1. Brahmastra Missile

Indian scientists have developed a cutting-edge ‘Brahmastra’ missile capable of reaching an incredible speed of 12,144 km per hour.

About the Brahmastra Missile:

• Named the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRAShM), this weapon is a hypersonic glide missile.
• Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), it surpasses China's DF-17 in both range and technological advancements.

Key Features:

• Range: 1,500 km, capable of destroying enemy ships or warships within 7 to 8 minutes of launch.
• Deployment: Can be launched from both land and sea, enhancing its operational flexibility.
• Speed: Travels at Mach 10 (10 times the speed of sound), covering 3.37 km per second.
• Heat Resistance: Built with specialized heat-resistant materials, ensuring it remains intact under extreme temperatures, marking a breakthrough in scramjet and glide technology.

2. Tunga River

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has identified seven sources of pollution affecting the Tunga River, while district authorities are investigating encroachments along its banks.

About the Tunga River:

• Also known as Thunga River, it is a major river in Karnataka.

Course:

• Originates in the Western Ghats on Varaha Parvata hill.
• Its source is called Gangamoola, a cave within Varaha Parvata.
• Flows 147 km before merging with the Bhadra River at Koodli, near Shimoga, Karnataka.
• From this confluence, it forms the Tungabhadra River, which eventually merges with the Krishna River in Andhra Pradesh.

Significance:

• Renowned for its pure and pristine waters.
• Houses several religious sites along its banks, including Sringeri, home to temples like Sharada Temple and Vidyasankara Temple.
• Features the Gajanur Dam, an S-shaped dam built over the river.

3. Central Electricity Authority (CEA)

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has issued new guidelines to optimize the allocation, sharing, and utilization of optical fibers across the power sector, enhancing resource management.

About the Central Electricity Authority (CEA):

• Established under the Electricity Supply Act of 1948, later replaced by the Electricity Act of 2003.
• Functions as an "Attached Office" under the Ministry of Power.

Key Responsibilities:

• Advises the Central Government on national electricity policy and strategic planning.
• Develops short-term and long-term plans for electricity infrastructure.
• Regulates technical standards for electrical plants, power lines, and grid connectivity.
• Sets safety and operational standards for electricity generation, transmission, and distribution.
• Promotes skilled workforce development in the electricity sector.
• Conducts research and investigations to improve the electricity ecosystem.

Organizational Structure:

• Led by a Chairman, who also serves as an ex-officio Secretary to the Government of India.
• Comprises six full-time members, each overseeing key areas like Thermal, Hydro, Power Systems, Planning, Economic & Commercial, and Grid Operation & Distribution.

4. World Spice Organisation (WSO)

The Chairman of the World Spice Organisation (WSO) recently revealed that India holds just 0.7% of the global seasoning market, which is valued at $14 billion in 2024. In comparison, China and the U.S.A. hold 12% and 11% shares, respectively.

About the World Spice Organisation (WSO):

• A not-for-profit organization established in 2011 in Kochi, Kerala—India’s spice capital.
• Registered under the Travancore Cochin Literary, Scientific, and Charitable Societies Act, 1956.

Objectives:

• Addresses food safety and sustainability challenges in the spice industry.

• Engages stakeholders, including the public, industry leaders, academia, and consumers.

• Undertakes social responsibility initiatives benefiting the spice sector.

• Collaborates with national and international organizations, such as:

  • Spices Board India
  • Indian Institute of Spice Research (IISR)
  • Rainforest Alliance
  • GIZ (Germany)
  • IDH - The Sustainable Trade Initiative (Netherlands)

• Works alongside global spice associations like:

  • American Spice Trade Association (ASTA)
  • European Spice Association (ESA)
  • International Pepper Community (IPC)

• Actively participates in setting industry standards through organizations like FSSAI, BIS, ISO, and Codex.

• Serves as a technical partner of the All India Spices Exporters Forum (AISEF).

5. What is Insider Trading?

Nestlé India recently disclosed that it had received a warning from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for an insider trading violation involving a designated person of the company.

Understanding Insider Trading:

• Also known as insider dealing, it refers to the unethical practice of buying or selling securities based on non-public, price-sensitive information.

Who Qualifies as an Insider?

• As per SEBI, an insider is anyone with access to confidential financial or operational information about a company’s stocks or securities.
• An insider may be:
  • An employee, director, banker, legal counsel, or relative associated with the company.
  • A stock exchange official or trustee handling the company’s securities.
  • An employee of an asset management company (AMC) working with the company.
• Insiders may profit by trading securities before price-sensitive information becomes public, leading to unfair market advantages.

