RBI increases the frequency of reporting of credit information by lenders, including Banks and NBFCs, to CICs from monthly intervals to fortnightly basis or shorter intervals to boost transparency in system.

About CICs

• They collect public data, credit transactions and payment histories of individuals and companies regarding loans, credit cards, among others. E.g. TransUnion CIBIL Limited etc.
• Based on collected data, CICs form a credit report and generate a score. 
• Banks, Non-Banking Financial Institutions refer to CIC's score to decide borrowers' creditworthiness before granting loan or issuing credit card.
• CICs are licensed by RBI and regulated by CIC Regulation Act, 2005 along with RBI guidelines.

SJVN Limited(Mini Ratna Schedule ‘A’ CPSU under Ministry of Power) has successfully commissioned the 90 MW Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project at Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh.

About Floating Solar Project

• Involves installing solar panels on floating structures situated on water bodies such as lakes, reservoirs, and ponds. 
• As per World Bank-India has potential capacities of 280-300 GW in floating solar power.
• Benefits: Reduced water evaporation, cooler operating temperatures, and land conservation.

For the second time in two years, a heatwave is sweeping through Antarctica in the winter season. 

• Ground temperatures have been 10 degrees Celsius higher than normal on average since mid-July.

Reason for heatwaves

• According to scientists, higher temperatures are mainly a consequence of the weakening of the polar vortex.
  • Polar vortex is a band of cold air and low pressure systems that spins around the poles of the Earth in the stratosphere.
• The vortex usually keeps cold air trapped over Antarctica but it has been disturbed this year by large-scale atmospheric waves.

Recent wildfires in US and Canada are so intense that they have created ‘Pyrocumulonimbus’ clouds.

About Pyrocumulonimbus Cloud 

• Occur when there is an extremely hot wildfire or volcanic eruptions .
• Can produce lighting, they do not generate much rain.
• Not every wildfire leads to creation of pyrocumulonimbus clouds. 
• Process 
  • Intense heat from fire warms surrounding air which moves upward into atmosphere. 
  • As this hot air — carrying water vapour, smoke, and ash — rises, it expands and cools down. 
  • Once it is cool enough, water vapour condenses on ash, forming a grey or brown cloud (pyrocumulus cloud (fire cloud)).
  • If upward movement of hot air intensifies, pyrocumulus clouds can evolve into pyrocumulonimbus cloud.

Recent study explains the formation of new topological features like plateaus and escarpments (high steep slopes) through Isostasy. 

Isostasy

• It is the equilibrium or balance between blocks of crust and the underlying mantle. 
• It involves a line of equality at which the mass of land above sea level is supported below sea level.
• It is not a process or a force but simply a natural adjustment by blocks of crust of different thicknesses that also maintains gravity. Isostasy uses energy to balance mass. 
• Processes like waning of ice sheets erosion, sedimentation, volcanism, etc. may disturb isostasy. 

Recently International Clouded Leopard Day was observed at Aizawl,Mizoram.

About Clouded leopard

• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN: Vulnerable
  • Wild Life (Protection) Act 1976: SCHEDULE I and IV
  • CITES: Appendix I
• Characteristics
  • Named after the distinctive 'clouds' on its coat - ellipses partially edged in black, with the insides a darker colour than the background colour of the pelt.
  • Its tail is the longest, in relation to body size, of any cat's tail,
  • It is more at home in the trees than on the ground.
  • Habitat: Southern China, Bhutan, Nepal, northeast India, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, and Bangladesh.
• Threats: Habitat loss and defragmentation; Poaching and illegal wildlife trade, etc.

OpenAI is working on an AI watermarking technique that could recognize AI generated content and prevent it from being used in fraudulent activities. 

Digital Watermarking 

• It is the process of embedding a digital code (watermark) into a digital content like image, audio, or video. 
• It plays an important role in safeguarding copyright, integrity, ensuring the safety of digital works, protect intellectual property and combat piracy.

The central government announced the full list of the first-ever Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2024 awardees.

About Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 

• It is a new set of awards introduced by the Government of India in the field of Science, Technology, and Innovation.
• Objective: To recognize the notable and inspiring contributions made by scientists, technologists, and innovators individually or in teams in various fields of science, technology, and technology­-led innovation.
• It comprises four awards — Vigyan Ratna for lifetime achievement, Vigyan Shri for scientists of all ages, Vigyan Yuva for scientists under 45 years and Vigyan Team for collaborative research work.