World Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day (GS Paper 3, Science and Technology)
Why in news?
- On the eve of World Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day, celebrated annually on October 8th, the Government of India held a half-day event.
- The event, organized in New Delhi by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, in association with Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited, brought together hydrogen experts from the industry, academia and government.
R&D Roadmap:
- On the occasion, the R&D Roadmap for the National Green Hydrogen Mission was unveiled by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy.
- The roadmap, which provides for a budget of Rs. 400 crores, seeks to provide guidance for developing a vibrant research and development ecosystem which can help commercialize Green Hydrogen and contribute to India’s ambitious climate and energy goals.
- It focuses on developing new materials, technologies, and infrastructure to improve the efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of green hydrogen production, storage, and transportation.
- The R&D program will also prioritize safety and address technical barriers and challenges in developing a hydrogen economy.
National Single Window System:
- Besides the R&D roadmap, the Green Hydrogen page on Tthe National Single Window System (NSWS) of Government of India was unveiled, which will provide a single window to industry for obtaining all approvals related to projects under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
About World Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day:
- The date October 8 was aptly chosen for the atomic weight of hydrogen (1.008).
- World Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day is a global initiative aimed at promoting awareness and understanding of hydrogen as a clean and sustainable energy source, along with the versatile technology of fuel cells.
- This day serves as a platform to acknowledge the potential of hydrogen and fuel cells in addressing the pressing challenges of climate change, energy security, and environmental sustainability.
Prey base, habitat dictate Asiatic wild dog-tiger coexistence, study
(GS Paper 3, Environment)
Why in news?
- Recently, a study titled “Do dholes segregate themselves from their sympatrids? Habitat use and carnivore co-existence in the tropical forest”, was published.
- The dhole or Asiatic wild dog (Cuon alpinus) is the only endangered wild pack-living canid in the tropical Indian forests and is considered at high risk of extinction.
Details:
- It found that overlapping prey availability or habitat suitability could dictate a positive association between dholes and tigers, facilitating coexistence or even cooperative behaviours between the two species of carnivores.
- The study also revealed that the diurnal activity of the dholes had the highest temporal overlap with leopards and the lowest with clouded leopards.
- Sympatric refers to animals, plant species, and populations within the same or overlapping geographical areas.
- The scientists studied the dholes in three phases from April 2017 to May 2019 in the 500-sq.km Manas National Park.
Fragmented population:
- Operating in packs of five to 10, larger groups of more than 30 were observed in 2004 dholes were once widespread across southern and eastern Asia.
- Factors such as habitat loss, declining prey availability, persecution, disease, and interspecific competition have contributed to the ongoing fragmentation of its populations.
IUCN Status:
- The global population of adult dholes, now classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, is estimated to be between 949 and 2,215.
Key findings:
- They aimed to assess the relative abundance index, habitat use and factors (space and time) influencing dhole co-existence with other sympatric carnivores in Manas National Park.
- The hypotheses included conflict with humans on the periphery of protected areas as the primary threat to dholes, higher habitat utilisation where small-medium prey species such as rodents, hares, and rhesus macaques are found, and a negative relationship between dhole habitat use and other large carnivores.
- However, the study findings revealed a surprising positive relationship between dhole habitat use and tiger, rejecting the habitat exclusivity hypothesis.
Way Forward:
- This unexpected result challenges the assumption of antagonistic interactions between these two species and suggests a more complex ecological dynamic.
Indian Air Force unveils new Ensign as it marks its 91st anniversary
(GS Paper 3, Defence)
Why in news?
- The Chief of the Air Staff, recently unveiled a new Ensign for the force, as it marked its 91st anniversary, by the inclusion of the Air Force Crest in the top right corner of the Ensign, towards the fly side.
- In 2023, the Air Force Day parade was held at the Air Force Station, Bamrauli in Prayagraj.
New Ensign:
- The IAF Crest has the national symbol, the Ashoka lion, on the top with the words Satyameva Jayate in Devanagari below it.
- Below the Ashoka lion is a Himalayan eagle with its wings spread, denoting the fighting qualities of the IAF.
- A ring in light blue colour encircles the Himalayan eagle with the words ‘Bharatiya Vayu Sena’ and the motto of the IAF is inscribed below Himalayan eagle in golden Devanagari.
About Air Force Day:
- The Indian Air Force, also known as Bharatiya Vayu Sena' was established in the country on October 8, 1932, by the British Empire.
- The first operational squadron came into being on April 1, 1933, with six RAF-trained officers and 19 Havai Sepoys (air soldiers).
- The aircraft inventory consisted of four Westland Wapiti IIA army co-operation biplanes at Drigh Road as the "A" Flight nucleus of the planned No.1 (Army Co-operation) Squadron.
- In January 1950, India became a Republic within the British Commonwealth and the Indian Air Force dropped its "Royal" prefix.
Air Force Day 2023:
- The theme for Air Force Day was “IAF — air power beyond boundaries”, which reflected the “inherent global reach of air power and how air power will prove decisive in future conflicts”.
- This is the first Air Force Day Parade to be commanded by a woman officer, Group Captain Shaliza Dhami. She is also the first woman officer of the IAF to command a combat unit.
- The parade had an all-woman contingent of newly inducted Agniveer Vayu personnel. The parade also included a flight of Garud Commandos of the IAF for the first time, as the they completed 20 years of service.
- The Air chief presented Unit Citations to four IAF Units — 16 Squadron, 142 Helicopter Unit, 901 Signal Unit and 3 Base Repair Depot for their contribution to the service.
