About Shortfin mako shark:

• It is a large predatory and highly migratory shark species that lives in the open ocean.
• The shortfin mako’s common name is derived from the Maori term mako, which translated means “shark”. 
• It is known for its incredible leaping ability and can be observed jumping to extreme heights (out of the water) when hunting.
• Appearance: This classically shaped shark is hydrodynamically efficient with a pointed snout, triangular dorsal fin and large and a crescent-shaped caudal (tail) fin.
• The shortfin mako shark is a yolk-sac ovoviviparous shark giving birth to live young. Developing embryos feed on unfertilized eggs (oophagy) within the uterus during the 15- to 18-month gestation period.
• Diet: The shortfin mako shark feeds mainly upon cephalopods and bony fish including mackerels, tunas,
• Habitat: It is found across all temperate and tropical ocean waters.
• They can also be found near the coast where the continental shelf is short. 
• Conservation status
  • IUCN: Critically endangered
  • CITES: Appendix II

Q1: What is IUCN?

The International Union for Conservation of Nature is a global organization composed of governments, NGOs, scientists, and experts dedicated to conserving nature and promoting sustainability. 

News:In a first, mako shark in the Mediterranean tagged by Virginia Tech researchers

About Chakki River:

• It is one of the tributaries of the Beas River.
• It flows through Himachal Pradesh and Punjab and merges with the Beas near Pathankot, Punjab.
• It is fed by snow and rain in the Dhauladhar mountains (part of a lesser Himalayan chain of mountains). 
• Unregulated sand mining has been a major ecological issue, degrading the riverbed and banks.

Key Facts about Beas River:

• It is a river in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab states, northwestern India.
• It is one of the five rivers that give the Punjab (“Five Rivers”) its name.
• The ancient Indians and the Hyphasis by the ancient Greeks called the river Arjiki or Vipas.
• Course:
  • Origin: The river originates in the Rohtang Pass of the Himalayas in central Himachal Pradesh in India at a height of 13,050 feet.
  • It flows for a length of 290 miles (470 km) before uniting with the Sutlej River at Harike Pattan south of Amritsar in Punjab.
  • Finally, the river drains its water into the Arabian Sea.
• Major Tributaries: The major tributaries of the Beas River are Bain, Banganga, Luni, and Uhal, along with Banner, Chakki, Gaj, Harla, Mamuni, Parvati, Patlikuhlal, Sainj, Suketi, and Tirthan.
• The Beas forms the world-famous valleys of Kullu and Kangra.

Q1: What is the National Green Tribunal (NGT)?

The National Green Tribunal has been established on 18.10.2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment and giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. It is a specialized body equipped with the necessary expertise to handle environmental disputes involving multi-disciplinary issues.

News: Stone crushers have altered course of river, NGT told

About Dark Eagle Anti-Missile System:

• It is a long-range hypersonic anti-missile system developed by the United States, which is capable of intercepting enemy missiles in mid-air.
• It is capable of stopping ballistic, cruise, hypersonic missiles and warheads.
• It has an operational range estimated at over 2,775 kilometers (1,724 miles), enabling it to strike targets deep within adversary territory.
• The system’s ballistic missile features two stages, one of which includes a hypersonic glide warhead (C-HGB) capable of reaching extreme speeds of Mach 17, making interception particularly difficult.
• With a C-HGB warhead capable of reaching speeds between 3000 and 3700 meters per second at altitudes below 50 km, this missile is designed to challenge and potentially surpass the capabilities of Russia’s S-300V4, S-400, and S-500 air defense systems. 

Q1: What are hypersonic missiles?

The term “Hypersonic” refers to a speed at least five times the speed of sound (also called Mach-5). Another key feature of such missiles is manoeuvrability, setting them apart from a ballistic missile that follows a set course or trajectory. Hypersonic Cruise Missiles use scramjet engines to sustain hypersonic speeds throughout their flight, flying at lower altitudes and also possessing manoeuvrability.

News: US unveils new anti-missile system Dark Eagle, claims Russia’s S-300V4, S-400, and S-500 systems are no match to it; know how powerful it is

About Pandupol Hanuman Temple:

• It is a revered 5000-year-old shrine located within the lush expanse of the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Alwar, Rajasthan. 
• The history of the Pandupol Hanuman Temple is deeply intertwined with Hindu mythology.
  • Legend has it that during the period of the Mahabharata, the Pandavas, along with their wife Draupadi, spent a significant amount of time in exile.
  • It is believed that they visited this area, then known as Viratnagar, during their exile years.
  • Bhima had an encounter with Hanuman.
• The temple's name, "Pandupol," is derived from the word "Pandava," signifying its connection to this legendary narrative. 
• The term "Hanuman" in the temple's name is in honor of Lord Hanuman.
• The temple's primary attraction is the reclining statue of Hanuman, which was established here by the Pandavas.

