Spotted Hyenalatest News

In a new study, Egyptian researchers have discovered a spotted hyena (Crocutta crocutta), one of Africa’s most abundant carnivores, appeared in southern Egypt after 5,000 years. 

Spotted Hyena Overview

• It is also called the laughing hyena. It is a fascinating and intelligent creature with a very interesting social system.
• It is a carnivorous animal that hunts and scavenges.
• It is a strong and capable hunter and the largest member of the hyena fam
• They have excellent night vision, being mostly nocturnal, hunting at night, and sleeping or staying near their den in the daytime.
• They have a matriarchal social order of related individuals that are called clans.

Spotted Hyena’s Appearance

• It has a sandy, yellowish or gray coat with black or dark brown spots on the over most of the bod
• It looks like a dog but is closer related to cats, civets, and gene
• The spots are darkest in younger animals and can be almost completely absent in very old animals.
• Females and males look exactly the same except that females are a little larger.
• Habitat: It is common in many types of open, dry habitat including semi-desert, savannah, acacia bush, and mountainous forest.
• Distribution: These hyenas live throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
• Conservation Status
  • IUCN: Least Concern

Spotted Hyena FAQs

Q1: Do spotted hyenas live in India?

Ans: They live throughout much of Africa and eastwards through Arabia to India

Q2: What is unique about spotted hyenas?

Ans: The spotted hyena may look unusual, at first sight. It has a large head with a long, thick, muscular neck and powerful jaws

Q3: Are hyenas friendly to humans?

Ans: Hyenas are not friendly to humans. Although humans are not the main source of their diet, they can hunt and attack humans. 

Q4: What is the IUCN status of the hyena?

Ans: It is listed as being of least concern by the IUCN 

Q5: Is a spotted hyena a primary consumer?

Ans: It is primarily a predator rather than a scavenger.

Source: DTE

Mannan Community Latest News

Raman Rajamannan, the king of the Mannan community and the only tribal king in Kerala, will participate in the Republic Day parade in Delhi.

About Mannan Community:

• The Mannan is a scheduled tribe (ST) of Kerala.
• It is the only Adhivasi tribal dynasty with a kingship currently existing in South India. 
• The life of the Mannan Community is closely related to Tamil culture.
  • They speak a dialect similar to Tamil but without a script.
  • It is believed that they were originally from Tamil Nadu and later migrated to Idukki during the period of Poonjar Rajavamsham (kings).
• Nearly 97 percent of the Mannan community's population reside in Idukki District.
  • Though they used to stay in remote forests, they were forced to migrate to plots allotted by the government at the outskirts of the Periyar Tiger Reserve, a few decades back, following a government ban on deforestation in the preserved area.
• They follow a matrilineal system of descent, and their ruler, the Raja Mannan, is elected by community headmen from among those eligible by heredity. 
• Their primary occupation is agriculture, including coconut harvesting, cultivation of herbs, etc. 
• They practice Hinduism.
• Their main celebrations include the Kalavoot, Meenoot and Mutthiamman Festival.
• Mannankoothu is a unique ritual art form performed by the Mannans. The art form is staged mainly during worship, harvest times and weddings. 

Source: TH

Mannan Community FAQs

Q1. Which is the smallest tribe in Kerala?

Ans. Kochu Velan and Ten Kurumban are the smallest groups each with less than 50 population.

Q2. Which tribe is most in Kerala?

Ans. The largest tribal community in Kerala is the Paniyan tribe.

Q3. Which tribe is most in India?

Ans. The Bhil tribe is the largest tribal group in India

Q4. Are Adivasis Hindu?

Ans. Adivasis have been included as persons professing the Hindu religion in the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955.

Airport Economic Regulatory Authority Latest News

Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) recently directed the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) to give a detailed reply in writing on the criteria used to calculate User Development Fee (UDF) charged by airport operators, the total revenue earned and and how it is utilised among other things.

