Prelim Bits 26-10-2023 | UPSC Daily Current Affairs

Hanle Dark Sky Reserve (HDSR)

In a 1^st of its kind event, the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) hosted an official Star Party 2023 at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve in eastern Ladakh.

• It was organised by the IIA in collaboration with Department of Wildlife Protection, UT Ladakh to observe the optical phenomenon in the sky.

Hanle Dark Sky Reserve (HDSR) is India’s 1st dark sky region which was notified by UT of Ladakh comprising an area of radius roughly 22 km around Hanle.

• Objectives of HDSR– It preserves the dark skies by reducing light pollution in the surrounding areas.
• It uses these dark skies to promote astrotourism as a means to further enhance socio-economic development in the area.
• Significance of Dark Sky – To observe stars, star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies (such as Milky Way, Andromeda and the Triangulum) with the naked eye.

Bortle Scale

• It helps to measure the night sky’s brightness at a given location.
• It scale ranges from Class 1 (darkest skies available over the earth) to Class 9 (pale, light-marred skies over the insides of cities).
• HDSR comes under Bortle Class 1 skies.

Optical phenomenon in the sky

• Zodiacal light – A faint glow of diffuse sunlight scattered by interplanetary dust in the Solar System.
• Airglow – An optical phenomenon caused by faint emission of light in the earth’s atmosphere.
• Gegenschein – It is also known as counterglow, which is a bright spot in the night sky centred at the antisolar point, caused due to backscatter of sunlight by interplanetary dust.

Venus can be so bright in the night sky that its light can cast shadows on the ground, just as moonlight does.

References

The Hindu| Hanle Dark Sky Reserve

SIM Card

SIM cards are the ID cards of the cellular world, and they have evolved in step with cellular networks.

• SIM – It stands for ‘subscriber identification module’.
• It is an integrated circuit (IC), or a microchip, that identifies the subscriber on a given network.

German engineer Helmut Gröttrup 1^st had the idea to stick an IC in a plastic panel in the late 1960s which was basis of origin of the SIM card.

• Design – In accordance with ISO/IEC 7816 international standard.
• Sizes – They are available in standard, micro and nano sizes.
• Types
  • GSM SIM (Global System for Mobiles) – It can be removed and inserted in any mobile cell phone.
  • CDMA SIM (Code Division Multiple Access) – It cannot be removed from the original Phone.
  • eSIM Card (Embedded SIM) – It is a small chip pre-assembled inside the phone that enables easier swap of network operator as the information on eSIM is re-writable.

Until 2G networks, SIM card comprised both the hardware and the corresponding software. With the advent of 3G networks, it became only the software while the hardware was called the Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC).

Functions of SIM card

• SIM card has a unique authentication key which when unlocked, allows access to the network.
• Any signals sent by the phone into the network are ‘signed’ by the key.
• Connects mobiles to cellular network – When a subscriber dials a recipient’s number, the phone sends data via the network signed by the key on the SIM card to a telephone exchange.
• Storage function of SIM Card
  • Own ID number (the integrated circuit card identifier)
  • The International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)
  • The subscriber’s location area identity
  • A list of preferred networks
  • Emergency numbers
  • The subscriber’s contacts and SMS messages.
• Challenges – It is possible to duplicate a SIM card by accessing its key and storing it in multiple cards.

References

The Hindu| SIM Card

United Nation Forum on Forests (UNFF)

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is organising a Country-Led Initiative (CLI) event as part of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) in 2023 at the Forest Research Institute (FRI) in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

• It is a subsidiary body within the UN Organisation.

• Objectives
  • It promotes the management, conservation, and sustainable development of all types of forests.
  • To strengthen long-term political commitment.
• Odd-year sessions – It will focus on discussions on implementation, technical advice and exchange of experiences.
• Even-year sessions – It will focus on policy dialogue, development and decision-making.

The 19th session of UNFF scheduled at UN Headquarters, New York in May 2024.

• Target basis – Based on Rio Declaration, Forest Principles, Agenda 21 and outcome of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF)/ Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF) and other key milestones of international forest policy.
• Collaborative Partnership on Forests was established in 2001 to Support the work of UNFF and its member countries.

References

1. PIB| India hosts UNFF session
2. UN| UNFF

Banni Festival of Andhra Pradesh

3 dead during ‘Banni’ festival at Mala Malleswara Swamy temple located at Devaragattu in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district.

• It is a tradition stick fight celebration.
• Banni Festival – It is celebrated every year, on the night of Dussehra festival (Vijayadashami).

Banni Festival is celebrated to mark the victory of Lord Shiva (Mala Malleswara Swamy) and Goddess Parvati (Malamma) over demons Mani and Mallasura who used to trouble people at Devaragattu region.

• Origin - Since the times of Vijayanagara Empire.
• Participants – Devotees from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka participate as the temple is located on the border of these states.

Banni actually refers to mock fight for capturing the idols during the Banni festival.

• Ritual – Devotees visit the temple with weapons like long sticks or lathis for hitting each other with these sticks on the head to get hold of ceremonial idols of local deities.
• While one group of devotees make attempts to hijack the idols, the other group try to defend themselves along with protecting the deities.
• Victory Parade – Thus devotees walk in a procession down to the hill with their shirts drenched in blood symbolizing Lord Shiva’s victory over demons.

The Banni grassland in Gujarat’s Kachchh district is one of the largest grasslands in the Indian subcontinent which was notifies as a reserve forest in 1955 by court.

References

1. The Hindu| Death during Banni Festival
2. Times of India| Banni Festival

Mahua Liquor

Mahua, a traditional liquor, once banned by the British now finds relevance in modern India

• Mahua liquor – It is a traditional sweetened liquor with strong floral notes that has been made for ages by the tribal people of India.
• It is a pungent, potent drink that is usually brewed in unorganised, small-scale backyard stills.

Mahua Liquor is the only pot-distilled and fermented spirit in the world made from naturally sweet flowers.

• Preparation – It is made from the flowers of the Mahua tree.
• Mahua tree is found largely in the central, northern and southern Indian forests.
• Cultural Significance – Tribal communities consume mahua liquor at local gatherings and ceremonies.
• Ban – British Raj banned production of liquor along with collection & storage of mahua flowers through
  • Bombay Abkari Act, 1878 and Mhowra Act, 1892

Country Liquor (CL) label is bound by the antiquated laws of 1878 and 1892, which forbid non-Adivasis from consuming or producing it and restrict Adivasis from producing it within a certain limit.

• Measures taken
  • Madhya Pradesh declared Mahua as a heritage liquor and also organised National Mahua Conclave in 2023.
  • Ministry of Tribal Affairs and IIT-Delhi had developed Mahua Nutri-beverage, a Mahua-based alcoholic beverage.

According to the Centre for People’s Forestry, the estimated national production of Mahua flowers is 0.85 million tonnes and an estimated 90-95% of Mahua flower’s annual production goes into the brewing of beverages.

Usage of Mahua tree

• Flowers – Edible with sugar content ranging from 68% to 72%, are the foundation for the alcoholic drink Mahua.
• Fruits – It provide both oil and starch.
• Bark – It yields fibres for ropes and mats.
• Seeds - Valuable oil for cooking and biodiesel is extracted.
• Leaves – They are fashioned into bowls, plates, and cones.

• Medicinal properties – It offer remedies for ailments like malaria and diarrhoea.

Mahua flowers are one of the top 5 minor forest products (MFP) in terms of volume produced in the nation each year.

References

1. Down to Earth| Rebranding Mahua Liquor
2. TPCI| Usage of Mahua tree