What is end-to-end encryption? How does it secure information?

• End-to-end (E2E) encryption protects information in a way that has transformed human rights organisations’, law-enforcement agencies’, and technology companies’ outlook on their ability to access and use information.
• Encryption is a way of protecting data from unauthorised access or tampering.
• It works by transforming the data into a secret code that only the intended recipient can decipher. This comes in useful for various cases, such as securing online communications, storing sensitive information, and verifying digital identities.
• The term encryption is generally used when referring to the privacy of stored data, while end-to-end encryption protects data as it’s transferred between a location – which is crucial wherever there’s a rapid exchange of information.
• In an E2EE-enabled app, only the person on each end – the sender and receiver – can read any exchanged messages.
• This is because messages get encrypted on your device before being sent and only are decrypted when they reach your intended recipient.

There are two main types of encryption:

• Symmetric: It uses the same key to encrypt and decrypt the data. In symmetric encryption, the key used to encrypt some information is also the key required to decrypt it.
• Asymmetric: It uses a pair of keys: one public and one private. The public key can be shared with anyone, but the private key must be kept secret.

Issues with End-to-end encryption

• Some potent malware can also ‘snoop’ on your messages by infiltrating your device via other means – an SMS and reading them before they are encrypted.
• The company that installs E2E encryption on its products can install a backdoor or an exception that allows the company to surmount the encryption and access the messages.

Key tests completed on Insat-3DS, launch soon.

• Indian Space Research Organisation has completed all key tests on Insat-3DS satellite before the final review which will be followed by its shipping to the spaceport in Srihari Kota, Andhra Pradesh.
• Insat-3DS is a collaborative effort between ISRO and the India Meteorological Organisation (IMD).
• It is part of a series of climate observatory satellites aimed at enhancing climate services. Comprising three dedicated Earth observation satellites, including INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR already in orbit.
• It will be launched by using the Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F14).

What is GSLV-F14?

• It is a more advanced rocket utilising liquid propellant.
• The rocket, distinguished by its higher capacity and the use of cryogenic liquid propellants in all three stages, presents a more complex engineering challenge but allows for a substantially higher lift-off weight capacity.

Key facts about INSAT-3DR

• It is an advanced meteorological satellite of India configured with an imaging System and an Atmospheric Sounder.
• The significant improvements incorporated in INSAT-3DR are:Imaging in Middle Infrared band to provide night time pictures of low clouds and fog. Imaging in two Thermal Infrared bands for estimation of Sea Surface Temperature (SST) with better accuracy.Higher Spatial Resolution in the Visible and Thermal Infrared bands
• Payloads: INSAT-3DR carries a multi spectral Imager, 19 channel Sounder, Data Relay Transponder and Search and Rescue Transponder.

The need to overhaul a semiconductor scheme.

• Since announcement, the Design-Linked Incentive scheme (DLI) scheme has approved only seven start-ups, markedly short of its target of supporting 100 over five years.
• Design-Linked Incentive scheme aims to offer financial incentives as well as design infrastructure support across various stages of development and deployment of semiconductor design(s) for Integrated Circuits (ICs), Chipsets, System on Chips (SoCs), Systems & IP Cores and semiconductor linked design(s) over a period of 5 years.

Objectives

• Nurturing and facilitating the growth of domestic companies, startups and MSMEs.
• Achieving significant indigenization in semiconductor content and IPs involved in the electronic products deployed in the country, thereby facilitating import substitution and value addition in the electronics sector.
• Strengthening and facilitating access to semiconductor design infrastructure for the startups and MSMEs.
• Duration: The scheme shall initially be for three (3) years from 01-01-2022.
• Nodal Agency: C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing)

The scheme has three components

• Chip Design infrastructure support: Under this C-DAC will set up the India Chip Centre to host the state-of-the-art design infrastructure (viz. EDA Tools, IP Cores and support for MPW (Multi Project Wafer fabrication) & post-silicon validation) and facilitate its access to supported companies.
• Product Design Linked Incentive: Under this component, a reimbursement of up to 50% of the eligible expenditure subject to a ceiling of 15 Crore rupees per application will be provided as fiscal support to the approved applicants who are engaged in semiconductor design.
• Deployment Linked Incentive: Under this an incentive of 6% to 4% of net sales turnover over 5 years subject to a ceiling of ₹30 Crore per application will be provided to approved applicants whose semiconductor design for Integrated Circuits (ICs), Chipsets, System on Chips (SoCs), Systems & IP Cores and semiconductor linked design are deployed in electronic products.

