24 January 2024; Daily Current Affairs Updates

Mount McKinley; GS-1 (Geography) ▪️Why in the News: President Donald Trump has signed an executive order on his first day back in office to rename North America's tallest peak, known as Denali in Alaska, after President William McKinley:

• Overview:

• Mount McKinley, also known as Denali, is the tallest peak in North America.

• It is located in south-central Alaska, within the Alaska Range, and features two prominent summits that rise above the Denali Fault.

- Geology and Formation:

• The mountain is primarily composed of a massive granite block, which was elevated due to tectonic activity that started approximately 60 million years ago.

• It rises sharply by about 18,000 feet (5,500 meters) from the Denali Fault at its base to its higher, southern summit

• Snowfields and Glaciers:

• The upper half of Mount McKinley is blanketed by permanent snowfields.

• These snowfields are the source of several glaciers, including the Kahiltna Glacier, Muldrow Glacier, Peters Glacier, Ruth Glacier, and Traleika Glacier.

> Denali National Park and Preserve:

• Mount McKinley is the central attraction of the Denali National Park and Preserve, a significant area for natural conservation and tourism.

- Denali Fault: Geological Significance:

• The Denali Fault is a major geological structure in southern Alaska that has been pivotal in shaping Earth's geological history.

• Studies indicate that three locations along the Denali Fault were once part of a single geological formation, representing the final phase of the unification of two landmasses millions of years ago.

Diamond Imprest Authorization Scheme ; GS-2 (Governance) ▪️Why in the news: The Department of Commerce has introduced the Diamond Imprest

Authorization (DIA) Scheme aiming to enhance the global competitiveness of India's diamond sector.

• Overview of the Scheme:

• The scheme is designed to boost the global competitiveness of India's diamond sector.

• It establishes a streamlined process for duty-free import of natural cut and polished diamonds, facilitating value addition and enhancing exports.

• The initiative is part of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023:

• Key Features:

• Duty-Free Imports: Allows the import of natural cut and polished diamonds weighing less than ¼ carat (25 cents) without any duty.

• Export Obligation: Requires exporters to meet an export obligation with a minimum value addition of 10%.

• Eligibility Criteria: Open to diamond exporters holding a Two Star Export House status or higher and achieving annual exports of at least USD 15 million.

• Exclusion: The scheme excludes Lab Grown Diamonds (LGD).

• Potential Benefits:

• Competitiveness: Provides a level playing field for Indian diamond exporters, including MSMEs,. enabling them to compete effectively in the global market.

Employment Opportunities: Expected to generate additional jobs in the diamond sector

• Support for Domestic Industry: Promotes ease of doing business and encourages the growth of the domestic diamond processing industry. Aims to significantly increase the export of cut and polished diamonds from India.

Diamonds in India: Major Locations:

• Panna Belt, Madhya Pradesh: A significant source of diamonds in India.

• Wajrakarur Kimberlite Pipe, Andhra Pradesh: Known for diamond deposits.

• Krishna River Basin Gravels, Andhra Pradesh: Another important diamond-bearing

• New kimberlite fields have been identified in the Raichur-Gulbarga districts of Karnataka.

Tele-Robotic System; GS-3 (Science and Technology) ▪️Why in the news: India's first indigenous surgical robotic system, SSI Mantra, has successfully performed two cardiac telesurgeries covering a distance of 285 km.

SSI Mantra:

o SSI Mantra is a robotic system developed by the medical technology company, SSI Ltd. It is the first system of its kind to be developed in India. o The system has received approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) under Class B and Class C surgical devices. o These approvals validate the system's safety, effectiveness, and adherence to regulatory standards, enabling its deployment in hospitals across the country. o SSI Mantra is capable of performing complex surgical procedures, including Totally Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass (TECAB).

• Advantages:

• It significantly reduces the duration of surgical operations.

• The system enhances precision during surgical procedures.

o. It minimizes trauma to the body by ensuring smaller incisions, reduced blood loss, shorter recovery periods, and lower risks of infection.

• Challenges:

• Latency issues and the need for reliable connectivity pose challenges during surgeries using tele-robotic systems.

• Anticipating and addressing potential medical and technical issues is crucial to the success of such procedures.

• The high costs associated with both capital investment and operational expenses make this technology less accessible, with its availability primarily concentrated in metropolitan and tier-1 cities.

Scramjet Engine Ground Test; GS-3 (Science and Tech - Defence) ▪️ Why in the news: The Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), a Hyderabad-based laboratory of DRDO, has achieved a significant milestone with the successful ground test of India's most complex supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet) engine.

• Scramjet Engine:

• The Scramjet engine is an advanced version of the Ramjet engine that generates thrust using supersonic airflow and combustion.

• It is designed for hypersonic speeds, performing optimally at speeds greater than Mach 5.

• Hypersonic Speed and Missiles:

• Hypersonic speed refers to velocities exceeding Mach 5, equivalent to over 5,400 km/hr or five times the speed of sound

• Hypersonic missiles are a class of advanced weapon systems capable of bypassing current air defence systems and delivering rapid, high-impact strikes.

• Countries such as the USA, Russia, India, and China are actively engaged in the development of hypersonic technology.

• Scramjet Technology:

• Scramjets are air-breathing engines capable of sustaining combustion at supersonic speeds.

• They are unique in that they do not rely on moving parts, making them ideal for hypersonic vehicles.

• Development in India:

• The Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), based in Hyderabad and operating under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is leading efforts to develop a Supersonic Combustion Ramjet or Scramjet-powered hypersonic technology.

o. This initiative focuses on creating a long-duration Scramjet engine capable of supporting advanced applications.

• Significance of Scramjet Engines: The successful ground testing of Scramjet technology marks a significant milestone in:

• Developing next-generation hypersonic missiles.

Advancing faster civilian air transportation systems.

Facilitating the deployment of satellites into orbit at reduced costs.