1.Balkan Region
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus Reference: Geography
Context:
A tragic incident occurred in the Balkan region where the death toll from a migrant boat capsizing in the Drina River, which flows between Serbia and Bosnia, rose to 12.
Background:
The boat was transporting between 25 and 30 migrants when it overturned while crossing the Drina River from Serbia to Bosnia.
About the Balkan Region:
The Balkan region, also referred to as the Balkans, is located in Southeastern Europe. The countries in this region include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia.
Geographical Boundaries:
- The Adriatic Sea lies to the northwest.
- The Ionian Sea is to the southwest.
- The Aegean Sea borders the south.
- The Black Sea is situated to the northeast.
Reasons for Migration to the Balkans:
- Economic Prospects: Many migrants seek better job opportunities, especially in fields like agriculture, construction, and service industries.
- Safety and Stability: Migrants escaping conflict, persecution, or unstable conditions in their home countries use the Balkans as a transit route to Western Europe.
- Family Reunification: Some migrants relocate to reunite with family members already settled in the region or those en route to other parts of Europe.
- Access to Services: Inadequate access to essential services like healthcare and education in their home countries prompts migrants to seek better conditions in the Balkans.
- Strategic Location: The Balkans serve as a key gateway to Europe, making them a crucial transit point for migrants from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
2. Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)
Source: Press Information Bureau
Syllabus Reference: GS 2 – Government Schemes
Context:
The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), launched in 2019, recently marked its fifth anniversary.
Background:
The Jal Jeevan Mission was introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2019, with the goal of ensuring tap water connections for every rural household by 2024. Initially, only 3.23 crore (17%) rural households had access to tap water.
Progress Achieved Under JJM:
- Household Coverage: Approximately 11.07 crore (77.98%) rural households now have tap water connections.
- ‘Har Ghar Jal’ Status: Achieved in 188 districts, 1,838 blocks, 1,09,996 Gram Panchayats, and 2,33,209 villages.
- JE-AES Affected Areas: Over 2.35 crore households (79.21%) in Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) affected districts now have access to clean tap water.
- States/UTs with 100% Coverage: Goa, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra Nagar Haveli & Daman Diu, Haryana, Telangana, Puducherry, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh.
- Schools and Anganwadi Centers: Tap water supply has been provided to 9,27,421 schools and 9,63,955 Anganwadi centers.
Key Objectives of JJM:
- Ensuring Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) in every rural household.
- Prioritizing coverage in quality-affected areas, drought-prone regions, deserts, and Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) villages.
- Installing functional tap connections in schools, Anganwadi centers, health centers, and community buildings.
- Monitoring tap connection functionality.
- Encouraging local community involvement through voluntary contributions.
- Ensuring the sustainability of water supply systems.
- Capacity building and human resource development in the water sector.
- Raising awareness about safe drinking water and involving stakeholders.
Components Supported Under JJM:
- Development of in-village piped water supply infrastructure.
- Enhancing and sustaining reliable drinking water sources.
- Installation of treatment plants and distribution networks.
- Technological solutions for removing contaminants.
- Retrofitting existing systems to meet service levels of 55 liters per capita per day (lpcd).
- Management of greywater.
- Support activities like IEC, HRD, water quality labs, and capacity building.
Impact of JJM:
- WHO estimates that JJM’s goals could save over 5.5 crore hours daily, especially for women.
- Safe water could prevent nearly 400,000 deaths from diarrheal diseases and save 14 million Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs).
- Research by Nobel laureate Prof. Michael Kremer indicates safe water coverage could reduce child mortality by 30%, potentially saving 136,000 lives annually.
- The IIM Bangalore and ILO project that JJM will create 59.9 lakh direct person-years and 2.2 crore indirect person-years of employment during its capital phase.
3. Kamchatka Peninsula
Syllabus Reference: Prelims & Mains – Mapping
Context:
Russia’s Shiveluch volcano, one of the most active in the country, recently erupted, sending ash plumes across the Kamchatka Peninsula.
Background:
The eruption of the Shiveluch volcano followed a powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake off the east coast of Kamchatka.
Geography of Kamchatka Peninsula:
- Location: Situated in the Russian Far East between the Sea of Okhotsk (west) and the Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea (east).
