UPSC Daily Current Affairs| Prelimbits 05-08-2025

First Private Test facility for heavy water

Why in News?

Recently, India’s 1^st private test facility for heavy water upgrade opened.

• Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) – It is a type of nuclear reactor that uses heavy water (deuterium oxide) as both a coolant and moderator.
• This design allows the reactor to utilize natural uranium as fuel, without the need for expensive fuel enrichment facilities.
• The heavy water is kept under pressure to prevent boiling, allowing for higher operating temperatures.
• D2O needs to be 99.9% pure for working efficiently.
• But with time, it gets contaminated with light or regular water, requiring the depleted D2O to be upgraded back to 99.9% using a distillation process.
• Test facility done by - TEMA India, a Mumbai-based private company.
  • BARC – Previously testing was done by the country’s main nuclear research, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).
• Technology transfer – BARC has transferred the indigenous technology to TEMA to build the vacuum distillations columns for upgradation of depleted heavy water.
• TEMA India will manufacture the components required for the distillation process and also test them to ensure they produce the right results.
• 1^st Deployment - The first batch of tested distillation column sections for deployment at Unit 8 of the Rawatbhata Nuclear Power Plant (RAPP-8) in Rajasthan.
• The company will also manufacture and test distillation equipment for the upcoming 4 nuclear reactors at Gorakhpur in Haryana and two at Kaiga in Karnataka.
• India’s nuclear Goals - India has a goal to achieve 100 GW of installed nuclear energy capacity by 2047.
• To achieve 22.4 GW of installed capacity by 2032.
• The government launched Nuclear Energy Mission to develop Small Modular Reactors.

There are 24 nuclear reactors operational in India, with an installed capacity of 8,780 MW.

Reference

Heavy water | Test facility for Heavy water

Naval prowess of Rajendra Chola I

Why in news?

Recently, PM visited Gangaikonda cholapuram released a Commemorative coin marking 1000 years of Rajendra chola I’s Gangetic expedition.

The Cholas (9^th and 13^th centuries CE) were one of the 3 major Tamil dynasties, along with the Cheras and Pandiyas.

• Rajendra chola I (1014 – 1044 AD) – He was one of the most powerful Emperor of chola dynasty succeeded his father Rajaraja chola I.
• He pioneered India’s first overseas military campaigns, spreading Chola dominance across South and Southeast Asia.
• Art & Artichecture – He Built a temple dedicated to lord shiva which named as Gangaikonda cholisvarar.
• He shifted his capital from Thanjavur to the newly founded city of Gangaikondacholapuram.
• Inscriptions bearing the title Tirumanni Valara, linked to Rajendra Chola, were discovered near Polonnaruwa in Sri Lanka.
• The presence of temples built in Tamil Chola architectural style and dedicated to gods like Shiva, Vishnu further illustrates the strong Chola influence in the region.
• Administration - One of the defining features of the Chola dynasty during his reign was the encouragement of Local self-governance.
• Military Expedition – He had control over the Chera and Pandya territories.
• He defeated Jayasimha II of the Western Chalukyas, establishing the Tungabhadra River as the northern boundary of his empire.
• Conquest of Pala Dynasty – He defeated Mahipala of pala dynasty.
• In order to commemorate his victory over the pala king, he assumed the title of Gangaikonda and founded the city of Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
• Naval Expedition – Rajendra chola has the existence of a well-organised fleet of ships and boats of various grades in Chola’s navy, serving both commercial and military purposes.
• Campaign against Elamandalam (Srilanka) – Rajendra Chola launched a naval campaign against the Sinhalese ruler Mahinda V and emerged victorious in the year 1017.
• Southeast Asia campaign – He extended his influence over south and southeast Asia.
• In 1025 CE, he led a naval expedition against the kadaram (Srivijaya Empire) Sangrama Vijayottungavarman and securing control over trade through the Malacca Strait.
• Inscriptions on the Tiruvalangadu copper plates mentioned the conquest of Kadaram.

