Prelims Current Affairs 

 

1.Water Ice on the Moon

Source: ISRO study

Key Findings:

• Water Ice Discovery: Increased chance of water ice in Moon’s polar craters.
• Source of Ice: Outgassing during volcanic activity in the Imbrian period (3.8-3.2 billion years ago).
• Ice Distribution: Twice as much ice in the northern polar region compared to the south.

Significance:

• Supports ISRO’s future lunar exploration plans, including establishing a human presence.
• Confirms earlier findings from Chandrayaan-2 mission about water on the Moon.

Additional Moon Facts:

• Only natural satellite of Earth.
• Diameter: 3,474 kilometers (quarter Earth’s size).
• Gravity: One-sixth of Earth’s gravity (significantly impacts tides).
• Exhibits phases due to position relative to Earth and Sun.
• India’s Lunar Missions: Chandrayaan-1 (2008), Chandrayaan-2 (2019), Chandrayaan-3 (2023). These missions studied the Moon’s composition, resources, and facilitated a soft landing on the South Pole.

 

2.Quark Matter in Neutron Stars

News: Most massive neutron stars likely contain quark matter.

• Neutron Stars: Super-dense remnants of massive stars after supernovae.

About Quarks:

• Fundamental building blocks of matter (elementary particles).
• Never exist alone – combine in groups of 2 or 3 (hadrons).
• Held together by gluons (another fundamental particle).
• Fractional electric charges (unlike electrons).
• 6 types: up, down, charm, strange, top, bottom.

 

3.Antarctic Treaty

Context: India to host 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Kochi, Kerala.

Treaty Details:

• Signed in 1959, came into effect in mid-1960s.
• Objective: Demilitarization, peaceful use, scientific cooperation & environmental protection of Antarctica.
• Original Signatories: 12 countries.
• Current Members: 56 parties (India joined in 1983).
• Secretariat: Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Environmental Protocol (1991):

• Designates Antarctica as a “natural reserve for peace and science”.
• Bans commercial mining in Antarctica.
• Reaffirmed by all parties in 2016.

 

4.Shaksgam Valley

India protests China’s construction of a road in the lower Shaksgam Valley in POK.

• Shaksgam Valley or Trans Karakoram Tract:
  • Part of Hunza-Gilgit region of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK).
  • Claimed by India, controlled by Pakistan.
  • Borders China’s Xinjiang province to the north.
• Dispute:
  • Shaksgam valley ceded by Pakistan to China in 1963 (post-India-China war).
  • India never accepted the China-Pakistan Boundary Agreement of 1963.

5. Article 361 of Indian Constitution

Grants immunity from legal proceedings to President and Governors during their term.

• Key Points:
  • No criminal proceedings against President/Governor.
  • No arrest or imprisonment warrant can be issued.
• Sub-clauses:
  • Immunity from criminal proceedings (even for personal malafides).
  • Immunity from arrest or imprisonment.
• Supreme Court Judgement (Rameshwar Prasad v Union of India, 2006):
  • Immunity not absolute.
  • President’s conduct can be reviewed by designated bodies for investigating charges.

6. Surge in Tobacco Prices

 Recent surge in global tobacco prices.

• Reasons:
  • Unfavorable weather conditions (drought, unseasonal rain) in major producers (Brazil, Zimbabwe, Indonesia).
  • China restricting tobacco exports to support its domestic cigarette industry.
• Tobacco Cultivation in India:
  • Important commercial crop, drought-tolerant, short duration.
  • Cultivation on marginal lands unsuitable for other crops.
  • Occupies only 0.24-0.3% of India’s arable land but highly labor-intensive and remunerative.
  • Major growing states: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, West Bengal.
  • Types: Flue-cured Virginia (FCV), Bidi, Cigar Filler, Hookah & Chewing tobacco.
  • India: 2nd largest producer and exporter (after China and Brazil).

 

 

7.Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra)

• Also called Indian Antelope, found only in the Indian subcontinent.
• Considered fastest animal after Cheetah.
• Habitat: Open grassland, dry scrub, scrubland, light woodlands, agricultural margins.
• Distribution: Native to India and Nepal (widespread in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu).
• Protection Status: Schedule-I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (Least Concern in IUCN Red List).

 

8. Aravalli Range

 Oldest mountain range in India: Stretching over 692 km (430 mi) through Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and ending in Delhi.

• Ecological Significance:
  • Natural barrier against desertification.
  • Regulates climate and supports diverse ecosystems.
  • Watershed for rivers like Sabarmati, Luni, and Banas.
• Biodiversity: Dry deciduous forests, scrublands, grasslands, and various fauna.

9. Liquid Nitrogen

Properties: Inert, colorless, odorless, non-flammable, non-corrosive, extremely cold (-196°C). Gas at room temperature.

• Health Risks: Tissue damage, internal injuries, asphyxiation (especially for children, elderly, and those with respiratory problems).
• Applications:
  • Culinary: Rapid freezing for smooth texture in high-end desserts like ice cream.
  • Cryotherapy: Recovery boost for athletes using chambers with liquid nitrogen vapor.
• Recent News:
  • Supreme Court bans illegal mining in the Aravalli Range.
  • Tamil Nadu government bans liquid nitrogen use in food due to health concerns.