National Repository for Deep-Sea Fauna
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- Context: The Center for Marine Living Resources & Ecology (CMLRE), Kochi, Kerala, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), has achieved a landmark milestone in marine conservation.
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has officially designated CMLRE’s “Bhavasagara” Referral Centre as a National Repository for Deep-Sea Fauna.
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- This prestigious recognition, conferred under the provisions of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, establishes the Centre as a critical national facility for the preservation, study, and documentation of India’s vast deep-sea biological heritage.
- The “Bhavasagara” Referral Centre currently serves as a vital scientific hub, housing an extensive collection of over 3,500 taxonomically identified and geo-referenced voucher specimens.
- The collection spans a diverse range of marine life, from invertebrates including cnidarians, annelids, molluscs, arthropods, and echinoderms to vertebrates such as elasmobranchs and teleostean fishes.
About CMLRE
- The Centre for Marine Living Resources & Ecology (CMLRE) is a premier institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, dedicated to the exploration, management, and conservation of marine living resources in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and adjacent deep seas.
Current Facts
- Part V, Article 81– Composition of the House of the People
OPU-IVF-ET technique- Context: the ICAR–Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly, has successfully produced five healthy Sahiwal calves for the first time using the advanced OPU-IVF-ET technique.
About ICAR
- The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), set up in 1929, is an autonomous organization functioning under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
- It oversees and coordinates agricultural research and education across the country.
About OPU-IVF-ET Technology
- This is an assisted reproductive method carried out in three stages: Ovum Pick-Up (OPU), In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), and Embryo Transfer (ET).
- OPU: Eggs (oocytes) are retrieved from high-quality cows using ultrasound technology without intensive hormonal treatment, allowing repeated collection even from pregnant or young animals.
- IVF: The collected oocytes are fertilised in a laboratory using selected high-quality semen to ensure genetic improvement.
- ET: The resulting embryos are implanted into the uterus of recipient cows, enabling faster multiplication of superior breeds.
About Sahiwal Cattle
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- Sahiwal is among India’s finest indigenous cattle breeds, valued for its ability to tolerate heat, resist diseases, and adapt well to tropical environments.
- It originated in the Montgomery region (now in Pakistan) and is mainly found in parts of Punjab (Ferozepur, Amritsar), Haryana, and Rajasthan (Sri Ganganagar).
- The breed is also known by names such as Lola, Lambi Bar, Multani, and Teli.
- Sahiwal cattle are high milk producers, yielding about 2,000–3,000 litres per lactation. Their milk has high butterfat content and contains A2 beta-casein protein, which is associated with certain health benefits.
Current Facts
- Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBARdhan)
- The Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBARdhan) initiative is designed to turn waste into valuable resources, supporting the development of a circular economy.
- It seeks to build a robust framework for setting up Biogas, Compressed Biogas (CBG), and Bio-CNG plants to encourage sustainable development.
- The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti acts as the nodal agency for implementing this initiative.
ASI Begins Excavation at Balirajgarh- Context: The Archaeological Survey of India has started excavations at Balirajgarh in Bihar to uncover details about the history of ancient Mithila.
- Balirajgarh is situated in the Madhubani district of Bihar.
- The site is thought to be associated with King Bali and is believed to have served as an administrative hub of the Videha Kingdom.
- Findings indicate that the area was continuously inhabited during the Mauryan, Sunga, Kushan, Gupta, and Pala periods.
- Previous studies have identified the presence of fortified structures, pointing to well-developed urban planning on a large scale.
- Items such as beads, copper artefacts, terracotta figures, and punch-marked coins reflect a prosperous and advanced civilisation.
About the Videha Kingdom
- The Videha Kingdom was an ancient realm located in the Mithila region, covering parts of present-day Bihar and Nepal.
- It is closely linked with King Janaka and was an important centre for Vedic knowledge and philosophical thought.
