Current Affairs Reverse Engineering – CARE (12-07-2024)
| News at a Glance |
| Science and Technology: Why are Sunita Williams and Boeing’s Starliner still in space? |
| Indian Air Force Ex Pitch Black 2024 At Darwin, Australia |
| Polity and Governance: Supreme Court’s verdict on divorced Muslim women’s right to maintenance under Section 125 CrPC |
| Cauvery panel asks Karnataka to ensure flow of water for Tamil Nadu |
| UP’s fee waiver on strong hybrids may push green mobility |
Why are Sunita Williams and Boeing’s Starliner still in space?
Source: the Hindu
UPSC Syllabus Relevance: GS 3 Science and Technology
Context: International Space Station (ISS)
Why in News
Veteran American astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry (Butch) Wilmore, are still docked with the International Space Station (ISS)
Key Highlights
- Veteran American astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry (Butch) Wilmore have faced a series of challenges since docking with the International Space Station (ISS) on June 6, 2024.
- Their mission has been marked by delays, threats from space debris, helium leaks, and technical glitches with the Starliner spacecraft.
NASA’s Space-to-Earth News Conference
- On July 10, 2024, NASA conducted a ‘space-to-earth’ news conference with astronauts Williams and Wilmore to provide an update on their mission.
- During the conference, both astronauts expressed confidence in their ability to return to Earth on the Starliner spacecraft despite the ongoing issues.
Starliner Spacecraft Issues
NASA, in collaboration with Boeing, is addressing several problems with the Starliner spacecraft:
- Helium Leaks: There are five small helium leaks in the spacecraft’s service module.
- Propulsion System Evaluation: The propulsion system is being closely examined due to issues with its seal, which led to helium leaks.
Ground Tests and Investigations
To resolve these issues, several tests and investigations are being conducted:
- Ground Tests at White Sands Missile Range: Identical thrusters to those on the Starliner are undergoing tests in New Mexico to ensure their reliability.
- Investigation at Marshall Space Flight Center: An investigation is underway in Alabama to determine the cause of the propulsion system’s seal failure.
Concerns and Safety Measures
- The delays in Williams and Wilmore’s return have raised global concerns, including from India.
- NASA and Boeing are working diligently to ensure the astronauts’ safe return to Earth.
Concerns and Safety Measures
In addition to Williams and Wilmore, the current crew aboard the ISS includes:
- NASA Astronauts: Michael Barratt, Matt Dominick, Tracy C. Dyson, and Jeanette Epps.
- Russian Cosmonauts: Nikolai Chub, Alexander Grebenkin, and Oleg Kononenko.
Starliner’s attempted launches and success
- Sunita Williams, 58, is the pilot of NASA’s Crew Flight Test mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner space capsule.
- The mission is a joint venture between NASA and American private space players to open up commercial travel to low-Earth orbits and the ISS to more people for scientific and commercial purposes.
- United Launch Alliance, a joint venture by Boeing and Lockheed Martin manufactured the Atlas V rocket which transported the astronauts via Boeing’s space capsule Starliner to the ISS.
- With this, NASA will have a second space capsule option , which has a crew module which can house up to seven astronauts and a non-reusable service module which houses the equipment and systems (air, temperature controls, water supply etc) needed for a stay in space.
International Space Station
- The International Space Station (ISS) is a large space station assembled and maintained in low Earth orbit by a collaboration of five space agencies and their contractors: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada).
- The ISS is the largest space station ever built. Its primary purpose is to perform microgravity and space environment experiments.
- Operationally, the station is divided into two sections: the Russian Orbital Segment (ROS) assembled by Roscosmos, and the US Orbital Segment, assembled by NASA, JAXA, ESA and CSA.
- A striking feature of the ISS is the Integrated Truss Structure, which connects the large solar panels and radiators to the pressurized modules.
- The pressurized modules are specialized for research, habitation, storage, spacecraft control, and airlock functions.
Sunita Williams’ extended stay in space
- The first crewed test flight of Starliner, scheduled for May 6, was postponed to May 17 after an oxygen relief valve issue.
- A helium leak in the service module’s thruster further delayed the launch to June 1. Helium, used for maneuvering the spacecraft, is essential for Starliner’s thrusters.
- On June 1, the countdown was halted due to an automatic hold by the ground launch sequencer.
- Starliner was successfully launched on June 5 from Cape Canaveral, docking with the ISS.
- During their week-long stay, astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore conducted tests to verify Starliner’s performance, despite a minor helium leak in the propulsion system prior to take-off.
