Daily News Analysis : 26 June 2024

Javelin Anti Tank Missile

India and US to jointly co produce American Javelin missiles in India for the Indian military. It is a man-portable anti-tank guided Missile (ATGM) system designed to defeat heavily armoured vehicles. It is jointly produced by American defence majors Raytheon and Lockheed Martin and entered service with the US military in 1996.

Key Points:

A) The discussions on the joint production of the missiles took place recently during a high-level visit from the US to India.
B) India and the United States have been in talks about broadening their collaboration, which includes the possibility of jointly manufacturing military hardware.
C) The requirement for third-generation ATGMs has been there for a long time and attempts to acquire the weapon systems through a global route have not been successful.

Vadhavan Port project in Maharashtra

The Union Cabinet recently approved the construction of 76,220 crore Vadhavan Port project in Maharashtra. The Port will serve as a gateway Port to the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) and International North-South Transportation Corridor (INSTC). It is a greenfield deep sea Port in Vadhavan, Palghar district, Maharashtra. 

Key Points:

A) The project will be located 130 km from Mumbai and 150 km from the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, the country’s largest container port.
B) The project will be implemented by a special purpose vehicle, Vadhavan Port Project, to be formed by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority and the Maharashtra Maritime Board with a shareholding of 74% and 26%, respectively.
C) The project cost includes the cost of land, development for core infrastructure, terminals and other commercial infrastructure in the public-private-partnerships mode. 

New plant species Didymocarpus Janakiae

Researchers have discovered a new plant species namely Didymocarpus Janakiae in Arunachal Pradesh. The new species is named after EK Janaki Ammal, pioneering Indian botanist. The planet species belongs to genus Didymocarpus, commonly known as Stone Flower. It grows in pristine, undisturbed habitats like moss covered rocks.

Key Points:

A) This is the second species named after the late Dr. Janaki Ammal.
B) The first was Magnolia kobus Janaki Ammal, a magnolia species named by the Royal Horticultural Society in Wisley, England, in the 1950s to recognize her work.
C) Magnolia kobus is a deciduous tree that produces cup-shaped white flowers in the spring.

Population of Flamingos declining in Lake Natron

Extreme Weather and climate change are impacting the population of Flamingos  in Lake Natron of Tanzania. Lake Natron is a Ramsar site located on the Tanzania-Kenya border and has a unique composition of warm waters, salt, caustic soda and magnesite deposits. The lake is primarily fed by the Ewaso Ng’iro river. 

Key Points:

A) The flamingo population at Lake Natron is continuously decreasing with a reduction in the number of birds returning annually, primarily caused by severe weather conditions and human encroachment.
B) Prolonged dry season is also causing water levels to drop dangerously, concentrating the lake’s salinity beyond what algae can tolerate and resulting in flamingo food shortages.
C) Mining activities near the lake are detrimental to the birds.

International Sugar Organisation Council Meeting

India is hosting the 64th International Sugar Organisation (ISO) Council meeting in New Delhi from 25th -27th June 2024. The ISO council nominated India as the Chairperson of the organisation for 2024 as India is the World’s largest consumer and second largest producer of Sugar. ISO is an Intergovernmental body established in 1968 and headquartered in London.

Key Points:

A) Delegates from more than 30 countries and representatives of many international organisations will participate in the three-day meeting to deliberate on critical issues in the sugar and biofuel sectors.  
B) On the occasion, a workshop titled ‘Sugar & Bio-Energy – Emerging Vistas’ was held. 

World’s first Asian King Vulture Conservation Centre in UP

The state of Uttar Pradesh to establish the World’s first Asian King Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centre in Maharajganj. The IUCN status of Asian King Vulture is Critically Endangered. The major objective of the facility will be to improve the population of the species listed Critically Endangered in IUCN Red List since 2007. The Asian King Vulture was listed on Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

Key Points:

A) Asian king vultures are endangered due to the loss of their habitats and the excessive use of diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, in domestic animals, which becomes poisonous for vultures.
B) The centre aims to ensure the good health of growing vultures and provide them with a pair.
C) After laying an egg, the female will leave the pair to roam freely in their natural habitat.
 

UP leads in Compressed Biogas Potential

As per the recent report released by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Uttar Pradesh holds top spot in India’s renewable energy landscape with the potential to generate 24% of Nations Compressed Biogas (CBG). The key areas for CBG production are Muzaffarnagar, Meerut and Saharanpur. UP can potentially install 1000 CBG projects from 5000 plants envisioned nationwide under the Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation Scheme.

Key Points:

A) This was the focal point of discussions at a symposium organised by CSE and the Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) in Muzaffarnagar.
B) The experts pointed out that UP could potentially instal 1,000 CBG projects from the 5,000 plants envisioned nationwide under the Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation scheme, tapping into just 20 per cent of its surplus feedstock.
 

Kerala passes resolution to change name to Keralam

The Kerala Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution to change the name of the state to “Keralam” in the constitution. The article 3 of the constitution outlines the process for changing the name of a state by Parliament. The Kerala state assembly has passed the resolution for the second time in the past year.

Key Points:

A) The resolution will again be sent to the Central government for approval.
B) The resolution, proposed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, asked the union government to change Kerala’s name in all the languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
C) In August last year, the Union Home Ministry reviewed the Kerala government’s resolution and recommended some technical modifications after it requested “immediate steps” to change the state’s name.
 

Ladakh achieves Full Functional Literacy

The UT of Ladakh was declared as the administrative unit to achieve Full functional Literacy under the ULLAS-Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram. Ladakh achieved 97% Literacy by Empowering its citizens through Foundational Literacy and Numeracy and Critical Life Skills for all. The declaration was made by Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Dr BD Mishra.

Key Points:

A) This milestone reflects Ladakh’s commitment to empowering its citizens through foundational literacy and numeracy, and critical life skills for all.
B) The ceremony included the felicitation of neo-literates and volunteer teachers and the launch of the Annual Achievement Report 2023 of the school department.
C) ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram or New India Literacy Programme (NILP) is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented from 2022-2027.
 

Anush Agarwalla to represent India in dressage event at Olympics

Anush Agarwalla was selected by The Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) to represent India in the dressage event at Paris Olympics 2024. He was selected over veteran Shruti Vora based on Minimum Eligibility Requirements performance. 

Key Points:

A) Anush Agarwalla will be India’s lone representative in equestrian at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
B) He will compete in the dressage event.
C) As per the criteria set by the Federation, a rider-horse combination is required to achieve a minimum of 67 percent twice between January 1, 2023, and June 24, 2024, to be eligible for Paris 2024.