Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 04 April 2022

::NATIONAL::

P-8I aircraft squadron

The Navy commissioned its second P-8I aircraft squadron – Indian Naval Air Squadron 316 – on March 29 at INS Hansa, Goa.

Why has the new squadron been named ‘Condors’?

INAS 316 has been christened ‘Condors’ after one of the largest flying land birds with a massive wingspan.
The insignia of the squadron depicts a ‘Condor’ searching over the vast blue expanse of the sea. ‘Condors’ are known for excellent sensory capabilities, powerful and sharp talons and large massive wings symbolising the capabilities of the aircraft and envisaged roles of the squadron.

Which aircraft will the new squadron operate?

INAS 316 will operate the Boeing P-8I aircraft, a multi-role Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Anti-Submarine Warfare (LRMR ASW) aircraft, that can be equipped with a range of air-to-ship missiles and torpedoes.
The aircraft is a potent platform for maritime surveillance and strike, electronic warfare missions, search and rescue, providing targeting data to weapon platforms, providing time-critical surveillance information for Indian Army and IAF, and is also the platform of choice for detecting and neutralising enemy ships and submarines in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The squadron has been specifically commissioned to be the home for the four new P-8I aircraft procured under the Option Clause contract and to ‘Deter, Detect and Destroy’ any threat in the IOR.
These aircraft have been operating from Hansa since December 30, 2021, and the squadron is integrated with full-spectrum surface and subsurface naval operations.

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National Bee Board

A National Conclave on“Production of Bees Wax” was organized by National Dairy DevelopmentBoard in collaboration with NBB, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

About NBB:

Reconstituted in 2006, it has been formed as a registered Society under Societies Registration Act in 2000 and promoted by theSmall Farmers’ Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC).

Objective:

Overall development of Beekeeping by promoting Scientific Beekeeping.
Increase the Honey production for increasing the income of the Beekeepers/ Farmers.
Beeswax is a food grade wax with a white colour when it is freshly prepared. Later the colour changesinto yellow because of the presence of propolis and pollen colorants.

Characteristics:

Inert with high plasticity.
Insoluble in water and resistant to many acids, butsoluble in most organic solvents.
Beeswax has uses as a vehicle for drugs, as an emulsion and foundation for cosmetics, inchromatography, used as a fragrance in soaps and perfumes etc.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

TAPI gas pipeline project

The $10 billion Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, with the upcoming visit of President Ram Nath Kovind to Ashgabat from April 1st to 4th.

About:

This 1,800-kilometre partially constructed pipeline, if and when completed, would transport 33 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually from Galkynysh in Turkmenistan to Fazilka in India.
Turkmenistan houses the sixth largest gas reserves in the world with close to 19.5 trillion cubic meters of reserves. Its main importer is China, which imports 35 billion cubic metres annually.
It has been fourteen years since India, Pakistan and Afghanistan had signed a framework agreement to buy natural gas from Turkmenistan in 2008.
However, though some part of the pipeline has been constructed, there has been a delay in construction in Afghanistan due to political instability.

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Maritime RescueCo-ordination Centre

India and Sri Lanka have signed a MoU for the Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) to set up a state of theart MRCC in Colombo.

About:

MRCCs are part of an international network under the UN’s International MaritimeOrganisationto monitor the sea lanes with the objective of swift response to emergencies, such as

1.   vessels in distress,
2.   rescue and evacuation of people,
3.   prevention of and containing
4.   environmental disasters such as oil spills etc.

Each country is responsible for its own Search and Rescue Region.
MRCC is coordinated by the Navy or Coast Guard in each country.

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::ECONOMY::

Sunflower cultivation

Government is emphasising on promoting sunflower area and its production in the country.

About:

Sunflower is an important oilseed crop grown in temperate countries.
Major source of vegetable oil in world.
India is one of the largest producers in world.
Major sunflower producing states are Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Orissa and Tamil Nadu.

Climate requirement:

Cool climate during germination and seedling growth,warm weather from seedling stage up to flowering and non-cloudy, sunny days during flowering to maturity.
Performs well in deep, neutral and well-drained light as well as heavy soils.

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::SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY::

Scientists Have Finally Sequenced a ‘Gapless’ Human Genome

Researchers of an international team described the first-eversequencing of a complete human genome.
Previous effort wasincomplete as DNAsequencing technologiesweren’t able to read about8% of the genome.

About:

Genome sequencing meansdeciphering the order ofDNA nucleotides, or bases,in a genome— order ofAdenine (A), Cytosine (C),Guanines (G), and Thymine (T)that make up an organism’sDNA.
A genome is an organism’s complete set of DNA. It includes allchromosomes, which houses DNA, and genes (specific sections of DNA).
Human genome contains about 3 billion base pairs that spell out theinstructions for making and maintaining a human being.

Applications of Genome sequencing:

Will give a greater understanding of our evolution and biology.
Identifying genomic causes of rare diseases and will be helpful in medicaldiscoveries in areas like aging, neurodegenerative conditions, cancer etc.

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