ISRO develops second generation Distress Alert Transmitter.

• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has developed an improvised Distress Alert Transmitter (DAT) with advanced capabilities and features for the fishermen at sea to send emergency messages from fishing boats.
• The first version of DAT has been operational since 2010.
• The fishermen at sea send emergency messages from fishing boats.
• The messages are sent through a communication satellite and received at a central control station (INMCC: Indian Mission Control Centre) where the alert signals are decoded for the identity and location of the fishing boat.
• The extracted information is forwarded to Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCCs) under Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
• Using this information, the MRCC coordinates to undertake Search and Rescue operations to save the fishermen in distress.

What is Second Generation DAT?

• Taking advantage of technological developments in satellite communication and satellite navigation ISRO has improvised DAT with advanced capabilities and features evolving to Second Generation DAT (DAT-SG).
• The DAT-SG has the facility to send back acknowledgement to the fishermen who activate the distress alert from sea. This gives an assurance to him of rescue coming to him.
• Apart from transmitting distress signals from the Sea, DAT-SG has the capability to receive messages from control centres.
• Using this, advance alert messages can be sent to the fishermen at sea whenever there are events of bad weather, cyclone tsunami or any other emergencies.
• Further, the information about Potential Fishing Zones (PFZs) are also transmitted to fishermen using DAT-SG on regular intervals.
• DAT-SG can be connected to mobile phones using Bluetooth interface and the messages can be read in native language using an App in the mobile.
• The central control centre has a web-based network management system called “SAGARMITRA” which maintains a database of registered DAT-SGs and helps MRCCs to access the information about boat, coordinate the boat in distress in real time.
• This helps the Indian Coast Guard to undertake Search & Rescue operations at the time of distress, without any time delay.

What do tribal groups like the Soligas and Yeravas eat?

• The launched Forgotten Trails: Foraging Wild Edibles, authored by Malemleima Ningombi and Harisha RP, chronicled the foods that Soligas and Yeravas tribes forage from the forests.
• Indigenous groups Soligas and Yeravas have been living in the Cauvery Basin and the surrounding hills of peninsular India for thousands of years.
• Soligas, one of the oldest indigenous communities in the country, are the original inhabitants of Karnataka and live mostly in the Chamarajanagar and Mandya districts.
• Honey is an important part of the diet for the Soliga people, who still forage large parts of their food from the biodiversity-rich Ghats.
• They reside in the peripheral forest areas near Biligiri Rangana Hills and Male Mahadeshwara.
• They are the first tribal community living inside the core area of a tiger reserve in India to get their forest rights officially recognised by a court of law.
• Soligas use Silver cockscomb as a nutritious leafy green vegetable, as it is high in nutrients such as beta-carotene and folic acids, and have vitamin E, calcium and iron.
• Also, the scientific community has named a new genus (Soliga ecarinata) of wasp after this community.

Who are Yeravas?

• The Yeravas, on the other hand, came to the state from Wayanad district in Kerala and settled in Kodagu district of Karnataka.
• Yeravas use more tubers than Soligas.
• Language: They speak their own language of Ravula.
• Mushrooms become part of the Yerava diet during monsoon.
• Issues: The food that Soligas and Yeravas depend on for survival is now affected by changes in land use and shifting policies. Worse, traditional knowledge is steadily being lost as young people are migrating out.

India to host global meet on pulses after 18 years

About 800 representatives of governmnents, as well as commercial and non profit organisations involved in the production and processing of pulses will attend the Global Pulse Convention to be held here at the Taj Palace Hotel in February. Jointly organised by the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) and the Global Pulse Confederation (GPC), the conference will see experts in the field sharing their views and experiences with various stakeholders and policymakers. 

 Global Pulses Conference?

• The Global Pulse Confederation (GPC), represents all segments of the pulse industry value chain from growers, researchers, logistics suppliers, traders, exporters and importers to government bodies, multilateral organisations, processors, canners and consumers.
• Its membership includes 24 national associations and over 500 private sector members.
• It is based in Dubai and licensed by the Dubai Multi Commodity Centre (DMCC).

