India-Germany Platform for Investments in Renewable Energies Worldwide launched at 4th Global Renewable Energy Investor’s Meet and Expo (RE-INVEST). 

• RE-INVEST is organized by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

About India-Germany Platform

• Aims to develop concrete & sustainable solutions for accelerated expansion of renewable energy in India and Globally.
• It will serve as an international forum for stakeholders from across globe to develop solutions to support India in attaining goal of 500 GW non-fossil energy capacity by 2030. 
• It is an initiative under Green and Sustainable Development Partnership (GSDP), signed in 2022 between India & Germany.

At the 52^nd Gastech Exhibition & Conference, Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas highlighted the energy trilemma faced by India as it is expected to contribute to 35% of global energy demand in the next two decades.

About Energy Trilemma

• It consists of three often conflicting challenges related to energy which need to be balanced in the context of the rapidly changing energy sector.
• The trilemma comprises:
  • Energy Security: Capacity to meet present and future energy demand reliably through robust supply chains.
  • Affordability: Equitable access to energy.
  • Sustainability: Transitioning towards mitigating environmental impact of energy use and climate change impacts.

A recent study of fossils from Australia revealed the role of tectonic activity as the reason for evolution of Coelacanths. 

About Coelacanths

• They are deep-sea fish that live off the coasts of southern Africa and Indonesia. 
• They are evolutionary unique lobe finned fish (having robust bones in their fins similar to bones in our arms). 
• More closely related to tetrapods (animals with backbones and 4 limbs like frogs) than to most other fishes.

Some recent reports have highlighted that Kleptoparasitism among birds are helping spread the avian influenza. 

About Kleptoparasitism or Cleptoparasitism

• It is a form of feeding where one animal takes prey from another that has caught, killed, or otherwise prepared, including stored food.
  • e.g., Sperm Whales, Western Gulls, Hyenas etc. 
• It can be intraspecific, where the parasite is the same species as the victim, or interspecific, where the parasite is a different species.

Seiyhama village in Nagaland celebrated the Naga king chili festival,  exhibiting a vibrant example of community farming. 

About Naga King Chili (Capicum chinense Jackquin)

• One of the world’s hottest chillies, certified by Guinness World Records in 2006 for its intense heat, exceeding 1 million Scoville Heat Units. 
• Also referred as Bhoot Jolokia and Ghost pepper.
• Received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2008. 
• Primarily cultivated in the states of Nagaland, Assam, Manipur and to a lesser extent in Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya.
• Grown in large bamboo groves during the peak harvest months of August-September. 

India is hosting Formal Meetings of the COP9 Bureau and Fund’s Approval Committee of the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport in New Delhi.

About the Convention

• Adopted in 2005 at Paris, France.
• Objective: To promote the prevention of and the fight against doping in sport, with a view to its elimination. 
• It is the only international treaty in this domain and harmonizes anti-doping legislation, regulations and rules internationally to ensure a level playing field. 
• It helps protect public health and to safeguard the ethics, integrity, and universal values of sport.

Recently, 127th Anniversary of Battle of Saragarhi was celebrated.

Battle of Saragarhi (12th September, 1897)

• Fought between British Raj (21 soldiers of 36th Sikh Regiment) and over 8,000 Afridi and Orakzai tribal militants.
• It was fought during Tirah campaign at Saragarhi in North West Frontier Province.
  • Saragarhi, a quaint village on Samana Range in Kohat, Pakistan was a vital communication post.
• Sikh soldiers were led by Havildar Ishar Singh, who showed extraordinary courage and chose to fight to death.
• All 21 Sikhs were posthumously awarded Indian Order of Merit, highest British gallantry award then given to Indian troops.

Karma festival is celebrated in Jharkhand and other states of India. 

About Karma Festival 

• It is a harvest festival popular among Munda, Ho, Oraon, Baiga, Kharia, and Santhal people.
• It is traditionally celebrated on eleventh day of lunar fortnight in month of Bhado/ Bhadra (August-September in Gregorian calendar).
• Karam tree, traditionally seen as a symbol of Karam Devta/Karamsani, is worshipped during festival. Karam tree symbolizes fertility, prosperity, etc.
  • During festival, branch of Karam tree is carried by Karma dancers, accompanied by singing & dancing.