Published on: October 7, 2024
Snippets : 7 OCTBER 2024
Snippets : 7 OCTBER 2024
- A team of history and archaeology scholars and students from the University of Mysore has initiated excavations at megalithic burial sites in Doddalathur village, located in the Chamarajanagar district, in collaboration with the Mythic Society, Bengaluru. It originally contained over 1,000 burials corresponding to the Iron Age (1200 BCE to 300 CE). The burials, characterized by circles of large boulders, reflect the megalithic culture of the time. While many burials have been lost due to agricultural expansion and land development, a significant number remain intact, offering potential for further research. The excavation aims to illuminate the megalithic-Iron Age culture of southern Karnataka and provide field training for archaeology students. The excavations began on October 3, 2024, and will continue for approximately two months, following earlier excavations at the Budipadaga site.
- Water conservationists warn that Bengaluru is on the brink of an unprecedented water crisis, potentially leading to “zero water days” in the near future. They advocate for “communitisation,” emphasizing active community involvement in social welfare initiatives as a crucial strategy to address the city’s water issues. Bengaluru once had around 400 lakes, many of which have vanished due to unchecked urban growth, leading to a heightened reliance on external water sources.
- The Madhya Pradesh cabinet recently approved the formation of a panel to develop a memorial and garden dedicated to Gond queen Rani Durgavati for Rs 100 crore. Rani Durgavati (1524-2024) was the descendant of the famous Chandela dynasty of Mahoba and the queen of the Gond kingdom of Garha-Katanga. In 1542, she was married to Dalpatshah, the eldest son of King Sangramshah of the Gond Dynasty. She is chiefly remembered for defending Gondwana against the Mughal Empire.
- Entomologists recently discovered a new species of potter wasp from Arunachal Pradesh, named Pseumenes siangensis.
- India has successfully conducted tests of the fourth-generation Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS), a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPAD) designed to neutralize low-altitude aerial threats at short ranges. Indigenously developed by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat in Hyderabad, in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and industry partners, VSHORADS features a highly optimized design for easy portability, requiring minimal personnel for operation. The missile incorporates advanced technologies, including a miniaturized Reaction Control System (RCS) and integrated avionics, and is propelled by a dual-thrust solid motor, enabling a range of up to 6 km. Its lightweight and man-portable nature allows for rapid deployment, particularly in mountainous regions close to the Line of Actual Control with China in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.
- Gururaj Karajagi to lead panel to improve education scenario in Kalyana Karnataka
- Ministry of Tourism has selected Kuthlur village in Belthangady taluk as `Best Tourism Village’ in adventure Tourism category. The ministry organises best tourism villages competition to acknowledge a village that best exemplifies a tourism destination which preserves cultural and natural assets, promotes community-based values and lifestyle and has a clear commitment to sustainability in all its aspects – economic, social, and environmental.
- The Union government has reinstated the recruitment of railway officers through the Civil Services Examination (CSE) and Engineering Services Examination (ESE) conducted by the UPSC, reversing the 2019 policy that exclusively recruited officers for the Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS) via CSE. This decision follows four years of confusion regarding railway officer appointments and challenges in sourcing suitable technical manpower, coming shortly after Satish Kumar assumed the role of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Railway Board. Key changes include the removal of the previous cap on IRMS officer intake, which was limited to 150 per year, and the introduction of recruitment for various railway departments under the IRMS banner through both CSE and ESE. While two batches of railway officers trained through CSE are awaiting field postings, the previous discontinuation of ESE recruitment has led to increased vacancies in technical categories, filled by promotee or subordinate officers. The government had approved the unification of eight Group-A services into IRMS in December 2019, with various committees recommending this reform. The IRMS aims to allow recruitment of both engineers and non-engineers as needed, ensuring equal career progression. The Ministry of Telecommunications notified the ESE-2025 Rules on September 18, 2024, with the application submission deadline set for October 8, 2024, and has requested UPSC to include railway recruitment in the ESE-2025 notification.
- The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has released the 7th issue of “EnviStats India 2024: Environment Accounts,” compiled according to the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) Framework, which is an international standard for environmental economic accounts. This edition introduces Ocean Accounts to compile ocean-related data and assess ocean condition parameters. It includes Physical Supply and Use Tables for Energy, utilizing data from various ministries and agencies, and presents updated Soil Nutrient Index values based on Soil Health Cards for 2023-24. Additionally, the report provides information on India’s taxonomic faunal and floral diversity, the status of Leopard and Snow Leopard, and genetic conservation efforts, along with compiled species richness from the IUCN Red List of Threatened species. Notably, there has been a 72% increase in the number and a 16% increase in the area of total Protected Areas from 2000 to 2023, and an 8% increase in mangrove cover from 2013 to 2021. The Ministry encourages public input and suggestions for future improvements to the publication.
- The GRAMA (Game Theory, Random Processes, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning for Agriculture) project aims to enhance crop planning and agri-input procurement, helping farmers make informed choices to increase their revenues. Supported by NABARD and led by Y Narahari, an honorary professor at IISc’s Department of Computer Science and Automation, the project involves collaboration with experts from the University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK. Its objectives include maximizing farmers’ revenue through effective crop planning, procurement, and price prediction, utilizing existing data on soil types, crop varieties, demand, yield, historical pricing, and sociocultural factors. Researchers project a potential 60% increase in farmers’ income with optimal crop combinations, though challenges such as farmers’ resistance to change and the need for proper planning and crop diversification have been identified. GRAMA’s revenue model indicates that even a 50% compliance with recommended practices could yield a 10% revenue increase. Pilot projects at Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in Anekal and Rajaghatta have shown initial enthusiasm among farmers, though further convincing is required. A mobile app developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) aims to test the procurement mechanism, providing recommendations on seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides based on farmers’ requirements, weather, soil conditions, and cost considerations.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has unveiled the Global Strategic Preparedness, Readiness, and Response Plan (SPRP) to combat dengue and other Aedes-borne arboviruses, aiming to reduce the burden of disease and deaths from dengue, Zika, and chikungunya while fostering a coordinated global response. The plan includes key components such as establishing leadership for outbreak response, developing tools for early detection through collaborative surveillance, engaging local communities in prevention measures and mosquito control, ensuring effective clinical management with resilient health services, and promoting research for improved treatments and vaccines. Currently, approximately 4 billion people are at risk of arbovirus infections, a number expected to rise to 5 billion by 2050, with dengue cases surging to over 12.3 million reported by August 2024—nearly double the cases from 2023. Dengue is endemic in over 130 countries, severely affecting tropical and subtropical regions, and the situation in Africa is exacerbated by conflicts and natural disasters that strain health systems. Contributing factors to the spread include unplanned urbanization, poor sanitation, climate change, and international travel. The plan, which requires $55 million for health preparedness and response efforts, will be implemented over one year until September 2025. WHO calls on governments, healthcare providers, and communities to collaborate in innovative solutions and enhanced vector control strategies to combat dengue.
- The Indian Army has strengthened its air defence capabilities by acquiring 100 Akashteer air defence systems in response to increasing global security concerns. The Akashteer systems are Advanced Air Defence Control and Reporting Systems (ADCRS) designed to protect against various aerial threats, including missiles and rockets. These sophisticated, integrated systems enable rapid threat neutralization and manage all aspects of air defence by incorporating multiple radar systems, sensors, and communication technologies into a single operational framework. They provide real-time battlefield views for detecting, tracking, and engaging threats while facilitating precise coordination of air defence operations across diverse environments. The Akashteer systems have been developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
