In News:

One of the biggest challenges in quantum computing is decoherence — the tendency of qubits to lose their fragile quantum state due to environmental noise. To address this, scientists are exploring the potential of Majorana particles, exotic entities that are their own antiparticles. Their unique quantum properties may help build topological qubits, inherently resistant to errors, offering a radically new path toward practical quantum computing.

What are Majorana Particles?

• Proposed by: Italian physicist Ettore Majorana in 1937.
• Nature: A hypothetical fermion that is its own antiparticle, unlike electrons or protons which have distinct antimatter counterparts.
• Key Characteristics:
  • Neutral in charge, hence elusive in detection.
  • Do not annihilate on contact with themselves.
  • In condensed-matter systems, they appear as quasiparticles (collective excitations) inside superconductors at ultra-low temperatures.
  • Often exist in pairs: two spatially separated halves forming one quantum state.
  • Exhibit non-Abelian statistics, meaning that exchanging or “braiding” them changes the overall quantum state in a predictable but unusual way.

Relevance to Quantum Computing

• Problem of Decoherence
  • Qubits (quantum bits) exist in superpositions of 0 and 1, but are easily disturbed by external noise.
  • Current quantum error correction requires hundreds to thousands of physical qubits to stabilise a single logical qubit, making scaling inefficient.
• Majorana-Based Solution
  • Information can be encoded nonlocally across two Majorana modes.
  • Disturbance of one half does not collapse the qubit; both must be affected simultaneously, making errors less likely.
  • Braiding Majoranas enables topologically protected operations, where outcomes depend only on the braiding pattern and not on experimental imperfections.
  • This reduces the need for massive error correction, making quantum hardware simpler and more stable.
• Current Research
  • Experiments in superconducting nanowires (e.g., indium antimonide) have shown conductance patterns consistent with Majorana modes.
  • However, alternative explanations exist, and conclusive proof requires demonstrating controlled braiding.

Wider Implications

• Quantum Technology: Potential to drastically lower the qubit requirement for large-scale quantum computers.
• Particle Physics: Ongoing efforts to test whether fundamental particles like neutrinos could be Majorana fermions.
• Condensed Matter Physics: Research into Majoranas has advanced material science, superconductors, and nanotechnology.

Challenges

• Experimental signals remain inconclusive, as other phenomena can mimic Majorana-like behaviour.
• Braiding demonstrations in two-dimensional architectures remain technically difficult.
• Majorana-based qubits are still at the proof-of-concept stage, not yet integrated into practical computing systems.

In News:

The year 2025 marks the centenary of the Self-Respect Movement, a landmark social reform initiative launched by E.V. Ramasamy “Periyar” in Tamil Nadu. Emerging in 1925 through the Tamil weekly KudiArasu(Republic), the movement fundamentally reshaped Tamil society by questioning caste hierarchies, patriarchy, and religious orthodoxy, and by laying the foundations of modern Dravidian politics.

Origins and Context

• The Justice Party (South Indian Liberal Federation, 1916) had earlier challenged Brahmin dominance but remained largely confined to elite non-Brahmin interests.
• Periyar, after leaving the Indian National Congress in 1925, criticised the Justice Party for lacking a people-centric agenda and warned against creating a new non-Brahmin elite as oppressive as Brahmin oligarchy.
• Through KudiArasu,Periyar articulated a more radical vision — shifting reform efforts towards the common masses and framing an agenda of rationalism, equality, and self-respect.

Core Ideas and Aims

The Self-Respect Movement stood for:

• Abolition of caste hierarchy and Brahmanical dominance.
• Promotion of rationalism over religious superstition and ritualism.
• Assertion of dignity and equality for all individuals, irrespective of caste or gender.
• Social reform over political independence — unlike the Congress-led freedom struggle, which the movement saw as tied to Hindu orthodoxy.

