Uttar Pradesh

• 19 Mar 2025

Low-Level Transportable Radar

Why in News?  

The Ministry of Defence signed a ₹ 2,906 crore contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), based in for the procurement of the transportable radar 'Ashwini' for the Indian Air Force. 

Key Points  

• About:  
  • Low-Level Transportable Radar (LLTR) ‘Ashwini’ is an active electronically scanned phased array radar. 
  • It is used to monitor slow-moving targets such as high-speed fighter aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and helicopters . 
  • This radar is based on state of the art solid state technology. 
  • It has been indigenously designed and developed by Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). 
•  Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL):  
  • It is a Navaratna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) operating under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India . 
  • It was established in 1954 to meet the defence needs of the nation. 
  • The organization is engaged in various fields of defence electronics and professional electronics, providing modern technical support to the Indian Defence Forces. 
  • Production Units:  
    • BEL has several manufacturing units located in Bengaluru (Head Office), Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh) , Panchkula (Haryana) , Kotdwar (Uttarakhand) , Hyderabad and Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh) , Navi Mumbai and Pune (Maharashtra) , and Chennai (Tamil Nadu). 

 Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)  

• Introduction: 
  • DRDO is the research and development arm of the Ministry of Defence aimed at empowering India in cutting-edge defence technologies. 
  • Efforts towards self-reliance and successful indigenous development and production of strategic systems and platforms like Agni and Prithvi missile series , light combat aircraft Tejas , multi-barrel rocket launcher Pinaka , air defence system Akash , a wide range of radars and electronic warfare systems etc.  
• Establishment: 
  • It was established in 1958 by the integration of the Technical Development Establishments (TDEs) and Directorate of Technical Development & Production (DTDP) of the Indian Army and the Defence Science Organisation (DSO) . 
  • DRDO is a network of more than 50 laboratories intensively engaged in development of defence technologies covering various disciplines such as aeronautics, armament, electronics, combat vehicles, engineering systems etc. 

Loudspeakers at religious places

Why in News? 

The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh stressed the need for permanent noise pollution control measures for loudspeakers at religious places . 

Key Points  

• Important Instructions: 
  • The Chief Minister directed the officials to keep the noise level in religious and public events as per the prescribed standards.  
  • He also gave instructions to ensure a permanent solution regarding the use of loudspeakers at religious places. 
• High Court Decision:  
  • Earlier, the Allahabad High Court has also given an important decision regarding  the use of loudspeakers at religious places . 
    • The court clarified that using loudspeakers for prayers is not a legal right, because it may cause inconvenience to other people. Therefore, using loudspeakers does not fall under the category of rights. 
• Noise Pollution: 
  • Any kind of uncomfortable or excessively loud sound is called noise pollution.  
  • Sound intensity is measured in decibels (dB) and a decibel scale is used to determine its levels.  
  • Sound intensity up to 20 dB is considered equivalent to a whisper.  
  • According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) , sound intensity less than 70 dB is not harmful to living beings, no matter how long it persists.  
    • However, if a person is exposed to noise above 85 dB for more than 8 hours continuously, it may pose a health hazard. 
  • The main sources of noise pollution include loud music, transportation, construction work, etc., which have a negative impact on human life.  
    • Its side effects include high blood pressure, hearing impairment, sleep disorders and heart disease. 

Pilibhit Tiger Reserve

Why in News? 

The Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) is set to become a new sanctuary for rhinos coming from Nepal, where efforts are in full swing to establish a permanent habitat for them. 

Key Points  

• The Lagga-Bhagga area of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is adjacent to the Shukla Phanta Sanctuary of Nepal, due to which Nepalese rhinoceroses often visit here.  
• The area has rich grasslands, adequate water sources and uninterrupted wildlife corridors, making it an ideal environment for a stable population of rhinos. Currently, there is no recorded population of rhinos in the reserve. 
  • Under 'Project Rhino', rhinoceroses will be translocated from Assam and Nepal. 
• Importance and Benefits 
  • The project will preserve the dwindling rhino population as well as strengthen the wildlife ecosystem . 
  • Tourism will be promoted , which will improve the economic condition of local communities . 
  • Having protected and demarcated areas will reduce the problem of rhinos straying into agricultural lands , thereby preventing conflict between farmers and wildlife. 
•  Pilibhit Tiger Reserve:  
  • It is located in Pilibhit and Shahjahanpur districts of Uttar Pradesh. It was notified as a Tiger Reserve in the year 2014. 
    • In the year 2020, it won the international award TX2 for doubling the number of tigers in the last four years . 
  • It is part of the Terai Arc landscape in the Upper Gangetic Plain . 
  • The Gomti River originates from this reserve, which is also the catchment area of several other rivers like Sharda, Chuka and Mala Khannot . 
  • It is home to myriad wild animals, including the endangered tiger, swamp deer, Bengal florican, hog deer, leopard , etc. 

 Project Rhino  

• Project Rhino is an important conservation initiative in India aimed at saving  the dwindling population of one-horned rhinoceros . 
• It began in the 1980s, when the threat of extinction to rhinos was seriously recognised.  
• It evolved into a multi-faceted program , with key strategies including habitat conservation, community engagement, law enforcement, and scientific research.