India-U.K. form Joint Working Group to further defence cooperation

• Defence industry organisations from India and the U.K. have decided to create a new Defence Industry Joint Working Group (JWG) for more effective cooperation.
• It was decided on the sidelines of DefExpo 2022 in Gandhinagar on October 18, 2022. DefExpo-2022 has representation from 20 U.K. defence companies.
• The JWG is part of an ongoing initiative between the two countries to strengthen the defence and security partnership.
• The U.K. recently issued its first Open General Export License in the Indo-Pacific region to India, shortening delivery times for defence procurement.
• The U.K. industry is already integrating Indian defence suppliers into their global supply chain.
• The Royal Air Force (RAF) recently conducted a subject matter expertise exchange with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) during the visit of Eurofighter Typhoon, Voyager and A-400 in New Delhi and also held joint-flying exercises with the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Grazing animals key to long-term soil carbon stability: IISc study

• The 16-year-long study carried out by CES and DCCC researchers states that large mammalian herbivores like the Yak and Ibex play a crucial role in stabilising the pool of soil carbon in grazing ecosystems such as the Spiti region in the Himalayas.
• Experimental removal of grazing by herbivores from such ecosystems was found to increase the fluctuations in the level of soil carbon, which can have negative consequences for the global carbon cycle.
• According to the study, since soil contains more carbon than all plants and the atmosphere combined, it is important to ensure its persistence.
• When plants and animals die, dead organic matter remains in the soil for a long duration before microbes break it down and release carbon into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.
• “The soil pool is a reliable sink for trapping carbon. Maintaining stable levels of carbon in the soil is therefore key to offsetting the effects of climate change”.
• A key factor underlying the carbon level fluctuations was nitrogen.
• Depending on the soil conditions, nitrogen can either stabilise or destabilise the carbon pool.
• Grazing by herbivores, however, changes their interactions in ways that tip the balance in favour of the former.

Six new spider species discovered from across the country

• Arachnologists from the Centre for Animal Taxonomy and Ecology (CATE), Christ College, Irinjalakuda in Kerala have recently discovered six new species of spiders from across the country.
• The new species of spiders were found from the Garo hills in Meghalaya, the Thar desert of Rajasthan, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Kottappara hills near Kothamangalam, Thumboormuzhi butterfly garden near Athirappilly, and the University of Calicut campus.

Siamspinops garoensis:

• Studies conducted on the Garo hills of Meghalaya resulted in the first spotting of the genus Siamspinops from India with a new species Siamspinops garoensis.
• This belongs to the family of flat spiders, Selenopidae.
• This spider lives in the crevices of rocks on hills.
• The yellowish brown spider measures about 10 mm in length.
• There is a black circle around its eyes and black patches on the abdomen.

Jumping spiders:

• Two new species of spiders coming under the family of jumping spiders (Salticidae) were discovered from the Thar desert of Rajasthan and the Kurichiyad forest ranges of the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.
  • Afraflacilla miajlarensis, the Thar species, is characterised by white fine hairs on a black head and black horizontal lines on the abdomen. This spider stays among dry leaf blades.
  • Afraflacilla kurichiadensis, the Wayanad species, is characterised by red patches around the eyes and white hairs on the abdomen. The bulged first pair of legs are also a special feature of this species. This spider lives in the moist deciduous forest of Kurichiyad.

Feather- legged spiders:

• The next spider species lacks a venom gland and belongs to the family of feather- legged spiders (Uloboridae). This new species has been named as Philoponella rostralis, due to the presence of a beak like structure on the male reproductive organ.

Spiny-legged spiders:

• Two new species of spiders belonging to the family of spiny-legged spiders (Oxyopidae) have been discovered from the Thumboormuzhi butterfly garden, near the Athirappilly waterfalls, and on the Calicut University campus.

What is nihonshu and why is Japan seeking a GI tag?

• This is the first time a product from Japan has filed for a tag at the Geographical Indication Registry in Chennai.
• In Japan, nihonshu is regarded as a special and valuable beverage made from fermenting rice.
• People traditionally drink nihonshu on special occasions, such as festivals, weddings or funerals, but it is also consumed on a daily basis. Thus, it is an integral part of the lifestyle and culture in Japan.
• The sake market (almost all are nihonshu) is the second largest brewed liquor (such as beer) market in Japan.
• For making nihonshu three main raw materials – rice, koji-kin (a type of fungal spore) and water – are required.
• The production of nihonshu follows an alcoholic fermentation method called parallel multiple fermentation and involves raw material treatment, koji making, starter culture making, mash making, pressing, heat sterilisation and bottling.
• The rice and koji used should originate in Japan.
• The economy of Japan was based around rice, which was used as a sort of quasi-money before the establishment of a monetary economy in the Meiji period (1869-1912).
• As a result, nihonshu production was thoroughly under the government’s control.
• As nihonshu’s production became more industrialised in the Edo period (1603-1868), those who had special licences began hiring many farmers in the agricultural off-season.
• They gradually won a reputation as craftsmen, which resulted in the establishment of the hierarchical Toii system (Toii is the person responsible for sake brewing), likened to an apprenticeship or guild system.