What Went Wrong?
- En-route to the ISS, four additional helium leaks appeared, prompting NASA and Boeing officials to review flight data.
- NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager Steve Stich revealed that similar thruster issues were encountered during the spacecraft’s uncrewed test flight in 2022, indicating that the problem was thought to have been fixed.
- The Starliner’s undocking and return journey, initially scheduled for June 18, was postponed multiple times due to these issues.
- According to CNN, the Starliner’s service module has 28 reaction control thrusters, five of which failed during the flight, though four were eventually restored.
- The Starliner had its first uncrewed orbital test flight in 2019, which faced a software glitch that prevented docking with the ISS.
- In 2022, the spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS during its first uncrewed test flight, but also experienced thruster issues.
What is causing the delay?
- Apart from technical issues, the crew also faced a debris collision threat on June 28.
- The US Space Command alerted the six astronauts onboard the ISS to execute ‘safe haven’ procedures i.e. crew members board the spacecraft they arrived in, in case an emergency departure is needed.
- This was necessitated after a defunct Russian satellite (RESURS-P1) broke into more than 100 pieces of debris in an orbit near the ISS.
- On July 2, NASA said that the spacecraft was in good shape to remain docked to the ISS for over 45 days (its upper limit), giving the ground teams of NASA and Boeing time to conduct simulations and tests on the thrusters.
- Analysis is also underway to determine why several helium leaks have arisen in the capsule, said NASA.
- Currently, NASA has not set any end date to the mission, making the extension indefinite.
How will the crew return?
- In the July 10 press conference, NASA has said, that if absolutely necessary, Starliner would be capable of returning to Earth – acting as an escape pod.
- The SpaceX spaceship transported four astronauts to the ISS in March and is capable of fitting more people in case of an emergency. However, such an option has would be a last resort in case Starliner is deemed non-functional.
- But NASA has reiterated its confidence in the Starliner to return the duo, dropping the option of using the Crew Dragon.
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ |
Q1. Consider the following statements with regards to International Space Station (ISS) :
Which of the above statements is/are correct? (a) Both (b) 1 only (c) None (d) 2 only |
Q. NASA’s Deep Impact Space Mission was employed to take detailed pictures of which comet nucleus? (2007)
(a) Halley’s Comet (b) Hale-Bopp (c) Hyakutake (d) Tempel-1 Ans. (d) |
| Answer 1– A
Explanation –
|
Supreme Court’s verdict on divorced Muslim women’s right to maintenance under Section 125 CrPC
Source: The Hindu
UPSC Relevance: GS 2- Polity and Governance
Context: Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973
Why in News
- The Supreme Court ruled that a divorced Muslim woman is entitled to a claim of maintenance under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973.
Key Highlights
- The Supreme Court on July 10 ruled that a divorced Muslim woman is entitled to a claim of maintenance under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973, against her former husband — affirming that a parallel remedy under a secular law cannot be foreclosed by existing personal laws.
- A bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Augustine George Masih pronounced separate but concurring judgments upholding the rights of Muslim women after a Muslim man challenged a Telangana High Court direction to pay ₹10,000 interim maintenance to his former wife.
- He had contended that the maintenance claim in his case would instead be governed by the provisions of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986 (1986 Act).
How has the law on maintenance evolved?
- The law governing maintenance for destitute wives, children, and parents has been codified under Section 125 of the CrPC.
- It stipulates that if any person “having sufficient means neglects or refuses to maintain” his wife, then a magistrate of the first class may, upon proof of such neglect or refusal, order such a person to make a monthly allowance for the maintenance of his wife at a monthly rate as the magistrate thinks fit.
- The explanation to this provision clarifies that a “wife” includes a woman who has been divorced by, or has obtained a divorce from, her husband and has not remarried. It does not specify anything about the woman’s religion. Many States have made region-specific amendments to the section to allow a ceiling on the maintenance amount the court can order.
- The 1986 Act is a religion-specific law for Muslim women to claim maintenance during divorce, enacted to nullify the Supreme Court’s 1985 Shah Bano case decision which allowed Muslim women to seek maintenance under Section 125 of the CrPC.
- Section 3 of the Act guarantees maintenance during the iddat period, equivalent to the amount of mahr or dowry, with provisions for further maintenance post-iddat if the woman has not remarried and cannot support herself.
- The Supreme Court in Danial Latifi v. Union of India (2001) upheld the Act’s validity, extending maintenance rights till remarriage.
- In Shabana Bano v. Imran Khan (2009), the Court affirmed maintenance claims under Section 125 of the CrPC beyond the iddat period.