Meet Hercules, world’s most poisonous spider.

• Discovery on the Central Coast, approximately 80 km north of Sydney, the largest male funnel web spider ever recorded, named "Hercules," has made headlines.
• Hercules spider is the largest male funnel web spider ever recorded.

Characteristics

• The spider''s impressive size, measuring 3.1 inches from foot to foot.
• It is equipped with fangs capable of penetrating human nails, Hercules stands as the world''s most venomous arachnid.
• It represents the first male of such magnitude.
• Male funnel web spiders are known to be more lethal than their female counterparts.

Range:

• These are commonly found in forested regions and gardens spanning from Sydney, Australia, the coastal city of Newcastle in the north and the Blue Mountains to the west.
• Habitat: The warm and humid climate along Australia''s east coast provides an ideal breeding ground for funnel web spiders.

What is a funnel-web spider?

• These are one of the most dangerous arachnids in the world.
• There are 36 described species of Australian funnel-web spiders and they are currently placed in three genera: Hadronic, Atrax and Illawarra.
• The spider has venom, which is filled with 40 different toxic proteins.
• Its raw venom, is the best way to make life-saving antivenom.

ECI conducts training programme on ESMS

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) has conducted a training programme in virtual mode on the recently introduced Election Seizure Management System (ESMS) for the officers concerned from Andhra Pradesh.
• Election Seizure Management System is a dedicated technology platform designed and developed to digitise data for intercepted/Seized items (Cash/Liquor/Drugs/ Precious Metal/Freebies/Other Items) direct from field through Mobile App.
• It also allows Banks to generate QR code-based receipts for case movement.
• It is a system that ensures seamless coordination and intelligence sharing amongst enforcement agencies.
• It is a platform where all the central and state enforcement agencies will be onboarded.
• These agencies are required to upload details of every recorded movement and seizure of illicit cash, liquor, drugs etc.

Key Features

• Automate desired report in required format for all stakeholders
• Dashboard analytics for received data from multiple agencies
• Avoid duplicate data entry by Agencies
• Banks may generate QR code-based receipts in PDF format and issue for legal cash transfer.
• In this platform all the enforcement agencies such as police, transportation authorities, Central tax agencies and others share information in real time.
• The platform is for real-time updates on seizures from the field.

Senegal’s pink lake is on the verge of disappearing — how to protect it

• The Lake Retba’s waters are virtually devoid of life and are on the verge of disappearing due to pollution and mining.
• Lake Retba is also known as Lac Rose (the Pink Lake).
• Location: It is located north of the Cap Vert peninsula of Senegal, northeast of Dakar (Senegal).
• The lake is isolated from the sea by sand dunes.
• Its fresh water comes from the seasonal water table in the dunes, which are higher than the lake. Thus, the sea provides most of the lake’s water and all of its salt.
• The Pink Lake is one of the main tourist destinations in the Dakar region, primarily because of the pink colour of its waters.

Why is it pink?

• The pink coloration is due to the proliferation of halophilic green algae (living in a salty environment), Dunaliella salina, which contain red pigments.
• The algae is associated with halophilic bacteria of the genus Halobacterium.
• This microscopic alga’s resistance to salt comes from its high concentration of carotenoid pigments, which protect it from light, and its high glycerol content.
• In fact, Dunaliella salina contains at least four antioxidant pigments (beta-carotene, astaxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin), which are rich in vitamins and trace elements.
• When salinity is high, algae with red pigments thrive, and when salinity is low, they give way to other algae rich in green pigments.

Rahul Gandhi prevented from visiting Batadrava Than: Significance of this Assam shrine.

• Location: Batadrava Than is located in Nagaon district of Assam.
• It is also known as the Bordowa Than, is one of the most sacred sites for Assamese Vaishnavites.
• It is a temple complex at the birthplace of revered Vaishnavite reformer-saint Srimanta Sankardeva.
• Sankardeva founded the first-ever Kirtan Ghar at Bordowa in 1494 AD to practise and preach the neo Vaishnavite faith during the fifteenth century in Assam, and propagated the Ek Saran Naam Dharma.

Features

• It is enclosed by a brick wall and has two entrances.
• The Kirtan Ghar, a capacious prayer house, was initially built by Sankardev using temporary materials.
• Connected to the Kirtan Ghar is the Manikut, a place dedicated to housing sacred texts, scriptures, and manuscripts.
• The campus encompasses diverse structures such as Natghar (Drama hall), Alohighar (Guest room), Sabhaghar (Assembly hall), Rabhaghar (Music room), Hatipukhuri, Aakashi Ganga, Doul mandir (festive temple), and others.
• Additionally, a mini museum is present, showcasing historical articles and artefacts.
• A very big festival "Doul Mahotsava" (Holi) is a yearly attraction for the devotees in Bordowa.

