CA-18/11/2025
Sentinel-6B satellite
Why in news?
- The Sentinel-6B ocean monitoring satellite was successfully launched on November 17, 2025, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
- The mission is a collaboration of European and US agencies including ESA, EUMETSAT, NASA, NOAA, and CNES, with the satellite now controlled by ESA’s mission control in Germany.
Features of Sentinel-6B
- Carries the latest radar altimetry technology for precise measurements of sea surface height.
- Equipped with Poseidon-4 radar altimeter developed by Thales Alenia Space, measuring ocean topography every 10 days with sub-centimeter accuracy.
- Includes an advanced microwave radiometer to correct for atmospheric water vapor effects on radar measurement accuracy.
- Maps up to 95% of Earth's ice-free ocean every 10 days.
- Capable of measuring sea level changes with precision of about one inch (2.5 cm).
- Joint US-European mission under the Copernicus climate program.
- Expected operational lifespan of about 5.5 years.
Objectives of Sentinel-6B
- Provide precise, continuous measurements of global sea surface height to monitor and better understand sea-level rise.
- Support ocean forecasting systems and environmental monitoring.
- Extend the unique, over 30-year-long altimetry record essential to climate science.
- Improve data on ocean waves, winds, and currents to aid climate policy and coastal protection.
16th Finance Commission report
Why in news?
The 16th Finance Commission of India, led by Chairman Dr. Arvind Panagariya, submitted its report for the period 2026-31 to President Droupadi Murmu on November 17, 2025.
Key facts about report
- The report includes recommendations on vertical and horizontal distribution of tax revenues between the Union and the States.
- It also covers grants-in-aid, disaster management financing, and fiscal performance measures for States.
- The report is presented in two volumes: Volume I with recommendations per Terms of Reference and Volume II with detailed annexures.
- Originally due by October 31, 2025, the Commission was granted a one-month extension.
- The report will be tabled in Parliament in the Winter Session starting December 1, 2025, by the Union Finance Minister.
- The formula for distribution considers population (based on 2011 figures), area, demographic performance, fiscal effort, income distance, and forest cover.
- Recommendations include revenue augmentation and financing for local governments (municipal bodies).
ARKA GKT-1
Why in news?
ARKA GKT-1 is India’s first-generation intelligent-power platform-on-a-chip designed for high-efficiency edge AI and smart energy applications developed collaboratively by Azimuth AI and Cyient Semiconductors.
Features
- Offers up to 10 times better performance compared to existing solutions.
- Features a power-efficient architecture to support low-energy consumption.
- Integrates hardware accelerators and secure sensing on-chip.
- Provides lower cost and simplified design advantages.
Used of ARKA GKT-1
- Smart Utilities and Advanced Metering: Enabling precision energy metering and management with enhanced data processing capabilities.
- Battery Management Systems: Improving battery efficiency and monitoring for electric vehicles and energy storage.
- Smart Cities: Supporting applications like smart lighting, environmental sensing, and urban infrastructure management.
- Industrial Automation: Facilitating responsive control systems and sensor integration in manufacturing and industrial processes.
Significance of ARKA GKT-1
- Indigenous Semiconductor Innovation: It marks a milestone as India's first IP-powered silicon chip developed domestically, showcasing the country's deep tech capability and pushing self-reliance in semiconductor design.
- Edge AI Advancement: With integrated computing, sensing, and power management, it brings intelligence closer to devices, reducing latency and power consumption compared to cloud-based AI.
- Energy Efficiency and Cost Reduction: ARKA GKT-1 delivers up to 10 times better performance with lower energy costs and system complexity, crucial for scalable IoT and smart infrastructure growth.
- Strategic Industry Impact: It boosts India’s ambitions to be a global semiconductor hub, reducing reliance on imports, and supporting emerging technologies in smart energy, IoT, and AI-driven ecosystems.
Samauma tree
Why in news?
- Over the past decade, several Samauma tree have suffered from deforestation in the Amazon region, raising environmental concerns.
- One famous Samauma tree in the city of Belém, Brazil—estimated to be nearly 200 years old—partially fell earlier this year, causing significant local mourning and attention.
About Samauma tree
- The Samauma tree is scientifically known as Ceiba pentandra.
- It is one of the largest trees in the world, often reaching heights of up to 70 meters.
- It is also known as the Kapok tree, Java cotton, or silk-cotton.
- Native to the tropical regions of Central America, the Caribbean, and parts of South America, it has also been introduced to tropical areas of Africa and Southeast Asia.
- This tree features huge buttress roots and can channel nearly 1,000 liters of water through its trunk daily.
- It plays an important ecological role in the rainforest by supporting life through photosynthesis and providing nectar and pollen for pollinators like bees and bats.
- The Samauma tree is culturally significant, revered as a sacred symbol by many indigenous communities in the Amazon, and it is sometimes called the "Ladder of the Spirits" due to its spiritual importance.
- It is considered the queen of the Amazon rainforest for its towering presence and ecological contributions.
Supreme Court restrict tiger safaris to non-forest land
Why in news?
The Supreme Court of India has issued a landmark ruling restricting tiger safaris to non-forest or degraded forest land within buffer zones of tiger reserves and banning such safaris from core or critical tiger habitats.
Key Highlights of the Judgment
- Safari animals limited to rescued or conflict tigers from the same reserve.
- Complete ban on night tourism and use of mobile phones in core tiger reserve areas.
- Mandatory notification of Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) around tiger reserves within one year.
- Ban on commercial mining, polluting industries, and harmful activities in buffer and fringe zones.
- Promotion of community-based and eco-friendly tourism models, with tourism revenues directed to conservation trusts.
- Strict vehicular regulation and noise pollution control in critical tiger habitats.
- States directed to prepare or revise Tiger Conservation Plans and constitute management committees.
Key Tiger Reserves and Populations in India
- Central India: Around 1,100 tigers in reserves like Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, and Tadoba-Andhari.
- Western Ghats: Largest tiger population in southern India, estimated at 828 tigers across Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
- Sundarbans: Home to about 100 tigers in the mangrove forests shared with Bangladesh.
- Other notable reserves: Ranthambore, Sariska, Similipal, Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam.
This judgment underscores an ecocentric legal approach prioritizing ecological well-being alongside social and economic factors to ensure tiger conservation success in India continues sustainably.
United Nations Convention against Cybercrime
Why in news?
- The United Nations has recently made significant progress in combating cybercrime with the adoption and signing of the first global treaty—the UN Convention against Cybercrime.
- Supreme Court has recently urged the Government of India to consider ratifying this UN Convention against Cybercrime, highlighting the need for global cooperation to effectively tackle issues like digital arrest scams and online fraud.
Key Features of the UN Cybercrime Treaty
- The UN cybercrime treaty, officially called the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, is the first comprehensive global treaty adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2024.
- Criminalizes core cyber offenses: unauthorized access, data and system interference, online fraud, forgery, child sexual exploitation, grooming, non-consensual intimate image sharing.
- Facilitates international cooperation: mutual legal assistance, extradition, and rapid electronic evidence sharing through 24/7 contact points.
- Ensures respect for human rights and non-intervention in domestic affairs.
- Supports technical assistance, preventive measures, and capacity building for law enforcement.
- Establishes a governance mechanism via a Conference of States Parties to monitor compliance and adopt future protocols.
Current Status and Significance
- Widely recognized as a milestone in global digital governance to combat the growing cross-border cyber threats.
- Opened for signature in late 2025, binding entry after 40 ratifications.
- Critically needed to address challenges like "digital arrest" scams and online child abuse.
- India's government is under judicial and public scrutiny on whether it will ratify the treaty given the rising cybercrime concerns.?
This treaty marks a significant move in multilateral efforts to curtail the escalating costs and threats posed by cybercrime, projected to reach trillions of dollars globally. It promises enhanced legal tools and international collaboration for fighting cybercrime in the evolving digital landscape.?
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Why in news?
Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the IAEA said today that two Ukrainian nuclear power plants (NPPs) have been operating at reduced capacity for the past ten days after a military attack damaged an electrical substation critical for nuclear safety and security.
Key Facts and Mission of IAEA
- Founded in 1957, headquartered in Vienna, Austria.
- Its mission includes fostering the use of nuclear science and technology for peace, health, and prosperity while ensuring nuclear materials are not diverted to weapons.
- The IAEA provides technical assistance, promotes nuclear safety standards, and verifies the peaceful use of nuclear materials through an extensive inspection regime.
- Reports to both the UN General Assembly and Security Council but is governed by its Statute.
Major Functions
- Promotional Activities: Supports members in nuclear energy applications, nuclear safety, cancer therapy, agriculture (mutation breeding), and radiation protection.
- Verification and Safeguards: Inspects nuclear facilities, monitors nuclear fuel cycles, and addresses non-proliferation issues under agreements like the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
- Safety and Security: Develops global nuclear safety standards, manages responses to emergencies, and assists countries to detect and prevent illicit trafficking of radioactive material.
Membership
- As of 2021, there are 173 member states with active participation from countries including India, which has a longstanding role since the organization's inception.
- India has contributed to cancer care technology, nuclear safety research, and various technical programs led by the IAEA.
Question and Answers
1. Consider the Sentinel-6B satellite, recently in news. Which of the following statements about its mission and capabilities is/are correct?
1. It is a collaborative mission primarily involving only European space agencies for ocean monitoring.
2. It utilizes advanced radar altimetry to measure sea surface height with sub-centimeter accuracy.
3. Its primary objective is to extend the existing 30-year altimetry record crucial for climate science.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Select your answer:
A) 1 and 2 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Sentinel-6B mission is a collaboration of European and US agencies, including ESA, EUMETSAT, NASA, NOAA, and CNES, not primarily only European agencies.
Statement 2 is correct: It carries the latest radar altimetry technology with the Poseidon-4 radar altimeter, measuring ocean topography with sub-centimeter accuracy.
Statement 3 is correct: A key objective is to extend the unique, over 30-year-long altimetry record essential to climate science.
2. ARKA GKT-1, recently launched, is significant for India's technological landscape. Which of the following best describes its key significance?
Select your answer:
A) It is India's first fully indigenous quantum computing processor designed for cryptographic applications.
B) It represents India's first intelligent-power platform-on-a-chip for high-efficiency edge AI and smart energy applications.
C) It is a new generation of low-cost satellite for remote sensing and disaster management.
D) It is an advanced material for developing lightweight and high-strength components in aerospace.
Explanation:
ARKA GKT-1 is India’s first-generation intelligent-power platform-on-a-chip designed for high-efficiency edge AI and smart energy applications, developed collaboratively by Azimuth AI and Cyient Semiconductors. This marks a milestone as India's first IP-powered silicon chip developed domestically, showcasing self-reliance in semiconductor design.
3.Regarding the Samauma tree (Ceiba pentandra), which has been in news due to deforestation concerns, consider the following statements:
1. It is primarily native to tropical regions of Asia and Africa.
2. It is known for its huge buttress roots and ability to channel large volumes of water daily.
3. It holds cultural and spiritual significance for many indigenous communities in the Amazon rainforest.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Select your answer:
A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) 2 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Samauma tree is native to the tropical regions of Central America, the Caribbean, and parts of South America. It has been introduced to tropical areas of Africa and Southeast Asia, but its primary native range is not Asia and Africa.
Statement 2 is correct: This tree features huge buttress roots and can channel nearly 1,000 liters of water through its trunk daily.
Statement 3 is correct: The Samauma tree is culturally significant, revered as a sacred symbol by many indigenous communities in the Amazon, and sometimes called the 'Ladder of the Spirits'.
4. India's recent focus on indigenous semiconductor innovation, exemplified by developments like ARKA GKT-1, aligns with broader national objectives. Which of the following government initiatives is most directly aimed at fostering a robust domestic semiconductor ecosystem?
Select your answer:
A) Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing
B) National Supercomputing Mission
C) Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana
D) Startup India Initiative
Explanation:
The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing, along with other related PLI schemes and the India Semiconductor Mission, are directly aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing and fostering a robust semiconductor ecosystem in India. The National Supercomputing Mission focuses on high-performance computing, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana on financial inclusion, and Startup India Initiative is a broader startup support program, none directly focused on semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem as the PLI scheme.
5. The Supreme Court's recent directive on Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) around tiger reserves is vital for wildlife conservation. Which of the following best describes the primary objective of declaring an Eco-Sensitive Zone?
Select your answer:
A) To prohibit all human activities, including local community livelihoods, within a specified radius of protected areas.
B) To create a buffer zone for protected areas, regulating certain activities to minimize negative impacts on the sensitive ecosystems.
C) To convert adjacent agricultural lands into new protected areas for wildlife rehabilitation.
D) To promote intensive commercial tourism and mining activities as a source of revenue for conservation funds.
Explanation:
Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) are typically declared around Protected Areas (like National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries) to create a buffer zone or a transition zone from areas of high protection to areas involving lesser protection. The primary objective is to regulate and manage certain activities in these zones to minimize negative impacts on the sensitive ecosystems within the protected areas. They do not prohibit all human activities but regulate them, nor do they aim to convert agricultural lands or promote intensive commercial activities harmful to the environment.
6.Precise and continuous monitoring of global sea surface height, as conducted by satellites like Sentinel-6B, is crucial for understanding sea-level rise. Which of the following is an immediate implication of such rising sea levels?
Select your answer:
A) Increased frequency of tsunamis globally.
B) Enhanced biodiversity in coastal marine ecosystems.
C) Exacerbated coastal erosion and saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers.
D) A global decrease in oceanic primary productivity.
Explanation:
Rising sea levels lead to several immediate and severe implications for coastal regions. Exacerbated coastal erosion, leading to loss of land and habitats, and saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers, affecting drinking water supplies and agriculture, are direct and well-documented consequences. Increased tsunamis are not a direct consequence of gradual sea-level rise. Enhanced biodiversity is unlikely; rather, habitat loss and ecosystem disruption are common. A global decrease in oceanic primary productivity is a complex issue with multiple factors, not solely an immediate implication of sea-level rise itself.
7. In a recent ruling concerning tiger safaris, the Supreme Court of India issued certain directives. Which of the following actions is/are restricted or mandated by the judgment?
1. Banning tiger safaris from core or critical tiger habitats.
2. Permitting night tourism in core tiger reserve areas with special permission.
3. Mandating notification of Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) around tiger reserves within a specific timeframe.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Select your answer:
A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: The Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling restricting tiger safaris to non-forest or degraded forest land within buffer zones of tiger reserves and banning such safaris from core or critical tiger habitats. Statement 2 is incorrect: The judgment includes a complete ban on night tourism and use of mobile phones in core tiger reserve areas. Statement 3 is correct: It mandates notification of Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) around tiger reserves within one year.
8. With reference to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), consider the following statements:
1. It was founded with the mission to ensure nuclear materials are not diverted to weapons and to promote the peaceful use of nuclear science.
2. It primarily reports to the United Nations General Assembly, but not the Security Council.
3. India has been a member since its inception and contributes to its technical programs.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Select your answer:
A) 1 only
B) 1 and 2 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: Founded in 1957, the IAEA's mission includes fostering the use of nuclear science and technology for peace, health, and prosperity while ensuring nuclear materials are not diverted to weapons. Statement 2 is incorrect: The IAEA reports to both the UN General Assembly and Security Council. Statement 3 is correct: India has been a member since the organization's inception (1957) and has a longstanding role, contributing to various technical programs.
9. The UN Convention against Cybercrime, recently adopted, is a significant global treaty. Which of the following is a key feature of this convention?
Select your answer:
A) It primarily focuses on regulating state-sponsored cyber warfare activities.
B) It criminalizes core cyber offenses like unauthorized access and online fraud and facilitates international cooperation.
C) It establishes a global internet surveillance mechanism managed by the United Nations Security Council.
D) It mandates all signatory states to adopt a uniform national cybersecurity law.
Explanation:
The UN cybercrime treaty, the first comprehensive global treaty adopted by the UN General Assembly, criminalizes core cyber offenses like unauthorized access, data and system interference, online fraud, and forgery. It also facilitates international cooperation, including mutual legal assistance, extradition, and rapid electronic evidence sharing.
10. With reference to the 16th Finance Commission of India, consider the following statements:
1. The Commission is chaired by Dr. Arvind Panagariya.
2. Its recommendations cover the vertical and horizo
ntal distribution of tax revenues between the Union and the States.
3. Demographic performance and fiscal effort are among the factors considered for the distribution formula.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Select your answer:
A) Only one
B) Only two
C) All three
D) None
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: The 16th Finance Commission is led by Chairman Dr. Arvind Panagariya. Statement 2 is correct: Its report includes recommendations on vertical and horizontal distribution of tax revenues between the Union and the States.
Statement 3 is correct: The formula for distribution considers population (based on 2011 figures), area, demographic performance, fiscal effort, income distance, and forest cover.
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