Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) celebrated its 66^th Foundation Day recently on January 1^st.

ABOUT DRDO

• DRDO was formed in 1958 from the amalgamation of the then already functioning Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical Development & Production (DTDP) with the Defence Science Organisation (DSO).
• DRDO is the R&D wing of Ministry of Defence.
• DRDO presently is a network of around 41 laboratories and 05 DRDO Young Scientist Laboratories (DYSLs) which are deeply engaged in developing defence technologies like aeronautics, armaments, electronics, combat vehicles, engineering systems, instrumentation, missiles etc.
• DRDO motto- “Balasya Mulam Vigyanam”
• Headquarters- New Delhi
• DRDO’s major projects towards self-reliance and successful indigenous development
  • Agni and Prithvi series of missiles;
  • light combat aircraft, Tejas;
  • multi-barrel rocket launcher, Pinaka;
  • air defence system, Akash;
  • a wide range of radars and electronic warfare systems

• The project launched to protect pangolins has succeeded at Pench Tiger Reserve and Satpura Tiger Reserve in MP as the mammals have started to breed there.
• The pangolin conservation project has been launched with help of Wildlife Conservation Trust, Mumbai.

ABOUT PANGOLINS

• Pangolins are only known mammals that have scales made of keratin that cover their entire body.
• When threatened, they can roll into a ball to protect themselves.
• Also called Scaly Anteaters.
• These are nocturnal mammals that dig burrows and feed on ants and termites.
• Pangolins, and play a vital role in ecosystem management, mostly in aerating and adding moisture to the soil.
• Two Pangolin species are found in India-
  • the Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) and
  • the Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla).
• Protection status
  • IUCN Red list status
    • Indian Pangolin- Endangered
    • Chinese Pangolin- Critically Endangered
  • In India, pangolins, both Indian and Chinese, are protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 that prohibits its hunting, trade or any other form of utilisation.
  • All pangolin species are listed in Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Appendix I.

• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) put its first polarimetry mission X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) in a precise circular orbit of 650 km with six-degree inclination.
• It was launched by PSLV-C58 along with 10 other payloads from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

ABOUT XPOSAT

• XPoSat is the world’s second satellite-based mission dedicated to making X-ray polarimetry measurements after NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), launched in 2021.
• X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) is India’s maiden mission dedicated to analysing the polarisation of X-rays emanating from bright celestial sources in the medium frequency band.
• XPoSat will observe two kinds of sources — persistent sources (targeted and known sources) and transient sources (pulsars, active galactic nuclei, magnetars).
• XPoSat comprises two payloads- Indian X-ray Polarimeter (POLIX) and X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing (XSPECT).
• POLIX: It is the world’s first instrument designed to operate in the medium X-ray of 8 to 30 kilo electron Volt (keV) energy band.
  • It will observe a few tens of astronomical sources.
  • It was conceived, designed, and built at Raman Research Institute.
• XSPECT: It is designed to conduct fast timing and high spectroscopic resolution in a soft X-ray energy band (0.8-15 keV).
  • It will observe a variety of sources like X-ray pulsars, black hole binaries, low-magnetic field neutron stars, active galactic nuclei or AGNs and magnetars.

• Gujarat set a Guinness World Record on January 1^st after more than 50,000 people performed ‘Surya Namaskar’ simultaneously at 108 venues.
  • Surya Namaskar or sun salutation is an ancient Yogic practice of paying respect to the rising sun and comprises different postures or Asanas.

• Every year, Global Family Day is celebrated on January 1^st.
• Global Family Day is also known as World Peace Day as it speaks of the importance of bringing harmony and unity in diversity.
• The theme for Global Family Day 2024 is “Embracing Diversity, Strengthening Families”.
• Global Family Day was declared an annual event by the N. in 2001.

• Research analysts have found promising prospects for lithium extraction from Salton Sea.
• The analysis found an estimated 18 million metric tonnes of lithium reserves in the depths of the Salton Sea.
  • Lithium is an element that is essential for electric vehicle (EV) batteries and renewable energy storage systems.
• Salton Sea is a shallow, saline lake located in the lower Colorado Desert, southern California, USA.

