Mission Amrit Sarovar Latest News

The Indian Railways will dig ponds as part of the Union government’s Mission Amrit Sarovar that aims to address the critical issue of water scarcity in the country.

About Mission Amrit Sarovar

• It was launched in April 2022 to construct or rejuvenate 75 Amrit Sarovars (ponds) in each district, totaling 50,000 across the country. 
• It helps to overcome the water crisis in rural areas of the country.
• Every Amrit Sarovar will have a pondage area of at least 1 acre with a water holding capacity of about 10,000 cubic metre.
• The site of Amrit Sarovars will be approved by special Gram Sabha, which will also name Panchayat Partinidhi, who will on its behalf supervise the development of Amrit Sarovar.
• It focuses on water conservation, people’s participation, and proper utilization of soil excavated from the water bodies to boost infrastructure projects.
• It is based on the “Whole of Government” approach with the participation from the Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, and technical organizations.
• There is no separate financial allocation for Mission Amrit Sarovar.
• Bhaskar Acharya National Institute for Space Application and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N) has been engaged as a technical partner for the Mission.
  • Amrit Sarovar Portal and Mobile App developed by BISAG-N is used for tracking the progress/ performance of Mission Amrit Sarovar in districts.

Mission Amrit Sarovar FAQs

Q1. What is the purpose of the mission Amrit Sarovar?

Ans. Construct or rejuvenate 75 Amrit Sarovars (ponds) in each district, totaling 50,000 across the country. 

Q2. Who is the technical partner of Mission Amrit Sarovar?

Ans. Bhaskar Acharya National Institute for Space Application and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N) 

Q3. What is the budget of Amrit Sarovar scheme?

Ans. There is no separate financial allocation for Mission Amrit Sarovar. The Mission Amrit Sarovar works through the States and Districts with convergence from various ongoing schemes.

Source: TH

Nagorno-Karabakh Latest News

Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to a peace agreement set to end nearly four decades of conflict between over disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

About Nagorno-Karabakh

• Nagorno-Karabakh, referred to as Artsakh by Armenians, is a landlocked, mountainous region in the South Caucasus. 
• The general region includes the northeastern flank of the Karabakh Range of the Lesser Caucasus and extends from the crest line of the range to the margin of the Kura River lowland at its foot. 
• Nagorno-Karabakh’s environments vary from steppe on the Kura lowland through dense forest of oak, hornbeam, and beech on the lower mountain slopes to birchwood and alpine meadows higher up.
• Following the Russian Empire's collapse in 1917, both Armenia and Azerbaijan asserted claims over this area, leading to enduring tensions. 
• Internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, until recently much of it was governed by the unrecognised Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, also known as the Republic of Artsakh.
• Historically, the region's population was predominantly ethnic Armenian, and it operated a self-established government closely aligned with Armenia, though lacking official recognition from Armenia or other United Nations member states. 

Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Timeline

The conflict has roots dating back well over a century into competition between Christian Armenian and Muslim Turkic and Persian influences.

• 1920s: After World War I and the Bolshevik revolution, Soviet rulers created the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region within Azerbaijan, with an ethnic Armenian majority.
• 1991: As the Soviet Union collapsed, Karabakh declared independence, and tensions between Armenians and Azerbaijanis led to full-scale war.
• 1992-94: The First Karabakh War resulted in up to 30,000 deaths. Armenians took control of the region and occupied surrounding Azerbaijani land, creating a buffer zone.
• 2017: A referendum in Karabakh changed the government to a fully presidential system and renamed the region from Nagorno-Karabakh Republic to Republic of Artsakh.
• 2020: The Second Karabakh War saw Azerbaijan reclaiming territory around Karabakh, with 3,000 Azerbaijani and 4,000 Armenian soldiers killed in six weeks of fighting.
• 2022: Clashes broke out between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces, with 100 Armenian and 70 Azerbaijani soldiers killed.
• 2024: Nagorno-Karabakh was officially dissolved.