- Size: The peninsula extends roughly 1,250 kilometers in length and spans approximately 270,000 square kilometers.
- Topography: It features the Sredinny (Central) and Vostochny (Eastern) mountain ranges with the Kamchatka River running through the central valley.
Natural Features:
- Volcanoes: Home to 127 volcanoes, including 22 active ones like Klyuchevskaya Sopka (4,750 meters).
- Geysers and Hot Springs: The Valley of Geysers in the Kronotsky Nature Reserve is renowned for its geysers and hot springs.
- Climate and Vegetation: The region has a harsh climate with cold, snowy winters and cool, wet summers. Vegetation is predominantly tundra.
Additional Information:
- Population: The population is around 289,033, mostly ethnic Russians. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is the primary urban center.
- UNESCO Recognition: The Kamchatka volcanoes are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for their geological significance and beauty.
4. Atomic Power Stations in India
Syllabus Reference: Prelims – Current Affairs
Context:
India’s second indigenous 700 MW nuclear power reactor at Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS) in Gujarat has commenced full-scale operations.
Background:
India is building 14 more 700 MW nuclear reactors of similar design, which are expected to start operations between now and 2031-32.
Key Details About Atomic Power Stations:
- An atomic power station, or nuclear power plant, produces electricity through nuclear fission.
- India has 23 operational nuclear reactors across 8 nuclear power plants, with a combined capacity of 7,380 MW.
Major Nuclear Power Plants in India:
- Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS), Maharashtra
- Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS), Rajasthan
- Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP), Tamil Nadu
- Kaiga Generating Station (KGS), Karnataka
- Narora Atomic Power Station (NAPS), Uttar Pradesh
- Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS), Gujarat
- Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS), Tamil Nadu
- Kalpakkam (Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research), Tamil Nadu
Key Components of a Nuclear Power Station:
- Nuclear Reactor: The core area where nuclear fission occurs.
- Heat Exchanger/Steam Generator: Converts water into steam using heat from the reactor.
- Turbine: Driven by steam to generate mechanical energy.
- Generator: Converts mechanical energy into electricity.
- Cooling System: Recycles water for continuous use.
Advantages of Nuclear Power:
- Low greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels.
- High energy density, producing significant energy from minimal fuel.
India’s Nuclear Energy Goals:
- By 2031-32: Triple the nuclear power capacity to 22,480 MW with 20 new reactors.
- By 2047: Achieve 100 GW of nuclear power capacity, involving the private sector for funding.
5. Sisupalgarh
Source: The Hindu
Syllabus Reference: GS 1 – History, Art, and Culture
About Sisupalgarh:
Sisupalgarh is an ancient fortified city near Bhubaneswar, Odisha. It once served as the capital of Kalinga (ancient Odisha) and dates back to the pre-Mauryan period, making it over 2,000 years old.
Historical Significance:
Discovered in 1948 by archaeologist B.B. Lal, Sisupalgarh is one of the best-preserved ancient fortifications in India.
Features of Sisupalgarh:
- It was designed and constructed in a complete square shape that was surrounded by defensive walls.
- Each side spreads for over half a mile, and the interior is full of stone ruins and sculptures.
- The walls of the fortification are a little over nine meters (30 feet) tall.
- There were eight gateways into the city, two on each of the four sides of the wall.
- The gateways were connected by streets in a grid-like arrangement with the palace in the center.
- The gates were elaborate structures made of brick and stone.
- There is evidence of stone-lined reservoirs that were likely used for harvesting rainwater.
- Intelligent traffic management, pedestrian-friendly pathways, grand gateways with guard houses, wide roads, and a vast open space.
- It is identified with Kalinganagara of Kharavela and Tosali of Ashoka.
- The construction of Sisupalgarh was based on JalaDurga(Water Fort) concept, which in Odia is known as the GadaKhai concept.
- Jala Durga is a type of Durga or fort, which must be situated within a water body.
- It is divided into two categories, viz., the Anterdvipa (Island fort) and the Sthala Durga (Land fort).
- Antardvipa-Durga (island fortress) is surrounded by natural (sea or river) water bodies.
- Sthala-Durga (plain fortress) is surrounded by artificial moats or irrigated by a river.