CURRENT-AFFAIRS

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• The Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR) has recently experienced the loss of its prominent male tiger, T9.
• Overview of Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR):
  • Location: Covering an area of 653.67 sq. km., NNTR is situated in the Gondia and Bhandara districts of Maharashtra. It lies within the central Indian Tiger Landscape, which is home to nearly one-sixth of India's total tiger population.
  • Establishment: Officially designated as a tiger reserve in 2013, NNTR is Maharashtra’s fifth tiger reserve.
  • Composition: The reserve includes the designated areas of Nawegaon National Park, Nawegaon Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary, New Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary, and Koka Wildlife Sanctuary. It also connects with the Kanha, Pench, and Tadoba Tiger Reserves.
  • Topography: The terrain is varied, with the highest elevation, Zenda Pahad, reaching about 702 meters above sea level.
  • Vegetation: The area features Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous forests.
  • Flora: Home to 364 plant species, the reserve’s predominant trees include Terminalia tomentosa, Lagerstroemia parviflora, Anogeisus latifolia, Pterocarpus marsupium, Diospyros melanoxylon, and Ougeinia oogenesis.
  • Fauna: Key wildlife species include the tiger, panther, small Indian civet, palm civet, wolf, jackal, wild dog, sloth bear, ratel, common giant flying squirrel, gaur, sambar, chital, four-horned antelope, mouse deer, and pangolin.

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• Epigenetics is essential for human health, as it regulates gene expression without altering the DNA sequence itself.
• Understanding Epigenetics:
  • Epigenetics focuses on how cells manage gene activity without modifying the DNA. The prefix "epi-" means "on" or "above" in Greek, indicating that epigenetics involves mechanisms beyond the genetic code.
  • Epigenetic changes refer to modifications that determine whether genes are activated or silenced. These modifications attach to DNA and do not alter the underlying sequence of the DNA building blocks. Within a cell’s complete DNA set (the genome), all modifications that influence gene expression are collectively referred to as the epigenome.
  • Since epigenetic changes dictate gene activation, they significantly affect protein production in cells. This regulation ensures that each cell synthesizes only the proteins necessary for its specific functions; for example, muscle cells do not produce proteins that promote bone growth.
  • The patterns of epigenetic modifications differ among individuals, across various tissues in a single individual, and even within different cells of the same tissue. Environmental factors, such as diet and exposure to pollutants, can also influence the epigenome.
  • Moreover, epigenetic modifications can be passed down through cell divisions and, in some cases, inherited across generations.
  • However, errors in the epigenetic process—such as improper modifications to genes or histones—can lead to abnormal gene activity. Such alterations in gene expression are frequently linked to genetic disorders. Conditions like cancers, metabolic disorders, and degenerative diseases are often associated with these epigenetic errors.

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• Using the Green Bank Telescope (GBT), astronomers have discovered a new millisecond pulsar linked to the recently observed globular cluster known as Terzan 6.
• Understanding Pulsars:
  • Pulsars are rapidly spinning neutron stars that emit pulses of radiation at consistent intervals, ranging from seconds to milliseconds. These stars possess extremely strong magnetic fields that channel jets of particles along their magnetic poles, creating powerful beams of light.
  • Typically, the magnetic field does not align with the pulsar's spin axis, causing these beams to sweep around as the star rotates. This periodicity results in the pulsar appearing to "switch off" when the beam is directed away from Earth. The duration between these pulses is referred to as the pulsar's "period."
  • Pulsars are primarily detected at radio wavelengths. Their masses range from 1.18 to 1.97 times that of the Sun, with most pulsars averaging about 1.35 solar masses.
• What is a Neutron Star?
  • Neutron stars are incredibly dense remnants of massive stars that have undergone collapse, primarily composed of neutrons and other elementary particles. They form when a massive star exhausts its nuclear fuel and collapses inward.
  • During this collapse, the core of the star compresses, fusing protons and electrons into neutrons. If the core's mass is between approximately 1 and 3 solar masses, the resulting neutrons can halt the collapse, leading to the formation of a neutron star.
• What is the Green Bank Telescope (GBT)?
  • The Green Bank Telescope features a 100 m × 110 m off-axis paraboloid dish, making it the largest fully steerable radio telescope on the planet. It is situated at the Green Bank Observatory in the National Radio Quiet Zone, located in Green Bank, West Virginia, U.S.

