Daily Current Affairs : 11th and 12th October 2023

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC CSE

Topics Covered

1. India – Israel – Palestine Relationship  
2. Cyclones
3. Gaganyaan
4. Information Commission
5. Facts for Prelims

1 . India – Israel – Palestine Relationship 

Context: As Hamas, the militant group ruling the Gaza Strip, mounted one of the most audacious attacks on Israel — many have called it the worst inside the Jewish state’s territory since its creation in 1948 — Prime Minister expressed shock he called “terrorist attacks” and conveyed “solidarity with Israel”. 

History of India- Israel ties: Post-Independence Period

• India’s political stance toward Israel was firmly established shortly after gaining independence in 1947. Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi made a resolute commitment to support the Palestinian cause while rejecting the notion of a religious-based division into two nations.
• India’s position with regard to Palestine was also guided by the general consensus in the Arab world, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the United Nations. 
• When the partition of Palestine plan was put to vote at the UN, India voted against, along with the Arab countries. When Israel applied for admission to the UN, India again voted against. 
• New Delhi, however, recognised Israel on September 17, 1950, after two Muslim-majority countries, Turkey and Iran, did so. In 1953, Israel was allowed to open a consulate in Mumbai, but no diplomatic presence was granted in New Delhi. 
• India developed its engagement with the largest political grouping under PLO, Al Fatah in the late 1960s and early 70s, with the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) emerging as the representative of the people of Palestine under Yasser Arafat,
• On January 10, 1975, India recognised PLO as the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and permitted an independent office at New Delhi.  While India was one of the last non-Muslim states to recognise Israel, it became the first non-Arab state to recognise the PLO. 

Post Emergency period

• In 1980, when Indira Gandhi returned to power, she continued her support to the Palestinian struggle. India upgraded the PLO office to that of an embassy endowed with all diplomatic immunities and privileges. 
• Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian President, became a frequent visitor to Delhi through the early 80s, and the relationship between India and Palestine strengthened. 
• In March 1983, when the NAM summit took place in India, it came up with a strong statement of solidarity for Palestine. In April 1984, PM Indira Gandhi visited Arafat’s headquarters in Tunis after a state visit to Libya. When she was assassinated six months later, Arafat attended the funeral and wept in public. 
• Rajiv Gandhi continued with India’s approach towards Palestine, and throughout the outbreak of the Palestinian intifada (uprising) in December 1987 in Gaza and West Bank due to the ‘iron fist’ policies of Israel, India maintained its steadfast support. 

Why was India’s diplomatic policy leaned towards Palestine in the initial years? 

• India voted against UN Resolution 181 (II) in 1947, which partitioned Mandatory Palestine between Jews and Palestinian Arabs. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru preferred a federal state instead, with Arabs and Jews enjoying the widest possible autonomy, with a special status for Jerusalem. 
• Nehru inherited this perspective from Mahatma Gandhi who, while deeply sympathetic towards the Jewish people for the historical persecution they had faced, was opposed to the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine. He felt it would be unjust towards the 600,000 Arabs who already lived there. Nehru also blamed British imperialism for the problem in Palestine. 
• After the State of Israel came into existence, a couple of factors coloured India’s perspective. Though India recognized Israel in 1950 it did not establish diplomatic relations until 1992. India was home to a sizable Muslim population. After Partition, Indian leaders were particularly sensitive to their opinion — and Muslims in India, by and large, were sympathetic towards the Arabs. Also, Indian leaders were wary of alienating the Arab countries; Pakistan was firmly in support of Palestine, and India had to match that stance. 

Did establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel alter India’s support for the Palestinians? 

• India’s reluctance to establish diplomatic relations with Israel until 1992 should be seen in the context of Cold War dynamics. During the Cold War, the West, especially the Americans, were firmly behind Israel, and thus the Soviets had come out in support of the Arabs. India, which despite its non-aligned position found itself tilted towards the Soviets, simply thought it had very little choice but to continue with its pro-Palestine stance. 
• It was only after the end of the Cold War that the government of P V Narasimha Rao finally took the extremely bold decision to establish diplomatic relations with Israel, without caring about the fallout with the Arab countries. However, Prime Minister Rao also continued to show vocal support for the Palestinians as he in no way abandoned India’s principled policy of backing the Palestinian cause. 
• At the end of the day, diplomatic decisions are made based on national interest. This translates into maintaining good relations with Israel as well as keeping up support for Palestine and further developing relations with the Arab world. 

