Why in News?
Researchers recently identified a 3.5-billion-year-old layered rock formation within the Singhbhum Craton in eastern India. The formation could contain some of the earliest chemical evidence of life on Earth.
About Singhbhum Craton
The Singhbhum Craton is located in eastern India, mainly across Jharkhand and Odisha. It lies between the Chhota Nagpur Plateau and the Eastern Ghats.
It is one of the oldest and most important cratons of the Indian Shield and has significant geological and economic importance because of its rich mineral resources.
What is a Craton?
A craton is a stable continental block composed mainly of ancient crystalline rocks and is generally surrounded by mobile belts.
Cratons provide an important window into the ancient geological history of Earth, as their rocks preserve evidence of processes that operated within and on the surface of the planet billions of years ago.
Geological Age and Origin
Previous research has shown that parts of the Singhbhum Craton date back to around 3.5 billion years.
The craton represents a fragment of the ancient Gondwana supercontinent and preserves some of the oldest geological records of the Indian subcontinent.
Greenstone Successions
The oldest rock assemblages of the Singhbhum Craton are largely composed of volcanic and sedimentary rocks, commonly referred to as greenstone successions.
Greenstones are rock assemblages consisting predominantly of submarine volcanic rocks, along with smaller amounts of sedimentary rocks.
These geological formations are particularly important for understanding the Archaean Earth and the environmental conditions that existed during the early stages of the planet's history.
Similarity with Other Ancient Geological Regions
The geology of the Singhbhum region shows strong similarities with ancient greenstone belts found in South Africa's Barberton and Nondweni areas and the Pilbara Craton of Western Australia.
These regions experienced widespread submarine mafic volcanic eruptions between approximately 3.5 and 3.3 billion years ago.
The term mafic refers to rocks that are relatively rich in magnesium and iron, with the source specifically highlighting their high magnesium oxide content.
Evidence of these ancient volcanic activities has been preserved in the form of pillowed lava and komatiites.
Significance of Singhbhum Craton
The Singhbhum Craton provides important evidence for understanding Earth's early geological and tectonic processes during the Archaean Eon.
Its greenstone belts and other ancient geological formations provide valuable information about the evolution of Earth's surface and atmospheric conditions.
These geological records are also important for developing hypotheses about early habitable conditions and the possible emergence of life on Earth.
The newly identified 3.5-billion-year-old layered rock formation is particularly significant because it may preserve some of the earliest chemical signatures associated with life.
Recently, a workshop on the AIKosh platform was organised at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
AIKosh is a national platform for datasets, AI models and related resources. It has been developed to strengthen access to important AI-ready resources and support the growth of India's artificial intelligence ecosystem.
The platform aims to enhance access to datasets and AI models from different sources, thereby promoting AI innovation and the development of AI-based solutions.
The platform is designed to provide greater discoverability, accessibility and responsible use of AI-ready resources.
It supports the development of AI solutions by providing access to shared toolkits and also showcases different AI use cases to encourage the development of new applications.
AIKosh also provides AI sandbox capabilities through an integrated development environment (IDE). It includes tools and tutorials that can assist users in experimenting with AI resources and developing AI-based applications.
AIKosh is an initiative undenr the IndiaAI Mission, which seeks to strengthen India's overall artificial intelligence ecosystem.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is the nodal ministry associated with the platform.
According to the given source, the IndiaAI Mission was initially launched as a joint initiative between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Nasscom in 2023.
The mission aims to strengthen India's AI ecosystem by making high-end computing resources accessible to startups and researchers.
The implementing agency is IndiaAI, which functions as an independent business division under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
The IndiaAI Mission comprises several important pillars aimed at developing India's AI capabilities.
The Common Compute Facility focuses on providing access to high-end computing resources required for AI development and research.
AI Kosha, also referred to as the IndiaAI Datasets Platform, focuses on making datasets and AI-related resources accessible for AI innovation.
The AI Safety Institute of India is an upcoming pillar focused on issues related to AI safety and responsible development.
The IndiaAI Innovation Centre focuses on promoting innovation in artificial intelligence.
This pillar supports the development of AI applications for different requirements and use cases.
The Future Skills Initiative focuses on developing the AI-related skills and capabilities required for India's future workforce.
The mission also includes startup financing to support the development and expansion of AI-based enterprises.
Why in News?
Kawa UAV Pvt. Ltd., a defence start-up based in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, recently announced the successful maiden flight test of the Divyastra Mk3.
