Exercise Dustlik | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
News Today Logo

    Also in News

    Posted 16 Apr 2024

    8 min read

    Exercise Dustlik

    • It is joint military exercise between Indian and Uzbekistan Army, conducted every year.
    • Tags :
    • Exercise Dustlik
    • India- Uzbekistan Exercise

    Pink Bollworm

    • Cotton farmers in North India may shift to paddy, maize, and guar due to severe PBW infestation.

     

    • About PBW (Pectinophora gossypiella)
      • The disease is common in cotton crops.
      • PBW larvae burrow into developing fruits (bolls) of cotton plants, and damage affects both the weight and quality of harvested bolls.
      • Issue: 
        • Pink bollworms have developed resistance to genetically modified pest-resistant Bt cotton over time.

     

    • Management Strategies
      • Adoption of highly productive short-duration hybrids that would escape PBW.
      • Crop rotation to break the lifecycle of PBW.
      • PB Knot technology disrupts the mating prospects of pests.
    • Tags :
    • Pink Bollworm Infestation
    • Cotton Disease

    Jiadhal River

    • The flow of Jiadhal River is being disrupted due to climate change.

     

    • About Jiadhal River
      • It is a north-bank tributary of Brahmaputra
      • Originates in lower Himalayan ranges in Arunachal Pradesh. 
      • Flows through Assam and meets Brahmaputra near Majuli Island.
      • It is example of flashy river and produces floods with sudden, high discharge over short time interval and with high sediment load and debris.
      • It frequently changes its course during flash floods.
    • Tags :
    • Jiadhal River
    • Brahmaputra Tributary

    Lake Kariba

    • Water levels have dropped to 13% of its capacity in Lake Kariba, due El Nino induced drought. 
      • El Niño is a climate pattern characterized by unusual warming of surface waters in eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.

     

    • About Lake Kariba
      • It provides electric power to both Zambia and Zimbabwe.
      • It lies between Zambia and Zimbabwe. 
      • It was formed by damming Zambezi River in 1955. 

     

    • Tags :
    • El Nino
    • Lake Kariba

    Gray Slender Loris

    • Gray slender Loris rescued in North Goa.

     

    • About Gray Slender Loris (Loris lydekkerianus)
      • Geographic Range: Found in India and Sri Lanka.
      • Habitats: Tropical rainforests, scrub forests, semi-evergreen forests, swamps.
      • Characteristics
        • Nocturnal animal.
        • Lean and lanky appearance, with longer and slender limbs, larger ears, pointed snout and eyes circled with black or dark brown.
        • Slow movers and foragers, they nest near large insect colonies for easy meals.
        • They are Viviparous (producing living young instead of eggs).
      • Threat: Habitat Loss, Electrocution on power lines etc.
      • Conservation Status
        • IUCN: Near Threatened.
    • Tags :
    • Gray Slender Loris
    • Loris lydekkerianus

    Meningitis

    • Nigeria became first country in world to introduce Men5CV vaccine, recommended by WHO.
      • It offers protection against five strains of meningococcus bacteria in a single shot.
      • Meningococcal ACWY Vaccine is the one available in India.

     

    • About Meningitis
      • It is inflammation of surrounding tissues of brain and spinal cord.
      • Caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.
      • Mostly transmitted from person to person.
      • Although it affects all ages, young children are most at risk.
      • Symptoms are neck stiffness, fever, confusion, headaches, nausea.
    • Tags :
    • Meningitis
    • Men5CV vaccine

    Chagas Disease (American trypanosomiasis)

    • World Chagas Disease Day was observed by the World Health Organisation on April 14.

     

    • About Chagas Disease
      • Life-threatening illness caused by protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi.
      • Found mainly in Latin American countries, where it is mostly vector-borne.
      • Transmitted by triatomine bug (vector-borne), and orally (food-borne), during pregnancy or birth (congenital), through blood/blood products, or organ transplantation.
      • Often called “silent disease” because of no symptoms either during acute or chronic phases of infection until damage is too advanced to be reversed.
      • The disease is clinically curable if treatment is initiated at an early stage.
    • Tags :
    • Chagas Disease
    • Silent Disease

    Rongali Bihu

    • Assam celebrates Rongali Bihu. 

     

    • About Rongali/Bohag Bihu 
      • Celebrated in middle of April, it marks the beginning of Assamese New Year and onset of spring.
      • There are 3 Bihu festivals in Assam. Other two- Kati Bihu and Magh Bihu are celebrated in October and January, respectively. 
      • It is a 7 day festival, where first day is called Goru Bihu followed by Manuh Bihu, Guxai Bihu etc
      • Similar festival in other states - Baisakhi (Punjab), Puthandu (Tamil Nadu), Vishu (Kerala), and Pohela Baisakh (West Bengal).
    • Tags :
    • Rongali Bihu
    • Assamese New Year
    Watch News Today
    Subscribe for Premium Features