Vikram-1 and Skyroot Aerospace: UPSC Prelims Notes
In News: Vikram-1, India’s First Private Orbital Rocket, Nears Launch
- Skyroot Aerospace announced the launch window for Vikram-1’s first test flight.
- The mission is named “Mission Aagaman”, meaning “the arrival.”
- The launch will be from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
About: Vikram-1 and Mission Aagaman
- Vikram-1 is India’s first privately developed orbital-class rocket.
- Mission Aagaman is a partially commercial flight, gathering critical data on propulsion, stage separation, guidance, navigation, and control.
- All stages of Vikram-1 have been successfully integrated and stacked at the launch pad.
- Full commercial flights will commence after one or two successful demonstrations to orbit.
Developer: Skyroot Aerospace (Hyderabad)
- Skyroot Aerospace is a private space launch company based in Hyderabad.
- This is Skyroot’s second mission, following the suborbital flight of Vikram-S in November 2022.
Background: Vikram-S, India’s First Private Rocket (2022)
- Vikram-S was the first private rocket to reach space from Indian soil.
- Vikram-S was launched on November 18, 2022, on a suborbital flight.
- IN-SPACe is the nodal body regulating and promoting private sector participation in India’s space sector.
Source: The Hindu
Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC): UPSC Prelims Notes
In News: CBFC Nod for ‘Jana Nayagan’ Likely Soon
- Film Jana Nayagan, starring Tamil Nadu CM C. Joseph Vijay, is expected to receive CBFC certification within two to three days.
- The film was held up at CBFC since January 2026 due to a private complaint.
- A single-judge Madras High Court Bench ordered CBFC to immediately issue the certificate.
- A Division Bench overruled the single-judge order, halting certification.
About: CBFC (Censor Board) as a Statutory Body
- CBFC is a statutory body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
- Commonly known as the “Censor Board,” it primarily functions as a certification authority.
- No film can be released publicly without CBFC certification.
Legal Basis: Cinematograph Act, 1952 and 1983 Rules
- CBFC works under the Cinematograph Act, 1952 and Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 1983.
- It also follows guidelines issued by the Central Government.
Structure: Chairperson, Members and Nine Regional Offices
- CBFC is headed by a Chairperson with 12 to 25 members appointed by the Central Government.
- It has nine regional offices at Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Cuttack, and Guwahati.
- Advisory Panels nominated by the government for two-year terms assist in film examination.
Certification: U, UA, A, S and New 2023 Sub-Categories
- U (Universal): Suitable for all age groups.
- U/A: Universal with parental guidance for children below 12.
- A: Restricted to adults only.
- S: Restricted to special classes like doctors or farmers.
- 2023 Amendment introduced new sub-categories: UA 7+, UA 13+, and UA 16+, aligning with global best practices.
Source: The Hindu
VB-G RAM G Scheme: UPSC Prelims Notes 2026
In News: VB-G RAM G Scheme Launched from Andhra Pradesh
- The VB-G RAM G Scheme was launched from Mukkavaripalli village in Andhra Pradesh.
- The scheme replaces the MGNREGS from 1 July 2026.
What is the VB-G RAM G Scheme?
- VB-G RAM G is a rural employment and livelihood scheme replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
- The scheme focuses on farmers’ welfare alongside rural development through durable community asset creation.
Key Features of the VB-G RAM G Scheme
- Employment Guarantee
- Every rural household receives 125 days of guaranteed wage employment during a financial year.
- Eligible adults must voluntarily undertake unskilled manual work under the scheme.
- Wages must be paid within 15 days after completion of notified work.
- Funding Pattern
- The Centre-State funding ratio is 60:40 for most States.
- Northeastern and Himalayan States receive funding in a 90:10 Centre-State ratio.
- Union Territories without legislatures receive 100 percent Central funding.
- Funding Formula
- The proposed funding formula is based on the 16th Finance Commission’s horizontal devolution formula.
- The final allocation formula will be notified separately under the scheme.
- 60-Day Agricultural Pause
- States may notify a 60-day no-work period during peak sowing and harvesting seasons.
- Workers continue receiving 125 days of employment during the remaining working period.
- Decentralised Planning
- The scheme mandates preparation of Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans for local development planning.
- Planning integrates spatial technologies with national planning platforms.
- Use of Spatial Technologies
- The scheme uses the Yuktdhara Portal for spatial planning at the Gram Panchayat level.
- Planning is integrated with the PM Gati Shakti platform.
How is the VB-G RAM G Scheme Different from MGNREGS?
- VB-G RAM G replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme from 1 July 2026.
- The scheme increases guaranteed employment days from 100 to 125 annually.
- The scheme emphasises farmers’ welfare alongside rural asset creation and livelihood generation.
