09 July 2025
(Current Affairs Notes - Prelims)

Bluetooth Mesh Networking

• Bluetooth Mesh lets several Bluetooth devices (like lights, sensors, and switches) talk to each other in a group, not just one-to-one.

• It’s used in places like offices, malls, and homes to control lighting, air conditioning, or security systems from one place.

• Messages are relayed from one device to another through intermediate nodes, so even if one path is blocked, the message still gets through.

• Recently, Bitchat – a new peer-to-peer messaging app – was launched. It relies on Bluetooth Mesh Networking to enable communication.

• Bitchat works without a centralised server or phone network. But it has limitations like high latency, complex network management, low data transfer rates, etc.

Kharai camels

• A unique and domesticated breed of camels indigenous to Gujarat (primarily in Kutch).

• These are known for their ability to swim in the sea and graze on mangroves.

• The Rabari and Fakirani Jat tribes are associated with their preservation.

• Recently, Kharai camels have been rescued in Gujarat from sea tide.

CBAM

• Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism

• It is the carbon border tax by the European Union (EU) with the aim of reducing carbon emissions.

• It seeks to put a fair price on the production of carbon intensive goods that are entering the EU, and to encourage cleaner industrial production in non-EU countries.

• Recently, the BRICS nations rejected Europe’s CBAM calling it a unilateral and unfair trade barrier.

BIND Scheme

• Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development

• A Central Sector Scheme

• Under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

• To provide financial support to Prasar Bharati to upgrade its infrastructure, content development.

• Recently, establishment of a new Akashvani Kendra in Ujjain with the support of BIND scheme was announced.

PARAKH RS

• Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development (PARAKH) Rashtriya Sarvekshan (RS)

• PARAKH is the National Assessment Centre set up in NCERT as an independent constituent unit in 2023.

• PARAKH seeks to set norms, standards, guidelines and implementing activities related to student assessment.

• PARAKH RS was formerly known as the National Achievement Survey (NAS).

• PARAKH RS assessed the performance of students in language & mathematics (for Grades 3, 6, & 9), world around us (for Grades 3 & 6), and science & social science (for Grade 9).

Carrying Capacity

• Carrying capacity of an ecosystem is the size of the population or community that can be supported indefinitely upon the available resources and services of that ecosystem.

• It is generally determined by three factors:

  • • amount of resources available in the ecosystem

    • size of the population or community

    • amount of resources each individual within the community is consuming

• Recently, the Uttarakhand government commissioned assessments of carrying capacity of cities to check ecological imbalances.

Phosphorous in Plants

• It is an essential mineral for plant growth and its limited availability leads to productivity drops drastically.

• It is noted especially for its role in capturing and converting the sun’s energy into useful plant compounds.

• Recently, scientists used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology to increase phosphate uptake and transport in japonica rice varieties.

Namibia

• Capital: Windhoek

• A country located in the southwestern coast of Africa.

• Namibia has land boundaries with Angola, Zambia, Botswana, South Africa.

• The Atlantic Ocean lies to the west of Namibia.

• Recently, the Prime Minister of India visited Namibia.