Bangus Valley

Context: The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced new rules to promote Bangus Valley as an ecotourism destination. 

Reason for New Rules

• Unplanned and uncontrolled growth in traditional tourist spots like Pahalgam, Gulmarg, and Sonamarg.
  • The new rule aims to prevent uncontrolled construction like in other popular tourist spots 

About Bangus Valley

• Bangus Valley is in Kupwara district, about 100 km from Srinagar.
• The valley is surrounded by Rajwar and Mawar in the east, Shamasbury and Dajlungun Mountains in the west and Chowkibal and Karnah Guli in the north
• It lies west of Handwara town and is part of the Pir Panjal range. 
• known for:  its stunning landscapes, snow-covered mountains, lush green forests, and clear streams.
• It has two bowl-shaped valleys at an altitude of 10,000 feet.
• The area was once an infiltration route for militants but is now a potential tourist destination.
• Other LoC tourist spots include Gurez, Machil, and Keran.
• Lokut Bangus (Small Bangus): A smaller valley lies on the north-eastern side of the main valley.
• Rivers: Bangus Valley has multiple small streams with 14 tributaries, including: Roshan Kul, Tillwan Kul, and Douda Kul
  • These streams form the Kamil River, which later merges with the Lolab stream, creating the Pohru River.

AI Kosha

Context: AI Kosha, a platform with datasets, has been launched by the Union government recently.

• It is being touted as a home for non-personal data that will assist with developing Artificial Intelligence models and tools. 

About AI Kosha

• The platform contains 316 datasets, the bulk of these being programmes to help in creating or validating language translation tools for Indian languages.
• Inclusion: The datasets include submissions from Telangana’s own open data initiative, such as health data, 2011 Census data; satellite imagery captured by Indian satellites; meteorological and pollution data etc.
• Part off: AI Kosha is part of The IndiaAI Datasets Platform, a key pillar of the IndiaAI Mission.
  • Under the Compute Capacity pillar, startups and academia would be able to use pooled access to Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), which are needed to train and run AI models.
• GPUs: 14,000 GPUs had been commissioned for shared access, compared to around 10,000 and more will be added quarterly. 

Other Government Datasets Initiative

• Foundational AI model: The government alo provided an update on the government-supported effort to create a homegrown foundational AI model.
• Open Governance Data platform (data.gov.in): It currently hosts over 12,000 datasets provided by different government agencies across India.
  • Chief Data Officers has been designated across different Ministries and departments to provide datasets that can be used by researchers, companies, and other parts of the government.
• Committee for sharing of non personal data 2018: It was led by Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan exploring the possibility for firms to provide access to non-personal data to startups and government  to help new entrants and assist government policy.

New Credit Assessment Model for MSMEs

Context: The Union Finance Minister launched a New Credit Assessment Model for MSMEs during a post-budget interaction in Visakhapatnam. 

• This was announced in the Union Budget 2024-25, the model enables public sector banks (PSBs) to develop in-house credit assessment capabilities instead of relying on external evaluations.
• The model leverages digitally fetched and verifiable data to automate MSME loan appraisals. 
• It will use digital footprints, including PAN authentication, GST data, bank statement analysis, income tax returns (ITR), fraud checks, and credit bureau reports, to make data-driven lending decisions.

Key Benefits for MSMEs

• Online application submission from anywhere, reducing paperwork and branch visits.
• Instant in-principle loan sanction through a seamless, end-to-end digital process.
• Objective credit decisions based on transactional behavior and credit history rather than just assets or turnover.
• Faster loan approvals with reduced turnaround time (TAT).
• No physical collateral required for loans covered under CGTMSE (Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises).

Fatigue-Resistant Multi-Principal Element Alloys (MPEAs) Developed

Context: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore have made significant advancements in designing fatigue-resistant multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs). 

• This research was supported by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, a statutory body under the Government of India.

What is MPEAs? 

• MPEAs are a novel class of materials composed of multiple principal elements rather than just one or two.
• They have high strength, enhanced corrosion resistance, and exceptional thermal stability.
• Traditionally, it is believed that increasing strength through compositional modifications or the addition of brittle phases adversely affects fatigue life.
  • Fatigue life refers to the total number of cycles a material can withstand before it fails due to repeated cyclic loading. It is a crucial factor in designing materials.

