A depression in the Bay of Bengal is intensifying into Cyclone Montha, the season's first cyclonic storm. It is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast near Kakinada by Tuesday night. The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), chaired by Cabinet Secretary T.V. Somanathan, met to review preparedness across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, and Odisha. Heavy rainfall alerts (Orange and Red) have been issued. The NDRF and armed forces are on alert to ensure zero loss of life and minimize damage to infrastructure and essential services.
Cyclone Montha is the first cyclonic storm of the season, originating in the Bay of Bengal.
The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) is the top body for disaster management coordination at the national level.
NDRF teams and relief teams from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard have been mobilized for rescue operations.
Exam Points
The NCMC meeting was chaired by Cabinet Secretary T.V. Somanathan.
The cyclone is expected to make landfall near Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.
Wind speeds are predicted to reach 90-100 kmph, gusting to 110 kmph.
The Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) is launching a new feature on the ASTraM app, allowing college students to report traffic violations near their campuses. Partnering with the Aarohan Foundation, the initiative involves 14,000 student 'Police Marshals' from 100 colleges. The app integrates the existing 'Public Eye' platform, allowing users to upload photos of violations. This data-driven approach aims to improve traffic management, planning, and enforcement. Top-performing colleges will receive incentives to encourage participation and foster a sense of responsibility among the youth.
The ASTraM app is a digital tool used by Bengaluru Traffic Police for integrated traffic management.
The initiative leverages a network of 14,000 student marshals to act as eyes on the ground.
Data collected will help identify violation trends and improve urban infrastructure planning.
Exam Points
The initiative is a partnership between Bengaluru Traffic Police and the Aarohan Foundation.
There are currently 14,000 student marshals involved from 100 different colleges.
Karthik Reddy is the Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) in Bengaluru.
Following two shipwrecks off its coast, Kerala is set to frame a comprehensive oil spill crisis management plan. The Union Ministry of Defence, the nodal ministry for maritime oil spills, directed the state to align its plan with the national contingency plan and a similar model used by Tamil Nadu. With a 590 km coastline and proximity to international shipping lanes and the Vizhinjam International Seaport, Kerala faces high risks. A seven-member core group has been formed to oversee the plan's preparation and implementation.
The Ministry of Defence is the nodal agency for handling oil and hazardous substance spills at sea.
Kerala's plan will be modeled after the one recently prepared by Tamil Nadu to ensure regional consistency.
The proximity to the Vizhinjam International Seaport and international shipping lanes increases the risk of marine pollution.
Exam Points
Kerala has a coastline of approximately 590 km.
The Vizhinjam International Seaport is located just 10 nautical miles from the east-west shipping lane.
S. Sreekala is the Chairperson of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board.
The Government of India announced the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP), a new set of national awards for scientific excellence. Eminent physicist Jayant Vishnu Narlikar was posthumously awarded the Vigyan Ratna for lifetime achievement. The awards are categorized into Vigyan Ratna, Vigyan Shri (for distinguished contributions), Vigyan Yuva (for scientists under 45), and Vigyan Team. This year, 33 scientists were honored across various categories. The selection process is managed by a committee chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.
The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar is modeled after the Padma awards to recognize scientific achievements at the national level.
Categories include Vigyan Ratna (lifetime), Vigyan Shri (distinguished), Vigyan Yuva (young scientists), and Vigyan Team.
The Vigyan Team award was given to the CSIR Aroma Mission for its collective contribution.
Exam Points
Jayant Vishnu Narlikar received the Vigyan Ratna posthumously.
Eight scientists were selected for the Vigyan Shri awards.
The Vigyan Yuva award is restricted to scientists under the age of 45.
Data reveals a significant drop in complaints filed with the Lokpal, falling from 2,469 in 2022-23 to just 233 in the current year (up to September). Since its inception in 2019, the anti-corruption body has received 6,955 complaints, but only 289 preliminary inquiries were ordered, and prosecution sanctions were granted in only seven cases. Activists have raised concerns regarding the lack of annual reports since 2021-22 and the dismissal of many complaints on technical grounds, suggesting a decline in public engagement and institutional effectiveness.