- In 2019, Justice Ahsan Amanullah of the Patna High Court ruled that a divorced Muslim woman could seek maintenance under both the CrPC and the 1986 Act.
What was the case?
- The top Court was dealing with an appeal by a man named Mohd. Abdul Samad, whose former wife had approached a family court in Hyderabad alleging that he had given her ‘triple talaq’, and claimed a monthly maintenance of ₹50,000 under Section 125 of the CrPC.
- The husband on the other hand contended that the provisions of the 1986 Act, being a special law, would prevail over Section 125 of the CrPC.
- He argued that the 1986 Act gives jurisdiction to the First-Class Magistrate to decide the issue of mahr and payment of other subsistence and thus relief cannot be sought before the family court.
- He further pointed out that he had already paid ₹15,000 to his former wife during the iddat period.
- In June 2023, the Hyderabad family court ordered that ₹20,000 interim maintenance be given to the wife.
- On appeal, the Telangana High Court in December 2023 reduced the interim maintenance to ₹10,000.
- Fifty percent of the arrears were ordered to be paid by January 24, 2024, and the remaining by March 13, 2024.
- Without delving into any questions of law, the High Court observed that “several questions are raised which need to be adjudicated.”
- It also directed the family court to dispose of the main plea within six months.
Social Justice Measure Insulated from Applicable Personal Laws
- The Bench acknowledged that Section 125 of the CrPC was introduced as a social justice measure to protect women and children, reflecting the constitutional commitment under Article 15(3) to ensure a life of dignity for women.
- Highlighting the secular nature of this relief, the judges emphasized that claims under Section 125 CrPC are maintainable regardless of the parties’ personal laws.
- Justice Nagarathna stated that this provision applies to women of all faiths and is a crucial support
- for destitute, deserted, and deprived women. She underscored that it aligns with the constitutional philosophy of social justice, aiming to free Indian wives, including divorced women, from gender-based discrimination and deprivation.
- Justice Nagarathna also recognized that married women often sacrifice employment opportunities to care for their families, children, and the elderly.
Equivalent rights of maintenance
- After referring to a catena of judicial precedents, the Bench concluded that equivalent rights of maintenance under both — the secular provision of Section 125 of the CrPC and the personal law provision of Section 3 of the 1986 Act, parallelly exist in their distinct domains and jurisprudence.
- “A divorced Muslim woman is not restricted from exercising her independent right of maintenance under the secular provision of Section 125 of CrPC 1973, provided she is able to prove the requisites encompassed by the said statute,“ Justice Masih opined.
- Thus, the passage of the 1986 Act was said to not “militate against or dilute” relief under Section 125 of the CrPC.
- Referring to the non-obstante clause “notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force” envisaged under Section 3(1) of the 1986 Act — which was argued to purportedly bar any concurrent relief under Section 125 of the CrPC —Justice Nagarathna elucidated that the intent of the Parliament behind such usage was to provide an additional remedy for divorced Muslim women.
Harmonious interpretation
- Advocating for a harmonious and purposive interpretation of the seemingly conflicting statutes, the Court said that the choice lies with the Muslim woman to apply for maintenance either under Section 125 of the CrPC or the 1986 Act.
- If she is unable to provide for herself, she can seek remedy under Section 125.
- Alternatively, if she is financially independent, she can seek maintenance under the 1986 Act till the expiry of the iddat period.
Muslim women divorced through triple talaq entitled to relief
- Justice Nagarathna further clarified that Muslim women who have been divorced through illegal methods such as triple talaq are also entitled to maintenance under Section 125 of the CrPC.
- The practice was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2017 and later criminalised under the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019.
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ |
Q2. Supreme Court gave a verdict on divorced Muslim women’s right to maintenance under Section 125 CrPC recently. Consider the following statements with regards to this:
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
|
Q. With reference to the “United Nations Credentials Committee”, consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (2022) (a) 3 only (b) 1 and 3 (c) 2 and 3 (d) 1 and 2 Ans: (a) |
| Answer 2– B
Explanation –
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Cauvery panel asks Karnataka to ensure flow of water for Tamil Nadu
Source: The Hindu
UPSC Relevance: GS2- Polity and Governance
Context: Cauvery water dispute
Why in News
The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) on Thursday asked Karnataka to ensure flow of one tmc ft (11,500 cusecs) of water at Biligundlu every day till July 31 to supply water for Tamil Nadu.