About Airport Economic Regulatory Authority

• AERA is a statutory body constituted under the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008.
• It was set up on the recommendations of the Naresh Chandra Committee to prepare the road map for the civil aviation sector.
• AERA is an independent regulatory body tasked with overseeing the economic regulation of major airports in India.
• Headquarters: Delhi
• Function: The AERA regulates tariffs and other charges (development fee and passenger service fee) for aeronautical services (air traffic management, landing, and parking of aircraft, ground handling services) at major airports.
  • For the remaining airports, tariffs are determined by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
• Its main objectives include creating a level playing field, fostering healthy competition among major airports, promoting investment in airport facilities, and regulating tariffs for aeronautical services.
• It was set up keeping in mind that the country needs to have an independent regulator who has transparent rules and can take care of the interests of the service providers as well as those of the consumers.
• Major Airports:
  • The 2008 Act designates an airport as a major airport if it has an annual passenger traffic of at least 15 lakhs.
  • An amendment to the act in 2019 increased this threshold to 35 lakh annual passengers.

Source: TH

Airport Economic Regulatory Authority FAQs

Q1. Which ministry is responsible for airport economic regulatory authority (AERA)?

Ans. The Ministry of Civil Aviation is responsible for AERA.

Q2. Who controls AAI?

Ans. AAI is managed by a Board of Members appointed by the Central Government under Section 3 of the AAI Act.

Q3. Who is the chairman of AERA?

Ans. S. K. G. Rahate (Retd IAS: 1990: JH) was appointed as Chairperson, Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) for a tenure of three years.

Q4. What is the AERA in aviation?

Ans. Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) is a regulatory agency under Government of India to regulate tariff and other expenditure and fees for major airports.

Stargardt Disease Latest News

Researchers from Switzerland say they have developed a gene editing technique that could perhaps help treat Stargardt disease.

Stargardt Disease Overview

• It is also known as Stargardt macular degeneration, is commonly caused by changes in a gene, ABCA4. This gene influences how your body uses Vitamin A.
• It is an inherited disease that leads to progressive vision loss in children and young adults. It is usually bilateral, involving both eyes.
• People with Stargardt disease have too much lipofuscin -- it builds up over the macula, which is the central part of the retina and is responsible for clear and sharp central vision. Everybody’s eyes contain a yellowish-brown pigment called lipofuscin that builds up in cells as people age.

Symptoms of Stargardt Disease

The most common symptom of Stargardt disease is a slow loss of central vision in both eyes. Some people lose their central vision more quickly than others.

Other symptoms may include: Gray, black, or hazy spots in the center of your vision, sensitivity to light and color blindness

Prevalence of Stargardt Disease

• This disease was seen more commonly in males, presenting during the second decade of life.
• The disease prevalence was estimated at 1 in 8000 to 10000 populations, with deterioration of visual acuity leading to legal blindness and loss of central visual acuity

Treatment: There is currently no cure available for the disease.

Stargardt Disease FAQs

Q1: Can you live a normal life with Stargardt disease?

Ans: You can live well with Stargardt disease

Q2: What is the life expectancy of a person with Stargardt?

Stargardt disease has no impact on general health and life expectancy is normal. 

Q3: How bad is Stargardt disease?

Ans: Being diagnosed with Stargardt disease can be distressing, but with the right information and support, people can cope very well

Q4: Is there a treatment for Stargardt disease?

Ans: You can manage Stargardt disease, but you can't cure it.

Q5: How to prevent Stargardt disease?

Ans: Lifestyle changes, such as avoiding excessive light and not taking supplements that contain vitamin A

Source: TH

Chinar Tree Latest News

The iconic Chinar trees in Kashmir have been geo-tagged and equipped with QR-code for digital protection of the Valley’s heritage tree.

Chinar Tree Overview

• Scientific name: Platanus orientalis.
• Other names: It is also known as Oriental plane tree, maple tree and locally it is called Boueen.

