The Kakhovka dam in Ukraine

GS Paper - 2 (International Relations)

A huge Soviet-era dam on the Dnipro River that separates Russian and Ukrainian forces in southern Ukraine was breached on 6 June 2023, unleashing floodwaters across the war zone. Ukraine said Russia had destroyed it, while Russian officials gave conflicting accounts, some saying it was destroyed by Ukrainian shelling and others saying it collapsed due to earlier damage.

THE KAKHOVKA DAM

1. The dam, 30 metres (98 feet) tall and 3.2 km (2 miles) long, was built in 1956 on the Dnipro river as part of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant.
2. The reservoir also supplies water to the Crimean peninsula, which Russia claims to have annexed in 2014, and to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which is also under Russian control.
3. It holds an 18 km3 reservoir – a volume about equal to the Great Salt Lake in the U.S. state of Utah.

WHAT IS THE HUMAN IMPACT?

1. With water levels surging higher, many thousands of people are likely to be affected. Evacuations of civilians began on both sides of the front line.
2. 22,000 people living across 14 settlements in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region are at risk of flooding, Russian installed officials said.
3. They told people to be ready to evacuate. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that up to 80 settlements were at risk of flooding.

CRIMEA

1. The Russian-backed governor of Crimea said on 6 June 2023 that there is a risk that water levels in the North Crimea Canal, which carries fresh water to the peninsula from the Dnipro river, could fall after rupture of the dam.
2. The Crimean peninsula is dependent for fresh water on the canal. Ukraine previously blocked water supplies to Crimea after Russia annexed the peninsula in 2014, causing water shortages in the region.

New-generation Agni-prime missile tested

GS Paper - 3 (Defence Technology)

'Agni Prime', the new-generation ballistic missile, was successfully flight-tested from an island off the Odisha coast. The test was conducted from the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

What

1. This was the first pre-induction night launch conducted by the users after three successful developmental trials of the missile, validating the accuracy and reliability of the system.
2. Range Instrumentation like Radar, Telemetry and Electro Optical Tracking Systems were deployed at different locations, including two down-range ships, at the terminal point to capture flight data covering the entire trajectory of the vehicle.
3. Senior officials from DRDO and Strategic Forces Command witnessed the successful flight-test, which has paved the way for induction of the system into the Armed Forces.
4. Agni-P is a two-stage canisterised solid propellant ballistic missile with dual redundant navigation and guidance system.
5. It has a range between 1000 to 2000 km and was tested for the first time in June 2021. It is lighter than all the earlier Agni series of missiles.
6. Agni series of missiles constitute the backbone of India’s nuclear weapons delivery which also includes the Prithvi short range ballistic missiles and fighter aircraft.
7. India has also completed its nuclear triad and operationalised its second strike capability, with nuclear ballistic missile submarine INS Arihant undertaking deterrence patrols.

Key MPC Takeaways

GS Paper - 3 (Economy)

With a view on reigning in inflation while maintaining growth, the RBI’s rate-setting panel unanimously approved keeping the benchmark lending rates unchanged for the second consecutive meeting. The MPC since May 2022 hiked rates by 250 bps and has paused since April. On 8 June 2023, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das announced that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) unanimously decided to keep the rate unchanged at 6.5 per cent.

The key decisions

1. The standing deposit facility (SDF) rate remains unchanged at 6.25 per cent and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate at 6.75 per cent.
2. Domestic economic activity remains resilient in Q1FY24 as reflected in high-frequency indicators.
3. Inflation forecast: CPI inflation is projected at 5.1 per cent for FY24. Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 forecast at 4.6 per cent, 5.2 per cent, 5.4 per cent and 5.2 per cent respectively
4. Headline inflation is projected to decline in FY24 from FY23 levels but would still be above the target. The progress of the southwest monsoon remains critical in this regard
5. The monsoon forecast by IMD augurs well for Kharif crops but the distribution of monsoon needs to be monitored. Crude oil prices have eased, but the outlook is uncertain
6. Real GDP growth in 2022-23, on the other hand, turned out to be stronger than anticipated and is holding up well
7. The policy repo rate has been increased by 250 basis points since May 2022 and is still working its way through the system. Its fuller effects will be seen in the coming months
8. The average system liquidity, however, is still in surplus mode and could increase as ₹2,000 banknotes get deposited in the banks

Cyclone Biparjoy

GS Paper - 1 (Geography)

A cyclonic storm “Biparjoy” has developed over the east-central and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

More about the News:

1. Between 1881 and 2019, 41 tropical cyclone systems made landfall in Oman. They have been associated with extreme winds, storm surges and significant flash floods, often resulting in loss of life and substantial damage to infrastructure.
2. This is the first cyclone to form in June since 2020.The last such cyclone emerged in 2019. Cyclone Vayu flooded low-lying coastal towns in Oman.

Climate Change Link of the Cyclone Biparjoy

1. The sea surface temperatures in the Arabian Sea are 30-32 degrees Celsius. “This is above the climatological mean. This is clearly the climate change link, as Arabian Sea warming is favouring more intense cyclones
2. High sea surface temperatures favour the formation of cyclones.
3. The system will delay the arrival of the southwest monsoon.
4. The system is driving moisture away from India and is hindering monsoon winds.  There could further cause a delay in the onset and progress of the monsoon.

How did Cyclone Biparjoy intensify so fast?

Biparjoy's journey from a cyclonic circulation (June 5) to a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm, making its intensification faster than May's Cyclone Mocha.The factors responsible for it are:

1. An exceptionally warm Arabian Sea
2. Weak monsoon onset
3. Favourable Madden-Julian Oscillation conditions in the Indian Ocean

Naming of the Cyclones:

1. Worldwide there are six regional specialised meteorological centres (RSMCs) and five regionalTropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs) mandated for issuing advisories and naming of tropical cyclones.
2. India Meteorological Department is one of the six RSMCs to provide tropical cyclone and storm surge advisories to 13 member countries under WMO/ESCAP Panel including Bangladesh, India, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
3. RSMC, New Delhi is also mandated to name the Tropical Cyclones developing over the north Indian Ocean (NIO) including the Bay of Bengal (BoB) and the Arabian Sea (AS).
4. The name Biporjoy has been given by Bangladesh

Flashback:

1. This is the second cyclone to form within three weeks in the North Indian Ocean.
2. Cyclone Mocha, which formed in the Bay of Bengal, barrelled into Bangladesh and Myanmar caused massive destruction.
3. In 2021, Cyclone Yaas had formed at the time of the monsoon onset.