About Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB)

• It’s a government body set up under the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance.
• The primary role of FSIB is to identify manpower capabilities and ensure proper selection of talent for senior positions at financial institutions owned by the government.
• It replaced the Bank Board’s Bureau (BBB), which was declared an incompetent authority.
• Structure:
  • FSIB would be headed by a chairman, a central government nominee.
  • The board would comprise the Secretaries of the DFS, the chairman of IRDAI, and a deputy governor of the RBI.
  • Additionally, it will have three part-time members who are experts in banking and three more from the insurance sector.
• Functions:
  • To recommend persons for appointment as whole-time directors (WTDs) and non-executive chairpersons (NECs) on the Boards of Directorsin Public Sector Banks (PSBs), financial institutions (FIs) and Public Sector Insurers (PSIs).
  • To advise the Government on matters relating to appointments, transfers or extension of term of office and termination of the services of the said directors;
  • It would also issue guidelines for selecting general managers and directors of public sector general insurance companies.
    • The final decision on the FSIB recommendation would be taken by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, headed by the Prime Minister.
  • To advise the Government on the desired management structure at the Board level for PSBs, FIs and PSIs;
  • To advise the Government on a suitable performance appraisal systemforWTDs and NECs in PSBs, FIs, and PSIs;
  • To build a databank containing data related to the performance of PSBs, FIs and PSIs;
  • To advise the Government on the formulation and enforcement of a code of conduct and ethics for WTDs in PSBs, FIs, and PSIs;
  • To advise the Government on evolving suitable training and development programmes for management personnel in PSBs, FIs, and PSIs;
  • To help PSBs, FIs, and PSIs in terms of developing business strategies and capital raising plan etc.;
  • To carry out such process and draw up a panel for consideration of competent authority for any other bank, financial institution, or insurer for which the Government makes a reference, after consultation with the regulator concerned with that bank, financial institution, or insurer.

Q1: What is SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India)?

It was established under an Act of Parliament in 1990. It is the Principal Financial Institution engaged in the promotion, financing & development of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector and the coordination of the functions of the various institutions engaged in similar activities. It helps MSMEs in acquiring the funds they require to grow, market, develop and commercialize their technologies and innovative products. It was made responsible for administering the Small Industries Development Fund and National Equity Fund.

Source: FSIB selects IFCI MD as SIDBI head, Sanjay Shukla for NHB MD

About Platelets

• Platelets, or thrombocytes, are small, colorless cell fragmentsin our blood that help with clotting.
• Platelets are your body’s natural bandage to stop bleeding.
• Where are platelets made?
  • Platelets form in the soft tissue of your bones (bone marrow). The largest cells in your bone marrow (megakaryocytes) make platelets.
  • They form in the shape of a plate, which is where they get their name. 
  • They are smaller than red or white blood cells.
• How do platelets control bleeding?
  • If one of your blood vessels gets damaged, it sends out signals to the platelets.
  • The platelets then rush to the site of damage and form a plug (clot) to fix the damage.
  • The process of spreadingacross the surface of a damaged blood vessel to stop bleeding is called adhesion.
  • This is because when platelets get to the site of the injury, they grow sticky tentacles that help them stick (adhere) to one another.
  • They also send out chemical signals to attract more platelets. 
  • The additional platelets pile onto the clot in a process called aggregation.
• What is a healthy platelet count?
  • A normal platelet count ranges from 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood.
  • Having more than 450,000 platelets is a condition called thrombocytosis; having less than 150,000 is known as thrombocytopenia.
• Symptoms of low platelets include bruising easily and unusual bleeding, such as excessive bleeding from a small cut or blood in urine or stool.
• Platelets can be essential to surviving surgeries such as organ transplant, as well as fighting cancer, chronic diseases, and traumatic injuries.
• Donor platelets are given to patients who don’t have enough of their own, or when a person’s platelets aren’t working correctly.

Q1: What is bone marrow?

Bone marrow is a spongy substance found in the center of the bones. It manufactures bone marrow stem cells and other substances, which in turn produce blood cells. Each type of blood cell made by the bone marrow has an important job. Red blood cells carry oxygen to tissues in the body. Platelets stop bleeding by helping blood clot. White blood cells fight infections.

