About Mount Dukono:

• It is an active volcano located on Halmahera Island in North Maluku, Indonesia.
• It is a complex volcano presenting a broad, low profile with multiple summit peaks and overlapping craters.
• It is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region with high tectonic activity.
• Since its first eruption in 1933, the volcano has exhibited significant volcanic activity, including frequent eruptions and smoke emissions.
  • Eruptions have been explosive and also produced lava flows and mudflows.
  • It often produces ash plumes that can reach several kilometers into the atmosphere.
• The tropical rainforest surrounding the volcano is home to various endemic flora and fauna species.

About Korowai Tribe:

• The Korowai tribe is a group of indigenous people who live in the southeastern part of Papua, Indonesia.
• The tribe has unique cultural practices and a unique way of living in treehouses high above the ground.
• The Korowai people have a deep connection to the forest, which they rely on for their survival.
• They hunt and gather food from the forest, including wild animals and plants.
• They live high up in the trees which they built on the tree trunks.
• The Korowai people were totally disconnected from the outside world until the 1970s.
• They have been sensationalised in modern media for their association with cannibalism, a practice of eating human flesh.
  • While it is believed that the tribe historically practised cannibalism as part of their spiritual and social beliefs, it has largely faded over time.

About Leprosy:

• Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is an infectious disease caused by a type of bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae.
• It primarily affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract, and the eyes.
• It is a neglected tropical disease (NTD).
• People affected by the disease often face social isolation and discrimination, particularly in regions where the illness is more common.
• Transmission:
  • The disease is transmitted through droplets from the nose and mouth of an untreated case of leprosy, containing the causative agent, following prolonged, close contact.
  • The disease does not spread through casual contact (like shaking hands or hugging, sharing meals or sitting next to each other).
  • The patient stops transmitting the disease upon initiation of treatment.
• Treatment:
  • Leprosy is a curable disease.
  • The currently recommended treatment regimen consists of three medicines (dapsone, rifampicin, and clofazimine) and is referred to as multi-drug therapy (MDT).

About Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is located in the Junagadh district of Gujarat.
• It spans the rugged terrain of the Girnar hills, which are a part of the Saurashtra region.
• Girnar has a rich cultural and religious significance with Hindu and Jain temples situated on the hills.
• Flora:
  • Predominantly dry deciduous forests with species like teak, dhak, acacia, and other drought-resistant plants.
  • The sanctuary supports a mix of dense forest, open scrub, and grasslands.
• Fauna:
  • It is filled with abundant wildlife, including Asiatic lions, spotted deer, Sambar, Chousinghas, Chinkaras, leopards, Indian golden jackals, and around 300 species of birds, which include both resident and migratory.
  • It serves as an extension of the Gir National Park’s lion population.

About DAMPE Satellite:

• DAMPE (Dark Matter Particle Explorer), also known as “Wukong”, is China's first astronomical satellite.
• It is a powerful space telescope for high-energy gamma-ray, electron, and cosmic ray detection.
• The satellite was launched into a polar, sun-synchronous orbit with an altitude of 500 km in 2015.
• The main scientific objective of DAMPE is to measure electrons and photons with much higher energy resolution and energy reach than achievable with existing space experiments in order to identify possible dark matter signatures.
• It also has great potential in advancing the understanding of the origin and propagation mechanism of high-energy cosmic rays, as well as in new discoveries in high-energy gamma astronomy.

About Hepatitis:

