23.02.25

Asperger’s

• What Asperger’s Syndrome is: It’s a neurodevelopmental disorder within the autism spectrum, impacting social communication and interaction.

• Key Characteristics: Individuals often have average to superior intelligence but struggle with social cues. Symptoms appear in early childhood and can last into adulthood. Includes challenges with social interaction, repetitive behaviors, communication, and motor skills.

• History: First described in 1944 by Hans Asperger.

• Causes and Treatment: The causes are unknown, and there’s no cure. Early interventions like behavior management and social skills training are beneficial.

• International Asperger’s Day Initiatives: The National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (NIEPID) organized programs across India to raise awareness and promote inclusivity on International Asperger’s Day.

• NIEPID Activities: Webinars and awareness programs were held by NIEPID centers in Kolkata, Jammu, Nagpur, Guwahati, and Jaipur. These activities included expert discussions, documentaries, and education on the condition, treatment, and support strategies.

• Focus on Inclusivity: The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and NIEPID are actively working to improve understanding and support for individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome.

Tonkin Gulf

• Vietnam’s Baseline Claim: Vietnam recently published a map defining its baseline claim in the Gulf of Tonkin. This is significant as it asserts its maritime boundaries in the area.

• Location: The Gulf of Tonkin is located in the northwestern part of the South China Sea. Its geographic position between China and Vietnam makes it a strategically important area.

• Bordering Regions: The gulf is bordered by Vietnam to the west/northwest, China’s Guangxi region to the north, and China’s Leizhou Peninsula and Hainan Island to the east. Bordering regions are relevant due to competing territorial claims and resource control.

• Connection to South China Sea: The Gulf connects to the broader South China Sea, a region with ongoing territorial disputes.This connection makes the Gulf of Tonkin an integral part of the South China Sea geopolitical landscape.

• Major Ports: Key ports in the Gulf include Haiphong and Ben Thuy in Vietnam, and Beihai in China.Ports highlight the economic importance of the Gulf for trade and transportation.

• Riverine Discharge: Many rivers, including the Red River, empty into the Gulf. This influences the ecology and resource availability in the area.

BOB-IGO

Here are the key points for news regarding Bay of Bengal Inter-Governmental Organisation:

• India assumed Chairmanship of the Bay of Bengal (BOB) Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) from Bangladesh at the 13th Governing Council Meeting in Malé, Maldives on February 21, 2025.

• The meeting was part of a conference focused on mainstreaming Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) in Small-Scale Fisheries.

• BOBP-IGO aims to improve livelihoods and quality of life for small-scale fisherfolk in the Bay of Bengal region.

• It evolved from the Bay of Bengal Programme of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations founded in

  Join Our Telegram Channel
  1979.

• Current members are Bangladesh, India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka. Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand are cooperating non-contracting parties.

• India is committed to building upon BOBP-IGO’s achievements and providing guidance for the fisheries

  Subscribe on YouTube
  sector’s development across member countries.

• Key areas for increased regional cooperation include marine resource management, training, research, addressing Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, and resolving regional issues.

• India seeks continued support from FAO, SEAFDEC, UNODC, and other organizations.

• Collaborations aim to strengthen the region’s blue economy, harmonize economic development with marine ecosystem protection, and alleviate poverty.

• India highlighted its developmental policies and sustainability measures for small-scale fisheries.

• India’s leadership is expected to advance the national goal of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.

Extinction Filter

• Extinction Filtering Explained: Human activities outside protected areas are driving biodiversity loss, leading to “extinction filtering.” Sensitive species disappear, leaving behind only those that can survive in degraded landscapes.

• Impact on Tropical Forests: The study focused on tropical forests, known for high mammal diversity. It found that human overpopulation is driving sensitive mammal species to local extinction.

• Key Threats: Forest loss and fragmentation, along with high human population density, are major threats to tropical mammal species.

• Beyond Protected Areas: Simply increasing the size of protected areas is insufficient. Human activities outside these zones, like deforestation and population growth, still impact biodiversity within protected areas.

• Consequences: Extinction filtering results in a less diverse and uniform mix of species, weakening ecosystems and reducing their ability to recover from environmental changes.

• Conservation Solutions: Effective strategies include creating wildlife corridors, sustainable land-use planning, community-based conservation, and strengthening buffer zones around protected areas.

• Global Implications: The problem of extinction filtering is not unique to tropical forests. Conservation efforts must address threats beyond protected area borders to truly safeguard biodiversity worldwide.

PMI

• What it is: The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) is a survey-based economic indicator reflecting business activity in the manufacturing and services sectors.

• How it works:

  • It measures changes in purchasing managers’ perceptions of key business variables.
  • It’s calculated monthly, separately for manufacturing and services, and a composite index is created.
  • Questions cover new orders, output, employment, supplier delivery times, and stock of purchased items.

• Interpretation:

  • A PMI above 50 signals expansion.
  • A PMI below 50 indicates contraction.
  • The magnitude and comparison with previous months determine the rate of expansion or contraction.

• News from the article:

  • Rapid restocking globally is boosting new export orders, particularly for manufacturers.
  • Service exports are rising, potentially benefiting from the rupee’s depreciation.
  • Input prices are easing, while output prices are rising, improving margins for goods producers.
  • Activity indicators show a recovery in the December quarter compared to September 2024. Early trends in January continue to show growth.

• Why it matters: The PMI provides early signals about economic expansion or contraction, allowing businesses and policymakers to make informed decisions.

