Daily Current Affairs Summary 19th APRIL 2025

Bose Institute Scientists Receive Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics

1. The Experimental High Energy Physics group of Bose Institute (BI) has been awarded the Breakthrough Prize 2025 in Fundamental Physics.
2. This recognition is for their contribution as part of the ALICE collaboration at CERN.

About the Breakthrough Prize 2025

1. The Breakthrough Prize for 2025 is awarded to researchers from over 70 countries who contributed to four experimental collaborations at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC).
2. The prize recognizes their work in:
   1. Detailed measurements of Higgs boson properties, confirming the mass generation symmetry-breaking mechanism.
   2. Discovery of new strongly interacting particles.
   3. Study of rare processes and the matter-antimatter asymmetry.
   4. Exploration of nature at the shortest distances and most extreme conditions using LHC.

About CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research)

1. Established: In 1954, as Europe’s first joint scientific initiative after World War II.
2. Purpose: Dedicated to collaborative research in high-energy particle physics.
3. Location: On the Franco-Swiss border, near Geneva, Switzerland.
4. Members: CERN has 23 Member States and 10 Associate Member States.
   1. India is an Associate Member.

Experimental Collaborations at CERN’s LHC

1. ATLAS (A Toroidal LHC Apparatus): The largest detector ever constructed for a particle collider.
2. CMS (Compact Muon Solenoid): A general-purpose detector exploring topics from the Standard Model to extra dimensions and dark matter.
3. ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment): Focuses on studying Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP), a state of matter from the first microseconds after the Big Bang.
4. LHCb (Large Hadron Collider beauty):
   1. Investigates the matter-antimatter asymmetry by studying the "beauty quark" (b quark).
   2. The b quark is the second-heaviest known quark with a negative charge of one-third the elementary charge of the electron.

Cambridge Scientists Discover Biosignatures on Exoplanet K2-18 b Using James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)

1. Discovery Overview: Scientists detected two chemical gases – Dimethyl Sulfide (DMS) and Dimethyl Disulfide (DMDS) – on exoplanet K2-18 b, gases primarily produced by marine phytoplankton (algae) on Earth.
2. Earlier Findings: Previous observations by JWST had already identified methane and carbon dioxide in K2-18 b’s atmosphere.

Key Details of the Discovery

1. Concentration Levels: The concentration of DMS and DMDS in K2-18 b’s atmosphere is thousands of times stronger than those found on Earth.
2. Method Used: The Transit Method was employed, where JWST detected a drop in stellar brightness as K2-18 b transited, allowing for the measurement of atmospheric composition.
3. Hycean Exoplanet: The discovery strengthens the case for K2-18 b being a Hycean Exoplanet, a type of planet with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and an ocean-covered surface, making it potentially habitable.
4. Statistical Significance: The observations achieved a three-sigma level of statistical significance, indicating only a 0.3% probability of being a chance occurrence.

About K2-18 b

1. Planet Characteristics: K2-18 b is an exoplanet (a planet outside our solar system) that is 8.6 times more massive than Earth, with a diameter about 2.6 times that of Earth.
2. Orbital Details: It orbits the cool dwarf star K2-18 within the habitable zone and is located 120 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Leo.

About the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)

1. Launch and Purpose: The JWST was launched in 2021 as a collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). It aims to explore the early universe, the formation of stars, and planets, among other cosmic phenomena.
2. Orbit: The telescope orbits the Sun 1.5 million kilometers away from Earth at the second Lagrange point (L2), providing a stable location for its observations.

India and International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Sign Headquarters Agreement

Agreement Overview: India has signed an agreement to host the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Headquarters and Secretariat, facilitating the efficient operation of IBCA.

Key Points of the Agreement

1. Visas and Privileges: The agreement covers provisions for visas, privileges, and immunities for IBCA Secretariat and personnel, as well as for its premises.
2. Financial Support: India will provide a budgetary support of ₹150 crore to IBCA for the creation of a corpus, infrastructure development, and recurring expenditures from 2023-24 to 2028-29.

About the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

1. Establishment: The IBCA was launched by India in 2023 to mark the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger.
2. Legal Status: The IBCA and its Secretariat will become a treaty-based, inter-governmental international organization in January 2025 upon the enforcement of its Framework Agreement.
3. Member Countries: The IBCA has formal agreements with five countries: Nicaragua, Eswatini, India, Somalia, and Liberia.
4. Mission: The primary goal is the conservation of seven big cat species: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma.

• Out of these, Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, and Cheetah are found in India.

