Read Current Affairs
- A contingent of 334 personnel from the Indian Army recently set off for Nepal to take part in the 18th edition of the Joint Military Exercise Surya Kiran.
- About Exercise Surya Kiran:
- This exercise is a collaborative military drill between the Indian Army and the Nepal Army. It is held annually, alternating between the two countries. The primary objective is to improve interoperability in jungle warfare, counter-terrorism operations in mountainous regions, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in line with the United Nations Charter. The exercise includes various tactical drills, aiming to enhance both armies' operational effectiveness, sharpen combat skills, and boost coordination in joint operations in complex environments. The event serves as a platform for personnel from both India and Nepal to share insights, exchange ideas, learn from each other's experiences, and deepen their understanding of mutual operational protocols.
- 18th Edition:
- This year's exercise is set to occur in Saljhandi, Nepal. The Indian Army's contingent is led by a battalion from the 11th Gorkha Rifles, while the Nepal Army will be represented by the Srijung Battalion.
- The Denmark Strait cataract, a colossal underwater waterfall, challenges traditional concepts of waterfalls. Though invisible and silent, it plays a crucial role in global ocean circulation and impacts ecosystems worldwide.
- About the Denmark Strait Cataract:
- It is recognized as the largest waterfall on the planet. Located in the underwater channel between Iceland and Greenland, it plunges an incredible 11,500 feet (3,500 meters) from its summit to the ocean floor. With a vertical drop of 6,600 feet (2,000 meters), it is more than three times taller than Angel Falls, the highest waterfall on land, which stands at just over 3,200 feet (979 meters). The cataract spans roughly 300 miles (480 kilometers) across the width of the Denmark Strait. Despite its immense size, the Denmark Strait cataract remains hidden beneath the ocean's surface and is undetectable from above.
- Formation:
- The cataract was formed during the last Ice Age, roughly 17,500 to 11,500 years ago. Glacial activity in the region shaped the seabed, creating a slope that channels cold water from the Nordic Seas into the Irminger Sea (a marginal sea of the North Atlantic Ocean). This process plays a vital role in thermohaline circulation, a global system of ocean currents that helps regulate the Earth's climate.
- Reports from the OPSGROUP have recently highlighted a growing trend of GPS interference on passenger aircraft, including incidents of ‘spoofing’ with false signals, particularly over conflict zones around the world, including along India’s borders with Pakistan.
- About GPS Spoofing:
- GPS spoofing, or GPS simulation, involves manipulating or deceiving a GPS receiver by transmitting false GPS signals. This technique tricks the GPS receiver into believing it is located at a different position, causing it to provide inaccurate location information. Such cyberattacks undermine the reliability of GPS data, which is crucial for various functions, including navigation, time synchronization, and more.
- How Does GPS Spoofing Work?
- GPS spoofing takes advantage of vulnerabilities in the GPS system, primarily the weak signal strength of GPS satellites. The Global Positioning System (GPS) operates by sending signals from satellites to receivers on Earth. These receivers calculate their position based on the time it takes for the signals to travel. However, due to the weak nature of the GPS signals, they can be easily overpowered by fake signals, leading to incorrect location data being displayed. To carry out GPS spoofing, an attacker first studies the victim’s GPS setup, including the types of signals it uses and how they are processed. Using this information, the attacker transmits counterfeit GPS signals that mimic the real ones, but are stronger in strength, causing the GPS receiver to treat them as legitimate signals. As a result, the victim’s GPS receiver processes these false signals, leading to inaccurate location readings.