U.S. returns 307 antiquities, valued at nearly $4 million, to India

• Vishnu and Lakshmi with Garuda, dating to the 11th century C.E., which was allegedly stolen from a temple in Central India.
• A Chola-era Sambandar bronze idol, a Chola-era Devi idol in stone, bronze idols of Vinayaga, Narasimha with Lakshmi, a wooden idol of Muruga and wooden chauri bearers are other items that had been taken from Tamil Nadu.
• “Antiquity” is an article or object that is at least 100 years old.
• It could be a coin, sculpture, painting or epigraph, or any object or article taken from a building or a cave, or anything that illustrates the science, art, crafts or customs or religion or literature of a bygone age, or anything of historical interest.
• If it is a manuscript or record of any scientific, historical, literary or aesthetic value, it should be at least 75 years’ old.
• An art treasure is a human work of art, other than an antiquity, declared to be a treasure by the Centre for its artistic value after the artist’s death.
• Antiquities in India are governed by The Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972 which falls within the purview of the Archaeological Survey of India ("ASI"), Union Ministry of Culture.
• Possession of an unregistered antiquity is a punishable offence under law.
• Section 14(3) of the Act makes it mandatory for “every person who owns, controls or is in possession of any antiquity” to register it before a registering officer within 15 days of its coming into his control or possession and obtain a certificate of registration.
• Antiquities can be sold, but only by a licensed person. However, Section 3 of the Act prohibits export of an antiquity by anyone other than the Centre or its agencies.
• A jail term of six months, or with fine, or both. Besides, the antiquity is also liable to be confiscated.

PM reviews the progress of National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, Gujarat

• The Rs.3500 crore project is being built at the historic Indus Valley Civilization region of Lothal in Gujarat under the Sagarmala Scheme of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
• NMHC is to be developed as a first of its kind in the country dedicated to the legacy of Maritime Heritage of India, to showcase India’s rich and diverse maritime glory.
• Lothal was one among the prominent cities of the traditional Harappan civilization dating to 2400 BC, located in Gujarat, a crucial western state of India.
• It is located along the Bhogava river, a tributary of Sabarmati, in the Gulf of Khambat.
• Archaeological excavations have discovered the oldest man-made dockyard, over 5000 years old, in Lothal.

Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla to address the National Conference on Tourist Police Scheme on 19th Oct

• The agenda of the Conference is implementation of uniform Tourist Police Scheme at pan-India level for developing the tourist specific policing.
• It also aim to provide safer ecosystem to the foreign and domestic tourists in and around tourist destinations.
• Under the scheme, a pool of trained policemen would be made available to render policing service to the tourists and would control the crimes at the places of tourist interest.
• The rules of the district police of the concerned state shall be applicable to the Tourist Police, unless the contrary appears from the content or from rules in this scheme.
• Tourist Police Station will work under the jurisdiction of district police (Superintendent of Police) for all policing purpose.

First 11 awardees of WISER programme to promote participation of women in international R&D and industry projects facilitated

• It was launched by Indo-German Science & Technology Centre (IGSTC) for encouraging women researchers in joint R&D projects.
• WISER will enable gender equality and women’s participation in Science and Technology through IGSTC’s program.
• This programme will be in addition to the ongoing flagship 2+2 program of the Centre.
• This program by IGSTC, a joint initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Government of Germany, will support women scientists holding regular/long term research positions in academia or research institutes/industry.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh launches Single Integrated Pensioners'' Portal aimed at “Ease of Living” for the Central Government Pensioners

• Single Integrated Pensioners'' Portal developed in collaboration with State Bank of India and aimed at “Ease of Living” for the Central Government Pensioners.
• All the remaining 16 Pension disbursing banks shall now begin their integration with BHAVISHYA.
• Bhavishya 9.0 version was being released recently with its integration with the Pension Disbursing Banks.

BHAVISHYA:

• BHAVISHYA is a Portal for Pension Payment and Tracking System is being integrated with Pension Seva portal of SBI and will enable Pensioners to get all information and services at one place with single login.
• On completion of all phases of this integration the retirees can choose a Bank and Branch for opening an online Pension Account, check their monthly pension slips, Form 16, Status of Life Certificate as well as change their Pension Disbursing Bank through BHAVISHYA.
• ‘Bhavishya’ platform was made mandatory for all central government departments since 01.01.2017.
• BHAVISHYA has recently been rated as the 3rd best portal among all Government of India service portals by National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA).
• The following portals have now been merged with BHAVISHYA window: CPENGRAMS, ANUBHAV, ANUDAAN, SANKALP & Pension DASHBOARD.

National Metallurgist Award- 2022;  Last date of Receiving of Application extended to 31st October 2022

• National Metallurgists Day Awards, was instituted in 1962 by the then Ministry of Steel & Mines.
• It aims to recognize and honor outstanding contributions of Metallurgists in the metallurgical field covering operation, research, design, education, waste management, energy conservation and their specific contribution to achieve objectives of ATMA NIRBHAR BHARAT.
• The awards are given on an annual basis, only to Indian nationals.
• Nominations for the award shall be invited online on the Ministry of Steel’s Portal or the centralized portal being developed by Ministry of Home Affairs. Nominations will be through companies/ organizations or from the public through self-nomination.
• The first award was given in 1963 and subsequently every year thereafter.