Key Features and Reforms

• Self-Respect Marriages – Conducted without priests or rituals, challenging caste and religious authority.
• Women’s Rights – Advocacy of widow remarriage, right to divorce, property rights, reproductive choice (including abortion), and women’s education.
• Inter-caste Unity – Promotion of inter-caste marriages and solidarity across oppressed groups.
• Critique of Religion and Nationalism – Rejection of Gandhi’s “religion-tinted nationalism” and the Congress as a bastion of caste Hindu interests.
• Dravidian Identity – Assertion of Tamil/Dravidian identity and resistance to Sanskritichomogenisation.

Impact and Legacy

• Mass Awakening: Instilled pride and self-respect among non-Brahmin masses, transforming them from passive subjects of reform to active participants.
• Foundation for Dravidian Politics: Evolved into the DravidarKazhagam (DK) and inspired political parties like DMK and AIADMK, shaping Tamil Nadu’s welfare-driven governance model.
• Gender and Social Justice: Pioneered radical reforms in marriage, family, and gender relations, decades ahead of mainstream Indian discourse.
• Intellectual Tradition: Drew inspiration from earlier reformers such as IyotheeThass, Jyotirao Phule, and B.R. Ambedkar, situating Tamil Nadu in a wider anti-caste, rationalist movement.

Contemporary Relevance

As the movement enters its centenary in 2025, it resonates amid debates over Hindutva, cultural homogenisation, and caste discrimination. Its emphasis on rationalism, social equality, and grassroots empowerment continues to provide a counter-narrative to exclusivist identities and remains vital for advancing social justice and constitutional morality in India.

In News:

Invasive alien species are among the biggest threats to global biodiversity, ecosystem balance, and local livelihoods. In South India, Senna spectabilis, introduced in the 1980s for ornamental and fuelwood purposes, has emerged as a serious ecological challenge. Its unchecked spread across the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR) has disrupted native ecosystems, escalated human-wildlife conflicts, and triggered large-scale forest degradation.

AboutSenna spectabilis

• Origin: Native to tropical America.
• Common Names: Popcorn Bush Cedar, Archibald's Cassia, Golden Shower, Fetid Cassia, etc.
• Characteristics: Grows 7–18 metres tall, forms dense sterile thickets, alters soil chemistry, suppresses native vegetation, and deprives herbivores of food.
• Confusion: Resembles Kerala’s state flower Cassia fistula (Kanikkonna), aiding its popularity in afforestation drives.
• IUCN Status: Classified as Least Concern.
• Challenge: Prolific seed production (up to 6,000 seeds annually), viability for nearly a decade, and quick regrowth even after cutting.

Ecological and Social Impacts

• Biodiversity Loss – Chokes out native species, prevents natural regeneration, and alters ecosystem dynamics.
• Food Chain Disruption – Loss of grasses and shrubs reduces prey availability for carnivores.
• Human-Wildlife Conflict – Decline in herbivore populations forces elephants, tigers, and deer to enter human settlements.
• Forest Degradation – Spread across Wayanad, Bandipur, and Mudumalai wildlife regions, threatening one of Asia’s most critical wildlife corridors.
• Spread Beyond South India – Reports of infestation in Andhra Pradesh, Goa, and Maharashtra.

A 2021 Rufford Foundation study showed Senna had spread over 23% of Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, now estimated at 40%.

Kerala’s “Wayanad Model” of Restoration

Kerala pioneered India’s first science-based, community-led eradication program at Tholpetty range, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Scale: 383 acres cleared; 46,450 trees uprooted; total eco-restoration covers 560 acres.
• Innovation: A lightweight hand-held uprooting tool designed by a marine engineer enabled complete root removal.
• Community Participation: Tribal youth (Kurichiya, Kattunaikka) trained as forest restoration guardians.
• Biodiversity Revival:
  • 80 native tree species replanted.
  • 15 indigenous grasses naturally regenerated.
  • 184 bird species recorded in post-restoration zones.
  • Return of elephants and deer to reclaimed patches.

This approach of “un-planting mistakes” emphasizes uprooting rather than cutting, ensuring long-term ecological recovery.