The Karandai copper plates mention that the King of Kambhoja sent a victorious war chariot to Rajendra Chola as a gesture of friendship.

• Reign Extension - Across India, Maldives, Burma, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia and Malaysia.
• Titles – Mudikonda chola (Crowned chola), Pandita cholan (Scholarly chola) Gangaikondan (conqueror of the Ganges),  Kadaram kondan (Conqueror of kadaram).

Reference

The Hindu | Tracing the naval prowess of Rajendra Chola I

Need for Conservation of Hoolock Gibbons

Why in News?

Addressing 30^th Congress of the International Primatological Society (IPS) at Antananarivo in Madagascar, Indian representative underscored the urgency of a national-level Project Gibbon, noting its severe habitat loss.

• Issue – Cases of local extinction have already been observed in fragmented forest patches of the northeast
• Action plan Modelled on - Project Tiger or Project Elephant.
• Aim - To promote the western hoolock gibbon as a flagship species to generate broader public and policy support for effective conservation.
• Conservation actions – This including the restoration of degraded habitats, creation of ecological corridors.
  • Scientific research
  • Capacity building for forest staff
  • Community engagement.

• Causes for habitat loss – Encroachment,
  • Unregulated resource extraction
  • Infrastructure development
  • Tea plantations, shifting cultivation
  • Fragmentation, hunting, and the illegal wildlife trade.
• Conservation status
  • IUCN – Endangered
  • WPA, 1972 - Schedule 1.

Quick facts

Other species

• Banka slow loris (Nycticebus bancanus),
• Sangihe tarsier (Tarsius sangirensis)
• Pig-tailed langur (Simias concolor)
• Myanmar snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus strykeri)
• Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis).

References

1. The Hindu| Need for Conservation of Hoolock Gibbons
2. npcb.nagaland.gov.in| Hoolock Gibbons

CLOVES Syndrome

Why in News?

Recently, Researchers believed that PIK3CA causes CLOVES Syndrome by mutations in a gene order.

• CLOVES Syndrome – Congenital, Lipomatous, Overgrowth, Vascular malformations, Epidermal nevi and Spinal/skeletal anomalies/Scoliosis.
• It is a rare overgrowth genetic disorder caused by mutations in a gene as a part of a larger group of similar disorders called PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum or PROS.
• This gene makes one of the proteins in an enzyme called PI3K.
• Mutations in the PIK3CA gene may cause the PI3K enzyme to become overactive, which may cause cancer cells to grow.
• These found in many types of cancer, including cancers of the breast, lung, ovary, stomach, brain, colon, and rectum.
• 1st discovered – 1867.
• Risk factors – PIK3CA gene are believed to occur spontaneously in the womb.
• It is not hereditary and cannot be passed on. At present, there are no known risk factors.
• Mutations in the gene result in two sets of cells in the body (one set with the mutation and one set without) and the mutated cells lead to the formation of abnormal tissue.
• Vulnerables - It affects males and females equally regardless of their race or ethnicity.
• Symptoms – Babies are born with this condition, can range from mild to severe and may vary from child to child include:
  • Soft masses of fatty tissue on the abdomen, back, sides and buttocks.
  • Vascular or blood vessel anomalies such as dilated veins that may be seen in the chest, arms and legs and that may pose a risk of blood clots.
  • Large and wide hands or feet, with large gaps between fingers and toes, ‘port wine stain’ birthmarks.
  • Spinal problems such as scoliosis or a tethered cord.
  • Kidney problems, skin abnormalities such as raised bumps, and sometimes, intestinal problems and asymmetry in growth.
• Diagnoses – A detailed physical examination, medical history and through various imaging tests such as MRIs, CT scans, ultrasounds and X-rays.
• A confirmation of the diagnosis can be made with molecular genetic testing for the mutation.
• Treatments – There is no cure as yet, usually involves a multidisciplinary team of specialists.
• Scenario in India - A few cases of CLOVES syndrome have been documented in India.

Reference

The Hindu| CLOVES Syndrome