About Assets under management (AUM):

• What is it?  AUM is the total market value of investments a financial institution (such as a bank, mutual fund, or hedge fund) owns or manages on behalf of its clients.
• AUM can be calculated in different ways, depending on the firm’s discretion.
• The calculation is done on the basis of either the total capital that the firm handles or calculating the Individual client’s money.
• AUM fluctuates daily reflecting the variable returns from stocks, mutual funds and change in prices of fixed investment.
• Importance of AUM:
  • AUM helps to build the market value of the firm.
  • It can be used as a market tool to attract potential new customers. The higher a firm's AUM is, the more likely people are to trust them and invest with them.
  • A fund's management fees and expenses are often calculated as a percentage of AUM.

What is Book value and Market value of a company?

• A company's book value is the amount of money shareholders would receive if assets were liquidated and liabilities paid off. The book value of an asset is strictly based on the company’s balance sheet 
• The market value is the value of a company according to the markets based on the current stock price and the number of outstanding shares.
• When the market value is less than book value, the market doesn't believe the company is worth the value on its books.
• A higher market value than book value means the market is assigning a high value to the company due to expected earnings increases.

 

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Q1) What is the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)?

LIC  is a government-backed life insurance provider in India. It was established in 1956 after the merger of 245 provident societies and insurance companies. LIC is one of the largest insurance companies with more than 25 Crore clients and offers a comprehensive range of life insurance plans. 

Source: LIC’s exposure to Adani Group is under 1% of total assets under management

 

About Shumang Leela:

• The meaning of this theatre form is “courtyard performance”, which is performed in Manipur.
• In this, the roles of women are all played by men, called Nupi Shabis.
• In the case of women’s theatre groups, the roles of men Lai Haraoba, a ritual of the Meitei community of Manipur.
• The plays provide a vehicle for educating the public about social, political, and economic issues.
• Types - Shumang Leela is of two types
• Nupa Shumang Leela - Performed only by men
• Nupi Shumang Leela - Performed only by women are played by women.
• The female roles are taken up by transgender actors.
• The tradition is believed to be descended from News

 

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Q1) What is Lai Haraoba ?

Lai Haraoba is a festival associated with the Meitei people celebrated to please the Umang Lai, the traditional deities of Sanamahism.

Source: In Frames | The art of gender-bending

 

 

 

Why in news?

• Based on the results of the experimental study done at the Periyar Tiger Reserve, the plan envisages landscape-level management of the tree. 
• The two key factors considered in developing the management protocol were the fast nature of the spread of the tree in natural forests, and the restoration of natural forests based on landscape.

What is Senna Spectabilis?

• Senna spectabilis is an invasive species.
• It is introduced as an ornamental species and for use as firewood from South and Central America.

Key facts about the Periyar Tiger Reserve

• It is nestled in the southern region of Western Ghats in the state of Kerala.
• It is drained by the rivers Mullayar and Periyar.
• Flora: tropical evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous forests and grasslands.
• Fauna: Tiger, Elephant, Lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri Tahr etc.

 

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Q1) What is the role of the National Tiger Conservation Authority?

This authority works from on-the-ground protection initiatives to science-based monitoring of tigers and their habitat using the latest technological tools.

Source: Plan in place to eradicate invasive plant species from Kerala’s wildlife habitat

About Sariska Tiger Reserve:

• Location: It is located in the Aravalli hills in the Alwar district of Rajasthan state. 
• This area was a hunting preserve of the erstwhile Alwar state.
• It was declared as a wildlife reserve in 1955 and then a Tiger Reserve in 1978 under Project Tiger. 
• It is the first reserve in the world which successfully relocated tigers.
• Sariska is also famous for old temples, palaces and lakes such as Pandu Pol, Bhangarh Fort, Ajaibgarh, Pratapgarh, Siliserh Lake and Jai Samand Lake.
• Topography: Grasslands, dry deciduous forests, cliffs, and rocky landscapes.
• Flora:  salar, kadaya , dhak, gol , ber , Banyan, gugal , bamboo, kair , adusta etc
• Fauna: Bengal tigers, leopard, jungle cat, Indian jackal, chital, chinkara, four-horned antelope, Indian peafowl, grey partridge, Indian peafowl,  Indian eagle-owl etc.

Sloth Bear:

• Sloth bears are one of the eight bear species found across the world.
• Scientific name: Melursus ursinus
• Distribution: They mainly inhabit the region of India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan.
• Features: 
  • They have long, shaggy dark brown or black fur and curved claws, which are the longest out of any of the bear species. 
  • It feeds on fruits, ants and termites. 
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN: “Vulnerable”
  • Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule 1

 

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Q1) When was Project Tiger launched?

The Govt. of India had launched “Project Tiger” on 1st April 1973 to promote conservation of the tiger. Project Tiger has been the largest species conservation initiative of its kind in the world.

