In News:

The National Achievement Survey (NAS), a nationwide survey meant to assess students’ learning progress, will be held on December 4 this year under a new name – PARAKH RashtriyaSarvekshan 2024. This year’s assessment involves a few changes from the last round in 2021.

Overview of PARAKH RashtriyaSarvekshan 2024:

• New Name: The National Achievement Survey (NAS) is now rebranded as the PARAKH RashtriyaSarvekshan 2024.
• Date: The survey will be held on December 4, 2024.
• Purpose: To assess students’ learning achievements across India.
• Organizing Bodies: Spearheaded by NCERT and CBSE.

What Does the Survey Assess?

• Assessment Focus: Evaluates students’ learning outcomes in various subjects.
• Survey Methodology: Uses multiple-choice questions to assess a sample of students.
• Target Groups: Students from government, government-aided, and private schools across every district in India.

History of NAS and PARAKH:

• NAS History: Conducted every three years since 2001 to capture learning progress.
• Involvement of Classes:
  • 2001-2014: Included Classes 3, 5, and 8.
  • 2014-15: Class 10 was introduced.
  • 2017 and 2021: Covered Classes 3, 5, 8, and 10.
• Report Cards: Provides national, state, and district-level performance data.

Changes in 2024 Survey (PARAKH RashtriyaSarvekshan):

• Targeted Classes:
  • Class 3 (End of foundational stage)
  • Class 6 (End of preparatory stage)
  • Class 9 (End of middle stage)
• Exclusion of Class 10: Unlike previous years, Class 10 students are not part of this year's assessment.
• Subjects Assessed:
  • Class 3 & 6: Language, Mathematics, and The World Around Us (Concepts of Science, Social Science, and Environmental Education).
  • Class 9: Language, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science.

Alignment with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020:

• NEP Structure: Aligns with the NEP 2020 framework, categorizing educational stages:
  • Class 1-2: Foundational stage
  • Class 3-5: Preparatory stage
  • Class 6-8: Middle stage
  • Class 9-12: Secondary stage
• The shift to Class 6 and 9 for this year’s survey matches the NEP's stage-wise educational framework.

Key Differences in 2024 Assessment:

• Survey Scale: In 2024, 75,565 schools and 22.9 lakh students from 782 districts will participate.
• 2021 Assessment Data:
  • The 2021 survey revealed a drop in learning outcomes post-COVID-19.
  • Class 3 students showed a performance below the national average in all states.
  • Class 5: Only Punjab and Rajasthan had scores above the national average.

PARAKH's Role:

• PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development) was established in 2023 as the National Assessment Centre to oversee such achievement surveys.
• Mandate: One of PARAKH’s primary roles is to organize national surveys like the PARAKH RashtriyaSarvekshan.

Significance of the Survey:

• Data Utilization: The survey helps in shaping educational policies based on real-time data on student learning levels.
• Competency-Based Assessment: This year’s survey is focused on competency-based assessments, aligning with the goals of NEP 2020.
• Policy and Planning: The data helps in designing interventions to address regional or subject-wise disparities in education quality.

In News:

• North Korea recently announced the successful test-firing of its latest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the ‘Hwasong-19’.
• Claims by North Korea: The missile was described as ‘the world’s strongest strategic missile’ and a ‘perfected weapon system’ by North Korean state media.

Key Features of the Hwasong-19:

• Solid-Fuel Propulsion: The Hwasong-19 reportedly uses solid-fuel propulsion, which enables quicker launches and greater secrecy. This contrasts with liquid-fuel missiles, which take longer to prepare and are more visible.
• Enhanced Performance: The missile is said to have improved altitude and flight duration compared to previous North Korean ICBMs, marking significant progress in missile technology.
• Size: The Hwasong-19 is estimated to be 28 meters long (92 feet), which is notably larger than many other ICBMs, including those from the U.S. and Russia, which are typically under 20 meters (66 feet).

Strategic Implications:

• Reach and Targeting: The Hwasong-19 is believed to have a range of over 13,000 kilometers, which is sufficient to target the U.S. mainland, signaling a significant advancement in North Korea’s missile capabilities.
• Nuclear Capability: While specific details on the missile’s payload remain undisclosed, the Hwasong-19 could potentially be equipped with a nuclear warhead, enhancing North Korea's strategic deterrence.

Impact on Regional and Global Security:

• US-North Korea Tensions: The launch occurred against the backdrop of ongoing U.S.-North Korea tensions, particularly over North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. The missile could potentially alter the regional security dynamics, especially in East Asia.

What is an ICBM?

• ICBM Definition: An intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is a long-range missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads (or other payloads) across continents.
• Range and Speed: ICBMs typically have a minimum range of 5,500 km (3,400 miles), with some capable of reaching up to 16,000 km or more, making them far faster and more capable than other ballistic missiles.
• Launch Mechanism: ICBMs are launched from land or submarine platforms, traveling through space before re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere and targeting distant objectives.
• Comparison with India's Agni-V: India’s Agni-V ICBM, which has a range of over 5,000 km, is often compared to North Korea’s missile systems.

In News:

• India, represented by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), has joined the Steering Committee of the Asset Recovery Interagency Network-Asia Pacific (ARIN-AP).
• Leadership Role: India will assume the presidency of ARIN-AP and host the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in 2026, providing a platform for global cooperation in asset recovery and tackling economic crimes.

