Researchers have found evidence that interstellar dust grains align with magnetic fields in the milky way.

About Interstellar Dust Grain

• Interstellar dust grains are formed in the cool outer layers of stars like red giants. 
• They are released into space through radiation pressure, stellar winds, or stellar explosions.
• Composition: Amorphous silicate grains and carbonaceous materials.
• Role in Star Formation: In star formation, interstellar dust cools and shields the molecular cloud, making it cold and dense enough for gravity to collapse it into stars.

'Operation Black Forest' is the biggest anti-Naxal operation ever conducted on Karregutta hill situated along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border.

Other anti-Naxal mission

• Mission Sankalp': launched on sprawling hills of Karregutta and adjoining hills along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border
• Operation Green Hunt: Began in late 2009. It  takes place across five states - West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa and Chhattisgarh.

Bhutan’s PM pays visits to Nalanda University

Ancient Nalanda

• Founded: In 5th century  by Emperor Kumaragupta of Gupta dynasty
• Nature: Ancient centre of higher learning in (Rajgir) Bihar, along with Taxila and Vikramashila.
  • First residential university in the world.
  • Now, UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Patrons: It was patronized by various rulers including King Harshavardhana of Kannauj (7th century CE), Pala rulers (8th – 12th century CE).
• Scholars: Attracted from China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, Mongolia, Sri Lanka & SE Asia.
  • Chinese scholar Xuan Zang documented Nalanda’s architecture, ambience, and scholarly traditions.
• Decline
  • Gradual decline from the 9th century onward due to Tantric developments in Buddhism under the Pala Empire.
  • Ultimately destroyed around 1200 CE by Bakhityar Khilji.

SEBI has introduced a new framework to monitor intraday positions in equity index derivatives.

• Effective from October 1, the net intraday position is capped at 5,000 crore rupees per entity in index options to curb risks.

About Equity Derivatives

• A Derivative is a financial instrument whose value is derived from the value of an underlying asset.
  • The underlying asset can be equity shares or index, precious metals, commodities, currencies, interest rates etc.
• Equity Derivatives are instruments whose values are partly derived from one or more underlying equity asset class. 
  • Futures and Options are the most commonly-traded equity derivatives products.

A study found Tamil Nadu has the lowest density of rosewood tree population in south India.

About Indian Rosewood

• It is predominantly a single-stemmed deciduous tree with a dome shaped crown of lush green foliage, which on wet sites are not shed. 
• The bark is gray, thin with irregular short cracks, exfoliating in fibrous longitudinal flakes.
• Mean annual rainfall: 750-5 000 mm
• Soil type: Laterite, alluvial, black cotton soils etc.
• Native: India, Indonesia.
• Exotic: Kenya, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam.
• Uses: Apiculture, Timber, Medicines(diarrhoea, worms, indigestion, and leprosy)

Karnataka’s coffee belt (Chikmagaluru, Coorg, and Hassan) has been hit by prolonged rains and cold, damaging plantations.

About Coffee Cultivation

• Coffee was introduced in India by Baba Budan (17th century, Chikmagalur, Karnataka).
• Crop Requirements – Grows in a tropical climate, temperature 15–28°C, rainfall 150–250 cm, well-drained loamy soil, requires shade.
• Other conditions: Hill slopes are more suitable for growth.
• World leading producer: Brazil. India is now the seventh-largest coffee producer globally
• India: Major Arabica & Robusta coffee producer/exporter.
  • Cultivation Areas: Mainly Nilgiri region covering Karnataka, Kerala & Tamil Nadu.
• Production – Top producing states are Karnataka (70%), Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and North-East.

Assam-based foundation launched India’s first vulture conservation portal.

About Vultures

• India is the home to 9 species of vultures: Slender-billed Vulture, White-rumped Vulture, Red-headed Vulture, Himalayan  Griffon Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Cinereous vulture, Indian Vulture, Bearded Vulture, Eurasian Griffon Vulture.
• Significance: Scavenging on animal carcasses of animals and thereby helping keep the environment clean.
• Threats: Ingestion of toxic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like diclofenac(used to treat livestock), habitat loss, electrocution, food scarcity and human disturbances.
• Conservation Initiatives: Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre (VCBC)- at Rani(Assam), Pinjore(Haryana), Action Plan for Vulture Conservation in India, 2020‐2025 etc.