 Good evening, I welcome you all to the Hindu Daily News Analysis brought to you by Shankar IA's Academy for the newspaper dated 15th of July 2023. Displayed here is a list of articles that we will take up for discussion today. Go through it. Now we will start with the first article discussion. Take a look at this front page article. Yesterday around 2.35pm, India's third moon mission Chandra and 3 was successfully launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota. The mission was launched using the Launch Vehicle Mk 3 rocket. Chandra and 3 mission is India's second attempt to soft land its robotic instruments on the lunar surface. This mission is being carried out after the previous attempt that is Chandra and 2 failed in 2019. See, so far only 3 countries that is the US, Russia and China have successfully soft landed on the moon. So if India successfully soft lands its equipments on the lunar surface then India will be added into an Yelite club of countries. Now coming back to the launch, see around 16 minutes after the launch vehicle Mk 3 lifted off, the Chandra and 3 spacecraft got separated from the rocket. And it entered into an elliptic parking orbit. Here the term elliptic parking orbit refers to the temporary elliptical orbit used during the launch of a spacecraft. For example, if we want to launch a satellite from the earth to the moon, initially we have to place it in an elliptical earth orbit. After orbiting the earth in an elliptical path for some days, the satellite will then be manoeuvred and injected into the moon's orbit. Here the temporary elliptical orbit used by the spacecraft is what is called as elliptic parking orbit. See, as of now Chandra and 3 propulsion module is orbiting in an elliptic parking orbit. Over the next month the propulsion module will execute a series of manoeuvres to sling itself towards the moon and subsequently it will be caught by the moon's gravity. Once the propulsion module has been captured into a lunar orbit, the lander will detach itself and attempt to soft land on the moon's surface. So if everything goes as per plan, then the soft landing on the moon will be carried out on August 23 at 547 p.m. So this is all about the news. In this discussion we will understand some points about Chandra and 3 mission. Before that the syllabus relevant to this discussion is highlighted here. You can go through it. Now let's start with Chandra and 3. See, Chandra and 3 is a follow-on mission to Chandra and 2 and it is India's third lunar mission. The mission would consist of an indigenous lander module, propulsion module and a rover. Note one important fact here, the mission primarily aims to soft land a lander module on the south pole of the moon. Now coming to the objectives. There are three main objectives of Chandra and 3 mission. Firstly, the mission aims to demonstrate safe and soft landing on the lunar surface. Secondly, the mission aims to demonstrate rover's rowing capabilities on the moon. And finally, the mission aims to conduct inside two scientific experiments. The ISRO said that the Chandra and 3 mission is expected to be supportive to future interplanetary missions. This means that the Chandra and 3 mission will demonstrate new technologies required for interplanetary missions. Now talking about the payloads. As I said earlier, Chandra and 3 would consist of a lander module, propulsion module and a rover. Each of these modules will have their own payloads. Now we will see about the payloads of propulsion module. See, the propulsion module's main task is to carry the lander and rover to the lunar orbit. It basically acts like a taxi that takes them close to the moon. Once it reaches a distance of 100 kilometers from the moon, the lander and the rover will separate from the propulsion module and start their journey towards the moon surface. The propulsion module also carries a special payload called SHAPE. That is, Petropolarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth. SHAPE is like a scientific instrument that helps study the Earth from the moon. It analyses the light coming from the moon and its polarization, which is like the orientation of the light waves. By studying this polarization, scientists can learn more about Earth's magnetic fields. Composition and other important characteristics. So, the SHAPE payload will help to understand the spectropolarimetric signatures of the Earth. This is about the payload of the propulsion module. Now, talking about the payloads of lander module. See, the lander module is responsible for landing on the moon surface and deploying the rover. It has four additional payloads that perform different tasks. First is the Chandra's surface thermo-physical experiment. This payload helps measure the temperature properties of the lunar surface, especially in the polar region. It tells us how hot or cold the surface gets and helps scientists understand the moon's climate. Second is the instrument for lunar seismic activity. This payload measures the seismic activity like earthquakes around the landing site. It helps scientists understand the structure of the moon's crust and mantle, similar to how seismographs on Earth help us study earthquakes and Earth's interior. Thirdly, we have Rampa LP or Rampa Langmuir probe. This payload estimates the density of plasma ions and electrons, that is charged particles near