Air Independent Propulsion for Diesel Electric Submarines
4.International Relations
Uighur Muslims
5.News In Short
PRASHAD Scheme
Singorgarh Fort 1.
Environment
Whale Shark
Why in News?
Recently, fishermen in Odisha rescued a whale shark.
About Whale Shark:
Whale sharks are the largest shark, and also the largest of any fishes alive today.
They travel large distances looking for food to sustain their huge size, and also to reproduce.
The whale sharks are called ‘filter feeder shark’ since they do not eat meat like any other sharks but filter sea water and feed on tiny planktons.
They could be as large as 20m.
Habitat: Found in all the tropical oceans of the world.
Common Threats:
Oil & gas drilling,
Oil Spills
Shipping lanes etc.
Protection Status:
IUCN Red List
Endangered
CITES
Appendix II
WPA, 1972
Schedule I
Science and Technology
Quasar:
Why in News?
Recently, an the most distant ‘Radio-Loud’ Quasar with the help of European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT).
About Quasar:
Quasars are very luminous objects in faraway galaxies that emit light at radio frequencies.
Apart from radio waves and visible light, quasars also emit UV rays, infrared waves, X-rays, and gamma-rays.
Most quasars are larger in size than our solar system.
Related Information:
Black hole refer to point in space where matter is so compressed and create a gravity field from which even light cannot escape.
Quasars are formed by the energy emitted by materials swirling around a blackhole right before being sucked into it.
Security
Air Independent Propulsion for Diesel Electric Submarines
Why in News?
Recently, DRDO successfully conducted the final development test of Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) System, required for diesel electric submarines.
About AIP:
The conventional type of submarine use diesel-electric engines, requiring them to surface almost every day to get atmospheric oxygen for combustion of fuel.
About Fuel Cell Based AIP:When equipped withAir Independent Propulsion system, this submarine will need to surface only once a week to take in oxygen.
The AIP, is one of the key missions of the Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL), DRDO.
The AIP equipped submarines will surface much less frequently, therebyincreasing their lethality and stealth
The fuel cell-based AIP of NMRL is unique as hydrogen is generated onboard.
In a fuel cell based AIP, an electrolytic fuel cell releases energy by combining hydrogen and oxygen, with only water as the by-product.
These cells are highly efficient, and also do not have moving parts, thereby ensuring low acoustic emissions of sound from submarine.
International Relations
Uighur Muslims
Why in News?
Recently, several Uighur Muslim women staged an International Women’s Day march demanding closure of mass incarceration camps in China’s Xinjiang Province.
About Uighar Muslims
The Uighurs are predominantly Muslim minority Turkish ethnic group, of Central and East Asian origin.
Their language is similar to Turkish, and hence they find themselves culturally and ethnically close to Central Asian
Currently, the largest population of the Uighur ethnic community lives in Xinjiang province of China.
Uighurs also live in the neighbouring Central Asian countries like Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
News In Short
PRASHAD Scheme
· Recently, The foundation stone was laid down for development of Maa Bamleshwari Devi Temple, Dongargarh, Chhattisgarh under PRASHAD Scheme
It is a Central Sector Scheme
It is under Ministry of Tourism in 2014-15
It aims for Integrated development of identified pilgrimage and heritage destinations.
· Also, Infrastructure development like entry points, last mile connectivity, Money exchange facilities, first aid centres nearby, etc
Singorgarh Fort
· Recently, the conservation works of Singorgarh Fort was inaugrated by the President of India.
· Location: Madhya Pradesh.
· It is a hill-fort of Gondwana Kingdom.
·Gond ruler Sasngram Shah had conquered the Singorgarh fort from Chandel rulers in early 16th century.