28 October 2024

• Space: India's Cabinet approved the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) programme at 8,240 crore rupees, alongside approvals for Chandrayaan-4, Venus Orbiter Mission, and the Bharatiya Antariksh Station framework.
• Security: India's aviation sector faced a surge in bomb hoax calls, prompting the government to propose amendments to the Civil Aviation Security rules for stricter penalties.
• Cybercrime: The Ministry of Home Affairs issued advisories against "Digital Arrest" scams in which fraudsters impersonating police or CBI officials coerce victims into paying over video calls.
• Science: Researchers identified TRID1, a protein that helps tardigrades (water bears) survive extreme radiation by shielding DNA from damage.

GS area: Science and Technology (Space Policy)

The Union Cabinet approved multiple space programme components in October 2024, marking a substantial expansion of India's human and scientific spaceflight ambitions.

• Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV): Approved at 8,240 crore rupees for development. The NGLV will replace the GSLV Mk III and be designed for higher payload capacity and partial reusability. It is intended to carry crew to the Bharatiya Antariksh Station.
• Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS): The framework for India's own space station was approved. First module targeted for 2028. The BAS will be built in phases and is intended to be operational by 2035.
• Gaganyaan update: India's crewed spaceflight programme is on track. The programme includes two uncrewed test flights before the crewed mission.
• Chandrayaan-4: Approved at 2,104 crore rupees. Mission objective: sample return from the Moon. This is a significantly more complex mission than Chandrayaan-3 (which landed). Sample return requires landing, collecting samples, launching from the Moon, rendezvous, and return to Earth.
• Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM): Approved for a launch in 2028. India's Venus mission will study the Venusian atmosphere, surface, and sub-surface.
• SBS-3 satellite programme: Approved at 26,968 crore rupees for a constellation of 52 satellites for communication.

Static linkage: ISRO, space policy, India's space programme milestones (Science and Technology).

GS area: Governance, International Relations (Aviation Security)

India's aviation sector experienced a significant spike in bomb hoax calls in October 2024, with over 200 threats reported to airlines in a short period, causing diversions and financial losses.

• Scale of disruption: Multiple IndiGo, Air India, and Vistara flights were diverted or delayed due to hoax bomb threats received via social media. Each threat requires the aircraft to be taken to a separate area for inspection, costing hours and crores of rupees.
• Existing law: Section 505 IPC (statements conducing to public mischief) and the Aircraft Act cover hoaxes, but penalties were considered inadequate given the severity of disruption.
• Proposed amendment: Ministry of Civil Aviation proposed higher penalties (up to life imprisonment for certain categories) under the Civil Aviation Security rules.
• Chicago Convention (1944): The Convention on International Civil Aviation, signed in Chicago in 1944. Created the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). It standardised international aviation rules including those on flight safety and security. India is a signatory.
• ICAO Annex 17: Specifically covers aviation security. Member states are required to maintain national civil aviation security programmes.

Static linkage: Aviation governance, ICAO, Chicago Convention (International Relations and Governance).

GS area: Governance (Cybercrime, Internal Security)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the "Digital Arrest" scam in a Mann Ki Baat broadcast on 27 October 2024, warning citizens about a fraudulent practice that has defrauded thousands of crores of rupees from victims.

• How it works: Fraudsters call a target, impersonating police, CBI, Enforcement Directorate, or TRAI officials. They tell the victim they are under investigation for a financial crime or drug trafficking and must remain on a video call (under "digital arrest") or face immediate physical arrest. The victim is kept on the call for hours or days and coerced into transferring money.
• Scale: Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under MHA documented thousands of such cases. In the first nine months of 2024, Indians lost over 120 crore rupees to Digital Arrest scams.
• Legal provision: Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000 covers cheating by impersonation using communication devices. Maximum punishment: three years imprisonment and fine of one lakh rupees.
• Key safety message: No government agency (police, CBI, ED, TRAI) ever conducts investigations or arrests via video call. There is no legal concept of "digital arrest" in Indian law.
• I4C helpline: Cybercrime National Helpline: 1930.

Static linkage: Cybercrime, IT Act, internal security (Governance and Security).

GS area: Science and Technology (Biology)

Researchers studying tardigrades identified a protein called TRID1 that contributes to the organism's extraordinary resistance to radiation.

• What tardigrades are: Microscopic animals (0.1 to 1.5 mm) commonly called "water bears." They are found in virtually every habitat on Earth, from ocean sediments to Himalayan glaciers.
• Extreme resilience: Tardigrades can survive temperatures near absolute zero and above 150°C, radiation doses 1,000 times the human lethal dose, the vacuum of outer space, and complete desiccation (drying out) for decades.
• Cryptobiosis: When conditions are unfavourable, tardigrades enter a state called cryptobiosis, in which metabolism drops to near zero. In this state they produce protective proteins that replace water in their cells.
• TRID1 protein: TRID1 (Tardigrade-Unique Radiation-Inducible Disordered protein 1) shields DNA from radiation damage. It condenses around chromosomes during exposure and disperses afterwards.
• Biotechnology applications: Understanding TRID1 has potential applications in radiation-resistant crops, radiation protection for human cells, and long-duration space missions.

Static linkage: Extremophiles, molecular biology, biotechnology (Science and Technology).

GS area: International Relations (US Political System)

With the US presidential election on 5 November 2024, coverage focused on the seven swing states that would determine the outcome.

• Electoral College: The United States does not elect the president by national popular vote. Each state has a number of electors equal to its Congressional representation (House + Senate seats). Total: 538. A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win.
• Winner-takes-all: In 48 states and DC, whichever candidate wins the state's popular vote receives all of that state's electoral votes.
• Swing states (2024): Pennsylvania (19 EVs), Michigan (15 EVs), Wisconsin (10 EVs), Nevada (6 EVs), Arizona (11 EVs), Georgia (16 EVs), North Carolina (16 EVs). These states have voted for both parties in recent cycles and were projected as competitive.
• 2024 candidates: Kamala Harris (Democrat) and Donald Trump (Republican). Harris became the Democratic nominee after President Biden withdrew from the race in July 2024.

Static linkage: US political system, Electoral College, global democracy (International Relations).

GS area: International Relations, Health (Global Health Governance)

The G20-established Pandemic Fund (formally the Financial Intermediary Fund for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response) announced a grant of 25 million dollars to India for pandemic preparedness in October 2024.

• What it is: Established at the G20 Bali Summit (2022). Hosted by the World Bank. Purpose: finance pandemic prevention and preparedness in low- and middle-income countries, filling a gap identified during COVID-19.
• India's grant: 25 million dollars for strengthening One Health surveillance capacity, integrating animal-human-environment disease monitoring.
• One Health approach: Recognises that human, animal, and environmental health are interconnected. Most emerging infectious diseases originate from animals (zoonotic diseases).
• COVID-19 lessons: The pandemic revealed weaknesses in global early warning, sample sharing, and health system surge capacity. The Pandemic Fund targets these gaps.

Static linkage: One Health, G20, global health governance (International Relations and Health).