The maiden flight is significant because, according to the given source, it is the first instance in India’s defence history of an indigenously designed, developed and manufactured jet-powered loitering munition equipped with a fully indigenous powerplant taking to the skies.
About Divyastra Mk3
The Divyastra Mk3 is an indigenous loitering munition, commonly described as a kamikaze drone or suicide drone.
It has been developed by Kawa UAV Pvt. Ltd. (HoverIt), a defence start-up based in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
The system is designed to destroy high-value enemy assets, infrastructure and personnel in a warzone. It attacks its target directly by carrying an onboard explosive warhead.
Indigenous Jet Propulsion System
One of the most important features of the Divyastra Mk3 is its indigenous jet-propulsion system, developed by DG Propulsion, based in New Delhi.
Unlike many conventional UAVs that rely on propeller-driven piston engines or electric motors, the Divyastra Mk3 uses a compact indigenous jet engine.
This jet propulsion is designed to provide the UAV with higher speed, potentially reducing the time available to an adversary to detect, track and engage the incoming weapon.
Indicative Specifications
The official specifications have not been disclosed. However, the indicative data provided in the source suggests that the Divyastra Mk3 may have a range of around 300–400 km, a speed of approximately 250–300 kmph, and a warhead capacity of up to 15–20 kg.
Therefore, these figures should be treated as indicative rather than officially confirmed specifications.
Autonomous and AI-Enabled Capabilities
The Divyastra Mk3 features autonomous flight control and AI-enabled target-engagement capabilities.
These features allow the system to operate with a high degree of autonomy during its flight and target-engagement process.
Why Does Jet Propulsion Matter?
The use of a jet engine distinguishes the Divyastra Mk3 from many conventional drones and one-way attack UAVs.
Conventional UAVs such as Iran’s Shahed-136 use an internal-combustion engine to drive a propeller. Such an architecture generally prioritises endurance, simplicity and relatively low-cost operation.
In contrast, the Divyastra Mk3 uses a compact indigenous jet engine designed to provide higher speed.
The higher speed could reduce the reaction time available to an adversary for detecting, tracking and engaging the incoming weapon. Therefore, the Mk3 is conceptually closer to a small jet aircraft than to a conventional propeller-driven UAV.
Why in News?
The Government is seeking to strengthen the forest-based economy of tribal communities through the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM). The mission focuses on improving the processing, value addition and marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) collected by tribal communities.
About Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission
The Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM) was launched in 2021–22 to create a more organised system for tribal communities to process, add value to and market Minor Forest Produce.
The mission seeks to move tribal communities beyond the traditional practice of selling raw forest produce by providing them with skills, technology, infrastructure and market linkages.
Objective of PMJVM
The main objective of PMJVM is to strengthen the tribal forest economy by combining traditional knowledge and locally available resources with modern processing techniques, technology and market access.
The mission provides support at different stages of the value chain, beginning with collection and processing and extending to value addition and marketing.
Major Components of the Mission
Skill Development
Under the mission, tribal gatherers are trained in scientific harvesting, processing and value addition of forest produce. This helps improve the quality and economic value of the products collected by tribal communities.
Infrastructure Support
The Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK) receives support for establishing processing facilities at beneficiaries' homes or in Government and Gram Panchayat buildings.
Processing Equipment
Depending upon the locally available forest produce, VDVKs can receive equipment such as cutting and sieving tools, decorticators, dryers and packaging equipment. These facilities enable tribal communities to undertake primary processing and value addition locally.
Working Capital
Financial linkages are facilitated through banks, financial institutions and the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation to provide the required working capital.
Storage and Transportation
The mission also provides support for storage and transportation of forest produce on a rental basis, helping tribal communities move processed products towards markets.
Van Dhan Vikas Kendra Model
A key component of PMJVM is the Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK) model.
VDVKs bring together tribal forest gatherers through Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and help them undertake primary processing and value addition of Minor Forest Produce.
A VDVK is generally formed by clustering around 15 Self-Help Groups, comprising approximately 300 tribal members.
At least 60% of the members are required to belong to Scheduled Tribe communities.
Link with Van Dhan Yojana
The Van Dhan Yojana, launched in 2018, forms the foundation of the VDVK model. It focuses on organising tribal communities and improving their income through value addition and marketing of Minor Forest Produce.
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We provide offline, online and recorded lectures in the same amount.
Every aspirant is unique and the mentoring is customised according to the strengths and weaknesses of the aspirant.
In every Lecture. Director Sir will provide conceptual understanding with around 800 Mindmaps.
We provide you the best and Comprehensive content which comes directly or indirectly in UPSC Exam.
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