News In Short-14-09-2024

Port Blair to be renamed as ‘Sri Vijaya Puram’

Syllabus :GS 2/Governance

In News

• The Indian government has decided to rename Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as Sri Vijaya Puram to remove colonial imprints and honor the islands’ role in India’s freedom struggle.

About 

• Port Blair is the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• It was originally named after Archibald Blair, a British naval surveyor who explored the area in the late 18th century. 
• Historical linkages : Blair initially named the natural harbor Port Cornwallis before it was renamed Port Blair.
  • The East India Company (EIC) used the islands as a penal colony and strategic base.
  • Port Blair was established as a penal colony after the Revolt of 1857, with a significant cellular jail (Kaala Paani) built in 1906 housing freedom fighters like Veer Damodar Savarkar.
• Chola Expeditions: The Cholas were one of the longest ruling Tamil dynasties of southern India.
  • They reigned approximately from the 9th to the 13th century. 
  • A prominent king of the dynasty, Rajendra Chola, maintained the Nicobar Islands as a naval base to launch attacks on the Srivijaya kingdom based on the Sumatra islands of present-day Indonesia. 
  • This naval expedition was a unique event in Indian history and its legacy of peaceful relations with Southeast Asia.
  • in 1014 AD and 1042 AD, the southern islands of this archipelago were used as a strategic naval base by the Chola Dynasty
• Importance : The islands, once a Chola naval base and the site of key events like the first Tiranga unfurling by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and the imprisonment of freedom fighters in the cellular jail, are now seen as crucial for India’s strategic and developmental goals.

Source:IE

Drop in Jute Production

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

In Context

• Jute production to be 20% lower this year on floods as per the National Jute Board.
  • The National Jute Board (NJB) was established under the National Jute Board Act, 2008. It functions under the Ministry of Textiles.

About Jute sector in India

• Jute Crop Conditions:
  • Temperature: Ideal range between 25-35°C.
  • Rainfall: Requires 150-250 cm of rainfall.
  • Soil Type: Grows well in well-drained alluvial soil.
• Global Production:
  • India is the largest producer of jute, followed by Bangladesh and China.
  • However, Bangladesh leads in acreage and trade, contributing to three-fourths of global jute exports.
• Geographical Concentration:
  • Jute cultivation is primarily concentrated in eastern India, particularly in the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta.
  • Major producing states: West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya, Tripura.
  • West Bengal alone houses approximately 73% of India’s jute industries.
• Production and Employment:
  • India produces 70% of the world’s jute, and 90% of this production is consumed domestically.
  • The sector employs over 3 lakh workers in jute manufacturing and related industries.
• Uses:
  • Known as the “golden fibre”, jute is used to make gunny bags, mats, ropes, yarn, carpets, and various other artefacts.

Source: TH

Helium & Its use in Rocket

Syllabus: GS3/ S&T

In Context

• The recent frequency of helium leaks has highlighted the need for improved valve designs and more precise tightening mechanisms in space-related systems to mitigate these challenges.

Why is Helium Crucial in Spacecraft and Rocket Operations?

• Properties of Helium:
  • Inert: Helium does not react with other substances or combust, making it safe for use in highly reactive environments.
  • Lightweight: It is the second lightest element after hydrogen, helping to reduce the overall weight of spacecraft.
  • Low Boiling Point: With a boiling point of –268.9°C, helium remains gaseous in extremely cold conditions, making it ideal for rockets that use super-cooled fuels.
• Uses in Spacecraft:
  • Pressurization of Fuel Tanks: Helium ensures fuel flows smoothly to the engines by filling the empty space in fuel tanks as fuel is consumed, maintaining the necessary pressure.
  • Cooling Systems: Its low boiling point allows it to function effectively in cooling rocket components and systems.
• Challenges of Using Helium:
  • Prone to Leaks: Due to its small atomic size and low molecular weight, helium is prone to leaking through small gaps or seals in fuel systems.
  • Detection: While leaks are common, helium’s rarity in Earth’s atmosphere makes it easier to detect leaks, which can help identify system faults.

Source: IE

INDUS-X Initiative

Syllabus: GS3/ Defence

In News

• Recently, the third edition of India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) Summit concluded in the USA.

About INDUS-X Initiative

• The INDUS-X Initiative was launched in June 2023 by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and Indian Ministry of Defense (MoD).
• The initiative aims to expand the strategic technology partnership and enhance defense industrial cooperation between India and the USA by fostering collaboration among governments, businesses, and academic institutions.
• It connects defense startups from India and the USA, encouraging innovation and technology sharing in defense sectors.
• Part of iCET: The INDUS-X initiative is aligned with the U.S.-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET).
• Steering Agencies:
  • iDEX (India): Innovation for Defence Excellence, representing India’s Ministry of Defence.
  • DIU (USA): Defense Innovation Unit, under the U.S. Department of Defense.

Source: PIB

Indigenous light tank ‘Zorawar’

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

Context

• India has successfully conducted the field firing trials of its new indigenous light tank ‘Zorawar‘, a highly versatile platform capable of deployment in high-altitude areas.

