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- The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has successfully developed two improved genome-edited rice varieties. The first, DRR Dhan 100 Kamala, is derived from the popular Samba Mahsuri, while the second comes from the widely cultivated MTU1010 variety.
- The DRR Dhan 100 Kamala matures 15–20 days earlier than its parent and yields approximately 25% more, producing around eight tonnes per hectare and 450–500 additional grains per panicle.
- ICAR is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. Established in 1929, it coordinates agricultural research and education across India, with its headquarters in New Delhi.
- ICAR oversees 113 institutes and 74 agricultural universities nationwide. Over the decades, ICAR’s efforts have led to massive increases in food production—grain output has multiplied over sixfold since 1950, and similar growth is seen in milk, eggs, and fish, enhancing India’s food and nutritional security.
- Pakistan announced on Saturday that it had successfully carried out a training launch of the Abdali Weapon System, showcasing the country’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its tactical missile capabilities.
- About the Abdali Missile
- The Abdali (Hatf-II) is a short-range, road-mobile ballistic missile developed by Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO).
- Designed for battlefield deployment, it is capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear warheads.
- The latest test indicates an extended range of up to 450 kilometers—double its earlier reported range of 180–200 km.
- The missile uses a solid-fuel propulsion system, allowing for quick launch readiness and long-term storage.
- It is launched from a Transporter-Erector-Launcher (TEL), providing mobility and rapid deployment.
- The Abdali is guided by an advanced inertial navigation system with a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of 100–150 meters, demonstrating high precision.
- It can carry payloads between 250 and 500 kg, including high explosives or submunitions.
- The missile has been in active service with Pakistan’s Army Strategic Forces Command since 2005.
- A research team from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by experimentally observing a two-dimensional layered altermagnet that operates at room temperature—the first such observation of its kind. This discovery opens new avenues for advanced spintronic technologies.
- About Altermagnets
- Altermagnets are a newly identified class of antiferromagnetic materials that exhibit unique momentum-dependent spin splitting without the need for spin–orbit coupling (SOC) or net magnetization. This effect arises from exchange interactions between symmetry-linked magnetic sublattices in a crystal, producing a phenomenon called C-paired spin-valley locking (SVL). These materials merge the stability and long spin lifetimes of antiferromagnets with the benefits of spin-split electronic bands, making them promising for next-generation spintronic devices.
- About Spintronics
- Spintronics exploits both the spin and charge of electrons to enhance data storage and processing. Unlike conventional electronics, it enables faster speeds, lower energy use, and more compact device integration. Valleytronics, a related field, uses energy band valleys as data carriers, offering further potential for dense and efficient computing systems.