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- In a strategic development aimed at strengthening the logistical capabilities of the Indian Army, the private drone manufacturer EndureAir has successfully delivered its state-of-the-art Sabal 20 logistics drone to support operations in the Eastern theatre.
- About the Sabal-20 Logistics Drone:
- The Sabal 20 is an electric, unmanned helicopter built with variable pitch technology, specifically engineered to meet the high demands of aerial logistics. It has been developed by EndureAir, a private drone manufacturer, to address critical operational needs such as precise logistics, high-altitude tasks, and long-distance cargo delivery.
- Key Features:
- Design: The drone incorporates a tandem rotor configuration, ensuring excellent stability, superior performance at high altitudes, reduced risk of turbulence, and exceptional lifting capacity across challenging terrains.
- Payload Capacity: It can carry up to 20 kg of cargo, representing 50% of its own weight, with the potential for further scalability to meet future operational demands.
- Terrain Adaptability: The Sabal 20 is designed to operate in tight, rugged environments. Its low RPM design minimizes noise, enhancing its stealth capability during sensitive missions.
- VTOL Technology: The vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) feature enables the drone to function efficiently in confined spaces and challenging environments.
- Autonomous Capabilities: With advanced autonomous flight systems and intuitive controls, the Sabal 20 can perform complex tasks reliably, even when operated beyond the visual line of sight.
- The ‘Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat’ campaign was initiated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, to unite various stakeholders in a concerted effort to eliminate child marriage in the country.
- The campaign focuses on seven high-burden states—West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Tripura, Assam, and Andhra Pradesh—along with nearly 300 districts where the prevalence of child marriage exceeds the national average.
- A key objective is to encourage every State and Union Territory to develop an action plan with the goal of reducing child marriage rates to below 5% by 2029. According to government data, child marriage rates have dropped from 47.4% in 2006 to 23.3% in 2019-21.
- A prominent feature of this initiative is the launch of the Child Marriage Free Bharat portal, a platform designed to raise awareness, report incidents, and track progress. The portal will help in monitoring the activities of Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs), strengthening oversight mechanisms to ensure their proactive involvement in preventing child marriages and supporting victims.
- Through the portal, the public can file complaints related to child marriages, which will be directly forwarded to the relevant CMPOs across the country. All states have been instructed to register CMPOs on the portal for real-time case tracking.
- Nodal officers at the Centre will oversee the portal’s monitoring to ensure effective implementation. The campaign aims to make information more accessible, promoting better communication and support for the cause.
- For the first time in India's electoral history, 19 members of the Jarawa Tribe from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been included in the electoral roll.
- About the Jarawa Tribe:
- The Jarawas are an indigenous tribal group residing in the Andaman Islands, and they are classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).
- They primarily live in the dense forests, mangroves, and unspoiled beaches of the Middle Andaman and South Andaman Islands, an area known for its rich biodiversity and natural beauty.
- The Jarawas are believed to be descendants of the Jangil tribe, which is now extinct. Some theories suggest that the ancestors of the Jarawas may have been among the first human groups to successfully migrate out of Africa.
- Historically, the Jarawas have been hunter-gatherers, skilled in fishing, hunting, and foraging. They are also known for their warrior-like nature, fiercely guarding their territories.
- The tribe faced significant population decline after the British established a colonial presence in the Andaman Islands in 1789. Despite this, the Jarawas withstood the impacts of British colonization and World War II.
- In the following decades, interactions with the outside world grew, particularly from 1997 onwards, when the Jarawas began to engage with settled populations. They participated in trade, received medical aid, interacted with tourists, and even sent their children to school.
- Today, the population of the Jarawa tribe is estimated to range from 250 to 400 individuals.