Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT

Context: Recently, the Indian Army contingent departed for the 17th edition of India- Mongolia Joint Military Exercise NOMADIC ELEPHANT.

About Exercise

• The 17th edition is being held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
• The Indian contingent will be represented mainly by the battalion of the ARUNACHAL SCOUTS.
• Frequency: Annual, alternately hosted by India & Mongolia
• Last Edition: July 2024 (Umroi, Meghalaya, India)
  • First held in 2006
• Aim & Objectives:
  • Enhance interoperability in semi-conventional operations under UN mandate.
  • Focus on semi-urban/mountainous terrain warfare.
  • Strengthen joint task force operations between India & Mongolia.

Science Behind Scent

Context: An infectious diseases expert is studying how microbiome research can help people choose the right perfume.

What is the Skin Microbiome?

• Skin microbiota refers to the community of tiny organisms that live on our skin.
• It includes bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa, and even mites.
• More specifically, the term refers to the genetic material (genomes) of all these microbes.

How Skin Microbiome Influences Perfume Effect?

Perfumes react differently on each person due to their unique skin microbiome, which consists of millions of bacteria that influence skin chemistry.

Why Do Some Perfumes Smell Differently on Different People?

• No two people have the same skin microbiome.
• The way bacteria interact with perfume ingredients affects how a scent develops.
• Challenge: Using the wrong perfume or overusing it can cause skin problems, heart issues, or even lead to exposure to harmful chemicals.

The Role of Skin Bacteria in Body Odor

There are three main types of bacteria involved in odor production:

• Cutibacterium acnes – Found on oily areas (face, back, chest, etc.), creates a musky smell.
• Corynebacterium – Found in moist regions (armpits, groin), produces strong odors.
• Staphylococcus epidermidis – Present on various parts of the body, helps balance odor-causing bacteria.

Kumbakonam Vetrilai

Context: The Kumbakonam vetrilai has been granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Government of India.

GI products in Tamil Nadu

• With this, Tamil Nadu now has 62 GI-tagged products.

About Kumbakonam Vetrilai

• It is known as betel leaf. 
• These are grown in Thanjavur’s Cauvery river basin, which enhances their distinct taste and aroma.
• The leaves are heart-shaped, dark to light green, and have a pungent taste.
• Its first leaves emerge 20–25 days after planting.
• The first harvest, called maaruvethalai, occurs between the 7th and 12th month, yielding larger, longer-lasting leaves that command higher prices. 
• Second and third-year harvests—kelavethalai and kattavethalai—produce smaller yields.
• Major cultivation areas include Thiruvaiyaru, Papanasam, Thiruvidaimarudur, Kumbakonam, and Rajagiri.
• Health Benefits of Betel Leaves
  • Betel leaves aid digestion and are rich in antioxidants.
  • They contain chavicol, an anti-inflammatory compound that reduces oxidative stress and may be beneficial for conditions like diabetes.

OPEC must Squeeze US Shale much more to Win Oil Price War

Context: OPEC’s strategy of increasing oil production is affecting U.S. shale drillers, forcing them to slow operations.

What is OPEC?

• OPEC refers to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.
• Establishment: It was formed in 1960 by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.
• Objective: It aims to control oil supply to stabilize global oil prices and prevent extreme ups and downs.
• Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.
• Member countries– Currently, there are 12 member countries namely Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela. 
  • Angola, Ecuador, Indonesia, and Qatar were former members but have exited OPEC. 

What is OPEC+?

• OPEC Plus refers to non-OPEC countries (10) that export crude oil in addition to the 12 OPEC member nations.
• Membership: OPEC Plus countries consist of Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Russia, South Sudan, and Sudan.
• Key Players in the OPEC Plus Alliance
  • Saudi Arabia and Russia: Both Saudi Arabia and Russia have played central roles in the OPEC Plus alliance for the past three years.
  • Alliance Objective: The alliance, which initially included 11 OPEC members and 10 non-OPEC nations, aims to stabilize oil prices through coordinated production cuts.

ECINET

Context: Election Commission’s one-point dashboard named ‘ECINET’ will become operational before the Bihar election.

