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Posted 15 Apr 2024

8 min read

Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI)

FSSAI has clarified that currently there are no standards for the term “health drink” in the country.

About FSSAI
- Established: Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
- Ministry: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- Role: Laying down science-based standards for articles of food and regulating their manufacture, store, distribution, and sale.
- Organizational Structure: It consists of a Chair person appointed by the Centre along with twenty-two members out of which one-third shall be women

India Post opened a post office at its Bharati station in Antarctica.
The inauguration coincided with the 24th Foundation Day of the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa.
Earlier, IP had set up post offices at Dakshin Gangotri Station in 1984 and another at Maitri Station in 1990.

About IP/department of post
- It comes under the Ministry of Communications.
- With more than 1,55,000 post offices, it has the most widely distributed postal network in the world.

The government simplified the payment mechanism for pulses import from Myanmar through the utilization of Vostro Accounts

About Vostro Account
- A Vostro account is a bank account that other foreign banks hold with “our” bank in the domestic currency i.e rupees.
- SRVA is an additional arrangement to the existing system that uses freely convertible currencies and works as a complimentary system.
- Prior RBI approval is required for opening of SRVA
- These accounts reduce the need for holding foreign exchange reserves and dependence on foreign currencies for bilateral transactions.

Rising input costs have made the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) segment to adopt shrinkflation.

About Shrinkflation
- It is the practice of reducing the size of a product while maintaining its current retail price. e.g., reducing the number of biscuits or chips in a packet for the same price.
- It is a form of hidden inflation, which companies adopt to reduce customers' flee due to price rise.
- Causes: Higher production cost, intense market competition, etc.

Researchers have uncovered a vast reservoir of water, dubbed the "Ringwoodite ocean," concealed within the Earth's mantle, over 700 kilometers beneath the surface.
- "Ringwoodite Ocean" is a vast reservoir of water trapped within the mineral ringwoodite in the Earth's mantle.

About Ringwoodite
- It is a vivid blue mineral formed under high temperatures and pressures in Earth's mantle.
- It is one of the most typical high-pressure mineral in meteorites.
- Named after Australian earth scientist Alfred E. Ringwood who studied polymorphic phase transitions in common mantle minerals, olivine and pyroxene.

Climate experts voiced concerns regarding SBTi’s decision allowing companies to offset greenhouse gas emissions from their value chain.
SBTi is a corporate climate action organization that enables companies and financial institutions worldwide to combat the climate crisis.
It develops standards, tools, and guidance to meet corporate climate targets.

It is Incorporated as a charity, SBTi’s partners include,
- Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)
- United Nations Global Compact,
- We Mean Business Coalition,
- World Resources Institute (WRI), and
- World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

Indian Army and Indian Air Force marked 40th year of its presence on strategically-significant Siachen glacier under Operation Meghdoot.
- Operation Meghdoot was launched on 13 April 1984, when Indian Army and Indian Air Force (IAF) advanced to Siachen to secure heights dominating Northern Ladakh.

About Siachen Glacier
- Located at the height of 20,000 feet, in the Eastern Karakoram Range of the Himalayas.
- It is the second longest (75KM) non-polar glacier in the world, after Fedchenko Glacier in Tajikistan.
- Nubra river originates from the Siachen glacier.
- It is the highest militarized zone in the world.

About Ashwagandha
- It is an evergreen shrub found in parts of India, Africa, and the Middle East.
- Used as a medicinal plant, especially in traditional Ayurvedic medicine.
- Contains several bioactive compounds, including withanolides, which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
- Its supplements are often promoted for stress and anxiety, sleep, male infertility, athletic performance, etc.