In News:

Chinese rover helps find evidence of ancient Martian shoreline.

Mission Overview:

• Rover: Zhurong, part of China’s Tianwen-1 Mars exploration program.
• Mission Launch: Zhurong landed in 2021 in the Utopia Planitia region of Mars' northern hemisphere.
• Key Discovery: Evidence of an ancient ocean on Mars, suggesting a habitable past for the planet.

Key Findings:

• Geological Features Indicating a Coastline:
  • Data from Zhurong and orbiting spacecraft (Tianwen-1 Orbiter, NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter) revealed geological features such as troughs, sediment channels, and mud volcano formations, suggesting the existence of a Martian coastline.
  • Features indicate both shallow and deeper marine environments, supporting the idea of a past ocean.
• Age of the Ocean:
  • The ocean likely existed around 3.68 billion years ago, with its surface potentially frozen in a geologically short period.
  • The ocean is thought to have disappeared by 3.42 billion years ago.

Evolutionary Scenario of Mars:

• At the time of the ocean, Mars might have already begun transitioning away from a habitable planet, losing much of its atmosphere and becoming cold and dry.
• The ocean may have formed after Mars' climate began to change, suggesting that it was once more hospitable, possibly capable of supporting microbial life.

Implications for Life on Mars:

• The presence of water, a key ingredient for life, raises the possibility that Mars could have supported microbial life in its early history.
• When Mars had a thick, warm atmosphere, conditions might have been favorable for life, as microbial life would have been more likely to exist.

Significance of Zhurong's Contribution:

• Zhurong exceeded its original mission duration of three months, operating until May 2022, helping provide key data to understand Mars' ancient water history.
• The discovery adds to ongoing efforts to study the disappearance of water on Mars and its implications for the planet's habitability.

Future Exploration:

• Other studies, including seismic data from NASA’s InSight lander, suggest that liquid water might still exist deep beneath the Martian surface, hinting at the possibility of finding water in the planet's subsurface in the future.

Why is it in the News?

President Droupadi Murmu will present the first Pey Jal Survekshan Awards on the 5th of next month in New Delhi.

About the Pey Jal Survekshan Awards:

• The Pey Jal Survekshan Awards feature a prestigious lineup of 130 accolades, spotlighting outstanding contributions in the realm of water management.
• The awards span various categories, including the Pey Jal Gold, Silver, and Bronze City Awards, with each tier symbolizing excellence in specific population segments (ranging from 1 to 10 Lakh, 10 to 40 Lakh, and more than 40 Lakh).
• In addition to these, commendations are also extended for commendable efforts in areas such as Best Water Body, Sustainability Champion, Reuse Champion, Water Quality, City Saturation, and the prestigious AMRUT 2.0 Rotating Trophy of the Year.

Comprehensive Evaluation Parameters:

• Embracing a multifaceted approach, the evaluation criteria encompass a wide array of parameters, including accessibility, coverage, water quality maintenance at treatment facilities and household levels, sustainability practices ensuring the health of water bodies, adoption of SCADA/flowmeters, and efficient reuse of treated wastewater.
  • Cities are meticulously graded using a star rating system, ranging from 5 stars to No star, meticulously reflecting their performance across these pivotal benchmarks.
• Ensuring Water Purity and Transparency: The Pey Jal Survekshan reinforces the assurance of clean water through rigorous independent NABL lab testing at both the source and consumer ends.
  • Leveraging advanced technological tools such as GIS-enabled web portals, geo-tagging, and infrastructure mapping, the survey captures precise and transparent data, facilitating informed decision-making.
• Enhancing Urban Governance and Citizen Engagement: Anticipated to serve as a catalyst for urban local body (ULB) decision-making processes, the outcomes of the Pey Jal Survekshan are poised to elevate service delivery standards while fostering active citizen participation.
  • By nurturing a sense of ownership and disseminating knowledge on water conservation and optimal utilization, the awards endeavor to empower communities toward sustainable water management practices.

What is the AMRUT Mitra initiative?

• The AMRUT Mitra initiative is geared towards active engagement of women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in urban water management, recognizing women as pivotal stakeholders and highlighting their vital role in household water governance.
• Tasked with executing AMRUT 2.0 projects, the Mitras will undertake various responsibilities, including billing, collection, leak detection, plumbing, water quality monitoring, and infrastructure upkeep.
• At its core, AMRUT Mitra seeks to cultivate a sense of ownership among women, fostering inclusivity and diversity in traditionally male-dominated domains while ensuring equitable access to safe drinking water and addressing gender disparities.
• Expected outcomes encompass the empowerment of women SHGs, socio-economic upliftment, alignment with AMRUT 2.0 objectives, heightened community awareness, and the establishment of a blueprint for future endeavors.