Researchers discovered that width of supergranular cells on solar surface during solar minimum is related to number of sunspots seen during subsequent solar cycle maximum.

• This can be helpful in forecasting space weather.

Granules and Supergranules

• Energy generated in Sun’s core is transported by convective fluid flows through convection zone (Sun’s outermost 30%). 
• These convection motions are visible at surface as granules (about 1000 km across) and supergranules (about 35,000 km across) cellular features.  
  • These features are the tops of convection cells where hot fluid rises up from interior, spreads out across the surface, cools and then sinks inward. 

10^th National Handloom Day is being celebrated on 7^th August, 2024.

About National Handloom Day

• It seeks to honour the handloom weavers and provide motivation to handloom industry.
• History: The day was chosen, to commemorate the 'Swadeshi Movement', which was launched on 7^th August 1905.
  • It aimed to boycott British goods in favour of Indian-made products, including handloom textiles.
  • First National Handloom Day was celebrated in 2015.
• Significance:
  • Handloom is India’s largest cottage industry and rural region’s second largest employment provider.  
  • 70% of weavers and allied workers are women.

• Recently, NHAI made a successful pre-payment of a Rs. 15,700 crore loan from InvIT proceeds.
  • InvIT monetization proceeds are exclusively used for NHAI debt repayment

About InvIT

• Collective Investment Scheme like mutual funds, enabling direct investment of money from individual and institutional investors in infrastructure projects to earn a portion of the income as return.
• Regulated by the SEBI (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014.
• Dividend and Interest income from InvITs is completely taxable as per the slab rate of the investor. 
• InvITs are classified as borrowers under the SARFAESI Act. 

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare recently released details of Anemia Mukt Bharat.

About AMB

• Aims to reduce anaemia in vulnerable sections of society, including women and children.
• Launched to achieve target under POSHAN Abhiyaan (2018).
• Uses 6X6X6 strategy: Six target beneficiaries, six interventions and six institutional mechanisms.
• Interventions
  • Prophylactic Iron and Folic Acid supplementation.
  • Ensuring delayed cord clamping after delivery (by 3 minutes) in health facilities.
  • Addresses non-nutritional causes of anaemia in endemic pockets, special focus on malaria, haemoglobinopathies, fluorosis.
  • Biannual mass deworming for age group 1-19 years

Directorate of Revenue Intelligence busted smuggling racket engaged in the illegal trade of dried seahorses in Bengaluru.

• Demand is primarily driven by their use in traditional medicine, gourmet cuisine, etc.

About Seahorse

• Seahorses are tiny fish with horse-shaped heads, not mammals.
• Coastal ecosystems of India are home to 9 out of the 12 species found in the Indo-Pacific.
• They are secondary consumers, not detritivores.
• Conservations Status: 
  • Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
  • CITES Appendix II

Various mining bodies applied for copper from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to be registered for delivery against London Metal Exchange contracts.

About Copper

• Properties: High malleability and ductility, excellent conductor of heat and electricity, corrosion resistant and antimicrobial.
• Top countries in Copper Production:
  • Chile is the largest producer (23% of global production) as well has the highest reserves in the world.
  • Others: Peru, DRC, Australia, Russia.
• Copper in India: 
  • Deposits: Singhbhum (Jharkhand), Balaghat (Madhya Pradesh), and Jhunjhunu and Alwar (Rajasthan)
  • Production: Khetri (Rajasthan), Ghatsila (Jharkhand), Jhagadia and Dahej (Gujarat), Tuticorin (Tamil Nadu)

A recent study revealed that de-influencing trends drive 66.17% more engagement than content from regular influencers.

About De-influencers (Reverse influencers)

• They are unique content creators who engage in critiquing products they perceive as overhyped, harmful or environmentally wasteful.
• They also advocate for more sustainable and ethical alternatives to their audience. 
• They promote transparency in marketing and counter the sole profitability approach of the influencer ecosystem.

Ministry of Textiles empowered all ginners (who operate cotton gins which separate cotton fibre from seeds) in India to produce Kasturi Cotton Bharat brand. 

• Kasturi Cotton is premium quality Cotton from India with 100% traceability & certification, utilizing blockchain technology for traceability.

About Kasturi Cotton Bharat

• Joint initiative by the Ministry of Textiles, Cotton Corporation of India, Trade Bodies & Industry. 
• Aim: To work on principle of self-regulation by owning complete responsibility of Branding, Traceability and Certification of Indian Cotton to enhance its global competitiveness and create a sustainable ecosystem.
• Implementing Agency: Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL).

Recently, a century old Indian Iris tree, on the bank of River Akhanda Godavari, collapsed.

Godavari River (Dakshin Ganga)

• Largest river of peninsular India.
• Origin: Trimbakeshwar in Nashik district, Maharashtra.
• It falls into Bay of Bengal forming a delta.
  •  It is known as Akhanda Godavari at Rajahmundry (Andhra Pradesh) before splitting into distributaries.
• Basin states: Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Puducherry.
• Major Tributaries: Pravara, Dharna, Indravati, Pranahita, Dudhna, Manjira, Sabari.
• Bounded by Satmala Hills (North), Ajanta Range and Mahadeo Hills (South), Eastern Ghats (East) and Western Ghats (West).
• Hydropower projects: Nizam Sagar, Pochampad, Polavaram etc.

'Deadliest' Mpox Virus has spread across African countries

About Mpox

• Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) is a disease caused by infection with a virus, known as Monkeypox virus (MPXV).
  • MPXV is an enveloped double-stranded DNA virus of the Orthopoxvirus genus.
• Mpox is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be spread between animals and people. 
• It is endemic, or found regularly, in parts of Central and West Africa. 
  • The virus that causes Mpox has been found in small rodents, monkeys, and other mammals that live in these areas.
• Symptoms: Skin rashes, headaches