Climate change: Four new emperor penguin groups found by satellite

• Four new emperor penguin colonies have been identified in Antarctica from satellite imagery.
• Emperor Penguin is the largest of all the different kinds of penguin species.
• Scientific Name: Aptenodytes forsteri

Distribution:

• They are found throughout the Antarctic continent and sub-Antarctic islands.
• In breeding months (April to November), emperor penguin colonies are found between 66° and 78° south latitude along the Antarctic coastline.
• Habitat: It is the most ice-adapted of any penguin species, inhabiting pack ice and surrounding marine areas. They spend their entire lives on Antarctic ice and in its waters.

Features:

• Adults are coloured black and white with areas of orange and yellow on the head, neck, and breast.
• They are approximately 120 cm tall and weigh around 40 kg.
• They have wingspans ranging from 76 to 89 cm.
• They gain and lose weight rapidly during breeding and feeding seasons. On average, females tend to weigh less than males.
• They have two layers of feathers, a good reserve of fat, and proportionally smaller beaks and flippers than other penguins to prevent heat loss.
• They also huddle close together in large groups to keep themselves and each other warm.
• They are capable of diving to depths of approximately 550 metres (1,800 feet) in search of food; they are the world’s deepest-diving birds.
• They breed in the winter.
• Lifespan: 15 to 20 years

Conservation Status:

• IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

India’s southernmost vulture population stands at 320 individuals.

• More than 300 vultures were recorded in the completed synchronous vulture survey in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR).

Location:

• It is located in the Nilgiri Mountains of the Western Ghats.
• It encompasses parts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka.
• It was the first biosphere reserve in India, established in 1986.
• The total area of the reserve is 5,520 sq. km. It is the largest protected forest area in India.
• The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Wyanaad Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Mukurthi National Park, and Silent Valley are the protected areas present within this reserve.
• Vegetation: It harbours a wide spectrum of ecosystem types, such as tropical evergreen forests, Montane sholas and grasslands, semi-evergreen forests, moist deciduous forests, dry deciduous forests, and thorn forests.
• Climate: The annual rainfall of the reserve ranges from 500 mm to 7000 mm, with temperatures ranging from 0°C during the winter to 41°C during the summer.
• Tribal Population: Tribal groups like the Todas, Kotas, Irullas, Kurumbas, Paniyas, Adiyans, Edanadan Chettis, Cholanaickens, Allar, Malayan, etc., are native to the reserve.
• It is India''s first biosphere reserve under UNESCO''s Man and the Biosphere Programme.

Flora:

• About 3,300 species of flowering plants can be seen here. Of the 3,300 species, 132 are endemic to the NBR.
• Some of the plants entirely restricted to the NBR include species of Adenoon, Calacanthus, Baeolepis, Frerea, Jarodina, Wagatea, Poeciloneuron, etc.

Fauna:

• It includes the largest known population of two endangered animal species, namely the Nilgiri Tahr and the Lion-tailed macaque and the largest South Indian population of elephant, tiger, gaur, sambar, and chital.

Majority of land hermit crab species now use trash for shells

• The majority of terrestrial hermit crab species worldwide have used trash as shells, according to a study by experts.
• Hermit crabs are small crustaceans that lack a shell and must “borrow” one from another animal.
• They use empty snail shells (e.g., whelk or periwinkle) or other hollow objects as a shelter for partial containment and protection of the body.
• Habitat: Hermit crabs, worldwide in distribution, occur in sandy- or muddy-bottomed marine waters and occasionally on land and in trees.

Features:

• They can grow up to 6 inches long.
• There are two pairs of antennae and five pairs of legs.
• They are opportunistic scavengers, feeding on anything they can find.
• They have tough pincers but a soft body, which they coil up inside their borrowed shell, using their hooked tail to help them to grip on.
• They molt (shed their skin) and change shells as they grow.
• Despite their name, hermit crabs are social creatures and can live together in pairs or groups.
• They can live for up to 10 years.

Quantum computing can help decode the mysteries of aging and disease.

• Researchers have unveiled a novel approach that integrates quantum computing with the study of living organisms.
• Quantum Computing is an area of computer science focused on the development of technologies based on the principles of quantum theory.
• Quantum theory explains the behaviour of energy and material at the atomic and subatomic levels.
• It is based on the principles of the superposition of matter and quantum entanglement and uses a different computation method from the traditional one.
• Quantum computers have the capability to sift through huge numbers of possibilities and extract potential solutions to complex problems and challenges.

How does it work?

