About Kaladi:

• Known as Kalari cheese or the “mozzarella of the Himalayas”, it is a traditional dairy product originated from the Ramnagar area, Udhampur district of Jammu & Kashmir.
• The local delicacy is traditionally made by Gujjar shepherds in the mountains of Kashmir.
• It is a traditionally ripened cheese made from cow’s or goat’s milk.
• Kalari was developed to preserve excess milk during the summer months, when the heat would make it difficult to store fresh milk.
• It received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2023.

About Dakhla Oasis:

• It is a desert oasis located west of the Nile River, between Cairo and Luxor in Egypt.
• It is part of the Western Desert, which covers two-thirds of the land area of the country.
• It is known for its rich history and stunning landscapes.
• Nomadic hunter-gatherers first settled in Dakhla Oasis around 12,000 years ago.
• It has long been a crossroads between different parts of North Africa.
  • Ancient routes passing through the region connected communities travelling between Egypt, the Sahara, and Libya, leaving behind evidence of repeated human activity.
• Among the most valuable remains are thousands of petroglyphs carved into exposed rock surfaces.
  • Some depict animals that once lived in a wetter Sahara, while others show people, hunting scenes, and symbols connected to different periods of settlement.
• It was only connected to the outside world by a road built in the 80s, the so-called Great Desert Loop.
• The soil's exceptional fertility makes Dakhla famous. Local farmers grow dates, olives, and other crops that are the foundations of the region's agriculture.
• The oasis also features therapeutic hot springs like Bir Tarfawi and Bir Al-Gebel.
• Dakhla Oasis is home to several important sites, including Mut, Al-Qasr village, and the Dakhla Oasis Heritage Museum.

What is an Oasis?

• An oasis is an area made fertile by a source of freshwater in an otherwise dry and arid region.
• Oases (more than one oasis) are irrigated by natural springs or other underground water sources.
• They vary in size from a cluster of date palms around a well or a spring to a city and its irrigated cropland.
• Dates, cotton, olives, figs, citrus fruits, wheat, and corn (maize) are common oasis crops.
• Underground water sources called aquifers supply most oases.
• In some cases, a natural spring brings the underground water to the surface. At other oases, manmade wells tap the aquifer.

About Modhera Sun Temple:

• It is a Hindu temple dedicated to the solar deity Surya located at Modhera village of the Mehsana district, Gujarat.
• It is situated on the bank of the river Pushpavati.
• It was built after 1026-27 CE during the reign of King Bhima I of the Chaulukya dynasty.
• No worship is offered now and is a protected monument maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
• It entered the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the year 2014.
• Architecture:
  • The temple complex is built in Maru-Gurjara style (Chaulukya style).
  • The temple complex has three components: Gudhamandapa, the shrine hall; Sabhamandapa, the assembly hall; and Kunda, the reservoir.
  • Each part is aligned along an east-west axis, reinforcing the temple’s connection to the sun’s movement.
  • The halls have intricately carved exterior and pillars.
  • Sabha Mandap standing on 52 pillars, depicting the 52 weeks in a year. The intricate carvings on the pillars depict scenes from ancient Indian epics Ramayana, Mahabharata and scenes from the life of Lord Krishna.
  • The reservoir has steps to reach the bottom and numerous small shrines.
  • On equinoxes, with the perfect planning and precision of the architecture, sun rays enter the main sanctum.
  • In those days light was used to further reflect to other idols from the correctly placed diamond on the head of Sun God.
  • The exterior walls are engraved with beautiful intricate carvings.

