Instrument on NASA''s Parker Solar Probe switches off unexpectedly

• It was launched in 2018 and will travel through the sun’s atmosphere, closer to the surface than any spacecraft before it.
• In order to unlock the mysteries of the sun’s atmosphere this will use Venus’ gravity during seven flybys over nearly seven years to gradually bring its orbit closer to the sun.

Parker Solar Probe

• Trace the flow of energy that heats and accelerates the solar corona and solar wind.
• Determine the structure and dynamics of the plasma and magnetic fields at the sources of the solar wind.
• Explore mechanisms that accelerate and transport energetic particles.

Researchers discover a treasure trove of biodiversity in the foothills of Rajgad Fort

• Rajgad Fort, also known as the Ruling Fort, was the capital of the Maratha Empire under the rule of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj for almost 26 years, after which the capital was moved to the Raigad Fort.
• Location:
  • It is a hill fort situated in the Pune district of Maharashtra.
  • It is located in the Sahyadri mountain ranges at an elevation of 1**,395 meters above sea level.**
• Features:
  • It comprises three terraces (machis) and a citadel (Balekilla).
  • There are four gates called Gunjavane, Pali, Alu, and Kaleshwari or Dindi gate.
  • The diameter of the base of the fort was about 40 km (25 mi) which made it difficult to lay siege on it, which added to its strategic value.
  • The fort’s ruins consist of palaces, water cisterns, and caves.
  • Rajgad boasts the highest number of days stayed by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on any fort.
• The Rajgad Fort was also one of the 17 forts Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj kept when he signed the Treaty of Purandar in 1665 with the Mughal general Jai Singh I, leader of the Mughal forces.
• Apart from the Maratha empire, Rajgad Fort has been a part of the Adilshahi dynasty, Nizamshahi dynasty, Mughal empire, and others. After everyone else, the British empire owned the fort.

''Momentum 2.0'': DMRC set to release India''s 1st virtual shopping & recharge metro app

• It is India’s first virtual shopping app for the metro.
• It is launched by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).
• Features:
  • It will allow customers to make payments and schedule services, including those for last-mile connections.
  • It will also contain features such as rapid recharge of Delhi Metro''s smart cards and smart payment choices for other utility services.
  • The app would also allow users to have digital lockers at metro stations.
  • Commuters can use this app to find bikes, e-rickshaws, cabs, and the schedules of feeder buses and cluster bus routes from Delhi Metro stations.
  • The app will also provide complete information on metro station infrastructure, such as the location and condition of gates, lifts, escalators, platforms, train scheduling, coach occupancy, and space availability.
  • The app will also provide information on shops, outlets, kiosks, and ATMs located at the stations.

GST Council rejects Odisha’s demand for tax exemption on kendu leaf

• Kendu leaf is called the green gold of Odisha.
• It is a nationalized product like Bamboo and Sal seed.
• It is one of the most important non-wood forest products of Odisha.
• It is also referred to as tendu leaf in some parts of the country and is used to roll tobacco into bidis (local cigarettes).
• Production:
  • The states producing kendu leaves in India comprise mainly Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.
  • Odisha is the third-largest producer of kendu leaf after Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

ADT-52 crop variety withstands rain impact, IVAR-KVK experts affirm after test

• ADT 52, which stands for ‘Aduthurai 52’, is a long-duration paddy variety.
• Plant type: Medium tall and non-lodging.
• Grain Yield: 4902 Kg/ha.
• Duration: It takes at least 150 days to grow.
• Grain type: Medium slender, translucent rice with high milling (67.1%)
• It gives a high yield and can withstand the impact of unseasonal rains.
• It is resistant to gall midge and moderately resistant to leaf blast, neck blast, grain discoloration, and bacterial leaf blight.
• The Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute (TRRI) in Aduthuuurai launched the ADT 52 variety in 2018.

