C-DOT’s 40th Foundation day: Communication Minister Launched Security systems

C-DOT’s TRINETRA

• It is a combination of multiple Security systems like Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), Security Orchestration and Automated Response (SOAR), Data Loss Prevention (DLP), User Entity and Behaviour Analytics (UEBA), Multi-Source Threat Intelligence and others.
• The solution provides 24x7 near real-time actionable cyber-security status and detection and resolution of cyber-threats (Virus, Malware, Ransomware, Spyware, etc.).
• It also performs security evaluation of the organisation’s IT assets by protecting endpoints, including PCs, laptops, Servers and VMs, by detection, analyses and mitigation of vulnerabilities and giving AI-enabled automated responses to cyber threats, ensuring the protection of sensitive data.
• The solution is capable of protecting the critical digital infrastructure of various Government departments from the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape.

C-DOT

• It was established in 1984 as an autonomous Telecom R&D centre of the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, Government of India.
• It is a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
• It is a registered ‘public funded research institution’ with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India.
• Headquarters: New Delhi.

ISRO-developed device for fishers’ safety successfully tested at Neendakara

Nabhmitra device

• It is a satellite-based communication system developed for the safety of fishermen.
• It enables two-way messaging services from and to the sea.
• The weather and cyclone warnings will be communicated in the local language, the boats can also send distress messages to the authorities.
• In emergency situations like capsizing and fire, fishers can press a button on the device and get in touch with the control centre.
• While the control centre will receive the alert, including the location of the boat, the crew on the boat will get a response message from the control centre.
• Apart from providing information about shipping channels and maritime boundaries, the device will also help to identify fishing fields.
• It was developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

What is Magic rice? What is special about this rice that it got GI tag

Chokuwa rice

• It is also known as Magic rice cultivated in Assam.
• It is a part of Assam''s culinary heritage; this unique rice has been a staple of the troops of the mighty Ahom dynasty.
• This unique and healthy rice is cultivated around the Brahmaputra River area.(In several parts of Assam like Tinsukia, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, etc.)
• It is basically semi-glutinous winter rice, known as Sali rice.
• The sticky and glutinous variety is categorised as Bora and Chokuwa based on their amylose concentration.
• The low amylase Chokuwa rice variants are used to make soft rice, which is known as Komal Chaul or soft rice.
• This whole grain can be consumed after soaking the rice in cold or lukewarm water. This rice variety is widely consumed for its convenience of preparation and nutritional value.
• This unique rice variety is consumed with curd, sugar, jaggery, and bananas to name a few.
• This rice is also used in making several Assamese delights like Pithe and other local dishes.

Geographical Indication Tag

• It is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
• This is typically used for agricultural products, foodstuffs, wine and spirit drinks, handicrafts and industrial products.
• The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 seeks to provide for the registration and better protection of geographical indications relating to goods in India.
• This GI tag is valid for 10 years, following which it can be renewed.

Govt Warns Of ''Smishing'' Attack That Tricks Users Into Revealing Confidential Data

Smishing

• The term "smishing" is a combination of "SMS" (Short Message Service) and "phishing."
• What is it?
  • A type of phishing attack, smishing, often involves sending fraudulent text messages to individuals with the aim of tricking them into divulging sensitive personal information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or other confidential data.
• When cybercriminals "phish," they send fraudulent emails that seek to trick the recipient into clicking on a malicious link.
• Smishing simply uses text messages instead of email.
• Smishing attacks often involve messages that appear to be from legitimate sources, such as banks, government agencies, or well-known companies.
• How it works?
  • Smishing messages typically contain urgent or enticing content to persuade recipients to take immediate action, such as clicking on a malicious link, calling a phone number, or providing sensitive information.
  • Once the victim opens and clicks on the link or dials the phone number listed in the message, they''re taken to a fraudulent website or a mobile phone line that''s designed to resemble a legitimate source.
  • The victim might be asked to enter sensitive information, such as login credentials, social security numbers, credit card information or personal identification numbers (PINs).
  • Once the victim''s sensitive information is divulged, the attacker might steal it to commit fraud for personal gain or to compromise the victim''s device by installing malware on it.

