Recently, researchers developed a flexible graphene-based capacitive sensor fabricated on a paper substrate using pencil-drawn interdigitated electrodes (IDEs).

About Graphene

Graphene is an allotrope of carbon, similar to diamond and graphite.

It is a two-dimensional material consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal honeycomb lattice structure.

The stacked layers of graphene form graphite, which is commonly used in pencils.

Graphene was first successfully isolated in 2004, marking a revolutionary breakthrough in materials science. Since then, it has found numerous applications in:

• Electronics,

• Sensors,

• Energy storage devices,

• Biomedical technologies, and

• Advanced materials engineering.

Structure of Graphene

Graphene consists of a single atomic layer of carbon atoms, tightly bonded in a honeycomb pattern.

Because it is only one atom thick, it is considered the thinnest material in the world.

Its unique structure gives it extraordinary mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties.

Properties of Graphene

Graphene possesses several remarkable properties:

1. Thickness

It is only one atom thick, making it approximately one million times thinner than a human hair.

2. Strength

It is about 200 times stronger than steel, yet nearly six times lighter, making it both strong and lightweight.

3. Flexibility

Graphene is extremely flexible and stretchable, allowing it to be used in bendable and wearable electronics.

4. Conductivity

It is an excellent conductor of electricity and heat, which makes it highly suitable for advanced electronic circuits and energy devices.

5. Transparency

Graphene is almost perfectly transparent, as it absorbs only about 2% of visible light.

6. Impermeability

It is impermeable to gases, even to very small molecules such as hydrogen and helium.

Significance of Recent Development

The development of a graphene-based capacitive sensor on a paper substrate demonstrates:

• The potential for cost-effective and flexible electronics,

• The advancement of sustainable and lightweight sensor technologies,

• The expansion of graphene’s application in healthcare monitoring and smart devices.

Graphene continues to be regarded as a “wonder material” due to its extraordinary combination of strength, conductivity, flexibility, and transparency.

The Bhadrakali Inscription is an important 12th-century epigraphic record that confirms the historical development of the Somnath Temple and highlights the patronage extended by the Solanki dynasty.

About the Bhadrakali Inscription

The inscription is located at Prabhas Patan in Gujarat, specifically engraved on the wall of the Bhadrakali Temple.

It was carved in 1169 CE, corresponding to Valabhi Samvat 850 and Vikram Samvat 1255.

At present, it is protected by the State Department of Archaeology, Gujarat.

The inscription is a eulogistic record dedicated to Bhavabrihaspati, who was a Param Pashupata Acharya and the spiritual preceptor of Kumarapala, the ruler of Anhilwad Patan.

Historical Details Mentioned in the Inscription

The Bhadrakali inscription provides valuable information about the ancient and medieval history of the Somnath Temple.

It narrates the construction of the Somnath Temple in all four Yugas:

• In the Satya Yuga, the temple was built of gold by Chandra (Soma).

• In the Treta Yuga, it was rebuilt of silver by Ravana.

• In the Dvapara Yuga, it was constructed of wood by Shri Krishna.

• In the Kali Yuga, it was rebuilt in stone by King Bhimdev Solanki, with remarkable artistic craftsmanship.

This account blends mythological traditions with historical reconstruction, reflecting both religious beliefs and royal patronage.

Significance of the Inscription

The Bhadrakali inscription is significant because:

• It confirms the patronage of the Solanki rulers towards the Somnath Temple.

• It reflects the devotion and religious orientation of medieval Gujarat’s rulers and scholars.

• It highlights the role of scholars like Bhavabrihaspati in shaping religious institutions.

• It serves as an important epigraphic source for reconstructing regional history.

Thus, the inscription provides a valuable intersection of history, mythology, and temple architecture.

Protection and Preservation

The inscription is currently protected by the State Department of Archaeology, Gujarat, ensuring its conservation as an important historical monument.

Recently, the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Limited sought government intervention due to falling sugar prices, which have adversely affected cooperative sugar mills across the country.

About National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Limited (NFCSF)

The National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Limited (NFCSF) was established in 1960 with the objective of building a strong and vibrant cooperative sugar sector in India.

It acts as the apex body representing cooperative sugar mills at the national level.

Genesis and Legal Framework

The NFCSF was registered on December 2, 1960, as a Multi-Unit Cooperative Society under the Bombay Cooperative Societies Act, 1925.

In 1972, it came under the Delhi Cooperative Societies Act, 1972.

Later, it was governed by the Multi State Cooperative Societies Act, 1984, and since 2002, it has been functioning under the Multi State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002.

Thus, it operates as a multi-state cooperative institution, representing sugar cooperatives across India.

Functions of NFCSF

The National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Limited performs several important functions:

1. Policy Advocacy

It participates in sugar policy formulation at both national and state levels and contributes to shaping policies for the development and growth of the sugar sector.