India-Uzbekistan biennial military training Exercise DUSTLIK 2023 to begin in Uttarakhand today

• It is a military-to-military exchange program between the Indian Army and Uzbekistan
• It is the fourth edition of the biennial training Exercise.
• The Indian contingent will be represented by the 14th Battalion, The GARHWAL RIFLES, part of Western Command in this bilateral exercise.
• The Uzbekistan Army will be represented by troops of the North Western Military District of Uzbekistan Army.
• This joint exercise is aimed at enhancing military capability to undertake multi-domain operations in a Sub Conventional scenario under United Nations Mandate.

Retailers, wholesalers top MSME registrations on Udyam portal

• It is the only Government Portal for the registration of MSMEs.
• It was launched by Union MSME Ministry in 2020.
• It provides free-of-cost and paperless MSME registration.
• Who is eligible for MSME registration?
  • All entities classified as Micro, Small, and Medium enterprises as per the MSME classification are eligible to apply for MSME registration.
  • An individual cannot apply for MSME registration.
  • A proprietorship, partnership firm, company, trust, or society with an investment below Rs.50 crore and annual turnover below Rs.250 crore is eligible for MSME registration.
  • The portal provides instructions for the registration process. No enterprise shall have more than one Udyam Registration.
• This portal is also integrated with the Central Board of Direct Tax (CBDT) and Goods and Services Tax (GST) networks.

MSMEs

• The Indian Government has modified the definition of MSMEs under the Atmanirbhar Package announced in the year 2020 to increase the number of enterprises eligible for being classified as micro, small and medium enterprises. As per the new definition,
  • An enterprise is classified as a “micro” enterprise when its investments do not exceed Rs. 1 crore while its annual turnovers remain below Rs. 5 crore.
  • An enterprise is considered “small” when its investments range between Rs.1 crore to Rs.10 crore while its annual turnover ranges between 5 crore to Rs 50 crore.
  • An enterprise is considered a “medium” when its investments range between Rs.10 crore to Rs.50 crore, while its annual turnover ranges between Rs. 50 crores to Rs 250 crores

Bihar to increase population of greater one-horned Rhinos by 3% annually

• Valmiki Tiger Reserve forms the easternmost limit of the Himalayan Terai forests in India,
• It is the only tiger reserve of Bihar which is situated in the Gangetic Plains bio-geographic zone of the country,
• The forest of this region has a combination of bhabar and terai tracts.
• Rivers Gandak(west of VTR), Pandai, Manor, Harha, Masan and Bhapsa flow through various parts of the reserve.
• Flora: The vegetation types include mainly Moist mixed deciduous, Open-land vegetation, Sub-mountainous semi-evergreen formation, Freshwater swamps, Riparian fringes, Alluvial grasslands, high hill savannah and Wetlands.

Migratory bird arrivals at Punjab''s Harike wetland decline this season, latest census shows

• Harike Wildlife Sanctuary also locally known as "Hari-ke-Pattan" is one of the largest wetlands in northern India.
• It is situated at the confluence of two major rivers of Punjab Sutlej and Beas.
• Harike wetland came into existence in 1953 due to the construction of a barrage on River Sutlej.
• It has been designated as one of the Ramsar sites in India.
• This is a man-made, riverine wetland spreads across three districts of Punjab e., Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Kapurthala.

Digital competition law panel to hold first meeting on February 22

• The Government of India has constituted a committee to study the requirement of the digital competition law and give suggestions regarding competition norms.
• The panel will be headed by the secretary of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA).
• Committee Members: It is a 16-member committee of union secretaries, law experts, and industry stakeholders.
• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) will provide secretarial and research assistance and logistic support to the panel.
• Functions of the Panel: Review whether the Competition Act, 2002, and the rules framed under it are sufficient to deal with challenges posed by the digital economy.

Competition Commission of India:

• The Competition Commission of India has been established to enforce the competition law under the Competition Act of 2002.
• The Commission consists of a Chairperson and not more than 6 Members appointed by the Central Government.
• It works as a quasi-judicial body.
• Nodal Ministry: The Ministry of Corporate Affairs