UPSC Daily Current Affairs| Prelim Bits 23-12-2024

National Green Tribunal

Why in News?

The Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), by suo motu has directed the Kerala to remove the biomedical and mixed solid waste dumped in villages of Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu.

• Established in – 2010, as per the National Green Tribunal Act.
• It was setup as per recommendations of the Supreme Court, Law Commission and India’s international law obligations to develop national laws on environment.
• Specialised judicial body – It is equipped with expertise solely for the purpose of adjudicating environmental cases in the country.
• Task – Providing effective & expeditious remedy in cases relating to
  • Environmental protection
  • Conservation of forests and other natural resources
  • Enforcement of any legal right relating to environment
• Tribunal’s orders – They are binding and it has power to grant relief in the form of compensation and damages to affected persons.
• Composition – It has a presence in 5 zones

• The Principal Bench is situated in the North Zone, headquartered in Delhi.
• Headed by – The Chairperson who sits in the Principal Bench and has
  • At least 10 but not more than 20 judicial members and
  • At least 10 but not more than 20 expert members.

• Simple approach – Aggrieved parties may approach the Tribunal in person by submitting an application and no need of advocate.
• Orders are binding – Its orders are enforceable and has powers of a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.  
• Orders are not final – It has powers to review its own decisions and if this fails, the decision can be challenged before the Supreme Court within 90 days.

References

1. The Hindu| Clearing of dumped Biomedical Wastes
2. NGT| National green Tribunal

SpaDeX MISSION

Why in News?

ISRO plans to launch SpaDeX (Space docking experiment) in December 2024.

• SpaDeX mission – 2 satellites/spacecrafts will be launched into orbit around the earth, where they will demonstrate various technologies while in motion.
  • Primary objective – Demonstration of Docking manoeuvre
  • Secondary objectives – Demonstration of the transfer of electric power between the docked spacecraft.

Docking specifically refers to joining of 2 separate free-flying space vehicles. Power transfer technology, also known as wireless power transfer (WPT), is a technology that allows electrical energy to be transmitted without the use of physical wires or connectors.

• Spacecraft & Technology – SpaDeX spacecraft were designed and realised by the UR Rao Satellite Centre.
• The full integration and testing of the satellite were carried out at Ananth Technologies, Bengaluru.
• Launched by – PSLV C-60
• Launch specifications – Both spacecraft will be launched simultaneously but independently into a
  • 470-km wide circular orbit at 55° inclination
  • With a local time cycle of about 66 days

• Docking manoeuvre – It is made up of 2 small spacecraft
  • Chaser - SDX01
  • Target- SDX02.
• It involves various stages like
  • Rendezvous – Aligning orbits of 2 spacecraft
  • Docking – Connecting 2 spacecraft
  • Undocking – Disconnecting the 2 spacecraft.
• It requires very precise control of the spacecraft's attitude and velocity to ensure a safe connection.

• Significance – It is vital for
  • Assembly and maintenance of the space stations – Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS)
  • Crew transfer – Gaganyaan human space flight mission
  • Suppling fuel to missions – Chandrayaan-4 mission, for sample return from the Moon.
  • cost-effective indigenous

India will be the 4^th country in the world to have space docking technology if the mission is successfully completed.

Reference

1. Business Line | SpaDeX Mission
2. The Hindu| Orbital Docking

India Maritime Heritage Conclave

Recently India’s 1^st Maritime Heritage Conclave (IMHC 2024) was held in December 2024 in New Delhi.

• It is the First India Maritime Heritage Conclave.
• Aim – To celebrate India’s maritime legacy and its profound contributions to global trade, culture, and innovation.

India's modern maritime strength includes a 7,500 km coastline, 13 major ports and 200 non-major ports. Indian ports handle 95% of trade volume and contribute 70% of trade value, taking advantage of their strategic location in the Indian Ocean region.

• Nodal ministry – Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
• Objectives
  • Showcase entire India's Maritime Legacy
  • Global Cultural Confluence
  • Technological Evolution
  • Spiritual and Cultural Exchange
  • Maritime Heritage Preservation

• 2024 Theme – Towards Understanding India's Position in Global Maritime History.
• Global participation – Representatives from 11 countries.
• Significance – It emphasized on skill development, youth engagement, and cultural preservation to carry over nation’s maritime legacy.

National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC)

• Located in – Lothal, Gujarat.
• Focus – To showcase India’s ancient maritime techniques, including shipbuilding and bead-making, reflecting the nation’s role as a global connector.
• It will be one of the world's largest maritime complexes, integrating both historical and modern maritime activities.
• Features
  • 4 thematic galleries.
  • Open Aquatic Gallery and Lighthouse Museum.
  • Eco-resorts, theme parks and Maritime Research Institutes.

Reference

PIB |India Maritime Heritage Conclave 2024

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Why in news?

The recent launch of Kisan Kavach marks a significant advancement in protecting farmers from the harmful effects of pesticide exposure.

• IPM – It is a sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks.
• Different from organic practices – IPM doesn't discourage spraying chemicals unlike organic, but rather promotes using them only when necessary.

• Monitoring – Keep tracks of the pests and their potential damage and is helpful in selecting the best possible combinations of the pest management methods.
• Pest resistant varieties – Breeding for pest resistance is a continuous process.
• Cultural pest control – It includes crop production practices that make crop environment less susceptible to pests.
• Cultural controls are based on pest biology and development.
  • For examples – Crop rotation, cover crop, row and plant spacing, planting and harvesting dates, destruction of old crop debris, etc.,
• Mechanical control – These are based on the knowledge of pest behaviour.
  • For Examples – Hand picking, installation of bird perches, mulching and installation of traps.
• Biological control – It include augmentation and conservation of natural enemies of pests such as insect predators, parasitoids, pathogen and weed feeders.
• Here, native natural enemy populations are conserved and non-native agents are released with utmost caution.
• Chemical control – Pesticides are used to keep the pest population below economically damaging levels when the pests cannot be controlled by other means.

According to Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National Centre for Integrated Pest Management around 3-5% of India’s total cultivated area is under IPM.

References

1. Government of Assam | Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
2. PIB | Bharat’s First Anti-Pesticide Bodysuit