Prelim Bits 26-01-2018

Zojila Tunnel Project

• An MoU was signed between National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) and M/S IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd for construction of the Zojila Tunnel in Jammu & Kashmir
• The main objective of the tunnel is to provide all weather connectivity to strategically important Leh region in Jammu and Kashmir
• Zoji La is a high mountain pass in Jammu and Kashmir, India,
• The pass is located on the Indian National Highway 1D between Srinagar and Leh in the western section of the Himalayan mountain range.
• Zojila tunnel will be the longest bi-directional tunnel in Asia.

Rotavac

• Bharat Biotech’s diarrhea vaccine ROTAVAC gets WHO pre-qualification
• The WHO pre-qualification paves the way for health and humanitarian organizations such as UNICEF to procure it for public health vaccination programs across the world.
• Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea and kills more than 200,000 children every year.
• ROTAVC is also included in the Universal Immunization Program

Sea Turtles in India

• There are five species of seas turtles in Indian waters — Leatherback, Loggerhead, Hawksbill, Green and Olive Ridley.
• IUCN Status of these turtles are

1. Hawksbill- Critically endangered
2. Green turtle- Endangered
3. Leatherback- Vulnerable
4. Loggerhead- Vulnerable
5. Olive Ridley- Vulnerable

• Mostly these turtles are found in the eastern coast of the Country.
• Often turtle are confused with tortoises. The major difference between the tortoise and sea turtles is that tortoises dwell on land, while turtles live in the water for some or nearly all of the time.

Mount Mayon

• It is an active stratovolcano in the Philippines region
• Stratocvolcano , also known as a composite volcano, is a conical volcano built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, pumice, and volcanic ash
• The volcano is the centre piece of the ALBAY biosphere reserve and Natural Park on its own.
• Mount Mayon lies in Pacific ring of fire region, major area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur

Mission Innovation

• The initiative was launched in the Cop21 UNFCCC in 2015
• India is member nation of the global initiative
• The objectives of initiative are,

                     1. To accelerate public and private clean energy innovation

                     2. To address climate change,

                     3. Make clean energy affordable to consumers, and

                     4. Create green jobs and commercial opportunities

• It will help in achieving India’s INDC of increasing the share of clean and renewable energy in the energy basket

Source: PIB, The Hindu