Daily News Analysis : 11 July 2024

Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve

The Government of Madhya Pradesh has initiated a Probe into the alleged irregularities in poaching in Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve. The Reserve covers an area of 2339 Sq kms and is spread across Sagar, Damon and Narsinghpur district of Madhya Pradesh. The famous Singorgarh fort is located within the Reserve.  

Key Points:

A) The sanctuary is the seventh in the state and the 54th in India and includes the Nauradehi Temple and Veerangana Durgavati Temple.
B) It is about 20 km from Bhopal and spread over an area of ??2,339 km2 in three districts: Narsingpur, Sagar and Damoh.
C) Dubey’s complaint claims that two tigers, N-113 and N-112, along with their cubs, have been missing since 2021.
 

Salazar Pit Viper found in Kaziranga National Park

The Salazar Pit Viper, named after a character from the Harry Potter Series, Salazar Slytherin, was spotted in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park. The species was first identified in Arunachal Pradesh in 2019 and its scientific name is Trimeresurus Salazar. The species is commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions and are found in every continent except Antarctica. 

Key Points:

A) The Salazar pit viper, named after Salazar Slytherin, adds to the rich biodiversity of Assam’s Kaziranga National Park, known for its remarkable wildlife.
B) In the Harry Potter series, the snake is the emblem of Slytherin House, representing cunning and resourcefulness.
C) Salazar Slytherin, one of the founders of Hogwarts, was known for his unique ability to communicate with snakes, a trait passed down to his descendants.
 

Upgradation of Regional Analysis of Indian Ocean System (RAIN)

The Regional Analysis of Indian Ocean (RAIN) system was recently upgraded by the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) for gathering information on the health of the Indian Ocean. It is a data assimilation system used to detect salinity and sea surface temperature. INCOIS is an Autonomous body established 1999 under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.  

Key Points:

A) In the new system, for running ocean models, observations are taken at the ocean’s surface and below the water at depths ranging from 3 metres to 2,000 metres, depending on the requirement.
B) As a result, the ocean current analysis from the additional information obtained has improved the ocean current analysis.

Naavu Manujaru Programme11 JUL 2024

The Government of Karnataka has recently launched Naavu Maanujaru programme which is to be implemented in schools from this academic year. The programme will inculcate social harmony and Constitutional values among children. The programme will be implemented in all Government, aided and unaided primary and high schools of state.

Key Points:

A) The plan, announced in the 2024-25 state budget presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, aims to promote benefits for children as specified in the constitution.
B) Implementation of the program will include two-hour sessions and weekly sessions (three sessions of 40 minutes each) in all public, aided and unaided primary and secondary schools in the state.
C) For this purpose, one term of meaningful learning and two terms of social and productive work (SUPW) have been designated.
 

CURIE mission of NASA

The American Space Agency NASA is set to launch the CubeSat Radio Interferometry Experiment (CURIE) mission. The aim of the mission is to investigate the mysteries of Solar radio waves. The CURIE consists of two miniature spacecraft and employs an innovative technique called low frequency radio. 

Key Points:

A) The objective of CURIE is to further our understanding through the application of radio frequency interferometry, a technique that has not been utilized in space prior to this.
B) The technology is dependent on a pair of distinct Curie spacecraft (each no bigger than a shoebox) that will circle Earth approximately two miles away from each other.
C) This separation allowed the Curie instrument to measure small differences in the arrival times of weak radio waves and determine their origin.

Order of SainKimia Yousofi to run 3rd Olympics

The Afghan sprinter Kimia Yousofi will be running at her 3rd Olympics at Paris Olympics 2024. The Afghanistan Olympic Committee president Yonus Popalzay said that the Afghanistan Olympic contingent will comprise 3 women. Yousofi will be Afghanistan’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony for the Olympics. 

Key Points:

A) Yousofi is among the athletes and their families who returned to Australia from Iran after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan and imposed strict restrictions on women and girls.
B) Afghanistan Olympic Committee president Yonus Popalzay said there’d be three women on the team for Paris.t Andrew the Apostle awarded to PM Narendra Modi

The Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi on his official visit to Russia was conferred with Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The award was established by Tsar Peter the Great in 1698 and is given to prominent government and public figures, military leaders etc. 

Key Points: 

A) Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded Prime Minister Modi the “Order of St. Andrew the Apostle” for his contributions to strengthening relations between the two countries.
B) President Putin presented the award to Prime Minister Modi at a special ceremony held in St. Petersburg. Andrew’s Hall in the Kremlin.
C) Prime Minister Modi became the first Indian leader to receive this honour.
 

Super Earth discovered

In search of potential habitable exoplanets, a team of researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery of a Super Earth namely LHS 1140b located 48 light years away in the constellation Cetus. It was initially thought to be mini-Neptune and is larger than Earth. The James Webb Space Telescope suggests that it is more likely a rocky or water rich planet larger than Earth.

Key Points:

A) The findings, led by the University of Montreal, contradict previous theories about LHS 1140b.
B) Initially believed to be a mini-Neptune possessing a dense, hydrogen-filled atmosphere, recent findings from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) suggest that it is probably a massive planet or composed mostly of water rather than being a planet in its entirety.
C) Earth orbits a red dwarf star in the habitable zone, where high temperatures could support liquid water on its surface.
 

India to ratify High Seas Treaty

The Indian government has recently agreed to ratify the High Seas Treaty officially called the Agreement on Conservation and Sustainable use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ). The agreement aims to protect Ocean environments and cut down on pollution. It is an implementation agreement for 1982 UNCLOS.

Key Points:

A) The BBNJ Agreement will be the third agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, joining the 1994 Agreement on the Application of Chapter XI (regulating mining in the international seabed area) and the 1995 United Nations Convention on the Conservation and Management of Fish Stocks (regulating fish stocks).
B) Over 160 countries have given their approval to this agreement, which ensures order and fairness in the utilization of the Earth’s oceans.

Exercise Pitch Black

The Indian Air Force is set to take part in Exercise Pitch Black conducted by Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). It is a multinational Aerial warfare practice that takes place biannually. The Indian AIR Force contingent will comprise of SU-30 MKI fighter jets. The exercise was first held in 1981 and is a big international military event.

Key Points:

A) These long-range missions are being supported by IAF’s inflight refuellers IL-78 aircraft.
B) On return, IAF will also participate in Ex Udara Shakti 24 with RMAF from 05 to 09 Aug 24 at Kuantan, Malaysia.