Published on: January 13, 2025
Snippets : 13 JANUARY 2025
Snippets : 13 JANUARY 2025
- Kerala’s Kappad beach in Kozhikode and Chal beach in Kannur have been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), a Denmark-based organization. The Blue Flag certification, which aims to promote sustainable development in both freshwater and marine areas, is globally recognized as an eco-label. The certification was first launched in France in 1985 and expanded to non-European countries in 2001. The award criteria include high standards of water quality, effective environmental management, environmental education, and safety measures. Indian beaches that have earned the Blue Flag certification include Shivrajpur Beach (Gujarat), Ghoghla Beach (Diu), Kasarkod and Padubidri Beaches (Karnataka), Rushikonda Beach (Andhra Pradesh), Golden Beach (Odisha), Radhanagar Beach (Andaman and Nicobar Islands), Kovalam Beach (Tamil Nadu), Eden Beach (Puducherry), Minicoy Thundi Beach (Lakshadweep), and Kadmat Beach (Lakshadweep).
- Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) recently achieved a significant milestone in India’s defense capabilities with the delivery of INS Vaghsheer, the sixth and final Scorpene-class submarine, to the Indian Navy. INS Vaghsheer is part of the Kalvari-class submarines, named after the sandfish, a lethal deep-sea predator found in the Indian Ocean. Launched in April 2022, the submarine underwent extensive trials focused on endurance, stealth, and combat capabilities. The Kalvari-class also includes INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi, INS Karanj, and INS Vela. INS Vaghsheer boasts advanced stealth technology with reduced radiated noise levels, making it one of the quietest submarines globally. Equipped with precision-guided weapons, including torpedoes and anti-ship missiles, it enhances both offensive and defensive naval operations. Additionally, it is capable of a broad range of missions, such as anti-submarine warfare and intelligence gathering, in various maritime environments. The submarine also incorporates indigenous systems like the air-conditioning plant, internal communication network, and Ku-Band SATCOM system.
- Interpol has launched its first-ever “Silver Notice” to trace assets laundered across international borders, marking a significant step in global efforts to recover criminally obtained assets. The pilot project, involving 52 countries including India, is scheduled to run until November 2025. It was initiated following Italy’s request to locate assets linked to a senior mafia member. The Silver Notice is part of Interpol’s color-coded alerts system and targets assets related to crimes such as fraud, corruption, drug trafficking, and environmental violations. Participating nations can request information on laundered assets, including properties, vehicles, financial accounts, and businesses, with the possibility of legal actions like asset seizure. India’s involvement in the project offers the potential to address financial crimes and recover illicitly transferred assets, particularly with regard to fugitive economic offenders and offshore black money transfers.
- Indonesia has officially joined BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) as its 11th member, with the announcement made by Brazil, which holds the BRICS presidency in 2025. BRICS is a coalition of emerging economies that focuses on three main pillars: political and security cooperation, economic and financial cooperation, and cultural and people-to-people cooperation. The group aims to promote global stability, enhance economic resilience, and foster mutual understanding among nations. Indonesia’s membership follows the recent expansion of BRICS, which included Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE in 2023. BRICS was originally formed in 2009, with South Africa joining in 2010, and it continues to play a significant role in shaping global economic and political dynamics. BRICS contributes 24% of global GDP and over 16% of global trade, advocating for a multipolar world order and South-South cooperation. It also works to reduce dependency on Western financial systems through initiatives like the New Development Bank (NDB) and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA).
- Devajit Saikia and Prabhtej Singh Bhatia were elected secretary and treasurer, respectively
- Kerala’s maternal mortality ratio (MMR), once the lowest in the country at 19 per one lakh live births, is now increasing due to a decline in childbirths, not an actual spike in maternal deaths. With near 100% institutional deliveries, the State Health Department’s estimates put the MMR at 29, while the number of live births has plummeted from an average of 5-5.5 lakh annually to 3,93,231, pushing the MMR up due to a smaller denominator, with the decline in fertility levels and changing demographics having a significant impact on the State’s social fabric.
- Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) has achieved a significant milestone ahead of Aero India 2025 by successfully conducting the engine ground run of the Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) – Warrior, a full-scale demonstrator. This demonstrates the synergy between HAL’s R&D centres, with contributions from the Aircraft Research & Design Centre, Systems and Laboratory Research and Development Centre, and Aero Engine Research and Development Centre . The CATS programme involves the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas as the mother-ship platform, along with components like the Hunter, Alpha, and Warrior, which can inflict strikes deep inside enemy territory. The prototype aircraft is set to be unveiled at Aero India 2025, marking a significant step towards operational readiness
- The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has launched its first fleet of air-conditioned electric buses on a trial basis, with five buses supplied by OHM Global Mobility, a subsidiary of Ashok Leyland, deployed on the route between Kempegowda bus station and Kadugodi. The BMTC aims to replace its aging Volvo buses with these eco-friendly buses, which will operate under a gross cost contract model at ₹65.8 per kilometre. The full fleet of 320 buses is expected to be delivered by March 2025, and will feature low floors, retractable ramps, and integrated headrests, with passengers praising the comfort and design of the new buses, although some have suggested reducing the fare since they are electric buses
- The Gangasagar Mela, held at the confluence of the Ganga with the Bay of Bengal in West Bengal, has announced several initiatives to enhance the pilgrimage experience, including a certificate for participating pilgrims in three languages through the Bandhan initiative. Other initiatives include e-Anushandhan for accessing facilities and e-Parichay, a QR code-enabled identity band to prevent missing people. As of now, around 42 lakh pilgrims have visited the island, with hopes to surpass the record of one crore set in 2023. To ensure a smooth experience, elaborate arrangements have been made for transportation, including 2,500 buses, 21 jetties, and 120 launches, along with 13,000 policemen for safety and security. The mela also features a ‘Ganga Aarti’ ceremony from January 11 to 13, similar to the one held in Varanasi. This year’s event is particularly significant, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee pushing for “national mela” status, highlighting the contrast with the Union government’s support for the Kumbh Mela
- India and the US are set to jointly manufacture sonobuoys, a crucial technology for detecting submarines underwater, with the final assembly taking place in India and an operational production line expected to be ready by 2027. The sonobuoys will be co-produced by US-based Ultra Maritime and Indian defence public sector undertaking Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) in Vishakhapatnam, meeting US Navy standards and aligning with the ‘Make in India’ principles. These sonobuoys will be interchangeable and interoperable between the US Navy, Indian Navy, and allied naval platforms like P-8, MH-60R, and MQ-9B Sea Guardian aircraft. The partnership aims to enhance undersea domain awareness for the Indian Navy, allowing for tracking of submarines in deep seas and oceans, and strengthen cooperation within the Quad grouping (India, US, Japan, and Australia)
- China’s Shi Yuqi, the World No. 1, claimed the Malaysia Open men’s singles badminton title, while South Korea’s An Se-young, also the World No. 1, successfully defended her women’s singles crown
- The vibrant Boda Tyohar festival, the largest annual celebration for the Hatti tribes of the Trans-Giri region in Himachal Pradesh, kicked off recently with much enthusiasm and traditional fervour.
- Over 30 dermatologists have proposed renaming Trichophyton indotineae, a fungus causing skin infections, arguing that despite being named after India, it has been reported in over 40 countries with no confirmation of India being its country of origin. The fungus, which causes difficult-to-treat skin infections, was named after India in 2020 based on two isolates from India and Nepal, but its widespread presence globally, including its documentation in over 40 countries, has led to the proposal for a name change. Trichophyton indotineae belongs to the dermatophyte group, causing inflammatory and itchy dermatophytosis affecting various body parts, and is resistant to first-line antifungal agents, making treatment challenging.
- A rare and unique carnivorous plant ‘Utricularia’ has been found in Rajasthan’s Keoladeo National Park in large numbers this season.
