Cabinet approves naming of Greenfield Airport at Hollongi, Itanagar (GS Paper 3, Infrastructure)
Why in news?
- Recently, the Union Cabinet approved the proposal to name the new airport in Arunachal Pradesh as ‘Donyi Polo Airport’ in Itanagar’.
Donyi Polo Airport:
- The resolution was passed by the Arunachal Pradesh government to name the airport as Donyi Polo Airport, Itanagar.
- It reflects the people’s reverence of the Sun (Donyi) and the Moon (Polo) to symbolise the traditions and rich cultural heritage of the state.
Background:
- The central government gave its ‘in-principle’ approval for development of the airport in January 2019.
- The greenfield airport at Hollongi in Itanagar is being developed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) with the help of the Centre and the state government at a cost of Rs 646 crore.
- Currently, there are 131 operational airports in the country.
Airports inNorth-Eastern region:
- Currently, two airports, Tezu and Passighat are operational in Arunachal Pradesh.
- In line with the Prime Minister’s vision of developing the North-East region as the growth engine of India, the Donyi Polo Airport will be the third operational airport for Arunachal Pradesh, taking the total airport count in the North-Eastern region to 16.
- Till 2014, there were 9 operational airports in the North-Eastern region. Aircraft movement has increased by 113%, from 852 per week in the year 2014 to 1817 per week in 2022.
India flight tests phase-II ballistic missile defence interceptor AD-1
(GS Paper 3, Defence)
Why in news?
- Recently, Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a successful maiden flight-test of Phase-II Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) interceptor AD-1 missile with large kill altitude bracket.
- It was conducted from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.
- The flight-test was carried out with participation of all BMD weapon system elements located at different geographical locations.
Salient features ofAD-1 missile:
- The AD-1 is a long-range interceptor missile designed for both low exo-atmospheric and endo-atmospheric interception of long-range ballistic missiles as well as aircraft.
- It is propelled by a two-stage solid motor and equipped with indigenously-developed advanced control system, navigation and guidance algorithm to precisely guide the vehicle to the target.
Way Forward:
- During the flight-test, all the sub-systems performed as per expectations.
- This interceptor will provide great operational flexibility to the users and having capability to engage many different types of targets.
In a first, CRPF appoints 2 women cadre officers as IG of RAF, Bihar sector
(GS Paper 3, Internal Security)
Why in news?
- In a first, the CRPF has appointed two women officers from its cadre as Inspectors General (IG) of its specialised anti-riots unit RAF and the Bihar Sector.
Background:
- India’s largest paramilitary force with 3.25 lakh personnel has achieved this feat after a long wait of 35 years as the first women officers joined the Central Reserve Police Force in 1987.
- There have been women Indian Police Service (IPS) officers heading CRPF formations and at present there are at least three such officers in the force.
- The CRPF was the first Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) to induct women in combat in 1986.
- It has six such battalions at present with women constables filling more than 6,000 posts in these.
Details:
- As part of a recent transfer/posting order issued by the force headquarters here, Annie Abraham has been appointed as the IG of the blue duangree donningRapid Action Force (RAF) while Seema Dhundia has been posted as the IG of the Bihar Sector.
- This is the first time that the RAF will be headed by a woman IG. An IG is the head of the sector in the CRPF.
- Both officers joined the paramilitary force in 1987 as the first batch of women officers. They have also commanded an all-women Indian police contingent at the UN.
- They have been decorated with the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service, Police Medal for Meritorious Service and the 'AtiUtkrishtSewaPadak' during their service.
Rapid Action Force (RAF):
- The 15 battalions strength RAF is deployed for anti-riots, counter-protests and sensitive law and order duties in various parts of the country and is called in to assist state police forces during important events where heavy crowds are expected and also for VIP visits.
Bihar Sector of the CRPF:
- The Bihar Sector of the CRPF commands about four battalions of the force that are deployed for anti-Naxal operations and other law and order duties apart from some small units of the RAF and the jungle warfare unit CoBRA.
Gandhian, SEWA founder, and womens empowerment activist Elaben Bhatt dies
(Miscellaneous)
Why in news?
- Elaben Bhatt, Gandhian, leading women’s empowerment activist and founder of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), passed away.
