theIASHub | 18 Apr, 2025 | 5
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Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recently conducted a raid at the residence of a senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader in connection with alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
o Transfer Ban: No transfer of foreign funds to individuals, associations, companies.
o Aadhaar Mandatory: Aadhaar/passport/OCI card required for office bearers.
o Designated Bank Account: Must receive funds via SBI branch in New Delhi.
o Admin Expenses Cut: Limit reduced from 50% to 20%.
o Renewal Checks: Government can verify authenticity before renewing licence.
o Suspension Extension: Can extend suspension beyond 180 days by another 180.
o Surrender Allowed: Certificate can be surrendered with government approval.
o Fund Restriction: Unutilised funds can be restricted post-inquiry.
o Higher Limit: Indians can receive up to ₹10 lakh/year from relatives abroad (up from ₹1 lakh) without informing govt.
Exoplanet K2-18b: Scientists, using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), have detected molecules linked to life in the atmosphere of exoplanet K2-18b, offering new clues in the search for alien life.
De-extinction of Dire wolves: Colossal Biosciences, a biotechnology company in Texas, recently announced that it had “resurrected” a dire wolf, a large predator that went extinct more than 12,000 years ago.
o Similarity: Gray wolf and dire wolf (Aenocyon dirus) genomes are 99.94% identical, i.e., 2.445 billion base pairs are the same.
o Difference: The remaining 0.06% (or 1.47 million base pairs) makes the two animals genetically distinct.
o Comparison: Humans and chimpanzees share 98.77% DNA, yet are very different — highlighting that small genetic differences are significant.
o Colossal's approach: Scientists edited the gray wolf genome and implanted embryos into surrogate dog mothers.
o Genetic edits: Edits were made at 20 loci across 14 genes to “recreate” the dire wolf.
o Estimate: These edits likely represent only 0.02% of the total genetic differences, indicating the pups are not true dire wolves.
o LCORL gene: One of the edited genes is LCORL, linked to larger size in dire wolves.
o Result: Colossal Biosciences has created gray wolves that look like dire wolves, rather than true dire wolves.
Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology: Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), in collaboration with IIT Bombay, recently launched a pilot project to assess the feasibility of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology integration with the State’s power grid to evaluate EVs' role in grid support during peak demand when solar energy is not available.
o Function: EVs act as decentralized battery storage systems via bi-directional chargers when not in use.
o Vehicle-to-Home (V2H): EVs power household devices.
o Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V): Energy transfer between EVs.
o Peak Load Reduction: EVs discharge energy during peak periods, reducing power plant stress and energy costs.
o Load Balancing: Charging EVs during off-peak hours helps stabilize daily electricity demand.
o Storage for Renewables: V2G stores surplus solar/wind power and releases it during shortfalls.
o Grid Balancing: Offers services like frequency regulation and voltage support.
Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD): Union Environment Ministry is being urged to roll back its 2015 policy mandating all of India’s 537 coal-fired plants to install Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) equipment to reduce sulphur dioxide (SO₂) emissions.
o Flue gas is the emitted material produced when fossil fuels such as coal, oil, natural gas, or wood are burned for heat or power.
o FGD process involves the addition of absorbents, which can remove up to 95% of the sulphur dioxide from the flue gas.
o Absorbents such as ammonia or sodium sulphite are used; however, the use of lime or limestone slurry (wet limestone scrubbing) is also widespread.
o Uncleaned flue gas is sprayed in a scrubber tower (absorber tower) with a mixture of water and limestone (scrubbing slurry), whereby most of the sulphur dioxide is bonded by chemical reaction.
o Acid rain can kill insect and aquatic life forms, cause paint to peel, corrosion of steel structures such as bridges, and weathering of stone buildings and statues.
International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA): Recently, the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) signed an agreement with the Central Government, officially designating India as the headquarters and secretariat of the alliance.
UGRAM: Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has recently extended financial support to manufacture & develop the fully indigenous UGRAM assault rifle.
o Indigenous Development: 100% design, material selection, manufacturing, and testing have been done domestically, approved by ARDE, DRDO.
Long-stroke piston mechanism is used for enhanced reliability.o High-strength steel is used in all pressure-bearing parts. High-grade nylon-based handguard, pistol grip, and buttstock are used.
o Features include ambidextrous magazine release and side-mounted cocking handle. It has an effective range of 500 metres. It weighs less than four kilograms.
o The rifle has a 20-round magazine and fires in robust full-auto mode. The rifle is more ferocious than 5.62 mm calibre rifles like INSAS.
Arsenic Concentrations in Rice: As per the recent study published in Lancet Planetary Health links climate change to increased arsenic levels in rice.
o Soil chemistry shifts under climate change promote arsenic absorption by rice plants.
o Health risk models considered population size, rice consumption, and flood-irrigated farmland across 7 Asian nations – Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
o Rising arsenic could increase risks of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other arsenic-related health problems by 2050.
o Flooded rice fields allow plants to absorb arsenic from water, worsening the impact under climate change.
o Inorganic arsenic in rice can cause cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and other chronic health issues.
Microplastics & Nanoplastics: As per the recent study, microplastics and nanoplastics are absorbed by plant leaves, entering the food chain through herbivores and crops consumed by humans.
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