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Prelim Bits 14-03-2019

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March 14, 2019

Pangolin

  • Pangolin is scaly nocturnal anteater.
  • Indian and Chinese Pangolin are the two species found in South Asia.
  • Chinese Pangolin is found in the North Eastern part of India and Indian Pangolin is found in the rest of India.
  • The pangolin is the most trafficked mammal in the world.
  • It is hunted mainly for meat in India but the demand for its scales in China has made it more vulnerable.
  • Almost 90% of smuggling of pangolin and pangolin scales is through the northeastern India.
  • International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified Indian Pangolin as Endangered and Chinese Pangolins as Critically endangered.

Conservation of Manuscripts

  • A Bengaluru-based not-for-profit organization has procured a highly advanced multispectral imaging technology to preserve the vulnerable manuscripts in India.
  • The technology is used to preserve the manuscripts by capturing their images.
  • Multispectral imaging can capture texts in manuscripts that are affected by pests, fungus, over written, scribbled, blackened or scraped and cannot be seen with bare eyes.
  • It uses infrared rays and ultraviolet rays to retrieve texts.
  • The time span of the texts captured in images are enhanced by a patented technology called the wafer fiche.
  • Using photo lithography technology, the images are imprinted on silicon wafers.
  • These imprinted copies can last for thousands of years.

Aero India 2019

  • Aero India is biennial air show and aviation exhibition held in Bengaluru, India at the Yelahanka Air Force Station.
  • It is organized by the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
  • Aero India 2019 presents a unique opportunity to highlight and showcase the enormous potential of the Aerospace & Defence industry.
  • It provides a platform to explore and forge strategic business alliances.
  • As a prelude to Aero India 2019, Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in association with the Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI) organizes the 12th Aero India International Seminar.
  • This year the theme of the seminar is “Emerging Frontiers in Aerospace Technologies”.

Seaweed

  • Seaweeds or Marine macro algae are plant-like organisms that generally live attached to rock or other hard substrata in coastal areas.
  • Seaweeds are nutritious and will play a major role in food security.
  • Seaweeds are rich sources of vitamins A and C, and minerals such as Ca, Mg, Zn, Se and Fe.
  • They also have a high level of vegetable proteins and omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.
  • About 844 seaweed species are reported from India, a country with a coast line of 7,500 km.

Great Indian Horn Bill

  • A study has found that Great Indian hornbills can adapt to modified habitat.
  • It is also known as Great piped Hornbill.
  • It is found mostly in India and also in southwestern China, Bangladesh, western Thailand, mainland Southeast Asia.
  • The great Indian hornbill lives primarily in evergreen and moist deciduous forests.
  • It is on Appendix II of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
  • It is listed as vulnerable because of decreasing populations.

 

Source: PIB, The Hindu

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