the lunar surface. It helps scientists understand the behaviour of these particles and how they react with the moon's environment. Fourthly, we have the laser retroreflector array. This payload is provided by NASA. It is like a reflective surface on the moon. It reflects the laser beams sent from Earth back to their source. Scientists can measure the time it takes for the laser to travel and return, helping them precisely determine the distance between the Earth and the moon. Now, coming to the payloads of the rover. The rover is a small vehicle that moves on the moon's surface. It has a mission life of one lunar day, which is equivalent to 14 Earth days. The rover carries two payloads. First is the alpha particle x-ray spectrometer. This payload helps determine the chemical composition of the lunar soil. It can tell us what elements are present in the soil, and it will help scientists understand the minerals on the moon's surface. It's like having a tool that can analyse the ingredients in the sample of the moon dot. Then, we have the laser-induced breakdown spectroscope. This payload helps determine the elemental composition of rocks and soil around the landing site. It shoots lasers at the surface and analyses the light that is emitted. By studying the light, scientists can identify the elements present in the rocks and soil. It's like using a special flashlight to examine the rocks and understand their makeup. Apart from this, the rover will also carry out the inside-to-chemical analysis of the lunar surface during the course of its mobility. Overall, these payloads and instruments play a crucial role in gathering scientific data and expanding our knowledge about Moon Earth and their interactions. This is the main practice question regarding the first part of this discussion. In the second part of this discussion, we will try to understand why Chandrayaan 3 mission is focusing particularly to land on the south pole of the moon rather than other areas. We will also try to understand the difference between Chandrayaan 2 and Chandrayaan 3. See, as I earlier told, the Chandrayaan 3 spacecraft would be the first to land at the lunar south pole. This is an area of special interest for space agencies and private space companies. This is because some sources are saying that there is an occurrence of water eyes in permanently shadowed areas around the south pole of the moon. See, the lunar south pole has craters on its surface. Here the word crater refers to a very large hole in the ground which has been caused by something hitting it or by an explosion. See, the craters in the south pole of the moon are unique in their own way. This is because sunlight is not able to reach the interiors of such craters. NASA even claims that some craters in the moon's south pole have not received sunlight for billions of years. Also, the temperatures in the interior of the craters could dip as low as minus 203 degrees Celsius. Because of all these factors, it is said that the craters contain a fossil record of hydrogen, water eyes and other materials dating from the early solar system. Due to the prevailing cold temperatures, the matter trapped in the southern lunar region would not have witnessed much changes over the year. So, they could hold close to early life. All these factors make the southern lunar pole fascinating for scientific investigations. And this is exactly why India is also focusing much on the moon's south pole. Now, we will move on to see about the differences between Chandrayaan 2 and Chandrayaan 3. See, the mission architecture of both Chandrayaan 2 and 3 remains the same. But there are certain differences between the two missions. The main difference lies with the payloads. See, Chandrayaan 2 mission comprised of Vikram lander, Pragyan rover and an orbiter. But Chandrayaan 3 comprised of a lander and a rover only. And there is no orbiter. The ISRO says that Chandrayaan 3 will use the orbiter already orbiting around the moon that was launched by Chandrayaan 2 mission. So basically, Chandrayaan 3 will use the orbiter of Chandrayaan 2 for its communications and terrain mapping requirements. The next difference lies with the onboard cameras. See, the Chandrayaan 3 lander is equipped with lander hazard detection and avoidance cameras. This will be very helpful in coordinating with the orbiter. In addition to this, the cameras will also assist in the mission control during the landing process on the surface of the moon. See, Chandrayaan 2 had just one such camera. But Chandrayaan 3 has been fitted with two such cameras. So this will help in efficient mission control during the landing process. Apart from this, the lander of Chandrayaan 3 is also fitted with additional solar panels when compared with Chandrayaan 2. This will ensure power generation no matter how it lands. The next difference lies in the endurability of the lander. See, the lander of Chandrayaan 3 will have stronger legs than the previous version. So it will help the lander to survive a slightly high landing speed. So this is all that I wanted to discuss regarding this news article. With the learned points in mind, now we will move on to the next article discussion. See, this news article talks about an infection that originates from the mouth and teeth. It can escalate into a swelling in the face and neck and it will even turn fatal. It is nothing