Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 11 July 2024 | Download PDF

• The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has recently upgraded its Regional Analysis of Indian Ocean (RAIN) system to enhance the collection of information on the health of the Indian Ocean.

About RAIN:

• Developed by: Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS).
• Previous Version: Utilized only salinity and sea surface temperature.
• Upgraded Version: Now includes sea surface height and Sea Surface Height Anomaly (SSHA).
• Observation Range: Surface to depths ranging from 3 metres to 2,000 metres, depending on the requirement.
• Improvement: Enhanced ocean current analysis due to the inclusion of additional information.

• NASA is preparing to launch the CubeSat Radio Interferometry Experiment (CURIE) mission, which aims to explore and understand solar radio waves.

About CURIE:

• Objective: Investigate the origins of radio waves from the Sun.
• Technique: Uses low-frequency radio interferometry, a first in space.
• Function: Detects minute differences in radio wave arrival times to pinpoint their solar origin.
• Frequency Range: Measures radio waves in the 0.1 to 19 megahertz range, which are blocked by Earth’s upper atmosphere.
• Significance:
  • Advances understanding of solar phenomena.
  • Paves the way for future space-based radio astronomy.
• Sponsorship: Sponsored by NASA’s Heliophysics Flight Opportunities for Research and Technology (H-FORT) Program.

• The Madhya Pradesh government has launched an investigation into suspected tiger poaching and irregularities at the newly established Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve.

About Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve:

• Location: Sagar, Damoh, and Narsinghpur districts, Madhya Pradesh.
• Includes: Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary and Durgavati Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Tiger Reserve: Seventh in Madhya Pradesh, named for Rani Durgavati, the queen of the Gondi people.
• Rivers: Parts of the Narmada and Yamuna River basins.
• Fort: Singorgarh Fort located within the reserve.
• Vegetation: Dry deciduous type.
• Flora: Teak, Saja, Dhaora, Ber, Amla, etc.
• Fauna:
  • Large mammals: Tiger, leopard, wolf, jackal, Indian fox, striped hyena, Nilgai, Chinkara, Chital, Sambhar, Black Buck, Barking deer, Rhesus Macaque.
  • Birds: White-Rumped and Indian Vultures (critically endangered).
• Development: A green corridor linking Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) with Durgavati for the natural movement of tigers.

• The Reserve Bank’s FI-Index, capturing the extent of financial inclusion across the country, rose to 64.2 in March 2024, showing growth across all parameters.

About FI-Index:

• FI-Index Value:
  • Rose to 64.2 in March 2024.
  • Increased from 60.1 in March 2023.
• Growth Factors:
  • Growth observed across all sub-indices.
  • Improvement mainly due to the usage dimension, indicating deepening financial inclusion.
• Parameters:
  • Comprises three broad parameters:
    • Access (35%)
    • Usage (45%)
    • Quality (20%)
  • Each parameter consists of various dimensions based on multiple indicators.
• Conceptualization:
  • Introduced in August 2021.
  • Designed as a comprehensive index covering banking, investments, insurance, postal, and pension sectors.
• Features:
  • Responsive to ease of access, availability, and usage of services.
  • Quality parameter uniquely captures financial literacy, consumer protection, and service inequalities and deficiencies.

• 25th Prime Minister’s Science, Technology & Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) Meeting Discusses Carbon Capture Utilisation & Storage (CCUS) and Carbon Credit in India.

About PM-STIAC:

• Council Role:
  • PM-STIAC is an overarching council supporting the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (O/o PSA) to the Government of India.
  • Facilitates assessment of specific science and technology domains, understanding challenges, and formulating interventions.
  • Develops a futuristic roadmap and advises the Prime Minister accordingly.
  • Oversees implementation of interventions by concerned S&T Departments, agencies, and other government Ministries.
• ‘9 National Missions’ under the PM-STIAC:
  • Natural language translation
  • Quantum frontier
  • Artificial intelligence
  • National Biodiversity Authority
  • Electric vehicles
  • Bioscience for human health
  • Waste to wealth
  • Deep ocean exploration
  • AGNIi
• Initiatives of the Office of the PSA:
  • City Research Clusters
  • I-STEM (Indian Science, Technology and Engineering Facilities Map)
  • Brahmaputra River System
  • Energy Security
  • R&D in India
  • Jal Jeevan Mission
  • Space Reforms

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