Published on: February 6, 2025
Snippets : 6 FEBRUARY 2025
Snippets : 6 FEBRUARY 2025
- The Karnataka Forest Department has developed “KP Tracker,” an indigenous radio collar designed for monitoring problem elephants. This innovation significantly reduces costs (Rs 1.8 lakh vs. Rs 6.5 lakh for imported collars) and weight (7.5 kg vs. 16.5 kg), enhancing elephant comfort. Locally produced, it enables faster delivery (15-20 days) compared to the 10-month wait for imported collars, with easy repair and replacement improving efficiency. KP Tracker facilitates real-time data collection, sending timely alerts to gram panchayats and villages to prevent conflicts and aid conservation efforts. It employs GSM technology, an upgrade from older radio frequency systems, with plans to introduce satellite-based collars within two years. The initiative is expanding to monitor tigers and leopards, particularly the rising leopard population. Additionally, rigorous testing ensures the welfare and comfort of animals wearing these trackers.
- The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) has officially become a treaty-based inter-governmental international organization, effective from 23rd January 2025. Five countries, namely Nicaragua, Eswatini, India, Somalia, and Liberia, have ratified the Framework Agreement. The IBCA was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 9th April 2023, and the Union Cabinet approved its establishment with headquarters in India on 29th February 2024. The primary objective of the IBCA is to conserve seven big cats—Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma—through fostering collaboration and synergy among stakeholders. The alliance is open to all UN countries, range countries, and non-range countries interested in supporting big cat conservation. Established by the Government of India through the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the IBCA aims to disseminate best practices, maintain a central repository of technical know-how and funds, strengthen intergovernmental platforms, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on big cats.
- The Association of People with Disability (APD), a Bengaluru-based NGO, has developed YesToAccess, India’s first AI-powered mobile app to evaluate public spaces for accessibility. Users can simply point their phone’s camera at a building, and the AI assesses key features like ramps, railings, accessible toilets, tactile pathways, and navigation signage. The app assigns an accessibility rating based on 35 parameters and displays it on a public map, enabling users to identify barrier-free spaces. Traditionally, persons with disabilities relied on vague Google Reviews, but YesToAccess bridges this gap by providing precise details such as doorway width and object identification through AI-powered audits. By allowing users to contribute data, the app improves accuracy over time and empowers individuals to build an inclusive India. Recognizing its potential, the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities is launching a nationwide accessibility audit using YesToAccess on February 7 in Prayagraj. With its AI-driven assessments and community participation, YesToAccess is revolutionizing accessibility and paving the way for a more inclusive nation.
- Astronomers have recently discovered a gigantic black hole named Gaia BH3 hiding close to the earth, the third of its kind using the European Space Agency’s Gaia telescope.
- A joint report by UNICEF-WHO Collaborating Centre at NIMHANS highlights that road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among children (5-19 years) in India, with children accounting for 10% of all road crash fatalities and nearly 45 deaths daily. The report recommends a dedicated budget for child road safety, child occupant safety ratings for new cars, road safety audits around schools, and strengthening emergency care infrastructure. It calls for behavioral change campaigns, mandatory seatbelt and helmet use, safe-school zones by NHAI, and affordable public transport for children. NIMHANS is taking initiatives such as establishing a Level-1 polytrauma center in North Bengaluru and conducting a pilot study with KIMS, Hubballi, to enhance polytrauma care.
- The Indian Army has renamed Fort William in Kolkata, the headquarters of the Eastern Army Command, as Vijay Durg as part of ongoing efforts to eliminate colonial-era influences. Additionally, Kitchener House has been renamed Manekshaw House, and St. George’s Gate is now Shivaji Gate. Wing Commander Himanshu Tiwari, Defence PRO in Kolkata, stated that the decision was made in mid-December, and internal communications have since adopted the new names, though an official announcement is pending. Originally built by the British in 1781 and named after King William III of England, Fort William’s new name, Vijay Durg, is inspired by the historic fort on the Sindhudurg coast in Maharashtra, which served as a key naval base for the Marathas under Chhatrapati Shivaji. This renaming aligns with recent initiatives to remove colonial vestiges and “Indianise” military traditions, an effort championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In March 2022, during a military leadership address in Gujarat, Modi emphasized the need to move away from outdated legacy systems, advocating for greater indigenisation in defence, doctrines, and customs to foster a mindset free from colonial influence.