Shifts in India’s Palestine Policy

• There were critics of New Delhi’s Palestine policy and its outright support to the Arab world within India. The Arab countries’ neutral position during the 1962 India-China war and their support to Pakistan during the 1965 and 1971 wars did not go down well with many. On the other hand, Israel helped India with arms and ammunition in the 1962 and 1965 wars. 
• Things changed in West Asia when Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990. The PLO lost its political leverage on account of its support to Saddam Hussain. Around that time, the Soviet Union disintegrated, and this prompted India to make drastic changes in its policy towards West Asia. 
• India established full diplomatic relations with Israel in January 1992, days after the Chinese established diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv. 
• The end of the Cold War weakened the Non-Aligned Movement and reduced the ideological hostility towards Israel. 

Emerging Military Ties with Israel during the Kargil War

• The establishment of full diplomatic ties with Israel came in especially handy during the Kargil conflict in 1999. The Indian Air Force desperately needed precision target bombs as Pakistani intruders were hiding in caves and bunkers atop mountains in Kargil. The IAF reached out to their Israeli counterparts for help. They dug into their emergency stockpiles and shipped the weapons to India, which proved to be decisive
• Vajpayee government sent Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh for the first bilateral visit in 2000 followed by Home Minister L K Advani.
• During PM’s visit to Israel in 2017 which was the first Prime Ministerial visit , he skipped the customary stop at Palestine, which was the norm with previous ministerial visits. 
• New Delhi hosted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in May 2017. In all public pronouncements, South Block officials maintained India’s position on its support towards the Palestinian cause. PM later visited Palestine in February 2018, but didn’t visit Israel — achieving a complete dehyphenation of the ties. 

Ties in the present scenario

• In the last decade or so, ties have deepened in security, defence, and connectivity with Israel, but also with partners in West Asia , like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and Iran. 
• The Indian strategic approach to engage with all sides in the complex West Asian region is born out of necessity: the  90 lakh-strong Indian community in the region and connectivity to West Asia and Europe. Crucially, more than 50% of India’s energy imports are sourced from West Asia. 
• The spate of horrifying surprise attacks puts India in a diplomatic tight spot. This is because the current hostility tests the Abraham Accords and the efforts towards rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Israel, which held the promise of reshaping age-old fault lines in the Middle East. India was hoping to reap the dividends of the newfound peace in the region. 

Why was India’s diplomatic policy leaned towards Palestine in the initial years?

• India voted against UN Resolution 181 (II) in 1947, which partitioned Mandatory Palestine between Jews and Palestinian Arabs. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru preferred a federal state instead, with Arabs and Jews enjoying the widest possible autonomy, with a special status for Jerusalem. 
• Nehru inherited this perspective from Mahatma Gandhi who, while deeply sympathetic towards the Jewish people for the historical persecution they had faced, was opposed to the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine. He felt it would be unjust towards the 600,000 Arabs who already lived there. Nehru also blamed British imperialism for the problem in Palestine. 
• After the State of Israel came into existence, a couple of factors coloured India’s perspective. Though India recognized Israel in 1950 it did not establish diplomatic relations until 1992. India was home to a sizable Muslim population. After Partition, Indian leaders were particularly sensitive to their opinion — and Muslims in India, by and large, were sympathetic towards the Arabs. Also, Indian leaders were wary of alienating the Arab countries; Pakistan was firmly in support of Palestine, and India had to match that stance. 

Did establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel alter India’s support for the Palestinians? 

• India’s reluctance to establish diplomatic relations with Israel until 1992 should be seen in the context of Cold War dynamics. During the Cold War, the West, especially the Americans, were firmly behind Israel, and thus the Soviets had come out in support of the Arabs. India, which despite its non-aligned position found itself tilted towards the Soviets, simply thought it had very little choice but to continue with its pro-Palestine stance. 
• It was only after the end of the Cold War that the government of P V Narasimha Rao finally took the extremely bold decision to establish diplomatic relations with Israel, without caring about the fallout with the Arab countries. However, Prime Minister Rao also continued to show vocal support for the Palestinians as he in no way abandoned India’s principled policy of backing the Palestinian cause. 
• At the end of the day, diplomatic decisions are made based on national interest. This translates into maintaining good relations with Israel as well as keeping up support for Palestine and further developing relations with the Arab world. 

