26 Dec 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Seasonal ionospheric observations at Indian Antarctica station Bharati
2. INS Imphal
3. Tansen Festival

1. Seasonal ionospheric observations at Indian Antarctica station Bharati

Syllabus: GS-3, Science and Technology

Prelims: Research station Bharati, Ionosphere

Mains: Effects of the ionosphere on satellite-based navigation and communication systems

Context:

A team of scientists from the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG), an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) have examined the long-term seasonal ionospheric observations at Indian Antarctica station Bharati between 2010 and 2022 and also with solar activity following the Sun’s 11-year cycle.

Details:

• The observations revealed a substantial seasonal variation with maximum total electron count (TEC) in equinoctial months followed by the summer and winter. 
• Significance: Such long-term studies can help understand the effects of the ionosphere on satellite-based navigation and communication systems and help mitigate them.
• Significance of the Ionosphere:
  • The ionosphere is a part of Earth’s upper atmosphere, which is partially ionized extending from 100-1000km. 
  • The ionosphere in the polar regions is highly dynamic and acts as a major energy sink for space weather events, and related processes in magnetosphere-ionosphere systems as the magnetic field lines are vertical in this region. 
  • The ionospheric observations in Antarctica are few compared to the Arctic region due to geographic limitations and the limited number of stations.
• Observations of the study:
  • Even ​​though there was no sunlight incidence throughout the day in winter months (polar nights) at Bharati station, a diurnal pattern was observed with peak ionospheric density near local noon.
  • The day-night ionospheric density variations were observed regardless of 24 hours of sunlight in summer and complete darkness in winter. This was attributed to particle precipitation and transportation of convectional plasma from high latitudes.
  • The maximum ionospheric density in the summer months where 24-hour sunlight is present (polar days), was about twice more than that of polar nights at the Bharati region.

Bharati Research Station:

• Bharati is the third research station commissioned by India in Antarctica. It was established in 2012.
• Its mandate is to conduct research in the areas of oceanography and continental break-up. It also focuses on understanding the geological history of the Indian subcontinent.
• With Bharati, India is one of the nine countries to have more than one research base in the Antarctic Circle.
• It is located near Larsmann Hill.
• The communication is through dedicated satellite channels providing connectivity for voice, video and data with the Indian mainland.

2. INS Imphal

Syllabus: GS-3, Security & Defence

Prelims: INS Imphal, Project 15B

Context:

INS Imphal commissioned into the Navy.

INS Imphal:

• The Defence Minister unveiled Imphal, the third among the four Project 15B stealth-guided missile destroyers.
• Imphal’s crest design depicts the Kangla Palace on the left and ‘Kangla-Sa’ on the right. 
  • • The Kangla Palace is an important historical and archaeological site of Manipur and was the traditional seat of the past kingdom.
    • Kangla-Sa is a mythical being from Manipur with a dragon’s head and a lion’s body. It is symbolic as the guardian of the people. Kangla-Sa is also the state emblem of Manipur.
• INS Imphal guided missile destroyer with a displacement of 7,400 tons and an overall length of 164 meters.
• She is a potent and versatile platform with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, including surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles and torpedoes.
• She is capable of achieving speeds over 30 knots (56 km/hr).
• The vessel has a high indigenous content of almost 75%.
• This is the first capital warship to be named after a city in the North-Eastern region.

3. Tansen Festival

Syllabus: GS-1, Art & Culture

Prelims: Tansen Festival/Samaroh

Context:

Artists performing at Madhya Pradesh’s Tansen Festival entered the Guinness Book of World Records.

Details:

• The ‘Largest tabla ensemble’ Guinness world record was set in Gwalior during the Tansen Festival.
• Around 1,300 tabla players performed at the 99th International Tansen Samaroh.
• On this occasion, the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister said henceforth the state of MP would observe Dec 25 (the day on which the record was set) as ‘Tabla Day’ in honour of the musicians who achieved this feat.

Tansen Festival:

• The Tansen Samaroh or Tansen Sangeet Samaroh is celebrated every year for four days in December in Gwalior, MP in honour of the legendary medieval-era musician Tansen.
• The event is organized near the tomb of Tansen by Ustad Alauddin Khan Kala Evam Sangeet Academy, under the MP government’s Department of Culture.
• Artists from all over the country gather to give performances at the festival.

About Tansen:

Tansen was a Hindustani musician who was one of the nine gems of Mughal Emperor Akbar’s court.

Read previous PIB articles here.