Sloth bear trapped in the Nilgiris, relocated

Sloth Bear

• Sloth bears are one of the eight bear species found across the world.
• Scientific Name: Melursus ursinus
• Distribution:
  • Their range includes India, Sri Lanka and southern Nepal.
  • 90% of the global Sloth Bear population is found in India.
• Habitat: They live in a variety of dry and moist forests and in some tall grasslands, where boulders, scattered shrubs and trees provide shelter.
• Features:
  • They have long, shaggy dark brown or black fur and curved claws, which are the longest out of any of the bear species.
  • They use their claws to excavate termites and ants.
  • Size: They grow 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 2 meters) long, stand 2 to 3 feet (0.5 to 1 meters) high at the shoulder, and weigh, on average, 90 to 140 kilograms.
  • They have poor senses of sight and hearing but a good sense of smell.
  • Sloth bears'' nostrils can close completely, protecting the animals from dust or insects when raiding termite nests or beehives.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN: Vulnerable
  • Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule 1

Introducing SeamlessM4T, a Multimodal AI Model for Speech and Text Translations

SeamlessM4T

• SeamlessM4T, which stands for Massively Multilingual and Multimodal Machine Translation, is an advanced multilingual multimodal AI translation and transcription model.
• It was developed by Meta, the technology company formerly known as Facebook.
• SeamlessM4T is capable of performing various tasks including speech-to-text, speech-to-speech, text-to-speech, and text-to-text translations.
• SeamlessM4T supports:
  • Speech recognition for nearly 100 languages;
  • Speech-to-text translation for nearly 100 input and output languages;
  • Speech-to-speech translation, supporting nearly 100 input languages and 36 (including English) output languages;
  • Text-to-text translation for nearly 100 languages;
  • Text-to-speech translation, supporting nearly 100 input languages and 35 (including English) output languages;
• Other Features:
  • SeamlessM4T brings together diverse spoken data sources to provide a comprehensive multilingual and multimodal translation experience from a single model.
  • It performs the entire translation task in one go, unlike other large translation models that divide translation across different systems.
  • It has the ability to recognise when a speaker is code-switching or when someone moves between two or more languages in one sentence.
  • It also recognises gender bias in languages, and the model can quantify gender bias in translations.

Nitin Gadkari launches BNCAP

Bharat NCAP(New Car Assessment Programme)

• It is a significant step forward in the government’s commitment to improving road safety by raising the safety standards of motor vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes in India.
• The programme aims to provide a tool for car customers to make a comparative assessment of the crash safety of motor vehicles available in the market.
• Under this programme, car manufacturers can voluntarily offer their cars tested as per Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) 197.
• Based on the performance of the car in the tests, the car will be awarded star ratings for Adult Occupants (AOP) and Child Occupants (COP).
• To receive a 5-star rating, a vehicle needs at least 27 points in adult occupant protection and requires 41 points in child occupant protection.
• These protocols are in line with Global NCAP norms when it comes to crash testing.
• Three tests, including offset deformable barrier frontal impact test, side impact test, and pole side impact test - would determine the crashworthiness of the vehicles.
• It would also mandate the installation of six airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), three-point seatbelts for every passenger, improved emergency braking systems, etc.
• For Bharat NCAP, the frontal crash test will be conducted at a speed of 64km/h. On the other hand, the side and pole-side impact tests will be done at 50km/h and 29km/h
• These norms will also be applicable for testing and rating CNG and EVs based on their performance.
• Unlike Global NCAP, Bharat NCAP will give a unified rating for the vehicles, combining crash test results for adults and children alike.

Rare black eagle spotted at Chail wildlife sanctuary

Black Eagle

• It belongs to the family Accipitridae and is the only member of the genus Ictinaetus.
• These are large and distinctive dark eagles of forested mountains and hills.
• The distinguishing feature of the majestic bird is its striking yellow beak, a vibrant contrast to its black feathers.
• They soar over forests in the hilly regions of tropical and subtropical South and Southeast Asia, as well as southeastern China.
• Distribution: They are found in the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, forests of the Eastern and Western Ghats in peninsular India.
• Conservation status
  • IUCN: Least concern

Chail wildlife sanctuary

• It is located in the state of Himachal Pradesh.
• It comprises part of the catchment area of a tributary of the Giri River.
• Flora: It is densely covered by Oak and Pine, apart from grassland.
• Fauna: It includes animal species of wild boar, goral, sambar, spotted deer, Himalayan black bear, common langur, Indian porcupine, flying squirrel, etc.

Researchers unveil ''demon particle'' that can lead to making superconductors

Demon Particle

• The demon particle was first predicted by theoretical physicist David Pines in 1956.
• Pines theorised that electrons passing through a solid would exhibit unique behaviours and that these behaviours could lead to the formation of a new type of particle that he called a "demon particle."
• They are massless, chargeless, and transparent to light.
• They are also able to form plasmons, which are collective units of electrons that behave like waves.
• Plasmons are important in superconductivity, and the discovery of demon particles could lead to the development of new superconducting materials that operate at room temperature.