Status of Pulse Production in India

• India is the largest producer (25% of global production), consumer (27% of world consumption) and importer (14%) of pulses in the world.
• Pulses account for around 20% of the area under food grains and contribute around 7-10% of the total foodgrains production in the country.
• Top Pulses Producing States: Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.
• Main Varieties: Pulses are grown throughout the agricultural year.
• Rabi Pulses (contribute over 60%): Gram (chickpea), Chana (Bengal gram), Masoor (lentil), Arhar (pigeon pea).
• Kharif Pulses: Moong (green gram), Urad (black gram), Tur (arhar dal).
• Rabi crops require mild cold climate during sowing period, during vegetative to pod development- cold climate and during maturity/ harvesting - warm climate.
• Kharif pulse crops require a warm climate throughout their life from sowing to harvesting.

• Major Export Destinations (2022-23): Bangladesh, China, United Arab Emirates, USA and Nepal.
• Significance:
• Nutritional Powerhouses: Pulses are rich in protein, fibre, vitamins, and minerals, providing essential nutrients for human diets.
• Soil Enrichment: They fix nitrogen in the soil, improving fertility and reducing the need for synthetic fertilisers due to their leguminous nature.
• Climate Smart Crop: Pulses are drought-tolerant (water-efficient) crops and have a lower carbon footprint compared to many other crops, contributing to sustainability.
• Crop Health and Rotation: Including pulses in crop rotations enhances soil structure, reduces disease cycles, and suppresses weeds, promoting healthier agricultural systems.
• Related Concern:
• Yield Gap: Lower productivity of pulses in India compared to other major producers, causing dependence on imports to meet demand.
• Farmers experience reduced earnings due to lower pulse yields per acre, despite the higher minimum support price (MSP).
• Lack of Focus: Historical emphasis on rice and wheat cultivation led to insufficient R&D and infrastructure for pulses.
• High Import Dependence: India needs to import certain pulses despite being the largest producer to meet its domestic demand, impacting self-sufficiency.

• Government Initiatives:
• National Food Security Mission (NFSM)-Pulses
• Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) Scheme
• Price Stabilization Fund
• Dedicated Portal for Tur Dal Procurement: Through which farmers can register and sell their produce to NAFED and National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India Ltd. (NCCF) at a minimum support price or market price.

Road ahead

• Towards Second Green Revolution: Facilitating the availability of certified high-yielding, disease-resistant pulse varieties adapted to local agro-climatic conditions.
• Encouraging seed banks, community seed systems, and public-private partnerships to ensure the timely availability of quality seeds to farmers, which is essential for enhancing pulse production and productivity.
• Product Diversification and Value Addition: Developing value-added products like pulse flours, snacks, and protein supplements to expand market reach and attract new consumers.
• Comprehensive Farmer Support Programs: Implementing comprehensive support programs for pulse farmers, including access to credit, insurance coverage, and extension services.
• Strengthening farmer producer organisations (FPOs) to empower farmers collectively and enhance their bargaining power in the market.

Interest in indigenous cattle breeds like the Pulikulam is reviving.

• Interest in indigenous cattle breeds like the Pulikulam is reviving which is famous for a local game called Jallikattu in Tamilnadu.
• Pulikulam Cattle breed is a popular draught and game breed of Tamil Nadu.
• The cattle originated from Pulikulam; a village located in Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu.
• It is also known as Palingu maadu, Mani maadu, Jallikattu maadu, Mattu maadu and Kilakattu maadu.
• These are maintained as migratory herds, and its draught and manure capabilities play a significant role in the rural livelihood of the communities rearing them for draught and organic agricultural production.
• This breed of cattle is famous for a local game called Jallikattu where bulls are used as a bull-taming sport.
• Pulikulam / Alambadi bulls are dark grey, almost black and cows grey or white.

Odisha: Sambar, bison to be introduced in Chandaka wildlife sanctuary.