• Where classical computers store information as bits with either 0s or 1s, quantum computers use qubits.
• While classical bits always represent either one or zero, a qubit can be in a superposition of one and zero simultaneously until its state is measured.
• In addition, the states of multiple qubits can be entangled, meaning that they are linked quantum mechanically to each other.
• Qubits can be made by manipulating atoms, electrically charged atoms called ions, or electrons, or by nanoengineering so-called artificial atoms, such as circuits of superconducting qubits, using a printing method called lithography.

What is Superposition and Entanglement?

• They are two features of quantum physics on which quantum computing is based.
• They empower quantum computers to handle operations at speeds exponentially higher than conventional computers and with much less energy consumption.

Superposition:

• A qubit places the quantum information that it contains into a state of superposition.
• This refers to a combination of all possible configurations of the qubit.
• Groups of qubits in superposition can create complex, multidimensional computational spaces.
• Complex problems can be represented in new ways in these spaces.

Entanglement:

• Pairs of qubits can be made to become entangled.
• This means that the two qubits then exist in a single state.
• In such a state, changing one qubit directly affects the other in a manner that''s predictable.
• Quantum algorithms are designed to take advantage of this relationship to solve complex problems.
• While doubling the number of bits in a classical computer doubles its processing power, adding qubits results in an exponential upswing in computing power and ability.

World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day 2024

• World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day is observed every year on January 30.
• Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of 20 conditions/diseases that are mainly prevalent in tropical areas, where they thrive among people living in impoverished communities.
• They are caused by a variety of pathogens (including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, and toxins) and are associated with devastating health, social, and economic consequences.
• These include Guinea worm, Chikungunya, Dengue, Kala Azar (Visceral Leishmaniasis), and Elephantiasis (Lymphatic Filariasis), among others, and India is home to about 12 NTDs.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that NTDs affect more than 1 billion people, while the number of people requiring NTD interventions (both preventive and curative) is 1.6 billion.
• The epidemiology of NTDs is complex and often related to environmental conditions. Many of them are vector-borne, have animal reservoirs, and are associated with complex life cycles. All these factors make their public-health control challenging.
• Global Initiative to end NTDs: The WHO’s new road map for 2021–2030 calls for three strategic shifts to end NTDs:
• From measuring process to measuring impact.
• From disease-specific planning and programming to collaborative work across sectors.
• From externally driven agendas reliant on programmes that are country-owned and country-financed.

PM YASASVI 2023 Scheme: ₹32.44 cr for Pre-Matric & ₹387.27 Crore for Post-Matric Scholarships allotted.

• A total of ₹44 Crore has been released for Pre-matric Scholarships and ₹387.27 Crore for Post-Matric Scholarships to States/Union Territories (UTs) under the PM YASASVI scheme in 2023.
• PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme (PM YASASVI) is a scholarship scheme for Other Backward Class (OBCs), Economically Backward Class (EBC), and Denotified Nomadic Tribes (DNT) students.
• Under this scheme, students can avail of Pre-Matric Scholarships from Classes 9 to 10 and Post-Matric Scholarships for their higher education at the post-matriculation or post-secondary level.
• Exceptional students also have the opportunity to receive scholarships for top-tier schools and colleges.
• Additionally, hostel facilities are provided for OBC students through a construction scheme.

Eligibility:

• Other Backward Class (OBC), Economically Backward Classes (EBC), and Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNT)
• Parents or guardians annual income is not more than Rs. 2.50 Lakhs.
• Studying in a Top Class School in Class 9 or 11.
• These scholarships shall be available for studies in India only and will be awarded by the Government of State/Union Territory to which the applicant actually belongs, i.e., permanently settled.
• Entitlement: Upto Rs. 75,000 p.a. for Class 9/10, 1,25,000 p.a. for Class 11/12, covering the school tuition fee/hostel fee.
• Implementing Agency: Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Ukraine diplomat says talks under way on UN-brokered grain deal

• Ukraine's ambassador to Turkey said on Thursday that "certain negotiations" were under way regarding a UN-brokered grain export initiative which was shut down in the summer of 2023.
• A Black Sea deal was brokered by the U.N. and Turkey in July 2022 to combat a global food crisis worsened by Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The two countries are among the world's top grain exporters.
• In July 2023 Russia halted its participation in the deal stating that the terms of its participation in the agreement were not being met.
• "Unfortunately, this grain initiative is not functioning at the moment, although certain negotiations are ongoing to find a format for possible assistance from international partners to Ukraine," Vasyl Bodnar told a online briefing.
• He provided no more details.
• Ukraine launched its own shipping corridor hugging its western Black Sea coast near Romania and Bulgaria last August after Moscow withdrew from the UN-brokered deal.
• Since then it has exported around 16.5 million metric tons of cargo - mostly food - via the route.

