In a first, hog deer spotted inside Rajaji Tiger Reserve.

• Hog deer is a solitary creature but sometimes spotted feeding in small groups in open fields when food there is plentiful.
• For the most part it is sedentary and does not migrate.
• Males tend to be territorial and mark their territory with glandular secretions.
• This species exhibits sexual dimorphism. The females are slightly smaller than males and lack antlers.
• Distribution:
• It has a native geographic range throughout India, including the Himalayan foothills and Southeast Asia.
• Humans have introduced free-ranging populations of this deer in Sri Lanka, Australia and the United States, including Texas, Florida, and Hawaii.

Habitat:

• It appears to prefer dense forests; however, they are often observed in clearings, grasslands and occasionally wet grasslands.
• This variation is usually associated with time of year and food distribution.

Conservation status:

• IUCN: Endangered
• Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Scheduled I

Key facts about the Rajaji Tiger Reserve:

• It is spread over three districts of Uttarakhand: Haridwar, Dehradun and Pauri Garhwal.
• It is situated along the hills and foothills of the Shiwalik ranges.
• In the year 1983, Rajaji Wildlife Sanctuary was merged with Motichur and Chilla wildlife sanctuaries and made into Rajaji National Park.
• It was named after the famous freedom fighter Rajgopalachari popularly known as "Rajaji"
• It''s location in a transition zone between temperate western Himalaya and central Himalaya enhances the species diversity.
• Vegetation: The area is covered with diverse forest types ranging from semi-evergreen to deciduous and from mixed broad-leaved to Terai grassland and has been classified as Indus-Ganges Monsoon Forest type.
• Flora: Rohini, Palash, Shisham, Sal, Sandan, Khair, Arjun, Baans, Semul, Chamaror etc.
• Fauna: Tiger and Asian Elephants. Leopard, Jungle cat and Himalayan Black Bear etc.

Warming oceans forced women in Zanzibar to switch from seaweed to climate-resilient sponge farming to stay afloat.

• Sponge farming is a relatively new business opportunity that does not harm the marine environment.
• A sponge is a living animal which is made of loosely arranged cells that surround a skeleton of fibres.
• The specialised cells nestled within thousands of tiny chambers act as microscopic pumps, and tirelessly drawing water into the sponge’s body with their whip-like tails.
• Sponges provide homes for many other animals, plants, and microorganisms. In many cases, they all work together in a mutual symbiotic relationship.
• Sea sponges exist in all oceans around the world and make up 20% of the global silicon biological sink.
• This unique pumping mechanism, which helps sponges extract nutrition and oxygen, also purifies the ocean water by removing impurities, including sewage.
• Uniqueness: Sponges, unlike seaweed, possess remarkable resilience to climate change, require minimal maintenance, and command premium market prices.
• Reproduction: Most sponges are hermaphrodites, harbouring both male and female reproductive organs, enabling them to self-propagate effortlessly.
• New sponges emerge from small buds that detach from the parent sponge and begin independent growth. Even damaged or fragmented sponges can regenerate into new individuals.
• This remarkable regenerative ability underpins the ease and feasibility of commercial sponge farming.

Uses:

• These sponges are used for bathing and general hygiene because they are naturally antibacterial and antifungal and can resist odours.
• Research has also shown that the spongy creatures play an important role
• Their skeletons break down into microscopic pieces of silicon, which helps control the carbon cycle in the ocean and reduces the greenhouse effect.
• Dissolved silicon is critical for the growth of diatoms, tiny organisms which absorb large amounts of CO2 in the ocean using photosynthesis.

IDEX- DIO to participate in the upcoming tenth edition of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024.

