About Tele-MANAS:

• The Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS) initiative was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in October 2022.
• It aims to provide free tele-mental health services all over the country round the clock, particularly topeople in remote or underserved areas.
• Tele-MANAS will be organised in a two-tier system:
  • Tier 1 comprises state Tele-MANAS cells, which include trained counsellors and mental health specialists.
  • Tier 2 will comprise specialists at the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP)/Medical College resources for physical consultation and/or e-Sanjeevani for audio-visual consultation.
• Currently, there are 51 operational Tele-MANAS cells functioning across all 36 States and UTs, offering services in 20 different languages. 
• A toll-free, 24/7 helpline number (14416) is available as part of the initiative, allowing callers to select the language of choice for availing services. The service is also accessible at 1-800-891-4416.
• This call will be an Interactive Voice Response system (IVRS) based audio call only, with a timely auto-call back approach.
• Through the automated callback service, the caller will first be attended to by a trained counsellor.
• Based on the level of care required, the counsellor will either provide the care needed within their capabilities or refer the caller for specialist care.
• If the caller requires specialized care, the call will be handled by a mental health specialist (clinical psychologist, psychiatric social worker, psychiatric nurse, or psychiatrist). This level of service will contain both audio- and video-based options.
• In case the caller requires urgent in-person intervention/complex evaluations and management, they will be referred to the nearest in-person service for a physical consultation, and/or an audio-visual consultation with a specialist will be arranged through eSanjeevani.
• These centers will range from Health and Wellness Centre (HWCs) to tertiary care centers as part of the DMHP.

Q1: Who is a clinical psychologist?

A clinical psychologist is a mental health professional with highly specialized training in the diagnosis and psychological treatment of mental, behavioral and emotional illnesses. Clinical psychologists are not technically medical doctors, but still typically follow an educational path that requires many years of study, often resulting in a doctorate degree.

Source: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and Ministry of Defence sign MoU to set up dedicated Tele MANAS cell for armed forces

About Thismia malayana:

• It is a new species of plant discovered in the tropical rainforests of Peninsular Malaysia.
• It belongs to a group of plants known as mycoheterotrophs.
  • Unlike most plants, mycoheterotrophs do not perform photosynthesis.
  • Instead, they act as parasites, stealing carbon resources from the fungi on their roots.
  • This adaptation takes advantage of the mycorrhizal symbiosis, which is usually a mutually beneficial relationship between colonizing fungi and a plant’s root system.
• What happens in mycorrhizal symbiosis?
  • The fungi help the tree absorb water and nutrients from the soil, while the tree provides the fungi with sugars produced through photosynthesis.
  • This symbiotic partnership is vital for the health and growth of both organisms.
• But Thismia malayana, instead of contributing to the exchange, acts as a parasite,siphoning off carbon resources from the fungi without offering anything in return.
• By stealing nutrients from fungi, this newly discovered species thrives in the low-light conditionsof dense forestunderstories, where its highly specialised flowers are pollinated by fungus gnats and other small insects.
• The unusual plant is around 2 cm long and is typically found hidden in leaf litter and growing near tree roots or old rotten logs.

Despite its small size, Thismia malayana is very sensitive to environmental changes and has been classified as Vulnerable according to the IUCN Red List.

Q1: What are Fungi?

Fungi, along with Animalia (animals), Plantae (plants), Protista, Archaea/Archaebacteria, and Bacteria or Eubacteria form the six ‘kingdoms’ of biology. They are eukaryotic organisms; i.e., their cells contain membrane-bound organelles and clearly defined nuclei. Fungi usually reproduce both sexually and asexually. They help in breaking down dead organic material, they continue the cycle of nutrients through ecosystems. Fungi, as food, play a role in human nutrition in the form of mushrooms. They also act as agents of fermentation in the production of bread, cheeses, alcoholic beverages, and numerous other food preparations.

