MAHA EV Mission
Mission for Advancement of High-impact Areas on Electric Vehicles (MAHA-EV) Mission was announced by ANF
- Launch & Objective: Initiated by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) in October 2024, aiming to advance India’s EV technology and reduce import dependency.
- Key Focus Areas: Development of tropical EV batteries, power electronics & drives, and EV charging infrastructure.
- Strategic Importance: Supports Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047, promoting domestic innovation.
- Industry-Academia Collaboration: Seven e-Nodes (research groups) work on EV technology, bridging academia and industry.
- Global Positioning: Strengthens India’s EV component development, enhancing competitiveness in the global market
Luna 12
Faroe Islands Space Program’s initiative is harnessing the gravitational pull of Moon to generate electricity through Luna 12.
- A tidal kite that captures underwater currents off the Faroe Islands’ coast, converting them into renewable power.
- Tidal Kites is a type of underwater turbine that generates electricity by harnessing power of ocean currents and tides driven by Moon’s Gravitational Pull.
- Part of Swedish company Minesto’s Dragon Class of tidal kites.
- Tidal Energy offers predictable and consistent renewable energy unlike solar or wind energy.
MICE Industry
Ministry of Tourism and Culture aims to elevate at least 10 Indian cities into the world’s top Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) destinations.
- A key driver of business tourism, contributing to India’s GDP growth and employment.
- Government Initiatives: The ‘Meet in India’ program promotes India as a global MICE hub, enhancing infrastructure.
- Major Venues: Includes Bharat Mandapam (Delhi), Yashobhoomi (Dwarka), Jio World Centre (Mumbai).
- Global Ranking: India ranks 28th in the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) rankings, with 158 meetings in 2019.
- Public-Private Partnerships: Government collaborates with private firms to boost event management efficiency and international standards
Air Glow
Airglow has been captured above the La Silla Observatory in Chile’s Atacama Desert.
- A faint natural luminescence in the Earth’s atmosphere caused by chemical reactions in the upper layers.
- Types: Includes dayglow, twilightglow, and nightglow, each formed by different atmospheric interactions.
- Scientific Importance: Helps study space weather, atmospheric waves, and interactions between terrestrial and space environments.
- NASA’s Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE): Mounted on the International Space Station (ISS) to map airglow patterns.
- Distinction from Auroras: Unlike auroras, airglow is continuous, occurs globally, and is driven by solar radiation rather than charged particles
Operation Shiva
Indian Security Forces Launches Operation Shiva
- Launched by the Indian Army to prevent terrorist attacks on the Amarnath Yatra.
- Threat Assessment: Intelligence reports indicated Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) planned attacks to avenge the Balakot air strikes.
- Security Measures: Roads to Chandawari and Baltal were secured, and anti-sabotage operations were conducted.