About VIRAASAT

• The Viraasat Sari Festival is an annual event to celebrate and promote the rich heritage of handloom saris from various regions of the country. 
• Organizer: National Handloom Development Corporation Ltd (NHDC) under the Ministry of Textiles.
• Focus: Celebrates the tradition of handloom and handicrafts while providing market access to weavers and artisans.
• Unique Products: Features Paithani, Kotpad, Kota Doria, Tangail, Pochampally, Kancheepuram, Thirubuvanam, Jamdani, Santipuri, Chanderi, Maheshwari, Patola, Moirangphee, Banarasi Brocade, Tanchoi, Bhagalpuri Silk, Bawan Buti, and Pashmina Sari.

Government Initiatives for the Handloom Sector

• National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP): Aimed at the overall development of the handloom sector.
• Raw Material Supply Scheme (RMSS): Ensures the supply of essential raw materials to handloom weavers.
• Weavers' MUDRA Loan/Concessional Credit Scheme: Provides financial support to weavers.
• Handloom Producer Companies: Encourages the formation of producer companies to enhance the marketing and sales of handloom products.
• Design Resource Centers (DRCs): Offers design support to weavers to improve product quality and marketability.
• One District One Product: Promotes unique handloom products from each district.

National Handloom Day

• Historical context: It commemorates the Swadeshi Movement launched on 7th August 1905, which encouraged indigenous industries, particularly handloom weavers.
  • The First National Handloom Day was held on 7th August 2015 in Chennai.
• Significance: It recognises the efforts and skills of the handloom weaving community and also aims to promote the handloom sector and enhance the livelihood of weavers.

Q1: What is the Geographical Indication (GI) tag?

It is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. This is typically used for agricultural products, foodstuffs, wine and spirit drinks, handicrafts and industrial products.

News: “VIRAASAT”- Celebrating Handwoven Saris of India Exclusive Handloom Sari Exhibition at National Centre for Heritage Textiles (Handloom Haat) Janpath, New Delhi)

About Bordoibam-Bilmukh Bird Sanctuary

• Location and Size: It is situated on the boundary of Dhemaji and Lakhimpur districts in Assam and covers an area of approximately 11.25 sq. km and lies at an altitude of 90-95 meters above mean sea level.
• History:
  • Declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1996 by the Assam government.
  • Originally part of the River Subansiri (a tributary of the Brahmaputra), which now flows 7 km away from the wetland.
• Climate and Vegetation:
  • Experiences a moist tropical climate with an average annual rainfall of about 2,000 mm.
  • Dominated by flooded valley grasslands and wetland vegetation.
• Avian Biodiversity:
  • Hosts a variety of migratory waterfowl in winter.
  • Home to globally threatened species such as the Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) and Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus).

Overview:

• The Bordoibam-Bilmukh Bird Sanctuary (BBBS) in Assam, once a thriving habitat for diverse avian species, has experienced a 72% decline in bird species count over the past 27 years.
• This alarming biodiversity crisis has been attributed to anthropogenic pressures such as fishing, poaching, egg collection, and land-use changes.

Decline in Avian Diversity

• Species Count:
  • In 1997, the sanctuary recorded 167 avian species.
  • Recent studies (2022-2024) revealed only 47 species, marking a 71.85% decline.
• Temporal trends: The decline has been drastic since 2018, as noted in comparative surveys:
  • 2011 Survey: Recorded 133 species (86 resident, 23 migratory, 24 local migrants).
  • 2017-2018 Survey: Recorded 120 bird species, alongside 133 macrophytes, 68 fish species, and seven aquatic fern species.
• Migratory species: Recent records include Brown Shrike, Citrine Wagtail, White Wagtail (winter migratory), and Lesser Kestrel (summer migratory).

Q1: What are wetlands?

Wetlands are transitional ecosystems between terrestrial and aquatic environments, characterized by water saturation at or near the surface. They support a unique diversity of flora and fauna. Examples include marshes, swamps, bogs, and mangroves.

