About INS Kadmatt

• It is an indigenous stealth anti-submarine warfare corvette.
• It is the second of four anti-submarine warfare corvettes built for the Indian Navy by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers of Kolkata under Project 28.
• It was commissioned into the Indian Navy in January 2016.
• The ship was inducted into the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy.
• It has been named after the Kadmat Island of India's Lakshadweep Islands.
• The primary role of the INS Kadmatt is in anti-submarine warfare – to protect ships in convoys and ports from enemy submarine attacks.
• Features:
  • Length: 109 m (358 ft)
  • Beam: 12.8 m (42 ft)
  • Speed: 25 knots (46 km/h)
  • Range: 3,450 mi (5,550 km) at 18 knots (33 km/h)
  • Complement: 180 sailors and 13 officers
  • The ship is fitted with state-of-the-art weapons, sensors, and machinery and is also designed to embark the Seaking anti-submarine helicopter.
  • The ship also has on-board early warning, navigation, and fire control radars besides underwater sensors and integrated communication and electronic warfare systems.
  • It produces low levels of radiated underwater noise, which reduces its chances of detection.
  • It is equipped with anti-aircraft guns, torpedoes, and rocket launchers. 

Q1) What is a torpedo?

A torpedo is essentially a guided missile that happens to "fly" underwater. A torpedo therefore has a propulsion system, a guidance system and some sort of explosive device.

Source: INS Kadmatt conducts underway replenishment with Japan's JS Towada in North Pacific

About Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)

• It was launched by the Indian government in April 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• It is designed to provide financial assistance to economically weaker sections affected by the pandemic.
• The scheme encompasses the distribution of 5 kg of free food grains each month, along with cash transfers to women and elderly individuals.
• It was introduced as part of the broader Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package, aiming to offer relief to those adversely affected by the pandemic, especially the poor and marginalised.
• As per the scheme, the government offers 5 kg of free food grains each month in addition to the subsidised ration given to families covered by the Public Distribution System under the National Food Security Act. 
• Eligibility Criteria: The benefits of PMGKAY are accessible to families meeting specific eligibility criteria.
  • Families belonging to the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH) categories will be eligible for the scheme. PHH is to be identified by State Governments/Union Territory Administrations as per criteria evolved by them. AAY families are to be identified by States/UTs as per the criteria prescribed by the Central Government:
  • Households headed by widows, or terminally ill persons, or disabled persons, or persons aged 60 years or more with no assured means of subsistence or societal support.
  • Widows, or terminally ill persons, or disabled persons, or persons aged 60 years or more or single women or single men with no family or societal support or assured means of subsistence.
  • Additionally, all primitive tribal households, landless agricultural labourers, marginal farmers, rural artisans/craftsmen such as potters, tanners, slum dwellers, and persons earning their livelihood on a daily basis in the informal sector like porters, coolies, rickshaw pullers, hand cart pullers, and other similar categories in both rural and urban areas are also eligible for the scheme.
  • All the citizens are eligible who belong to Below Poverty Line families.

Q1) What is the National Food Security Act (NFSA)?

The NFSA provides a legal right to persons belonging to “eligible households” to receive food grains at subsidized price– rice at Rs 3/kg, wheat at Rs 2/kg and coarse grain at Rs 1/kg — under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).The Act legally entitled up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population to receive subsidized food grains under TPDS.

Source: Free grain distribution to 81.35 cr poor under PMGKAY scheme extended for 5 years, says I&B minister Thakur

About Gajraj Suraksha

• It uses an AI-based algorithm and a network of sensitive optical fibre cables to detect elephants getting close to railway tracks.
• It aims to address the issue of elephant fatalities resulting from train accidents.
• Working
  • Gajraj Suraksha senses pressure waves generated by the movement of elephants along the tracks.
  • As elephants move, the optical fibres detect vibrations caused by their footsteps.
  • These vibrations trigger signals within the optical fibre network, enabling the system to identify the presence of elephants up to 200 meters ahead of their arrival on the track.
  • The OFC-based Intrusion Detection System works by sending alarms to station masters whenever movement is detected along the tracks.
• The network is designed in such a way that it can track the movement of the elephant with great accuracy and report it to nearby station masters.
• This allows them to promptly inform locomotive drivers in the affected areas.
• This quick communication ensures that trains can be slowed down or stopped, preventing potential collisions with elephants.
• Indian railway is planning to introduce this system in West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Assam, Kerala, certain parts of Chhattisgarh, and Tamil Nadu.

