About Mayon Volcano:

• It is an active volcano located in Albay province on Luzon Island in the Philippines.
• It is a stratovolcano, that is, it is made out of alternating strata of lava and ash and is part of the Ring of Fire in the Pacific Ocean.
• It is located on the eastern side of Luzon, beside the Philippine Trench, which is the convergent boundary where the Philippine Sea Plate is driven under the Philippine Mobile Belt.
• It is the Philippines’ most active volcano.
• It is one of the most symmetrical volcanic cones on Earth.
• Popular with climbers and campers, the volcano is the centre of Mayon Volcano National Park. UNESCO named it an official biosphere reserve in 2016.

About Teghaza 001:

• It is a rose-coloured meteorite discovered in the Sahara Desert in 2022.
• The meteorite was named after the Teghaza salt plain in Mali, where it was discovered.
• It is among roughly 435 Martian meteorites identified on Earth and is considered one of the three most ancient samples of the Red Planet found so far.
• The other two among the three most ancient Martian meteorites found on Earth are ALH84001 and a sample nicknamed Black Beauty.

• What impressed researchers most was the presence of chemical markers indicating that the rock had been in contact with liquid water during its formation and evolution.
• This makes Teghaza 001 a direct witness to an era when Mars was wet and potentially suitable for life to emerge.

Key facts about Meteoroid, a meteor and a meteorite:

• Meteoroids: Meteoroids are bits of solid material of different sizes orbiting the Sun.
• Meteors form when meteoroids enter Earth’s atmosphere (or that of another planet, like Mars) at high speed and burn up, the fireballs, or “shooting stars.”
• Meteorites: When a meteoroid survives a trip through the atmosphere and hits the ground, it’s called a meteorite.

About Chidambaram Sabanayagar Temple:

• The Great Chidambaram Temple, also known as the Thillai Nataraja Temple or Sri Sabanayagar Temple, is a Hindu temple located in the temple town of Chidambaram in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu.
• It is dedicated to Nataraja, the cosmic dance form of Lord Shiva.
• History:
  • Historical evidence suggests a Shiva shrine existed at the site well before the 7th century AD, when the town was referred to as Thillai.
  • The Chola dynasty, who revered Nataraja as their family deity, significantly contributed to the temple's construction and enhancement during the 10th century.
  • It was during this period that the Chola king, Parantaka I, established the temple's golden roof.
  • Notable rulers such as Rajaraja Chola I, Kulothunga Chola I, Kundavai II, the daughter of Rajaraja Chola, and Vikrama Chola made considerable offerings to the shrine during its flourishing era.
  • Following the 10th century, the temple underwent various phases of damage, repair, renovation, and expansion throughout the 2nd millennium.
  • The majority of the temple's existing layout, architectural features, and structural elements date back to the late 12th and early 13th centuries, with subsequent additions made in a similar architectural style.
  • Over the years, numerous kingdoms, including the Viyanagara Rulers, Madurai Nayakas, Maharaja of Pudukkottai, Sethupathy, and even the British, have made donations to the temple.
  • The Podhu Dikshidars, a hereditary community of priests, have been managing the temple for centuries, unlike most of the other famous and historic temples.
• Architecture:
  • It is a remarkable testament to the brilliance of Chola architecture.
  • This site holds considerable scientific significance, as it is positioned at the world's Magnetic Equator.
  • The temple complex is embedded inside four prakarams (courtyards), each surrounded by walls.
  • There are nine prominent gopurams that link the various courtyards.
  • The innermost structures, including the sanctum and the shrines, are designed with square layouts, and the roof of the sanctum sanctorum is adorned with gold plates.
  • The temple's wall carvings depict all 108 karanas from the Natya Shastra, authored by Bharata Muni, which serve as the foundational postures for Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance form.
  • The temple comprises five principal Halls or Sabhas: the Kanaka Sabha, the Chit Sabha, the Nritta Sabha, the Deva Sabha, and the Raja Sabha.

About Project 28A:

• It is the Indian Navy’s Next Generation Corvettes (NGCs) programme.
• Under the contracts, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE), Kolkata, will construct five corvettes, while Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) will construct the remaining three.
• It is the first project in which the ships will be indigenously designed by the Indian Navy and constructed by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) selected through a competitive process.
• A corvette in the Indian Navy is a small, fast, and heavily armed warship ranked just below a frigate in size.
• NGCs are designed for multi-role operations, including offensive Ship-to-Ship or Ship-to-Surface Missile Attacks, Anti-Missile Defences, Anti-Submarine Warfare Operations, Escort Duties, Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) including Visit Board Search and Seizure, and Local Naval Defence.
• The Indian Navy currently operates 18 to 24 corvettes in active service.
• Features of NGCs:
  • The platforms will have a highly sophisticated propulsion architecture of a Combined Diesel and Gas turbine with a Cross-Connect gearbox (CODAG-CC), driving two Controllable Pitch Propellers (CPP).
  • Their maximum speed will be 26 knots.
  • The warships will be fitted with advanced weapons and navigation suites.
    • The proposed systems include Medium Range Anti-Ship Missiles, Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (MRSAM) and torpedo tubes.
    • The armament suite will also include an OTO Melara 76 mm Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM) with the latest upgrade, an AK-630 Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) and 12.7 mm Stabilised Remote-Controlled Guns (SRCGs) integrated with an Electro-Optic-based Fire Control System (EOFCS).
    • The sensor suite will include an Electro-Optical Infrared Search and Track (EOIRST) system and a Multi-Function Surveillance, Track, and Guidance Radar (MFSTAR).
  • The NGCs will also carry helicopters.

About Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is located in Maharashtra. 
• Nestled in the southern end of the Sahyadri hills in the Western Ghats, it was the former hunting ground of the Maharaja of Kolhapur.
• It was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1958 and is the first declared wildlife sanctuary in Maharashtra.
• It was specially created for the conservation of the Indian bison (Gaur).
• The sanctuary is also called ‘Dajipur Wildlife Sanctuary’ and ‘Bison Sanctuary’.
• The rivers that flow across the sanctuary are Bhogavati, Kallamma, Dudhganga, Dirba, and Tulshi, which then join the Krishna River.
• At its heart lies the scenic Radhanagari Dam on the Bhogawati River, which plays a vital role in maintaining the forest ecosystem.
• Flora:
  • It contains tropical evergreen forests typical of the northern Western Ghats.
  • The main flora found here are Ain, Anjani, Amba, Awala, Bhoma, Bibba, Chandala, Gela, Hirda, Jambul, Jambha, Kinjal, Kumbha, Katak, Nana, Pisa, Umbar, etc.
• Fauna:
  • The Indian Bison is the flagship species of the area.
  • Besides, one can also spot leopards, sloth bears, tigers, barking deer, mouse deer, sambar, giant squirrels, and wild dogs.
  • It is also designated as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.
  • It is home to the rare and globally threatened Nilgiri wood-pigeon, along with Ceylon frogmouth, yellow-browed bulbul, dusky eagle-owl, Malabar grey hornbill, and great pied hornbill, and one of India's most admired songbirds, the Malabar whistling thrush.

About Asiatic Black Bear:

• It is a medium-sized bear species native to Asia.
• It is unique among bears in that it is largely adapted to an arboreal lifestyle.
• Appearance: Its fur is black with a “V” shape of light beige to white on its chest, a small beige to white crescent on its throat, and a small white spot on its chin.
• Habitat: The species prefers heavily forested broadleaved and coniferous forest as as habitat.  It uses orchards, agricultural fields and human habitation to move between forest patches.
• Distribution: It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Iran, Japan and South Korea
  • They are found across Himalayan ranges from eastern to western side at an altitude between 2,600-ft and 11,400-ft above sea level.
• Diet: They are omnivores that normally feed on berries, cherries, acorns, insects, squirrels and frogs, and typically hibernate from late Nov to March.
• They are excellent climbers and swimmers, often seen foraging on fruit trees or near rivers.
• Threats: It is threatened by deforestation and poaching for its body parts, which are used in traditional medicine.
• Conservation status:
  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
  • CITES: Appendix I.

About Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana:  

• It is a flagship life insurance scheme launched by the Government of India to provide affordable life insurance coverage to the economically weaker sections of society.
• It was launched in May 2015 under the Ministry of Finance.
• It aims to increase access to life insurance across the country. It offers a one-year life insurance policy, renewable every year.
• Features of Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana:
  • Life Cover: Under PMJJBY, a life insurance cover of ₹2 lakh is provided in case of death of the insured due to any reason, natural or accidental.
  • Premium Amount: ₹436 per annum (auto-debited from bank account).
  • Eligibility: Indian citizens aged between 18 and 50 years.
  • Renewal: Annual renewal up to the age of 55 years.
  • Risk Coverage: Covers death due to both natural and accidental causes.
  • Implementing Agencies: Public and private sector life insurance companies in tie-up with banks.

About Bupleurum Oslaense:

• It is a new plant species discovered in the temperate forests of the Western Himalayas.
• It is a new member of the family Apiaceae.
• It shares genetic and structural similarities with Bupleurum petiolulatum (a relative native to China).
• It was found at an elevation of roughly 2,550 meters within the Govind Pashu Vihar National Park and Sanctuary in Uttarakhand, India.
• It has been categorised as "Critically Endangered."

About Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union:        

• It is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation established in 1964.
• It is dedicated to advancing broadcasting and media cooperation across the Asia-Pacific.
• It serves as a central platform where members share content, exchange ideas, and collectively navigate the challenges shaping the future of media.
• Headquarter: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• Governance of Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union:
  • General Assembly:
    • It is the supreme body of the ABU and, subject to the provisions of the Statutes, has all the powers necessary to achieve the objectives of the ABU.
    • It comprises all the Full, Additional Full, and Associate members of the Union.
  • Administrative Council:
    • The ABU’s “board of directors” is called the Administrative Council.
    • It consists of 18 of its Full and Additional Full members, who are elected by the members at the annual General Assembly for a three-year term.
    • The council meets twice-yearly to decide on policy matters, review the Union’s finances and consider current issues facing the Union.

About Exercise Tiger Triumph 2026:

• It is an India-U.S. tri-service Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise.
• It is aimed at strengthening defence cooperation, enhancing operational interoperability and improving their ability to respond jointly to regional crises and natural disasters.
• The exercise reflects the deepening convergence of India–US strategic maritime interests and the growing defence partnership between the two nations.
• Participating Units from India:
  • From the Indian side include specialists from all domains of maritime operations from the Indian Navy, ground forces from the Indian Army and representatives from various units of the Indian Air Force, as well as Special Forces personnel from all three Services.
  • A team from the NDRF will also participate for the first time in the 5th edition of Tiger Triumph 2026.