About Arteries:

• Arteries are the blood vessels that bring oxygen-rich blood from heart to all of the body’s cells.
• Arteries make up a major part of the circulatory system, with the veins and heart being the other main components.
• They play a crucial role in distributing oxygen, nutrients, and hormones throughout the body.
• The heart pumps oxygen-rich blood into the biggest artery in the body, the aorta.
• This branches off into parts that feed smaller and smaller arteries, eventually reaching the entire body.
• Arteries keep the body alive and healthy by delivering what the cells and tissues need.
• Roughly 10% of the body’s blood is in the arteries at any point in time.
• The arteries have three layers:
  • Tunica intima, or inner layer: Has tissue with elastic fiber.
  • Tunica media, or middle layer: This is mostly smooth muscle that lets arteries get tighter or more open as needed.
  • Tunica externa, or outer layer: Interacts with other tissues, including nerves that send commands to pull in or expand.
• The two types of arteries are:
  • Elastic: Have more elastic tissue than muscular arteries and are located close to the heart. Examples: Aorta and pulmonary artery.
  • Muscular: Have more smooth muscle than elastic arteries. Examples: Femoral, radial, and brachial arteries.
• Specific arteries provide blood to organs or certain parts of the body, such as:
  • Coronary arteries: Heart.
  • Carotid arteries: Brain, head, face and neck.
  • Vertebral arteries: Brain and spine.
  • Iliac arteries: Pelvis.
  • Femoral artery: Legs.
  • Subclavian arteries: Head, neck, and arms.
  • Celiac and mesenteric arteries: Digestive system.
• Conditions that can harm your arteries include:
  • Atherosclerosis, a condition in which plaque builds up inside arteries.
    • Over time, plaque hardens and causes arteries to narrow.
    • That limits the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the body.
  • Aneurysm (a stretch or bulge in an artery that can break open).
  • Blood clot.
  • Coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis in your coronary arteries).
  • Carotid artery disease (atherosclerosis in your carotid artery).
  • High blood pressure.
  • High cholesterol.
  • Peripheral artery disease (PAD): A common condition in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the arms or legs.

How are arteries different from veins?

• Arteries:
  • Take oxygen-rich blood away from heart and distribute it to whole body.
  • Have strong, muscular walls that can handle the high pressure of blood the heart pumps out with each heartbeat.
• Veins:
  • Bring blood back to the heart after body’s cells and tissues have taken the oxygen out of it. This is known as oxygen-poor blood or deoxygenated blood.
  • Have thinner walls because the pressure inside them isn’t as high as it is in arteries.
  • Have valves inside them to keep blood from moving in the wrong direction.

About Tetrataenium manipurense:

• It is a new plant species from Manipur.
• Locally known as 'Singjang-kumol' or 'Manshang-nakuppi', the species has been named Tetrataenium manipurense after the state of Manipur.
• It is a local culinary herb in Manipur.
• Despite its long-standing popularity in traditional Manipuri cuisine, the plant previously lacked official recognition in global scientific records.
• It has long, slender, grass-like green leaflets and an exceptionally long cylindrical rootstock.
• The plant also produces stalks that bear small, oblong-oval fruits.
• For generations, communities have harvested its aerial shoots, flowers, and basal leaves to season traditional dishes.
• Local markets in Manipur have been trading this wild aromatic vegetable for generations, where it is typically sold in bundles of fresh green sprigs.
• It is provisionally categorised as Least Concern (LC) under the IUCN Red List criteria.

About Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI):

• It is published biennially by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
• It has evolved from the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI), published biennially from 2007 to 2019 by the WEF.
• Relaunched in 2022 in its current form, it reflects a broader focus on sustainable and resilient development, beyond competitiveness alone.
• TTDI 2026 Highlights:
  • It was published by WEF in collaboration with Zurich Insurance Group.
  • It ranked 110 economies on the factors and conditions that support the development of travel and tourism.
  • Being high on the TTDI does not necessarily mean a country receives the most tourists.
  • The index is designed to measure how well economies are positioned to support sustainable and resilient tourism development.
  • Japan moved up two places to take the top spot in the 2026 ranking. It was followed by the US, Spain, Australia, and France. And, Germany, the UK, China, Switzerland, and Italy comprised the top 10.
  • India Rankings:
    • India is ranked 31st, moving up from 39th place in 2024, helped by its low travel costs, cultural resources, and natural attractions.
    • India also ranks among the top 10 economies for the number of World Heritage cultural sites, along with China and Mexico.
    • The report also pointed to some challenges for India. Workforce skills, environmental sustainability, and tourism infrastructure remain areas that need improvement.
  • Tourism conditions improve worldwide:
    • Tourism conditions improved across most economies between 2024 and 2026.
    • ●       International tourist arrivals reached 1.5 billion in 2025, with arrivals 4.4% higher than pre-pandemic levels.
    • 101 of the 110 economies covered by the index improved their scores during the period.
    • The average score rose 2.1%, the fastest growth since 2019.
    • China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Viet Nam, the Philippines, Türkiye, Mexico, and Brazil, the 10 largest non-high-income travel and tourism economies account for more than 28% of global direct travel and tourism GDP, with their share projected to rise to 35% by 2035.

