As Chandrayaan-3 and Luna 25 prepare to land on Moon, two questions

India’s Chandrayaan-3 and Russia’s Luna 25 are both in lunar orbit, preparing for a landing on the Moon next week. Luna 25 is expected to go first, on August 21, while Chandrayaan-3 is likely to touch down two days later, on August 23. Both missions are aiming to land in a region where no spacecraft has gone before, near the South Pole of the Moon.

What determines the landing time of the two spacecraft?

• Luna 25 rode on a powerful rocket to reach lunar orbit in just six days after launch on August 10. Chandrayaan-3 took 23 days after launching on July 14, because ISRO still does not have a powerful enough rocket to go directly to lunar orbit. Chandrayaan-3’s circuitous route, however, helped save energy and costs.
• August 23 is the beginning of daytime on the Moon. One lunar day is equivalent to about 14 days on Earth, when sunlight is continually available. The instruments on Chandrayaan-3 have a life of just one lunar day, or 14 Earth days. That is because they are solar-powered instruments, and require sunlight to remain operational.
• The Moon gets extremely cold during night time, well below minus 100 degree Celsius. Electronics not specifically designed to operate at such low temperatures can freeze and become non-functional.
• To maximise the time for observations and experiments, it is crucial for Chandrayaan-3 to land at the beginning of the lunar day. If for some reason, it is unable to attempt the landing on August 23, another attempt is supposed to be made the next day. If that too is not feasible, it would wait for one full month — about 29 days —for the lunar day and lunar night to get over.
• Luna 25 has no such restrictions. It too is solar powered, but it also has an onboard generator to provide heat and power to the instruments during night time. It has a life of a year, and the choice of its landing date is not dictated by how much Sun is shining on the Moon.

How far apart will the Indian and Russian missions land?

• But these are still much farther to the south than any other landing on the Moon. All landings have so far happened in the equatorial region, mainly because this area gets the most sunlight.
• The actual distance between the landing sites of Chandrayaan-3 and Luna 25 could be several hundred kilometres on the lunar surface.
• The polar region of the Moon is expected to get busier in the future, with several upcoming missions seeking to explore this part, mainly because of the greater potential of finding frozen water.

Gene-edited mustard: Less pungent, more useful

Oilseeds yield not only oil for cooking and frying. Their so-called meal – the residual cake after extraction of oil from the seeds – is a protein-rich ingredient used in livestock, poultry and aqua feed.

• Mustard seeds have high levels of glucosinolates, a group of sulphur and nitrogen-containing compounds contributing to the characteristic pungency of their oil and meal.
• While that limits the oil’s acceptability among consumers – especially those preferring cooking medium having less strong flavour and odour – the problem is even more with the meal.
• Rapeseed meal is unpalatable to poultry and pigs, while having to be mixed with fodder grass and water for giving to cattle and buffaloes.
• Besides reducing their feed intake, high glucosinolates are also known to cause goiter (swelling of neck) and internal organ abnormalities in livestock.

Breeding for Canola-quality mustard

• By lowering the glucosinolate content to the same dry seed weight concentration, the scientists have bred mustard lines whose oil and meal match the standard of canola-quality rapeseed (Brassica napus) in terms of pungency.
• However, large-scale cultivation of these canola-quality low-glucosinolate mustard lines hasn’t taken place, a major reason being their vulnerability to pests and diseases. The same glucosinolates that limit the palatability of the meal and the exploitation of its true protein potential are also key arsenals of the Brassicaceae family crops – from mustard and canola to cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli – against invading pests, pathogens and termites.
• While the lowering of glucosinolate levels in seed is desirable for oil and meal, a concomitant reduction in the whole plant weakens its defence. The protection provided by glucosinolates to the plant should not be compromised

Gene-edited Mustard:

• India’s most significant domestically-grown oilseed is rapeseed-mustard.
• Issues with Mustard seeds
  • Mustard seeds have high levels of glucosinolates, a group of sulphur and nitrogen-containing compounds contributing to the characteristic pungency of their oil and meal.
  • Rapeseed meal is unpalatable to poultry and pigs, while having to be mixed with fodder grass and water for giving to cattle and buffaloes.
  • Besides reducing their feed intake, high glucosinolates are also known to cause goiter (swelling of neck) and internal organ abnormalities in livestock.
  • The dry seeds from the normal mustard (Brassica juncea) cultivated in India contain 120-130 parts per million (ppm or mg/kg) of glucosinolates. This is as against the sub-30 ppm levels in canola seeds.

