08.04.25 Daily [Madhya Pradesh] MPPSC Current Affairs

Operational by 2026: India aims to operationalize INS Varsha, a dedicated naval base for nuclear-powered submarines, by 2026.

Strategic Location: Located near Rambilli, Andhra Pradesh, on the eastern coast.

Purpose: To house India’s growing fleet of nuclear-powered submarines (SSBNs and SSNs).

Enhanced Deterrence: Improves the survivability of India’s sea-based nuclear deterrent.

Underground Facilities: Features underground pens and tunnels for stealthy submarine operations.

Stealth Operations: Water depth at Rambilli will enable submarines to enter and exit undetected, similar to China’s Hainan Island base.

High-Security Facility: The base is a high-security facility and part of Project Varsha.

Dramatic Eruption: Mount Kanlaon in the Philippines recently experienced a significant eruption, sending an ash plume 4,000 meters (2.5 miles) into the atmosphere. Why: Highlights a recent geological event with potential impact.

Stratovolcano: Kanlaon is a stratovolcano located in the north-central part of Negros Island. Why: Classifies the type of volcano, important for understanding eruption style and potential hazards.

Island Peak: It is the highest mountain on Negros Island. Why: Provides geographical context and significance.

Active Volcano/Pacific Ring of Fire: Mount Kanlaon is one of the active volcanoes in the Philippines and part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Why: Emphasizes its location in a tectonically active region, making it prone to eruptions.

Volcanic Structure: The volcano comprises pyroclastic cones and craters, with a broad northern caldera containing a crater lake and a smaller active crater to the south. Why: Describes the volcano’s physical features, which influence eruption patterns.

Phreatic Eruptions: Historical eruptions have typically been phreatic explosions, causing minor ashfalls. Why: Details the common eruption style and potential hazards.

Biologically Diverse: Mount Kanlaon is biologically diverse. Why: Highlights importance of the region.

Death Anniversary Observed: Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s death anniversary was observed on April 8th, commemorating his contributions to Indian literature, nationalism, and Bengal’s cultural awakening.

Nationalist Literature: His novel Anandamath, featuring the Sanyasi Rebellion, significantly contributed to India’s independence movement and was later banned by the british.

Vande Mataram: The national song “Vande Mataram,” originated from Anandamath, becoming a symbol of the freedom struggle. This is crucial as it’s a powerful symbol of Indian nationalism.

Early Life: Born in Naihati, West Bengal in 1838, Bankim joined British service after his studies. This highlights his initial involvement within the British system before his nationalist awakening.

Notable Works: His works include Rajmohan’s Wife, Durgeshnandini, Kapalkundala, and Vishabriksha, which addressed important social issues like women’s rights and caste. These novels showcase his reformist views.

Bangadarshan Magazine: Bankim started the literary magazine Bangadarshan in 1872 which played a key role in fostering Bengali nationalism.

Bridging the Gap: His vision for Bangadarshan was to unite the educated and uneducated classes and promote Bengali identity. This underscores his efforts to build a unified national consciousness.

Tagore’s Influence: Rabindranath Tagore, influenced by Bangadarshan, later revived the magazine, providing a platform for nationalist writings. This highlights Bangadarshan‘s lasting legacy in shaping nationalist discourse.

APL is a Rare, Aggressive Leukemia: Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) is a rare subtype of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), accounting for 10-15% of AML cases. It’s characterized by abnormal white blood cell formation due to a genetic mutation (PML-RARA gene fusion).

Dangerous Bleeding Risk: APL can cause sudden and severe internal bleeding, potentially fatal if untreated.

High Curability with Early Treatment: APL is highly curable if diagnosed and treated early with treatments like all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide.

New Rapid Diagnostic Test (RAPID-CRISPR): A new CRISPR-based test, RAPID-CRISPR, has been developed for faster and more accessible APL diagnosis.

Current Tests are Slow and Complex: Existing diagnostic tests are time-consuming, require specialized equipment, and trained personnel, limiting accessibility.

RAPID-CRISPR Advantages:

• Provides results in under 3 hours.
• More affordable than existing tests.
• Doesn’t require complex lab equipment.
• Nearly 100% sensitivity and specificity.

How RAPID-CRISPR Works: Detects the PML-RARA gene mutation in a blood sample and triggers a signal detected by a simple strip, similar to a home pregnancy test.

Potential for Widespread Use: RAPID-CRISPR can bridge the gap in diagnosis in resource-limited settings, enabling timely treatment. The goal is to make it a standard tool in hospitals worldwide and, potentially, for at-home testing.

Irrigation Discovery: Researchers have unearthed a well-preserved ancient irrigation canal system in the Eridu region of southern Mesopotamia, providing new knowledge about early farming methods.

Location and Significance: Mesopotamia, situated in the Middle East (modern-day Iraq, Kuwait, Turkey, and Syria) between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, is part of the Fertile Crescent, often called the “Cradle of Civilization.”

Key Civilizations: It was home to the ancient civilizations of Sumer, Assyria, and Babylonia.

Early Agriculture and Writing: Mesopotamia was one of the first places to develop settled agriculture and the cuneiform writing system.

Historical Dominance: For roughly 3,000 years, Mesopotamia was the main power in the Near East.

Decline: Mesopotamian culture declined after Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon in 539 BC, incorporating it into the Persian Empire. Subsequent Greek and Parthian rule eventually led to its end around AD 100.

First Civilization: Mesopotamia is considered the world’s oldest recorded civilization.

Purpose of Enrichment: Uranium enrichment increases the concentration of the U-235 isotope, essential for nuclear reactors and weapons. Natural uranium contains only 0.7% U-235, while reactors need 3-20% and weapons require around 90%.

Centrifuge Process Overview: Uranium hexafluoride (UF₆) gas is spun at extremely high speeds (around 50,000 rpm) within a centrifuge.

Isotope Separation: Due to the slight mass difference (1.27%) between U-238 (heavier) and U-235 (lighter), centrifugal force pushes the heavier U-238 towards the outer edge, leaving the lighter U-235 closer to the center.

Multi-Stage Process: The U-235 enriched gas is passed through multiple centrifuges in a cascade, progressively increasing the U-235 concentration.

Centrifuge Design: Centrifuges are constructed with strong, lightweight materials like carbon fiber to withstand the immense forces generated by high-speed rotation.

Application and Significance: The centrifuge process is a key step in producing nuclear fuel for power generation and the creation of nuclear weapons. Enrichment is vital for both technologies.