Current Affairs 25 January 2025

Content:

1. ISRO gearing up for its 100th launch from Sriharikota on Jan. 29
2. Pralay, India’s first quasi-ballistic missile, to be showcased at Republic Day parade
3. Need to tackle the issue of ‘social media pollution’, says CEC
4. Odisha tops NITI fiscal health index, Chhattisgarh next best
5. Study finds link between smartphone use and mental health of adolescents

ISRO gearing up for its 100th launch from Sriharikota on Jan. 29

Context :

• Event: ISRO is set for its 100th launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
• Date: Scheduled for January 29, 2025.
• Mission: Launch of GSLV–F15 with the NVS–02 satellite.

Relevance : GS 3(Space ,Technology)

Details of the Launch

• Rocket: GSLV-F15 (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle):
  • Equipped with an indigenous cryogenic upper stage.
  • Designed to place satellites in Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
• Launch Pad: From the Second Launch Pad at SDSC.

About the NVS-02 Satellite

• Series: Second in the NVS (Navigation Satellite Vehicle) series.
• Purpose: Part of the NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) initiative.

NavIC Overview

• Definition: India’s independent Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
• Primary Service Area:
  • Covers India and a region extending ~1,500 km beyond the Indian landmass.
  • Ensures strategic autonomy in navigation.
• Services Offered:
  • Standard Positioning Service (SPS): Open to all users with:
    • Position accuracy: Better than 20 metres.
    • Timing accuracy: Better than 40 nanoseconds.
  • Restricted Service (RS): Encrypted service for authorised users (e.g., military).

Technological Advancements in NVS-02

• Second-Generation NavIC Satellites:
  • Aimed to augment and replace the existing constellation.
  • Enhanced features ensure continuity and reliability of services.

• Planned Augmentation:
  • Deployment of five second-generation satellites (NVS-01 to NVS-05) to bolster:
    • Positioning accuracy.
    • Signal strength and coverage.
    • Long-term service continuity.

Significance of the 100th Launch

• Marks a historic milestone in ISRO’s operational journey.
• Reinforces India’s space ambitions, showcasing:
  • Indigenous technological prowess in rocket and satellite development.
  • Strategic autonomy in critical areas like navigation and communication.
• Global Context: Highlights India’s position as a key player in:
  • Regional navigation systems.
  • Providing accurate and reliable Position, Velocity, and Timing (PVT) services.

Relevance

• Strategic: Strengthens India’s defence, disaster management, and civil navigation capabilities.
• Technological: Demonstrates India’s indigenous capacity in advanced satellite and launch vehicle systems.
• Economic: NavIC’s dual services (SPS/RS) can enable commercial applications, boosting sectors like logistics, agriculture, and telecommunications.

Pralay, India’s first quasi-ballistic missile, to be showcased at Republic Day parade

Introduction of Pralay:

• Showcase at Republic Day Parade: Pralay, India’s first indigenous short-range quasi-ballistic missile, will be a centerpiece at the parade.
  • Development Authority: Designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Relevance : GS 3(Internal Security )

Technical and Operational Features:

• Range: 400 km, enabling effective stand-off strikes.
  • Deployment Flexibility: Suitable for operations along the Line of Control (LoC) and Line of Actual Control (LAC).
  • Configuration: Equipped with a twin-launcher system mounted on an Ashok Leyland 12×12 high-mobility vehicle, ensuring rapid deployment.

Significance in Indian Arsenal:

• Conventional Strike Capability: Pralay is India’s first ballistic missile dedicated to conventional strikes.
  • Enhancing Tactical Edge: Complements existing missiles like BrahMos and Prahaar, broadening the military’s strike capabilities.
  • Deterrence Role: Acts as a strategic deterrent against adversaries, enhancing India’s regional security posture.

Procurement and Trials:

• Development Milestones: Development trials of Pralay are complete, and the Defence Ministry has approved its induction.
  • Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) Approval (2023): Sanctioned the procurement of a few hundred Pralay missiles alongside Nirbhay cruise missiles, ensuring a robust inventory for long-range conventional strikes.

