About JANANI Platform:

• It is a service-oriented digital platform designed to comprehensively monitor and maintain digital health records of women during their reproductive age.
• It is developed as an upgraded version of the existing RCH portal.
• Objective: The platform aims to ensure seamless tracking of maternal and child health services, covering antenatal care, delivery preparedness, delivery, postnatal care, newborn care, home-based newborn and young child care, and family planning.
• Key feature of JANANI Platform:
  • It introduces QR-enabled digital Mother and Child Health (MCH) Cards, enabling portability and easy access to health records.
  • Smart Tracking & Alerts: It incorporates automated alerts for high-risk pregnancies, real-time dashboards for supervisory review, and due-list generation, enabling timely tracking, monitoring, and targeted interventions.
  • Interoperability: It has interoperability features, enabling integration with national platforms such as U-WIN and POSHAN.
  • Beneficiary Registration: The platform enables registration of beneficiaries using unique identifiers such as ABHA, Aadhaar (OTP and biometric), and mobile number, along with pan-India search functionality.
    • It also provides self-registration facilities through web and mobile platforms, empowering beneficiaries to actively engage with their healthcare journey.
    • It supports citizens by enabling timely scheduling and monitoring of antenatal care visits and immunizations, along with alerts and reminders to ensure that no critical health milestone is missed.

About Gut Microbiome:

• Gut microbiome, gut microbiota, or gut flora refers to the trillions of microbes, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites that live in the human gut.
• The gut microbiota assists in a range of bodily functions, including:
  • harvesting energy from digested food
  • protecting against pathogens
  • regulating immune function
  • strengthening the biochemical barriers of the gut and intestine
• Changes in microbiota composition can affect these functions.
• Disease:
  • While there are beneficial bacteria in the gut, there are also harmful bacteria that can enter the Gastrointestinal (GI) tract and cause infection.
  • These infections include food poisoning and other GI diseases that result in diarrhea and vomiting.
  • Research suggests that bacterial populations in the GI system play a role in developing gut conditions, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
  • Low microbial diversity in the gut also has links to obesity and type 2 diabetes.
  • The status of the gut microbiota also has links to metabolic syndrome.
  • Disturbing the microbiota with antibiotics can also lead to disease, including infections that become resistant to antibiotics.

About Yildirimhan Missile:

• It is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) developed by Turkey.
• If launched from Turkey, the Yildirimhan will be able to hit targets across Europe, Africa, and Asia.
• The missile can travel at up to Mach 25, an extreme hypersonic speed equivalent to 25 times the speed of sound, or nearly eight kilometres per second.
• It has four rocket propulsion engines and is fuelled by liquid nitrogen tetroxide.
• While liquid fuel introduces some “operational trade-offs” in terms of launch readiness, it enables greater optimisation of range and payload.
• The missile is reported to be capable of carrying a warhead, or multiple warheads, with a total weight of up to three tonnes.
• It is expected to be launched from a mobile wheeled launcher.

About Ulsoor Lake:

• Ulsoor Lake, also known as Halasuru Lake, is a man-made lake located in Bangalore,
• It is the largest and oldest lake in the entire city of Bangalore.
• It was built by Kempe Gowda II, the founder of Bangalore, in 1648 and named after the nearby village of Halsur or Alasur.
• It was later renovated by Sir Lewin Bentham Bowring, the commissioner of Bangalore, in 1862 and renamed as Ulsoor after the anglicized version of Halsur.
• It has an irregular shape that resembles a map of India.
• It has seven islands that are connected by bridges.
• There is also a garden at one end of the lake known as Kensington Park.

About Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is located in the district of Yavatmal, Maharashtra.
• The sanctuary derives its name from the nearby ‘Goddess Tipai’ shrine located in the Tipeshwar village.
• Mainly, the sanctuary sprawls amongst the Patanbori and Parwa Ranges of the Pandarkawad Forest Division.
• Four rivers—Purna, Krishna, Bhima, and Tapti—flow gracefully through the sanctuary, earning it the poetic title “Green Oasis of Eastern Maharashtra.”
• The land here is rich with basaltic soil, a remnant of ancient volcanic activity.
• The sanctuary is home to several villages whose inhabitants rely on the forest for their daily livelihoods.
• Flora:
  • The forests of Tipeshwar primarily consist of Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests, with Teak (Tectona grandis) dominating the landscape, covering nearly 60% of the area.
  • Adding to the richness of the forest, red sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus) thrives here, a highly prized timber species known for its medicinal and commercial value.
  • Other prominent trees that form a dense green canopy include Achar (Helicteres isora), Mahua (Madhuca longifolia), Lendia (Lagerstroemia parviflora), and Bhirra (Chloroxylon swietenia).
• Fauna:
  • The place shelters a wide array of animals that include Hyena, Chital, Black buck, Sambar, Jackal, Wild boar, Peacock, Monkey, Blue bull, Wild cat, Bear, and many more.
  • The sanctuary is also home to several species of birds, including the peafowl, grey junglefowl, Indian roller, and several species of raptors.

