Russia to Supply, License Production of Igla Anti-Aircraft Missiles to India

Igla-S

• It is a man-portable air defence system (MANPADS) developed by Russia.
• It is known in the West as SA-24 Grinch.
• It entered service with the Russian Army in 2004.
• It can be fired by an individual or crew to bring down an enemy aircraft.
• It has the capability of bringing down low-flying aircraft. It can also identify and neutralise air targets, such as cruise missiles and drones.
• Features:
• The Igla-S system comprises of combat equipment, including the 9M342 missile and the 9P522 launching mechanism, along with maintenance equipment, including the 9V866-2 mobile test station and the 9F719-2 test set.
• It has an effective range upto 6 km.
• The limiting altitude of effective target destruction for the "Igla-S" complex is 3.5 km.
• It has a heavier, more powerful warhead to maximize damage capabilities, as well as contact and timed fuzes for increased attack range.
• The warhead is a high-explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG) and weighs 2.5 kg.
• Guidance is homing via infrared.

Demand for traditional Kashmiri fire pot ''Kangri'' surges as winters approach

Kangri

• The Kangri, also known as Kanger or Kangid, is earthenware filled with glowing embers and encased in pretty handmade wicker baskets.
• It is a portable and moving heater that Kashmiris keep in their pheran, a long woollen cloak reaching down to the knees worn by people during the frosty winters.
• A pot can hold about 250 grams of charcoal, and the fire, lasts for hours, under a pheran.
• It keeps people warm during the harsh winter months, when temperatures can drop below minus 20 degrees.
• How is it made?
• It is known for its outer shell made of willow wicker reeds that grow abundantly in the wetlands of north Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
• These reeds can reach eight feet in height and are harvested during autumn, just before demand for the fire pots swells.
• These then go through a multi-layered process of scraping and peeling to get rid of the bark, soaking, boiling, and drying before they are ready to be woven around a bowl-shaped clay pot.
• The earthenware is decorated with colourful threads, mirrorwork, and sequins and is about six inches (150 mm) in diametre.

INS Sumedha mission deployed at Walvis Bay, Namibia - Indian Navy

Walvis Bay

• It is strategically located halfway down the coast of Namibia, with direct access to principal shipping routes.
• This strategic location has made it the gateway port for trade between landlocked African countries and the rest of the world.
• Apart from cargo transshipment, Walvis Bay is also known internationally for its commercial fishing industry.
• It is lying along the Atlantic Ocean.
• The town of Walvis Bay lies on the edge of the Namib Desert at the mouth of the intermittently flowing Kuiseb River.

INS Sumedha

• It is the third ship of the indigenously built Saryu class Naval Offshore Patrol Vessels (NOPV).
• It was indigenously designed and built by Goa Shipyard Limited.
• It was commissioned into the Indian Navy on March 7, 2014.
• It is part of the Indian Navy''s Eastern Fleet, based in Visakhapatnam.
• Primary Functions: To undertake EEZ surveillance, anti-piracy patrols, fleet support operations, provide maritime security to offshore assets and carry out escort operations for high-value assets.

MUCH ANTICIPATED JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE ''TRISHAKTI PRAHAR'' BEGINS ON WESTERN FRONT OF RAJASTHAN.