Source: Remarkable new plant species steals nutrients from underground fungi

About PraVaHa Software:

• Parallel RANS Solver for Aerospace Vehicle Aero-thermo-dynamic Analysis (PraVaHa) is a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software developed in ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).
• It can simulate external and internal flows on launch vehicles, winged and non-winged re-entry vehicles.
• PraVaHa has been extensively used in the Gaganyaan program for aerodynamic analysis of human-rated launch vehicles, viz, HLVM3, Crew Escape System (CES), and Crew Module (CM).
• The software is secure and flexible enough to support collaborative development with academic institutions and government labs.
• Currently, the PraVaHa code is operational to simulate airflow for Perfect Gas and Real Gas conditions. 
• Validations of the code are underway for simulating the effects of chemical reactions that occur during air dissociation upon ‘earth re-entry’ and ‘combustion’ as in scramjet vehicles.
• PraVaHa is expected to replace most of the CFD simulations for aero characterisation, which are currently being carried out using commercial software. 
• Besides, this software is expected to help academia and other institutions, engaged in the design of missiles, aircraft, and rockets to find solutions to complex aerodynamic problems.

Importance of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD):

• Initial aerodynamic design studies for launch vehicles demand evaluation of a large number of configurations.
• Any aerospace vehicle moving through the Earth’s atmosphere during launch or re-entry is subjected to severe aerodynamic and aerothermal loads in terms of external pressure and heat flux.
• Understanding the airflow around aircraft, rocket bodies, or CM during earth re-entry is essential to design the shape, structure, and Thermal Protection System (TPS) required for these bodies.
• The unsteady part of aerodynamics contributes to serious flow issues around such rocket bodies and creates significant acoustic noise during the mission.
• CFD is one such tool to predict the aerodynamic and aerothermal loads, which solve numerically the equations of conservation of mass, momentum, and energy along with the equation of state.

Q1: What is aerodynamics?

Aerodynamics is the study of forces and the resulting motion of objects through the air. Studying the motion of air around an object allows us to measure the forces of lift, which allows an aircraft to overcome gravity, and drag, which is the resistance an aircraft “feels” as it moves through the air. Everything moving through the air (including airplanes, rockets, and birds) is affected by aerodynamics.

Source: ISRO develops PraVaHa software for aerodynamic design and analysis

About UNESCO State of Ocean Report:

• The UNESCO ‘State of the Ocean Report’, initiated by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO) during the 2022 United Nations Ocean Conference, serves as an accessible overview of the ocean's current status.
• It supports the monitoring of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) and encourages actions towards a sustainable ocean future.
  • The inaugural 2022 edition featured insights from over 100 marine science experts across various fields including ocean acidification, pollution, and tsunami warning.
  • This report, and its subsequent annual editions released on World Oceans Day (June 8), aligns with the seven outcomes of the UN Ocean Decade.
• The key finding of the report
  • The upper 2,000 meters of the oceans have experienced significant warming, with the rate increasing from 0.32 ± 0.03 watt per square meter (W/m²) from 1960 to 2023 to 0.66 ± 0.10 W/m² in the last two decades.
  • Oceans are absorbing about 90% of the Earth's excess energy, causing increased deoxygenation and threatening marine ecosystems and human economies dependent on them.
  • Ocean acidification is on the rise globally, particularly in the open ocean, with a noted pH decline since the late 1980s; more comprehensive data from coastal areas is needed.
  • Sea levels have risen consistently since 1993, necessitating improved monitoring systems at all scales.

There's growing interest in marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) technologies, but their ecological impacts and effectiveness remain uncertain.

Q1. What is a deep ocean mission?

The Deep Ocean Mission (DOM) is an ambitious Indian initiative to explore and harness the depths of the ocean. It is a five-year mission, approved by the Union Cabinet in 2021, with a budget of nearly ₹4,077 crore. The mission aims to develop technologies for deep-sea mining, manned submersibles, and underwater robotics, as well as for ocean climate change advisory services, deep-ocean survey and exploration, energy and freshwater from the ocean, and advanced marine stations for ocean biology.

