About Adyar River:

• The Adyar River (sometimes called Adayar) is an important river flowing through the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu.
• Course:
  • It originates near the Chembarambakkam Lake in the Kanchipuram district of Tamil Nadu.
  • Finally, it reaches the Bay of Bengal at a place called the Adyar Estuary.
• It is one of the three rivers which winds through Chennai.
• The river forms a backwater near the mouth, known as the Adyar Creek, due to the formation of sandbars at the mouth.
• This creek is a natural channel which carries tidal water back into the sea.
• The Adyar Estuary is home to diverse bird species and marine life.
  • Recognizing its ecological significance, it was declared a protected wildlife reserve in 1987.

About Pakal Dul Hydroelectric Project:

• It is a 1 GW run-of-the-river scheme hydroelectric project (HEP) under construction in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The project is being constructed on the Marusudar River, a tributary of the Chenab.
• It comprises concrete-face rock fill dam and an underground powerhouse.
• It is being constructed by Chenab Valley Power Projects [P] Ltd. (CVPPL), a joint venture company of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC Limited) and Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Ltd (JKSPDC).
• JKSPDC holds a 49% stake in CVPPL, while NHPC and PTC India hold 49% and 2%,
• During the first ten years of operation, the J&K will receive 12% free power from the project, in addition to waiving water usage charges.
• J&K will also have the first right to purchase the power allotted to NHPC and PTC.

About Dhabaleswar Temple:

• It is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
• It is located on an island on River Mahanadi near Cuttack, Odisha .
• It is one of the oldest temples in Odisha. It dates back to the early 10th and 11th century.
• The temple structure was constructed during the rule of the Somavamshi dynasty by King Yayati Keshari.
• The present-day temple was constructed by King Bir Kishore of Khurda around 1232 AD.
• Architecture:
  • It is built in the Kalinga style of architecture.
  • The main temple structure is built of sandstone. It has a square plan with a pyramidal roof.
  • Several smaller shrines of various deities surround the main temple.
  • The temple has three main chambers, with the central chamber housing the idol of Shiva.
  • The temple has a beautiful entrance known as Jagamohan. Intricate carvings of animals, birds, and mythological figures decorate it.
  • Around the temple, there is a marble-covered raised platform.
  • The temple contains multiple sculptures of deities on its walls.
  • The distinctive feature of the Dhabaleswar Temple is its two-tiered roof, which is made of terracotta tiles.

About Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS):

• It is a progressive neurological disorder that damages the nerve cells controlling voluntary muscle movement. These nerve cells are called motor neurons.
  • One group, called upper motor neurons, extends from the brain to the spinal cord.
  • The second group, called lower motor neurons, extends from the spinal cord to muscles throughout the body.
  • ALS causes both groups of motor neurons to gradually deteriorate and then die.
  • When motor neurons are damaged, they stop sending messages to the muscles. As a result, the muscles can't function.
• ALS is often called Lou Gehrig's disease after the baseball player who was diagnosed with it.
  • Cause:
    • The exact cause is still not known in most people.
    • In a small percentage of people, ALS is inherited from a parent.
  • Treatment:
    • Currently, there’s no treatment to reverse damage to motor neurons or cure ALS.
    • But some treatments may slow progression of the disorder, improve quality of life, and extend survival.

About Mullaperiyar Dam:

• It is a masonry gravity dam located in Thekkady, Idukki district, Kerala.
• The dam is built at the confluence of the Mullayar and Periyar (longest river in Kerala) rivers.
• It is one of the oldest dams in India.
• The dam’s primary function is to transfer water from the Periyar River to the Vaigai River basin in Tamil Nadu for irrigation and power generation purposes.
  • The water from the reservoir reaches the Theni, Madurai, Sivaganga, and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamil Nadu through tunnels that cut across the Western Ghats.
  • The dam also generates electricity for Tamil Nadu through four hydroelectric power plants: Lower Periyar, Periyar Dam, Periyar Power House, and Vaigai.
• The dam was constructed with limestone and “Surkhi” (burnt brick powder and a mixture of sugar and calcium oxide).
• It is surrounded by the Periyar National Park, a renowned biodiversity hotspot that is home to numerous endangered species of animals and birds.
• Although the dam is located in Kerala, it is operated and maintained by Tamil Nadu.
  • It was according to a 999-year lease agreement made during British rule that the operational rights were handed over to Tamil Nadu.
• In recent years, there has been a long-standing dispute between Kerala and Tamil Nadu over the safety of the dam.
  • Kerala has been demanding that the dam be strengthened or decommissioned, while Tamil Nadu has opposed any such move.

