Read Current Affairs
- Why in News?
- The stunning Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand welcomed visitors on June 1 for the 2025 tourist season. Open until late September, the valley closes by October due to heavy snowfall and unsafe trekking conditions. Nestled in Chamoli district within the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, this UNESCO World Heritage Site spans 87 sq km and sits at an altitude of 3,600 meters.
- Key Provisions:-
- Famed for its vivid alpine meadows, the valley blooms with orchids, poppies, marigolds, daisies, and the sacred brahmakamal. It also supports rare fauna such as snow leopards, red foxes, and Himalayan weasels. Trekkers encounter gushing streams, waterfalls, and breathtaking vistas.
- The Valley of Flowers gained global attention after British mountaineers stumbled upon it in 1931. Since then, it has become a magnet for botanists and nature lovers alike. Carefully managed tourism has helped preserve its unique biodiversity while still offering a magical experience for adventurers and pilgrims.
- Why in News?
- The Technology Development Board (TDB), functioning under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has announced funding for the creation of India’s first homegrown thrombectomy device aimed at improving stroke treatment. This move is a significant step in enhancing critical care through indigenous medical technology.
- What is Thrombectomy?
- Thrombectomy is a medical procedure used to remove blood clots from arteries or veins to restore normal blood flow. Clots, or thrombi, can block circulation and may result in serious outcomes such as tissue damage or stroke. These clots commonly occur in areas like the brain, heart, lungs, and limbs.
- There are two main types of thrombectomy procedures:
- surgical and
- percutaneous.
- In surgical thrombectomy, the clot is removed via open surgery.
- In percutaneous, or minimally invasive methods, specialized tools are inserted through catheters to break up or suction the clot, sometimes followed by local medication to dissolve any remaining clot.
- Why in News?
- India’s AI ambitions advanced recently with the selection of three startups to develop the country’s own Foundation Model under the IndiaAI Mission.
- Key Provisions:-
- Launched in 2023 as a joint effort between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Nasscom, the initiative aims to empower domestic innovation by providing advanced computing infrastructure to startups and researchers.
- The mission focuses on two key goals: “Making AI in India,” to foster homegrown AI development, and “Making AI Work for India,” to ensure AI supports national priorities across sectors. IndiaAI, a specialized division under MeitY, leads the mission's implementation.
- With a strong emphasis on ethical and inclusive AI, the IndiaAI Mission aims to position India as a global leader in responsible AI development. Key components include a Common Computing Facility, AI Kosha (dataset platform), an upcoming AI Safety Institute, Innovation Centre, Application Development efforts, Skills initiatives, and Startup Financing support.