CWRC Directives on Cauvery Water Release
- The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) directed Karnataka to ensure a daily flow of one TMC ft (11,500 cusecs) of water at Biligundlu for Tamil Nadu until July 31, despite Karnataka’s request to defer the decision until July 25 due to deficit water flow.
Karnataka’s Water Situation
Karnataka provided the CWRC with data showing a significant deficit in water inflow:
- From June 1, 2024, to July 9, 2024, the total inflow into Karnataka’s four reservoirs was 41.651 TMC ft, a 28.71% deficit compared to average inflow in previous years.
- The current total storage in these four reservoirs stands at 58.66 TMC ft.
- In contrast, Tamil Nadu’s three reservoirs have a total storage of 24.705 TMC ft.
Current Releases
Karnataka noted that Tamil Nadu was already releasing water:
- Mettur reservoir: 4.905 TMC ft
- Bhavani reservoir: 0.618 TMC ft
- Total release: 5.542 TMC ft
- Based on these figures, Karnataka suggested waiting until July 25 before making further decisions on water release.
Tamil Nadu’s Position
- Tamil Nadu argued that Karnataka failed to maintain necessary environmental water flows between February 2024 and May 2024.
- They claimed that the current year is normal with expected inflows, thus the water flow at Biligundlu should meet the levels awarded by the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal and confirmed by the Supreme Court.
Karnataka’s Response
- Deputy Chief Minister and Water Resources Minister D.K. Shivakumar acknowledged the water shortage but refrained from detailed comments.
- He emphasized the insufficiency of current water levels and rainfall, suggesting that the visible rainfall was inadequate to fill reservoirs and lakes.
- He expressed hope for more substantial rains but indicated a need for future discussions on the matter.
Cauvery River Dispute
- River Cauvery is known as ‘Ponni’ in Tamil and is a sacred river of southern India.
- It rises on Brahmagiri Hill of the Western Ghats in southwestern Karnataka state, flows in a southeasterly direction through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and descends the Eastern Ghats in a series of great falls and drains into Bay of Bengal through Pondicherry.
- Left Bank Tributary: Arkavathi, Hemavathi, Shimsa, and Harangi.
- Right Bank Tributary: Lakshmantirtha, Suvarnavati, Noyil, Bhavani, Kabini, and Amaravathi.
Dispute:
- As the river originates in Karnataka, flows through Tamil Nadu with major tributaries coming from Kerala and drains into the Bay of Bengal through Pondicherry the dispute therefore involves 3 states and one Union Territory.
- The genesis of the dispute is 150 years old and dates back to the two agreements of arbitration in 1892 and 1924 between the then Madras presidency and Mysore.
- It entailed the principle that the upper riparian state must obtain consent of lower riparian state for any construction activity viz. reservoir on the river Cauvery.
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ |
| Q3. Which of the following Indian rivers flow through the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh?
(1) Godavari (2) Krishna (3) Narmada (4) Tungabhadra Select the correct answer using the code given below: A. (1) and (2) only B. (2) and (3) only C. (1), (2), and (3) only D. (1), (2), (3), and (4) |
Q. Which of the following Protected Areas are located in Cauvery basin? (2020)
Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 and 4 only (c) 1, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Ans: C |
| Answer 3 D
Explanation
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UP’s fee waiver on strong hybrids may push green mobility
Source: Indian Express
UPSC Syllabus Relevance: GS3- Ecology and Environment
Context: Policy for hybrid electric vehicles (EVs)
Why in News
- The Uttar Pradesh government waived off registration fees for strong hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (EVs)
Uttar Pradesh’s Initiative
- The Uttar Pradesh government announced a waiver of registration fees for strong hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (EVs) following Tamil Nadu and Chandigarh in promoting cleaner alternatives to traditional petrol and diesel vehicles.
Market Trends in India
- Hybrid Sales Surge: In FY23, strong hybrids accounted for 0.5% of total sales in India, increasing significantly to 2.2% in FY24.
- This growth outpaced the slower rise of battery EVs, which moved from 1.3% to 2.3% market share during the same period, indicating a shift towards hybrid vehicles.
- Advantages of Hybrids: Strong hybrids combine internal combustion engines (ICE) with electric motors, offering improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.
- They do not require external charging infrastructure, relying instead on regenerative braking and self-charging capabilities.
Impact of UP’s Decision
- Financial Incentives: The 100% waiver on registration fees for strong hybrids in Uttar Pradesh could save buyers up to Rs 3.5 lakh per vehicle.
- This move is expected to boost sales for manufacturers such as Maruti Suzuki India, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, and Honda Cars India, which offer strong hybrid models.
