About Justice Mission, 2025:

• It is a large-scale inter-service military exercise by China around Taiwan.
• It involves coordinated ground, air, navy, and missile units.
• The activities focussed on "sea-air combat readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive superiority, blockade on key ports and areas, as well as all-dimensional deterrence outside the island chain.
• The drills aim to test joint combat capabilities and serve as a warning against "Taiwan independence" and external interference, asserting China's sovereignty over the island.
• Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its sovereign territory and has refused to rule out using military action to seize the island democracy.
• The exercise follows large-scale arms sales to Taiwan valued at more than USD 10 billion by the United States, Taiwan's main security backer.

About C-reactive protein (CRP):

• It is a protein made by the liver.
• The level of CRP increases when there's inflammation in the body.
• A CRP test measures the level of CRP in blood.
• By measuring the levels of CRP in blood, a CRP test can tell the health care provider about the inflammation of the body.
• High CRP levels may mean an acute or chronic health condition, such as:
  • Infections from bacteria or viruses.
  • Inflammatory bowel disease, disorders of the intestines that include Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
  • Autoimmune disorders, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and vasculitis.
  • Lung diseases, such as asthma.
• Smoking and exposure to environmental toxins such as polluted air and hazardous waste can also cause high CRP levels.

About Dnyanganga Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is located in the Buldhana district of Maharashtra, near the Dnyanganga River.
• It is part of the Melghat Tiger Reserve.
• The sanctuary features two lakes.
• It is bordеrеd by Wеstеrn Ghats.
• It has a very extreme climate; the winters are very cold, whereas the summers are very hot.
• Flora: The forest area is Southern tropical dry deciduous forest, consisting mainly of Teak and Anjan.
• Fauna:
  • The sanctuary is home to diverse wildlife, including leopards, sloth bears, barking deer, blue bulls (nilgai), spotted deer, hyenas, jungle cats, jackals, and occasionally tigers.
  • Over 150 bird species also inhabit the area.

About Calamaria mizoramensis:

• It is a new species of non-venomous reed snake.
• It was discovered in Mizoram.
• The new species is nocturnal and semi-fossorial, inhabiting humid, forested hill environments.
• The new species is small with a dark brown to blackish body with faint stripes and a yellow underside.
• Its occurrence in other parts of India remains unverified, but it is likely to be present in adjoining states such as Manipur, Nagaland, and Assam.

Key Facts about Reed Snakes:

• They are small, slender, non-venomous
• They belong to the genus Calamaria.
• Family: Colubridae
• They are found in southern and southeastern Asia.
• Mostly found in:
  • Moist forests
  • Leaf litter
  • Under logs, stones, and soil
• They are fossorial/semi-fossorial – spend most of their time underground or hidden in leaf litter.
• Typically brown, reddish, or blackish in color.
• They eat small, soft-bodied.

About OPEC+:

• It is the alliance of major oil-exporting nations.
• It is an extension of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries formed in 2016.
• It consists of 22 oil-exporting countries which meet regularly to decide how much crude oil to sell on the world market.
• Members of OPEC+: It comprises 12 OPEC countries plus Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Russia, Mexico, Malaysia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Oman.
• These nations aim to work together on adjusting crude oil production to bring stability to the oil market.

Key Facts about Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries

• It is a permanent intergovernmental organization of oil-exporting countries.
• Origin: It was established in 1960 by the five founding members Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. 
• Currently, it has 12 members, including Algeria, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Libya, Nigeria, and the United Arab Emirates.
• Angola withdrew its membership effective 1 January 2024.
• Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.

About Industrial Research and Development Promotion Program:

• It is a research and Development programme of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Govt. of India.
• Focus Area: Engineering Science, Environment Science, Natural and Applied sciences, Agricultural, Medical and Social sciences
• Funding Agency: Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Govt. of India
• Eligibility Criteria
  • The applicant should be a company registered under the Companies Act, 1956 or 2013.
  • The company shall be eligible for consideration only after the completion of three financial years after formation.
  • The applicant should have regular source of income at least during the last two years.
  • The companies seeking recognition to their in-house R&D units should be engaged in manufacture or production.
  • The R&D unit(s) should be located in non -residential areas.

Key Facts about the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research

• It was established in 1985.
• Nodal Ministry: It functions under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
• Mandate: It has a mandate to carry out the activities relating to indigenous technology promotion, development, utilization and transfer.
• Functions of Department of Scientific and Industrial Research:
  • It focuses on the promotion, development, deployment, and transfer of indigenous technologies.
  • It actively collaborates with industry, academic institutions, research organizations, and government agencies to nurture a robust, innovation-led ecosystem.

About Popocatépetl Volcano:

• Popocatépetl means "Smoking Mountain” in the Aztec Nahuatl language.
• Location: It is located in central Mexico.
• It is on the border of the states of México and Puebla.
• The volcano lies on the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, which is the result of the small Cocos Plate subducting beneath the North American Plate.
• It is one of the Mexico's most active volcanoes.
• Elevation: It is a steep-sided stratovolcano.
• It is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the Pacific Ring of Fire.

What is Stratovolcano?

• It is a tall, steep, and cone-shaped type of volcano.
• They are typically found above subduction zones, and they are often part of large volcanically active regions, such as the Ring of Fire that frames much of the Pacific Ocean.
• They comprise the largest percentage (~60%) of the Earth’s individual volcanoes, and most are characterized by eruptions of andesite and dacite, lavas that are cooler and more viscous than basalt.
• These more viscous lavas allow gas pressures to build up to high levels. Therefore, these volcanoes often suffer explosive eruptions. 
• They are usually about half-half lava and pyroclastic material, and the layering of these products gives them their other common name of composite volcanoes.
• At the peak, stratovolcanoes usually have a small crater.

About Suryastra Rocket System:

• It is India’s first indigenous universal multi-calibre rocket launcher system.
• Key Features of Suryastra Rocket System:
  • It is an advanced long-range rocket launcher system.
  • Range: It is capable of executing precision surface-to-surface striking targets at ranges of 150 and 300 kilometers.
  • Multi-target Capability: It is designed to engage multiple targets simultaneously at varying ranges.
  • Precision: It achieves a high degree of accuracy with a circular error probable (CEP) of less than five metres during trials.
  • The same launcher is also capable of firing loitering munitions up to a range of 100 km.
  • Technology used: The system is based on Elbit Systems’ PULS (Precise & Universal Launching System) launcher technology.
  • It is equipped with a modern fire control system that integrates GPS, inertial navigation, and digital ballistic computation.
  • Its semi-automated reload and shoot-and-scoot capabilities reduce exposure to counter-battery fire.
• Developed by: It is developed by Pune-based NIBE Limited in collaboration with Israel’s Elbit Systems.

About Rice Crop:

• Rice is a tropical crop and the staple food for the majority of the Indian population.
• Growing Season: It is primarily a Kharif crop, grown during the southwest monsoon season (June to October) but it can also be cultivated in Rabi and summer seasons under assured irrigation.
• Required Climatic Conditions for Rice Crop:
  • Rice is grown under varying conditions in India from 8°N to 30°N latitude.
  • The average annual rainfall required for rice is 150 cm.
  • Temperature: Between 25°C and 35°C.
  • Soil: It can be grown on a variety of soils including silts, loams and gravels and can tolerate acidic as well as alkaline soils.
  • The crop requires standing water during most of its growing season.
• Major Rice Producing states: It is most commonly cultivated in states such as West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Odisha, and Assam.
• Nutrition: It has a higher nutritional value and rich in Vitamins A, B, and calcium.