Key facts about Sankardeva and his philosophy

• Sankardeva espoused a society based on equality and fraternity, free from caste differences, orthodox Brahmanical rituals and sacrifices.
• The Ek Saran Naam Dharma focussed on worship in the form of bhakti (devotion) to Lord Krishna, through singing and congregational listening of His name and deeds.
• His teaching focussed on prayer and chanting (naam) instead of idol worship.
• His dharma was based on the four components of deva (god), naam (prayers), bhaktas (devotees), and guru (teacher).
• The Neo-Vaishnavite reformist movement that Sankardeva started is behind the monastic institutions called Thans/Sattras.
• As the saint travelled across Assam, spreading his teachings, these Sattras/Thans were established as centres of religious, social and cultural reforms in the 16th century.
• Today, the Sattras promulgate Sankardeva’s unique “worship through art” approach with music (borgeet), dance (sattriya) and theatre (bhauna).

Socialist icon Karpoori Thakur awarded Bharat Ratna, a day before centenary

• Karpoori Thakur, a prominent Gandhian socialist leader and former Bihar chief minister will be awarded the ‘Bharat Ratna’ posthumously.
• Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian Award of the country which was instituted in the year 1954.
• It is awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavour.
• The recommendations for Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister himself to the President and no formal recommendations for this are necessary.
• The number of annual awards is restricted to a maximum of three in a particular year.
• On conferment of the award, the recipient receives a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion. The award does not carry any monetary grant.

Eligibility:

• Any person without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex is eligible for these awards.
• Though usually conferred on India-born citizens, the Bharat Ratna has been awarded to one naturalised citizen, Mother Teresa, and to two non-Indians, Pakistan national Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and former South African President Nelson Mandela.
• The original statutes did not provide for posthumous awards but were amended in 1955 to permit them. Former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri became the first individual to be honoured posthumously.

Mpemba effect: Heat up to cool down.

• The Mpemba effect continues to captivate scientists with its complex interplay of physical mechanisms.
• Mpemba effect is named after Tanzanian student Erasto Mpemba, who brought attention to this counterintuitive phenomenon in 1969, making for curious observations.
• The effect is that hot water can freeze faster than cold water in similar conditions.
• While Aristotle, Francis Bacon, and René Descartes had noticed the effect centuries earlier, the Mpemba effect caught scientists’ attention only more recently.

Different Experiments

• Researchers have conducted numerous experiments to determine the causes of this confusing phenomenon, but a consensus conclusion remains wanting.
• One cause, they have posited, is microbubbles left suspended in water that has been heated by boiling.
• These cavities promote convection and transfer heat faster as the water cools.
• Evaporation: as warmer water evaporates more, it also takes away some heat (evaporation is inherently endothermic, which is how sweat cools your skin). Both convection and accelerated heat transfer are enhanced in warmer water because such water is less dense.
• Yet another factor could be the presence of frost in cold water. Frost is an insulator and could slow the loss of heat.
• Scientists have also considered whether compounds in water like calcium carbonate could be precipitated by boiling, and then dissolve, thus increasing the water’s freezing point.

South Africa’s Agulhas long-billed lark: adapting and surviving despite farming taking over their nesting grounds.

• Agulhas long-billed lark is adapting and surviving despite farming taking over their nesting grounds in South Africa.
• Agulhas long-billed lark is a small passerine bird.
• It builds nests on the ground mainly in Renosterveld fynbos, a type of vegetation filled with grasses and wild spring flowers.
• It is a South African endemic species restricted to the Agulhas plains.
• These are generally “little brown birds” that are often difficult to identify.
• These larks prefer to nest in Renosterveld.
• Habitat: It appears to have adapted quite well to its modified habitats, like farmlands, although its distribution is patchy for unknown reasons.
• Distribution: Its restricted range is centred on the Agulhas arable farmlands, from east of the Hottentots-Holland mountain range to Mossel Bay.

Conservation status

• IUCN: Near-threatened
• Threats: Land use changes or any freak occurrence could be detrimental to the whole species and to other species that depend on this vegetation.

What is a passerine bird?

• A passerine or passeriform is a member of the order Passeriformes, the largest order of birds, containing more than half of all species.
• They are also known as perching birds or, less accurately, as songbirds.
• Passerines are all terrestrial, found on all continents except Antarctica.