Facts in News
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Bao Dhaan (Geography)
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Recently, the first consignment of ‘Bao Dhaan or Red Rice‘ was sent to the USA from Assam.
Key Points
- The red rice is iron-rich and is grown in the Brahmaputra valley of Assam, without the use of any chemical fertilizer.
- The rice variety is referred to as ‘Bao-dhaan‘, and it is red due to the presence of anthocyanin.
- It is an integral part of Assamese food.
- It has a nutty flavor.
- The red rice is usually eaten unhulled or partially hulled.
- Compared to brown and white rice, it has the highest nutritional value.
- Varieties: Thai Red Cargo rice, Bhutanese red rice, Camargue red rice, and Kerala Matta rice.
- Geographical Conditions:
- Climate: Warm and humid
- Temperature: 20°C to 35°C
- Rainfall: 100 cm
- Soil: Fertile soil. Delta and valley soils are the most suitable.
Image Courtesy: New Indian Express
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Jalyukta Shivar Yojana Project (Government Schemes)
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Recently, the Mounda tehsil in Maharashtra was turned into a water-surplus tehsil under Jalyukta Shivar Yojana Project.
Jalyukta Shivar Yojana Project
- Launched in: 2014
- Launched by: Government of Maharashtra.
- Aim: To make Maharashtra a drought-free state by 2019.
- To make 5000 villages free of water scarcity every year in regions including Marathwada and adjoining areas of Madhya Maharashtra and large parts of Vidarbha.
- The recent state government has ended this scheme in 2020.
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UV Disinfection Technology (S&T)
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Recently, CSIR- CSIO has transferred UV Disinfection technology to combat SARS-CoV-2 to some indigenous manufacturers.
- There has been increasing evidence for the airborne route of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via aerosols.
- Airborne transmission is a major risk in indoor settings.
UV Disinfection Technology
- The UV-C air duct disinfection system can be used in Air Handling Units (AHUs) like auditoriums, large conference rooms, classrooms, malls, etc. for disinfection
- Purpose: To deactivate the SARS COV-2 virus contained in an aerosol with necessary ventilation measures, necessary safety and user guidelines, and tested Bio-safety standards, etc.
- An aerosol is a suspension of small liquid droplets or solid particles in the air.
- The aerosol material exists in the liquid or solid state and is carried by air into the respiratory tract.
- Utility:
- UV-C deactivates over 99 % of viruses, bacteria, fungus, and other bioaerosols, etc., and ameliorating fungal infections.
- The UV-C is energy efficient system, improves airflow through coils, enhances indoor air quality, requires less maintenance, easy to retrofit with any existing system having AHU ducts, and has a low initial setup cost.
Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation
- It is a form of non-ionizing radiation that is emitted by the sun and artificial sources, such as tanning beds.
- UV radiation is classified into three primary types: ultraviolet A (UVA), ultraviolet B (UVB), and ultraviolet C (UVC).
- These groups are based on the measure of their wavelength, which is measured in nanometers.
- UVA:
- Wavelength: 315- 399 nm
- Absorption Level: Not absorbed by the ozone layer.
- UVB:
- Wavelength: 280-314 nm
- Absorption Level: Mostly absorbed by the ozone layer, but some do reach the Earth’s surface.
Image Courtesy: Contracting Business
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Mount Nyiragongo (Geography)
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Recently, Mount Nyiragongo in Congo sees a volcanic eruption.
Mount Nyiragongo
- It is an active stratovolcano.
- Also known as composite cones and their lower slopes are gentle.
- Most deadly volcanoes.
- The largest percentage (60%) of the Earth’s individual volcanoes
- Other examples: Mt. Fuji in Japan, Mt. Mayon in the Philippines, and Mt. Agua in Guatemala.
- Location: Inside Virunga National Park, Congo.
- Location: Albertine Rift Valley of Great Rift Valley.
- It is listed in the List of World Heritage in Danger and UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
- Apart from Mount Nyiragongo, another active volcano Mount Nyamuragira is located here.
- Here around 1/3 of the world’s wild mountain gorillas are present.
Image Courtesy: IRIS
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Bonda Tribe (Social Issues)
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The Bonda Tribes is a native tribe in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh.
Bonda tribe
- They belong to the Munda ethnic group.
- Origin: Migrated from Africa about 60,000 years ago.
- They are the first forest settlers in India.
- They are included among the 75 Primitive Tribal Groups identified by the Government of India.
- Language: Remo (belongs to the Munda branch of the Austroasiatic language family).
- It is similar to the Gutob language.
- Social Structure:
- They follow the unfree labor or Goti system, which is known as Gufam by the Bonda people.
- The dowry system is followed during marriages.
- Clothing:
- The Bondas are generally semi-clothed, the women wear thick silver neck bands.
- Bonda women have their heads shaved and adorned with two types of headbands, called turuba and lobeda.
- Both men and women wear earrings called limbi.
- Status of Women:
- The women enjoy a privileged position.
- They are the primary workers and providers of food for the community.
Image Courtesy: Journals of India
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“17+1” Initiative (IR)
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Recently, Lithuania opted for China’s 17+1 Project.
17+1 Project
- Launched in: 2012 as a 16+1 initiative.
- Become 17+ 1 with the addition of Greece.
- Launched by: China
- Objective: China launched this initiative in the Central and Eastern European Region (CEE), to inject capital, revamp old infrastructure and invest in locals.
- China considered CEE as its ‘Gateway to Europe’.
Image Courtesy: EUCNC Albania
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Viper Rover (S&T)
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NASA Rover ‘VIPER’ will search for ice, evaluate the environment on the moon in 2023.
Viper Rover
- VIPER stands for Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover.
- This rover is part of the Artemis programme.
- It is NASA’s human spaceflight program launched in 2017 to return humans to the Moon, specifically at the lunar south pole region.
- Aim: NASA will explore the dark side of the moon in search of critical water molecules and other sustaining minerals and resources.
- Instruments Onboard: Regolith and Ice Drill for Exploring New Terrains (TRIDENT) hammer drill, the Mass Spectrometer Observing Lunar Operations (MSolo) instrument, the Near-Infrared Volatiles Spectrometer System (NIRVSS), and the Neutron Spectrometer System (NSS).
Image Courtesy: NASA
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