Prelims-Pinpointer-for-19-oct-2025

Prelims

Bathukamma Festival

About

• Nine-day annual floral festival celebrated by women in Telangana using exotic local flowers.
• Coincides with monsoon, bringing water to ponds and wildflowers in vibrant colors.
• Local flowers used: ‘gunuka,’ ‘tangedu,’ ‘banti,’ ‘nandi-vardhanam’.

Timing

• Begins one week before ‘Saddula Bathukamma’ (grand finale).
• Saddula Bathukamma falls two days before Dussehra.

Rituals

• During preceding week, women make ‘boddemma’ (deity of Gowri/Mother Durga made with earthly mud) along with Batukamma.
• Immersed in ponds, helping reinforce ponds and retain more water.

Significance

• Reinforces bond between humans, earth, and water.
• Rituals aimed at preserving natural resources.

Mullaperiyar Dam

Context: Extremely heavy rainfall in Kerala’s Idukki district has caused widespread damage with flash floods, landslips, and mudslides. Water level in Mullaperiyar dam rose nearly 6 feet in 24 hours, prompting Tamil Nadu to open all 13 spillway shutters.

Mullaperiyar Dam

• Location & Geography
  • Masonry gravity dam on Periyar River in Thekkady, Idukki district, Kerala.
  • Located 881 m above sea level in Western Ghats.
  • Built at confluence of Mullayar and Periyar rivers.
  • Surrounded by Periyar National Park (biodiversity hotspot with endangered species).
• Construction
  • One of oldest dams in India; construction began 1887, completed 1895.
  • Built by British Corps of Royal Engineers under Pennycuick’s leadership.
  • Materials: Limestone and “Surkhi” (burnt brick powder mixed with sugar and calcium oxide).
• Specifications
  • Height: 53.6 meters (176 feet).
  • Length: 365.7 meters (1,200 feet).
  • Storage capacity: 443 million cubic meters (11.5 billion cubic feet).
  • Created artificial lake covering 8.5 sq.km.
• Purpose
  • Transfers water from Periyar River to Vaigai River basin in Tamil Nadu for irrigation and power generation.
• Ownership & Operation
  • Located in Kerala but operated and maintained by Tamil Nadu.
  • Based on 999-year lease agreement made during British rule.
• Kerala-Tamil Nadu Dispute
  • Long-standing dispute over dam safety.
  • Kerala demands: Dam be strengthened or decommissioned.
  • Tamil Nadu opposes any such move.

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

Context: To ensure smooth business opportunities for roadside vendors during Deepavali festival, the NHRC issued notices to Chief Secretaries of all States and UTs to prevent harassment in the name of encroachment.

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

• Statutory body established in 1993 under Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
• Watchdog of human rights in India — rights related to life, liberty, equality, dignity.
• Composition
  • Chairman: Retired Chief Justice of India or Judge of Supreme Court.
  • 5 Members:
    • Serving/retired Judge of Supreme Court.
    • Serving/retired Chief Justice of High Court.
    • 3 members with knowledge/experience in human rights (at least 1 woman).
• Ex-officio Members (Chairpersons of)
  • National Commission for Minorities.
  • National Commission for SCs.
  • National Commission for STs.
  • National Commission for Women.
  • National Commission for Backward Classes.
  • National Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
  • Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities.
• Functions
  • Enquire into human rights violations or negligence by public servants.
  • Intervene in proceedings involving human rights violation allegations.
  • Visit jails and detention centers to study inmates’ living conditions.
  • Review constitutional and legal safeguards for human rights; recommend measures for effective implementation.
  • Review factors (terrorism, naxalism, militancy) inhibiting human rights; recommend remedial measures.
  • Study international treaties and instruments on human rights; recommend effective implementation.
  • Undertake and promote research in human rights.

Ayushman Bharat

Context: Women account for 49% of total hospital admissions under Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY.

More in News:

• Related Data
  • Over 9.19 crore hospital admissions facilitated. 
  • ₹1,29,386 crore treatment completed. 
  • 31,005 hospitals empanelled (55% public, 45% private). 
  • Over 40.45 crore Ayushman cards issued covering 14.69 crore families.
• Aapke Dwar Ayushman (ADA 3.0): Technology-led, community-based, self-registration campaigns empowering grassroots citizens.