A Gene Editing breakthrough

• The Glucosinolates are synthesised in the leaves and pod walls of mustard plants.
• Their translocation and accumulation in the seeds happens through the action of glucosinolate transporter or GTR genes.
• There are 12 such genes under two distinct classes of GTR1 and GTR2 with six copies each.
• Researchers edited 10 out of the 12 GTR genes in ‘Varuna’, a high-yielding Indian mustard variety.
• For this, they used CRISPR/Cas9 – a gene-editing tool deploying an enzyme, which acts as a “molecular scissors” to cut the DNA at precise targeted locations of the gene, and then letting the natural DNA repair process to take over.
• By doing this, their encoded proteins, responsible for transport of the glucosinolates to the seeds, were rendered non-functional.
• By lowering the glucosinolate content to the same dry seed weight concentration, the scientists have bred mustard lines whose oil and meal match the standard of canola-quality rapeseed (Brassica napus) in terms of pungency.
• The new GTR genes-edited mustard lines are transgene-free or non-genetically modified (GM).
• They contain no foreign genes like those of the Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria in cotton or Bar-Barnase-Barstar (isolated from other soil bacteria) in the GM hybrid mustard (DMH-11).

Hangul population witnesses marginal rise in Kashmir

Kashmir stag

• It is also called Hangul which is a subspecies of Central Asian red deer endemic to Kashmir and surrounding areas.
• It is found in dense riverine forests in the high valleys and mountains of Jammu and Kashmir and northern Himachal Pradesh.
• In Kashmir, it is found primarily in the Dachigam National Park where it receives protection.
• A small population has also been witnessed in Overa-Aru Wildlife Sanctuary in south Kashmir.
• Conservation status
  • IUCN: Critically Endangered
  • CITES : Appendix I

Dachigam National Park

• The actual beauty of the park lies in the deep valleys, rocky outcrops, steep wooded slopes and rolling alpine pastures.
• Being located in a mountainous area, Dachigam National Park faces a huge variation in altitude that ranges from 1600 m to 4200 m above sea level.
• This variation in altitude categorises Dachigam National Park into two regions- the upper region and the lower region.
• Flora: It is extremely rich in Wild Cherry, Pear, Plum, Peach, Apple, Apricot, Walnut, Chestnut, Oak and Willow etc.
• Fauna: Hangul (Kashmir Stag), Musk deer, Brown Bear, Leopards, Jungle Cats, Himalayan black bear, and a few species of wild goats like the markhor and ibex.

What are Acoustic Side Channel Attacks and how is AI used to increase its accuracy?

Acoustic Side Channel Attack

• This technique uses the sounds produced by typing on a keyboard to determine what keys are being pressed.
• By analysing these unique sounds, hackers equipped with the right tools can decode the precise letters and numbers being typed.
• Researchers investigated the use of audio recordings taken from Zoom video conferencing calls, smartphone microphones, and off-the-shelf equipment and algorithms to launch ASCA attacks.
• The study found that when trained on keystrokes by a nearby phone, the classifier achieved an accuracy of 95%, the highest accuracy seen without the use of a language model.
• Accuracy
  • When a deep learning model was trained on the data with default values, the model was able to acquire a meaningful interpretation of the data.
  • On a MacBook Pro, which features a keyboard identical in switch design to Apple’s models from the last two years, the model was able to achieve state-of-the-art accuracy with minimal training data.
  • Additionally, when the AI model was made to recognise keystrokes using audio captured through a smartphone microphone, it was able to achieve 95% accuracy.
• Implications
  • This form of hacking could expose sensitive information like passwords and personal messages.

Side Channel Attacks (SCAs)

• These are a method of hacking a cryptographic algorithm based on the analysis of auxiliary systems used in the encryption method.
• These can be performed using a collection of signals emitted by devices, including electromagnetic waves, power consumption, mobile sensors as well as sound from keyboards and printers to target devices.
• Once collected, these signals are used to interpret signals that can be then used to compromise the security of a device.

Who was Madan Lal Dhingra, freedom fighter hanged at 24

Madan Lal Dhingra

• He was an Indian revolutionary freedom fighter.
• He was born on 18 February 1883 in Amritsar.
• Dhingra received his early education in Amritsar and later moved to England for further studies. He enrolled at University College, London, where he studied engineering.
• While in England, Dhingra became deeply involved in the activities of the Indian independence movement.
• He came in contact with the revolutionaries like Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Shyamji Krishna Varma, the founder of Indian House, and several others.
• Curzon Wyllie''s assassination:
  • On July 1, 1909, Madan Lal Dhingra assassinated Sir William Hutt Curzon Wyllie, a retired British Indian Army officer and a prominent official, during a public meeting in London''s Imperial Institute.
  • During the trial, he claimed that he had murdered Curzon-Wyllie as a patriotic act and in revenge for the inhumane killings of Indians by the British Government in India.
  • He was found guilty and sentenced to death.
  • He was hanged to death on August 17, 1909, at the age of only 24.
• He was disowned by his family for his anti-British leanings – so much so that even after his death his family refused to take his body.

