• The government has introduced a new set of National Awards in the field of Science, Technology, and Innovation.
• Named the “Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar” (RVP), these awards aim to recognize the remarkable contributions made by scientists, technologists, and innovators in various fields of science and technology.
• Eligibility
  • eligibility for these awards extends to scientists, technologists, and innovators working in government or private sector organizations, as well as individuals working independently.
  • The criteria for recognition include distinguished contributions in terms of path-breaking research, innovation, or discovery in any field of science, technology, or technology-led innovation.
  • People of Indian origin residing abroad are also eligible for these awards.
• The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar will be awarded across four categories.
  • The ‘Vigyan Ratna’ award will honour lifetime achievements in any field of science and technology.
  • The ‘Vigyan Shri’ award will acknowledge distinguished contributions in any field of science and technology.
  • The ‘Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar’ award aims to recognize and encourage young scientists under the age of 45 who have made exceptional contributions in any field of science and technology.
  • Lastly, the ‘Vigyan Team’ award will be given to a team of three or more scientists, researchers, or innovators who have made exceptional contributions in any field of science and technology.
• The awards will cover 13 domains, including Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Mathematics & Computer Science, Earth Science, Medicine, Engineering Sciences, Agricultural Science, Environmental Science, Technology & Innovation, Atomic Energy, Space Science and Technology, and others.
• The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar Committee (RVPC), headed by the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India and comprising Secretaries of Science Departments, members of Science and Engineering Academies, and distinguished scientists and technologists from various fields of science and technology, will review all nominations.
• The awards will be announced on May 11th (National Technology Day) and conferred on August 23rd (National Space Day).

• CM recently inaugurated the newly-renovated Bantony Castle complex in Shimla and threw it open to the public.
• The castle boasts of stunning Anglo-Gothic architecture.
• Bantony Castle was the summer palace of the Maharaja of Sirmaur.
• Before its construction began in 1880, the site had a cottage belonging to Captain A Gordon
• The building is said to have been designed by TEG Cooper; was later purchased by Darbhanga rulers; rented out to Punjab Govt.
• The building also housed The Tribune office after Independence till it was shifted to Chandigarh.
• Renovations include
  • The sprawling lawns of Bantony Castle now house two open air theatres, besides a provision for a light, sound and music show to help visitors trace the history of Shimla and its strong British link
  • The main structure has been restored, which has gallery halls that can be used for setting up a museum
  • The provision has been made to set up a cafeteria. Public facilities have been created for visitors.

• World Rhino Day is observed annually on September 22^nd.
• The day is an annual alarm bell reminding us about the importance of spreading awareness about the need to protect and conserve all five species of rhinos.
• Currently, three species of rhinos — black, Javan and Sumatran — are classified as critically endangered.
  • White Rhino-Near Threatened
  • One Horned Rhino- Vulnerable

• PM recently greeted the people on the auspicious occasion of Nuakhai.
• Nuakhai is an annual harvest celebration in the state of Odisha and adjoining areas of Simdega in Jharkhand.
• The word ‘nua‘ translates to new and ‘khai‘ means food – the name of the festival signifies the possession of new rice in granaries.

• Saudi Arabia, the world’s second largest oil producer, has slashed the premium charged on exports to India after India began sourcing the bulk of its energy requirements from Russia.
• Asian premium is an extra amount levied by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) from Asian countries above the actual selling price.

• In the last one month, seven leopard cubs at Bannerghatta Biological Park in Bengaluru have died after being infected by a contagious virus, feline panleukopenia.
• It is a viral disease of cats caused by the feline parvovirus.
• This is the first time a Feline panleukopenia outbreak has occurred at the Bannerghatta Biological Park.
• The infection results in sudden depletion of all types of white blood cells and affects the bone marrow.
• It also attacks the gastro-intestinal line. The visible signs include vomiting, severe diarrhea, nasal discharge and dehydration

• Navies of India and Singapore have begun a week-long bilateral maritime exercise, SIMBEX, in the southern parts of the South China Sea for which the two countries have deployed a submarine each.
• Indian Navy’s Rajput-class destroyer INS Ranvijay, Kamorta-class corvette INS Kavaratti, submarine INS Sindhukesari, and a P-8I maritime patrol aircraft are taking part in the three-decade-old annual exercise.
  • It was first held in 1994.
• SIMBEX is conducted in two phases.
  • The land phase of the exercise will involve table-top exercises and planning discussions while,
  • the sea phase will see the navies engage in various naval drills, including anti-submarine warfare and live weapon firing.

• The 6 km long underground tunnel for crossing the Tungareshwar wildlife sanctuary is now finished.
  • It is a part of Surya Regional Water Supply Project.

ABOUT TUNGARESHWAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

• It is situated in the Vasai-Virar area of the Thane district, Maharashtra.
• Area- 85 sq.km
• It forms a corridor between Sanjay Gandhi National Park (also known as Borivali National Park) and Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary.
• The famous Tungareshwar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva is situated here.
• The sanctuary’s diverse habitats including littoral forests and hills, which are home to
• Vegetation is Dry Deciduous, Moist Deciduous and Semi Evergreen type with species including teak, mango , bamboo
• Fauna includes- leopards, wild boars, barking deer, langurs, bonnet and rhesus macaques, among other animals.
  • Birds such as Crested Serpent-eagle, Jungle Owlet, White-eyed Buzzard, Oriental Honey-buzzard, Emerald Dove and Heart-spotted Woodpecker are also found here.

• Researchers have identified a new species of marine tardigrade and named it after the late former President and scientist A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

ABOUT TARDIGRADES

• Tardigrades are extremely tiny animals whose size is measured in micrometres.

• They are known for their extraordinary resilience and survival instincts.
• These water-dwelling animals also go by the rather unlikely moniker ‘water bears.’
• The marine species are smaller than their terrestrial counterparts and also tougher to identif

ABOUT BATILLIPES KALAMI

• The new species, discovered from Mandapam (close to Dr Kalam’s native place Rameswaram) in south-east Tamil Nadu, belongs to the genus Batillipes and has been named Batillipes kalami.
• Batillipes kalami is the second marine tardigrade to be discovered from Indian waters and the first one from the east coast.
• It is also the first taxonomically described species belonging to the genus Batillipes from India
• Batillipes kalami averages 170 micrometres (0.17 mm) in length and around 50 micrometres (0.05 mm) in width.
• It has a trapezoid-shaped head with sharp-tipped filament-like appendages (cirri) extending from it.
• All four pairs of legs possess sensory spines of varying length.
• The females are slightly bigger compared to the males.
• Batillipes kalami is the 37th species of the genus Batillipes.
  • Although Batillipes is a globally distributed genus, previous reports and studies are predominantly Eurocentric.

• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has recognised the bovine Mithun as a ‘food animal’, starting September 1,
• It aims to help farmers and tribal village communities to benefit commercially from the sale and processing of mithun meat.

ABOUT MITHUN

• The mithun is a ruminant species of the Bovidae family found in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.
• Scientific name- Bos frontalis
• It is state animal of both Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.
• It is similar to Gaur (Indian bison) but are smaller in size.
• The slaughter of mithuns is traditionally reserved for special occasions.
• On an average, an adult mithun weighs between 400 and 650 kg.
• Traditionally, the mithun is semi-domesticated and is reared in a free-range forest ecosystem.
• The animal is usually let loose in a community forest and has rarely required shelter or supplementary feeding, except for salt.
  • Since the soil in these parts is acidic and low in salt content, mithuns have an affinity for salt.
• Protection status
  • IUCN red list status- Vulnerable
  • CITES- Appendix I