About Humpback Whale:

• The Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a species of baleen whale.
• It is a rorqual; a member of the family Balaenopteridae.
• Migration: They undertake long migrations between polar feeding grounds in summer and tropical or subtropical breeding grounds in winter. 
• Appearance:
  • It has the distinctive hump on its back.
  • Its long pectoral fins inspired its scientific name, Megaptera, which means “big-winged” 
  • Humpback females are larger than males.
• Distribution: They inhabit all major oceans from sub-polar latitudes to the equator
• Behavior: Humpbacks use a unique method of feeding called bubble netting, in which bubbles are exhaled as the whale swims in a spiral below a patch of water dense with food.
• Diet: They filter their food through baleen plates. They strain krill, anchovies, cod, sardines, mackerel, capelin, and other schooling fish from the waters.
• Lifespan & Reproduction: Humpback whales reach sexual maturity between the ages of 4 and 10 years. Females produce a single calf every 2 to 3 years on average.
• Conservation status:
  • IUCN: Least concern.

About Bio-Bitumen:

• It is made using non-petroleum-based renewable resources and can be made from vegetable oils, synthetic polymers, or both.
• Materials used: Renewable organic materials, such as plant-based oils, agricultural waste, or biomass.
• These materials undergo a special processing method to create a high-quality binder that is similar to traditional bitumen.
• It is an alternative to petroleum-based bitumen that lowers both carbon emissions and import dependency,
• Bio-bitumen production involves multiple steps, depending on the source material used.
• Advantages:
  • Sustainable: It is generated from renewable materials. This makes it a more environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-based bitumen, which is derived from limited resources.
  • Low Carbon Footprint: As it is derived from organic materials that have absorbed carbon dioxide during their development, it often has a lower environmental impact than standard bitumen.
  • Improved environmental performance: It is less toxic and detrimental to the environment than regular bitumen. It contains fewer heavy metals and other hazardous pollutants.
• Applications: It is versatile and may be utilised in a variety of applications, including road paving, roofing, and waterproofing.

About National Assessment and Accreditation Council:

• It was established in 1994 as an autonomous institution of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
• Its primary objective is to ensure and enhance the quality of higher education through a rigorous accreditation process.
• It conducts assessment and accreditation of Higher Educational Institutions (HEI) such as colleges, universities or other recognised institutions to derive an understanding of the ‘Quality Status’ of the institution. 
• Parameters for Evaluation: NAAC evaluates institutions based on various parameters such as curricular aspects, teaching-learning processes, infrastructure, governance, and innovation. 
• The NAAC functions through its General Council (GC) and Executive Committee (EC), comprising educational administrators, policymakers, and senior academicians from a cross-section of the Indian higher education system.
• Composition: The Chairperson of the UGC is the President of the GC of the NAAC; the Chairperson of the EC is an eminent academician nominated by the President of the GC (NAAC). 
• At present the Assessment and Accreditation by NAAC is done on a voluntary basis.
• Headquarters: Bengaluru.

About Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS):

• Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) are a set of accounting principles notified by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) in 2015.
• These standards are largely converged with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), bringing Indian financial reporting closer to global practices.
• Focus: Ind AS emphasizes a principle-based approach, focusing on fair value measurement, transparency, and enhanced disclosure.
• History:
  • Before the introduction of Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS), India followed the Indian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (IGAAP). Indian GAAP was primarily developed by:
  • The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI)
  • Provisions under the Companies Act, 1956
  • Indian GAAP comprised 18 accounting standards issued by ICAI, focusing largely on historical cost accounting and legal compliance.

Key Facts about Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India

• It is a statutory body formed under the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999 (IRDAI Act 1999), for the overall supervision and development of the insurance sector in India.
• It acts as an autonomous authority under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
• The main goals of IRDAI are:
  • To safeguard the interest of the policyholders by fair business conduct and settlement of claims within time.
  • To regulate the business of insurance with transparency, fairness, and honest practice.
  • Facilitating financial prudence of the insurers through solvency and stability checks of insurers.
  • It is responsible for registering and/or licensing insurance, reinsurance companies, and intermediaries according to the regulations. 
  • It sets the eligibility criteria, qualifications, and capital requirements for obtaining licenses in the insurance business.
• Head Office: Hyderabad
• Composition: It consists of a Chairman, five full-time members, and four part-time members, all appointed by the Government of India.

About Kugti Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is the second largest sanctuary located in Himachal Pradesh.
• It houses the famous Manimahesh temple, an attraction to thousands of pilgrims despite the difficult terrain and extreme cold conditions.
• It has high-altitude sanctuary between Ravi and Chenab rivers.
• It is surrounded by Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary on South-East direction and Tundah Wildlife Sanctuary on North-West direction.
• Vegetation: Its vegetation consists of Alpine Pasture, Western Mixed Coniferous Forest and Moist Deodar Forest.
• Fauna: It is home to endangered species like the Ibex, Musk deer, Monal snow Cock, Pheasants, Himalayan Tahr, Red vented Bulbul, White Cheeked Bul Bul and so on.
• Flora: The major floras available in the Sanctuary are deodara (Cedrus deodara), kail (Pinus wallichiana), spruce (Picea smithiana), silver fir (Abies pindrow), ban (Quercus semicarpofolia), pink burans (Rhododendron campanulatum), etc.