Articles Covered

1. Villagers in Gujarat discover Harappan-era settlement while digging for gold
2. India opens space sector to 100% foreign investment with new FDI policy
3. Cabinet clears 8% increase in sugarcane Fair and Remunerative Price
4. Cryogenic engine for human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, tested successfully: ISRO
5. To bypass Red Sea, new trade route to Israel involving Mundra port: How this will work
6. Spur-winged Lapwing

Villagers in Gujarat discover Harappan-era settlement while digging for gold

During their search for gold, villagers in Gujarat’s Kutch district unexpectedly unearthed remnants of an ancient civilisation dating back to the Harappan Era.

Morodharo

Morodharo: A Harappan-Era Fortified Settlement in Kutch, Gujarat

Features:

1. Dating back to the Harappan era, the settlement exhibits characteristics of mature to late Harappan phases (2,600-1,300 BCE).
2. Fortification measures 102 m east to west, 58 m north to south, with an average wall thickness of 3.3 m.
3. Notable structures include a 10×10 m platform on the southwest side and a well on the northeast.
4. Burial cairns, stone mounds demarcating boundaries, are present.
5. Unearthed artifacts include Harappan pottery, perforated jar sherds, reserved slipware, and terracotta cakes, resembling those found in Dholavira.

Harappan Civilization

• The first urban civilization in South Asia, coexisting with Mesopotamia and Egypt.
• Occupied approximately 8,00,000 sq km, encompassing major cities like Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, Dholavira, Lothal, Surkotada, Kalibangan, Banawali, and Rakhigarhi.

Town Planning:

1. Rectangular grid pattern with streets running north-south and east-west.
2. Streets and alleyways designed for carts and pedestrians, featuring covered drains.
3. Cities fortified with mud brick walls for protection.
4. Division into an upraised citadel (western part) and a lower town.

Construction and Material:

1. Use of burnt bricks on a large scale, absence of stone buildings.
2. Residential areas with multiple-story houses around courtyards.

Infrastructure:

1. Sophisticated drainage systems with house and street drains.
2. Well-planned granaries and storage facilities for surplus agricultural produce.

India opens space sector to 100% foreign investment with new FDI policy

• Space-related stocks surged up to 7% in early trade after the Union Cabinet approved amendments in the FDI policy for the space sector, allowing 100% FDI. This move aims to attract overseas players and private companies. MTAR Technologies saw a 7% surge in intraday trade.
• Space-related stocks soared up to 7% in today’s early morning trade after the Union Cabinet approved the amendment in the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy on the space sector on Wednesday. This was done to attract overseas players and private companies into the space segment. 

Existing Policy: As per the existing FDI policy, FDI is permitted to establish and operate Satellites through the Government approval route only. Indian Space Policy 2023: In line with the vision and strategy under the Indian Space Policy 2023, the Cabinet has eased the FDI policy on the Space sector. Liberalized FDI Thresholds: The satellite sub-sector has been divided into three different categories with defined limits for foreign investment in each such sector Impact on Non-Government Entities (NGEs): This policy shift is expected to enhance NGEs’ capabilities in satellite and launch vehicle domains, promoting product sophistication and global market presence.

Amendments in the FDI Policy: Clarity in Policy: The amendments prescribing liberalised entry route and providing clarity for FDI in Satellites, Launch Vehicles and associated systems or subsystems, creation of Spaceports for launching and receiving Spacecraft and manufacturing of space related components and systems. Categorization and Liberalisation of FDI: The amendment provides for three categories of liberalised entry route. Upto 74% under Automatic route: Satellites-Manufacturing & Operation, Satellite Data Products and Ground Segment & User Segment. Beyond 74% these activities are under the government route. Upto 49% under Automatic route: Launch Vehicles and associated systems or subsystems, Creation of Spaceports for launching and receiving Spacecraft. Beyond 49% these activities are under government route. Upto 100% under Automatic route: Manufacturing of components and systems/ sub-systems for satellites, ground segment and user segment.

 

Indian Space Policy 2023 It aims to increase India’s share in the global space economy from ~2% to 10%. Enhance Private Sector Participation through greater access to ISRO’s infrastructure, technology, and expertise. Focus of the policy: Civilian and peaceful applications. It delineates the responsibilities of INSPACe, New Space India Limited (NSIL), ISRO, Department of Space and Non-Government Entities. The policy aims to augment space capabilities, develop a flourishing commercial presence in space and use space as a driver of technology development.

Cabinet clears 8% increase in sugarcane Fair and Remunerative Price

The announcement is significant especially for Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, the two biggest sugarcane growing states which are also among states with the maximum number of Lok Sabha seats.