Chinar Tree Features

• It is a large, well spreading deciduous tree growing up to a height of 30 meters and girth of 10 to 15 meters at ground level.
• It is said that the oldest Chinar tree in Kashmir, around 700 years old, was planted by the Sufi Saint Syed Qasim Shah in Chattergam, in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
• It takes around 30 to 50 years for the trees to reach their mature height and around 150 years for them to grow to their full size.

Chinar Tree Habitat

Chinar trees characteristically grow in Eastern Himalayas. It spreads wide across a region of cool climate with sufficient water.

Chinar Tree Uniqueness

The Chinar tree's leaves change colors with the seasons, transforming from deep green in summer to vibrant shades of red, amber, and yellow in autumn.

Chinar Tree Uses

The tree has several properties - leaves and bark are used as medicine, the wood, known as lace wood, is used for delicate interior furniture and the twigs & roots are used for making dyes.

Key Facts about the Geotagging of Chinar

• Under the geo-tagging process, QR codes are attached to each surveyed tree, recording information about 25 characteristics, including its geographical location, health, age, and growing patterns, enabling conservationists to track changes and address risk factors.
• The project, spearheaded by J&K Forest Research Institute (FRI) of J&K Forest Department involves geo-tagging and QR coding of Chinar trees to enable their monitoring and management.

Chinar Tree FAQs

Q1: What is Chinar tree called in English?

Ans: The Chinar, the Oriental (Eastern) Plane tree, Platanus orientalis, or Buen and Booyn in Kashmiri language, is a living heritage of Kashmir.

Q2: Why is Chinar tree famous?

Ans: The Chinar tree is a pride of Kashmir. This tree is known for its longevity and can be found throughout Kashmir.

Q3: What are the benefits of Chinar tree?

Ans: Its bark has antirheumatic and antiscorbutic values.

Q4: What is the lifespan of a Chinar tree?

Ans: It is known for its longevity of close to 700 years.

Q5: Who introduced the Chinar tree in Kashmir Wikipedia?

Ans: Muslim Kashmiris believe that the chinar was brought to Kashmir valley by Islamic preachers from Iran in 14th century AD.

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana Latest News

This year marks the 10 years of Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana encouraging families to invest in the bright futures of their daughters, fostering a culture of inclusion and progress.

About Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana

• It is a savings scheme launched back in 2015 as part of the Government initiative Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign.
• This scheme enables guardians to open a savings account for their girl childwith an authorized commercial bank or India Post branch.

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana Eligibility criteria

• The applicant must be a citizen of India.
• The account can be opened by a parent or legal guardian of the girl's child.
• The girl child must be below the age of 10 years.
• Only one account is allowed for a girl child.
• A family can open only 2 SSY scheme accounts.
• NRIs are not eligible to open these accounts.

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana Features

• Minimum & Maximum Deposit:
  • Investment of minimum Rs. 250 and maximum Rs. 1.5 lakh in a financial year. Subsequent deposits in multiples of Rs. 100.
  • No limit on the number of deposits either in a month or in a Financial Year.
• Tenure: The maturity period of SSY is 21 years from the account opening. However, contributions have to be madefor the first 15 years only. Thereafter, the SSY account will continue to earn interest until maturity.
• The SSY account shall be mandatorily operated by the girl child after she attains the age of 18 years. 
• Interest: Interest on SSA as announced by Govt. Of India every quarter will be applicable and compounded annually.
• Partial withdrawal:
  • Withdrawal shall be allowed after the account holder attains the age of eighteen years or has passed the tenth standard, whichever is earlier.
  • For higher education 50% of the balance at the end of the previous financial year can be withdrawn. For marriage of adult account holders, 100% withdrawals are permitted.
• Premature Closure:Allowed in the event of death of the depositor or in cases of extreme compassionate grounds such as medical support in life threatening diseases to be authorized by an order by the Central Government.
• Tax Benefits: On investing in this scheme, tax exemption is also available under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act. The amount invested, interest earned andmaturity amount is tax free.

