Read Current Affairs
- Why in News?
- In recent months, banks have significantly reduced the issuance of Certificates of Deposit (CDs), prompting mutual funds to diversify into other money market options like treasury bills and commercial papers to deploy short-term funds.
- About Certificate of Deposit (CD):
- A CD is a fixed-income instrument regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and issued only in dematerialized form. It represents a short-term agreement between depositors and banks, where the bank pays interest for a fixed period. Commercial banks can issue CDs with maturity ranging from 7 days to 1 year, while financial institutions may issue them for 1–3 years.
- The minimum denomination is ₹1 lakh and multiples thereof. CDs are available to individuals, companies, funds, and even NRIs (on a non-repatriable basis). They are issued at a discount or floating rates and provide higher returns than savings accounts. Although tradable in demat form, CDs cannot be used as collateral, repurchased before maturity, or publicly traded.
- Why in News?
- The National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow, has achieved a major milestone by successfully cultivating the exotic flower Eustoma, native to Mexico and America, in Odisha after earlier trials on its campus. This marks a step forward in diversifying ornamental plant cultivation in India.
- About NBRI:
- NBRI is a premier plant science research institute under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), located in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Established originally as the National Botanic Gardens in 1953 and renamed in 1978, it conducts advanced research in plant diversity, biotechnology, ecology, and genetic improvement. The institute maintains a 25-hectare botanical garden housing around 5,000 plant species, along with a herbarium containing over 2.5 lakh specimens. NBRI also serves as a national repository of Indian flora under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. Recognized internationally, it provides expertise in conservation, plant-based technologies, herbal product development, and supports global biodiversity initiatives.
- Why in News?
- A recent peer-reviewed study has shed light on sarcoidosis, offering insights into its unpredictable course and the factors that determine disease severity.
- About Sarcoidosis:
- Sarcoidosis is an immune-related disorder where the body forms small clumps of inflammatory cells called granulomas. These nodules, made up of white blood cells surrounded by fibrous tissue, are most commonly found in the lungs and lymph nodes, but can also affect the skin, eyes, heart, and other organs.
- Causes & Triggers:
- The exact cause remains unknown, though a combination of genetic susceptibility and environmental triggers—such as bacteria, viruses, dust, or chemicals—appears likely. The immune system overreacts to such triggers, resulting in persistent inflammation.
- Symptoms & Outlook:
- Sarcoidosis can cause cough, breathlessness, skin rashes, or eye irritation, though some patients remain asymptomatic. While many cases resolve spontaneously, others become chronic and may progress to fibrosis, leading to permanent lung damage.
- Treatment:
- There is no cure, but immunosuppressive therapies help manage severe or persistent cases.