• The Government, with the approval of the President of India, has constituted the Sixteenth Finance Commission, in pursuance to Article 280(1) of the Constitution.
• Former NITI Aayog vice chairman and Columbia University professor Arvind Panagariya has been appointed as the chairman of the Sixteenth Finance Commission.
• Ritvik Ranjanam Pandey, former joint secretary in the Department of Revenue, is appointed as the panel’s secretary.
• 31^st October 2025 is the deadline set for the Commission to submit its recommendations, so that they can be incorporated in the Budget exercise for 2026-27.
• As per the terms of reference of the Sixteenth Finance Commission, apart from recommendations on the tax sharing formula between the Centre and the States for the five-year period beginning April 2026, it has been tasked with-
  • reviewing the present arrangements for financing Disaster Management initiatives and
  • mooting measures to augment States’ consolidated funds in order to supplement resources available with Panchayats and Municipalities.

ABOUT FINANCE COMMISSION

• Finance commissions are independent constitutional bodies with a key role to play in the division of the Centre’s net tax proceeds between Central and state governments keeping in mind the fiscal needs of the states.
• All central taxes other than those meant for states and the specific surcharges and cesses levied by the Centre form part of this divisible pool of tax revenue.
• The finance commissions decide the extent of the Centre’s revenue to be shared with the states and the formula for dividing it among states.
• The commission is a key pillar of fiscal federalism.

• India has provided US $ 2.5 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East or the UNRWA for the welfare of Palestinian refugees.

ABOUT UNRWA

• Following the 1948 War, UNRWA was established by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949 to carry out direct relief and works programmes for Palestine refugees. The Agency began operations on 1 May 1950.
• The Agency’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance, including in times of armed conflict.
• UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN Member States.
• UNRWA also receives some funding from the Regular Budget of the United Nations, which is used mostly for international staffing costs.
• UNRWA provides assistance and protection to Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
• It reports only to the UNGA.
• UNRWA Headquarters are located in Amman, Jordan and in Gaza.

• The Valedictory Session of the 70^th edition of the Know India Programme (KIP) was held recently.
• The Know India Programme has completed 20 years, making it one of the longest running diaspora engagement programmes of Government of India.

ABOUT KNOW INDIA PROGRAMME

• Launched in 2003.
• The primary objective is of fostering closer connections between Indian diaspora youth and their ancestral homeland.
• Nodal ministry- Ministry of External Affairs

• The three week programme provides diaspora youth exposure to India’s history and cultural heritage, along with growth and development of modern India.
• It is open to Persons of Indian Origin (21-35 years) from all the countries, with preference given to youth from Girmitiya countries.
• Key elements of programme
  • visits to places of historical and cultural importance;
  • familiarisation with Yoga, Ayurveda, and classical forms of Music and Dance;
  • visit to institutions of democracy and governance like Parliament of India, Election Commission of India, Rashtrapati Bhawan;
  • interaction with leading educational institutions;
  • exposure to flagship economic and development schemes like Digital India, StartUp India, and Make in India; and
  • visits to industrial sites, public and private firms to highlight India’s strength in Manufacturing & Service sector.
• The participants are provided with return air tickets (with participants bearing 10% of the cost of airfare), and local hospitality including boarding/lodging and transportation, as part of the Programme.

• As per National Research Centre on Litchi, Litchi is being cultivated for commercial purposes in 19 states.
• More than 1 million hectares of land are under litchi cultivation in India as per latest official data.

ABOUT LITCHI CULTIVATION

• The fruit traditionally grows in the foothills of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand.
• Litchi is a sub-tropical fruit and thrives best under moist sub-tropical climate.
• It usually prefers low elevation and can be grown up to an altitude of 800 m.
• It is a rich source of Vitamin C along with B complex Vitamin.
• Its origin is from Southern China.
• India is second largest producer of litchi in the World after China.
• Climatic conditions
  • Temperature- 25-35°C
  • Rainfall- 1200mm
  • Sowing Temperature- 25-35°C
  • Harvesting Temperature- 25-30°C
  • Soil- Deep, fertile, well drained, medium texture soil is suitable for litchi cultivation.
    • pH of soil should be 7.5 to 8.
    • Litchi crop cannot tolerate high pH and saline soils.