< Daily Current Affairs & Important Editorials

Aarogya Maitri Aid Cube

GS- II >> Social Justice>> Health

Context: World’s first portable hospital ‘Aarogya Maitri Aid Cube’ was unveiled in Gurugram (Haryana).

About Aarogya Maitri Aid Cube:

• It is a modular trauma management and aid system designed for rapid deployment in Mass Casualty Incidents, whether in times of peace or war.
• It is made up of 72 detachable mini-cubes. Each being a specialized station for emergency response and humanitarian efforts.
• These cubes are light and portable, and can be rapidly deployed anywhere, from airdrops to ground transportation.
• It can treat 200 patients.
• It is designed indigenously under Project ‘BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog, Hita and Maitri)’.

Link: newsonair.gov.in

Genome Sequencing

GS- III >> Science & Technology >> Biotechnology

Context: The UK Biobank has shared complete genome sequences from its 500,000 British volunteers which could be accessed by scientist for research.

About Genome Sequencing:

• The genome is the entire set of DNA instructions found in a cell.
• In humans, it comprises 23 pairs of chromosomes (thread-like structures of DNA) in cells’ nucleus and a small chromosome in cells’ mitochondria.
• Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the molecule that carries genetic information for the development and functioning of an organism.
• DNA contains unique chemical codes determined by the order of Adenine (A), Cytosine (C), Guanine (G) and Thymine (T) (the four nucleotide bases present in DNA)
• Genome sequencing refers to figuring out the order of DNA nucleotides in a genome (i.e., the order of As, Cs, Gs, and Ts).

Key initiatives for Human Genome sequencing:

• Human Genome Project, launched in 1990 (completed in 2003), covered about 92% of the total human genome sequence.
• In 2022, Telomere to Telomere (T2T) consortium sequenced the entire human genome (100%).
• Genome India Project (GIP) and IndiGen programme are launched by India.

Link: www.theguardian.com

Pilatus PC-7 Mk II

GS- III >> Science & Technology >> Defence

Context: Two Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots lost their lives in a crash involving a Pilatus PC-7 Mk II trainer aircraft during a routine training sortie. The incident occurred near Toopran in the Medak district, Telangana.

About Pilastus PC-7 Mk-II:

• Manufacturer: Pilatus Aircraft Ltd, Switzerland.
• Type: Low-wing, turbo-prop trainer aircraft.
• Seating: Tandem seating (cadet in front, instructor behind).
• Versions: Original since 1970s, Mk II introduced in the 1990s.
• Features: Newer airframe, advanced avionics, Pratt & Whitney turbo-prop engine.
• Performance: Max speed of 412 km/h, max altitude of 10,000 m, range of 1,200 km.
• Usage: Trainer for over 20 air forces, used in combat by countries like Chad, Iran, and Mexico.

Source: www.thehindu.com

Double Humped Camels

GS- III >> Environment >> Flora & Fauna

Context: The Army recently deployed double humped camels for logistical support to the troops in eastern Ladakh.

About Double Humped Camels:

• Double Humped Camels or Bactrian camels, have two humps on their backs where they store fat.

Distribution:

• They are native to the harsh and arid regions of Central Asia.
• They occupy habitats in Central Asia from Afghanistan to China, primarily up into the Mongolian steppes and the Gobi Desert.
• A small population of Bactrian camels exists in the Nubra Valley of Ladakh.

Features:

• They are up to 10 feet (3.0 m) long and weigh 590-1000 kg.
• They are smaller and slenderer than the one-humped dromedary camels found in Africa and the Middle East.
• Their fur colour varies from beige to dark brown.
• They have thick, woolly coats that provide warmth during the cold months and insulation from the desert heat, and they shed this for the summer months.
• Lifespan: 50 years
• They typically live in herds of 6-20 members, although they can occasionally be solitary or in groups of up to 30 individuals.
• Diet: They are omnivores but are primarily herbivores that constantly graze on grasses.
• Conservation Status: IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Accredited Compensatory Afforestation (ACA)

GS- III >> Environment >> Flora & Fauna

Context: Ministry of Coal has proposed 579 hectares of reclaimed land under ACA program.

About Accredited Compensatory Afforestation (ACA):

• ACA, introduced under Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2022, is a system of proactive afforestation to obtain approval for nonforestry use of forest land.
• Under ACA people and government entities can raise vegetation on fallow land and sell it to project developers who need to meet CA targets.
• Before this, Forest Department undertook compensatory afforestation (CA) only after approval of diversion of forest land for non-forestry use.
• CA is mandatory under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for non- forestry use of forestland.

Source: pib.gov.in