About Sonobuoys:

• Sonobuoys are expendable, electro-mechanical acoustic sensors that relay underwater sounds emitted from ships and submarines.
• They help in the detection, classification, and prosecution of adversarial ships and submarines.
• A naval helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft generally drops sonobuoys in a pattern.
• They are dropped in canisters and are deployed automatically upon impact with water.
• An inflatable system with a radio transmitter remains on the surface for communication with the ship or aircraft tracking it while sensors descend below the surface to a predetermined depth.
• It then relays acoustic information back to those monitoring them.
• A group of sonobuoys deployed in a pattern can find out the exact location of the submarine, which then can be tracked by other systems.
• Some sonobuoys are designed to be deployed in passive mode and some in active mode.
  • Active sonobuoys emit sound energy and receive the echo, based on which they transmit information back to the aircraft.
  • Passive sonobuoys, on the other hand, only listen for sounds coming from ships or submarines. They then transmit the sound back to the aircraft.
• There are also Special Purpose buoys that provide information about the environment, such as water temperature, ambient noise level, etc.
• Components: A typical sonobuoy consists of a cylindrical or spherical buoyant housing,sensors for detecting acoustic signals, a battery or power source, and a radio transmitter or other communication system to relay data to the host platform (e.g., aircraft or ship).
• Other Applications: In addition to anti-submarine warfare, they are used for scientific research and environmental studies, including studying the behavior of whales and other marine creatures.

Q1: What is Acoustics?

Acoustics is defined as the science that deals with the production, control, transmission, reception, and effects of sound. Many people mistakenly think that acoustics is strictly musical or architectural in nature. While acoustics does include the study of musical instruments and architectural spaces, it also covers a vast range of topics, including: noise control, SONAR for submarine navigation, ultrasounds for medical imaging, thermoacoustic refrigeration, seismology, bioacoustics, and electroacoustic communication.

Source: TH

About e-Shram Portal:

• It is a flagship initiative by the Government of India to support and empower the unorganized workforce.
• It was launched by the Ministry of Labour and Employment on 26th August 2021.
• This portal is designed to create a comprehensive National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW).
• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s (MEITY’s) Bhashini project has been leveraged to upgrade the eShram portal with 22 languages. The previous version was available only in English, Hindi, Kannada and Marathi.
• Objectives
  • Establish a centralized database of unorganized workers for effective policy implementation.
  • Enhance access to social security schemes and benefits for workers in sectors such as agriculture, construction, domestic work, and street vending.
  • Facilitate job matching and skill development opportunities.
  • Strengthen labor market resilience by integrating unorganized workers into the formal economy.
  • Promote financial inclusion through direct benefit transfers and digital payments.
• Features
  • Universal Account Number (UAN): Registered workers receive a UAN linked to their Aadhaar, enabling seamless access to benefits.
  • Single Registration Process: The portal streamlines the registration process, requiring minimal documentation such as Aadhaar and bank account details. The ease of self-registration is also available to the beneficiaries.
  • Multilingual Support: Workers from diverse regions can access the portal in multiple Indian languages, ensuring inclusivity.
  • Grievance Redressal Mechanism: A dedicated helpline and support system address workers’ queries and grievances promptly.
  • Integration with Employment and Skill Opportunities: Registered workers can connect with employment opportunities, skilling, apprenticeship, pension schemes, digital skilling, and state-specific schemes through the portal.
  • Family Details for Migrant Workers: Family details for migrant workers are captured, aiding in the provision of child education and women-centric schemes for those who have migrated with their families.
  • Data Sharing with BOCW Welfare Boards: The data of construction workers registering on e-Shram is shared with the concerned Building and Other Construction Workers’ (BOCW) Welfare Boards, ensuring their registration with the respective boards and access to schemes meant for them.
  • Data Sharing Portal (DSP): A Data Sharing Portal has been launched to allow the secure sharing of e-Shram beneficiary data with State and Union Territory governments. facilitating the targeted implementation of social security and welfare schemes for registered unorganised workers.

