- India's indigenous Akash Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM), dubbed the "Iron-Dome," is in contention with China's Sky Dragon-50 air defense systems for an order from Brazil.
- Key Features of Akash Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM):
- Developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) in Hyderabad.
- Designed to safeguard vulnerable areas from diverse aerial threats.
- Specifications:
- Length: 5.8 meters
- Diameter: 350 mm
- Wingspan: 1,105 mm
- Launch weight: 720 kg
- Speed: Up to Mach 2.5
- Ceiling: 18 km
- Range: Up to 45 km against aircraft
- Satellite imagery indicates China’s military is preparing for a sustained presence around Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh.
- Pangong Lake, also known as Pangong Tso, is a high-altitude lake nestled in the Himalayas at approximately 4,350 m (14,270 ft) above sea level.
- Its name, "Pangong Tso," originates from the Tibetan language, translating to "high grassland lake."
- The region is subject to territorial disputes, with the Line of Actual Control (LAC) traversing through the lake's vicinity.
- Recently, defense officials announced that the prototype of India’s indigenous light tank, Zorawar, has been completed and will soon undergo extensive trials
- About Zorawar Light Tank:
- Zorawar is a domestically designed and developed light tank.
- The project was a collaborative effort between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), with L&T serving as the lead integrator.
- Features:
- Weighing up to a maximum of 25 tonnes, Zorawar meets the critical requirement of being air-transportable, enhancing its deployability.
- The tank is capable of firing at high angles of elevation, doubling as limited artillery, and operates as an agile weapon platform.
- Recently, Italy's Mount Etna and the smaller Stromboli volcano erupted, emitting hot ash and lava, prompting heightened alert levels across Sicily.
- About Mount Etna:
- Mount Etna is Europe’s most active volcano and ranks among the largest globally.
- Its volcanic history dates back to 1500 B.C., with frequent recorded eruptions.
- Characteristics of a Stratovolcano:
- Mount Etna is classified as a stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano.
- These volcanoes feature a distinctive conical shape formed by layers of volcanic material deposited over successive eruptions.
- Thazhakara has achieved a significant milestone as the first grama panchayat in Alappuzha, and one of the pioneers in Kerala, to successfully update and publish a comprehensive People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) with active participation from local communities.
- About People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR):
- A PBR serves as a detailed repository documenting the rich biodiversity within an area, encompassing habitats, land races, domesticated animals, micro-organisms, and local knowledge related to biological diversity.
- Significance of PBR:
- The PBR will facilitate the grama panchayat in planning and executing various developmental projects, including initiatives in agriculture, water management, and waste disposal, with a strong emphasis on biodiversity conservation and fair distribution of benefits.
- To address the extensive coastal erosion in the Poonthura region of Kerala, the irrigation department has initiated plans to construct eight groynes at a cost of Rs 17.5 crore.
- About Groynes:
- Groynes are solid structures extending from the shoreline into the sea, typically positioned perpendicular or at a slight angle to the coast.
- By trapping sediment, groynes facilitate beach widening, decrease erosion rates, and enhance wave energy dissipation.
- Properly designed and maintained, groynes provide robust, long-term stabilization of coastal areas essential for various societal activities.
- The Indian Air Force (IAF) has outlined specific requirements for various mobile systems to counter threats in diverse operational scenarios, focusing particularly on challenges posed by multiple swarm drones.
- About Swarm Drones:
- Swarm drones, acronymically referred to as "Smart War-Fighting Array of Reconfigured Modules" (SWARM), operate as coordinated groups of drones designed to collaborate and communicate effectively towards common objectives.
- These drones can vary in type and size, ranging from small quadcopters to larger fixed-wing aircraft, all integrated into a cohesive unit.
- The IAF’s strategic approach underscores the importance of deploying advanced mobile systems capable of countering emerging threats posed by modern swarm drone technologies, thereby enhancing operational preparedness and security measures.
- The Railway Minister recently clarified that over 26,000 candidates trained under the "Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana" until November 2023 will not receive preferential treatment for jobs within the Indian Railways.
- About Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana:
- Launched by the Indian Railways in September 2021, the Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana aims to provide technical skill training to youth across various industry-relevant trades.
- The program targets individuals aged between 18 to 35 years, focusing on equipping them with essential skills for employment opportunities across diverse sectors.
- Key Features:
- Targeted Skill Development:
- The program addresses specific skill gaps identified in the job market, emphasizing practical training in industry-relevant technical trades.
- The initial round of crash testing for cars under the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP) has recently concluded successfully.
- About Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP):
- Bharat NCAP is an indigenous star-rating system designed to evaluate the crashworthiness of cars, assigning them between one to five stars based on their safety performance in collisions.
- Objective:
- The primary goal of Bharat NCAP is to encourage demand for safer cars by informing consumers about the safety ratings of vehicles.
- Testing Protocols:
- Cars nominated voluntarily by automobile manufacturers undergo crash tests according to the Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 197 protocols.
- The programme covers passenger vehicles with up to eight seats (including the driver's seat) and a gross vehicle weight not exceeding 3,500 kg.
- A recent study has raised concerns that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine could pose significant challenges to conservation efforts aimed at preserving the last remaining population of the European wood bison, also known as the wisent.
- About European Wood Bison (Wisent):
- The European wood bison, or Bison bonasus, stands as the largest and heaviest land mammal in Europe.
- Historically, there were three subspecies of Bison bonasus, but today only one remains: Bison bonasus bonasus, commonly referred to as the wisent.
- Habitat:
- Wisent populations thrive in grasslands, deciduous forests, and mixed forest habitats.
- During the final stages of the last ice age, these majestic creatures roamed across Europe in substantial herds.
- Recently, in New Delhi, the union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, and Textiles unveiled the “Logistics Ease Across Different State (LEADS) 2023” report on December 16th, 2023.
- About Logistics Ease Across Different State (LEADS):
- LEADS was initiated in 2018, drawing inspiration from the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index, and has since evolved to encompass both perceptual and objective evaluations, enhancing its robustness and comprehensiveness.
- The report serves as a comprehensive assessment of logistics performance at the State/UT level, providing valuable insights into stakeholder perceptions and the impact of reforms across India.
- Performance Highlights from LEADS 2023:
- Coastal Group:
- Achievers: Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
- Fast Movers: Kerala, Maharashtra
- Aspirers: Goa, Odisha, West Bengal
- Landlocked Group:
- Achievers: Haryana, Punjab, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh
- Fast Movers: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand
- Aspirers: Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand
- North-East Group:
- Achievers: Assam, Sikkim, Tripura
- Fast Movers: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland
- Aspirers: Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram
