1. AH-64E APACHE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech-Defence Tech)

Context: Preparing to induct the first batch of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters into its fold, the Indian Army Aviation Corps raised its first Unit at Jodhpur on March 15 that will operate the helicopters.

AH-64E Apache

• About: The AH-64E Apache stands as the pinnacle of combat helicopter technology, renowned for its versatility and effectiveness in diverse roles.
• Origin: Originating from the United States, the AH-64E is manufactured by Boeing, a leader in aviation technology.
• Recognized by:  Alternate moniker, the Apache Guardian, highlighting its protective capabilities in the battlefield.
• Evolution from AH-64: The AH-64E is the latest iteration of the AH-64 series, primarily utilized by the US Army, showcasing continuous advancements in combat helicopter design.
• Global Reach: Beyond the United States, numerous nations, including India, Egypt, Greece, Indonesia, Israel, and more, have embraced the Apache for their defense needs.
• Features:

oEquipped with an open systems architecture, facilitating seamless integration of cutting-edge communication, navigation, sensor, and weapon systems.

oBoasting greater thrust and lift capabilities, joint digital operability, improved survivability, and cognitive decision aiding, enhancing its operational efficiency and survivability.

oIncorporates an integrated infrared laser for precise target designation and enhanced infrared imagery, blending infrared and night vision capabilities for superior situational awareness.

• Apache's Role in Indian Defense

oKey Asset for Indian Forces: The Indian Air Force already operates a fleet of 22 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, bolstering the nation's defense capabilities.

oExpansion for Indian Army: In a strategic move, Boeing inked a deal in 2020 with the Indian government for the acquisition of six additional Apache helicopters, further fortifying the Indian Army's arsenal.

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2. ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH TESTBED (Syllabus GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Recently, the first phase of India’s Atmospheric Research Testbed in Central India (ART-CI) was inaugurated at Silkheda in Sehore district, situated approximately 50 km northwest of Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh.

Atmospheric Research Testbed (ART)

• About: The ART is an open-field, focused observational and analytical research programme at Silkheda.
• Aim: To conduct ground-based observations of weather parameters like temperature, wind speeds, etc. and in-situ (on-site) observations of the transient synoptic systems
• Developed by: Ministry of Earth Sciences for Rs 125 crore, with operations managed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune.
• Purpose: The ART serves as an open-field research program at Silkheda, focusing on observational and analytical research.
• Objectives: Conducts ground-based observations of weather parameters during the southwest monsoon season.

oAnalyzes transient synoptic systems like low-pressure areas and depressions in the Bay of Bengal.

Significance of an Atmospheric Research Testbed

• Agricultural Dependence on Monsoon: With 45% of India’s workforce in agriculture, understanding rainfall patterns is crucial.
• Monsoon accounts for 70% of the annual rainfall, vital for rain-fed agriculture.
• Monsoon Core Zone: MCZ, spanning central India, heavily relies on monsoon rains for cultivation.
• National Rainfall Correlation: Studies show a correlation between all-India rainfall and rainfall in central India.

oCentral India's rainfall data is vital for understanding and predicting overall monsoon patterns.

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3. NEW EV POLICY (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The government of India announced the e-vehicle policy, which aims to promote the country as a leading manufacturing destination for EVs and attract investments from global EV makers.

EV Policy

• About: The policy is crafted to entice investments from renowned global EV manufacturers into the Indian market.
• Three-Year Establishment Window: A three-year grace period provided for establishing local manufacturing units for EVs.

oCurrently, India imposes hefty taxes ranging from 70% to 100% on imported cars, depending on their value.

• Domestic Component Stipulation: Requirement for at least 25% of components to be domestically sourced.
• Minimum Investment required: Rs 4,150 crore ($500 million).
• Maximum Limit: No limit on Investment.
• Timeline for manufacturing: 3 years for setting up manufacturing facilities in India, and to start commercial production of e-vehicles, and reach 50% domestic value addition (DVA) within 5 years at the maximum.
• Domestic value addition (DVA) during manufacturing: A localisation level of 25% by the 3rd year and 50% by the 5th year will have to be achieved.
• Custom Duty Applicability: 15% (as applicable to CKD units) would be applicable for a period of 5 years.
• Permissible Vehicle Value: Vehicles of CIF value of $35,000 or above will be permissible.
• Determination of EV Import: The total number of EVs allowed for import would be determined by the total duty foregone or investment made, whichever is lower, subject to a maximum of Rs 6,484 crore (equal to incentive under PLI scheme).
• Annual Import Limit: Not more than 8,000 EVs per year would be permissible for import under this scheme. The carryover of unutilised annual import limits would be permitted.

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4. CHINESE SATELLITES-DRO-A & DRO-B (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – S&T)

Context: A pair of Chinese satellites (DRO-A and DRO-B) failed to reach a planned orbit on their way to the moon after experiencing abnormalities, a rare setback for Beijing's high-profile space program.

