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1. The Uttarakhand government recently renamed Joshimath tehsil to Jyotirmath and Kosiyakutoli tehsil to Pargana Shri Kainchi Dham. Joshimath, historically significant as the place where Adi Guru Shankaracharya attained enlightenment in the 8th century, serves as the gateway to Badrinath Dham, a major Hindu pilgrimage site. Meanwhile, Kosiyakutoli was renamed to honor Baba Neem Karoli Maharaj's ashram located there, now known as Pargana Shri Kainchi Dham. These name changes reflect the state's efforts to commemorate and preserve its religious and cultural heritage associated with these revered spiritual locations.
2. In a tragic incident marking the first wildfire-related fatalities among frontline forest workers this year, four personnel from the forest department lost their lives while battling a wildfire in Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the Kumaon Himalayas of Uttarakhand. Established in 1988 to preserve the region's rich biodiversity, the sanctuary is renowned for its diverse flora, which includes dense oak and pine forests due to varying altitudes and topography. Binsar also hosts over 200 bird species, such as the Eurasian jay, koklass pheasant, monal pheasant, and Himalayan woodpecker. Historically, Binsar was the summer capital of the Chand Dynasty rulers, who governed Kumaon from the 7th to 18th centuries AD, and the sanctuary derives its name from the Bineshwar Mahadev temple, a 16th-century shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, according to local accounts.
3. Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF), derived from Chlorella sorokiniana, is highlighted by scientists at CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology for its rich nutritional profile including essential amino acids, proteins, peptides, nucleotides, polysaccharides, vitamins, and minerals, surpassing soy meal. CGF is extracted via non-chemical autolysis, preserving amino acid integrity. It enhances chicken feed, improving egg quality, and represents a sustainable protein source. Chlorella sorokiniana, an oval-shaped single-celled algae, grows rapidly, multiplying from one to 24 cells in 24 hours under sunlight and nutrient-rich conditions. Microalgae, like Chlorella, exhibit high photosynthetic efficiency, contributing significantly to global oxygen production. In contrast, macroalgae (seaweeds) such as Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta, and Phaeophyta, form kelp forests vital for marine ecosystems, supporting diverse marine life like fish and sea urchins.
4. Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have devised an innovative method to remediate heavy metal pollutants from groundwater, focusing on arsenic and other harmful metals. This process ensures safe drinking water by employing a chitosan-based adsorbent to capture toxic inorganic arsenic, which is then regenerated using a recycled alkaline wash. Membrane separation concentrates the arsenic-laden alkaline solution, recovering sodium hydroxide for reuse while isolating concentrated arsenic for further treatment. Microbial action in cow dung transforms inorganic arsenic into less toxic organic forms, facilitating safe disposal of treated sludge. This eco-friendly technique addresses significant water contamination issues in India, where many districts exceed permissible arsenic and fluoride levels as stipulated by regulatory standards.
5. Recently, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has implemented electronic transfer of duty drawback funds via the Public Finance Management System (PFMS) directly to exporters' bank accounts. Duty drawback, governed by the Customs Act, 1962, involves refunding customs duty on imported or excisable materials used in manufacturing export goods, aiming to reduce export costs and enhance competitiveness. PFMS, launched in 2009 under the Ministry of Finance, integrates with India's core banking system to manage funds for Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes, ensuring transparency and accountability in public fund management. This electronic disbursement initiative streamlines processes, reduces processing time, eliminates manual intervention, and promotes trade facilitation under the World Trade Organization's Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). It supports CBIC's goal of enhancing efficiency in customs operations and facilitating a seamless refund process for exporters, aligning with India's Digital India initiative.