DISCUSS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ADITYA L1 MISSION AND IT PAYLOADS IMPORTANCE?

·       Aditya-I is India's first dedicated scientific mission to study the sun.

·       Aditya-L1 mission is aimed at studying the Sun from an orbit around the Sun-Earth Lagrangian point 1 (L1) which is about 1.5 million kilometres from the Earth.

·       It would carry seven payloads to observe the photosphere, chromosphere and the outermost layers of the Sun, the corona in different wavebands.

·       Aditya-L1 can provide observations on the corona and in addition can provide observations on the solar Chromosphere using the UV payload and on the flares using the X-ray payloads.The particle detectors and the magnetometer payload can provide information on charged particles and the magnetic field reaching the halo orbit around L1.

Therefore, the Aditya-1 mission has now been revised to “Aditya-L1 mission” and will be inserted in a halo orbit around the L1, which is 1.5 million km from the Earth.  

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The satellite carries additional six payloads with enhanced science scope and objectives.

·       Aditya-1 was meant to observe only the solar corona.

·       The outer layers of the Sun, extending to thousands of km above the disc (photosphere) is termed as the corona.

·       It has a temperature of more than a million degree Kelvin which is much higher than the solar disc temperature of around 6000K. How the corona gets heated to such high temperatures is still an unanswered question in solar physics.

·       Aditya-L1 with additional experiments can now provide observations of Sun's Corona (soft and hard X-ray, Emission lines in the visible and NIR), Chromosphere (UV) and photosphere (broadband filters). 

·       In addition, particle payloads will study the particle flux emanating from the Sun and reaching the L1 orbit, and the magnetometer payload will measure the variation in magnetic field strength at the halo orbit around L1. 

·       These payloads have to be placed outside the interference from the Earth’s magnetic field and could not have been useful in the low earth orbit.

·       The main payload continues to be the coronagraph with improved capabilities.  The main optics for this experiment remains the same.  

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The complete list of payloads, their science objective and lead institute for developing the payload is provided below:

Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC): To study the diagnostic parameters of solar corona and dynamics and origin of Coronal Mass Ejections (3 visible and 1 Infra-Red channels); magnetic field measurement of solar corona down to tens of Gauss – Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA)

Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT): To image the spatially resolved Solar Photosphere and Chromosphere in near Ultraviolet (200-400 nm) and measure solar irradiance variations - Inter-University Centre for Astronomy & Astrophysics (IUCAA) 

Aditya Solar wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX) : To study the variation of solar wind properties as well as its distribution and spectral characteristics – Physical Research Laboratory (PRL)       

Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA) : To understand the composition of solar wind and its energy distribution – Space Physics Laboratory (SPL), VSSC        

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Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS) : To monitor the X-ray flares for studying the heating mechanism of the solar corona – ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC)

High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS): To observe the dynamic events in the solar corona and provide an estimate of the energy used to accelerate the particles during the eruptive events - ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC)and Udaipur Solar Observatory (USO), PRL

Magnetometer: To measure the magnitude and nature of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field – Laboratory for Electro-optic Systems (LEOS) and ISAC.

          With the inclusion of multiple payloads, this project also provides an opportunity to solar scientists from multiple institutions within the country to participate in space based instrumentation and observations.  Thus the enhanced Aditya-L1 project will enable a comprehensive understanding of the dynamical processes of the sun and address some of the outstanding problems in solar physics.

HOW DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES ARE EXPECTED TO HELP ACHIEVE THE SDGS AND STRENGTHEN THERELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE AND ITS CITIZENS?

          Development in a country is fostered by its efficient governance. To ensure betterment oftheir citizens, governments over the world have accepted Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs), announced by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the year2015, as acceptable governance targets for all. Information and CommunicationTechnologies (ICTs)1serve as meaningful contrivances to engage with all the cross-currentslinking the 17 SDGs together. Digital technologies were initially deployed in the early1990s as means of dissemination of public services and information. In present times,these technologies have also been accepted as means for co-creating values for citizensas insisted by participatory models of governance too.