Ayushman Bharat

• Launched: 2018; Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
• Objective: Achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
• Aligns with National Health Policy 2017 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Comprehensive continuum-of-care approach across primary, secondary, tertiary healthcare levels.
• Two Components
  • Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAM) (formerly Health and Wellness Centres)
  • Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)

Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM)

• Offers preventive, promotive, rehabilitative, curative healthcare services.
• Existing Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) (rural/urban) upgraded to provide Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC).

Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)

• PM-JAY is a component of Ayushman Bharat.
• World’s largest government-funded health assurance scheme.
• Provides free secondary and tertiary healthcare to India’s poorest families.
• Launched: 23rd September 2018 in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
• Aim
  • Provide cashless and paperless access to quality healthcare for 12 crore vulnerable families (≈55 crore people).
  • Covers the bottom 40% of the Indian population.
  • Prevent catastrophic medical expenditure that pushes millions into poverty annually.

• Key Features
  • Coverage:
    • ₹5 lakh annual health cover per family on a family floater basis.
    • No limit on family size, age, or gender.
  • Treatment:
    • Cashless treatment across public and private empanelled hospitals nationwide.
    • Covers 1,929 medical procedures including diagnostics, surgery, implants, ICU, and medicines.
  • Hospitalization Care:
    • Includes 3 days of pre-hospitalization and 15 days of post-hospitalization care.
  • Other Features:
    • Portability: Benefits can be availed at any empanelled hospital across India.
    • Pre-existing diseases covered from day one.
    • Fully funded by Government — cost shared between Centre and States.
• Beneficiaries
  • Based primarily on SECC-2011 data.
  • Expanded to include senior citizens aged 70+ years.

Supporting Initiatives

• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) – 2021
  • Creates digital health infrastructure for seamless health data exchange.
  • Outlay: Rs 1,600 crore for 5 years (2021-22 to 2025-26).
  • Components
    • ABHA Number (Unique Health ID): 14-digit unique number for each citizen; simplifies access and sharing of health records with secure, accurate data.
    • ABHA Mobile App (PHR): Create ABHA address, link health records, manage consent for data sharing.
    • Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR): Digital platform connecting healthcare professionals.
    • Health Facility Registry (HFR): Catalogs healthcare facilities for better coordination.
  • Technology
    • Leverages Aadhaar, UPI, JAM trinity for identity verification, electronic transactions, secure data storage.
    • Uses AI, IoT, Blockchain, cloud computing for enhanced digital health ecosystem.
  • Significance
    • Paperless transactions, secure healthcare management.
    • Integration with AB-PMJAY ensures seamless health service experience.
• Ayushman Bhav Campaign – 2023
  • Objective
    • Provide comprehensive healthcare coverage across India (rural/urban).
    • Aligned with Ayushman Bharat for UHC through whole-of-nation approach (government, civil society, communities).
  • Key Components
    • Ayushman Apke Dwar 3.0: Providing Ayushman cards to eligible PM-JAY beneficiaries.
    • Ayushman Melas: Held at HWCs and CHCs; offer health services, ABHA ID creation, teleconsultation with specialists.
    • Ayushman Sabhas: Community gatherings in villages and Panchayats to distribute Ayushman cards, generate ABHA IDs, raise health awareness.

International Maritime Organization (IMO) 

Context: Pressured by the U.S., IMO members postponed vote on strategic plan for carbon-free shipping and “net-zero” by 2050. Implementation delayed by 12 months amid Trump’s threats.

International Maritime Organisation (IMO)

• About
  • UN specialized agency responsible for regulating shipping and preventing marine pollution from ships.
  • Established 1948 (UN conference, Geneva); came into existence 1958.
  • Headquarters: London, United Kingdom.
• Membership
  • 175 Member States and 3 Associate Members.
  • India joined: 1959.
• Role
  • Create fair and effective regulatory framework for shipping industry, universally adopted and implemented.
  • Handles legal matters: Liability, compensation, facilitation of international maritime traffic.
  • Celebrates World Maritime Day: Last Thursday of September.
• Structure
  • Assembly: Highest governing body; meets every 2 years.
  • Council: 40 members elected by Assembly for 2-year term; executive organ supervising work on maritime safety and pollution prevention.
  • Five committees and subcommittees: Develop and adopt international conventions, codes, resolutions, guidelines.
• 2023 IMO GHG Strategy (umbrella framework) aims for minimum 40% reduction in carbon intensity of international shipping (reduce CO2 emissions per transport work) by 2030.

