1) Air Transport Circular (ATC): Air Transport Circular ATC 01 of 2021 allows charging for “preferential” seats.
- ATC 01 of 2021 allowed unbundling of services since not all services are availed by every traveler and unbundling could reduce the basic airfare.
- It led to application of preferential charges for preferred seats, food and drinks (except water), and baggage, etc.
- However, since there is no cap on number of seats that can be under preferential charge even the middle seats (typically not the preferred) are also charged.
- ATC are issued and revised by Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
2) Cardamom: North-East monsoon revives hopes of cardamom growers.
- Cardamom (Queen of Spices) is native to tropical areas of India, Burma, and Sri Lanka.
- Commonly found in evergreen rainy forests of Western Ghats in South India (Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu).
- Contains vitamin C, niacin, magnesium, and potassium.
- Type: Herbaceous, evergreen perennial of ginger family.
- Soil: Forest loamy soils which are usually acidic in nature with a pH range of 5.0 – 6.5
- Annual rainfall ranges: 1500 to 4000 mm
- Temperature range: 10 to 35 degree C
- Uses: Food flavoring, Beverages, Perfumes, Medicines, Cosmetics etc.
3) Coal Ministry, MNRE collaborate for green energy expansion: Ministry of Coal (MoC) and Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) will jointly promote Green Energy expansion.
- MoC will provide land, capital and undertake implementation of renewable energy projects.
- De-coaled (Lands from which coal has been mined out) surplus land masses of Coal companies can be offered for setting up of green hydrogen projects by the private investors.
- MNRE will support the MoC and its CPSEs in capacity building training of engineers, technicians and other functionaries through National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE).
4) Pliosaur: Fossils of a 170-million-year-old ancient marine reptile from Age of Dinosaurs have been identified as oldest-known megapredatory Pliosaur.
- Pliosaurs were a group of ocean-dwelling reptiles with short necks and massive skulls.
- They appeared over 200 million years ago, but remained minor components of marine ecosystems until suddenly developing into enormous apex predators.
- Lorrainosaurus is the oldest large-bodied pliosaur represented by an associated skeleton.
Places in News:
1) Bering Sea:
- A recent study revealed a link between declining Bering Sea ice and increasing wildfire hazard in northeast China.
- Bering Sea is a marginal sea (located along the continental margins) in northern Pacific Ocean and separates North America and Asia.
- It is bordered by US, Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia, chain of the Aleutian Islands.
- It is connected with the Chukchi Sea of the Arctic Ocean via the Bering Strait.
- Deepest point: in Bowers Basin at a depth of 4,097 m.
- Rivers draining: Anadyr and Yukon Rivers.
