HIMACHAL PRADESH

 

Study on Snow Leopard in Himachal Pradesh

 

A new study based on the scientific enumeration of this elusive animal indicates that up to 73 snow leopards (Panthera uncia) may be hidden in the high-altitude hills of Himalayas. Conservation of Snow Leopard:

 

India has been protecting snow leopards and their habitats through the Project Snow Leopard (PSL). Since 2013, India has been a party of the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) program. In order to protect, India has identified three major landscapes, namely Hemis-Spiti across Ladakh and Himalayas; Nanda Devi-Gangotri in Uttarakhand, And Khangchendzonga-Tawang, which straddles Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

 

The Snow Leopard Project (PSL) was launched in 2009 to promote an inclusive and participatory approach to protecting snow leopards and their habitats. According to the restoration plan of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, snow leopards have been included in the list of 21 critically endangered species.

 

Habitat: Snow leopards inhabit the high landforms of the Himalayas and trans-Himalayas in five states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himalayas, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. In Himachal Pradesh, the snow leopard habitat covers most of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. Its potential habitat also extends to the upper areas of Shimla, Kuru, Camba and Kangra. Most of these areas are remote areas, and winter also limits accessibility challenges.

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL

 

First Human Case of Monkey B Virus

 

China has reported the 1st human infection case with the Monkey B virus (BV). Monkey B virus is an alphaherpesvirus enzootic (endemic) in macaques, and it was initially isolated in 1932.

Highlights:

Alphaherpesviruses are pathogens or neuroinvasive viruses that establish lifelong infections in the peripheral nervous system of humans and many other vertebrates.

B virus is commonly referred to as herpes B, herpes virus simiae, and herpesvirus B.

B virus can survive for hours on surfaces, exceptionally when moist.

 

 

Updation of Motto of the Olympics

 

The Motto of Olympics was updated to Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together from Faster, Higher, Stronger, on 20th July 2021. Motto updation was done to show solidarity around the globe at the time of the Covid-19 pandemic. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has approved the change.

The Olympic motto was Citius, Altius, Fortius (in Latin) or Faster, Higher, Stronger (in English), from 1894, when it was adopted at the suggestion of Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the IOC (International Olympic Committee).
Citius, Altius, Fortius, Communiter is the Latin version of the new motto.

Ski mountaineering was approved as an extra sport for the Milan-Cortina Winter Games which is to be in 2026. Ski mountaineering sport involves climbing mountains either by carrying the skies or on them and then descending on skies. Ski mountaineering is a prevalent sport in Italy. Five medal events for this category were planned at the 2026 Games.

 

 

NATIONAL

 

New Generation of Akash Surface-to-Air missile

 

The DRDO successfully flight-tested a new generation of Akash surface-to-air missiles from an integrated test range off the coast of Odisha, enhancing air defence capabilities. Compared with the original version, the new variant of Akash-NG has a slightly better range and can strike targets at a distance of about 25 kilometers. During testing, the missile demonstrated the high manoeuvrability required to eliminate rapid and agile aerial threats.

 

Akash is India’s first indigenously manufactured medium-range Surface-to-Air missile capable of engaging multiple targets from multiple directions.

 

It is capable of being launched from mobile platforms such as battle tanks or wheeled trucks. It has a kill probability of nearly 90%.

The missile is aided by an indigenously developed radar known as ‘Rajendra,’ which is capable of handling multiple targets from multiple directions in group or autonomous mode.

 

Indigenously Developed MPATGM for Minimum Range

 

 

In a major push for AatmaNirbhar Bharat and the strengthening of the Indian army, DRDO successfully conducted flight tests on the indigenously developed low-weight, firepower and forget Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM).

The test successfully validated the minimum range.
The maximum range of the missile has already been successfully flight tested.
The missile is equipped with the most advanced miniature infrared imaging seeker and advanced avionics.

The test made the development of an indigenous third-generation MPATGM nearly completed.

 

Sero Survey – Population Affected by Covid

 

Antibodies against the coronavirus are present in two-thirds of India’s population. 67.6    percent of adults were seropositive, and more than 62 percent were unvaccinated. Around 400 million of India’s 1.4 billion people do not have antibodies

About the Sero Survey:

♦ Sero studies are often called sero surveys, which check how many people in the population are infected with COVID-19.
The sero survey roughly shows the following points: 
♦ The percentage (%) of the population that has been infected with the virus.
♦ Which groups have more exposure or higher infection rates
♦ The progress of the infection rate in a specific area.
♦ How close are we to herd immunity