Key Facts about Sariska Tiger Reserve:

• It is located in the state of Rajasthan.
• It is well nestled in the Aravali Hills, covering an area of 800 sq km.
• It was once a hunting ground of the Maharaja of Alwar before being proclaimed a natural reserve in 1955 and a national park in 1979.
• It is the first reserve in the world to successfully relocate tigers.
• It is also famous for old temples, palaces, and lakes such as Pandu Pol, Bhangarh Fort,Ajabgarh, Pratapgarh, Siliserh Lake, and Jai Samand Lake.
• Vegetation: The vegetation of Sariska corresponds to Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests and Northern Tropical Thorn Forest.
• Flora: The area of this reserve is covered with dhok trees. Other species found include salar, kadaya, gol, ber, Banyan, gugal, bamboo, kair, adusta, etc.
• Fauna: A variety of other wild animals, like the leopard, sambhar, chital, nilgai, four-horned antelope, wild boar etc are found in the reserve apart from the tiger.

Q1: What is the Aravali Range?

It is a mountain range located in northwestern India. It is one of the oldest fold mountains in the world. It runs approximately 670 km (430 mi) in a south-west direction, starting near Delhi, passing through southern Haryana and Rajasthan, and ending in Gujarat. The range contains a series of ridges and peaks, which have widths between 6 miles and 60 miles, and elevations that vary between 1,000 and 3,000 feet.

News: Balancing Devotion and Conservation: Pandupol's Dilemma

About Athlete Biological Passport:

• It is an advanced anti-doping tool that monitors an athlete's biological markers over time.
• By analyzing variations in parameters such as blood and steroid profiles, the ABP helps to ensure fair play in sports and to protect clean athletes.
• It works against doping through enhanced target testing and analysis, investigations, deterrence, and as indirect evidence for use of prohibited methods or substances.
• The principal objectives of the ABP program are the following:
  • It can be used to conduct targeted, conventional anti-doping tests on athletes with abnormal profiles.
  • It can also be used as corroborating evidence of doping during an anti-doping rule violation case.
• Currently three modules were implemented in ABP program:
  • Haematological Module:  The Haematological Module collects information on Markers of blood doping. This module aims to identify the Use of Prohibited Substances and/or Prohibited Methods for the enhancement of oxygen transport or delivery.
  • Steroidal Module: The Steroidal Module collects information on Markers of steroid doping measured in urineØ and/or serum Samples. The module aims to identify endogenous anabolic androgenic steroids (EAAS) when administered exogenously.
  • Endocrine Module: The Endocrine Module collects information on Markers of hGH doping. The module aims to identify human growth harmone (hGH) use and as well as use of hGH analogs.

Q1: What is the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)?

WADA was established in 1999 as an international independent agency to lead a collaborative worldwide movement for doping-free sport. WADA’s governance and funding are based on an equal partnership between the sport movement and governments of the world.

News: National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL), New Delhi, receives approval from World Anti – Doping Agency (WADA) to manage Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) as a WADA approved unit

About GenCast Model:

• It is anew machine-learning weather prediction model.
• It uses a diffusion model approach similar to artificial intelligence (AI) image generators.
• The system generates multiple forecasts to capture the complex behaviour of the atmosphere. It does so with a fraction of the time and computing resources required for traditional approaches.
• It is part of Google’s growing suite of next-generation AI-based weather models.
• It can predict the weather for 15 days in just 8 minutes. The old way of predicting weather usually takes hours.
• Working
  • The AI-powered program was trained on four decades of historical data through 2018, taken from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts’ (ECMWF) historical archives.
  • The GenCast model makes predictions of several variables such as temperature, pressure, humidity and wind speed at the surface and at 13 different heights, on a grid that divides the world up into 0.25-degree regions of latitude and longitude.
• Significance: Itoutperforms the current leading system, uses probabilistic ensemble forecasting to predict a range of possible weather scenarios, offering a more comprehensive picture of the upcoming conditions.

Q1: What is Machine learning?

It is an essential branch of artificial intelligence that employs data and algorithms to mimic human learning processes, gradually enhancing its accuracy. It is a cornerstone of the emerging field of data science. It involves training algorithms to find patterns in data, which enables them to make predictions or perform tasks without being explicitly programmed.

News: New AI model ‘GenCast’ can beat the best traditional weather forecasts

About IndiaAI Future Skills Platform:

• It is one of the seven foundational pillars of the IndiaAI Mission.
• It aims to enhance India’s AI workforce readiness by mitigating barriers to entry in AI programs and advancing the AI talent pipeline.
• The pillar will increase AI courses in undergraduate, postgraduate, and Ph.D. programs.
• It further aims to foster inclusive access to AI education by establishing Data and AI Labs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities across India to impart foundational level courses. 
• It is developed in collaboration with industry partners, to provide cutting-edge training programs tailored to meet evolving industry demands.
• Under this initiative AI Data Labs are being established in cities such as Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Shimla, Aurangabad, Patna, Buxar, and Muzaffarpur. This move aims to spread technological advancements across the country, ensuring they are not limited to urban hubs.