Black Sea Grain Initiative

• The Black Sea Grain initiative endeavors to tackle escalating food prices emanating from supply chain disruptions because of Russian actions in the world’s ‘breadbasket’.
• The deal brokered by the United Nations (UN) and Turkey, was signed in Istanbul in July, 2022.
• The Initiative specifically allows for commercial food and fertilizer (including ammonia) exports from three key Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea – Odesa, Chornomorsk, Yuzhny/Pivdennyi.
• Initially stipulated for a period of 120 days, the deal was to provide for a safe maritime humanitarian corridor for Ukrainian exports (particularly for food grains).
• The central idea was to calm markets by ensuring an adequate supply of grains, thereby limiting food price inflation.
• Role of Joint Coordination Centre (JCC)
• The JCC was established to monitor the implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. 
• The JCC is hosted in Istanbul and includes representatives from Russia, Türkiye, Ukraine and the UN. The UN acts also as the Secretariat for the Centre.
• All commercial ships are required to register directly with the JCC to ensure appropriate monitoring, inspection and safe passage. Inbound and outbound ships (to the designated corridor) transit as per a schedule accorded by the JCC post-inspection.
• This is done so as to ensure there is no unauthorised cargo or personnel onboard.
• Following this, they are allowed to sail onwards to Ukrainian ports for loading through the designated corridor.

Russia's Exit from the Grain Deal

• Russia claims that the promises made to it under the deal have not been met, and it is still facing trouble exporting its own agricultural products and fertilisers because of the many sanctions the West has slapped on it.
• While there is no direct restriction on Russia’s agricultural products, the country says barriers on payment platforms, insurance, shipping and other logistics are hampering its exports.
• Russia has also said that it had agreed to the grain deal in order to help ensure global food security, but Ukraine has since exported mainly to high-and middle-income countries. 
• Russia cited the failure to uphold a parallel agreement that promised to remove obstacles to its exports of food and fertilizer as the reason for its withdrawal. 
• Russia claimed that shipping and insurance restrictions hindered its agricultural trade, despite its record-breaking wheat exports in recent years.

Turkey’s Stake at Brokering the Deal

• Turkey has played a crucial role in attempting to reinstate the grain deal. It has consistently pledged to renew arrangements that helped prevent Food Crises in various parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. 
• Both Ukraine and Russia are significant suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil, and other essential goods for developing nations. 
• Turkey's close ties with Putin during the 18-month Ukraine conflict have positioned it as a vital trading partner and logistical hub for Russia's international trade. 
• Despite its NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) membership, Turkey has refrained from imposing Western sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, highlighting its unique diplomatic position.

 Black Sea Grain Initiative Important

• Ukraine is among the largest exporters of wheat, maize, rapeseed, sunflower seeds and sunflower oil, globally.
• Its access to the deep-sea ports in the Black Sea enables it to directly approach Russia and Europe along with grain importers from the Middle East and North Africa.
• The initiative has also been credited for having made a huge difference to the global cost of living crisis.
• This agreement facilitated the safe export of nearly 33 million metric tons (36 million tons) of grain and other commodities from three Ukrainian ports despite Russia's Ongoing War. 
• People hoarding the grain in the hope of selling it for a sizable profit owing to the supply crunch were now obligated to sell.
• Although the initiative alone cannot address global hunger, it can avert the chances of the global food crisis spiralling further, especially when the region is yet to scale prior year levels.

How are Russia, Ukraine Grain Exports Faring Amid the War?

• Russia is consolidating its position as the world’s top wheat exporter, even as Ukraine’s shipments are projected to more than halve from their peak and production plunge to a 11-year-low.
• The primary destinations for Russian wheat are the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia, led by Egypt, Iran and Algeria. 
• While the Black Sea Grain Initiative helped Ukraine export 16.8 million tonnes in 2022-23, about 39% of its wheat actually moved via the land route to Eastern Europe. 
• Ukraine’s markets have shifted dramatically from Asia and North Africa before the war to mainly Europe, mostly due to ease of shipment. 
• In fact, glut of Ukrainian grain has led to protests from farmers in some Eastern European countries, who said the price of their produce had crashed.

Interim Budget 2024: Exporters seek higher allocation for MAI scheme

• Ahead of the interim Budget 2024, exporters have urged the government to allocate funds worth $3.88 billion for the Market Access Initiative (MAI) scheme.
• Market Access Initiative (MAI) Scheme is an export promotion scheme envisaged to act as a catalyst to promote India’s exports on a sustained basis.
• The scheme is formulated on focus product-focus country approach to evolve specific markets and specific products through market studies and surveys.
• Assistance would be provided to Export Promotion Organizations/Trade Promotion Organizations/National Level Institutions/ Research Institutions/Universities/Laboratories, Exporters etc., for the enhancement of exports through accessing new markets or through increasing their share in the existing markets.
• Under the Scheme, the level of assistance for each eligible activities has been fixed.
• The funding for each project will be on cost-sharing basis with the sharing pattern ranging from 65% to 50% at the minimum.
• It is administered by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, through the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).

