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3. Headlines
XPoSat in orbit; to study black holes, neutron stars - Page No.1 , GS 3
Warli tribe - Page No.4 , GS 1
Responding to the new COVID-19 sub-variants - Page No.6 , GS 2
Reigniting the flame of India-Korea defence cooperation - Page No.6 , GS
2
Attacks in the Red Sea by the Houthis may hit India’s oil trade - Page
No.7 , GS 3
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7. Pg no. 1 GS 3
XPoSat in orbit; to study black holes, neutron stars -
Page No.1 , GS 3

8. • The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) kicked off the New Year
with the launch of the PSLV-C58 X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat)
mission on Monday.
• The PSLV, in its 60th mission, lifted off at 9.10 a.m. from the Satish
Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota and 22 minutes later launched the
XPoSat into an eastward low inclination orbit. The successful launch put
India in an elite category as it has become the second nation to send an
observatory to study astronomical sources such as black holes, neutron
stars among others.
• XPoSat is only the second X-ray polarimetry mission in the world, after
NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) launched in 2021. It is
the first dedicated scientific satellite from ISRO to carry out research in
space-based polarisation measurements of X-ray emission from celestial
sources.

9. • It has an estimated mission life of about five years during which XPoSat
will observe sources that emit polarised X-rays.
• The observations will be done when the magnetars or neutron stars (they
are highly magnetic and display a wide array of X-ray activity) are in
transit through the Earth’s shadow, for instance, during the eclipse
period.
• Out in space, X-rays get polarised due to multiple causes. For example, X-
rays when subject to strong magnetic fields or due to the interactions
with material present around black holes.
• So, by studying the polarised X-rays emanating from excellent sources
like magnetars, black holes and their surrounding environments, and
neutron stars, scientists can probe the nature of the radiations and the
multitudes of processes involved in the generation of these radiations.

10. Pg no. 4 GS 1
Warli tribe - Page No.4 , GS 1

11. • They are spread across Thane, Nashik and Dhule districts of Maharashtra,
Valsad district of Gujarat, Karnataka, Goa and the Union Territories of
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.
• They are small-scale cultivators and cultivate rice, pulses and vegetables.
They also sell toddy, mahua and fuelwood to their tribesmen and
neighbouring communities for a living.
• Warli are nature worshippers.
• They speak an unwritten Varli language which belongs to the southern
zone of the Indo-Aryan languages.

13. • Warli is a traditional art form of Maharashtra.
• Its roots can be traced to as early as the 10th century A.D.
• These paintings are distinctive with their vivid contrast expressions.
• These paintings are mainly dominated by basic geometric shapes like circles,
triangles and squares.
• These geometric shapes stand as a symbol of natural elements in our
environment.
• For example, the circles represent the sun and moon, the triangles represent
the mountains and the squares are considered as the central motifs of the
painting.
• People and animals are represented by two inverted triangles joined
together, where the upper triangle is the torso and the lower triangle is the
pelvis.
• The central theme of the paintings are scenes portraying huntin, fishing,
farming, festival and dances, trees and animals are used to surround the
central theme.

14. Pg no. 6 GS 2
Responding to the new COVID-19 sub-variants - Page
No.6 , GS 2

15. • It is four years since the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV, later renamed as Severe
Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 or SARS-CoV2) was first reported on
December 31, 2019 from China.
• The JN.1 sub-variant of Omicron has been reported from multiple countries and
designated as a variant of interest (VoI) by the World Health Organization.
• The pandemic is over, but SARS-CoV-2 was and is circulating in all countries and
all settings and will continue to do so for long, and possibly forever. That is how
most viruses behave. Therefore, there is always the possibility of some seasonal
changes in the number of cases, at unpredictable intervals.
• However, if mutations or genetic changes result in an alternation in the
characteristics of the virus (such as higher transmission, more severe disease or
immune escape from vaccine induced or natural immunity), it merits greater
attention.

16. • Every day in India, an estimated 27,000 people die due to a range of
reasons that include old age.
• In contrast, respiratory diseases and tuberculosis kill 50 to 60 times more
people every day than COVID-19 now. We need to shift attention to
preventable deaths due to many other reasons.
• At the individual and community levels, there is no need to disturb the
routine or change your travel or vacation plans.
• People with cough and cold or flu-like illness must follow good
respiratory etiquette such as wearing masks in public places, covering
their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing and frequent
handwashing, irrespective of whether it is a type of SARS-CoV-2,
seasonal flu or any other respiratory illness.

17. Pg no. 6 GS 2
Reigniting the flame of India-Korea defence
cooperation - Page No.6 , GS 2

18. • The recent diplomatic overture during the visit of General Manoj
Pande, Chief of the Army Staff of India, in November 2023, to the
Republic of Korea, signifies a critical juncture in the trajectory of
India-Korea defence relations.
• It is incumbent upon Korea to comprehend that India is not merely
the largest consumer of defence products. Rather, it stands as a
regional power capable of substantial contributions to peace and
stability in the Indo-Pacific.
• The emerging coalition of North Korea, China, and Russia poses a
new serious challenge to collaborative efforts between the two
nations. Divergent stances may arise, necessitating a nuanced
appraisal of each party’s strategic imperatives.

19. • Leveraging their technological capabilities, India and South
Korea are aiming to collaborate in developing advanced defence
systems and equipment.
• India and South Korea can leverage their United Nations
peacekeeping expertise for collaborative efforts. Sharing insights and
resources in peacekeeping operations can enhance regional and
global stability, underscoring their joint commitment to peace and
security.
• Additionally, joint exercises and the exchange of best practices in
Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) demonstrate
the shared responsibility of both nations in addressing vulnerabilities
to natural disasters.

21. Pg no. 7 GS 3
Attacks in the Red Sea by the Houthis may hit India’s
oil trade - Page No.7 , GS 3

26. • Suez Canal key to crude imports from Russia and refined fuel
exports to Europe
• Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have been targeting vessels in the
Red Sea since November to show their support for the
Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in its war against Israel.
• This has prompted major shipping companies to take the longer
and costlier route around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope rather than
through the Suez Canal.
• This is a cause for concern for India as it is a major importer of
crude oil from Russia and a significant player in the export of
petroleum products to Europe, both of which require
transportation through the Suez Canal.

27. • Suez Canal key to crude imports from Russia and refined fuel
exports to Europe
• Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have been targeting vessels in the
Red Sea since November to show their support for the
Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in its war against Israel.
• This has prompted major shipping companies to take the longer
and costlier route around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope rather than
through the Suez Canal.
• This is a cause for concern for India as it is a major importer of
crude oil from Russia and a significant player in the export of
petroleum products to Europe, both of which require
transportation through the Suez Canal.

28. • The canal connects Port Said on the Mediterranean Sea to the
Indian Ocean via the Egyptian city of Suez on the Red Sea.
• It serves as a crucial international shipping route, allowing
vessels to navigate between Europe and Asia without having to
circumnavigate the African continent.
Geographical location
• The Suez Canal is situated in northeastern Egypt, spanning
across the Isthmus of Suez.
• It extends approximately 120 miles (193 kilometers) from the
city of Port Said in the north to the city of Suez in the south.
• The canal separates the African continent from the Sinai
Peninsula.

29. History Associated with the Suez Canal
• The idea of constructing a canal across the Isthmus of Suez dates back
to ancient times.
• However, it was during the nineteenth century that significant efforts
were made.
• In 1858, the Universal Suez Ship Canal Company was tasked to
construct the canal. The French and British held most of the shares in
this company.
• The 193 km long canal was opened for international navigation in
1869.
• Until 1956, British powers controlled the canal. In 1956, during the
Suez Crisis, Egypt nationalized the canal.
• The canal remained under the control of the Suez Canal Authority
until 1957 when it was reopened for international navigation.

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