News in Shorts: 21 March 2025

Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki

Context: Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano erupted three times on March 21, 2025.

About Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki 

• It is located in Flores Timur district, East Nusa Tenggara province, is part of a twin-volcano system alongside Mount Lewotobi Perempuan. 
• It is a stratovolcano (composite volcano), standing 1,584 meters (5,197 feet) high, known for explosive eruptions. 

Other Active Volcanoes in the Region

• Indonesia is situated within the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a seismically active region with approximately 120 active volcanoes. 

Notable examples include

• Mount Merapi (Central Java): One of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, frequently erupting and causing evacuations.
• Mount Agung (Bali): Known for periodic eruptions that disrupt flights and tourism in the region.
• Mount Sinabung (North Sumatra): Has erupted regularly in recent years, causing evacuations and significant impacts to local communities.

Human Coronavirus HKU1

Context: A Kolkata patient diagnosed with the Human Coronavirus HKU1 has been discharged recently.

About Human Coronavirus HKU1

• HCoV-HKU1 is a RNA virus infection that mainly affects the lungs and respiratory system.
• Family: It is a part of the coronavirus family (SARS, MERS, and Covid-19) that affects humans and animals.
  • HKU1 is one of the strains of coronavirus and was named after Hong Kong University where it was originally described in 2004.
• Other Name: It is also called Betacoronavirus hongkonense.
• Prevalence: The HKU1 strain is an old strain with most children having at least one infection from HKU1 by 3-4 years of age.
  • A 2021 study, published in the Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology, says, HKU1 along with NL63, OC43, 229E accounted for 4.3% of infection in a group of 250 children.
• Symptoms: It presents flu-like symptoms such as low-grade fever, cough and cold, running nose, sore throat, blocked sinus, headache, fever, fatigue, and in several cases, even pneumonia or bronchitis.
• Transmission: Like other coronaviruses, the pathogen transmits by direct contact with infected individuals, through coughing, sneezing or touching surfaces.
• Treatment: Currently, there is no vaccine for HKU1.
  • The treatment for HKU1 is symptomatic with paracetamol and antihistamines
  • To follow basic coughing and sneezing etiquettes, avoiding contact with a patient with flu-like illnesses and a healthy diet should be followed.

Low-level Transportable Radar (LLTR) Ashwini

Context: The Ministry of Defence has entered into a Rs 2,906 crore capital acquisition contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for Low-level Transportable Radar (LLTR) ‘Ashwini’ for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

About Low-level Transportable Radar (LLTR) ‘Ashwini’

• ‘Ashwini’ is an active electronically scanned phased early warning array radar.
• Developed By: The radar is designed and developed by Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Features

• Range: It has a range of 200 km for picking up low-level targets.
• Technologies Included: The Radar possess several key technologies, including 
  • Indigenous Rotating Active Phased Array: Capable of automatic detection and tracking of aerial targets ranging from fighter aircraft to slow-moving targets.
  • Others: Time synchronisation of multiple receivers, 2D digital beam-forming, digital beamforming-based (DBF) active array calibration, multi-beam processing, critical real-time software and firmware, and mechanical packaging (engineering, thermal, etc)
• Detection: It can detect two square metres of Radar Cross Section (RCS) targets as far as 150 km in range, with an altitude coverage from 30 metres to 15 km.
• Mode of Operation: The radar operates in staring or rotation mode.
  • Rotation Mode: It offers continuous full 360-degree horizontal coverage, but with a narrower vertical scan of 40 degrees. 
  • Staring Mode: It offers a fixed horizontal scan and the same 40-degree vertical scan. This means that the radar antenna is fixed and continuously points at a specific target or area.
• Coverage: The desired coverage is obtained using a wide transmit beam and multiple receive beams.

About Radar

• The word Radar is an acronym for RAdio Detection And Ranging.
• Radars use radio waves to determine the distance and velocity of the targets they hit.
• A radar system usually consists of a transmitter to send out radio signals and a receiver to catch any reflected energy from targets.
• Working Mechanism: Radars work by transmitting radio waves (electromagnetic energy) towards a target and then analyzing the echoes (reflected signals) that return.

‘Samarth’ Incubation Programme

Context: The first cohort of Incubation Program for startups in Telecom & ICT Sector named as “Samarth” has been launched by the Union Government.

About Samarth-Incubation Program

• Samarth incubation Program is designed to provide comprehensive support for startups and innovators engaged in creating next-generation technologies.
• Fields: Technologies in the fields of Telecom Software Applications, Cyber Security, 5G/6G Technologies, AI, IoT Applications & Quantum Technologies will be eligible for the program.
• Launched By: Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT), an autonomous Telecom R&D centre of Department of Telecommunication (DoT), Govt. of India
• Implementation Partner: C-DOT has selected Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) as the official implementation partner.
• Focus: To foster innovation and promote technological advancements in India’s telecommunications and IT sectors.
• Aim: The program aims to encourage the development of sustainable and scalable business models, offer access to cutting-edge resources, and help startups bridge the gap from ideation to commercialization.
• Details:
  • Cohort Size: The program has a maximum cohort size of 18 startups per program, with a total of 36 startups across two cohorts of six months each. 
  • The program will be delivered in a hybrid mode through world-class infrastructure, expert mentorship, and access to a network of investors and industry leaders.
  • The applications under ‘Samarth’ are open to DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade) recognized startups.
  • Grants: Selected startups will get a grant up to 5 lakh INR each, access to well-furnished office space for a period of 6 months at C-DOT Campus, Lab facilities and  mentorship. 
  • Future Collaboration: Based on progress the startup will get an opportunity for future collaboration under C-DOT Collaborative Research Program.