Source: TH

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana FAQs

Q1. When was Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana introduced?

Ans. It was introduced by the Government of India on January 22, 2015, as part of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme. 

Q2. What is Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme?

Ans. Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao is a personal campaign of the Government of India that aims to generate awareness and improve the efficiency of welfare services intended for girls. 

Q3. What is the maturity period of Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana?

Ans. 21 years

Q4. Is Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana tax free?

Ans. On investing in Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, tax exemption is also available under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act

Mount Ibu Latest News

Mount Ibu in eastern Indonesia has erupted at least a thousand times this month, according to an official report.

About Mount Ibu:

• It is an active volcano located along the NW coast of Halmahera Island, Indonesia.
• It is a 1,325-meter (4,347-foot) stratovolcano with a truncated summit and a number of large nested summit craters. 
• It is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.
• Mount Ibu has a history of frequent eruptions, with most activity involving lava flows, ash plumes, and pyroclastic activity.

What are Stratovolcanoes?

• Stratovolcanoes, also called composite volcanoes, are typically steep-sided, symmetrical cones built of alternating layers of lava flows, volcanic ash, and other eruptive products.
• Unlike flat shield volcanoes, they have higher peaks.
• They are typically found above subduction zones, and they are often part of large volcanically active regions, such as the Ring of Fire that frames much of the Pacific Ocean.
• Stratovolcanoes comprise the largest percentage (~60%) of the Earth's individual volcanoes.
• They are formed from viscous, sticky lava that does not flow easily. 
• The lava therefore builds up around the vent, forming a volcano with steep sides. Stratovolcanoes are more likely to produce explosive eruptions due to gas building up in the viscous magma.
• They are usually about half-half lava and pyroclastic material, and the layering of these products gives them their other common name of composite volcanoes.
• Andesite (named after the Andes Mountains) is perhaps the most common rock type of stratovolcanoes, but stratovolcanoes also erupt a wide range of different rocks in different tectonic settings.
• Most stratovolcanoes have a crater at the summit containing a central vent or a clustered group of vents.

Source: TH

Mount Ibu FAQs

Q1. Is Mount Ibu in the Ring of Fire?

Ans. Yes, Mount Ibu is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Q2. What type of volcano is the Ibu volcano?

Ans. Ibu volcano is a stratovolcano.

Q3. Where is the Ring of Fire on Earth?

Ans. The Ring of Fire, also referred to as the Circum-Pacific Belt, is a path along the Pacific Ocean.

Q4. Where is the tallest volcano?

Ans. The tallest volcano in the world is Ojos del Salado, a stratovolcano located on the border between Chile and Argentina in the Andes mountain range.

Forever Chemicals Latest News

 The European Commission intends to propose a ban on the use of PFAS, or “forever chemicals”, in consumer products, with exemptions for essential industrial uses.

Forever Chemicals Overview

• Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are toxic, man-made, hazardous chemicals that have dangerous effects on the environment and our health.
• They are called “forever chemicals” because of their tendency to stick around in the atmosphere, rainwater and soil for long periods of time.
• They are known to stay in the environment virtually forever and contribute to environmental degradation which adversely impacts the health of all organisms including human beings.
• PFAs can migrate to the soil, water and air during their production and use.
• These are listed in the Stockholm Convention.
• Applications: They are used in thousands of items, from cosmetics and non-stick pans to aircraft and wind turbines, due to their resistance to extreme temperatures and corrosion.
• Impacts of PFAS on human health: A variety of health risks that are attributed to PFA exposure, including decreased fertility, developmental effects in children, interference with body hormones, increased cholesterol levels and increased risk of some cancers.

Source: TH

Forever Chemicals FAQs

Q1: What are the forever chemicals?

Ans: These are toxic, man-made, hazardous chemicals that have dangerous effects on the environment and our health.

Q2: Can you remove chemicals from your body?

