Rapid Fire Current Affairs

• 18 Aug 2023

FloodWatch Real-Time Flood Monitoring App

Recently, the Central Water Commission (CWC) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, launched the mobile application "FloodWatch" for disseminating flood-related information in real-time.

• Key Features of FloodWatch:
  • Real-time flood monitoring provides up-to-date flood situations across the country.
  • App utilizes near real-time river flow data from various sources to enhance accuracy.
  • Interactive Map feature enables users to check CWC Flood Forecast (24 hours) or Flood Advisory (7 days) by selecting stations directly from the map or using the search box.
  • "FloodWatch" incorporates advanced technologies like satellite data analysis, mathematical modelling, and real-time monitoring to ensure accurate flood forecasts.

Read more: Central Water Commission (CWC)

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Curbing Fraud with SIM Card Registration

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in India has introduced new measures to combat cyber fraud and scam calls related to SIM cards, these include mandatory registration and verification of SIM dealers, with the goal of curbing fraudulent activities and strengthening mobile security.

• Recent efforts have led to the blacklisting of 67,000 SIM dealers and 52 lakh connections, with over 300 First Information Reports (FIR) registered.
• The rollout of the Sanchar Saathi portal(SSP) complements these efforts, solidifying India's commitment to combatting telecommunications-related fraud.
  • The SSP, developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) under the DoT, addresses prevalent telecom frauds like identity theft and banking fraud.
    • Over 40 lakh fraudulent connections were identified, and 36 lakhs disconnected using the portal.
  • Protects against identity theft, forged KYC, mobile device theft, and banking fraud.

Read more: World Telecom Day

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Anduri Utsav: Uttarakhand's Whimsical Butter Festival

The Anduri Utsav, popularly known as the Butter Festival, celebrated at Dayara Bugyal of Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand culminated recently.

• Dayara Bugyal, situated at an altitude of 11,000 feet above sea level, is one of the pristine meadows in the state.
• It is also known as Butter Holi, as people smear each other with butter, milk and buttermilk in a playful manner.
• The festival is a way of expressing gratitude to Lord Krishna, who is believed to have protected the cattle from evil forces while they were grazing in the bugyal.

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Matti Banana

Matti banana, a native variety of Kanniyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, was recently granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for its unique features and qualities.

• Matti banana has six types that differ in colour, aroma, taste, and texture, and are suitable for baby food and medicinal use.
• This Banana is commonly known as ‘Baby Banana’.
• It grows best in the specific climate and soil of Kanniyakumari.

Read more: Geographical Indication (GI)