• 11 Nov 2024

Millimeter Wave Transceiver

Why in News?

Recently, Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) has signed an agreement with the Indian Institute of Technology-Roorkee (IIT-Roorkee) for the development of a “Millimeter Wave Transceiver for 5G rural connectivity”.

Key Points

• Millimeter Wave Backhaul Technology Project:
  • It aims to develop millimeter wave backhaul technology for improved 5G connectivity, particularly in rural areas.
    • A limited number of small cell-based stations (SBSs) will be connected to the network gateway through fiber, reducing infrastructure needs.
  • The transceiver development will use a combined optical and millimeter wave approach.
    • It is expected to reduce the overall size and cost of the technology, making it more efficient and affordable.
  • It aims to reduce India's reliance on international semiconductor fabrication industries, bolstering self-reliance.
  • It will contribute to generating Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) and developing a skilled workforce in millimeter wave and Sub-THz technology, preparing for advancements in 5G and 6G.
• Support for Local Industry and Employment:
  • The project encourages small and medium-scale industries to establish manufacturing units in India, especially in polymer-based and metal-integrated structures.
  • Increased local manufacturing will create job opportunities for Indian engineering graduates.
• Funding Support under TTDF Scheme:
  • The agreement is signed under the Department of Telecommunications’ Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme.
  • TTDF is designed to fund Indian startups, academia, and R&D institutions, supporting the domestic development and commercialization of telecom products and solutions.

Millimeter Wave

• About:
  • It is a wireless communication technology that uses high-frequency radio waves to transmit data.
  • Millimeter waves have a frequency range of 30–300 GHz, and a wavelength range of 1–10 millimeters.
• Uses:
  • 5G: Millimeter waves are used in 5G to provide high-speed, increased bandwidth communications.
  • Explosive detection: Millimeter waves can pass through clothing and reflect off of the body, allowing imaging systems to detect concealed objects.
  • Other applications: Millimeter waves can be used for business and residential broadband access, campus area networks, outdoor Wi-Fi hotspots, and more.

Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT)

• It was established in 1984. It is an autonomous Telecom R&D (Research and Development) centre of DoT (Department of Telecom), Ministry of Communications.
• It is a registered society under the Societies Registration Act,1860.
• It is a registered public-funded research institution with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science and Technology.

Global Recognition for ICAR-NRC Equine

Why in News?

Recently, the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has facilitated the designation of Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar (ICAR-NRC Equine) as a World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Reference Laboratory for Equine Piroplasmosis.

Key Points

• Equine Piroplasmosis:
  • Equine piroplasmosis, caused by the tick-borne protozoan parasites Babesia caballi and Theileria equi, affects horses, donkeys, mules, and zebras, posing serious health and economic challenges.
  • The disease shows a seroprevalence of 15-25% in India, with up to 40% in high-risk areas, causing economic losses due to health impacts, productivity decline, and trade restrictions.
  • NRC Equine has developed advanced diagnostic tools for equine piroplasmosis, including ELISA, Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test, Competitive ELISA, blood smear examination, MASP in-vitro culture system, and PCR for antigen detection.
• Equine Population in India:
  • As per the 20th Livestock Census, India has approximately 0.55 million equines (horses, ponies, donkeys, mules) contributing to livelihoods and various industries.
    • Out of which 0.34 million are horses and ponies, 0.12 million are donkeys, and 0.08 million are mules, with major populations in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Haryana.
• NRC Equine’s Role as a WOAH Reference Laboratory:
  • As a WOAH Reference Laboratory, NRC Equine will collaborate globally, providing diagnostic services, sharing technical expertise, and advancing research on equine piroplasmosis.
  • NRC Equine is now the fourth Indian lab to achieve WOAH status, joining labs recognized for Avian Influenza, Rabies, PPR, and Leptospirosis.
• Formal Announcement:
  • The official designation of ICAR-NRC Equine will be announced at the 92^nd WOAH General Session and World Assembly of Delegates in May 2025.
  • This designation strengthens India’s diagnostic capabilities and international partnerships, enhancing India’s leadership in animal health, particularly in equine diseases.