Closeness to Israel in recent times

• India is closer today to Israel than ever before. India and Israel have also developed a close economic relationship, especially in the defence sector, where India is one of Israel’s biggest clients. 
• What has changed in India’s relationship with the Palestinians is its overt rhetoric in support of Palestine. India has definitely toned that down in recent years, especially in fora such as the United Nations. 
• There is a feeling that India’s pro-Palestine stance over the years has not yielded dividends in terms of national interest. Palestine has often offered unqualified support to Pakistan on the issue [of Kashmir]. 
• There might also be an ideological element to India’s recent support of Israel. Many in India applaud Israel’s firm riposte to the rocket and missile attacks from the Gaza strip, but mistakenly interpret it as anti-Islamic action. Israel is considered by many Indians as an example to follow in dealing with cross-border terrorist attacks. But it is important to keep in mind that our situations are not alike — Israel is dealing with an extremely weak adversary, unlike Pakistan which is a strong military power and has a nuclear arsenal. 
• Yet, India’s formal position remains unchanged — India supports the two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side as good neighbours. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ramallah in the West Bank in 2018, becoming the first Indian PM to do so. 

2 . Cyclones

Context: A new study suggests a shift in the Arabian Sea’s cyclogenesis potential, which may be linked to a shift in the ‘Warm Arctic, Cold Eurasian’ pattern as well as regime shifts and global warming. 

About Cyclones

• Cyclones are natural disasters characterized by powerful circular storm systems with low-pressure centers. 
• They are known by different names in different parts of the world, such as hurricanes in the Atlantic and northeastern Pacific, typhoons in the northwestern Pacific, and cyclones in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific. 
• Cyclones consist of several key components, including: 
  • Eye: The center of the cyclone, which is often calm with clear skies. 
  • Eyewall: A ring of intense thunderstorms surrounding the eye, where the strongest winds and heaviest rainfall occur. 
  • Rainbands: Spiral bands of clouds and rain extending from the eyewall. 

Types

• Cyclones are of two types: Tropical Cyclones: These are intense low-pressure systems that form over warm ocean waters, typically between 5 and 30 degrees latitude in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. They are known as hurricanes in the Atlantic and northeastern Pacific, typhoons in the northwestern Pacific, and cyclones in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific. 
• Extratropical Cyclones: These cyclones develop in higher latitudes, often outside the tropics. They are associated with weather systems that have cold and warm fronts and can affect regions far from the ocean. Extratropical cyclones are responsible for many mid-latitude weather events, including winter storms and the more common types of storms. 

Factors for formation

• Warm Ocean Water: Cyclones require warm ocean water as their energy source. Sea surface temperatures of at least 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher provide the necessary heat and moisture for the development of a cyclone. 
• Atmospheric Instability: Warm, moist air near the ocean surface rises and interacts with cooler, drier air aloft. This difference in temperature and moisture creates atmospheric instability, which encourages the air to rise further. 
• Coriolis Effect: The Coriolis effect is caused by the Earth’s rotation and is essential for cyclone formation. It causes air to rotate counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. The Coriolis effect helps establish the cyclonic rotation of the storm. 
• Low-Pressure Center: An initial disturbance or area of low pressure is often needed to kick-start cyclone formation. This can be provided by weather systems like easterly waves or other atmospheric disturbances. 
• Low Wind Shear: Cyclones thrive in environments with low wind shear, which means that wind speeds and directions do not change significantly with altitude. Wind shear can disrupt the development or intensification of a cyclone. 
• Moisture: Adequate moisture in the atmosphere is crucial for fueling the cyclone. As warm, moist air rises and cools, it releases latent heat, which further encourages rising motion. 
• Upper-Level Divergence: Cyclones benefit from upper-level divergence, where air moves away from the storm at higher altitudes. This encourages rising motion in the lower atmosphere. 

Reasons for less cyclones originating in Arabian Sea compared to Bay of Bengal

• Most of Indian coasts lie in tropical region. Tropical cyclones need a temperature of around 25-27 degree Celsius. Greater the temperature over sea, more powerful is cyclone.
• The Arabian Sea is relatively cooler than this temperature range, which the Bay of Bengal offers. This is why Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal face more cyclones than Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
• Greater frequency of Bay of Bengal cyclones and more strength to them come from a foreign source as well. Neighbouring Pacific Ocean seas are more prone to cyclones. Typhoons originating in near Philippines, China, Thailand and Malaysia enter the Andaman Sea of Bay of Bengal after they weaken in their native regions.
• Most of the cyclones in the Arabian Sea are local. They collapse a little after making landfall as there is no back-up supply. Recent Ockhi cyclone was one of the exceptions that remained strong for some time even after hitting Maharashtra and Gujarat coasts.
• Also, the hills along the eastern coasts are not high enough to stop cyclones making much inroad into the coastal states. The Western Ghats run almost the entire distance of the western coasts preventing the cyclonic storms to go in the hinterland.

What is Cyclogenesis? 

• Cyclone-genesis – or cyclogenesis – is an indicator that denotes the chance of a cyclone forming. 
• It depends on some parameters, including the sea surface temperature, the ocean heat content, change in winds from the surface into the upper atmosphere (or the vertical shear), and rotation of winds near the surface. 
• If these conditions line up, they will sow the seed for a cyclone, but we still don’t fully understand why some seeds sprout and grow into cyclones and some don’t. 

Findings of the study:  

• A study published in the journal Climate and Atmospheric Science reported a sharp change in the potential for cyclones to form over the Arabian Sea during the late 1990s. 
• It notes that the rapid increase in the cyclogenesis potential over the Arabian Sea coincides with a shift in the so-called ‘Warm Arctic, Cold Eurasian’, or WACE, pattern. 
• WACE is a pattern of warm surface temperatures over the Arctic and a large blob of cold surface temperatures over Eurasia. This pattern is associated with upper level circulation changes that reach into the Indian Ocean sector. 

3 . Gaganyaan

Context: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will execute the first of multiple test flights ahead of the Gaganyaan mission — India’s first manned mission to space — on October 21, Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Space, Science and Technology informed. 

About Gaganyaan Mission:  

• Gaganyaan is a crewed orbital spacecraft that is expected to take three astronauts to space for a period of seven days. 
• ISRO’s Geo-Synchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV) will be used for the manned space mission. 
• The spacecraft will be placed in a low earth orbit of 300-400 km. 

Modules

• Orbital Module (OM) that will be Orbiting Earth comprises of Crew Module (CM) and Service Module (SM). OM is equipped with state-of-the-art avionics systems with adequate redundancy considering human safety. 
• CM is the habitable space with Earth like environment in space for the crew. It is of double walled construction consisting of pressurized metallic Inner Structure and unpressurised External Structure with Thermal Protection System (TPS). It houses the crew interfaces, human centric products, life support system, avionics and deceleration systems. It is also designed for re-entry to ensure safety of the crew during descent till touchdown. 
• SM will be used for providing necessary support to CM while in orbit. It is an unpressurized structure containing thermal system, propulsion system, power systems, avionics systems and deployment mechanisms. 

Significance

• If India successfully sends four astronauts to space, it will be only the fourth nation to do so after the United States, China and Russia. 
• It will re-establish India’s space research position amongst giants such as the US, China and Russia, which spends way more money than India on space programmes. 
• The success of Gaganyaan would unlock many doors to experiment with more spaceflight missions. 
•  It will also give boost to India’s ambition of setting up its own space station. 

Training in Russia

• For Gaganyaan, ISRO signed an agreement with Russia’s Glavkosmos to select and train Indian astronauts for the space mission. 
•  Earlier ISRO chief had said that 12 astronauts from India would go to Russia for training and four would be shortlisted.  
• The selected astronauts will undergo rigorous training for 15 months In India and abroad. 

What will be the challenges encountered by astronauts to get mission ready ? 

• The Gaganyaan crew will first undergo medical examination followed by rigorous physical training even for military personnel. The idea behind this tough training programme is to get astronauts accustomed to gravitational changes which will cause physiological alterations. 
• Astronauts often face motion sickness when they experience weightlessness in the space. The changing gravity also results in fluctuations in blood circulation especially during re-entry to earth or landing which also makes astronauts unconscious due to lack of internal pressure. For the mission preparation, astronauts will be put under a centrifuge which will spin rapidly in order to adapt them for gravitational acceleration.     
• The astronauts will also be acquainted with life support systems, navigation and thermal controls, astronomy, and other necessary sciences if a need arose of manual intervention or emergency. 
• Generally, astronauts are trained for four years, but Indian space explorers would only get only two years for meeting the launch deadline. 

4 . Information Commission 

Context: More than three lakh appeals and complaints are pending in 27 State Information Commissions across the country and the backlog has been steadily increasing, according to a new report. 

