Why is it in the News?

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted the Pushpak Reusable Landing Vehicle (RLV) LEX 02 landing experiment at the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga recently.

What is a Reusable Landing Vehicle (RLV) LEX 02?

• Continuing our exploration into reusable landing vehicles, RLV-LEX-02 marks the second mission in our series conducted at the Aeronautical Test Range.
• Following the success of RLV-LEX-01 last year, this latest endeavor showcases the remarkable autonomous landing capability of our reusable launch vehicle (RLV).
• Notably, RLV-LEX-02 demonstrates the vehicle's ability to navigate and safely land from off-nominal initial conditions immediately upon release from a helicopter.

Methodology of the Experiment:

• The RLV LEX-02 mission showcased the autonomous landing prowess of our reusable launch vehicle under demanding circumstances following its release from a helicopter.
• Dubbed 'Pushpak', this winged vehicle was airlifted by an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter and released from a height of 4.5 km.
• Navigating autonomously, it adeptly approached the runway, making precise cross-range corrections before executing a flawless landing.
• Utilizing a combination of its brake parachute, landing gear brakes, and nose wheel steering system, it safely came to a stop.
• Notably, the winged body and all flight systems previously employed in RLV-LEX-01 were repurposed for RLV-LEX-02 after undergoing necessary certification and clearances.
• This remarkable mission was executed collaboratively by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), the Liquid Propulsion System Centre (LPSC), and the ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU).

What is the Reusable Launch Vehicle?

• The reusable launch vehicle represents a pioneering space plane design characterized by a low lift-to-drag ratio, which mandates high glide angles during approach and consequently requires landing at velocities reaching 350 kmph.
• Integral to its innovation are a multitude of indigenous systems developed meticulously. These encompass sophisticated navigation systems, leveraging pseudolite technology for precise localization, as well as instrumentation and sensor arrays, among other advancements, all spearheaded by ISRO.

Why is it in the News?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently received Bhutan’s highest civilian award, the ‘Order of the Druk Gyalpo’, during his two-day State visit to the neighboring nation.

What is the ‘Order of the Druk Gyalpo’ Award?

• The Order of the Druk Gyalpo, Bhutan's most prestigious civilian award, was recently conferred upon Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his two-day State visit to the neighboring nation.
• As the first foreign Head of Government to receive this esteemed accolade, Prime Minister Modi joins a select group of individuals honored for their exceptional contributions to Bhutanese society, service, integrity, and leadership.
• According to the ranking and precedence established within Bhutan's honor system, the Order of the Druk Gyalpo represents the pinnacle of lifetime achievement, taking precedence over all other orders, decorations, and medals.
• Prime Minister Modi received the award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to strengthening India-Bhutan relations and his dedicated service to the Bhutanese nation and its people.
• Past recipients of the Order of the Druk Gyalpo include:
  • Her Majesty The Royal Queen Grandmother Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuck in 2008
  • His Holiness Je Thrizur Tenzin Dendup in 2008, and
  • His Holiness Je Khenpo Trulku Ngawang Jigme Choedra in 2018.
• With Prime Minister Modi's recent addition to this esteemed list, the Order of the Druk Gyalpo continues to symbolize Bhutan's appreciation for remarkable individuals who significantly impact the country and its people.

Why is it in the News?

The principal bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in New Delhi has initiated action on the Netravati Waterfront Promenade Development Project in Mangaluru.

About the Netravati River:

• The Netravati River, also known as Netravathi Nadi, originates from the Bangrabalige valley, Yelaneeru Ghat in Kudremukh, Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka, India.
• It passes through the revered pilgrimage site Dharmasthala, earning recognition as one of India's sacred rivers.
• Converging with the Kumaradhara River at Uppinangadi, it eventually flows into the Arabian Sea, south of Mangalore city, serving as the primary water source for Bantwal and Mangalore.
• The Netravati railway bridge, a prominent structure, acts as the gateway to Mangalore.
• Historically known as the Bantwal River, it was documented as unfordable during the South-West Monsoon in the 1855 Gazetteer of Southern India.
• The river's navigability by small country craft and its influence on local geography and transport, including the naming of the Netravati Express train, underscores its significance in the region's history.
• Instances of flooding, notably in 1928 and 1974, have shaped the lives of residents, prompting relocations and resilience

About the National Green Tribunal:

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established under the National Green Tribunal Act of 2010.
• While its principal seat is located in New Delhi, it also holds sessions in Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata, and Chennai.
• The NGT is entrusted with the responsibility of adjudicating applications or appeals, ensuring their final disposition within six months of filing.

Composition:

• The tribunal comprises a Chairperson, Judicial Members, and Expert Members, each serving a non-renewable term of five years.
• The appointment of the Chairperson is made by the Central Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
• A Selection Committee, constituted by the Central Government, is responsible for appointing both Judicial and Expert Members.
• The tribunal can accommodate a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20 full-time Judicial and Expert Members.

Powers & Jurisdiction:

• Established to efficiently handle cases concerning environmental protection and conservation of natural resources, including forests.
• It possesses appellate jurisdiction akin to a court.
• While not bound by the procedural formalities outlined in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, the NGT operates based on the principles of natural justice.

Why is it in the News?

Public knowledge and awareness about Hepatitis B, a deadly disease that can cause end-stage liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, is dismal in India, according to a new study conducted by Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi.

