Invar Missile Latest News

The Ministry of Defence is finalising a procurement order for 500 Invar anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) from state-run Bharat Dynamics Ltd. (BDL), with the deal expected to be worth between Rs 2,000 crore and Rs 3,000 crore.

About Invar Missile

• It is an anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) designed to be launched from tank platforms. 
• The Invar missile, capable of being fired from the barrel of T-90 tanks, has been in active deployment by Indian forces and is known for its long-range precision strike capability.
• The missile can neutralise adversaries tanks fitted with Explosive Reactive Armour Protection. 
• The Invar missile is built by Rosoboronexport of Russia, and it is produced under license in India by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).

Invar Missile Features

• The missile is of semi-automatic control system, laser beam riding, and jamming immune.
• Equipped with a tandem warhead.
• Can destroy stationary and moving targets with speeds up to 70 kmph.
• Has a high hit and kill probability.
• Length : 695 mm (missile), 395 mm (throwing device)
• Caliber : 125 mm
• Range : 5 km
• Flight time : 17.6 sec
• Weight : 17.2kg (missile), 7.1kg (throwing device)

Invar Missile FAQs

Q1: The Invar missile is primarily used for which of the following purposes?

Ans: Anti-tank operations

Q2: Which of the following companies manufactures the Invar missile under license in India?

Ans: Bharat Dynamics Limited

Q3:What is the maximum range of the Invar missile?

Ans: 5 km

Source: N18

Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) Scheme Latest News

Recently, the Government of India has announced the restoration of benefits under the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme for exports made by Advance Authorization (AA) holders, Export-Oriented Units (EOUs), and units operating in Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

About Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) Scheme

• It was introduced through an amendment to the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20, and it became effective for exports starting January 1, 2021.
• The primary aim of this scheme is to offset the taxes and duties incurred on exported goods that wouldn't otherwise be credited, reimbursed, or refunded in any way, and are integrated into the exported goods.
• It is designed to reimburse exporters for embedded duties, taxes, and levies that are not otherwise refunded under any other existing scheme.
• It is compliant with World Trade Organization (WTO) norms and is implemented via a comprehensive end-to-end digital platform to ensure transparency and efficien
• It was enforced to repeal and reduce taxes on exported products, thereby encouraging exports and increasing the number of exports in the country.The scheme will be administered by the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
• It replaced the Merchandise Export Incentive Scheme (MEIS), in response to the US challenging Indian export subsidies under the MEIS at the WTO. 

Tax Reimbursement under RoDTEP Scheme

• The Scheme provides a mechanism for reimbursement of taxes, duties, and levies, which are currently not being refunded under any other mechanism at the central, state, and local levels, but which are incurred by the export entities in the process of manufacture and distribution of exported products.
• This not only includes the direct cost incurred by the exporter but also the prior stage cumulative indirect taxes on goods.

RoDTEP Scheme Eligibility Criteria

• It applies to all the sectors involved in the export of goods, irrespective of their turnover, provided the country of manufacturing of the exported goods should be in India.
• Such an exporter may either be a merchant or a manufacturer exporter. However, such goods should have been directly exported by such a person.
• Labor-intensive sectors that enjoy benefits under the MEIS Scheme will be given a priority.
• Special Economic Zone Units and Export-Oriented Units are also eligible to claim the benefits under this scheme.
• Goods exported through e-commerce platforms are also eligible under this scheme.

Re-Exported Products are not Eligible under this Scheme Process of Refund

• Rebates under the scheme are provided to eligible exporters as a percentage of the freight on board (FOB) value of exports.
• Remission is issued in the form of transferable e-scrips (a type of certificate with some monetary value) maintained in an electronic credit ledger by the CBIC (Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs).
• e-scrips can be used for paying basic customs duty on the import of goods or may be transferred electronically to another party.

Re-Exported Products are not Eligible under this Scheme FAQs

Q1: What products are covered under the RoDTEP scheme?

Ans: RoDTEP scheme is notified based on the classification of the products as per tariff heading at 8-digit level. The benefit is given for 8555 tariff items.

Q2: Which products are not eligible for RoDTEP?

Ans: Re-exported products are not eligible under this scheme. To be eligible to avail the benefits of this scheme, the exported products need to have the country of origin as India.

Source: PIB

Warrant of Arrest Latest News

The Supreme Court recently clarified that when an arrest is made with a warrant, a separate communication of the arrest grounds isn't required, as the warrant itself serves this purpose.

