Recently, the platinum jubilee of the Central Silk Board was celebrated.

About Central Silk Board 

• Statutory body established in 1948 by an Act of Parliament.
• Ministry: Ministry of Textiles
• Mandates:
  • Advise the government on all matters concerning sericulture and silk industry. 
  • Standardization of various production processes, etc. 
• HQ: Bengaluru

Silk Production in India

• India is 2nd largest silk producer in the world with 42% of global production (2023)
• Karnataka contributed around 32% of the total silk production (2021-22), followed by Andhra Pradesh. 
• Silk Produced: Mulberry, Eri, Tasar and Muga.

India has become 3rd most powerful nation by surpassing Japan in Asia Power Index 2024. 

• USA and China have been ranked at 1^st and 2^nd place, respectively. 

About Asia Power Index

• Launched by Lowy Institute in 2018, it is an annual measure of power dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region. 
• It evaluates 27 countries across the Asia-Pacific, examining their ability to shape and respond to the external environment.
• A country's overall power score is derived from a weighted average of 8 measures (divided into resource-based and influence-based determinants), encompassing 131 individual indicators. 

Union Finance Minister asked Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to assist low-income countries to avail financial resources.

About AIIB

• It is a multilateral development bank established in 2016.
• Mission: Financing Infrastructure for tomorrow in Asia and beyond.
• Headquarter : Beijing (China).
• Members: 110 members – 96 Full Members and 14 Prospective Members. 
• China is the largest shareholder, with 26.6% of the current voting share and veto power, followed by India (7.6%), Russia (6%).
• In 2018, AIIB was granted Permanent Observer status in the deliberations of United Nations General Assembly and UN Economic and Social Council.

Israel has made control of the Philadelphi corridor a condition in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

About Philadelphi corridor

• It is a ribbon of land about nine miles (14kms) in length and 100 metres wide along Gaza’s border with Egypt, including the Rafah crossing.
• It was designated as a demilitarised border zone after the withdrawal of Israeli settlements and troops from Gaza in 2005.
• It runs from the Mediterranean to Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel.
• After the Israeli withdrawal, it was the responsibility of Egypt and the Palestinian Authority.

Recently, yield on 10 year G-Secs slumped to 32-month low. 

About G-Sec

• G-sec is a tradeable instrument issued by central or state governments. It acknowledges the government's debt obligation.
  • G-Secs carry practically no risk of default, hence, are called risk-free gilt-edged instruments.
• Types 
  • Short term (Treasury bills): Original maturities of less than one year. 
  • Long term (Government bonds or dated securities): Original maturity of one year or more.
• Central Government issues both, treasury bills & bonds or dated securities while State governments issue only bonds or dated securities, called as State Development Loans (SDLs).

Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), along with researchers of IIT Delhi has developed ABHED.

About ABHED

• These are Light Weight Bullet Proof Jackets.
• These jackets have been created from polymers and indigenous boron carbide ceramic material.
• The design configuration is based on characterisation of various materials at high strain rate followed by appropriate modelling and simulation.

Recently, Astronomers have mapped the differential rotation of the Sun’s Chromosphere using 100 Years of Kodaikanal Solar Observatory data.

About Differential Rotation of Sun

• It refers to the difference in rotational speed of the Sun depending upon latitude.
• Sun's equator spins much faster than its poles. It takes equatorial region only about 25 days to complete one rotation, while the poles take around 35 days.
• Reason: Since Sun is a ball of gas/plasma, it does not have to rotate rigidly like solid planets do.
• Importance: Solar cycle, magnetic storms on Earth, etc.

About Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (Tamil Nadu)

• Operated by Indian Institute of Astrophysics and is celebrating its 125th anniversary.
• Kodaikanal was chosen as the location for its proximity to the equator and its dust-free, high-altitude location.

WiSLP has been launched as part of the UK-India Education and Research Initiative. 

About  WiSLP 

• Launched by: Department of Science and Technology in collaboration with British Council. 
• Aim: Supporting institutions in strengthening gender-inclusive practices to foster women’s leadership in space sciences. 
  • The program would involve building sustainable mentoring networks & enhancing scientific innovation by integrating a gender perspective into critical areas like astrophysics.