Category: Daily Current Affairs & Editorials

INS Nistar: India’s First Indigenous Diving Support Vessel Syllabus: GS3 – Defence | GS2 – Government Initiatives     Context: The Indian Navy commissioned INS Nistar in Visakhapatnam on July 18, 2025. This vessel marks a major leap in India’s naval capabilities, particularly in deep-sea rescue operations. About INS Nistar: Historical Reference: – The original INS Nistar was a submarine rescue vessel acquired from the Soviet Union in 1969 and decommissioned in 1989. Indigenous Construction: – New INS Nistar is the first-ever indigenously designed and built Diving Support Vessel (DSV). – Built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited, it has over 80% indigenous content, involving around 120 MSMEs.   Key Features: – Displacement: Over 10,000 tonnes – Length: 118 meters – Diving Capacity: Can conduct operations up to 300m depth – Equipment:   Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs)   Self-Propelled Hyperbaric Life Boat   Diving Compression Chambers   15-tonne subsea crane – Medical Facilities: Includes an ICU, operation theatre, 8-bed hospital with hyperbaric   capability – Aviation Support: Capable of helicopter operations – Serves as the mother ship for deep submergence rescue vessels   Strategic Role: – Enhances India’s capacity for submarine rescue missions – Only a few navies globally possess such capabilities   Significance: Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Defence: – A flagship example of India’s shift towards self-reliance in defence production. – All 57 warships currently in the pipeline are being constructed indigenously. Geostrategic Role: – Reinforces India’s image as the “First Responder” and “Preferred Security Partner” in the Indo-Pacific region. – Strengthens India’s Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) and deep-sea capability.   Way Forward: Promote domestic defence industries and MSMEs involved in naval constructionBuild specialized vessels with multi-role utility• Strengthen joint naval rescue protocols with friendly nations in IOR Consider the following statements regarding INS Nistar: It is India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier. It can support diving operations up to 300 meters deep. It is equipped with hyperbaric medical facilities. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?A. 2 onlyB. 2 and 3 onlyC. 1 and 3 onlyD. 1, 2 and 3 Answer: B Explanation:– Statement 1 is incorrect: INS Nistar is a Diving Support Vessel, not an aircraft carrier.– Statement 2 is correct: It can conduct rescue ops up to 300m depth.– Statement 3 is correct: It has an ICU, operation theatre, and hyperbaric facilities. Hindu Kush Himalayas: Rising Threat of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) Syllabus: GS1 – Geography | GS3 – Environment, Disaster Management     Context: According to the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region is experiencing a surge in Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) due to climate change and rising temperatures.   About Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs): Definition: – GLOFs occur when a large volume of water is suddenly released from glacial lakes formed by melting glaciers, causing catastrophic flooding downstream. Drivers of GLOFs: – Rising temperatures → Accelerated glacier melting – Formation of supraglacial lakes (meltwater ponds on the surface of glaciers) – Weak natural dams (ice or moraine) prone to collapse Features of Supraglacial Lakes: – Often difficult to detect – Dynamic in nature – expand, merge, and overflow suddenly – Common in debris-covered glaciers   About the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) Region Geographical Extent: – Spans ~3,500 km across 8 countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan Hydrological Importance: – Source of 10 major Asian river systems, including:   Indus   Ganges   Brahmaputra (Yarlung Tsangpo)   Irrawaddy   Salween, Mekong, Yangtse, Yellow River, Amu Darya, and Tarim Human Dependency: – Supports nearly 2 billion people for food, water, and energy security – Rich in biodiversity and endemic species   Institutional Framework ICIMOD (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development): – Intergovernmental knowledge centre headquartered in Kathmandu, Nepal – Works with 8 HKH countries for climate resilience, disaster management, and sustainable development   Impacts of GLOFs Direct Impacts: – Flash floods – Loss of lives and infrastructure – Destruction of hydropower, agriculture, and human settlements Wider Concerns: – Downstream water insecurity – Ecosystem destabilization – Triggering of secondary hazards like landslides   Way Forward Early Warning Systems (EWS): – Real-time satellite and sensor-based monitoring of glacial lakes Risk Mapping and Zonation: – Identify GLOF-prone lakes and vulnerable valleys Community Preparedness: – Local disaster resilience plans, training, and emergency infrastructure Regional Cooperation: – Cross-border data sharing and policy coordination among HKH countries Consider the following statements about the Hindu Kush Himalaya region: It is the source of ten major Asian river systems. It spans across 5 countries only. Supraglacial lakes formed in this region are easily detectable. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?A. 1 onlyB. 2 and 3 onlyC. 1 and 3 onlyD. 1, 2 and 3 Answer: A Explanation:– Statement 1 is correct: HKH is the origin of 10 major river systems.– Statement 2 is incorrect: It spans 8 countries.– Statement 3 is incorrect: Supraglacial lakes are hard to detect due to their dynamic nature and debris cover. Lion-Tailed Macaque and the Sharavathi Valley Sanctuary: Conservation vs Development Syllabus: GS3 – Environment | GS1 – Geography | GS2 – Governance   Context: The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has granted in-principle approval to divert 142.76 hectares of forest land in the Sharavathi Valley Lion-Tailed Macaque Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka, for the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project (2,000 MW).   Sharavathi Valley Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary Location: – Situated in the Western Ghats of Karnataka — a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the eight “hottest hotspots” of biodiversity in the world. Ecological Significance: – Home to ~700 Lion-Tailed Macaques — the highest protected-area population of this endangered species. Biodiversity Hub: – Tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests – Rich bird and insect diversity – Endemic species across the floral and faunal spectrum     Lion-Tailed Macaque (Macaca silenus) Appearance: – Recognizable by its silver-white mane and tufted tail, contrasting with its dark fur Habitat and Range: – Endemic to the Western Ghats of South India – Prefers dense, tropical evergreen rainforests (Sholas), mostly in the upper canopy Conservation Status: – IUCN Red List: Endangered – CITES: Appendix I – India’s WPA, 1972: Schedule I (highest protection) Population: – Fewer than 2,500 individuals remain in the wild – Highly fragmented populations vulnerable to local extinction Behavior and Diet: – Largely arboreal and frugivorous – Also consumes shoots, insects, and flowers – May adapt to human-modified