The Expert Appraisal Committee of the Environment Ministry will appraise Sawalkote Project for grant of environmental clearance
About Sawalkote Project
- It is a run-of-the-river project proposed on the river Chenab.
- Location: District Ramban & Udhampur of UT Jammu & Kashmir.
- Implementing Agency: National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (Government of India Mini Ratna Category-I Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Power).
Article Sources
1 sourceThe Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced the winner of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2023.
About Dadasaheb Phalke Award
- It is an annual award given by the Indian government for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema.
- It is India's highest honor in cinema, and is presented by the President of India to individuals.
- Instituted: In 1969, the birth centenary year of Dadasaheb Phalke, considered the father of Indian cinema.
- First Recipient: Devika Rani.
Delhi Government ordered study of the use of Smog Eating photocatalytic coatings on roads.
About Smog Eating Photocatalytic Coatings
- Objective: Reduce nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and harmful hydrocarbons in public spaces, improving air & water quality.
- Mechanism
- Photocatalytic activity: Uses light energy to break down harmful pollutants & organic waste into harmless matter.
- Usually uses titanium dioxide (TiO₂) coatings as photocatalysis under UV light to decompose NOx.
- Photocatalytic activity: Uses light energy to break down harmful pollutants & organic waste into harmless matter.
Article Sources
1 sourceA study finds that without Sri Lanka’s landmass, Southern Ocean swells could hit India’s east coast, causing flooding and erosion.
About Swell Waves
- Long-wavelength ocean waves that travel long distances away from their origin.
- They are generated mainly by windstorms / strong air currents.
- They are largely unaffected by local winds or currents and often go undetected by satellites due to their low frequency and lack of surface whitecaps.
- They are also called Kallakkadal waves in India.
- The term has now been approved for scientific use by UNESCO.
Article Sources
1 sourceAstronomers identified a new category of events: Extreme Nuclear Transients (ENTs).
About ENTs
- ENTs occur when stars with masses at least three times greater than that of the sun are torn apart by supermassive black holes.
- As a star nears a black hole’s event horizon, extreme tidal forces stretch and compress the star into a long, thin spaghetti-like shape, releasing enormous amounts of electromagnetic energy. This emission is the ENT.
The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry launched IPRS 3.0.
About IPRS 3.0
- Under IPRS 3.0, industrial parks will be benchmarked and categorized as Leaders, Challengers, and Aspirers based on their performance across key indicators.
- Developed by: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
- Key Additions: New parameters, including sustainability, green infrastructure, logistics connectivity, digitalization, skill linkages, and enhanced talent feedback.
Article Sources
1 sourceProject Vijayak of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) celebrated its 15th Raising Day at Kargil, Ladakh.
About Project Vijayak
- Raised in 2010 and entrusted with the responsibility of providing road connectivity in the areas of Kargil and Zanskar, which previously were under Project Himank.
- The Project drew its name from Operation Vijay (Kargil War) of 1999.
- It played a significant role in strengthening the security infrastructure along the Line of Control.
Article Sources
1 sourceUnited States is in talks with Afghanistan to regain the control of the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.
About Bagram Air Base
- The largest air base in Afghanistan located north of the capital Kabul.
- Originally built by the Soviets in 1950s and after Soviet withdrawal in 1990s, it became a frontline in war between Taliban and Northern Alliance fighters.
- After 2001 terror attack on USA, it became the centre of US operations in their war against terror in Afghanistan.
- US and NATO troops pulled out of Bagram in 2021.
