CALIPSO mission

Recently, NASA’s CALIPSO mission stopped blasting lasers at Earth after 17 years.

Background: –

NASA recently announced that its CALIPSO satellite, which takes climate, weather and air quality measurements using LIDAR, has ended its science mission.

About CALIPSO mission: –

Launch Date: April 28, 2006

Launch Location: Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, USA.

Launch Vehicle: Delta II rocket. (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV))

Spacecraft: PROTEUS

Orbit Type: Sun-synchronous.

CALIPSO is a joint U.S. (NASA)/French (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales/CNES) mission.

Observations from spaceborne lidar, combined with passive imagery, will lead to an improved understanding of the role aerosols and clouds play in regulating the Earth’s climate, in particular, how aerosols and clouds interact with one another.

Mission’s  Objectives:-

CALIPSO’s primary objective is to enhance our understanding of clouds and aerosols (tiny solid and liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere) and their roles in Earth’s climate system.

CALIPSO aims to provide valuable data for climate change research by monitoring key atmospheric parameters.

The mission contributes to improved air quality assessments and weather forecasting by providing real-time atmospheric data.

Instruments:-

Lidar Technology: CALIPSO is equipped with a lidar (light detection and ranging) instrument, known as the CALIOP (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization).

It uses laser pulses to measure the altitude and properties of clouds and aerosols with high precision.

Passive Sensors: The satellite also carries passive sensors, including the Imaging Infrared Radiometer (IIR).

Wide Field Camera (WFC): provides complementary data on clouds and aerosols.

India-Bangladesh relations

A planned tripartite power trade agreement between India, Nepal and Bangladesh is in the final stage, though New Delhi and Dhaka may have to augment their transmission capacities to implement the pact,

The proposed tripartite power trade pact, the first of its kind in South Asia, was agreed to by the three countries earlier this year and is aimed at meeting a long-standing demand from Nepal and Bangladesh to allow the sale of electricity to the Indian grid.

India – Bangladesh relations:

Historical ties:

India was the first country to recognise Bangladesh as independent state and established diplomatic relations after its independence in December 1971.

Bangladesh’s geographical location as India’s eastern neighbour gives it strategic importance.

Trade and investment:

Bangladesh is India’s biggest trade partner in South Asia.

India’s exports to Bangladesh during 2021 was US$14.09 Billion.

Bangladesh may become India’s fourth-largest export destination in FY22, jumping five places in two years.

Bangladesh’s major import items like cotton, mineral fuel, machinery, electrical equipment, and cereals are among the top exported commodities by India to the world.

6 Border Haats (4 in Meghalaya and 2 in Tripura), have been approved by the Indian and Bangladesh governments.

Connectivity and cooperation:

Bandhan Express: starting from Kolkata for Khulna since 2017.

It covers the distance via Petrapole and Benapole border route to cater to the demands of the people from both countries.

Maitree Express: Starting from Dhaka for Kolkata – since 2008

The tri-weekly service between Kolkata and Dhaka used to run with 90 percent occupancy.

Mitali Express: Starting from New Jalpaiguri in North Bengal to Dhaka.

Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT) was signed for the transportation of goods and keeping their respective waterways navigable while providing infrastructure facilities.

Agartala – Akhaura Rail Link: between Agartala (Tripura) and Akhaura (Bangladesh) would be the first train from the northeastern region to Bangladesh.

Border management and river waters:

The Ganga Waters Treaty signed in 1996 for sharing of waters of river Ganga during lean season.

Most recently an MoU has been signed between the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Bangladesh Ministry of Water Resources on the withdrawal of water from the Kushiyara.

The two sides also affirmed that border management is a shared priority and commended the fact that the deaths on the border have greatly reduced.

Defence cooperation:

High-level exchanges include the edition of India-Bangladesh CORPAT ‘Bangosagar’ exercise, Regional Commanders meeting of Coast Guards and the Annual Defense Dialogues.

Various Joint exercises take place between the two countries:

Exercise Sampriti (Army) and Exercise Milan (Navy).

Multilateral Cooperation:

India and Bangladesh are also engaged in regional cooperation through multilateral forums such as SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation), BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

Way forward:

India needs to look at more ways to deepen its ties with Bangladesh, especially keeping in mind the shifting nature of geopolitics and geoeconomics in South Asia. India needs to find a fine balance in respecting Bangladesh’s economic growth while maintaining its economic progress.

Empowering India’s Elderly Population

The eagerly awaited “India Ageing Report 2023” was released by UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) India in partnership with the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS).

Key highlights of the report:

Population growth of elderly: The study anticipates a remarkable 279% increase in the population of individuals aged 80 and above between 2022 and 2050.

By 2046, it is projected that the elderly population will likely surpass the population of children aged 0 to 15 years in India.

Population share of elderly: By the year 2050, the elderly population in India is set to constitute more than 20% of the total population, marking a significant shift from the present share of approximately 10% in 2021.

Poverty among the elderly: Disturbingly, the report reveals that over 40% of elderly individuals in India belong to the poorest wealth quintile, with more than 18% having no source of income.

This high level of poverty among the elderly raises concerns about their quality of life and access to essential services.

Gender differences in life expectancy: The report highlights gender disparities in life expectancy among the elderly.

