Geographical Indication (GI) Tag
Recently, 4 products from Meghalaya received GI Tag.
- Lakadong turmeric: known for its high Curcumin content.
- Garo dakmanda: Traditional dress worn by Garo tribe.
- Larnai pottery: Black pottery from Jaintia Hills District.
- Garo chubitchi: Traditional rice based alcoholic beverage of Garo tribe
Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C)
Recently, Meity blocked over 100 websites based on inputs from I4C.
- Established by – Ministry of Home Affairs
- Aim – To deal with all types of cybercrime in the country, in a coordinated and comprehensive manner.
- Objectives of I4C –
- Facilitate easy filing of Cybercrime complaints.
- Act as an early warning system for Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) for proactive Cybercrime prevention.
- Awareness creation among public about preventing Cybercrime.
- Assist States/UTs in capacity building of Police Officers, Public Prosecutors and Judicial Officers
Pompe Disease
Recently, India’s first patient diagnosed with Pompe disease died.
- A rare inherited disorder that affects one child per million.
- Caused by – a deficiency of the enzyme acid alphaglucosidase (GAA) which breaks down complex sugars in the body.
- Results in the accumulation of glycogen in cells, particularly in muscles.
- An example of Lysosomal storage disease.
Miyawaki Plantation Method
South Eastern Coalfileds Ltd (SECL) will undertake plantation using Miyawaki method in coal belt region of Chhattisgarh.
- Pioneered by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki.
- Involves planting native trees, shrubs and groundcover plants within every square meter to create a dense canopy layer of tall trees in small land parcels.
- Species chosen are plants which can survive harsh weather and water-scarce conditions.
- Benefits – Forests grow rapidly; Utility in urban forestry; increase carbon sequestration, reduce air and noise pollution and attract local birds and insects.
Diel Vertical Migration (DVM)
DVM is synchronised movement of deep-sea marine animals up and down in oceanic water column over a daily cycle.
- Free-floating zooplanktons swim up to food-rich surface waters at night to feed when light is scarce and they are “hidden” from predators. They return to the depths before sun rises.
- Role in sequestering carbon –
- Animals remove substantial amounts of carbon from Upper Ocean as they feed on surface-dwelling plankton.
- When these organisms return to deeper waters, they carry carbon with them.