Current Affairs

NATIONAL PEST SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM (NPSS)

Why in the News?

• The Union Government launched the AI-based National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS) that will help farmers to connect with agriculture scientists and experts on controlling pests using their phone. It aims to reduce the dependence of farmers on pesticide retailers and inculcate a scientific approach among them towards pest management.

About Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• It is the ability of a computer or a robot controlled by a computer to do tasks that are usually done by humans because they require human intelligence and discernment.
• Characteristics & Components
  • Ability to rationalize and take actions to achieve specific goals.
  • Machine Learning (ML), a subset of AI, enables automatic learning.
  • Deep Learning (DL) techniques facilitate by absorbing large amounts of unstructured data like text, images, and videos.
• Categories
  • Weak AI/ Narrow AI: Video games such as chess and personal assistants such as Amazon's Alexa and Apple's Siri.
  • Strong AI: These kinds of systems can be found in applications like self-driving cars.
• Types

• Applications of AI in Different Sectors
  • Healthcare: It aims to enhance diagnosis accuracy, enable personalized treatment, improve patient outcomes, streamline healthcare operations, and accelerate medical research and innovation.
  • Business: It helps optimize operations, enhance decision-making, automate repetitive tasks, improve customer service, enable personalized marketing, analyze big data for insights, detect fraud and cybersecurity threats, streamline supply chain management, and drive innovation and competitiveness.
  • Education: IIT Kharagpur has collaborated with Amazon Web Services to develop the National AI Resource Platform (NAIRP).
    • As demonstrated by ChatGPT, Bard and other large language models, generative AI can help educators and engage students in new ways.
  • Judiciary
    • SUVAS (Supreme Court Vidhik Anuvaad Software): It is an AI system that can assist in the translation of judgments into regional languages.
    • SUPACE (Supreme Court Portal for Assistance in Court Efficiency): It was recently launched by the Supreme Court of India.
  • Cybersecurity/Security
• Advantages
  • Enhanced Accuracy
  • Improved Decision-Making
  • Innovation and Discovery
  • Increased Productivity
  • Continuous Learning and Adaptability
  • Exploration and Space Research
• Disadvantages
• Job Displacement
  • Ethical Concerns
  • Reliance on Data Availability and Quality
  • Security Risks
  • Overreliance
  • Lack of Transparency
  • Initial Investment and Maintenance Costs
  • International Collaboration and Standards

EOS-08 EARTH OBSERVATION SATELLITE

Why in the News?

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the EOS-08 Earth Observation Satellite onboard the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)-D3 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The SSLV-D3 in its third and final development flight lifted off from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

SLV-D3-EOS-08 Earth Observation Satellite

About Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)

• It is a three stage Launch Vehicle configured with three Solid Propulsion Stages and a liquid propulsion-based Velocity Trimming Module (VTM) as a terminal stage.
• It is 2m in diameter and 34m in length with a lift-off weight of around 120 tonnes and can launch 500kg satellites in 500km planar orbit from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC).
• Key Features
  • Low cost
  • Low turn-around time
  • Flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites
  • Launch demand feasibility
  • Minimal launch infrastructure requirements

About Earth Observation Satellite

• Earth observation satellites are equipped with remote sensing technology to gather information about Earth's physical, chemical, and biological systems.
• Many earth observation satellites have been employed on sun-synchronous orbit.
• Other earth observation satellites launched by ISRO include RESOURCESAT- 2, 2A, CARTOSAT-1, 2, 2A, 2B, RISAT-1 and 2, OCEANSAT-2, Megha-Tropiques, SARAL and SCATSAT-1, INSAT-3DR, 3D, etc.

Satellites Launched by ISRO

About ISRO

• Founded: 15 August 1969
• Headquarters: Bengaluru
• Founder: Vikram Sarabhai
• Chairman: Dr S. Somanath
• It is the space agency under the Department of Space of Government of India, headquartered in the city of Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• Its vision is to harness space technology for national development, while pursuing space science research and planetary exploration.

Logo of ISRO

3rd VOICE OF GLOBAL SOUTH SUMMIT

Why in the News?

