About Exercise MAITREE: 

• It is the 13th edition of India- Thailand joint military Exercise MAITREE.
• The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 1st to 15th July 2024 at Fort Vachiraprakan in Tak Province of Thailand.
• Last edition of the same exercise was conducted at Umroi, Meghalaya in September 2019.
• The Indian Army contingent comprising 76 personnel is being represented mainly by a Battalion of the LADAKH SCOUTS along with personnel from other arms and services.
• Aim: To foster Military Cooperation between India and Thailand.
• The Exercise will enhance combined capabilities in executing Joint Counter Insurgency/ Terrorist Operations in Jungle and Urban Environment under Chapter VII of United Nations Charter.
• The Exercise will focus on a high degree of physical fitness, joint planning and joint tactical drills.
• Tactical Drills to be practiced during the exercise will include Creation of a Joint Operation Centre, establishing an Intelligence & Surveillance Centre, employment of Drones and Counter Drone Systems, Securing of a Landing Site, Small Team Insertion & Extraction, Special Heliborne Operations, Cordon and Search Operations, Room Intervention Drills and Demolition of Illegal Structures. 
• Exercise MAITREE will enable the two sides to share their best practices in Tactics, Techniques and Procedures for conduct of joint operations.
• The Exercise will facilitate developing inter-operability, bonhomie and camaraderie between soldiers of both the countries.

Q1: What are Ladakh Scouts?

It is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army, nicknamed the "Snow Warriors" or "Snow Tigers". Its role is to guard India's borders in the high altitude areas of the Ladakh region, as well as Jammu & Kashmir in general.

Source: INDIAN ARMY CONTINGENT DEPARTS FOR INDIA- THAILAND JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE MAITREE

About Zinc: 

• It is a silvery blue-grey metal with a relatively low melting and boiling point.
• Both lead & zinc are found to occur together in ore along with other metals like silver and cadmium.
• It is the fourth most widely used metal across the globe, trailing only steel, aluminium and copper. India has self-sufficiency in respect of zinc.
• In India, Rajasthan is endowed with the largest reserves/resources of lead – zinc ore, followed by Andhra Pradesh (3.03%), Madhya Pradesh (1.98%), Bihar etc.
• Global reservoirs of Zinc: Australia accounts for 27% of world's zinc reserves, followed by China (18%), Russia & Mexico (9% each), Peru(8%), Kazakhstan(5%), USA(4%), etc.
• Uses:
  • The largest consumer of zinc is the Galvanising Industry. Owing to its corrosion resistance in varied types of environment, zinc is used for protecting steel by way of galvanizing.
  • Large quantities of zinc are used to produce die-castings, which are important in the automobile, electrical and hardware industries.
• Zinc oxide is widely used in the manufacture of very many products such as paints and rubber etc.
• Biological role
  • It is a trace mineral, meaning that the body only needs small amounts, and yet it is necessary for almost 100 enzymes to carry out vital chemical reactions.
  • It is a major player in the creation of DNA, growth of cells, building proteins, healing damaged tissue, and supporting a healthy immune system.

Key findings

• It found that zinc in plantsaids in nitrogen fixation, a process where atmospheric nitrogen is converted into ammonia, an essential nutrient for plants. 
  • Legume crops form a symbiotic relationship with rhizobia, a bacteria that fixes atmospheric nitrogen in root nodules. 
  • However, these nodules are sensitive to environmental factors such as temperature, drought, flooding, soil salinity, and high soil nitrogen levels.
• Another vital finding of this study is the identification of a crucial transcription factor that controls nodule breakdown when soil nitrogen levels are high. 
• The researchers discovered that legumes also use zinc as a secondary signal to integrate environmental factors and regulate nitrogen fixation efficiency. The mechanism works due to a transcriptional regulator called Fixation Under Nitrate (FUN).
• FUN is inactivated by zinc through the formation of large filament structures, which are dismantled to release active FUN when zinc levels are low.

Q1: What is galvanisation?

It is the process of applying a protective zinc coating to iron or steel, to prevent rusting. The most common method is hot dip galvanizing, in which steel sections are submerged in a bath of molten zinc.

