Art and Culture 

International Abhidhamma Divas - PIB 

• Marks the day when Lord Buddha descended from the celestial realm Tāvatiṃsa-devaloka to Sankassiya (now Sankisa Basantapur, Uttar Pradesh). The Asokan Elephant Pillar serves as a historical marker of this event.
• According to Theravāda Buddhist texts, Lord Buddha spent three months teaching Abhidhamma to deities, including his mother, in Tāvatiṃsa.
• Abhidhamma Divas coincides with the end of the first Rainy Retreat (Vassa) and the Pavāraņā festival, marking the conclusion of the monks' and nuns' retreat period.
• Teachings of Abhidhamma
  • Analytical Approach: Abhidhamma explores reality through a specialized and analytical framework. It addresses birth, death, and mental phenomena in a precise, abstract manner.
  • Four Ultimate Realities:
    • Citta (consciousness)
    • Cetasika (mental factors)
    • Rūpa (materiality)
    • Nibbāna (final liberation)

Geography 

Kameng River - Indian Express

Economy 

eShram - One Stop Solution - PIB 

Recently, the Union Ministry of Labour & Employment and Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports launched eShram One Stop Solution in New Delhi.

eShram - One Stop Solution

Environment 

Nilgiris butterfly experts record host plant of endemic butterfly species - The Hindu 

Butterfly enthusiasts from the Nilgiris have recorded for the first time in India, the Nilgiri tit (Hypolycaena nilgirica) utilising a large terrestrial orchid plant as a host. 

Nilgiri Tit Butterfly

• Family: Lycaenidae.
• First Description: Described in 1884 from Coonoor in the Nilgiris; also recorded in Sri Lanka.
• Distribution: Found in Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary (Idukki district), and Silent Valley National Park (Palakkad district) in Kerala.
• Habitat: Found in forests and lush home gardens, especially those with orchids.
• Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule II .

5th National Water Awards 2023 - PIB 

The Hon’ble President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu will confer the 5th National Water Awards 2023 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

Coelogyne tripurensis - The Hindu

A  new species of orchid named Coelogyne tripurensis was discovered in Jampui Hills, in Tripura's North District.

Coelogyne tripurensis

• Location: Found in the moist broadleaf forests of Jampui Hills, Tripura, part of the Indo-Myanmar Biodiversity Hotspot.
• Genus: Coelogyne genus includes about 600 species, native to the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and the Southwest Pacific Islands.
• Nature: Primarily epiphytic, some species are lithophytic or terrestrial, valued for ornamental purposes due to easy growth.
• Challenges in Identification: Species in this group exhibit high phenotypic plasticity, making them difficult to distinguish.

Zeilad Wildlife Sanctuary - Indian Express

The Rongmei Naga Council Manipur (RNCM), a powerful Naga citizens’ group, has strongly opposed the proposed oil exploration at Zeilad Wildlife Sanctuary in Manipur‘s Tamenglong district.

Zeilad Wildlife Sanctuary

Sci and Tech 

Why are Big Tech companies such as Google scouting for nuclear power? - The Hindu

Recently, Google announced the “first corporate agreement” to buy nuclear energy from multiple Small Modular Reactors (SMR). These SMRs will be developed by Kairos Power. 

Egypt declared ‘malaria-free’ - The Hindu 

Egypt was officially declared ‘malaria-free’ by the World Health Organization (WHO) on October 20, 2024. The country became the second country in the world, following Cabo Verde, to be officially declared malaria-free this year. It is also the fifth African nation to receive malaria-free certification from the WHO.

Malaria

• Cause: Acute febrile illness caused by Plasmodium parasites, transmitted through bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
• Prevalence: Life-threatening disease, primarily found in tropical regions.
• Mode: Not contagious between people; transmitted by female Anopheles mosquito bites.
• Parasites: Five species can infect humans, with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax posing the greatest threat.

• Symptoms:
  • Onset: Symptoms typically appear 10-15 days after the mosquito bite.
  • Common Symptoms: Fever, headache, and chills; symptoms may be mild and hard to identify as malaria.
  • Immunity: In endemic areas, partial immunity may lead to infection without noticeable symptoms.
• Prevention: Primary method to prevent malaria and reduce transmission.
• Curability: Malaria is preventable and treatable.
• Importance of Early Diagnosis: Early diagnosis and treatment reduce disease severity, prevent deaths, and lower transmission rates.

Defence 

INDIAN NAVY - ROYAL NAVY OF OMAN MARITIME EXERCISE (NASEEM AL BAHR) - PIB

INS Trikand and Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft, participated in the Indo-Oman bilateral naval exercise Naseem-Al-Bahr with the Royal Navy of Oman Vessel Al Seeb off Goa.