About Warrant of Arrest

• This is a written order issued by a judge or magistrate, supported by a sworn affidavit, authorizing the arrest and custody of a person accused of committing a specific offense.
• A police officer who executes the warrant shall notify the substance thereof to the person to be arrested and if he demands, shall show him the warrant.
• The officer is also obligated to promptly bring the arrested individual before the court without unnecessary delays.
• Valid Warrant: 
  • A warrant of arrest should be 
    • in writing
    • signed by the presiding officer of the Court and
    • should bear the seal of the Court. 
  • It should also contain the name of the accused, his address, the offence with which he is charged.
  • If any of these factors is absent, the warrant is not in order, and an arrest made in execution of such a warrant is illegal. 
• Warrants are of two kinds: Bailable and Non-Bailable.
  • A bailable warrant is a Court's order which contains a direction that if the person arrested executes a bail with sufficient sureties for his attendance before the Court, he may be released from custody. 
  • In that case it shall further state the number of sureties, the amount of the bond, and the time for attending the Court.
  • In case of a non-bailable warrant, the direction for bail will not be endorsed on the warrant.
• Arrest Without Warrant:
  • A police officer is empowered to arrest a person without a warrant if there is reasonable suspicion of their involvement in a cognizable offense.
  • However, in cases of non-cognizable offenses, a police officer cannot effect an arrest without a warrant issued by a magistrate. 
  • Cognizable offenses include serious crimes such as murder, rape, robbery, theft, and offenses against the state.
• There are several other situations in which a person can be arrested without a warrant:
  • Probable Cause: If a law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed and that the person to be arrested committed it, they can make an arrest without a warrant.
  • In the Act of Committing a Crime: If an officer witnesses someone committing a crime, they can make an arrest without a warrant.
  • Fleeing a Crime Scene: If a person is fleeing from a crime scene and the officer has probable cause to believe they committed the crime, they can be arrested without a warrant.
  • Escaping from Custody: If a person has escaped or is attempting to escape from lawful custody, they can be arrested without a warrant.
  • Violation of Probation or Parole: If a person is on probation or parole and violates the terms of their release, they can be arrested without a warrant.
  • Court Order or Summons Violation: If a person fails to comply with a court order or a summons, they can be arrested without a warrant.
  • Threat to Public Safety: If there is an immediate threat to public safety or if delaying the arrest to obtain a warrant would result in the destruction of evidence or the escape of the suspect, an arrest without a warrant may be justified.

Warrant of Arrest FAQs

Q1: What is the meaning of arrest warrant?

Ans: It is a legal document giving permission to arrest someone.

Q2: Who is legally empowered to issue a warrant of arrest in India?

Ans: Judge or Magistrate

Q3: What is essential for a valid warrant of arrest?

Ans: It must be in writing, signed, and bear the court’s seal.

Source: TOI

Ghaggar River Latest News

In a tragic turn of events, two teenagers lost their lives after drowning in the Ghaggar River near Panchkula.

About Ghaggar River

• The Ghaggar River is an intermittent river that flows in India and Pakistan.
• The river flows only during the monsoon season. 
• Course: 
  • It rises from the Shivalik Range of northwestern Himachal Pradesh. 
  • After passing through the Ambala and Hissar districts of Haryana, it disappears into the Thar Desert in Rajasthan. 
  • This seasonal river feeds two irrigation canals that extend into Rajasthan.
  • The Hakra, which flows in Pakistan, is the continuation of the Ghaggar River in India, and they are together called the Ghaggar-Hakra River.
• Historical Significance:
  • Several historians identify Ghaggar with the Vedic Saraswati River.
  • Along the banks of the Ghaggar River, many settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization have been excavated.
  • Hence it is believed that the ancient settlements on its banks are the creation of ingenious Vedic Aryans.
  • It is believed that the rivers Sutlej and Yamuna once flowed into the Ghaggar-Hakra riverbed.
• Tributaries: The main tributaries of the Ghaggar are the Kaushalya River, Markanda, Sarsuti, Tangri, and Chautang.

Ghaggar River FAQs

Q1: In which state Ghaggar River originates?

Ans: It rises from the Shivalik Range of northwestern Himachal Pradesh. 

Q2: Is Ghaggar River a perennial river?

Ans: The Ghaggar River is an intermittent river that flows only during the monsoon season. 

Q3: The Ghaggar River disappears into which region?

Ans: Thar Desert

Source: TOI

Bow Echo Latest News

The intense storms that hit Delhi recently looked like a crescent or an archer’s bow which in technical terms are called “bow echoes.”

About Bow Echo

• A bow echo is essentially a line of storms, also called a squall line, on the radar that looks like a bow. Note that this squall line can sometimes be embedded in a larger squall line.
• A bow echo can extend from 20 km to 100 km, and last between three and six hours.
• The term was coined in the 1970s by Ted Fujita, a Japanese American meteorologist known for developing the scale to classify tornadoes.

