12 October 2024

• Nobel Peace Prize: The Nobel Peace Prize 2024 was awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, the Japanese organisation of atomic bomb survivors (Hibakusha), for its advocacy for nuclear disarmament.
• Space: An aurora borealis was observed in Leh, Ladakh on 10 October 2024, caused by a powerful solar coronal mass ejection.
• Defence: India's sixth missile-cum-ammunition barge, LSAM 12, was launched at Visakhapatnam, built by an MSME shipyard.
• Pharma: India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation maintained WHO Maturity Level 3 compliance for vaccine regulatory standards.

GS area: International Relations (Nuclear Disarmament, Global Governance)

The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese grassroots organisation of survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings.

• What Nihon Hidankyo is: Founded on 10 August 1956. Its name means "Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers' Organizations." Members are called Hibakusha, meaning "explosion-affected people."
• Mission: The organisation documents the human experience of nuclear weapons and advocates globally for their prohibition. It does this through survivor testimonies, public campaigns, and engagement with international disarmament forums.
• Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT): The NPT of 1968 is the principal international legal instrument on nuclear weapons. Its three pillars are non-proliferation (non-nuclear states cannot acquire nuclear weapons), disarmament (nuclear states commit to eventual disarmament), and peaceful use of nuclear energy. Japan is a party; India is not.
• Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW): Adopted at the UN in 2017, it is the only legally binding instrument that bans nuclear weapons comprehensively. None of the nine nuclear-armed states (including India) have signed it. Japan, despite being a victim of nuclear attack, has not signed it, citing its reliance on the US nuclear umbrella.
• India's nuclear status: India is not part of the NPT. It conducted its first nuclear test (Pokhran I) in 1974 under the cover of a peaceful nuclear explosive. Pokhran II followed in 1998. India has a declared No First Use policy.

Static linkage: Nuclear governance, India's nuclear doctrine, NPT, TPNW (International Relations).

GS area: Science and Technology (Geophysics, Atmospheric Science)

A display of aurora borealis was observed in Leh, Ladakh on 10 October 2024, one of the few locations in India where this has been recorded.

• Cause: A severe geomagnetic storm triggered by a solar coronal mass ejection (CME). A CME is an expulsion of plasma and magnetic field from the sun's corona. When it reaches Earth's magnetosphere it compresses it and energises particles.
• Mechanism: Energised charged particles flow along Earth's magnetic field lines into the polar atmosphere. There they collide with oxygen and nitrogen molecules, causing them to emit light.
• Colours: Green and yellow come from oxygen at lower altitudes (around 100 km). Red comes from oxygen at higher altitudes (above 200 km). Blue and purple come from nitrogen.
• Why Ladakh: The aurora is typically visible only near the poles. During very strong geomagnetic storms the auroral oval expands equatorward. Ladakh's high altitude (3,500 metres for Leh) and clear skies also help.

Static linkage: Solar physics, Earth's magnetosphere, atmospheric science (Science and Technology).

GS area: Defence, Economy (Make in India)

The sixth of eight Logistics Support and Ammunition (LSA) barges, LSAM 12, was launched at Visakhapatnam by SECON Engineering Projects, an MSME-sector shipyard.

• Role: Ammunition and missile-cum-ammunition barges transport ordnance and supplies from shore depots to warships at sea. They reduce reliance on shore-based logistic chains during naval operations.
• Make in India angle: The contract was awarded to an MSME shipyard as part of the government's effort to build small-vessel and auxiliary-ship building capacity in the domestic private sector.
• Series: Eight barges in total. LSAM 12 is the sixth to be launched.

Static linkage: Defence manufacturing, India's Navy, Make in India (Defence and Economy).

GS area: Governance, Health (Drug Regulation)

India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) retained its WHO Maturity Level 3 status for vaccine regulation.

• What CDSCO is: India's National Regulatory Authority for pharmaceuticals and medical devices. It operates under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It approves drugs for marketing, oversees clinical trials, and regulates imports.
• WHO Maturity Levels: WHO uses a 4-level system to rate national regulatory authorities. Level 3 means the regulator has a functioning and stable regulatory system. Level 4 is the highest, indicating exemplary performance.
• Significance for India: India supplies vaccines to over 150 countries and is described as the "pharmacy of the world." CDSCO's international credibility is central to India's pharma export position. WHO prequalification of Indian vaccines depends on CDSCO's regulatory standing.

Static linkage: Drug regulation, pharmaceutical sector, vaccine exports (Governance and Economy).

GS area: Defence

Detailed coverage of India's tank deployments in Ladakh highlighted the T-90 Bhishma's capabilities.

• Weight: 47 tonnes, making it heavier than China's ZTQ-15 light tank (33 tonnes) deployed at high altitude.
• Main armament: 125 mm smoothbore gun capable of firing anti-tank projectiles and guided missiles.
• Anti-aircraft capability: Roof-mounted anti-aircraft machine gun.
• Guided missile range: The 9M119M Refleks missile can engage targets up to 5 kilometres away.
• Crew: Three (commander, gunner, driver).
• Protection: Explosive reactive armour and nuclear-biological-chemical protection system.
• High-altitude limitation: At altitudes above 4,500 metres the engine power reduces significantly and crew performance is affected by low oxygen levels. This is why India is developing the lighter Zorawar for forward mountain positions.

Static linkage: India's armoured forces, high-altitude warfare (Defence).

GS area: International Relations (Global Health Governance)

India pledged over 300 million dollars to WHO for the 2025-2028 funding cycle, the largest voluntary contribution from a Southeast Asia Region member.

• WHO funding structure: WHO operates on two funding streams: assessed contributions (mandatory fees based on country income and population) and voluntary contributions (additional donations by member states and other donors).
• India's role: As a middle-income country with a large population, India's assessed contribution is modest. The voluntary pledge signals India's claim to a larger role in global health governance.
• Context: The United States has periodically withheld or reduced its WHO contributions (most notably in 2020), creating funding gaps. India's increased contribution partly addresses this.

Static linkage: Global health governance, WHO, India's multilateral diplomacy (International Relations).