CURRENT-AFFAIRS

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• The weed Mikania micrantha is rapidly expanding within the Bhadra Tiger Reserve, posing a significant threat to its biodiversity.
• About Mikania micrantha:
  • Mikania micrantha is a perennial climbing vine characterized by its aggressive and unchecked growth.
  • It originates from Central and South America.
  • This species has become a prominent invasive plant in parts of Southeast Asia, India, and the Pacific Islands.
  • Introduced to India in the 1940s as ground cover in tea plantations, it now poses a severe threat to various plantation crops and forest ecosystems across the country.
  • It thrives in environments with high fertility, organic matter, soil moisture, and humidity.
  • The plant damages or kills other vegetation by blocking light and smothering them.
  • It climbs over other plants to access the canopy for more sunlight.
  • Mikania micrantha has allelopathic properties, releasing chemicals that inhibit the germination and growth of other plants.
  • It produces thousands of lightweight seeds that are dispersed by wind and can also reproduce vegetatively through its roots, leading to rapid and extensive invasion in disturbed areas.

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• Following recent rainfall in the upper catchment areas, authorities have released 1.19 lakh cusecs of water from the Ukai Dam. The water level in the dam is now just five feet below the danger mark of 345 feet.
• About Ukai Dam:
  • The Ukai Dam, built across the Tapti River, is the second-largest reservoir in Gujarat, following the Sardar Sarovar.
  • It is also referred to as Vallabh Sagar.
  • Completed in 1972, the dam serves purposes including irrigation, power generation, and flood control.
  • The storage capacity of Ukai Dam is approximately 46% of the combined capacity of all other dams in Gujarat.
  • With a catchment area of about 62,255 km² and a water spread of around 52,000 hectares, its capacity is comparable to that of the Bhakra Nangal Dam.
  • The Ukai Dam is an earth-cum-masonry structure, featuring an embankment wall that extends nearly 4,927 meters.
  • The earth dam has a height of 80.77 meters, while the masonry dam stands at 68.68 meters.

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• The Union Home Minister recently marked the first Foundation Day of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) in New Delhi and unveiled several new initiatives aimed at combating cybercrime.
• New Cybersecurity Initiatives:
• Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC):
  • Established at the I4C in New Delhi, the CFMC will include representatives from major banks, financial intermediaries, payment aggregators, telecom service providers, IT intermediaries, and state/UT law enforcement agencies (LEAs).
  • This collaborative body will focus on immediate response and seamless cooperation to address online financial crimes, exemplifying "Cooperative Federalism" in law enforcement.
  • Samanvaya Platform (Joint Cybercrime Investigation Facilitation System):
  • A web-based module designed as a comprehensive portal for cybercrime data repository, sharing, crime mapping, data analytics, and coordination among LEAs nationwide.
• 'Cyber Commandos' Program:
  • This initiative will create a specialized unit of trained 'Cyber Commandos' within states/UTs and Central Police Organizations (CPOs) to address the evolving cyber security threats. These trained personnel will support state and central agencies in securing digital environments.
• Suspect Registry:
  • A new initiative aimed at enhancing fraud risk management by developing a registry of identifiers. This will be based on data from the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal and will involve collaboration with banks and financial intermediaries.

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• NASA recently captivated space enthusiasts with a stunning image of the Red Spider Nebula.
• About Nebulae:
  • A nebula is a vast cloud of dust and gas in space.
  • Some nebulae are formed from the remnants of gas and dust ejected by the explosion of a dying star, such as a supernova.
  • Other nebulae serve as regions where new stars are being born, often earning the nickname "star nurseries."
• How Do Stars Form in a Nebula?
  • Nebulae consist mainly of dust and gases, primarily hydrogen and helium.
  • Although the dust and gases are initially dispersed, gravity can gradually pull together clumps of these materials.
  • As these clumps grow larger, their gravitational pull increases.
  • Eventually, the clump becomes massive enough to collapse under its own gravity, causing the core to heat up. This hot core marks the birth of a new star.
• Nebulae are found in interstellar space, the expanse between stars.
• The closest known nebula to Earth is the Helix Nebula, located about 700 light-years away.
• Nebulae come in various shapes and sizes and can be categorized into several types, including planetary nebulae, supernova remnants, dark nebulae, and emission nebulae.

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• Recently, the Union Home Minister was unanimously re-elected as the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Official Language.
• Background:
  • The Parliamentary Committee on Official Language was established in 1976 under Section 4 of the Official Languages Act, 1963.
  • According to Section 4 of the Act, “a Committee on Official Language shall be constituted upon a resolution being moved in either House of Parliament, with prior approval from the President and passed by both Houses.”
• Role and Function:
  • The Committee is chaired by the Union Home Minister and operates in accordance with the provisions of the 1963 Act.
  • The Committee submits its report to the President, who is responsible for laying the report before both Houses of Parliament and forwarding it to all State Governments.
• Purpose:
  • The Committee reviews the progress in using Hindi for official purposes and makes recommendations to enhance the use of Hindi in official communications.
• Membership:
  • The Committee consists of 30 members of Parliament, including 20 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha.

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• Recently, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) has developed and launched the Air Quality Management Exchange Platform (AQMx).
• About the Platform:
  • The AQMx platform offers the latest guidance and tools for air quality management, designed to meet the interim targets of the WHO Air Quality Guidelines.
  • It was created in response to a resolution adopted at this year’s United Nations Environment Assembly, which called for increased regional cooperation and global action to improve air quality.
• Significance of the Platform:
  • The AQMx platform aims to address gaps in air quality management capacity by providing curated guidance on key areas such as air quality monitoring, inventory development, and health impact assessments.
  • It will enable decision-makers to gain a comprehensive understanding of air pollution impacts and support the creation of policies that more accurately reflect global public health needs.
  • The platform will also facilitate knowledge exchange among regional and sub-regional communities, promoting best practices in air quality management.
• Key Facts about the Climate and Clean Air Coalition:
  • Established in 2012 and convened under the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
  • It is a voluntary partnership involving over 160 governments, intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations.
  • The Coalition focuses on reducing short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) such as methane, black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and tropospheric ozone, which contribute to both climate change and air pollution.
  • Its goal is to align ambitious agenda-setting with targeted mitigation actions at national and sectoral levels.