Army set to induct 1st batch of Apache attack helicopters

Apache Attack Helicopter

• It is the world’s most advanced multi-role combat helicopter.
• Country of Origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Boeing
• It is also known as the Apache Guardian.
• The AH-64E attack helicopter is the latest version of the Apache used by the US Army.
• Other purchasers: India, Egypt, Greece, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Netherlands, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, UAE, and the UK.
• Features of AH-64E Apache:
• It is designed and equipped with open systems architectureto incorporate the latest communications, navigation, sensor, and weapon systems.
• It has greater thrust and lift, joint digital operability, improved survivability, and cognitive decision-aiding.
• The AH-64E includes a new integrated infrared laserthat allows for easier target designation and enhanced infrared imagery that blends infrared and night vision capabilities.
• Apache for Indian Defence Forces: The Indian Air Forcehas a fleet of 22 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, and in 2020, Boeing signed an agreement with the Government of India for the acquisition of six more Apache helicopters for the Indian Army.

New snail species discovered in Arunachal cave

Alycaeus himalayae

• It is a new snail species belonging to the genus Alycaeus.
• Alycaeus is a genus of small land snails.
• The genus is the first to be reported in India, as this genus is restricted to Southeast Asia and not known in the Indian region.
• This new species differs from all other Himalayan alycaeid species due to its yellowish, conical shell.
• The most similar shell in the vicinity is Stomacosmethis spratti from the Shan States, Myanmar.
• It differs from all other Alycaeus species by the characteristic trumpet-like projection on the outer side of the operculum.
• It is, so far, the only Alycaeus species inhabiting the Himalayas.
• All other known Alycaeus species are reported from Laos, Vietnam, southern Thailand, and Peninsular Malaysia.

How Panna Tiger Reserve Is helping Cambodia In Its Tiger Reintroduction Programme

Panna Tiger Reserve

• Location: It is a critical tiger habitat located in the Vindhyan mountain range in the northern part of Madhya Pradesh.
• It was declared a Project Tiger Reserve by the Government of India in 1994.
• Landscape:
• It is characterised by a ''Table Top'' topography.
• It consists of extensive plateaus and gorges.
• River: Ken River flows from south to north through the reserve.
• Flora:
• The dominant vegetation type is dry deciduous forest interspersed with grassland areas.
• In the north, it is surrounded by teak forest, and in the east, it is surrounded by teak-Kardhai mixed forest.
• The tree species Acacia catachu dominates the dry, steep slopes of the plateaus here.
• Fauna:
• It supports a sizable population of Sloth Bear, Leopard, and Striped Hyena.
• Other prominent carnivores are Jackal, Wolf, Wild Dog, Jungle Cat, and Rusty Spotted Cat.

Ken River

• It is one of the major rivers of the Bundelkhand region of central India, and it flows through two states, namely Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
• It is a tributary of the Yamuna River.
• Origin: It originates near the village of Ahirgawan on the northwest slopes of Kaimur Rangein the district of Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.
• It travels a distance of 427 km and then merges with the Yamuna at Chilla village, near Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh.
• Out of its total length of 427 km, it flows for 292 km in Madhya Pradesh, 84 km in Uttar Pradesh, and 51 km forms the boundary between the two states.
• Crossing the Bijawar-Panna hills, the river cuts a 60 km long, and 150- 180 m deep gorge.
• Tributaries: The major tributaries of Ken River are Bawas, Dewar, Kaith, Baink, Kopra, and Bearma.

‘Flesh-eater’ lamprey species discovered in China from 160 million-year-old fossil

Lamprey species

• These are primitive fishlike jawless vertebrates placed with hagfishes in the class Agnatha.
• They belong to the family Petromyzonidae.
• Habitat: They live in coastal and fresh waters and are found in temperate regions around the world, except Africa.
• Appearance:
• The eel-like, scaleless animals range from about 15 to 100 centimetres (6 to 40 inches) long.
• They have welldeveloped eyes, one or two dorsal fins, a tail fin, a single nostril on top of the head, and seven gillopenings on each side of the body.
• They lack bones, jaws, and paired fins.
• The skeleton of a lamprey consists of cartilage; the mouth is a round sucking aperture provided with horny teeth.
• Not all lampreys spend time in the sea. Some are landlocked and remain in freshwater. Example: sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus).
• Other lampreys, such as the brook lamprey (Lampetra planeri), also spend their entire lives in fresh water.
• They are nonparasitic, however, and do not feed after becoming adults; instead, they reproduce and die.