Binandini Dance

• PM Modi’s Visit to Assam: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the Jhumoir Binandini (Mega Jhumoir) 2025 program in Guwahati, Assam on February 24th.

• Jhumoir Dance: This event features the Jhumoir dance, a traditional folk dance of the Adivasi tea tribes of Assam, with 8,000 performers.

• Cultural Significance: The Jhumoir dance is performed to celebrate various occasions, including harvest festivals, weddings, and community gatherings. It embodies the spirit of inclusivity, unity, cultural pride, and symbolizes Assam’s syncretic cultural mélange.

• Significance of the Event: The Mega Jhumoir event symbolises 200 years of the tea industry and industrialisation in Assam.

• Broader Context: The visit is part of a multi-state tour, with events also planned in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, highlighting government initiatives in healthcare, investment, infrastructure, and farmer welfare.

Bharat Tech Rise

• Bharat Tech Triumph Program (TTP) Launched: Initiative to boost India’s gaming industry, as part of the Create in India Challenge Season 1.
• Objective: To identify and showcase Indian gaming talent on an international level.
• Organizers: Interactive Entertainment and Innovation Council (IEIC) in partnership with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB).
• Participants: Open to developers, studios, startups, and tech companies involved in gaming development, esports, and related business solutions.Individuals and organizations with working prototype.
• Global Exposure: Winners get sponsored opportunity to present at Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2025 in San Francisco and WAVES in India.
• GDC Importance: Premier event for game developers, focused on creativity, innovation, and excellence.
• WAVES Importance: World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit, a key forum promoting discussion and collaboration in Media and Entertainment (M&E) sector. A hub and spoke platform poised for convergence of the entire M&E sector, especially AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and XR technologies).
• Evaluation Criteria: Focuses on the product, pitch, and team’s potential for success.
• Tech Triumph Season 3: Over 1078 registrations, indicating strong momentum in elevating India’s gaming ecosystem (applications closed Feb 20, 2025).
• Prize: Showcase products, IP and tech at GDC and WAVES, gaining international exposure and connect with leaders.

Palamu Tigers

• Tiger Relocation: For the first time in Jharkhand, a tiger that strayed from Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) into Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary and areas of West Bengal will be relocated back to PTR. A proposal has been sent to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for approval.
• Reason for Relocation: The tiger has been terrorizing villagers in Jamshedpur and Purulia, hunting cattle, and is reportedly starving in Dalma.
• Procedure: The tiger will be tranquilized and relocated. A team from the Wildlife Institute in Delhi will be present.
• PTR Context: Palamu Tiger Reserve is located in the Chhota Nagpur plateau region of Jharkhand and forms a part of Betla National Park.
• Historical Significance: PTR was one of the first 9 tiger reserves in India under ‘Project Tiger’ and the first in the world to conduct a tiger census via pugmark count (1932).
• Geography: The North Koyal, Auranga, and Burha rivers flow through PTR.
• Ecosystem: Primarily Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous Sal Forest.
• Biodiversity: Home to tiger, Asiatic elephant, leopard, grey wolf, gaur, and sloth bear, among other species.
• NTCA Oversight: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Perovskite NCs

• Innovation in Perovskite Nanocrystals: Researchers at the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru, have developed a new method to minimize anion migration in CsPbX₃ perovskite nanocrystals.

• Significance: This innovation reduces sensitivity to heat, moisture, and color instability in perovskite nanocrystals, leading to more efficient and durable optoelectronic devices.

• Context: The research addresses a key challenge hindering the widespread use of Perovskite LEDs (PeLEDs), which are promising for next-generation lighting due to their potential to combine the advantages of OLEDs and QLEDs.

• Technical Approach: The researchers synthesized green light-emitting CsPbBr₃ nanocrystals using the hot injection method. They used oleylamine as the passivating ligand. The process involves argon-oxygen (Ar-O₂) plasma treatment to create a cross-linked, hydrophobic layer that stabilizes the ligands, thereby slowing anion exchange.

• Impact: This method significantly improves the color stability of perovskite nanocrystals by several orders of magnitude and provides insights into stabilizing perovskite nanocrystals, paving the way for efficient, durable optoelectronic devices.

• Applications: Perovskite nanocrystals have wide applications in optoelectronics, including photovoltaic solar cells, photodetectors, and light-emitting devices, with the potential to revolutionize next-generation lighting.

Bhavani River

• Unsafe Drinking Water: Bhavani River water at Palaiyur village (Jadayampalayam panchayat) is unsafe for drinking due to contamination from untreated effluents released by dyeing units. This was confirmed by the public health and preventive medicines department of Tamil Nadu.
• Source of Contamination: Illegal dyeing units near the river bank are identified as the source of pollution.
• Local Response: Following the report, seven illegal dyeing units were shut down near the river bank by the local body.
• Water Supply Affected: The contaminated water is supplied daily for drinking to several village panchayats and town panchayats including Jadayampalayam, Annur, Avinashi, Sulur and Sirumugai.
• Resident Concerns: Residents reported black-colored water and health issues (fever, cough).
• Water Quality Tests: Tests revealed the presence of dirt, harmful bacteria, and microbes in the water. Direct pumping from the river without effective purification (slow sand filter) makes the water unsafe.
• Location and Significance: The Bhavani River flows through three districts of Tamil Nadu, and it is the second largest river in Tamil Nadu, used for 90% of its water for agricultural purpose.
• Origin and Tributary: It originates in the Nilgiris of the Western Ghats and its major tributaries are the West and East Varagar.
• Other information: The Bhavanisagar dam, one of the world’s largest earthen dams, is constructed on this River.