Kavach 4.0 | World Nuclear Outlook Report | Hirakud Wetland

Kavach 4.0

Syllabus: GS2/ Governance

In News

• Indian Railways commissioned 472.3 route kilometres (RKm) of Kavach Version 4.0.

About

• Originally known as the Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS),
• Developed by the RDSO,
• Objective – it prevents train collisions by automatically applying brakes if the loco pilot fails to do so (e.g., Signal Passed at Danger – SPAD) and provides real-time speed monitoring.
• Note – Kavach 4.0 creates a “digital shield” by integrating several high-tech components:

World Nuclear Outlook Report

Syllabus: GS2/IR/GS3/Science and Tech

In News

• According to the new World Nuclear Outlook Report , Five countries — China, France, India, Russia and the United States — could together account for nearly 980 GWe of global capacity in 2050.

World Nuclear Outlook Report

• It reviews national targets for nuclear capacity and assesses these against the global goal to triple nuclear capacity by 2050.

Key Findings

• Global nuclear capacity could reach 1,446 GWe by 2050, exceeding the tripling target of 1,200 GWe, with growth driven by reactors under construction, planned projects, and proposed or government-driven programs.
• China, France, India, Russia, and the USA would account for most capacity, while newcomer nations aim for 157 GWe.
• South Asia, led by India, is emerging as a key growth region due to rising electricity demand, urbanization, and industrialization.

Hirakud Wetland

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• The Hirakud wetland in Sambalpur district of Odisha has recorded the arrival of 4.21 lakh birds during the current migratory season.

Hirakud Wetland

• Location: The wetland is part of the Hirakud Reservoir, one of the largest man-made reservoirs in India, built across the Mahanadi River with a total length of almost 26 kilometres.
• The reservoir also produces around 350 megawatts of hydropower and irrigates 436,000 hectares of land.
• Biodiversity Hotspot: It is a critical stopover for birds along the Central Asian Flyway, hosting 128 species of birds.
• Birds Species – Pintail, Shoveler, Teal, Pochard, Bar-headed Goose, and rare Eurasian species like Ruffs.
• Ramsar Site: It was designated a Ramsar site of global ecological importance in 2021.
• Note – As of February 2026, India has 98 Ramsar Sites, with the total rising following the addition of the Patna Bird Sanctuary (Uttar Pradesh) and Chhari-Dhand (Gujarat).