On average, women tend to have a longer life expectancy than men, although these differences vary across different states within India.

Sex ratio among the elderly: The sex ratio among the elderly is on the rise, indicating a trend of longer survival for women compared to men in this demographic group.

Sex ratio among the elderly: The sex ratio among the elderly is on the rise, indicating a trend of longer survival for women compared to men in this demographic group.

Gendered poverty in old age: The report underscores that poverty among the elderly is gendered, with older women being more likely to be widowed, living alone, and heavily dependent on family support for their well-being.

Challenges in demographic transition: There are significant disparities in the elderly population across states, reflecting variations in the stages and pace of demographic transition within India.

Status of Elderly Population in India:

According to the Population Census 2011, there are nearly 104 million elderly persons in India.

The sex ratio: among elderly people was as high as 1028 in 1951, subsequently dropped and again reached up to 1033 in 2011.

The old-age dependency ratio climbed from 10.9% in 1961 to 14.2% in 2011 for India as a whole.

In rural areas, 66% of elderly men and 28% of elderly women were working, while in urban areas only 46% of elderly men and about 11% of elderly women were working.

The per cent of literates among elderly persons increased from 27% in 1991 to 44% in 2011.

Challenges faced by the elderly population in India:

Social challenges: Senior citizens are increasingly being neglected by the younger generation due to various reasons like western education, globalisation, nuclear family structure, etc

Low funding: India spends only 1% of its gross domestic product on pensions. India’s income support systems in their current form are not even capable of catering to the elderly when their proportion of the population is only 8.6%.

Mitigating the fiscal costs: The Indian economy still needs to mitigate the fiscal costs that arise from a rising old-age dependency ratio.

Intersectionality: Women from marginalized communities, including those with lower socio-economic backgrounds or belonging to tribal or minority groups, may face compounded challenges in old age.

Their intersectional identities can result in increased vulnerabilities and limited access to essential services and support.

Ageism and Misogyny: Older women often encounter ageism and misogyny in various aspects of society.

Stereotypes, discrimination, and limited opportunities for engagement in social, economic, and political activities can result from these biases.

Ageism and misogyny further contribute to the marginalization of older women.

Government Schemes for Old Age:

National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP): Offers non-contributory pensions to support elderly individuals, widowed women, and disabled individuals who need financial assistance.

Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY): An exclusive pension scheme designed for senior citizens aged 60 and above, providing financial security for elderly individuals.

Integrated Program for Older Persons (IPOP): Focuses on enhancing the quality of life for senior citizens by providing essential amenities such as food, shelter, medical care, and opportunities for entertainment and social engagement.

Rashtriya Vayoshree Yojana: This central sector scheme, funded by the Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund, offers aids and assistive living devices to elderly individuals below the poverty line (BPL) who have age-related disabilities.

SAMPANN Project: online pension processing system for pensioners under the Department of Telecommunications. It ensures the direct credit of pensions into the bank accounts of pensioners, streamlining the pension disbursement process.

SACRED Portal for Elderly: The Portal provides a platform for citizens aged 60 and above to register for job opportunities, access information and guidance on various issues, and find work opportunities.

SAGE (Senior care Ageing Growth Engine) Initiative: SAGE is a platform that facilitates access to elderly care products and services offered by credible start-ups.

Borlaug Award

Swati Nayak, an Indian agricultural scientist, recently received the Borlaug Award.

Background:-

Swati Nayak, an Indian agriculture scientist who is affectionately referred to as “Bihana Didi” (Seed Lady) by local communities in Odisha, is the third Indian agriculture scientist to receive the renowned Norman E. Borlaug Award for 2023.

She was famous for bringing drought-resistant rice to Odisha.

Contribution of Swati Nayak’s work:-

She is the South Asia head for Seed System and Product Management at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

Her work has been on “technology scaling” or closing the gap between scientific knowledge and its practical application among farmers.

She is credited with the successful dissemination and adoption of more than 20 climate-resilient and bio-fortified rice varieties.

Among these are ‘Sahbhagi Dhan’, a drought-tolerant variety suitable for hilly uplands, and ‘BINA Dhan-11’, which is flood-tolerant.

She introduced ‘Sahbhagi Dhan’ in the tribal belt of Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district with the help of women farmers. ‘Sahbhagi Dhan’ has become a much in-demand variety throughout Odisha.

BINA-Dhan-11’, which contains a submergence-tolerant Sub1 gene identified from an indigenous land race of Odisha, was a similar success.

The Sub1 gene has been incorporated into many existing popular high-yielding varieties such as ‘Samba Mahsuri’, ‘Swarna’, and ‘Ranjit’.

About Borlaug Award:-

Duration: It is presented every year in October.

Venue: Des Moines, Iowa, USA.

Presented by: World Food Prize Foundation.

The award is given to exceptional scientists under 40 working in the field of food and nutrition security, and hunger eradication.

It is given in memory of the Nobel awardee and Green Revolution’s chief architect Dr. Norman Borlaug.

Norman Ernest Borlaug: an American agronomist who led initiatives worldwide that contributed to the extensive increases in agricultural production termed the Green Revolution.

Borlaug was often called “the father of the Green Revolution”.

Decoration:-

The award diploma incorporates the image of Dr. Borlaug at work in the fields of Mexico.

Cash prize of $10,000.