Q1: What is Bhashini Platform?

It is India's Artificial Intelligence (AI)-led language translation platform. It seeks to enable easy access to the internet and digital services in Indian languages, including voice-based access, and help the creation of content in Indian languages.

Source: PIB

About Nitrogen Use Efficiency: 

• It is a term that is used to describe the efficiency of a plant in using applied or fixed nitrogen for biomass production.
• It is further defined as the ratio between crop yield and the amount of nitrogen absorbed from the soil through roots or from the atmosphere through fixation by bacteria.
• NUE is an important trait in crop breeding programs, which aims to improve crop yield while reducing input costs, such as fertilizers, and at the same time keeping nitrogen out of the environment. 
• Issues with Traditional methods
  • It is used to enhance NUE which often involve the application of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers. These practices, while effective, come with significant drawbacks.
  • They can lead to increased operational costs for farmers and contribute to environmental issues, such as the emission of nitrogen oxides (NOx) during fertilizer production. Excessive use of these fertilizers also contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions.

Highlights of the study

• The recent study highlights a novel approach to improving NUE by focusing on the systemic regulation of Nitrogen Oxide (NO) levels in plants.
• By modulating these levels, researchers can influence the activity of high-affinity nitrate transporters (HATs), which play a vital role in nitrogen uptake.
• This method diverges from traditional practices, offering a more sustainable solution to enhance crop yields while reducing nitrogen inputs. As the world faces challenges related to food security, this research provides a promising pathway for developing more efficient agricultural practices.

Significance of Nitric oxide (NO)

• It plays a pivotal role in regulating various physiological processes in plants.
• It is involved in the activation of high-affinity nitrate transporters, which are crucial for nitrogen uptake, especially under low nitrogen conditions.

Q1. What is Liquid Nitrogen?

It is an inert, colorless, odorless, noncorrosive, nonflammable, and extremely cold element. It is a cryogenic liquid (Cryogenic liquids are liquefied gases that have a normal boiling point below –130°F (–90°C).

Source: PIB

About Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary: 

• Location: It is located in the district of Yavatmal, Maharashtra.
• There are plenty of rivers such as Purna, Krishna, Bhima and Tapti that irrigate the sanctuary from entire angles. Having lots of water from all these rivers, it is also popularly known as Green Oasis located in Southern Maharashtra.
• This area is completely a basalt area that is constructed by the blast of lava a century back
• Vegetation: The place is quite hilly and undulated and thus has different types of vegetation cover that varies with the altitude.
• Flora: It consists ofwealthy flora such as herbs, grasses, bamboo forests.
• Fauna: The place shelters a wide array of animals that include Hyena, Chital, Black buck, Sambar, Jackal, Wild boar, Peacock, Monkey, Blue bull, Wild cat, Bear and many more.

Q1: What is Basalt rock?

Basalt is a common extrusive igneous rock that forms from the rapid cooling of lava at or near the Earth's surface. It is one of the most abundant types of rock on the Earth's crust and is known for its dark color, fine-grained texture, and durability.

Source: HT

About Umred-Pauni-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is spread over Pauni tehsil in Bhandara district and Umred, Kuhi, and Bhivapur Taluka of Nagpur district in Maharashtra.
• It was established in 2013 and is spread across an area of 189 sq. km. 
• The Wainganga River and the Gose Khurd Damlie along the northeast boundaries of the sanctuary, while State Highway 9 and Bhiwapur Town bound the southern side.
• The forest along the Wainganga River connects this sanctuary to the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. 
• It lies 80 km from Pench Tiger Reserve and 50 kilometers southwest of Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Flora:
  • The forest is made up of teak, bamboo, tendu, mahua, and other indigenous tree species.
  • Teak makes up 60 percent of the crop composition. 
• Fauna: The sanctuary is home to resident breeding tigers, herds of Gaur, wild dogs, and also rare animals like flying squirrels, pangolins, and honey badgers.

Q1: What is a Tiger Reserve?