Q1) What are optical fibres ?

These are made of thin, cylindrical strands of glass with a diameter of a typical fibre is close to the diameter of human hair. These fibres can carry information, such as text, images, voices, videos, telephone calls, and anything that can be encoded as digital information, across large distances almost at the speed of light. They are strong, light, and flexible, and ideal to be buried underground, drawn underwater, or bent around a spool.

Source: Indian Railways develop AI-based software ‘Gajraj’ to avoid collisions, to roll out in all elephant corridors

About Santjordia pagesi

• Santjordia pagesi, also called St. George’s cross medusa jellyfish, is a newly discovered species of jellyfish.
• It is considered “rare” and has been found only in the Sumisu Caldera near the Ogasawara Islands, about 600 miles southeast of Tokyo, Japan.
• “Santjordia” refers to Saint George in Catalan, representing its cross-shaped stomach.
• Features:
  • It is considered large at 4 inches wide and 3 inches tall.
  • It boasts a circular body with around 240 tentacles.
  • Its body looks almost like a see-through cushion. It has a thick white ring running along its lower edge. 
  • Smaller vein-like structures stretch from its prominent central stomach to the outer ring. 
  • Its most distinctive feature is a bright red, cross-shaped stomach.
  • The jellyfish’s distinct features suggest it may possess a novel cnidarian venom.

What is a Jellyfish?

• A jellyfish is a type of marine animal belonging to the phylum Cnidaria, which includes creatures such as sea anemones, sea whips, and corals.
• Like all members of the phylum, the body parts of a jellyfish radiate from a central axis. 
• These are found in oceans around the world and come in various shapes and sizes.
• Jellyfish have a soft, transparent, and umbrella-shaped bell that can pulsate for movement. Hanging from the bell are tentacles.
• Jellyfish have tiny stinging cells in their tentacles to stun or paralyze their prey before they eat them.
• Inside their bell-shaped body is an opening that is its mouth. They eat and discard waste from this opening.

Q1) What is a Caldera?

A caldera is a depression created after a volcano releases the majority of the contents of its magma chamber in an explosive eruption. Without any structural support below, the land around the erupting volcanic vent or vents collapses inwardly, creating the bowl-shaped caldera. 

Source: 'Mysterious' jellyfish with 240 tentacles discovered off Japan's coast declared a new species

About World AIDS Day

• It is observed every year on December 1 to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS.
• The day is an opportunity to end stigmas associated with this disease, and this day also honours people who lost their precious lives and engage in lives that support HIV/AIDS research and advanced treatment.
• It was first observed in 1988, when the World Health Organisation (WHO) recognised the day.
• The theme of World AIDS Day 2023 is “Let Communities Lead.” 

What is HIV/AIDS?

• Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
• HIV attacks the body’s immune system, making a person more vulnerable to other infections and diseases.
• If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS.
• Transmission:
  • It is a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
  • It can also be spread by contact with infected blood, and from illicit injection drug use, or sharing needles.
  • It can also be spread from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. 
• Treatment:
  • There is currently no effective cure. Once people get HIV, they have it for life.
  • But with proper medical care, HIV can be controlled. People with HIV who get effective HIV treatment (called antiretroviral therapy, or ART) can live long, healthy lives and protect their partners.

Q1) What is the World Health Organisation (WHO)?

The World Health Organization (WHO), established in 1948, is a specialized agency of the United Nations that connects nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – so everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health. 

