Exercise Gagan Shakti

Why in news?

• Indian Air Force’s (IAF) MiG-21 fighter planes are taking part in the ongoing pan-India exercise, Gagan Shakti-2024.

About Gagan Shakti

• It was last held in 2018, during which the IAF completed over 11,000 sorties during the two-phase air manoeuvres.
• It seeks to showcase IAF’s capability to carry out high-tempo operations and involves all air bases and assets scattered across the country,
• Gagan Shakti-2024 is being conducted at various locations across the country, including the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer.
• The Indian Army provides logistics support for the mega exercise, facilitating a comprehensive pan-India movement of IAF personnel and ammunition in order to validate the Operational Rail Mobilisation Plan (ORMP) aspects of the IAF.

Pelagia noctiluca

Why in news?

• A bloom of venomous jellyfish(Pelagia Noctiluca) was reported by marine researchers across the Visakhapatnam coast .

About Pelagia Noctiluca

• It is also known as the mauve stinger or purple-striped jellyfish.
• Unlike other jellyfish species, it has stingers not just on the tentacles, but on the bell too.
• These are bioluminescent, having an ability to produce light in the dark.
• Distribution: The Pelagia noctiluca is found worldwide in tropical and warm-temperature seas.
• In January 2024, the Pelagia noctiluca bloom was spotted in Thailand
• In the past, a bloom of Pelagia noctiluca had damaged penned salmon in Ireland.
• It is rarely seen in the East coast of India but scores of the venomous jellyfish species were spotted across RK Beach and other parts of the coast.
• Related concerns: It is venomous and causes varying degrees of illness such as diarrhoea, extreme pain, vomiting and anaphylactic shock (a severe allergic reaction that can develop quickly and be life-threatening).
• Venomous jellyfish blooms have in the past been known to have caused massive damage to the fishing industry and impacted tourism.
• Suggestions: An advisory should be issued for people to not step into the waters until information of the species disappearing from the coast is given.