Comparative System – Nirbhay Missile:

• Range: 1,000 km, providing extended reach for land-attack missions.
  • Development Status: A derivative version of Nirbhay has undergone recent flight tests, with trials ongoing.

Battlefield Integration:

• Multi-Branch Utility: Designed for deployment by both the Indian Army and Air Force.
  • Battle Surveillance System – Sanjay: Another notable system being showcased, enhancing situational awareness and reconnaissance.

Strategic Importance

• Border Defense: Pralay offers an agile and rapid response option in scenarios of border skirmishes or heightened tensions along sensitive zones like the LoC and LAC.
• Force Multiplication: The integration of Pralay alongside BrahMos and Nirbhay strengthens India’s tactical and strategic missile force.
• Indigenous Development: Highlights India’s growing self-reliance in defense manufacturing, aligning with the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative.

Geopolitical Implications

• Regional Stability: The missile’s induction signals India’s capability to deter adversaries while maintaining a strategic balance in South Asia.
• Message to Neighbors: Its deployment capability along both western and northern borders underscores India’s readiness to counter threats from both Pakistan and China.

Need to tackle the issue of ‘social media pollution’, says CEC

Context:

• Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar highlighted the pressing issue of “social media pollution” during the valedictory address at an international conference of election management bodies.
• A comparison was drawn between environmental pollution and the spread of fake and misleading narratives on social media.

Relevance: GS 2(Social Issues)

Highlights:

Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for Social Media:

• CEC proposed a GRAPmodel, akin to air pollution control measures, to tackle the adverse impact of misinformation on social media.
  • Focus on curbing fake, unverified, and disruptive content that undermines democratic processes.

‘Delhi Declaration 2025’:

• A collective commitment by 13 election management bodies to uphold free, fair, and inclusive elections.
  • Emphasis on combating challenges like misinformation that threaten electoral integrity.

Accountability of Social Media Platforms:

• Platforms were urged to introspect and takeproactivesteps before the problem escalates further.
  • Criticism of algorithms that amplify confirmation bias by reinforcing existing perspectives without exposing users to alternative viewpoints.
  • Algorithms need to prevent the spread of detectable fake content.

Impact of Social Media Pollution:

• Fake news and misleading narratives disrupt informed decision-making in elections.
  • Social media platforms were likened to contributors of “internal pollution,” which requires urgent corrective measures.

Broader Implications:

Elections and Misinformation:

• Spread of fake news can undermine voter confidence and polarize communities, affecting electoral outcomes.
  • Effective regulation is crucial for democratic integrity.

Algorithmic Responsibility:

• Algorithms need redesigning to prioritize transparency and present balanced perspectives.
  • Need for collaboration between regulators, platforms, and tech experts to develop solutions.

Comparative Framework:

• Drawingparallels between environmental and socialmediapollution underscores the gravity of the issue.
  • It highlights the need for similar proactive and multi-stakeholder approaches to mitigate its impact.

Possible Solutions:

Strengthening Content Moderation:

• Mandate social media companies to implement robust mechanisms for detecting and flagging fake or harmful content.
  • Graded penalties for platforms failing to address misinformation effectively.

Regulatory Framework:

• Governments and global organizations must create comprehensivelaws and policies for social media accountability.
  • Periodic audits of algorithms to ensure they align with democratic values.

Public Awareness Campaigns:

• Educating users about the impact of misinformation and tools to verify content can reduce the spread of fake narratives.

Collaboration and Research:

• Encouraging internationalcooperation to share best practices in addressing misinformation.
  • Investments in research for improving algorithmic transparency and combating disinformation.

Odisha tops NITI fiscal health index, Chhattisgarh next best

Relevance : Facts for Prelims.

• Top Performer: Odisha ranked first with an overall index score of 67.8, excelling in fiscal health.

• Other Top Performers: Mineral-rich states like Chhattisgarh, Goa, and Jharkhand were among the “achievers” category.

• Front-Runners: Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka performed well, showcasing robust fiscal management.

• Worst Performers: Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Kerala fell into the “aspirational” category, reflecting fiscal instability.

• Classification:
  • Achievers: Higher capital outlay (up to 4% of GSDP), effective non-tax revenue mobilisation, and low interest payments (up to 7% of revenue receipts).

