SAMRIDH Scheme Latest News

Two persons, including a chartered accountant, have been arrested for allegedly cheating the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) of over Rs 3 crore under the pretext of the government-run SAMRIDH scheme for startups.

About SAMRIDH Scheme

• The Startup Accelerator of MeitY for Product Innovation, Development, and Growth (SAMRIDH) is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY) for startup acceleration under the National Policy on Software Products–2019.
• Objective: 
  • It aims to support existing and upcoming Accelerators to select and accelerate potential IT-based startups to scale. 
  • Among others, the program focuses on accelerating the startups by providing customer connect, investors connect and connect to international markets.
• An investment of up to Rs 40 lakh to the start-up based on the current valuation and growth stage of the Start-Up will be provided through selected accelerators. It will also facilitate equal matching investment by the accelerator.
• Implemented by: The scheme is being implemented by MeitY Start-up Hub (MSH), Digital India Corporation (DIC).
• In the first round of the cohort, 22 Accelerators spread across 12 states are supporting 175 startups, selected through a multilevel screening process.
  • List of accelerators comprises government supported organizations, academic institutions, the private sector, and early-stage start-up funding platforms. 
  • These accelerators then select 5-10 startups each in the focused areas of health-tech, ed-tech, agri-tech, consumer-tech, fin-tech, Software as a Service (SaaS), and sustainability through a multi-level screening process.
• The Accelerators have to provide services to the Start-Ups which include the following:
  • Expert diagnostic for market research and product positioning.
  • Mentoring startups through experts based on tech vertical
  • Legal Assistance for all matters: IP, Incorporation, and other matters
  • Connected learning and networking through shared platform
  • Co-learning
  • Weekly meets between founders of all startups
  • Demo Day: Presentation with venture capitalists (VCs)and angel investors
  • Assistance to startups in negotiating and closing investment deals with VCs and angel investors

SAMRIDH Scheme FAQs

Q1: Which ministry implements the SAMRIDH scheme?

Ans: Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY)

Q2: Who is the implementing agency of the SAMRIDH scheme?

Ans: MeitY Startup Hub (MSH), Digital India Corporation (DIC)

Q3: Under the SAMRIDH scheme, who directly provides mentorship and assistance to the startups?

Ans: Selected Accelerators

Source: NIE

Mearim River - Tidal Bore Latest News

Recently, a Brazilian surfer, known for surfing the world’s longest tidal waves, uses the Mearim’s pororoca to raise awareness about climate change and ecological degradation.

Mearim River

• The Mearim River is a major river located in Maranhão state, in northern Brazil.
• It originates in southern Maranhão and drains northward into the Baía de São Marcos (São Marcos Bay), where it forms a common estuary with the Pindaré and Grajaú rivers.
• The river is ~800 km long, flowing through the Atlantic Coastal Plain marshlands and passing through dense tropical rainforests and mangrove ecosystems.
• The river's upper and middle courses are marked by rapids, making them non-navigable, while only the lower course is suitable for navigation.
• The Mearim River forms the southern boundary of the Tocantins–Araguaia–Maranhão moist forests ecoregion, an important biodiversity hotspot.

Tidal Bore (Pororoca) Phenomenon

• The Mearim River is famous for its pororoca, a tidal bore that occurs when high tides from the ocean travel upstream into the river.
• The term "pororoca" is derived from the Tupi Indigenous language, meaning "great roar", referring to the thunderous sound generated by the collision of river and ocean waters.
• A tidal bore is a positive surge of water created when rising ocean tides push against river currents, typically occurring during spring tides and supermoons.
• The height of the bore is generally greater near the banks of the river than at the centre and can travel upstream for 30 minutes after the peak high tide.
• The Mearim pororoca is one of the last remaining tidal bores of significant strength in Brazil, attracting surfers and researchers.

Mearim River - Tidal Bore FAQs

Q1: Where is the Mearim River located?
Ans: The Mearim River is located in the Maranhão state of northeastern Brazil and flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

Q2: What unique tidal phenomenon is observed in the Mearim River?
Ans: The Mearim River is known for the tidal bore called the “Pororoca,” where ocean tides push upstream against the river current, creating large waves.

Q3: Which other rivers globally experience tidal bores like the Mearim?
Ans: Rivers like the Amazon (Brazil), Qiantang (China), and Seine (France) also exhibit tidal bores.

Source: REU

Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) Latest News

Astronomers from the Russian Academy of Sciences, using the Spektr-RG (SRG) space observatory, have detected 11 new Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) during their all-sky X-ray surveys.

What are Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs)?

• Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) are compact regions at the centers of galaxies that emit exceptionally high levels of electromagnetic radiation, often outshining the rest of the galaxy.
• This intense emission arises from either accretion of matter by a supermassive black hole or intense star formation activity.
• AGNs are among the most luminous and persistent energy sources in the universe and are critical to understanding galaxy formation and evolution.
• The newly detected AGNs were identified during an optical and X-ray inspection of sources listed in the ARTSS1-5 catalog, using SRG’s ART-XC telescope.
• The team has also previously identified more than 50 AGNs and several cataclysmic variable stars.

Key Characteristics of the 11 Newly Detected AGNs

• All 11 AGNs are located at redshifts ranging from 0.028 to 0.258, indicating they are relatively nearby in cosmic terms.
• Their X-ray luminosities fall within the typical range of 2 to 300 × 10³⁹ erg/s, which is consistent with known AGN profiles.

Classification into Seyfert Types

• All detected AGNs were classified as Seyfert galaxies, a type of AGN that is common and well-studied:
  • 7 galaxies were classified as Seyfert Type 1 (Sy 1), characterized by broad optical emission lines.
  • 3 galaxies were classified as Seyfert Type 1.9 (Sy 1.9), showing partially broadened lines.
  • 1 galaxy was classified as Seyfert Type 2 (Sy 2), which exhibits narrow emission lines only.
• Seyfert galaxies appear like normal galaxies in visible light but show strong infrared and X-ray emissions due to activity at their cores.

Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) FAQs

Q1: What are Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs)?
Ans: AGNs are extremely bright central regions of some galaxies, powered by supermassive black holes accreting matter.

Q2: Why are AGNs important in astrophysics?
Ans: AGNs help scientists understand galaxy evolution, black hole activity, and cosmic energy sources across the universe.

Q3: What types of AGNs are there?
Ans: Common types include quasars, blazars, Seyfert galaxies, and radio galaxies, each emitting energy across various wavelengths.

Source: PHY

Ayurveda Day Latest News

The Government of India has declared that Ayurveda Day will now be observed annually on 23rd September, starting from 2025.

Why 23rd September?

• The date 23rd September coincides with the autumnal equinox, when day and night are nearly equal.
• This event represents balance in nature, aligning with the Ayurvedic principle of equilibrium among body, mind, and spirit.
• The symbolism of cosmic balance supports the holistic philosophy of Ayurveda, making the equinox a powerful metaphor for natural harmony and health.

What is Ayurveda?

• The term ‘Ayurveda’ is derived from ‘Ayu’ (life) and ‘Veda’ (knowledge), meaning the “science of life.”
• Ayurveda deals with all forms of life and is divided into:
  • Nara Ayurveda – focused on human life and health,
  • Satva Ayurveda – deals with animal health and diseases,
  • Vriksha Ayurveda – focused on plant growth, health, and diseases.
• Ayurveda is not just a system of medicine but also a philosophy of living aimed at positive health and spiritual growth.

Structure and Practice of Ayurveda

• Ayurveda has both preventive and curative elements, with therapies adapted to individual, climatic, and environmental needs.
• Preventive aspects include: Strict hygiene protocols, lifestyle discipline, and seasonal regimens.
• Curative aspects involve: Herbal remedies, dietary therapy, external applications, and physiotherapy.
• Ayurveda advocates for personalised treatment, customised to the prakriti (constitution) and imbalances (doshas) of each individual.
• The Indian Medical Council Act of 1971 provides formal recognition to Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha systems, ensuring standardisation and regulation.

 Core Principles and Holistic Approach

• Ayurveda is based on the concept of the tridosha theory: Vata (air & space), Pitta (fire & water), and Kapha (water & earth).
• The seven body tissues (dhatus) are: Rasa, Rakta, Mamsa, Meda, Asthi, Majja, and Shukra.
• Waste products (malas) include: Mala (feces), Mutra (urine), and Sweda (sweat).
• Health is defined as the balanced state of these doshas, dhatus, and malas.
• Disease arises from imbalance, and Ayurveda treats the root causes, not just the symptoms.

Ayurveda Day FAQs

Q1: What is Ayurveda Day?
Ans: Ayurveda Day is celebrated to promote the ancient Indian system of medicine, Ayurveda, and is observed on Dhanvantari Jayanti, during Dhanteras.

Q2: Which ministry organises Ayurveda Day celebrations?
Ans: The Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) organizes Ayurveda Day in India.

Source: PIB

Afrikaners – Africa’s White Tribe Latest News

Recently, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State welcomed the first group of Afrikaner refugees to the United States.

Who Are the Afrikaners?

• Afrikaners are a white ethnic group native to South Africa, shaped through ethnogenesis on African soil, and are often referred to as “Africa’s White Tribe” due to their deep-rooted historical presence since the 17th century.
• Origin: The Afrikaner community originated in 1652, when Jan van Riebeeck, under the Dutch East India Company (VOC), established a resupply station at the Cape of Good Hope, initially settled by Dutch Protestants.
• Over time, the settlers included French Huguenots fleeing persecution after the Edict of Fontainebleau (1685), along with Germans and enslaved people from India, Indonesia, Madagascar, and East Africa, contributing to the ethnic mix.