India’s Contribution to Big Cat Conservation

1. St. Petersburg Declaration on Tiger Conservation (2010): Members from 13 tiger-range countries committed to the Tx2 goal, aiming to double the number of wild tigers by 2022.
2. Indian Initiatives:
   1. Project Tiger (launched in 1973) for the conservation of tigers.
   2. Project Lion (launched in 2020) for the conservation of Asiatic Lions.

C-DOT and Sterlite Technologies Ltd. Test India's First Quantum Key Distribution Over Multi-Core Fibre

Multi-Core Fibre (MCF) technology enables data transmission across multiple cores within a single fibre, saving physical space and reducing infrastructure costs.

About Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)

1. Definition: QKD is a secure method for exchanging encryption keys that are known only to the shared parties involved.
2. Working Principle: QKD leverages quantum mechanics to generate and distribute cryptographic keys using specialized technology.
3. Transmission Process: QKD works by transmitting light particles, or photons, through fiber optic cables between two parties.
   1. Each photon has a random quantum state.
   2. Collectively, these photons form a stream of ones and zeros, referred to as qubits.

Types of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)

1. Entanglement-Based Protocols: This method generates pairs of entangled quantum states, where each party receives one photon from the pair.
2. Prepare-and-Measure Protocols: In this approach, the sender prepares a quantum state (often as a superposition of light polarization states) and sends it to the receiver, who then measures the quantum state.

Benefits of QKD

1. Eavesdropping Detection: QKD can detect and prevent eavesdropping attacks, ensuring secure communication.
2. Security: It offers an extremely high level of security by relying on the laws of quantum mechanics.

Limitations of QKD

1. Infrastructure Costs: Implementing QKD increases infrastructure expenses.
2. Specialized Equipment: The technology requires specialized hardware, making integration with existing networks more challenging.
3. Potential Risks: There are risks such as denial of service and other technical challenges in system deployment.

IIT Bombay Develop Lotus Leaf-Like Solar Evaporators for Salt-Water Treatment

Scientists at IIT Bombay have developed a hydrophobic graphene-based material for water desalination. This innovation could help tackle the global freshwater crisis.

Freshwater Crisis

1. Water Coverage: 71% of Earth's surface is covered by water.
2. Freshwater Availability: Only 3% of Earth's water is freshwater, and only 0.06% is easily accessible.

• The rest is locked in polar ice caps, glaciers, groundwater, or swamps.

Desalination Technologies and Processes

Desalination is the process of removing salts and minerals from seawater or brackish water to produce fresh, potable water. The main technologies used are thermal and membrane technologies.

Desalination Technologies	Thermal Technology	Membrane Technology
Concept	Heating of saline water and collecting the condensed vapor (distillate) to produce pure water. Usage: Mainly for seawater desalination.	Feedwater is pumped through semi-permeable membranes to filter out the dissolved solids. Usage: Mainly for brackish water desalination.
Sub-categories (Processes)	Three groups: Multi-Stage Flash Distillation Multi-Effect Distillation Vapor Compression Distillation	Two groups: Electrodialysis / Electrodialysis Reversal (ED/EDR) Reverse Osmosis (RO)
Merit	Ability to reduce the maximum salinity concentration. Demands less input electrical energy compared to membrane techniques.	Environmental Friendly: E.g., ED eliminates the need for chemicals. Smaller footprint: Typically require less space than conventional technologies.
Demerits	Using conventional energy sources like coal etc. High costs involved: So, rarely been used for brackish water desalination. Subject to corrosion: E.g., MSF plants.	Susceptible to Fouling. Require Regular Maintenance Face challenges in Membrane Waste Disposal. May not fully remove Total dissolved solids (TDS) or pathogens.
Example	Low Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) plants were established in the Kavaratti, Minicoy and Agatti Islands in the UT of Lakshadweep.	Nemmeli Seawater Desalination Plant, Tamil Nadu, on Reverse Osmosis. (Largest desalination plant in the South Asia)

 

Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND)

The Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen efforts in the implementation of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and related rules.

About FIU-IND

1. Purpose: FIU-IND serves as the central national agency responsible for receiving, processing, analyzing, and disseminating information related to suspect financial transactions.
2. Key Role: It coordinates and enhances the efforts of both national and international intelligence, investigative, and enforcement agencies in combatting money laundering and terrorism financing.
3. Established: FIU-IND was founded in 2004.
4. Nature: It is an independent body, directly reporting to the Economic Intelligence Council (EIC), which is chaired by the Finance Minister of India.

