About Doctrine of Escheat:

• It is a significant legal concept that ensures no property is left without ownership, reverting it to the state if the original owner dies without legal heirs or fails to make a will.
• This legal process addresses the handling of unclaimed assets, protecting societal interests and maintaining order within the legal framework.
• The doctrine addresses two primary situations:
  • when a person dies intestate (without a will) and without heirs, and
  • when property remains unclaimed or abandoned for a specific period.
• The underlying principle of escheat is that property must always have an identifiable owner, and in the absence of heirs, the government assumes ownership.
• In modern legal systems, escheat serves as a way to maintain orderly succession and prevent assets from being wasted or misused.
• Historical Origins of Escheat:
  • Escheat originates from the Old French word “eschete,” meaning “to fall to”.
  • The concept of escheat is rooted in the feudal system of medieval Europe, where land was held by tenants under a lord.
  • If the tenant died without an heir or was convicted of certain crimes like treason, the land would escheat, or revert, to the lord.
  • This system allowed for continuous control of land, ensuring that property remained within the hierarchy of the feudal structure.
  • Over time, this evolved to include the monarch or the state as the ultimate recipient of property without heirs.
  • Escheat in Modern Legal Systems:
  • In modern legal systems, escheat ensures that unclaimed or ownerless property does not remain in limbo but is transferred to the state.
  • The state assumes ownership of such property, either permanently or temporarily, until rightful claimants can be found.
  • Escheat laws vary across jurisdictions, with some countries having well-defined processes for handling unclaimed assets.
  • In India, escheat is regulated primarily through Section 29 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, and Article 296 of the Constitution.
    • These provisions outline the circumstances under which property escheats to the state, safeguarding against unclaimed or abandoned property.
    • However, the Supreme Court made it clear that the doctrine of escheat under Section 29 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, is a remedy of last resort; it comes into play only when a person dies intestate and without any legal heirs.
    • Where a valid will is executed and duly probated, the property must devolve strictly in line with the testator’s intent, leaving no room for the State to assert rights over the estate.

About Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB):

• It is India’s premier research organization in frontier areas of modern biology.
• The objectives of the Centre are to conduct high-quality basic research and training in frontier areas of modern biology, and promote centralized national facilities for new and modern techniques in the interdisciplinary areas of biology.
• Located in Hyderabad, Telangana, CCMB is a constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), a renowned national organization under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.
• Established in 1977, CCMB has emerged as a global leader in cellular and molecular research and is known for its contributions to understanding the molecular mechanisms that govern biological systems.
• CCMB’s work spans various disciplines of biology, including genetics, biotechnology, bioinformatics, immunology, and molecular medicine.
• The institution is well-regarded for its cutting-edge research in molecular biology, genomics, proteomics, and cellular mechanisms.
• The centre’s research is both fundamental and translational, focusing on problems that have wide-ranging implications for medicine, disease management, agricultural improvement, and environmental sustainability.
• CCMB has state-of-the-art facilities for research, including a high-throughput genomics facility and a bioinformatics centre.
• The institute also offers training programs and workshops for students and researchers and collaborates with national and international institutions.
• CCMB is a designated "Center of Excellence" by the Global Molecular and Cell Biology Network, UNESCO.

About Carlsberg Ridge:

• It is a mid-oceanic ridge (a divergent plate boundary) located in the Indian Ocean.
• The ridge extends from the triple junction of the African, Indian, and Australian tectonic plates (where it connects to the Mid-Indian Ridge) northwest to the Gulf of Aden.
• The ridge separates the Arabian Sea to the northeast from the Somali Basin to the southwest.
• It marks the boundary between the Somali Plate and the Indian Plate.
• The mean depth of the Carlsberg Ridge is between some 6,000 and 12,000 feet (1,800 and 3,600 meters) below the sea surface, and it rises to a mean elevation of about 7,000 feet (2,100 meters) above the seafloor.
• The ridge turns westward around the island of Socotra and eventually connects with the East African Rift System by way of the Gulf of Aden.
• It is the most prominent mid-ocean ridge segment of the western Indian Ocean, which contains a number of earthquake epicenters.