What is Hepatitis B?

• It is a severe liver infection that can lead to liver damage, cancer, and death.
• The virus spreads through contact with an infected person's blood or bodily fluids.
• One can get hepatitis B through sexual contact, sharing needles or other drug-injection equipment, or from mother to child during childbirth.

Symptoms of Hepatitis B:

• Hepatitis B is a severe viral infection of the liver that can cause inflammation and scarring.
• Symptoms include fatigue, fever, abdominal pain, dark urine, joint pain, and jaundice.

Causes of Hepatitis B:

• Hepatitis B is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV).
• HBV is found in the blood and body fluids of an infected person. It can spread through contact with fluids, such as:
  • Blood, through needle sharing or accidental needle sticks
  • Contact with body fluids, such as saliva, etc.
  • Sexual contact with someone who has HBV
  • From a mother to a child through childbirth
• Hepatitis B can also spread through contact with contaminated surfaces, such as:
  • Sharing personal items like toothbrushes or razors with someone who has HBV
  • Getting a tattoo or body piercing with contaminated equipment

Types of Hepatitis B:

• There are three main types of hepatitis B: acute, chronic, and carriers.
  • Acute hepatitis B is a short-term illness that occurs within the first six months after exposure to the virus. It is the most common type of hepatitis B in children.
  • Chronic hepatitis B is a long-term illness that can lead to serious health problems, including liver failure and liver cancer.
  • Carriers of hepatitis B have the virus in their blood but do not show any symptoms.

Treatment for Hepatitis B

• Several medications can help treat hepatitis B.
• These include antiviral drugs, which can help reduce the amount of virus in the body, and immunomodulators, which can help boost the immune system to better fight the virus.
• If the liver is damaged, one may also need medication to help protect it from further damage.
• HBIG (Hepatitis B Immuno Globulin) is one of the best ways to treat hepatitis B.
  • Adults who have been exposed to hepatitis should get HBIG and vaccination as soon as possible, preferably within 24 hours but not later than 14 days after the exposure.

Prevention of Hepatitis B:

• The best way to prevent hepatitis B is to get vaccinated.
• The vaccine is given as a series of shots.
• The first shot is usually given at birth; the rest at 1–2 months old, 6–18 months old, and 4–6 years old.
• If one was not vaccinated as a child, they can receive the vaccines as an adult.

Why is it in the News?

In Jaipur, Rajasthan, a centuries-old tradition called "Gulaal Gota" will be observed during Holi, involving the throwing of colors through a unique medium, dating back around 400 years.

What is a Gulaal Gota?

• A Gulaal Gota is a small ball made of lac, filled with dry gulaal.
• Weighing around 20 grams when filled with gulaal, these balls are thrown at people on Holi, getting smashed to bits on impact.
• Local artisans say that making Gulaal Gotas involves first boiling the lac in water to make it flexible.
  • Lac is a resinous substance that is secreted by certain insects. It is also used to make bangles.
• After shaping the lac, colour is added to it. At first red, yellow, and green are added as other colours can be obtained through their combinations.
• After the processing is done, artisans heat the lac.
• It is then blown into a spherical shape with the help of a blower called “phunkni”.
• Then, gulaal is filled in the balls before they are sealed with lac.

Where does the raw material for Gulaal Gota come from?

• Lac is brought from Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
• The female scale insect is one of the sources of lac.
• To produce 1 kg of lac resin, around 300,000 insects are killed.
• The lac insects also yield resin, lac dye, and lac wax.

How did Gulaal Gotas become a tradition in Jaipur?

• Gulaal Gotas are made by Muslim lac makers, called Manihaars, only in Jaipur.
  • Manihaars’ ancestors were shepherds and horse traders who arrived from Afghanistan.
  • They settled in Bagru, a town located close to Jaipur, and learned lac-making from Hindu lac makers or Lakhere.
• The city of Jaipur was established in 1727. Its founder Sawai Jai Singh II, an admirer of art, dedicated a lane at the Tripoliya Bazaar to the Manihaar community.
• This is where lac bangles, jewelry, and Gulaal Gota are mostly sold, to date.

What is the economics of this tradition?

• One box of six Gulaal Gota balls is sold for Rs 150, which is much costlier than water balloons.
• Usually, the whole family of artisans is engaged in this work, including women.
• For Manihaars, lac bangles are the main source of sustenance as making Gulaal Gota is a seasonal work.
• Artisans say that the bangles are eco-friendly as they are made without any chemicals.

Why the demand is falling?

• Jaipur has of late become a hub of many factories where cheap, chemical-based bangles are made with minimum lac.
• Original lac bangles are costlier than the manufactured ones. Hence, the demand for lac-only bangles has fallen.
• Many of the community’s younger members are also more interested in taking up blue-collar jobs instead of artisan work.

Government Support and Artisan Empowerment:

• The Indian government has issued artisan cards to Lac Bangle and Gulaal Gota craftsmen, enabling them to access benefits under various government schemes.
• Many artisans have ventured abroad to exhibit their craft, such as Awaz Mohammad, who was invited to showcase his work at the G20 summit in New Delhi last year.
• In efforts to preserve tradition, some Gulaal Gota artisans are advocating for a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, which can enhance product visibility and underscore its unique regional identity.