PRELIMS
ESA’s Solar Orbiter and Energetic Solar Particles
Why in News: European Space Agency’s (ESA) Solar Orbiter, a joint ESA–NASA mission launched in 2020, has revealed the origins of Solar Energetic Electrons (SEEs).
- It is the first spacecraft to image the Sun’s poles and has traced energetic particles back to their solar sources, providing crucial data for predicting space weather.
Key Findings
- Between Nov 2020–Dec 2022, detected 300+ bursts of energetic electrons.
Identified two types of SEEs:
1. From solar flares (sudden explosions on the Sun’s surface).
2. From Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) (large plasma + magnetic eruptions).
Found a time lag between solar events and particle detection due to escape time + turbulence scattering.
First clear direct evidence linking electrons in space to their solar origin.
Mission Highlights
Solar Orbiter:
- Joint ESA–NASA mission (launched: Feb 2020).
- Flies closer to the Sun than any previous mission.
- Equipped with 10 instruments (in-situ & remote sensing).
Studies:
- Sun’s 11-year magnetic cycle.
- Heating of solar corona.
- Formation & acceleration of solar wind.
Implications
Space Weather Impact: Solar flares, CMEs, solar winds can disrupt:
- Satellite communication.
- GPS navigation.
- Power grids on Earth.
- Pose risks to astronaut safety.
- Improved prediction → better mitigation of these risks.
Static Info
- Solar Flares: Sudden bursts of radiation from the Sun’s surface.
- Coronal Mass Ejection (CME): Expulsion of plasma + magnetic fields from the Sun’s corona.
- Solar Wind: Stream of charged particles released from the Sun’s upper atmosphere.
- Space Weather: Conditions on the Sun and in the solar wind, magnetosphere, ionosphere, and thermosphere that affect Earth’s technology and environment.
Other Missions Studying the Sun:
- NASA’s Parker Solar Probe (2018).
- ISRO’s Aditya-L1 Mission (2023).
Why Punjab Keeps Flooding
Why in News : Punjab is facing one of the worst floods in recent memory; all 23 districts declared flood-hit.
Impact:
- 3,192 villages inundated.
- 3.81 lakh people affected.
- 1.17 lakh hectares of farmland destroyed.
- 43 deaths reported.
Rivers and Basin
- Punjab drained by 3 perennial rivers: Ravi, Beas, Sutlej.
- Several seasonal rivers and hill streams also contribute.
- State lies in downstream catchment of Himalayas (Himachal Pradesh & J&K).
- Heavy rainfall in catchment → high inflow in Punjab.
Key Infrastructure & Management Issues
Madhopur Barrage (Ravi), Bhakra Dam (Sutlej), Thein Dam (Ranjit Sagar, Ravi) critical to regulate flow.
Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) regulates dams but:
- Stores excess water for power & irrigation.
- Releases water suddenly in Aug-Sept → flooding.
- Delay in information sharing aggravates crisis.
Example: Madhopur barrage gates damaged during heavy rainfall → worsened floods.
Governance Challenges
- Lack of coordination between Punjab state irrigation dept. & centrally controlled BBMB.
- Poor real-time communication of water release.
- Encroachment on riverbeds, weak embankments add to damage.
- Accountability gap as dams not owned by Punjab but impact state heavily.
Larger Problem
- Heavy rainfall is natural, but mismanagement of dams, transparency issues, and lack of scientific discipline worsen floods.
- Punjab’s fertile alluvial plains (1.53% of India’s land, produces 12% rice & 20% wheat) are highly vulnerable.
China to Impose Temporary Anti-Dumping Duties
Why in News: China to impose temporary anti-dumping duties on pork imports from the European Union (EU).
- Duties range between 15.6% – 62.4%.
- Will be effective from September 10, 2025 (as per China’s Ministry of Commerce).
- Move comes amid strained China–EU trade ties.
Background
Anti-dumping duties: Trade tariffs imposed by a country to protect domestic industries against imports sold below fair market value.
China’s reason: To safeguard domestic pork industry from unfairly priced EU imports.
EU stance: Brussels vowed to defend its producers and may retaliate or challenge at WTO.
Impact: Escalates ongoing China–EU trade disputes (earlier spats on electric vehicles, green tech, solar panels, wine, etc.).
Static Info
European Union (EU):
- Political & economic union of 27 member states.
- Largest trading bloc in the world.
- HQ: Brussels, Belgium.
- Common currency: Euro (19 members use it).
China–EU Trade:
- EU is China’s 2nd largest trading partner.
- China is EU’s largest source of imports.
- Key exports from EU → China: machinery, vehicles, aircraft, chemicals, pork.
- Key imports from China → EU: electronics, textiles, machinery, steel.
World Trade Organization (WTO):
- Founded: 1995.
- HQ: Geneva, Switzerland.
- Deals with rules of international trade and dispute resolution.
Gastrochilus pechei
Why in News: Recently, researchers recorded a new orchid plant in Vijoynagar, Arunachal Pradesh.Earlier, Gastrochilus pechei was known to bloom only in Myanmar.
Key Details
- Scientific name: Gastrochilus pechei
- Common name: Peche’s Lip Orchid
- Family: Orchidaceae
- Genus: Gastrochilus
- First recorded in 1825.
- Monopodial orchid genus → 77 species found across tropical, subtropical & temperate Asia.
- In India → 22 species recorded, 15 from Arunachal Pradesh.
Characteristics
- Small epiphytic orchid (grows on trees).
- Leaves: Single leathery leaf, sheathing base, unequally bilobed apex.
- Inflorescence: Lateral, short, sub-umbellate, bearing few to many flowers.
- Sepals & petals: Free, spreading.
- Lip: Subglobose, saccate hypochile; fan-shaped epichile with fimbriate margins.
- Column: Short, thick; 2 subglobose pollinia.
Habitat
- Found at 1,200 m altitude in moist evergreen rainforests.
- Thrives on small trees near riverbanks.
- Flowering season: September–October.
- Location: Vijoynagar, one of India’s remotest administrative circles, bordering Myanmar.
Vrindavani Vastra Textile
Why in News: The 16th-century Vrindavani Vastra, a priceless silk textile from Assam, will be exhibited in Assam in 2027. The British Museum (London) has agreed to loan the textile for 18 months — first time it will be displayed on Indian soil.
Historical Significance
- Woven under the guidance of Srimanta Sankardeva (saint-reformer, Bhakti movement leader of Assam).
- Depicts scenes from the life of Lord Krishna & verses from Sankardeva’s devotional play Kaliyadamana.
- Showcases Assam’s cultural and religious heritage (16th century).
- Technique: Lampas weaving – highly complex, requiring two weavers simultaneously.
Journey to the British Museum
- Taken to Tibet in 17th–18th century.
- British explorers collected fragments in 19th–20th century.
- Later acquired by the India Museum → transferred to British Museum.
- Around 20 fragments survive, with British Museum holding a stitched cloth of 12 silk strips (9+ metres long).
Conditions for Loan & Exhibition
- Assam must build a new museum (with strict environmental & security standards).
- Land allotted to JSW Group in Guwahati (CSR initiative).
- President of India to provide sovereign guarantee ensuring textile’s safe return after loan.
Artistic Features
12 silk strips depicting:
- Krishna’s life events, Vishnu’s avataras, devotional verses.
- Captions woven in fabric.
Upper portion:
- Chinese damask & brocade with dragon motifs (added later).
- Equipped with metal rings for suspension.
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