- Lakshadweep administration continues to number trees on Pandaram lands.
- Laccadive Minicoy and Amini Islands Land Revenue and Tenancy Regulation, 1965 defines Pandaram lands as
- land in which Government has, a proprietary right immediately before the commencement of this Regulation and
- includes any land in which government may acquire such rights under this Regulation or under any other law.
- Land other than pandaram land over which a person has proprietary rights under the customary law of the Islands are defined as "jenmam land" under the 1965 regulation.
- 6th regional dialogue of officials of security councils and National Security Advisers on Afghanistan was held in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan).
- Key participants include India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
- The regional dialogue of security officials has emerged as an important mechanism for assessing the situation in Afghanistan after the takeover of Kabul by the Taliban in 2021.
- India hosted the 3rd regional security dialogue in New Delhi in November 2021.
- ISRO confirmed successful de-orbiting and atmospheric re-entry of Cartosat-2 at its end-of-life.
- About Cartosat-2
- Launched in 2007.
- Advanced remote sensing satellite capable of providing scene-specific spot imagery.
- De-orbiting of Cartosat-2: ISRO lowered its perigee (point in the orbit of a satellite at which it is nearest to the earth) using leftover fuel to comply with international guidelines on space debris mitigation.
- De-orbiting of Cartosat-2 represents a significant step for ISRO in ensuring long-term sustainability of outer space activities.
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- India and Bangladesh submit a joint proposal to list Indian skimmers (also known as Indian scissors bill) under the Convention on Migratory Species.
- About Indian Skimmer
- Indian skimmer is found in the coastal estuaries of western and eastern India. It occurs primarily on larger, sandy, lowland rivers, around lakes and adjacent marshes, estuaries and coasts.
- It breeds colonially on large, exposed sand-bars and islands.
- It feeds on surface-dwelling fish, small crustaceans and insect larvae.
- Protection Status
- IUCN Red List: Endangered
- CITES: Not listed
- Researchers have discovered a new species of marine amphipod in Odisha’s Chilika Lake (Asia’s biggest brackish water lagoon).
- The species, named as ‘Parhyale’ odian, is brown, has 13 pairs of legs, and uses the first pair for capturing prey.
- Amphipods are crustacea.
- Crustaceans are a very large group of Arthropods which include crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill, etc.
- They are invertebrates with a hard exoskeleton and a segmented body that is bilaterally symmetrical.
- They are mostly free-living freshwater or marine animals, but some are terrestrial (e.g. woodlice).
- Crustaceans are a very large group of Arthropods which include crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill, etc.
- Chief Minister of Assam announced that land within char areas would be surveyed under Mission Basundhara 4.0.
- Mission Basundhara is land management initiative of Assam government.
- About Char Areas
- Char/ Chapori is local name for riverine areas (island) of the river Brahmaputra.
- Char areas are subjected to erosion on their upstream and deposition on the downstream, due to which they migrate downstream.
- The constant threat from flood and erosion also creates developmental issues.
- Project, supplying water in Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan, is expected to get a boost with repairing of Ferozepur feeder in neighbouring Punjab.
- Project utilizes Rajasthan’s share in Ravi and Beas waters.
- Based on a 1981 agreement between Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan on re-allocation of surplus Ravi-Beas waters.
- Significance
- Aims to bring desert land under irrigation in northern part of Rajasthan.
- Help slow down and reverse degradation of environment due to wind erosion, etc.
- Sora is a new Generative AI (Gen-AI) model, developed by OpenAI, which can convert text prompt into Video.
- It can generate videos up to a minute long while maintaining visual quality and adherence to the user’s prompt.
- It is significant owing to added complexity of analyzing moving objects in 3D space.
- Gen-AI refers to category of AI algorithms that generate new outputs based on data they have been trained on.
- It uses a type of deep learning called generative adversarial networks.
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- Khasi freedom fighter U Tirot Sing’s statue was unveiled in Dhaka.
- About U Tirot Sing
- Also known as U Tirot Sing Syiem, was a Khasi chief in early 19th century.
- Drew lineage from Syiemlieh clan.
- Key contributions
- Declared war and fought against British for attempts to take over control of the Khasi Hills.
- In Anglo-Khasi war (1829-33), he used guerilla tactics to evade and strike the militarily superior colonial forces.
- Eventually captured by British in January 1833 and deported to Dhaka.
- Values: Patriotism, Courage, Determination, Leadership, etc.