What is IndiaAI Mission?

• It aims to build a comprehensive ecosystem that fosters AI innovation by democratizing computing access, enhancing data quality, developing indigenous AI capabilities, attracting top AI talent, enabling industry collaboration, providing startup risk capital, ensuring socially impactful AI projects, and promoting ethical AI.
• This mission drives responsible and inclusive growth of India's AI ecosystem through following seven pillars.

Q1: What is an Artificial Intelligence data bank?

It is aimed at propelling innovation and boosting the country’s national security. The initiative will provide researchers, startups, and developers access to high-quality, diverse datasets essential for creating scalable and inclusive AI solutions.

News:8.6 Lakh Candidates Enrolled In ‘IndiaAI Future Skills’ Initiative: IT Minister

About Malayan Night Heron:

• It is also known as Malaysian night heron and tiger bittern,
• It is a medium-sized and nocturnal species.
• Appearance: It is identified by its rufous neck, barred chestnut back, black cap with crest, and white tipped primaries.
• Habitat: It occurs in dense, high rainfall, subtropical forests ranging from the low wetlands, where it uses streams, marshes, and swamps, to moderate elevations, where it uses evergreen forests, secondary scrub and reservoirs.
• Distribution: It is mainly found in India, south east Asia, Philippines and the east Indies. It is native to Myanmar, Thailand, and Malaysia, migrates to India during winter.
• It primarily traverses northern Tamil Nadu and is typically seen in Kerala and Karnataka.
• Diet: It eats terrestrial food, particularly earthworks and beetles.
• Conservation status
  • IUCN: Least concern

Q1: What are the characteristics of Moist Tropical Forests?

Moist tropical forests, also known as tropical rainforests, are dense, lush forests found in equatorial regions characterised by high temperatures, abundant rainfall, and extraordinary biodiversity. 

News: Malayan Night Heron spotted in Madurai for first time

About D. Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is situated in the East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
• It was established in the year 1976. 
• The sanctuary was previously known as Lali Wildlife Sanctuary after the declaration of Lali Reserve Forest as a sanctuary. It was renamed as D`Ering in the year 1986. 
• It enjoys a tropical climate and receives north-east and south-west monsoons. 
• It is also home to the Siang River, which is one of the major rivers in Arunachal Pradesh. 
• Flora:
  • It mainly comprises riverine plains, and the vegetation has a floristic composition.
  • Thatch and grasses constitute a major portion of the sanctuary.
  • The woodland of the sanctuary includes scattered patches of trees like Termenelia myriocarpa, Dillenia indica, Albizia spp., Bombax ceiba, and others.
• Fauna:
  • Mammals in the sanctuary are represented by Hog Deer, Wild Pig, Tiger and Elephant.
  • More than 150 species of birds are the inhabitants of the sanctuary, including the endangered ones like White-Winged Wood Duck, and Bengal Florican.

Q1: Which are the major tributaries of the Siang River?

The major tributaries of Siang river are Dibang and Lohit

News: Rhino reintroduction in Arunachal's D. Ering Wildlife Sanctuary gains momentum

About Manganese:

• Manganese is the fifth-most abundant metal on earth that exists in the form of oxides, carbonates and silicates.
• It is present in food, water, soil, and rock as a naturally occurring component.
• Properties
  • It is too brittle to be of much use as a pure metal. It is mainly used in alloys, such as steel.
  • Its minerals are widely distributed, with pyrolusite (manganese dioxide) and rhodochrosite (manganese carbonate) being the most common.
  • Manganese somewhat resembles iron in general chemical activity.
  • The metal oxidizes superficially in air and rusts in moist air.
  • It burns in air or oxygen at elevated temperatures, decomposes water slowly when cold and rapidly on heating
• The metal is obtained by reducing the oxide with sodium, magnesium or aluminium, or by the electrolysis of manganese sulfate.
• Manganese ores are primarily produced by Australia, South Africa, China, Gabon, and Brazil.
• It is essential to plant growth and is involved in the assimilation of nitrates in green plants and algae.
• Biological role
  • It is an ‘essential trace element’ which plays a vital role in maintaining body homeostasis but can cause severe toxicity if consumed in excess.
  • Manganese is an essential element in all known living organisms. Many types of enzymes contain manganese. 

Q1: What are minerals?

These are naturally occurring homogeneous solid with a definite chemical composition and a highly ordered atomic arrangement; it is usually formed by inorganic processes. 

News: .Manganese in water is causing cancer in Bihar’s Gangetic plains: Study