ARIN-AP Overview:

• Establishment: ARIN-AP is a multi-agency network formed to address the proceeds of crime across the Asia-Pacific region.
• Network Goals: Its mission is to facilitate cross-border collaboration in the areas of asset tracing, freezing, and confiscation.
• Membership: ARIN-AP includes 28 member jurisdictions and 9 observers, and operates as a key component of the Global CARIN Network (Camden Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network).
• Functioning: ARIN-AP operates through a network of contact points that enable intelligence exchange among member agencies, promoting effective communication and coordination for asset recovery.

Significance of ARIN-AP's Work:

• Combating Economic Crimes: ARIN-AP enhances the efforts of law enforcement agencies in tracing and recovering assets linked to criminal activities, including both movable and immovable assets.
• Informal Exchange of Intelligence: The network allows for the informal exchange of intelligence between agencies, which often accelerates the identification and recovery of proceeds of crime. This can later lead to formal actions through bilateral or multilateral agreements.
• Global Impact: With over 100 jurisdictions in the broader CARIN Network, ARIN-AP plays a key role in global efforts to combat fugitive economic offenders and illicit financial flows.

India’s Contribution and Alignment with G-20 Priorities:

• India’s Leadership: India’s presidency in ARIN-AP will enhance its leadership in asset recovery, facilitating closer cooperation with regional and international law enforcement agencies.
• G-20 Alignment: This role aligns with India’s priorities under the G-20 framework, particularly focusing on the Nine-Point Agenda aimed at tackling fugitive economic offenders and improving asset recovery mechanisms.

In News:

Scientists have discovered a "black hole triple" system, which is a rare configuration in space involving one black hole and two stars.

Overview of the Discovery:

• Location: The system is located 8,000 light years away from Earth, in the constellation Cygnus.
• Key Features:
  • A black hole at the center, currently consuming a star that is spiraling very close to it.
  • A second, more distant star that orbits the black hole every 70,000 years, and another star that orbits it every 6.5 days.

What is a Black Hole Triple System?

• Black Hole and Two Stars: Unlike typical binary systems (comprising a black hole and one other object), this system contains a black hole surrounded by two stars, one nearby and one far away.
• V404 Cygni: The central black hole in the system is the V404 Cygni, one of the oldest known black holes, roughly 9 times the mass of the Sun.

Significance of the Discovery:

• Questions on Black Hole Formation: The discovery raises new questions about how black holes are formed. Traditionally, black holes are thought to form after the explosion of a massive star (supernova), but this system does not follow that model.
• New Formation Theory: Researchers suggest the black hole may have formed via a "direct collapse" process, where a star collapses into a black hole without undergoing a supernova explosion. This is referred to as a "failed supernova".
  • In a failed supernova, the star's collapse happens too quickly for the explosive outer layers to be ejected, leading to the formation of a black hole without the typical violent explosion.

Implications for Other Binary Systems:

• The black hole’s gradual consumption of one of its stars may imply that some binary black hole systems could have originally been triple systems, with one star eventually being consumed by the black hole.

Research and Collaboration:

• Study: The discovery was made by researchers at California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
• Published in: The findings were published in Nature in October 2024.

Additional Context:

• Distance: The system is about 8,000 light years away, which is vast but still observable with advanced telescopes.
• Mystery of the "Failed Supernova": The concept of a failed supernova offers new insights into the life cycle of massive stars and their transformation into black holes.

In News:

In a significant leap for the country’s space exploration aspirations, India has embarked on its first analogue space mission in Leh, a landmark step that will attempt to simulate life in an interplanetary habitat to tackle the challenges of a base station beyond Earth.

Mission Overview:

• Objective: To simulate living conditions in an interplanetary habitat, addressing challenges astronauts may face during deep-space missions (e.g., Moon, Mars).
• Goal: Study long-term isolation, habitat design, resource management, and psychological effects on astronauts.
• Partners: ISRO’s Human Spaceflight Centre, AAKA Space Studio, University of Ladakh, IIT Bombay, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council.

Rationale for Ladakh:

• Geological Similarities: Ladakh’s terrain mirrors Martian and lunar surfaces, making it ideal for testing space technologies.
• Climate: Cold, dry, high-altitude conditions simulate the extreme environments of space.
• Focus Areas: Testing habitat construction, microbial studies, and survival strategies for long-duration space travel.

What are Analogue Space Missions?

• Definition: Simulated space missions on Earth designed to replicate the conditions of space exploration.
• Purpose:
  • Test technologies (e.g., life support, habitat design, in-situ resource utilization).
  • Study human behavior, psychological impacts of isolation, and operational readiness for extended space travel.
• Relevance: Crucial for preparing astronauts for missions to the Moon, Mars, or asteroids.

Significance of Analogue Missions:

• Technological Testing: Analogue missions help in evaluating systems for habitat design, life support, and health monitoring.
• Human Factors: They provide insights into crew health, teamwork under pressure, and performance during isolation.
• Psychological Studies: Address the impact of confinement, isolation, and communication delays on astronauts.
• Training: Participants (analogue astronauts) are trained for real-world space missions by conducting scientific experiments and managing emergencies.

Global Examples of Analogue Missions:

• NASA’s NEEMO: An underwater mission simulating microgravity conditions to train astronauts for space tasks.
• SIRIUS Program (UAE): Focuses on the psychological impacts of long-duration space isolation, featuring international collaborations.
• Arctic Mars Analogue Svalbard Expedition (AMASE): Uses the extreme Arctic environment of Svalbard to test Mars exploration technologies and procedures.

Relation to India’s Space Aspirations:

• Gaganyaan Mission: ISRO’s human spaceflight mission aiming to send Indian astronauts into space.
• Interplanetary Exploration: The analogue mission supports India’s broader goal of advancing human space exploration and technology development for Mars and beyond.