16 More Gates Of Odisha’s Hirakud Dam Opened; Excess Water Being Released Through 22

Hirakud Dam

• Hirakud Dam is built across the Mahanadi River, about 15 kilometres from Sambalpur in the state of Odisha.
• It is the longest earthen dam in the world, about 16 miles and around 26 km in length.
• The dam forms a vast reservoir known as the Hirakud Reservoir or Hirakud Lake. It is the biggest artificial lake in Asia.
• History:
  • It is one of the first multipurpose projects undertaken by India after independence.
  • The construction began in 1948 and was completed in 1953.
  • It was built to control the flow of the Mahanadi River and manage the perennial problem of floods in the region.
  • The inauguration of the dam was done by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1957.
• Purpose:
  • Irrigation facility to 1,08,385 hectares of Rabi crops and 1,55,635 hectares of Kharif crops in Bolangir, Subarnapur, Bargarh, and Sambalpur.
  • The capacity of power generation installed at Hirakud dam is 359.8 MW.
  • More than 436,000 hectares of land in the Mahanadi delta also get irrigated by the water which is released from the powerhouse.
  • The delta area in Cuttack and Puri districts, which covers an area of 9500 sq Km, also gets flood protection because of the Hirakud Project.
• Structure:
  • Granite, hard concrete, and earth are the most used substances in building the dam.
  • Stretched from the Chandidungri hills on the right to the Lamdungri hills on the left, the main structure of Hirakud Dam is about 4.8 km long.
  • About 83400 sq. km. is the catchment area, and the dam is a composite structure of Concrete, Masonry and Earth.
• Cattle Island:
  • It is a small island in the Hirakud Reservoir.
  • It is inhabited by a large herd of wild cattle, which are believed to be the descendants of cattle that were left behind by villagers when the dam was constructed in the 1950s.

Mahanadi River

• It is one of the major east-flowing peninsular rivers in India.
• Origin: The river originates from the Sihawa range of hills in the Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh state.
• It flows in a southeastern direction through Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
• The catchment areaof the basin extends over major parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha and comparatively smaller portions of Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
• Length: It flows a total of 860 km by distance before it ends up in the Bay of Bengal.
• Tributaries: The main tributaries of Mahanadi are Seonath River, Jonk River, Hasdeo River, Mand River, Ib River, Ong River and Telen River.

What Is VB_HmeY_H4907? The New Virus Found In Pacific In Earth''s Oceans

VB_HmeY_H4907

• It is a new virus discovered nearly 11,000 metres below the surface of the Pacific Ocean.
• The virus has been understood as a Bacteriophage, which means ‘bacteria eater’.
• It infects halophilic bacteria (bacteria that inhabit environments with high salt concentrations) from the genus Halomonas. Such bacteria are generally found in deep-sea hydrothermal vents.
• The virus is actually very genetically similar to its host and is a lysogenic phage, meaning that it inserts its genetic material into the bacteria but usually doesn’t kill it; instead, both virus and bacteria replicate at the same time.

Bacteriophages

• Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are viruses that infect and replicate in bacterial cells.
• They also infect the single-celled prokaryotic organisms known as archaea.
• They were discovered independently by Frederick W. Twort in Great Britain (1915) and Félix d’Hérelle in France (1917).
• They are ubiquitous in the environment and are recognised as the most abundant biological agent on earth.
• They are extremely diverse in size, morphology, and genomic organisation.
• Like all viruses, phages are simple organisms that consist of a core of genetic material (nucleic acid) surrounded by a protein capsid. The nucleic acid may be either DNA or RNA and may be double-stranded or single-stranded.

I2U2 takes partnership forward, announces joint space venture

I2U2 Group

• It is a grouping of India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.
• Formation:
  • The group was initially formed in October 2021 to deal with issues concerning infrastructure, transport, and maritime security in the region.
  • Originally named the "International Forum for Economic Cooperation," it was also known as the "West Asian Quad" at the time.
  • First virtual summit: The group held their first virtual summit in July 2022.
• This unique grouping of countries identifies bankable projects and initiatives to tackle some of the greatest challenges, with a particular focus on joint investments and new initiatives in water, energy, transportation, space, health, food security, and technology.
• It aims to mobilise private sector capital and expertise to achieve a variety of goals, including modernising infrastructure, advancing low-carbon development pathways, and improving public health.

