• A recent study by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) on snow leopard (Panthera uncia) has thrown up interesting insights on the elusive mountain cat and its prey species.

• According to the study carried out in Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh, the snow leopard detection probability was high if the site was used by its prey species - Siberian ibex and blue sheep. Whereas, in the case of the prey species, the probability of detection was low when the predator was present and detected.
• Snow leopards use rugged mountainous areas or non-forested areas covering an altitude between 3,200 metres to 5,200 metres.
• Habitat covariates such as barren area, grassland, aspect, slope and distance to water were important drivers of habitat use for the snow leopard as well as its prey species.
• Classified as ‘Vulnerable' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red list and listed in Schedule-I species of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, snow leopards are elusive mountain cats.

Science and Technology
FIBERISATION

What's the NEWS

• India is preparing to auction off about 72 Ghz of airwaves to rollout 5G services in the country. However, the infrastructure needed for such a rollout requires existing radio towers to be connected via optical-fibre cables.

• The process of connecting radio towers with each other via optical fibre cables is called fiberisation.
• It helps provide full utilisation of network capacity, and carry large amounts of data once 5G services are rolled out.
• It will also aid in providing additional bandwidth and stronger backhaul support.
• The backhaul is a component of the larger transport that is responsible for carrying data across the network.
• It represents the part of the network that connects the core of the network to the edge. As a result, fibre backhaul remains an important part of transport across all telecoms.
• Fibre-based media, commonly called optical media, provides almost infinite bandwidth and coverage, low latency and high insulation from interference.

Factoids
World Athletics Championships

What's the NEWS

• In the prestigious competition (World Athletics Championships) held at Eugene in Oregon, United States, Neeraj Chopra grabbed second position with his best throw of 88.13 metres.
• Grenadian javelin thrower Anderson Peters won the gold medal with a throw of 90.54 meters.
• Neeraj Chopra is the first ever Indian to win a silver medal at World Athletics Championships.
• He is the second Indian after former long jumper Anju Bobby George, who won a bronze medal in long jump at 2003 in Paris.

• Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme aims to celebrate cultural diversity through mutual interaction & reciprocity between people of different States and UTs so that a spirit of understanding resonates throughout the country.
• Every State and UT in the country is paired with another State/UT to carry out a structured engagement with one another in the spheres of language, literature, cuisine, festivals, cultural events, tourism etc.
• Under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, Jharkhand is paired with Goa and has participated in activities pertaining to learning the language of paired State, online presentations/ webinars/ quiz/ painting competitions related to culture, cuisine, handicrafts, historical/ tourist places, indigenous sports, etc.

What's the NEWS

• Ministry of Civil Aviation has introduced seaplane operations from water aerodromes under Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN (UdeDeshkaAamNagrik).
• Airports Authority of India (AAI), the implementing agency has awarded 14 Water Aerodromes under UDAN across the country, namely
• SardarSarovar Dam (Statue of Unity), Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad
• Swaraj Dweep (Havelock Island), Shaheed Dweep (Neill Island), Long Island, Port Blair in Andaman & Nicobar Islands,
• Guwahati riverfront and Umrangso Reservoir in Assam
• NagarjunaSagar Dam in Telangana
• Prakasam Barrage in Andhra Pradesh and
• Minicoy, Kavaratti, Agatti in Lakshadweep Islands.

Education
DIKSHA Platform

What's the NEWS

• DIKSHA is an initiative of the Ministry of Education for digital online education, has QR coded textbooks and various specialized e-Contents for classes 1-12 and teachers in 33 Indian languages.
• On DIKSHA, 35 states and UTs have their own vertical along with those of NCERT, CBSE and NIOS.
• Several online courses are offered through DIKSHA to develop the skills of the teachers and school heads.
• NCERT has been offering NISHTHA (National Initiative for School Heads' and Teachers' Holistic Advancement) courses.

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