Nagorno-Karabakh FAQs

Q1. Which country is Nagorno-Karabakh?

Ans. Nagorno-Karabakh is a region internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.

Q2. What is the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh?

Ans. The conflict revolves around ethnic and territorial disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan, with Armenians seeking independence or unification with Armenia.

Q3. Who currently controls Nagorno-Karabakh?

Ans. Azerbaijan regained full control of Nagorno-Karabakh following a military offensive in September 2023.

Source: FT

PM-ABHIM Latest News

The Delhi government is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to implement the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM).

About PM-ABHIM

• Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) with certain Central Sector Components which has total outlay of Rs. 64,180 Crores for the scheme period (2021-22 to 2025-26).
• The scheme envisages a new generation of reforms to integrate and strengthen health service delivery and public health action. 
• The measures under the scheme are aimed at strengthening health systems and institutions in order to provide a continuum of care at all levels, namely primary, secondary, and tertiary, as well as preparing health systems to respond effectively to current and future pandemics and disasters.
• The following are the components under CS Component of the scheme:
  • Construction of 17,788 Building less Sub-Centres as Ayushman Bharat- Health & Wellness centres, now known as Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM).
  • Establishment of 11,024 Health & Wellness Centres, now AAM in Urban areas with a focus on slum and slum-like areas.
  • Establishment of 3382 Block Public Health Units (BPHUs) at the block level.
  • Establishment of 730 District Integrated Public Health Labs (IPHL) in the country, wherein each district will have one such lab.
  • Establishing 602 Critical Care Hospital Blocks (CCBs) in all districts with a population of more than 5 lakhs.
  • The CSS components of PM-ABHIM are implemented by following the existing framework, institutions and mechanisms of the National Health Mission. 
• Public Health and Hospital are State subjects, implementation of the scheme lies under the purview of State Government. However, MoHFW provides technical and financial support to the States/Union Territories (UTs) for effective implementation of the scheme.
• The scheme is implemented by the State government and awareness generation activities including IEC for the scheme is periodically conducted by the State health department along with other public health programs under the National Health Mission.

PM-ABHIM FAQs

Q1. What is the PM Abhim scheme?

Ans. PM-ABHIM is a central government scheme that aims to strengthen public health infrastructure to respond to future pandemics and outbreaks.

Q2. When was PMJAY launched?

Ans. Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) was launched in September 2018 in Ranchi, Jharkhand.

Q3. What is the PMAM scheme?

Ans. The PMAM is the primary contact for the beneficiaries at every EHCP.

Source: IE

UNCTAD Latest News

UNCTAD warns of economic fragmentation, and stresses global cooperation to prevent trade disruption and ensure long-term growth.

About UNCTAD

• Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, UNCTAD is a permanent intergovernmental body established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1964. 
• It supports developing countries to access the benefits of a globalized economy more fairly and effectively.
• It provides economic and trade analysis, facilitates consensus-building and offers technical assistance to help developing countries use trade, investment, finance and technology for inclusive and sustainable development.
• It is part of the UN Secretariat. It reports to the UN General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council but has its own membership, leadership, and budget. It is also part of the United Nations Development Group.
• Key Developments:
  • The first United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) was held in Geneva in 1964.
  • In 1989, the Agreement on the Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries (GSTP) came into force. It provided for the granting of tariff as well as non-tariff preferences among its members. To date, the Agreement has been ratified by 44 countries.
  • The conclusion of the Uruguay Round of trade negotiations under the GATT resulted in the establishment of the World Trade Organizationin 1995, which led to a strengthening of the legal framework governing international trade.
  • It highlighted the need for a differentiated approach to the problems of developing countries. Its tenth conference, held in Bangkok in February 2000, adopted a political declaration – "The Spirit of Bangkok" – as a strategy to address the development agenda in a globalizing world.
• Reports published by UNCTAD:
  • Trade and Development Report
  • World Investment Report
  • The Least Developed Countries Report

UNCTAD FAQs

Q1. What does UNCTAD mean?