Applications of MPEAs

• Aerospace & Defense: High-performance structural materials for extreme conditions.
• Nuclear & Energy Sectors: Radiation-resistant and high-temperature-resistant components.
• Biomedical Implants: Corrosion-resistant and biocompatible alloys for medical use.
• Automobile & Marine: Strong, wear-resistant materials for lightweight, high-strength components.

Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been awarded with the prestigious Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados.

• The award recognizes PM Modi’s strategic leadership and his significant contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley had announced the decision to confer the award during a meeting with PM Modi in Guyana on November 20, 2024.

About the Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados

• The Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados is one of the highest honors bestowed by the Government of Barbados. 
• It is awarded to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the nation, the Caribbean region, or the global community. 
• The award recognizes outstanding leadership, service, and efforts that align with Barbados’ values and aspirations.

About Barbados

• Barbados is an island nation located in the Caribbean region of North America.
• Capital of Barbados is Bridgetown, which is also the largest city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Barbados gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1966, and remains a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Scheme for Cooperative Sugar Mills to Convert to Multi-Feedstock Ethanol Plants

Context: The  Department of Food & Public Distribution, has introduced a new scheme to support Cooperative Sugar Mills (CSMs) by enabling them to convert their existing sugarcane-based ethanol plants into multi-feedstock units.

Key Objectives of the Scheme

• Year-Round Ethanol Production: Sugarcane crushing is limited to 4-5 months annually, reducing operational efficiency.
  • The conversion allows CSMs to use alternative feedstocks like maize and damaged food grains (DFG) during off-seasons, ensuring continuous operations.
• Increased Financial Viability: Multi-feedstock plants will improve efficiency and productivity of sugar mills, leading to better financial outcomes for CSMs.
• Support for Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme: The initiative aligns with India’s goal of achieving 20% ethanol blending with petrol by 2025.

Financial Support Under the Scheme

• Interest Subvention: The government will provide an interest subvention of 6% per annum or 50% of the interest rate charged by banks/financial institutions, whichever is lower.
  • This support will be available for five years, including a one-year moratorium.
• Loan Facilitation: Loans extended by banks/financial institutions for the conversion will be eligible for the interest subvention.

Multi-Feedstock Ethanol Units

• Multi-feedstock ethanol units are facilities capable of producing ethanol from multiple types of raw materials, unlike traditional ethanol plants that rely on a single feedstock (e.g., sugarcane). 
• These units enhance flexibility, efficiency, and sustainability in ethanol production.

Colossal A23a Iceberg Stuck

Context: Iceberg, A23a, has run aground about 70 km from South Georgia island.

About A23a Iceberg

• It is the world’s biggest iceberg.
• The iceberg calved from the Antarctic shelf in 1986 and remained stuck for over 30 years.
• It broke from the Filchner Ice Shelf (Antarctica) in 1986 and remained stuck in the Weddell Sea, started drifting north in 2020 and has been closely monitored since then.

South Georgia island

• This island is situated in the South Atlantic Ocean.
• It is part of British overseas territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
• Its terrain is mountainous.
  • Highest peak: Mount Paget
• There is no permanent human resident. 
• Known as: Antarctic oasis, or “the Galapagos of the Pole” due to high numbers of penguins and seals.

Shift From Democracy To ‘Emocracy’

Context: Indian Vice-President emphasized the need for a national debate on the shift from democracy to ‘Emocracy.’

What is emocracy?

• Emocracy is a term used to describe a shift in governance where emotions play a dominant role in shaping policies, debates, and public opinion. 
• Unlike democracy, which is based on reasoned decision-making and constitutional principles, emocracy thrives on emotional appeal, often leading to populism and impulsive policy choices.
• The Impact of Emocracy
  • Emotions Over Rationality
    • Political decisions are increasingly influenced by emotions rather than logic and facts.
    • Leaders use emotional rhetoric to gain public support, sometimes at the cost of sound governance.
  • Manipulation of Public Sentiment
    • Politicians and media often exploit emotions such as fear, anger, and hope to shape narratives.
    • Emotional politics can mislead the public, making them more vulnerable to manipulation.
  • Diminishing Social Exchange
    • The digital age has reduced face-to-face interactions, limiting exposure to diverse viewpoints.
    • Algorithms on social media reinforce existing biases, creating echo chambers.

