Low-Level Transportable Radar | Uttar Pradesh | 19 Mar 2025
Why in News?
The Ministry of Defence signed a ₹ 2,906 crore contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), based in for the procurement of the transportable radar 'Ashwini' for the Indian Air Force.
Key Points
- About:
- Low-Level Transportable Radar (LLTR) ‘Ashwini’ is an active electronically scanned phased array radar.
- It is used to monitor slow-moving targets such as high-speed fighter aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and helicopters .
- This radar is based on state of the art solid state technology.
- It has been indigenously designed and developed by Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL):
- It is a Navaratna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) operating under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India .
- It was established in 1954 to meet the defence needs of the nation.
- The organization is engaged in various fields of defence electronics and professional electronics, providing modern technical support to the Indian Defence Forces.
- Production Units:
- BEL has several manufacturing units located in Bengaluru (Head Office), Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh) , Panchkula (Haryana) , Kotdwar (Uttarakhand) , Hyderabad and Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh) , Navi Mumbai and Pune (Maharashtra) , and Chennai (Tamil Nadu).
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
- Introduction:
- DRDO is the research and development arm of the Ministry of Defence aimed at empowering India in cutting-edge defence technologies.
- Efforts towards self-reliance and successful indigenous development and production of strategic systems and platforms like Agni and Prithvi missile series , light combat aircraft Tejas , multi-barrel rocket launcher Pinaka , air defence system Akash , a wide range of radars and electronic warfare systems etc.
- Establishment:
- It was established in 1958 by the integration of the Technical Development Establishments (TDEs) and Directorate of Technical Development & Production (DTDP) of the Indian Army and the Defence Science Organisation (DSO) .
- DRDO is a network of more than 50 laboratories intensively engaged in development of defence technologies covering various disciplines such as aeronautics, armament, electronics, combat vehicles, engineering systems etc.
Loudspeakers at religious places | Uttar Pradesh | 19 Mar 2025
Why in News?
The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh stressed the need for permanent noise pollution control measures for loudspeakers at religious places .
Key Points
- Important Instructions:
- The Chief Minister directed the officials to keep the noise level in religious and public events as per the prescribed standards.
- He also gave instructions to ensure a permanent solution regarding the use of loudspeakers at religious places.
- High Court Decision:
- Earlier, the Allahabad High Court has also given an important decision regarding the use of loudspeakers at religious places .
- The court clarified that using loudspeakers for prayers is not a legal right, because it may cause inconvenience to other people. Therefore, using loudspeakers does not fall under the category of rights.
- Noise Pollution:
- Any kind of uncomfortable or excessively loud sound is called noise pollution.
- Sound intensity is measured in decibels (dB) and a decibel scale is used to determine its levels.
- Sound intensity up to 20 dB is considered equivalent to a whisper.
- According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) , sound intensity less than 70 dB is not harmful to living beings, no matter how long it persists.
- However, if a person is exposed to noise above 85 dB for more than 8 hours continuously, it may pose a health hazard.
- The main sources of noise pollution include loud music, transportation, construction work, etc., which have a negative impact on human life.
- Its side effects include high blood pressure, hearing impairment, sleep disorders and heart disease.
Pilibhit Tiger Reserve | Uttar Pradesh | 19 Mar 2025
Why in News?
The Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) is set to become a new sanctuary for rhinos coming from Nepal, where efforts are in full swing to establish a permanent habitat for them.
Key Points
- The Lagga-Bhagga area of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is adjacent to the Shukla Phanta Sanctuary of Nepal, due to which Nepalese rhinoceroses often visit here.
- The area has rich grasslands, adequate water sources and uninterrupted wildlife corridors, making it an ideal environment for a stable population of rhinos. Currently, there is no recorded population of rhinos in the reserve.
- Under 'Project Rhino', rhinoceroses will be translocated from Assam and Nepal.
- Importance and Benefits
- The project will preserve the dwindling rhino population as well as strengthen the wildlife ecosystem .
- Tourism will be promoted , which will improve the economic condition of local communities .
- Having protected and demarcated areas will reduce the problem of rhinos straying into agricultural lands , thereby preventing conflict between farmers and wildlife.
- Pilibhit Tiger Reserve:
- It is located in Pilibhit and Shahjahanpur districts of Uttar Pradesh. It was notified as a Tiger Reserve in the year 2014.
- It is part of the Terai Arc landscape in the Upper Gangetic Plain .
- The Gomti River originates from this reserve, which is also the catchment area of several other rivers like Sharda, Chuka and Mala Khannot .
- It is home to myriad wild animals, including the endangered tiger, swamp deer, Bengal florican, hog deer, leopard , etc.
Project Rhino
- Project Rhino is an important conservation initiative in India aimed at saving the dwindling population of one-horned rhinoceros .
- It began in the 1980s, when the threat of extinction to rhinos was seriously recognised.
- It evolved into a multi-faceted program , with key strategies including habitat conservation, community engagement, law enforcement, and scientific research.