About DRO-A and DRO-B:

• Launched from: Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in the Sichuan Province.
• Launched by: A Yuanzheng-1S (Expedition-1S) upper-stage aircraft.
• Aim: The plan was for the two satellites to head towards the moon and enter a distant retrograde orbit (DRO).

oFrom there, they would fly in formation and work with DRO-L - a third satellite that was successfully placed into low-Earth orbit by a Jielong 3 rocket last month - to test laser-based navigation technologies between the Earth and the moon, known as cislunar space.

o

Distant retrograde orbit (DRO):

• About: The DRO orbit is at a high altitude, tens of thousands of kilometres above the lunar surface.

oIt is highly stable, allowing spacecraft to remain on track for a long time without using fuel, and is an advantageous waypoint for research and exploration.

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5. SANGAM: DIGITAL TWIN INITIATIVE (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Govt Scheme)

Context: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) recently launched an Expression of Interest (EoI), inviting participation in the Sangam: Digital Twin Initiative.

Sangam: Digital Twin Initiative

• About: The Proof of Concept, aimed at demonstrating a product, is divided into two stages and will be carried out in one of India's major cities.
• Aim: Showcase innovative infrastructure planning solutions in a real-world context.
• Model Framework Development: Create a collaborative model for faster and more effective collaboration.
• Future Blueprint: Provide a roadmap for scaling and replicating successful strategies in future infrastructure projects.
• Digital Twin Technology: Utilizing Digital Twin technology for virtual replicas, enabling real-time monitoring and simulation.
• Adaptive Feedback Loop: Iterative experimentation and feedback to adapt to changes for optimal outcomes.
• Backdrop of Techade Vision 2047: Breakthroughs in Communication, Computation, and Sensing: Contextualizing the initiative within the decade's technological advancements.
• Two-Stage Process: The initiative comprises two stages:

oThe first stage focuses on exploratory activities to unleash potential and gain clarity of horizon.

oThe second stage involves practical demonstrations of specific use cases to generate a future blueprint for scalability and replication in future infrastructure projects.

Digital-Twin Technology

• About: It is a digital representation of a physical object, person, or process, contextualized in a digital version of its environment. 
• Digital twins can help an organization simulate real situations and their outcomes, ultimately allowing it to make better decisions.

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6. DARIEN GAP (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: The treacherous Darien Gap route that spans parts of Central and South America has seen an increasing number of people attempting to pass on their way to claiming asylum in the US.

Darien Gap

• About: It is a stretch of densely forested jungle across northern Colombia and southern Panama
• Challenging Terrain: The region is characterized by dense forests, muddy terrain, and instability due to its wet conditions.
• Major Migration Route: Despite its challenging nature, the Darién Gap has become a significant pathway for global human migration.
• Geographic Significance: It is the easternmost part of the Isthmus of Panama, extending into northwestern Colombia around the Gulf of Urabá.
• Linking Continents: Serving as a physiographic link between Central and South America, the Darién Gap plays a crucial role in connecting these two continents.
• Ecological Description: The area is characterized by hot, humid conditions and is dominated by tropical rainforests, mangrove swamps, and low mountain ranges with cloud forest vegetation.
• Sparse Population: Despite its ecological richness, Darién has historically been sparsely populated due to its challenging environment.

Panama Canal

• About: The Panama Canal, a man-made waterway, serves as a vital link connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by traversing the Isthmus of Panama.
• Strategic Importance: Recognized as one of the world's two most crucial artificial water passages, the Panama Canal shares this distinction with the Suez Canal, playing a pivotal role in international maritime trade.
• Dimensions: Stretching approximately 80 kilometers in length, the canal serves as a remarkable feat of engineering, significantly shortening travel distances for ships.

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7. BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: The Indian government has finalized a mechanism to fund the development of 4,000 MWh of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the country.

Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)

• About: BESS is a technology developed for storing electric charge by using specially developed batteries
• Aim: To develop 4,000 MWh of projects by 2030-31, with up to 40% VGF (Viability Gap Funding) of the capital cost.
• Financial Overview: The scheme's initial outlay is ₹9,400 crore, with a budgetary support of ₹3,760 crore.
• Objectives: The scheme targets a levelised cost of storage ranging from ₹5.50-₹6.60 per kilowatt-hour, making stored Renewable Energy (RE) a feasible option for managing peak power demand.
• VGF Disbursement and Approval Process: VGF will be disbursed in five tranches, and projects will be approved within three years starting FY24.
• Consumer Benefit: A minimum of 85% of project capacity will be allocated to distribution companies (discoms) to ensure consumer benefits.
• Infrastructure Impact: The BESS scheme is anticipated to reduce the necessity for expensive infrastructure upgrades.
• Addressing Intermittency Issues: Despite increased renewable energy capacity, intermittency issues limit actual RE generation to 25% of total electricity generation.
• Net-Zero Targets: Achieving net-zero targets by 2070 necessitates cost-effective storage solutions for renewable energy.

Operational Framework

• Government's Initiative: The government is promoting BESS to meet rising power demands and energy transition goals.
• Electricity Delivery and Grid Stability: BESS projects will supply electricity during peak demand periods while stabilizing the grid.
• Charging from Renewable Sources: Charging of BESS will primarily occur during periods of surplus renewable energy generation.