The following activities will be eligible for financial assistance under the Scheme:

• Marketing Projects Abroad
• Capacity Building
• Support for Statutory Compliances
• Studies
• Project Development
• Developing Foreign Trade Facilitation web Portal
• To support Cottage and handicrafts units

Eligible Agencies:

• Departments of Central Government and Organisation of Central/State Governments including
• Indian Missions abroad
• Export Promotion Councils
• Registered trade promotion Organisation
• Commodity Boards
• Apex Trade Bodies recognized under Foreign Trade Policy of Govt of India
• Recognized Industrial & Artisan Clusters
• Individual Exporters (only for statutory compliance etc.)
• National Level Institutions (e.g. Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), National Institute of design (NIDs), NIFT etc.)/ Research Institutions/Universities/ Recognized laboratories, etc.

Mahindra Armado Military Vehicle Makes Its Debut At Republic Day Parade

• Armado is India’s first Armoured Light Specialist Vehicle (ALSV).
• It is a fully indigenous vehicle designed and built by the Mahindra Defence Systems (MDS) for the Indian armed forces.
• It can be used in counter-terrorist and special forces operations. It can also be used by quick reaction teams, as a reconnaissance vehicle and for patrolling the borders.

Features:

• It has a seating capacity of six passengers, including the driver, and can be configured to seat up to eight.
• Above the standard 1,000 kg load capacity, the ASLV can carry another 400 kg.
• It gets ballistic protection up to the B7 level and STANAG level-2. This means that its armour offers protection against armour-piercing rifles.
• Also, the ASLV gets protection on all sides(front, side and rear) from ballistics and explosives.
• Powering the 4-wheeler is a 3.2-litre multi-fuel diesel engine that generates 216 hp of maximum power.
• Armado takes just 12 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 kmph, and runs at a speed of more than 120 kmph.
• It also gets a self-cleaning-type exhaust scavenging and air filtration system for extreme dusty climate, like deserts.

Houthis escalate attacks on Red Sea as missile strike hits British fuel tanker in Gulf of Aden.

• Yemen''s Iran-aligned Houthis have stepped up their attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea.
• The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah (Partisans of God), are an armed religious and political movement in Yemen.
• Houthis are Zaydi Shiites, or Zaydiyyah. Shiite Muslims are the minority community in the Islamic world, and Zaydis are a minority of Shiites, significantly different in doctrine and beliefs from the Shiites who dominate in Iran, Iraq, and elsewhere.
• They are a minority in Yemen, which is predominantly Sunni Muslim, but they are a significant one, numbering in the hundreds of thousands and making up as much as a third of the overall population.
• Its members advocate regional autonomy for Zaidis in northern Yemen.
• They have been fighting Yemen’s Sunni-majority government since 2004.
• The Houthis took over the Yemeni capital Sanaa in September 2014 and seized control over much of north Yemen by 2016.
• The Houthi movement began as an effort to maintain tribal autonomy in northern Yemen and protest Western influence in the Middle East.
• Today, the Houthis seek a greater role in the Yemeni government and continue to advocate for Zaidi minority interests.
• The movement is known for its virulently anti-American and anti-Semitic rhetoric.
• Several of the group’s leaders have been designated as terrorists by the United States.

India to export BrahMos supersonic missile systems to Philippines in next 10 days.

• BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from land, sea, and air.
• It has been developed by Brahmos Aerospace, a joint venture of India and Russia.
• It is named after the rivers Brahmaputra (India) and Moskva (Russia).

Features:

• It is a two-stage missile with a solid propellant booster engine as its first stage, which brings it to supersonic speed and then gets separated. The liquid ramjet, or second stage then takes the missile closer to 3 Mach speed in the cruise phase.
• It is one of the fastest cruise missiles currently operationally deployed, with a speed of Mach 2.8, which is nearly three times more than the speed of sound.
• It has a launch weight of 2,200-3,000 kg.
• The extended-range variant of the missile can strike land and sea targets at a maximum range of 400 to 500 kilometers with supersonic speed all throughout the flight.
• It operates on the "Fire and Forgets" principle, adopting varieties of flights on its way to the target.
• Its cruising altitude could be up to 15 km, and its terminal altitude is as low as 10 meters.
• It carries a conventional warhead weighing 200 to 300 kg.
• It is equipped with stealth technology designed to make it less visible to radar and other detection methods.
• It has an inertial navigation system (INS) for use against ship targets, and an INS/Global Positioning System for use against land targets.