2. Representation of Cooperative Interests

It advocates, promotes, and safeguards the collective interests of cooperative sugar factories, in line with cooperative principles.

3. Technical and Commercial Services

It provides techno-commercial services for the establishment, expansion, and modernization of sugar factories in India and abroad.

Through these functions, NFCSF plays a crucial role in strengthening the cooperative sugar industry.

Governance Structure

The NFCSF functions under the overall guidance of an elected Board of Directors.

The Board comprises representatives from:

• Cooperative Sugar Factories, and

• State Sugar Federations across India.

This democratic governance structure reflects the cooperative model of management and representation.

Significance

The recent demand for government intervention amid falling sugar prices underscores:

• The vulnerability of cooperative sugar mills to price fluctuations,

• The importance of policy support for ensuring fair returns to farmers,

• The need for sustainable reforms in the sugar sector.

The NFCSF remains a key institutional pillar in promoting and protecting the cooperative sugar ecosystem in India.

The CSIR–National Physical Laboratory has recently established the National Environmental Standard Laboratory (NESL) to strengthen India’s environmental monitoring and standardisation framework. This initiative aims to enhance the accuracy, reliability, and credibility of air pollution and environmental data in the country.

About National Environmental Standard Laboratory (NESL)

The National Environmental Standard Laboratory has been set up at the CSIR–National Physical Laboratory (NPL), New Delhi.

It has been established to test and recalibrate instruments used in:

• Air pollution monitoring systems

• Environmental sensors

• Emission measurement devices

Importantly, these instruments are tested under Indian environmental conditions, ensuring that monitoring systems are suited to local climatic and pollution realities.

The laboratory is expected to provide credible and standardised data for the implementation of the National Clean Air Programme.

Key Features of NESL

• It enables manufacturers, industries, and municipal agencies to validate the performance of their environmental monitoring instruments within India, reducing dependence on foreign calibration facilities.

• It supports industrial emission audits and smart-city monitoring networks.

• It provides reference gases and standardised protocols for environmental measurements.

• It ensures traceability and compliance with regulatory standards.

Significance of NESL

The establishment of NESL is significant because:

• It will help MSMEs, start-ups, and indigenous manufacturers demonstrate product quality at a lower cost.

• It strengthens India’s capacity to meet tightening regulatory guidelines related to environmental quality and transparency.

• It promotes self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in environmental monitoring technologies.

• It enhances data credibility, which is critical for policymaking and pollution control strategies.

Key Facts about Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research is a premier research and development organisation in India working across diverse fields of science and technology.

Major Functions

• It undertakes research, design, and development of scientific and industrial instruments, components, and systems.

• It facilitates service, maintenance, testing, and calibration of instruments.

• It promotes Human Resource Development in the field of instrumentation.

• It provides technical assistance to industries and supports innovation ecosystems.

Headquarters

CSIR is headquartered in New Delhi.

China has recently rejected India’s territorial claim over the Shaksgam Valley, asserting that the region forms part of Chinese territory.India maintains that the area is part of the larger Jammu & Kashmir region, and therefore an integral part of India. The renewed statements have brought the strategically sensitive region back into focus.

About Shaksgam Valley

The Shaksgam Valley, also known as the Trans-Karakoram Tract, is a disputed territory located in the northernmost part of the Kashmir region.

• It is part of the Hunza-Gilgit region of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK).

• It is claimed by India but controlled by Pakistan, and currently administered by China following a boundary agreement.

Geographical Location

The valley occupies a strategically important position:

• To the north, it borders Xinjiang of the People’s Republic of China.

• To the south and west, it is bordered by the Northern Areas of POK.

• To the east, it lies close to the Siachen Glacier, one of the world’s highest and most militarised battlefields.

1963 Sino-Pakistan Boundary Agreement

In 1963, Pakistan and China signed a boundary agreement under which Pakistan ceded the Shaksgam Valley to China to settle their border differences.

However, Article 6 of the agreement clearly stated that:

After the settlement of the Kashmir dispute between Pakistan and India, the sovereign authority concerned would reopen negotiations with China to sign a formal boundary treaty.

This clause indicates that the agreement was considered provisional, pending the final resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

India has consistently rejected the agreement, arguing that Pakistan had no legal authority to cede territory that legally belongs to India.

Strategic Importance

The 1963 agreement laid the foundation for deeper Sino-Pak cooperation, including the construction of the Karakoram Highway in the 1970s by Chinese and Pakistani engineers.

The region is strategically significant because:

• It lies near the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) routes.

• It connects Xinjiang with Pakistan’s northern territories.

• It is close to the Siachen sector, making it sensitive from a military and geopolitical perspective.

Why It Matters for India

• India considers the entire region of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, including Shaksgam Valley, as its sovereign territory.

• The 1963 agreement is viewed by India as illegal and invalid.

• The issue has implications for India–China relations, India–Pakistan relations, and broader regional security dynamics in the Karakoram region.