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• The Central Government and the Manipur state administration are preparing to reassess the implementation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the northeastern region.
• Overview of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA):
  • AFSPA is a legislation passed by the Parliament in 1958 that grants the armed forces special powers and immunity to uphold public order in designated “disturbed areas.”
  • When is AFSPA Applied? The Act can only be enforced after an area is officially declared “disturbed” under Section 2.
  • What Constitutes a Disturbed Area? An area may be classified as disturbed due to conflicts or disputes among various religious, racial, linguistic, or regional groups or communities.
  • Who Can Declare an Area Disturbed? The declaration can be made by the Central Government, the Governor of the state, or the administrator of a Union Territory, covering either the entire region or specific parts.
  • Conditions for Invocation: AFSPA can be invoked in locations where “the use of armed forces in aid of civil authority is necessary.”
• Powers Granted to Armed Forces Under AFSPA:
  • The armed forces can prohibit gatherings of five or more individuals in the area.
  • They are authorized to use force or even fire upon giving due warning if someone is deemed to be violating the law.
  • If there is reasonable suspicion, they may arrest individuals without a warrant, conduct searches of premises without a warrant, and restrict firearm possession.
  • Individuals arrested or detained must be handed over to the officer in charge of the nearest police station, accompanied by a report detailing the reasons for the arrest.
  • Importantly, armed forces personnel are granted immunity from prosecution unless the Union Government consents to action by prosecuting authorities.
  • Current Implementation of AFSPA: In addition to Nagaland, AFSPA is presently enforced in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Manipur (excluding Imphal), and Arunachal Pradesh.

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• A diesel fuel spill from a recently sunk ship has spread into the Greenland fjord.
• About Fjords:
  • A fjord is a long, deep, and narrow waterway that extends far inland. Typically, fjords are situated within U-shaped valleys, characterized by steep rock walls on either side. They are primarily found in regions such as Norway, Chile, New Zealand, Canada, Greenland, and Alaska.
• How Are Fjords Formed?
  • Fjords have been sculpted over multiple ice ages by the slow movement of glaciers. As glaciers advance, they erode the upper layers of ice and the underlying sediment. The melting waters also carve into the land, resulting in many fjords being deeper than the seas that feed them.
  • At the point where a fjord meets the ocean, known as the mouth, glaciers have often deposited shill or shoal rocks. This shallower entrance creates fast-moving water, including strong currents and saltwater rapids.
  • Fjords are typically deeper in their midsections and upper reaches compared to their seaward ends, owing to the greater erosive power of glaciers near their source, where they are most active. Because of the relatively shallow thresholds of fjords, many have stagnant water at their bottoms, enriched with black mud containing hydrogen sulfide.
• Notable Features of Fjords:
  • Fjords can also host unique features such as coral reefs and rocky islands known as skerries.
• Epishelf Lakes:
  • Another interesting aspect of some fjords is the presence of epishelf lakes. These lakes form when melted freshwater becomes trapped beneath a floating ice shelf. This freshwater remains separate from the saltwater below, floating atop it without mixing.

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• The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry has recently approved a new scheme from the Spices Board called ‘Sustainability in Spice Sector through Progressive, Innovative and Collaborative Interventions for Export Development’ (SPICED).
• This initiative aims to significantly boost the export of spices and value-added spice products, while also enhancing cardamom productivity and improving the post-harvest quality of spices throughout India for export purposes. The scheme will be implemented during the remainder of the 15th Finance Commission's term, up to 2025-26.
• Key Highlights of the Scheme:
  • The SPICED scheme is designed to promote value addition and foster innovation and sustainability in the spice sector. It will introduce new sub-components and programs, including the Mission Value Addition, Mission Clean and Safe Spices, promotion of Geographical Indication (GI) spices, and support for entrepreneurship through Spice Incubation Centres.
  • The scheme emphasizes support for farmers' groups, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and Farmers Clusters identified under the One District One Product (ODOP) and Digital Entrepreneurship Hub (DEH) initiatives, with particular attention to SC/ST communities, exporters from the northeastern region, and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
  • Exporters with a valid Certificate of Registration as Exporters of Spices (CRES) will be eligible for assistance under these programs, with priority given to first-time applicants and SMEs.
  • Programs aimed at improving cardamom productivity and upgrading the post-harvest quality of spices are specifically tailored to empower farmer groups, including FPOs, Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs), and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in key spice-producing areas. These groups will be prioritized for post-harvest improvements, with targeted assistance to help create an exportable surplus of spices while adhering to food safety and quality standards.
  • All scheme activities will be geo-tagged, and information regarding fund availability, the status of applications under various components, and a list of beneficiaries will be made publicly available on the Board's website to enhance transparency.

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• Recently, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) refused to grant the State Bank of India (SBI) additional time to respond to its plea for the transfer of a consumer complaint filed against it by a Madras High Court judge outside Tamil Nadu.
• Overview of the NCDRC:
  • The NCDRC is a quasi-judicial body established in 1988 under the Consumer Protection Act of 1986.
  • Mandate: Its primary goal is to provide affordable, swift, and efficient resolution of consumer disputes.
  • Leadership: The commission is headed by either a sitting or retired Supreme Court judge, or a sitting or retired Chief Justice of a High Court.
  • Jurisdiction: The NCDRC has the authority to handle complaints valued at over two crores and also possesses appellate and revisional jurisdiction over orders from State Commissions or District forums, as applicable.
  • The provisions of the Consumer Protection Act encompass both "goods" and "services."
• Who Can File a Complaint?
  • Complaints may be filed by the following entities:
    • An individual consumer
    • Any registered voluntary consumer association under the Companies Act of 1956
    • The Central Government or any State Government
    • One or more consumers representing a larger group
• Appeals:
  • Any individual dissatisfied with an order issued by the NCDRC has the right to appeal to the Supreme Court within 30 days of the order.