Findings of the report:  

• Pending Cases : According to the ‘Report 2019 assessment had found that as of March 31 2019, a total of 2,18,347 appeals/complaints were pending in the 26 Information Commissions from which data was obtained, and climbed to 2,86,325 as of June 30, 2021 and then crossed three lakh as of June 30, 2022.  Of the 3,21,537 pending appeals, the maximum number was reported in Maharashtra (1,15,524) followed by Karnataka (41,047). Tamil Nadu declined to provide the information. 
• Defunct Commissions : Four Information Commissions including, Jharkhand, Telangana, Mizoram and Tripura are defunct as no new Information Commissioners were appointed upon incumbents demitting office. 
• Staff shortage : Six Information Commissions are currently headless — the Central Information Commission, and the State Information Commissions of Manipur, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Bihar, and Punjab. 

Background of RTI Act

• In 1987, a few laborers In Rajasthan were refused their wages on charges of inconsistent performance. Mazdoor Kissan Shakti Sanghatan (MKSS), an activist group fought for these workers and demanded that the government produced the necessary proof to verify the worker’s performance records. After a series of protests, the MKSS got the copies of rolls, which also brought to surface the corruption existed among the officials. Provoked by such discrepancies, the MKSS protested for the RTI. This protest turned into a national event leading to the passing of the Freedom of Information Act 2002 which became the RTI Act 2005. A Pune police station received the first RTI application in the year 2005.

Right to Information

• The Right to Information Act 2005 mandates timely response to citizen requests for government information.
• The Government of India has implemented the RTI in order to see that the Indian citizens are enabled to exercise their rights to ask some pertinent questions to the Government and different public utility service providers in a practical way. RTI Act replaced the Freedom of Information Act 2002.

What is mandated by the RTI Act?

• The RTI Act mandates that any Indian citizen is free to seek any information from any public or government authority and the authority is under liability to respond to such a request within a period of 30 days from the date of receiving such an application. However, the information sought must not be related to defense, national security, or personal details.
• Before the advent of the RTI act, the disclosure of information in India was restricted by the Official Secrets Act and other special laws. The RTI Act relaxed many such laws in the country.
• The RTI act has also made it mandatory for computerizing the records for the purpose of wide spread relay so that any information sought by the public can be processed quickly aided by the information categorization.

What Information can be sought under the RTI Act?

• Any Indian citizen is free to seek answers from a Government Authority like applying for a delayed IT refund, driving license or passport, or details of a repair or infrastructure project completed or going on. Information sought can also be related to the funds allotted under the different kinds of relief funds in the country. The act enables students to get copies of answer sheets from the universities under this act.

About Central Information Commission

• The Central Information Commission has been constituted under the Right to Information Act, 2005. The jurisdiction of the Commission extends over all Central Public Authorities. 
• The Central Information Commission shall consist of the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and such number of Central Information Commissioners not exceeding 10 as may be deemed necessary. 
• Section 12(5) of the RTI Act 2005 provides that the Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners shall be persons of eminence in public life with wide knowledge and experience in law, science and technology,social service, management, journalism, mass media or administration and governance. 
• Section 12(6) of the RTI Act 2005 provides that Chief Information Commissioner or an Information Commissioner shall not be a Member of Parliament or Member of the Legislature of any State or Union Territory as the case may be , or hold any other office of profit or connected with any political party or carrying on any business or pursuing any profession. 
• Term of office —The Chief Information Commissioner, or Information Commissioners, as the case may be, shall hold office for a period of three years from the date on which he enters upon his office. 
• Functions: To receive and inquire into complaints from any citizen as provided in Section 18 of the RTI Act, 2005, To receive and decide upon the second appeals from any citizen as provided in Section 19 of the RTI Act, 2005 and RTI rules 2012, To exercise the powers conferred on CIC under the RTI Act, 2005, To perform the duty of ” Monitoring and Reporting ” as provided in Section 25 of the RTI Act, 2005. 

State Information Commission:  

• The Right to Information Act of 2005 provides for the creation of not only the Central Information Commission but also a State Information Commission at the state level. Accordingly, all the states have constituted the State Information Commissions through Official Gazette Notifications. 
• The Commission consists of a State Chief Information Commissioner and not more than ten State Information Commissioners. 
• They are appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of a committee consisting of the Chief Minister as Chairperson, the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly and a State Cabinet Minister nominated by the Chief Minister. 
• They hold office till the age of 65 or 5 years. The information commissioner is eligible for the post of state chief information commissioner but can be in office for a maximum of 5 years including his tenure of information commissioner. 