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, approved ₹340/quintal as The FRP of sugarcane for sugar season 2024-25 at sugar recovery rate of 10.25%. This is about 8% higher than FRP of sugarcane for the current season 2023-24. The revised FRP will be applicable from October 1, 2024.
• Briefing reporters about the decision, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said the Narendra Modi government always gave importance to the issues of farmers and sugarcane farmers in India get the highest price for their produce compared to other countries.
• “At 107% higher than A2+FL cost of sugarcane, the new FRP will ensure prosperity of sugarcane farmers,” he said. When asked about the ongoing protests for guaranteed minimum support price, he said many crops in the country were procured at the best prices globally.

Fair and remunerative price (FRP)

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)approved the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane for Sugar Season 2024-25.
• The FRP of sugarcane was raised by 8 per cent to Rs 340 per quintalfor Sugar Season 2024-25 (October-September) from the existing Rs 315 per quintal.

The sugarcane farmers in Haryana sat on dharnas outside the sugar mills across the State recently kicking off the agitation to seek hike in the crop’s support price.

Sugarcane Crop: Sugarcane is a giant tropical grass from the family Graminaceae, whose stalk has the particular capacity to store a crystallizable sugar, sucrose. It is the main source of sugar, Gur (jaggery), khandsari and molasses. Top Sugarcane Producing States: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Bihar. Suitable Conditions for sugarcane Production: Temperature: Between 21-27°C with hot and humid climate. Rainfall: Around 75-100 cm. Soil Type: Deep rich loamy soil. In 2021-2022, India surpassed Brazil to become the world’s largest sugar producer, reaching an all-time high production of 359 lakh tonnes.

FRP Determining Body: The FRP is fixed by the Union government (CCEA) on the basis of recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). Committee: The FRP is based on the recommendations of the Rangarajan Committee report on reorganising the sugarcane industry. Statutory Provision: The pricing of sugarcane is governed by the statutory provisions of the Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966 issued under the Essential Commodities Act (ECA), 1955. Methodology: Recommended FRP is arrived at by taking into account various factors such as cost of production, demand-supply situation, domestic & international prices, inter-crop price parity etc. State Advised Prices (SAP): The State Government of key sugarcane-producing states announces the State Advised Prices (SAP). SAP is generally higher than the FRP set by the Central Government.

Fair and remunerative price (FRP):

• Fair and remunerative price (FRP) is the minimum price at which rate sugarcane is to be purchased by sugar mills from farmers.
• The FRP is fixed by Union government (Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA))on the basis of recommendations of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).
• Rules: The ‘FRP’ of sugarcane is determined under Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966.
• Methodology:Recommended FRP is arrived at by taking into account various factors (cost of production, demand-supply situation, domestic & international prices, inter-crop price parity etc.
• Benefits:FRP assures margins to farmers, irrespective of whether sugar mills generate a profit or not.
• This will be uniformly applicable all over the country. Besides FRP, some states such as Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, UP and TN announce a State Advised Price, which is generally higher than the FRP.

Cryogenic engine for human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, tested successfully: ISRO

Gaganyaan is India’s proposed first human flight mission that envisions sending a three-membered crew into an orbit of 400km for a period of three days and bringing them back to Earth.

Recently, the ISRO has successfully completed the human rating of its CE20 cryogenic engine. It marks a significant milestone in India’s Gaganyaan mission to send humans into space.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Wednesday said that the performance of the key cryogenic engine to be used on board the LVM3 launch vehicles for India’s Gaganyaan missions, has been qualified and now certified for missions that will transport humans into space.

CE20 cryogenic engine its human-rating means

• The CE20 cryogenic engine is an advanced propulsion system developed by ISRO.
• Operate– It is designed to operate using cryogenic fuel, which is stored at extremely low temperatures.
• Application– CE20 cryogenic engine powers the cryogenic stage of the human-rated LVM-III launch vehicle for Gaganyaan missions.

Human rating

1. Human-rating is the process of certifying a spacecraft or its parts to meet safety standards for human space travel.
2. For the CE20 cryogenic engine, being human-rated means that it has been extensively tested and has been confirmed safe and reliable for crewed space missions like India’s Gaganyaan.
3. ISRO has also completed acceptance tests for the flight engine selected for the first unmanned Gaganyaan mission.

Gaganyaan Mission It is India’s first human spaceflight program, aiming to send a crew of three humans into a 400 km orbit around Earth for a three-day mission and safely return them to Earth. Gaganyaan Mission About: It is India’s first human spaceflight mission. As part of the programme, two unmanned missions and one manned mission will be taking place. A 3 member Indian crew will be sent to space for a period of seven days. Aim: To demonstrate the capability to launch human beings (three crew members) to low earth orbit and bring them back safely to earth by landing them in either the Bay of Bengal or the Arabian Sea. Launch vehicle: Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) Significance: After this manned mission, India will become the 4th country after Russia, US and China to send humans in space.

