About National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC):

• Under the Sagarmala programme, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways is developing the NMHC, a world-class facility at Lothal, Gujarat. 
• NMHC is set to become an international tourist destination, showcasing India’s maritime heritage from ancient to modern times through an edutainment approach utilizing the latest technology.
• The project will be completed in phases:
  • Phase 1A will have NMHC museum with 6 galleries, which also includes an Indian Navy & Coast Guard gallery envisaged to be one of the largest in the country with external naval artifacts, replica model of Lothal township surrounded by an open aquatic gallery, and a jetty walkway.
  • Phase 1B will have NMHC museum with 8 more galleries, Light house museum which is planned to be the world’s tallest, Bagicha complex (with a car parking facility for about 1500 cars, a food hall, a medical centre, etc.).
  • Phase 2 will have Coastal States Pavilions (to be developed by respective coastal states and union territories), Hospitality Zone (with maritime theme eco resorts and museuotels), Recreation of real time Lothal City, Maritime Institute and hostel and 4 theme-based parks (Maritime & Naval Theme Park, Climate Change Theme Park, Monuments Park, and Adventure & Amusement Park). 
• Phases 1A and 1B of the project are to be developed in EPC mode, and Phase 2 of the project will be developed through land subleasing/ PPP to establish NMHC as a world-class heritage museum. 
• A separate society will be set up for the development of future phases, to be governed by a Governing Council headed by the Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
  • This society will manage the implementation and operation of the NMHC.

Q1: What is the Sagarmala programme?

The Sagarmala Programme, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, represents a visionary approach by the Government of India to transform the country's maritime sector. With India's extensive coastline, navigable waterways, and strategic maritime trade routes, Sagarmala aims to unlock the untapped potential of these resources for port-led development and coastal community upliftment. Approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2015, Sagarmala seeks to enhance the performance of the logistics sector by reducing logistics costs for both domestic and international trade.

Source: Cabinet approves development of National Maritime Heritage Complex in Lothal, Gujarat

About Congo River:

• The Congo River, or Zaire River, is a river in west-central Africa. 
• With a length of 2,900 miles (4,700 km), it is the continent’s second longest river, after the Nile.
• It is also the world's second-largest river by discharge volume after the Amazon River.
• It is also the world's deepest river, with a maximum depth of 720 feet (220m), too deep for light to penetrate.
• Course:
  • Origin: It rises in the highlands of northeastern Zambia between Lakes Tanganyika and Nyasa (Malawi) as the Chambeshi River at an elevation of 5,760 feet (1,760 metres) above sea level.
  • Its course then takes the form of a giant counterclockwise arc, flowing to the northwest, west, and southwest before draining into the Atlantic Ocean at Banana (Banane) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  • The Congo River zigzags across the equator twice as it flows.
  • It also empties water and sediment into one of the largest carbon sinks in the world, the Congo Plume in the Atlantic.
  • The Congo River system runs through the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, western Zambia, northern Angola, and parts of Cameroon and Tanzania.
• Its drainage basin covers an area of 1,335,000 square miles (3,457,000 square km). It's the world's second-largest river basin, after the Amazon River Basin.
  • The basin is bordered by the Sahara Desert to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the south and west, and the East African lakes region to the east.
• Major Tributaries: Lomami, Kasai, Lulonga, Ubangi, Aruwimi, Itimbiri, and Mongala rivers.
• The mix of equatorial climate and massive water source provided by the river provides the perfect ingredients for the second-largest tropical rainforestin the world, the Congo Basin rainforest. 
• The Congo is easily navigable for most of its length, and much of the trade of Central Africa passes along it.

Q1: What is a tropical rainforest?

Tropical rainforests are luxuriant forests found in wet tropical uplands and lowlands around the Equator. Tropical rainforests, which worldwide make up one of Earth’s largest biomes (major life zones), are dominated by broad-leaved trees that form a dense upper canopy (layer of foliage) and contain a diverse array of vegetation and other life. 

