Published on: January 14, 2025
Snippets : 14 JANUARY 2025
Snippets : 14 JANUARY 2025
- The Z-Morh Tunnel, a 6.5 km bi-directional structure connecting Gagangair and Sonamarg in Jammu and Kashmir, aims to ensure uninterrupted connectivity between Srinagar and Kargil, particularly during harsh winter months. Built at an altitude of 2,637 meters using the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM), it includes a parallel escape tunnel and accommodates up to 1,000 vehicles per hour with an 80 km/h speed limit. The project, costing ₹2,700 crore, was completed in 2024 after commencing in 2015. It is strategically significant for military logistics, boosts tourism and trade in the region, and addresses challenges like heavy snowfall and avalanches that previously disrupted road access for seven months annually. The tunnel also supports economic growth by reducing travel time and promoting Sonamarg’s winter sports and tourism.
- The National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), launched in 2001 by the Ministry of Commerce & Industries, aims to develop India’s organic agriculture sector by promoting sustainable farming and opening opportunities for farmers and exporters. Implemented by APEDA, NPOP sets high standards for organic products, accredits certification bodies, and promotes organic farming and marketing. The recently released 8th edition focuses on easing operations, enhancing transparency, and simplifying certification for organic grower groups. New portals like the NPOP Portal, Organic Promotion Portal, TraceNet 2.0, and redesigned APEDA and AgriXchange Portals enhance visibility, traceability, training, and global trade connectivity for stakeholders.
- The Nag Mk 2, a third-generation indigenously developed fire-and-forget guided anti-tank missile, underwent successful field trials conducted by DRDO at Pokhran Field Range, Rajasthan. The trials, observed by senior Indian Army officers, validated the missile’s precision and operational effectiveness at maximum and minimum ranges and tested the Nag Missile Carrier (NAMICA) version-2. Designed to neutralize fortified armored threats, the missile operates under all weather conditions, with a range of 500 meters to 4 kilometers. It features a lock-on-before-launch infrared seeker for high precision and is launched from NAMICA, capable of carrying six combat-ready missiles.
- The United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects 2025 report, prepared by UN DESA with UNCTAD and regional commissions, forecasts India’s economy to grow by 6.6% in 2025 and 6.7% in 2026, driven by infrastructure development, manufacturing and services expansion, robust exports, and improved agricultural output due to favorable monsoons. Globally, growth is expected to remain steady at 2.8% in 2025. South Asia’s growth, led by India, is projected at 5.7% in 2025 and 6% in 2026, while resource-rich countries could leverage rising demand for critical minerals to enhance growth, jobs, and public revenues.
- Namma Metro has received its first Chinese-made train for the Purple Line, consisting of six coaches, which will undergo 37 statutory tests over the next six months before being introduced for passenger service. The train, manufactured by CRRC Nanjing Puzhen Co Ltd, is part of a Rs 1,578-crore contract to supply 216 coaches to BMRCL, with 15 trains for the Yellow Line and 21 for the Purple and Green lines. While the prototype train for the Yellow Line is already undergoing trial runs, the first India-made train for the Yellow Line is expected to arrive in Bengaluru by January 20, with TRSL promising to deliver two trains by April and two trains per month from September.
- Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has launched the ‘Library for Every Home’ project, aiming to establish libraries in one lakh homes across the state. The project’s main objective is to foster a love for books among youth and save the fading book culture. The Kannada Book Authority will coordinate with individuals to set up libraries in their homes, invite literary figures for inauguration, and issue certificates. Additionally, the authority has released Kumaravyasa Bharata, a seminal work, in two volumes priced at Rs 500. This initiative is part of a broader effort to promote literacy and a love for reading in Karnataka.
- A new study on human-leopard conflict in Himachal Pradesh, conducted over 11 years, found that 74% of leopard attacks on humans were non-predatory and resulted in minor injuries, with predatory attacks rare, especially on adolescents who were more likely to experience fatal or grievous injuries. The study, which documented 344 leopard attacks, revealed that most attacks occurred at night during routine activities, disproportionately affecting low-income individuals, and had significant intangible impacts, including fear, anxiety, and behavioral changes, highlighting the need for mitigation strategies to reduce human-leopard conflict.
