25 Challenges were launched under ‘Create in India Challenge - Season 1’ for  the upcoming WAVES in November highlighting India’s creator economy. 

• Creator Economy, refers to the creation and distribution of digital content through social media platforms like Youtube, tapping a wide audience.

WAVES

• Forum for promoting collaboration, innovation, and discussions among various stakeholders in the Media and Entertainment (M&E) industry.
• Objectives: Drive India’s creator economy, position India as a business friendly investment destination, adapt to new trends, etc.
• Significance
  • Amplify India’s voice as a Global powerhouse in M&E industry.
  • Ensures cross cultural exchanges and build skilled workforce. 

Union Minister for Civil Aviation, has launched the Guidelines for Seaplane Operations in India.

• The Union Minister also launched the 5.4 version of the UDAN. 
  • Under UDAN 5.4, fresh bids would be invited for the routes which were cancelled.
  • Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) Scheme was launched in 2016 for providing remote/unserved locations with air connectivity.

Key Provisions of Guidelines

• Extension of the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) under RCS for seaplane operations. 
• Adoption of the Non-Scheduled Operator Permit (NSOP) framework (operational for helicopters) for seaplanes.

The Green Strategic Partnership between the Governments of India and Denmark has led to establishment of the SLCR in Varanasi.

SLCR Project

• Aims to rejuvenate river Varuna.
  • Varuna is a Minor tributary of Ganga originating near Phulpur, Prayagraj and merges with Ganga in Varanasi, UP. 
• Features a hybrid lab model at IIT-BHU and an on-field living lab at Varuna River. 
• Components
  • Decision Support System (DSS) to analyze basin water dynamics. 
  • Characterization of emerging pollutants and fingerprint analysis. 
  • Hydrogeological Model of the Varuna Basin for Recharge Sites, to enhance base flow through Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR). 

Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research partners with Hindustan Zinc Limited to develop new variants of zinc materials to propel the use of Zn-ion batteries.

• New variants of zinc materials would facilitate low-cost grid-scale energy storage.

About Zinc-ion batteries

• Type of rechargeable battery that uses zinc ions as the charge carrier.
• Benefits: fast charge–discharge capability, high power density and energy density, and availability of zinc, etc.
• Limitations: low conductivity, safety concerns, etc.

Ministry of External Affairs denied that floods in eastern districts of Bangladesh were caused due to opening of Dumbur dam (Tripura) on Gumti river.

About Gumti River

• This Transboundary river rises from a range connecting Longtharai and Atharamura in Tripura.
• Total length of river: From origin to Indo-Bangladesh border is 167.4 km.
• River then flows through plains of Bangladesh and meets the Meghna river system near Daudkandi.
• Major Fall: Dumbur falls
• Right bank tributaries: Kanchi Gang, Pitra Gang, San Gang, Mailak Chhara and Surma Chhara
• Left bank tributaries: Ek Chhari, Maharani Chhara, Ganga.

Recently, tokenized cards (Cards using Tokenization) are enabling CVV-free payments.

About Tokenization

• Tokenization refers to replacement of actual card details with alternate code called “token”, which is unique for a combination of card, token requestor  and a device.
• Tokens can be used for online transactions, mobile point-of-sale transactions or in-app transactions.
• Tokenization can be performed by the authorized card network or by the card issuer.
• Benefits: Considered safer as actual card details are not shared with merchants, Reduced risk of data breach. 

FSSAI directed food businesses to remove claims of 'A1' and 'A2' types of milk from packaging citing not conforming with  Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

A1 and A2 Milk Category

• Casein( a protein in milk) exists in at least 13 different forms.
  • Two primary forms are:
    • A1 beta-casein: Found predominantly in cow breeds that originated in northern Europe e.g. Holstein, Friesian, Ayrshire, and British Shorthorn.
    • A2 beta-casein: Present in milk from breeds native to Channel Islands and southern France, including Guernsey, Jersey, Charolais, and Limousin cows.
  • While regular milk contains both A1 and A2 beta-casein, A2 milk is unique in that it contains only the A2 variant.

Recently Scientists spotted  heaviest antimatter nucleus in a particle accelerator Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider.

• It is called antihyper hydrogen-4 (Made up of antiproton, two antineutrons and antihyperon)

Antimatter

• Antimatter particles share the same mass as their matter counterparts, but qualities such as electric charge are opposite. 
  • E.g. A positively charged positron is an antiparticle to a negatively charged electron.
• Antimatter particles corresponding to electrons, protons, and neutrons are called positrons, antiprotons, and antineutrons.
• Matter and antimatter particles are always produced as a pair and if come in contact  annihilate one another (leaving pure energy).