A protected area statutorily designated for the conservation of the striped big cats is referred to as Tiger Reserve. However, a tiger reserve may also be a national park or wildlife sanctuary. The Sariska Tiger Reserve is also a national park. It is so because the place was originally created as a national park and later dedicated to tiger conservation.

Source: TH

About Kalpeni Island:

• It is a village located within the Lakshadweep archipelago in the Arabian Sea, covering an area of 2.79 square kilometers. 
• Situated at a distance of 287 kilometers (155 nautical miles) from Kochi, Kerala, this island lies southeast of Kavaratti Island, midway between Androth and Minicoy.
• Kalpeni, along with two small islets of Tilakkam and Pittiand the uninhabited island of Cheriyam in the north, form a single atoll. 
• Kalpeni is renowned for its breathtaking coral reefs, crystal-clear waters, and powdery white beaches.
• Its most captivating feature is an expansive lagoon that stretches approximately 2.8 kilometers at its widest point, with the island aligned in a north-south direction.
• The island is surrounded by an extensive coral reef system, teeming with diverse marine life. This makes Kalpeni a prime spot for snorkeling and scuba diving.
• The climate of Kalpeni is similar to the climatic conditions of Kerala.
• Apart from its natural beauty, Kalpeni also boasts a rich cultural heritage, with inhabitants primarily belonging to the indigenous Maliku community.

Q1: What are Corals?

Corals are marine invertebrates that belong to the phylum Cnidaria and the class Anthozoa. They are colonial organisms composed of thousands of tiny, individual animals called polyps, which secrete calcium carbonate to form hard, protective skeletons. These skeletons accumulate over time to create coral reefs, which are among the most diverse ecosystems on Earth.

Source:TOI

About UJALA Scheme:

• In May 2015, the Indian government introduced the UJALA scheme, which is also known as the LED-based Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme (DELP), to promote energy efficiency in all households.
• The UJALA scheme is the world’s largest zero-subsidy LED lamp distribution scheme.
• It is implemented by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) under the Ministry of Power.
• Through the UJALA scheme, the government aims to save 85 lakh kWh of electricity and 15,000 tonnes of CO2 by replacing 77 crore traditional bulbs & CFLs and 3.5 crore streetlights with LEDs. 
• Eligible Households:
  • Every domestic household having a metered connection from their respective Electricity Distribution Company is eligible to get the LED bulbs under the UJALA Scheme.
  • The consumer can purchase the LED on EMI payment (monthly/bimonthly instalments in the electricity bill) or on upfront payment by paying the full amount.
• As part of its inclusive growth strategy to enable growth in lower-income communities, EESL has also enrolled Self-Help Groups (SHGs) for the distribution of LED bulbs under the UJALA programme.
• The annual energy savings from the scheme stand at 47,883 million kWh, with a reduction in peak demand by 9,586 MW and an annual reduction of 3.87 crore tonnes in carbon dioxide emissions.
  • These savings were achieved through e-procurement and bulk purchasing, which allowed LED bulbs to be made affordable for millions of households.
  • UJALA succeeded in bringing down the retail price of LED bulbs from INR 300-350 per bulb to INR 70-80 per bulb.

Q1: What is an LED?

In the simplest terms, a light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current is passed through it. Light is produced when the particles that carry the current (known as electrons and holes) combine together within the semiconductor material. Since light is generated within the solid semiconductor material, LEDs are described as solid-state devices. The term solid-state lighting, which also encompasses organic LEDs (OLEDs), distinguishes this lighting technology from other sources that use heated filaments (incandescent and tungsten halogen lamps) or gas discharge (fluorescent lamps).