About Red Fort:

• The Red Fort, or Lal Qila, is a Mughal fort located in Delhi, India.
• Formerly known as Quila-e-Mubarak, or the Blessed Fort, the Red Fort lies along the banks of the river Yamuna, whose waters fed the moats surrounding the fort.
• It was built as the palace fort of Shahjahanabad – the new capital of the fifth Mughal Emperor of India, Shah Jahan.
• Shah Jahan constructed it in 1639. It was designed by architects Ustad Ahmad Lahauri and Ustad Hamid.
• Named for its massive enclosing walls of red sandstone, it is adjacent to an older fort, the Salimgarh, built by Islam Shah Suri in 1546, with which it forms the Red Fort Complex.
• The fort complex served as the residence of Mughal Emperors for nearly 200 years, until 1857.
• The fort was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007.
• From the fort each year on Independence Day (August 15), the Indian prime minister participates in a flag-raising ceremony and delivers a televised address to the country.
• Architecture:
  • The Red Fort’s massive red sandstone walls, which stand 75 feet (23 metres) high, enclose a complex of palaces and entertainment halls, projecting balconies, baths and indoor canals, and geometrical gardens, as well as an ornate mosque.
  • The planning of the palace is based on Islamic prototypes, but each pavilion reveals architectural elements typical of Mughal buildings, reflecting a fusion of Persian, Timurid, and Hindu traditions.
  • The fort is octagonal, with the north-south axis longer than the east-west axis.
  • Among the most famous structures of the complex are the Hall of Public Audience (Diwan-i-ʿAm), which has 60 red sandstone pillars supporting a flat roof, and the Hall of Private Audience (Diwan-i-Khas), which is smaller and has a pavilion of white marble.
  • The marble, floral decorations, and double domes in the fort's buildings exemplify later Mughal architecture.
  • It has 2 principal gates–Lahore Drawaza and Delhi Darwaza along its western and southern sides, respectively.

About Nankana Sahib:

• It is a city located in the Punjab province of Pakistan, which is historically significant to the Sikh community.
• It is the birthplace of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion.
• Formerly known as Rai-Bhoi-Di Talwandi, Rai Bhullar Bhatti (grandson of Talwandi founder Rai Bhoi) renamed it Nankana Sahib in honor of Guru Nanak Sahib’s birth.
• Guru Nanak Dev Ji spent his early years in Nankana Sahib, and from here began his divine calling and spiritual journey.
• It is where Gurdwara Janam Asthan (also called Nankana Sahib Gurdwara) is located.
  • The shrine is built over the site where Guru Nanak was believed to be born in 1469.
  • It was constructed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh after he visited Nankana Sahib in 1818-19 while returning from the Battle of Multan.
• Besides Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib has several important shrines, including Gurdwara Patti Sahib, Gurdwara Bal Leela, Gurdwara Mal Ji Sahib, Gurdwara Kiara Sahib, and Gurdwara Tambu Sahib—all dedicated to stages in the life of the first Guru.
• There is also a Gurdwara in memory of Guru Arjan (5th Guru) and Guru Hargobind (6th Guru). Guru Hargobind is believed to have paid homage to the town in 1621-22.

About Lake Natron:

• Location: It is a salt lake located on the border between Tanzania and Kenya.
• It is part of the eastern branch of the Great Rift Valley.
• It has a unique composition of warm waters and salt, caustic soda, and magnesite deposits that provide ideal conditions for flamingos to thrive.
• It was designated as a Ramsar Site of International Importance in 2001.
• Primarily, the lake is fed by the Ewaso Ng’iro River, which originates from the central region of Kenya.
• One of the most striking features of this Lake is its striking red coloration. The primary reason for its hue lies in its extreme alkalinity.
• It is the only reliable breeding ground for Lesser Flamingos in Africa, supporting up to 75 per cent of the world’s population. 
• Lesser flamingos feed on Lake Natron with Shompole volcano (situated on the border of Kenya and Tanzania) in the distance at the northern end of the lake.
• Threats: Several factors, including agriculture, pollution, and climate change, are threatening the beauty of this unique ecosystem.