Policy and Replication

• Cross-border Extension: Karnataka adopted the Wayanad model in Nagarhole Tiger Reserve (DB Kuppe range). Tamil Nadu is exploring similar interventions.
• Utilisation of Biomass: Pilot projects have converted Senna wood into 6,000 tonnes of paper pulp; however, experts caution that biomass use alone will not halt invasion unless roots are fully removed.
• Other Invasives: The Senna challenge mirrors broader issues with Lantana, Eupatorium, and Acacia, which silently erode ecosystems across India.

Invasive Species

• Definition: An invasive species is a non-native organism that causes ecological, economic, or health harm in a new environment.
• Introduction Pathways: Ballast water of ships, aquaculture, ornamental planting, and accidental releases.
• Impacts: Extinction of native species, biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, and livelihood disruptions.

In News:

The Trump administration has unfrozen a stalled Biden-era contract with Paragon Solutions, granting the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) access to its spyware tool Graphite. The contract, worth $2 million, was initially signed in September 2024 under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) but paused due to concerns over violating the March 2023 executive order restricting spyware procurement.

About Graphite Spyware

• Nature: Advanced spyware capable of remote mobile phone access and control.
• Capabilities:
  • Access photos, messages, and location data.
  • Intercept encrypted communications (WhatsApp, Signal).
  • Convert device into a listening tool by manipulating its microphone.

Paragon Solutions and Background

• Founded in Israel; co-founded by former PM Ehud Barak.
• Acquired in late 2024 by AE Industrial Partners (Florida) for $900 million.
• AE also owns REDLattice, a cyber-intelligence firm with ex-CIA officials.
• Track record:
  • Claims to sell only to governments and law enforcement agencies for crime prevention.
  • Terminated contract with Italy (Feb 2025) after WhatsApp (Meta) flagged misuse against journalists and activists in 24 countries.

Concerns and Implications

• Civil liberties: May expand ICE’s surveillance on undocumented immigrants, raising due process concerns.
• Rights at risk: Free speech and privacy could be undermined if spyware is misused.
• Expert view: Nadine Farid Johnson (Knight First Amendment Institute) warned that bypassing vetting requirements threatens constitutional safeguards.

Understanding Spyware

• Definition: Malicious software that collects data from devices and transmits it without user consent.
• Common Types:
  • Adware: Tracks user activity, sells data to advertisers.
  • Infostealers: Extracts sensitive data, including chats and files.
  • Keyloggers: Record keystrokes, capturing passwords and personal information.

In News:

The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, has launched Phase II of its flagship financial literacy initiative,Niveshak Didi, in Hyderabad. The program targets rural communities, with a special emphasis on women’s financial empowerment.

Objective and Significance

• Aim: To deepen financial awareness and enable women to make informed financial decisions, safeguard savings, and actively participate in the financial ecosystem.
• Approach: Based on the principle of “women for women”, recognizing that rural women are more comfortable discussing financial matters with female educators.
• Significance: Acts as a catalyst for bridging knowledge gaps, building confidence, and promoting financial resilience in rural communities.

Launch Highlights

Key points from the launch:

• Financial literacy sessions were conducted in Telugu to facilitate understanding.
• Emphasis on fraud prevention, safe investments, and digital financial literacy.
• IPPB’s extensive rural network ensures last-mile delivery of financial education and services.

Key Features of Phase II

• Expanded outreach to more villages and rural areas.
• Interactive training modules to improve engagement.
• Collaboration with grassroots organizations for maximum impact.
• Focus on savings, investment safety, fraud prevention, and digital transactions.

About IEPFA

• Established: 2016 under the Companies Act, 2013
• Functions:
  • Manage the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF)
  • Facilitate refunds of unclaimed dividends, shares, matured deposits, and debentures
  • Promote financial literacy and investor protection
• Major Initiatives:Niveshak Didi, Niveshak Panchayat, NiveshakShivir