The recent declaration by the Punjab Government positions the Indus River Dolphin as the state’s aquatic animal. Found primarily in the main channel of the Indus River in Pakistan and India’s Beas River, the Indus River Dolphin has unique characteristics that depart from other species. However, this mammal is not the only significant discovery of late. NASA’s Hubble telescope has revealed a dwarf galaxy close to our Milky Way galaxy— a discovery that could be key to understanding the early Universe. In addition, the government of Kerala’s expansion of their Village Millet Scheme provides an opportunity for a deeper look into agricultural practices in India.
The Indus River Dolphin: A Freshwater Rarity
Known as Bhulan, the Indus River Dolphin is one of the world’s four freshwater river dolphin species, alongside the Chinese River Dolphin, Ganges River Dolphin, and Amazon River Dolphin. As a marine mammal, the Indus River Dolphin, like others of its kind, are warm-blooded, air-breathing creatures that give birth and produce milk to feed their young.
Unfortunately, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species classifies these dolphins as endangered, prohibiting International trade under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Similar to the Ganges River Dolphin, the Indus Dolphin is functionally blind, relying on echolocation for navigation, communication, and prey hunting in murky river waters.
Discovery of Bedin 1: A Dwarf Galaxy Near the Milky Way
NASA’s Hubble telescope discovered a dwarf galaxy approximately 30 million light years away within the globular cluster NGC 6752. This finding, named Bedin 1, is an elongated galaxy measuring around 3000 light-years at its greatest extent, a mere fraction of the Milky Way’s size. Because of its 13 billion year age, scientists believe Bedin 1 can offer insights into the early Universe due to its isolation.
Kerala Expands Village Millet Scheme
The Kerala government’s Village Millet Scheme, initially launched in Attappady in the Palakkad district, has expanded to include other districts in the area. The scheme promotes the harvest of various millets, including ragi (finger millet), thina (foxtail millet), cholam (sorghum), and kuthiravaali (barnyard millet). The project preserves traditional millet seed varieties while ensuring food security and livelihood for tribal populations. Furthermore, it provides financial support to farmers cultivating these crops.
Table of facts
| Millet Type | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Ragi (Finger Millet) | High protein content, resilient to climate change, low water requirement |
| Thina (Foxtail Millet) | High protein content, resilient to climate change, low water requirement |
| Cholam (Sorghum) | Short growing season, low water requirement, resilient to climate change |
| Kuthiravaali (Barnyard Millet) | High protein content, short growing season, low water requirement |
Millets: A Staple of Indian Agriculture
The cultivation of millets, also known as ‘nutri-cereals’, predominantly takes place in low-fertility, mountainous, tribal and rain-fed areas. Notably, these regions include states like Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana.
The characteristics of millets including their high protein content, short growing season, resilience to climate change, and low water requirement, make them an essential part of Indian agriculture.”