Formation of Afrikaner Identity

• A unique Afrikaner identity developed through interactions among Europeans, slaves, and the indigenous Khoikhoi, marked by paternalistic household systems, strict social hierarchies, and the development of Afrikaans as a distinct language.
• Afrikaners were influenced by Calvinist values, frontier living, and a militant, self-reliant culture, especially among the Trekboers who moved inland in the 18th century and often engaged in violent conflicts with indigenous communities.

Afrikaners – Africa’s White Tribe FAQs

Q1: Who are the Afrikaners?
Ans: Afrikaners are an ethnic group of Dutch descent in South Africa, descended primarily from 17th-century Dutch settlers.

Q2: Why are Afrikaners called Africa’s “White Tribe”?
Ans: Despite being of European origin, their long history in Africa has earned them the identity of a "White Tribe" indigenous to the continent.

Source: DTE

Treasury Bills Latest News

India recently extended financial support to the Maldives by renewing a USD 50 million Treasury Bill for another year through the State Bank of India (SBI).

About Treasury Bills

• A T-Bill is a short-term debt instrument issued by the Indian government through the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). 
• Purpose: 
  • The primary objective of a T-Bill is to meet the short-term financial requirements of the central government.
  • RBI also issues such treasury bills under its open market operations (OMO) strategy to regulate its inflation level and spending/borrowing habits of individuals. 
  • For investors, they present one of the safest investments with the highest liquidity among government securities. 
• Features: 
  • T-Bills are zero coupon securities, meaning they don’t pay interest. 
  • Instead, they are issued at a discount and redeemed at the face valueat maturity. For example, a 91 day Treasury bill of ₹100/- (face value) may be issued at say ₹ 98.
  • The return to the investors is the difference between the maturity value or the face value and the issue price.
  • Tenure: T-Bills are issued in India with tenures of 91 days, 182 days, 364 days. 
  • Minimum Investment: ₹25000 or multiples of this amount.
• Issue Process:
  • T-bills are issued through an auction conducted by the RBI at regular intervals. 
  • The auctions are held at RBI’s electronic platform called E-Kuber.
  • Who can buy T-Bills? 
  • T-bills can be purchased by any entity registered in India, such as banks, financial institutions, primary dealers, corporate bodies, institutions, mutual funds, state governments, trusts and even individuals in both primary as well as secondary markets.

Treasury Bills FAQs

Q1: What is the treasury bill?

Ans: A T-Bill is a short-term debt instrument issued by the Indian government through the RBI.

Q2: Is T Bill a good investment?

Ans: For investors, T-Bills present one of the safest investments with the highest liquidity among government securities. 

Q3: What is the primary purpose of issuing Treasury Bills (T-Bills)?

Ans: To meet short-term financial requirements of the government.

Source: TOI

Centralised Information Management System Latest News

Regulated entities (REs) will now be required to report details of their digital lending apps (DLAs) through the centralised information management system (CIMS) portal of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

About Centralised Information Management System

• It was introduced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to handle the massive data flow, aggregation, analysis, public dissemination, and data governance.
• CIMS is a warehouse of data. This system uses state-of-the-art technology to manage Big data and will serve as a platform for power users to carry out data mining, text mining, visual analytics, and advanced statistical analysis, connecting data from multiple domains, such as, financial, external, fiscal, corporate, and real sectors, as well as prices.
• Advantages:
  • It enhances the efficacy and efficiency of RBI’s regulatory reporting system. 
  • Banks and other regulated entities can submit their regulatory reports electronically using the cloud-based CIMS technology. 
  • Banks and other regulated firms will have less work to do as a result, and the RBI will benefit from improved timeliness and quality of its regulatory data.
  • The RBI will be better able to keep an eye on the financial system and respond quickly to any new dangers. 
  • The RBI will benefit from improved communication with banks and other regulated companies due to CIMS.

Centralised Information Management System FAQs

Q1: Who introduced the Centralized Information Management System (CIMS)?

Ans: Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

Q2: What is the primary function of CIMS?

Ans: Data aggregation, analysis, and dissemination.

Q3: What kind of analysis can be performed using CIMS?

Ans: Data mining, text mining, visual analytics, and advanced statistical analysis.

Source: BS

Mera Yuva Bharat Latest News

As part of empowering young men and women to play a crucial role in disaster management, Mera Yuva Bharat is selecting civil defence volunteers.