Ans. UNCTAD stands for United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

Q2. Where is the UNCTAD headquarters?

Ans. The headquarters of UNCTAD is located in Geneva, Switzerland.

Q3. What is the UNCTAD used for?

Ans. UNCTAD promotes trade, economic development, finance, technology, investment, and sustainable development for developing countries.

Q4. Why was UNCTAD established?

Ans. UNCTAD was established in 1964 to address trade and economic development challenges faced by developing countries inadequately handled by existing institutions

Source: TH

Pilibhit Tiger Reserve Latest News

Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) is set to become a new sanctuary for rhinos from Nepal, as efforts to establish a permanent habitat for the visiting pachyderms gain momentum.

About Pilibhit Tiger Reserve

• It is situated in the Pilibhit district of Uttar Pradesh, forming part of the Terai Arc Landscape, in the upper Gangetic Plain Biogeographic Province. 
• It lies along the India-Nepal border in the foothills of the Himalayas.
• The river Gomti originates from the PTR, which is also the catchment of several others like Sharda, Chuka, and Mala Khannot.
• The habitat is characterized by sal forests, tall grasslands, and swamps, maintained by periodic flooding from rivers. 
• The Sharda Sagar Dam extending up to a length of 22 km. is on the boundary of the reserve.
• It has a dry and hot climate, which brings a combination of dry teak forest and Vindhya Mountain soils.
• Vegetation: North Indian moist deciduous type.
• Flora:
  • The sal woodland is very dense with good natural regeneration, amounting to almost 76% of the reserve area.
  • The forest patches are interspersed with grass meadows with several species like Sacchrum, Sclerostachya, Imperata, Themeda, Bothriochloa, Vetiveria, Apluda, Dichanthium, Digitaria and Cyperus.
• Fauna: 
  • It is home to a myriad of wild animals, including the endangered tiger, swamp deer, Bengal florican, hog deer, leopard, etc.
  • The rich bird life in Pilibhit includes species like Swamp Francolin, Great Hornbill, Bengal Florican, Lesser Florican, Black Francolin, Jungle Bush Quail, Red Junglefowl, Asian Openbill, etc.

Pilibhit Tiger Reserve FAQs

Q1. Where is Pilibhit Tiger Reserve located?

Ans. It is situated in the Pilibhit district of Uttar Pradesh.

Q2. Which river flows through Pilibhit Tiger Reserve?

Ans. The river Gomti originates from the PTR, which is also the catchment of several others like Sharda, Chuka, and Mala Khannot.

Q3. What is Terai?

Ans. Terai, or Tarai, is a lowland belt of flat, alluvial land stretching along the Nepal-India border and running parallel to the lower ranges of the Himalayas. 

Source: TOI

Supersolid Latest News

In an exciting scientific breakthrough, researchers have successfully turned light into a "supersolid" for the first time ever.

About Supersolid

• Supersolids are a strange state of matter defined by quantum mechanics where particles condense into an orderly, crystalline solid but also move like a liquid that has no viscosity. 
• Usually, solids don't move on their own, but supersolids change direction and density depending on particle interactions while maintaining an organized lattice structure.

Why Are Supersolids So Cold?

• Supersolids require extremely low temperatures to form — usually very close to absolute zero (minus 459.67 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 273.15 degrees Celsius). 
• Most of the particles have to occupy the lowest energy state available, and heat makes particles jump up and down like excitable toddlers in a ball pit.
• If a material is cold enough, the temperature no longer obscures how the particles interact with each other. Instead, the tiny effects of quantum mechanics become the defining factors in how the material behaves.

Significance of the Discovery

• Supersolids have traditionally been observed in Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) of ultracold atoms near absolute zero. 
• However, this new development expands the scope by coupling light and matter, enabling researchers to study condensed-matter physics under extreme quantum conditions. 
• The discovery has profound implications for quantum computing, where supersolid-based systems could enhance qubit stability. 
• It also opens pathways for advancements in optical circuits, photonic devices, and fundamental physics research.