Source: World AIDS Day 2023: 12 common myths about HIV and AIDS busted, Key facts you need to know

About Press mud

• It is often known as filter cake or press cake,
• It is the agricultural waste obtained when cane juice is repeatedly filtered before being sent for extraction of sugar.
• The filters are cleaned periodically, and the waste is deposited into the yard of the mill.
• Nearly 3 to 4 percent of press mud is obtained when per tonne of cane is crushed.
• At present, mills recycle this agriculture waste as manure by composting the same and supply it to the farmers in the area.
• Benefits
  • It can be utilisied as a feedstock for biogas production through anaerobic digestion and subsequent purification to create compressed biogas (CBG). 
  • It is very useful for agricultural crops and horticulture because of its richness in various micronutrients.
  • It has been acknowledged as a valuable resource for green energy production.
• Issue with press mud: Storing pressmud proves challenging as it undergoes gradual decomposition, resulting in the breakdown of organic compounds. 

What is compressed biogas (CBG)?

• It is produced naturally through a process of anaerobic decomposition from waste / bio-mass sources like agriculture residue, cattle dung, sugarcane press mud, municipal solid waste, sewage treatment plant waste, etc.
• After purification, it is compressed and called CBG, which has pure methane content of over 95%.
• It is exactly similar to the commercially available natural gas in its composition and energy potential. With calorific value (~52,000 KJ/kg) and other properties similar to CNG.

Q1) What is Compressed Natural Gas?

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), is natural gas under pressure which remains clear, odourless, and non-corrosive. It is also a cheaper, greener, and more efficient alternative to the traditional petrol and diesel fuels for vehicles.

Source: Sugarcane byproduct pressmud can be a sweet spot for India’s compressed biogas sector

About Kalbeliya Dance

• It is a folk dance of Rajasthan state of India.
• It is well known by other names like 'Sapera Dance' or 'Snake Charmer Dance'.
• It is particularly performed by a Rajasthani tribe called 'Kalbelia'.
• The popularity of this dance is so much worldwide that Rajasthan's Kalbelia dance and songs are now in UNESCO's representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity from the year 2010.
• In Kalbelia dance, males play various traditional instruments and females perform the dance.
• It is one of the most sensuous dances among all Rajasthani dances.
• In this dance form the main performers are females dancers who dance and swirl, replicating the movements of a serpent.
• The dancers wear brightly colored skirts, blouses, and heavy jewelry.
• Instruments: The male musicians typically play the dhol (a drum), the pungi (a snake charmer’s pipe), and the khanjari (a tambourine)

Q1) What is UNESCO?

It stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.It is specialized agency of the United Nations(UN). The constitution, which entered into force in 1946, called for the promotion of international collaboration in education, science, and culture.The agency’s permanent headquarters are in Paris, France.

Source: The soaring voices of the Kalbeliya singers

About Exercise Milan

• It is a biennial multilateral naval exercise which began in 1995.
• It has since significantly expanded in scope and scale to become the largest exercise held by India.
• It was started with the participation of only four countries, viz Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand, in the 1995 edition, the exercise has since transitioned leaps and bounds in terms of number of participants and complexity of exercises.
• Originally conceived in consonance with India's 'Look East Policy, MILAN expanded in ensuing years with the Government of India's 'Act East Policy' and Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) initiative to include participation from other Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs).
• The mid-planning conference of Milan-24 was held in October this year. The last edition of Milan, which is held off Visakhapatnam, saw participation from over 40 countries.

What is the SAGAR initiative?

• It is an Indian foreign policy doctrine that was introduced in 2015.
• The aim of SAGAR is to enhance cooperation and mutual trust between India and its neighbouring countries, particularly in the Indian Ocean region.
• The SAGAR policy has several components, including ensuring maritime security and safety, promoting sustainable development and economic growth, and strengthening cultural and people-to-people ties between nations. 

Q1) What is Act East Policy?

India's Act East Policy focusses on the extended neighbourhood in the Asia-Pacific region. The policy which was originally conceived as an economic initiative, has gained political, strategic and cultural dimensions including establishment of institutional mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation.

Source: Navy gets ready for its biggest naval exercise amid ocean engagements