Emerging Technologies - The Changing Realm of e-Governance

Category-I : ‘Artificial Intelligence-AI’ is an area of computer science that emphasises the creation ofintelligent machines that work and react like humans. Based on this logic, some of the applications of AI areMachine Learning, Robotics and Autonomous Vehicles (AV).Example are:

1.    AI can also make governments more vigilant about crimedetection/ incident response processes/ prospective emergencies by analysing ‘digital footprints’ of certainsuspicious people.

2.    New AI-based tools coupled with data mining tools are already being used by the armedforces to speculate about potential national security threat.

3.    Another popular AI implementation is that of drones that are remotely piloted aircraft systems. Dronesoffer low-cost, safe, and quick aerial surveys which can be used for data collection and are useful inindustries such as power, mining, realty, oil and gas exploration, railways and highways.

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Category-II : ‘Transparently Immersive Technologies’ bring the physical world and the digitally simulatedworld closer, hence, creating a sense of immersion for the user. Real sensations can be experienced byusing technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality, assistive technologies, and wearable technologies.Example are:

1.    The VR uses a computer-generated environment to provide interaction with the real system,using head-mounted systems, whereas, in the realm of AR, the actual machine is augmented or supplementedby computer-generated sensory output.

2.    In India,startups like ‘Smartivity’ have been selling STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)-based educationalcontent in the form of toys, and DIY (Do-It-Yourself) kits that are AR-enabled.

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Category-III : ‘Emerging Digital Platforms’ are all the technologies that provide the advanced digital connectivity mechanisms and tremendous computing power to process humongous amount of fast data and ubiquity-enabling ecosystems. These features can be best experienced through digital technologies like 5G,Cloud Computing, IoT, Big Data and Blockchain technologies.Examples are :

1.    In India, NITI Aayog has developed the largest blockchain network by the nameof ‘IndiaChain’12 so that records/contracts based frauds are reduced, etc. IndiaChain will be linked to India-Stack and other government digital identification databases to further strengthen transparency in transactions.

2.    BigData analytics’ helps in ‘mining’ / excavating the datameaningfully, thereby creating new business models built around knowledge generated by analysing this humongous and heterogenous data.

FOREST FIRE

            The  word “fire”  evolved from the  Greek word “pyra” meaning growing  embers. Fire is actually the heat  and the light that results when three  elements i.e. fuel, oxygen and the source  are combined. The other elements, which determine  the behavior of the fire, are weather, the landscape  and the presence of the fuel.

            Recent forest fire in Australia has been alarmed the world, this can be understood, need urgent measures in combating forest fire  which highly impacted the ecosystem. Let us see how India prepared forest fire.

 Why forests fire?

            Forest  fire may  be defined  as an unclosed  and freely spreading combustion  that consumes the natural fuels.  Combustion. More than ninety five percent  forest fires are caused either by negligence or unknowingly by the human being. The rest of the fires are caused by natural reasons i. e. lightning, extreme rise in the temperature etc., which are very rare. In general all over the world the main causes  of forest fires are anthropogenic. According to FAO report “Fire Management- Global Assessment ”, regional estimates of human induced forest fires as follows:

a. Mediterranean- 95%

b. South Asia 90 %

c. South America 85

d. North America 80 %

e. Balkan countries 59 %

The natural causes of forest fires are common in remote areas only.

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Causes of forest Fire :

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Adverse impacts of forest fire:

·       Forest fires are a major cause of degradation of forests/environment.

·       Loss of valuable timber resourcesForest fires cause indispensable loss to timber and deteriorate its quality. Valuable timber species like teak, sal, chir, deodar, sheesam , rosewood etc. are adversely affected by fire.

·       Impact of forest fire on eco- system:The uncontrolled fires in such areas help in spreading pine forest at the cost of indigenous oak forest, which is very serious threat to the ecological balance.

·       Degradationofwatercatchmentsareasresultingintolossofwater-After forest fire, soil moisture is decreased and litter decomposition becomes almost negligible, which creates a possibility of forest fire in future.

·       Loss of wildlife habitat and depletion of wildlife- Forests are the habitat of many wild animals.Forest fire dramatically impacts the animal.