Source: The world’s chocolate cravings speed up deforestation in the Congo Basin: Study

About Agasthyamalai Bambootail:

• It is a new species of damselfly.
• It is a rare species belonging to the group of bambootails, so named because of their long cylindrical abdomen resembling a bamboo stalk.
• It was discovered from the Agasthyamalai landscape of Western Ghats.
• The only other species in this genus is the Malabar Bambootail (Melanoneura bilineata) that is found in the Coorg-Wayanad landscape of the Western Ghats.
• The members of this genus can be separated from other bambootails by the absence of the anal bridge vein in their wings.
• This genus of damselflies has long black bodies with brilliant blue markings.
• The new species differs from the Malabar Bambootail in the structure of prothorax, anal appendages, and secondary genitalia.

Key Facts about Damselflies:

• Damselfly is any of a group of predatory, aerial insects that are in the order Odonata. 
• Damselflies are found mainly near shallow, freshwater habitats and are graceful fliers with slender bodies and long, filmy, net-veined wings.
• They are generally smaller, more delicate, and fly weakly in comparison with dragonflies.
• The large eyes of damselflies differ from those of dragonflies in that they are always widely separated, rather than close together or touching each other.
• Their colours can be stunningly vivid.
• Wingspans among the 2,600 damselfly species range from 18 mm (0.71 inch) to about 19 cm (7.5 inches) in Megaloprepus caerulatus, a giant damselfly of tropical Central and South America.
• Immature damselflies, called larvae (or sometimes nymphs or naiads), are, with very few exceptions, aquatic predators in freshwater habitats.

Q1: What are Dragonflies?

Dragonfly is any of a group of roughly 3,000 species of aerial predatory insects most commonly found near freshwater habitats throughout most of the world. Damselflies (suborder Zygoptera) are sometimes also called dragonflies in that both are odonates (order Odonata).Dragonfly species (Anisoptera) are characterized by long bodies with two narrow pairs of intricately veined, membranous wings that, while generally transparent, may have coloured markings. Unlike damselflies, the front and rear wing pairs are shaped differently. 

Source: New species of damselfly discovered at Manjadininnavila in Kerala

About Universal Postal Union: 

• It is a United Nations specialized agency and the postal sector's primary forum for international cooperation.
• It was established by the Treaty of Bern of 1874. It is the second oldest international organization worldwide.
• Functions:
  • It coordinates postal policies among member nations in addition to the worldwide postal system. 
  • It sets the rules for international mail exchanges and makes recommendations to stimulate growth in mail, parcel and financial services volumes and improve the quality of service for customers.
  • It fulfills an advisory, mediating and liaison role and provides technical assistance where needed. 
• Member countries:
  • Any member country of the United Nations may become a member of the UPU.
  • Any non-member country of the United Nations may become a UPU member, provided that its request is approved by at least two-thirds of the member countries of the UPU.
• The UPU now has 192 member countries.
• Structure: It consists of four bodies,
  • The Congress: It is the supreme authority of the UPU and meets every four years.
  • The Council of Administration: It ensures the continuity of the UPU's work between Congresses, supervises its activities and studies regulatory, administrative, legislative and legal issues.
  • The Postal Operations Council: It is the technical and operational mind of the UPU and consists of 48 member countries elected during Congress.
• The International Bureau: Fulfilling a secretariat function, the International Bureau provides logistical and technical support to the UPU's bodies.
• Headquarters: Bern, Switzerland

Q1: What is philately?

Philately is the study of postage stamps, stamped envelopes, postmarks, postcards, and other materials relating to postal delivery.

