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- For almost a month, the French territory of Amsterdam Island, located in the southern Indian Ocean, has been consumed by flames.
- About Amsterdam Island:
- Known as Nouvelle Amsterdam or Île Amsterdam, Amsterdam Island is a small French territorial island situated in the southern Indian Ocean. It, together with the nearby Île Saint-Paul, is part of the French Southern and Antarctic Territories. Geographically, it lies approximately midway between Australia, Antarctica, Madagascar, the Australian territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and the British Indian Ocean Territory, with a distance of about 3,200 km separating it from each of these regions.
- The island is elliptical in shape, spanning roughly 55 square kilometers, with a length of 10 km and a maximum width of 7 km. It is geologically young, having formed between 400,000 and 200,000 years ago, and features a potentially active stratovolcano, though no volcanic eruptions have been recorded in history.
- Flora and Fauna:
- Amsterdam Island is home to the Amsterdam albatross, an extremely rare species of bird that is found only on this island. Additionally, the island is unique in supporting Phylica nitida, a native tree species that is exclusive to this French sub-Antarctic territory.
- Human Presence:
- There is no permanent human settlement on the island, but it does host a small scientific research station called Martin-de-Viviès, which is staffed by a rotating team of scientists.
- The Supreme Court recently dismissed the review petitions filed by Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel, seeking corrections in the calculations of their AGR dues.
- About Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR):
- AGR is a financial metric used to determine the portion of revenue that telecom operators must pay to the government in the form of spectrum usage fees or licensing charges. Under this system, telecom operators are required to share a percentage of their AGR with the Department of Telecommunications.
- Calculation of AGR and Controversy:
- According to the Department of Telecom, AGR calculations should include all revenues generated by a telecom company, including non-telecom income such as interest on deposits and asset sales. On the other hand, telecom companies argue that AGR should only account for the revenue earned from telecom services, excluding non-telecom earnings.
- In October 2019, the Supreme Court expanded the definition of AGR to align with the government’s stance. The Court ruled that all forms of revenue, except termination fees and roaming charges, must be included in the AGR calculation.
- India's first manned submersible, Matsya 6000, is set to transport three individuals to a depth of 6,000 meters in the ocean by 2026, according to the Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences.
- About Matsya 6000:
- Matsya 6000 is a deep-sea submersible developed for ocean exploration, with a focus on deep-sea mining and biodiversity research. Created by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) under the Samudrayaan Mission, it is capable of reaching depths of up to 6,000 meters.
- Features: The submersible is outfitted with state-of-the-art technologies, including advanced life support systems, navigation equipment, robotic arms for sample collection, and high-resolution imaging systems. It will feature a personnel sphere made of Titanium alloy, with an internal diameter of 2.1 meters, designed to safely transport humans to depths of 6,000 meters. This sphere is being built in collaboration with ISRO.
- Additionally, Matsya 6000 will be equipped with systems for buoyancy management, enabling controlled descent and ascent, as well as power and control systems, maneuvering propellers, sub-sea manipulators for interventions, navigation and positioning devices, data and voice communication systems, and onboard energy storage batteries. Emergency support systems will also be in place, ensuring the submersible can operate safely.
- The submersible is designed for continuous operations at 6,000 meters for up to 12 hours, with an emergency endurance capability of 96 hours, facilitating in-depth observation and exploration of deep-sea environments.