Hindu Notes from General Studies-01

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History uncovered from underwater cave

News:

• Archaeologists explored the world’s largest underwater cave recently discovered in Mexico, presented  findings, including fossils of giant sloths and an elaborate shrine of the Mayan god of commerce.

Beyond News

• Researchers discovered last month that two large networks of underwater caves in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, the Sac Actun and Dos Ojos networks, are in fact connected, forming the largest such structure on Earth.
• Diving with SCUBA gear, they have been exploring the ancient relics left in the caves over the millenia, in a project sponsored by Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).
• Researchers believe that the water level in the caves has fluctuated over time, and that they were a source of water in times of severe drought sometimes a perilous one.
• Some of the animals and humans who ventured inside never made it out alive.
• Today, their remains are a treasure trove for scientists, enabling them to piece together bits of the cave’s history dating all the way back to the Pleistocene epoch (2.6 million to 11,700 years ago).
• The animal remains include gomphotheres an extinct elephant-like animal  as well as giant sloths and bears, archaeologists told a press conference.
• Then there are the artefacts left inside by humans: burnt human bones, ceramics, wall etchings and more.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-02

Pakistan chopper comes near LoC in J&K’s Poonch sector

News

• Defence sources said that,an air violation was reported by a Pakistan military helicopter on February 21 as it came close to the Line of Control on their side.

Beyond News

• A defense source also said that ,a Pakistan helicopter came within 300m of the LoC on their side and went back. The incident occurred in the Poonch general area. No firing or hostile action was undertaken by either side.
• As per agreed norms between India and Pakistan on the LoC, rotary wing aircraft cannot come within 1 km and fixed wing aircraft within 10 km of the LoC.
• Confirming the movement of the chopper in Poonch, Army officials said the Pakistani helicopter came 300 metres close to LoC.
• Poonch witnessed major ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops since January 14.
• Security forces conducted rare house-to-house searches in the outskirts of Srinagar.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-03

Agni-II test-fired successfully

News:

• Defence sources said that,India test-fired its medium range nuclear capable Agni-II missile with a strike range of 2,000 km from Abdul Kalam Island off Odisha coast.

Beyond News

• The trial of the surface-to-surface missile was conducted from a mobile launcher at the Launch Complex-4 of the ITR.
• The Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile has already been inducted into the services and the test was carried out by the Army’s Strategic Forces Command (SFC) with logistic support provided by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
• The 20-mt-long Agni-II ballistic missile has a launch weight of 17 tonne and can carry a payload of 1,000 kg over a distance of 2,000 km.
• Agni-II, a two-stage missile equipped with advanced high accuracy navigation system and guided by a unique command and control system was propelled by a solid rocket propellant system.
• Agni-II was developed by the Advanced Systems Laboratory along with other DRDO laboratories and integrated by the Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hyderabad.

Fire destroys 60 hectares of forest

News

• An incident of forest fire was reported on the Elambileri peak under the Meppadi forest range of the South Wayanad forest division in Kerala, where two such incidences were reported a few days ago.

Beyond News

• Close to 40 hectares of grassland was destroyed in the fire. The timely intervention of forest officials prevented the fire from spreading.
• Close to 70 persons, including forest watchers and members of the Vana Samrakshana Samithi, took nearly seven hours to douse the fire.
• It was reported that lower mammals and reptiles sustained injuries in the fire. A few days ago, a similar fire had broken out in the area and close to 20 hectares of land was destroyed.
• Trekking expedition to the Chembra peak has been suspended since January 15 as a part of averting forest fire. It was reported that more than 100 hectares of grassland was destroyed in the hill last year.
• High temperatures owing to the dearth of summer rain, heavy wind, and withered undergrowth caused the fire to spread rapidly.

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