but Ludwigs angina. See, many people lack awareness about this fatal infection. They think it's just a swelling in the mouth and it can be treated at home itself. But when they get to know about the infection, it becomes too late. So a hospital in Chennai has called upon the public to be aware of Ludwigs angina. So in this discussion, we will see few facts about this infection. See, Ludwigs angina is a rare skin infection that occurs on the floor of the mouth underneath the tongue. It is a bacterial infection and it occurs after a tooth abscess, which is nothing but the collection of pus in the center of a tooth. It can also occur after other mouth infections or injuries. The bacteria, streptococcus and staphylococcus are the common causes of this infection. It is more common in adults than in children. Usually people who get prom treatment recover fully. So poor dental hygiene, trauma or laceration. That is a deep cut or tear in the skin of the mouth. A recent tooth extraction can also cause this bacterial infection. Now talking about how dangerous this disease is. In Ludwigs angina, the infection spreads to the tissue spaces surrounding the muscles and bones in the face and neck referred to as the facial spaces. The inflammatory swelling can rapidly propagate and individuals with pre-existing health conditions like severe diabetics or those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy are more vulnerable. An infected wisdom tooth can cause swelling in the mouth, neck and base of the tongue and may even extend to the vocal cords. This might trigger immediate inflammation and infection and endanger breathing and potentially results in death. Now talking about the symptoms. The symptoms of this disease include swelling of the tongue, neck pain and breathing problems. There may also be pain or tenderness in the floor of your mouth which is just underneath your tongue. Difficulty in swallowing, drooling, problems with speech, neck pain, swelling of the neck, redness of the neck, weakness, fatigue, earache, tongue swelling that causes your tongue to push against your palate are some of the symptoms of this infection. Now talking about the treatment. See, if the swelling is interfering with your breathing, the first goal of treatment is to clear your airway. Doctors may insert a breathing tube through your nose or mouth and into your lungs. In some cases, they need to create an opening through your neck into your windpipe. This procedure is called tracheotomy. Doctors perform it in emergency situations. Surgery is sometimes necessary to drain the excess fluids that are causing swelling in the oral cavity. These are some important points that I wanted to discuss regarding this news article. With the learned points in mind, now we will move on to the next article discussion. Take a look at this editorial article. It talks about the Shankai Cooperation Organization Summit that was hosted by India. The author criticizes the decision of the government to hold the summit in virtual manner. Also, the government didn't provide any reason for holding the summit virtually. In this context, let's discuss about SEO in brief and we'll also see some important points from the article. First, let's see its membership. SEO has 8 members including China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. See, India and Pakistan became permanent members only in 2017. Also, note that Iran became the newest member of the Shankai Cooperation Organization and it joined at the virtual summit held by India on July 4th. Apart from these, Afghanistan, Belarus and Mongolia are the observer states. Now, what are its objectives? See, SEO was created in Shankai in 2001. Its objective was to enhance regional cooperation by curbing terrorism, separatism and extremism in the Central Asian region. SEO has been an observer in the UN General Assembly since 2005. Now, let's see about the structure of SEO. The Heads of State Council is the supreme decision-making body of the SEO. It meets once a year and adopts decisions in important matters. Note that this year's Head of State Council meeting was hosted by India. India conducted the meeting virtually and this is what is discussed in this editorial. Other than this, there are two permanent bodies in SEO. A secret trade in Beijing and regional anti-terrorist structure in Tashkent. Note that the official working languages of SEO are Chinese and Russian. Now, let's discuss in the main point of view. What is the importance of the Shankai Cooperation Organization for India? See, India is trying to increase its trade and investment ties with the SEO countries. Being a member of SEO, India can engage with the energy-rich countries of Central Asia and cooperate with them in the energy sector. Then SEO member countries have decided to designate one city from member countries as tourism and cultural capital every year under a rotating initiative. So, this will enhance the cultural cooperation between the members. Varanasi has been designated as the first cultural capital of the SEO under this initiative. Also, SEO has a strong focus on counter-terrorism cooperation. India, which has been a victim of terrorism, can benefit from the efforts of the organization to combat terrorism in the region. So, should India stay in SEO despite the friction with Pakistan and China? See, China and Pakistan have