Definition of a Cyclone

• Cyclone refers to any spinning storm that rotates around a low-pressure centre. The low-pressure centre is also referred to as the 'eye' of the storm, which is well known for being eerily calm compared with the areas under the spinning 'arms' of the storm.
• You could say that the eye is watching what's going on down below, so it needs a clear path, but the arms are where all the action happens because this is where the storm is throwing out all of its rain and wind.

How are cyclones formed?

• To form a cyclone, warm, moist air over the ocean rises upward from near the surface. As this air moves up and away from the ocean surface, it leaves is less air near the surface. So basically as the warm air rises, it causes an area of lower air pressure below.
• Air from surrounding areas with higher air pressure pushes in to the low pressure area. Then this new “cool” air becomes warm and moist and rises, too. And the cycle continues.
• As the warmed, moist air rises and cools the water in the air forms clouds. The whole system of clouds and wind spins and grows, fed by the ocean’s heat and water evaporating from the ocean surface.
• As the storm system rotates faster and faster, an eye forms in the centre. It is very calm and clear in the eye, with very low air pressure. Higher pressure air from above flows down into the eye.
• Tropical cyclones usually weaken when they hit land, because they are no longer being “fed” by the energy from the warm ocean waters. However, they often move far inland, dumping many centimetres of rain and causing lots of wind damage before they die out completely. 

Tropical cyclone

• A tropical cyclone in Indian ocean region is an intense circular storm that originates over warm tropical oceans and is characterized by low atmospheric pressure, high winds, and heavy rain.
• Drawing energy from the sea surface and maintaining its strength as long as it remains over warm water, a tropical cyclone generates winds that exceed 119 km (74 miles) per hour. In extreme cases, winds may exceed 240 km (150 miles) per hour, and gusts may surpass 320 km (200 miles) per hour.
• Accompanying these strong winds are torrential rains and a devastating phenomenon known as the storm surge, an elevation of the sea surface that can reach 6 metres (20 feet) above normal levels.
• Such a combination of high winds and water makes cyclones a serious hazard for coastal areas in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Every year during the late summer months (July–September in the Northern Hemisphere and January–March in the Southern Hemisphere), cyclones strike regions as far apart as the Gulf Coast of North America, northwestern Australia, and eastern India and Bangladesh.

Different names of tropical cyclones

• Tropical cyclones are known by various names in different parts of the world. In the North Atlantic Ocean and the eastern North Pacific they are called hurricanes, and in the western North Pacific around the Philippines, Japan, and China the storms are referred to as typhoons.
• In the western South Pacific and Indian Ocean they are variously referred to as severe tropical cyclones, tropical cyclones, or simply cyclones.
• All these different names refer to the same type of storm.

Conditions for formation of tropical cyclones

• The temperature of the surface layer of ocean water must be 26.5 °C (80 °F) or warmer, and this warm layer must be at least 50 metres (150 feet) deep.
• A preexisting atmospheric circulation must be located near the surface warm layer.
• The atmosphere must cool quickly enough with height to support the formation of deep convective clouds.
• The middle atmosphere must be relatively humid at a height of about 5,000 metres (16,000 feet) above the surface.
• The developing system must be at least 500 km (300 miles) away from the Equator.
• The wind speed must change slowly with height through the troposphere—no more than 10 metres (33 feet) per second between the surface and an altitude of about 10,000 metres (33,000 feet).

Types of Cyclones:

Tropical cyclones are what most people are familiar with because these are cyclones that occur over tropical ocean regions.

• Hurricanes and typhoons are actually types of tropical cyclones, but they have different names so that it's clear where that storm is occurring. Hurricanes are found in the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific, typhoons are found in the Northwest Pacific. If you hear 'tropical cyclone,' you should assume that it's occurring in the South Pacific or Indian Ocean, but for this lesson, we'll use it refer to all types of tropical ocean cyclones.
• We can also further describe tropical cyclones based on their wind speeds. They are called category 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, increasing with intensity and wind speed as the number increases. A category 1 cyclone is the weakest, with wind speeds of 74-95 mph. A category 5 cyclone, on the other hand, is extremely dangerous and has the potential for major damage. Category 5 cyclones have wind speeds of 155 mph and above!
• Polar cyclones are cyclones that occur in polar regions like Greenland, Siberia and Antarctica. Unlike tropical cyclones, polar cyclones are usually stronger in winter months. As you can see, these storms really do prefer the colder weather! They also occur in areas that aren't very populated, so any damage they do is usually pretty minimal.
• A mesocyclone is when part of a thunderstorm cloud starts to spin, which may eventually lead to a tornado. 'Meso' means 'middle', so you can think of this as the mid-point between one type of storm and the other. Tornadoes all come from thunderstorm clouds, but not all thunderstorm clouds make tornadoes. In order for a tornado to occur, part of that cloud has to spin, and though you can't really see this happening, this is the intermediate, or 'meso' step from regular cloud to dangerous spinning cloud running along the ground.

