Sanchar Saathi Initiative

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), has taken decisive action to protect citizens from potential SMS fraud through the Sanchar Saathi initiative.

• Sanchar Saathi is a citizen centric portal to empower mobile subscribers, strengthen their security and increase awareness about citizen centric initiatives of the Government.
• It is an initiative by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
• Sanchar Saathi empowers citizens by allowing them to know:
  • The mobile connections issued in their name,
  • Get disconnected the connections either not taken by them or not required by them,
  • Block and trace stolen/lost mobile phones and
  • Check genuineness of devices while buying a new/old mobile phone.
• Sanchar Saathi facilitates citizens for reporting suspected fraud communication.
• Sanchar Saathi contains various modules like Chakshu, CEIR, TAFCOP, KYM, RICWIN, KYI etc.
• Chakshu – Facilitates citizens to report the suspected or unsolicited communications received through:
  • Call, SMS or WhatsApp which are intended for cyber-crime,
  • Financial frauds, impersonation, fake customer services / lottery offer / loan offer / job offer and
  • Installation of mobile tower / disconnection of services or KYC update / loan etc. or any other misuse.
• Person who has already lost money due to financial fraud or is a victim of cyber-crime, it is suggested to report at cyber-crime helpline number 1930 or website under the Chakshu.
• CEIR module – Facilitates tracing of the lost/stolen mobile devices.
• This also facilitates blocking of lost/stolen mobile devices in network of all telecom operators so that lost/stolen devices cannot be used in India.
• Once mobile phone is found it may be unblocked on the portal for its normal use by the citizens.
• TAFCOP module – Facilitates a mobile subscriber to check the number of mobile connections taken in his/her name.
• It also facilitates to report the mobile connection(s) which are either not required or not taken by the subscriber.
• RICWIN module – Facilitates citizens to report the incoming international calls received with local Indian number (+91-xxxxxxxxxx).
• RICWIN enables citizens to be government’s eye to report such calls for busting/unearthing suspected illegal telecom setups which cause loss to Government's exchequer and pose threat to national security.

Oedocladium Sahyadricum

Oedocladium Sahyadricum is a new algal species that was recently discovered in the Western Ghats.

• Oedocladium Sahyadricum is an algal species, discovered in the natural forests of Kumbhavurutty region in Kollam district of Kerala.
• The name ‘sahyadricum’ refers to the Western Ghats, also known as Sahyadri, which is rich in plant diversity and provides ideal conditions for the growth of terrestrial microalgae.
• Unique features – Being dioecious and terrestrial, having a superior operculum, and possessing ellipsoid oogonium and oospore.
• Dioecy is a characteristic of certain species that have distinct unisexual individuals, each producing either male or female gametes, either directly or indirectly.
• The Oedocladium Sahyadricum was found as a thin mat of elongated strands on damp soil.
• Colour – It is velvety green but turns yellowish-green as it matures.
• Weather – Rainy weather is likely needed for its abundant growth.
• This is the first time a species in the Oedocladium category has been recorded in Kerala.
• Application – Species of Oedocladium have potential practical applications in medicine, agriculture, and in the production of a natural pigment, astaxanthin.
• Astaxanthin is well-documented for its unique biological activities and health benefits.

Dakhni Language

In the recent Lok Sabha election campaigns, political rallies saw extensive use of Dakhni words, humor and poetry by important political leaders.

• Dakhni shares the Perso-Arabic script with Urdu and Farsi.
• It is native to the Deccan plateau, especially Hyderabad.
• Dakhni was born in the mid-14th century and both Dakhni and Urdu have roots in Dehalvi (also known as ‘Old Urdu’).
• It existed in Delhi about a 100 years before it reached the Deccan areas in the 14th century through conquests of the Deccan by Mohd Bin Tughlaq.
• Dakhni speakers can be found across Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka and even Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• Sufi saints used it to connect with locals of different faiths.
• Dakhni declined after the 18th century due to the Mughal conquests of the Deccan region.
• With the rise of modern Urdu language, poets shifted to Urdu to gain royal patronage from the Mughal rulers instead of using Dakhni.

Burkina Faso

The Burkina Faso has recently ruled that the military rule will extend for five more years.

• Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in western Africa.
• The country has a large plateau region.
• In the north, it is a grassy savanna landscape, which gradually changes to areas with few trees and sparse forests as you move towards the south.
• Capital – Ouagadougou.
• Burkina Faso's military junta that took power in a 2022 coup will remain in power for another 5 years, extending the transition period to restore democracy by 60 months from July 2023.
• This decision came after the new charter signed by the military leader Ibrahim Traore.
• Elections to mark the end of the transition could happen before the 5-year deadline if the security situation permits.
• The extended military rule raises concerns about democratic backsliding in West and Central Africa, which has seen 8 coups in the last 4 years.
• The new charter also allows Traore to run for president whenever the elections take place.
• The extension is partly due to the worsening violence and deadly attacks by Islamist groups in the Sahel region affecting Burkina Faso and neighbouring countries like Mali and Niger.
• The landlocked countries in Africa are:

Mange

Several wild dogs in Masinagudi and Singara forest ranges in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) were recently affected by mange.

• Mange is a skin disease of animals caused by mite infestations, characterized by inflammation, itching, thickening of the skin and hair loss.
• Mites are tiny parasites that feed and live on or under your skin.
• It can also affect humans and the human version of this condition is called scabies.
• The disease in animals is caused by S. scabiei variants, which are genetically distinct from scabies in humans.
• Some form of mange is known in all domestic animals, although many varieties of mange mites infest only one species.
• Transmission – They are transmitted between animals by direct contact and by objects that have been in contact with infected animals.
• Treatment – Most forms of mange are treatable.
• The animals in forest were affected by mange allegedly due to parasitic mites that spread from the feral dogs, as they chase spotted deer deep into the forest.