Thwaites Glacier
Syllabus: GS1/Geography; GS3/Environment
Context
- Scientists have raised concerns over the Thwaites Glacier, which is nicknamed the “Doomsday Glacier,” as it is melting at an unprecedented rate because of climate change fueled by human activities.
Thwaites Glacier (the Doomsday Glacier)
- It is an outflow glacier of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS), flowing into the Amundsen Sea.
- The West Antarctic Ice Sheet is one of the 16 climate tipping elements on the planet.
- It is nicknamed ‘Doomsday Glacier’ due to its potential to cause major sea-level rise.
- It is one of the most important places on the earth for those trying to understand how sea levels will rise in future.
- If Thwaites were to collapse completely over a long period, it could cause global sea levels to rise by around half a meter.
- Higher sea levels will cause coasts to flood more easily, worsen erosion, increase storm surges, and threaten cities, low-lying islands, and ports.
- While Thwaites is far from most lived areas, how it changes will affect people worldwide.
Source: TH
Eritrea
Syllabus: GS1/ Places in News
In News
- Recently, Ethiopia demanded that Eritrea immediately withdraw its troops from Ethiopian territory, highlighting renewed tensions in the Horn of Africa.
About
- Capital: Asmara (Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
- Location: Situated in the Horn of Africa (Northeast Africa). Lies along a crucial geostrategic corridor connecting Africa with West Asia.
- Strategic Importance: Controls the western coast of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital global maritime chokepoint linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
- Geographical Features: Hot desert climate along the Red Sea coast. Temperate / Mediterranean-like climate in the central highlands.
- Membership in International Groupings: African Union (AU) & COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa).
Source: TH
Sardinia Island
Syllabus: GS1/Places in News
In News
- The Italian government is planning to concentrate around 750 inmates under the strict “41bis” anti-mafia regime in a few facilities in Sardinia.
Italy’s 41bis Regime
- It is named after the law that regulates it, and is among the most restrictive in Europe.
- Introduced in 1992 after the murder of anti-mafia judge Giovanni Falcone
- It imposes near-total isolation on prisoners and was designed to stop bosses running their operations from behind bars.
Sardinia
- It is situated in Italy and lies in the western Mediterranean, near Corsica and north of Africa.
- It features mountainous terrain of granite and schist, with Mount La Marmora as its highest point, and enjoys a subtropical Mediterranean climate.
- Its economy relies on agriculture, particularly sheep and goat farming, and the island is renowned for its cultural traditions, annual festivals, and distinctive code of honor.
- In Nuoro, a remote city in Sardinia, a high-security prison historically held top mafia bosses and terrorists.
Source: IE
No questions on PM CARES, relief and defence funds: PMO
Syllabus: GS2/Polity
Context
- The Prime Minister’s Office has informed the Lok Sabha Secretariat that parliamentary questions and discussions related to the PM CARES Fund, Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF), and the National Defence Fund (NDF) are not admissible under the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha.
About
- The right to ask questions in the Lok Sabha, Rule 41(2) (viii) states that “it shall not relate to a matter which is not primarily the concern of the Government of India”.
- Rule 41(2) (xvii) states “it shall not raise matters that are under the control of bodies or persons not primarily responsible to the Government of India”.
- The reasoning given by the PMO was that the corpus of these funds is constituted entirely with voluntary public contribution and not from any allocation out of the Consolidated Fund of India.
The Funds
- PM CARES is a public charitable trust set up to raise funds for national emergencies such as Covid.
- It was set up in 2020, following the Covid outbreak.
- The fund was registered as a Public Charitable Trust and its trust deed has been registered under the Registration Act, 1908.
- PMNRF provides immediate relief to people affected by natural calamities, major accidents, riots, etc.
- The NDF is meant specifically for the welfare of members of the armed and paramilitary forces and support to their families.
Source: IE
Impacts of India-US trade pact on Graphics Processing Units (GPUs)
Syllabus: GS2/IR; GS3/Economy
In News
- India and the U.S. have agreed under an interim trade deal to significantly boost technology trade, particularly Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) and data center equipment, and expand joint tech cooperation.
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
- It is a specialised processor designed to accelerate tasks related to graphics, such as image and video rendering.