Kurinji Bloom

Context: Strobilanthes sessilis (kurinji), blooming once in 8 years, has painted Gudalur hills (Nilgiris) violet at Tamil Nadu’s newly notified reserve forest, indicating healthy grasslands and biodiversity revival.

Kurinji Species

• Types
  • Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana): Blooms once in 12 years at an altitude above 1,300m.
  • Strobilanthes sessilis: Blooms once in 8 years at lower altitudes.
  • Both are grassland species endemic to Western Ghats.
• Diversity
  • 60 kurinji species endemic to Western Ghats (don’t grow elsewhere).
  • Karinkurinji: Blooms annually.
  • Others: Bloom every 4, 8, 10, or 12 years (20+ species).
  • Of 450 kurinji species worldwide, 150 in India.
  • 33 varieties in Nilgiris; colors: purple, blue, white, pink (10 shades per color).
• Unique Phenomenon
  • Kurinji plants flower only once in lifetime (similar to bamboo: once in 40-60 years).
  • After flowering, plant dies; next generation from seed germination.
  • Needs favorable conditions for germination.
• Ecological Significance
  • Biodiversity Indicator
    • Mass flowering indicates healthy grassland and thriving wildlife.
    • Endemism is main characteristic — species location-specific, making kurinji hills storehouse of organic wealth.
  • Ecosystem Benefits
    • Nadugani (Gudalur Gene Pool): Thriving biodiversity zone with 100+ endemic tree species, 600 acres kurinji flowering.
    • Habitat for elephant herds, tigers, hornbills, butterflies.
    • Purple flowers hold large nectar, attracting eastern honeybees, butterflies, insects.
  • Scientific Importance
    • Helps study ecology, altitude, alpine climate near equator.
    • Blooming depends on microclimatic conditions that indicates habitat diversity, alpine conditions.
    • Grasslands show quick evolution; species diversity indicates adaptation ability.
• Threats
  • Major Challenges
    • Climate change, uncontrolled tourism, invasive species (e.g., black wattle from Australia).
    • Major grasslands lost in Nilgiris, Kodaikanal, Munnar.
    • Example: Strobilanthes homotropa at Doddabeta (Udhagamandalam): Bloomed in thousands (2011), reduced to couple of plants (2021).

Indian Wolf (Canis lupus pallipes)

About

• Discreet, charismatic denizen of scrublands and grasslands.
• Population: Dwindled to around 3,000 individuals in India and Pakistan.
• Oldest living lineage of world’s wolves.
• Originally placed within grey wolf genus roaming Asia.

IUCN Status Update

• Likely to be classified as new species by IUCN.
• Listed as “vulnerable”, bringing much-needed attention and incentives for protection and habitat conservation.

Threats

• Poisoned for preying on livestock.
• Natural prey base vastly depleted in fragile habitat.
• Semi-arid habitats destroyed by highways and renewable energy projects.
  • Example: Den site in Kutch now engulfed by Adani Solar Farm

Conservation Perspectives

• Call for Distinct Species
  • Over two decades of calls to declare it distinct species (Abi Vanak, Centre for Policy Design, Ashoka Trust).
• Current Protection
  • Already under Schedule 1 of Wildlife Protection Act.
  • Don’t need strict protected areas like bustards and other open natural ecosystem denizens.

 BrahMos Missiles

Context: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said BrahMos missiles symbolize India’s growing indigenous strength in defence manufacturing and every inch of Pakistan is within their reach.

About BrahMos

• Long-range, nuclear-capable, supersonic cruise missile system.
• Multi-platform deployment: Air, sea, and land.
• Speed: Up to Mach 3 (one of world’s fastest cruise missiles).
• Named after: Rivers Brahmaputra (India) and Moskva (Russia).
• First tested: 2001.

BrahMos Aerospace

• Joint venture between India’s DRDO (50.5%) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia (49.5%).
• Formed: 1998 (intergovernmental agreement in Moscow post-Gulf War).
• Objective: Design, develop, manufacture world’s first supersonic cruise missile system.
• First successful launch: June 12, 2001 (land-based launcher, Chandipur, Orissa).

