Researchers from University of Cambridge have developed a method for producing Zero-Carbon Cement.

• Producing cement is highly polluting, responsible for around 8% of total greenhouse gas emissions.
• Making cement requires “clinker”, made by heating raw materials, including limestone and clay, to 1450°C.
  • Clinker production accounts for 90% of cement’s carbon footprint. 
• Newly developed process to make clinker involves reusing cement paste from demolished buildings and utilizing electric arc furnace which is used to recycle steel. 

• Government is planning radiation processing of onions to prevent shortages.

Radiation Processing

• Incorporates controlled application of ionizing radiations (gamma rays, accelerated electrons and X-rays). 
• Delays ripening, enhances shelf life by destruction of spoilage microbes, etc. 
  • However, it cannot be used to destroy microbial toxins and pathogen viruses.
• Produces very little chemical changes. 
• Nutritional value is least affected in comparison to other processing methods.

Regulation

• Prevention of Food Adulteration (Fifth Amendment) Rules, 1994, mandates all packages of irradiated foods to display the green irradiation logo endorsed by Codex Alimentarius Commission, along with the words 'Processed by Irradiation method.' 

‘AI agents’ like GPT-4o by OpenAI and Project Astra by Google are believed to be far superior to conventional voice assistants such as Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant. 

AI agents

• Unlike conventional language models, which solely work on text-based inputs and outputs, AI agents can engage in real-time, multi-modal (text, image, or voice) interactions with humans. 
• They perceive their environment via sensors, then process the information using algorithms or AI models, and subsequently, take actions. 
• They can understand and learn from the context of interactions, allowing them to provide more relevant and personalised responses.

Recently, the Heat Index reached 50°C in Delhi. 

About Heat Index (HI)

• Launched by India Meteorological Department (IMD) on experimental basis. 
• HI, also known as Apparent Temperature, is what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature. 
• It provides information about impact of humidity on high temperatures and can be used as an indication for human discomfort. 
• Colour codes used for HI 
  • Green: HI less than 35 °C
  • Yellow: HI between 36-45 °C
  • Orange: HI between 46-55 °C
  • Red: HI greater than 55 °C

Telangana Forest Department Informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that area of MNP in Chilkur has been reduced by 80 hectares on paper. 

• NGT was hearing a case about extra high-tension electrical lines being laid through the eco-sensitive zone of the park.

About MNP

• Location: Hyderabad, Telangana
• Vegetation: Tropical waterless deciduous forest of degraded nature
• Flora: Teak, Bamboo, Sandal, Picus, Palas, Rela
• Fauna: Spotted deers, Indian hare, forest cat, civet, Indian rat snake, Russell’s viper, cheetal and the flowerpecker (a bird).

Election Commission told the Supreme Court the rules do not permit sharing Form 17C data with any entity apart from polling officials. 

Form 17 C 

• It is associated with the directions under Conduct of Election Rules, 1961. 
• Its 1st part provides information related to the number of: 
  • eligible voters assigned to the booth, electors in the register of voters, 
  • voters who decided not to exercise their franchise, 
  • voters not allowed to vote
• Its 2nd part contains information like the name of the candidate and the total votes they received. 

PPIRP has resulted in the full settlement of operational creditors' claims in five cases.

About PPIRP

• It provides for the resolution of stress of corporate MSMEs.
• It was introduced in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 through an amendment in 2021.  
• Prepackaged insolvency process is initiated voluntarily by the debtor and is available for defaults of at least ₹ 10 lakh.
• PPIRP envisages a hybrid process, where pre-initiation phase is largely informal and post-initiation stage is formal. 
• PPIRP is required to be completed within a period of 120 days.

IIT Madras-incubated ePlane Company is expected to launch electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft in Bengaluru.

About eVTOL aircraft

• They can take off and land vertically, enabling them to operate in congested urban areas.
• They fly through electric propulsion and vertical lift. 
  • Electric motors drive rotors or propellers arranged in different configurations for lift and control in all directions.
  • Batteries, typically lithium-ion, or other energy storage systems store and provide energy required to lift off and fly.
• Benefits: Reduction in traffic congestion, addressing air pollution, improving accessibility and connectivity, emergency medical services, etc.