What is Unpublished Price Sensitive Information (UPSI)?

UPSI refers to confidential information related to a company’s stock prices, quarterly earnings, mergers, acquisitions, or any other market-sensitive activities that have not been disclosed to the public.

When insiders gain access to UPSI, they may illegally engage in trade transactions for personal profit, leading to insider trading, one of the most serious financial malpractices in the market.

In India, insider trading is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) under the Insider Trading Regulations, 2015. To ensure fair market practices and protect retail investors, SEBI prohibits companies from repurchasing their own shares from the secondary market.

6. World's Oldest Impact Crater

Australian scientists have discovered what is believed to be the oldest known meteorite impact crater on Earth, located in northwestern Australia and estimated to be 3.47 billion years old.

About the Crater:

• Found in the North Pole dome region of Australia, it is over a billion years older than any previously identified impact site.
• Named the North Pole Crater, it was likely formed by a meteorite traveling at over 36,000 km per hour, creating a crater over 100 km wide.
• The impact may have scattered debris worldwide, with molten droplets possibly reaching South Africa.
• This discovery challenges existing theories about Earth's early history and suggests that meteorite impacts may have played a role in creating environments suitable for microbial life.

What is an Impact Crater?

An impact crater forms when an asteroid or meteorite collides with a planet or moon at high speed, releasing immense energy that melts and reshapes the surface, leaving behind a circular depression.

Examples:

• Barringer Crater (USA)
• Tycho Crater (Moon)

7. SpaceX Starship

SpaceX's Starship spacecraft recently exploded just minutes after liftoff from Texas, marking the second failed attempt this year in Elon Musk's Mars rocket program.

About SpaceX Starship:

• Starship is a fully reusable, two-stage, super heavy-lift launch vehicle developed by SpaceX.
• It consists of:
  • Starship spacecraft – Carries crew and cargo.
  • Super Heavy rocket – The first-stage booster, powered by 33 Raptor engines using liquid methane (CH₄) and liquid oxygen (LOX).
• It is the most powerful launch vehicle ever built, capable of lifting:
  • 150 metric tonnes (fully reusable)
  • 250 metric tonnes (expendable mode)
• The vehicle is designed for missions to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
• It can also enable point-to-point Earth travel, reaching any destination in under an hour.

Key Features:

• Starship is powered by six engines:
  • Three Raptor engines (for atmospheric use)
  • Three Raptor Vacuum (RVac) engines (for space travel)
• Raptor Engine:
  • A methane-oxygen staged-combustion engine.
  • Twice the thrust of the Falcon 9’s Merlin engine.

What is Mechazilla?

• Mechazilla is a 400-ft tall rocket-catching structure at SpaceX’s Starbase.
• It features two massive mechanical arms (nicknamed "chopsticks"), designed to catch the returning Super Heavy booster mid-air.

8. Ladki Bahin Yojana

The Maharashtra government has distributed ₹17,500 crore to 2.38 crore women under the Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana by December 2024, according to the state's Economic Survey.

About Ladki Bahin Yojana:

• Launched in 2024, this women-centric welfare scheme provides financial assistance to economically weaker women.
• Objective: Empowerment and economic upliftment of women aged 21 to 65.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Permanent resident of Maharashtra.
• Age limit: 21 to 65 years.
• Annual family income: Not exceeding ₹2.5 lakh.
• No family member should be an income taxpayer.

Benefits:

• Eligible women receive ₹1,500 per month through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

9. Woolly Mice

Scientists have successfully used gene editing to modify mouse DNA with woolly mammoth genes, creating the world’s first "woolly mice." This breakthrough helps researchers understand how ancient species adapted to extreme cold.

About Woolly Mice:

• Scientists modified seven genes linked to fur length, thickness, and color.
• Notable genes:
  • FGF5 (longer fur)
  • MC1R (golden coat color)

Why Create Woolly Mice?

• It serves as a proof-of-concept for de-extinction, demonstrating that complex genetic traits can be successfully reintroduced.

How Were Woolly Mice Created?

1. Identifying Mammoth Genes: Scientists compared mammoth DNA with Asian elephant DNA to find key genetic differences.
2. Selecting Traits: Chose 10 mammoth-like gene variants related to fur and body fat.
3. Gene Editing: Used CRISPR to make eight precise genetic modifications in mice, introducing mammoth-like traits.
4. Results: The modified mice developed thicker, longer fur, proving that mammoth genes influenced cold adaptation.