Prime Minister highlighted that the Indian coffee is gaining popularity globally.
About Coffee
- India is now the seventh-largest coffee producer globally and 70% of coffee produced is being exported, earning $1.80 billion during 2024–25.
- Key Coffee Growing Regions: Karnataka (Chikmagalur, Coorg and Hassan); Tamil Nadu (Pulney, Shevaroy, Nilgiri and Annamalai); Kerala (Wayanad, Travancore and Malabar).
- Soils: Deep, Fertile, rich in organic matter, well- drained and slightly acidic (PH 6.0-6.5)
- Growing Conditions: Gentle to moderate slopes with temperature of 15-30 0C, and annual rainfall of 1000-2500 mm.
- Types: Robusta and Arabica.
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1 sourceGovernment announced Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2025, highest recognition for outstanding and inspiring contributions by scientists, technologists, and innovators in diverse fields of science, technology, and technology-led innovation.
About Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar
- Conferred under four categories:
- Vigyan Ratna (VR) (lifetime achievements & contributions in any field of science and technology),
- Vigyan Shri (VS) to recognize distinguished contributions in any field of science and technology
- Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB) for recognizing & encouraging young scientists
- Vigyan Team (VT) for exceptional team work in science and technology.
- Prof. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar (Physics) was awarded Vigyan Ratna (VR) Posthumously.
- He co-developed Hoyle–Narlikar theory of gravity – an alternative to Einstein’s general relativity and a counterpoint to the widely accepted Big Bang model.
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1 sourceProposal to redraw the boundaries of Karakoram and Changthang sanctuaries in Ladakh has been received by the Central government.
About Karakoram WLS
- Established in 1987.
- Location: Karakoram range, Ladakh.
- Fauna: Snow leopard, Himalayan brown bear, Himalayan wolf, ibex (Wild goat), wild blue sheep (Bharal), etc.
- Flora: Alpine vegetation, medicinal plants, cold desert flora etc.
About Changthang WLS
- Location: Ladakhi Changthang plateau, Leh district.
- Significance: Home to highest altitude water lakes, namely, Tso Moriri, Pangong Tso and Tso Kar.
- Fauna: Snow Leopard, Tibetan Wild Ass, Dark-necked crane, etc.
Prime Minister urged citizens to make the 150th year of the National Song memorable by carrying forward its values for future generations.
About National Song (Vande Mataram)
- Composition: In Sanskrit by Bankimchandra Chatterjee.
- The song was a part of Bankimchandra's most famous novel Anand Math (1882).
- It shares an equal Status with Jana-Gana-Mana (National Anthem).
- First Sung: At the 1896 session (Calcutta) of the Indian National Congress by Rabindranath Tagore.
- Adopted on: 24 January 1950 by the Constituent Assembly of India as the National Song of India.
Subansiri Lower HEP undergoes test run.
About Subansiri Lower HEP
- Run of River scheme with small Pondage on river Subansiri (Tributary of Brahmaputra).
- Location: Near North Lakhimpur on the border of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
- Execution By: NHPC (National Hydroelectric Power Corporation) Limited.
Recent studies suggests that dark matter could explain the mysterious gamma-ray glow at the Milky Way’s centre.
About Dark Matter
- Meaning: It is regarded as the invisible glue that holds the universe together, making up most of the mass in galaxies and galaxy clusters.
- Unlike normal matter, it does not interact with electromagnetic force, i.e., neither absorb, reflect or emit light, making it extremely hard to spot.
- Scientists estimate that dark matter makes up about 27% of the Universe.
- Significance: It is believed to shape the cosmos, organize galaxies and cosmic objects on a large scale.
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1 sourceInternational Monetary Fund (IMF) recently released the Global Finance Stability Report (GFSR), April 2025.
About GFSR
- Purpose: Provide a regular assessment of global financial markets and identify potential systemic weaknesses before they lead to crises.
- Key Findings
- Tightened Global Financial Conditions: Have caused significant increase in the Global financial stability risks.
- Role of Major geopolitical risk events: Especially military conflicts, can lead to substantial decline in stock prices and increases in sovereign risk premiums.
- Other Key Reports by IMF: World Economic Outlook, Fiscal Monitor.