INS Trikand docks in Iran as part of Indian Navy''s operational deployment

INS Trikand

• It is a Talwar-class guided-missile frigate of the Indian Navy.
• It is the third and final ship of the second batch of Talwar-class frigates ordered by the Indian Navy.
• It was built by the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia.
• Commissioning:
  • INS Trikand was commissioned into the Indian Navy on June 29, 2013.
  • The ship is named after the Trikand Fort, which is located near Porbandar, Gujarat.
  • It is part of the Indian Navy''s Western Fleet and operates under the Western Naval Command headquartered in Mumbai.
• Features:
  • The ship is equipped with advanced sensors and weapon systems.
  • It features various anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile systems, torpedoes, and a 100mm main gun.
  • It incorporates stealth technology, including reduced radar cross-section, to enhance its survivability in hostile environments.
  • It is equipped with anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities, including ASW helicopters and torpedo launchers, which make it effective in countering underwater threats.
  • With a long reach and a state-of-the-art combat suite, the ship is designed to undertake a wide spectrum of naval operations.

Srinagar''s Tulip Garden enters record books as Asia''s largest

Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden

• Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, previously Model Floriculture Centre, is a tulip garden in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.
• It is **the largest tulip garden in Asia,**spread over an area of about 30 hectares.
• It is situated on the foothills of the Zabarwan Range with an overview of Dal Lake.
• The garden was opened in 2007 with the aim to boost floriculture and tourism in Kashmir Valley.
• The garden is built on a sloping ground in a terraced fashion consisting of seven terraces.
• The garden houses about 48 varieties of tulip flowers. The garden also has several types of other flowers, including daffodils, hyacinths, roses, narcissus, and other ornamental plants.
• Tulip festival:
  • It is an annual celebration that aims to showcase the range of flowers in the garden as a part of tourism efforts by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir.
  • It is organized during the onset of the spring season in Kashmir valley.

Australia to buy Tomahawk missiles from US to boost defense

Tomahawk Missile

• It is a US-made long-range cruise missile used for deep land attack warfare.
• It can be launched from a ship or submarine and can deliver its warhead precisely to a target at a long range.
• It is used primarily by the U.S. and United Kingdom navies.
• Features:
  • It is designed to fly at subsonic speed while maintaining a low altitude, making it difficult to detect on radar.
  • It uses tailored guidance systems to manoeuvre while at such low elevations.
  • It has an accuracy of about 5 meters (16 feet).
  • The 6-meter (18.4-foot-) long missile has a range of up to 2,400 km(1,500 miles) and can travel as fast as 885 km (550 miles) per hour.
  • Propulsion: It is powered by a solid propellant during its launch phase. Thereafter it is powered by a turbofan engine that does not emit much heat, which makes infrared detection difficult.
  • It is capable of twisting and turning like a radar-evading fighter plane.
  • It can carry either conventional or nuclear payloads.

Centre approves Rs 200 cr to flood-hit Himachal Pradesh

National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF)

• It is defined in Section 46 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
• It is a fund managed by the Central Government to meet the expenses for emergency response, relief and rehabilitation due to any threatening disaster situation or disaster.
• It is placed in the “Public Account” of GOI under “reserve funds not bearing interest”.
• NDRF is constituted to supplement the funds of the State Disaster Response Funds (SDRF), in case of a disaster of severe nature, provided adequate funds are not available in SDRF.
• Eligibility:
  • NDRF guidelines state that natural calamities of cyclones, drought, earthquake, fire, flood, tsunami, hailstorm, landslide, avalanche, cloud burst, pest attack and cold wave and frost considered to be of severe nature by Government of India (GoI) and requiring expenditures by a state government in excess of the balances available in its own SDRF will qualify for immediate relief assistance from NDRF.
  • For availing the NDRF funds, states are required to submit a memorandum indicating the sector-wise damage and need of funds. The Centre, on its part, assesses the damage and grants the additional funds to states.
  • The financial assistance from NDRF is for providing immediate relief and is not compensation for loss/damage to properties /crops. In other words, NDRF amount can be spent only towards meeting the expenses for emergency response, relief and rehabilitation.
• The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the National Disaster Management Authority takes decisions on the expenses from National Disaster Response Fund.
• Sources of Financing NDRF:
  • It is financed through the levy of a cess on certain items, chargeable to excise and customs duty, and approved annually through the Finance Bill.
  • The requirement for funds beyond what is available under the NDRF is met through general budgetary resources.

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)

• It is the apex body for Disaster Management in India.
• It was established through the Disaster Management Act enacted by the Government of India in 2005.
• It has the responsibility for laying down the policies, plans and guidelines for disaster management for ensuring timely and effective response to disasters in the country.
• Besides approving the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP), the Authority approves the plans of different Ministries and Departments of Government of India, and lays down guidelines to be followed by State Disaster Management Authorities for preparing their disaster management plans.
• NDMA coordinates the implementation of disaster management policy and plan.
• Organisational Structure:
  • It consists of Prime Minister of India as its Chairman; a Vice Chairman with the status of Cabinet Minister, and eight members with the status of Ministers of State.
  • The NDMA Secretariat, headed by a Secretary, is responsible for providing secretarial support and continuity.