Blue Hole
Researchers found evidence that Taam Ja’ Blue Hole is the deepest in the world.
- Located in – Mexico’s Chetumal Bay, on the eastern side of the Yucatán Peninsula.
- Blue hole – Water-filled caverns that form below the seafloor.
- Often found in – Coastal areas where the bedrock is prone to erosion.
- Formation – Develop as ocean water seeps through cracks, dissolving minerals as they go, leading to sinkholes and over time, they can grow quite large.
- Other Prominent Blue Holes – Dragon Hole in the South China Sea, Great Blue Hole near Belize and the Dahab Blue Hole (Egypt).
Passive funds
Securities and Exchange Board of India has raised the investment limit for passive funds in companies belonging to the sponsor group from 25% to 35% of their total assets.
- Funds which invest in a particular Index in a similar proportion to generate returns similar to the Index.
- Benefits – Help in accurate reflection of the index’s performance in the fund, can provide wider investment options, etc.
- Examples – Index Funds and Exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
Cultural Significance of Marriage
Supreme Court in a case highlight the cultural and legal significance of wedding ceremonies in Indian society.
- The judgment emphasised that simply registering a marriage without the performance of the rites does not confer upon it the legitimacy of a Hindu marriage under the law.
- Hindu Marriage Act, of 1955, solemnly acknowledges both the material and spiritual aspects of this event in the married couple’s lives.
SMART system (Supersonic Missile-Assisted Release of Torpedo)
SMART system was successfully flight-tested from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.
- Next-generation missile-based light-weight torpedo delivery system.
- Torpedo – Type of missile or bomb fired underwater.
- Developed by – Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- Features –
- It is a canister-based missile system and is equipped with parachute-based release system.
- It consists of advanced sub-systems like 2-stage solid propulsion system, electromechanical actuator system, etc.
Quarks
Scientists have reported that the inside of most massive neutron stars is most likely made of quark matter.
- Elementary particles that are not made up of any other particles, like the electron
- These can’t exist in isolation.
- Can only be found in clumps (groups) of 2 or 3 and such clumps of quarks are called hadrons.
- A quark’s antiquark clump is called a meson.
- 6 types of quarks – Up, down, top, bottom, strange, and charm.