Current Affairs 22 April 2026
Buffer Stock
- It is the quantity of foodgrains procured, stored, and maintained by the government to meet emergency requirements, stabilize prices, and ensure supply through welfare schemes.
- These norms are fixed by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on a quarterly basis.
- Purpose of Buffer Stock
- Food Security: Ensures availability of food during droughts, floods, or crop failure.
- Price Stabilisation: Prevents sharp rise or fall in food prices.
- Public Distribution System (PDS): Supplies subsidised foodgrains to the poor.
- Emergency Reserve: Acts as a cushion during crises.
Adi Shankaracharya (8th Century CE)
- Born: He was born in 788 A.D. in Kalady, Kerala.
- He propagated the concept of Advaita (non-dualism).
- He taught that the individual soul (Atman) is not separate from Brahman (the ultimate, formless reality).
- The perceived duality in the world is an illusion (Maya), and liberation (Moksha) comes from realizing the oneness of the individual.
- He established four mathas in the four cardinal directions of India – Sringeri (South), Dwarka (West), Puri (East), and Badrinath (North).
- Literary works: Bhaja Govindam, Atma Shatakam, Saundarya Lahari, etc.
Curiosity Rover
- It is part of NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory mission, launched in 2011.
- Objective: to study if Mars has the right environmental conditions to support small life forms called microbes?
- Curiosity explores Gale Crater and acquires rock, soil, and air samples for onboard analysis.
Salween River
- Also known as Nu (China) and Thanlwin (Myanmar), it is the second longest river in Southeast Asia after the Mekong River.
- It is the longest waterway without a dam in Southeast Asia.
- Origin: Mountain Tangula on the Tibetan plateau
- Empties in: Gulf of Martaban in the Andaman Sea
- Basin: China (53%), Myanmar (42%) and Thailand (5%)
- Tributaries: Moei, Pang, Teng, Pawn, Hka, and Hsim
Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve
- Location: In central plateau province of Deccan Peninsula – Chandrapur district of Maharashtra.
- Flora: Southern tropical dry deciduous forest with teak, bija, dhauda, hald, salai, semal, and tendu.
- Fauna: Tiger, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Wild Dog, Gaur etc.
- River: Andhari River.
Palm Oil
- Palm oil is derived from the fruit of the African oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis).
- Types:
- Crude palm oil (extract from fruit pulp): It is primarily used for cooking.
- Palm kernel oil (extract from seed): It is used for non-edible purposes (Cosmetics, pharmaceuticals etc.)
- Cultivation:
- Oil palm trees are native to Africa.
- Currently, Indonesia and Malaysia make up over 85% of global supply.
- In India, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala are the major Oil palm growing States and account for 98% of the total production.
- Indian oil palm initiatives include National Mission for Edible Oils – Oil Palm etc.