• Front-Runners: High developmental expenditure (up to 73%), consistent growth in tax revenue, and balanced debt management (24% debt-to-GSDP ratio).

Fiscal Metrics:

• Odisha’s Strengths:
  • Debt Index: Top rank with a score of 99.0, reflecting sound debt management.
  • Debt Sustainability: Ranked highest with a score of 64.0.
  • Expenditure Quality: Maintains low fiscal deficits and high capital outlay relative to GSDP.

• Front-Runner States:
  • Robust tax revenue growth and improved debt sustainability.
  • Significant focus on developmental expenditure.

• Aspirational States:
  • Struggle with fiscal and revenue deficits.
  • Rising debt burdens and challenges in debt sustainability.

Challenges for Aspirational States:

• Kerala and Punjab: Poor quality of expenditure and low debt sustainability.
• West Bengal: Issues with revenue mobilisation and debt index performance.
• Andhra Pradesh: High fiscal deficit and challenges in revenue management.

Historical Performance (2014-15 to 2021-22):

• Top Scorers: Odisha, Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh consistently led in fiscal health.
• Data Source: Metrics derived from Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports.

Policy Implications:

• Focus Areas for Improvement:
  • Aspirational states need reforms in debt management and revenue mobilisation.
  • Enhance quality of expenditure to improve fiscal stability.
• Insights for Front-Runners:
  • Maintain balanced fiscal policies to ensure long-term sustainability.
• National Relevance: Understanding fiscal health aids effective policy formulation, aligning with recommendations of the 16th Finance Commission.

Study finds link between smartphone use and mental health of adolescents

Findings from the Survey

• Sample Size & Scope: The survey covered 10,475 adolescents (ages 13–17) in the U.S. and India.
• Core Insight: Mental well–being is inversely proportional to the age of smartphone initiation; the younger the age, the sharper the decline in mental health.
• Specific Declines:
  • Increased feelings of aggression, anger, and irritability.
  • Symptoms such as hallucinations, unwanted thoughts, and detachment from reality.
  • Broader decline beyond sadness and anxiety, encompassing cognitive and emotional disruptions.

Relevance: GS 2(Mental Health)

Comparative Trends: U.S. vs. India

• Rate of Decline:
  • Mental well-being deteriorates at a slower pace in India compared to the U.S.
  • In the U.S., both males and females experience steep declines with earlier smartphone exposure.
  • In India:
    • Females show overall mental well-being deterioration.
    • Males experience selective declines in specific aspects, while others improve.

• Baseline Mental Well-Being:
  • Indian adolescents (both males and females) exhibit worse overall mental well-being compared to their American counterparts.
  • Indian females with early smartphone exposure report increased sleep and health problems in adulthood.

Broader Implications

• Role of Smartphones: The introduction of smartphones (since 2008) aligns with rising mental health concerns among adolescents globally.
• Aggression and Anger: Strongly correlated with earlier smartphone exposure in both countries.
• Gender-Specific Outcomes: Differences in mental health impacts suggest the need for targeted interventions.

Addressing the Issue

Ed-Tech Solutions:

• Debate on integrating controlled educational technology (ed-tech) in elementary and middle schools to harness benefits while mitigating risks.

Parental Controls:

• Use of apps that restrict smartphone access for non-educational purposes, allowing safe navigation for academic needs.

Policy Interventions:

• Potential regulations for age-appropriate access to smartphones to prevent early exposure.

Awareness Campaigns:

• Educating parents and adolescents on the potential risks of early smartphone use and promoting healthy screen habits.

Expert Views

• Dr. Tara Thiagarajan, neuroscientist, highlighted:
  • The differential pace of mental well-being deterioration in India and the U.S.
  • The nuanced impact of smartphone use on adolescent females in India, particularly on health and sleep in adulthood.
• She emphasized the urgent need for solutions that balance technology use with adolescent mental health priorities.

Broader Context

• The findings underscore a global concern over adolescent mental health linked to technological adoption.
• They prompt deeper discussions on cultural, environmental, and policy-specific factors shaping these trends in India and the U.S.