About Open Market Operations (OMO):

• OMOs refer to a central bank selling or purchasing securities in the open market in an effort to influence the money supply.
• In India, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) uses OMOs to manage liquidity and ensure financial stability.
• By influencing the availability of funds in the banking system, OMOs play a critical role in shaping interest rates and controlling inflation.
  • When the RBI buys government securities, it injects money into the banking system, increasing liquidity and lowering interest rates.
  • When the RBI sells government securities, it reduces liquidity by absorbing money, leading to higher interest rates.
• OMOs are used to:
  • Control inflation: By selling government securities, the RBI reduces liquidity, causing interest rates to rise. This, in turn, helps control inflation by curbing excess demand.
  • Boost economic growth: During economic slowdowns, the RBI can buy securities to inject liquidity into the system. Lower interest rates encourage borrowing and investment, which can help stimulate growth.
  • Manage exchange rates: OMOs can influence the exchange rate of the Indian Rupee by impacting the supply of money. This can be particularly relevant in maintaining stability amidst volatile foreign exchange markets.

About Shani Shingnapur Temple:

• It is a Hindu temple located in Maharashtra.
• It is dedicated to Lord Shanidev, the popular Hindu god associated with the planet Saturn.
• The deity here is a five-and-a-half-feet-high black rock standing on a platform and is believed to be swayambhu (self-emerged).
• Apart from the temple, Shingnapur is a small village which is also famous for the fact that in the whole village no house has doors, and despite this, no theft has been reported in the village.
• Architecture:
  • It has no roofs, doors, or walls around.
  • The temple is unique, as it is the only one where Lord Shani is worshipped in an open-sky setting.
  • The premises also contain a tomb of Saint Udasi Baba and a temple dedicated to Dattatreya.

About Centre for Chronic Disease Control (CCDC):

• Established in 2000, CCDC is an independent, not-for-profit, biomedical research organization based in New Delhi.
• It aims to reduce the burden of chronic diseases in India and low- and middle-income countries through surveillance, capacity building, and translational research in cardio-metabolic diseases.
• It is a Scientific & Industrial Research Organization recognized by the Department of Scientific & Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.
• It has been designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Surveillance, Capacity Building, and Translational Research in Cardio-Metabolic Diseases.
• Recently, CCDC received the recognition of a collaborating Centre of Excellence (CoE) by the Indian Council of Medical Research.
• It also holds registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976.
• CCDC undertakes clinical research with special emphasis on chronic non-communicable diseases (NCD).
  • Within the spectrum of chronic diseases, CCDC’s main focus areas are: cardiology, diabetes and metabolic disease, vascular diseases, cancers, and mental health.
• In addition, basic science research in diet/nutrition and cardiac biochemistry are also carried out.

About Dolomedes indicus:

• It is a new species of spider.
• It was discovered in the evergreen rainforests of the Western Ghats, in the Wayanad district of Kerala.
• It marks the first time a spider of the Dolomedes genus, commonly known as raft or fishing spiders, has been described in India.
  • Unlike the common house spiders that wait passively in webs, Dolomedes indicus is an active, semi-aquatic predator that uses the water’s surface tension to its advantage.
• It appears to be highly sensitive to its environment, thriving only in pristine, cool waters under a forest canopy.
• It could serve as a vital indicator species, helping conservationists monitor the health of freshwater ecosystems.