CONTENTS
- Treasury Bills
- Mushk budiji Rice
Treasury Bills
Context:
Recently, the Government of India, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India notified the calendar for the issuance of Treasury Bills for the quarter ending June 2024.
Relevance:
GS III: Indian Economy
About Treasury Bills
Definition and Nature:
- Treasury bills, commonly known as T-bills, are money market instruments.
- These are short-term debt instruments issued by the Government of India.
Maturity Period:
- Currently, T-bills are available in three maturity periods: 91-day, 182-day, and 364-day.
Financial Structure:
- T-bills are zero-coupon securities, meaning they do not pay interest.
- They are issued at a discount to their face value and redeemed at the full face value upon maturity.
Ownership and Utility:
- T-bills can be purchased by individuals, trusts, institutions, and banks, with financial institutions being the primary holders.
- Apart from being investment tools, T-bills play a crucial role in the financial market.
- Banks utilize T-bills for obtaining funds from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) through repo operations and can also maintain them to meet their Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) obligations.
Functioning:
- T-bills are issued at a discounted price, and the holder receives the full face value upon maturity.
- For instance, a Rs 100 T-bill might be purchased for Rs 95, but the holder will receive Rs 100 upon maturity.
- The yield on T-bills is influenced by the liquidity conditions within the economy. Higher returns are observed during liquidity crunches, and lower returns during surplus liquidity periods.
Mushk Budiji Rice
Context:
Recently, scientists at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Srinagar, reported that altitude and temperature play an important role in the development of mushk budiji aroma.
Relevance:
GS II: Government policies and Interventions
About Mushk Budiji Rice
Origin and Cultivation:
- Mushk Budiji Rice is an indigenous aromatic rice variety cultivated in the Highland Himalayas.
- Typically grown at altitudes between 5000 to 7000 ft above mean sea level, it thrives in the higher reaches of the Kashmir valley.
Physical Characteristics:
- This rice variety is short, bold, and possesses a distinct aromatic quality.
- When cooked, it offers a unique blend of taste, aroma, and rich organoleptic properties.
Cultivation Regions:
- Predominantly cultivated in specific areas such as Sagam, Panzgam, and Soaf Shali in Anantnag district, and the Beerwah belt in Budgam district.
Traditional Consumption:
- While once widely consumed, the consumption of aromatic rice like Mushk Budiji in Kashmir has become limited to special occasions, weddings, and festivals.
Recognition:
- Mushk Budiji Rice has been accorded a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, highlighting its unique regional identity.
Highlights of the Study
Flavor Profile Analysis:
- Scientists employed gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) and an ‘electronic nose’ to study the flavor profile of Mushk Budiji rice from selected locations.
Findings:
- The study revealed 35 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Mushk Budiji rice samples.
- Aldehydes (compounds with the -CH=O functional group) were found to range from 6.33% to 29.09%, while alcohols (-OH) ranged from 0.47% to 30.34%.
- Acetyl-1-pyrroline (2-AP), a known aromatic compound, was detected only in Mushk Budiji samples from higher altitudes, especially in Budgam and Kupwara districts.
What is Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy?
Definition:
- Chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) is an analytical technique employed to identify and quantify volatile compounds present in organic mixtures.
Applications:
- This method finds applications in analyzing compounds extracted from geological, environmental, and biological samples, aiding in detailed chemical profiling and characterization.
