26.02.25

Discovery: An Indian-origin astrophysicist, Raga Deepika Pucha, led a team that discovered the largest samples of intermediate-mass black holes and dwarf galaxies with active black holes.

Significance: This discovery offers a deeper understanding of dwarf galaxy evolution and black hole growth, potentially revealing insights into the formation of early black holes and their role in the universe.

Dwarf Galaxies: They are small galaxies, typically containing a few billion stars, and are the most abundant type in the universe. They are often found in galaxy clusters or orbiting larger galaxies like our Milky Way.

Challenge: Dwarf galaxies are hard to detect due to their low luminosity, mass, and small size. Finding black holes in them is even more difficult.

Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN): When a black hole feeds, it releases energy, forming an AGN, which acts as a “beacon” to identify hidden black holes in dwarf galaxies.

Method: The team used early data from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), a state-of-the-art instrument that can capture light from 5,000 galaxies simultaneously.

Results: The team identified 2,500 candidate dwarf galaxies with AGN, a significantly higher fraction than previous studies, suggesting many undiscovered black holes exist.

DESI Project: This is an international collaboration surveying 40 million galaxies and quasars.

High-Profile Visit: Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and heads of missions from 61 countries visited Kaziranga National Park on Monday, February 24, 2025, experiencing elephant and jeep safaris.

Significance of the Visit: The visit aimed to showcase Assam’s natural beauty and promote tourism and investment in the northeastern region. The Minister hopes to increase Assam’s international profile.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Kaziranga is a UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for its one-horned rhinoceros population and diverse flora and fauna.

Rich Biodiversity: The park is home to various endangered species, including the one-horned rhinoceros, tigers, and elephants, thriving in its grasslands, wetlands, and forests.

Positive Tourist Trends: Over three lakh tourists have visited Kaziranga this season, indicating growing interest in the park.

Advantage Assam 2.0: The envoys’ visit is linked to the Advantage Assam 2.0 Infrastructure and Investment Summit, with some envoys attending the summit.

River Diffalu: The River Diffalu, a tributary of the Brahmaputra, flows through Kaziranga National Park.

Location: Situated in Assam, in the Brahmaputra Valley floodplain.

• Enabled startups to
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  fulfill orders worth ₹ 35,950 Crore.
• Women entrepreneurs comprise 8% of registered sellers on GeM.
• 1,77,786 Udyam-verified women MSEs registered, with orders worth ₹46,615 Crore.

• Onboard 1 lakh Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade registered startups.
• Double the number of women entrepreneurs on the portal.
• Increase women entrepreneurs’ share in overall procurement from 3.78%.

Purpose: TRIFED’s core mission is the socio-economic upliftment of tribal communities.

• Why: It is dedicated to improving their lives and financial standing.

Function: Facilitates the marketing of tribal products, including Minor Forest Produce (MFP) and surplus agricultural produce (SAP).

• Why: This ensures fair trade and economic opportunities for tribal people.

Establishment: Established in August 1987 as a national-level cooperative body under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 1984.

• Why: Set up by the Government of India to provide a structured framework for tribal development.

Activities: Retail marketing of tribal products under the “TRIBES INDIA” brand. Also, conducts exhibitions, international fairs, and e-marketing initiatives.

• Why: Creates visibility and sustainable market access for tribal goods.

Schemes: Implements the Minimum Support Price Scheme for Minor Forest Produce.

• Why: Provides economic security and fair pricing for tribal producers.

Recent Developments: Signed MoUs with Reliance Retail, HCL Foundation, and Torajamelo Indonesia.

• Why: To promote tribal entrepreneurship and economic inclusion, broadening market reach.

Objectives: Provides training to enhance artistic skills with modern technology to meet the requirements of the global market.

• Why: Upgrades skills and facilitates access to a global market.

Palaeognath Birds Redefined: New research challenges the long-held assumption that Palaeognath birds (like emus and rheas) are “dumb.”

Innovation Demonstrated: Studies showed emus and rheas solving tasks to obtain food, indicating problem-solving abilities. Emus even developed a new technique.

Evolutionary Significance: Palaeognath birds are closely related to extinct dinosaurs, making them a crucial group for understanding avian evolution and potentially shedding light on dinosaur behavior.

What they are: Palaeognaths comprise large, flightless ratites (ostrich, emu, cassowary, rhea) and smaller, flying tinamous.

Physical Characteristics: These birds are the largest and heaviest avian specimens, distinguished by their palate morphology. They are grouped into two categories; Tinamiformes (can fly weakly) and Ratitae (cannot fly).

Research Methods: Scientists used tasks involving a rotating wheel to test the birds’ cognitive abilities at a local zoo with ostriches, emus and rheas.

Climate Change Impact: Climate change is increasing the potential for algal blooms in the River Thames, despite past efforts to reduce phosphorus levels.

Geographical Significance: The Thames is a 346-km river, the longest in England and the second longest in the UK. It flows through southern England, originating near Kemble and flowing into the North Sea via the Thames Estuary.

Key Locations: The river passes through major cities including London, Reading, Oxford (where it’s also known as the Isis), and Windsor.

Water Source: The Thames provides two-thirds of London’s drinking water.

Historical Importance: The river has been a vital transportation route since ancient times, supporting trade and commerce.

Infrastructure: There are 16 bridges in

Tributaries: Major tributaries include the Lea, Leach, Churn, Coln, Windrush, Kennet, Evenlode, Ock, and Loddon.

The Nore: The sandbank that marks the mouth of the Thames Estuary.

Basin Area: The Thames’s basin covers about 16,130 sq. km.

Focus on Community-Driven Development: AARDO emphasizes development rooted in community involvement, local knowledge, and South-South cooperation. This approach was reaffirmed at its recent conclusion.

Inter-Governmental Organization: AARDO is an autonomous body comprising African and Asian governments, established in 1962.

Objectives: AARDO aims to promote coordinated efforts, exchange experiences, and cooperative action to advance rural area development.

Membership: Open to Afro-Asian countries that are UN members or part of its specialized agencies, with 32 full and 3 associate members.

Observer Status: AARDO has observer status with key international organizations like FAO, IFAD, UNCTAD, UNESCO, and UNDP, facilitating collaboration.

Key Goals:

• Foster understanding and collaboration for sustainable agricultural and rural development.
• Collaborate with international and regional organizations, including UN agencies.
• Conduct training programs to strengthen member countries’ capacity in sustainable agriculture and rural development.
• Initiate research and studies, disseminating information.
• Provide technical and financial support for pilot projects.

FAO Link: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), with which AARDO has observer status, is a UN agency focused on defeating hunger globally.