Mohiniyattam

• Classical dance form from Kerala.
• Named after Mohini, the enchanting avatar of Vishnu.
• Rooted in Natya Shastra, follows the Lasya style (delicate, erotic, feminine).
• Traditionally a solo dance performed by women after extensive training.
• Repertoire includes Carnatic music, singing, and acting a play through dance.

 

Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme

• Key part of Australia’s carbon market.
• Encourages emission reduction/storage projects (individuals, businesses).
• Projects earn ACCUs (1 per tonne of CO₂-e) for emissions avoided/sequestered.
• ACCUs can be sold on the secondary market or to the Australian Government.

Criticism:

• Study found underperformance in native forest projects.
• Questionable carbon credits earned despite stagnant/shrinking woodlands.

 

T+0 Settlement Cycle

• Stock market trades settled on the same day (vs. T+1 – next day).
• Applies to specific trades between 9:15 AM and 1:30 PM initially.
• Phased implementation:
  • Phase 1: Settlement by 4:30 PM for trades executed by 1:30 PM.
  • Phase 2: Extends trading time to 3:30 PM, discontinuing Phase 1.

Benefits:

• Increased liquidity for investors and traders.
• More trading opportunities and reduced settlement risks.
• Faster access to 100% of cash for sellers.

RBI Norms for Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs)

• Privately pooled investment funds (domestic/foreign).
• Regulations address concerns about misuse by lenders (evergreening loans).

New Norms:

• REs provision for investments based on AIF’s investment in debtor’s company, not entire AIF scheme.
• Downstream investments exclude equity shares in debtor company, include other investments (hybrid instruments).

Mushk Budji Rice

• Aromatic indigenous rice variety from Kashmir.
• Faced threats of extinction due to disease, low yield, and profitability.
• Revival program launched in 2007 by SKUAST scientists.
• Awarded Geographical Indication Tag in 2023 (Anantnag District, J&K).
• Study (Nature Scientific Reports) highlights the role of altitude and temperature in aroma development.

 

Global Trade Update Report

• Global Trade:Down 3% in 2023.
• Goods Trade:Down 5% in 2023.
• Services Trade:Up 8% in 2023.
• India’s Services Exports:Grew 14% in 2023.

UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development):

• Established in 1964 to promote trade, investment, and development.
• Permanent UN organ with 190+ members.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
• Functions: Addresses development challenges, integrates developing countries into trade, and promotes economic diversification.

H5N1 Bird Flu

• Bird flu (avian flu):Infectious viral illness affecting poultry and wild birds.
• H5N1:Highly pathogenic strain posing a threat since 2020.
• “H” & “N”:Hemagglutinin & neuraminidase – proteins on the virus surface for entering/exiting host cells.

 

Krishi Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC)

Background:

• A significant leap forward in using technology for agriculture.

What is it?

• Tech-based solution with multiple IT applications for informed decision-making.
• Housed in the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare.
• Uses AI, remote sensing, GIS to collect and process agricultural data.

Functionalities:

• Data Visualization:Presents data on:
  • Crop yields, production
  • Drought situations
  • Cropping patterns (geographic & year-wise)
  • Trends, outliers, KPIs
  • Agriculture schemes & initiatives
• Data Sources:
  • Remote sensing data
  • Soil survey data
  • Weather data (IMD)
  • Sowing data (Digital Crop Survey)
  • Farmer data (Krishi MApper)
  • Market intelligence (UPAg)
  • Yield estimation (GCES)
• Future Potential:
  • Individual farmer advisories through apps like Kisan e-mitra.
  • Customized advisories based on mobile number/Aadhaar data.

Benefits (Examples):

• Farmer’s Advisory:Provides customized advice on crops, water & fertilizer requirements based on soil data & weather.
• Drought Actions:Helps understand reasons for yield increase/decrease and enables proactive decisions.
• Crop Diversification:Identifies regions with potential for diversified cropping.
• Farm Data Repository:Creates a central repository for agriculture data (Krishi Decision Support System).

Critical Tech Sectors

What are Critical Tech Sectors?

• Technologies identified by the government as crucial for:
  • Economic growth
  • National security
  • Technological advancement
• Often involve cutting-edge research, innovation, and strategic importance.
• Examples: AI, Quantum computing, IoT, Blockchain

Significance:

• Promotes technological leadership & cooperation.
• Deters foreign economic espionage.
• Drives innovation, competitiveness, job creation, and GDP growth.
• Enhances enterprise security and protects critical infrastructure.

Issues/Challenges:

• Skill gap between graduates and industry needs.
• Brain drain in AI and related fields.
• Need for increased R&D funding and investment.
• Competition from other countries like China and USA.
• Addressing energy consumption, e-waste management, and sustainable practices.