Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
The Union government has re-constituted the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC).
About AEC
- Establishment: First set up in August 1948 within the Department of Scientific Research, later it was brought under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).
- Mandate: To plan and implement the various measures required for the expansion of the atomic energy programme and responsible for formulating the policy of the DAE.
- Tags :
- Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)
- Atomic Energy Commission
Ring of fire
A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 has hit southwestern Japan.
About Ring of Fire (Circum-Pacific Belt)
- Horseshoe-shaped string of volcanoes and earthquake sites which runs along Pacific Ocean.
- It is the result of plate tectonics as it traces meeting points of numerous tectonic plates, including Pacific, Juan de Fuca, Cocos, Indian-Australian, Nazca, North American, and Philippine Plates.
- A stretch of Ring of Fire - border between Pacific and North American Plates – is a transform boundary, where plates move sideways past one another.
- This boundary generates large number of earthquakes as tension in Earth’s crust builds up and is released.
- Tags :
- Ring of fire
- Circum-Pacific Belt
Kerch Strait
Russia forms an emergency task force for Kerch Strait oil spill.
About Kerch Strait
- Location: Connects the inland Sea of Azov to the Black Sea.
- Separates the Russia-occupied Crimean Peninsula from the Krasnodar region.
- Significance: It is an important global shipping route
- Tags :
- Kerch Strait
- Black Sea
Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM)- Nag Mk 2
DRDO has announced that field evaluation trials of ATGM- Nag-Mk 2 were successfully conducted recently at Pokhran Field Range in Rajasthan.
About ATGM- Nag Mk 2
- Indigenously-developed third-generation ATGM.
- It uses advanced fire-and-forget technology, allowing operators to lock onto targets before launch and strike with pinpoint accuracy, even in complex battlefield environments.
- It is capable of neutralising modern armoured vehicles equipped with explosive reactive armour.
- Guidance: Passive Homing through IIR Seeker.
- An Imaging Infra-Red (IIR) seeker is a system that uses infrared to detect and track targets.
- Range: 500 metres- 4000 metres
- Operation : Day & Night
- Tags :
- Anti-Tank Guided Missile ‘Nag Mk 2’
- Fire and Forget Technology
Pink Fire Retardant (Phos-Chek)
Recently, Los Angeles authorities used pink fire retardant to combat wildfires.
About Pink Fire Retardant (Phos-Chek)
- Fire retardant is a mix of chemicals used to extinguish or slow down spread of fires.
- Manufactured by Perimeter Solutions company, it is the most-used fire retardant in world.
- Phos-Chek mostly contains ammonium phosphate-based slurry.
- Typically, it is made of salts such as ammonium polyphosphate, which does not evaporate easily like water and stays for longer.
- It is pink because it most visible by firefighters against the landscape.
- Spraying fire retardant using planes is ineffective, expensive and a growing source of pollution for rivers and streams.
- Tags :
- Wildfire
- Pink Fire Retardant
- Phos-Chek
Kumbh Mela
Maha Kumbh (or Poorna Kumbh) 2025 is being held in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
About Kumbh Mela
- It is the world’s largest public gathering.
- It is a religious pilgrimage that is celebrated four times over a course of 12 years.
- Site keeps rotating between one of the four pilgrimages:
- Haridwar(Uttarakhand), Ganges.
- Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh), Shipra River.
- Nashik (Maharashtra), Godavari River.
- Prayagraj at the confluence of Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical invisible Sarasvati.
- Other key Facts:
- It has been listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage under UNESCO in 2017.
- Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang (visited India in the 7th century during the reign of King Harshavardhana) was the first to mention Kumbh Mela in his diary.
- Saint Shankaracharya gave Kumbh Mela its final shape in 9th century.
- Tags :
- Prayagraj
- Kumbh Mela
Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) Scheme
Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and IIT Mandi has signed agreement for ‘Developing Semiconductor Chip of Wideband Spectrum Sensor for Dynamic Spectrum Access’ under TTDF scheme.
About TTDF Scheme
- Launched in 2022 by Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), a body under Department of Telecommunications.
- It is, designed to fund Indian startups, academia, and R&D institutions, a crucial enabler for designing, developing, and commercializing telecommunication products and solutions.
- Aims to enable affordable broadband and mobile services, playing a significant role in bridging digital divide across India.
- Tags :
- Universal Service Obligation Fund
- Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) Scheme
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Z Morh Tunnel (Sonamarg Tunnel)
Prime Minister has inaugurated Z-Morh tunnel in Ganderbal’s Sonamarg area in J&K.
About Z Morh Tunnel
- Initially started by BRO in 2015 and evolved with National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited.
- APCO Infratech firm has been instrumental in executing the project.
- Situated at an altitude of 8,650 feet, it is a two-lane road tunnel equipped with parallel 7.5-metre-wide escape passage.
- Spanning 12 km that includes main 6.4 km main tunnel, an egress tunnel, and approach roads.
- Significance:
- Enhance all-weather connectivity between Srinagar and Sonamarg enroute to Leh.
- Ensure safe and uninterrupted access to Ladakh region.
- Promote tourism by transforming Sonamarg, boosting winter tourism, adventure sports, and local livelihoods.
- Tags :
- Z Morh Tunnel
- Sonamarg Tunnel