Depending upon its location and strength, a tropical cyclone is referred by different names:

• Typhoons in Western North Pacific
• Willy-willies in Australia
• Baguio in Philippine Islands
• Hurricanes around North America
• Taifu in Japan
• Cyclone in the Indian Ocean

How are the cyclones named?

• If the speed of a cyclone is more than 34 nautical miles per hour then it becomes necessary to give it a special name. If the speed of the storm reaches or crosses 74 mph, it is then classified into a hurricane/cyclone/typhoon.
• The cyclones that are formed in any ocean basin around the world are named by the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centres (RSMCs) and Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs). There are a total of six RSMCs in the world, including the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
• The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for the Asia Pacific (ESCAP) have been naming cyclonic storms since 2000.
• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) names the cyclones developing over the north Indian Ocean, including the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. It also issues advisories to 12 other nations in the region on the development of cyclones and storms.
• In 2000, a group of nations called WMO/ESCAP-- Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand-- decided to name cyclones in the region.
• In 2018, five more countries were added-- Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
• After the aforementioned countries sent in suggestions, the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC) finalise the list.
• In April 2020, IMD released a list of 169 cyclone names. 13 suggestions were sent in by the aforementioned WMO/ESCAP member nations.

Why are cyclones named?

• The cyclones are named to help people identify them easily as it would be difficult to remember numbers and technical terms.
• Additionally, appending names makes it easier for the media, scientific community and the disaster management community to identify and report individual cyclones, disseminate warnings, increase community preparedness, and ward off confusion in areas that witness multiple cyclones.

Guidelines to name cyclones in Indian ocean region

The guidelines to name the cyclones in Indian ocean region are as follows:

1. The proposed name must be neutral to politics and political figures, religious beliefs, cultures and genders.
2. It must not hurt the sentiments of any group of people across the world.
3. It must not be rude and cruel in nature.
4. The name must be short, easy to pronounce and inoffensive to any member.
5. It must be of a maximum of eight letters and be given with its pronunciation and voice over.
6. The names of cyclones developing over the north Indian Ocean will not be repeated. Once used, it will cease to be used again.

FISHERIES sector in India

• India is World's 2nd largest fish producer and 2nd largest aquaculture nation after China.
• Fisheries are India's single largest Agri export. The USA is the largest market for Indian seafood products. 1% GDP and 5% Agri GDP.

Blue Revolution

• It was launched during the 7th FYP through Fish Farmers Development Agency. It improved aquaculture through new technologies of fish breeding, rearing, marketing and export.
• Blue Revolution 2.0/ Neel Kranti Mission: Focus is on development and management of fisheries. This covers  inland fisheries, aquaculture, marine fisheries including deep sea fishing, mariculture and all activities undertaken by the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB).

For complete news on Blue revolution and PM Matsya Sampada Yojana: click here

National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB):

• Established in 2006. It is an Autonomous organization. under the Ministry of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry. 
• To enhance fish production and productivity and holistic fishery development. 
• Objectives
  1. Triple production and export earnings by 2020. 
  2. Transforming the fisheries sector into a modern industry and doubling their income.
  3. Increase productivity and better Post-harvest marketing infra including e-commerce.

PM Matsya Sampada Yojana, 2019

• It aims to turn India into a hotspot for fish and aquatic products.
• Through appropriate policy, marketing and infrastructure support.
• To promote non-farm activities and increase the income of fisheries sector with better fisheries, infra creation, increasing production and productivity, and improved post-harvest management.
• To increase fish production to 15 MT by 2020 under the Blue revolution and to 20 MT by 2022-23.
• Role of MGNREGA: It has started to develop the farm ponds, where pisciculture is taking place.

Fisheries Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) = 7522 crore fund

• Creation of fisheries infra facilities both in marine and Inland fisheries sectors. Attract private investment in the creation and management of fisheries infra facilities.
• To increase fish production to 15 MT by 2020 under the Blue revolution and to 20 MT by 2022-23.
• To achieve a sustainable growth of 8% -9%. Employment to 9.4 lakh people.
• It will also provide concessional finance to States and entities, cooperatives, individuals etc.
• Loan will be for 5 years from 2018-19 to 2022-23 and repayment for 12 years.

