1. Rafale-M jets
- Context: India and France formally concluded an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) to procure 26 Rafale-M fighter jets for the Indian Navy.
Deal includes:
- Training, simulator, associated equipment, weapons and Performance-Based Logistics.
- Additional equipment for the existing Rafale fleet of the Indian Air Force,”
Agreement includes:
- Transfer of Technology for the integration of indigenous weapons,
- such as the Astra Beyond Visual Range air-to-air missile, on the Rafales.
- Setting up of production facility for Rafale Fuselage as well as Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities for aircraft engine, sensors and weapons in India.
Rafale M:
- Naval variant, designed for carrier-based operations, with reinforced landing gear and tailhook for short-deck landings.
Differences from Air Force Rafale:
- Heavier airframe due to additional reinforcements for naval operations.
- Optimized radar and electronic warfare systems for maritime applications.
- Enhanced landing capabilities for Catapult Assisted Take-Off Barrier Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR) and Short Take-Off, Barrier Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) systems.
Rafale Fighter Jet:
- Dassault Rafale is a 4.5 generation, twin-engine, delta-wing, multirole fighter aircraft manufactured by Dassault Aviation.
- Capable of Sps up to Mach 1.8 and a combat radius exceeding 1000 km.
- Designed for air superiority, ground support, reconnaissance, and anti-ship missions.
Key Features and Avionics
- Equipped with RBE2 AESA radar, SPECTRA electronic warfare suite, front sector optronics, and omnidirectional warning systems.
- Powered by 2 SNECMA M88 turbofan engines, providing supercruise capability (supersonic flight without afterburners).
- 14 hardpoints can carry external payloads up to 9,500 kg.
Rafale Variants
- Rafale C: Single-seat Air Force version.
- Rafale B: Twin-seat version for training with full combat capability.
- Other variants include Rafale N(nuclear strike) and Rafale R(research and development).
Prelims special:
Q.Which one of the following-is the context in which the term “qubit” is mentioned?(UPSC 2022)
- Cloud Services
- Quantum Computing
- Visible Light Communication Technologies
- Wireless Communication Technologies
Ans: (b)
2. Over-The-Top (OTT)
- Context: The Supreme Court sought responses from the Centre and others on a plea seeking a direction to take appropriate steps to prohibit streaming of sexually explicit content on OTT and social media platforms.
Over-The-Top (OTT):
- OTT stands for “Over-The-Top,” a term used to describe content delivery over the internet directly to viewers, bypassing traditional broadcast, cable, or satellite TV platforms.
- The OTT market refers to the industry that provides streaming media services,delivering movies, TV shows, music, and other content to users via the internet.
- Examples: Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, CuriosityStream, Pluto TV, and so many more.
Benefits of OTT:
- Flexibility and Convenience: Users can access content anytime, anywhere, across multiple devices, providing unparalleled convenience.
- Diverse Content: OTT platforms offer a wide array of content, including movies, TV shows, documentaries, and original productions, catering to varied tastes and interests.
- Personalization: These platforms use algorithms to recommend content based on viewing habits, enhancing user experience and content discovery.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Compared to traditional cable or satellite TV subscriptions, OTT services often offer more affordable pricing options, including free content with ad support or subscription tiers.
- Global Accessibility: OTT platforms transcend geographical barriers, allowing users worldwide to access content regardless of their location.
Challenges in regulating OTT:
Prelims special:
Q. Which one of the following words/phrases is most appropriately used to denote “an interoperable network of 3D virtual worlds that can be accessed simultaneously by millions of users, who can exert property rights over virtual items”?(UPSC 2024)
- Big data analytics
- Cryptography
- Metaverse
- Virtual matrix
Ans: (c)
3. POCSO Act
- Context: The Kerala High Court has observed that just because offences under the POCSO Act are alleged, it does not mean that the proceedings cannot be quashed based on a settlement between the parties.
POCSO Act:
- The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development led the introduction of the POCSO Act in 2012.
- The Act was designed to protect children from sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography offences.
- Special courts: Provide for the establishment of Special Courts for the trial of such offenses.
- Amendment: The Act was amended in 2019 for enhancing the punishments for specific offenses in order to deter abusers and ensure a dignified childhood.