Over 21,000 animals vaccinated against foot-&-mouth disease in Chandigarh

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)

• It is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs.
• It is a transboundary animal disease (TAD) that deeply affects the production of livestock and disrupts regional and international trade in animals and animal products.
• It is a disease of animals, not humans and is a different disease than hand, foot, and mouth disease, which is common in young children.
• Causative agent: It is caused by the foot-and-mouth disease virus, which is a member of the Picornaviridae family.
• Transmission:
  • It is primarily spread through direct contact between infected animals, as well as through contaminated feed, equipment, vehicles, clothing, and the movement of infected animals.
  • It can be transmitted to humans in rare cases. Human cases are typically mild and self-limiting, with symptoms similar to other viral illnesses.
• Symptoms: Common symptoms in affected animals include fever, blister-like sores on the tongue, lips, and inside the mouth, **as well as on the hooves (**hence the name "foot and mouth" disease), excessive salivation, lameness, and reduced milk or meat production.
• Treatment:
  • Vaccination is a common method of control for FMD in regions where the disease is endemic or where there is a high risk of outbreaks.
  • Vaccinated animals can still contract the virus, but the disease''s severity is reduced.

Polycystic ovary syndrome among Indian adolescent girls

• One in five women in India grapples with PCOS, with 60% of those seeking infertility treatments doing so due to PCOS-related problems.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

• It is a very common hormone problem for women of childbearing age.
• Symptoms:
  • Women with PCOS may not ovulate, have high levels of androgens, and have many small cysts on the ovaries.
  • It can cause missed or irregular menstrual periods, excess hair growth, acne, infertility, and weight gain.
• Causes: Genetic predisposition, often marked by a family history of diabetes or obesity, exposed to environments that encourage neither a healthy diet nor regular exercise and are stress-laden.
• Treatment: It can be prevented through lifestyle changes, medications, and fertility treatments.

In a first, RNA is recovered from extinct Tasmanian tiger

Tasmanian tiger

• The Tasmanian tiger resembled a wolf, aside from the tiger-like stripes on its back.
• The last known Tasmanian tiger succumbed in a Tasmanian zoo in 1936.
• It is a large carnivorous marsupial now believed to be extinct.
• It was the only member of the family Thylacinidae to survive into modern times.
• It was widespread over continental Australia, extending north to New Guinea and south to Tasmania.
• It was an apex predator that hunted kangaroos and other prey.

RNA

• It is a complex compound of high molecular weight that functions in cellular protein synthesis.
• It replaces DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) as a carrier of genetic codes in some viruses.
• It consists of ribose nucleotides(nitrogenous bases appended to a ribose sugar) attached by phosphodiester bonds.
• The nitrogenous bases in RNA are adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil.
• It is a single-stranded molecule that carries genetic information.
• RNA synthesises the panoply of proteins that an organism requires to live and works to regulate cell metabolism.

Tamil Nadu’s Shore Temple India’s First Green Energy Archaeological Site

Shore Temple

• It is a historic temple complex located in Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram), Tamil Nadu.
• It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.
• It was probably built during the reign of Narasimhavarman II, also known as Rajasimha (Pallava ruler), who reigned from 700 to 728 CE.
• Shore Temple is one of a number of Hindu monuments at Mahabalipuram, on the Coromandel Coast of Tamil Nadu.
• It is one of the oldest structural excellence (rock-cut) stone temples in South India.
• The Mamallapuram monuments and temples, including the Shore Temple complex, were collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984.

UNESCO

• UNESCO stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation.
• It is aspecialised agency of the United Nations (UN).
• The constitution, which entered into force in 1946, called for the promotion of international collaboration in education, science, and culture.
• Headquarters: Paris, France.
• Parent OrganisationUnited Nations Economic and Social Council
• Goal: The primary goals of UNESCO are to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science, and culture and to promote sustainable development and intercultural dialogue.