·       Loss of natural vegetation and reduction of forest cover- As a result of fires, millions of hectares of the forest area turn to ashes and remains of no use.

·       Global warming- One of the major culprits of climate change is forest fire. The immediate effect of vegetation burning is the production and release of gases including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, non-methane hydrocarbons, nitric oxide, methyl chloride and various other gases, which are released and returned to the atmosphere in a matter of hours.

·       Socio-economic impact- Fire is a major factor of destruction of human settlement and often causes deterioration of site by subsequent increased erosion.

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            The Government of India took numbers of the progressive steps for protection, preservation and management of forests fires, including:

I. The Indian Forest Service was revived in 1966 to ensure co-ordinated professional management of Forests.

2. government initiated National plan forest fire management. :considers Forest Fire Management as an integral component of forest management planning,

3.Since the year 2005, FSI has been monitoring forest fires across the country using inputs received from MODIS satellite system, a joint collaboration of NASA.

4.Institutional Setup for Forest Fire Management and stakeholders coordination. example :the Forest Protection Division, headed by Inspector General (IG) level officer looks after the forest fire management work at National level with the cooperation of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

5:Policy framework :Develop/ update forest fire manuals for field staff guiding them in simple way to detect/ report about and suppress forest fire.

6. Assess and monitor forest fire risks and enhance sustainable application of warning systems :Increased capacity in generating relevant warning, increased understanding of warning systems by forest management functionaries and sustained support and coordination between the partner organizations

7 Knowledge management, capacity building and awareness generation:Use knowledge and training to build a culture of innovation, safety and resilience, and institutionalize training on FFM for Forest Department, other role players and also at community levels.Example:Central Fire Management Research and Training Institute.

8 Technical options for forest fire management:Increased capacity to manage forest fire, involving community and using a variety of tested technical interventions.

Systematic Strategic planning effective forest management :

·       Publicity and extension- Covering preparation of publication/extension material e.g. pamphlets, handouts, circulars, posters and media programs through TV, radio, video tapes, etc.

·       Training and education- Designing syllabus for planning, management and ground level firefighting courses in Forestry Institutions.

·       Strengthening of organizational framework- Though appropriate modification and alteration in State Forest Departments’ structural framework and providing sufficient human power.

·       Research and development, by strengthening the existing and introducing new R&D institutions dealing with forest fire management.

·       Establishment of National Forest Fire Danger Rating System- Designing uniform.

·       Contious Monitoring,  evaluation and updating  prescription- Designing uniform formats for reporting, monitoring and evaluation.

GROUP I MAINS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

BIOPLASTICS ARE BEING PROPOSED AS A SAFE ALTERNATIVE TO PLASTICS. IN THIS CONTEXT, EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BIOPLASTICS AND ALSO EXPLAIN THE IMPACT OF BIOPLASTICS ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

         Bioplastics are biodegradable materials. They are developed from renewable resources like biomass. They used to reduce the problem of plastic waste.

Types of bioplastics:

• Cellulosed based plastics are made from wood pulp and they are used for making film materials such as wrappers.
• Thermo plastics are starch based plastics. They are used for production of drug capsules.
• Poly hydroxy butrate (PHB) is used for making
  bank notes and carpets etc.,
• Polymide II : It is prepared from vegetable oils and used for making oil and flexible pipes etc.,

Impact of Bioplastics on environment.

Positives :

• Bioplastics are better than petro plastics interms of fossil fuel consumption, energy, efficiency etc.,
• They are easy to recycle . They don't contain additives which are harmful to health.
  They donot change the flavour of the food contained.
• They reduce the carbon footprint because they do not consume the non renewable resources.
• They all ready used in Agriculture, textile, industry, medicine etc in Europe and USA for their ecological reason.

Negatives:

• All bioplastics are not biodegradable.
• In 2009, Central pollution control board tested the samples and found that only 40% of them are biodegradable.
• People cannot differentiate bioplastics from regular plastics in the trash.
• Bioplastics are inferior to petroplastcs in terms of cost and applicability.

          It is better for Alternative techniques which are more environmental friendly. Ex: Composting and making people aware about the importance of waste management and protecting environment.