New species of gecko found in Western Ghats near Rajapalayam

Cnemaspis Rashidi

• It is a new species of gecko.
• So far, 93 species of gecko have been documented, and this is the 94th species.
• The new species is also called Rashid’s dwarf gecko, as it is the smallest among the genus.
• It is approximately two inches long from its snout to the
• It was found at an altitude of 1,245 metres at the Kottamalai estate near Rajapalayam.
• Appearance: It displayed a combination of beautiful colour patterns of yellow, white and black adorning its back, making it stand out among its gecko relatives.
• It is endemic to the Western Ghats.

Western Ghats

• It is also called Sahyadri, north–south-running range of mountains in western India.
• It forms the crest of the western edge of the Deccan plateauparallel to the Malabar Coast of the Arabian Sea.
• The Western Ghat is a biodiversity hot spot, a biologically rich but threatened region and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• They play a huge role in India’s monsoon weather pattern.

Guindy National Park at Chennai teeming with blackbuck and birds

Guindy National Park

• It is India’s eighth-smallest national park and one of the very few national parks located inside a city.
• It is located in the heart of Chennai’s metropolitan area of Tamil Nadu.
• It is one of the last remnants of the tropical, dry evergreen forestsof the Coromandel Coast.
• **Flora:**Tropical dry evergreen forest, Scrub and thorn forests.
• **Fauna:**Blackbuck, Toddy cat, Civet cat, Jungle cat, Pangolin, Hedgehog, Shrew and black-naped hare etc.

Tropical, dry evergreen forests of India

• The Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest is a unique forest found only in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
• The dissymmetric climatic condition of this region, where rainfall occurs both during summer and winter monsoonsand extends the dry season from March to September, favours the development and sustenance of the Tropical Dry Evergreen forest in this narrow strip.
• It looks like a scrub woodland or an opportunistic assemblage of species adapted to local microclimatic conditions.
• It is known to have a mixture of trees, shrubs, climbers, grasses and herbs.

Russia says it test-fired nuclear-capable Bulava missile from new submarine

Bulava Ballistic Missile

• It is a new Russian submarine-launched Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM).
• Development of this missile commenced in 1998. The first powered flight test of the Bulava missile occurred in September 2005. It’s first submerged test launch followed in December.
• It was designed to be deployed onto Russia’s Borey-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs).
• Features:
• It was designed to be the backbone of Moscow''s nuclear triad and has a range of over 8,000 kilometres (close to 5,000 miles).
• It is 12-13.5 m in length and has a diameter of approximately 2.0 m.
• Launch Weight: 36,800 kg
• It is a three-stage solid-fuel missile.
• It is designed to carry multiple warheads. Each warhead will strike a different target.
• It can carry six Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicles (MIRVs). These MIRVs are capable of manoeuvring in-flight and re-targeting, in order to outmanoeuvre hostile air defences.
• It is stated that this missile has an accuracy of 350 m.

Ballistic Missile

• It is a rocket-propelled self-guided strategic weapon system that follows a ballistic trajectory to deliver a payload from its launch site to a predetermined target.
• Ballistic missiles are initially powered by a rocket or series of rockets in stages, but then follow an unpowered trajectory that arches upwards before descendingto reach their intended target.
• Ballistic missiles can carry either nuclear or conventional warheads.

New GST Amnesty Scheme for Filing of Appeals Against Orders

GST Amnesty Scheme

• The scheme will be open till January 31, 2024.
• It will be available for entities that were unable to submit their appeals against orders issued by the tax officer on or before March 31,
• The scheme aims to help those who missed the deadline for filing appeals due to various reasons, including administrative errors or unforeseen circumstances.
• The entities willing to avail of the scheme will have to pre-deposit 12.5 percent of the tax demand, against 10 percent
• Significance
• This initiative can also promote enhanced compliance among taxpayers.
• A fair and lenient approach to appeal filing encourages better cooperation with tax authorities and a willingness to resolve disputes or clarify tax matters.
• Additionally, by allowing disputes to be resolved more efficiently, the scheme may reduce the burden on the legal system.
• This benefits both taxpayers and the tax administration by streamlining the appeal process and potentially reducing the need.

