Multinational Exercise La Pérouse 2025

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The French Carrier Strike Group (CSG), led by the Charles De Gaulle aircraft carrier, is conducting the fifth edition of the multinational exercise LA PEROUSE 25 from 16th to 24th January 2025.

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• The indigenously designed and built guided missile destroyer INS Mumbai is participating in the exercise.
• Participating Navies: - Australia, Canada, the United States of America, France, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and Singapore. 
• The naval exercise is being held in the straits between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean: Malacca, Sunda and Lombok. 
• The exercise provides an opportunity for like-minded navies to develop closer links in planning, coordination and information sharing for enhanced tactical interoperability.

Historical Background

• The exercise was named in honour of Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse, a French naval officer and explorer from the 18th century.
• The first edition of the La Pérouse joint exercise, initiated by France in 2019, included ships from Australia, Japan and the USA.
• India participated in the exercise for the first time in 2021 and completed the QUAD force representation.  

CSIR Mega "Innovation Complex"

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Recently, the Union Ministry of Science & Technology inaugurated India’s first-of-its-kind CSIR Mega "Innovation Complex" in Mumbai. 

Features of the complex

• The complex is equipped with 24 “ready-to-move” incubation labs in addition to furnished office and networking spaces for innovative StartUps, MSMEs, industry, and CSIR labs.
• The Complex includes IP/business development support for innovative start-ups, companies partnering with CSIR labs, MSMEs, deep-tech companies from India and abroad.

Significance of the Innovation Complex

• It will provide high-end scientific infrastructure, expertise, and regulatory support to stakeholders (CSIR labs, start-ups, MSMEs, and industry) for the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)-driven studies necessary for regulatory submissions and compliance.

The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)

• CSIR was established as an autonomous body by the government of India in 1942.
• CSIR is known for its cutting-edge R&D knowledge base for a wide spectrum of science and technology like: - Oceanography, geophysics, chemicals, drugs, genomics, biotechnology and nanotechnology to mining, aeronautics, instrumentation, environmental engineering and information technology.
• It also provides significant technological intervention in many areas concerning societal efforts, which include environment, health, drinking water, food, housing, energy, farm and non-farm sectors. 

Sanchar Saathi Mobile App

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Recently, the Ministry of Communications launched the Sanchar Saathi Mobile App.

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• Along with the app, the ministry also launched National Broadband Mission (NBM) 2.0 and the Intra Circle Roaming facility at Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) Funded 4G Mobile Sites at the event.

Sanchar Saathi Mobile App 

• It is a user-friendly platform available for both Android and iOS platforms, designed to fortify telecom security and empower citizens. 
• Sanchar Saathi is a citizen-centric initiative of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and is now available in the form of Mobile App and web portal to empower mobile subscribers, strengthen their security and increase awareness about citizen-centric initiatives of the Government. 

Sanchar Saathi Initiative (Sanchar Saathi Portal) was launched in May 2023. 

• Its collaborations with law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, and telecom service providers have bolstered national telecom security.

 Key features of the Application:

• Chakshu - Reporting Suspected Fraud Communications (SFC): Users can report suspected calls and SMS using the app and directly from mobile phone logs.
• Know Mobile Connections in Your Name: Citizens can identify and manage all mobile connections issued in their name, ensuring no unauthorized usage.
• Blocking Your Lost/ Stolen Mobile Handset: Lost or stolen mobile devices can be swiftly blocked, traced and recovered.
• Know Mobile Handset Genuineness: The app offers an easy way to verify the authenticity of mobile handsets, ensuring users purchase genuine devices.

Endangered Indian grey wolf gives birth to 8 pups

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According to forest officials at the Bankapur wolf sanctuary in Karnataka, an endangered Indian Grey Wolf recently gave birth to eight healthy cubs. 

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• According to the Environment Minister of Karnataka, only 50% of the wolf pups survive, but forest officials have taken measures to ensure the safety of all the pups.

Bankapur Wolf Sanctuary

• The Bankapur Wolf Sanctuary is located 15 km from Gangavati town in Koppal district, Karnataka.
• It spans 332 hectares and consists of scrub forests, hills, and natural caves.

• The sanctuary is home to various wildlife species, including Indian Grey Wolves, leopards, peacocks, blackbucks, foxes, hares, and porcupines.
• The sanctuary is now home to 35-40 wolves, including the new pups.
• Bankapur was declared Karnataka's first Wolf Wildlife Sanctuary at the 15th state Wildlife Board meeting in 2021.
• It is also being considered for designation as an eco-sensitive zone.
• Plans are being made to develop the sanctuary as a tourist destination, with a feasibility study for a safari in progress.

Indian Grey Wolf:

• Scientific Name: Canis lupus pallipes
• IUCN status: Least Concern
• Listed on Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act (1972). 
• Indian Grey wolves are considered as the subspecies of Grey wolves and are found in South-west Asia and India. 
• They belong to the Canidae Family of Kingdom Animalia and hence, they are often regarded as Feral and Cunning animals. 
• They have a life span of about 5-13 years and Weight 17-25 kg

Kuka Martyrs’ Day

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The Punjab Chief Minister paid tribute at a function organised at the Namdhari Shaheed Smarak in Malerkotla to mark the Kuka Martyrs’ Day.

The Kuka Movement 

• The Kuka Movement was founded in the 1840 by Bhagat Jawahar Mal (also called Sian Saheb) in western Punjab.
• It was one of the first non-cooperative movements against the Britishers in British India.

The Namdharis were also known as “Kukas” because of their trademark style of reciting the “Gurbani” (Sayings/Teachings of the Guru). 

• This style was in a high-pitched voice called “Kook” in Punjabi. Thus, the Namdharis were also called “Kukas”.

• Satguru Ram Singh founded the Namdhari Sect on 12th April 1857 at Bhaini Sahib and asked his followers to boycott everything that bore the stamp of the British Government.

• To suppress the revolt, John Lambert Cowan, the Deputy Commissioner of Ludhiana district, ordered the execution on January 17th and 18th, 1872 and as a result some 66 Namdhari Sikhs (Kukas) were placed in front of cannons, and blown up in an open field, in front of thousands of onlookers.