India will host the 3rd Voice of Global South Summit. It is a platform to expand discussions held in the previous Summits on a range of complex challenges that continue to affect the world, such as conflicts, food and energy security crises and climate change. The theme of the Summit is “An Empowered Global South for a Sustainable Future”.

About Global South

• It is not just a geographical concept but includes countries defined by geopolitical, historical, and developmental factors.
• It broadly represents nations facing developmental challenges, rather than being strictly based on location.
• The Global South is not just a geographical concept but includes countries defined by geopolitical, historical, and developmental factors.
• It broadly represents nations facing developmental challenges, rather than being strictly based on location.
• Historical Context
  • Brandt Line: The line was proposed by former German Chancellor Willy Brandt in the 1980s as a visual depiction of the north-south divide based upon per-capita GDP.

• G-77: In 1964, the Group of 77 (G-77) countries came into existence when they signed a Joint Declaration during the first session of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva. It became the largest intergovernmental organization of developing countries at the time.

FATHER OF AGNI MISSILE

Why in the News?

Dr. Ram Narain Agarwal, a renowned Indian scientist and the driving force behind India’s missile program, passed away in Hyderabad. He was widely known as the Father of Agni Missiles.

About Dr. Ram Narain Agarwal

• He was an Indian aerospace engineer.
• He has worked as Program Director (AGNI) and as Director Advanced Systems Laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• Contributions
  • Established re-entry technology
  • Developed all-composite heat shields
  • Advanced onboard propulsion systems
  • Innovated guidance and control systems for missiles
• He established Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL) in Hyderabad which became a hub for cutting-edge research and development in missile technology.
• Awards and Honors
  • Padma Shri in 1990
  • Padma Bhushan in 2000
  • Lifetime Achievement Award for contributions to aerospace and Agni in 2004
  • DRDO Technology Leadership Award
  • Chandrasekhara Saraswati National Eminence Award
  • Biren Roy Space Sciences Award

Dr. Ram Narain Agarwal

About Agni Missiles

• They are solid-fueled ballistic missiles, ranging from short-range to intercontinental, with road and rail mobility that enhances their survivability during enemy attacks.
• The development of the Agni missile series began in the early 1980s under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program led by former President APJ Abdul Kalam.
• India has developed multiple variants of the Agni series.
• Agni-1 to 5 missiles are designed & developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• Agni Missiles Series
  • Agni I: Range of 700-800 km.
  • Agni II: Range more than 2000 km.
  • Agni III: Range of more than 2,500 Km
  • Agni IV: Range is more than 3,500 km and can fire from a road mobile launcher.
  • Agni-V: The longest of the Agni series, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of over 5,000 km.

Agni Missile

PARSI NEW YEAR

Why in the News?

It is annually observed on 16^th August and is also known as Navroz which means a New Day. It is celebrated by various communities, including Zoroastrians, Parsis and others in Iran, Central Asia, and parts of the Middle East. The festival symbolizes renewal, rebirth, and the rejuvenation of nature. Navroz has been recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

About Parsi Community

• They follow Zoroastrianism, which is one of the world's oldest monotheistic religions.
• It was founded by the Prophet Zoroaster (or Zarathustra) in ancient Iran around the 6^th –7^th century.
• Zoroastrians believe in one God called Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord) who created the world. Their holy scripture is called the Avesta.
• Zoroastrians worship communally in a Fire Temple or Agiary.
• Zoroastrians are split into two groups: the Iranians and the Parsis.
• The followers of the religion who exiled from Iran in the 7th century AD arrived in Gujarat region of India.
• Maharashtra has the highest Parsi population in the country followed by Gujarat.
• Zoroastrians (Parsis) are among the six religious communities notified as minority communities by the Union Government.
• The other five are: Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains.

General Knowledge

EMINENT PERSONALITIES IN THE NEWS TODAY

Name	Designation
Mohan Bhagwat	Sarsanghchalak (Chief Executive) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)
Manoj Sinha	Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir
Mansukh Mandaviya	Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports
Ashwini Vaishnaw	Union Minister of Railways of India
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa	Indian Chess Grandmaster