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- India has urged for effective actions to address the issue of seafarer abandonment and to enhance the safety of maritime workers during the 132nd session of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council in London.
- About the International Maritime Organisation (IMO):
- The IMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN), focusing on the safety, security, and environmental impact of international shipping. It plays a crucial role in achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, which aims to conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas, and marine resources.
- Key Functions and Structure of IMO:
- Policy Setting: The IMO establishes global policies for shipping, including regulations on safety, security, and environmental practices. Once accepted by member states, these policies become national laws.
- The United States of America and its coalition partners will provide Ukraine with an additional five air defense systems, including Patriot missile batteries and components for the Patriot system.
- About the Patriot Air Defense System:
- The Patriot (MIM-104), officially known as the Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target, is a versatile surface-to-air missile defense system designed to counter tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and advanced aircraft in all weather conditions and at various altitudes.
- Key Features and Background:
- It is renowned as the most advanced air defense system in use by the U.S. Army.
- The Patriot system has a proven combat record and is operated not only by the United States but also by several allied nations such as Germany, Greece, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Poland, Sweden, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Romania, Spain, and Taiwan.
- With the arrival of the monsoon season, reports of cholera have surfaced in two states of India.
- About Cholera:
Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by consuming contaminated food or water containing the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
- The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has enlisted a Bengaluru-based company to domestically manufacture a receiver chip for acquiring and disseminating Indian Standard Time through the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system developed by ISRO.
- About Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC):
- NavIC, formerly known as the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), is India's own satellite-based navigation system designed and implemented by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
- To utilize NavIC signals, devices such as smartphones and navigational gadgets must integrate NavIC-compatible chipsets or microchips for signal decoding.
- NavIC SPS signals are interoperable with signals from other global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) like GPS (USA), Glonass (Russia), Galileo (EU), and BeiDou (China).
- Based on the latest summer census conducted on June 20–21, 2024, in Uttar Pradesh, the population of Sarus cranes is showing an upward trend.
- About Sarus Cranes:
- The Sarus crane (Grus antigone) holds the distinction of being the tallest flying bird globally.
- Key Details:
- Scientific Name: Grus antigone
- Distribution: Found in Southeast Asia, northern India, and northern Australia.
- Habitat: Typically inhabit wetlands such as canals, marshes, and ponds, sometimes in proximity to human settlements.
- Appearance: These cranes have predominantly grey plumage, with a distinctive naked red head and upper neck, along with pale red legs.
- Recently, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has introduced the Agri-SURE fund to support start-ups and rural enterprises in the agricultural sector.
- About Agri-SURE:
- The Agri-SURE fund aims to bolster innovation and sustainability within India's agricultural domain by establishing a Category-II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) worth Rs 750 crore.
- Objective: This initiative facilitates investments in sector-specific and sector-agnostic Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), as well as direct equity support for start-ups operating in Agriculture and allied sectors.
- Recently, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) released its World Population Prospects 2024 report, highlighting significant projections and trends.
- Key Highlights of the Report:
- Population Growth: The global population is expected to continue increasing over the next 50-60 years, reaching approximately 10.3 billion by the mid-2080s, up from 8.2 billion in 2024. Subsequently, a gradual decline is anticipated, with the population stabilizing around 10.2 billion by the end of the century.
- Recently, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has partnered with an Indian manufacturer to produce a breakthrough vaccine for shigella infection.
- About Shigella Infection:
- Shigella infection, caused by a group of bacteria known as shigella, primarily affects the intestines.
- Bacterial Species: The infection is caused by four main species: Shigella sonnei, Shigella flexneri, Shigella boydii, and Shigella dysenteriae.
- The development of a shigella vaccine by ICMR marks a significant step towards mitigating the impact of this infectious disease, particularly in vulnerable populations like children.
- Recently, a US F-16 fighter reportedly crashed into the waters of the Yellow Sea off the coast of South Korea.
- About the Yellow Sea:
- The Yellow Sea is a marginal sea located in the western Pacific Ocean, bordered by mainland China to the west and north, the Korean Peninsula to the east, and the Shandong Peninsula and Liaodong Peninsula to the south.
- Naming: It derives its name from the yellowish sand particles originating from the Gobi Desert, which settle on its surface, giving it a distinct golden yellow hue.
- Size: Also known as Huang Hai in China and referred to as the West Sea in North and South Korea, the Yellow Sea spans approximately 870 kilometers in length and 556 kilometers in width, covering an area of about 380,000 square kilometers.
- The PM Vishwakarma Scheme, introduced by the Centre, has garnered over 21 lakh applications within two and a half months, as per data from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
- About PM Vishwakarma Scheme:
- Objective: Launched by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, this central sector scheme aims to preserve and promote traditional artisanal skills among craftspeople and artisans.
- Duration: The scheme is operational for five years, spanning from FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-28.
- Focus: It seeks to strengthen the Guru-Shishya Parampara by supporting artisans and craftsmen engaged in specified trades with market linkage support, skill training, and incentives for digital transactions.
- Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology announced that the 'YUVAi - Youth for Unnati and Vikas with AI' program will be prominently featured at the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit.
- About YUVAi - Youth for Unnati and Vikas with AI:
- Collaborative Initiative: YUVAi is a joint effort of the National e-Governance Division (NeGD), Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, and Intel India.
- Objective: The program is designed to equip school students (from class 8 to 12) across India with essential Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills. It aims to empower them to become adept users and designers of AI solutions, focusing on human-centric approaches.
- Recently, researchers from the molecular biophysics unit at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) conducted a study revealing that peptides derived from Budgett’s frog can effectively inhibit enzymes produced by disease-causing pathogens.
- About Budgett’s Frog:
- Behavior: Budgett’s frogs are known for their intelligence and aggressiveness. When threatened, they inflate themselves, stand on their short legs, and may lunge at predators with their large mouths, accompanied by a shrill shriek.
- Adaptations: During dry seasons, these frogs retreat into burrows at the bottom of water pools. Inside these burrows, they shed multiple layers of skin to create a waterproof cocoon that helps retain moisture.