Prelims-Pinpointer-for-10 August-2025

PRELIMS

Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations

Why in News: Around 180 countries are negotiating a global plastics treaty to address plastic pollution.Talks are halfway through the final negotiation round, with little consensus achieved. The negotiation deadline is August 14.

Main Issues:

• Countries disagree on whether to include limits on plastic production or focus only on plastic pollution.
• Some countries insist on the principle of one vote per country with no voting mechanisms to override objections.
• Others argue voting is needed to progress consensus.

India’s Position:

• India supports limiting talks to plastic pollution only, opposing restrictions on plastic polymer production (Article 6).
• Warns that production limits affect the right to development of member states.
• Supports countries like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Russia, China, Bahrain in opposing production caps.

Negotiation Challenges:

• Draft treaty has 32 Articles, all lines must be agreed upon unanimously.
• Number of unresolved comments (‘brackets’) increased from 300 to 1500 recently.
• Most divisive issues relate to plastic supply/production controls.
• Article 6 (production limits) has not even been fully discussed yet.

Expert Opinion:

• Without curbing production and chemical use, plastic pollution will continue to proliferate.

Global Plastic Treaty – Key Points

What is it?

• An international initiative launched under the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) in 2022 to tackle plastic pollution globally.

Objective:

• To create a legally binding treaty managing the entire lifecycle of plastics — from production to disposal.

Key Focus Areas:

• Reduce plastic production to limit new plastic supply.
• Promote recycling and reuse to reduce plastic waste.
• Manage hazardous chemicals associated with plastics.
• Eliminate harmful practices like open dumping and burning of plastic waste.

Stakeholders Involved:

• Member states, environmental organisations, and industry players participating in negotiations.

Expected Outcome:

• A global framework setting standards and policies for sustainable plastic management to mitigate environmental impacts.

Great Barrier Reef (GBR) Coral Decline 

Why in News: GBR has faced its steepest coral cover decline in nearly 40 years (2024 bleaching event). Decline driven by climate change heat stress, cyclones, and crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks.

Survey Findings (2024-2025):

• Surveyed 124 reefs across northern, central, and southern GBR.
• 48% reefs showed coral decline, 42% stable, 10% improved.
• Most intense bleaching in northern and central regions, some reefs with up to 60% bleaching.

Regional Declines:

• Northern GBR: Largest annual coral loss since 1986; decline by 24.8%; Lizard Island severely impacted.
• Central GBR: Decline of 13.9%; some reefs stable or slight recovery.
• Southern GBR: Sharpest relative loss of 30.6% due to extreme heat in Capricorn-Bunker sector.

Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Impact:

• Outbreaks damage reefs by eating stressed corals, especially in Swains sector.
• Starfish hinder coral recovery and reef resilience.

Acropora Corals:

• Fast-growing corals critical for recovery from 2017-2024.
• Severely affected by 2024 bleaching, cyclones, and starfish predation.
• Loss reduces reef’s ability to rebuild quickly.

Increasing Bleaching Frequency:

• GBR suffered mass bleaching in 2020, 2022, 2024, and 2025.
• Before 1990, bleaching was rare.
• Globally, 83% of coral reefs experienced bleaching-level heat stress (2023-2025).

Long-Term Monitoring:

• Coral cover shows extreme fluctuations over past 15 years.
• Indicates ecosystem under severe stress and vulnerability.
• Calls for urgent climate action to reduce heat stress and protect marine biodiversity

Corals and Coral Reefs – Key Points

What are Corals?

• Small (0.25–12 inches), soft-bodied marine invertebrates belonging to the Cnidaria group.
• Sessile animals, permanently attached to the ocean floor.
• Individual coral called a polyp, lives in colonies of hundreds to thousands of genetically identical polyps.
• Use tiny tentacles to catch food and bring it to their mouth.

Mutualistic Relationship with Algae:

• Coral polyps host microscopic algae called zooxanthellae inside their tissues.
• Corals provide compounds needed for photosynthesis.
• Zooxanthellae supply corals with carbohydrates for building calcium carbonate skeletons.
• Zooxanthellae give corals their unique colours.

Types of Corals:

Hard Corals (Hermatypic):

• Also called reef-building corals.
• Extract calcium carbonate from seawater to form hard, white skeletons.

Soft Corals:

• Resemble plants, attach to hard skeletons built by ancestors.
• Add own skeletons over time to form large structures.
• Together with hard corals, form the largest living structures on Earth.

Coral Reefs in India:

Found in seven regions: Goa coast, Kerala coast, Palk Bay, Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Mannar, Lakshadweep islands and Andaman and Nicobar islands.

Multi-fungal Tolerant Pineapple 

Why in News:  Scientists from Bose Institute have discovered a gene AcSERK3 in pineapple that boosts its natural defence against the harmful fungus Fusarium moniliforme.

Who: Scientists from Bose Institute (an autonomous DST institute under Ministry of Science and Technology).

What: Identification of a gene called AcSERK3 in pineapple that helps defend against fungal attacks.

Pineapple Basics:

Scientific name: Ananas comosus L. Merr.

• Most economically significant fruit of the Bromeliaceae family.
• Provides nutritional benefits along with juicy flavour.

Threat:

• Pineapple farming threatened by Fusariosis infection caused by fungus Fusarium moniliforme.

Symptoms: Warping stems, blackened leaves, internal fruit rot.

Gene Function:

• AcSERK3 gene triggers pineapple’s self-defence mechanism.
• Part of Somatic Embryogenesis Receptor Kinase (SERK) family, involved in plant reproduction and stress survival.
• Somatic embryogenesis: Formation of embryos from somatic (body) cells.

Research Outcome:

• Overexpressing AcSERK3 gene enhances natural defence against Fusarium fungus.
• Result: Pineapple plants more resilient due to increased stress metabolites and scavenging enzyme activity.

Significance:

• Potential for developing fungal-resistant pineapple varieties, improving crop yield and sustainability.

Sarnath – UNESCO World Heritage Nomination 

Why in News: India has officially nominated Ancient Buddhist Site, Sarnath for inscription in the UNESCO World Heritage List (2025–26 cycle). Sarnath has been on UNESCO’s tentative list since 1998.

Location:

• Near Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
• Site where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon (Dhammachakkappavattana).

Historical & Religious Significance:

• Also known as Rishipatana, Mrigadava, Mrigadaya.
• One of Buddhism’s four key pilgrimage sites: Lumbini (birth), Bodh Gaya (enlightenment), Sarnath (first sermon), Kushinagar (death).
• Buddha’s ashes enshrined in stupas at these sites.

Architecture & Monuments:

• Reflects styles from Mauryan to Kushan, Gupta, and Gahadavala periods.

Divided into two main groups:

Group A:

• Chaukhandi Stupa (16th century Mughal tower commemorating Humayun’s visit).

Group B:

• Dhamek Stupa (~500 CE) marking Buddha’s first sermon spot.
• Dharmarajika Stupa (3rd century BCE, built by Ashoka).
• Ashokan Pillar with Lion Capital (India’s National Emblem).
• Ancient monasteries, temples, and votive stupas (3rd century BCE – 12th century CE).

Historical Events:

• Promoted by Emperor Ashoka after Kalinga War.
• Flourished under Kushans, Guptas, Harshavardhana.
• Damaged during Mahmud of Ghazni’s raid (11th century), restored by Pala dynasty.
• Dharmachakra Jina Vihara built in 11th century by Kumaradevi.

Excavations & Museum:

• First excavated by Sir Alexander Cunningham (1834-36).
• Ashokan Lion Capital excavated by F.O. Oertel (1904-05).
• Lion Capital adopted as India’s State Emblem (1950).
• Sarnath Archaeological Museum houses key artefacts.
• Mulagandha Kuti Vihar has frescoes depicting Buddha’s life.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Basics:

• Sites of exceptional cultural or natural significance under World Heritage Convention, 1972.
• India ratified in 1977; currently has 40+ World Heritage Sites and 62 on tentative list.
• ASI is India’s nodal agency for World Heritage.

Nomination & Evaluation Process:

• Site must be on Tentative List first.
• Detailed nomination dossier reviewed by UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

Evaluated by advisory bodies:

• ICOMOS (cultural sites),
• IUCN (natural sites),
• ICCROM (conservation expertise).
• Final decision by World Heritage Committee (meets annually).
• India is a member of this Committee (2021–25).

Criteria:

• Must demonstrate Outstanding Universal Value (OUV).
• Meet at least one of the 10 criteria (merged cultural and natural criteria).

Quantum Magnetic Navigation System (QMNS) – 

Why in News: India is developing Quantum Magnetic Navigation System to provide accurate, satellite-independent navigation for defence and strategic uses.

Context:

• Modern warfare relies on satellite navigation (GPS, Glonass, Galileo, BeiDou) for jets, missiles, and drones.
• Satellite signals vulnerable to jamming, spoofing, meaconing, and natural disruptions like solar flares.

Challenges in Satellite Navigation:

• Electronic warfare disrupts signals, especially in conflict zones (Ukraine, West Asia, South Asia).
• Alternatives like Inertial Navigation Systems (INS), terrain matching, and image guidance have limitations (drift, visibility, map dependency).

Principles of QMNS:

• Uses quantum sensors to detect tiny changes in Earth’s magnetic field.
• Measures magnetic variations with ultra-sensitive quantum magnetometers using atomic quantum properties.
• Matches local magnetic readings with magnetic anomaly maps to determine precise location without satellites.
• Combined with inertial navigation for accurate positioning in GPS-denied environments.

Applications:

• Defence: navigation for submarines, unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), drones in satellite-denied zones.
• Civilian: undersea mining, oil exploration, subsea cable inspection, maritime security, and autonomous operations.

Global Development:

• Research began in 1990s; military interest surged in 2010s.
• US DARPA plans deployment after 2027; China operational on submarines since 2018.
• UK and Germany developing quantum sensors for next-gen military platforms.

India’s Progress:

• Under the National Quantum Mission (₹6,000 crore) focusing on quantum sensing and navigation.
• DRDO developing atomic clocks and magnetometers; IIT Bombay working on portable quantum sensors for drones.
• Startups like QuBeats building quantum positioning systems for Indian Navy.
• Enhances India’s electronic warfare resilience and underwater domain awareness in Indian Ocean Region.
• Supports Blue Economy through deep-sea exploration and infrastructure.