Trishakti Prahar

• It is a joint military exercise involving the Indian Army, the Indian Navy, and the Indian Air Force.
• Objectives:
• It aims to enhance mutual coordination and operational efficiency.
• It seeks to create new strategies and assess operational capabilities in the context of modern warfare.
• During the exercise, all three wings of the Indian Army actively engage in live practice sessions, simulating real war scenarios with complete coordination.
• The exercise includes long-range attacks by reconnaissance aircraft, emphasizing precision and high-volume attacks to effectively neutralize hypothetical adversaries.
• It involves a diverse array of military assets, including various types of howitzers, helicopters, and weaponry. This encompasses the deployment of the Army''s T-90s and Arjun main battle tanks.
• A major highlight of the exercise is the demonstration of the operational capability and readiness of the Pune-based Southwestern Command of the Indian Air Force. This segment showcases the Air Force''s preparedness for integrated air-land operations, combined arms operations, and its fast mobility and deep strike offensive capabilities.
• Fighter aircraft, Apache attack helicopters, Chinook heavy lift helicopters, and various Navy aircraft contribute to the multifaceted nature of the exercise.
• It serves as a platform to evaluate the effectiveness of modern warfare technologies such as unmanned aerial vehicles, precision-guided missiles, loiter munitions, counter-drone systems, communication systems, and automatic spectrum monitoring systems in a simulated operational environment.

Rest in peace to the mighty Bajrang, killed by Chota Matka.

Bajrang, who had sired at least 50 cubs, was found dead with severe injuries in an agricultural field. Wildlife experts are concerned about the well-being of Chhota Matka, who is the dominant male and has fathered eight sub-adult cubs. The TATR management is monitoring the injured tiger''s condition.

Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR)

• Location: It is located in the Chandrapur district in
• It is the largest and oldest Tiger Reserve of Maharashtra.
• The origin of the name "Tadoba" lies with the name of the god "Tadoba" or "Taru", worshipped by the tribes that live in the dense forests of the Tadoba and Andhari regions. "Andhari" refers to the Andhari River that meanders through the forest.
• The total area of the reserve is 625.4 sq. km. This includes Tadoba National Park, covering 116.55 sq. km and Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary, covering 508.85 sq. KM.
• Corridor: The reserve has corridor linkages with Nagzira-Navegaon and Pench Tiger Reserves within the State.
• Habitat:
• Biogeographically, the reserve falls in the Central plateau province of the Deccan Peninsula.
• The habitat has undulating topography in the north and is rich in biodiversity.
• Vegetation: Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous
• There are two lakes and one waterway in the reserve, Tadoba Lake, Kolsa Lake, and the Tadoba River.
• Flora:
• It is blessed with thick forests covered with teak trees and other vegetation such as crocodile bark, salai, tendu, karaya gum, and mahua madhuca.
• The reserve is adorned with patches of grass and bamboo shrubberies.
• Fauna:
• The notable faunal species include the tiger, leopard, sloth bear, wild dog, gaur, chital, and sambar.
• As many as 280 species of birds are found, apart from reptiles (54 species), amphibians (11 species), and fishes (84 species).

Indian Railways’ One Station One Product scheme to boost local artisans, craftsmen; functional at over 1K stations

One Station One Product scheme

• It is an initiative by the Indian Railways, under the Ministry of Railways.
• It was launched with a vision to promote ‘Vocal for Local’.
• It provides uniquely designed sale outlets for locals to sell indigenous products nationwide.
• This scheme is designed by the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.
• It aims to build each railway station as a promotional hub and showcasing local and indigenous manufacturing products.
• Under the scheme, the allotment is done to all eligible applicants on a rotational basis.
• The pilot of the scheme was started on March 25, 2022.
• This scheme is providing welfare of local artisans, potters, weavers, tribals etc.
• The eligible applicant will be allotted a temporary stall or kiosk for a period of 15 days on deposition of Rs 1,000 with Railways.
• Sale outlets are provided at stations nationwide, allotted through a tendering process.
• The zonal railways will identify the stations, eligible products and the vendors.

