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- The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has commenced an initial investigation into the development of a homegrown conventional submarine under Project-76.
This initiative, led by the Warship Design Bureau of the Indian Navy, aims to create India’s inaugural indigenous diesel-electric submarine as part of Project 76. The Indian Navy plans to construct a fleet of 12 submarines under this project. These submarines are envisioned as advanced diesel-electric attack vessels equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP), designed to displace around 3,000 tons when submerged. They mark a significant advancement from previous models like the Project-751 (India) and Project-75 submarines, such as the renowned Sindhughosh (Kilo) class.
- Researchers have recently identified a significant deposit of approximately 230 million metric tons of minerals essential for electric car batteries on the seabed near Minami-Torishima Island.
- Minami-Torishima Island experiences an oceanic climate influenced by both tropical and subtropical zones, maintaining an average annual temperature of approximately 25.6 °C.
- The exclusive economic zone surrounding Minami-Torishima Island, based on its baseline, spans approximately 430,000 km², which surpasses Japan's total land area.
- Due to ongoing rainfall in Kerala, the health department has issued a warning regarding amoebic meningoencephalitis.
- Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM):
- Amoebic meningoencephalitis is a rare and often fatal infection affecting the central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord.
- It is caused by Naegleria fowleri, a type of free-living amoeba found in warm freshwater bodies, poorly maintained swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas.
- Symptoms:
- Symptoms of amoebic meningoencephalitis, such as fever, headache, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, usually manifest within five days of infection and progress rapidly.
- Treatment:
- There are no established treatments specifically for PAM, though combination therapy involving medications effective against parasites shows promise.
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- The Prime Minister recently honored the bravery and sacrifices of the Santhal tribal community.
- Santhals constitute the third largest scheduled tribe in India, following the Gonds and Bhils. They are predominantly found in the eastern states of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha.
- Language:
- The Santhals speak Santhali, a dialect of the Munda (Austroasiatic) language Kherwari. Santhali is written in the OI-Chiki script and is recognized as a scheduled language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
- History and Settlement:
- Originally nomadic, the Santhals settled in the Chotanagpur plateau and later concentrated in the Santhal Parganas of Jharkhand (formerly Bihar). Over time, they migrated to Odisha and West Bengal.
- Astronomers worldwide, both professionals and amateurs alike, are eagerly anticipating a once-in-a-lifetime nova explosion set to occur in September. This spectacular event will unfold approximately 3,000 light-years away from Earth and is the result of a dramatic interaction between two neighboring stars.
- Remarkably, these explosions do not annihilate the stars completely; instead, they mark a cyclical process that can endure for hundreds of thousands of years. Each nova event varies in its cycle duration, ranging from a few years to hundreds of millennia.
- This upcoming nova of T CrB promises to be a captivating astronomical event, offering scientists a rare opportunity to study the dynamics of stellar evolution and the dramatic consequences of binary star interactions on cosmic scales.
- A newly discovered banking malware named ‘Snowblind’ is targeting Android users, aiming to steal their banking credentials.
- Snowblind is an advanced Android malware that exploits a built-in Android security feature to evade anti-tamper protections in apps handling sensitive information. By repackaging apps, it circumvents detection of accessibility features used to extract sensitive data such as login credentials and gain remote access to compromised apps.
- This development underscores the evolving threat landscape faced by Android users, highlighting the importance of cautious app installation practices and robust security measures to mitigate risks from emerging malware like Snowblind.
- The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has launched the eSankhyiki portal, a pivotal tool designed to provide real-time data inputs to planners, policy-makers, researchers, and the general public.
- Macro Indicators Module: This module offers time-series data on critical macroeconomic indicators. It includes features for filtering and visualizing data, enhancing user accessibility. Users can also customize datasets, generate visualizations, and share data through APIs, thereby promoting data reusability. The initial phase of this module covers four major products: National Accounts Statistics, Consumer Price Index, Index of Industrial Production, and Annual Survey of Industries, spanning the data from the past decade. Currently, the portal hosts more than 1.7 million records.
- Recently, the Mines Secretary emphasized the pivotal role of key organizations within the mines ministry, such as the Geological Survey of India (GSI), in advancing projects focused on pumped storage hydropower (PSH) and highways.
- Pumped Storage Hydro Power (PSH) is a form of hydroelectric energy storage characterized by two reservoirs situated at different elevations. This setup facilitates power generation as water flows downhill from the higher reservoir to the lower reservoir, passing through turbines. During times of low electricity demand and prices, surplus energy is used to pump water back into the upper reservoir for storage. Conversely, when demand peaks and prices rise, water is released to drive turbines and supply electricity to the grid.
- Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) have recently unveiled an innovative river model known as BRAHMA-2D.
- BRAHMA-2D, short for Braided River Aid: Hydro-Morphological Analyzer, is a sophisticated mathematical model designed to analyze the flow dynamics of large braided rivers like the Brahmaputra. Unlike traditional models, BRAHMA-2D operates as a quasi-3D river flow model, offering insights into water velocities at varying depths within the river and its circulation patterns around structures such as spurs used for preventing river bank erosion.
- The development of BRAHMA-2D marks a significant advancement in river management and environmental conservation efforts, offering valuable tools for sustainable development and protection of river ecosystems.
- Recently, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) announced a significant enhancement for National Pension System (NPS) subscribers by introducing the D-Remit process through Unified Payments Interface (UPI) QR code for direct contributions.
- PFRDA, established under the PFRDA Act of 2014 as a statutory regulatory body, operates under the Ministry of Finance in New Delhi. It comprises a Chairperson and up to six members, focusing on promoting old age income security through pension fund regulation and protecting subscriber interests.
- Conserving Pappathi Chola, a biodiversity hotspot renowned for its abundant butterflies, balsams, and orchids, is urgently required.
- The name Pappathi Chola originates from the Tamil words "Pappathi" (butterflies) and "Chola" (shola land), reflecting its significance as a habitat rich in butterfly diversity. Situated amidst the Chathurangappara hills and Mathikettan shola, this region is also recognized for its thriving populations of balsams, including the Impatiens balsamina species, and rare varieties of orchids.
- Efforts to conserve Pappathi Chola are imperative to safeguard its biodiversity and ensure its continued role as a sanctuary for butterflies, balsams, and orchids amidst the Western Ghats' rich natural landscapes.
- Researchers have recently identified a new species within the Cyperaceae family and named it Fimbristylis jaleeliana.
- Found in the lateritic hillocks of Kannur district, this species thrives in lateritic grasslands at an elevation of approximately 60 meters above sea level. The genus Fimbristylis, to which it belongs, is one of the largest within the Cyperaceae family, encompassing 320 species distributed across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.
- Cyperaceae, commonly known as sedges, are herbaceous flowering plants characterized by their grass-like appearance. They are widespread in wet regions across the globe, with a notable presence in Arctic, temperate, and tropical regions. While they are absent from Antarctica, the family exhibits a higher diversity of genera in tropical regions compared to other climatic zones.
- During COP28, NASA and IBM unveiled watsonx.ai, an advanced Artificial Intelligence tool now accessible on the open-source AI platform Hugging Space.
- Developed collaboratively by IBM and NASA, watsonx.ai is designed to facilitate Earth monitoring from space, assessing past environmental changes and providing predictive insights into future trends. This tool is engineered for simplicity, allowing users to select a location and date. In response, it highlights changes in floodwater levels, reforestation progress, and other pertinent environmental factors.
- Through iterative training, watsonx.ai has honed its ability to segment and categorize photos, adapting to specific tasks and refining its proficiency in interpreting environmental changes captured in satellite imagery. This collaborative effort underscores a significant leap forward in leveraging AI for comprehensive Earth observation and environmental monitoring.
- In a rare occurrence, a white-bellied sea eagle (Icthyophaga leucogaster), a majestic raptor commonly found in coastal regions, was recently sighted in Mukkombu, Tiruchirapalli.
- This diurnal bird of prey is known for its monogamous behavior and striking appearance, gradually acquiring its adult plumage in a patchwork manner by its fourth year. White-bellied sea eagles are distributed across Southeast Asia, ranging from southern China to Australia and Tasmania, and from India to New Guinea.
- Their preferred habitats include terrestrial environments near the ocean, such as coasts, islands, and estuaries, as well as forested areas with access to smaller bodies of water like lakes, ponds, and rivers. Although typically found at elevations around 900 meters, these eagles have been observed at altitudes reaching up to 1,700 meters.
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- Assam Forest Department officials recently foiled a smuggling attempt involving more than 500 'Channa Barca' fish, valued at Rs 4.5 crore, at Dibrugarh airport.
- About Channa Barca:
- Channa Barca, also known as the Barca Snakehead, belongs to the family Channidae and is a primitive predatory fish.
- Local names include “Pipli Cheng” or “Cheng Garaka”.
- Distribution:
- Endemic to the upper Brahmaputra river basin in northeastern India and Bangladesh.
- Habitat:
- Inhabits vertical burrows around the edges of wetlands, which dry up during winter.
- Uses these burrows as refuges during dry months, emerging to hunt and breed when the area floods.
- Features:
- Elongated body with long dorsal fins and large, toothy mouths.
- Exhibits changing patterns and colors as it matures.