• In Ladakh, Tourism Department is adding another feather to its cap with plans to start Hydro tourism. Ladakh Tourism department in collaboration with National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, NHPC, is planning aquatic sports to begin Hydro tourism at the world’s highest hydropower project on the Indus river, near Alchi in Leh.
• The UT Tourism Secretary Kacho Mehboob Ali Khan directed the official to prepare DPRs and safety guidelines to start the execution of related works in the coming season.
• Aquatic sports like Kayaking, Jet Skiing, Motorboating, Ice Skating during winter, and boating during the summer season will be rolled out in a phased manner.
• Similarly, the tourism department is also introducing border tourism in cooperation with Indian Army.

• The 36th India-France Strategic Dialogue has taken place on January 5, with a focus on addressing China’s militarization of the Indo-Pacific region and ways in which the two nations can work together to counter it.
• In addition to the strategic talks, Diplomatic Advisor Bonne will also meet with India’s Defence Minister and External Affairs Minister.
• Though the Indian government has not disclosed further details about the content of the dialogue, it is clear that India is seeking to strengthen its self-reliance in weapons and hardware with the help of key allies like France due to Russia’s preoccupation with the war in Ukraine.

Aircraft Engines and Submarines

• One area where India is seeking French assistance is in the manufacturing of aircraft engines. India is looking for a transfer of technology to enable it to make engines for its indigenous twin-engine fighter, as well as the design and development of next-generation military and civilian engines for future fighter and transport platforms. The Tata group has already teamed up with Airbus to manufacture C295 tactical transport aircraft in Gujarat, and this partnership is set to be expanded to include the production of other civilian and military aircraft through a joint venture with France.
• In addition to aircraft engines, India is also interested in continued French assistance with the production of submarines. The Kalvari (French Scorpene) class submarine line is set to deliver its final submarine this year, and India is hoping that France will help to continue the manufacturing line at Mumbai Dockyards. The plan is to retrofit diesel attack submarines with indigenous air independent propulsion (AIP) systems for long endurance. It is expected that progress will be made on both aircraft engines and long-range submarines during this year’s strategic dialogue with France.

Indo-Pacific Security and Space Cooperation

• Another key topic of discussion during the strategic dialogue will be the Indo-Pacific region, where France is ready to help India with ocean bed mapping and the development of underwater drones and sensors. With the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China becoming increasingly aggressive in the Indo-Pacific, and rapidly expanding its warship and nuclear submarine force, India and its allies must be prepared for any eventualities in the Indian Ocean, which is fast becoming a new frontier. In order to ensure maritime domain awareness and security from the east coast of Africa to the far Pacific, India and France have formed a trilateral group with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• In addition to security in the Indo-Pacific, India and France are also working together in the field of space technology, sharing knowledge in an effort to counter China’s rapid strides in this area.

Terrorism and Regional Stability

• During the strategic dialogue, Bonne will also be briefed by Doval on the posture of the PLA along the 3488 km Line of Actual Control (LAC) between China and India, and the two leaders will discuss ways to bring both Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table to end the conflict that began in February 2022. Another topic of discussion will be the issue of radicalization in the region, particularly in the Af-Pak region, in the wake of the rise of the Taliban, as well as terrorism emanating from Pakistan and targeting India, as seen in the recent terrorist attacks in Rajouri by the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayebba (LeT) group.

• The Assam government has recently announced the recipients of three prestigious awards: “Asom Baibhav,” “Asom Sourav,” and “Asom Gourav” for the year 2022-2023. These awards recognize and honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the state and its people.

Asom Baibhav

• Asom Baibhav is the highest civilian award given by the Assam government and this year’s recipient is Tapan Saikia. A resident of Naharkatia, Dibrugarh in Assam, Dr. Saikia is a patron of the Deesikha Foundation and has made significant contributions towards generating awareness and early detection of cancer in Assam and Northeast States.
• Saikia currently serves as the Head of Medical Oncology and Research Director at Prince Aly Khan Hospital and the Director of Oncology Sciences at the Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre in Mumbai. In addition, he has worked as an MD and external examiner at AIIMS Delhi and Allahabad University.
• The Asom Baibav award comes with a cash prize of Rs 5 lakhs and the recipient is entitled to medical treatment at government expense for the rest of their life.