Source: Synthetic platelets stanch bleeding, promote healing in animal models

About Global Forest Watch (GFW)

• It is an open-source web application to monitor global forests in near real-time using satellite data and other sources.
• It is a project of the Washington-based nonprofit research organization, the World Resources Institute (WRI). Most of the data is compiled by the University of Maryland researchers.
• It is free and simple to use, enabling anyone to create custom maps, analyze foresttrends, subscribe to alerts, or download data fortheir local area or the entire world. 
• It refers to tree cover when talking about forest extent, loss, and gain. Tree cover is a convenient metric for monitoring forest change because it is easily measurable from spaceusing freely available, medium-resolution satellite imagery.
• Highlights of the GFW’s annual forest loss data:
  
  • The loss of primary forests–those untouched by people and sometimes known as old-growth forests – in the tropicsdeclined 9% last year compared to 2022.
  • The world last year lost about 37,000 square kilometers (14,000 square miles) of tropical primary forest, an area nearly as big as Switzerland.
  • Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Bolivia topped the ranking of tropical countries with the most primary forest losses.
  • Deforestation globally rose by 3.2% in 2023.
  • India has lost 2.33 million hectaresof tree cover since 2000, equivalent to a six percent decrease in tree cover during this period.
  • The country lost 4,14,000 hectaresof humid primary forest (4.1 percent) from 2002 to 2023, making up 18 per cent of its total tree cover loss in the same period.
  • Between 2001 and 2022, forests in India emitted 51 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent a year and removed 141 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent a year. This represents a net carbon sink of 89.9 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent a year.
  • An average of 51.0 million tons of carbon dioxideequivalent per year was released into the atmosphere as a result of tree cover loss in India. 
  • The data showed that 95 percent of the tree cover loss in India from 2013 to 2023 occurred within natural forests.
  • The GFW data showed that five states accounted for 60 percent of all tree cover losses between 2001 and 2023.
  • Assam had the maximum tree cover loss at 324,000 hectares, compared to an average of 66,600 hectares. Mizoram lost 312,000 hectares of tree cover, Arunachal Pradesh 262,000 hectares, Nagaland 259,000 hectares, and Manipur 240,000 hectares.

Q1: What is the World Resources Institute (WRI)?

It is a research institute established in 1982 to promote environmentally sound and socially equitable development. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C.They organize their work around seven global challenges: Food, Forests, Water, Energy, Climate, the Ocean and Cities.

Source: India Lost 2.33 Million Hectares Of Tree Cover Since 2000: Global Forest Watch

About Fort Emmanuel

• It is a ruined fort located at Fort Kochi Beach in Kochi, Kerala.
• It was originally built in 1503 and reinforced in 1538.
• It was a symbol of the strategic alliance between the Maharajah of Kochi and the Monarch of Portugal, after whom it was named.
• It was a massive structure, and the entire township was within its confines.
• It greatly helped in strengthening the Portuguese occupation of the area.
• Fort Kochi remained in Portuguese possession until 1683, when the Dutch colonial troops captured the territory and destroyed the Portuguese institutions.
• The Dutch held the fort in their possession until 1795, when the British took control by defeating the Dutch. 
• By 1806, the Dutch, and later the British, had destroyed most of the fort walls and its bastions.
• Foreign control of Fort Kochi ended in 1947 with Indian independence.
• Now only the remains of this fort exist, reminding us of its historic significance.

Q1: What is laterite?

Laterite is a surface formation that is enriched in iron and aluminum. Found mainly in hot, wet tropical areas, it develops by intensive and long-lasting weathering of the underlying parent rock. Laterite formations in non-tropical areas are products of former geological epochs. Some laterites are valuable for their ore content.

Source: Call to conserve the ‘fort’ in Fort Kochi

About Khavda Renewable Energy Park

• It is the world’s largest renewable energy park.
• It is located at Khavda in Gujarat's Kutch region, boasting an impressive 45 GW capacity predominantly fueled by solar energy.
• The region has the second-best solar radiation in the country after Ladakh and wind speeds five times that of the plains.
• Situated just one kilometer from the international border with Pakistan, the energy park maintains a buffer zonemanned by the Border Security Force (BSF).
• Originally accessed only by a modest airstrip without air traffic control, the site now gears up for a significant clean energy venture. 
• It spans 538 square kilometres, approximately five times the size of Paris.
• It is being built by Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL), India's largest renewable energy company.
• Investment: AGEL will invest about Rs 1.5 lakh crore to generate 30 megawatts of clean electricity. It would comprise 26 GW of solar and 4GW of wind capacity.
• The Khavda Park, at its peak, is projected to generate 81 billion units of electricity, a quantity capable of powering entire nations such as Belgium, Chile, and Switzerland.

Q1: What is renewable energy?

Renewable energy is energy derived from natural sources that are replenished at a higher rate than they are consumed. Sunlight and wind, for example, are such sources that are constantly being replenished.