Source: The Hindu
Gulf of Aden: UPSC Prelims Notes
In News: Indian Navy Foils Piracy Attempt in the Gulf of Aden
- The Indian Navy foiled a piracy attempt on MV Golden Arsenal in the Gulf of Aden. INS Trikand intercepted and secured the merchant vessel after receiving an alert through IFC-IOR.
About the Gulf of Aden
- The Gulf of Aden is an extension of the Indian Ocean between the Arabian Peninsula and Africa.
- It is bounded by Yemen to the north and Somalia with the Socotra Islands to the south.
- The Arabian Sea forms its eastern boundary, while Djibouti lies to the west.
- The Guardafui Channel connects the Gulf of Aden with the Somali Sea.
- The Bab el Mandeb Strait connects the Gulf of Aden with the Red Sea.
Economic and Strategic Importance of the Gulf of Aden
- Around 10 percent of global seaborne petroleum passes through the Gulf of Aden.
- More than USD 110 billion of India’s trade passes through this important maritime corridor.
- The Gulf of Aden connects the Indian Ocean with the Red Sea through a strategic sea route.
- The region remains crucial for global shipping and international maritime trade.
Piracy in the Gulf of Aden
- The International Maritime Organization warned about the resurgence of piracy and armed robbery in the region.
- Three merchant vessels remain under captivity of Somali pirates according to the IMO.
- The IMO urged coordinated international efforts for immediate and unconditional release of all affected crews.
Indian Navy’s Anti-Piracy Operations in the Gulf of Aden
- INS Trikand responded after receiving the piracy alert through the Information Fusion Centre Indian Ocean Region.
- The Navy deployed a P-8I aircraft for aerial surveillance during the anti-piracy operation.
- After sanitising the vessel, the Golden Arsenal safely resumed its onward voyage.
- The Indian Navy continues anti-piracy patrols across the Gulf of Aden and the Western Indian Ocean.
Source: The Hindu
Submarine Cables (SMCs): UPSC Prelims Notes
In News: India–Malaysia–Singapore Submarine Cable Project (I-2SEA)
- The I-2SEA Project will connect India, Malaysia and Singapore through a new submarine cable system.
- The consortium includes Microsoft, Singtel, Tata Communications and Lightstorm for implementing the project.
- The cable system is targeted to become ready-for-service during the fourth quarter of 2029.
About Submarine Cables (SMCs)
- Submarine Cables are fibre optic cables laid on the ocean floor connecting countries through telecommunications networks.
- These cables provide internet connectivity and global telecommunications between countries across continents.
- Specially modified cable-laying ships are used for installing submarine cable systems.
- The I-2SEA Project will have dual landing stations at Machilipatnam and South Chennai.
- The cable extends about 3,600 km from Singapore to Machilipatnam with onward connectivity to Hyderabad.
About Optical Fibre
- Optical fibres are made of glass or plastic and transmit information through light pulses.
- Optical fibres operate on the total internal reflection principle for efficient data transmission.
- These cables transmit large amounts of data with minimal optical power loss.
- Narinder Singh Kapany is widely known as the Father of Fibre Optics.
Significance of Submarine Cables (SMCs)
- Around 99 percent of the world’s international internet traffic passes through submarine cables.
- The United Nations General Assembly recognised submarine cables as critical communication infrastructure in 2010.
- The I-2SEA Project supports growing AI, cloud computing and enterprise connectivity across the India–Southeast Asia corridor.
- The system will provide fastest transmission between Singapore, Malaysia and Hyderabad for AI workloads.
Threats to Submarine Cables (SMCs)
- Fishing activities can accidentally damage submarine cables laid across the ocean floor.
- Ship anchoring remains another major threat to submarine cable infrastructure.
- Earthquakes and other environmental factors can disrupt submarine cable connectivity.
- Marine animals may also damage submarine cables in certain underwater regions.
Source: The Hindu
Nord Stream Pipeline: UPSC Prelims Notes
In News: Fresh Developments in the Nord Stream Pipeline Sabotage Case
- German prosecutors alleged the Ukrainian state ordered the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage.
- The sabotage destroyed three pipelines and released large quantities of methane into the atmosphere.
About the Nord Stream Pipeline
- The Nord Stream Pipeline is a natural gas pipeline beneath the Baltic Sea.
- The pipeline directly connects Russia and Germany through the Baltic Sea.
- The pipeline transports natural gas from Russia to Europe while bypassing Ukraine.
- Nord Stream 1 was completed in 2011 and stretches 1,224 kilometres from Vyborg to Lubmin.
- Nord Stream 2 was completed in 2012 with an annual capacity of 55 billion cubic metres. Nord Stream 2 extends from Ust-Luga in Russia to Lubmin in Germany.
Source: BT
