Exercise ‘Poorvi Prahar’

Context: The Indian Army led ‘Poorvi Prahar’ being  conducted in the forward areas of Arunachal Pradesh has commenced from November 10 till 18th November 

About The Poorvi Prahar’ Exercise

• It is a tri-services (Army, Navy, Airforce) joint military exercise being led by Indian Army
• Objective: The exercise is conducted to maintain a formidable  defence posture along the Eastern frontier of India in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Participating Assets: The Exercise will by advanced fighter aircraft, reconnaissance platforms, helicopters such as the Chinook and Advanced Light Helicopter (Rudra), along with M777 Ultra-Light Howitzers
• Significance: 
  • Build Strategic Deterrence Capabilities: The exercise aims to reinforce India’s strategic deterrence capabilities in Eastern sector by executing seamless, multi-domain operations across land, air and sea.
  • Integration of Innovative Technologies: Operating with cutting-edge technologies like swarm drones and loitering munitions to enhance situational awareness allowing for precision strikes and operational flexibility.
  • Common Operating Picture (COP): It aims to develop a Common Operating Picture (COP) through joint control structures to optimize coordination between the three forces.
  • Adaptation: The forces are trained to act with greater precision, agility and coordination, making the joint forces more adaptable to the evolving nature of warfare.

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African Elephants

Context: A comprehensive study of African elephants across 475 sites in 37 countries (1964–2016) revealed savanna elephants declined by 70% and forest elephants by 90%, mainly due to poaching and habitat loss.

• The overall population dropped by 77% on average at surveyed sites.

Key Findings of the Research Published In in the journal ‘Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

• Main Threats:
  • Poaching: For ivory, primarily driven by demand in Asia, has heavily affected elephant populations.
  • Habitat loss: Agricultural expansion is the top factor in habitat loss.
• Regional Variations in Population Trends: 
  • Northern Africa: Particularly the Sahel region, faced the most drastic losses, with populations wiped out in Mali, Chad, and Nigeria.
  • Southern Africa: Showed positive growth trends at 42% of surveyed sites, particularly in Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, due to effective conservation measures.
• Population Estimate: Conservationists estimate between 415,000 and 540,000 African elephants remained as of 2016.

About African Elephant 

• Largest Terrestrial Mammal: African elephants are the largest land animals on Earth, with two main subspecies: the bush (savanna) elephant and the forest elephant.
• Differences Between Bush and Forest Elephant:
  • Bush elephants are larger, with outward-curving tusks.
  • Forest elephants are smaller, darker, and have straighter tusks that point downward.
• Key Characteristics of African Elephants: 
  • Trunk: African elephants have two “fingers” at the tip of their trunk, enhancing their ability to grip objects.
  • Skin Texture: Wrinkled skin that retains water, adapted for hot, arid climates.
  • Social Structure: Close family units led by a Matriarch.
  • Communication: Use infrasonic calls for long-distance communication, a range of vocalisations.
  • Allomothering: It is a caregiving behaviour where young female elephants assist the mother in raising her calf.
• Lifespan and Reproduction
  • Life span: 60 to 70 years
  • Gestation period: Approximately 22 months
• Habitat: Open and closed savannas, grasslands, and arid deserts.
• IUCN Status As of 2021: 
  • Savanna elephants: Endangered 
  • Forest elephants: Critically endangered.
• Ecological Importance of Elephants
  • Ecosystem Engineers: Elephants play a crucial role in maintaining habitats by dispersing seeds and supporting forest regeneration.
    • They play a critical ecological role by balancing forest and grasslands.
  • Impact on Carbon Cycle and Climate Change: Forest elephants feed on fast-growing underbrush, thinning the forest floor and promoting the growth of larger, carbon-storing trees.
  • Their activity enhances the rainforest’s capacity for carbon storage, aiding in climate change mitigation.

SVASTIK (Scientifically Validated Traditional Knowledge)

Context: CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (NIScPR) and Gurugram University jointly inaugurated the International Conference on Communication and Dissemination of Traditional Knowledge (CDTK-2024).

• The Conference aims to highlight traditional knowledge through scientific validation.

About SVASTIK

• It is a national initiative to promote and communicate scientifically validated traditional knowledge from India to society.
• Nodal Body: CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR) has been assigned as the nodal organisation to implement this national initiative.
• Disseminating Knowledge: As a part of this initiative, simplified creative content on Traditional Knowledge is being disseminated through digital platforms in 17 Indian languages via social media.

