Prelims Facts Corner – 12 October 2023

Operation Ajay

India has initiated “Operation Ajay” to evacuate its citizens from conflict-stricken Israel.

  • It comes in response to recent conflicts in the region, including a Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent military strike on the Gaza Strip.
  • 2nd evacuation operation in 2023, following Operation Kaveri, which brought back Indian citizens from Sudan earlier.

Bima Vahak guidelines (BHG)

Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) issued guidelines on Bima Vahaks.

  • Aims to establish women centric distribution channel that focuses on enhancing insurance inclusion and awareness in every village.
  • It also aims to improve the accessibility and availability of insurance in every nook and corner of the country.
  • It is a part of IRDAI’s strategy to achieve its ‘Insurance for All goal’.

Petroleum coke (pet coke)

Supreme Court has asked Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to consider issues related to distribution of highly polluting pet coke.

  • It is a carbon-rich solid material derived from final cracking process of crude-oil refining.
  • Application – As a replacement of coal due to its higher calorific value
  • Properties – hydrophobic, less volatile and produces low ash residue
  • Uses – Cement manufacturing, lime kilns, industrial boilers, Aluminium Anodes, etc.

Dancing frogs

Dancing frogs of Western Ghats are considered one of the most threatened amphibian genera as per second Global Amphibian Assessment of IUCN.

  • Named so as they perform “foot flagging” in which males stretch up their hind legs one at a time and wave their webbed toes in air in a rapid motion akin to a dance.
  • IUCN – Nilgiri Dancing Frog (Vulnerable) and WhiteCheeked Dancing Frog (Endangered)
  • Preferable habitats – Areas with a thick canopy cover; often found near slow-moving perennial streams within the Western Ghats.
  • Threats – Invasive species, land use change, extreme weather, etc.

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