NIIF unveils $600 mn India-Japan Fund

National Investment and Infrastructure Fund

• It is an investor-owned fund manager, anchored by the Government of India (GoI) in collaboration with leading global and domestic institutional investors.
• It is India’s first-ever sovereign wealth fund (SWF) which was set up in the year 2015.
• It is an institution for enhancing infrastructure financing by investing in greenfield (new), brownfield (existing) and stalled projects.
• The primary goal of setting up NIIF was to optimise the economic impact largely through investing in infrastructure-related projects.
• Types of NIIF Funds
  • Master Fund: This fund primarily invests in infra-related projects such as roads, ports, airports, and power. Also, the master fund invests in well-established enterprises that are into a long-term agreement and are operating in a regulated environment with a good history.
  • Fund of Funds: It looks to invest in funds managed by the renowned fund managers having an excellent track record. The fund of funds invests as anchor investors, and this enables the fund managers to accumulate more funds from the institutional investors
  • Strategic Fund: This fund is registered as an Alternative Fund II under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in India. Strategic funds invest primarily in equity and equity- linked instruments.
• The funds are registered as Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

Personality Disorders Linked to Increased Risk of Fatty Liver Disease

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

• NAFLD is the term for a range of conditions caused by a buildup of fat in the liver.
• This buildup of fat is not caused by heavy alcohol use. When heavy alcohol use causes fat to build up in the liver, this condition is called alcohol-associated liver disease.
• Two types of NAFLD are nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
• People typically develop one type of NAFLD or the other, although sometimes people with one form are later diagnosed with the other form of NAFLD.
• NAFL:
  • NAFL is a form of NAFLD in which you have fat in your liver but little or no inflammation or liver damage.
  • NAFL typically does not progress to cause liver damage or complications.
  • However, NAFL can cause pain from enlargement of the liver.
• NASH:
  • NASH is the form of NAFLD in which you have inflammation of the liver and liver damage, in addition to fat in your liver.
  • The inflammation and liver damage of NASH can cause fibrosis, or scarring, of the liver.
  • NASH may lead to cirrhosis, in which the liver is scarred and permanently damaged. Cirrhosis can lead to liver cancer.
• Who is more likely to develop NAFLD?
  • NAFLD is more common in people who have certain diseases and conditions, including obesity, and conditions that may be related to obesity, such as type 2 diabetes.
  • NAFLD can affect people of any age, including children.
• Treatment:
  • There''s currently no specific medication for NAFLD.
  • Doctors recommend weight loss to treat NAFLD.
  • Weight loss can reduce fat, inflammation, and fibrosis in the liver.
  • Treatment may also be recommended for associated conditions (high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol) or complications.

DRDO''s VSHORAD Missile System To Be A Game-changer For Short-range Threats

Very Short-Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) missile system

• It is a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD) specially designed to counter low-altitude aerial threats over short distances.
• These are short-range, lightweight, and portablesurface-to-air missiles that can be fired by individuals or small groups.
• It has been designed and developed indigenously by DRDO''s Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and Indian industry partners.
• The use of VSHORAD missiles in India is primarily by the Indian Army.
• Features:
  • It is designed to provide short-range air defence capabilities to protect ground forces and critical assets from aerial threats, including helicopters and low-flying aircraft.
  • The missile incorporates many novel technologies, including a Dual-band IIR Seeker, a miniaturised Reaction Control System, and integrated avionics.
  • It is propelled by a dual-thrust solid motor.
  • The missile and its launcher were designed by the DRDO to be portable, which enables their quick deployment over difficult terrain.

This Pune firm to provide unmanned, weaponised boats, undersea drones to counter Chinese threats

• Sagar Defence Engineering Private Limited has emerged as the winner of the iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) DISC-7 program, particularly under the SPRINT framework.
• The agreement between the Indian Navy and the organisation marks the 50th contract awarded under the SPRINT program.

Autonomous Weaponised Boat Swarms

• These swarms are strategically designed for naval tactics, employing a coordinated deployment of numerous small unmanned boats to overwhelm an adversary’s naval defenses.
• They are equipped with a variety of weapons and sensors that are capable of remote or autonomous operation.
• They are equipped with an integrated system capable of executing a variety of naval and security missions, such as littoral/ODA Patrol, High-Speed Interdiction, Coastal Surveillance, Local Naval Defence, Constabulary Operations, C4ISR, Medium-Sized Unmanned Surface Vessel, and Low-Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO).