Supersolid FAQs

Q1. What is an example of a supersolid?

Ans. For the first time, researchers have transformed light into a "'supersolid" — a strange state of matter that is both solid and liquid at the same time.

Q2. Do supersolids exist?

Ans. Supersolids are entities that exist in the quantum world, and, up until now, they have all been made using atoms.

Q3. What is the difference between a solid and a supersolid?

Ans. A solid has fixed structure, while a supersolid combines crystalline order with frictionless flow

Q4. What is supersolid state?

Ans. Supersolids are a strange state of matter defined by quantum mechanics where particles condense into an orderly, crystalline solid but also move like a liquid that has no viscosity.

Source: NDTV

Ashwini Radar Latest News

The Union Ministry of Defence (MoD) recently signed a ₹2,906 crore contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Ghaziabad for the procurement of Low-level Transportable Radar, LLTR (Ashwini).

About Ashwini Radar

• LLTR (Ashwini) is an active electronically scanned phased array radar based on state-of-the-art solid-state technology.
• It is capable of tracking aerial targets from high-speed fighter aircraft to slow-moving targets such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and helicopters.
• The fully indigenous Ashwini radars have been jointly developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and BEL.
• These radars feature integrated Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems with electronic scanning in azimuth and elevation, enabling 4D surveillance.
• Designed for mobility, the radars come with advanced Electronic Counter-Countermeasures (ECCM) capabilities and can operate across various terrains. 
• They automatically detect and track aerial targets, including fighter jets and slow-moving objects.

Ashwini Radar FAQs

Q1. What is a RADAR?

Ans. RADAR (Radio Detection and Ranging) is a system that uses radio waves to detect and determine the distance, speed, and direction of objects.

Q2. What is Bharat Electronics Limited?

Ans. It is an Indian Public Sector Unit and aerospace and defence electronics company.

Q3. What is an Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)?

Ans. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft that operates without a human pilot onboard.

Source: TH

Brahmani River Latest News

Eight years after construction began, the bridge over the Brahmani river near Brahmabarada remains unfinished, causing inconvenience to residents of over 20 villages under five gram panchayats in Rasulpur and Jajpur blocks.

About Brahmani River

• It is one of the major rivers in eastern India, primarily flowing through the state of Odisha.
• The river is known as Dhamra in its lower reaches.
• Course:
  • It is formed by the confluence of the Sankh and South Koel rivers near the major industrial town of Rourkela in Odisha.
  • Both the sources of the Brahmani River are on the Chota Nagpur Plateau.
  • The Sankh River has its origins near the Jharkhand-Chhattisgarh border, along with the South Koel River, which also rises in Jharkhand.
  • The basin flows through Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha states, draining a total area of 39,033 sq.km. before it outfalls into the Bay of Bengal.
  • Together with the rivers Mahanadi and Baitarani, it forms a large delta before emptying into the Bay of Bengal at Palmyras Point, Odisha. 
• The Brahmani delta is the site of the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, famous for its estuarine crocodiles.
• Length: The total length of its run is about 799 km, of which 541 km are in Odisha itself.
• The Brahmani River basin is bounded in the north by the Chhotanagpur plateau, in the west and south by the Mahanadi basin, and in the east by the Bay of Bengal.
• It is one of the few rivers that cut across the Eastern Ghats and has formed a minor gorge at Rengali in Odisha, where a dam has been built.
• Tributaries: The principal tributaries of this river are Sankh, Tikra, and Karo.

Brahmani River FAQs

Q1. Is Brahmani tributary of Mahanadi?

Ans. No, the Brahmani River is not a tributary of the Mahanadi River.

Q2. Which dam is on Brahmani River?

Ans. The Rengali Dam is located on the Brahmani River.

Q3. Brahmani river flows through which all states?

Ans. Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha

Source: NIE