The Minister of State for Commerce and Industry is scheduled to co-chair the 7th Session of the India–Morocco Joint Commission.
Morocco is a country located in the Maghreb region of North Africa.
Capital: Rabat.
Land Boundaries: Morocco is bordered by Western Sahara to the south and Algeria to the east.
Maritime Boundaries: It has coastlines along the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to the north. This geographical position gives Morocco access to both major water bodies.
Most of Morocco, particularly its northern and coastal regions, experiences a Mediterranean climate, characterised by mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers.
The Moulouya River is one of Morocco’s significant rivers and an important source of water. It originates in the Atlas Mountains and flows into the Mediterranean Sea.
Jebel Toubkal is the highest point in Morocco and the highest peak in the Atlas Mountains.
Morocco possesses several mineral resources, including iron ore, coal, barite, manganese, lead and zinc.
A male tiger was recently camera-trapped in Assam’s Dihing Patkai National Park, highlighting the park’s rich biodiversity.
Location: The park is located in the Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts of Assam. It lies at the foothills of the Patkai Hill Ranges, along the banks of the Dehing River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra. It is also adjacent to Namdapha Wildlife Sanctuary.
Landscape: The park forms part of the Dehing Patkai Landscape, which is characterised by dipterocarp-dominated lowland rainforests. It is famous for containing one of India’s largest stretches of tropical lowland rainforest.
Historical Background: Dihing Patkai was declared a wildlife sanctuary on 13 June 2004. The Government of Assam upgraded it to a national park on 13 December 2020.
The park contains deciduous and semi-evergreen rainforest vegetation, along with lush green flora.
Important plant species include Hollong, Nahor, Mekai, Paroli and Simul. The park also supports a variety of orchids, ferns, cane and bamboo.
Dihing Patkai National Park supports rich wildlife diversity. Important species found in the park include the Slow Loris, Pig-tailed Macaque, Stump-tailed Macaque, Capped Langur, Indian Leopard, Asian Elephant and Royal Bengal Tiger.
The region is home to several indigenous communities, including the Tai Phake, Khamyang, Khampti, Singpho, Nocte, Ahom, Kaibarta, Moran and Motok communities. The source also mentions Burmese and non-indigenous Nepali populations.
The conservation of the striped hyena has gained attention due to limited population data, conservation challenges and the need for a coordinated national conservation strategy.
The striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) belongs to the Hyaenidae family. It is one of the three true hyena species, along with the brown hyena and the spotted hyena. The hyena family also includes the aardwolf.
The striped hyena is smaller and less social than the spotted hyena. It is primarily a nocturnal scavenger, feeding mainly on animal carcasses.
The striped hyena is found across parts of Asia and Africa. Global population estimates suggest approximately 5,000–14,000 individuals, including an estimated 1,000–3,000 individuals in India.
India does not currently have a comprehensive official census for this species, creating challenges for assessing its population trends and planning conservation measures.
The striped hyena plays an important ecological role as a scavenger. By consuming carrion and removing decaying animal remains, it helps prevent the accumulation of organic waste and contributes to ecosystem health.
|
Organisation/Legislation |
Conservation Status |
|---|---|
|
IUCN Red List |
Near Threatened |
|
Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 |
Schedule I |
Negative cultural beliefs and superstitions surrounding hyenas contribute to their persecution and create challenges for conservation. These beliefs can also aggravate human–wildlife conflict.
Another major challenge is the lack of comprehensive population data, which limits the ability to assess the species' status and develop targeted conservation interventions.
Current conservation efforts remain fragmented, with regional initiatives in states such as West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
A coordinated National Action Plan could integrate research, funding and conservation initiatives across different regions. Such a framework would support systematic population assessment and improve coordination among conservation agencies.
Community engagement, awareness campaigns and educational initiatives can promote scientific understanding of striped hyenas, reduce negative perceptions and encourage local participation in their protection.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully conducted a test drop of the indigenous Khagantak-243 Long Range Glide Bomb (LRGB), marking a development in India’s precision-strike capabilities and defence self-reliance.
The Khagantak-243 has been developed by JSR Dynamics Pvt. Ltd., a Nagpur-based start-up, in collaboration with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) under the Development-cum-Production Partner (DcPP) model. This reflects public-private participation in India’s defence manufacturing sector.
The Khagantak-243 is a 300 kg-class Long Range Glide Bomb equipped with a Mk-81 general-purpose blast-fragmentation warhead, containing approximately 125 kg of explosive fill.
It uses swivel-type glide wings and aft control surfaces to achieve a glide ratio of more than 12, enabling it to travel a considerable distance after being released from an aircraft.
The glide bomb can strike targets at a distance of approximately 144–180 km when released from an altitude of around 12 km at Mach 0.8. This stand-off capability allows fighter aircraft to engage targets while reducing their exposure to hostile air-defence systems.
The weapon was initially tested from the Su-30MKI fighter aircraft at Pokhran. It is planned for integration with other aircraft platforms, including the MiG-29K and Mirage-2000.
Unlike cruise missiles, glide bombs do not have an onboard propulsion system. After release, they use aerodynamic lift generated by their wings to extend their range and reach designated targets.
This makes glide bombs a cost-effective precision-strike weapon system compared with certain powered missile systems.
The Khagantak-243 is intended to enhance the IAF’s ability to conduct long-range precision strikes against targets such as enemy runways, hardened shelters and command centres, while reducing risks to aircraft and their crews.
The Khagantak series also includes heavier variants, such as the Khagantak-306 and Khagantak-225, which are designed for longer-range strike capabilities, according to the provided source.
The development of indigenous glide bombs can reduce India’s dependence on imported precision-guided munitions and strengthen the objectives of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing.
It also highlights the role of domestic defence start-ups, public-sector enterprises and collaborative development models in building indigenous military capabilities.
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Every aspirant is unique and the mentoring is customised according to the strengths and weaknesses of the aspirant.
In every Lecture. Director Sir will provide conceptual understanding with around 800 Mindmaps.
We provide you the best and Comprehensive content which comes directly or indirectly in UPSC Exam.
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