< Daily Current Affairs & Important Editorials

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Chanakya Defence Dialogue

GS- III >> Science & Technology >> Defence

Context: Recently, the first edition of Chanakya Defence Dialogue organised by the Indian Army in partnership with Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS).

About Chanakya Defence Dialogue:

• It is the first event of its kind being organised by the Indian Army.
• The first edition of this dialogue will be held on November 3rd and 4th, 2023, in New Delhi.
• It aims to comprehensively analyze security challenges in South Asia and the Indo-Pacific, crafting a roadmap for collaborative security measures.

Source: ddnews.gov.in

Lysionotus namchoomii

GS- III >> Environment >> Flora & Fauna

Context: Recently, new species of epiphytic plant discovered in Arunachal Pradesh.

About Lysionotus namchoomii:

• Lysionotus namchoomii is a new species of epiphytic plant (which grows upon another plant) discovered by Scientists of Botanical Survey of India (BSI).
• Native range of the genus Lysionotus is the Himalayas, Japan and Indo-China.
• New Species bears thick leaves and attractive purple flowers.
• It is named in honour of late Chau Phunkyoo Nomchoon, a social reformer from Arunachal Pradesh’s Khapti community.
• BSI established in 1890, is the apex research organization under the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change.
• It carries out taxonomic studies on wild plant resources of country.

Source: www.thehindu.com

Hunga Tonga Volcano

GS- I >> Geography >> Volcano

Context: The violent eruption of the Hunga Tonga volcano and its latest consequence being the depletion of the ozone hole.

About Hunga Tonga Volcano:

• Geographical location: Situated in the western South Pacific Ocean, to the west of the primary populated islands within the Kingdom of Tonga.
• Tofua arc: It is one of 12 confirmed submarine volcanoes located along the Tofua Arc, which is a section of the larger Tonga-Kermadec volcanic arc.
• Arc formation: The Tonga-Kermadec arc was created due to the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Indo-Australian Plate.
• Island components: Comprising two small, unpopulated islands named Hunga-Ha’apai and Hunga-Tonga.

Source: www.indiatoday.in

Vitrimer incorporated with polyrotaxane (VPR)

GS- III >> Environment >> Plastic

Context: Scientists in Japan have developed a new version of plastic called VPR which is based on an epoxy resin vitrimer.

About Vitrimers:

• Vitrimers are recent category of plastics known for strength at low temperatures and reshaping under heat.
• However, they tend to be very brittle.
• To overcome this, researchers added polyrotaxane to the plastic-making process which resulted in VPR.

About VPR:

• Stronger and stretcher than the traditional version.
• Partially biodegradable.
• It can remember complex shapes which can be restored once it is heated.

Source: www.wionews.com

CoBRA Force

GS- III >> Internal Security >> Security Forces

Context: Recently, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)’s CoBRA elite force withdraw from Jammu & Kashmir amid deployment controversary.

About CoBRA:

• Established in 2008, CoBRA is a specialized unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
• CoBRA is one of the few CRPF units with specific training in guerilla tactics and jungle warfare.
• They are often referred to as ‘jungle warriors.’
• Initially created to combat the Naxalite problem, CoBRA was trained for tracking, hunting, and eliminating Naxalite groups.
• Personnel for CoBRA are selected from the CRPF, and it is an integral part of the CRPF.
• CoBRA comprises 10 units, established between 2008 and 2011.
• Most CoBRA teams are deployed in states affected by Maoist violence, while some are stationed in northeastern states for counter-insurgency operations.

Source: idrw.org