Index of Industrial Production (IIP)

From April 2025, the All India Index of Industrial Production (IIP) will be released on the 28th of every month, reducing the release time to 28 days from the previous 42 days after the reference month.

• Additionally, only two estimates—Quick estimate and Final estimate—will be published, replacing the previous practice of releasing three estimates.

About IIP

1. Definition: The IIP is a composite indicator that measures the short-term changes in the production volume of a range of industrial products over a specific period, relative to a selected base period.
2. Base Year: The current base year for IIP is 2011-12.
3. Compilation and Publication: It is compiled and published monthly by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
4. Scope: The IIP covers the mining and quarrying, manufacturing, and electricity sectors.

Cradle of Humankind

After being closed for three years due to flooding, South Africa's Cradle of Humankind caves have now been reopened to the public.

About Cradle of Humankind

1. UNESCO World Heritage Site: The site is known for its subterranean limestone caves.
2. Location: It is situated near Johannesburg, South Africa.
3. Included Sites: The site encompasses the Fossil Hominid Sites of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai, Makapan Valley, and the Taung Skull Fossil Site.
4. Significant Discoveries: Important specimens such as Australopithecus africanus, Paranthropus, and evidence of the domestication of fire have been discovered here.
5. Scientific Importance: The site provides a wealth of information on the evolution of modern humans over the past 3.5 million years.

Aral Sea

Research indicates signs of geological changes (elevation of the dried land of the basin) since the water disappeared on Aral Sea. 

About Aral Sea
 

Aral Sea

1. About: Was once a large saltwater lake of Central Asia. 
2. Location: Boundary between Kazakhstan (North) and Uzbekistan (South).
   • It was fed by Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers. 
3. Cause of Disappearance: Diversion of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers during the Soviet era. 
   • The dried-up Aral Sea became the hazardous Aralkum Desert, which ranks as a major global dust source.

Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD)

A study commissioned by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser recommended the rollback of the 2015 policy mandating the installation of FGD systems in all of India’s coal-fired plants. 

• Rather, it recommended FGD to only those plants using imported coal or high (>0.5%) sulphur coal. 

About FGD

1. It involves the removal of SO2 (Sulphur Dioxide) in exhaust gases from coal-fired power plants before being released to the atmosphere.
2. Uses scrubbing technique involving an alkaline reagent (typically a sodium- or calcium-based alkaline regent). 
3. Types of FGD Systems: Dry Sorbent Injection, Wet Limestone Based, Sea Water Based, etc. 

National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO)

The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) has recently urged all States and Union Territories to adopt and implement swap organ transplant procedures.

What is Swap Organ Transplant?

1. Swap transplantation involves two or more incompatible donor-recipient pairs exchanging organs to achieve mutual compatibility.
2. This process helps increase the chances of successful transplants for patients with limited donor options within their family.

About NOTTO

1. NOTTO is a national-level organization functioning under the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
2. It operates in line with the provisions of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994.
3. The organization consists of two major divisions:
   1. National Human Organ and Tissue Removal and Storage Network – oversees coordination and allocation of organs at the national level.
   2. National Biomaterial Centre – focuses on ensuring availability and quality of biomaterials for transplantation.
4. Headquarters: Located at Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi.
5. NOTTO is part of the National Organ Transplant Program (NOTP), which also includes ROTTOs (Regional) and SOTTOs (State-level) bodies to streamline the organ transplant ecosystem across India.

 

Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Technology

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) have launched a pilot project to explore the potential of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology.

About V2G Technology

1. Definition: V2G technology enables Electric Vehicle (EV) batteries to send power back to the grid when not in use, acting as a decentralized energy storage system.
2. Integration with Renewable Energy: By incorporating V2G, EVs can play a crucial role in facilitating the integration of Renewable Energy (RE) and supporting the demand response market.
3. Grid Stability: V2G helps modulate power in EV batteries, reducing the impact of variable renewable energy on the grid and contributing to improved grid stability.

Kerala: First State To Introduce Online Permanent Lok Adalat Services

Kerala has become the first state in India to introduce Online Permanent Lok Adalat Services.

About Permanent Lok Adalat

1. Established Under: It operates under Section 22-B of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
2. Judicial Power: It has the same powers as a Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.
3. Jurisdiction: It is a compulsory pre-litigation mechanism for the conciliation and settlement of cases related to Public Utility Services such as transport, postal, telegraph, and others.
4. Nature of Judgment: The judgments made by the Permanent Lok Adalat are final and binding on all parties involved.
5. Monetary Jurisdiction: It handles cases with a claim amount of up to Rs. 1 Crore.

 

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