World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)

• Established as OIE, WOAH is a standard-setting body recognized under the Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.
• It works to improve global animal health and is headquartered in Paris, France.
• WOAH had 183 member countries, including India.
• It creates guidelines, such as the Terrestrial Animal Health Code, to help countries prevent disease entry.
• The World Trade Organization (WTO) acknowledges WOAH standards as international sanitary guidelines.

Mahendra Singh Mewar from Mewar Royal Family Passes Away

Why in News?

Recently, Former Member of Parliament and member of the erstwhile Mewar royal family Mahendra Singh Mewar passed away in Udaipur. He was a descendant of Maharana Pratap.

Key Points

• Maharana Pratap:
  • Rana Pratap Singh, also known as Maharana Pratap, was born on 9^th May 1540 in Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan.
  • He was the 13th King of Mewar and was the eldest son of Udai Singh II.
  • Maharana Udai Singh II ruled the kingdom of Mewar, with his capital at Chittor.
    • Udai Singh II was also a founder of the city of Udaipur (Rajasthan).
• Battle of Haldighati:
  • The Battle of Haldighati was fought in 1576 between Rana Pratap Singh of Mewar and Raja Man Singh of Amber who was the general of the Mughal emperor Akbar.
  • Maharana Pratap fought a brave war but was defeated by Mughal forces.
  • It is said that Maharana Pratap’s loyal horse named Chetak, gave up his life as the Maharana was leaving the battlefield.
• Reconquest:
  • After 1579, the Mughal pressure relaxed over Mewar and Pratap recovered Western Mewar including Kumbhalgarh, Udaipur and Gogunda.
  • During this period, he also built a new capital, Chavand, near modern Dungarpur.
• Death:
  • He died on 19^th January 1597. He was succeeded by his son Amar Singh, who submitted in 1614 to Emperor Jahangir, son of Akbar.

Pratap Gaurav Kendra

• It is a tourist spot at Tiger Hill in Udaipur city, Rajasthan.
• It aims at providing information about Maharana Pratap and the historical heritage of the area with the help of modern technology.

Rajgir Sports Complex

Why in News?

Rajgir Sports Complex is set to host the Women’s Asian Hockey Champions Trophy, 2024 from 11^th to 20^th November, 2024 in Rajgir, Bihar.

Key Points

• Built at a cost of approximately Rs 740 crores, the complex stands out as one of India’s largest and most advanced complex, designed to be self-sufficient.
• Sports Facilities and Standards:
  • In addition to the main cricket stadium, the complex will accommodate 25 sports, including hockey, football, kabaddi, volleyball, swimming, and wrestling, all built to meet international standards.
  • The first arena to be completed, it can seat around 8,000-10,000 spectators and features a playing field identical to the one used in Paris.
• Architectural Style and Design:
  • The Bihar government chose brick and stone for office buildings, residential facilities, and sports venues, giving the complex a grand, traditional look.
  • The hockey arena includes murals of ancient Nalanda as a center of learning, with this theme carried into the changing rooms.
    • A mural is a piece of graphic artwork that is painted or applied directly to a wall, ceiling or other permanent substrate.

Women's Asian Hockey Champions Trophy

• It is a biennial international field hockey competition featuring the top six women's national teams from member associations of the Asian Hockey Federation.
• The tournament includes the best six women's national teams from Asia.
• South Korea holds the most titles, having won the tournament three times.
• India and Japan have each won the tournament twice.

Report on Status of Gotti Koya Tribals

Why in News?

The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes has asked the Union Home Ministry and Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha to submit a detailed report on the status of the Gotti Koya tribals, who were displaced from Chhattisgarh due to Maoist violence.

Key Points

• Background and Displacement Challenges:
  • The Commission received a petition in March 2022 highlighting that Gotti Koya tribals, who fled Chhattisgarh in 2005 due to Maoist violence, now face significant difficulties in neighboring states.
  • Tribal rights activists report around 50,000 Gotti Koya tribals displaced, now residing in 248 settlements across Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra.
• Concerns:
  • The Telangana government reclaimed land from internally displaced Gotti Koya families in at least 75 settlements, affecting their livelihoods and increasing vulnerability.
  • According to the officials, Gotti Koyas, being migrants from Chhattisgarh, do not qualify as Scheduled Tribes in Telangana and thus lack forest rights there.
    • The Commission asked the Director of the Centre for Economic and Social Studies and Forest Department representatives to present findings from surveys conducted in Gotti Koya settlements in Telangana.
• Government Data on Displaced Tribals:
  • The government informed Parliament that tribal families from Chhattisgarh are unwilling to return despite rehabilitation programs.
  • According to the Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, 10,489 individuals from 2,389 families were displaced due to Left-Wing Extremism in Sukma, Bijapur, and Dantewada districts.