Source: UNESCO’s State of Ocean Report highlights key knowledge gaps in research & data on spiking oceanic warming

About Musankwa sanyatiensis:

• It is a new dinosaur species which has been identified from fossils discovered along the shores of Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe.
  • The dinosaur’s genus name, “Musankwa,” was the name of the houseboat scientists used during their expeditions to the research site.
  • In addition, its species name, “sanyatiensis,” alludes to the Sanyati River that flows into Lake Kariba.
• It is the first dinosaur to be named from the Mid-Zambezi Basin of northern Zimbabwein over 50 years.
• Additionally, it is only the fourth dinosaur to be named from Zimbabwe, following the descriptions of "Syntarsus" rhodesiensis in 1969, Vulcanodon karibaensis in 1972, and, most recently, Mbiresaurus raathi in 2022.
• The rocks yielding this new specimen date back to the Late Triassic period, approximately 210 million years ago.
• Musankwa sanyatiensis is represented by the remains of a single hind leg, including its thigh, shin, and ankle bones.
• Evolutionary analysis reveals that it was a member of the Sauropodomorpha, a group of bipedal, long-necked dinosaurs that were widespread during the Late Triassic.
• Interestingly, it appears to be closely related to contemporaries in South Africa and Argentina.

Weighing in at around 390 kg, the plant-eating Musankwa sanyatiensis was one of the larger dinosaurs of its era and mostly lived in swamp areas.

Q1: What is the Triassic period?

The Triassic Period was the first of the three geologic periods of the Mesozoic Era. The Triassic began approximately 252 million years ago at the end of the Permian Period and ended about 201 million years ago at the start of the Jurassic Period. The Triassic Period followed on the heels of the Permian extinction, the largest mass extinction in the history of Earth. The name Triassic derives from the Trias, a sequence of three rock strata, or layers, in Germany that lay above Permian rocks and below Jurassic rocks. The Triassic Period marked the start of major changes that were to take place throughout the Mesozoic Era, particularly in the arrangement of continents, the evolution of life, and the geographic distribution of living things.

Source: Musankwa sanyatiensis, a new dinosaur from Zimbabwe discovered

About the ‘Air of the Anthropocene’ initiative:

• The "Air of the Anthropocene" project is an international initiative combining art and science to visualise air pollution through light painting.
• Artists and researchers collaborated to produce photographic evidence using digital light painting techniquesand low-costair pollution sensors.

What is Particulate Matter? 

• Particulate matter (PM) is a complex mixture of small solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in the air. It includes both organic and inorganic particles such as dust, pollen, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets, which vary greatly in size, composition, and origin.

Impact of Air Pollution:

• Impact on Public Health: Particulate matter, particularly PM2.5, is linked to severe health issues, including cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and respiratory diseases. It is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide.

The World Health Organisation (WHO)estimates that 99% of the global population breathes air that exceeds WHO guideline limits, with about 7 million premature deaths annually linked to air pollution.

Q1. What are LEDs?

LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) are semiconductor devices that emit light when an electric current flows through them. They are used in various applications, including electronics, lighting, medicine, and data communication. LEDs are known for their energy efficiency, long lifespan, and adjustability in terms of colour and brightness.

Source: Global project ‘paints’ evidence of air pollution in India

About Maharani Temple:

• It is situated on a small hillock in the heart of Gulmarg town in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Also known as the Rani Temple or Mohineshwar Shivalaya, the temple is dedicated toLord Shivaand his consort, Parvati. 
• It was constructed by Mohini Bai Sisodia, wife of the former ruler of Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh, in 1915. 
• This temple was once a royal temple of the Dogra dynasty of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. 
• It has been constructed in such a way that it can be seen from all corners of Gulmarg.
• The temple's intricate carvings and designs reflect a beautiful blend of Indian and Persian styles.
• It is an example of religions intertwined with a Muslim priest performing rituals in the temple.

The Indian Army collaborated with local communities in 2021 to restore this106-year-old temple. Apart from renovating the temple structure, the Indian Army also undertook the redesigning of pathways leading to the temple.

Q1: Who was Maharaja Hari Singh?

Maharaja Sir Hari Singh (1895 – 1961) was the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. He signed the Instrument of Accession on 26 October 1947, joining the whole of his princely state to the Dominion of India. Pressure from Nehru and Sardar Patel Hari compelled Singh to appoint his son and heir, Yuvraj (Crown Prince) Karan Singh, as Prince Regent of Jammu and Kashmir in 1949, although he remained the titular Maharaja of the state until 1952 when the monarchy was abolished by Nehru's government.

Source: Gulmarg: Iconic 106-year-old Maharani Temple gutted in massive fire