UTTARAKHAND
India’s biggest aromatic garden, opens in Nainital
An aromatic garden, with over 140 fragrant plant species from all over India, like Chandan, Tulsi, Parijat, etc., planted across 3 acres of land, was opened in Lalkuan, Nainital . The garden is the country’s biggest such facility, forest officials claimed. The project has been developed by the research wing of Uttarakhand forest department with Centre’s compensatory afforestation (CAMPA) funds.
The idea is to conserve, promote research of and create awareness around various aromatic species, officials said. “The aroma industry has huge scope. Villagers can look forward to a promising livelihood from nurturing these plants. Also, it will prevent these species from dying out. In the coming years, the garden will be spread to 113 acres,” said Veena Rao, aroma plant consultant from Maharashtra.
Work on the garden started in 2018, forest officials involved in the project said. They added that aromatic species from all over the country were brought to Nainital and conserved here, like Chandan from South India, Agarwood from North East, Kewada from coastal regions and Parijat from Terai zone.
The aromatic grass section has Java, Khas and Lemon plants while the aromatic bulbs section has Red Ginger (also called Pink Cone Ginger) and sand ginger plants. The aromatic roots section has Patharchur and Vach plants.
INTERNATIONAL
Green Initiative Forum By Saudi
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched the “Saudi Green Initiative forum
The forum was launched in Riyadh with the statement of Saudi Arabia’s new “green” objectives.
♦ The forum will address the environmental efforts made by Saudi Arabia with guests, including international personalities and high-profile government heads.
♦ Audi Arabia also announced the roadmap of Saudi Arabia for protecting the environment and facing climate change.
♦ This annual forum will serve as a platform for the launch of new environmental initiatives in the country.
♦ It will also monitor the impact of previously announced environmental initiatives.
Saudi Arabia also launched initiatives in the energy sector.
♦ These initiatives would reduce carbon emissions by 278 million tons annually by the year 2030.
NATIONAL
Agni-5 Ballistic Missile Test Fired Successfully
DRDO’s Agni -5 Ballistic Missile was tested successfully on 27 October.
Highlights
♦ The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested the surface-to-surface ballistic missile Agni-5 on 27 October.
♦ The test-fire happened from APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha.
♦ Agni-5 is a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which uses a three-stage solid-fuelled engine.
♦ The missile can strike targets at ranges up to 5,000 km with a very high degree of accuracy.
♦ The indigenously-developed surface-to-surface missile, Agni-5, is capable of striking a target of more than 5,000 km.
♦ It is about 17-metre long, 2-metre wide and has a launch weight of around 50 tonnes.
♦ The missile can carry a nuclear warhead of more than one tonne.
♦ The successful test of Agni-5 is in line with India’s declared policy to have ‘probable least deterrence’ that underpins the delegation to ‘No First Use’.
SAMBHAV Program Launched By MSME Ministry
The MSME has launched the SAMBHAV program to promote engagement of the youth in entrepreneurship.
Highlights:
♦ The program was launched with the aim to promote engagement of the youth in promoting entrepreneurship.
♦ The e-National Level Awareness Programme 2021 ‘SAMBHAV” was launched by Union Minister of MSME Narayan Rane in New Delhi.
♦ The mass outreach program will be a one-month long initiative under the Ministry of MSME.
♦ In the program students from different colleges/ITIs from all parts of the country will be encouraged by 130 field offices of the Ministry to take up entrepreneurship.
♦ During the campaign, the college students will be made aware of the various schemes being implemented by the Ministry of MSME through Audio/Video film presentations.
♦ Awareness programs will be conducted in more than 1,300 colleges across the country in which 1,50,000 students are expected to participate.
ROIP system Launched First Time In India
The ROIP, also known as Radio over Internet Protocol, was launched in Kolkata, India, for the first time on October 25.
Highlights
♦ The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SPM) in Kolkata has become the primary Major Indian Port to get a Radio over Internet Protocol (ROIP) System.
ROIP system is a long-range marine communication solution, to aid especially during storms and inclement weather.
♦ Using the ROIP mode of communication, the ships at Sandheads can be directly wired via Radio from Kolkata.
♦ The resolution shall cover the entire Hugli River Estuary from Kolkata to Sandheads.
Proba-1 Mini satellite Finishes 20 Years.
ESA’s Proba-1 minisatellite, launched two decades ago, on October 27, completed 20 years.
Highlights
♦ It is the oldest serving Earth-observing mission of the agency, and The minisatellite has survived fully operational for 20 years.
♦ Proba-1 is approximately the size of a hotel fridge that hosts two Earth-observing instruments and several technological firsts.
♦ It is the first in ESA’s family of ‘Project for On-Board Autonomy’ missions which started as a technology demonstration satellite and later became an Earth observation mission.
The proba-1 mission carries many low-cost, commercial-off-the-shelf systems and components.
♦ It is seldom described as ‘NewSpace before NewSpace’ as the mission delivers imagery to scientists worldwide.
