1. Apache AH-64E Attack Helicopter

The Indian Army is set to receive the first batch of the much-anticipated Apache AH-64E attack helicopters from the United States.

Overview:

• Type: Advanced multi-role combat helicopter

• Also Known As: Apache Guardian

• Origin: United States

• Manufacturer: Boeing

• Users: US Army and several other countries including India, Egypt, Israel, Japan, South Korea, UK, and UAE.

Key Features:

• Length: 17.8 m (58.7 ft)

• Max Take-Off Weight: 10,433 kg

• Speed: Up to 300 km/h

• Range: 500 km

• Design: Features an open systems architecture enabling integration of the latest in communication, navigation, sensors, and weapons.

• Upgrades: Enhanced thrust and lift, improved survivability, cognitive decision support, and integrated infrared laser with night vision fusion.

Armaments:

• Primary Weapon: 30 mm M230 Chain Gun for precise, rapid fire

• Missiles: Up to 16 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, effective against fortified targets

• Additional: Hydra 70 rockets and Stinger air-to-air missiles

India’s Usage:

• The Indian Air Force already operates 22 AH-64E Apaches.

• In 2020, India signed a deal with Boeing for six additional units for the Indian Army.

2. Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)

Ethiopia has announced the completion of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile, with its official inauguration scheduled for September.

About GERD:

• Former Name: Millennium Dam

• Location: Benishangul-Gumuz region, near the Sudanese border

• River: Blue Nile (a major tributary of the Nile)

• Owner: Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCO)

• Capacity: 45 GW – Africa’s largest hydroelectric plant

• Construction Began: April 2011

Structure & Features:

• Type: Roller-compacted concrete gravity dam

• Main Dam: 145 m high, 1,780 m long

• Reservoir: Covers 1,875 sq.km, holds 74 billion cubic meters of water

• Saddle Dam: 4,800 m long, 45 m high with an emergency spillway

• Power Stations: 16 turbines (375 MW each)

Controversy:

• Egypt and Sudan have expressed concerns over reduced water flow.

• Both countries have called on Ethiopia to halt the dam’s filling until a mutual agreement is reached.

3. What is Television Rating Point (TRP)?

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has proposed changes to the 2014 TRP policy guidelines to better reflect India’s evolving media consumption.

What is TRP?

• TRP measures the viewership and popularity of TV shows.

• Higher TRPs indicate higher viewership and attract more advertisers.

Why It Matters:

• Helps broadcasters understand audience preferences.

• Influences advertising decisions and investment in TV content.

TRP Calculation in India:

• Agency: Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC)

• Technology Used:

  • BAR-O-meters: Installed in 58,000+ sample households

  • People Meter Method: Tracks viewing habits within selected families

  • Picture Matching: Captures and analyzes segments of TV content being watched

• The collected data is extrapolated to estimate national viewership.

• BARC releases weekly TRP reports every Thursday.

4. Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs)

Plastics not only pollute ecosystems but also pose health risks through microplastics and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs).

What is the Endocrine System?

• Comprises glands that release hormones—chemical messengers that regulate bodily functions.

What are EDCs?

• EDCs are natural or synthetic chemicals that interfere with hormone function.

• They enter the body via air, food, water, or skin contact.

• EDCs may:

  • Mimic natural hormones

  • Block hormone receptors

  • Alter hormone production or sensitivity

Prevalence:

• Out of 85,000 man-made chemicals, at least 1,000 are potential EDCs.

• Common examples: Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, often found in plastics.

5. What is a Roll Cloud?

A rare roll cloud was recently spotted over Portugal’s coast, surprising beachgoers amid an intense heatwave.

About Roll Clouds:

• Type: Rare, low-level, tube-shaped arcus cloud

• Appearance: Appears to roll horizontally and can span several kilometers

• Altitude: Typically seen at 2,000 to 7,000 meters

• Common Locations: Coastal or mountainous regions like the Alps, Japan, and northern Australia

Weather Significance:

• May precede severe weather like thunderstorms or tornadoes.

• Rapid rolling can signal intensifying storms, while smoother movement indicates calmer conditions.

What is an Arcus Cloud?

• A low, horizontal cloud forming at the leading edge of a storm front.

• Types:

  • Shelf Cloud: Attached to storm base

  • Roll Cloud: Detached and rolls independently

6. Garciniakusumae

A newly discovered species of Garcinia has been identified in Assam and named Garciniakusumae.

About Garciniakusumae:

• Garciniakusumae is an evergreen dioecious tree belonging to the Garcinia genus, locally called thoikora.