Source: Unexpected discovery reveals zinc’s crucial role in making legumes resilient to climate change

About Senna spectabilis:

• It is a species of the legume family.
• It is a medium to big tree native to South and Central America and is grown as an ornamental plant as it has bright yellow flowers. 
• It is a fast-growing species, particularly on deep soils, and is fire- and termite-resistant and tolerant of strongly acidic soils. 
• It is often planted for fuelwood, as an ornamental, and as a shade tree in agroforestry situations.
• It is classified as an Invasive Alien Species (IAS) in India.
• It is considered an environmental weed by the Global Compendium of Weeds. 
• In India, it was introduced as shade trees for coffee and firewood; it soon became a threat to native tree species as its dense foliage prevented the growth of other indigenous trees and grass species.
• It is classified as Least Concern under the IUCN Red List.

Key Facts about Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Location: It is located in Wayanad, Kerala, in the southern trenches of the Western Ghats.
• It is an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• It is bordered by the protected areas of Nagarhole and Bandipur in Karnataka on the northeastern side and Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu on the southeastern side.
• Tribes living in these forests include some scheduled adivasis, such as Paniyas, Kattunaikkans, Kurumas, Ooralis, Adiyans, and Kurichiyas.
• Flora:
  • It is a mosaic of the Western Ghats' significant vegetation types, ranging from moist deciduous to dry deciduous and semi-evergreen patches.
  • Teak, rosewood, eucalyptus, and silver oakplantations cover roughly one-third of the sanctuary.
  • Marshy lands also mark their presence in the sanctuary.
• Fauna:
  • It is also home to animals like elephants, panthers, tigers, jungle cats, civet cats, monkeys, wild dogs, bisons, deer and bears.
  • It is known for having the largest population of tigers in Kerala.

Q1: What are Invasive Alien Species?

These are the species whose introduction and/or spread outside their natural past or present distribution threatens biological diversity. These include animals, plants, fungi, and even microorganisms, and can influence all kinds of ecosystems. These species need an introduction either through natural or human intervention, survive on native food resources, reproduce at a fast rate, and edge out native species in the competition over resources. Invasive species act as disruptors in the food chain and disturb the balance of the ecosystem. In habitats where there is no competition, invasive species can dominate the entire ecosystem.

Source: Greens demand transparency in Forest department’s project to eradicate Senna spectabilis from Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

About Down Syndrome:

• It is a condition in which a person has an extra chromosome or an extra piece of a chromosome. 
  • Chromosomes are tiny "packages" in your cells that contain your genes.
  • Genes carry information, called DNA, that controls what you look like and how your body works.
  • People with Down syndrome have an extra copy of chromosome 21. In some cases, they may have an extra copy of a part of the chromosome.
  • Having an extra copy of a chromosome is called a trisomy. So sometimes Down syndrome is also called trisomy 21.
• This extra copy changeshow a baby's body and brain develop.
• It can cause both mental and physical challenges during their lifetime. 
• Even though people with Down syndrome might act and look similar, each person has different abilities.
• Causes: Down syndrome is usually not inherited. It happens by chance, as an error when cells are dividingduring the early development of the fetus.
• Symptoms:
  • The symptoms of Down syndrome are different in each person. And people with Down syndrome may have different problemsat different times of their lives.
  • They usually have mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. Their development is often delayed. 
  • Some of the common physical signs of Down syndrome include:
• A flat face
• Eyes that slant up
• A short neck
• Small hands and feet
• Poor muscle tone
• Loose joints
• Treatment: 
  • Down syndrome is a lifelong condition and it cannot be cured. Early therapy programs can help improve skills.
  • Treatments are based on each person's physical and intellectual needs, strengths, and limitations.

Q1: Who were the Neanderthals?

Neanderthals are our closest extinct human relative. They lived throughout Europe and parts of Asia from about 400,000 until about 40,000 years ago. Neanderthals co-existed with modern humans for long periods of time before eventually becoming extinct. Some defining features of their skulls include the large middle part of the face, angled cheek bones, and a huge nose for humidifying and warming cold, dry air. Their bodies were shorter and stockier than modern humans, another adaptation to living in cold environments. But their brains were just as large as modern humans and often larger - proportional to their brawnier bodies.

Source: Down syndrome discovered in Neanderthals for the first time

About World Drug Report 2024:

• It is an annual report released by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
• Highlights of the Report:
  • The number of people who use drugs has risen to 292 million in 2022, a 20 percent increase over the past ten years.
  • Cannabis remains the most widely used drug worldwide (228 million users), followed by opioids (60 million users), amphetamines (30 million users), cocaine (23 million users), and ecstasy (20 million users).
  • Nitazenes, a group of highly potent synthetic opioids, haverecently emerged in several high-income countries, resulting in an increase in overdose deaths.
  • Though an estimated 64 million people worldwide suffer from drug use disorders, only one in 11 is in treatment.
  • Women receive less access to treatment than men, with only one in 18 women with drug use disorders in treatment versus one in seven men.
  • In 2022, an estimated 7 million people were in formal contact with the police (arrests, cautions, and warnings) for drug offences, with about two-thirds of this total due to drug use or possession for use.
  • In addition, 2.7 million people were prosecuted for drug offences and over 1.6 million were convicted globally in 2022.