Key Features of the Act:
Prelims special:
Q. Which of the following are envisaged by the Right against Exploitation in the Constitution of India?(UPSC 2017)
- Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour
- Abolition of untouchability
- Protection of the interests of minorities
- Prohibition of employment of children in factories and mines
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- 1, 2 and 4 only
- 2, 3 and 4 only
- 1 and 4 only
- 1, 2, 3 and 4
Ans: (c)
4. Deputy Speaker
- Context: The Centre is yet to fill the post of Deputy Speaker in Lok Sabha, which has been vacant for the last six years.
Constitutional Provision w.r.t. Office of Deputy Speaker:
- Article 93 of the Constitution says that the House of the People (Lok Sabha) shall choose two members of the House to be respectively Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
- The Article also says that when the office of Speaker/Deputy Speaker becomes vacant, the House shall choose another member to be Speaker or Deputy Speaker.
- Article 178: State Legislative Assembly contains the corresponding position for Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
Election & Term of Office of Deputy Speaker:
- Like the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker is also elected by the Lok Sabha itself from amongst its members.
- He is elected after the election of the Speaker has taken place.
- The date of election of the Deputy Speaker is fixed by the Speaker.
- Like the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker remains in office usually during the life of the Lok Sabha. However, he may vacate his office earlier in any of the following three cases –
- if he ceases to be a member of the Lok Sabha;
- if he resigns by writing to the Speaker; and
- If he is removed by a resolution passed by a majority of all the then members of the Lok Sabha. Such a resolution can be moved only after giving 14 days’ advance notice.
Role/Power of Deputy Speaker:
- The Deputy Speaker performs the duties of the Speaker’s office when it is vacant.
- He also acts as the Speaker when the latter is absent from the sitting of the House. In both cases, he assumes all the powers of the Speaker.
- It should be noted here that the Deputy Speaker is not subordinate to the Speaker. He is directly responsible to the House.
- He also presides over the joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament, in case the Speaker is absent from such a sitting.
- The Deputy Speaker has one special privilege, that is, whenever he is appointed as a member of a parliamentary committee, he automatically becomes its chairman.
- When the Speaker presides over the House, the Deputy Speaker is like any other ordinary member of the House.
- He can speak in the House, participate in its proceedings and vote on any question before the House.
Prelims special:
Q. With reference to Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha, consider the following statements: (UPSC 2022)
- As per the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, the election of Deputy Speaker shall be held on such date as the Speaker may fix.
- There is a mandatory provision that the election of a candidate as Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha shall be from either the principal opposition party or the ruling party.
- The Deputy Speaker has the same power as of the Speaker when presiding over the sitting of the House and no appeal lies against his rulings.
- The well-established parliamentary practice regarding the appointment of Deputy Speaker is that the motion is moved by the Speaker and duly seconded by the Prime Minister.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
- 3 and 4 only
- 2 and 4 only
Ans: (b)
Source: TheHindu, NewIndianExpress
5. Mt Everest
- Context: 402 climbers from 53 nations got permission to scale Mount Everest: Nepal’s Department of Tourism.
Mt Everest:
- Everest is also known as Sagarmatha in Nepal and Mount Qomolangma in China.
- The mountain lies on the border between Nepal and Tibet and the summit can be accessed from both sides.
- It gets its English name from Sir George Everest, a colonial-era geographer who served as the Surveyor General of India In the mid-19th century.
- It was first scaled in 1953 by the Indian-Nepalese Tenzing Norgay and New Zealander Edmund Hillary.
- First Survey of Everest:
- The first effort was carried out in 1847 by a team led by Andrew Waugh, Surveyor General of India.
- The survey was based on trigonometric calculations and is known as the Great Trigonometric Survey of India.
- The new height of 8,848.86 meters replaced the long-associated 8,848 metre-height,which was, as per a measurement carried out by the Survey of India in 1954.
Prelims special:
Q. The longest border between any two countries in the world is between: (UPSC 2024)
- Canada and the United States of America
- Chile and Argentina
- China and India
- Kazakhstan and Russian Federation
Ans: (a)