The Union government has re-constituted the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC).
About AEC
- Establishment: First set up in August 1948 within the Department of Scientific Research, later it was brought under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).
- Mandate: To plan and implement the various measures required for the expansion of the atomic energy programme and responsible for formulating the policy of the DAE.
A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 has hit southwestern Japan.
About Ring of Fire (Circum-Pacific Belt)
- Horseshoe-shaped string of volcanoes and earthquake sites which runs along Pacific Ocean.
- It is the result of plate tectonics as it traces meeting points of numerous tectonic plates, including Pacific, Juan de Fuca, Cocos, Indian-Australian, Nazca, North American, and Philippine Plates.
- A stretch of Ring of Fire - border between Pacific and North American Plates – is a transform boundary, where plates move sideways past one another.
- This boundary generates large number of earthquakes as tension in Earth’s crust builds up and is released.
Russia forms an emergency task force for Kerch Strait oil spill.
About Kerch Strait
- Location: Connects the inland Sea of Azov to the Black Sea.
- Separates the Russia-occupied Crimean Peninsula from the Krasnodar region.
- Significance: It is an important global shipping route
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DRDO has announced that field evaluation trials of ATGM- Nag-Mk 2 were successfully conducted recently at Pokhran Field Range in Rajasthan.
About ATGM- Nag Mk 2
- Indigenously-developed third-generation ATGM.
- It uses advanced fire-and-forget technology, allowing operators to lock onto targets before launch and strike with pinpoint accuracy, even in complex battlefield environments.
- It is capable of neutralising modern armoured vehicles equipped with explosive reactive armour.
- Guidance: Passive Homing through IIR Seeker.
- An Imaging Infra-Red (IIR) seeker is a system that uses infrared to detect and track targets.
- Range: 500 metres- 4000 metres
- Operation : Day & Night
Recently, Los Angeles authorities used pink fire retardant to combat wildfires.
About Pink Fire Retardant (Phos-Chek)
- Fire retardant is a mix of chemicals used to extinguish or slow down spread of fires.
- Manufactured by Perimeter Solutions company, it is the most-used fire retardant in world.
- Phos-Chek mostly contains ammonium phosphate-based slurry.
- Typically, it is made of salts such as ammonium polyphosphate, which does not evaporate easily like water and stays for longer.
- It is pink because it most visible by firefighters against the landscape.
- Spraying fire retardant using planes is ineffective, expensive and a growing source of pollution for rivers and streams.
Maha Kumbh (or Poorna Kumbh) 2025 is being held in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
About Kumbh Mela
- It is the world’s largest public gathering.
- It is a religious pilgrimage that is celebrated four times over a course of 12 years.
- Site keeps rotating between one of the four pilgrimages:
- Haridwar(Uttarakhand), Ganges.
- Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh), Shipra River.
- Nashik (Maharashtra), Godavari River.
- Prayagraj at the confluence of Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical invisible Sarasvati.
- Other key Facts:
- It has been listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage under UNESCO in 2017.
- Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang (visited India in the 7th century during the reign of King Harshavardhana) was the first to mention Kumbh Mela in his diary.
- Saint Shankaracharya gave Kumbh Mela its final shape in 9th century.
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Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and IIT Mandi has signed agreement for ‘Developing Semiconductor Chip of Wideband Spectrum Sensor for Dynamic Spectrum Access’ under TTDF scheme.
About TTDF Scheme
- Launched in 2022 by Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), a body under Department of Telecommunications.
- It is, designed to fund Indian startups, academia, and R&D institutions, a crucial enabler for designing, developing, and commercializing telecommunication products and solutions.
- Aims to enable affordable broadband and mobile services, playing a significant role in bridging digital divide across India.
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1 sourcePrime Minister has inaugurated Z-Morh tunnel in Ganderbal’s Sonamarg area in J&K.
About Z Morh Tunnel
- Initially started by BRO in 2015 and evolved with National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited.
- APCO Infratech firm has been instrumental in executing the project.
- Situated at an altitude of 8,650 feet, it is a two-lane road tunnel equipped with parallel 7.5-metre-wide escape passage.
- Spanning 12 km that includes main 6.4 km main tunnel, an egress tunnel, and approach roads.
- Significance:
- Enhance all-weather connectivity between Srinagar and Sonamarg enroute to Leh.
- Ensure safe and uninterrupted access to Ladakh region.
- Promote tourism by transforming Sonamarg, boosting winter tourism, adventure sports, and local livelihoods.
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