UPSC Prelims Facts – 22 February 2024

UPSC Prelims Facts

IREDA has indicated plans for establishing a subsidiary to cater to retail projects

  • IREDA – Mini Ratna (Category – I) Public Limited Government Company established as a Non-Banking Financial Institution in 1987.
  • Ministry – Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
  • Objective – Promoting and extending financial assistance for setting up projects relating to new and renewable energy sources
  • Motto – “Energy for Ever.”
  • Registered and Corporate office – New Delhi

India has contributed $ 1 Mn to the IBSA Fund.

  • Established by – India, Brazil and South Africa in 2004 and became operational in 2006.
  • Aim – To support projects in Global South to achieve their national priorities, as well as all other internationally agreed development goals.
  • IBSA Forum – comprises India, Brazil and South Africa

An international team of scientists studied a transient X-ray binary system named MAXI J1820+070, using AstroSat’s full multi-wavelength capabilities.

  • X-ray Binary Stars – Special class of binary stars which emit X-rays.
  • Binary star systems –
    • Contain 2 stars that orbit around their common centre of mass.
    • Made up of a normal star and a collapsed star (a white dwarf, neutron star, or black hole).
  • AstroSat –1st dedicated Indian astronomy mission to study celestial sources in X-ray, optical and UV spectral bands simultaneously

Track laying work has commenced on the Chenab railway bridge recently.

  • Location – Jammu and Kahmir
  • Also known as – Chenab Arch Bridge
  • Significance – Highest railway bridge in the world
  • Other Features –
    • Designed to withstand Zone-V earthquakes and high-intensity blasts
    • Forms a crucial link from Katra to Banihal, which is part of Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project

Researchers who have studied how wheat blast will spread in the future found the fungal disease could reduce global wheat production by 13% until 2050.

  • Caused by- Plant fungus Magnaporthe oryzae
  • Spreads through – Infected seeds and crop residues
  • Thrives in – Warm and humid conditions
  • Effects – Bleaching of the heads, Discoloured stems and leaves, Dark grey spores
  • First reported in – Brazil

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