Battery Aadhaar
Recently, Battery Aadhaar Initiative was launched under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) at the Battery Summit 2025.
- Proposed under India’s e-Mobility R&D Roadmap, it assigns a 16-digit Aadhaar number to batteries for tracking their lifecycle.
- Objective: Ensures digital records of battery composition, usage history, and end-of-life management to streamline recycling.
- Environmental Impact: Helps in efficient recycling, reducing electronic waste and improving sustainability.
- Global Comparison: Similar to Germany’s Battery Passport, which tracks battery materials for eco-friendly disposal.
Dark Factories
Recently, the TCS Chairman highlighted the future prospects of rise of ‘dark factories’ in IT and business services
- Fully autonomous manufacturing units that operate without human intervention, relying on AI, robotics, and IoT.
- Efficiency: Enables 24/7 production, reducing labor costs and improving precision in manufacturing.
- Global Trends: China leads in dark factories, integrating them into its Made in China 2025 strategy.
- Challenges: Raises concerns over job displacement, ethical AI use, and energy consumption.
Kalanamak Rice
The Uttar Pradesh government plans to export Kalanamak rice; also known as ‘Buddha rice’ to countries with majority Buddhist populations.
- Historical Significance: A traditional aromatic rice variety, believed to be a gift from Lord Buddha to the people of Sravasti.
- Geographical Indication (GI) Tag: Protected under the GI system, grown in Uttar Pradesh’s Terai region and Nepal.
- Nutritional Benefits: Rich in antioxidants, zinc, and iron, helps prevent Alzheimer’s disease and cardiovascular issues.
- Agricultural Development: New dwarf varieties developed by IARI to increase yield and reduce lodging issues.
Bow Echo
The intense storm that hit Delhi recently took an unusual shape resembling a crescent or an archer’s bow, called “bow echoes”.
- A crescent-shaped storm system seen on weather radar, associated with severe thunderstorms.
- Formation: Created when rain-cooled air spreads out, pushing warm air upward, leading to new storm formations.
- Impact: Produces strong straight-line winds, sometimes exceeding 100 km/h, causing damage to infrastructure.
- Relation to Derechos: Bow echoes can evolve into long-lasting windstorms known as derechos, which cause widespread destruction.
Kumbakonam Vetrilai
The Kumbakonam vetrilai or betel leaf or paan leaf was recently granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Government of India, recognising its regional uniqueness and cultural significance.
- Geographical Indication (GI) Tag: Recently granted GI status, cultivated in Thanjavur’s Cauvery river basin.
- Cultivation Areas: Grown in Kumbakonam, Ayyampettai, Swamimalai, Rajagiri, and surrounding villages.
- Economic Importance: Used in paan preparation, exported internationally, and priced between ₹80–₹180 per 100 leaves.
- Health Benefits: Rich in antioxidants, aids digestion, and has anti-inflammatory properties, beneficial for diabetes management