• After relocating deer from Cuttack, the Odisha state government is planning to introduce Sambar and Gaur (bison) in the Chandaka-Dampara wildlife sanctuary.
• Chandaka-Dampara wildlife sanctuary is located in Khurda district of Odisha represents the north-eastern limits of Eastern Ghats.
• It is also a home to a number of threatened wild animals and birds.
• This landscape got sanctuary status in 1982.
• The climate of the area is tropical with three distinct and well-marked seasons i.e. summer, Rainy season and winter.
• Vegetation: Flora is moderately diverse with an intimate mixture of evergreen and deciduous elements. The area comes under semi-evergreen forest zone but the interplay of biotic factors has changed the original character of the vegetation.
• Flora: Dhaman (Grewia Tiliaefolia), Bankapasia (Kydia calycina), Jamu (Syzyggium Cuminii), Gandhana (Premna mucronata), Kansa (Hymenodictyon excelsum), Kusum (Schleichera oleosa), Marua (Vitex pinnata), Sidha (Lagerstroemia parviflora), Karanja, Thorny bamboo etc.
• Fauna: Elephants, Chital, Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Rhesus Monkey, Pangolin, Sloth Bear, Indian Wolf, Hyena and other mammals.

Budget 2024-25: Telecom industry wants govt to junk USOF, slash duties.

• Telecom service providers have urged the Ministry of Finance to suspend the universal service obligation fund (USOF) levy until the existing corpus is exhausted.
• USOF was set up by an Act of Parliament in December 2003 by amending the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885.
• The objective of the USOF is to provide access to telecom services in a non-discriminatory manner to people in rural and remote areas at affordable and reasonable prices, thereby bridging the rural-urban digital divide.
• For commercially non-viable rural and remote areas, USOF provides subsidy support in the form of Net Cost or Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to incentivize telecom service providers for the expansion of telecommunications and broadband services in those areas.

Funding Mechanism:

• The USOF is funded through a levy on the revenue earned by telecom operators.
• The government imposes a Universal Service Levy (USL) on the gross revenue of the telecom companies, which is a percentage of their Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR).
• This levy is collected and deposited into the USOF.

Administration:

• USOF is headed by the Administrator, USO Fund who is appointed by the Central Government, for the administration of the fund.
• It is an attached office of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications.

What is the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF)?

• USOF officially launched the TTDF Scheme on October 1st, 2022.
• The TTDF Scheme is aimed at domestic companies and institutions involved in technology design, development, and commercialization of telecommunication products and solutions to enable affordable broadband and mobile services in rural and remote areas.
• This initiative helps to connect schools with varied volunteers from the Indian Diaspora, namely, young professionals, retired teachers, retired Government officials, retired professionals, NGOs, Private Sector and Public Sector Companies, Corporate Institutions, and many others.
• Under the scheme, USOF is also targeting to develop standards to meet countrywide requirements and create an ecosystem for research, design, prototyping, use cases, pilots, and proof-of-concept testing, among others.
• The scheme entails grants to Indian entities to encourage and induct indigenous technologies tailor-made to meet domestic needs.

Odisha: Bhitarkanika National Park to get railway link.

• Odisha’s Bhitarkanika national park will soon be connected by rail as the proposed Jajpur Road-Dhamra railway line will pass through the park.
• Bhitarkanika National Park is located in Kendrapara district in the state of Odisha.
• The national park that is sprawling across 672 km² of mangrove swamp is situated on a delta formed by rivers, namely Brahmani, Baitarani, and Dhamra.
• Proximity to the Bay of Bengal makes the soil of the area enriched with salts; the vegetation and species of the sanctuary are those that are mainly found in the tropical and subtropical intertidal regions.
• It is home to a multitude of mud huts, creeks, backwaters, and estuaries.
• The area was designated as the Ramsar Site in 2002.

Flora:

• It houses various species of mangrove spread across its forest region, marshy lands, creeks, etc.
• Thespia, casuarinas, sundari, and indigo bush grasses are some of the other varieties of flora that flourish in the area.

Fauna:

• Bhitarkanika has one of the largest populations of endangered saltwater crocodiles in India.
• Gahirmatha Beach, which forms the boundary of the park in the east, is the largest colony of Olive Ridley Sea Turtles.
• Other mammals include monkeys, jackals, common langurs, otter, sambar deer, jungle cats, fox, Mongoose, wolfs, fishing cats, hyenas, etc.