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.
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1 sourceRecently 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.
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1 sourceIndia 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.
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.
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".
- Parliamentary privileges are certain rights and immunities enjoyed by
- 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.
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.
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1 sourcePubMed 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 Compounds: Contains terpenoids, alkaloids, lignans, and steroids.
- Benefits: Has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antidiabetic properties.
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