{"id":35806,"date":"2025-01-20T18:42:56","date_gmt":"2025-01-20T13:12:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=35806"},"modified":"2025-01-20T18:42:59","modified_gmt":"2025-01-20T13:12:59","slug":"news-in-short-20-january-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/20-01-2025\/news-in-short-20-january-2025","title":{"rendered":"News In Short 20-1-2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Kalaripayattu<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS 1\/Culture&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Kalaripayattu has been relegated to the demonstration section for the<strong> 38th National Games <\/strong>in Uttarakhand, scheduled to begin on January 28.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Kalaripayattu<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is an ancient <strong>martial art originating from Kerala<\/strong>, India, but practiced worldwide.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The term \u201cKalari\u201d in Malayalam refers to a traditional gymnasium where this martial art, known as Payattu, is taught.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mythological Belief<\/strong>: Some believe Kalaripayattu was introduced by <strong>Lord Parasurama, <\/strong>the sixth incarnation of<strong> Lord Vishnu<\/strong>, after reclaiming Kerala from the sea.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>However, historians date its origin between 200 BCE and 600 CE, with its peak popularity between the 14th and 16th centuries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"b99886\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Kalaripayattu-1024x576.webp\" alt=\"Kalaripayattu\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-35809\" style=\"--dominant-color: #b99886; width:496px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Kalaripayattu-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Kalaripayattu-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Kalaripayattu-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Kalaripayattu.webp 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Stages of Kalaripayattu:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Maippayattu: Body conditioning phase, preparing the body for combat.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kolthari: Training with wooden weapons (short and long sticks) for attack and self-defense.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Angathari: Training with sharp metal weapons after overcoming fear of wooden weapons.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Verumkai: Bare-hand fighting, with a focus on body anatomy and target points for strikes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Significance <\/strong>:\u00a0 It has been widely admired for its complex techniques, graceful movements, and the impressive flexibility of its practitioners, as recorded by chroniclers and poets over time<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>National Games 2025<\/strong><br>&#8211; Uttarakhand will host the National Games 2025 from January 28 to February 14, 2025.<br>&#8211; Over 10,000 athletes, officials, and coaches will participate in 38 sports.<br>&#8211; The mascot for the Games is \u201cMauli\u201d, inspired by the Monal (Uttarakhand&#8217;s state bird).<br>&#8211; The Games tagline is: \u201cSankalp Se Shikhar Tak\u201d (From Resolve to Zenith).<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source :IE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>BRICS<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/ International Organisations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Nigeria becomes the ninth partner country of BRICS, joining Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About BRICS<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Definition: <\/strong>BRICS is an intergovernmental informal grouping of emerging economies aimed at fostering cooperation and enhancing their global influence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Members:<\/strong> Brazil, Russia, India, China (these are founding members); South Africa joined in 2010; Iran, UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia joined in 2024, Indonesia joined in 2025.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Argentina was initially expected to join in 2024 but later opted out.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Background: <\/strong>The first BRIC Summit was held in Russia in 2009.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Importance: <\/strong>The BRICS grouping represents approximately 40% of the global population, making it one of the largest demographic blocs in the world.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It also accounts for an estimated 37.3% of global GDP, highlighting its significant contribution to the global economy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: TOI<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Securities Transaction Tax<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Economy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Securities Transaction Tax (STT) collection has surged by over 75%, reaching Rs 44,538 crore as of January 2025, compared to Rs 25,415 crore during the same period in 2024.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is Securities Transaction Tax (STT)?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>STT is a type of tax that is charged on the <strong>purchase and sale of securities<\/strong> like <strong>stocks, mutual funds, and derivatives<\/strong> on recognized stock exchanges in India.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is a <strong>direct tax<\/strong>, meaning that it is levied directly on the transaction value of securities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The STT was introduced in India in<strong> 2004<\/strong> to replace the earlier system of imposing a tax on securities transactions called the &#8220;stamp duty.&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The 2024 <\/strong>budget has increased the securities transaction tax (STT) on Futures &amp; Options (F&amp;O) of securities to <strong>0.02 percent<\/strong> and <strong>0.1 percent<\/strong> respectively.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/business\/securities-transaction-tax-collection-jumps-75-despite-market-volatility-9787626\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Nord Stream Pipeline<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Environment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Nord Stream subsea pipeline leaks released an estimated 465\u2009\u00b1\u200920\u2009thousand metric tons of methane into the atmosphere.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Nord Stream Pipeline<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>About: <\/strong>The Nord Stream is a major subsea gas pipeline system spanning 1,200 km under the Baltic Sea, designed to transport natural gas from Russia to Europe.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Key Features: <\/strong>Gas originates from the Bovanenkovo oil and gas condensate deposit in Western Siberia, Russia.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Components: <\/strong>Nord Stream 1 completed in 2011 ( Route from Vyborg in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, to Lubmin, Germany.)