About Mera Yuva Bharat

• It is an autonomous body under the Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sport.
• MY Bharat, supported by a technology platform, would help to increase the youth outreach efforts of the Department of Youth Affairs.
• It has been set up to serve as an overarching enabling mechanism powered by technology for youth development and youth-led development and provide equitable access to youth to actualize their aspirations and build Viksit Bharat across the entire spectrum of the Government. 
• MY Bharat will benefit the youth in the age group of 15-29 years, in line with the definition of ‘Youth’ in the National Youth Policy. 
• In the case of program components specifically meant for adolescents, the beneficiaries will be in the age group of 10-19 years.
• It will help set the focus of the Government on youth-led development and make the youth “active drivers” of development and not merely “passive recipients”. 
• MY Bharat Portal:
  • It is a 'Phygital Platform' (physical + digital) comprising physical activity along with an opportunity to connect digitally. 
  • The fusion of physical activities and digital connectivity reflects the modern, dynamic nature of the platform.
  • Youth across the country can register on the MY Bharat portal (https://www.mybharat.gov.in/) and sign up for various opportunities and events available on the portal. 
  • MY Bharat has rapidly emerged as a pivotal tool for youth development, offering a diverse array of opportunities, events and volunteering activities with Police, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), and various Ministries. 

Mera Yuva Bharat FAQs

Q1: Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) functions under which ministry?

Ans: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports

Q2: What is the primary goal of MY Bharat?

Ans: Enable youth development and youth-led development

Q3: Which age group is the main beneficiary of MY Bharat?

Ans: 15–29 years

Source: TOI

Chambal River Latest News

Sand mining in the Chambal River region is a major environmental concern, particularly in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

About Chambal River

• The Chambal River, called Charmanvati in ancient times, is a tributary of the Yamuna River in central India and thus forms part of the greater Gangetic drainage system.
• It is known for its clear and pristine waters, and it is also one of the cleanest rivers in India. 
• Course: 
  • It rises in the Vindhya Range just south of Mhow, western Madhya Pradesh.
  • The river flows north-northeast through Madhya Pradesh, running for a time through Rajasthan, then forming the boundary between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh before turning southeast to join the Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh state. 
  • It flows through three Indian states: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. It is the largest of the rivers flowing through Rajasthan.
• Total Length: 960 kilometres (600 mi) 
• Drainage: 
  • To its south, east, and west, the basin is defined by the Vindhyan mountain ranges, while the north-western boundary is marked by the Aravalli range.
  • The Chambal and its tributaries drain theMalwa region of northwestern Madhya Pradesh, while its tributary, the Banas, which rises in the Aravalli Range, drains southeastern Rajasthan.
• Tributaries: The main tributaries of Chambal include the Banas and Mej rivers on the left and the Parbati, Kali Sindh, and Shipra rivers on the right.
• Major Dams: Gandhi Sagar Dam, Rana Pratap Sagar Dam, and Jawahar Sagar Dam.
• Notable Landmark: Pachnada confluence in Uttar Pradesh, where it meets the Kwari, Yamuna, Sind, and Pahuj rivers.
• National Chambal Sanctuary: It is a protected area established in 1979 with the primary goal of conserving the gharial (a rare species of crocodile), river dolphins, and marsh crocodile. 

Chambal River FAQs

Q1: The Chambal River is a tributary of which major Indian river?

Ans: Yamuna

Q2: The Chambal River originates from which mountain range?

Ans: Vindhya Range

Q3: The Chambal River flows through how many Indian states?

Ans: It flows through three Indian states: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. 

Source: DTE

Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains Latest News

New data published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters reveals the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains (GSM) were formed over 500 million years ago, during the assembly of the Gondwana supercontinent.

What are the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains (GSM)?

• The Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains are a completely buried mountain range beneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, located at its highest point.
• These mountains were first discovered in 1958 by a Soviet seismic expedition.
• Unlike the Transantarctic Mountains, which are partially visible above the ice, the Gamburtsev Mountains remain entirely buried, concealed under several kilometres of ice.
• Typically, mountains form at tectonic plate boundaries due to collision or subduction, but East Antarctica has remained tectonically stable for hundreds of millions of years.
• The existence of such a massive mountain range within a stable craton posed a major puzzle for geologists.

Zircon “Time Capsules” and Dating Evidence

• Scientists analysed zircon grains from sandstones deposited by ancient rivers flowing from the mountains, collected from the Prince Charles Mountains.
• Zircons contain trace uranium, which decays at a known radioactive rate, enabling accurate age determination.
• Findings show:
  • Uplift began ~650 million years ago
  • Himalayan-scale peaks reached ~580 million years ago
  • Crustal melting and flow ceased ~500 million years ago.

Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains FAQs

Q1: Where are the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains located?
Ans: The Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains lie beneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, completely buried under ice.

Q2: How were these mountains discovered?
Ans: They were first discovered in 1958 during the International Geophysical Year by a Soviet expedition using seismic surveys.

Source: DTE