UPSC Current Centre "Newspaper Editorial and PIB"

⏩ Bridgeoporus kanadii is a newly discovered, massive wood-rotting fungus found in the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. It is notable for having fruiting bodies over three meters in radius, strong enough to hold human weight, and for its role in decomposing dead fir trees to aid forest regeneration. Named after Indian mycologist Kanad Das, it is the second known species in the Bridgeoporus genus, nearly doubling the size of the North American B. nobilissimus. Vajiram & Ravi Vajiram & Ravi +6 Key Facts for UPSC: Discovery: Identified by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) in 2025 in the subtropical temperate forests of Arunachal Pradesh. Habitat: Primarily grows on dying or dead Abies (fir) trees, acting as a crucial decomposer.

Natural Isotopes of Uranium 🌍 These isotopes are found in nature, mostly in the Earth's crust as uranium ore (uraninite). Uranium-238 ($^{238}$U): Abundance: ~99.27% (most common). Classification: Fertile material. It cannot maintain a chain reaction with thermal neutrons, but it absorbs neutrons to produce fissile Plutonium-239 (Pu). ⚛️ Half-life: ~4.46 billion years. Uranium-235 ($^{235}$U): Abundance: ~0.72%. Classification: Fissile material. It is the only isotope existing in nature in appreciable amounts that sustains a thermal chain reaction. 🔥 Half-life: ~700 million years. Uranium-234 ($^{234}$U): Abundance: ~0.0055% (trace amounts). Classification: Radioactive daughter product. It is formed by the alpha decay of U in the natural decay series. Half-life: ~245,000 years. 2. Artificial/Reactor-Produced Isotopes 🏭 These are created inside nuclear reactors through neutron irradiation. Uranium-233 ($^{233}$U): Source: Produced from thorium-232 (Th) in breeder reactors. Classification: Fissile material (can sustain a chain reaction), often used in future-generation thorium reactors. Uranium-236 ($^{236}$U): Source: Formed in nuclear reactors when U absorbs a neutron without fissioning. Classification: Neutron absorber; presence indicates reprocessed fuel. ♻️

6 years of Operation Randori behak 💔💐

❇️Ban on Non-Deliverable Rupee (NDR) Contracts • What it is: A derivative where the profit/loss is settled in cash (usually USD) rather than the physical delivery of the Rupee. • UPSC Perspective: By banning these for both residents and non-residents, RBI is reducing "synthetic" speculation. When the Rupee is weak, speculators use NDRs to short the currency, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy of further depreciation. • Deliverable vs. Non-Deliverable: RBI now mandates that contracts must be deliverable and backed by "genuine hedging requirements" (e.g., an actual importer needing to pay for oil). B. Cap on Net Open Position (NOP) at $100 Million • Shift in Policy: Previously, banks could hold positions up to 25% of their Tier-1 Capital. Now, RBI has imposed a flat absolute limit of $100 million. • Impact: Large banks (both domestic and foreign) that previously held positions worth $1 billion or more must now "unwind" (sell) their dollar holdings by April 10, 2026. This forced selling of dollars and buying of rupees provides immediate support to the INR exchange rate. C. Ban on "Related Party" Transactions & Rebooking • Integrity of Markets: By aligning with Ind AS 24, RBI is preventing banks from hiding speculative positions through sister concerns or subsidiaries. • No Rebooking: Once a contract is cancelled, it cannot be rebooked. This prevents "rolling over" speculative bets to avoid booking losses.