Current Context : Indian Air Force’s Su-30 MKIs will take part in 20-nation mega ‘Exercise Pitch Black’ in Australia held from July 12 to August 2.

ABOUT EXERCISE

• Exercise Pitch Black is the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) most significant flying activity for strengthening international engagement and enhancing our ability to work with overseas partners.
• Exercise Pitch Black 24 will be the largest in the exercise’s 43-year history.

It will bring together 20 participating nations and over 140 aircraft from around the world, with approximately 4,435 personnel participating.

Current Context : The Indian government would soon sign and ratify the High Seas Treaty, a new international legal architecture for maintaining the ecological health of the oceans.

• This agreement is known as Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdictions (BBNJ).
• The Ministry of Earth Sciences will spearhead the country’s implementation of Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdictions (BBNJ) agreement.

ABOUT HIGH SEA

• High seas are areas outside the national jurisdiction of any country because of which the treaty is also known as the agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdictions (BBNJ).
• It is formally called the Agreement on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction.
• It is an international treaty under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
• The high seas provide invaluable ecological, economic, social and food security benefits to humanity and are in need of urgent protection.
• The high seas begin at the border of countries’ exclusive economic zones, which extend up to 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) from coastlines. They thus fall under the jurisdiction of no country.

ABOUT UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAWS OF THE SEA (UNCLOS)

• It is an international agreement that resulted from the third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III), which took place between 1973 and 1982.
• The Convention, concluded in 1982, replaced four 1958 treaties.
• UNCLOS came into force in 1994.
• It has been ratified by 168 parties (167 States + EU).

Current Context :The Panchaganga river water level has been rising and would likely cross warning level of 39 feet soon in Kolhapur.

ABOUT PANCHAGANGA RIVER

• Origin : Prayag Sangam. The birthplace of this river is called Chikhlee Taluka, a small village in the district of Kolhapur, Maharashtra.
• It emerges from the Sahyadri mountain ranges of Maharashtra.
• It is an ancient river.
• It is a tributary of the Krishna River and joins the Krishna River at Kurundvad, Maharashtra.
• The Five Rivers; the Kasari, the Kumbhi, the Tulsi, the Bhogawati, and the Saraswati convene at the Prayag Sangam to form Panchaganga.
• The valley of the Panchaganga River is very fertile, and its sloping banks yield rich crops during the winter season.

Current Context : Weather agencies has issued an alert in coastal areas of Kerala and Tamil Nadu about the possibility of ‘Kallakkadal’ phenomenon.

ABOUT KALLAKADAL:

• It is essentially coastal flooding usually occurs in pre-monsoon (April May) or post – monson season by swell waves on southwest coast of India.
• It occurrs suddenly without any specific indications or warnings,
• Kallakadal term, commonly used by local fishermen, originates from a fusion of two Malayalam words: “Kallan” meaning thief, and “Kadal” meaning
• Sometimes, the phenomenon continues for a few days and the water level during high tides can reach as much as 3-4 metre above the maximum water level.

Current Context : The President of India recently visited Khandagiri and Udayagiri Caves in Bhubaneswar.

ABOUT UDAYAGIRI AND KHANDAGIRI CAVES

• Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves, formerly called Kattaka Caves or Cuttack caves.
• They are built on the Kumari mountain range and are the earliest examples of rock-cut cave tradition in Odisha.
• Udayagiri cave is also knowns as the hill of the rising sun.
• They were built around 2nd century BC by King Kharavela of the Meghavahana dynasty for Jain monks.
• There are 18 caves in Udayagiri and 15 in Khandagiri.
• The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has listed that Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves in the list of “Must See” Indian Heritage.
• The Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves are listed as one of the Adarsh Smarak Monument by ASI.

Current Context : Scientists have discovered the world’s oldest cave painting in the limestone cave of Leang Karampuang cave in Sulawesi, Indonesia, dating back at least 51,200 years.

ABOUT KARAMPUANG CAVE PAINTING 

• Its age was determined using uranium-based dating technology.
• Features : the painting in red pigment shows a pig with its mouth partially open and three part-human, part-animal stick figures, or therianthrope.
• Demonstrates the mental capacity of ancient people.

Current Context : Recently shutting down of Koo (India’s Twitter-like app) social media app has raised debate around Zombie startups.

ABOUT ZOMBIE STARTUPS

• It refers to startups that have raised enough funds (during the boom cycle) to operate but are currently not generating significant revenue.
• It refers as a firm that is neither dead nor living.
• Companies heavily laden with debt, barely able to pay interest on their loans, and at risk of collapse.
• They are highly dependent on banks for financing.
• Causes : Lack of market-suitable products, high cost of acquiring customers, funding winter,Inefficient use of Funds etc. can make a startup Zombie.

Current Context : Recently, Commerce and Industry Ministry has invited applications for PLIWG Scheme for White Goods(ACs and LED Lights).

• White Goods are large electrical goods and home appliances used for routine chores like refrigerators, washing machines, and ACs.
• Brown goods generally refer to Consumer Electronics like televisions, DVD players, stereos, and computers.

ABOUT PLIWG 

• Aim : to push domestic manufacturing of ACs and LED components, components that are not currently manufactured in sufficient quantity in India.
• It supports the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat and job creation.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Commerce & Industry
• It is a Central Sector Scheme.
• Launched in 2021 in pursuance of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• Tenure: FY 2021-22 to FY 2028-29.

Current Context : Gautam Gambhir has been appointed as the new head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team.

• He will succeeding Rahul Dravid, who ended his tenure after overseeing India’s victorious T20 World Cup 2024 campaign.

ABOUT BCCI

• Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the national governing body of cricket in India.
• Founded on 1 December 1928 at Madras (currently Chennai) under Act XXI of 1860 of Madras.
• Headquarters : Churchgate, Mumbai.

Observed anually on July 11

• Theme : Investing in data collection is important to understanding problems, tailoring solutions, and driving progress.
• Aim : to raise awareness about global population issues and their impact on sustainable development.
• This day underscores the challenges posed by overpopulation, such as resource depletion, environmental impact, and social inequalities.
• Established by the United Nations in 1989.
• The first day was observed on 11 July 1990 in more than 90 countries.