• Innovations for Defence Excellence- Defence Innovation Organization (iDEX-DIO) is all set to participate in the tenth edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2024 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• iDEX is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Defence, Govt of India launched in 2018.
• The objective of the scheme is to cultivate an innovation ecosystem in the Defence and Aerospace sector by collaborating with startups, innovators, MSMEs, incubators, and academia.
• iDEX offers grants and support for R&D with significant potential for future adoption in Indian defence and aerospace.
• It is currently engaged with around 400+ Startups and MSMEs.
• It is recognized as a game-changer in the defence ecosystem, iDEX has received the PM Award for Innovation in the defence sector.
• Funding: It will be funded and managed by a ‘Defence Innovation Organization (DIO)’ which has been formed as a ‘not for profit’ company as per the Companies Act 2013 for this purpose, by the two founder memberse. Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) - HAL & BEL.
• iDEX will function as the executive arm of DIO, carrying out all the required activities while DIO will provide high level policy guidance to iDEX.

From red ant chutney to black rice, the 7 Odisha products that have bagged GI tags.

• Seven products from Odisha, ranging from the Similipal Kai chutney made with red weaver ants to the embroidered Kapdaganda shawl, have bagged the coveted Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
• Geographical Indication (GI) Tag is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
• This is typically used for agricultural products, foodstuffs, wine and spirit drinks, handicrafts and industrial products.
• The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 seeks to provide for the registration and better protection of geographical indications relating to goods in India.
• This GI tag is valid for 10 years following which it can be renewed.

Key facts about newly GI Tagged products

Kapdaganda Shawl

• It is woven and embroidered by the women of the Dongria Kondh tribe, a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) in the Niyamgiri hills in Odisha’s Rayagada and Kalahandi districts.
• The shawl reflects the rich tribal heritage of the Dongria Kondhs.
• The shawl is worn by both men and women and the Dongrias give it to their family members as a token of love and affection.

Lanjia Saurpa Painting

• It is one of the oldest tribal art forms, is also known as Idital.
• The artworks are famous for their beauty, aesthetics, ritualistic association and iconography.
• It belongs to the Lanjia Saura community, a PVTG largely residing in the Rayagada district. These paintings are in the form of exterior murals painted on the mud walls of homes.

Koraput Kala Jeera Rice

• The black-coloured rice variety, also known as the ‘Prince of Rice’, is famous for its aroma, taste, texture and nutritional value.
• As the rice grains resemble cumin seeds, it is also called Kala Jeera.
• Its consumption helps in increasing haemoglobin levels and improves metabolism in the body.

Nayagarh Kanteimundi Brinjal

• It is known for its prickly thorns on the stems and the whole plant.
• The green and round fruits contain more seeds as compared to other genotypes.
• It is famous for its unique taste and relatively short quick cooking time.
• The plants are resistant to major insects and can be grown with minimal pesticide.

Odisha Khajuri Guda (Jaggery)

• It is a natural sweetener extracted from date palm trees and has its origin in the Gajapati district.
• Traditionally, the jaggery is prepared in a trapezoidal form called ‘Patali Gur’ and is organic by nature. It is dark brown and has a unique taste.

Dhenkanal Magji

• It is a type of sweet made from cheese from buffalo milk, with distinct characteristics in terms of appearance, taste, flavour, shape, and size.

IISR develops new granular lime-based trichoderma bio-pesticide, fertiliser.

• The Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR) Kozhikode has successfully developed a new granular lime-based Trichoderma formulation.
• The formulation named ‘Tricholime’, integrates Trichoderma and lime into a single product, making the application easier for farmers.
• Trichoderma is a fungal biocontrol agent, has proven effective in suppressing several soil-borne plant pathogens and serves as a successful bio-pesticide and bio-fertilizer in crop production.
• Recognizing the importance of Trichoderma and the challenges posed by traditional lime applications, the scientists at IISR developed ‘Tricholime’ to integrate lime and Trichoderma.

Significance of Tricholime

• It can successfully eliminate the need for a time-consuming two-step process.
• This lime-based formulation neutralises the soil acidity while promoting plant growth and shields crops from soil-borne pathogens, all in a single application.
• This formulation also benefits the crop by improving the physical condition of the soil, enhancing secondary nutrient availability and by boosting soil microbial activity, he added.
• IISR hopes that the technology behind this product can also be extended to include other beneficial bio-agents, opening new possibilities in product development to support sustainable organic farming.