deliberately tried to bring bilateral issues into SEO. This violates the well-established principles of the SEO chapter. Such acts are counterproductive to the cooperation between India and member states. As we saw, India has enormous potential for enhancing ties in the areas of economic trade, connectivity and energy security. But it's a reality that India's gains from the SEO is restricted due to the influence of China and Pakistan within the organization. So, it can be said that India cannot fully neglect SEO. Now, we will see some important points from this article. See, the article points out India stands on connectivity projects, particularly China's Belt and Road Initiative and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. So, such a stance has isolated India within the SEO, because India insists that connectivity projects should respect national sovereignty and it views the BRI and CPEC as violating India's sovereignty. Then, the author also cautions about China's integration of Eurasia through the Belt and Road Initiative, because this poses a threat to India. China's integration is supported by Pakistan and it could potentially exclude India from the region. So, India should not support the BRI, but it should instead seek ways to maintain strong connections with Eurasia. It is important for India to prevent other SEO members from becoming closer to China. So, in simpler terms, the article discusses India's virtual participation in SEO and how it reflects a shift in India's approach to the SEO. So, these are some important points that I wanted to discuss regarding this news article. With the learned points in mind, now we will move on to the next article discussion. See, as we all know, our Prime Minister is currently in France on an official state visit. This news article covers various announcements made by the governments as part of this bilateral meeting. So, in our discussion today, we will try to look into the important announcements made during this meeting. See, most of the announcements that were made are in the areas of defence cooperation. This strong defence cooperation shows the mutual trust that exists between India and France. Yesterday, there was a news about India planning to purchase Rafale M. Fido and Scorpion submarines from France. In addition to this, the countries announced the Horizon 2047 roadmap. See, India and France are long-standing strategic partners in the Indo-Pacific. See, the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries started in 1947. And there was an upgrade of partnership to the strategic level in 1998. So, both the countries have consistently acted together since then. This resulted in building of a high level of mutual trust, shared commitment to the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter and common values rooted in international law. So, to mark the 25th anniversary of the Indo-French partnership, both countries agreed to adopt a roadmap to set the course for the bilateral relationship up to 2047. As a part of this Horizon 2047, India and France agreed that they would cooperate in the joint development of a compact aircraft engine and also on development of an engine that would be used in Indian multi-role compact helicopter. The French MNC Safran will aid India in the engine development. The other notable defence deals were for the transfer of technology of forging and casting for the Shakti engine and MOU for collaboration of surface ships. Here, Shakti engine is an engine that was co-developed by Turbomika and Hindustan Aeronautical Limited. Currently, this engine is used in Duruv helicopters that are operated by India. Finally, both countries are working towards adopting a roadmap on defence industrial cooperation. These are some of the defence cooperation that is made part of this Horizon 2047. Now, coming to space cooperation, India and France have decided to deepen their cooperation in all areas of the space sector by strengthening their programmes of common interest. Here, firstly, to enhance the Earth observation capabilities, India's ISRO and France CNES are in the Trishna satellite system. Secondly, India's new space India Limited and France Arian Space has plans to collaborate in commercial launch services. This is about the cooperation around space technology. The next is counter-terrorism. India and France have always stood together with each other in the fight against terrorism. Moving forward, the countries will cooperate under the lines of No Money for Terror i.e. NMFT Initiative and the Christ Church Call to Action to eliminate terrorist and violent extremism content online. In addition to this, both countries formalised cooperation between the National Security Guard of India and the Group D Intervention de la Gendarmerie National of France. This is about the counter-terrorism initiative that is part of Horizon 2047. Next is the cooperation between the countries on countering climate change. So, in the arena of climate change, India and France are cooperating closely on transition towards a low-carbon economy. Through this, they aim to achieve three things. One is to address India's growing energy need. Then, to ensure energy security for all while adhering to the Paris Climate Commitment. India and France particularly gave more focus on nuclear cooperation. So, both countries also agreed to work on establishing