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About CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (NIScPR)

• CSIR-NIScPR came into existence in 2021.
• It serves as a think tank and resource centre for Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) policy research and communication.

BRICS offered Partner Status to Turkey

Context: The Trade Minister of Turkey in a recent interview has confirmed being offered the Partner Country Status by BRICS.

‘Partner Country Status’ by BRICS

• The category was introduced by BRICS members by the “Kazan Declaration,” at the 16th BRICS Summit.
• This status is the transition process in the organisational structure of BRICS that will guide the bloc’s future expansion.
• Partner countries invited: 13 nations were invited in the category of “partner states” by BRICS including,
  • Turkey, Indonesia, Algeria, Belarus, Cuba, Bolivia, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Vietnam, Nigeria, and Uganda. 

About BRICS

• BRICS is an acronym representing five of the world’s leading emerging economies ie,  Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. 
• Coined by: The term BRIC was first coined by British economist Jim O’Neill in 2001 to describe the economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
• Summit: The grouping was formalised at the 2006 BRIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting 
  • Russia hosted the first official BRIC summit in Yekaterinburg, Russia in June 2009
• Membership: BRICS is a group of  9 members comprising,
  • Original 4 (Brazil, Russia, India, China) and Expansion (South Africa (2010), Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates (2024).
• Economic Representation: With the expanded group, BRICS would represent 45% of the world’s population and economies worth $28.5 trillion (28% of global GDP).

25th Meeting of South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council (SATRC-25)

Context: The 25th Meeting of the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council (SATRC-25) took place in New Delhi, India, from November 11-13, 2024. 

More on the news

• Hosted by:  The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in partnership with the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT).
• Call to Action: The meeting concluded with a unified call for SATRC regulators to exchange best practices and collaborate on addressing challenges in emerging technologies.

About SATRC

• It is an initiative under Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT). 
• Formation: Established in 1997 by APT and ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
• Mission: It promotes regional cooperation and harmonized regulations across South Asia’s telecommunications sector.
• Member Countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
• Focus Areas: Digital inclusiveness, regulatory innovation, policy alignment, and reducing digital divides in South Asia.

Key Objectives and Themes

• Theme: “Accelerating Telecommunication and ICT Development for Growth and Inclusiveness,” 
  • Its discussions were centered on digital transformation to support economic and social progress in South Asia.
• Primary Goal: To strengthen collaboration, address regulatory challenges, and promote an inclusive digital ecosystem across South Asia.

‘Crinum Andhricum’

Context: Botanists have recently discovered a new species of flowering plant, named Crinum andhricum, in the Eastern Ghats region of Andhra Pradesh.

More on the news

• Location: Spotted in Sapparla Hills, Alluri Sitarama Raju district, Andhra Pradesh, at an elevation of 1,141 meters.

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About Crinum andhricum

• It is a Waxy white flowers bloom from April to June.
• Stem and Leaves:
  • Grows on a tall stem, reaching up to 100 cm.
  • Leaves are large, elliptic, with smooth and entire margins, adding to its distinct look.
• Habitat: Adapted to dry, rocky crevices typical of the Eastern Ghats.
• Unique Features and Classification
  • Family and Genus: Part of the Amaryllidaceae family, under the Crinum genus.
  • Distinct Traits:
    • Wider, oblanceolate perianth lobes (outer parts of the flower).
    • Clustered flowers, ranging from 12 to 38 flowers per group.
    • Pedicelled flowers (stalk-like structure), making it unique among similar species.
• Naming and Endemism
  • Name Origin: Named Crinum andhricum in honor of Andhra Pradesh, the state of its discovery.
    • Endemic Nature: This addition brings the total Crinum species in India to 16, with several species being unique to the region.
• Conservation Status and Threats
  • Current Distribution: Limited to Sapparla Hills, with about 1,000 mature plants observed.
  • Threats: Faces potential risks from human activities such as tourism, forest fires, and grazing.
  • Conservation Status: Provisionally classified as ‘Data Deficient’ under IUCN guidelines due to its limited distribution and environmental threats.
• Preservation 
  • Specimen Storage: Preserved at the Central National Herbarium and Deccan Regional Centre of the Botanical Survey of India for further studies.

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