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1. The "wagh nakh," a wartime weapon used by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has been transported to Mumbai from London's Victoria and Albert Museum on a three-year loan. This medieval dagger, equipped with curved blades for personal defense or stealth attacks, was famously used by Shivaji to kill Bijapur general Afzal Khan. Born on February 19, 1630, in Pune District, Maharashtra, Shivaji fought key battles like Pratapgad and Sinhagad. He adopted titles such as Chhatrapati and Kshatriya Kulavantas and established a centralized administration with the Ashtapradhan council. He reformed revenue administration by abolishing the Jagirdari System and implementing the Ryotwari System. Shivaji died in Raigad in 1680.
2. A recent study revealed that Florida carpenter ants (Camponotus floridanus) perform life-saving surgeries on injured nestmates, enhancing their survival chances. These ants decide whether to amputate or clean the wound based on the injury's location. Amputations are performed for injuries higher up the leg (femur), while cleaning is done for lower leg injuries (tibia). Ants have hemolymph, a bluish-greenish fluid that slows flow during higher leg injuries, facilitating effective amputations. This sophisticated medical behavior is considered the most advanced in the animal kingdom, rivaling human medical practices. Florida carpenter ants, reddish-brown and over 1.5 cm long, are found in the southeastern US. They nest in rotting wood and defend against rival ant colonies.
3. Carlos Alcaraz of Spain recently triumphed over Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in the men’s singles Wimbledon final, securing his 4th Grand Slam title and becoming the youngest player to achieve this milestone before age 22. This victory highlights a generational shift in men’s tennis, with Alcaraz and Italy’s Jannik Sinner winning 4 of the last 5 Grand Slams, challenging the long-standing dominance of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic. The term "Grand Slam" refers to winning all four major tennis championships (Australia, France, Wimbledon, and the US) in a single calendar season, a feat accomplished six times by five players, starting with Don Budge in 1938.
4. According to data from the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in June 2024, the area under paddy cultivation is only 2.27 million hectares, the smallest in the past decade except for 2015's drought year. Historically, the area under paddy was 3.90 mha in 2016 and 3.89 mha in 2017, fluctuating between 3.60 mha and 2.69 mha since then. Reasons for this decline include changing rainfall patterns and erratic monsoon rains, with June 2024 experiencing an 11% rainfall deficit, making the month unsuitable for Kharif sowing. Paddy requires continuous flooding for two weeks, and a dry June affects soil moisture necessary for agriculture. Analysis shows 62% of districts experienced decreased June rainfall from 1988-2018. Kharif crops, sown in the rainy season starting in June, include paddy, maize, millets, pulses, oilseeds, cotton, and sugarcane, accounting for 55% of India's foodgrain production. The Union Cabinet raised the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy by 5.35% to Rs. 2,300 per quintal for 2024-25, aligning with the policy of keeping MSPs at least 1.5 times above production costs.
5. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed a new asset class aimed at providing investors with a regulated investment product featuring higher risk-taking capabilities. This new class, with a minimum investment threshold of Rs 10 lakh per investor, will have a distinct name to differentiate it from existing products like Mutual Funds (MFs) and Portfolio Management Services (PMS). Permitted investment strategies include long-short equity funds and inverse ETFs, with options for systematic plans. Eligible Asset Management Companies (AMCs) must meet specific criteria, either through existing operations or by appointing experienced fund managers. The new asset class aims to bridge the gap between MFs and PMS, offering higher ticket size investments and strengthening the role of established MFs. SEBI, a statutory body since 1992, regulates the securities market to protect investors' interests.
6. Chhattisgarh-based Coal India Limited (CIL) subsidiary South Eastern Coalfields Limited’s (SECL) Gevra and Kusmunda coal mines have secured the 2nd and 4th spots respectively in the world's 10 largest coal mines list by WorldAtlas.com. Located in Korba district, these mines produce over 100 million tons of coal annually, accounting for about 10% of India’s total coal production. Gevra, the largest coal mine in India, produced 59 million tons in FY 23-24, while Kusmunda produced over 50 million tons. These mines utilize advanced, eco-friendly mining technologies, including "Surface Miners" and large HEMMs for overburden removal without blasting. CIL, a Maharatna company established in 1975, operates under the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act of 1973 and is the world’s largest coal producer.