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- Veeranam Lake, a significant water reservoir serving Chennai, is situated in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu.
- With a length spanning 14 kilometers, Veeranam Lake was renowned as one of the world's longest artificial lakes.
- The primary source of Veeranam Lake is the Kollidam River, the northern distributary of the Cauvery River, interconnected with the Vadavaru River linking both Veeranam and Kollidam.
- Constructed between 907 and 955 AD, the credit for building Veeranam Lake goes to Chola Prince Rajaditya Chola, who named the reservoir after his father's title, Veeranarayanan.
- Veeranam Lake holds historical significance and is prominently featured in Kalki's acclaimed historical novel, "Ponniyin Selvan."
- The Disaster Management Act, 2005 is a legislation enacted in India to address the challenges posed by natural and man-made disasters.
- It aims to establish institutional mechanisms for disaster management at the national, state, and district levels.
- The Act created the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) at the national level, headed by the Prime Minister, to formulate policies, plans, and guidelines for disaster management.
- State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) were also established under this Act to coordinate and implement disaster management activities at the state level.
- District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) were formed at the district level to carry out disaster response and relief operations.
- The Act provides for the formulation of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to undertake specialized response tasks during disasters.
- It outlines the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and community-based organizations, in disaster management.
- The Act emphasizes a proactive approach to disaster management, focusing on prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
- It empowers authorities to take necessary measures for disaster risk reduction, capacity building, and public awareness campaigns.
- The Disaster Management Act, 2005 plays a crucial role in enhancing the country's resilience to disasters and ensuring effective coordination and response mechanisms.
- The National Stock Exchange (NSE) stands as one of India's premier stock exchanges, alongside the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), playing a pivotal role in the country's financial landscape. Notably, NSE distinguished itself as the first exchange in India to adopt modern, fully automated electronic trading systems.
- In 2023, the NSE achieved a remarkable milestone by emerging as the world's largest derivatives exchange, based on the volume of contracts traded, as reported by the Futures Industry Association (FIA).
- Recently, the NSE unveiled plans to introduce derivative contracts linked to the Nifty Next 50 index, scheduled to commence trading from April 24, 2024.
- The Nifty Next 50 Index comprises 50 companies selected from the Nifty 100, excluding those already included in the Nifty 50, reflecting a diverse representation of India's corporate landscape.
- In Sweden, researchers have spearheaded the creation of 'Goldene,' an ultra-thin layer of gold composed of individual atoms.
- This groundbreaking material holds immense promise for various applications, spanning hydrogen production, water purification, synthesis of high-value chemicals, and advancements in communication technology.
- Goldene showcases properties that differentiate it from traditional gold, reminiscent of the transformative capabilities observed in graphene.
- Unlike bulk gold, which typically displays metallic behavior, the introduction of a single-atom layer thickness prompts Goldene to transition into a semiconductor.
- This intriguing characteristic mirrors the unique properties exhibited by graphene, contributing to Goldene's potential in revolutionizing diverse fields of science and technology.