Goods and Services Tax (GST)

• It is a single indirect taxwhich has replaced multiple indirect taxes in India such as the excise duty, VAT, services tax, etc.
• It is levied on the supply of goods and services in India.
• It came into effect from July 2017.
• Objective: To remove ambiguity and bring equality in the prices of products across the country.

Youth delegation attending Tribal Youth Exchange Programme (TYEP) call on the President

Tribal Youth Exchange Programme

• Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan organises the Tribal Youth Exchange Programme for the development of tribal youth with the support of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
• Objectives
• To provide tribal youth from 30 selected districts in 7 states the opportunity to travel to 10 different parts of the country to learn about the cultural ethos, language, and lifestyles of the people, thereby illustrating the socioeconomic and cultural development process of unity in the diversity aspect of our national life.
• To expose tribal youth to the technological and industrial advancements that have taken place in different states of the country with a focus on various developmental activities, skill development, educational & employment opportunities available there.
• To sensitise the tribal youth about their rich traditional & cultural heritage and enable them to preserve it for future generations.
• To help the tribal youth develop emotional linkages with their peer groups in other parts of the country and enhance their self-esteem.
• To provide opportunities to the participants for interactions with the Hon’ble President of India, PM & CM, Governor & other VIPs, the local communities, Panchayati Raj Institutions and the youths affiliated with the NYKS Youth Clubs so as to understand development issues, seek guidance for their involvement in the process of development.
• To develop personality of the tribal youth by enhancing their understanding of Ten Core Life Skills, identify their skill development oriented training needs and fulfilment of their legitimate career aspirations through Employable Skills, Scheme of Government of India and State Govt and provide them necessary guidance and career counselling.
• To provide exposure to industry and Skill Development programme which can facilitate the provision of employment to tribal youth.
• To provide literature on developmental schemes of the Centre & State pertaining to tribals.

Commodities India says NMDC subsidiary Legacy Iron Ore to mine gold in Australia

• Incorporated in 1958 as a Government of India public enterprise, NMDC is India’s largest producer of iron ore.
• It is a Navratna public-sector enterprise under the administrative control of the Ministry of Steel.
• The company is engaged in the exploration of a range of minerals, including iron ore, copper, rock phosphate, limestone, dolomite, gypsum, bentonite, magnesite, diamond, tin, tungsten, graphite, and beach sands.
• It owns and operates highly mechanised iron ore mines in Chhattisgarh and Karnataka.
• It also operates the only mechanised diamond mine in India at Panna, Madhya Pradesh.
• NMDC is considered to be one of the low-cost producers of iron ore in the world.
• The company sells most of their high-grade iron ore production to the Indian domestic steel market, primarily pursuant to long-term sales contracts.
• The registered office is located in the city of Hyderabad, Telangana.

NICED makes quick detection of drug-resistant H. pylori possible

Helicobacter pylori

• It is a common type of bacteria that grows in the digestive tract and tends to attack the stomach lining.
• It is adapted to live in the harsh, acidic environment of the stomach.
• This infection usually happens during childhood.
• Its infections are usually harmless, but they’re responsible for most ulcersin the stomach and small intestine.
• This bacterium can change the environment around it and reduce the acidity, so it can survive more easily.
• The spiral shape of H. pylori allows it to penetrate the stomach lining, where it’s protected by mucus and the body’s immune cells can’t reach it.
• Most people with H. pylori infections will never have any signs or symptoms.
• When signs or symptoms do occur with H. pylori infection, they are typically related to gastritis or a peptic ulcer and may include:
• An ache or burning pain in your stomach (abdomen)
• Stomach pain may be worse when your stomach is empty
• Nausea, Loss of appetite, unintentional weight loss,

Treatment

• It typically involves a combination of antibiotics and a proton-pump inhibitor (a drug that reduces your stomach acid) for up to 14 days.
• This treatment is sometimes referred to as triple therapy.

