Connect to Current -Daily Current Capsules 04th January 2019
SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY
China’s probe lands on far side of moon
Relevance IN – Prelims(factoids) + Mains ( GS Paper III – Awareness in the
field of space)
What’s the NEWS
A Chinese space probe touched down on the far side of the moon
The Chang’e-4 lunar probe, launched in December, made the “soft
landing” and transmitted the first-ever “close range” image of the far side
of the moon
The far side of the moon
The moon is tidally locked to Earth, rotating at the same rate as it orbits
our planet, so most of the far side — or “dark side” — is never visible to
us.
Previous spacecraft have seen the far side, but none has landed on it.
The landing “lifted the mysterious veil” of the far side of the moon and
“opened a new chapter in human lunar exploration
Know! about the probe
The probe, which has a lander and a rover, touched down at a targeted
area near the moon’s south pole in the Von Karman Crater, after entering
its orbit in mid-December.
The tasks of the Chang’e-4 include astronomical observation, surveying
the moon’s terrain, land form and mineral make-up, and measuring the
neutron radiation and neutral atoms to study the environment of its far
side.
In the next phase of China’s lunar programme, the Chang’e 5 and 6
missions will attempt to collect lunar samples and return them to Earth.
Chang’e 5 is due to launch in December next year.
Know! more about the far side of the moon
The geology of the far side is rougher, more cratered and contains more
ancient material than the near side
Tidal forces long ago slowed the moon's rotation so that the less-dense
highlands of the far side face away our planet
This topographic image from Nasa shows the highest elevations in red
and the lowest in blue
China’s Chang’e 4 Moon lander touched down in the Von Kármán
crater within the Aitken basin – the moon’s largest, deepest and oldest
crater
The Aitken basin, where Chang’e 4 has landed, is the Moon’s largest
and oldest impact crater.
Dating when the basin was created could help narrow down the window
for a period of heavy bombardment of the moon and inner planets by
asteroids left over from the formation of the solar system.
Intriguingly, the timing of the heavy bombardment closely coincides with
when life appeared on Earth and scientists are trying to work out the
exact sequence and whether the bombardment by asteroids might have
created the conditions for life.
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Prelims Practise Question
Consider the following statement regarding China’s probe on far side of moon
1. China’s Chang’e 4 Moon lander touched down in the Von Kármán crater
within the Aitken basin
2. The Aitken basin, where Chang’e 4 has landed, is the Moon’s largest and
oldest impact crater.
3. The geology of the far side is rougher, more cratered and contains more
ancient material than the near side
4. The probe, which has a lander touched down at a targeted area near the
moon’s south pole
Find the correct statement
a. 1,2 and 3
b. 2 and 4 only
c. 1,2 and 4 only
d. All of the above
DEFENCE
Improved Light Combat Aircraft gets green light for
production
Delivery of first aircraft expected in October-November 2019
Relevance IN – Prelims(factoids) + Mains ( GS Paper III Achievements of
Indians in science and technology)
What’s the NEWS
Light Combat Aircraft ‘Tejas’ quietly progressed towards manufacture in
an enhanced, battle standard format.
A new ‘limited’ clearance from military airworthiness certifier
CEMILAC for the Indian fighter green-lights its production in a superior
lethal version, multiple sources associated with the LCA programme
confirmed.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limted (HAL), which is mandated to produce
the LCAs for the Indian Air Force (IAF), aims to get the first aircraft
out in late 2019 in the just-cleared standard
Light Combat Aircraft ‘Tejas’
The LCA is being designed and developed by the Aeronautical
Development Agency (ADA) in Bengaluru.
The IAF has asked HAL to make 40 LCA aircraft. Of this, 20 will be in
the advanced ‘FOC’ (final operational clearance) format. Another 20
are in the earlier IOC (initial operational clearance) version.
The FOC tag signals that the novice LCA is fully equipped and fit for
battle. It adds many features over the IOC version, which Tejas achieved
in December 2013.
The IOC enabled the IAF to start flying it and in getting acquainted with
its competences. Until then, only test pilots and ADA handled Tejas.
Tejas was expected to be FOC-compliant much earlier, the last two
deadlines being June-end and December-end of 2018.
To get the final of FOC certification, the plane must have battle-time
requirements — such as mid-air refuelling, AESA radar, electronic
warfare suites, a variety of bombs and weapons, among others.
It has passed mid-air refuelling and armament testing, while the full
picture was not immediately available.
The IAF has modified and upgraded its trainer requirement in its old
package order of 40 LCA aircraft.
It has opted to have all eight trainers in the FOC mode, instead of four
each in IOC and FOC standards.