Formation of Bow Echo 

• When rain-cooled air comes down to the ground, and spreads out horizontally. As this happens, a boundary called the gust front is created between the rain-cooled air and warm-moist air on the surface.
• This front pushes up the warm-moist air into the atmosphere, which forms new thunderstorms.
• These new thunderstorms produce more rain, thereby creating more rain-cooled air, which helps the gust front to maintain its strength.
• As this process keeps repeating itself, there comes a point when there is an inflow of air on the trailing side of the line of storms and bends it like an archer’s bow.
• The cycle lasts as long as new thunderstorms keep forming at the front, helping the system grow and move forward with strong winds.
• Bow echoes are not a new phenomenon. In 2022, a bow echo was formed over Delhi and Noida. However, it was short-lived, lasting for an hour, and produced winds of up to 100 kmph.

Bow Echo FAQs

Q1: What is a decharo?

Ans: A derecho (pronounced similar to "deh-REY-cho") is a widespread, long-lived wind storm that is associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms

Q2: What are the different types of bow echoes?

Ans: Three primary initial modes of bow-echo formation are (i) weakly organized cells, (ii) squall lines, and (iii) supercells.

Source:  IE

Ker Sangri Latest News

Recently, Rajasthan’s famous dish Ker Sangri has received a Geographical Indication tag. 

About Ker Sangri

• It is a Rajasthani delicacy made using sangri pods sourced from hardy khejri trees and Ker berries that grow on Ker trees.Both these ingredients are native to the arid regions of the Thar Desert.
• Preparation of Ker Sangri
  • Preparing Ker Sangri is a careful and slow process.
  • The Ker berries taste bitter when raw but become delicious after being soaked, boiled, and cooked with Sangri, curd, red chillies, and spices. The final dish is tangy, spicy and full of earthy flavour.
• Ker Sangri is not just tasty but also healthy. It is high in fibre, low in fat and rich in nutrients. People in Rajasthan usually eat it with bajra roti and ghee, making it a filling and balanced meal.
• The Sangri bean grows on the Khejri tree, which is sacred in Rajasthan. The Bishnoi community has protected this tree for hundreds of years and considers it a symbol of life.

Key Facts about 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.
• The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, seeks to provide for the registration and better protection of geographical indications relating to goods in India.
• This GI tag is valid for 10 years, following which it can be renewed.

Ker Sangri FAQs

Q1: What is Rajasthani ker sangri?

Ans: Ker Sangri, a Rajasthani specialty, is a combination of wild berries and beans known for their nutritional and medicinal benefits. 

Q2: What is Rajasthan's famous food?

Ans: Signature Rajasthani dishes include Dal Baati Churma, Panchratna Dal, Papad ro Saag, Ker Sangri, Gatte ro Saag.

Source: HT

Dugong Latest News

Every year, May 28th is celebrated as World Dugong Day. 

About Dugong

• Dugongs (Dugong dugon) are the only herbivorous mammals found in India’s marine ecosystems.
• Appearance: It is known as the sea cow, but resembles a cross between a seal and a whale, and is distributed through the Indo-Pacific region.
• Distribution: They are found along the Indian coastline, primarily inhabiting warm waters around the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, and the Gulf of Kutch. The dugong is a long-lived species, able to live up to 70 years.
• Habitat: Due to their dependence on seagrass beds for habitat and food, dugongs are restricted to shallow waters, where they spend the day feeding on seagrasses of the genera Cymodocea, Halophila, Thalassia, and Halodule.
• Reproduction of Dugong 
  • Individuals reach reproductive maturity after only nine or ten years and can give birth at intervals of around three to five years.
  • Due to its slow reproductive cycle, extended time to maturity, and infrequent calving, a dugong population’s maximum potential growth rate is estimated to be just about 5% per year.
• Conservation status of Dugong
  • IUCN: Vulnerable
  • CITES: Appendix I
  • Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule I
• Threats: The threats they face worldwide include rapidly declining populations and the ongoing degradation of their seagrass habitats.

Dugong FAQs

Q1: Where is dugong found in India?

Ans: Dugongs are protected in India and occur in Gulf of Mannar, PalkBay, Gulf of Kutch and Andaman and Nicobar islands.

Q2: Which national park is famous for dugong?

Ans: Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park

Q3: What is the scientific name for the dugong?

Ans: Scientific name: Dugong dugon 

Source: TH

Mt. Khangchendzonga Latest News

Sikkim Chief Minister recently urged the Centre to ensure that Mt. Khangchendzonga, the world’s third-highest peak, regarded as sacred by the people of the State, is made out of bounds for mountaineers.