Source: Release of Commemorative Stamps Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union

About Rice Fortification: 

• Fortification is the process of adding Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK), containing FSSAI prescribed micronutrients (Iron, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12) to normal Rice in the ratio of 1:100 (Mixing 1 Kg of FRK with 100 Kg custom milled rice).
• Fortified rice is nearly identical to traditional rice in aroma, taste, and texture. This process is done in the rice mills at the time of milling of rice.
• It is a cost effective, culturally appropriate strategy to address micronutrient deficiency in countries with high per capita rice consumption.
• Rice Fortification is a 2 step process – (1) Production of Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK) (2) Blending of rice with FRK
• Processes used for rice is fortification
  • Various technologies, such as coating, dusting, and ‘extrusion’, are available to add micronutrients to regular rice.
  • Adding micronutrient technology involves the production of fortified rice kernels (FRKs) from a mixture using an ‘extruder’ machine. It is considered to be the best technology for India.
  • Dry rice flour is mixed with a premix of micronutrients, and water is added to this mixture, which is then passed through a twin-screw extruder with heating zones.
  • Kernels similar in shape and size to rice are produced, which must “resemble the normal milled rice as closely as possible”.
  • The kernels are dried, cooled, and packaged. FRK has a shelf life of at least 12 months.
  • The kernels are blended with regular rice to produce fortified rice. Under the Ministry’s guidelines, 10 g of FRK must be blended with 1 kg of regular rice.
• According to FSSAI norms, 1 kg of fortified rice will contain the following: iron (28 mg-42.5 mg), folic acid (75-125 microgram), and vitamin B-12 (0.75-1.25 microgram).

Q1: What is the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)?

It is an autonomous body established under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. The FSSAI has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which is a consolidating statute related to food safety and regulation in India.

Source: What is fortified rice? Why did Centre extend initiative for its distribution in schemes

About Tharu Tribe:

• The Tharu tribe is one of the indigenous groups living in the Terai plain on the Indo-Nepal border. 
• They live in both India and Nepal.
• In the Indian terai, they live mostly in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. 
• In 1967, this tribe was documented as a Scheduled Tribe by the Government of India. 
• Language: They have their own language called Tharu or Tharuhati, a language of the Indo-Aryan subgroup of the Indo-Iranian group of the Indo-European family.
• Economy: Most Tharu practice agriculture, raise cattle, hunt, fish, and collect forest products. 
• Most of their food involves rice, lentils, and vegetables. 
• They build their homes from bamboo and mud.
• Society:
  • Despite their patrilineal social system, women have property rights greatly exceeding those recognized in Hindu society.
  • Tharu marriages are patrilocal within the tribe.
  • A common feature of the Tharu community is the joint family system of living in long houses.
  • Tharus live in compact villages, usually in the middle of a forest clearing. Each village is governed by a counciland a headman.

Q1: What is Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)?

PMAY is a credit-linked subsidy scheme initiated to provide affordable housing to low and moderate-income residents across the country. The scheme has two components: PMAY-U for the urban poor and PMAY-G and PMAY-R for the rural poor.

Source: From despair to hope: PMAY homes bring smiles to women of Tharu tribe in Kheri

About IBSAMAR VIII:

• It is a joint multinational maritime exercise among Indian, Brazilian, and South African Navy. 
• The exercise aims to enhance interoperability and strengthen cohesion between the three navies. The broad concept is based on Blue Water Naval Warfare, encompassing the dimensions of Surface and Anti-Air Warfare.
• The harbour phase of IBSAMAR VIII will include professional exchanges, Damage Control & Firefighting drills, Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure drills, cross-boarding, aviation safety lectures, joint diving operations, an Ocean Governance seminar, sports interactions, cross-decks visits, and interaction among Special Forces and Junior Officers.
• Significance: Multi-lateral interactions are crucial bridges of friendship that increase mutual trust and enhance interoperability among navies of like-minded littoral nations towards the common goal of a peaceful maritime domain and positive maritime environment.

INS Talwar

• It was commissioned on 18 June 2003 and is a part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet, based in Mumbai under the Western Naval Command.
• The visit of INS Talwar aims to further strengthen the ties and reaffirm India’s commitment to constructive collaboration and mutual growth.

Q1: What is the Blue Water Navy?

A Blue Water Navy is one that has the capacity to project itself over a much bigger maritime area than its maritime borders. 

Source: INS TALWAR ARRIVES SOUTH AFRICA TO PARTICIPATE IN IBSAMAR VIII