On its formation day, Tobacco Board highlights that earnings of Flue-Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco farmers have more than doubled between 2019-20 and 2023-24.

• FCV tobacco is a high-quality, aromatic tobacco variety widely used in production of cigarettes.
• Currently, India is 2nd largest producer of tobacco in world after China (4th in FCV).

About Tobacco Board (HQ: Andhra Pradesh)

• Genesis: Established on 1st January 1976 by an Act of Parliament ‘Tobacco Board Act, 1975’.
• Objective: Promote development of tobacco industry, including regulation of production, distribution, and export of FCV tobacco.
• Ministry: Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Executive Committee of NMCG has undertaken initiatives like Chandauli Sewage Treatment Plant for rejuvenation and cleanliness of Ganga River.

About NMCG           

• Registered as a society in 2011 under Societies Registration Act 1860.
• Functions under Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• Acted as implementation arm of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA).
  • NGRBA was constituted under EPA, 1986 and replaced by National Ganga Council (chaired by Prime Minister) in 2016.
• Aims to ensure effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of River Ganga by adopting river basin approach.
• Consists two tier management structure and comprises Governing Council and Executive Committee, both headed by Director General, NMCG.

NIA achieves 100% conviction rate in 2024 by successfully solving major terrorism and criminal cases.

About NIA

• Set up as a Central Counter Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency under NIA Act, 2008 in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
• Headquarters: New Delhi with 2 Zonal offices at Guwahati & Jammu.
• Mandate: Investigate offences affecting sovereignty, security & integrity of India, friendly relations with foreign States, etc. specified in Schedule to NIA Act, 2008.

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported significant surge in Norovirus cases. 

About Norovirus

• It is a highly contagious virus that causes gastroenteritis, commonly known as "stomach flu."
• Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.
• Noroviruses are relatively resistant in environment as they can survive freezing as well as high temperatures (up to 60°C).
• Transmitted primarily through faecal-oral route, either by consumption of contaminated food or water, or by spreading directly from person to person.
• There's no specific medication for norovirus. 

Scientists are deploying two underwater telescopes under Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope (KM3NeT) to detect high-energy neutrinos (ghost particles). 

• KM3NeT houses the next generation neutrino telescopes under Mediterranean Sea
  • Telescopes are similar to IceCube Neutrino Observatory, located in frozen ice of Antarctica. 

About Neutrino

• Tiny particles, very similar to electrons, but without any electric charge. 
• They are one of the fundamental subatomic particles in the universe, and quite numerous. 

Significance: Studying high energy neutrinos help in astrophysical investigations like exploring Milky Way Galaxy, cosmic ray, dark matter, etc

Recently, an Indian firm became India’s first private company to commission a Vacuum Arc Remelting (VAR) furnace for producing aerospace-grade titanium alloy. 

• VAR is used to purify numerous alloys such as stainless steel, Nickel-based, and Titanium-based alloys under vacuum conditions to ensure superior metallurgical structure and uniform alloy composition. 

About Titanium

• Appearance: Hard, shiny and strong metal.
  • Ilmenite (FeO.TiO2) and rutile (TiO2) are two chief minerals of titanium.
• Properties:  Lightweight, low density, corrosion resistance, high melting point, etc. 
• Uses: Medical Implants; Power plant condensers (resistance to corrosion in seawater); Aircrafts (alloying agent with metals including aluminium), etc.

According to Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), India has achieved a tenfold increase in banana exports over the past decade and aims to reach $1 billion in the next 5 years. 

About Banana cultivation

• Climate: Tropical crop grows well in a temperature range of 15ºC – 35ºC with relative humidity of 75-85%. 
• Soil: Deep, rich loamy soil with pH between 6.5 – 7.5 
  • Should have good drainage, adequate fertility and moisture, should neither be too acidic or alkaline. 
• Major varieties: Dwarf Cavendish, Robusta, Monthan, Poovan, Nendran, etc. 
• Major producers: Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat etc.

As per RBI’s Financial Stability Report December 2024, Gross NPA ratio of India’s banks falls to a 12-year low of 2.6%.

About NPAs

• It refers to a classification for loans or advances of a bank that are in default or arrears.
  • A loan is in arrears when principal or an interest payment are late or missed and becomes an NPA when interest and/ or instalment of principal remain overdue for more than 90 days.
• GNPAs are the sum of all loan assets that are classified as NPAs.