About Mt. Khangchendzonga

• Mt. Khangchendzonga (also known as Kanchenjunga) is the highest peak in India and the third-highest peak in the world after Mount Everest (Chomolongma) in Nepal and K2 in Pakistan.
• It is situated in the eastern Himalayas on the border between Sikkim state, northeastern India, and eastern Nepal, 74 km north-northwest of Darjeeling, Sikkim.
• It has an elevation of 28,169 feet (8,586 metres). 
• It is part of the Great Himalaya Range. 
• The name Khangchendzonga has been variously translated as “Five Treasuries (or Strongboxes) of the Great Snow” or “Great Five-Peaked Fortress of Snow.”, a reference to its five separate summits. 
• Kanchenjunga has four ridges extending north, east, south, and west. Between them are four glaciers: the Zemu (northeast), the Talung (southeast), the Yalung (southwest), and the Kanchenjunga (northwest).
• The mountain and its glaciers receive heavy snow during the summer monsoon season and a lighter snowfall during the winter.
• To the east, Khangchendzonga National Park in Sikkim is a mountain wilderness with a wide variety of animal species.
• Charles Evans in 1955 led a British expedition up the southwest face in the first successful ascent of Kanchenjunga. 

Mt. Khangchendzonga FAQs

Q1: Where is Khangchendzonga located?

Ans: It is situated in the eastern Himalayas on the border between Sikkim state, and eastern Nepal, 74 km north-northwest of Darjeeling, Sikkim.

Q2: What is Kanchenjunga famous for?

Ans: It is the highest peak in India and the third-highest peak in the world.

Q3: What is the elevation of Mt. Khangchendzonga?

Ans: 8,586 metres

Source: TH

Gond Painting and Madhubani Painting Latest News

Recently, a group of artists called on the President of India as part of the Artists in Residence programme in Rashtrapati Bhavan. 

About Gond Painting

• It is a famous folk art of the Gond tribal community of central India.
• It originated among the Gond tribe in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
• Themes: It features nature, forests, vibrant animals, sun, moon, and stars. Includes mythological stories of deities like Bhima and Parvati, along with mythical creatures like the Shachi bird.
• Artists use natural materials like charcoal, colored soil, and plant sap. Applied on mud walls, cloth, or paper using twigs and leaves.
• Each Gond artist uses his distinctive pattern and style to fill the images these style signatures are used in collage to make a complete picture such as Dots, fine Lines, Curved Lines, Dashes Fish Scales etc.

About Madhubani Painting

• It originated in the Mithila region of Bihar and was traditionally created by women.
• Themes: Depicts Hindu mythology, Ramayana, and daily life in India.
• Often depicts deities like Krishna, Durga, and Saraswati. Includes festival scenes like Holi and Tussar. Carries symbolic messages related to fertility, good luck, and auspiciousness.
• It was historically done on mud walls and cloth; now found on paper and canvas.
• Artists often use natural pigments like turmeric, lamp black, and cow dung. Features precise linework, double outlining, and intricate geometric patterns.

Gond Painting and Madhubani Painting FAQs

Q1: What is Gond painting?

Ans: Gond paintings are typically created on various surfaces like paper, cloth, and walls, using natural pigments and brushes made from bamboo sticks.

Q2: What is the difference between madhubani painting and Mithila painting?

Ans: Madhubani painting, also referred to as Mithila Art (as it flourishes in the Mithila region of Bihar), is characterized by line drawings filled in by bright colours and contrasts or patterns.

Source: PIB

Breakthrough Prizes Latest News

The 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics was jointly awarded to four experimental collaborations operating at CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC)—ATLAS, CMS, ALICE, and LHCb, with Indian scientists playing a key role in the success of the ALICE and CMS experiments.

About Breakthrough Prizes

• The Breakthrough Prizes honor important, primarily recent, achievements in the fields of Life Sciences (with a specific prize dedicated to work related to Parkinson’s Disease, and Neurodegenerative disorders), fundamental physics, and mathematics. 
• These prestigious awards were founded in 2013 by Mark Zuckerberg and his spouse Priscilla Chan, former Google CEO Sergey Brin, Anne Wojcicki, the founder of the genomics company 23&Me, and tech investors Yuri and Julia Milner.
• Often referred to as the “Oscars of Science”, the mission of the Breakthrough Prizes is to recognize individual accomplishments, celebrate scientists as societal heroes, inspire future generations of scientists, and advocate for "science for the benefit of all" as a global, non-political organization.
• Each Breakthrough Prize carries a monetary award of $3 million, significantly higher than the Nobel Prize.
• Committees of previous laureates choose the winners from candidates nominated in a process that’s online and open to the public.
• They attend a televised award ceremony designed to celebrate their achievements and inspire the next generation of scientists. As part of the ceremony schedule, they also engage in a program of lectures and discussions. 
• Those who make fresh discoveries again remain eligible for future Breakthrough Prizes.

Breakthrough Prizes FAQs

Q1: The Breakthrough Prizes primarily recognize achievements in which fields?

Ans: Life Sciences, Fundamental Physics, and Mathematics

Q2: What is the monetary value of each Breakthrough Prize?

Ans: $3 million

Q3: How are Breakthrough Prize winners selected?

Ans: By committees of previous laureates from public nominations.

Source: PIB