a partnership on low- and medium-power modular reactors or small modular reactors and advanced modular reactors. Next, India and France have plans for developing close cooperation in innovation in decarbonated hydrogen production capacities. On hydropower, India and France have plans for strengthening their cooperation, particularly in the renovation of existing installations, the promotion of run-off river solutions and pumped storage solutions. And in solar energy, both countries are already part of the international solar alliance. So, these are some of the initiatives mentioned in Horizon 2047 regarding countering climate change. Then, in the area of strategic cooperation, both countries announced the Roadmap India-France cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. In 2018, India and France agreed on a joint strategic vision of India-France cooperation in the Indian Ocean region. And currently, they are expanding their cooperation to the Indo-Pacific. So, through this roadmap, both the countries are planning on achieving some goals. Firstly, to protect their economic and security interests. Secondly, to ensure equal and free access to global commons. Thirdly, to build a partnership of prosperity and sustainability in the region. Fourthly, to ensure that the nations adhere to international law. Then, to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nations in the region. And finally, to ensure that a stable order prevails in the region. So, this is about the Roadmap India-France cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. This is all regarding this discussion. Today, we saw about the important announcements made during Prime Minister's visit to France. With the long points in mind, now we will move on to the next article discussion. See, this article from Sports Page says that Rutharaj Gaikwad will lead India-Mens Cricket Team in the 19th Asian Games. See, the Asian Games 2022 is the 19th edition. And it should have been held in China last year. But due to rising COVID-19 cases in the country, it got postponed. This year, it will be held in Hangzhou, China from September 23 to October 8. With the crux of the news article given here, in this context, let us quickly go through Asian Games. See, the Asian Games is a multi-disciplinary sports event held once in every four years. Athletes from all Asian countries are welcomed to participate in this event. The Asian Games is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and is the second largest multi-sport event after the Olympics. Now, let's quickly go through its history. See, before the Asian Games, the Far Eastern Championship Games were held. After the Second World War, many Asian countries gained independence. So, Guru Datsunthi, a member of the Indian International Olympic Committee, proposed the idea of Asian Games so that all Asian nations can be represented. The first ever Asian Games were held in New Delhi in 1951. Asian Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation from 1951 to 1978. Since 1982, Olympic Council of India regulates the Asian Games. Know that Olympic Council of Asia is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit international Asian sport organization. The main objective of the OCA is to develop sport, culture and education of Asian youth as well as to promote international respect, friendship, goodwill and peace through sports. Coming back, the symbol for Asian Games is Rising Sun with Interlocking Rings. Nine nations have hosted the Asian Games so far and 46 nations have participated in the Games. Israel has not taken part in the Asian Games since 1974. 44 sports have been included in the Asian Games history. Remember, India is the founder member of Asian Games and also the host of the first Asian Games. 1982 Asian Games were also held in New Delhi. Also, India is one of the seven countries to have participated in all the editions of the Asian Games. Note, this is important. India has won at least one gold medal at every Asian Games. India has always ranked in the top 10 in the medals tally in Asian Games, except in the year 1990. Now, these are the top 10 countries that hold medals since the beginning of Asian Games. You can go through it. These are some important points that I wanted to discuss regarding this news article. With the long points in mind, now we will move on to the next article discussion. Look at this article. Yesterday, as part of the MISTI program, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change planted mangrove saplings at Kovalev. So in this news article discussion, let us quickly go through the importance of mangroves and we will also see about the MISTI program. See, mangroves are salt tolerant plant communities. They mainly occur in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. That is between latitudes 24 degree north and 38 degree south. Within the tropical and subtropical region, they mainly occur in the intertidal zones. Here, the intertidal zone is the area where the ocean meets the land between high and low tides. These intertidal zones are marshy in condition. Conditions in the intertidal zone include lack of oxygen, high salinity and diurnal tidal inundation. These conditions are not ideal for normal plants to grow. But the mangroves thrive in these conditions, which is its specialty. They also support a rich food web with