IAF contingent departs for Egypt to participate in biennial tri-service exercise BRIGHT STAR-23

EXERCISE BRIGHT STAR-23

• It is a biennial multilateral tri-service exercise.
• This multinational exercise was launched in 1980 as part of the US-brokered peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.
• This is the first time that IAF is participating in Ex BRIGHT STAR-23.
• Participating countries: United States of America, Saudi Arabia, Greece and Qatar.
• The Indian Air Force contingent will consist of five MiG-29, two IL-78, two C-130 and two C-17 aircraft.
• Personnel from the IAF''s Garud Special Forces, as well as those from the Numbers 28, 77, 78 and 81 Squadrons, will be participating in the exercise.
• Objective: To practice planning and execution of joint operations. Besides leading to the formation of bonding across borders, such interactions also provide a means to further strategic relations between participating nations.
• India and Egypt have had an exceptional relationship and deep cooperation wherein the two jointly undertook the development of aero-engine and aircraft in the 1960s, and training of Egyptian pilots was done by Indian counterparts.

Tech is fully integrated into Israel''s latest spy plane after 2 years

ORON Aircraft

• It is an Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) mission aircraft.
• It was developed by the Israeli Defence Ministry’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D), the Israel Air Force and the Israel Defense Force (IDF) Intelligence unit’s naval arm and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
• Features:
  • It is based on the Gulfstream G550 executive jet platform, which has been outfitted with a bevy of sensors and data collection equipment that allows it to rapidly locate targets in all weather conditions.
  • The aircraft combines several capabilities, including aerial imaging, control and radar, and maritime intelligence gathering for the Navy.
  • It will be equipped with layers of automatic data systems based on advanced algorithms and AI.
  • It will enable the IDF to create a real-time comprehensive intelligence picture, including deployment of ground forces, near and far, in routine times and during warfare.

Gandhinagar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah chairs the 26th meeting of the Western Zonal Council

Zonal Councils

• The idea of the creation of Zonal Councils was mooted by the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, in 1956.
• In the light of the vision of Pandit Nehru, five Zonal Councils were set up vide Part-III of the States Re-organisation Act, 1956. Hence, they are statutory bodies.
• The act divided the country into five zones (Northern, Central, Eastern, Western and Southern) and provided a zonal council for each zone.
• The Zonal Councils provide an excellent forum where irritants between the Centre and States and amongst States can be resolved through free and frank discussions and consultations.
• The main objectives of setting up Zonal Councils are to-
  • Bring out national integration;
  • Arrest the growth of acute State consciousness, regionalism, linguism and particularistic tendencies;
  • Enable the Centre and the States to cooperate and exchange ideas and experiences;
  • Establish a climate of cooperation amongst the States for successful and speedy execution of development projects.
• Each Zonal Council is an advisory body and may discuss any matter in which some or all of the States represented in that Council, or the Union and one or more of the States represented in that Council, have a common interest and advise the Central Government and the Government of each State concerned as to the action to be taken on any such matter.
• In particular, a Zonal Council may discuss and make recommendations with regard to:
  • any matter of common interest in the field of economic and social planning;
  • any matter concerning border disputes, linguistic minorities or inter-state transport;
  • any matter connected with or arising out of the reorganisation of the States under the States Reorganization Act;
• Organisational Structure:
  • Chairman: The Union Home Minister is the Chairman of each of these Councils.
  • Vice Chairman: The Chief Ministers of the States included in each zone act as Vice-Chairman of the Zonal Council for that zone by rotation, each holding office for a period of one year at a time.
  • Members: Chief Minister and two other Ministers as nominated by the Governor from each of the States and two members from Union Territories included in the zone.
  • Advisers: One person nominated by the Planning Commission for each of the Zonal Councils, Chief Secretaries and another officer/Development Commissioner nominated by each of the States included in the Zone.
  • The Chief Secretaries of the States represented in such Zonal Councils act as the Secretary of the respective Council by rotation, holding office for a period of one year at a time.
  • The Joint Secretary of Zonal Councils is a Director Level officer from All India Services or Central Secretariat Services.
• North Eastern Council:
  • The North Eastern States,e. (i) Assam, (ii) Arunachal Pradesh, (iii) Manipur, (iv) Tripura, (v) Mizoram, (vi) Meghalaya, and (vii) Nagaland, are not included in the Zonal Councils and their special problems are looked after by the North Eastern Council, set up under the North Eastern Council Act, 1972.
  • The North Eastern Council (Amendment) Act of 2002 also added the state of Sikkim to the North Eastern Council.