CRPF mulls CoBRA withdrawal from Jammu & Kashmir

Commando Battalions for Resolute Action (CoBRA)

• Established in 2008, CoBRA is a specialised unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
• It is one of the few units of the CRPF in the country that is specifically trained in guerilla tactics and jungle warfare.
• They are also known as ‘jungle warriors’.
• Originally established to counter the Naxalite problem (it was originally trained to track, hunt, and eliminate Naxalite groups), CoBRA is deployed within India to address any insurgent group engaging in asymmetrical warfare.
• Personnel for CoBRA areselected from CRPF, as CoBRA is an integral part of CRPF.
• They undergo rigorous commando and jungle warfare trainingbefore being posted to CoBRA units for operations.
• It has 10 units, raised between 2008 and 2011
• The majority of CoBRA teams are deployed in various Maoist violence-affected states, while a few are based in the northeastern states to undertake counter-insurgency operations.

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)

• It is the premier central police force of the Union of India for internal security.
• It functions under the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)**of the Government of India.
• History of CRPF:
• Originally constituted as the Crown Representative Police in 1939, it is one of the oldest Central paramilitary forces (now termed the Central Armed Police Force).
• CRPF was raised as a sequel to the political unrest and agitations in the then princely Statesof India following the Madras Resolution of the All-India Congress Committee in 1936 and the ever-growing desire of the Crown Representative to help the vast majority of the native States to preserve law and order as a part of imperial policy.
• It became the CRPF on enactment of the CRPF Act on 28th December
• Duties performed by the CRPF are
• Crowd control, Riot control
• Counter Millitancy / Insurgency operations, Dealing with Left Wing Extremism
• Overall co-ordination of **large-scale security arrangements,**especially with regard to elections in disturbed areas.
• Protection of VIPs and vital installations
• Checking environmental degradation and protection of local flora and fauna
• Fighting aggression during wartime
• Participating in UN Peacekeeping missions
• Rescue and Relief operationsat the time of natural calamities.

Can a trans woman invoke the Domestic Violence Act? SC to consider

Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 (DV Act)

• The DV Act was enacted by Parliament on September 13, 2005, and extends to the whole of India.
• It is basically meant to provide protection to a wife or female live-in partner from violence at the hands of the husband, a male live-in-partner, or his relatives.
• Domestic violence under the Act includes actual abuse or the threat of abuse, whether physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, or economic.
• Harassment by way of dowry demands is also covered under the definition of domestic violence.

Who is covered under the Act?

• The Act covers all women who may be mother, sister, wife, widow, or partners living in a shared household.
• The relationship may be in the nature of marriage or adoption.
• In addition, relationships with family members living together as a joint family are also included.

Who can file a complaint?

• Any woman who alleges to have been subjected to any act of domestic violence by the offender or any person may file a complaint on her behalf.
• A child is also entitled to relief under the DV Act. The mother of such a child can make an application on behalf of her minor child (whether male or female).
• In cases where the mother makes an application to the court for herself, the children can also be added as co-applicants.
• However, no female relative of the husband or the male partner can file a complaint against the wife or the female partner.
• Against whom can a complaint be filed?
• Any adult male member who has been in a domestic relationship with the woman
• Relatives of the husband or the male partner (including both male and female relatives of the male partner)
• Remedies available: Under the law, women can apply for reliefs such as
• Protection Order
• Residence Order for residing at Matrimonial House
• Monetary Orders, which include maintenance for herself and her children
• Temporary custody of children
• Compensation order for the damages caused to her
• It is only when the relief granted by the courts is breached that criminal action is taken against the respondent.
• Protection Officers:
• Under the DV Act, Protection Officers have been appointed by the Government to help the aggrieved woman in filing the case.
• They are to be attached to the Magistrates of the courts for the area notified for each protection officer.
• The Protection Officer facilitates the women to approach the court by providing legal aid and get appropriate relief from the courts
• Further, they execute the orders of the Court wherever necessary with the help of the police.
• Options are also available to the aggrieved person to file the petition before the Judicial Magistrate Court, or with the service provider, or at a nearby police station.