About

• Zorawar has been developed by the Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE), a unit of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with Larsen & Toubro Ltd.
• It is named after the 19th century Dogra General Zorawar Singh, who led military expeditions to Ladakh and Western Tibet.
• The tank will be able to navigate steep mountains and cross water bodies like rivers far more easily than its forerunners such as the heavy-weight T-72 and T-90 tanks.

Source: PIB

Assam Cascade Frogs

Syllabus: GS3/ Species In News

In News

• Scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India studied the Assam Cascade Frog (Amolops formosus) in two Himalayan streams of the Churdhar Wildlife Sanctuary.

About Assam Cascade Frog (Hill Stream Frog)

• Endemic to Himalayan regions in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal.
• Found in hilly streams, especially in the Churdhar Wildlife Sanctuary in Himachal Pradesh.
• It is studied to understand the correlation of water parameters with the abundance and density of its population.
• Serves as an indicator species for monitoring the long-term health of hilly streams.

Source: TH

Tardigrades

Syllabus: GS3/ Species In News

In Context

• Recent research on amber-encased fossils has provided insights into when tardigrades first developed their ability to enter the tun state, which helped them survive past mass extinction events.

About Tardigrades 

• Tardigrades (also known as water bears) are tiny eight-legged animals found in almost every habitat on Earth, from hydrothermal vents to mountain peaks.
• Cryptobiosis: Tardigrades can enter a state of extreme inactivity, known as cryptobiosis or tun state, where they halt metabolism to survive harsh environments, including:
  • Extreme dehydration
  • High and low temperatures
  • Radiation
  • The vacuum of space
• Tardigrades likely survived major events such as the “Great Dying” (around 250 million years ago), which wiped out 90% of Earth’s species.

Source: TH

World Ozone Day

Syllabus :GS 3/Environment 

In News

• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change held an event in New Delhi to celebrate the 30th World Ozone Day.

About Day 

• World Ozone Day is celebrated on 16th September each year to commemorate the signing of the Montreal Protocol, an international environmental treaty for phasing out of production and consumption of Ozone Depleting Substances, that came into force on this day in 1987. 
• Theme: The theme for 2024 was “Montreal Protocol: Advancing Climate Actions,” highlighting the Montreal Protocol’s dual role in protecting the ozone layer and driving global climate action.

India’s Participation : 

• India is a Party to the Montreal Protocol since June 1992, has been successfully implementing the Montreal Protocol and its ozone-depleting substances phase-out projects and activities in line with the phase-out schedule of the Protocol. 

• India has phased out Chlorofluorocarbons, Carbon tetrachloride, Halons, Methyl Bromide and Methyl Chloroform for controlled uses as on 1 January 2010, in line with the Montreal Protocol phase-out schedule. 
• Currently, Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are being phased out as per the accelerated schedule of the Montreal Protocol.

Do you know ? – Ozone, with the chemical formula O₃, differs from the breathable oxygen (O₂) essential for life. – Although it makes up a small part of the atmosphere, ozone is crucial for human well-being.  – Most ozone is found in the stratosphere, 10 to 40 km above Earth’s surface, where it absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation from the Sun, making it “good” ozone. – In contrast, excess ozone at Earth’s surface, formed from pollutants, is “bad” ozone and can be harmful.  – Naturally occurring ozone near the surface also helps remove pollutants from the atmosphere.

Source:PIB

Bio-decomposer

Syllabus: GS3/Agriculture

Context

• The Delhi government has started preparations to spray bio-decomposer, billed as an alternative to stubble burning, free of cost over 5,000 acres of farmland in the national capital.

About

• Bio-decomposer is a microbial liquid spray which, when sprayed onto paddy stubble, breaks it down in a way that can be easily absorbed into the soil, whereby farmers then have no need to burn the stubble. 
• It has been developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI).
• The government has been spraying the bio-decomposer solution free of cost since 2020 over farmlands in outer Delhi.
• Benefits​: 
  • Easy to use.
  • Turns crop residue into organic manure in just 15-20 days.
  • Environmental friendly.
  • Helps in maintaining soil health.
  • Replenishes organic content in the soil.
  • Can be sprayed easily.
  • Effective and proven results.
  • Helps in reducing pollution by solving stubble burning problem.

Source: TH

National Instructional Media Institute

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

Context

• The National Instructional Media Institute (NIMI) has launched a series of YouTube channels. 

About

• The primary focus of this digital initiative is to provide high-quality training videos to millions of learners across India’s Industrial Training Institute (ITI) skill ecosystem.
• The new channels will offer content in English, Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Marathi, Punjabi, Malayalam, Telugu, and Kannada. 
• The initiative aims to help learners improve their technical skills through free, easy-to-access digital resources. 

The National Instructional Media Institute 

• It was formerly known as Central Instructional Media Institute (CIMI), and was established in 1986 under the Ministry of Labour & Employment.
• Presently, NIMI is functioning as an autonomous institute under Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), after gaining its Autonomous status in 1999.
• It is one of the premier institutes for providing content/instructional material for vocational ecosystem. 
• Further, to reach the unreachable, NIMI also provide its e-content through Bharat Skill portal which is made readily available to the student with free download provision.

Source: AIR