NFRA to list out frequent lapses to alert auditors, managements

National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA)

• The NFRA was constituted on 01st October 2018 by the Government of India under the Companies Act, 2013.
• It is an independent regulator to oversee the auditing profession and accounting standards in India.
• Objective: To continuously improve the quality of all corporate financial reporting in India.
• Functions and Duties:
  • Recommend accounting and auditing policies and standards to be adopted by companies for approval by the Central Government;
  • Monitor and enforce compliance with accounting standards and auditing standards;
  • Oversee the quality of service of the professions associated with ensuring compliance with such standards and suggest measures for improvement in the quality of service;
• Composition: It consists of a chairperson, who shall be a person of eminence and having expertise in accountancy, auditing, finance, or law to be appointed by the Central Government and such other members not exceeding fifteen consisting of part-time and full-time members.
• Powers:
  • NFRA have the power to investigate, either suo moto or on a reference made to it by the Central Government into the matters of professional or other misconduct committed by any member or firm of chartered accountants registered under the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949.
  • It has the same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, while trying a suit.
• HQ: New Delhi

Japan Shoots For The Moon After India; SLIM-XRISM Dual Mission Will Explore The Moon, Study Celestial Phenomena

XRISM Mission

• The X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) is a joint mission of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), involving contributions from the European Space Agency (ESA) and Canadian Space Agency as well.
• Objective: The mission aims to observe X-rays coming from deep space and to identify their wavelengths with unprecedented precision.
• It will use state-of-the-art spectroscopy to measure changes in the brightness of celestial objects at different wavelengths.
• It detects X-rays with energies ranging from 400 to 12,000 electron volts. (For comparison, the energy of visible light is 2 to 3 electron volts.)
• This range will provide astrophysicists with new information about some of the universe''s hottest regions, largest structures, and objects with the strongest gravity.
• Instruments onboard: The mission has two instruments, Resolve and Xtend.
  • Resolve:
    • It is an instrument that will collect spectroscopic data with far more resolution than X-ray observatories orbiting the Earth do.
    • Resolve must be cooled to just a fraction above absolute zero in order to measure tiny changes in temperature when X-rays hit the instrument’s surface.
  • Xtend:
    • It will operate simultaneously to photograph the cosmos with a resolution comparable to the way our eyes might perceive it if we were to have X-ray vision.
    • While Resolve zooms in, Xtend will zoom out, providing scientists with complementary views of the same X-ray sources over a larger area.

SLIM

• SLIM, or Smart Lander for Investigating Moon, is a compact robotic moon lander with no astronauts aboard.
• Called ‘Moon Snipper’ in the Japanese language, it has lightweight equipment for advanced observations and adaptable landings on resource-scarce planets, advancing exploration strategies.
• The most important aim of the lander is to demonstrate accurate lunar landing techniques with a precise touchdown.
• The mission plan calls for a landing no more than 328 feet (100 m) from a target inside the moon''s Shioli Crater.

One day Chintan Shivir on “CRTDH Empowering MSMEs” concluded at IITR, Lucknow

Common Research and Technology Development Hub

• It is part of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR)-Industrial R&D Programme (IRD).
• This programme aimed at the creation of Common Research and Technology Development Hubs (CRTDHs) to encourage research and technology development activities by Micro and Small enterprises (MSEs).
• Partial financial support would be provided to eligible institutions as grant-in-aid to establish CRTDHs for enabling MSEs to conduct industrial R&D and innovation activities.
• These hubs would facilitate MSEs to undertake new/improved product/process development and skill enhancement activities.
• The collaborating institutions would extend hands-on training, skill development and research information facilities to the MSEs, apart from research and technology development infrastructure.
• Creation of these CRTDHs will enhance productivity, increase the innovative skills of the MSEs, help them become globally competitive, and also generate more employment.
• Eligibility: Public-funded bodies or Institutions having a distinct legal entity, which are willing and capable of setting up these CRTDHs.