theIASHub | 30 Apr, 2025 | 5
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Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle: Recently, the return of the critically endangered Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle to the Ganga after three decades marked a major milestone in ecological restoration under the Namami Gange Mission.
o Common Names: Bengal roof turtle, Red-crowned roofed turtle.
o Distribution: A freshwater turtle species found in deep-flowing rivers with terrestrial nesting sites. It also occurs in the Brahmaputra basin.
o Habitat: Native to India, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
o IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
o Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (India): Schedule I – Absolute protection; hunting prohibited except under specific conditions.
o CITES: Appendix II – International trade regulated to prevent threats to survival.
Digha Jagannath Temple: The Digha Jagannath temple, a replica of the 12th-century shrine in Puri, Odisha, is set to be inaugurated on the auspicious occasion of ‘Akshaya Trithiya’ in Purba Medinipur, West Bengal.
o The current temple was rebuilt starting from the 10th century on the site of an earlier structure, with reconstruction initiated by Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva, the first king of the Eastern Ganga dynasty.
o The temple is renowned for its Kalinga architectural style.
o The temple is famous for the annual Ratha Yatra, where the three principal deities—Jagannath, Subhadra, and Balabhadra—are pulled on large, intricately decorated chariots.
o The Bhil Sawar tribal priest performs the worship in the temple.
o Unlike most Hindu temples, the idol of Jagannath is made of wood.
Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India (GHCI): Recently, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) hosted a workshop on "Opportunities for MSMEs in the Green Hydrogen Supply Chain" and launched the Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India (GHCI).
o Ensures transparency in the production process.
o Guarantees traceability of green hydrogen from production to end-use.
o Enhances market credibility for green hydrogen as a clean energy source.
o A green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT per annum, coupled with 125 GW of renewable energy capacity.
o Over ₹8 lakh crore in investments.
o Creation of 6 lakh jobs.
o A reduction in fossil fuel imports worth over ₹1 lakh crore.
o A 50 MMT reduction in annual greenhouse gas emissions.
Axiom-4 (Ax-4) : Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to pilot the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission to the International Space Station (ISS), as announced by NASA.
o He will become the first Indian to travel to space in 40 years, following Rakesh Sharma’s historic flight in 1984.
o Objectives: The mission will support commercial activities like research, technology, and space tourism, showcasing the potential of space stations for business and innovation.
o Spacecraft and Crew Composition: The mission utilizes a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, launched by a Falcon 9 rocket, and includes both professional astronauts and private individuals.
o Mission Duration and Activities: Axiom-4 is expected to last about 14 days, during which the crew will conduct scientific experiments, technology demonstrations, and educational outreach.
o Long-Term Vision: Plans to build the world's first commercial space station, with Axiom-4 being a step towards transitioning from the ISS to an independent orbital outpost.
Desert Locusts : Recently, scientists at the Locust Warning Organisation (LWO) observed groups of desert locusts in Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar and Jaisalmer districts.
o This sitaution is concerning, particularly as desert locusts are currently causing widespread damage in East Africa, destroying crucial crops such as maize, sorghum, and wheat.
o Behavioral Phases: Harmless when solitary, but when population density increases, they shift to a gregarious phase, forming massive swarms that can travel up to 150 km per day, consuming large amounts of vegetation.
o Destructive Potential: Known for their polyphagous diet, they feed on a wide range of crops, including wheat, barley, maize, and vegetables, posing a major threat to food security.
o Reproductive Capacity: A single female can lay 60–80 eggs up to three times in a 90-day lifespan, enabling rapid population growth. One square kilometer can host 40–80 million locusts.
o Spread and Impact: Their fast multiplication is often likened to the spread of a virus. India sees limited damage due to a single breeding season, while regions like Pakistan, Iran, and East Africa face multiple breeding cycles, resulting in more frequent and severe outbreaks.
Project Kuiper : Recently, Amazon launched 27 satellites as part of its plan to provide global internet access through low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.
o The mission was conducted from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station aboard an Atlas V rocket.
o Global Satellite Network: 3,232 satellites in low orbit (630 km) delivering fast, low-latency internet worldwide.
o Speed Options for All Needs: 100 Mbps for homes, 400 Mbps for schools and hospitals, and 1 Gbps for governments and large organizations.
o Transformative Connectivity: Empowering e-learning, telemedicine, businesses, and emergency services in remote and underserved regions.
Climate change and its impacts on Bay of Bengal: Recently, a multinational study revealed that both unusually strong and weak Indian Summer Monsoons over the past 22,000 years have significantly reduced marine productivity in the Bay of Bengal.
o Though it covers less than 1% of the world’s ocean area, it contributes nearly 8% to global fishery production.
o Millions living along its coasts depend on its nutrient-rich waters for protein and livelihoods.
o The productivity of these waters, driven by plankton growth, forms the foundation of the marine food web.
o Fossils were extracted from seafloor sediments aboard the JOIDES Resolution ship, part of the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP).
o By examining chemical and biological indicators, past monsoon patterns, ocean temperatures, and productivity were reconstructed.
o Historical periods like Heinrich Stadial 1 and Early Holocene saw sharp declines in productivity due to these extremes.
Global Wind Report : Recently, the Global Wind Report by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) warned that the wind energy sector is failing to meet the global demand for clean energy.
o Total global wind power capacity stands at 1,136 GW, with a significant gap in growth needed to meet climate goals.
o China leads the market, contributing 70% of new installations, with strong growth from the US, Brazil, India, Germany, and emerging economies like Uzbekistan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.
o Africa and the Middle East saw onshore wind capacity double, while the offshore sector added only 8 GW, a 26% decline from 2023.
o Members: Over 1,500 companies and organizations from 80+ countries, including manufacturers, developers, suppliers, research institutions, and financial entities.
o Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium.
Golconda Blue : Recently, the Golconda Blue, a rare 23.24-carat Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond once owned by Maharaja Yeshwant Rao Holkar of Indore, was withdrawn from a Christie’s auction.
o For centuries, India was the sole global source of diamonds, with Golconda at the center of trade.
o Legendary diamonds from Golconda include the Koh-i-Noor and Darya-i-Nur.
o As early as 327 BCE, Alexander the Great’s army brought Indian diamonds to Europe.
o Marco Polo (1292) famously stated: “No country but India produces diamonds.”
o Jean-Baptiste Tavernier recorded 60,000 workers laboring in Kollur mines in the 17th century.
Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary: Forest staff of Kuldiha wildlife sanctuary arrested a man with a country-made gun and hunting equipment during patrolling.
o It is connected with Simlipal Tiger Reserve via Nato and Sukhupada Hill ranges.
o It features a network of streams, including the Kuldiha stream and its tributaries.
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