News: Assam bird sanctuary records 72% decline in bird species count in 27 years - The Hindu

Key Highlights of IMHC 2024

• Theme: "Towards Understanding India's Position in Global Maritime History" focused on India’s contributions to global maritime trade, culture, and innovation.
• Exhibitions: Showcased ancient shipbuilding techniques, navigational tools, and historical trade routes through 20+ stalls.
• Global participation: Nations such as Greece, Italy, and the UK joined the conclave, emphasizing the global significance of India's maritime history.
• Cultural integration: A vibrant cultural program celebrated India’s coastal traditions, blending scholarship with festivity.
• Discussions and panels: Explored India’s maritime history and its future aspirations, including the role of youth, skill development, and sustainable practices in the maritime sector.

National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC), Lothal

• Location and Historical Importance:
  • Situated in Lothal, Gujarat, an ancient Indus Valley Civilization site (2600 BCE).
  • Archaeological evidence includes the world’s oldest man-made dockyard, over 5,000 years old.
• · Features of NMHC: Aims to be one of the world’s largest maritime complexes, integrating historical and modern maritime activities. Highlights include:
  • 14 thematic galleries.
  • Open Aquatic Gallery and Lighthouse Museum.
  • Eco-resorts, theme parks, and maritime research institutes.
• Modern Maritime Strength:
  • India boasts a 7,500 km coastline, 13 major ports, and 200 non-major ports.
  • Indian ports handle 95% of trade volume, contributing 70% to the trade value, leveraging its strategic location in the Indian Ocean Region.

Q1: What was the theme of IMHC 2024?

The theme was "Towards Understanding India's Position in Global Maritime History," focusing on India's historical and contemporary contributions to global maritime trade, culture, and innovation.

News: India Maritime Heritage Conclave 2024

Understanding Antibiotic Resistance (AR)

• Definition: AR is a type of antimicrobial resistance where bacteria evolve to withstand the effects of antibiotics, making infections harder to treat.
• Mechanism: It occurs primarily due to genetic changes that allow bacteria to neutralize or evade drugs designed to kill them.

Key Findings of the Study

• Impact on Gut Microbiome: Nanoplastics can transform Lactobacillus acidophilus, a beneficial gut microbiota, into a carrier of AR genes.
  • These AR genes can be transferred to pathogenic bacteria, exacerbating the AR crisis.
• Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT):
  • Polyethylene terephthalate bottle-derived nanoplastics (PBNPs) facilitate the transfer of AR genes from E. coli to Lactobacillus acidophilus via HGT.
  • HGT involves gene transfer across different bacterial species, unlike vertical gene transfer, which occurs from parent to offspring.
• Mechanisms of AR Gene Transfer:
  • Direct Transformation Pathway: PBNPs act as physical carriers, transporting AR plasmids across bacterial membranes. This facilitates direct gene transfer between bacteria.
  • OMV-Induced Transfer Pathway: PBNPs induce oxidative stress, triggering an increased secretion of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). These OMVs, loaded with AR genes, serve as potent vectors for gene transfer between bacterial species, including beneficial and pathogenic bacteria.

What Are Nanoplastics?

• Definition: Nanoplastics are solid particles of synthetic or heavily modified natural polymers, ranging in size from 1 nm to 1000 nm.
• Types:
  • Primary Nanoplastics: Intentionally produced for specific applications.
  • Secondary Nanoplastics: Generated from the fragmentation of larger plastics, often released unintentionally into the environment.

Q1: What are nanoparticles, and why are they important?

Nanoparticles are ultra-small particles with dimensions typically between 1 and 100 nanometers. Due to their tiny size and high surface area-to-volume ratio, they exhibit unique physical, chemical, and biological properties, making them valuable in diverse fields like medicine, electronics, environmental science, and materials engineering.

News: Nano-plastics identified as emerging agents in spread of antibiotic resistance.

About Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme: 

• It was launched on 15th August 1972 by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• The scheme provides the grant of pension to living freedom fighters and their families; if they are no longer alive, and to the families of martyrs.
• Eligibility
  • A person who had suffered a minimum imprisonment of six months in the mainland jails before Independence.
  • A person who remained underground for more than six months.
  • A person interned in his home or externed from his district provided the period of internment/externment was six months or more.
  • A person whose property was confiscated or attached and sold due to participation in the freedom struggle.
  • A person who became permanently incapacitated during firing or lathi charge.
  • A person who lost his job (Central or State Government) and thus means of livelihood for participation in the national movement.
• Benefits
  • Free lifetime railway passes to travel by any train.
  • Free medical facilities under CGHS and free medical treatment in hospitals run by PSUs are provided to the Freedom fighters and eligible dependents.
  • Free transit stay with meals at State Bhawan, New Delhi.
  • Collectors/SDMs have been directed to regularly enquire about the well-being of the freedom fighters and resolve their pension related issues.

Q1: What is the Central Government Health Scheme?

It is providing comprehensive medical care to the Central Government employees and pensioners enrolled under the scheme. It caters to the healthcare needs of eligible beneficiaries covering all four pillars of democratic set up in India namely Legislature, Judiciary, Executive and Press.

News: SWATANTRATA SAINIK SAMMAN PENSION SCHEME

About National Tansen Samman:

• It was established in the year 1980.
• Awardees will get an honorarium of five lakh rupees, citation plaque and shawl-shriphal was presented.
• This award was established by the Madhya Pradesh government in the name of Music Emperor Tansen, is the highest national music award in the field of Indian classical music.

Who was Tansen?

• He was a prominent Indian classical music composer, musician and vocalist, known for a large number of compositions, and also an instrumentalist who popularised and improved the plucked rabab (of Central Asian origin).
• He first stayed under the shelter of Daulat Khan, son of Sher Shah Suri and then was appointed as the court singer of King Ramchandra of Bandhavgarh. 
• He was among the Navaratnas (nine jewels) at the court of the Mughal Emperor Jalal ud-din Akbar.
• Akbar gave him the title Mian, an honorific, meaning learned man.
• Tansen as a historical personality is difficult to extract from the extensive legend that surrounds him.
• He is given credit for introducing some famous ragas viz., Miyan ki Malhar, Miyan ki Todi and Darbari.

Q1: What is Rabab?

It is a stringed musical instrument made up of wood and steel. It is commonly played in India and Pakistan.

News: Renowned Tabla Maestro Pt. Swapan Choudhary Awarded 2023 National Tansen Samman

About IRIS² Programme:

• It is the European Union’s third flagship programme, designed to offer connectivity services to governmental users as well as private companies and individuals.
• According to the European Space Agency (ESA), IRIS² will use both Medium Earth Orbit and Low Earth Orbit satellites.
• It will provide secure connectivity and high-speed broadband in zones where network connectivity is low or unavailable.
• Its interlinked satellites which comprise of 264 and 18 satellites in low and medium Earth orbits respectively will enable it to offer secure high-speed internet connectivity without needing thousands of satellites.
• It is developed in partnership with SpaceRISE, an alliance of leading European satellite operators and space companies
• Applications:
  • It will “support a large variety of governmental applications”, with a focus on border and maritime surveillance, crisis management, connection and security of key infrastructure and security and defence of important.
  • The system can also be used for maritime, railway, aviation, automotive, smart energy grid management, banking, overseas industrial activities, remote healthcare and enhancing rural connectivity.
  • It will also offer mobile and fixed broadband satellite access, cloud-based services and can also be used in the transportation sector to navigate areas with no or low connectivity.

Q1:Low Earth Orbit (LEO)?

LEO has an altitude between 160 km to 1000 km above the Earth’s surface. Satellites in this orbit take approximately 88 - 127 minutes to circle Earth.

News: What is IRIS², the European Union’s answer to Elon Musk’s Starlink?