Source:  Adani Group Establishes World's Largest Renewable Energy Park in Gujarat

About Kuchipudi

• It is one of the Indian Classical dance belonging to Andhra Pradesh.
• History
  • It was originally performed by a group of itinerant actors known as Bhagavathalu, who would travel from village to village, performing plays and dances based on Hindu mythology.
  • In the 15th century, the great poet and musician, Siddhendra Yogi, played a major role in the development of Kuchipudi. He is credited with transforming the dance form from a simple folk art to a sophisticated and refined classical dance form. 
• Features
  • The dance form is characterized by its intricate footwork, graceful movements, and subtle facial expressions.
  • It incorporates both pure dance (Nritta) and expressive dance (Nritya) elements, as well as storytelling through dance (Natya).
  • It is also performed on the edge of a brass plate (known as Tarangam) on the beats of Carnatic music.
  • It is largely developed as a Hindu god Krishna-oriented Vaishnavism tradition, and it is most closely related to Bhagavata Mela.
  • The Kuchipudi performer apart from being a dancer and actor has to be skilled in Sanskrit and Telugu languages, music and manuscripts of the performance.
  • The Kuchipudi dancers wear light make-up and ornaments like the Rakudi (head ornament), Chandra Vanki (arm band), Adda Bhasa and Kasina Sara (necklace). A long plait is decorated with flowers and jewelry. The ornaments are made of light wood called Boorugu.
  • The typical musical instruments in Kuchipudi are mridangam, cymbals, veena, flute and the tambura.

Q1:  What is Natyashastra?

It is a classic on dramatics and aesthetics which has been commonly attributed to Bharata, the sage for its authorship. It has been founded on human psychology prevailing under conditions of India's cultural system with a focus on stage performance.

Source: Kuchipudi: a tale of artistes’ struggle for survival

About Doxxing

• The word “doxxing” is derived from “dropping dox”.
• It is a form of online harassment involving the publication of personal information about an individual without their consent.
• This information can include details such as their full name, home address, telephone number, place of work, and other sensitive information.
• Doxxing is often carried out to expose, threaten, or intimidate someone and can lead to severe consequences, such as physical harm, stalking, or loss of employment.
• Such information is usually obtained through illegal methods such as hacking or theft.

How to prevent?

• Use strong passwords that are not repeated across platforms, and set up multi-factor authentication where possible.
• Avoid posting photos that reveal your neighbourhood, house facade, house keys, identifiable landmarks etc.
• Reporting through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal online etc.

 Q1: What is hacking?

Hacking (also called cyber hacking) is the use of unconventional or illicit means to gain unauthorized access to a digital device, computer system or computer network.

Source: What is Doxxing and what can you do if it happens to you?

About Impatiens neo-uncinata

• It is a new species of Impatiens (family Balsaminaceae).
• It has been discovered in the Western Ghats and has now been identified as a rare, wild cousin of the popular garden balsam.
• It has been reported only from a single locality at an elevation ranging from 1,000 to 1,250 m, and that too in a very few numbers.
• It bears morphological resemblances to Impatiens uncinata but it differsin the size of the flowers, basal and distal lobes, the dorsal petal and pollen.
• It is a herb that grows up to 20 cm in height, with simple or branched stems. It grows in open areas of evergreen forests, particularly wetlands. Flowering and fruiting occurs from August to December.
• The genus Impatiens has over 1000 species distributed in the tropics and sub-tropics.
• In India, the Himalayan and the north-eastern regions account for the highest diversity of Impatiens. The southern arm of the Western Ghats stands second in that respect.

Q1: What is Balsam?

It is an aromatic resinous substance that flows from a plant, either spontaneously or from an incision; it consists of a resin dispersed in benzoic or cinnamic acid esters and is used chiefly in medicinal preparations.

Source: A serendipitous discovery that led to identification of a new species of garden balsam in Kerala

About PACE Satellite 

• The Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite is placed in Sun-synchronous orbit.
• The primary science instrument for PACE is the Ocean Colour Instrument (OCI) which is designed to measure the ocean’s colour across a spectrum from ultraviolet to shortwave infrared.
• It features two polarimeters – the Spectro-polarimeter for Planetary Exploration (SPEXone) and the Hyper Angular Research Polarimeter (HARP2).
• These two working together will offer complementary spectral and angular sampling, polarimetric accuracy, and spatial coverage.
• This combination aims to provide improved atmospheric correction and a comprehensive range of aerosol and cloud science data beyond what the OCI alone could achieve.
• The synergistic payload of OCI, SPEXone and HARP2 is poised to make significant breakthroughs in aerosol-cloud-ocean research.
• The OCI observes the ocean, land, and atmosphere across a spectrum of ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared light. With this extensive spectral range, scientists can identify specific communities of phytoplankton.
• Significance: The data will allow researchers to study microscopic life in the ocean and particles in the air, advancing the understanding of issues including fisheries health, harmful algal blooms, air pollution, and wildfire smoke.
• With PACE, scientists also can investigate how the ocean and atmosphere interact with each other and are affected by a changing climate.

Q1: What is a plankton?

 An organism is considered plankton if it is carried by tides and currents and cannot swim well enough to move against these forces. The most basic categories divide plankton into two groups: phytoplankton (plants) and zooplankton (animals).

Source: NASA’s PACE Data on Ocean, Atmosphere, Climate Now Available