UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 10 June 2025

Heeng

June 10, 2025

Heeng Latest News

Recently, the first flowering and seed set of Heeng or asafoetida (Ferula assa-foetida) heengat Palampur was reported on by CSIR, showing heeng can indeed be successfully cultivated in India.

About Heeng

It is a perennial plant that typically takes five years to mature and start flowering.
It thrives in cold, arid environments suited to the native regions in Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia.

Required Climatic conditions for Heeng

Soil: The plant prefers sandy, well-drained soil with low moisture.
Rainfall: Ideally requires annual rainfall of 200 mm or less, though it can tolerate up to 300 mm in cultivated regions like the Indian Himalaya.
Temperature: It flourishes in temperatures of 10-20° C, tolerates highs of up to 40° C, and withstands winter lows down to –4° C.
In extremely dry and cold weather, heeng plants typically become dormant to survive.

Extraction of Heeng

The final product obtained from the plant, asafoetida, is derived from an oleo-gum resin extracted from the plant’s thick, fleshy taproot and rhizome, which makes up 40-64% of the dried gum.
Incisions are made in the taproot, allowing the milky latex to exude and harden into a gum-like substance.
This resin is dried and processed into powder or crystal form for culinary and medicinal use.

Heeng Cultivation in India

India depended on imports from Afghanistan, Iran, and Uzbekistan, among others.
Although there are about 130 species of Ferula found in the world, but only Ferula assa-foetidais the economically important species used for the production of asafoetida.
In India, we do not have Ferula assa-foetida, but other species Ferula jaeschkeana is reported from the western Himalaya (Chamba, HP), and Ferula narthex from Kashmir and Ladakh, which are not the species that yield asafoetida.

Heeng FAQs

Q1: What are the benefits of Heeng?

Ans: Being a rich source of carbohydrates, hing promotes metabolism. It is extremely beneficial in maintaining digestive health, promoting heart health and in improving brain function

Q2: Which state is famous for Heeng in India?

Ans: Himachal Pradesh

Source: TH

Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

June 10, 2025

Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure Latest News

Recently, the Prime Minister of India addressed the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI), organised by the New Delhi-headquartered Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), was held on June 6 and 7 in Nice, France.

About Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

It was established in 2019 under the leadership of the Government of India and with the support of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).
It is a multi-stakeholder global partnership of national governments, UN agencies and programmes, multilateral development banks, the private sector, and academic institutions.
It aims to promote the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks, thereby ensuring sustainable development.
It seeks to rapidly expand the development and retrofit of resilient infrastructure to respond to the Sustainable Development Goals imperatives of expanding universal access to basic services, enabling prosperity and decent work.

Mission of Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

By 2050, to drive US$10 trillion of new and existing infrastructure investments and services to be resilient to natural hazards and climate change.
Improving environmental quality, livelihoods, and overall well-being for more than 3 billion people worldwide.

Governance of Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

Governing Council: Includes all member countries and organisations, meets yearly.
Executive Committee: Oversees programmes and decisions, meets twice a year.
Secretariat: Led by the Director General, runs day-to-day operations.
Funding: It is funded by voluntary contributions from member countries and organisations.
Members: It consists of 46 member countries and 8 partner organizations.
Headquarters: New Delhi, India

Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure FAQs

Q1: What are the four pillars of disaster resilience?

Ans: Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, Recovery.

Q2: What is the primary goal of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure?

Ans: CDRI aims to promote the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks, thereby ensuring sustainable development.

Source: TH

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

June 10, 2025

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple Latest News

A 'Maha Kumbhabhishekam' was recently performed at the famed Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram after 270 years.

About Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

It is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kerala.
The name of the city of Thiruvananthapuram in Malayalam translates to “The City of Lord Ananta, ”referring to the deity of Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
The earliest recorded mention of the temple is from the 8th or 9th century CE, although the temple is likely older.
The temple was built and rebuilt over the centuries, most recently by Martanda Varma, king of Travancore, who in 1750 donated the kingdom to the deity.
Architecture:
- It is a blend of Kerala and Dravidian styles of architecture.
- The idol of Vishnu is in the Anantha shayanam posture, the eternal yogic rest posture on his serpent Adisheshan.
- It has a seven-tier-high gopuram, which is decorated with delicate designs and carvings.
- Along with exquisite and intricate works on stone and bronze, the interior of the temple is adorned by exquisite paintings and murals, most of which are life-sized depictions of Lord Vishnu in the reclining posture, Lord Ganapati, Gaja Lakshmi, and Narasimha Swamy (half-lion, half-man incarnation of Lord Vishnu).
- The flag post of the temple (dhwaja stamba) is covered with gold-plated copper sheets and is about 80 ft high.
The temple has around 3 million palm leaf manuscripts dating back to the 14th century CE.
- Known as Mathilakam records, they contain the administrative and financial details of the temple town and Travancore kingdom spread over six centuries.
In 2011 the temple was the subject of international news when an exploration of its vaults revealed a wealthof jewels, precious metals, and other treasures.
It is also widely believed to be the world’s richest temple.

