Solar Cycle
The Sun’s activity cycle is reaching its peak early.
- Sun cycle – 11 years
- During this, solar activities fluctuate between solar maxima (highest number of sunspots) or solar minima (lowest number of sunspots).
- Forms of solar activity – Solar flares, coronal mass ejections (CME), high-speed solar wind, etc.
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Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand
Army successfully test-fires rocket and turret guns of indigenous LCH Prachand (means fierce) which was inducted into Indian Air Force in 2022.
- Designed and developed by – Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.
- Only attack helicopter in the world that can land and take off at an altitude of 5,000 metres.
- Features –
- Firing air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles.
- Fitted with twin-engine named Shakti engine
Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary
Maoists allegedly initiated gunfire towards forest watchers within the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Location – Kerala (Kannur district)
- Rivers – Cheenkannipuzha and Urittipuzha rivers (tributaries of River Valapattanam)
- Forest Types – West Coast tropical evergreen forest, West coast semi-evergreen forests, South Indian moist deciduous forest, Southern hilltop evergreen forest and plantations.
Rajaji Tiger Reserve
Uttarakhand government decided to establish Rajaji Tiger Reserve Conservation Foundation.
- State – Uttarakhand
- Situated along the hills of Shiwalik ranges and in transition zone between temperate western Himalaya and central Himalaya.
- River flowing – Ganga and Song
- Forest type – Ranges from semi-evergreen to deciduous and from mixed broad-leaved to Terai grassland.