National Commission for Scheduled Tribes

• About:
  • It was set up in 2004 by amending Article 338 and by inserting a new article 338A in the Constitution through the 89th Constitution Amendment Act, 2003. Hence, it is a constitutional body.
  • By this amendment, the erstwhile National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was replaced by two separate Commissions namely:
    • National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC)
    • National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)
• Objective:
  • Article 338A inter-alia gives powers to the NCST to oversee the implementation of various safeguards provided to Scheduled Tribes (STs) under the Constitution or under any other law for time being in force or under any other order to the Government and to evaluate the working of such safeguards.
• Composition:
  • It consists of a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and 3 other Members who are appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal.
    • At least one member should be a woman.
    • The Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson and the other Members hold office for a term of 3 years.

Gotti Koya Tribe

• Gotti Koya are one of the few multi-racial and multi-lingual tribal communities in India.
• They live in the forests, plains, and valleys on both sides of the Godavari River, in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.
• They are said to have migrated to central India from their original home in Bastar, northern India.
• Language:
  • The Koya language, also called Koyi, is a Dravidian language. It is closely related to Gondi and has been strongly influenced by Telugu.
  • Most Koyaspeak either Gondi or Telugu, in addition to Koyi.
• Occupation:
  • Traditionally, they were pastoralists and shifting cultivators, but now-a-days, they have taken to settled cultivation supplemented by animal husbandry and seasonal forest collections.
  • They grow Jowar, Ragi, Bajra, and other millets.
• Society and Culture:
  • All Gotti Koya belong to one of five subdivisions called gotrams. Every Gotti Koya is born into a clan, and he cannot leave it.
  • They have a patrilineal and patrilocal family. The family is called "Kutum". The nuclear family is the predominant type.
  • Monogamy is prevalent among the Koyas.
  • They practice their own ethnic religion, but also worship a number of Hindu gods and goddesses.
  • Many Gotti Koya deities are female, the most important being the "mother earth."
  • They maintain community funds and grain banks at the village level to help the needy families and provide food security.
  • They either bury or cremate the dead. They erect menhirs in memory of the dead.
  • Their main festivals are Vijji Pandum (seeds charming festival) and KondalaKolupu (festival to appease Hill deities).
  • They perform a robust, colourful dance called Permakok (Bison horn dance) during festivals and marriage ceremonies.

Ganga's Water Quality Deteriorating

Why in News?

Recently, The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has observed that the water quality in the Ganga in Uttar Pradesh is deteriorating because of the discharge of sewage or sullage into the river.

Key Points

• NGT's Concerns:
  • The NGT reviewed the sewage treatment situation in Uttar Pradesh, finding a 128 million litres per day (MLD) gap in sewage treatment in Prayagraj district.
    • The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report revealed that 25 untapped drains in Prayagraj discharge untreated sewage into the Ganga, while 15 others discharge into the Yamuna.
    • Out of 326 drains in Uttar Pradesh, 247 are untapped and discharge wastewater into the Ganga and its tributaries.
• NGT's Directives:
  • The NGT ordered the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary to submit an affidavit detailing each drain's sewage, connected sewage treatment plants (STPs), and timelines for making STPs functional.
  • The affidavit should also include short-term measures to prevent untreated sewage discharge.
• Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) Issues:
  • The CPCB report indicated that six out of 41 STPs in 16 Ganga-front towns are non-operational, and only one of the 35 functional plants complies with regulations.
  • The water quality at 41 locations showed faecal coliform levels exceeding safe limits (500/100 ml), with 17 locations exceeding 2,500 MPN/100 ml, indicating severe pollution from untreated sewage.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

• It is a statutory organisation, was constituted in 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
• CPCB was also entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
• It serves as a field formation and also provides technical services to the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate change of the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.