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8. KALACHURI DYNASTY (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – History)

Context: In a small village of Madhya Pradesh, a group of archaeologists brushes off centuries of earth from layer bricks being uncovered from under two mounds. 

oThe dig sites are in Nachne village, merely 30 metres from another archaeological wonder a Gupta-era Parvati temple — and close to Chaumukhi temple, built by the Kalachuri Dynasty (6th-7th centuries CE).

Kalachuri Dynasty

• Founder: The dynasty was founded by Kokalla I (850-885 AD).
• Rule of Extent: They governed parts of central India, encompassing regions like Gorakhpur, Ratnapur, and Rajpur in eastern Gujarat.
• Sources: The Karitalai inscription of Lakshmanaraja I portrays them as Rashtrakuta feudatories.
• The Gyaraspur inscription traces their lineage back to Kartavirya Arjuna.
• Territorial Extent and Capital: Initially, the Kalachuris ruled over northern Maharashtra, Gujarat, Malwa, and parts of the Western Deccan. Their capital was located at Mahishmati, situated in the Narmada River Valley.
• Southern Expansion: Another branch of the Kalachuri Dynasty, known as Haihaya, extended its rule to Southern India, particularly Karnataka, during the 10th to 12th centuries.
• The Kalachuri Dynasty has various branches; some of the most prominent branches of Kalachuri are

oKalachuri of Mahishmati

oKalachuri of Tripura

oKalachuri of Kalyani

oKalachuri of Ratanpur

• Religion: They primarily followed Shaivism but also supported Jainism.
• Decline: Subsequent rulers, weaker in governance, struggled to manage the empire, facing frequent invasions, resulting in a gradual loss of territory and influence.

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9. WILDLIFE INSTITUTE OF INDIA (WII) (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has begun work on a decade-long management plan for the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary with a focus on increasing the leopard population, and simultaneously mitigating the man-animal conflict.

Wildlife Institute of India (WII)

• About: It is an autonomous natural resource service institution under the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate change, Government of India, was established in 1982.
• Located at: Dehradun, India. 
• Establishment: 1982.
• Headquarters: Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
• Objective: It offers training programs, academic courses, and advisory in wildlife research and management.

oWII carries out wildlife research in areas of study like Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Wildlife Policy, Wildlife Management, Wildlife Forensics, Spatial Modelling, Eco-development, Ecotoxicology, Habitat Ecology and Climate Change. 

oThe All India Tiger Estimation (Tiger Census), is done by WII along with National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and state forest departments.

Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary

• Coverage Area: 32.71 km2 area on the Southern Delhi Ridge of Aravalli hill range.
• Location: Delhi-Haryana border lies in Southern Delhi as well as northern parts of Faridabad and Gurugram districts of Haryana state.
• It is also part of the Sariska-Delhi Wildlife Corridor, which runs from the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan to Delhi Ridge.
• Vegetation: Dry deciduous,
• Flora: Consists of Prosopis juliflora as the dominant exotic species and Diospyros montana as the dominant native species in the sanctuary.
• Fauna: Golden Jackals, Striped-Hyenas, Indian crested-Porcupines, Civets, Jungle Cats, Snakes, Monitor Lizards, Mongoose etc.

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10. NMEO-OP (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Economy)

Context: Prime Minister of India recently inaugurated the first Oil Palm Processing Mill under National Mission for Palm Oil in Arunachal Pradesh.

National Mission for Edible Oils - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP)

• About: NMEO-OP is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme to augment the availability of edible oil in the country by harnessing area expansion, increasing crude palm oil production with the aim to reduce the import burden.
• Launched: 2021.  
• Target: 

oTo increase area of oil palm to 10 lakh hectares from 3.5 lakh ha during 2019-20 by 2025-26 (additional 6.50 lakh ha). 

oThe target for general states is 3.22 lakh hectares and 3.28 lakh ha for North Eastern states, with targeted FFB production of 66.00 lakh tonnes. 

oTo increase in Crude Palm Oil production from 0.27 lakh tonnes during 2019-20 to 11.20lakh tonnes by 2025-26 and 28 lakh tonnes by 2028-29.

oIncrease consumer awareness to maintain consumption level of 19.00 kg/person/annum till 2025-26.

• Salient Feature: 

oAssistance for planting material.

oInputs for intercropping up to gestation period of 4 years and for maintenance

oEstablishment of seed gardens, nurseries, micro irrigation, bore well/pumpset/water harvesting structure, vermi compost units, solar pumps, harvesting tools, custom hiring centre cum harvester Groups, farmers and officers training, and for replanting of old oil palm gardens etc.

Oil Palm Production in India

• Composition of Imports: Palm oil constitutes the largest share of imports, approximately 57%, followed by soybean oil at 29%, and sunflower oil at 14%.
• Primary Sources of Imports: Indonesia and Malaysia are the primary sources of imported palm oil, while Argentina and Brazil serve as major exporters of soybean oil to India.
• Sunflower Oil Imports: Sunflower oil imports primarily originate from Russia and Ukraine, with Romania and the Netherlands emerging as new partners in the current oil year.
• Major Oil Palm Growing States: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala collectively contribute to 98% of the total production, with Andhra Pradesh being the largest producer.

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