• It can grow up to 18 meters in height and typically flowers between February and April, with fruits ripening from May to June.

• Distinctive traits include up to 15 male (staminate) flowers per cluster, a reduced number of stamens per flower (similar only to Garcinia assamica), and fruit with blackish resinous exudates.

• The fruit holds cultural and medicinal importance. The sun-dried pulp is used to make a sherbet with salt and sugar, consumed to prevent heatstroke and quench thirst.

• It is also added to fish curries and used as a traditional remedy for diabetes and dysentery. The aril (pulp surrounding the seed), with its tangy-sweet flavor, is eaten raw with salt, chili, and mustard oil.

About the Garcinia Genus:

• Garcinia is the largest genus in the Clusiaceae family, consisting of around 414 species of shrubs and trees.

• It is distributed across tropical regions, with major diversity in Africa, Australasia, and Southeast Asia.

• Known for its floral variety and pharmacological significance, the genus thrives in lowland tropical rainforests.

• In India, 33 species and seven varieties have been documented, including 12 species and three varieties found in Assam.

7. DengiAll

India has reached 50% participant enrolment in the Phase III clinical trial of its indigenous tetravalent dengue vaccine, DengiAll.

About DengiAll:

• Developed by Panacea Biotec Ltd. under license from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), it contains weakened forms of all four dengue virus types.

• The vaccine mirrors the NIH-developed version in virus composition, differing only in inactive ingredients.

• Phase I and II trials in India showed it to be safe, well-tolerated, and capable of generating a balanced immune response to all four dengue virus types.

• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is coordinating the trial through its institute NITVAR (formerly ICMR-NARI).

Key Facts About Dengue:

• Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease commonly found in tropical and subtropical climates, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas.

• It spreads through the bite of Aedes mosquitoes carrying any of the four dengue virus serotypes (DENV).

• Dengue is not contagious and cannot spread from person to person, except from a pregnant woman to her baby.

• Common symptoms include high fever, headaches, body aches, nausea, and skin rashes. Severe cases may lead to dengue hemorrhagic fever.

• There is no specific cure; treatment focuses on symptom management.

8. PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan Dissemination Portal

The PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan Dissemination Portal was recently launched to enhance educational insights and planning.

About the Portal:

• This platform offers open access to performance data of students at the national and state levels.

• It is intended to assist states and union territories in creating targeted strategies for improving learning outcomes and addressing skill gaps.

About PARAKH:

• PARAKH stands for Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development.

• Set up within NCERT in 2023, it aims to standardize assessments across school boards nationwide.

• Staffed by experts in education assessment, both Indian and international, it works in line with NEP 2020.

Key Objectives:

• Develop norms and guidelines for student assessments.

• Promote capacity building in competency-based evaluations.

• Conduct large-scale achievement surveys.

• Ensure equivalency across various school boards.

• Implement Holistic Progress Cards at all education levels — foundational to secondary.

9. Gaden Phodrang Trust

The 14th Dalai Lama recently affirmed that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue, and Gaden Phodrang Trust will be the sole authority to identify his reincarnation.

About Gaden Phodrang Trust:

• A charitable, non-profit organization established by the 14th Dalai Lama to support religious, cultural, and humanitarian initiatives.

• Named after the historical Gaden Phodrang, which served as the Tibetan government under the Dalai Lamas until 1959.

• The trust promotes Tibetan Buddhism, preserves cultural heritage, and supports health and education for Tibetan exiles.

• It is based in Dharamshala and registered in 2011.

• The trust is managed by Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, former Kalon Tripa (head of the Central Tibetan Administration) and close aide of the Dalai Lama.

10. SAKSHAM-3000

In a move to bolster self-reliance in digital infrastructure, the government launched SAKSHAM-3000, a high-performance switch-router.

About SAKSHAM-3000:

• A compact, high-capacity (25.6 Tbps) data centre switch-router developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT).

• Designed to support next-gen digital infrastructure needs for large enterprises, telecom firms, and hyperscale data centres.

Key Features:

• Built for large-scale computing clusters, AI workloads, 5G/6G networks, and cloud infrastructure.

• Equipped with 32 ports of 400G and supports Ethernet speeds from 1G to 400G.

• Offers ultra-low latency, wire-speed performance, and uses a modular C-DOT Router Operating System (CROS).

• Supports legacy and cloud-native networks, with compatibility across Layer-2, IP, and MPLS protocols.

• Energy-efficient and optimized for time-sensitive applications with features like PTP and Sync-E.

• Comes with hot-swappable power and fan units, flexible licensing, and advanced QoS mechanisms including WRR and WRED.