News in Shorts: 15 July 2024

Operation Dhanush

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• Recently, three unidentified militants have been killed in an ongoing anti-militancy operation near the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir’s Kupwara.

Operation Dhanush:

• Objective: To  counter the infiltration bids from across the LoC to send militants into the Kashmir valley. 

Almatti Dam

• The water levels at Almatti Dam in Karnataka are rising with considerable inflows of 23,678 cusecs as of July 13.

Almatti Dam:

• About: The Lal Bahadur Shastri Dam, commonly referred to as the Almatti Dam, is a hydroelectric project situated on the Krishna River.
• Location: The dam is situated on the border between Bijapur and Bagalkot districts.
• Primary Reservoir: It is the primary reservoir of the Upper Krishna Irrigation Project.
• Irrigation: Releases water into the Narayanpur reservoir for downstream irrigation after power generation.

e-office Platform

• As part of its 100-day agenda, the Government of India has launched a plan to deploy the e-office platform across 133 attached offices, subordinate offices, and autonomous bodies.

e-office Platform: 

• Nodal Ministry: The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions is leading this initiative.
• Implementing Agency: The National Informatics Centre (NIC) will serve as the implementation partner for the e-Office initiative.

Key components of e-Office:

• File Management System (e-File): This system enhances the capabilities of traditional file handling by introducing workflow-based processes and efficient electronic management.
• Knowledge Management System (KMS): This system introduces a centralised document repository within an organisation. 
  • It enables users to create, manage, and track electronic documents within workflows, facilitating easy viewing and searching of document versions and histories.
• Work from Anywhere (WAW) Portal: Facilitating virtual office access from any location, this portal serves as a centralised hub for office functions, ensuring secure connectivity for officials.
• Smart Performance Appraisal Report Recording Online Window (SPARROW): A web-based tool designed for processing Annual Performance Appraisal Reports (APAR). 
  • It allows employees to submit their reports, which are then reviewed by their official hierarchy.

Scareware

• About: Scareware is a type of malware that uses social engineering to trick users into downloading software or revealing sensitive information.
• Scare Tactics: Scareware creates a sense of panic and urgency by bombarding users with alarming messages.
• Deceptive Alerts: It leads users to take hasty steps without verifying the legitimacy of the alerts.
  • These messages often claim to have detected viruses, system errors, or other critical issues on the victim’s device.

Tirzepatide and semaglutide

• India’s drug regulator’s expert committee has granted approval for the launch of tirzepatide, a new weight loss drug.

Tirzepatide and semaglutide

• About: Semaglutide and tirzepatide are polypeptides—small proteins that enhance the levels of natural hormones in the body, particularly glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), which regulates weight by influencing both the brain and digestive tract.
• Functioning: These polypeptides increase GLP-1 levels, which, when released in the gut, activate neurons that modify gut function, leading to a sensation of fullness/satiety without excessive eating.
  • They also assist in regulating glucose levels, making them effective in treating diabetes.
  • While semaglutide targets only GLP-1 receptors, tirzepatide enhances another hormone called glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), which also regulates weight through receptors in the brain and fat cells.

Commemorative coins

• Recently, the Union Ministry of Finance  issued a commemorative coin on the occasion of the birth centenary of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidihi.

Commemorative coins

• About: Commemorative or ceremonial coins are issued to commemorate a certain event, celebrate a certain person, or further a certain message. 
• Distinct: They have a distinctive design, which references the occasion for which they were issued, and are often of a different (generally, larger) denomination, than regular coins.
• Issuance: Commemorative coins are often issued in very small quantities, and kept by the RBI as uncirculated collectors’ items. 
  • Sometimes, however, they can also be meant for mass circulation. 
  • This depends on the Centre’s intention behind issuing a certain coin.
• Aim: They generate publicity around a specific theme or issue emphasised by the government. For example, in 1974, the Indira Gandhi government introduced a coin featuring the theme and legend ‘Family Planning’, highlighting its focused efforts on population control.