About Mekedatu Dam Project:

• It is a multi-purpose (drinking water and power) project involving the construction of a balancing reservoir near Kanakapura in the Ramanagara district, Karnataka.
• The project is proposed at the confluence of the Cauvery River with its tributary Arkavathi. It would generate 400 MW of hydroelectricity once operational.
• Issue:
  • Tamil Nadu, the lower riparian state, has been opposing the project, raising apprehensions that the state would be affected if the project takes shape.
  • Tamil Nadu says, Mekedatu area represents the last free point in Karnataka from where Cauvery water flows unrestricted into Tamil Nadu, and the Mekedatu dam project is an attempt by Karnataka to block this free flow of water.

About Hawfinch:

• It is a large passerine bird native to Europe, North Africa, and East Asia.
• It is the biggest bird of the Fringillidae family.
• Scientific Name: Coccothraustes coccothraustes
• Distribution:
  • Hawfinches are found across Europe, Eastern Asia (the Palearctic including North Japan), and North Africa (Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria).
  • They are mainly resident in Europe, but many Asian birds migrate further south in the winter.
• Habitat: The hawfinch frequents deciduous and mixed forests.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Key Facts about Jim Corbett National Park:

• It is located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand.
• It is part of the larger Corbett Tiger Reserve.
• It is part of the sub-Himalayan ecosystem.
• It is India’s oldest national park.
  • It was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park.
  • It was later renamed in 1957 in memory of Jim Corbett, a famous hunter and conservationist who played a key role in the establishment of the park.
• Rivers:
  • The eastern periphery of Corbett National Park is entirely fed by the Kosi River.
  • The Ramganga River (West), along with its significant tributaries Sonanadi, Palain, and Mandal, forms the prominent hydrological resource for the Corbett.
• Flora: Almost three-quarters of the park is encompassed by deciduous forest, including peepal, rohini, and mango trees.
• Fauna: Bengal tigers, Indian elephants, leopards, sloth bears, deer.

About Bnei Menashe:

• Bnei Menashe is an ethnic community that hails from the northeastern states of Mizoram and Manipur.
• They claim to be the descendants of the biblical tribe of Manasseh, considered one of the "lost tribes" of Israel.
• They are Christians converted into Jews and observe traditional Jewish practices and celebrate holidays such as Sukkot.
• Historians believe this community may have arrived in India within the last 300–500 years.
• Their ancestors were exiled long before the Roman dispersion, but they continued to practice Judaism across the generations, even if not in a contemporary Orthodox way.
• Once they came into contact with Israel and global Jewry in the 1980s, they embraced modern Jewish learning and practice.
• Nearly half of the 'Bnei Menashe' population migrated to Israel over a period of time and became its citizens.
• According to the recent Israeli Government plan, approximately 1,200 community members are expected to immigrate to Israel by the end of 2026.
• A second stage, slated for completion by 2030, will bring an additional people, effectively completing the arrival of the entire community.

About International Astronomical Union (IAU)

• It was founded in 1919 as a senior body governing international professional astronomical activities worldwide.
• Its mission is to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects, including research, communication, education, and development, through international cooperation.
• Activities:
  • Definition of fundamental astronomical and dynamical constants and unambiguous astronomical nomenclature
  • Rapid dissemination of new discoveries
  • Organization of international observing campaigns
  • Promotion of educational activities in astronomy to early informal discussions of possible future international large-scale facilities.
• It is the only organization recognized professionally for the naming of astronomical bodies, which it does solely on the basis of merit, history, or discoverer’s privilege.
• The IAU holds a General Assembly every three years in varying parts of the world. The long-term policy of the IAU is defined by the General Assembly.
• Headquarters: Paris, France.
• Membership:
  • Its individual Members — structured into Divisions, Commissions, and Working Groups — are professional astronomers from all over the world, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, who are active in professional research, education and outreach in astronomy.

About Euthanasia:

• The word ‘Euthanasia’ is derived from the Greek, ‘Eu’ meaning ‘good’ and ‘thanatos’ meaning ‘death’, put together it means ‘good death’.
• Euthanasia is defined as the hastening of death of a patient to prevent further sufferings.
• Types:
  • Active euthanasia refers to the physician's deliberate act, usually the administration of lethal drugs, to end an incurably or terminally ill patient’s life.
  • There are three types of active euthanasia in relation to giving consent for euthanasia, namely
    • voluntary euthanasia – at patient request,
    • non-voluntary – without patient consent,
    • involuntary euthanasia – the patient is not in a position to give consent.
  • Passive euthanasia refers to withholding or withdrawing treatment which is necessary for maintaining life.
• Common conditions which make patients seek euthanasia are terminally ill cancer patients, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and other terminally ill conditions where there is no active treatment.
• Legality:
  • Passive euthanasia is generally accepted worldwide.
  • Active involuntary euthanasia is illegal in almost all countries. It is considered criminal homicide in most of the countries.
• Legality in India:
  • Passive Euthanasia:
    • A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court in Common Cause vs. Union of India (2018) recognised a person’s right to die with dignity.
    • It said that a terminally ill person can opt for passive euthanasia and execute a living will to refuse medical treatment.
    • The Court permitted an individual to draft a living will specifying that she or he will not be put on life support if they slip into an incurable coma.
    • The Court recognised the right to die with dignity as a fundamental right and an aspect of Article 21 (Right to Life).
  • Active euthanasia: In India, active euthanasia is a crime.

