News In Short: 29 August 2024

Guru Padmasambhava

About Guru Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche):

• Guru Padmasambhav: He was a revered figure from the eighth century in ancient India, often regarded as the second Buddha.
• Significance: He is credited with spreading Buddha Dhamma across the Himalayan region and is a pivotal figure in Tibetan Buddhism, especially within the Nyingma school.
• Meaning of his Name: His name means “Lotus-Born,” reflecting his legendary birth from a lotus flower in a lake in Oddiyana.
• Vajrayana Buddhism: He taught Vajrayana Buddhism, emphasizing esoteric practices such as mantras, mudras, and visualizations as paths to enlightenment.

Leptospirosis

About Leptospirosis: 

• Leptospirosis, also known as “rat fever”, is caused by a type of bacteria in the urine of animal carriers, particularly rats.
• Causal Agent: Caused by the Leptospira bacteria, which is primarily found in the urine of infected animals.
  • The carriers of the disease can be either wild or domestic animals, including rodents, cattle, pigs, and dogs.
• Symptoms: Range from fever, chills, headache to severe conditions affecting the liver, kidneys, lungs, and brain. 
  • Some cases may have no symptoms at all.
• Transmission: The disease spreads through contact with the urine of infected animals or contaminated soil and water. 
  • Individuals with cuts or abrasions on their skin are at increased risk.
• Treatment: It can be treated with antibiotics.

Agriculture Infrastructure Fund

About Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF):

• AIF is a financing facility launched in July 2020.
• It aims to provide all-around financial support to the farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, farmer groups like FPOs, SHGs etc. to create post-harvest management infrastructure.
• It provides support of 3% interest subvention, 
• Credit guarantee support through Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) scheme for loan of up to Rs. 2 crore.
• Duration of AIF: 7 years which also includes a moratorium period of up to 2 years

Initiatives to Expand the Scope of AIF:

• Viable Farming Assets: Expands eligibility for projects aimed at building community farming assets.
• Integrated Processing Projects: Includes integrated primary & secondary processing projects under AIF. 
  • Standalone secondary projects are covered by MoFPI schemes.
• PM KUSUM Component-A: Converges with AIF to support sustainable clean energy and agricultural infrastructure for farmers and local bodies.
• NABSanrakshan: Extends AIF credit guarantee coverage for FPOs through NABSanrakshan Trustee Company Pvt. Ltd., to boost financial security and investment.

Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary

About the Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Location: Assam, India.
• Establishment: Officially established in 1997, though the area was originally designated in 1881.
• Flora: Dominated by hollong trees in the upper canopy, nahar trees in the middle, and evergreen shrubs and herbs in the lower layers.
• Fauna: Home to India’s only ape species, the hoolock gibbons, and the Bengal slow loris, the region’s only nocturnal primate.

About Gibbons: 

• Gibbon are species of small apes found in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. 
• Species in India: India has two species: the eastern hoolock gibbon (Hoolock leuconedys) and the western hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock).
• Threats: All gibbon species, including hoolock gibbons, face high extinction risks due to deforestation and habitat loss caused by infrastructure projects.
• Conservation Status: 
  • Both species are listed on Schedule 1 of the Indian (Wildlife) Protection Act 1972. 
  • IUCN Red List
    • Western Hoolock Gibbon: Endangered
    • Eastern Hoolock Gibbon: Vulnerable

INS Arighat

About INS Arighat:

• It is India’s second indigenously built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN).
• India’s first nuclear submarine, INS Arihant, commissioned in 2018.
  • It was constructed at the Indian Navy’s Ship Building Centre (SBC) in Visakhapatnam.
• It represents a critical component of India’s nuclear triad, enabling the nation to launch nuclear missiles from land, air, and sea.
• Key Features:
  • It is a 6,000-tonne submarine, powered by a pressurized water reactor.
  • It can achieve a maximum speed of 12–15 knots (22–28 km/h) when on surface and 24 knots (44 km/h) when submerged.
  • It can carry up to four nuclear-capable K-4 SLBMs (Submarine Launched ballistic Missile) with a range of over 3500 kilometers or twelve conventional warhead K-15 SLBMs with a range of about 750 kilometers.
  • It also carries torpedoes and mines.
  • Additional safety measures include two standby auxiliary engines and a retractable thruster for emergency power and mobility.

Mullaperiyar Dam

About Mullaperiyar Dam:

• Location: It is a masonry gravity dam situated on the Periyar River at the confluence with the Mullayar River, in Thekkady, Idukki district, Kerala.
  • It is situated  at an elevation of 881 meters above sea level on the Cardamom Hills of the Western Ghats.
• Construction: Built in 1895. 
  • The dam is made of limestone and “Surkhi” (burnt brick powder, sugar, and calcium oxide).
• Purpose: The dam was constructed to divert the west-flowing Periyar River’s waters eastward to the dry regions of Theni, Madurai, Sivaganga, and Ramanathapuram districts in Tamil Nadu.
• Periyar National Park: The reservoir around the dam is home to the Periyar National Park, a protected wildlife area.
• Operational Control: Although located in Kerala, the dam is operated and maintained by Tamil Nadu.