Indian Scientists have developed a nanomaterial coating (made of nanoclay) for Muriate of Potash (MoP). 

• MoP serves 80% of potassium fertilizer needs. 

About Nano Fertilizers

• Nano fertilizers are nutrients that are encapsulated or coated within nanomaterial (measuring 100 nanometres or less). 
  • It enables controlled release and its subsequent slow diffusion into the soil.
• Benefits: 
  • Promotes sustainable farming: Reduces soil and water contamination.
  • Cost Effectiveness: Improves nutrient absorption, reduce nutrient wastage and lower application frequency provide, etc. 

Arrival of migratory birds in Hokersar wetland is adversely affected due to poor rainfall.

About Hokersar wetland

• Designated Ramsar Site in 2005.
• It is a permanent eutrophic lake in the flood plains of River Jehlum. 
• It  lies in the west of Srinagar 
• Two perennial streams of Dood-Ganga and Sukhnag feed the wetland.
• It is the only site with remaining reedbeds of Kashmir. 
• Major migratory bird: Large Egret, Great Crested Grebe, Little Cormorant, Common Shelduck, Tufted Duck and endangered White-eyed Pochard, coming from Siberia, China, Central Asia, and Northern Europe.

Bharat Dynamics Limited, signed a MoU with Russia’s Rosoboronexport for “cooperation on Pantsir variants”.

About PADS

• The Pantsir-S1 system is a mobile, short-range air defence system equipped with both missile and gun capabilities.
• It can provide air defence to small military, industrial, and administrative facilities. 
• It can defend against fixed- and rotary-winged aircraft, cruise missiles, and high-precision weapons.

Related news 

Germany will deploy Israel's Arrow-3 missile interception system by 2025. 

WMO has published the State of Climate 2024 Update for COP29 on the backdrop of the U.N. climate summit at Baku.

Key messages of the report

• Temperature: Jan-Sept 2024 Global average temperature is 1.54 (±0.13) °C above pre-industrial level.
• Greenhouse Gases: Atmospheric concentration of CO2 has increased from around 278 ppm in 1750 to 420 ppm in 2023, an increase of 51%.
• Sea level Rise: From 2014-2023, global mean sea level rose at a rate of 4.77 mm per year, more than double the rate between 1993 and 2002.
• Sea ice extent: Antarctic sea ice was the second lowest in satellite record (1979-2024) after 2023. 

Scientists from Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune discovered a new species of Dicliptera in the Western Ghats (one of India's four global biodiversity hotspots).

About Dicliptera polymorpha

• Habitat: Thrives in open grasslands with extreme conditions like drought and frequent fires, utilizing robust rootstocks to endure environmental stress.
• Unusual dual-blooming pattern: Blooms twice a year, once post-monsoon (from early November to March or April) and again after grassland fires (in May and June). 
• Spicate inflorescence: It is the only known Indian species with this spicate inflorescence structure, with its closest allied being found in Africa.

The Inter-State Council has been reconstituted.

About ISC

• It is a forum through which Centre and the state co-ordinate and co-operate with each other.
• Genesis: Established under Article 263 of Constitution through a Presidential Order in 1990 on recommendation of Sarkaria Commission.
• Composition: It consists of:-
  • Chairman: Prime Minister 
  • Members:
    • CM of all States
    • CM of Union Territories having a Legislative Assembly and Administrators of UTs not having a Legislative Assembly
    • 6 Ministers of Cabinet rank in Union Council of Ministers to be nominated by Prime Minister.

Researchers have discovered new species of marine creatures called Comb jellies that can age in reverse.

About Comb jellies

• Ancient marine animals that drift through the ocean's water column around the world.
  • Comb jellies could also be one of the first animals as their origin can be traced back to an estimated 700 million years ago.
• Habitat: Native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean.
• Distinctive Body Structure: Have a gelatinous, transparent body and are characterized by rows of ciliated "combs" along their body, 
• Primitive Nervous System: Possess a decentralized nerve net rather than a centralized brain,
• Significance of study: It could help to understand the aging process in humans as well as developmental biology of other animals.

National Commission for Scheduled Tribes has asked Centre, States to submit a detailed report on status of Gotti Koya tribals.

About Gotti Koya or Guttikoya tribe

• These are the Adivasi tribe of Chhattisgarh, who had relocated from Chhattisgarh to neighboring States in 2005 to escape violence between Naxals and Indian security forces.
• Language: Speak their mother-tongue Gondi, a south-central Dravidian language.
• Traditional Occupation: Hunting,food gathering and fishing.
• Festivals and Ritual performances: They believe in Gods and Goddesses.
  • They worship nature first which provides food and livelihood to them.
• Political organization : Villages are politically organized with its head called Patel.