About Elaben Bhatt:
- She was globally recognised as a woman leader who carried out pioneering work in organising the informal sector for self-employment and empowerment of women not only in India but across South Asia.
- She was the Chairperson of the Sabarmati Ashram and recently resigned as the Chancellor of the Mahatma Gandhi-founded Gujarat Vidhyapith.
- She was also a member of the Rajya Sabha and the Planning Commission in the 1980s.
International engagements:
- In 2007, she became part of a group of world leaders called the Elders, founded by Nelson Mandela to promote human rights and peace across the world.
- She served in many international organisations, including Women’s World Banking, a global network of microfinance organisations, which she co-founded.
- She also served as an Adviser to the World Bank.
SEWA:
- Founded by her in 1972, SEWA is one of the largest cooperatives working for women, with a base of over two million members from as many as 18 States in the country and in neighbouring nations.
Awards:
- She is the recipient of several national and international awards, including the Padma Bhushan, the Ramon Magsaysay Award, and the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize.
Curious collage shows rhino horns are shrinking
(GS Paper 3, Defence)
Why in news?
- The horns of rhinoceroses may have become smaller over time due to the impact of hunting, according to a recent study.
Approach of the study:
- The study relied on a repository of images maintained by the Netherlands-based Rhino Research Centre (RRC).
- They analysed artwork and photographs of the animal spanning more than five centuries.
Key Findings:
- Rhinos have long been hunted for their horns, which are highly valued in some cultures. The five surviving rhino species are still threatened by habitat loss and hunting.
- The study found that the rate of decline in horn length was highest in the critically-endangered Sumatran rhino and lowest in the white rhino of Africa, the most commonly found species both in the wild and in captivity.
- This observation follows patterns seen in other animals, such as tusk size in elephants and horn length in wild sheep, which have been driven down by directional selection due to trophy hunting.
Data used:
- The RRC’s repository, holds a collection of more than 4,000 rhino images, including artistic portrayals from as early as 1481 as well as photographs, of which the earliest was taken in 1862.
- The scientists used this repository for two separate research approaches.
- They studied 3,158 images to assess the changes in representations of rhinos and human interactions with the animal over the last 500 years.
- They also identified 80 images, including all five rhino species, to analyse changes in horn length over time.
Rhinos in European art:
- Rhinos have been featured in European art for half a millennia, providing a valuable source of information for the scientists.
- The Indian rhino featured more in early artwork, but the number of images of other species, particularly white rhinos, has increased since the mid-19th century.
- During the age of European imperialism (between the 16th and 20th centuries), rhinos were commonly portrayed as hunting trophies, but since the mid-20th century, they have been increasingly portrayed in a conservation context, reflecting a change in emphasis from a more to less consumptive relationship between humans and rhinos.
Panamaram heronry set to get a new lease of life
GS Paper 3, Environment)
Why in news?
- Panamaram heronry is set to get a fresh lease of life due to the intervention of the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) and the Panamaram grama panchayat.
What is Panamaram heronry?
- It is the largest breeding ground of different species of herons in the Malabar region.
- The heronry, formed on a sandbank on the Panamaram River, is a breeding ground for nine species of waterbirds.
- The tiny islet is a haven for globally threatened waterfowls, including the black headed-ibis, purple heron, large egret, median egret, little egret, pond heron, night heron, and little cormorant.
Human intervention:
- The site is also the only location in State where the cattle egret breeds. A few years ago birds like lesser whistling duck, jacanas, and moore bred on the wetlands near the site.
- However, human intervention has left a negative impact on the avian habitat.
- Earlier District administration tried to declare the heronry a bird reserve nearly eight years ago to conserve the avian population.
Watch tower:
- They are planning to set up a watch tower with binoculars on the opposite bank of the site to watch the bids and plant saplings of bamboo and vetiver to stop the erosion of the sandbanks during monsoon at a cost of ₹6 lakh.
What’s next?
- The KSBB granted a sum of ₹3 lakh for the conservation activities and the remaining amount would be met by the civic body.
- The construction activities would be completed by December-end and billboards on the avian population of the site would be erected on both sides of the road to the site.
