Current affairs 26 May 2024

World’s first 100% biodegradable pen launched in India.

• Saurabh H Mehta from New Delhi has introduced the world’s first fully biodegradable pen, named the NOTE pen.
• The pen features a recycled paper refill, and non-toxic ink, and comes in options of metal, paper, or bamboo exteriors.
• This innovation aims to reduce plastic waste, a significant issue as over 50 billion ballpoint pens are discarded annually.

Indian Techie Muneeb Amin Bhatt honored in NASA's Hall of Fame.

• Muneeb Amin Bhatt, from Kulgam district in Jammu and Kashmir, has been inducted into NASA's Hall of Fame for discovering data breach vulnerabilities.
• He was previously recognized by Apple's Hall of Fame in 2023 for identifying system vulnerabilities.
• At just 22 years old, this Indian cybersecurity researcher has earned accolades from two of the world's leading organizations.

India’s first research testbed to be deployed to study Nor’westers.

• Meteorologists will soon deploy drones, mobile vans and high-end instruments to track the Nor’westers that affect the east & northeast regions of India every summer (April-June).
• Generally occur in the afternoon, before sunset with thick black clouds, torrential rain & hail for short period. Helpful for Kharif crops (jute & paddy).
• Known as Kalbaisakhi (Bengal), Barodoli Cheerha (Assam)

India’s forex reserves hit record high of $648.7 billion.

• RBI is the custodian of the Foreign exchange reserves in India.
• India's foreign exchange reserves include foreign currency assets (mainly US Dollar), Gold, Special Drawing Rights (reserve currency with IMF), and Reserve Tranche Position (reserve capital with IMF).
• It also includes bonds, Treasury bills, & government securities.
• Foreign currency is the largest component, followed by gold.

WCD ministry "officially" dissolves Food and Nutrition Board.

• A board responsible for providing technical & logistical support for functioning of community nutrition programs has been officially dissolved as part of rationalisation of government bodies.
• The Food and Nutrition Board has been shut down by the Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry.
• It was a technical wing of the ministry, headquartered in Delhi.
• Minister of WCD: Smriti Zubin Irani