SPRINT Initiative

• It is an initiative to promote the development of niche defence technologies by domestic companies.
• The Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO), in conjunction with the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), aims to induct at least 75 new indigenous technologies/products into the Indian Navy as a part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebration.
• This collaborative project is named SPRINT - Supporting Pole-Vaulting in R&D through iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence), NIIO and TDAC (Technology Development Acceleration Cell).
• It was launched by the Prime Minister in July, 2022.

iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence)

• It is the flagship initiative of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), launched in April 2018.
• Aim: To achieve self-reliance and foster innovation and technology development in Defence and Aerospace by engaging Industries including MSMEs, start-ups, individual innovators, R&D institutes, and academia.
• iDEX has partnered with leading incubators in the country to provide handholding, technical support, and guidance to the winners of iDEX challenges.
• iDEX will be funded and managed by a ‘Defence Innovation Organization (DIO)’ which has been formed as a ‘not for profit companyas per Section 8 of the Companies Act 2013 by the two founder members, i.e. Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) - HAL & BEL.
• iDEX will function as the executive arm of DIO, carrying out all the required activities, while DIO will provide high-level policy guidance to iDEX.
• Under iDEX, financial support is provided to Start-ups/MSMEs/individual innovators and Partner Incubators through DIO.

Chenab bridge: World’s highest steel arch rail bridge in J&K to be developed as tourist spot

Chenab Bridge

• Location: It is located between Bakkal and Kauri in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
• The 1.3-km-long bridge is located 359 metres above the Chenab riverbed.
• It is the highest single-arch railway bridge in the world.
• It is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link project.
• Features:
  • The arch consists of steel boxes. Concrete has been filled in the boxes to improve stability.
  • The bridge has been designed with a life span of 120 years.
  • It has been designed to withstand high wind speeds of up to 266 Kmph.
  • It is capable of withstanding the nation’s maximum intensity zone-V earthquake forces.

Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) Project

• The USBRL Project involves the construction of a railway line from Udhampur to Baramulla, joining the Kashmir valley with the Indian Railways network.
• Aim: To connect Kashmir to the rest of the country and give a push to development in the valley.
• Total Length: 272 km
• The project was declared a “National Project” in 2002.
• The project includes the construction of several bridges and tunnels along the route.
• This project involves 38 tunnels (combined length of 119 Km), with the longest tunnel (T-49) having a length of 12.75 Km and is the country''s longest transportation tunnel.
• There are 927 nos. of bridges (combined length of 13 Km), including the iconic Chenab Bridge.
• The project includes the Indian Railway''s first cable-stayed, bridge which is being constructed on Anji Khad.

2023 Chemistry Nobel Prize: What are quantum dots and what is the work that won the prize?

Quantum Dots (QDs)

• Quantum dots, often referred to as "artificial atoms," are semiconductor nanoparticles that have unique optical and electronic properties due to their small size.
• They were first theorized in the 1970s and then successfully synthesized in the early 1980s.
• Many semiconductor substances can be used as QDs, such as cadmium selenide, cadmium sulfide, or indium arsenide. Nanoparticles of these, or any other semiconductor substance, have the properties of a QD.
• The size and composition of the QDs can be controlled during synthesis, allowing scientists to tailor their properties for various applications.
• Optical Properties: One of the most notable features of QDs is their tunable emission properties.
  • By controlling the size of the QD, researchers can precisely tune the wavelength of light emitted or absorbed.
  • They can be engineered to emit light across the entire visible spectrum and into the infrared and ultraviolet ranges, offering a wide palette of colors for various applications.
  • The smallest quantum dots emit higher energy waves and produce blue light, and the biggest dots release lower energy waves, creating red light, with the middle sizes creating the colours in between.
• Applications:
  • Displays: They are used in display technology to enhance the color and efficiency of displays for TVs, monitors, and other electronic devices.
    • Compared to organic luminescent materials used in organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), QD-based materials have purer colors, a longer lifetime, lower manufacturing costs, and lower power consumption.
  • Photovoltaics: QDs can be used in solar cells to enhance light absorption and energy conversion efficiency.
  • Bio-medical applications: The small size of QDs allows them to go anywhere in the body, making them suitable for different bio-medical applications like medical imaging, biosensors, targeted drug delivery, etc.
  • Quantum Computing: QDs are being investigated for their potential role in quantum computing, as they can serve as qubits, the fundamental units of quantum information.