Issues with ICs

• Backlog of Pending Cases: One of the significant issues faced by Information Commissions is the backlog of pending RTI cases. The sheer volume of cases and limited resources often leads to delays in hearing and disposing of appeals and complaints. 
• Lack of Transparency in Appointments: The appointments of Information Commissioners are sometimes criticized for a lack of transparency and alleged political influence. This can undermine the independence and impartiality of Information Commissions. 
• Resource Constraints: Information Commissions, especially at the state level, often face resource constraints, including a shortage of staff and infrastructure. This can affect their efficiency in handling RTI cases. 
• Non-Implementation of Orders: While Information Commissions can issue orders and impose penalties, there have been instances of non-compliance with these orders by public authorities. This raises questions about the effectiveness of the enforcement mechanism. 
• Capacity Building: Ensuring that Information Commissioners and their staff are adequately trained and updated on the latest legal developments and technologies is a challenge. 

5 . Facts for Prelims

Lithium: 

• Lithium is an alkali metal and is the lightest metal on the periodic table. It is highly reactive due to its position in Group 1 of the periodic table. 
• It is relatively rare in nature and is typically found in small amounts in certain types of rock and mineral deposits. 
• Lithium and its compounds have a wide range of applications. One of the most well-known applications is in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which are used in various electronic devices, electric vehicles, and renewable energy storage. 
• Lithium compounds, such as lithium carbonate, have been used in the treatment of certain mood disorders, particularly bipolar disorder. It can help stabilize mood and reduce the frequency and intensity of mood swings. 

Niobium

• Niobium is a transition metal that is part of Group 5 in the periodic table. It is known for its high melting point, excellent corrosion resistance, and ability to withstand high temperatures. 
• Niobium is not a particularly abundant element in the Earth’s crust, and it is typically found in minerals like columbite and tantalite. Brazil is one of the leading producers of niobium. 
• Niobium has a range of industrial applications. It is often used as an alloying element in the production of high-strength, low-alloy steels. Niobium-titanium and niobium-tin alloys are used in superconducting materials for applications like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines and particle accelerators. 
• Niobium’s most significant application is in superconducting materials. When cooled to very low temperatures, niobium becomes superconducting, which means it can conduct electricity with no resistance. This property is utilized in various high-tech applications. 

Operation Ajay

• “Operation Ajay” was launched by India to help Indians stuck in Israel to return home as fresh tension triggered in the region as Hamas militants made a series of brazen attacks on Israeli towns over the weekend. 
• It includes Special charter flights and other arrangement. 

Rainbow

• A rainbow is an optical phenomenon that can occur under certain meteorological conditions. It is caused by refraction, internal reflection and dispersion of light in water droplets resulting in a continuous spectrum of light appearing in the sky. 
• The rainbow takes the form of a multicoloured circular arc. 
• As a ray passes into a drop of rain, the water acts like a tiny prism. The ray is bent, or refracted, as it enters the drop and is separated into different colours. As it strikes the inner surface of the drop, it is further refracted and dispersed. 
• Each colour is formed by rays that reach the eye at a certain angle, and the angle for a particular colour never changes. The higher the sun the lower the bow. If the Sun is higher than 40 degrees, no bow can be seen. 
• Rain drops that lie at this particular angle and opposite to the sun lie in the form of a full circle or a part of it. Even if there are enough rain drops to form a circle, to an observer on the earth it will look like an arc, as it is limited by the horizon. When the sun is near the horizon, an observer on a high mountain or in a hot-air balloon may see the whole circle of the rainbow. 

Reports Released by IMF 

• World Economic Outlook : This flagship report provides economic analysis, forecasts, and policy advice on the global economy. It is typically published twice a year, in April and October, and covers key economic indicators, global trends, and regional developments. 
• Global Financial Stability Report (GFSR): This report assesses the stability of the global financial system and provides an analysis of potential vulnerabilities. It discusses risks and challenges related to financial stability. 
• Fiscal Monitor: The Fiscal Monitor provides an analysis of public finances, fiscal policies, and fiscal developments worldwide. It covers topics such as government debt, fiscal sustainability, and fiscal policy recommendations. 
• Regional Economic Outlooks: These reports focus on specific regions of the world and provide economic analysis, forecasts, and policy advice tailored to those regions. The IMF releases regional economic outlooks for regions such as Asia and the Pacific, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.