- Much like Neural Processing Units (NPUs), GPUs excel at parallel processing, allowing them to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and perform trillions of operations per second.
- Today, GPUs are also indispensable for training large neural networks.
Applications
- Originally, GPUs were mainly used for gaming, video editing, and rendering 3D graphics.
- However, due to their immense processing power, GPUs have become essential for more complex tasks, such as large-scale data processing and cryptocurrency mining.
- GPUs support a wide range of applications including AI, scientific research, large-scale data analysis, and cryptocurrency mining.
Present Status
- India’s GPU capacity is set to nearly triple from 38,000 to 100,000 by the end of 2026, supported by the IndiaAI Mission, which subsidises GPU usage for startups and researchers.
- The government is also building sovereign compute capacity for its own AI workloads through infrastructure like NIC’s Meghraj. This expansion aims to strengthen India’s AI ecosystem, reduce computing costs for smaller companies, and position the country as a global hub for AI development and data centres.
- The upcoming India-AI Impact Summit will showcase AI solutions for societal problems and highlight India’s role in the Global South.
Importance of Recent agreement with US
- The new agreement allows India to import cutting-edge GPUs without such limits, addressing its growing AI compute needs.
- In data centers, India has offered a tax holiday until 2047 for foreign companies, fulfilling a key US demand and attracting major investments from Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, potentially spurring $200 billion in sector investments.
- The agreement also promises expanded electronics trade, improved technology flows, and strengthened supply chains, reinforcing India’s position as a global hub for electronics manufacturing, AI, and innovation, with the sector expected to reach $100 billion in bilateral trade.
Source :IE
Ethylene Glycol
Syllabus: GS3/ S&T
In News
- The Tamil Nadu government has banned a batch of Almond Kit cough syrup after detecting ethylene glycol contamination.
About Ethylene glycol
- Ethylene glycol (EG) is a colorless, odorless, sweet-tasting, water-soluble organic compound used as antifreeze in vehicles, in hydraulic fluids, inks, solvents, and for producing polyesters.
- It is highly toxic, with automotive antifreeze (95% EG) as a common poisoning source, leading to fatal outcomes even in small amounts.
Source: TH
Space Situational Awareness
Syllabus: GS3/ Space
In News
- Azista Space, an Indian private aerospace firm, has achieved a milestone by imaging the International Space Station (ISS) from its own in-orbit satellite, enhancing India’s space situational awareness (SSA).
About
- SSA involves comprehensive monitoring, tracking, and prediction of satellites, space debris, and near-Earth objects like asteroids to ensure space safety.
- It analyzes collision risks and supports avoidance maneuvers amid growing orbital congestion from over 50 Indian satellites worth Rs 50,000 crore.
- Azista’s demo strengthens the national SSA for asset protection, naval surveillance, and defense against orbital threats.
Source: TH
Reticulated Python
Syllabus: GS3/ Environment
Context
- Guinness World Records has confirmed a 7.22-metre female reticulated python named Ibu Baron or “The Baroness”, from Sulawesi, Indonesia, as the longest measured snake in the world.
About Reticulated Python
- Scientific Name: Malayopython reticulatus
- The species is native to South and Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and parts of India.
- Physical Characteristics:
- It is the longest snake species in the world.
- It is among the three heaviest snake species, after the green anaconda and Burmese python.
- It has distinctive net-like (reticulated) patterns on its scales.
- Human Predation: Reticulated pythons are among the few snake species known to prey on humans.
- They kill by constriction, suffocating their prey before swallowing it whole.
Source: DTE
Surajkund Mela
Syllabus: GS1/Culture
Context
- A tragic accident occurred at the Surajkund International Crafts Mela in Faridabad when a giant swing collapsed.
About Surajkund Mela
- The fair has evolved into a strong global identity for Indian cultural heritage, crafts, and art since its inception in 1987.
- The Mela is organised by the Surajkund Mela Authority and Haryana Tourism in collaboration with the Union Ministries of Tourism, Textiles, Culture and External Affairs.
- This year, more than 50 countries are participating, with Egypt as the partner nation.
- The central theme, “Local to Global – Atmanirbhar Bharat”, aims to give traditional artisans international recognition, while Uttar Pradesh and Meghalaya are the theme states.
- The event is a reflection of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The World is One Family).
Source: TH
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