Andhra Pradesh’s Bojjannakonda gets major facelift to draw more tourists

Bojjannakonda

• It is located in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
• The site was excavated under the aegis of Alexander Rim in 1906.
• It was originally known as ‘Buddhuni konda’ (hill of the Buddha), but it came to be known as ‘Bojjannakonda’ in the course of time.
• Buddhist monks used to practice on the hill about 2,000 years ago.
• A gold coin belonging to the Samudra Gupta period, copper coins of the Chalukya king Kubja Vishnu Vardhan, coins of Andhra Satavahanas and pottery were discovered at the site.
• Features
  • An interesting feature of this site is that it shows features of all the three phases of Buddhism: Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana.
  • A figure of ‘Kalabhairava’ with the head of Lord Ganesha wearing conch shells and the statue of a Buddhist monk, ‘Harati’, have also been found at the site.
  • There is a large double-storeyed cave on the hill.
  • The rectangular cave has a doorway and is flanked by ‘dwarapalakas’ on either side.
  • There is a rock-cut stupa, standing on a square platform, at the centre of the cave.
  • A series of rock-cut caves and monolithic structures standing on rock platforms are present on the northern side of the hill.
  • The upper cave has a rectangular doorway flanked by figures of the Buddha on either side.
  • The imposing figures of the Buddha, seated in meditation posture, and the stupa are the main attraction for tourists at Bojjannakonda.
  • On the top of the hill, there is a group of structural buildings and a vihara (monastery), which has been reduced to ruins.
  • To the west of Bojjannakonda, another hillock, Lingalakonda or Lingalametta, is present.
  • A number of monolithic and structural stupas can be seen on the top of this hillock.
• The Buddhist temple at Barabodur in Java has been constructed on the lines of the structures on Lingalametta”.
• The caves at Bojjannakonda and those in Takshasila are similar.
• The word ‘Sangrama’ was in use at Takshasila but was never used in Andhra Pradesh. These two features suggest that Buddhist practices influenced Bojjannakonda in northern India,”

The Nilgiris'' endemic tarantula could be under threat from habitat loss and climate change, say researchers

Haploclastus nilgirinus

• It is an elusive Nilgiri large burrowing spider and a venomous species of tarantula.
• It is endemic to the Nilgiris hills of Western Ghats.
• It shows sexual dimorphism, the males are much smaller than the females.
• Threats: It is threatened by the illegal trade in wildlife as well as by climate change,

Tarantula

• Tarantulas are a type of large, hairy spider belonging to the family Theraphosidae.
• There are over 900 species of tarantulas found all over the world, except for Antarctica.
• They move slowly on their eight hairy legs, but they are accomplished nocturnal predators.
• Adult tarantulas average five inches (13 centimeters) long. When spread out, their leg span is up to 11 inches (28 centimeters).

Nilgiri Hills

• These hills are part of the Western Ghat mountain range and run across the Southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.
• The peaks of the Nilgiri rise abruptly from the surrounding plains to an elevation of about 6,000–8,000 feet one of them, **Doda Betta (**8,652 feet ) is the highest point in Tamil Nadu.
• The hills are separated from the Karnataka Plateau (north) by the Noyar River and from the Annamalai and Palni hills (south) by the Palghat Gap.
• They are considerably cooler and wetter than the surrounding plains, the upper hills forming undulating grassy downs.

Sikkim flash floods death toll mounts to 14

Glacial Lake Outburst Flood

• Glacial lakes are large bodies of water that sit in front of, on top of, or beneath a melting glacier.
• As they grow larger, they become more dangerous because glacial lakes are mostly dammed by unstable ice or sediment composed of loose rock and debris.
• In case the boundary around them breaks, huge amounts of water rush down the side of the mountains, which could cause flooding in the downstream areas. This is called glacial lake outburst floods or GLOF.
• It can be triggered by several reasons, including earthquakes, extremely heavy rains and ice avalanches
• These lakes are also often found in steep, mountainous regions, which means landslides or ice avalanches can sometimes fall directly into the lakes and displace the water, causing it to over-top the natural dam and flood downstream

South Lhonak Lake

• This lake in northern Sikkim is situated about 5,200 metres above sea level.
• It formed due to the melting of the glacier.
• It is a moraine-dammed glacial lake at the snout of South Lhonak glacier, Sikkim Himalaya.
• It has become the largest and fastest-growing glacial lake in the state, with a glacial retreat of almost two kilometres in 46 years between 1962 and 2008.

Even platypuses aren’t safe from bushfires — a new DNA study tracks their disappearance

Platypus

• It is a duck-billed, beaver-tailed, otter-footed, egg-laying mammal.
• It is a small species of semi-aquatic mammal indigenous to the eastern coast of Australia.
  • They are solitary animal that despite occupying overlapping home ranges, only comes together during the breeding season.
• They are nocturnal hunters.
• Habitat: They are found in freshwater systems from tropical rainforest lowlands and plateaus of far northern Queensland to cold, high altitudes of Tasmania and the Australian Alps.
• Appearance
  • The platypus is an animal with a small, streamlined body that is covered in short and dense waterproof fur.
  • The watertight nostrils on its bill remain sealed so that the animal can stay submerged for up to two minutes as it forages for food.
  • The bill also comes equipped with specialized nerve endings, called electroreceptors, which detect tiny electrical currents generated by the muscular contractions of prey.
  • Male platypuses have a spur on the inner side of each ankle that is connected to a venom gland located over the thighs.
• Diet: They are carnivorous mammal whose diet is almost solely comprised of bottom-dwelling aquatic creatures.
• Conservation status
  • IUCN: Near Threatened