\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Nord Stream 2 completed in 2021 ( Route from Ust-Luga in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, to Lubmin, Germany.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Significance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Nord Stream pipelines are among the largest subsea gas pipelines in the world.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are central to Europe\u2019s energy strategy but have also been at the center of geopolitical and environmental debates, particularly amid strained relations between Russia and Western nations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: Nature<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Dark Oxygen\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ S&amp;T<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The recent discovery of <strong>&#8220;dark oxygen&#8221;<\/strong> production in the <strong>Clarion-Clipperton Zone challenges <\/strong>conventional understanding of oxygen generation, which has long been tied to photosynthesis requiring sunlight.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Findings<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Metallic nodules<\/strong> found 4,000 meters beneath the Pacific Ocean&#8217;s surface generate <strong>oxygen through electrolysis.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This process does not depend on sunlight, marking a paradigm shift in the understanding of oxygen generation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Potential Applications<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This phenomenon could provide insights into life in extreme environments on Earth and other planets.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Understanding &#8220;dark oxygen&#8221; production could assist in the search for extraterrestrial life by expanding the criteria for habitability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: NDTV<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>India\u2019s First Indigenous Surgical Tele-robotic System<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus :GS3\/Science and Technology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India\u2019s first indigenous surgical tele-robotic system, <strong>SSI Mantra,<\/strong> was used to perform two <strong>complex heart surgeries remotely<\/strong>, with the surgeon in Gurugram and the patient in Jaipur.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"8a8484\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Indias-First-Indigenous-Surgical-Tele-robotic-System-1024x768.webp\" alt=\"India's-First-Indigenous-Surgical-Tele-robotic-System\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-35807\" style=\"--dominant-color: #8a8484; width:446px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Indias-First-Indigenous-Surgical-Tele-robotic-System-1024x768.webp 1024w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Indias-First-Indigenous-Surgical-Tele-robotic-System-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Indias-First-Indigenous-Surgical-Tele-robotic-System-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Indias-First-Indigenous-Surgical-Tele-robotic-System.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About SSI Mantra<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>SSI Mantra is a robotic system that performs <strong>complex surgical procedures in Genito-Uro-Oncology cases.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is\u00a0 developed by<strong> SSI Ltd <\/strong>and it is the only robotic system worldwide to receive <strong>regulatory approval for telesurgery and tele-proctoring.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Its recent approval by the<strong> Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) <\/strong>paves the way for remote surgeries and medical education, allowing healthcare professionals to collaborate across distances.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Benefits<\/strong>: Reduced operation time, better precision, minimal trauma, lower blood loss, faster recovery, and reduced infection risk.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The technology aims to bridge geographical gaps in surgical care, making tele-surgery accessible globally.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Challenges to Wider Adoption:<\/strong><strong> <\/strong>High costs of robotic surgeries, which are currently more available in metro and tier-1 cities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Other Challenges included latency time, requiring\u00a0 good connectivity, and addressing potential technical problems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Source :TH<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>DDT-Infused Soil<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Agriculture<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Researchers from Sweden have discovered a method to reclaim infertile soil contaminated with <strong>DDT (Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane)<\/strong> by mixing it with biochar.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Biochar<\/strong> is an environmentally friendly material, akin to charcoal, that has the ability to <strong>bind contaminants<\/strong> such as DDT.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This binding prevents the toxin from being absorbed by soil organisms, thus limiting its harmful impact.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When mixed with soil, biochar <strong>improves soil fertility <\/strong>and helps mitigate the effects of pollution.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is DDT?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)<\/strong> is a chemical, first synthesized in 1874 and its insecticidal properties were discovered in 1939.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Though initially hailed as an effective pest control tool, its long-term use has resulted in serious environmental and health concerns.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Harmful effects:<\/strong> DDT tends to accumulate in the fatty tissues of both humans and animals, leading to long-term exposure. DDT is a <strong>persistent organic pollutant (POP).<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It was <strong>banned in the United States in 1972<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some countries, primarily in <strong>Africa,<\/strong> still use DDT to control<strong> malaria<\/strong> and other <strong>insect-borne diseases.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Indian scenario:<\/strong> India continues to produce and use DDT, primarily for controlling vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Hindustan Insecticides Limited (HIL)<\/strong> is the sole manufacturer of DDT in India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.downtoearth.org.in\/agriculture\/water-shortage-low-profits-why-mustard-sowing-reduced-by-over-500000-acres-since-last-year\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>DTE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Central Reserve Police Force\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Internal Security, <\/strong><strong>Security agencies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Assam police chief Gyanendra Pratap Singh has been appointed <strong>Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Central Reserve Police Force\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>About: <\/strong>The CRPF is the premier central police force of the Union of India entrusted with maintaining internal security.