mollusks and algae-filled substrate acting as a breeding ground for small fish, mud crabs and shrimps. So, they provide a livelihood to local artisanal fishers. They act as effective carbon stores holding up to four times the amount of carbon as other forested ecosystems. So, these are some of the significance of mangroves. Now, let us look at the MISTI program. The mangrove initiative for shoreline habitats and tangible income scheme. That is, MISTI scheme. This is a government-led initiative aimed at increasing the mangrove cover along the coastline and on salt-panned lands. The scheme is primarily focused on the Sundarbans delta, Hoogli estuary in West Bengal and other Bay parts of the country. But know that it also includes other wetlands in the country. The objective of the scheme is to conserve and restore the mangrove ecosystem, which is critical to mitigating the effects of climate change, preventing coastal erosion and sustaining local livelihoods. Under the MISTI scheme, the government is providing financial assistance to local communities to undertake mangrove plantation activities. The MISTI scheme also involves awareness campaigns to educate people about the importance of mangroves and their role in protecting the environment. The plantation activities are carried out in a participatory manner involving local communities and NGOs. This would ensure sustainability and community ownership of the initiative. Overall, the MISTI scheme is a significant step towards promoting sustainable development and protecting the vulnerable areas of India. The scheme is implemented under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and 80% of the project cost is borne by the government of India. The remaining 20% is contributed by the respective state governments. So these are some of the points that I wanted to discuss regarding this news article. If you have learned points in mind, now we will move on to the next part of a discussion which is practice questions. Question number one. Consider the following countries. Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Austria. How many of the above mentioned countries share land border with France? See, in the North, France shares border with Belgium, while Monaco, Spain and Andorra share border with France in the south. Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland and Italy border France in the east. So the answer for this question is option A, only four. Question number two. Consider the following statements with reference to mangrove sites. Statement number one. Mangrove plants require approximate mix of saline water and fresh water. Statement number two. Mangrove plants require mud flats to enable it to grow and develop. Statement number three. Mangrove plants are found in the intertidal zones of sheltered coasts. Statement number four. Mangrove vegetations have been reported in all the coastal states including Andaman and Nicobar islands. See here, statement one is alone incorrect. It is a shrub or small tree that grows in coastal saline or brackish water. As an option one, it is given as fresh water. Hence it is incorrect, except that all the statements are correct. It occurs worldwide in the tropics and subtropics, mainly between latitudes 25 degree north and 25 degree south. Mangrove are salt tolerant trees also called Hallow Fights and are adapted to life in harsh coastal conditions. They contain a complex salt filtration system and complex root system to cope with salt immersion and wave action. Mangrove are group of trees and shrubs that live in coastal intertidal zones of sheltered coasts. In India, Mangrove grow in West Bengal, Gujarat, Andaman and Nicobar islands, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Kerala and Karnataka. Statement number three. Consider the following diseases. Tuberculosis, pneumonia, typhoid, Ludwigs angina, ebola. How many diseases given above are caused by bacteria? See, the correct answer is option C only four. Ebola is the odd one. Ebola disease is caused by ebola viruses. We know that Ludwigs angina is caused by bacteria. TB is also caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis. Typhoid is caused by Salmonella typhi. Pneumonia is caused by Streptococcus pneumonia. All these are bacteria. Question number four. Who of the following became the first Indian to win a gold medal in women's heptathlon at Asian Games? See, the correct answer here is option A, Swapna Barman. See, heptathlon is an athletic competition for women in which each athlete competes in seven different events. They tally the score at the end and announce a winner. India is participating in Asian Games since 1951. And just in the last edition which was held in 2018, Swapna Barman won gold medal in heptathlon. And she became the first Indian women to win gold medal in heptathlon. Also know that the first Indian women to win a gold medal at the Asian Games is Kamaljit Sandhu. She ran 400 meter race in 57.3 seconds and won gold at 1970 back on Asian Games. Now, this is a quiz question for you. Interested aspirants can comment their answer in the comment box. Displayed here are the main questions for your practice. Interested aspirants can write the answer and post it in the comment box below. If you have found a video to be useful, hit the like button. Share it with your friends. Subscribe to the channel. Happy learning!