About Great Nicobar Island:

• It is the largest and southernmost island of the Nicobar group in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• It is separated from the Andaman Islands by the Ten Degree Channel.
• Geographically, the island is closer to Sumatra, Indonesia, than to mainland India, emphasizing its remote and strategic location.
• It is also home to Indira Point, India’s southernmost point, located less than 150 km from Indonesia.
• Mount Thullier is the highest peak.
• Galathea, Alexandra, and Dagmar are the major rivers.
• It remains sparsely populated, with dense tropical rainforests covering more than 85% of its area.
• The major tribes in Great Nicobar Island are the Shompens and the Nicobarese.
• It is home to the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO-designated site.
• Flora and Fauna:
  • It houses species of angiosperms, ferns, gymnosperms, bryophytes, and lichens, among others.
  • The tract is rich in plant diversity and fosters a number of rare and endemic species, including Cyathea albosetacea (tree fern) and Phalaenopsis speciosa (orchid).
  • The well-known Crab-eating Macaque, Nicobar Tree Shrew, Dugong, Nicobar Megapode, Serpent Eagle, saltwater crocodile, marine turtles and Reticulated Python are endemic and/or endangered.

About White-Bellied Heron:

• The white-bellied heron (Ardea insignis ) is the second largest living species of heron.
• Other Names: It is also known as the imperial heron or great white-bellied heron.
• Habitat: It inhabits the wetlands of tropical and subtropical forests in the foothills of the eastern Himalayas.
• Distribution: It is mainly living in the foothills of the eastern Himalayas in northeast India and Bhutan to northern Myanmar.
• Diet: It prefers free-flowing riverine habitats with low disturbance, and predominantly depends on fish found in the river rapids.
• Biological Role: Its presence in our ecosystem indicates the health of the rivers, the environment, the fish population, and water quality.
• Threats: It is threatened by habitat loss, increasing disturbance and habitat degradation due to conversion of wetlands for agriculture and expansion of settlements.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
  • Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule-I.

About Geocell:

• It is a three-dimensional cellular confinement system used in geotechnical engineering to improve soil stability and load-bearing capacity.
• It consists of a network of interconnected honeycomb-like cells made from geosynthetic materials such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polyester.
• These cells are expanded on site to form a mattress-like layer and are filled with infill materials such as soil, sand, aggregate, or clay.
• Once filled and compacted, the geocell layer integrates with the underlying soil to create a stable, reinforced structure.
• Applications:
  • Pavement Load Support: By reinforcing the soil in the subgrade-based interface or within the base course.
  • Steep Soil Slope and Channel Protection: Three-dimensional lateral confinement of Geocell along with anchoring techniques ensures the long-term stability of slopes using vegetated topsoil, aggregate or concrete surfacing.
  • Earth Retention: These can be used for constructing steep vertical mechanically stabilized earth structures.

About Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme:

• It is a central sector scheme launched in in 2008.
• It is a credit-linked subsidy scheme administered by the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME). 
• It aims to create self-employment opportunities for first-generation entrepreneurs and promote sustainable livelihoods in the manufacturing and services sectors, especially in rural areas.
• Implemented By: The scheme is implemented by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission
• Eligibility for Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme:
  • Any individual above 18 years of age is eligible.
  • There will be no income ceiling for assistance for setting up projects under PMEGP.
  • Beneficiaries should possess at least VIII standard pass educational qualification for setting up of projects costing above Rs.10 lakh in the manufacturing sector and above Rs. 5 lakh in the business/service sector.
  • Self Help Groups(including those belonging to BPL provided that they have not availed benefits under any other Scheme), institutions registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, Production Co-operative Societies, and, Charitable Trusts are also eligible for assistance under PMEGP.
  • Existing units that have already availed government subsidy under any other scheme of the Government of India or State Government are not eligible.

About Cyphostemma annamalaii:

• It is a new plant species of Vitaceae Juss, commonly known as the grape family.
• Discovered in: It was found in the southern Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu.
• It is described and illustrated from the tropical dry forests of southern Eastern Ghats.
• Morphological Features of Cyphostemma annamalaii:
  • It is a climber with a round fruit that is yellow.
  • The petals of the flowers are white or yellow. It starts with three leaves and ends with three leaves. 
  • Habitat: It is found in open, scrubby vegetation.
  • It had a tuberous root and climbed by utilising surrounding vegetation for support.

What is Cyphostemma Genus?

• It is the second largest genus, consisting of nearly 250 species.
• It is found in tropical and subtropical regions.