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Origin: <\/strong>Established originally as the Crown Representative&#8217;s Police in 1939, it stands as one of the oldest central paramilitary forces.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In response to escalating political turmoil and unrest within the princely state of India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ministry: <\/strong>Ministry of Home Affairs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Key roles of CRPF:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Law and Order: <\/strong>Assists in maintaining peace during protests, riots, and elections.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Counter-Insurgency Operations: <\/strong>Engages in operations against armed insurgents, terrorists, and extremist groups, especially in areas like Jammu &amp; Kashmir and the Northeast.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Disaster Response:<\/strong> Provides aid during natural disasters.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Specialized Units of the CRPF: Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), specializes in jungle warfare and counterinsurgency operations, particularly in Naxal-affected areas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Rapid Action Force (RAF):<\/strong> Focuses on controlling riots and handling public unrest.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/assam-police-chief-gyanendra-pratap-singh-appointed-crpf-dg\/article69115450.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Water Hyacinth<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Species in News<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recently, a group of fishermen were said to be stranded on <strong>Kenya&#8217;s Lake Naivasha<\/strong> due to water hyacinth that has taken over large parts of it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Scientific Name: <\/strong>eichhornia crassipes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is <strong>native to South America<\/strong> and was introduced to Kenya in the 1980s as an ornamental plant.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is an<strong> aquatic weed<\/strong> common in waterbodies <strong>across South Asia, including India.\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It was introduced to India during the British colonial rule as an <strong>ornamental aquatic plant.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is considered the<strong> most invasive aquatic plant species in the world.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"686f60\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"401\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Water-Hyacinth.webp\" alt=\"Water-Hyacinth\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-35808\" style=\"--dominant-color: #686f60; width:484px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Water-Hyacinth.webp 600w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Water-Hyacinth-300x201.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Concerns:\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Clogging Waterways:<\/strong> It grows rapidly, often forming dense mats that block rivers, lakes, and canals, disrupting water transport and irrigation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Disrupting Ecosystems: <\/strong>It reduces oxygen levels in water, harms aquatic life, and hinders sunlight from reaching underwater plants.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Economic Impact:<\/strong> The clogging can affect fishing, water quality, and recreational activities, leading to significant financial losses.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Efforts to control water hyacinth include<\/strong> physical removal, biological control (using insects or other species), and chemical treatments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/science\/invasive-water-hyacinth-threatens-fishers-livelihoods-on-popular-kenyan-lake\/article69115884.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>NDRF Raising Day<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus :GS3\/Disaster Management <\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Prime Minister salutes the brave personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on its Raising Day.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It was established in<strong> 2006 under the<\/strong><strong>Disaster Management Act 2005<\/strong> to specialize in disaster response.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It initially focused on law and order, later becoming dedicated to disaster response.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Its Motto\u00a0 is <strong>&#8220;\u0906\u092a\u0926\u093e \u0938\u0947\u0935\u093e \u0938\u0926\u0948\u0935 \u0938\u0930\u094d\u0935\u0924\u094d\u0930&#8221;<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Organizational Structure: <\/strong>It comprises 16 Battalions drawn from various CAPF forces (BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP, SSB, and Assam Rifles).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Each Battalion consists of 18 specialized search and rescue teams, with 47 members each (engineers, technicians, paramedics, canine units).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The total strength of the force is 1,149 personnel per Battalion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It operates under the unified command of the<strong> Director General, <\/strong>NDRF.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Key Milestones :\u00a0 <\/strong>The NDRF&#8217;s proactive and strategic deployment has effectively mitigated damages from various calamities, such as the Kosi floods (2008), Jammu and Kashmir floods (2014), and the Nepal earthquake (2015).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The NDRF has also handled Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) challenges and has been involved in international rescue operations, such as in Turkiye and Syria after the 2023 earthquake.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Noteworthy <strong>domestic operations<\/strong> include responses to the Balasore train accident, the Uttarkashi tunnel collapse, and numerous other disasters.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source :PIB<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kalaripayattu has been relegated to the demonstration section for the 38th National Games in Uttarakhand, scheduled to begin on January 28.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35806","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35806","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35806"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35806\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35810,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35806\/revisions\/35810"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35806"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35806"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35806"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}