Superconductivity

• It is a phenomenon whereby a charge moves through a material without resistance.
• In theory, this allows electrical energy to be transferred between two points with perfect efficiency, losing nothing to heat.
• It was first discovered in 1911 by Dutch physicist Heike Kamerlingh Onnes when he observed the sudden drop in electrical resistance of mercury at extremely low temperatures.
• Superconductivity is generally observed at very low temperatures, often close to absolute zero (0 Kelvin or -273.15°C).
• Meissner-Ochsenfeld Effect:
  • Superconductors expel magnetic fields from their interior when they enter the superconducting state.
  • This effect, known as the Meissner-Ochsenfeld effect, causes the superconductor to repel magnetic fields, leading to the phenomenon of magnetic levitation.
  • When a magnet is brought near a superconductor in its superconducting state, it will float above the superconductor due to this repulsion.

Lunar Polar Exploration Mission

Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX)

• It is a collaborative venture between Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• The mission is scheduled to launch in 2025.
• LUPEX will use a rover and lander to study the possibility of establishing a base on the Moon, the availability of water ice, and surface exploration technologies.
• JAXA and ISRO are developing the rover and lander, respectively.
• The rover will carry not only the instruments of ISRO and JAXA but also those of the US space agency NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA).
• Proposed instruments onboard LUPEX:
  • Ahmedabad-based Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), an autonomous unit of the Department of Space, has proposed multiple instruments in the LUPEX mission mainly to carry out measurements on the surface and subsurface near the permanently shadowed polar region of the Moon.
  • The objective of one of the proposed instruments — Permittivity and Thermo-physical investigation for Moon’s Aquatic Scout (PRATHIMA) — is in-situ detection and quantification of water-ice mixed with lunar surface and sub-surface soil using a rover/lander platform.
  • The aim of another proposed instrument — the Lunar Electrostatic Dust EXperiment (LEDEX) — is to detect the presence of charged dust particles and to confirm the dust levitation process in the volatile-rich polar region, and to estimate the approximate dust size and flux of charged levitated dust particles.
• The mission will provide valuable insights into the lunar polar region and will help to pave the way for future human exploration of the Moon.

Discovery of two ancient sculptures at Basrur proves existence of ancient Mylara cult in coastal region, says Historian

• The two sculptures resemble one belonging to the 15th century A.D. and another to the 17th century A.D.
• It shows a royal hero sitting on the horse, holding a sword and a bowl in his right and left hands, respectively.
• But there is no Mylaladevi on the back of the horse. The horse shown holding swords in their right hand was found in another water body.
• Basrur was a historic trading city of the Medieval period.
• Trading guilds like Uhayadesi, Nanadesi and others actively participated in the trade.

Mylara cult

• Mylara is a folk deity identified as a manifestation of Lord Shiva.
• This deity, commonly known as Mailara in Karnataka and as Khandoba in Maharashtra, has a plethora of other names as well, such as Khanderao and Khandnatha.
• This cult is prevalent in the southern part of India, including Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.

Central Vigilance Commission reconstitutes advisory board on bank frauds

Advisory Board on Banking and Financial Frauds

• It conducts the first level examination of bank frauds before recommendations or references are made to investigate by agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
• Composition: It consists of the Chairman and four other members, and the tenure of the Chairman/ Members would be for two years.
• It has been empowered to examine the role of officials/whole-time directors (including ex-officials/ex-whole-time directors) in public sector banks, public sector insurance companies, and public sector financial institutions in case of frauds amounting to ₹ 3 crore and above.
• The Central Vigilance Commission or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) can also refer any case or technical matter to the board for its advice, the order stated.
• The board can also give inputs for policy formulation related to fraud to the Reserve Bank of India and the Central Vigilance Commission.
• It will ordinarily, within a month of receipt of the initial reference, tender its advice as may be requisitioned by ministries, departments, the Central Vigilance Commission or the CBI.

Central Vigilance Commission

• It was set up by the Government in 1964 on the recommendations of the Committee on Prevention of Corruption, headed by K. Santhanam.
• It is a statutory body governed by the Central Vigilance Commission Act 2003.
• The CVC is not controlled by any Ministry/Department. It is responsible to the Parliament.
• Mandate: To inquire into offences alleged to have been committed under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 by certain categories of public servants of the Central Government, corporations established by or under any Central Act, Government Companies, societies and local authorities owned or controlled by Central Government.
• Composition: The Commission shall consist of a Central Vigilance Commissioner (Chairperson); and not more than two Vigilance Commissioners (Members).
• Appointment: They are appointed by the President on the recommendation of a Committee consisting of the Prime Minister (Chairperson), the Minister of home affairs and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
• Term: The term of office of the chairperson and the members is four years from the date on which they enter their office or till they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. Central Vigilance Commission reconstitutes advisory board on bank frauds.

Modi inaugurates ''Maitri Setu'' between India and Bangladesh

Maitri Setu

• It has been built over the Feni River, which flows between the Indian boundary in Tripura and Bangladesh.
• Length: It spans 1.9 kilometres joining Sabroom (in Tripura) with Ramgarh in Bangladesh.
• The name ‘Maitri Setu’ symbolises growing bilateral relations and friendly ties between India and Bangladesh.
• The construction of the bridge has been overseen by National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.
• It is a pre-stressed concrete bridge. It has a single-span structure that allows for the smooth flow of traffic and cargo.

Feni River

• It forms part of the India-Bangladesh border.
• Origin: It originates in the South Tripura district, passes through Sabroom town on the Indian side, and meets the Bay of Bengal after it flows into Bangladesh.
• Length: It is 116 kilometres in length from its source to the Bay of Bengal.
• Tributaries: Some of the notable tributaries of the Feni River include the Muhuri River, Raidak River, Chandkhira River, Ryang River and Kushiyara River.