Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH)

Context: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)  announced that the Indian Army and Indian Air Force (IAF) fleets of Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH)  have been cleared for flight operations.

About Dhruv ALH

• It has been developed indigenously by the Helicopter Division of the government-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
  • It was initially designed with Germany’s assistance (Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm (MBB) was an aerospace manufacturer).
• Design: It is a light (5.5-tonne class), multirole and multi mission helicopter.
• Designed for: Utility and attack roles, capable of operating by day and night.
• Serves multiple users: Indian Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, and also for civilian operations.
• Key features:  Twin-engine configuration, advanced avionics, a glass cockpit, and the capability to operate in diverse terrains, including high-altitude regions.

Red Admiral Butterfly

Context: The European Red Admiral butterfly has been spotted in India for the first time near Dharamshala in the Dhauladhar mountain range, Himachal Pradesh.

About Red Admiral butterfly

• Scientific Name: Vanessa Atalanta, a migratory species. 
• Also known as: Pyrameis atalanta
• Host Plant: Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)
• Geographic Distribution: Found in temperate regions of North Africa, North and Central America, Europe, Asia, Caribbean, and Hawaii.

Why is its visibility a matter of concern?

• Unexpected Presence – Usually found in Europe and North America, its sighting in India is unusual.
• Migration Shift – Indicates a possible eastward expansion of its range.
• Climate Impact – Changing environmental conditions may be influencing its habitat adaptation.

NAMASTE Scheme

Context: The Central government signed a Letter of Agreement (LoA) with the UNDP to improve waste pickers’ access to finance and relevant technologies under the NAMASTE scheme.

• Under the agreement, the UNDP will provide financial assistance to set up state project management units (PMUs) across multiple states to ensure better coordination between central and state authorities and streamline implementation.

About NAMASTE Scheme

• National Action for Mechanised Annual Sanitation Targeting Employment (NAMASTE) is a Central Sector Scheme.
• Purpose: It specifically targets the welfare and upliftment of Safai Karamcharis (sanitation workers), manual scavengers and  waste pickers.
  • It replaces the earlier Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS).  
• Ministry: The scheme is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.  
• The waste picker component of NAMASTE aims to formally identify and support around 2.5 lakh people through a digital profiling and registration campaign.

Phthalates

Context: Daily phthalate exposure linked to 350,000 heart disease deaths in 2018 among 55-65-year-olds, per a New York University study in eBioMedicine.

What are Phthalates?

• Chemical compounds used as plasticizers to make plastics (like PVC) more flexible and durable.
  • For Example: Diethyl phthalate (DEP), Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)
• Found in household products (food packaging, toys, cosmetics, medical devices, etc.).
• Do not chemically bind to plastics, so they leach out into food, water, and air.
• It enters the body via microplastic breakdown, leading to inflammation in heart arteries, increasing heart attack/stroke risk.

Vikramaditya I Dated Inscription found in Davangere

Context: A 7th-century inscription belonging to the time of Vikramaditya I (654-681 AD) of the Badami Chalukya dynasty was recently found in Davangere district, Karnataka.

About the Inscription

• Discovery: It was unearthed during the desilting of the Madapura Lake, Davangere district, Karnataka. 
• Contents: The inscription likely details a grant of land and the waiving of certain taxes. 
  • It acknowledges the contributions of local elders who helped in building the lake. 
• Significance: 
  • It provides valuable insights into the administrative practices and social dynamics of the time. 
  • It also confirms the existence and location of Madapura Lake during the reign of Vikramaditya I. 

About Chalukya Dynasty of Badami

• Founding: Founded by Pulakesin I (543 AD), who established Badami as his capital. 
• Territory: The Chalukyas ruled a vast territory in the Deccan region, including parts of present-day Karnataka and Maharashtra from the 6th to the 8th centuries CE.
• Successors: Successors to the Vakatakas in the Western Deccan. 
• Splinter Dynasties: Later, the Chalukyas split into different ruling houses, including the Western Chalukyas of Kalyani and the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi. 
• Architectural Contributions: Their style of architecture is called “Chalukyan architecture” or “Karnata Dravida architecture,”. (Also known as Vesara Style).
  • Pattadakal (Virupaksha temple) and Aihole (Lad Khan temple) are famous for their structural temples.
• Notable Rulers: Pulakesin I, Kirtivarman I, and Pulakesin II. 
• Decline: Decline after the death of Pulakesin II in 642 AD. 
  • Last ruler was Kirtivarman II (746 to 753 AD).