.

Purpose of DigiYatra

• Crowded Airports and Delays: Large crowds and paperwork bottlenecks at airports cause frustrating delays, impacting passenger satisfaction.
• Inefficient Paper Processes: Current paper-based document verification relies on physical documents and manual checks, leading to time-consuming processes prone to errors.
• Security Risks: Paper-based methods pose risks of fraud and identity theft, raising concerns for passenger and authority security.
• Need for Contactless Options: During the pandemic, there was a heightened need for contactless travel options to ensure safety and security for passengers.

iCET

• Recently, NSA Ajit Doval and his American counterpart Jake Sullivan discussed the India-US Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET), aiming to boost cooperation in key technological areas.

Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET)

• About: The framework for the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies provides a comprehensive platform for collaboration between India and the US.
• Aim: To establish India  and the United States of America as reliable technology partners, fostering supply chain development and supporting collaborative production and development of goods.
• Cooperation: Under iCET, both countries have identified six areas for cooperation, including co-development and co-production.  These efforts are set to expand gradually from QUAD to NATO, Europe, and globally over time.
  • Establishing common AI standards.
  • Creating a roadmap to enhance defense technology cooperation and an ‘innovation bridge’ linking defense startups.
  • Supporting the growth of a semiconductor ecosystem.
  • Strengthening collaboration in human spaceflight.
  • Advancing joint efforts in 5G and 6G development.
  • Implementing OpenRAN network technology in India.

Key Highlights of the Second iCET meeting

• Reducing Dependence: The meeting outlined steps to reduce dependencies on China, such as promoting India’s role in the Mineral Security Partnership through investments in lithium resources in South America and rare earths in Africa.
• Defence Procurement: India and the U.S. are currently in advanced stages of talks for purchase of 31 MQ-9B Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, local licensed manufacture of the General Electric GE-414 engines as well the Stryker infantry vehicles.
  • Talks of  possible co-production of land warfare systems, and progress on other co-production initiatives outlined in the India-U.S. Roadmap for Defense Industrial Cooperation

CCRAS-NIIMH Collaborating Centre for Traditional Medicine Research

• The National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH) has been designated as the first WHO  Collaborating Centre (CC) for “Fundamental and Literary Research in Traditional Medicine (CC IND-177)”.

NIIMH

• About: Established in 1956, NIIMH operates under the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of Ayush. 
• Mandate: Its mandate includes documenting and presenting medico-historical research in Ayurveda, Yoga Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and other allied healthcare disciplines in India.
• Functions of NIIMH as CC IND-177:NIIMH supports WHO by harmonizing terminologies used in Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Sowa-Rigpa. Additionally, NIIMH aids WHO in revising the Traditional Medicine Module-II for the ICD-11.

NIIMH initiatives for advancing Traditional Medicine research include

• Journal of Indian Medical Heritage: Publication focusing on Traditional Medicine.
• Digital Initiatives:
• • AMAR Portal: Catalogs 16,000 Ayush manuscripts, including digitized manuscripts and rare books.
  • National Ayush Morbidity and Standardized Terminologies Electronic (NAMSTE) Portal: Provides standardized terminologies and morbidity codes for Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani systems.
  • Showcase of Ayurvedic Historical Imprints (SAHI) Portal: Displays various medico-historical artefacts.
• Other Initiatives:
  • e-Books of Ayush.
  • Ayush Research Portal

ICD

• About: ICD serves as the global standard for systematic recording, reporting, analyzing, interpreting, and comparing mortality and morbidity data.
• Features:  It features a specific chapter on traditional medicine, with Module 2 focusing on Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani data and terminology within ICD-11.
• Function: Assist Member States in formulating research methodologies for Traditional Medicine.

Nagastra-1

• Recently, Solar Industries, headquartered in Nagpur, has supplied the Indian Army with the initial consignment of domestically produced Nagastra-1 Loitering Munitions

Nagastra-1

• About: Nagastra-1 is a UAV-based loitering munition designed to act as an aerial ambush system.

Functions

• Accuracy: Its primary function is to hover above targets and execute precision strikes with GPS-enabled accuracy, achieving a remarkable precision of 2 meters.
• Precision Strike Capability: In “Kamikaze mode,” Nagastra-1 can neutralize hostile threats by directly striking the target and destroying itself in the process.
• High Altitude Operation: The drone can fly at altitudes over 4,500 meters, making it difficult to detect by radar.
• Surveillance Equipment: It is equipped with day-night surveillance cameras and a warhead capable of defeating soft-skin targets.
• Endurance and Range: The fixed-wing electric UAV can operate for 60 minutes, with a man-in-loop control range of 15 kilometers and an autonomous mode range of 30 kilometers.
• Recovery Mechanism: The Nagastra-1 has an abort, recover, and reuse feature. If the target is not detected or the mission is aborted, it can be called back and safely landed using a parachute system, making it superior to similar systems developed by advanced countries.

World Crocodile Day 2024

• In 1975, India initiated the Crocodile Conservation Project in Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Crocodiles

• About: Crocodiles are the largest surviving species of the vertebrate class Reptilia.
• Habitat: Primarily found in freshwater swamps, lakes, and rivers, with one saltwater species being the exception.
• Behaviour: Crocodiles are nocturnal and poikilothermic, meaning they can only regulate their body temperature to a limited extent.
• Major Threats: Habitat destruction, egg predation, illegal poaching, dam construction, and sand mining.

Species of Crocodiles in India

• Estuarine or saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)
  • Conservation Status: Least Concern according to IUCN
  • Legal Protection: Listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (WPA)
  • International Trade Regulation: Listed under CITES Appendix I
  • Location:Found in only three locations: Bhitarkanika, Sundarbans and Andaman and Nicobar Islands
• Mugger or marsh crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) 
• Conservation Status: IUCN: Vulnerable
• Legal Protection: Wildlife Protection Act (WPA): Schedule I
• International Trade regulation: CITES: Appendix I