What is Quadriplegia?

• Quadriplegia, or Tetraplegia, is a condition of paralysis that affects all the limbs and body from the neck to the down.
• The most common cause of quadriplegia is an injury to the spinal cord at the level of the neck.
• Quadriplegia is sometimes treatable, but in most cases injury results in permanent paralysis.
• Quadriplegia is when the person can’t deliberately control or move his muscles, and it can affect a person from the neck to down.
• Depending on how and why it happens, it can affect the ability to move parts of the body, as well as some of the body’s automatic processes that keep the person alive.

About Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis:

• It is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. It is a progressive neurological disorder that affects muscle movement.
• It can occur at any age but symptoms commonly develop between the age of 55 and 75. The men are more likely to develop the condition.
• Causes: In few people with ALS, a genetic cause can be identified.
• How does ALS affect the body?
  • In people with ALS, the motor neurons degenerate and die and messages sent by the brain do not reach the muscles which results into muscles atrophy (lose strength and become weak).
  • Eventually, the brain loses control over voluntary movements including walking, chewing and even breathing, as the condition progresses. 
• Symptoms and progression of ALS:
  • It includes muscle twitches in the arms, leg, shoulders or tongue; muscle cramps;
  • Tightness or stiffness of muscles; muscle weakness in a limb or the neck; and difficulty in chewing or swallowing. 
• Treatment for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis:
  • There is no treatment to reverse nerve degeneration, but some therapy may help to delay progression.
    • A treatment would include physical, occupational and speech therapy to improve quality of life.

About Entrepreneur-in-Residence Programme:

• It is one of the programs introduced under National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI).
• It aims to encourage graduates to take to entrepreneurship as a prospective career option by providing financial and non-financial support in the form of a fellowship. 
• Features of Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) Programme
  • Financial Support: Recipient is eligible to get financial support of up to INR 30,000/- monthly.
  • It is offered to graduate students for a maximum period of 12 months.
  • The Programme includes access to the infrastructure facilities at the TBI, mentoring support and guidance, technical and financial advice, industry connections.
  • Implementation: It is implemented by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India in association with NCL Venture Centre, Pune.

What is NIDHI Programme ?

• National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) as an umbrella programme for nurturing ideas and innovations (knowledge-based and technology-driven) into successful startups.

About Finn’s Weaver Bird:

• Finn's weaver (Ploceus megarhynchus ) are also known as Finn's baya and yellow weaver is a weaver bird species.
• Distribution: It is native to the Ganges and Brahmaputra valleys in India and Nepal.
• Habitat: They live close to water bodies. Marshy soil, tall grasses, Semal (silk cotton) and Shisham (rosewood) trees make up their natural habitat.
• Diet: They are largely granivorous.
• Threats: Human activities including expansion of agriculture, grass cutting, construction work, residential buildings, and increase in industrial units across the Terai has disrupted the natural habitat of these birds. 
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN: Vulnerable
  • WildLife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule IV.

About Young Stellar Objects:

• These are stars in the earliest stages of their lives where stars stably fuse hydrogen in their cores.
  • This is the stage before the stars enter the main sequence of what is called the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram (a plot showing stars in various stages of evolution based on their temperature and brightness).
• These objects typically reside within dense molecular clouds rich in gas and interstellar material.
• Formation: YSOs form from the collapse of dense molecular clouds, triggered by events like nearby supernova explosions, stellar radiation, or turbulence in the interstellar medium.
• Types: There are two principal kinds of YSOs: Protostars and Pre-main sequence stars.
• Stages of Young Stellar Objects:
  • Class 0 and Class I phases: These are mostly visible in infrared and radio wavelengths due to their thick dust envelopes.
  • Class II and Class III: In this phase object becomes visible in optical wavelengths as it clears away its surrounding envelope.
• Significance of studying Observing YSOs :
  • Understanding Star Formation: They provide Insights into the processes that lead to star formation, including magnetic activity, stellar winds, and outflows.
  • Planet Formation: They help in understanding the conditions that lead to planet formation and the early solar system.

About Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets:

• It aims to establish 6,000 Metric Tons per Annum (MTPA) of integrated Rare Earth Permanent Magnet (REPM) manufacturing in India.
• It will support the creation of integrated REPM manufacturing facilities, involving conversion of rare earth oxides to metals, metals to alloys, and alloys to finished REPMs.
• Features of Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets:
  • Duration: 7 years (2 years for setting up an integrated REPM manufacturing facility + 5 years incentive disbursement on the sale of REPM.)
  • With this initiative, India will establish its first ever integrated REPM manufacturing facilities in India.

What are Rare Earth Magnets?

• These are a type of permanent magnet made from alloys of rare earth elements.
• Properties: Exceptional magnetic strength, high energy density, and superior performance compared to other types of magnets.
• Types: Neodymium (Nd-Fe-B) and Samarium Cobalt (SmCo) are the two most common types of rare earth magnet materials. Both types are extremely strong.
• Neo magnets are composed primarily of neodymium, boron and iron, and samarium cobalt is composed of samarium and cobalt.
• Applications: These are used in electric vehicles, renewable energy, electronics, aerospace, and defence applications.