About Diplodocus:

• Diplodocus belongs to a group of enormous dinosaurs called sauropods.
  • The sauropods were large, plant-eating dinosaurs with long necks, massive bodies, and four pillar-like legs to support the body.
• It is the longest complete dinosaur that scientists have discovered.
• Diplodocus translates as ‘double beam’. It refers to the dinosaur’s tail bones.
• Diplodocus lived during the Late Jurassic, 155-145 million years ago.
• Remains of this dinosaur have been found in North America, especially in Colorado, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming.

About Pangwala Tribe:

• The Pangwala are a Scheduled Tribe living primarily in the Pangi Valley in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh.
• Their culture reflects influences from both Himalayan tribal traditions and neighboring Hindu and Buddhist communities.
• Language: The Pangwala speak Pangwali, an Indo-Aryan language connected to the western Himalayan linguistic family.
• Economy:
  • Historically, their economy centered on mountain agriculture, animal husbandry, and trade through narrow Himalayan routes linking valleys and neighboring regions.
  • Life among the Pangwala is heavily shaped by the Himalayan climate and mountainous geography.
  • Families traditionally depend on terrace farming, livestock raising, and seasonal agricultural work.
  • Crops may include barley, wheat, maize, potatoes, and peas suited for cooler mountain conditions. Sheep and goat herding are important in some areas, especially where grazing land is available in higher elevations.
• Villages are often small and closely connected through kinship networks.
• Extended family relationships remain important, and cooperation between households is necessary for farming, livestock care, and surviving difficult winters.
• Homes are commonly constructed from stone and wood using designs adapted for cold weather and steep terrain.
• Religion and Beliefs:
  • The Pangwala primarily follow Hindu religious traditions, though elements of folk religion and local Himalayan spiritual beliefs also influence everyday life.
  • Religious practice commonly includes devotion to Hindu gods and goddesses, observance of village festivals, temple worship, and rituals connected to family and agricultural life.
  • Music, folk dances, and seasonal festivals remain important parts of Pangwala cultural identity.

About Ramjak Mountain:

• It is a high-altitude mountain peak located in the remote Lahaul region of Himachal Pradesh.
• The peak is located near Shingo La, which is a popular trek route from Himachal to Zanskar.
• Ramjak is known for its sharp, icy summit and technically difficult climbing terrain.
• Terrain: The climbing route involves glaciers, steep rock bands, snowfields, exposed slopes, crevasses, seracs, and cornices.
• First ascent: An expedition of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) led by Sangay Dorjee Sherpa achieved the first ascent in 2002.
• Before the successful ascent, several expeditions had attempted the peak without success.

About National Dam Safety Authority:

• It is a statutory body set up by the Central Government under the Dam Safety Act, 2021.
• It operates with a clear mandate to regulate, oversee, and inspect dams.
• It is headed by a chairman and assisted by five members to lead its five wings – policy and research, technical, regulation, disaster and resilience, and administration and finance.
• Headquarter: New Delhi.
• Functions of National Dam Safety Authority
  • Implementation: Implementing the policies formulated by the National Committee on Dam Safety;
  • Resolve Issues: Resolving issues between State Dam Safety Organisations (SDSOs), or between a SDSO and any dam owner in that state;
  • Regulation: Specifying regulations for inspection and investigation of dams;
  • Accreditation: Providing accreditation to agencies working on construction, design, and alteration of dams.
  • These standards encompass various aspects, including structural integrity, environmental impact, and emergency response protocols.
  • The NDSA actively engages in nationwide awareness programs to educate citizens about dam safety.
  • In the face of natural calamities or unforeseen events, the NDSA ensures that comprehensive emergency response plans are in place.

About New Zealand:

• It is an island country and one of the many islands that make up Oceania.
• It is located in the South Pacific Ocean to the southeast of Australia, south of New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga Islands. 
• It is primarily divided into two main islands, the North Island and the South Island, separated by the Cook Strait.
• Capital City: Wellington
• Geographical Features of New Zealand:
  • It is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire—the circum-Pacific seismic belt marked by frequent earthquakes and considerable volcanic activity. 
  • Climate: New Zealand’s climate is complex and varies from warm subtropical in the far north to cool temperate climates in the far south.
  • Highest Peak: Mount Cook
  • Active Volcano: Mount Ruapehu
  • Glacier: Tasman Glacier, the largest in New Zealand
  • Lake: Lake Taupo which is the largest natural lake.
  • Natural Resources: It consists of gold, silver, iron sands, phosphate and limestone etc.

