Create in India Challenge
Create in India Challenge (CIC) Season 1 launched
- Launched to boost the creators’ economy by promoting innovation in fields like animation, filmmaking, gaming, music, and visual arts.
- Part of the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2024, aiming to generate 2-3 lakh jobs in the media and entertainment sector.
- Focus Areas: Encourages skill development, infrastructure building, and global promotion of India’s cultural heritage, including yoga, traditional medicine, and cuisines.
- Aligns with the vision of “Design in India, Design for the World,” fostering economic growth and cultural diplomacy.
Stegodon Ganesa
Rare fossils of the extinct Stegodon Ganesa have been found in the Wardha-Penganga riverbed.
- An extinct species of elephant-like mammals from the Pleistocene epoch, known for its large tusks and unique dental structure.
- Fossil Discoveries: Found in regions like the Siwalik Hills, providing insights into prehistoric fauna and climatic conditions.
Paste Fill Technology
South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) becomes the first coal PSU in India to use Paste Fill Technology in underground mining
- A modern underground mining method where mined-out voids are filled with a paste made from fly ash, overburden, cement, and water.
- Environmental Benefits – Promotes waste recycling by utilizing industrial by-products, reducing environmental degradation.
Operation ATALANTA
Operation ATALANTA has proposed a joint exercise with the Indian Navy.
- Initiated by the European Union in 2008 as a counter-piracy mission in the Western Indian Ocean and Red Sea.
- Objectives – Protect World Food Programme (WFP) vessels, monitor arms embargoes on Somalia, and combat illegal fishing and piracy.
Ras Isa Port
US airstrikes Houthi-controlled Ras Isa port
- A key port on the Red Sea coast of Yemen
- Strategic Importance: Vital for global oil trade and geopolitics in the Middle East.
- Operations have been disrupted due to the ongoing Yemeni civil war, affecting regional stability and trade.