Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA)
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
IBSA facility for poverty and hunger alleviation (IBSA Fund)
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
X-Ray Binary Stars
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
Chenab Railway Bridge
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
Wheat Blast
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