Ans: Yes. Some may be excreted (removed) through urine, breast milk, and menstrual blood.

Q3: What are the side effects of forever chemicals?

Ans: They can lead to health problems such as liver damage, thyroid disease, obesity, fertility issues and cancer.

Q4: Does drinking water have PFAS?

Ans: Drinking water can be a significant exposure source in communities with PFAS-contaminated water supplies.

Q5: What are the top 5 PFAS?

Ans: PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA

National Voters’ Day Latest News

  The 15th National Voters’ Day (NVD) will be celebrated across the country on 25th January.

National Voters’ Day Overview

• It has been observed annually on January 25 since 2011 to commemorate the foundation day of the Election Commission of India, established on January 25, 1950, a day before India became a Republic.
• It is dedicated to the voters of the nation, National Voters' Day also promotes the enrolment of new voters, particularly young individuals who have recently become eligible. Across the country, new voters are honored and presented with their Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) during NVD ceremonies.
• It is celebrated at the level of national, state, district, constituency, and polling booth NVD stands as one of the country’s most widespread and significant celebrations.
• This Year’s Theme “Nothing Like Voting, I Vote for Sure” is a continuation of last year’s theme emphasizing the importance of participation in the electoral process, and encouraging voters to take pride in exercising their franchise.

National Voters’ Day Aim

This event aims to underline the centrality of the voter and raise electoral awareness among citizens and inspire their active participation in the democratic process

National Voters’ Day FAQs

Q1: Which elections are managed by the Election Commission of India?

Ans: Under Article 324 of the Constitution of India, it is vested with the power of conducting elections to – Parliament, State Legislatures, Office of President and Vice-President of India.

Q2: What is a Voter ID card?

Ans: It is an identity document issued by the Election Commission of India to adult domiciles of India.

Q3: Who issues a Voter ID card?

Ans: Election Commission of India

Q4: Who appoints Election Commissioner of India?

Ans: The President of India appoints Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners.

Q5: What is a democracy?

Ans: Democracy is a form of government where elected representatives hold power. 

Source: PIB’ Day

Chandra X-Ray Observatory Latest News

An international team of researchers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the Chandra X-ray Observatory has discovered a bizarre black hole that may provide insights into the genesis and growth of supermassive black holes.

About Chandra X-Ray Observatory

• It is one of NASA's premier space telescopes specially designed to detect X-ray emission from very hot regions of the Universe such as exploded stars, clusters of galaxies, and matter around black holes.
• It was launched on July 23, 1999, aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-93).
• Because X-rays are absorbed by Earth's atmosphere, Chandra must orbit above it, up to an altitude of 139,000 km (86,500 mi) in space.
• It is part of NASA's fleet of "Great Observatories" along with the Hubble Space Telescope, the Spitizer Space Telescope and the now deorbited Compton Gamma Ray Observatory.
• It is managed by NASA’s Marshall Center for the Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
• It is the world's most powerful X-ray telescope. It has eight-times greater resolution and is able to detect sources more than 20-times fainter than any previous X-ray telescope.
• Chandra allows scientists from around the world to obtain X-ray images of exotic environments to help understand the structure and evolution of the universe.

Source: TH

Chandra X-Ray Observatory FAQs

Q1. What was the purpose of the Chandra X-ray Observatory?

Ans. The primary purpose of the Chandra X-Ray Observatory is to study X-ray emissions from extremely hot and energetic regions of the universe.

Q2. Which is the world's first space based telescope?

Ans. In April 1962, the U.K. sent Ariel 1 into orbit. It has the distinction of not just being the first space telescope launched, but also the first international satellite.

Q3. What is the name of NASA's most famous space telescope?

Ans. The Hubble Space Telescope is a large telescope in space. NASA launched Hubble in 1990. Hubble is as long as a large school bus.

Q4. What type of telescope is James Webb?

Ans. James Webb is a space telescope designed to conduct infrared astronomy.