Prelims Current Affairs includes Sea of Japan, Kopili River, Space AI Robot, Apna Ghar Initiative, Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary, India Post Payment Bank, Landraces Conservation Initiative and Krasheninnikov Volcano.

PLACE IN NEWS

1. SEA OF JAPAN

CURRENT CONTEXT: China and Russia have begun joint naval exercises in the Sea of Japan, a region of growing geopolitical interest in East Asia.

ABOUT SEA OF JAPAN

Geography and Location

• Marginal Sea of the Western Pacific Ocean, also known as the East Sea (especially in Korea).

• Boundaries:

  • East: Japan and Sakhalin (Russia)

  • West: Mainland Russia, North Korea, and South Korea

Physical Features

• Area: Approximately 978,000 sq.km

• Shape: Elliptical, aligned from southwest to northeast

• Average Depth: 1,667 meters

• Deepest Point: Dohoku Seamount (underwater volcano)

Connecting Straits

• South: Tsushima Strait and Korea Strait (to East China Sea)

• North: La Perouse and Tatar Straits (to Sea of Okhotsk)

• East: Kanmon Strait (to Inland Sea of Japan), Tsugaru Strait (to Pacific Ocean)

IMPORTANT PORTS

• Russia: Vladivostok, Sovetskaya Gavan, Nakhodka, Alexandrovsk-Sakhalinsky, Kholmsk

• North Korea: Hamhung, Chongjin, Wonsan

• Japan: Niigata, Tsuruta, Maizuru

GEOGRA

2. KOPILI RIVER – NATIONAL WATERWAY 57

Current Context: Kopili River in Assam has been declared National Waterway 57, and was recently made operational to boost river-based trade and sustainable logistics.

ABOUT KOPILI RIVER

• Location: Meghalaya and Assam (Northeast India)

• Origin: Saipong Reserve Forest, North Cachar Hills District, Meghalaya

• Length: 256 kilometres

• Tributary of: Brahmaputra River (largest south bank tributary in Assam)

• Districts Covered: North Cachar Hills, Karbi Anglong, Nagaon, Morigaon

Importance:

• Plays a major role in irrigation and river navigation.

• Helps in cultivation of crops like rice (winter, summer, autumn), mustard, wheat, and rape seed.

SPACE

3. PROJECT CIMON (SPACE AI ROBOT)

Current Context: The International Space Station (ISS) now uses advanced artificial intelligence (AI) robots like Cimon to support astronauts during space missions.

ABOUT CIMON

• Full Form: Crew Interactive Mobile Companion

• Developed By: Airbus, IBM, and German Space Agency

• Launched: 2018

• Type: Voice-controlled, floating robot

Features:

• Displays step-by-step instructions

• Offers hands-free information access

• Records and monitors experiments

• Uses AI to interact like a helpful teammate

Purpose:

• Reduces workload of astronauts

• Increases efficiency and safety in space missions

ENVIRONMENT

5. DEBRIGARH WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Current Context: The Odisha government plans to introduce tigers in Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary to revive the tiger population in the state.

• The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has granted technical approval.

ABOUT DEBRIGARH WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

• Location: Bargarh district, near Hirakud Dam on Mahanadi River, Odisha

• Established In: 1985

• Area: Around 347 square kilometres

Significance:

• Known for rich biodiversity

• Historic site of freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai’s rebellion against British rule

Tiger Reserve Plan:

• Core and buffer zones being demarcated by expert committee

• Tiger relocation to begin once preparations are complete

ECONOMY/ BANKING

6. INDIA POST PAYMENTS BANK (IPPB)

Current Context: India Post Payments Bank has introduced Aadhaar-based Face Authentication to make banking services easier and faster.

ABOUT INDIA POST PAYMENTS BANK (IPPB)

• Launched In: 2018

• Ministry: Department of Posts, Ministry of Communication

• Ownership: 100% Government of India

New Feature – Face Authentication:

• Developed Under: Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)

• Allows bank transactions through facial recognition

• No need for fingerprints or One-Time Passwords (OTPs)

• Promotes inclusive banking and faster services, especially for senior citizens and rural population

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

7. LANDRACES CONSERVATION INITIATIVE

Current Context: Odisha has launched a roadmap to integrate Landraces (traditional seed varieties) into the formal seed system for sustainable agriculture.

ABOUT LANDRACES

• Meaning: Traditional, local seed varieties developed by farmers over generations through natural and manual selection.

Advantages:

• Resistant to climate change and pests

• Stable yield

• Rich in nutrition

• Suitable for local farming conditions

Threats:

• • Genetic Erosion due to:

    • Use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides

    • Shift to hybrid commercial seeds

    • Changes in agricultural methods and land use

GEOGRAPHY

8. KRASHENINNIKOV VOLCANO

Current Context: Recently, Krasheninnikov volcano in Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula erupted for the first time in recorded history.

ABOUT KRASHENINNIKOV VOLCANO

• Location: Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia

• Height: 1,886 meters

• Volcanic Type: Stratovolcano (also called Composite Volcano)

• Situated In: A collapsed caldera, formed by a powerful eruption 39,600 years ago

• Geological Feature: Made up of two eruptive cones in a 9-kilometre-wide caldera

• Southern Cone: Has a crater 800 meters wide and 140 meters deep

• Previous Eruption: Last erupted about 400 to 600 years ago

ABOUT STRATOVOLCANOES (COMPOSITE VOLCANOES)

• Shape: Tall, cone-shaped, steep volcano

• Location: Usually found above subduction zones, often in the Pacific Ring of Fire

• Lava Type: Eruptions are of andesite and dacite – which are thick and slow-flowing

• Eruption Style: Explosive due to high gas pressure

• Percentage: Make up about 60% of all volcanoes on Earth

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