The third edition of this exercise will be conducted in Otar region, Kazakhstan. 2nd Edition (2017) was organised in India.
Its aim is to build and promote bilateral Army relations and exchange skills and experiences.
Prabal Dostyk is another joint military exercise between India and Kazakhstan.
Permanent Indus Commission
As per the Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan, Permanent Indus Commission should meet atleast once in a year.
The commission has experts who look into issues and disputes on the ground over the utilisation of the waters of six rivers of the Indus system.
Under the treaty, India has full use of the three “eastern” rivers (Beas, Ravi, Sutlej).
Pakistan has control over the three “western” rivers (Indus, Chenab, Jhelum), although India is given rights to use these partially as well for certain purposes.
The recent meeting was held in Lahore.
It was agreed in the meeting that Pakistan will allow India to inspect the Kotri barrage in the lower Indus.
New Delhi has agreed to Islamabad's request for a special inspection of the hydroelectric projects in the Jhelum river basin, including the Kishanganga scheme.
Natural springs are points on the earth surface through which ground water emerges and flows.
Water from confined aquifers is forced out through a cave to make artesian wells.
Sometimes springs are formed due to pressure from an underground water source which are usually called as “Hot Springs”.
Natural springs acts as a source of water for both drinking and irrigation.
A NITI Aayog constituted group of experts has urged the government to set up a dedicated mission to revive spring water systems in the Himalayan States.
Springs are often the only source of irrigation in the Himalayan region with 64% of the total cultivable area fed by springs.
In the Eastern Himalayas, Meghalaya has the highest number of villages having spring sources and Sikkim has the greatest density.
In the Western Himalayas, Jammu & Kashmir had both the highest number of villages with springsand the greatest density.
The task force also mooted an idea of introducing a “Spring Health Card”, preparing a digital atlas of the country’s springsheds, training ‘para-hydrogeologists’ who could lead grassroots conservation.
Indian Roofed Turtle
It is a species of turtle, protected under Schedule 1 of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
It is found in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan.
In India, it is found in Ganges, Brahmaputra and Indus River drainages.
It is listed on CITES Appendix I.
It is listed as “Least Concern” in the IUCN list of threatened species.
The protected areas in Jalpaiguri is known for protecting this species.
In addition to it, it is also found in Lota devi temple located on the basin of River Karala in Jalpaiguri.
Society for Protecting Ophiofauna& Animal Rights (SPOAR), an NGO and the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) has led an initiative to save the species from severe pollution in the river.
They have installed the Kurma avatar (form of turtle) of Lord Vishnu on the outskirts of river to reduce pollution and to encompass the religious belief.
Hope Mission
It is a Space mission by UAE which planned to send an unmanned probe to orbit Mars by 2021.
It has become the first Arab Country to do so.
The hope spacecraft will be a compact, hexagonal section spacecraft weighing approx. 1500 kg.
The launching of the spacecraft is going to be coincided with the 50th anniversary of the founding of the UAE.