Fish Farmers Producer Organizations (FFPOs)

• Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAHD) under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) provides financial assistance for the setting up of Fish Farmers Producer Organizations (FFPOs) to economically empower the fishers and fish farmers and enhance their bargaining power. The financial support provided under the PMMSY to each FFPOs primarily includes the cost of formation and incubation, management, equity grant and training and skill development.
• The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying through Small Farmers Agri-Business Consortium of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoAFW), Government of India assisted setting up of 5 FFPOs in the states of Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh on pilot basis under the erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Scheme Blue Revolution-Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries and these 5 FFPOs have already been registered.
• Further, under PMMSY, the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying during 2020-21 has accorded approval to the proposal of the National Cooperative Development Corporation, MoAFW for setting up of 50 FFPOs at a total cost of Rs.24.50 crore.
• Besides, approval has also been accorded during 2020-21 to the proposal of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) for the setting up of 22 FFPOs at the total cost of Rs. 10 crores under the PMMSY.

For complete and comprehensive UPSC Facts and Data on Fisheries Sector in India: click here

S-400 Triumpf

About S-400 Triumpf

• As India prepares to receive the first batch of S-400 long-range air defence systems by year-end, the first group of Indian military specialists are scheduled to depart for Moscow soon to undergo training courses on the S-400.
• S-400 supplies initiative is one of the flagship projects in the Russian-Indian military and military-technical cooperation, which historically constitutes the main pillar of the special and privileged strategic partnership between our two friendly countries.
• Currently, Russia and India are deeply involved in the joint development and production of military equipment, components and spare parts as well as technology sharing, and improving after-sales service system. We have developed an advanced legal base for this purpose.
• In October 2018, India signed a $5.43-billion deal with Russia for five S-400 Triumf regiments despite objections from the U.S. and the threat of sanctions under Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
• China was the first foreign buyer of S400 to make a government-to-government deal with Russia in 2014, while Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Belarus have all acquired the system since.

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)

subtopic: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

Features of Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)

• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is a maternity benefit rechristened from erstwhile Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY). The IGMSY was launched in 2010.
• The scheme is a conditional cash transfer scheme for pregnant and lactating women.
• It provides a partial wage compensation to women for wage loss during childbirth and childcare and provides conditions for safe delivery and good nutrition and feeding practices.
• They receive a cash benefit of Rs. 5,000 in three instalments on fulfilling the respective conditionality, viz. early registration of pregnancy, ante-natal check-up and registration of the birth of the child, and completion of the first cycle of vaccination for the first living child of the family.
• The eligible beneficiaries also receive cash incentives under Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY). Thus, on average, a woman gets Rs. 6,000.
• Exceptions: The maternity benefits are available to all Pregnant Women & Lactating Mothers (PW&LM) except those in regular employment with the Central Government or State Government or Public Sector Undertaking or those who are in receipt of similar benefits under any law for the time being in force.
• Funding: The scheme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under which the cost-sharing ratio between the Centre and the States & UTs with Legislature is 60:40 while for the North-Eastern States & three Himalayan States; it is 90:10. It is 100% Central assistance for Union Territories without Legislature.

Challenges to Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana

• The PMMVY scheme has failed to reach at least 49% of all mothers who would have delivered their first child (an estimated total of 123 lakh for 2017 according to the researchers).
• Given the stipulated conditions, the scheme brings under its ambit 23% of all births and pays full benefits to a mere 14% of all births, which was at 270.5 lakh for 2017.
• Only 66% of pregnant women and 69% of nursing women knew about the scheme. Only 8% of pregnant women and 23% of nursing mothers received some benefits.
• An application form of about 23 pages, a slew of documents such as mother-child protection card, Aadhaar card, husband’s Aadhaar card, and bank passbook aside from linking their bank accounts with Aadhaar. 
• The requirement to produce the husband’s Aadhaar card results in excluding women who may be living with men they are not married to, single mothers, and those who may be staying at their natal home.
• Women must also have the address of their marital home on their Aadhaar card, which often results in newlyweds being either left out or forced to go from door-to-door when pregnant and needing rest and care.

Way ahead:

• Undernutrition continues to adversely affect the majority of women in India. In India, every third woman is undernourished and every second woman is anemic.
• An undernourished mother almost inevitably gives birth to a low birth weight baby. When poor nutrition starts in-utero, it extends throughout the life cycle since the changes are largely irreversible.
• Owing to economic and social distress many women continue to work to earn a living for their family right up to the last days of their pregnancy.
• They resume working soon after childbirth, even though their bodies might not permit it, thus preventing their bodies from fully recovering on one hand, and also impeding their ability to exclusively breastfeed their young infant in the first six months.