Rapid Fire Current Affairs

Bharat Atta Sale to Stabilize Rising Wheat Flour Prices

The Indian government has launched the sale of 'Bharat' brand Atta (wheat flour) with a maximum retail price (MRP) of Rs 27.50 per kilogram which is lower than the national average price of Rs 35.93 per kg.

  • This initiative is part of the government's ongoing efforts to stabilize the prices of essential commodities and provide relief to consumers.
  • 'Bharat' Atta will be available through various outlets, including Kendriya Bhandar, National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED), and National Cooperative Consumer Federation (NCCF), ensuring its accessibility to a broader consumer base.
    • NAFED, founded in 1958, is a leading Indian cooperative organization for agricultural product procurement and marketing.
    • NCCF is an apex organization for consumer cooperatives. It functions under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
    • Both NAFED and NCCF are registered under the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, of 2002.
  • The efforts to stabilize prices of essential commodities have not only benefitted consumers but also supported farmers by ensuring a fair price for their produce.

Read more: Kendriya Bhandar

Earth's Deep Clues to Moon Formation

Recent research reveals that Earth's deep interior contains evidence of a massive collision more than 4.46 billion years ago, shedding light on the formation of the moon and the planet's evolution.

  • A colossal impact created molten rock that later formed the moon by coalescing in space.
    • Two continent-sized blobs (large, dense regions) within Earth's mantle, one under Africa and another under the South Pacific, are believed to be remnants of this ancient collision.
  • These blobs, denser than the surrounding material, may have originated from the collision between primordial Earth and a Mars-sized object called Theia.
    • Theia is believed to have collided with young Earth forming the Moon and leaving material in the lower mantle.
  • Computer simulations support the idea that most of Theia was absorbed into Earth, forming these blobs, while residual debris formed the moon.
    • These blobs are about 2% of Earth's mass, twice the mass of the entire moon.
    • The increased density in the blobs is attributed to their high iron content, similar to moon rocks.

Read more: Inner Core of the Earth

Krishi 24/7: AI Revolutionizing Agricultural News Monitoring

The collaboration between the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) and the Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence (Wadhwani AI) resulted in the development of Krishi 24/7, a groundbreaking AI-powered solution designed for automated agricultural news monitoring and analysis.

  • With support from Google, this innovation aims to transform the process of identifying and managing agricultural news articles, ensuring timely alerts and actions to safeguard farmers' interests and foster sustainable agricultural growth.
    • Krishi 24/7 scans and translates articles in multiple languages, extracting crucial information.

Read more: Artificial Intelligence & Agriculture

Timed Out Dismissal in Cricket

Sri Lankan Batsman Angelo Mathews' timed-out dismissal during a recent ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 match against Bangladesh stands as a first instance of timed-out dismissal in the 146-year chronicle of International Cricket.

  • As per the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 playing conditions, the incoming batter must be ready to face the next ball within a strict 2-minute time limit.
    • However, the Marylebone Cricket Club's (MCC) Law 40.1.1 states that following a wicket fall or a batter's retirement, the new batter must be prepared to face the next ball within 3 minutes. Failure to do so results in a 'Timed Out' dismissal.
  • The batter argued that the delay was due to a faulty helmet, not an attempt to waste time or gain an advantage.
    • However, the rules do not account for last-minute equipment malfunctions.