The Lokpal has jurisdiction over corruption allegations against the Prime Minister, Union Ministers, and MPs.
Public engagement has nosedived, with 90% of total complaints filed in the first four years of its establishment.
Only 7 prosecution sanctions have been granted out of nearly 7,000 complaints received since 2019.
Google researchers have introduced the C2S-Scale (Cell2Sentence-Scale) model, a 27-billion parameter AI tool designed to understand the 'language' of individual cells. Trained on real-world patient and cell-line data, the model suggested using the drug silmitasertib to improve the immune system's ability to identify cancerous tumors. This discovery was later validated through experimental testing in living cells. While experts note that trained biologists might reach similar conclusions, the AI significantly accelerates the process of hypothesis generation and pathway identification for complex diseases like cancer.
C2S-Scale is a Large Language Model (LLM) applied to biological data rather than human language.
The model identified a new use for silmitasertib in cancer immunotherapy by scanning vast biological literature.
AI tools like this can shorten the time needed to identify potential drug candidates from months to days.
Exam Points
The C2S-Scale model has 27 billion parameters.
Silmitasertib (CX-4945) is the drug identified for potential new cancer treatment pathways.
The research was led by scientists at Google DeepMind.
Google researchers, in collaboration with Stanford and Caltech, published papers in Nature claiming a 'verifiable display of quantum advantage.' Using the new 'Willow' quantum processor and the Decoded Quantum Interferometry (DQI) algorithm, they solved a complex optimization problem significantly faster than the world's second-fastest supercomputer. While the supercomputer would take over three years, Willow completed the task in about two hours. This milestone demonstrates the ability of quantum systems to handle 'scrambled' information in complex systems, though practical, large-scale applications remain several years away.
Quantum advantage refers to a quantum computer performing a task that is practically impossible for classical computers.
The Willow processor uses the DQI algorithm to manipulate wave-like properties of quantum particles for computation.
The experiment involved measuring 'scrambled' information, a state where information is hidden in complex particle relationships.
Exam Points
The research was published in the journal Nature.
The Willow processor solved a task in 2 hours that would take a supercomputer 3 years.
The DQI algorithm stands for Decoded Quantum Interferometry.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has clarified that current H-1B visa holders seeking extensions or switching visa categories (e.g., from F-1 to H-1B) will not have to pay the new $1,00,000 fee. This fee applies only to new applications made after September 21. While the clarification provides some relief to the IT industry and international students, concerns remain regarding the overall trend of tightening immigration controls and the potential for future policy shifts that could impact Indian professionals and students.
The $1,00,000 fee for H-1B applications is a significant hurdle for small businesses and start-ups.
Fee exemptions apply to those already in the H-1B system seeking extensions or renewals.
Indian students saw a 44% decline in arrivals in August compared to the previous year due to policy uncertainty.
Exam Points
The clarification was issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
The new fee is $1,00,000 for certain H-1B applications.
Student arrivals from India saw a 44% year-over-year decline in August.
The annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit is set to begin in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A key highlight is the formal welcoming of East Timor (Timor-Leste) as the bloc's 11th member, the first new addition since Cambodia in 1999. The summit will also mark U.S. President Donald Trump's first trip to Asia in his second term. Leaders are expected to discuss regional security, economic resilience, maritime disputes, and the impact of shifting global trade patterns and U.S. tariffs on Southeast Asian economies.
East Timor applied for ASEAN membership in 2011 and is finally being inducted as the 11th member.
This is the first expansion of ASEAN in 26 years, signaling a shift in regional geopolitics.
The summit will involve key partners including India, China, Japan, Australia, and the U.S.
Exam Points
The summit is being held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
East Timor is also known as Timor-Leste.
The last member to join ASEAN was Cambodia in 1999.
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