CURRENT-AFFAIRS

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• Forest officials from the Palamau Tiger Reserve have reported to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) that Naxal activity has encroached upon the reserve.
• About Palamau Tiger Reserve:
  • Location: Situated in the western part of Latehar district on the Chhotanagpur plateau in Jharkhand, the reserve is an integral part of the Betla National Park.
  • Historical Significance: Established as one of the first nine tiger reserves in India at the inception of 'Project Tiger', Palamau is notable for conducting the world’s first tiger census using pugmark counting in 1932 under J.W. Nicholson's oversight.
  • Area: Covering a total of 1,014 sq. km, the reserve includes a core area of 414 sq. km and a buffer zone of 600 sq. km.
  • Terrain: The landscape is characterized by undulating hills, valleys, and plains, interspersed with three rivers—North Koyal, Auranga, and Burha—that flow through its valleys.
  • Geology: The region features a geological formation of gneiss, with significant deposits of granite and limestone. The reserve is also rich in minerals such as bauxite and coal.
  • Vegetation: The primary vegetation consists of Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous forests and Sal forests, with smaller areas of Northern Tropical Moist Deciduous forests present as well.
  • Flora: Key plant species include Shorea robusta, Acacia catechu, Madhuca indica, Terminalia tomentosa, Butea monosperma, Pterocarpus marsupium, Anogeisus latifolia, and Indigofera pulchella.
  • Fauna: The reserve supports a diverse range of wildlife, with key species including Tigers, Elephants, Leopards, Grey Wolves, Gaurs, Sloth Bears, Four-horned Antelopes, Indian Ratel, Indian Otters, and Indian Pangolins.

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• Recent reports from two research teams indicate that calcium buildup in breast arteries detected through mammography may signal a higher risk of heart disease.
• About Mammography:
  • Mammography is an X-ray imaging technique utilized to examine the breasts for the early detection of cancer and other breast-related conditions. It is a crucial tool in identifying early signs of breast cancer before symptoms become evident, which is referred to as a screening mammogram. Additionally, mammography is used to investigate any new symptoms, such as lumps, pain, nipple discharge, or changes in breast skin, through a diagnostic mammogram.
  • How It Works:
  • During a mammogram, the breast is positioned on a flat support plate and compressed with a parallel plate known as a paddle. An X-ray machine then emits a brief burst of X-rays that pass through the breast to a detector on the opposite side. The detector can be either a photographic film plate, which captures the X-ray image on film, or a solid-state detector, which sends electronic signals to a computer to create a digital image. The resulting images are termed mammograms.
  • In a film mammogram, low-density tissues such as fat appear translucent (darker shades of gray against a black background), while denser tissues, including connective and glandular tissues or tumors, appear whiter on the gray background. These high-density areas may indicate various abnormalities, such as cancerous tumors, non-cancerous masses like benign tumors, fibroadenomas, or complex cysts.

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• According to a recent study, scientists believe that studying gorillas' self-medicating behaviors could provide valuable insights for future drug discoveries.
• About Gorillas:
  • Gorillas are the largest members of the great apes, a group that also includes orangutans, chimpanzees, bonobos, and humans. Sharing 98.3% of their genetic code with humans, gorillas are our closest relatives after chimpanzees and bonobos. They diverged from a common ancestor with humans approximately 10 million years ago.
  • There are two primary species of gorillas: the eastern gorilla and the western gorilla. The mountain gorilla, a subspecies of the eastern gorilla, is also notable.
  • Distribution: Gorillas are found exclusively in the tropical forests of equatorial Africa. Eastern gorillas inhabit the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda, and Rwanda, while western gorillas are located in Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of Congo, Angola, and the DRC.
  • Features: Gorillas are robust, powerful animals with prominent chests and shoulders. Males are approximately twice as heavy as females, reaching a height of about 1.7 meters and a weight of 135–220 kg in the wild. They possess large, human-like hands and muscular arms that are longer than their legs. Their dark skin is covered with black to brown-grey hair, and mature males develop silver-gray saddles across their backs and upper thighs, known as silverbacks.
  • Their faces are characterized by large nostrils, small ears, and pronounced brow ridges. Gorillas live in family groups of typically five to ten members. These groups are polygamous, led by a single adult silverback who mates with the females in the troop.
  • Gorillas are diurnal and primarily terrestrial, walking on all fours with part of their weight supported on their knuckles—a locomotion method shared with chimpanzees. They have a vegetarian diet.
  • Conservation Status: According to the IUCN Red List, both the eastern gorilla and the western gorilla are classified as ‘Critically Endangered’.

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• The Odisha government has recently approved a proposal to transfer 95 percent of Gopalpur Port's equity shares to Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ).
• About Gopalpur Port:
  • Gopalpur Port is a deep-water, multi-cargo port situated on the east coast of India in the mineral-rich state of Odisha. It has the capability to handle up to 20 million metric tonnes of cargo annually. Strategically located between Paradip Port to the north and Visakhapatnam Port to the south, Gopalpur Port is equidistant from both.
  • The port serves the states of Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh, providing access to a diverse range of minerals and industrial products, including steel, aluminum, cement, and power. It is also connected to the coal fields of IB and Talcher, which together account for about 25% of India's coal reserves.
• Connectivity:
  • Gopalpur Port benefits from its proximity to the broad-gauge Howrah-Visakhapatnam-Chennai east coast trunk route, which runs parallel to the east coast and is just 6 km away from the port site. Additionally, its close proximity to NH5 (Kolkata-Chennai) ensures excellent road connectivity to and from Gopalpur.

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• Karnataka recently commemorated 'International Day of Democracy' by creating a historic 2,500-km-long human chain to symbolize equality, unity, fraternity, and participative governance.
• About International Day of Democracy:
  • Observed annually on September 15, the International Day of Democracy was established by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2007 to highlight the global importance of democracy. The day serves as a reminder that democracy is not a static condition but an ongoing effort requiring active engagement from international organizations, nation-states, civil society, and individuals.
• History:
  • The UNGA officially recognized the International Day of Democracy on November 8, 2007, through a resolution titled “Support by United Nations system of efforts of governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies.” September 15 was selected to align with the anniversary of the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s Universal Declaration on Democracy, which was adopted in Geneva on September 15, 1997.
• This declaration defines democracy as “a system of government based on the freely expressed will of the people to determine their own political, economic, social, and cultural systems and their full participation, through free and fair periodic elections, in the composition of their representative government.”
• Following the Universal Declaration on Democracy, Qatar led the initiative to establish an International Day of Democracy at the United Nations. The first International Day of Democracy was celebrated in 2008.