Mount Erebus

Context: Scientists have discovered thriving microbial life in Mount Erebus’s ice caves, reshaping our understanding of survival in extreme environments.

• Location: Mount Erebus is the southernmost active volcano on Earth, standing at 12,448 feet (3,794 meters) on Ross Island, off the coast of Antarctica in the Ross Sea.
• About: It is a glaciated intraplate stratovolcano, part of the Ring of Fire that encircles the Pacific Ocean basin.
• Geographical Characteristics: 
  • It is the Second tallest volcano in Antarctica, after Mount Sidley
  • Permanent Lava Lake and Ice Caves: Contains a permanent lava lake and an intricate network of ice caves formed by geothermal heat.
    • This geothermal energy warms the surrounding rock and melts ice, creating warm ice caves beneath the surface.
  • Active Lava Lake: One of the few volcanoes in the world with an active lava lake.
  • Alkalic Lava Composition: The lava is alkalic in composition, which is commonly found in rift volcanoes.
  • Extreme Temperature Variation In underground habitat: Ice caves reach 77°F (25°C) despite Antarctic winters of -100°F (-73°C).
  • Ice Fumaroles: Ice towers that form around gases escaping from surface vents
• Discovery & Naming
  • Discovered in 1841 by Sir James Clark Ross, a British explorer.
  • Named after his ship, HMS Erebus.
• Volcanic Activity: Continuously active since 1972 with Strombolian Eruptions.
• Nearby Human Presence: The McMurdo Station, the largest Antarctic settlement, is about 40 km (25 miles) away.
• Thriving Microbial Life in Total Darkness:
  • Sunlight-Independent Ecosystem: Microbes flourish without photosynthesis, using chemosynthesis instead.
  • Unique and Unknown Species: Some microbes have no known relatives, and certain DNA sequences remain unidentified.

NASA’s Interest

• NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has been using Erebus’s caves as a test site for robotic exploration technologies.
• Implications Of Extraterrestrial Life: Erebus’s caves resemble conditions on Europa (Jupiter’s moon) and Enceladus (Saturn’s moon), where life could exist beneath icy crusts. 

Associated Concepts

• Stratovolcano: A stratovolcano or composite volcano is a large, steep-sided volcano that consists of multiple layers of hardened lava, tephra, pumice, and volcanic ash. 
• Alkalic Lava: Alkalic lava contains a higher concentration of alkali metals (like sodium and potassium) and is less silica-rich than other lava types.
  • It is commonly associated with rift volcanoes, which form due to the stretching and thinning of the Earth’s crust rather than subduction.
• Chemosynthesis: A biological process where organisms generate energy by oxidizing inorganic compounds (like hydrogen and carbon monoxide) instead of relying on sunlight.
• Strombolian Eruption: A volcanic eruption with regular, moderate explosions caused by gas bubbles in magma, ejecting molten rock (volcanic bombs) that solidify before landing.

International Women’s Day

Context: The Ministry of Education has celebrated the International Women’s Day at its premises at Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi on 8th March 2025.

• The event aimed to recognize the contributions of women in the Ministry of Education and promote their well-being through an interactive session.

About International Women’s Day

• March 8 is recognized every year as International Women’s Day (IWD). 
• 2025 IWD Theme: It is ‘Accelerate Action’
  • UN Theme 2025: “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”
• The First IWD: It was held on 19 March, 1911 with over 1 million people marking it by demanding equal rights for women to work, vote and run for office.
• Roots: Its origins can be traced back to European and North American labor movements that emerged around the turn of the 20th century.
• UN Recognition: The UN officially recognize the holiday in 1975. 
  • Over 25 countries now officially recognize IWD as a public holiday.

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