PRELIMS
Sovereign Mobility Cloud
Why in News: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) launched its first Sovereign Mobility Cloud (2025) at the Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport, aimed at ensuring data sovereignty, regulatory compliance, and secure infrastructure for autonomous mobility and intelligent transport systems.
Definition: A cloud-based infrastructure designed specifically for mobility, autonomous transport, and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), ensuring data sovereignty by keeping mobility data under national jurisdiction.
Context:
- Rising use of autonomous vehicles, connected mobility, smart cities generates massive mobility data.
- Many governments promote data localisation to reduce dependency on foreign control.
- UAE (2025) launched its first Sovereign Mobility Cloud at the Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport.
Key Features:
- Data Residency & Sovereignty – All data stored and processed within national boundaries.
- Mobility-Specific Services – HD mapping, telematics, traffic management, fleet operations, digital twins.
- Regulatory Sandboxing – Controlled testing of autonomous/connected systems.
- Secure Compute & Confidential Infrastructure – Encryption, zero-trust, identity access controls.
- Digital Twin Integration – For simulation, predictive analytics, and planning.
- Scalable Cloud Infra – Handles real-time traffic loads with local edge nodes.
- Example: UAE model powered by Core42’s Sovereign Public Cloud (Azure base) + Space42 for deployment.
Benefits:
- Protects national security & sensitive data.
- Ensures regulatory compliance with local laws.
- Boosts innovation ecosystem for mobility startups.
- Enhances resilience during geopolitical disruptions.
- Enables ecosystem-wide coordination among govt, industry, and researchers.
Challenges:
- High infrastructure costs and technical complexity.
- Ensuring standards & interoperability.
- Balancing edge vs core processing for latency-sensitive data.
Relevance for India:
- Aligns with Digital Sovereignty, Data Localisation & Smart Cities Mission.
- Strategic for India’s future autonomous mobility & AI-driven transport systems.
Pallikaranai Marsh
Why in News: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) Southern Bench has ordered a halt to all construction activities within 1 km of the Pallikaranai Marshland, Chennai, until a detailed scientific study finalises its ecological influence zone.
About Pallikaranai Marsh
- Declared a Ramsar Site in 2022.
- One of the last remaining natural wetlands in Chennai.
- Provides flood control, groundwater recharge, and habitat for rich biodiversity.
- Hydrologically linked with Perumbakkam wetland.
Tribunal Intervention
- NGT acted suo motu after reports of landfilling & illegal construction.
Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority (TNSWA)
- Identified 1 km provisional buffer zone around marsh using hydrological & topographical models.
- Preparing Integrated Management Plan (IMP) to formalise the zone.
NGT Directions
- No construction/approvals near marsh until IMP is finalised.
- Coordination mandated between TNSWA, Water Resources Dept., and CMDA.
- Objective: Protect marsh’s ecological role & safeguard communities from flood hazards.
National Security Act (NSA), 1980
Why in News: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act (NSA), 1980 in Leh, Ladakh.
About NSA, 1980
- Empowers Centre and States to detain individuals to prevent them from acting in a manner “prejudicial to the defence of India, relation with foreign powers, or security of India.”
- Detention is preventive, not punitive.
- Detention can extend up to 12 months, though it may be revoked earlier.
Historical Context
- Preventive detention has a colonial legacy; used to control dissent during wars.
Post-independence laws:
- Preventive Detention Act, 1950.
- Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA), 1971 (misused during Emergency).
- NSA enacted in 1980, replacing earlier laws.
Safeguards & Remedies
- Detainee must be informed of grounds of detention within 5 days (extendable to 15).
- Case reviewed by Advisory Board of High Court Judges within 3 weeks.
Detainee can:
1. Make a representation to govt.
2. Approach High Court/Supreme Court (Articles 226/32).
3. Seek revocation if detention unnecessary.
No right to legal representation before Advisory Board.
Recent High-profile Detentions under NSA
- 2017: Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad “Ravan”.
- 2020: Dr. Kafeel Khan (anti-CAA speech).
- 2023: Amritpal Singh, pro-Khalistan preacher.
Why Controversial?
- Civil liberty groups allege misuse.
- Frequently invoked in states like UP & MP, including “love jihad” cases, cow slaughter, habitual criminals.
- Criticised for being a “blunt instrument” against dissent.
Dolmens of Kodaikanal
Why in News: Urgent measures are needed to preserve the 5,000-year-old dolmens of Kodaikanal, which are disappearing rapidly.
About Dolmen Circle, Kodaikanal
- A Megalithic prehistoric site in Tamil Nadu.
- Believed to be a place where prehistoric humans lived and were buried.
- Also used later as a monastic meditation site for Jesuit priests.
Discovery
- First recorded by Jesuit priests Rev. A. Anglade S.J. and Rev. L.V. Newton S.J. in early 20th century.
Features of Dolmens
- Constructed with two large erect stone slabs and a flat stone slab as a roof.
- Cap-stone sloped to drain rainwater away.
- Openings at the lower end to prevent water accumulation.
- Usually located on rocky ridges/slopes near natural quarries.
- Believed to be used as hideouts and for storing valuables.
Archaeological Findings
- Excavations unearthed black and red ware pottery and carnelian beads.
- Suggests existence of pre-Iron Age burials at highest points of the complex.
Nightmare Bacteria
Why in News: CDC reports a 70% rise in infections caused by “nightmare bacteria” in the US between 2019–2023.
About Nightmare Bacteria
- Term used by US CDC for Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE).
- Resistant to a wide range of antibiotics, including carbapenems (last-resort drugs).
- NDM gene (New Delhi Metallo-beta-lactamase-1) produces an enzyme that destroys carbapenems, making treatment ineffective.
Drug Resistance
- Caused by incomplete prescriptions, overuse of antibiotics, and unregulated drug sales.
- Resistant bacteria can share resistance genes with other microbes, creating more superbugs.
Symptoms
- UTIs – Pain/burning sensation, frequent urination, cloudy urine.
- Bloodstream infections – High fever, rapid heartbeat, very low BP.
- Pneumonia – Persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath.
- Diagnosis requires specialized lab testing.
Global Threat
- Not limited to US; bacteria spread via people, animals, food chains.
- Countries with weak health systems & loose antibiotic regulations are more vulnerable.
Treatment
- Only two IV antibiotics effective, both costly & difficult to administer.
Quick Facts
- NDM-1 (New Delhi Metallo-beta-lactamase-1): Enzyme causing resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics.
- Encoded on a transmissible gene, enabling rapid spread across bacterial strains.