Key Facts about UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC):

• It is a global leader in the fight against illicit drugs and international crime, in addition to being responsible for implementing the United Nations lead programme on terrorism.
• It was established in 1997 through a merger between the United Nations Drug Control Programme and the Centre for International Crime Prevention.
• Headquarters: Vienna, Austria
• UNODC works to educate people throughout the world about the dangers of drug abuse and to strengthen international action against illicit drug production and trafficking and drug-related crime. 
• UNODC also works to improve crime prevention and assist with criminal justice reform in order to strengthen the rule of law, promote stable and viable criminal justice systems, and combat the growing threats of transnational organized crime and corruption.
• In 2002, the UN General Assembly approved an expanded programme of activities for the Terrorism Prevention Branch of UNODC.
  • The activities focus on providing assistance to States, on request, in ratifying and implementing the eighteen universal legal instruments against terrorism.

· Funding: It relies on voluntary contributions, mainly from governments, to carry out the majority of our work.

Q1: What are opioids?

Opioids are a class of drugs that derive from, or mimic, natural substances found in the opium poppy plant. Opioids work in the brain to produce a variety of effects, including pain relief. Opioid drugs include prescription pain medicine and illegal drugs. Some people use opioids because of the euphoria (“high”) they can produce. Opioid drugs can cause addiction, also known as opioid use disorder (OUD).

Source: World Drug Day report highlights spike in drug use, increased trafficking

About Xenophrys apatani:

• It has been named after the dominant Apatani community in recognition of their ingenuity in the conservation of wild flora and fauna.
• Distribution: It is distributed along the Eastern Himalayan and the Indo-Burma biodiversity hot spots of the country.

Key facts about Apatani community

• The Apatani are a tribal group of people living in the Ziro valley in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Language: They speak a local language called Tani and worship the sun and the moon.
• Festivals: They have major festivals like Dree, Myoko, Yapung and Murung.
  • Dree is celebrated with prayers for a bumper harvest and prosperity of all humankind and Myoka celebrates friendship similar to modern friendship day.
• They have been practising integrated rice-fish farming in their mountain terraces of Arunachal Pradesh since the 1960s.
• They principally use three rice varieties: Emeo, Pyape and Mypia.

Key Facts about Tale Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is located near the beautiful Apatani cultural landscape in the Lower Subansiri District of Arunachal Pradesh.
• Rivers like Pange, Sipu, Karing, and Subansiri flow through this sanctuary.
• Flora: It has a stunning spectrum of subtropical and alpine forests like silver fir trees, ferns, orchids, bamboo, and rhododendron.
• Fauna: Clouded leopard, Himalayan squirrel, Himalayan Black Bear etc.

Q1: What is a Biodiversity Heritage Site?

Biodiversity Heritage Site are areas that are unique, ecologically fragile ecosystems having rich biodiversity comprising of any one or more of the components such as; species richness, high endemism, presence of rare, endemic and threatened species etc.

Source: Arunachal Pradesh yields new species of horned frog

About Steel Slag:

• Steel slag is an industrial byproduct obtained from the steel manufacturing industry.
• It is produced in large quantities during steel-making operations that use electric arc furnaces.
• It can also be produced by smelting iron ore in a basic oxygen furnace.
• Primarily, slag consists of calcium, magnesium, manganese and aluminium silicates and oxides in various combinations.
• The cooling process of slag is responsible mainly for generating different types of slags required for various end-use consumers

Applications of Steel Slag

• It has found use as a barrier material remedy for waste sites where heavy metals tend to leach into the surrounding environment.
• Steel slag forces the heavy metals to drop out of solution in water run off because of its high oxide mineral content.
• It has been used successfully to treat acidic water discharges from abandoned mines.
• It can replace coarse aggregate due to a higher impact and crushing strength, better anti-skid capacity.

Q1: What is a blast furnace?

It is a large structure in which iron ore is heated under pressure so that it melts and pure iron metal separates out and can be collected

Source: International Conference on Steel Slag Road: Member (Science) Niti Aayog, Dr.V.K.Saraswat releases the Guidelines for Utilization of Steel Slag in Road Construction