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Posted 01 Mar 2025

8 min read

Avalanche

BRO workers rescued after being trapped under snow following an avalanche near Mana village in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district.

About Avalanche

  • Definition:  Downward motion of a large mass of snow/ice on a slope with high speed and great force causing widespread destruction on its way downhill. 
  • Factors contributing to avalanche formation: The three key factors are snow, nature of ground and meteorological or weather conditions.
  • Types of Avalanche: There are two basic types of avalanches, loose snow avalanches and slab avalanches. These are further sub-divided according to whether the snow involved is dry, damp or wet etc. 
    • Loose snow avalanches form in snow masses with little internal cohesion among individual snow crystals and steep slope.
    • Slab avalanches originate in snow with sufficient internal cohesion to enable a snow layer, or layers, to react mechanically as a single entity.
  • Tags :
  • Avalanche:
  • Snow
  • Loose snow avalanches

Banjara Community

Recently Lok Sabha speaker highlighted Banjara community’s role in protecting nature and tradition of the country.

About Banjara (Bepari, Mukeai, Laban) Community

  • Origins: Historically multireligious, multilinguistic nomadic trading caste who may have origins in Mewar region (Rajasthan).
  • Role as Trader Nomads:  
    • They traded between villages, towns, and even across regions.
    • Primary trade items included grain, pulses, sugar, salt, wood, and timber.
    • Banjaras traveled in large groups called Tandas. Each Tanda was led by a chief known as Nayaka.
  • Historical Accounts:
    • Sultan Alauddin Khalji used Banjaras to transport grain to city markets.
    • Emperor Jahangir mentioned in Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri that they carried grains on bullocks from villages to towns.
    • They supplied food grains to Mughal armies during military campaigns also.
  • Tags :
  • Banjara Community
  • Nomads
  • Bepari
  • Mukeai

Bilateral Swap Agreement(BSA)

India and Japan have renewed the $75 billion bilateral currencies swap agreement.

About BSA:

  • It is an agreement between two central banks to exchange a cash flow in one currency against a cash flow in another currency according to predetermined terms and conditions.
  • Purpose of India - Japan BSA: It is a two-way currency swap mechanism, allowing both countries to exchange local currencies for US dollars when needed.
  • Significance: Help manage exchange rate volatility and provide liquidity during financial crises.
  • Tags :
  • Currency Swap
  • Bilateral Swap Agreement

Auroville Township

Auroville, the world’s largest and oldest intentional community, celebrated its 57th anniversary recently.

About Auroville Township

  • Overview: Located in Tamil Nadu, near Pondicherry, where people from 60+ countries explore alternative, peaceful living.
  • Genesis: Founded in 1968, township is based on the dream of Mirra Alfassa (The Mother), to put in practice the teachings of Sri Aurobindo. 
    • In 1908, Sri Aurobindo was arrested in the Alipore Bomb Case, he also gave the concept of spiritual nationalism viewing India as a divine entity (Mother India).
  • Mission: A center for material and spiritual research, aiming to achieve true human unity.
  • Recognition: Endorsed by UNESCO in 1966 as a project vital to humanity's future.
  • Tags :
  • Sri Aurobindo
  • Auroville
  • Mirra Alfassa
  • Mother
  • Alipore Bomb Case

Privilege Motion

A privilege motion has been moved against External Affairs Minister for allegedly giving “misleading and incomplete” information.

About privilege motion

  • It is raised when a member believes that parliamentary privileges have been breached.
    • Parliamentary privileges are certain rights and immunities enjoyed by
      • Members of Parliament, individually 
      • and collectively, so that they can “effectively discharge their functions".
  • Conditions: It must meet two conditions
    • It must be related to a specific, recent occurrence.
    • The matter should require the Council’s intervention.
  • Speaker/Chairman can decide on the privilege motion himself or herself or refer it to privileges committee of Parliament.
  • Tags :
  • Parliamentary privileges
  • Privilege Motion

Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART)

Supreme Court recently ordered States to address transparency issues in tendering and procuring ART drugs for HIV ​​(Human Immunodeficiency Virus) /AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) patients.

About ART 

  • ART is a combination of medicines that help control HIV by reducing the virus in the body.
    • HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that destroys CD4 cells (also called helper T-cells), an important part of the immune system.
  • While ART can not cure HIV, it can reduce the levels of HIV in human body. 
    • Low levels of the virus mean more CD4 cells could be produced, thus protecting the immune system. 
  • India Launched National AIDS and STD Control Programme (NACP) in 1992 to tackle HIV/AIDS. 
  • Tags :
  • HIV
  • AIDS
  • CD4 cells
  • NACP
  • Anti-Retrovira

Geological Survey of India (GSI)

GSI, one of the oldest scientific organizations in the country, is set to celebrate its 175th year of geoscientific legacy.

About GSI

  • Genesis: Established in 1851 by Sir Thomas Oldham.
  • Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Mines 
  • Headquarter: Kolkata
  • Role: It played a pioneering role in geological mapping, mineral exploration, disaster studies, and geoscientific research, significantly contributing to India’s industrial and economic growth.
  • Tags :
  • Ministry of Mines
  • Geological Survey of India
  • Sir Thomas Oldham

Giloy (Guduchi)

PubMed data shows a 376.5% rise in Giloy research over the past decade, reflecting its growing global interest in medicine.

About Giloy

  • Botanical features: It is a climbing shrub that to the Menispermaceae family.
  • Habitat: Native to tropical India, Giloy thrives at 25–45°C and up to 500m elevation.
  • Key CompoundsContains terpenoids, alkaloids, lignans, and steroids.
  • Benefits: Has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antidiabetic properties.
  • Tags :
  • Giloy
  • Guduchi
  • Menispermaceae
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