India, Asian Development Bank sign $400 million loan pact to build high-quality urban infrastructure

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

• It is a multilateral development bank established on 19th December 1966.
• Mission: To foster economic growth and cooperation among countries in the Asia-Pacific Region.
• Functions:
• It assists members and partners by providing loans, technical assistance, grants, and equity investments to promote social and economic development.
• It also provides financing to certain private sector projectsas well as public-private partnerships.
• It regularly facilitates policy dialogues and provides advisory services.
• **Members:**It encompasses 68 members—of which 49 are from within Asia and the Pacific and 19 outside.
• It is run by a board of governors, which represents the member countries of the ADB.
• It is modelled closely on the World Bank and has a similar weighted voting system where votes are distributed in proportion to members'' capital subscriptions.
• As of 2022, ADB''s five largest shareholders are Japan and the United States (each with 15.6% of total shares), the People''s Republic of China (6.4%), India (6.3%), and Australia (5.8%).
• Source of Funding: It relies on member contributions, retained earnings from lending, and the repayment of loans for the funding of the organization.
• Headquarters: Manila, Philippines.

Australia’s maritime surveillance takes flight with MQ-4C Triton

MQ-4C Triton

• Built for both the U.S. Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force, the MQ-4C Triton stands as the sole uncrewed, high-altitude, long-endurance aircraft designed for persistent maritime intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting.
• It was developed by the Northrop Grumman Corporation, an American multinational aerospace and defense technology company.
• Features:
• Its autonomous operations are supported by land-based command and control mission planners and sensor operators.
• The aircraft can fly over 24 hours at a time, at altitudes higher than 10 miles, with an operational range of 8,200 nautical miles.
• It has a length of 14.5m, a height of 4.7m, and a wingspan of 39.9m.
• It can hold a maximum internal payload of 1,452kg and an external payload of 1,089kg.
• It has a maximum speed of 600 km/hr.
• Triton will be equipped with a unique and robust mission sensor suite that provides 360-degree coverage on all sensors.
• Triton also incorporates a reinforced airframe for increased internal payload and a wing for hail, bird strike, and gust load protection.
• These features allow the aircraft to descend and ascend through harsh maritime weather environments to gain a closer view of ships and other targets at sea when needed.

Inspire Faculty fellow decodes molecular mechanism behind

Picocystis Salinarum

• It is a globally widespread picoplanktonic green algae of saline lakes.
• It is one of the smallest green algae.
• It is found in hypersaline soda lake Sambhar, Rajasthan, to survive extreme environments. Though the algae had been widely found in saline-soda lakes around the world, it was spotted for the first time in India only in the Sambhar Lake.
• The unique organism apparently enhances photosynthesis and ATP synthesis along with chaperone proteins as key response to high salinity-alkalinity.
• Enhanced photosynthetic activity exhibited by P. salinarum in highly saline-alkaline condition is noteworthy as photosynthesis is suppressed under hyperosmotic conditions in most photosynthetic organisms.

Sambhar Lake

• It is India''s largest saline wetland located in Rajasthan.
• It is a ephemeral salt lake,
• It is also a designated Ramsar Site (recognized wetland of international importance).
• It represents the depression of the Aravalli Range.
• This inland lake receives water from five rivers, namely Samaod, Khari, Mantha, Khandela, Medtha, and Roopangarh.

Mount Etna erupts

Mount Etna

• It is **Europe’**s most active volcano and one of the largest in the world.
• Its recorded volcanic activity dates back to 1500 B.C.
• It is on the eastern coast of Sicily.
• It is the highest Mediterranean island mountain and the most active stratovolcano in the world.
• It is about 3,326 meters high and is the highest peak in Italy South of the Alps.

Volcanoes

• Volcanoes are openings, or vents where lava, tephra (small rocks), and steam erupt onto the Earth’s surface.
• These can be on land and in the ocean.
• They are, in part, a result of their own eruptions but also the general formation of our planet, as tectonic plates move.

Stratovolcano

• It is also called a composite volcano.
• This volcanic landform is characterized by a conical shape formed by layers of volcanic material deposited during successive volcanic eruptions.
• These volcanoes tend to slope gently at the base but rise quickly near the summit to form tall mountain peaks.
• They are typically found above subduction zones, and they are often part of large volcanically active regions, such as the Ring of Fire that frames much of the Pacific Ocean.