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Tactical Nuclear Weapons

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently said he would deploy tactical nuclear weapons in neighbouring Belarus.

About the ‘nuclear weapons’ -
  • Nuclear weapons, just like other weapons, can be categorised into two types — strategic and tactical.
  • Strategic Nuclear Weapons — They refer to nuclear weapons that have bigger objectives, such as destroying cities or larger targets, with larger war-waging objectives in mind.
  • Tactical Nuclear Weapons (TNWs) -
  • They are nuclear weapons used for specific tactical gains on the battlefield.
  • They are intended to devastate enemy targets in a specific area without causing widespread destruction and radioactive fallout.
  • These are designed for use in battle as part of an attack with conventional weapon forces. 
  • These warheads can be delivered via a variety of missiles, torpedoes and gravity bombs from naval, air or ground forces. They could even be simply driven into an area and detonated.
  • The explosive yield of tactical nuclear weapons can range from under one kiloton to about 100 kilotons, whereas strategic nuclear weapons can have a yield of up to one thousand kilotons.
  • Delivery systems for tactical nuclear weapons also tend to have shorter ranges, typically under 310 miles (500 kilometres), compared with strategic nuclear weapons, which are typically designed to cross continents.
  •  They are the least-regulated category of nuclear weapons covered in arms control agreements.
 Countries possessing TNWs -

  • Nine countries have tactical nuclear weapons, according to the Federation of American Scientists.
  • They are Russia, the United States, China, France, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, India, Israel and North Korea.
  • Russia has a stockpile of an estimated 2,000 tactical nuclear missiles.
  • The U.S. has an estimated 200 tactical nuclear bombs, half of which are at bases in Europe.  

Public Provident Fund Scheme

A top government official recently indicated that investors in the popular small saving schemes Public Provident Fund (PPF) and Sukanya Samriddhi Account (SSA), whose rates have not been hiked since January 2019, are unlikely to get higher returns anytime soon.

About Public Provident Fund (PPF) Scheme -

  • The PPF Scheme is a very popular long-term savings scheme in India because of its combination of tax savings, returns, and safety.
  • The PPF was first offered to the public in the year 1968 by the Finance Ministry’s National Savings Institute.
  • Objective — To help individuals make small savings and provide returns on the savings.
  • It is one of the safest investment products. i.e., the government of India guarantees your investments in the fund
  • Tenure — 15 years (Can be renewed in blocks of 5 years).
  • Interest rate — Interest rates currently payable on such accounts stand at 7.1%.
  • Investment Amount — Minimum Rs.500, Maximum Rs.1.5 lakh p.a.
  • Who is eligible for a PPF account? Any Indian citizen can open a PPF account.
  • The PPF accounts cannot be held jointly, though you can make a nomination.
  • Investment in PPF is tax-exempt under section 80C of the Income Tax Act (ITA), and the returns from PPF are also not taxable.
What is Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana?
  • It was launched on 22 January 2015.
  • Aim — Betterment of the girl child in the country by abolishing sex determination, gender discrimination, protection of girls, and higher participation of girls in education and other fields.

Features of Sukanya Samriddhi Account -

  • Minimum deposit ₹ 250/- Maximum deposit ₹ 1.5 Lakh in a financial year.
  • Account can be opened in the name of a girl child till she attains the age of 10 years.
  • Only one account can be opened in the name of a girl child.
  • The account can be opened in Post offices and in authorised banks.
  • Withdrawal shall be allowed for the purpose of higher education of the Account holder to meet education expenses.
  • The account can be prematurely closed in case of marriage of girl child after her attaining the age of 18 years.
  • The account can be transferred anywhere in India from one Post office/Bank to another.
  • The account shall mature on completion of a period of 21 years from the date of opening of the account.
  • Deposit qualifies for deduction under Sec.80-C of I.T.Act.
  • Interest earned in the account is free from Income Tax under Section -10 of I.T.Act.

Western Disturbances

According to recent studies, the changing character of Western Disturbances might be the primary cause of the abnormal winter seasons in India.

India has not experienced a normal winter season in the past three years. The second wettest season in the country after the monsoons has remained unusually dry and hot.

Western Disturbances

ü  Western Disturbances are a series of cyclonic storms that originate in the Mediterranean region and bring winter rains to northwest India.

ü  They travel a distance of over 9,000 km and collect moisture from the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, and Caspian Sea before hitting the western Himalayas.

ü  Western Disturbances traverse over Iran and Afghanistan before reaching India, mostly between December and April, due to the shift in the trajectory of the subtropical westerly jet stream.

ü  The jet stream carries the storm systems and its trajectory changes as per the position of the Sun. During the winter months, it shifts towards the rim of the Himalayas and moves from above the Himalayas to the Tibetan Plateau and China for the rest of the year.

What are Western Disturbances? - GKToday


Importance and Issues related to Western Disturbances for India:

Significance:

ü  Western Disturbances bring snowfall to the Himalayan region, which replenishes the glaciers during winter.

ü  These glaciers feed major rivers such as Ganga, Indus, and Yamuna and also numerous mountain springs and rivulets.

ü  These low-pressure storm systems support farmers in growing their rabi crop.

Issues:

ü  Western Disturbances can cause extreme weather events like floods, flash floods, landslides, dust storms, hail storms, and cold waves.

ü  Such events can cause severe damage to infrastructure and impact the lives and livelihoods of people.

Impact of Western Disturbances on Winter in India

Decrease in rainfall:

ü  In December 2022, the northwest region of India received 83% less rainfall than usual.

ü  In February 2023, the region received a 76% rainfall deficit.

Severe cold waves and cold days:

v  Absence of Western Disturbances caused cold northern winds from the Himalayas to flow down, resulting in severe cold waves and cold days in December 2022 and most of January 2023.

Crop damage, fog and flash floods:

ü  Western Disturbances are responsible for hailstorms that damage standing crops.

ü  Fog events that interrupt air, rail and road services.

ü  Cloud bursts that result in flash floods can also be attributed to Western Disturbances.