Asom Sourav

• The Asom Sourav award is given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their respective fields. This year’s recipients are Krishna Roy, Gilbert Sangma, Dr. Binoy Kumar Saikia, and Dr. Sashidhar Phukan.
• The award carries a reward of Rs 4 lakhs and recipients are entitled to medical treatment at government expense up to Rs 3 lakhs each year.

Asom Gourav

• The Asom Gourav award recognizes individuals who have made exceptional achievements in their respective fields. This year’s recipients are Debajit Barman, Rustom Basumatary, Manje La, Binanda Hatibaruah, Atul Ch Baruah, Shila Gowala, Dr. Jogesh Deuri, Dr. Pankaj Lal Gogoi, Sarbeswar Basumatary, Manthang Hmar, Dayal Goswami, Dr. Syed Ifthikar Ahmed, and Dr. Dhrubajyoti Sharma.
• The award carries a cash prize of Rs 3 lakhs and the recipient is entitled to medical treatment at government expense up to Rs 3 lakhs each year.

Why in News?

• Recently, a microbiologist from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the United States found the first known organism that eats viruses.

About Virovore:

• The organisms which eat viruses are called virovore.
• It has been identified as an actual species of protist that feasts on viruses.
• These virus-eating species of protists which are their kingdom on the tree of life and are not an animal, plants, or fungi are now classified as Virovores.
• It is a species of Halteria; microscopic ciliates that populate freshwater worldwide.
• The microbe Halteria is a common genus of protists known to flit about as its hair-like cilia propel it through the water.
• They’re made up of nucleic acids, nitrogen, and phosphorus. It can eat huge numbers of infectious chloroviruses that share their aquatic habitat.
• These organisms can sustain themselves with viruses, consuming many and growing in size.
• The new findings may change our understanding of the role viruses play in the food chain at a microscopic level.

Why in News?

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs recently approved the proposal of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting regarding the BIND scheme at a cost of ₹2,539.61 crore up to 2025-26.

About Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) Scheme:

• It is a Central Sector Scheme which provides financial support for the infrastructure development of Prasar Bharati i.e. All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD).
• This scheme will enable the public broadcaster to undertake a major upgradation of its facilities with better infrastructure which will widen its reach, including in the LWE, border and strategic areas and provide high-quality content to the viewers.
• Another major priority area of the scheme is the development of high-quality content for both domestic and international audiences and ensuring the availability of diverse content to the viewers by upgradation of the capacity of the DTH platform to accommodate more channels.
• Purchase of OB vans and digital upgradation of DD and AIR Studios to make them HD-ready will also be done as part of the project.
• The Project for modernization and augmentation of broadcast infrastructure also has the potential to generate indirect employment by way of manufacturing and services related to the supply and installation of broadcast equipment.
• The Scheme will increase coverage of AIR FM transmitters in the country to 66% by geographical area and 80% by population up from 59% and 68% respectively.
• It also envisages free distribution of over 8 lakh DD Free Dish STBs to people living in remote, tribal, LWE and border areas.

Why in News?

• Union Jal Shakti minister has recently convened a meeting of Punjab Chief Minister and Haryana Chief Minister to resolve the issue. However, the meeting over the issue remained inconclusive.

About Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal (SYL) Dispute:

• The Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal (SYL), is an under-construction canal to connect the Sutlej and Yamuna rivers.
• The decades-old dispute over the canal, which is supposed to carry water from Punjab to Haryana, has its origin in a disagreement over sharing of Ravi-Beas water.
• The river Beas joins river Sutlej in Punjab.
• The dispute regarding sharing of river water emerged after Punjab was reorganised in 1966, and the state of Haryana was created (out of Punjab).
• After this, Punjab refused to share waters of Ravi and Beas with Haryana.