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple FAQs

Q1. Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is located in which Indian city?

Ans. Thiruvananthapuram

Q2. The architectural style of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple is a blend of which two traditions?

Ans. Kerala and Dravidian

Q3. Which ruler is credited with renovating and donating the Travancore kingdom to Lord Padmanabha?

Ans. Marthanda Varma

Source: NDTV

Spathaspina Noohi

June 10, 2025

Spathaspina noohi Latest News

A new species of beetle, named Spathaspina noohi, was recently discovered from the biodiverse forests of Meghalaya.

About Spathaspina Noohi

It is a new species of beetle.
The beetle was found in the Umran area of Ri Bhoi district in Meghalaya at an elevation of 781 metres.
It belongs to the weevil family.
- Weevils are part of the large beetle family Curculionidae, which includes over 60,000 known species globally.
- While many are known as agricultural pests, some, like the Spathaspina noohi, play important roles in ecosystems by helping control invasive plant species and maintaining ecological balance.
Spathaspina noohi features a striking sword-like spine on its back. This highly unusual anatomical feature led researchers to assign it to an entirely new genus within the subfamily Ceutorhynchinae.
This new genus name combines the Latin words spatha (meaning sword) and spina (meaning spine), inspired by the beetle’s prominent spine.
- The subfamily Ceutorhynchinae includes just over 1,300 species.
- These beetles are found around the world, but not in New Zealand, Oceania, Antarctica and nearby islands, or southern South America (below central Argentina and Chile).
- The greatest variety of these beetles is seen in the Palaearctic Region (Europe, North Africa, parts of Asia), followed by the Oriental Region (South and Southeast Asia).
- Ceutorhynchinae beetles can be identified by their sturdy body, their ability to tuck their snout (rostrum) between their front legs when at rest, and the visibility of a part of their body (mesanepimera) from the back — except in a few genera like Cyphosenus and Ceutorhynchoides.

Spathaspina Noohi FAQs

Q1. What is Spathaspina noohi, recently discovered in India?

Ans. It is a new species of beetle.

Q2. In which Indian state was Spathaspina noohi discovered?

Ans. Meghalaya

Q3. What is the ecological significance of some weevil species like Spathaspina noohi?

Ans. Help control invasive plant species.

Source: NEN

Fuego Volcano

June 10, 2025

Fuego Volcano Latest News

Guatemalan authorities recently said they were evacuating more than 500 people after Central America's most active volcano, Fuego Volcano, spewed gas and ash.

About Fuego Volcano

Volcan de Fuego, which translates to "Volcano of Fire" in Spanish, is located in Guatemala.
It is one of three large stratovolcanoes overlooking Guatemala's former capital, Antigua.
Guatemala lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity.
Fuego has erupted more than 60 times since 1524, making it Central America's historically most active volcano.
A deadly eruption in 2018 claimed 194 lives and left 234 people missing.
Since then Volcan Fuego has continued to be active, but to a lesser extent, with small eruptions several times a day.
Activity has consisted of ashfall, pyroclastic flows, lava flows, and lahars.

What is a Stratovolcano?

Stratovolcanoes have relatively steep sides and are more cone-shaped than shield volcanoes.
Unlike flat shield volcanoes, they have higher peaks.At the peak, stratovolcanoes usually have a small crater.
They are formed from viscous, sticky lava that does not flow easily. The lava therefore builds up around the vent forming a volcano with steep sides.
Stratovolcanoes are more likely to produce explosive eruptions due to gas building up in the viscous magma.
Andesite (named after the Andes Mountains), is perhaps the most common rock type of stratovolcanoes, but stratovolcanoes also erupt a wide range of different rocks in different tectonic settings.
Stratovolcanoes comprise the largest percentage (~60%) of the Earth's individual volcanoes.

Fuego Volcano FAQs

Q1. Which country is the Fuego volcano in?

Ans. Guatemala

Q2. Is Fuego Volcano still active?

Ans. Yes, Fuego Volcano is still active.