About Polypropylene:

• It is a thermoplastic polymer produced by the addition polymerization of propylene.
• It is a synthetic resin built up by the polymerization of propylene.
• It is one of the important family of polyolefin resins.
• Polypropylene is molded or extruded into many plastic products in which toughness, flexibility, light weight, and heat resistance are required.
• Properties of Polypropylene
  • It is highly resistant to chemical corrosion, making it an excellent choice for packaging of cleaning products and bleaches.
  • It is a commodity plastic with low density and high heat resistance.
  • Flammability: PP is a highly flammable material.
  • Density: PP is one of the lightest polymers among all commodity plastics.
• Application of Polypropylene
  • It is widely used in polymer materials in the plastic manufacturing industry to produce various end products, especially plastic packaging.
  • Polypropylene has high insulation properties too, making it safe to use for plastic casing in electrical goods and cables. 
  • It offers impressive chemical and biological-resistant properties and makes polypropylene an obvious choice for the medical industry.

About Red Coral Kukri Snake:

• It is identified as Oligodon kheriensis.
• It is one of the rarest non venomous snake species.
• This nocturnal and fossorial snake is specialized with curved teeth like kukri (Nepalian Knife). Hence, they are called “Kukri”.
• Appearance: Its whole body including the head is uniform bright coral-red without any patterns and the underside is yellowish or pinkish hence it is one of the most distinct snakes of its range.
• Its head is short, not broader than the neck and bears an obtusely pointed snout.
• Distribution: It is widely distributed in lowlands (below 1500ft) of Himalayan foothills from Uttrakhand, Nepal, northern parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal to Sikkim and western Assam.
• Conservation Status
  • IUCN: Least Concern (LC)
  • Wild Life Protection Act: Schedule –IV

Key Facts about Pilibhit Tiger Reserve

• It is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
• It lies along the India-Nepal border in the foothills of the Himalayas and is part of the Terai Arc Landscape.
• Rivers: The river Gomti originates from the PTR, which is also the catchment of several others like Sharda, Chuka, and Mala Khannot.
• Habitat: The habitat is characterized by dense sal forests and tall alluvial grasslands, savannahs, and impenetrable swamps, maintained by periodic flooding from rivers. 
• The Sharda Sagar Dam, extending up to a length of 22 km, is on the boundary of the reserve.
• It has a dry and hot climate, which brings a combination of dry teak forest and Vindhya Mountain soils.

About Exercise Pacific Reach 2025:

• It is a multinational conducted in Singapore.            
• It is a biennial exercise which will witness participation of more than 40 nations.
• The exercise is mainly conducted in two phases, including the harbour and sea phases.
• Focus of the Exercise: The harbour phase will involve in-depth discussions on submarine rescue systems, Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE), a medical symposium and cross-deck visits between the participating nations.
• The Sea phase of the exercise would witness INS Nistar and Submarine Rescue Unit (E) engaging in multiple intervention and rescue operations with participating assets in the South China Sea.

Key Facts about INS Nistar

• It was commissioned on 18 Jul 2025.
• It was developed by HSL, Visakhapatnam, under the Ministry of Defence’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.
• The ship with its Side Scan Sonar, Work & observation class ROVs and expansive deep sea diving systems will be carrying out the role of mothership (MoSHIP) for Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV).
• Diving and Rescue Capabilities
  • Integrated Saturation Diving System (ISDS): Enables diver deployment at depths up to 300 meters, supporting underwater repairs, salvage, and rescue operations.
  • Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs): These can be deployed for underwater surveillance and recovery missions in deep waters.
  • Side Scan Sonar and Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS): Aid in locating submerged vessels or wreckage and managing onboard systems, respectively.
  • Submarine Rescue System: Especially crucial for submarine emergencies, allowing the timely and safe recovery of personnel from disabled submarines.