About Paniya Tribe:

• The Paniya (Paniyan) tribe is one of the major Scheduled Tribes of Kerala.
• They are predominantly found in Wayanad and also in parts of the Kannur, Kozhikode, and Malappuram districts of Kerala.
• Some are found in the Gudalur and Pandalur areas of the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu and in the southern part of the Kodagu District of Karnataka.
• The Paniya community is the largest single scheduled tribe population in Kerala.
• The word "Paniyan" is derived from "pani" which is a Malayalam word, meaning work.
• The Paniya speak the Paniya language, which belongs to the Dravidian family, closely related to Malayalam.
• They have developed a unique style of making their houses.
  • A Paniyan village comprises rows of huts all constructed from bamboo with thatched roofs.
  • These houses of Paniyan tribes are either single- or double-storied.
• The Paniyas worship a deity called Kali and banyan tree. They hesitate to cut banyan trees and believe that if anyone attempts to cut the tree, they will fall sick.

About Vitamin D:

• Vitamin D (also referred to as calciferol) is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in a few foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement.
• Also known as the sunshine vitamin, it is produced endogenously when ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight strike the skin and trigger vitamin D synthesis.
• During periods of sunlight, vitamin D is stored in fat and then released when sunlight is not available.
• Very few foods naturally contain vitamin D. Most people get vitamin D in their diet from foods that are fortified. This means that vitamin D is added to the food. These foods may include milk, cereal, and yogurt.
• Foods that naturally have vitamin D include egg yolks, saltwater fish, and liver.
• The amount of vitamin D you need each day depends on your age.
• Why is Vitamin D so important?
  • Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption and helps maintain adequate levels of calcium and phosphorus in the blood, which is necessary for healthy bones and
  • Without sufficient vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle, or misshapen.
  • Vitamin D has other roles in the body, including reduction of inflammation as well as modulation of such processes as cell growth, neuromuscular and immune function, and glucose metabolism.
• Vitamin D Deficiency:
  • In children, vitamin D deficiency causes rickets, a disease in which the bones become soft, weak, deformed, and painful.
  • In teens and adults, vitamin D deficiency causes osteomalacia, a disorder that causes bone pain and muscle weakness.
  • Vitamin D deficiency may be more common in people with higher skin melanin content (darker skin) and who wear clothing with extensive skin coverage.
• Can Vitamin D be Harmful?
  • Very high levels of vitamin D in your blood can cause nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, confusion, pain, loss of appetite, dehydration, excessive urination and thirst, and kidney stones.
  • Extremely high levels of vitamin D can cause kidney failure, irregular heartbeat, and even death.

About Kandaleru Dam:

• It is a major irrigation and water-supply project located in the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh.
• It is built across the Kandaleru River, a tributary of the Pennar (Penna)
• Key Construction Features:
  • Built using earthen materials (soil and rocks), making it one of the largest earthen dams in India.
  • It is one of the longest reservoirs in the country.
  • It connects with the Somasila Reservoir, ensuring smooth water distribution.
  • It is designed to handle high water pressure, ensuring long-term durability.

• It has a substantial storage capacity, with a maximum capacity of 68 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic feet) of water.
• This capacity ensures a reliable supply for irrigation, drinking, and industrial purposes.
• It also helps in flood control during the monsoon season by regulating the flow of the Kandaleru River.
• This project is a key component of the Telugu Ganga project, which facilitates the supply of drinking water to Chennai city from the Srisailam Reservoir on the Krishna River.
  • The Telugu Ganga Project was approved in 1977, after an agreement between Tamil Nadu and the states from where the Krishna River flows i.e. Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
• A network of canals and tunnels transports water to irrigation lands and Chennai (Kandaleru–Poondi canal).

About Ingerana aizawl:

• It is a new species of frog.
• It was discovered at Hratdawng Stream on the Mizoram University campus.
• Features:
  • The new frog is small and stout-bodied.
  • It has a distinct circular tympanum, a prominent supratympanic fold, small rounded discs at the tips of its fingers and toes, and a notably wrinkled dorsal surface.
  • The species is closely associated with water and forest habitats.
  • Its breeding season appears to coincide with the monsoon.

