Kabini dam

• Incessant rains in the Cauvery catchment area has resulted in the stepping up of the outflow from the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) and Kabini dam 

Kabini River:

• About: The Kabini, also known as the Kabani or Kapila River, is a significant tributary of the River Cauvery. 
• Origins: It originates in the Pakramthalam Hills of Kerala, formed by the confluence of the Panamaram River and the Mananthavady River.
• Course: The Kabini River flows eastward and joins the Kaveri River at Tirumakudalu Narasipura in Mysore district, Karnataka.
• Kabini Dam The Kabini Dam, a masonry gravity dam, is constructed across the Kabini River near Beechanahally village.
• Backwaters The backwaters of the Kabini Dam are located in Karnataka. These backwaters are abundant in wildlife, particularly in the summer when the water level recedes, creating lush grassy meadows. 
  • During this season, the Kabini River hosts India’s largest elephant community.

Maasai

• Tanzania is forcibly evicting tens of thousands of Maasai from their ancestral lands.

Maasai:

• About: The Maasai tribes are an indigenous ethnic group in East Africa. They are semi-nomadic pastoralists residing in Kenya and northern Tanzania.
• Ethnicity: The Maasai are one of the most prominent African ethnic groups, renowned for their distinct traditions, customs, and dress, as well as their proximity to many national game parks in East Africa.
• Language: The Maasai speak Maa, a language derived from the Nilo-Saharan family. They also use the official languages of Tanzania and Kenya, which are Swahili and English.
• Maasai Culture: Maasai society is firmly patriarchal in nature.
• Maasai Religion: The Maasai people are monotheistic, and their God is named Engai or Enkai.

Traditional Knowledge for Sustainable Livelihoods

• ISTIC, in collaboration with CSIR-TKDL and CSIR-IICT, is hosting the STI Conclave on “Traditional Knowledge for Sustainable Livelihoods” under the auspices of UNESCO.

Traditional Knowledge for Sustainable Livelihoods:

• Focus Areas: The Conclave addresses a range of topics, including biodiversity, traditional cultural expressions, integrative health and research, national and international policies on traditional knowledge (TK), intellectual property rights (IPR) and related issues, as well as South-South Cooperation.
• Goals: Develop expertise in digitizing and preserving traditional knowledge. Tackle issues related to intellectual property and community rights.
  • Emphasizes collaborative learning and building partnerships to overcome regional development challenges through sustainable practices based on local knowledge.
• Platform: Participants from Indonesia, the Philippines, Nepal, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malaysia, and India will exchange challenges and best practices on traditional knowledge.

ISTIC-UNESCO

• About: ISTIC is a UNESCO Category 2 Centre, hosted by the Malaysian Government since 2008. It functions as an international hub for sustainable programs and services, supporting South-South Cooperation.
• Mission: To be a premier platform for sustainable development and institutional excellence in South-South Cooperation.
• Vision: To lead globally in science, technology, and innovation (STI) and contribute to the socio-economic development of developing countries.

Global Water Tech Summit – 2024

• The Central Water Commission (CWC) has received the GEEF Global WaterTech Award for ‘Water Department of the Year.’

Global WaterTech Award:

• Recognition: This award recognizes outstanding accomplishments in the water sector, with an emphasis on innovation, technology, conservation, and sustainable development.
• Role of CWC: The CWC was honored for its essential contributions in hydro-meteorological data collection, flood forecasting, reservoir storage monitoring, water quality assessment, coastal area management, evaluation and oversight of water resources projects, and addressing inter-state water disputes.

Ideas4LiFE portal

• Recently, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, launched Ideas4LiFE at IIT Delhi.

Ideas4LiFE portal

• About: The initiative was launched to invite ideas for products and services that promote behavioral changes towards environmentally friendly lifestyles. 
• Aim: It aims to inspire and engage students, faculty, and research scholars in contributing their innovative ideas to the global Mission LiFE. 
• Opportunity: This presents a significant opportunity for creative minds to be part of a global movement dedicated to environmental sustainability.
• Portal Themes: The Ideas4LiFE portal is designed to simplify the online submission of ideas and innovations. Participants are invited to submit their concepts under one of the seven themes of Mission LiFE:
  • Save Water
  • Save Energy
  • Reduce Waste
  • Reduce E-Waste
  • Say No to Single-Use Plastics
  • Adopt Sustainable Food Systems
  • Embrace Healthy Lifestyles

Tarang Shakti

• India will host the international air exercise ‘Tarang Shakti’ in two phases, taking place in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan.

Tarang Shakti

• Aim: Exercise Tarang Shakti aims to improve interoperability and foster peace among the participating air forces by promoting cooperation, strategic alignment, and the exchange of knowledge and best practices.
• Objective: The main objective is to achieve collective security and regional stability through enhanced cooperation.
• Participating Nations: Among the countries sending contingents are Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.