Why in the News?

According to a recent report, Saturn's rings will vanish in just 18 months.

What are Saturn’s Rings?

• Saturn’s ring system is made up of countless small particles, ranging from micrometers to meters in size, that orbit the planet.
• These particles are mostly made of ice, with a smaller amount of rocky debris and dust.
• The rings are named alphabetically in the order they were discovered, with the main rings being A, B, and C.
• The rings are also home to countless icy fragments and are shrouded in a layer of cosmic dust.
• Recent research suggests that these objects might be relatively new in the cosmic timeline, potentially forming a mere 400 million years ago, making them younger than one-tenth of Saturn’s age.

About the Planet Saturn:

• Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second-largest in the solar system, after Jupiter.
• Saturn is a gas giant composed primarily of hydrogen and helium.
• It has a radius about nine times that of Earth, although it has a low density and is only about 95 times more massive than Earth.
• It has the highest number of satellites or moon, i.e., 146 in the solar system.
• Pioneer 11 and Voyagers 1 and 2 conducted flybys of Saturn, but Cassini extensively orbited the planet, completing 294 orbits from 2004 to 2017.

Why in the News?

Recently, Exercise CORPAT and BONGOSAGAR between the Indian Navy and Bangladesh Navy were conducted in the Northern Bay of Bengal from 07 - 09 Nov 2023.

About Exercise CORPAT and Bongosagar:

• The 4th edition of the Bilateral Exercise between the Indian Navy and Bangladesh Navy, BONGOSAGAR-23, and the 5th edition of Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) by the two navies were held at Visakhapatnam.
• Ships and aircraft from both navies undertook joint patrolling along the International Maritime Boundary Line and maritime exercises to enhance interoperability.
• Indian Navy Ships Kuthar, Kiltan, and Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) Dornier participated in the exercise.
• The ships undertook communication drills, surface gun-shoots, tactical maneuvers, and other exercises.
• INS Kuthar is an indigenously built guided-missile Corvette, whereas INS Kiltan is an indigenously built anti-submarine Corvette.
• Both ships are part of the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet based at Visakhapatnam, which functions under the operational command of the FOCINC ENC.
• CORPAT-23 also included the maiden Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief drills held between the two navies.
• The bilateral exercises and coordinated patrols have strengthened mutual understanding and cooperation between the two navies.

Why in the News?

The 6th High-Level Meeting of the India-OPEC Energy Dialogue took place on 9 November 2023, at the OPEC Secretariat in Vienna, Austria

Highlights of the India-OPEC Energy Dialogue 2023:

• The 6th High-Level Meeting of the India-OPEC Energy Dialogue took place on November 9th, in Vienna, Austria.
• The Meeting was co-chaired by HE Haitham Al Ghais, Secretary General of OPEC, and Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs of India.
• Discussions revolved around ensuring availability, affordability, and sustainability in energy markets, emphasizing India's crucial role in global economic growth and energy demand.
• The 6th High-Level Meeting concluded with both parties underscoring the importance of fostering enhanced cooperation between India and OPEC moving forward.
• It was agreed to hold the next High-Level Meeting of the India-OPEC Energy Dialogue during the course of 2024 in India.

About the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries(OPEC):

• OPEC, or the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, is a permanent international organization comprising oil-exporting nations.
• Its core mission is to coordinate and unify the petroleum policies of its member countries.
• This coordination aims to stabilize oil prices in global markets, working towards eliminating harmful and unnecessary price fluctuations.
• It was established in 1960 by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela, OPEC has since expanded to include 13 members.
• Member countries are Algeria, Angola, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.
• With the addition of another 11 allied major oil-producing countries including Russia, the grouping is known as OPEC+.
• The organization's headquarters is located in Vienna, Austria.

Why in the News?

Recently, the International Energy Agency (IEA) released the World Energy Outlook (WEO) Report 2023.

About World Energy Outlook 2023:

• This flagship publication of the International Energy Agency (IEA) has appeared every year since 1998.
• It provides in-depth analysis and strategic insights into every aspect of the global energy system.
• This year, the report delves into how changes in economies and energy usage are meeting the increasing demand for energy amid geopolitical tensions and fragile energy markets.
• It evaluates the evolution of energy security fifty years after the establishment of the IEA and looks at what's necessary at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai to support the 1.5 °C goal.
• The publication analyzes today's energy trends, covering areas like investment, trade flows, electrification, and energy access.

About the International Energy Agency (IEA):

• The International Energy Agency (IEA) is an independent inter-governmental organization operating within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
• Its mission involves collaborating with governments and industry to create a secure and sustainable energy future.
• Established in 1974 to safeguard oil supplies, it was a response to the 1973-1974 oil crisis, which exposed the vulnerability of industrialized nations to oil import dependencies due to an oil embargo.
• Comprising 31 member countries and eleven association countries, IEA candidates must be OECD members.
• India joined as an Associate member in 2017.
• The IEA publishes reports such as the World Energy Outlook, World Energy Balances, Energy Technology Perspectives, World Energy Statistics, and Net Zero by 2050.

Why in the News?

‘AAINA Dashboard for Cities’ portal aims to create a robust database of key performance metrics of Urban Local Bodies

About AAINA Dashboard for Cities:

• AAINA – Dashboard for cities, an initiative of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is being envisaged which would serve as a tool for comparing similarly placed Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and promoting peer learning amongst ULBs.
• This dashboard will inspire the ULBs by pointing to possibilities and areas of improvement and providing them the opportunity to learn and engage with frontrunners.
• It will provide information on the status and progress of the cities on five broad thematic areas viz.
• Political and Administrative Structure
• Finance
• Planning
• Citizen Centric Governance and
• Delivery of Basic Services.
• Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) can voluntarily submit their key data through a simple form on the portal.
• ULBs will submit audited accounts and performance metrics, which they can update when needed.
• The dashboard aims to be a permanent platform for ULB data, regularly updated for stakeholders and eventually open for public view.
• The Ministry, through the Digital India Corporation, will help ULBs/States with the data submission process.
• Currently, information about all the ULBs in the country isn’t available on one platform.
• The idea is to provide a platform for ULBs to learn from each other and also have critical data, which can be used in the future for planning new schemes and taking policy decisions