 

Cryogenic Engine-CE20: Cryogenic engine: It is a rocket engine that uses a cryogenic fuel and oxidizer, meaning that both of these components are liquefied gasses that are kept at extremely low temperatures. Fuel Used: It typically makes use of liquid oxygen (LOX), which liquefies at -183 deg C, and liquid hydrogen (LH2), which liquefies at -253 deg C. LH2 acts as the fuel, while LOX acts as the oxidizer that explosively reacts with the hydrogen, producing thrust. Stage of Usage: They are highly efficient propulsion systems with increased payload capacity and are used in the upper stages of rockets. Other Cryogenic Engines: ISRO has used three cryogenic engines over the years: KVD-1, CE-7.5, and CE-20. The last two are India-made, although the design of the CE-7.5 is based on the KVD-1, which the Soviet Union supplied to India in the early 1980s.

Significance of Cryogenic Engines:  Higher Payload carrying capability: These engines enable rockets to carry larger payloads, critical for complex missions including satellite deployment and interplanetary exploration Advanced Propulsion: Cryogenic rocket stage is more efficient and provides more thrust for every kilogram of propellant it burns compared to solid and earth-storable liquid propellant rocket stages. Technological Milestone: It is a significant achievement for ISRO, as only six countries have developed their own cryogenic engines: the US, France/European Space Agency, Russia, China, Japan, and India.

To bypass Red Sea, new trade route to Israel involving Mundra port: How this will work

Israel’s transport minister Miri Regev posted a video on X, in which she is standing at Gujarat’s Mundra port and describing the new trade route. Here is what it is, who it helps, and its potential pitfalls.

An alternative route for trade to bypass the Red Sea was announced by  the Israeli transport minister.

1. Landbridge Agreement: Israel-basedTrucknet signed a cooperation agreement with Emirati-based Puretrans and the Dubai port-operating company to enter into an agreement connecting the ports of Dubai or Bahrain, passing through Saudi Arabia and Jordan, and getting to the port of Haifa, as well as Egypt, where cargo can continue to Europe.
2. New Continental Routes:  A similar route is theIndia Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), which connected Mumbai ports to Greece via the Middle Eastern countries.

The New route:

• The proposed new route is mainly a land corridor first proposed during the Abraham Accords in 2020 (It was between Israel and the UAE, Morocco and Bahrain)
• India Role: India’s addition to the route will give it a multi-modal nature by connecting it to India’s western Ports.
• The Route: It starts from the Mundra port in Gujarat to UAE’s Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port, by sea, and then via land through Saudi Arabia and Jordan to Israel and further to Egypt.
• Truck-based: A major part of the land transport will be carried out on trucks with the trucks being operated by two shipping companies, Israel’s Trucknet and the UAE’s PureTrans.

The Red Sea Crisis: Commercial Ships linked to Israel are attacked with drones and missiles in the Red Sea by Yemen’s Houthi rebels to show their solidarity with Gaza, which has been suffering under a relentless Israeli military campaign since October 2023 Location: The Red Sea links the Indian Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal. Crisis: Global trade has been disrupted as approximately 12% of which passes through the Red Sea. Shifting trade: Trade is shifting to new longer routes for example, they are taking to the south of Africa and crossing the Cape of Good Hope, increasing both costs and the time taken. Red Sea Crisis Response: In a new industry agreement signed the seafarers now have the right to refuse to sail on ships passing through the Red Sea. About Agreement: It is a negotiated settlement between seafarer’s union ie. International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and commercial shipping companies, known as the International Bargaining Forum (IBF).

Significance: Transit time: Travel time is estimated to reduce by 80 per cent compared to maritime routes Revenue Generator: The new route will generate revenue for Saudi Arabia and Jordan through transport fees and duties in addition to cutting costs for Israel Alternative to Maritime Trade: It can provide a secure and efficient continental alternative route characterised by high standards and competitive pricing. Shipping time: The shipping time will be reduced by 10 days; unloading and putting the cargo on trucks via the land route will take just four days. Security of International Trade: The attacks from Iran backed houthi militants in Red Sea has raised the shipping and insurance cost to trade significantly which is hampering global trade security and resilience.

Spur-winged Lapwing

Recently, a group of birdwatchers spotted an African-Mediterranean wader bird, the Spur-winged Lapwing (Vanellus spinosus), at Ammavaripet Lake in Warangal, Telangana. It is believed to be the first time the bird has been spotted in India.

1. Family:Spur-winged Lapwing belongs to the family of Charadriidae.
2. Range:Central, sub-Saharan Africa; eastern Mediterranean.
3. IUCN STATUS-Least Concern.
4. Diet: Carnivore – Primarily insects, insect larvae, and small invertebrates.
5. Active:Diurnal – Variably diurnal or nocturnal.
6. Spur-winged lapwings are active day and night, depending on the concentration of prey and predators in a given area.