• It is an inflammation of the liver that is caused by a variety of infectious viruses and non-infectious agents.
• It is commonly the result of a viral infection, but there are other possible causes of hepatitis.
  • These include autoimmune hepatitis and hepatitis that occurs as a secondary result of medications, drugs, toxins, and alcohol.
  • Autoimmune hepatitis is a disease that occurs when your body makes antibodies against your liver tissue.
• Common Symptoms: Fatigue, flu-like symptoms, dark urine, pale stool, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, yellow skin and eyes, which may be signs of jaundice.
• Classification of Hepatitis Virus:
  • Hepatitis A: It is the result of an infection with the hepatitis A virus (HAV). This type of hepatitis is an acute, short-term disease.
  • Hepatitis B: The hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes hepatitis B. This is often an ongoing, chronic condition.
  • Hepatitis C: It comes from the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It is among the most common bloodborne viral infections and typically presents as a long-term condition.
  • Hepatitis D: It is a rare form of hepatitis that only occurs in conjunction with hepatitis B
    • The hepatitis D virus (HDV) causes liver inflammation like other strains, but a person cannot contract HDV without an existing hepatitis B infection.
  • Hepatitis E: It is a waterborne disease that results from exposure to the hepatitis E virus (HEV).
    • It is mainly found in areas with poor sanitation and typically results from ingesting fecal matter that contaminates the water supply.
  • Treatment:
    • There are vaccines that can help protect against many hepatitis viruses.
    • There are vaccines for prevention against Hepatitis A, B and D.
    • However, there is no vaccine for Hepatitis C or E.

About Whitley Awards:

• It is often called as the “Green Oscars,”
• It recognises grassroots conservation leaders in the Global South.
• It is given by the UK charity Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN).
• It provides winners with £50,000 in project funding over one year to scale up local solutions to biodiversity loss.

Key Facts about Himalayan salamander

• It is a lizard-like amphibian species.
• Although it resembles a lizard, it lacks scales on its body.
• Distribution: It is endemic to India (the Darjeeling region), Nepal and Bhutan,
• Salamanders return to their natal site to breed and lay eggs—a process known as philopatry, which makes them highly vulnerable to changes in habitat and wetland health.
• Cultural Significance: The wetlands where Himalayan salamanders breed are culturally revered water bodies, associated with local deities and rituals.
• Conservation Status: IUCN: Vulnerable

Key Facts about Indian skimmer

• It is one of the three species that belong to the skimmer genus Rynchops in the family Laridae. 
• It gets its name from the way it feeds, flying low over the water surface and ‘skimming’for fish.
• Habitat: It occurs primarily on larger, sandy, lowland rivers, around lakes and adjacent marshes.
• Distribution: It is mainly found in India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, with some populations extending to Nepal and Myanmar.

In India, one of the key areas for spotting Indian Skimmers is the Chambal River.

Conservation status: IUCN: Endangered

About Jamaica:

• It is a large island nation located in the west-central Caribbean in the Greater Antilles archipelago.
• It is situated to the south of Cuba; to the west of Hispaniola Islands (Haiti & the Dominican Republic) and to the northwest of Cayman Islands.
• It is surrounded by the Caribbean Sea.
• Capital City: Kingston
• Geographical Features of Jamaica:
  • Climate: The tropical climate is influenced by the sea and the northeast trade winds, which are dominant throughout the year.
  • Major Mountains: It consists of Blue Mountains (highest point), John Crow Mountains, Don Figuero Mountains, Santa Cruz, etc.
  • Major Rivers: Rio Minho (the longest river of Jamaica), Black River, Rio Cobre
  • Natural Resources: Jamaica's main natural resources are bauxite, gypsum and limestone.

What is Aarogya Maitri?

• 'Aarogya Maitri' project is a humanitarian initiative that extends India's commitment to global health and disaster relief.
• The Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri (BHISHM), part of Project Aarogya Maitri, is an innovative emergency medical aid program.
  • At its core are compact, portable "mini cubes" filled with essential medicines and equipment, designed for rapid deployment in various emergencies.

About INS Mahendragiri:

• It is the sixth ship of Nilgiri Class (Project 17A).
• It was designed by Warship Design Bureau (WDB).
• It was built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL) Mumbai.
• Features of INS Mahendragiri:
  • Propulsion: These ships are configured with Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion plants.
  • Comprising a diesel engine and a gas turbine that drive a Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP) on each shaft, and state-of-the-art Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS)
  • Armaments: The potent weapon and sensor suite comprises anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare systems.

What are Project 17A frigates?

• These are versatile multi-mission platforms designed to address current and emerging challenges in the maritime domain. 
• The five already delivered to the Navy are INS Nilgiri, INS Himgiri, INS Udaygiri, INS Taragiri and INS Vindhyagiri.
• Armaments: P17A ships are fitted with an advanced weapon and sensor suite like MF-STAR active phased array radar, BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, and Barak-8 long-range surface-to-air missiles, designed for superior anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare.