Gomti River

Recent Development

• The Territorial Army has established a new task force focused on the rejuvenation and protection of the Gomti River.

Overview of Gomti River

• It is a tributary of the Ganges (Ganga) River and flows entirely within Uttar Pradesh.

Course and Geography

• Origin: Begins from Gomat Taal (Fulhaar Jheel) near Madho Tanda, in Pilibhit district, Uttar Pradesh.
• Drainage: Lies between the Ramganga and Sharda rivers.
• Flow Path: Travels southward through Lucknow, Barabanki, Sultanpur, Faizabad, and Jaunpur before merging with the Ganga River.
• Length: Approximately 900 km.
• Basin Area: Around 18,750 sq. km (7,240 sq. miles).
• Nature: It is a perennial river with a slow flow except during the monsoon, when heavy rainfall significantly increases the runoff.

Key Tributaries

• Sai River
• Chowka River
• Kathina River
• Saryu River

VIKAS ENGINE

ISRO’s Achievement

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully restarted the Vikas liquid engine at its Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri.

Significance of the Test

• This marks a key milestone in ISRO’s efforts towards stage recovery and reusability in future launch vehicles.

About the Vikas Engine

• Type: Liquid-fuel rocket engine developed by ISRO.
• Usage: Crucial for India’s space launch program, used in multiple launch vehicles.

Applications in ISRO’s Launch Vehicles

• PSLV: Powers the second stage.
• GSLV Mk I & II: Used in boosters and second stage.
• LVM3 (formerly GSLV Mk III): Powers the core stage.

Fuel and Oxidizer

• Fuel: Unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine (UDMH).
• Oxidizer: Nitrogen Tetroxide (N₂O₄).

IndiaAI Mission

Government’s AI Initiative

• The Indian government has announced plans to develop a domestic Large Language Model (LLM) as part of the ₹10,370 crore IndiaAI Mission.

Objective

• Build a homegrown AI system tailored to India’s culture, languages, and needs.
• The development of the foundational model is expected to take 4-8 months.
• Establish the world’s most affordable AI compute facility.

Infrastructure Development

• 10 companies selected to supply 18,693 Graphics Processing Units (GPUs).
• GPUs are essential for machine learning, large-scale data processing, and AI model training.
• AI data centers to be set up in Odisha.
• Students and researchers will have access to high-end computing resources to build large-scale AI models.

IndiaAI Mission Initiatives (5-Year Plan)

• IndiaAI Compute Capacity – Expanding AI infrastructure.
• IndiaAI Innovation Centre (IAIC) – Driving AI research.
• IndiaAI Datasets Platform – Providing structured data for AI development.
• IndiaAI Application Development Initiative – Supporting AI-based solutions.
• IndiaAI FutureSkills – AI skill development and training.
• IndiaAI Startup Financing – Funding AI-driven startups.
• Safe & Trusted AI – Ensuring ethical, responsible AI use.
• The public-private partnership model will foster India’s AI innovation ecosystem and enhance technological self-reliance.

Understanding Large Language Models (LLMs)

• LLMs are foundation models trained for understanding and generating human language.
• Built on deep learning techniques to process and generate text coherently and contextually.
• Used for tasks like text generation, translation, and summarization.

Significance of India’s AI Mission

• Strengthens India’s AI leadership while reducing reliance on foreign technology.
• Ensures AI models reflect India’s diversity and are free from biases.
• Enhances data security, promotes local language support, and provides greater control over AI deployment in India.

Microplastics

Context

• A new study has revealed that microplastics (tiny plastic particles less than 5mm in diameter) can block blood flow in the brains of mice.
• While its effects on the human brain are uncertain, the increasing presence of microplastics in the human body is a cause for concern.

What are Microplastics?

• Microplastics are small plastic particles (less than 5mm in diameter) that result from plastic pollution.
• These degrade into nanoplastics (smaller than 1µm) due to chemical weathering and mechanical breakdown.
• They accumulate in the air, soil, water bodies, and deep ocean sediments.
• Human exposure occurs through ingestion (food & water), inhalation (airborne particles), and skin contact.
• Detected in human lungs, testicles, bone marrow, and even blood.
• WEF Report: The average person may ingest, inhale, or absorb 78,000 – 211,000 microplastic particles annually.

Types of Microplastics

1. Primary Microplastics – Already smaller than 5mm, e.g.:
   • Nurdles (plastic pellets used in manufacturing).
   • Microbeads (from cosmetics & personal care products).
   • Synthetic fibers (from clothing).
   • Industrial spills during transport or production.
2. Secondary Microplastics – Formed from the breakdown of larger plastics due to:
   • Wave action & wind abrasion.
   • Ultraviolet radiation (UV exposure).

Health Impacts of Microplastics

• Gastrointestinal issues – Intestinal injury, liver infections.
• Neurological effects – Neurotoxicity and cognitive impairments.
• Metabolic disorders – Lipid accumulation and disruptions.
• Inflammation & Autoimmune diseases – Increases expression of inflammatory markers.
• Reproductive effects – Reduces sperm quality, affects embryo development.
• Respiratory risks – Inhaled microplastics can lead to asthma and lung cancer.

Environmental Impact

• Water Pollution – Contaminates rivers, oceans, and aquatic life.
• Bioaccumulation & Biomagnification – Microplastics accumulate in the food chain.
• Soil Degradation – Reduces the viability of soil ecosystems.
• Microbial Reservoir – Harbors antibiotic-resistant bacteria, posing a public health threat.

Microplastics pollution is a growing global challenge requiring urgent research, regulation, and sustainable solutions.