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Interstellar Dust Grain | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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Posted 04 Sep 2025

7 min read

Interstellar Dust Grain

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.
  • Tags :
  • Interstellar Dust Grain
  • Star Formation

Operation Black Forest

'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.
  • Tags :
  • Operation Black Forest
  • Naxal mission

Nalanda University

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.
  • Tags :
  • Nalanda
  • Gupta dynasty

Equity Derivatives

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.
  • Tags :
  • SEBI
  • Equity Derivatives

Indian Rosewood (or Dalbergia latifolia)

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)
  • Tags :
  • Indian Rosewood
  • Deciduous Tree

Coffee

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.
  • Tags :
  • Coffee
  • Arabica

Vultures

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.
  • Tags :
  • Vultures
  • Vulture Conservation
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