- State-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL) has successfully commissioned the first two units of the 6×170 MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project (PHEP-II) in Bhutan. Located in the Wangdue Phodrang district on the right bank of the Punatsangchhu River, PHEP-II is a 1 GW run-of-the-river hydroelectric facility developed by the Punatsangchhu II Hydroelectric Project Authority under an Inter-Government Agreement (IGA) between Bhutan and India. The project features a 91m-high, 223.8m-long concrete gravity dam, an 877.46m-long diversion tunnel with a discharge capacity of 1,118 cubic meters per second, and a powerhouse equipped with six 170 MW Francis turbines. Once fully operational, the project is expected to generate 4,357 million units of electricity annually. Funded by the Government of India through a 30% grant and a 70% loan at 10% annual interest, the project will export all surplus power to India, enhancing regional energy cooperation.
- India recently joined the UN Committee of Experts on Big Data and Data Science for Official Statistics (UN-CEBD), a body established in 2014 to explore the potential and challenges of Big Data in monitoring and reporting sustainable development goals (SDGs). Initially chaired by Australia, UN-CEBD operates under a governance structure comprising an Advisory Board, which provides strategic direction, and a Bureau, responsible for daily operations. Its mandate includes providing global coordination and vision for using Big Data in official statistics, promoting cross-border data utilization, capacity building, and training, and fostering communication for policy applications, particularly in monitoring the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It also focuses on addressing challenges, leveraging precedents, and building public trust in Big Data’s application to official statistics.
- Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed livestock such as cattle, swine, sheep, goats, and other ruminants, but not horses, dogs, or cats. The disease is caused by an aphthovirus from the Picornaviridae family and has significant economic consequences, as it disrupts livestock production and international trade in animals and animal products. FMD is not a human health or food safety concern and is unrelated to the common childhood illness, hand, foot, and mouth disease. It is estimated that FMD circulates in 77% of the global livestock population, particularly in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and parts of South America, with seven strains (A, O, C, SAT1, SAT2, SAT3, and Asia1) endemic in different regions. Transmission occurs through excretions and secretions, with infected animals releasing large amounts of aerosolized virus that can spread via respiratory or oral routes. Though rarely fatal in adults, it causes high mortality in young animals, and symptoms include fever, blister-like sores, extreme lameness, and a drop in milk production. While vaccines are available, they must match the specific virus strain, and immunity to one type does not protect against others. Recently, Germany reported its first FMD outbreak in nearly 40 years, affecting water buffalo near Berlin.
- At an event held at NIT Warangal, the indigenous know-how of silver nanowire-based conductive ink technology was transferred to two startups. Developed under a project funded by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, this technology promises to reduce India’s dependency on foreign sources while tapping into the rapidly growing demand for advanced electronic materials. Silver nanowire-based conductive ink is versatile, used in flexible electronics such as foldable devices, touchscreen displays, and computer keyboards, as well as wearable devices, sensors, solar panels, display technologies, RFID tags, and windshield defrosters. The global market for this ink and adhesive is expected to exceed $16.87 billion by 2032, driven by robust demand across sectors like electronics, semiconductors, solar photovoltaics, and RFID. Currently, India imports conductive ink worth approximately $15.72 million annually from countries including the USA, China, the Netherlands, the UK, and Taiwan.
- The fourth edition of Project ‘Veer Gatha 4.0’, launched as part of the Republic Day celebrations, has received an overwhelming nationwide response. Initially launched in 2021 during ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to mark India’s 75th year of Independence, the project aims to raise awareness about the gallantry awardees’ acts of bravery and their inspiring life stories, fostering patriotism and civic values among students. A collaborative initiative by the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Education, the project has grown from its first edition to the fourth, expanding its reach across the country. In Veer Gatha 4.0, students were provided with thought-provoking topics for essay and paragraph writing, encouraging them to focus on Gallantry Award recipients and delve into the lives of notable freedom fighters like Rani Laxmibai, the 1857 First War of Independence, and the role of Tribal Uprisings in India’s struggle for freedom.