Of the 16 fighters in the IOC version, 11 have been delivered, one is
being flight tested and four are being assembled
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SOCIAL ISSUES
Survey of childcare institutions (CCI)
Relevance IN – Mains (G.S Paper I and II – Indian society, welfare schemes)
What’s the NEWS
A pan-India survey of childcare institutions (CCI) conducted by the
Centre has highlighted poor safety and security measures, inadequate
monitoring of these facilities, and a lack of effort to trace parents of
missing children sent to these homes.
The full report of the survey titled ‘Mapping and Review Exercise of
Child Care Institutions’, conducted between December 2015 and March
2017, was recently made public by the Ministry of Women and Child
Development (MoWCD).
Know! about the report findings
The detailed report shows that only 46.7% of the total homes had
adequate number of caregivers per child and only 28.7% centres were
able to tend to inmates showing signs of hunger or illness and 65.9% of
homes were able to actively supervise children under trauma, according
to the report titled ‘Mapping and Review Exercise of Child Care
Institutions’.
The report also says that the lack of infrastructure facilities is “glaring”
and finds that more than 1,000 homes did not have a dormitory for
children, raising questions about sleeping arrangements made for them.
The report finds that even though there are several mechanisms for
monitoring, regular inspections of these shelters were not being carried
out.
STATE SPECIFIC
Krishak Bandhu scheme
What’s the NEWS
The government of West Bengal has announced the Krishak Bandhu
scheme to address the farm distress in the state.
Know! about the features of the Scheme
The West Bengal government will give annual financial assistance of Rs
5,000 per acre in two instalments, one during Kharif and another
during Rabi season.
The scheme also provides for a life insurance cover of Rs 2,00,000 in
case of death, irrespective of the cause, of an earning family member
(farmer) aged between 18 and 60 years.
Framers are not required to pay any premium to avail the insurance
benefit.
Farmers can also take the financial assistance at one go.
The scheme would cover 72 lakh farmer and share-cropper families in the
State.
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Youth Affairs and Sports
Cabinet approves continuation of Rastriya Yuva
Sashaktikaran Karyakram Scheme for the Period 2017-
18 to 2019-2020
What’s the NEWS
The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of Rastriya Yuva
Sashaktikaran Karyakram Scheme for the Period 2017-18 to 2019-
2020
Know! the features
During 12th FYP period the eight schemes were brought under the
umbrella scheme of Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram as sub-
schemes.
This has helped in achieving better synergies between the Schemes and
thereby, improves their effectiveness and help in achieving better
outcomes with the available resources.
The Scheme beneficiaries are the youth in the age-group of 15-29 years,
in line with the definition of 'youth' in the National Youth Policy, 2014.
In case of programme components specifically meant for the adolescents,
the age-group is 10-19 years.
Following are eight sub-schemes under Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran
Karyakram:
i. Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan(NYKS);
ii. National Youth Corps (NYC);
iii. National Programme for Youth & Adolescent Development (NPYAD);
iv. International Cooperation;
v. Youth Hostels (YH);
vi. Assistance to Scouting & Guiding Organizations;
vii. National Discipline Scheme (NDS); and
viii. National Young Leaders Programme (NYLP).
Know! about the scheme
The Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram Scheme is an ongoing
Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and has
been continuing since 12th Five Year Plan.
The Scheme aims to develop the personality and leadership qualities of
the youth and to engage them in nation building activities.
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill 2018
Relevance IN -Prelims(factoids) + Mains (GS Paper II – Government policies
and intervention)
What’s the NEWS
The government has introduced the Aadhaar amendment bill in
Loksabha.
The bill aims to provide legal backing for voluntary seeding of biometric
Aadhaar ID for mobile SIM card and bank account authentication
purposes.
Know! about the features of the Bill
The bill seeks to amend the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial
and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016, the Indian
Telegraph Act, 1885 and the Prevention of Money-laundering Act,
2002.
The amendment permits children, who would turn 18 years old, to opt out
of the system.
The amendments make sharing of Aadhaar details voluntary for
opening bank accounts, school admissions and procuring mobile SIM
cards.
The bill provides for stiff penalties for violation of norms set for the use
of Aadhaar.
The amendment bill ban storing of core biometric information as well as
Aadhaar number by service providers in cases of individuals who have
voluntarily offered the national ID as a means of authentication.
The bill makes it clear that anyone not offering Aadhaar cannot be denied
any service, be it a bank account or a SIM card.
The bill lays down the procedure for offline verification of an Aadhaar
number holder and confers enhanced regulator-like power on Unique
Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to give directions as it may
consider necessary to any entity in the Aadhaar ecosystem.
Know! about the Supreme Court verdict regarding Aadhaar
The Supreme Court had held struck down Section 57 of the Aadhaar
(Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, Benefits and
Services) Act, 2016 that permitted private entities like telecom companies
or other corporate to avail of the biometric Aadhaar data.
Sources – PIB, The Hindu ,The guardian
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