Zebra Mussel
Invasive “Zebra mussel” has been found for the first time in the Colorado river (USA).
- Habitat – Slow rivers, canals, lakes, water pipes etc.
- Characteristics –
- Uses filter feeders that siphon particles of plankton/ algae from water.
- Use root-like protein byssal threads to firmly attach to hard surfaces like rocks, native mussels, docks.
RAMSES (Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety)
European Space Agency (ESA) has announced RAMSES mission to study Asteroid Apophis.
- A planetary defense mission against a hazardous asteroid that will survey the asteroid’s shape, surface, orbit, rotation and orientation.
- Other Planetary defense missions –
- NASA’s OSIRIS-Apophis EXplorer (OSIRIS-APEX)
- NASA’s DART asteroid impactor
- ESA’s Hera asteroid detective.
- Asteroid Apophis – A near earth object that is expected to pass within 20,000 miles of Earth’s surface by April 2029.
Nine dash line
China and the Philippines reached a deal to end confrontation in the disputed Shoal island in South-China Sea which is claimed by China under the ‘Nine-dash line’.
- A visual representation of China’s claims on Chinese official maps and comparative maps of disputed claims in the South China Sea.
- Covers almost 90% of the South China Sea
- Overlaps with the Exclusive Economic Zone claims of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
- Claims by China under Nine-dash line were rejected by a UN Tribunal in 2016.
PM SHRI (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India)
Centre has stopped funding for the umbrella program for school education in three opposition-ruled states that have refused to implement its PM SHRI scheme.
- Centrally Sponsored scheme announced in 2022.
- Objective – Development of more than 14500 schools by strengthening selected existing schools being managed by Central Government/ State/ UT Government/ local bodies.
- Selected schools will act as exemplar schools showcasing all components of the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP) and offering mentorship to other schools in their vicinity.
Demographic Ageing
Amidst the focus on demographic dividend, the country is seeing a silent rise in its elderly demographic.
- A global phenomenon of increasing elderly population
- Possible due to – Easy availability of life saving drugs, Control of famines and various communicable diseases and better awareness and supply of nutrition and health facilities
- Scenario in India – There are nearly 104 million elderly persons (aged 60 years or above) in India
- 53 million females and 51 million males.