Published on: February 10, 2025

Snippets : 10 FEBRUARY 2025

Snippets : 10 FEBRUARY 2025

  • India’s first dedicated serpentarium for research and venom extraction will be established in Hunsur, Mysuru district, Karnataka, to address the high mortality rate due to snakebites. Equipped with an advanced scientific lab, the facility will extract venom from at least seven highly venomous snake species and focus on producing region-specific anti-venom tailored to Karnataka’s snake population. Unlike conventional centers that rely on wild-caught snakes, this serpentarium will collect venom from captive snakes, reducing environmental impact. It will collaborate with the Evolutionary Venomics Lab at IISc Bengaluru for research on venom toxicity and DNA profiling. The initiative aims to tackle the shortage of effective anti-venom, improve treatment outcomes, and conduct research on snake behavior and ecology to mitigate snakebite incidents. Venom extraction will follow WHO standards, and the collected venom will be supplied free of cost to state-owned or private companies for anti-venom production. This serpentarium marks a significant advancement in public health, enhancing treatment efficacy and promoting sustainable research and development in snakebite management.
  • The Swavalambini: Women Entrepreneurship Programme for Northeast India was launched by Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary in Assam, Meghalaya, and Mizoram to empower female students in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) with entrepreneurial skills, resources, and mentorship. A joint initiative of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and NITI Aayog, it is implemented by the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) in collaboration with NITI Aayog. The programme targets institutions such as Gauhati University, NEHU, Kiang Nangba Government College, RiBhoi College, Mizoram University, Government Champai College, Lunglei Government College, Handique College, and Dispur College. It follows a structured approach, guiding participants through entrepreneurial awareness, training, mentorship, and funding while also recognizing and awarding successful ventures. Virtually launched in nine colleges/universities, the programme includes key components like a 2-day Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme (EAP) for 600 students, a 40-hour Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) for 300 students, six months of mentorship, a 5-day Faculty Development Programme (FDP) for HEI faculty, and an Award to Rewards Initiative for outstanding women entrepreneurs. Aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the initiative aims to integrate skills, foster industry collaboration, and promote hands-on experience. The programme’s goals include ensuring that 10% of EDP trainees launch successful enterprises, instilling an entrepreneurial culture within HEIs, and creating sustainable women-led businesses in the region.
  • Potash reserves have been discovered in three blocks of the southwestern districts of Punjab, with the state government granting approval for exploration. Potash, composed of potassium-bearing minerals, is primarily used in fertilizers as an essential agricultural nutrient (N-P-K). It exists in different forms, including Sulphate of Potash (SOP), a premium chloride-free variant for high-value crops, and Muriate of Potash (MOP), which contains chloride and is used for carbohydrate crops. In India, significant potash reserves have been identified in Punjab’s Fazilka and Sri Muktsar Sahib districts (Kabarwala, Sherewala, Ramsara, Shergarh, Dalmir Khera blocks) and Rajasthan’s Nagaur-Ganganagar basin, which holds 89% of the country’s estimated 23,091 million tonnes of potash resources (NMI, 2020). Despite these reserves, India imports 50 lakh tonnes of potash annually, with Punjab’s deposits located about 450 meters below the surface, discovered in 2019. However, challenges such as land acquisition concerns, environmental and social impact assessments, and the auctioning process by the central government need to be addressed. If successfully extracted, these reserves could reduce import dependence, strengthen the domestic fertilizer industry, generate employment, and promote regional economic growth. The government aims to reassure farmers about land ownership, conduct thorough environmental assessments, and expedite the auctioning process to facilitate extraction.
  • Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched the 16th Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes) logo, featuring the two-headed state bird ‘Gandabherunda’ within a film strip showcasing Karnataka’s monuments. The festival, themed ‘Universal Peace in Diversity,’ will take place from March 1 to 8 in Bengaluru.
  • The State government has announced an additional ₹450 per quintal for red gram, supplementing the Central government’s minimum support price (MSP) of ₹7,550, bringing the total MSP for toor growers to ₹8,000 per quintal. Procurement of red gram has already commenced in districts such as Kalaburagi, Vijayapura, Bidar, Yadgir, Raichur, Bagalkot, Ballari, Koppal, Belagavi, Chitradurga, Chickballapur, and Kolar, with purchases previously occurring at ₹5,800 per quintal.
  • The central government has approved four startups for grants under the ‘Grant for Research & Entrepreneurship across Aspiring Innovators in Technical Textiles (GREAT)’ scheme, launched in August 2023 to strengthen India’s technical textiles startup ecosystem. Developed under the Research, Development, and Innovation Component of the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM), GREAT supports young innovators, scientists, and startups in translating ideas into commercial products, making India self-reliant. It provides grants of up to ₹50 lakh for 18 months to individual entrepreneurs or startups for functional prototypes or commercialization in various technical textile segments, including agro-textiles, medical-textiles, industrial-textiles, and more. The NTTM, under the Ministry of Textiles, aims to enhance the penetration of technical textiles in India and establish the country as a global leader through research, market development, export promotion, and skill training.
  • The Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) has begun analysing the data of the crocodile census conducted in a 25-km urban stretch of the Vishwamitri river passing through Vadodara city.
  • New research reveals that long-dormant volcanoes in the Cascades region of the Pacific Northwest still have substantial magma reservoirs beneath them. The Cascade Range is a prominent mountain range in the Pacific Northwest, spanning the northwestern United States and southwestern Canada. Formed by the subduction of the Juan de Fuca Plate beneath the North American Plate, this geological process continues to fuel volcanic activity. The range is renowned for its snow-capped peaks, massive glaciers, steep scree slopes, and dense forests, comprising 4,375 named mountains, with Mount Rainier (4,392 m) being the highest and most visible. It includes both volcanic and non-volcanic mountains, such as the rugged spires of the North Cascades and the High Cascades’ notable volcanoes. As part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Cascades are home to all known historic eruptions in the contiguous United States, making them a key region for studying volcanic activity.
  • The Department of Biotechnology held a consultation with States on setting up biomanufacturing facilities following the Union Cabinet’s approval of the Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, and Employment (BioE3) policy last August. Biomanufacturing involves producing bio-based chemicals, biopolymers, enzymes, smart proteins, functional foods, precision biotherapeutics, and climate-resilient agriculture products. The proposed roadmap includes establishing State-centric BioE3 cells, action plans, steering committees, working groups, and Bio-AI hubs. States presented their biotechnology initiatives but stressed the need for substantial Central support for successful scaling.
  • India recently reached an agreement with Russia to acquire the Klub-S missile system, enhancing the Indian Navy’s submarine fleet. Developed by Russian defense company NPO Novator, the Klub, also known as Kalibr, is a cruise missile inducted into Moscow’s defense forces in 1994. The Klub-S variant carries a 400 kg warhead and can target surface ships, submarines, and ground targets up to 300 km away. It features a fire control system, a vertical launcher unit (VLU), and advanced ammunition, excelling in high-risk combat zones. Designed for operations amid heavy enemy fire and electronic warfare, the missile accelerates to supersonic speeds in its terminal phase, making interception difficult. Additionally, it cruises at a low altitude of 10-15 meters, minimizing enemy reaction time and enhancing its stealth capabilities.