- KARNATAKA BANS USE OF COLORING AGENT IN COTTON CANDY
- Ban in India: Recently, two Indian states, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, banned the use of Rhodamine B in food products
- Particularly cotton candy and Gobi Manchurian
- Due to health risks
- Govt warned of severe action against offenders
- Rhodamine B is a synthetic pink dye commonly used in various industries
- It is the colouring agent used in cotton candy
- As per the existing law, Rhodamine B is already banned by the Health and Family Welfare Ministry
- Health Risks in Food: The dye can migrate from brightly coloured food items into the food itself, posing a potential health risk to consumers
- Safety Concerns: Recent studies raise concerns about its potential health risks, including: Carcinogenicity: Possible link to cancer development.
- DNA Damage: May cause damage to genetic material
- Other Applications of Rhodamine B
- Textile Industry: Traditionally used for dyeing fabrics.
- Plastics Industry: Colors plastics for various products.
- Cosmetics: In some cases, used as a color additive in certain cosmetic products (regulations vary by country).
2. CENTRE SIGNS RS.200 CR. PACT FOR ANTI DRONE SYSTEMS
- The Indian Defence Ministry awarded a ₹200 crore (approximately $24.2 million) contract to a private company Big Bang Boom Solutions Private Ltd. (BBBS)
- For the development and supply of anti-drone systems for the Indian Army and Air Force Contract details
- This is the biggest contract awarded so far under the Ministry’s Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative
- iDEX aims to promote domestic innovation and technology development in the defense sector
- The anti-drone system uses a combination of two technologies
- Passive Radio Frequency Sensor Technology – This means the system detects and tracks drones by picking up the radio frequencies they emit. This can be helpful for initially identifying that a drone is present.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Computer Vision Algorithms: The core sensor uses AI and computer vision to analyse the data from the radio sensors and provide more precise information. This includes: Identification: Recognising the specific type of drone. Classification: Distinguishing between friendly and unfriendly drones. Location Identification: Pinpointing the exact location of the drone. Decision-Making: Based on the analysis, the system can autonomously decide on countermeasures, such as signal jamming, to neutralize the threat
- Benefits of the technology
- The system can potentially reduce false alarms by combining two detection methods
- It can provide more precise information about the drone
- It allows for more effective countermeasures
3. ONE STATION ONE PRODUCT
- “One Station, One Product” (OSOP) is an initiative that promotes the ‘Local for Vocal’ vision of the Government of India.
- It aims to encourage the marketing of local/indigenous products by providing stalls at railway stations to showcase and sell these products
- This initiative creates additional income opportunities for the marginalised sections of the society
- Helps in promoting local craftsmanship and specialties at a larger, more accessible platform like railway stations
- 205 OSOP stalls will be inaugurated across Southern Railway stations, including 168 in Tamil Nadu
4. 7396 golden langurs in India, reveals survey
- There are an estimated 7396 golden langurs in India, the latest survey of the primate has revealed.
- The comprehensive population estimation of the endangered primate was carried out in two phases by the primate Research Centre NE India with the Assam Forest Department and other departments.
- The previous population estimation in 2008-09 estimated 6000 golden langurs in India.
- Golden Langur is endemic to western Assam, India, and southern Bhutan. Their habitat is restricted to the region surrounded by four geographical landmarks: the foothills of Bhutan (North), Manas river (East), Sankosh river (West), and Brahmaputra river (South)
5. Warming up to climate change: What is carbon capture and can it help save the planet?
- Last week, Germany announced that it would allow carbon capture and off-shore storage for certain industrial sectors, such as cement production to help meet its target of becoming carbon neutral by 2045.
- The country is currently the biggest carbon dioxide (CO2) emitter in Europe.
- Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS):
- CCS is a technology that captures carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas, from industrial facilities and power plants, and then stores it deep underground.
- This is different from simply removing CO2 from the air, as CCS specifically targets emissions at the source.
- The process involves three steps:
- Capture: CO2 is separated from exhaust gases using various methods like chemical solvents (post-combustion), gasification (pre-combustion), or pure oxygen burning (oxyfuel combustion).
- Transport: Captured CO2 is compressed into a liquid and transported through pipelines or other means to storage sites.Storage: CO2 is safely stored deep underground in geological formations like saline aquifers or depleted oil and gas reservoirs.
- While CCS offers a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it’s important to note that different capture methods have varying efficiency levels and energy requirements.