Source: ET

About Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple:

• It is a prominent Hindu temple situated at Srirangam near Trichy in Tamil Nadu.
• This temple is the biggest functioning Hindu temple in India.
• Built across an area of 156 acres, this temple is dedicated to Ranganatha, a reclining form of Hindu deity, Lord Vishnu. 
• It is the foremost of the eight self-manifested shrines of Lord Vishnu.
• This temple lies on an islet formed by the twin rivers Cauvery and Coleroon.
• Though the temple existing since the 2nd century BC, the archaeological inscriptions are available only from the 10th century CE.
• This temple underwent many changes during the rule of Cholas, Cheras, Pandiyas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagar kings and Nayak of Madurai.
• Architecture:
  • The entire temple complex is a perfect example of Dravidian architecture. 
  • Apart from the 7 enclosures with massive walls, the temple complex has 21 very colorful sculpted gopuras, 50 sub-shrines, 9 sacred pools, and a golden Vimana (dome) over the sanctum sanctorum of the presiding deity.
  • The vimana over the sanctum of the temple is made up of gold.
  • The 236-feet Rajagopura (tower) is the tallest temple tower in India.
  • There is also a royal temple tower, which covers a base area of 32,500 sq. ft. and has a height of 196 ft. 
  • It also comprises a hall containing 1000 pillars. Intricate sculptures are the most attractive part of the hall. The Hall was built during the Vijayanagara period (1336-1565).

Q1: What is Dravidian architecture?

Dravidian architecture is a distinct style of temple architecture that originated in South India, primarily in the Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala regions. It developed during the early Pallava period (4th–9th century CE) and was later refined by the Cholas, Pandyas, Vijayanagar, and Nayakas.

Source: TH

About Twigstats: 

• It is a time-stratified ancestry analysis tool that boosts the statistical power of existing methods by a magnitude and reduces statistical errors.
• It has determined more precisely than ever individual-level ancestry at a very high resolution.
• It is coded in C++ and employs the statistical language R.
• Twigstats allows researchers to focus on a specific period in history with more fine-grained analysis than previously possible. 

Techniques used for Genetic analysis

• Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs): This method has been extensively used to reconstruct genetic histories and ancestry models using ancient genetic material (aDNA).
  • The analysis of SNPs is a powerful technique when the task is to understand populations, but it’s restricted by the need for high quality DNA samples and its inability to resolve the histories of groups with closely related ancestors.
• Haplotypes Method: This method captures information from haplotype-sharing or identity-by-descent and a rare variant simultaneously includes time-resolved information about genetic ancestry, and provides comprehensive insights into how individuals ‘share’ their ancestors.
• Genealogical tree inference method: Researchers have applied this to modern and ancient genomes to understand their population structure, demographics, locations of ancestors, etc.

Q1: What is Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)?

It is the molecule that carries the genetic information for an organism's development and function. DNA is made up of two linked strands that wind around each other to form a twisted ladder shape known as a double helix. The majority of DNA is found in the cell nucleus (referred to as nuclear DNA), but a small amount can also be found in the mitochondria.

Source: TH

About Toda Tribe: 

• It is one of the oldest ethnic groups residing in the Upper Nilgiris plateau in Tamil Nadu.
• The Todas are divided into five clans, namely: Paiki, Pekkan, Kuttan, Kenna and Todi.
• Language: They have their own language, which does not have a script.
• They live in a closed community or hamlet called mund.
• Society:
  • It is a patrilineage descent group whose membership is based upon a rule of patrilineal descent. Their community is divided into two endogamous groups, namely Tharthazoll and Theveioll.
  • To maintain the social harmony or solidarity among the Toda tribal population of Todas are controlled for many generations by their own traditional Government called ‘Noim’.
  • This Noim is headed by a Toda tribal head-man called Monegar. He has the full power to control the Todas and he also dispenses justice in the Toda community
• Occupation: This tribe is largely dependent on buffalo herding and embroidery for its livelihood.
• Its members are incredibly skilled artisans known for the red-and-black embroidery on white fabrics that has even earned them a GI (geographical indication) tag. 
• Festival: They celebrate 'Modhweth' festival, which is also called buffalo festival every year during the last Sunday of December or on the first Sunday of January.

Q1: Who are Tribes?

They are groups of people who share common ancestry and beliefs, often living in close-knit communities.

Source: ETVB