GS PAPER: II

Putin’s Nuclear Briefcase

Why in the news?

The Russian nuclear briefcase was recently spotted with President Putin during his visit to China. This is a rare sighting, as the briefcase is usually kept very secret.

What is the nuclear briefcase?

• The nuclear briefcase, also known as the Cheget, is a system in place for authorizing the launch of nuclear strikes.
• Staff have a briefcase each, and the three are supposed to coordinate in case of a potential order to strike. The President carries the briefcase on his visits abroad.
• The American President has a similar briefcase officially called the Presidential Emergency Satchel.

How did the system work?

• Radar operators will detect a possible enemy missile launch and send out alerts.
• The duty general will receive the information on a special notification terminal called Krokus.
• The duty general will pass the information to the Kavkaz, a complex network of communications systems that is the heart of the Russian nuclear command and control system.
• The Kavkaz will send the alert to the three nuclear briefcases, which are held by the President, the Defense Minister, and the Chief of the General Staff.
• The leaders with the briefcases will then monitor the situation and decide whether to authorize a retaliatory nuclear strike.

Analysis:

The fact that the nuclear briefcase was with Putin during his visit to China is seen by some as a sign of heightened tensions between Russia and the West.

Do You Know?

The first and only known instance of a nuclear briefcase being close to being used was in 1995. When a Russian radar station detected the “launch” of a rocket off Norway’s northern coast and mistook it for a hostile American missile.

GS PAPER: II

Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS)

Why in the news?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will soon inaugurate the first section of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), a 17-kilometer stretch between Delhi and Ghaziabad.

• The entire Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor is expected to be operational by 2025

What is the RRTS project?

• The Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) is India’s first mass rapid system dedicated to regional connectivity.
• It is a semi-high-speed rail network that aims to connect various locations in the National Capital Region (NCR) through fast commuter trains.

How is the RRTS different from the metro and railways?

• The RRTS is faster than the metro and railways. It will cater to commuters who want to travel relatively longer distances across the NCR in a shorter time.
• Compared with the Indian Railways, though the RRTS train will cover smaller distances, it will do so at a higher frequency and provide more comfort than the average Railways coach.

Analysis:

The RRTS seeks to “unlock the entire potential” of the NCR in addition to enhancing multi-modal connectivity. One of the most significant aims of the project is to nudge commuters towards public transportation and relieve congestion on its roads as well as metro and railway lines.

GS PAPER: III

Green Energy Corridor Phase-II

Why in the news?

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the Green Energy Corridor (GEC) Phase-II – Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) for a 13 GW renewable energy project in Ladakh.

• The project is aimed to be set up by FY 2029-30, and Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) will be the implementing agency.

Benefits of the Project

• The project will contribute to achieving the target of 500 GW of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuels by the year 2030.
• It will also promote ecologically sustainable growth by reducing carbon footprint.
• The project is expected to generate large direct and indirect employment opportunities, especially in the Ladakh region.

The approval of the 13 GW Renewable Energy Project in Ladakh is a significant step towards India’s renewable energy goals.

The project will help to reduce India’s reliance on fossil fuels and promote sustainable growth.