Working Mechanism

• Cruise missile: Unmanned, self-propelled, guided vehicle using aerodynamic lift.
• Launch platforms: Ground, air, sea, submarine.
• Propulsion: Two-stage – solid propellant booster engine (supersonic speed) + liquid ramjet (cruise phase to Mach 3).
• Flight path: Low altitude (meters above ground) to evade radar; can combine high-low altitude paths.
• Guidance: Advanced embedded software with stealth technology.

Key Features

• “Fire and Forget” operation.
• Range: Up to 290-400 km (upgraded land attack version).
• Warhead: Conventional, 200-300 kg.
• Accuracy: 99.99% strike accuracy; pinpoint precision with high lethal power.
• Universal: Identical configuration for land, sea, sub-sea platforms using Transport Launch Canister (TLC).
• Unpredictable trajectory: Difficult to counter.

BrahMos Versions

1. BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile (Standard)

• Two-stage: Solid propellant booster + liquid ramjet.
• Speed: Up to Mach 2.8-3.
• Range: 290-400 km.

2. BrahMos-NG (Next Generation)

• Multi-platform, multi-target, lightweight.
• Range: 290 km; Speed: Up to Mach 3.5.
• Smaller radar cross-section (RCS): Harder to detect.
• Launch: Ground, aerial, surface, underwater (including submarine torpedo rooms).
• Key features: Reduced size/weight, advanced stealth, higher underwater versatility, torpedo tube launch readiness.

3. BrahMos-II (BrahMos Mark II)

• Hypersonic cruise missile (HCM).
• Inspired by Russia’s 3M22 Tsirkon (scramjet engine technology).
• Range: Over 300 miles; Speed: Up to Mach 7.
• Purpose: Ship-based HCM for Indian Navy offensive capabilities in Indian Ocean Region (counter China).
• Launch platforms: Land, air, sea.

Platform-Based Versions

• Land-Based
  • 4-6 mobile autonomous launchers, each with 3 missiles (near-simultaneous firing).
  • Range: Up to 400 km; Speed: Mach 2.8.
• Ship-Based
  • Hits sea-based targets beyond radar horizon.
  • Operational in sea-to-sea and sea-to-land modes.
• Air-Launched
  • Successfully tested from Sukhoi-30MKI (range 3000 km without refueling).
  • Future: Integration with LCA Tejas.
• Submarine-Launched
  • Launch from 50 meters below water surface.
  • Vertical launch from submarine’s pressure hull; different settings for underwater/out-of-water flights.

Significance

• Operational Advantages
  • High speed: Better target-penetration vs subsonic missiles (e.g., Tomahawk).
  • Security: Projects firm strategic posture against China (LAC, Indian Ocean Region).
• Strategic Impact
  • Self-reliance: Model for future Indian defence manufacturing; BrahMos Missile Industrial Complex.
  • Defence exports: India emerging as exporter (not just importer).
    • 2022: $375 million contract with Philippines (shore-based anti-ship missile system).
    • Talks with 12+ countries for exports.

Tomahawk Missile

About

• U.S.-made long-range cruise missile for deep-land attack warfare.
• Launched from ship or submarine; delivers warhead precisely to long-range targets.
• Flies at low altitudes to strike fixed targets (communication sites, air-defense sites) in high-risk environments where manned aircraft vulnerable to surface-to-air missiles.

Key Features

• Detection Evasion
  • Designed to fly at subsonic speed while maintaining low altitude, making radar detection difficult.
  • Uses tailored guidance systems to maneuver at low elevations.
  • Accuracy: About 5 meters (16 feet).
• Specifications
  • Length: 6 meters (18.4 feet).
  • Range: Up to 2,400 km (1,500 miles).
  • Speed: As fast as 885 km/h (550 miles/hour).
• Launch Platforms
  • Vertical launch from ships.
  • Horizontal launch from torpedo tubes on attack submarines or external launchers on submarine’s hull.
• Propulsion
  • Solid propellant during launch phase.
  • Turbofan engine thereafter; does not emit much heat, making infrared detection difficult.
• Guidance
  • Uses satellite-assisted navigation and TERCOM (Terrain Contour Matching) radar.
  • Capable of twisting and turning like radar-evading fighter plane.
  • Skims landscape at altitude of only 30-90 meters (100-300 feet).
• Payload
  • Can carry conventional or nuclear payloads.