Prelim Bits 27-09-2022 | UPSC Daily Current Affairs

AVGAS 100 LL

The Centre launched the indigenously-developed aviation fuel AVGAS 100 LL.

The Aviation Gasoline, AVGAS 100 LL, is a higher-octane Aviation fuel that was developed by Indian Oil Corporation.
It is a special aviation fuel designed for use in turbo charged reciprocating piston engine aircrafts and Unmanned Ariel Vehicles.
It has been certified by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
It meets the product specifications with superior performance quality standards, as compared to imported grades.
Currently India is importing this product from European countries.
Significance - As demand for air transport in India is expected to increase manifolds in the future, there is going to be a huge demand for trained pilots also.
For this, the number of Flying Training Organisations and trainee aircraft for pilot training is also expected to increase significantly.
So, the launch of AVGAS 100 will serve the needs of a thriving aviation industry.

AV Gas market is expected to grow from the current $1.92 billion to $2.71 billion by 2029.

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Avalanche Monitoring Radar

An avalanche monitoring radar has been installed in North Sikkim by the Army and Defence Geoinformatics and Research Establishment (DGRE), a lab under the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO).

The Defence Research Development Organisation is involved in forecasting and mitigation of avalanche hazards faced by the Army in the Himalayan region.

The first-of-its-kind Avalanche Monitoring Radar has been set up at an altitude of 15,000 feet in North Sikkim.
The radar has the capability to detect avalanches within 3 seconds of its trigger in the super high altitude areas.
This radar can also be employed to detect landslides.
The radar can see through snow, fog as well as in the night, making it an all-weather solution.
Working - The radar uses a series of short micro wave pulses, which are scattered at the target and can detect an avalanche.
The radar can permanently scan the targeted slope for avalanche release and track the path of the avalanche and its size in case it is triggered.
It covers an area of 2 sq.km, obviating the requirement to place additional instruments in dangerous avalanche-prone areas.
The radar is also linked to an alarm system, enabling automatic control and warning measures in case an avalanche is triggered.
Images and videos of the event are automatically recorded for future analysis by experts.

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Odisha's Encyclopedia on Tribes

Five edited volumes of ‘Encyclopedia of Tribes in Odisha’ was published by Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes Research and Training Institute (SCSTRTI) and Odisha State Tribal Museum.

Established in 1955, the Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes Research and Training Institute is the premier and oldest Tribal Research Institute of the country.

As per 2011 census, tribes account for 22.85% of the Odisha’s population.
Odisha is home to third largest tribal population of India.
Odisha homes 62 tribes including 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
Majority of Scheduled Tribes live in hilly and forest regions.
Their economy is largely subsistence oriented, non-stratified and non-specialized.

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Afghanistan - Not a Major Non-NATO Ally

The U.S. President has terminated the designation of Afghanistan as a Major Non-NATO ally (MNNA) of the United States.

In 2012, the US designated Afghanistan a MNNA ally.
The designation gave several facilities and concessions to Afghanistan in terms of defence and security-related assistance and equipment.
The change in Afghanistan's status follows the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country in 2021, ending nearly 20 years of war.
After this, Taliban captured power in Afghanistan.

Major Non-NATO Ally

The Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status was first created in 1987.
The United States can name a country MNNA under the Section 517 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Arms Export Control Act.
With Afghanistan's status rescinded, the U.S. will have 18 major non-NATO allies.
They are Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, South Korea, Thailand and Tunisia.
Taiwan is treated as an MNNA, without formal designation as such.

Recently, a resolution has been tabled in the U.S. House of Representatives to designate India as a major non-NATO ally.

Benefits - A major non-NATO ally is eligible for loans of material, supplies, or equipment from the US for cooperative research, development, testing, or evaluation purposes.
They are eligible as a location for U.S.-owned War Reserve Stockpiles to be placed on its territory outside of U.S. military facilities.
These countries can enter into agreements with the US for the cooperative furnishing of training (bi- or multi-lateral basis), if the financial arrangements are reciprocal and provide for reimbursement of all U.S. direct costs.
Eligible, to the maximum extent feasible, for priority delivery of Excess Defense Articles transferred under section 516 of the Foreign Assistance Act (if located on the southern or south-eastern flank of NATO).
Eligible for consideration to purchase depleted uranium ammunition.
Allows funding to procure explosives detection devices and other counter-terrorism research and development projects under the auspices of the Department of State’s Technical Support Working Group.

Reference

Coffee-ring Effect

When a drop of spilt coffee dries up, the outermost edge of the dried drop is a little darker than the centre, forming a darker ‘ring’. This is called the ‘coffee ring effect’.
This is caused by the outward drift of suspended coffee particles from the centre, causing a denser, darkened rim.
Now, researchers from IIT-Madras, have shown that after reaching the rim, as the drop dries, some of the particles undergo an inward drift too.

While the inward drift would persist for sub-micron-sized particles, it would decrease with particle size.

Gapped coffee ring - The inward movement takes place because the particles are ‘squished’ between the solid plate and the evaporating liquid interface.
Hence, the ‘coffee’ ring is not formed at the point where the liquid touches the solid, but there is a small gap between the outermost edge and the ring.
Using the theory of evaporating drops, the researchers could calculate the rate at which the liquid interface gets flattened.
Benefits - This research has applications in agriculture, forensic science and even disease diagnosis.
Understanding the drying of biologically relevant fluids like blood can help diagnose anaemic and hyperlipidaemic conditions.
The size-based separation of different molecules in biological fluids can provide useful information about disease conditions.
Generally, the coffee-ring effect has implications for the manufacture of high tech materials such as fuel cells, displays, and sensors.
That’s because these devices are made by depositing a coating onto a surface. (E.g.): Drop-casting (Depositing tiny droplets onto the surface).

Reference

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Prelim Bits 27-09-2022 | UPSC Daily Current Affairs

AVGAS 100 LL

Avalanche Monitoring Radar

Odisha's Encyclopedia on Tribes

Afghanistan - Not a Major Non-NATO Ally

Major Non-NATO Ally

Coffee-ring Effect

Flexible Fuel Vehicles

Excommunication within Dawoodi Bohras

ARCHIVES