Source: Pair of sloth bears to be shifted to Sariska

 

About Rohini Commission:

• The commission was set up by the President under Article 340 of the Indian Constitution on  October 2, 2017. 
• It is headed by former Delhi High Court judge, Justice G. Rohini (retd).
• Mandate: To examine the issues related to the sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes.
• Terms of References:
  • to examine the extent of inequitable distribution of benefits of reservation among the castes or communities included in the broad category of Other Backward Classes, with reference to such classes included in the Central List;
  • to work out the mechanism, criteria, norms and parameters in a scientific approach for sub-categorisation within such Other Backward Classes;
  • to take up the exercise of identifying the respective castes or communities or sub-castes or synonyms in the Central List of Other Backward Classes and classifying them into their respective sub-categories;

What does Article 340 say?

• The Article reads, "The President may, by order, appoint a Commission consisting of such persons as he thinks fit to investigate the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes within the territory of India and the difficulties under which they labour and to make recommendations as to the steps that should be taken by the Union or any State to remove such difficulties and to improve their condition..."

 

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Q1) What was Mandal commission report?

It was a report that arguably paved the way for caste to become a criterion for reservation in India. It recommended that members of OBCs be given 27 per cent reservations for jobs under the Central government and public sector undertakings.

Source: OBC sub-categorisation panel gets 14th extension

Key facts about D4 Drone System:

• What is it? The Drone Detect, Deter and Destroy system (D4S) is the first indigenously developed anti-drone system to be inducted into the Indian Armed Forces.
• It is developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
• Purpose: To detect rogue drones that are likely to attack most vulnerable places.
• Features:
  • D4 system can instantly detect and jam micro drones (Soft kill) and use a laser-based kill mechanism to terminate targets (Hard kill).
  • It uses DRDO's RF/Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to detect the frequency which is being used by the controller and the signals are then jammed.
  • It can detect and jam micro-drones at a distance of up to 3 km.
  • It can lase a target 1-1.25 km far depending on the wattage of the laser weapon.

About Aero India:

• It is a biennial air show and aviation exhibition held in Bengaluru, India at the Yelahanka Air Force Station. 
• It is organised by the Defence Exhibition Organisation, Ministry of Defence.

 

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Q1) What is an anti-drone system?

Anti-drone systems are designed to counter-drone technologies and interfere with them in various ways and are used to detect and/or intercept unwanted drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Source: AI to missile systems, BEL to put up big show at Aero India

About World Leprosy Day

• In India, it is observed on 30th January every year, coinciding with the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.   
• The theme of World Leprosy Day 2023 is “Act Now. End Leprosy.

 

Key facts about Leprosy

• It is a chronic infectious disease caused by a type of bacteria, Mycobacterium leprae.
• The disease predominantly affects the skin and peripheral nerves if left untreated, the disease may cause progressive and permanent disabilities.
• Transmission: The bacteria are transmitted via droplets from the nose and mouth during close and frequent contact with untreated cases.
• The majority of annual new case detections are from South-East Asia.
• It is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) which still occurs in more than 120 countries, with more than 200 000 new cases reported each year.

 

India’s Initiatives related to Leprosy

• The Government launched National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) to make India leprosy free. 
• It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the umbrella of the National Health Mission (NHM). 
• It is implemented in all the States/UTs.

 

Global Initiatives related to Leprosy

World Health Organisation: The Global Leprosy Strategy 2021–2030 “Towards zero leprosy” was developed through a broad consultative process with all major stakeholders during 2019 and 2020.

 

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Q1) What is the objective National Health Mission?

This mission envisages the achievement of universal access to equitable, affordable & quality healthcare services that are accountable and responsive to people's needs.

Source: World Leprosy Day 2023: Know about this chronic infectious disease, its symptoms, and treatment.

Why in news?

• Microsoft researchers under this project have been working toward creating digital ecosystems for Indian languages that do not have enough presence online,
• The main goal of the Project? To impact underserved communities through enabling language technology by creating economic opportunities, building technological skills, enhancing education and preserving local languages and cultures for future generations.
• Microsoft Research (MSR) has chosen to focus on three languages namely; Gondi, Mundari and Idu Mishmi.

 

Key facts about Gondi, Mundari and Idu Mishmi Language

Gondi Language

• Language family: Gondi is a South-Central Dravidian language. 
• Script: The Gondi script is perhaps the only script in the country besides Urdu which is written right to left. 
• In northern and central India, it is the only language, barring Gujarati, which has a script of its own. All other north and central Indian languages use the Devnagri script. 
• Dialects: Gondi, is heavily influenced by the other local languages spoken in the respective states. 
• This is spoken by close to three million speakers in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Mundari Language

• Mundari (Munɖari) is a Munda language of the Austroasiatic language family spoken by the Munda tribes in the eastern Indian states of Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal. 
• Mundari Bani, a script specifically to write Mundari, was invented by Rohidas Singh Nag.

Idu Mishmi

• The Idu Mishmi language is a small language spoken by the Mishmi people in the Dibang Valley district, of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh speakers in China 1994. 
• It is considered an endangered language.

 

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Q1) What is a classical language?

A classical language is any language with an independent literary tradition and a large and ancient body of written literature.

Source: How Microsoft’s Project ELLORA is helping small languages like Gondi, Mundari become eloquent for the digital world