About Begonia rajvikramanii:

• It is a new species of perennial flowering plant.
• It belongs to the genus Begonia in the family Begoniaceae.
  • The genus Begonia is one of the largest flowering plant genera, with 2,200 accepted species, mainly distributed across the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and America.
• Begonia rajvikramanii was discovered from the Western Ghats region in Keralam’s Kollam district.
• It grows in wet habitats, particularly on rocky cliffs and road-cut walls, at elevations of approximately 200 metres-350 metres
• Flowering and fruiting of Begonia rajvikramanii occurs between August and April.
• It has been assessed as ‘Data Deficient’ (DD), pending comprehensive assessment in the future.

About Polylactic Acid:

• It is a biodegradable, thermoplastic polymer derived from renewable resources such as corn starch or sugarcane.
• It is synthesized through the fermentation of glucose to produce lactic acid, which is then polymerized.
• Applications: PLA is known for its eco-compatibility and versatility, finding applications in areas like food packaging, medical sutures, and 3D printing.
• Advantages of Polylactic Acid:
  • Reduces Carbon Footprint: Its bio-based origin ensures a reduced carbon footprint and aligns with global sustainability goals.
  • Dual Benefit: PLA’s ability to integrate agricultural waste into the value chain can create dual benefits first with farmers gaining additional income streams, and second is industries achieving a sustainable supply of raw materials.
  • Resource utilization: Integrating PLA production within existing agro-industrial frameworks—such as co-locating bioplastic plants with sugar mills—can optimize resource utilization while reducing waste.

About Livestock Insurance Portal:

• It will provide a single, integrated digital platform for livestock insurance.
• It is aimed at making livestock insurance services more transparent, efficient, accessible and technology-driven.
• It will strengthen risk protection for livestock farmers and supporting the sustainability of their livelihoods.
• It is an initiative of the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
• Features
  • It enables streamlined policy issuance, claim processing, monitoring and reporting, in case of animals insured under the Livestock Insurance Scheme of the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying.
  • The Portal will also be available in 11 regional languages apart from Hindi and English, enabling livestock farmers to access information and services in languages familiar to them.
  • It will also facilitate better coordination, real-time monitoring and data-driven management of livestock insurance programmes, contributing to improved service delivery across the country.

About Musk Deer:

• Musk deer (Moschidae) are small deer-like animals that belong to the family Moschidae.
• Appearance: Its coat is dark brown, mottled with paler, greyer hair underneath. It has whitish markings on its chin and ears.
• Habitat: They typically inhabit forests and brushlands at intermediate elevations and rocky slopes at altitudes between 2,600 and 3,000 meters.
• Distribution: They live in highland areas in central and northeastern Asia, particularly in western China, Myanmar and the Himalayas.
• Characteristics:
  • They are shy, usually feeding at night, and tend to live alone, occasionally in pairs but never in herds.
  • Musk deer lacks antlers.
  • The animal has well-developed side toes that give it a sure-footedness and allow to scamper around rocks in the snow and even climb trees.
  • Diet: Their diet includes both browse and graze, and they also consume some mosses and lichens
  • A musk deer pod is a specialised scent gland found in the abdomen of a male musk deer.
    • It produces a strong-smelling, reddish-brown secretion used in traditional perfumes and medicines.
  • A musk gland in males produces a strong scent used for communication/territorial marking.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN: Endangered
  • CITES: Appendix I
  • The Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972: Schedule I