About Northern giant hornet: 

• Scientific name: Vespa mandarinia
• It is the largest hornet in the world, measuring up to 2 inches long. 
• Habitat: They are known for inhabiting the lower altitude forest and avoiding large plains and high-altitude regions.
• Distribution: They are native to temperate regions in China, Korea, Japan, and India.
• It is an invasive species which poses a significant threat to insects and native pollinators.
• It is nicknamed as ‘Murder hornets’, can kill an entire beehive of honeybees in just 90 minutes.
• The hornets then defend the hive as their own, taking the brood to feed their own young.
• They can sting through most beekeeper suits, delivering almost seven times the amount of venom as a honey bee. Moreover, they have the ability to sting multiple times.
• They mainly feed on native insects: butterflies, moths, dragonflies, bees, wasps, etc. 
• Ecological impact: It preys on honey bees and poses an indirect threat to plants that depend on honey bees for pollination.

Q1: What is an Invasive Species?

These are plants, animals, fungi, or microorganisms that are introduced to new environments outside of their native range and, as a result, have a negative impact on the ecosystems, economies, and/or human health.

News: Why and how did the United States eradicate ‘murder hornets’?

Pangolin Trafficking Key Highlights

• Historical data: This is the third pangolin scale seizure in Nigeria this year involving the NCS and WJC.
• Cumulative impact: Since July 2021, 16 operations have led to 35 arrests, 12 convictions, and seizures of 21.582 tonnes of pangolin scales and 1.065 tonnes of ivory.
• Contribution: The partnership accounts for 95% of pangolin scale seizures in Nigeria during this period.

Pangolins: Species and Characteristics

• Species: There are eight species of pangolins, found across two continents:
  • Africa: Black-bellied pangolin, White-bellied pangolin, Giant Ground pangolin, and Temminck's Ground pangolin.
  • Asia: Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata), Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla), Philippine pangolin, and Sunda pangolin.
• Features:
  • Armour: Pangolins have large keratin scales covering their skin, which serve as armour.
  • Behaviour: They are solitary, nocturnal, and primarily feed on ants and termites.
  • Self-Defense: Pangolins can curl into a ball to protect themselves from predators.
• Habitat: They inhabit a variety of environments, including tropical forests, grasslands, and areas close to human settlements.

Indian Pangolin

• Distribution: Found in India, Bangladesh, Southern Nepal, Sri Lanka, and parts of Pakistan.
• Habitat: Adapted to various environments including deserts, tropical forests, and near human settlements.
• Physical traits: The Indian pangolin has 13 rows of sharp, overlapping scales that vary in colour depending on its surroundings.
• Conservation status:
  • IUCN Red List: Endangered
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Listed under Schedule I
  • CITES: Appendix I

Q1: What is the primary law for wildlife protection in India?

The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 is the primary legislation aimed at safeguarding wildlife in India. It provides for the protection of wild animals, birds, and plants, and establishes schedules classifying species based on the level of protection they require. It also sets up protected areas like National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.

News: Nigerian authorities seize 2.179 tonnes of pangolin scales

About GLP-1 Receptor Agonists: 

• Glucagon-Like Peptide (GLP)-1 receptor agonists mimic a hormone that regulates appetite and blood sugar levels, for managing obesity.
• By specifically binding to the key hormone GLP-1, it regulates blood glucose levels and lipid metabolism.
• This receptor and its agonists hold significant therapeutic potential, reshaping the treatment approaches for multiple diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases.
• GLP-1 agonists are most often injectable medications, meaning you inject a liquid medication with a needle and syringe. 
• The new class of GLP-1 receptor agonists, that included drugs such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, “have the potential to be transformative.
  • In medication terms, an agonist is a manufactured substance that attaches to a cell receptor and causes the same action as the naturally occurring substance. 

What is GLP-1?

• GLP-1 is a key hormone that plays an integral role in regulating blood glucose levels, lipid metabolism, and several other crucial biological functions. 
• It is released by the intestines in response to food intake. 

Q1: What is Diabetes?

It is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.

News: WHO scientists endorse weight loss drugs for controlling obesity: What does it mean for therapies?