Prelim Bits 27-11-2022 & 28-11-2022 | UPSC Daily Current Affairs

China - Indian Ocean Region Forum

China convened the first ‘China-Indian Ocean Region Forum’ bringing together 19 countries from the region except India.

• The first Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development Cooperation (IORFDC) was held in Kunming city in China.
• Representatives from 19 countries including all countries from South Asia except India attended this event.
• The forum was organised by the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), China’s new development aid agency.
• In this forum, China proposed to establish a marine disaster prevention and mitigation cooperation mechanism between China and countries in the Indian Ocean region (IOR).
• China also proposed the establishment of a blue economy think tank network for China and countries in the IOR.
• The new China-led forum could be seen as a counter measure to India’s IORA

References

1. The Hindu - China’s Indian Ocean forum: India lone absentee
2. Hindustan Times - China gathers India Ocean countries for forum

PSLV-C54

ISRO’s PSLV-C54 placed Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-06) and eight co-passenger satellites in orbits.

Significance of PSLV-C54

• It is one of ISRO’s longest missions, where it successfully placed nine satellites, including EOS-06 in multiple orbits.
• For the first time, ISRO used two orbit change thrusters in the PSLV rocket to change orbits.
• The mission placed satellites in two different sun synchronous orbits.

The other 7 commercial satellites (Astrocast 1-4 from the US, Thybolt -1&2 and Anand) were roped in for launch via NSIL.

India-Bhutan SAT

• The ISRO NanoSatellite-2 for Bhutan (INS-2B) was built by the joint collaboration of Indian scientist and Bhutanese scientists.
• The INS-2B has two payloads and will provide high-resolution images to Bhutan for the management of the country’s natural resources.

OCEANSAT-3

• The Earth Observation Satellite-6 (EOS-06) is the third-generation satellite in the Oceansat series.
• This is to provide continuity services of Oceansat-2 spacecraft with enhanced payload specifications as well as application areas.
• EOS-06 is envisaged to observe ocean colour data, sea surface temperature and wind vector data to use in oceanography, climatic and meteorological applications.
• The satellite also supports value added products such as potential fishing zone using chlorophyll, SST and wind speed, and land based geophysical parameters.
• So far India has launched several Ocean Observatory Satellites including Oceansat series.

References

1. The Hindu - PSLV-C54 places earth observation satellite in orbit
2. Hindustan Times - ISRO successfully launches India-Bhutan SAT
3. Indian Express - PSLV-C54 carried earth observation satellite
4. ISRO - PSLV-C54/EOS-06 Mission

Sacred Grooves

The Tamil Nadu’s Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) Department, which administers 1,500 temples in the arid northern region, have started recreating sacred groves to protect the forest patches. 

• Sacred forests or groves comprise patches of natural vegetation from a few trees to several acres that are dedicated to local deities or tree spirits.
• These spaces are protected by local communities because of their religious beliefs and traditional rituals that run through several generations.
• In India, sacred groves are found all over the country and abundantly along the Western Ghats.
• The degree of sanctity accorded to the sacred groves varies from one area to another. Eg: In some forests, even the dry foliage and fallen fruits are not touched.

References

1. The Hindu - Recreating sacred groves in Tamil Nadu
2. ENVIS – Sacred Forests

Bluebugging

Apps that let users connect smartphones or laptops to wireless earplugs can record conversations, and are vulnerable to hacks.

• Bluebugging is a form of hacking that lets attackers access a device through its discoverable Bluetooth connection.
• Once a device or phone is bluebugged, a hacker can listen to the calls, read and send messages and steal and modify contacts.
• Susceptible Devices - Any Bluetooth-enabled device can be bluebugged.
• Wireless earbuds are more susceptible to such attacks and can record conversations.

Process of bluebugging

• It works by exploiting Bluetooth connectivity in devices by pairing with the device via Bluetooth.
• For bluebugging to happen, the device’s Bluetooth must be in discoverable mode.
• Once a connection is established between the hacker and the device, hackers can use brute force attacks to bypass authentication.
• They can install malware in the compromised device to gain unauthorised access to it.

Other Bluetooth cyber-attacks

• There are 3 main Bluetooth cyber-attack types - Bluebugging, Bluejacking and Bluesnarfing.

References

1. The Hindu -What is bluebugging?

UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards

The heroic restoration of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya Museum in India, has received the Award of Excellence in UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards 2022 for Cultural Heritage Conservation.

• The UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation programme is awarded every year since 2000.
• It has been recognizing the efforts of private individuals and organizations in restoring, conserving, and transforming structures and buildings of heritage value in the region.
• In 2022, 13 projects from 6 countries have been acknowledged for awards, including 4 from India.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya Museum

• The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya Museum (CSMVS) is a part of the ‘Victorian gothic and art deco ensembles of Mumbai World Heritage Site’ in India.
• The museum got the award for its impressive restoration of a major civic institution in the historic city of Mumbai.
• The museum was established as the Prince of Wales Museum of Western India in 1922.
• The premier art and history museum is an autonomous institution unaided by the government but supported by public-private partnerships.

Stepwells of Golconda

• The 17^th century Qutb Shahi tombs complex which comprises several stepwells (baoli), is located near the Golconda fort in Telangana.
• The Idgah baoli (stepwell) is among the 7 wells inside the Qutb Shahi tombs complex that was restored as part of the conservation effort.

Domakonda Fort

• The Domakonda Fort is a private property and was built in the 18^th century with an amalgam of styles including stucco work, arched pillars, flat ceiling, and a courtyard with a water garden pond.

Byculla Station

• The Byculla railway station in Mumbai is part of Central Railways, received an award of merit for its conservation efforts.

References

1. UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation
2. The Hindu - Restoration of Mumbai's century-old museum
3. Indian Express – CSMVS wins UNESCO award for conservation