About ECINET

• One-Stop Digital Platform: ECINET is a unified digital interface being developed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for electors, election officials, political parties, and civil society.
• Objective: Aims to streamline election management by consolidating services for stakeholders (voters, officials, political parties) in one place.  
• Integration of 40+ Apps: It will integrate and replace over 40 existing mobile and web apps such as Voter Helpline App, cVIGIL, Suvidha 2.0, ESMS, Saksham, and KYC App.
• Accurate and Authorized Data Entry: Only authorized ECI officials can enter data on ECINET to ensure accuracy.
• Wide Beneficiary Base: Expected to serve nearly 100 crore electors and the entire electoral workforce including BLOs, BLAs, polling officials, AEROs, EROs, and DEOs.
• Cross-Device Compatibility: The platform will be accessible on both computers and smartphones.
• Legal Compliance: Fully aligned with the Representation of People Acts (1950, 1951), relevant electoral rules (1960, 1961), and ECI-issued instructions. 
• Phased Rollout: Some modules will be operational during the June 19, 2025, byelections in five Assembly seats, while the full dashboard will be available for the Bihar Assembly elections.

Village Defence Guards (VDG)

Context: Post Operation Sindoor, the Border Security Force has started arms training for village defence guards (VDGs) along the Jammu border with Pakistan.

About the Village Defence Guard Initiative

• Background: The VDG initiative was originally launched in 1995 to protect Hindu civilians targeted by militants; they were armed with .303 rifles. 
  • Later discontinued due to allegations of criminal misconduct (e.g., abduction, rape) by members during the 1990s.
• Revival: It was revived in 2022 in the Jammu region after a gap of over 20 years due to a resurgence in terrorist activity.
• Current Training & Armament: For the first time, the Border Security Force (BSF) is conducting arms training for VDGs along the Jammu border.
  • Training includes:
    • Firing practice
    • Tactical knowledge sharing
    • Situational awareness
  • Villagers are now being armed with semi-automatic weapons instead of older bolt-action rifles.
• Role and Strategic Importance: The VDGs are seen as a “second line of defence” and potential first responders to terrorist attacks.
  • VDGs act as “force multipliers” to:
    • Help contain infiltrations.
    • Prevent escape of terrorists.
    • Provide real-time intelligence from the ground.
• The VDGs also function under the supervision of district superintendent of police (SP)/Senior superintendent of police (SSP)

State-Specific Disasters

Context: Kerala government has declared Kochi shipwreck a State specific disaster 

• Recently the wreckage of a cargo ship, MSC ELSA-3, sank 14.6 nautical miles off the coast of Kerala.
• The shipwreck posed a potentially serious threat to Kerala’s coast, both environmentally, socially, and economically. 

State-Specific Disasters

• Definition: Disasters that are local to a state and not listed by the Ministry of Home Affairs as Notified Disasters.
• Announcement: Declared by the State Government.
• Funding Mechanism: Utilises up to 10% of the funds from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for immediate relief.
• Responsible Authority: State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), established under the Disaster Management Act of 2005.
• SDMA Composition: Chaired by the Chief Minister and includes no more than eight members appointed by the Chief Minister.
• Role of SDMA: Prepares and implements the state disaster management plan in line with the National Disaster Management Plan.

Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan

Context: Recently, the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, launched the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA-2025) at ICAR-CIFA, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

• The campaign aligns with the vision of a self-reliant India and seeks to transform Indian agriculture through technology dissemination and grassroots engagement.
• A novel fish vaccine ‘CIFA Argu VAX–I’ developed by ICAR-CIFA to combat parasitic infections in fish, improving fish health and reducing economic losses.

About Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan 

India’s First AI SEZ

Context: Recently, Chhattisgarh announced India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Special Economic Zone in Nava Raipur with a ₹1,000 crore investment.

About the AI SEZ

• Developed by: RackBank DataCenters Pvt Ltd.
• Infrastructure: Equipped with modern servers and computer systems, the SEZ plans to include four future data centres of 80 MW capacity.
  • It will cover 6 acres with a 1.5 lakh sq. ft. advanced data centre
• These centres will handle inter-state digital networks and high-density data operations.
• Government Support: The state has provided tax and legal exemptions to fast-track AI and computer data-related technological innovation.
• Policy Framework: The SEZ will operate under the existing SEZ policy, which was introduced in through the SEZ Act 2005.
  • SEZ is a  specifically delineated duty-free enclave deemed to be a foreign territory for the purposes of trade operations, duties, and tariffs.
    

Significance

• Boost to Digital India Vision: aligned with Digital India and Make in India goals.
• Employment and Skilling: The SEZ will create jobs for IT engineers, data experts, cybersecurity officers, and more.
  • Training programs will be offered with ITIs, engineering, and polytechnic colleges for industry-specific skills.

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