About Asola-Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is strategically located in Haryana.
• It lies on the Southern Delhi Ridge of the Aravalli hill range.
• Flora:
  • The semi-arid forest vegetation of the Aravali region provides homes to certain plant species.
  • It includes dhak (flame of the forest), babool (Acacia), khejri, and various shrubs and grasses that are well-adapted to dry conditions.
• Fauna:
  • It is home to a wide variety of animals, including the Indian leopard, jackal, Indian blue bull, sambar deer, wild boar, and mongoose.
  • It is also a birdwatcher’s paradise, with many species of birds spotted here, including the Indian peafowl, crested serpent-eagle, and Indian roller.
  • Reptiles such as the monitor lizard, Indian cobra, and Russell’s viper can also be found here.

About Kawal Tiger Reserve:

• Location: It is located in
• The reserve is nestled in the Sahyadri Mountain Ranges.
• Geographically, the reserve is situated at the southernmost tip of the Central Indian Tiger Landscape, having linkages with the Tadoba-Andhari (Maharashtra) and Indravati (Chhattisgarh) tiger reserves.
• Rivers: It is a major catchment of the river Godavari and local rivulets like Peddavagu and Kadam.
• Habitat: It has diverse habitats comprising dense forests, grasslands, rivers, streams, and water bodies.
• Vegetation: Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest.
• Flora: It consists of teak along with bamboo and other species like Anogeissus latifolia, Mitragyna parviflora, Terminalia crenulata, Terminalia arjuna, Boswellia serrata, etc.
• Fauna: he major wild animals include: tiger, nilgai, chousinga, chinkara, black buck, sambar, spotted deer, wild dog, wolf, jackal, fox, leopard and the jungle cat.

About Steneucyrtus wayanadensis:

• It is a new species of darkling beetle.
• It belongs to the genus Steneucyrtus and was discovered during a scientific survey deep within the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. 
• The researchers have officially named it for paying permanent tribute to its type locality in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.

Key Facts about Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is located in
• It forms an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• It is bordered by the protected areas of Nagarhole and Bandipur in Karnataka on the northeastern side and Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu on the southeastern side.
• Rivers: Rivers like the Kabini, Cherupuzha, and Bavali flow through the sanctuary.
• Tribes living in these forests include some scheduled adivasis, such as Paniyas, Kattunaikkans, Kurumas, Ooralis, Adiyans, and Kurichiyas.
• Vegetation: It is a mosaic of the Western Ghats’ significant vegetation types, ranging from moist deciduous to dry deciduous and semi-evergreen patches.
• Flora: Teak, rosewood, eucalyptus, and silver oak.
• Fauna: It is home to leopards, gaur (Indian bison), sambar deer, wild boars, sloth bears, and jungle cats.

About SARAL AI:

• It converts research published in its journals into engaging and accessible videos.
• It is an AI-based platform that demystifies and converts complex research publications and patents into podcasts, short videos, posters, business briefs.
• It is an initiative of Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) New Delhi.
• Features:
  • Researchers upload research papers via arXiv links or direct LaTeX files. The system automatically extracts content and figures.
  • AI Script Generation: System generates engaging presentation scripts using advanced AI models like Gemini and GPT for educational content.
  • Voice Synthesis: System converts scripts to natural-sounding audio narration with support for multiple Indian languages including Hindi.
  • Video Production: System automatically creates professional presentation videos combining slides, narration, and visual elements. The video can be shared on social media
  • Multilingual Support: It presentations and rich social media content in 18 Indian languages, enabling wider dissemination of scientific knowledge across the country.

About MERCOSUR Group:

• The Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR for its Spanish initials) is a South American regional economic organization.
• It is the fourth largest integrated market after the European Union (EU), North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and ASEAN.
• It was created in 1991 by signing the Treaty of Asunción.
• Objective: Free movement of goods, services, capital and people and it became a customs union in January 1995. 
• Member countries: 
  • It originally comprised Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay as its members. 
  • Bolivia and Venezuela joined it later. (Venezuela has been suspended since December 1, 2016).
  • Mercosur also counts Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Suriname as associate members.
• Headquarters: Montevideo, Uruguay.
• Its official working languages are Spanish and Portuguese.
• Governance of MERCOSUR Group:
  • Common Market Council: It is the bloc’s highest decision-making body, and provides a high-level forum for coordinating foreign and economic policy. 
  • The group consists of the foreign and economic ministers of each member state, or their equivalent, and decisions are made by consensus. 
  • The group’s presidency rotates every six months among its full members.

India and MERCOSUR:

• The India-MERCOSUR PTA was signed on 25 January 2004 and entered into force on 1 June 2009.
• The Agreement provides preferential tariff concessions on 450 tariff lines by India and 452 tariff lines by the MERCOSUR side.