About Nuakhai Festival:

• It is a festival of Western Odisha and adjoining areas of Simdega in Jharkhand.
• The word nua means new and khai means food.
• Objective: It is an agricultural festival which is observed to welcome the new rice of the season.
• It is observed on the fifth day of the lunar fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada or Bhaadra (August–September).
• Rituals of Nuakhai:
  • Nuakhai is understood to have nine colours and as a consequence nine sets of rituals are followed as a prelude to the actual day of celebration.
  • People offer the newly harvested crop called Nabanha to their respective presiding deities.
  • After offering the Nabanha, people relish different types of delicacies prepared from the newly harvested crop.
  • The Nuakhai Juhar is a major ritual of the festival.

About Gucchi Mushroom:

• Gucchi is scientifically known as Morchella esculenta.
• Appearance: These are recognisable by their honeycomb-like caps, which range from pale yellow to dark brown. Their stems are typically pale and hollow. 
• Distribution: It is found in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
• Habitat: The mushroom typically grows in mountainous coniferous forests, where a combination of soil conditions, moisture, temperature fluctuations and seasonal snowmelt creates a suitable environment.
• It cannot easily be mass-cultivated.
• Mountain communities collect gucchi by hand, often trekking through steep and rugged terrain.
• Fresh morels or mushrooms contain substantial moisture. They are commonly dried to preserve them and extend their shelf life, but the process significantly reduces their weight.
• They may or may not grow in the same spot the next season, which only makes the process of collection more tedious.
• It is known to be one of the most expensive mushrooms.
• Health Benefits: Gucchi mushrooms contain protein, dietary fibre and various antioxidant compounds. They are also reported to contain vitamin D.

About SPARSH Pension System:

• It is an initiative of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
• SPARSH is world’s largest pension system for defence personnel which aim to provide comprehensive solution to the defence pensioners
• Objective: Meeting the pension sanction and disbursement requirements for Armed Forces viz. Army, Navy, Air Force and Defence Civilians.
• It is administered by the Defence Accounts Department through the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions), Prayagraj and shall cater to all the three Services and allied organisations.
• Features of SPARSH Pension System:
  • Without relying on a third-party intermediary, this web-based system handles pension claims, and deposits pension payments into the bank accounts of defence pensioners.
  • It is a centralized sanction, claim and pension disbursement system with easy validation and rectification of data through self-verification. 
  • It uses a digital process for pensioner identification, removing the requirement of multiple visits by pensioners to the pension offices.
  • The defence pensioner will be given a completely transparent view of his pension account through this platform.
  • It will capture and maintain a complete history of events and entitlements the pensioner right from the date of commencement of pension to the date of cessation of pension due to his/her last eligible beneficiary.

About Nagarahole Tiger Reserve:

• Location: It is situated in the districts of Mysore and Kodagu in Karnataka.
• It is situated at the tri-junction area of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
• Geographically, it is an “ecological confluence” of the Western and Eastern Ghats.
• It is named after a small river, ‘Nagarahole’(literally a snake stream in Kannada), which meanders within the habitat before joining the river Kabini.
• It is part of the larger Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• It is flanked by the Bandipur Tiger Reserve on its southeastern side and the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary of Kerala on the  
• Rivers: It is surrounded by the River Kabini in its north and River Moyar in its south.
• Vegetation: 
  • The dry eastern limits of the reserve have dry deciduous forests.
  • Towards the west, with the increase in rainfall, the vegetation changes to tropical moist and semi-evergreen forests. 
• Flora: It includes rosewood, Indian kino tree, sandalwood, Indian laurel, clumping bamboo, giant clumping bamboo, etc.
• Fauna: It comprises mammals such as Bengal tiger, gaur, sloth bear, golden jackal, dhole, four-horned antelope, etc