Dispute on water sharing:

• Before the reorganisation in 1955, out of 15.85 million acre feet (MAF) water of Ravi and Beas, the Centre had allocated 8 MAF to Rajasthan, 7.20 MAF to undivided Punjab, 0.65MAF to Jammu and Kashmir.
• In March 1976, when Punjab Reorganisation Act was implemented, the Centre notified fresh allocations, providing 3.5 MAF To Haryana.
• Later, in 1981, the water flowing down Beas and Ravi was revised and estimated to be at 17.17 MAF. Out of this, 4.22 MAF was allocated to Punjab, 3.5 MAF to Haryana, and 8.6 MAF to Rajasthan.
• To enable Haryana to use its share of the waters of the Sutlej river and its tributary, Beas, a canal linking the Sutlej with the Western Yamuna Canal, was planned. The 212-km canal (SYL) was supposed to carry Haryana’s share of water to its southern parts.
• 122 km of the canal was to pass through Punjab and the remaining 90 km was to pass through Haryana. Haryana has completed its side of the canal, however, Punjab has continued to delay the construction for over three decades.
• In 2002 and 2004, the Supreme Court ordered the completion of the canal in Punjab.
• In 2004,the Punjab assembly passed a law, which declared all inter-state agreements related to the sharing of Ravi and Beas waters, as invalid.
• However, in 2016 the Supreme Court invalidated (cancelled) this law.

Why in news?

• Recently India’s Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert in the Delhi-NCR region.
• In Delhi, the day temperature settled several notches below normal and the minimum temperature plunged to 4.4 degrees Celsius, the season’s lowest and making the national capital colder than Dharamshala, Nainital and Dehradun.

What is a colour-coded weather warning?

• These are issued by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) for explaining the severity of the weather phenomena which has the potential to cause damage, widespread disruption or danger to life.
• These alerts are also issued during floods, depending on the amount of water rising above land/in a river as a result of torrential rainfall. Warnings are updated daily.
• The IMD uses 4 colour codes:
  • Green (All is well):No advisory is issued.
  • Yellow (Be Aware):Yellow indicates severely bad weather spanning several days. It also suggests that the weather could change for the worse, disrupting day-to-day activities.
  • Orange/Amber (Be prepared): The orange alert is issued as a warning of extremely bad weather with the potential of disruption in commute with road and rail closures, and interruption of power supply.
  • Red (Take Action):When extremely bad weather conditions are certainly going to disrupt travel and power and have significant risks to life, the red alert is issued.

India Meteorological Department

• It is the main agency responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting and seismology in India.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• It operates hundreds of observation stations across India and Antarctica.
• Regional offices are in Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Nagpur, Guwahati and New Delhi.
• It is also one of the six Regional Specialised Meteorological Centres of the World Meteorological Organisation.
• It has the responsibility for forecasting, naming and distributing warnings for tropical cyclones in the Northern Indian Ocean region, including the Malacca Straits, the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf.

Why in News?

• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Hindustan Copper Limited and the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad.
• The pact will address HCL’s need for technical assistance, guidance and consultancy works, among others.
• HCL, which is in its expansion phase, will be benefitted from this initiative.
• “The first technical collaboration with IIT (ISM), Dhanbad, is a momentous occasion for HCL, the only copper miner in India, owning all the operating mining leases of copper ore in the nation. Presently, majority of ore production comes through underground mode only and the level of ore production is hovering around four million tonnes per annum,” the statement said.

Importance of this MoU:

• Due to the complex geological characteristics of the ore body and the increased depth of mining, various geotechnical and ground water related issues along with technical/ operational problems are being faced during the process of production along with maintaining safety standards and dealing the emerging sustainability issues.

About IIT-IISM, Dhanbad

• IIT-ISM, Dhanbad, being an Institute of national reputation, particularly in mining minerals and its beneficiation and Earth Sciences, will play a key role in solving the emerging geological, technical, environmental, and, sustainable and ore beneficiation issues for achieving the envisaged expansion programme of HCL

About Hindustan Copper Limited:

• Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL), a public sector undertaking, incorporated on 9th November 1967, is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Mines, Government of India.
• It has the distinction of being the nation’s only vertically integrated copper producing company as it manufactures copper right from the stage of mining to beneficiation, smelting, refining and casting of refined copper metal into downstream saleable products.