Q3. What type of volcano is Fuego?

Ans. Stratovolcano

Source: PHYS

Ken-Betwa Link Project

June 10, 2025

Ken-Betwa Link Project Latest News

Experts recently flagged concerns over the construction work for the Ken-Betwa river linking project going on in the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, citing a severe impact on the wildlife population inside the reserve.

About Ken-Betwa Link Project

It is a river interlinking project designed to transfer surplus water from the Ken River (Madhya Pradesh) to the water-scarce Betwa basin (Uttar Pradesh), both tributaries of the Yamuna.
It is expected to bring prosperity to the drought-prone Bundelkhand region.
Phase I of the project involves the construction of the Daudhan Dam in Madhya Pradesh, a 77-meter-high structure, and a 221 km long canal, including a 2 km tunnel, to move water efficiently.
The project will also generate 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar power.
The project will utilize 4,543.52 MCM of water, benefiting Madhya Pradesh (2,350 MCM) and Uttar Pradesh (1,700 MCM) for irrigation, drinking water, and industrial use.
Phase II of the project includes the Lower Orr Dam, Kotha Barrage, and Bina Complex Projects to enhance water availability.
A significant concern is the impact on Panna Tiger Reserve, as nearly 6,000 hectares of its core area will be submerged due to the dam construction, affecting wildlife habitats.

Ken-Betwa Link Project FAQs

Q1. What is the primary objective of the Ken-Betwa Link Project?

Ans. Transfer of surplus water from Ken to Betwa basin.

Q2. The Ken and Betwa rivers are tributaries of which major river?

Ans. Yamuna

Q3. Which region is expected to benefit the most from the Ken-Betwa Link Project?

Ans. Bundelkhand region

Source: HT

Indravati National Park

June 10, 2025

Indravati National Park Latest News

Recently, security forces have encountered moist anti-Naxal operations in the Indravati National Park area of Chhattisgarh.

About Indravati National Park

Location: It is located in the Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh.
It was declared as a tiger reserve in 1983 under the Project Tiger of India.
The park derives its name from the Indravati River, which flows from east to west and forms the northern boundary of the reserve with the Indian state of Maharashtra.
Topography: It mainly comprises undulating hilly terrain with altitudes ranging between 177 to 599 m above sea level.
It has connectivity with several tiger reserves, viz. Kawal (Telangana), Tadoba (Maharashtra) and Kanha (Madhya Pradesh).
Vegetation: It consists of three major forest types: Moist Mixed Deciduous Forest with Teak, Moist Mixed Deciduous Forest without Teak, and Southern Dry Mixed Deciduous Forest.
Flora: Some common species include teak, achar, karra, kullu, shisham, semal, haldu, arjun, bel, and Jamun.
Fauna: It is home to one of the last populations of rare wild buffalo. Other animals include Nilgai, Black Buck, Sambar, Gaur, Tiger, Leopard, Chital, Sloth bears, etc.

Indravati National Park FAQs

Q1: What is Indravati National Park famous for?

Ans: Rare wild buffalo

Q2: Which river passes through Indravati National Park?

Ans: Indravati River

Source: IE

Algorithmic Trading

June 10, 2025

Algorithmic Trading Latest News

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) recently announced a settlement scheme for stockbrokers currently under regulatory scrutiny for collaborating with unregulated algorithmic (algo) trading platforms.

About Algorithmic Trading

Algorithmic trading (also called automated trading, black-box trading, or algo-trading) uses a computer program that follows a defined set of instructions (an algorithm) to place a trade.
It combines computer programming and financial markets to execute trades at precise moments.
The trade, in theory, can generate profits at a speed and frequency that is impossible for a human trader.
The defined sets of instructions are based on timing, price, quantity, or any mathematical model.
Algo trading is already prevalent in India among both institutional and retail investors.
Apart from profit opportunities for the trader, algo-trading renders markets more liquid and trading more systematic by ruling out the impact of human emotions on trading activities.
Black Swan Events:
- Algorithmic trading relies on historical data and mathematical models to predict future market movements.
- However, unforeseen market disruptions, known as black swan events, can occur, which can result inlosses for algorithmic traders.

Algorithmic Trading FAQs

Q1. What is algorithmic trading primarily based on?

Ans. A set of defined instructions or algorithms.

Q2. What is another term commonly used for algorithmic trading?

Ans. Black-box trading

Q3. In the context of algorithmic trading, what are "black swan events"?

Ans. Sudden and unpredictable market disruptions.

Source: HB