POEM-3: ISRO’s ‘Zero Orbital Debris’ Milestone

According to the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), there is essentially no trash in Earth’s orbit left over from the PSLV-C58/XPoSat mission.

About PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-3 (POEM-3)

• POEM-3 was launched on January 1, 2024, using the PSLV-C58 vehicle’s discarded PS4 stage, which was used to launch XPoSat first.
• In order to support payloads, it is a three-axis, altitude-controlled platform with power production, telecommand, and telemetry capabilities.
• The goal of the XPoSat mission was to leave no debris in orbit, proving ISRO’s dedication to ethical space operations.
• In order to reduce orbit decay time when the experiment is over, POEM-3 was guided to a 350 km circular orbit after being launched into an orbit at 650 km.
• POEM-3 spent 73 days in space before returning to Earth’s atmosphere after 400 orbits.

Significance of this achievement

• Space debris is becoming a major concern because to the increase of satellites orbiting the planet.
• The majority of space debris in low earth orbit (LEO) is made up of rocket, spacecraft, and defunct satellite fragments as well as items that have undergone explosive degradation due to anti-satellite missile testing.
• There are times when this debris travels around at up to 27,000 km/h.
• They are a threat to multiple space assets because of their sheer bulk and momentum.

Threats posed by Space Debris

Space debris also leads to two major risks:

• It creates unusable regions of the orbit due to excessive debris, and
• Leads to the ‘Kessler syndrome’ – creation of more debris due to cascading collisions resulting from one collision.

Green Elections

The use of non-biodegradable materials in elections has raised concerns from the Election Commission of India (ECI) about potential environmental implications.

Context:

• The adoption of sustainable methods in all areas of human endeavor has become imperative in light of the climate issue.

Green Elections:

• These are procedures designed to lessen the effect that elections have on the environment. They include actions like encouraging candidates to use sustainable campaign tactics, advocating the use of recycled materials, and promoting electronic voting.

Objectives/Aims of Green Elections:

• Parties and candidates can use eco-friendly substitutes including reusable materials, biodegradable banners, and recycled paper.
• During rallies, choosing energy-efficient vehicles, sound systems, and lighting can assist cut down on carbon emissions.
• Using digital tools (websites, social media, email) for campaigning lowers the amount of paper and energy used.

Need for a shift towards Green Elections:

• Because of a number of reasons, including the emissions from campaign planes during elections, traditional election processes have a major negative impact on the environment. These factors add significantly to the overall carbon footprint.
• The use of paper-based materials for voting, political literature, and administrative paperwork results in energy-intensive production processes and deforestation.
• Large-scale election rallies that use energy-intensive equipment such as lights, loudspeakers, and other devices increase emissions and energy use.
• Hoardings, PVC flex banners, and single-use goods used for campaigns all contribute to trash production and environmental damage.

Issues/Challenges in the Adoption of Green Elections:

• It is imperative to guarantee equitable access to modern technology for all voters. On the other hand, this calls for significant work in terms of teaching voters about the new technologies and training election officials. Developing the skills of election officials to operate and troubleshoot the new technology is one of the unique issues. Another is making sure that all voters, especially those in underprivileged or rural locations, can access and use the equipment. It is imperative to tackle inequalities in internet connectivity and digital literacy.
• Adopting cutting-edge technologies and environmentally acceptable materials frequently has large upfront expenditures. Finances being tight, governments may hesitate, particularly those with little budgets.
• Voting has historically been connected to being present in person at polling places. Achieving successful modernization requires transforming voter behavior and breaking through cultural stagnation. For many voters, traveling to the polls in person is an essential civic responsibility. It can be difficult to persuade them that digital alternatives are just as legitimate.
• Voter security is an issue when new methods are introduced, such as blockchain-based systems or internet voting. Election integrity and public trust could be compromised by any cybersecurity breach.

RBI to launch Mobile App for Retail Direct scheme

• To make it easier for individual investors to participate in government securities, the RBI has chosen to launch a mobile app for its RBI individual Direct program.

The Retail Direct Scheme: What Is It?

• November 2021 saw the launch of the Retail Direct Scheme, which allowed individual investors to purchase government securities and keep gilt accounts with the RBI.
• Investors can purchase Treasury bills, federal and state government bonds, and more with this app.
• Investors can purchase securities through the Negotiated Dealing System-Order Matching system (NDS-OM) platform and during primary auctions.
• A Gilt Account is similar to a bank account, but instead of receiving payments or credits from cash, it receives payments in the form of government securities or treasury bills.

How does it operate?

• Small investors can purchase or sell government securities (G-Secs), sometimes known as bonds, directly through the program, bypassing middlemen like mutual funds.
• Nonetheless, income from G-Secs is subject to the same tax laws.
• A bid must be at least ₹10,000, and anything beyond that must be in multiples of ₹10,000.
• Payments can be made via UPI or Net banking.

Advantages of RDS

• Since the government is the borrower, there is no default risk because the funds are guaranteed by the government.
• Additionally, depending on current interest rate patterns, government assets may offer higher interest rates than bank fixed deposits.

How can individuals access G-Sec offerings?

• Investors can use the web portal created specifically for the plan to open a Retail Direct Gilt account directly with the RBI.
• Upon successful activation of the account via a password supplied to the user’s mobile device, investors will have the ability to purchase securities through either the primary or secondary market.

Sittwe Port in Myanmar

• India now has the authority to run Sittwe, a second overseas port in Myanmar, in addition to Chabahar.
• This construction is a component of the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport project, which intends to use the Sittwe port to offer alternative connections from India’s eastern coast to the northeastern states.

About Sittwe Port

• Situated in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, the Sittwe Port is an essential part of the Kaladan multimodal transit transport project.
• It was created in accordance with a framework agreement between India and Myanmar for the building and management of a Kaladan River multimodal transportation facility.
• It is a deep-water port that improves trade and connectivity between India and Myanmar by acting as a maritime gateway.

Significance

• The Kaladan multi-modal transit system project includes the Sittwe Port.
• The project intends to establish a maritime link between the seaports of Sittwe, Myanmar, and Kolkata, eastern India.
• Additionally, it connects Paletwa, Myanmar, to Zorinpui, Mizoram, via a road component, and Sittwe Port to Paletwa, Myanmar, via the Kaladan River canal.
• In addition to providing a different route for exporting commodities to the northeastern states, this link will drastically cut the price and travel time from Kolkata to Mizoram and other destinations.
• Additionally, it will lessen reliance on the chicken’s neck, or Siliguri Corridor, which is crammed between Bangladesh and Bhutan.