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1. A recent study reveals that California's San Joaquin Valley is sinking at an alarming rate due to overpumping of groundwater, with some areas experiencing a decline of over one foot per year since 2006. The Valley has a history of subsidence, particularly between 1925 and 1970, caused by excessive groundwater extraction. Researchers have used Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) technology to monitor and measure land elevation changes with high accuracy. This technology enables frequent and large-scale monitoring of subsidence, providing crucial data to address the issue. Land subsidence occurs when underground materials shift due to overexploitation of resources like water, petroleum, and minerals. This depletion decreases pore pressure and increases effective stress, leading to the sinking of the ground. To combat this problem, flood-managed aquifer recharge strategies are being implemented to restore groundwater levels and mitigate subsidence. By recharging aquifers, these strategies help maintain the stability of the land and prevent further sinking.
2. Lake-effect snow is a localized weather phenomenon that occurs when cold air from Canada passes over relatively warmer lake waters, such as those of the Great Lakes. The warm, moist air rises, cools rapidly, and condenses to form clouds, resulting in narrow bands of intense snowfall, often at rates of 2–3 inches per hour. Recently, Lake Erie in New York experienced a heavy snowstorm, transforming homes into ice-covered igloos due to this phenomenon. The Great Lakes, consisting of Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, are significant freshwater ecosystems, spanning parts of the United States and Canada. They account for 21% of the Earth's surface freshwater and are crucial to both local and global ecosystems. The lakes connect to the Atlantic Ocean via the Saint Lawrence River and to the Mississippi River basin through the Illinois Waterway.
3. Indian government bond yields recently declined significantly, with the 10-year benchmark yield reaching its lowest level since 2021, driven by optimism about the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) potentially easing interest rates in its upcoming monetary policy review. Several factors contributed to this decline. First, India's economic growth slowed to 5.4% in the September 2024 quarter, the lowest in seven quarters, raising concerns and fueling expectations of RBI monetary easing, which would likely boost demand for bonds and lower yields. Additionally, measures like the anticipated liquidity infusion through Open Market Operations (OMO) or a Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) cut by 50 basis points could release Rs 1.1 lakh crore into the banking system, further reducing bond yields. Foreign investments also played a role, with increased foreign purchases of Indian bonds, including Rs 7,700 crore in net purchases, signaling confidence in the economy and contributing to the decline in yields. Bonds are debt instruments issued by governments or companies to raise funds, offering fixed annual payments. The bond yield represents the return an investor can expect from a bond, and it is inversely related to bond prices: as bond prices rise, yields fall.
4. Indian students now make up 29.4% of international students in the US, surpassing all other countries for the first time in 15 years. With 331,602 Indian students enrolled in the 2023-24 academic year, India has overtaken China as the leading country of origin for international students in the US. This marks a 23% increase from the previous year. Indian students lead in graduate enrollments (master's and PhD) for the second consecutive year, with a 19% increase to 196,567 students. Undergraduate enrollment grew by 13%, totaling 36,053, while non-degree student numbers fell by 28%. The total number of international students in the US for 2023-24 reached 1,126,690, a 7% increase from the previous year. The primary funding sources for international students are personal and family funds (54.5%), current employment (21.8%), and US college/university funding (19.0%). In response, the Indian government has launched several initiatives such as the Education Services & Internationalization of Higher Education (ES-IHE), Champion Services Sector Scheme (CSSS), Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC), and Study in India program, along with UGC guidelines for foreign university campuses in India.
5. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has launched the "First in the World Challenge" to encourage innovative solutions for critical health issues. This initiative aims to foster groundbreaking health technologies, such as vaccines, drugs, and diagnostics, by promoting bold, high-risk, high-reward research proposals. The challenge seeks revolutionary biomedical breakthroughs, not incremental innovations. Proposals can be submitted by individuals or teams from single or multiple institutes and will be evaluated by a selection committee of experts. In a recent development, ICMR formalized agreements under its ‘Network for Phase 1 Clinical Trials’, focusing on treatments for diseases like multiple myeloma and Zika virus. This initiative positions India as a leader in clinical development of pharmaceutical agents and innovative health solutions. ICMR, under the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW), is India's apex body for biomedical research formulation, coordination, and promotion