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Posted 17 Feb 2024

Updated 18 Mar 2024

9 min read

Pandaram lands

Lakshadweep administration continues to number trees on Pandaram lands.
Laccadive Minicoy and Amini Islands Land Revenue and Tenancy Regulation, 1965 defines Pandaram lands as
- land in which Government has, a proprietary right immediately before the commencement of this Regulation and
- includes any land in which government may acquire such rights under this Regulation or under any other law.
Land other than pandaram land over which a person has proprietary rights under the customary law of the Islands are defined as "jenmam land" under the 1965 regulation.

6th regional dialogue of officials of security councils and National Security Advisers on Afghanistan was held in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan).
- Key participants include India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
The regional dialogue of security officials has emerged as an important mechanism for assessing the situation in Afghanistan after the takeover of Kabul by the Taliban in 2021.
- India hosted the 3rd regional security dialogue in New Delhi in November 2021.

ISRO confirmed successful de-orbiting and atmospheric re-entry of Cartosat-2 at its end-of-life.
About Cartosat-2
- Launched in 2007.
- Advanced remote sensing satellite capable of providing scene-specific spot imagery.
De-orbiting of Cartosat-2: ISRO lowered its perigee (point in the orbit of a satellite at which it is nearest to the earth) using leftover fuel to comply with international guidelines on space debris mitigation.
De-orbiting of Cartosat-2 represents a significant step for ISRO in ensuring long-term sustainability of outer space activities.

India and Bangladesh submit a joint proposal to list Indian skimmers (also known as Indian scissors bill) under the Convention on Migratory Species.
About Indian Skimmer
- Indian skimmer is found in the coastal estuaries of western and eastern India. It occurs primarily on larger, sandy, lowland rivers, around lakes and adjacent marshes, estuaries and coasts.
- It breeds colonially on large, exposed sand-bars and islands.
- It feeds on surface-dwelling fish, small crustaceans and insect larvae.
Protection Status
- IUCN Red List: Endangered
- CITES: Not listed

Researchers have discovered a new species of marine amphipod in Odisha’s Chilika Lake (Asia’s biggest brackish water lagoon).
- The species, named as ‘Parhyale’ odian, is brown, has 13 pairs of legs, and uses the first pair for capturing prey.
Amphipods are crustacea.
- Crustaceans are a very large group of Arthropods which include crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill, etc.
  - They are invertebrates with a hard exoskeleton and a segmented body that is bilaterally symmetrical.
  - They are mostly free-living freshwater or marine animals, but some are terrestrial (e.g. woodlice).

Chief Minister of Assam announced that land within char areas would be surveyed under Mission Basundhara 4.0.
- Mission Basundhara is land management initiative of Assam government.
About Char Areas
- Char/ Chapori is local name for riverine areas (island) of the river Brahmaputra.
- Char areas are subjected to erosion on their upstream and deposition on the downstream, due to which they migrate downstream.
- The constant threat from flood and erosion also creates developmental issues.

Project, supplying water in Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan, is expected to get a boost with repairing of Ferozepur feeder in neighbouring Punjab.
Project utilizes Rajasthan’s share in Ravi and Beas waters.
Based on a 1981 agreement between Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan on re-allocation of surplus Ravi-Beas waters.
Significance
- Aims to bring desert land under irrigation in northern part of Rajasthan.
- Help slow down and reverse degradation of environment due to wind erosion, etc.

Sora is a new Generative AI (Gen-AI) model, developed by OpenAI, which can convert text prompt into Video.
- It can generate videos up to a minute long while maintaining visual quality and adherence to the user’s prompt.
It is significant owing to added complexity of analyzing moving objects in 3D space.
Gen-AI refers to category of AI algorithms that generate new outputs based on data they have been trained on.
- It uses a type of deep learning called generative adversarial networks.

About U Tirot Sing
- Also known as U Tirot Sing Syiem, was a Khasi chief in early 19th century.
- Drew lineage from Syiemlieh clan.
Key contributions
- Declared war and fought against British for attempts to take over control of the Khasi Hills.
- In Anglo-Khasi war (1829-33), he used guerilla tactics to evade and strike the militarily superior colonial forces.
- Eventually captured by British in January 1833 and deported to Dhaka.
Values: Patriotism, Courage, Determination, Leadership, etc.