Recalling ‘Quit India’, when ordinary Indians took to the streets with a vow to ‘Do or Die’

• Mahatma Gandhi, who had told the Raj to “Quit India” on the previous day (August 8) was already in jail along with the entire Congress leadership, so when August 9 dawned, the people were on their own — out on the street, driven by the Mahatma’s call of “Do or Die”.
• This truly people-led movement was eventually crushed violently by the British, but by then it was clear that nothing short of their final departure was acceptable to India’s masses.
• Reasons: While factors leading to such a movement had been building up, matters came to a head with the failure of the Cripps Mission. The failure of the Cripps Mission made Gandhi realise that freedom would come only if Indians fought tooth and nail for it.
• On August 8, 1942, Gandhi addressed the people in the Gowalia Tank maidan in Bombay (Mumbai).
• “The mantra is: ‘Do or Die’. We shall either free India or die trying; we shall not live to see the perpetuation of our slavery,” Gandhi said.
• Aruna Asaf Ali hoisted the Tricolour on the ground.
• The Quit India movement had been officially announced.

Vasculitis : The Rare Disease That Left Actor Ashton Kutcher Unable To See, Hear And Walk

• Vasculitis is simply an inflammation of blood vessels.
• Inflammation is the natural response of the body’s immune system to any injury or infection, which in normal course can help the body fight invading germs.
• However, in vasculitis, the body’s immune system turns on healthy blood vessels, causing them to swell up and narrow down. The trigger for vasculitis may be an infection or a drug, although the precise reason is often uncertain or unknown.
• Vasculitis can be only a minor problem affecting the skin, or it can be a serious condition that impacts the heart, kidneys or other vital organs.
• There are around 20 different disorders that are classified as vasculitis. Angiitis and Arteritis are used as synonyms for vasculitis.

Over 4300 Dinosaur Footprints Dating Back 150 Million Years Discovered in China

• The largest number of dinosaur footprint fossils located in northern China, these cover an area of 9,000 square metres. According to news reports, the footprints show four different dinosaur species, one of which might be undiscovered.
• The footprints belong to herbivores and carnivores dinosaurs; while the former could reach lengths of nearly 15 metres, the latter was four to five metres. Scientists believe the area may have attracted dinosaurs due to the availability of water and trees at the time.
• Preserved footprints, also known as ichnites, are trace fossils that have survived millions of years. These are found in earthen materials that were soft enough to form the foot impression and hard enough to retain it.
• Over time, the material dried, hardened, and was covered with layers of sediment, helping the impression become fossilised. In numerous instances, soil erosion is now bringing them to the surface.

AGM-88 HARM, the new anti-radar missile supplied to Ukraine by the US

• The statement, kind of, confirms Russian allegations that an American anti-radar missile, AGM-88 HARM, which is part of NATO’s inventory, has been used in the theatre of conflict.
• The acronym ‘HARM’ in the AGM-88 HARM air-to-surface missile stands for High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile.
• It is a tactical weapon fired from fighter aircraft, and has the capability to detect and home into radiation emitted by hostile radar stations that have surface-to-air detection capabilities.
• The missile was originally developed by the Dallas-headquartered Texas Instruments, but is now produced by the major American defence contractor Raytheon Corporation.

10 more Indian wetlands sites get Ramsar tag

• The 10 new sites — six in Tamil Nadu and one each in Goa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha — encompass an area of 1,51,842.41 hectares, bringing India’s total wetland area to 1.2 million hectares.
• The sites are Koothankulam Bird Sanctuary, Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve, Vembannur Wetland Complex, Vellode Bird Sanctuary, Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary and Udhayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary, all in Tamil Nadu, Satkosia Gorge in Odisha, Nanda Lake in Goa, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary in Karnataka, and Sirpur Wetland in Madhya Pradesh.
• Until 2012, India had 26 Ramsar sites, with the last decade witnessing a meteoric rise. On July 26, Mr. Yadav announced that India had added five Ramsar sites.
• Ramsar wetlands now comprise around 10% of the total wetland area in the country.
• Being designated one, however, doesn’t necessarily invite extra international funds but that States —and the Centre — must ensure that these tracts of land are conserved and spared from man-made encroachment. Acquiring this label also helps with a locale’s tourism potential and its international visibility.

Parliament adjourned sine die four days ahead of schedule

• The Monsoon Session of Parliament, which commenced on 18th of last month, was scheduled to end on the 12th of this month.
• Rajya Sabha conducted business for 38 hours while it lost 47 hours due to disruptions during the session. the Question Hour could not be taken up on seven days. Only five Bills were considered and passed. the House took up a short duration discussion on the rising prices of essential items in the country.
• In the Lok Sabha, six bills were introduced and seven bills were passed during the session. 16 sittings were held and the House conducted business for more than 44 hours. The House also held two short duration discussions on the price rise and steps to promote sports in the country.

Govt. offers the use of Indigenous 5G Test Bed free of cost for startups

• The decision has been taken with an objective to boost 5G ecosystem within India and to achieve the objectives of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.
• The facility is available at a very nominal rate to all other stakeholders.
• Department of Telecommunications has urged all 5G stakeholders including industry, academia, service providers, government bodies and equipment manufacturers to utilise the 5G testbed facilities and expertise to test and facilitate the speedy development and deployment of their products in the network.
• Keeping in view India’s specific requirements and to take lead in 5G deployment, Department of Telecommunications has approved financial grant for the multi-institute collaborative project to set up ‘Indigenous 5G Test Bed’ in India in March, 2018 with total cost of 224 crore rupees.

Indo-US Joint Special Forces Exercise ''Vajra Prahar 2022 begins in Himachal Pradesh

• The Vajra Prahar series of joint exercise aims to share best practices and experiences in areas such as joint mission planning and operational tactics as also to improve inter-operability between the Special Forces of both the Nations.
• This annual exercise is hosted alternatively between India and the United States. The 12th edition was conducted at Joint Base Lewis Mcchord, Washington (USA) in October last year.

PM Modi to dedicate 2G ethanol plant in Panipat to nation

• It is part of a long series of steps taken by the government over the years to boost production and usage of biofuels in the country.
• It is in line with the Prime Minister’s constant endeavour to transform the energy sector into being more affordable, accessible, efficient and sustainable.
• The 2G Ethanol Plant has been built at an estimated cost of over nine hundred crore rupees by the Indian Oil Corporation Limited. The project will turn a new chapter in India’s waste-to-wealth endeavours by utilising about two lakh tonnes of rice straw (parali) annually to generate around three crore litres of Ethanol per annum.
• The project will also contribute to a reduction of Greenhouse Gases equivalent to about three lakh tonnes of Carbon Dioxide equivalent emissions per annum.