New fund has been established to enhance exploration of critical minerals

• Indian Mines Ministry plans to establish a new fund to promote investment and exploration in essential and strategic minerals declared on January 6, 2025.
• It is modelled after National Mineral Exploration Trust, may receive donations from private equity companies etc.
• It aims to finance foreign mining ventures, mineral exploration investments, and construction of overseas mineral processing facilities.
• NMET's existing ₹6000 crore corpus can be utilized as leverage for a new fund under the Mines and Mineral Act.
• India signed 13 Memorandums of Understanding with South American and African nations for mineral exploration.
• To secure vital natural resources, due diligence is being conducted for lithium blocks in Australia.
• National Critical Minerals Mission is undergoing industry consultation for targeted mining and incentive program for mineral recycling.

Polar vortex is causing winter storms in United States

• Polar vortex is a large, low-pressure region encircling Earth's poles, rotating anticlockwise around the North Pole at speeds of up to 155 mph.
• Polar vortex varieties include tropospheric, higher and stable, and stratospheric, lower and impacting weather patterns.
• A weakened stratospheric polar vortex causes extreme cold temperatures to reach Florida and south of US on January 6, 2025.
• The 2013-14 polar vortex brought record cold temperatures and snowfall to Canada and the eastern US.
• Polar vortex events, although seasonal, are not always guaranteed but in 2013-14 winter New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago experienced it.
• Research suggests that global warming could decrease temperature difference between North Pole and mid-latitude regions.
• Polar vortex in Northern Hemisphere significantly influences weather patterns, climate control, and severe weather forecasting.

New Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme launched for steel sector

• Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy to launch next iteration of PLI program for steel industry declared on January 6, 2025.
• The total outlay for the PLI initiative for the steel industry is ₹6322 crore.
• Previous PLI scheme attracted 27106 crore investments, created 8660 direct jobs, and aimed to produce 7.90 million tonnes of speciality steel.
• PLI plan supports include electrical steel, high-strength wear-resistant steel, coated/plated steel and alloy steel products.
• Program aims to boost steel industry employment by creating 525000 jobs, including 68000 direct positions.
• The PLI Scheme is expected to run from 2024-25 to 2030-31. An incentive of approximately₹` 775 crore is anticipated for production achieved in 2023-24.
• "PLI scheme 1.1" phase aims to increase investment opportunities and extend eligibility for speciality items.

Banded Royal Butterfly has been discovered in Tripura (Environment)

• Survey in Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary in Tripura resulted in first-ever recording of Banded Royal butterfly (Rachana jalindra indra) on May 5, 2021.
• Schedule II of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 provides legal protection for the species.
• Male butterflies have a purple or bluish upper side, females brown with white markings giving them their "banded" name.
• Found in South and Southeast Asia, forests across Western Ghats, Northeast India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, and Malaysia.
• Clouded Leopard National Park, located in Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary, boasts 456 plant species and rare animals.
• The journal Munis Entomology & Zoology published an article on the discovery of a butterfly in Tripura.
• Discovery underscores the importance of conservation efforts in Tripura, emphasizing the need for ongoing ecological studies.

IIT Madras inaugurated Asia's largest shallow wave basin research facility

• IIT Madras opened Asia's largest shallow wave basin research facility at its Discovery satellite campus in Thaiyur on January 6, 2025.
• It is a designed to model intricate wave and current interactions to address issues in Indian port management and coastal engineering.
• Facility's components were developed locally, with IIT-Madras completing a significant portion of the fabrication work.
• Facility's movable wavemaker enables simultaneous experimentation in various research areas, including inland waterways, harbour etc.
• It is expected to enhance IIT-Madras' international standing and foster cross-border collaboration in marine engineering and research.
• IIT-Madras aims to assist other Indian institutions in establishing research centres to support new ports and coastal engineering projects.
• It is beneficial for post-impact analysis, coastal construction testing, and climate change evaluation, and in marine research.