HCL’s mines and plants are spread across five operating Units, one each in the States of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Gujarat as named below:

• Malanjkhand Copper Project (MCP) at Malanjkhand, Madhya Pradesh
• Khetri Copper Complex (KCC) at Khetrinagar, Rajasthan
• Indian Copper Complex (ICC) at Ghatsila, Jharkhand
• Taloja Copper Project (TCP) at Taloja, Maharashtra
• Gujarat Copper Project (GCP) at Jhagadia, Gujarat

• The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has begun a census of leopards in Una district under the project, ‘Population estimation of common leopard and black bear in Himachal Pradesh’.
• The project funded by the state government has first been launched in Una during the winter, as it is the warmest district of the state. The project will later be implemented in higher altitude areas after the winter.
• The census work, which has two years mandate, is being undertaken under the overall guidance of Dr Lalit Sharma, a scientist at the ZSI headquarters in Kolkata.

About techniques used to count wild animals

• Prior to 2006, pugmarks of animals were observed on soft forest surfaces. With new technological interventions, DNA samples from animal scat and photos captured by motion camera traps installed in forest areas are used to count animals.
• The ZSI scientist says besides population estimation, the project will also include identification of hotspots for animal-human conflicts and plans for their mitigation. He adds the instances of human conflict with black bears and common leopard prompted the Wildlife Department to undertake the project.
• Dar says the state’s forest cover is divided into grids of five by five kilometres. Each grid where the exercise is to be undertaken is studied on the basis of satellite images. Walking trails are documented and four teams comprising two members each, zero in on a designated location from four different directions, identifying potential routes that animals may take and spots for fixing motion cameras.
• He says that teams also collect leopard and bear scat, which not only consists of digested remains of the prey, but also a thin layer of the killer animal’s intestinal lining covering the scat. The DNA of leopards and bears is taken from these intestinal lining cells and sent to the ZSI laboratories for further analysis.

Reasons for increasing conflicts between humans and wild animals:

• The fragmentation of forestland is the main reason for increasing conflicts between humans and wild animals. The animals encounter humans while moving from one forest patch to another.
• The ZSI scientist says the density of prey species like pheasants, mountain goat, wild boar and barking deer is on the decline due to hunting, forcing wild animals to go near human settlements in search of dogs and other domestic animals.
• There is a dire need for a separate wildlife wing in Himachal Pradesh since forest divisions are only performing territorial activities related to conservation and processing of forest wood, pushing the issue of wildlife on to a lesser priority.

Higher Areas to be Covered Later

• The project funded by the state government has first been launched in Una during winter, as it is the warmest district of the state. Post-winter, it will later be implemented in higher-altitude areas too

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the investment for 382 MW Sunni Dam Hydro Electric Project in Himachal Pradesh by SJVN Limited, at an estimated cost of Rs 2614.51 crore including Rs 13.80 crore as budgetary support from the Union Government for cost of enabling infrastructure.
• Ex-post facto approval is given for cumulative expenditure incurred amounting to Rs 246 crore till January, 2022.
• Project cost of Rs 2,614 crore, included hard cost amounting to Rs 2,246.40 crore, Interest During Construction (IDC) and Financing Charges (FC) of Rs 358.96 crore and Rs 9.15 crore respectively.
• The revised cost sanctions for cost variations due to quantity changes (including additions/ alterations/ extra items) and time overruns due to the developer will be capped at 10 per cent of sanctioned cost.
• Keeping in view the aims and objectives of Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, the present proposal for setting up of 382 MW Sunni Dam HEP by SJVN will provide various benefits to local suppliers/ local enterprises/ MSMEs and will encourage entrepreneurship opportunities within the country besides promoting employment and socio-economic development of the region.
• The implementation of the project will generate direct and indirect employment to about 4000 persons during peak construction of the project.