Madhya Pradesh notifies ''Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve'' as its 7th Tiger Sanctuary

Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve

• Location: It is spread across Sagar, Damoh and Narsinghpur districts of Madhya Pradesh.
• It is spread over an area of 2,339 square kilometres.
• It is the seventh tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
• It will encompass areas within the Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary and Durgavati Wildlife Sanctuary.
• A green corridor linking Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) with Durgavati will be developed for the natural movement of the tiger to the new reserve.
• Rivers: Parts of the reserve fall under the Narmada and Yamuna River basins.
• The Singorgarh Fort is located within the reserve.
• Vegetation: Dry deciduous type
• Flora: The chief floral elements include Teak, Saja, Dhaora, Ber, Amla, etc.
• Fauna: Tiger, leopard, wolf, jackal, Indian fox, striped hyena, Nilgai, Chinkara, Chital, Sambhar, Black Buck, Barking deer, Common Langur Rhesus Macaque etc.

Extreme plankton bloom creates marine ''dead zone'' off eastern Thailand

Plankton

• The word “plankton” comes from the Greek for “drifter” or “wanderer.”
• An organism is considered plankton if it is carried by tides and currents and cannot swim well enough to move against these forces.
• The most basic categories divide plankton into two groups: phytoplankton (plants) and zooplankton (animals).
• Phytoplankton are microscopic plants, but they play a huge role in the marine food web.
• Like plants on land, phytoplankton perform photosynthesis to convert the sun’s rays into energy to support them, and they take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen.
• Zooplankton includes microscopic animals (krill, sea snails, pelagic worms, etc.), the young of larger invertebrates and fish, and weak swimmers like jellyfish. Most zooplankton eat phytoplankton.

Plankton bloom

• Phytoplankton population explosion occurs when sunlight and nutrients are abundantly available to the plants.
• They grow and reproduce to a point where they are so dense that their presence changes the colour of the water in which they live.
• Blooms can be quick events that begin and end within a few days, or they may last several weeks.
• These plants grow so dense that it changes the colour of the water they live in.

Gulf Of Thailand

• It is a shallow inlet of the South China Sea located in the western part of the Pacific Ocean.
• It is surrounded by the countries of Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
• The gulf was formerly known as the Gulf of Siam, and in the modern Thai language, the Gulf is referred to as Ao Thai (“Thai Gulf”).
• Many notable rivers discharge their freshwater and sediments into the Gulf of Thailand, which include the Chao Phraya River along with its distributaries, the Bang Pakong, the Tha Chin, and the Mae Klong rivers.

Union Minister of state for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Kailash Choudhary Launches AI Chatbot for PM-KISAN Scheme today

AI Chatbot for PM-KISAN Scheme

• It acts as a comprehensive guide for the beneficiaries, providing them with timely and accurate responses to their queries related to the scheme.
• This is the first AI Chatbot integrated with a major flagship scheme of the Union government.
• It has been developed and improved with the support of the EKstep Foundation and Bhashini.
• The introduction of the AI chatbot in the PM-KISAN grievance management system is aimed at empowering farmers with a user-friendly and accessible platform.
• In its first phase of development, the AI chatbot will assist farmers in seeking information related to their application status, payment details, ineligibility status, and other scheme-related updates.
• The AI Chatbot, accessible through the PM KISAN mobile app, is integrated with Bhashini, which offers multilingual support, catering to the linguistic and regional diversity of the PM KISAN beneficiaries.
• This integration of advanced technology will not only enhance transparency but will also empower farmers to make informed decisions.
• Currently, the Chatbot is available in English, Hindi, Bengali, Odia, and Tamil.

PM-KISAN Scheme

• It is a central sector scheme launched in February 2019 to support the financial needs of land-holding farmers in India.
• The scheme offers an annual financial benefit of Rs 6,000/- in three equal instalments to eligible farmers’ families through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.
• The government of India has also developed a mobile app with the feature of face authentication-based e-KYC.
• This app is the first mobile app that uses face authentication-based e-KYC features in any benefit scheme of the Government.