Service Providers:

• Under the DV Act, Service Providers are members of notified Non Governmental Organizations.
• They co-ordinate with all the stakeholders to get justice and relief for the victims of domestic violence.
• They help the aggrieved women in filing the Domestic Incident Report, provide accommodation in the short-stay homes along with their children, counsel them, and help the aggrieved get medical treatment if necessary.
• They also impart them with vocational training to help them secure employment and sustainable income.

Western Ghats throws up a new species of jumping spiders

Pancorius Sebastiani

• The new species belongs to the jumping spider genus Pancorius Simon, 1902, and the Salticidae
• It has been named Pancorius Sebastianiafter the late spider taxonomist P.A. Sebastian.
• The Pancorius genus of Asian jumping spiders is primarily distributed in southeast Asia.
• Its distribution was hitherto limited to the eastern and northeastern regions of
• The new species is the first to be reported from the south.
• Features
• The males and females of Pancorius Sebastianiexhibit a reddish brown carapace, yellowish abdomen with black patches, and chevron-shaped markings posteromedially.
• An analysis of Salticidae species in the country shows that only two states, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, have reported high numbers, while the others, including those harbouring biodiversity hotspots like the Western Ghats and northeastern India, have relatively few numbers of species.

Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is a protected area located in the Western Ghats of India, in the Kollam district of
• This sanctuary derives its name from Chenkurinji(Gluta travancorica), a species endemic to this region.
• It comes under the control of Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve.
• Flora:Tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests cover a major area of the sanctuary.
• Fauna:Includes tigers, gaurs, elephants, sambar deers, sloth bears, Malabar Raven, Malabar banded swallowtail, Red-disc Bushbrown, etc

Iran-Backed Group Claims Attack On Israeli Site By Dead Sea

Dead Sea

• The Dead Sea, also called the Salt Sea, is a salt lake bordering Jordan to the east and Israel to the west.
• However, the western shore’s southern half belongs to Israel, while the shore’s northern half is in the West Bank, an area claimed by both Israel and Palestine.
• It lies to the east of the Mediterranean Seaand south of the Sea of Galilee.
• It lies in the Jordan Rift Valley and is fed mainly by the Jordan River, which enters the lake from the north.
• It does not have an outlet, and so it loses its water mainly through evaporation.
• Its surface and shores are 427 metres below sea level, Earth''s lowest elevation on land.
• It is 306 m deep, the deepest hypersaline lake in the world.
• With 2% salinity (in 2011), it is also one of the world''s saltiest bodies of water, though Lake Vanda in Antarctica (35%), Lake Assal (Djibouti) (34.8%), Lagoon Garabogazköl in the Caspian Sea (up to 35%), and some hypersaline ponds and lakes of the McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica (such as Don Juan Pond (44%)) have reported higher salinities.
• It is almost ten times saltier than ordinary
• This salinity makes for a harsh environment in which animals cannot flourish, hence its name.
• It is 50 kilometres long and 15 kilometres wide at its widest point.
• The Dead Sea seawater has a density of 1.240 kg/L, which makes swimming in its waters similar to floating.

Japan: Scientists develop self-healing, stronger and partially biodegradable plastic

Vitrimer

• These represent a relatively recent category of plastics known for their impressive strength at low temperatures.
• They also possess the unique ability to be reshaped numerous times when exposed to higher temperatures.
• It is also partially biodegradable.
• Nonetheless, they do have a notable drawback - extreme brittleness, as they cannot be stretched far before breaking.
• To address this issue, researchers introduced a molecule called polyrotaxane into the plastic synthesis process, resulting in a novel plastic variant they''ve dubbed VPR, an abbreviation for "vitrimer incorporated with polyrotaxane."
• VPR is over five times as resistant to breaking as a typical epoxy resin vitrimer.
• At a high temperature of around 150 degrees Celsius, VPR starts to recombine, allowing the material to take on different forms.
• It also repairs itself 15 times as fast, can recover its original memorised shape twice as fast, and can be chemically recycled 10 times as fast as the typical vitrimer.
• It even biodegrades safely in a marine environment, which is new for this material.