- Previous Tax Structure: Before this waiver, strong hybrids priced above Rs 10 lakh were subject to a 10% road tax, making them relatively expensive compared to conventional vehicles.
Comparison with EVs
- Environmental Considerations: Hybrid vehicles are seen as a practical medium-term solution for reducing carbon emissions in India.
- HSBC research indicates that well-to-wheel (WTW) carbon emissions are lower for hybrids compared to EVs, making hybrids at least 16% less polluting than their EV counterparts.
Global and Local Adoption
- Global Trends: Hybrid sales are on the rise globally, particularly in markets like the United States, where EV adoption rates have slowed.
- This trend underscores the growing preference for hybrids as a transitional technology towards full electrification.
Hybrid Vehicles
- Hybrid vehicles combine a traditional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) with an Electric Propulsion system, allowing the vehicle to operate using either or both power sources.
- There are different types of hybrid systems, but the most common ones include parallel hybrids (both the engine and electric motor can power the vehicle independently) and series hybrids (only the electric motor drives the wheels, while the engine generates electricity).
What are Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)?
-
- BEVs are a type of electric vehicle that runs solely on electric power stored in high-capacity batteries.
- They do not have an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and produce zero tailpipe emissions.
- BEVs use electric motors to drive the wheels, providing instant torque and smooth acceleration.
- Battery Technology:
-
- BEVs rely on advanced battery technology, primarily Lithium-ion (Li-ion) Batteries.
- Li-ion batteries offer high energy density, longer range, and improved performance.
Charging Infrastructure:
BEVs require a network of charging stations for recharging their batteries. Charging infrastructure includes various types of chargers:
- Level 1 (household outlets)
- Level 2 (dedicated charging stations)
- Level 3 (DC fast chargers).
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ |
| Q4.Which of the following statements correctly describes the market trend for hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs) in India between FY23 and FY24?
A) The market share of battery electric vehicles (EVs) decreased. B) The market share of strong hybrids and battery EVs both increased, with strong hybrids showing a faster rate of increase. C) Only the market share of strong hybrids increased, while that of battery EVs remained stable. D) The market share of battery EVs increased more rapidly than that of strong hybrids. |
Q. In the cities of our country, which among the following atmospheric gases are normally considered in calculating the value of Air Quality Index? (2016)
Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 2, 3 and 4 only (c) 1, 4 and 5 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Ans: (b) |
| Answer 4 B
Explanation
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Indian Air Force in Ex Pitch Black 2024 At Darwin, Australia
Source: PIB
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2032522
UPSC Syllabus Relevance: GS3- Defence, Science and Technology
Context: Exercise Pitch Black
Why in news
- The 2024 edition of Exercise Pitch Black is set to be the largest in its 43-year history, hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), where Indian Air Force would participate.
About Exercise Pitch Black
- Exercise Pitch Black is a biennial multinational air warfare exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), emphasizing night-time flying over large unpopulated areas.
- Exercise Pitch Black 24 will be the largest in the exercise’s 43-year history.
- It will bring together 20 participating nations and over 140 aircraft from around the world, with approximately 4435 personnel participating.
- This year’s exercise will be conducted primarily from RAAF Base Darwin and RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory; with additional aircraft operating from RAAF Base Amberley, located near Ipswich in Queensland.
- Exercise Pitch Black is the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) most significant flying activity for strengthening international engagement and enhancing our ability to work with overseas partners.
- The exercise ensures Air Force is responsive whenever the Australian Government requires.
- It allows Australia to contribute to the sovereign security of participating nations, ensuring they too are ready to respond to contingency operations.
Scale and Participants
- Largest Edition: The 2024 edition of Exercise Pitch Black is set to be the largest in its 43-year history.
- Participants: It includes air forces from 20 countries, involving over 140 aircraft and 4400 military personnel.
Objectives
- Large Force Employment: Focuses on enhancing skills in Large Force Employment warfare tactics.
- International Cooperation: Aims to strengthen international cooperation and mutual understanding among participating air forces.
- Experience Enhancement: Provides opportunities for experience enhancement through joint exercises with advanced fighter aircraft.
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ |
Q5. Consider the following statements with regards to Exercise Pitch Black:
Which of the statements given above are correct?
|
Q. What is “Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)”, sometimes seen in the news? (2018)
(a) An Israeli radar system (b) India’s indigenous anti-missile programme (c) An American anti-missile system (d) A defence collaboration between Japan and South Korea. Ans: (c) |
| Answer 5 C
Explanation
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