1) Cotton: Ministry of Textiles celebrates ‘World Cotton Day’ 2023.
- Cotton is a Kharif crop and grows well in black cotton soil (high water retention capacity) of Deccan plateau.
- Climatic conditions
- Annual temperature requirement: 20-28 degree Celsius.
- Rainfall: 55-110 cm is ideal.
- Minimum 180 frost-free days.
- Cotton-producing states: Maharashtra, Gujarat, MP, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana and UP.
- India grows all four species of cultivated cotton Gossypium arboreum and herbaceum (Asian cotton), G.barbadense (Egyptian cotton) and G. hirsutum (American Upland cotton).
2) Asiatic Wild Dog (Dhole): As per study, overlapping prey availability or habitat suitability could dictate a positive association between dholes and tigers, facilitating co-existence between two species of carnivores.
- Sympatric refers to animals, plant species, and populations within the same or overlapping geographical areas.
- About Asiatic Wild Dog Habitat:
- Wide variety of climates and habitats like dense forests, scrub, steppes, and alpine regions.
- Range: Found in Central, South, East and Southeast Asia.
- IUCN status: Endangered.
- Threats: Habitat loss, declining prey availability, persecution, disease, and interspecific competition
3) New Indian Air Force (IAF) Ensign: It was unveiled as IAF marked its 91st anniversary.
- New ensign includes the Air Force Crest in the top right corner.
- IAF Crest has national symbol, the Ashoka lion on the top with the words “Satyamev Jayate” in Devanagari below it.
- Below the Ashoka lion is a Himalayan eagle with its wings spread, denoting the fighting qualities of the IAF.
- A ring in light blue colour encircles Himalayan eagle with the words “Bhartiya Vayu Sena”
- IAF’s motto, “Touching the sky with glory”, is inspired by the Bhagavad Gita.
4) Territorial army (TA): TA inducted first batch of Mandarin (Chinese language)-trained officers along Line of Actual Control.
- TA, established under TA Act 1948, is a part of the Regular Army.
- It enables young citizens (18 to 42 years age) to serve in a military environment without having to sacrifice their primary professions.
- It relieves Regular Army from static duties and assist Civil Administration in dealing with natural calamities etc.
- TA personnel can be decorated for their gallantry services through Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra, Shourya Chakra, etc.
