Prelims Focus – 10th May 2024

Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) Project

In News: Japan is investing in the Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) Project with the US in response to the increasing threat of advanced weapons like hypersonic missiles from other countries.

• The US and Japan are working on developing a missile-intercepting system that aims to be fully operational by the end of 2032. 
• The system will target hypersonic weapons, which separate from their boosters and travel at high speeds on unpredictable trajectories during the glide phase. 
• The project will involve launching modified missiles from surface warships to intercept incoming hypersonic missiles before they reach their target.

Dice Snake

In News: A recent study discovered that dice snakes are able to pretend to be dead when attacked by predators by putting on a dramatic performance that involves oozing blood from their mouths.

• The water snake is a nonvenomous snake that is part of the Colubridae family, also known as the Natricinae subfamily. 
• It is typically found near bodies of water in Eurasia and Egypt. Females are larger than males.
• They have a unique defence mechanism of playing dead to avoid predators. 
• However, they face threats such as habitat loss, pollution, and persecution by humans. Despite these threats, they are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

16th Finance Commission

In News: The 16th Finance Commission has recently invited suggestions from the general public, institutions and organisations on relevant issues for it and those related to its terms of reference.

• • Under Article 280 of the Constitution, the President of India is needed to represent a Finance Commission at an c program language period of 5 years or earlier.
  • Members: It has a boss and 4 contributors appointed via the President.
  • Function: It determines the method and system for dispensing the tax proceeds between the Centre and states, and some of the states as according to the constitutional arrangement and gift necessities.
  • Significance: The hints of the Finance Commission are vital in figuring out the financial family members among the significant and nation governments.
  • The idea is to ensure a truthful and equitable distribution of monetary resources.

• 16th Finance Commission

• • The advance cell for the sixteenth Finance Commission was hooked up in 2022.
  • Arvind Panagariya is appointed as the Chairman of 16th Finance Commission.
  • It shall make suggestions as to the following topics:
    • The distribution between the Union and the States of the internet proceeds of taxes and the allocation between the States of the respective shares of such proceeds;
    • The ideas which must govern the grants-in-aid of the revenues of the States out of the Consolidated Fund of India and
    • The measures needed to increase the Consolidated Fund of a State to complement the resources of the Panchayats and Municipalities within the State on the idea of the hints made by the Finance Commission of the State.

Orangutan Diplomacy

In News: Malaysia intends to gift orangutans to palm oil-purchasing countries as part of an initiative similar to China’s panda diplomacy.

• Characteristics: Orangutans are the largest arboreal mammal, spending maximum of their time in trees.
• They are the closest residing relatives of human beings and that they proportion 96.4% of Human genes and are fairly shrewd creatures.
• There are three species of Orangutan  – the Bornean, Sumatran and Tapanuli – which differ a touch in appearance and behavior.
• Eating habitats: Orangutans especially devour end result, which include mangoes, lychees and figs, but they also feed on young leaves, plant life, insects, and even small mammals.
• Habitat and Distribution: They can arise up to 1,500m above sea level, most are discovered in lowland regions and prefer forests in river valleys or floodplains.
  • These top apes are only found in the wild on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra.  
• IUCN status: All 3 orangutan species are critically endangered.

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