About Himalayan serow:

• It resembles a cross between a goat, a donkey, a cow, and a pig.
• It is a forest-dwelling mountain ungulate found in steep Himalayan terrain.
• Types: There are several species of serows, and all of them are found in Asia.
• Habitat: The Himalayan serow, or Capricornis sumatraensis thar, is restricted to the Himalayan region. Taxonomically, it is a subspecies of the mainland serow (Capricornis sumatraensis).
• Distribution: They are known to be found in eastern, central, and western Himalayas.
• Diet: These are herbivore species.
• Threats: Habitat degradation, Fragmentation and hunting pressure.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Near Threatened
  • CITES: Appendix I
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

About Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science:

• It is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
• Aim: It is aimed at fostering scientific temper and awareness across the country for the public in general and students in particular also to portray the growth of science and technology and their application in industry.
• The scheme supports the establishment of Science Cities, Science Centres, Innovation Hubs, and Digital Planetariums in various regions.
• Nodal Agency: The National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture, serves as the nodal agency for implementation of the scheme.
• Under this Scheme Science Centres/Digital Planetariums (Category-III) are set up in areas with a population of less than 5 lakhs.
• Significance: These institutions have significantly contributed to enhancing scientific awareness and informal science education through hands-on exhibits, innovation hubs, digital planetariums, and outreach programmes.

About GOBARdhan Scheme:

• The GOBARdhan (Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan) is a National Circular Bioenergy Scheme that creates a nationwide waste-to-energy ecosystem.
• It aims to increase domestic Compressed Biogas(CBG) production nearly ten-fold, mobilize large-scale private investment and create a vibrant circular bioeconomy across the country.
• Time Period: It will be implemented from FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
• Components of GOBARdhan Scheme:
  • Assured CBG Offtake: Under this, a dedicated framework requires City Gas Distribution entities to meet a notified CBG blending obligation of 3% in FY27, 4% in FY28, and 5% from FY29 onwards in CNG and PNG segments.
  • Stable CBG Pricing Framework: It introduces a stable administered CBG price per Metric Million British Thermal Unit (MMBTU), supported through a government-backed pricing framework.
  • Capital Assistance: Eligible greenfield CBG projects will receive capital assistance.
  • Development of Pipeline Infrastructure: The Scheme supports both cluster-based and standalone pipeline infrastructure connecting CBG plants with trunk pipelines and City Gas Distribution networks.
  • Credit Guarantee Support: A dedicated Credit Guarantee mechanism will strengthen lender confidence and expand the flow of institutional credit to eligible MSME-based CBG projects.
  • CBG Ecosystem Challenge Fund: GOBARdhan establishes a dedicated CBG Ecosystem Challenge Fund to accelerate district-level implementation and strengthen local value chains across the CBG ecosystem.

About National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme:

• It is a central sector Scheme launched in
• Objective: It was launched with the objective of awarding scholarships to meritorious students belonging to economically weaker sections to reduce dropout at the secondary stage by encouraging them to continue their education after Class VIII.
• NMMSS is on the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) – a one-stop platform for scholarship schemes given to students.
• Features of National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme:
  • Under the Scheme, one lakh fresh scholarships are awarded every year to eligible students studying in Class IX, with renewal of the scholarship in Classes X to XII.
  • Parents Income: Students whose parental income from all sources is not more than Rs. 350,000/- per annum.
  • The students must have a minimum of 55% marks or an equivalent grade in the Class VII examination (relaxable by 5% for SC/ST students).
  • The students should be studying as regular students in a Government, Government-aided and local body school. 
  • The students studying in the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), and residential schools are not eligible for the scholarships under the NMMSS.
  • There is reservation as per State Government norms.
  • Selection Test: Each State and UT conducts its own test to select students for awarding the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship. The test is conducted at the stage of class VIII. 
• Selection of Renewal Awardees Students:
  • The awardees should get a minimum of 60% marks in Class X for continuation of scholarship (relaxable by 5% for SC/ST candidates) in the next higher classes. 
  • For continuing the scholarship in class X and XII, the awardees should get a clear promotion from class IX to class X and from class XI to class XII in the first attempt.

About Agni-4 Missile:

• It is an indigenously developed Medium-Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM).
• It is developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• It is operated by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) as part of India's strategic missile arsenal.
• Key features of Agni-4 Missile:
  • Range: It is capable of striking targets at a range of up to 4,000 kilometres.
  • Propulsion: It is a two-stage, surface-to-surface ballistic missile powered by a solid-fuel rocket motor.
  • Launch Platform: Road-mobile launcher
  • Payload Capacity: It has a payload capacity up to 1,000 kg
  • Technology: It has the most accurate Ring Laser Gyro based Inertial Navigation System (RINS) supported by a highly reliable redundant Micro Navigation System (MINGS), ensures the vehicle reaches the target within two digit accuracy.
  • It has a circular error probable (CEP) of less than 100 meters.
    • CEP is a measure of a weapon system’s accuracy.
  • Role: It is designed to deliver strategic payloads and maintain credible deterrence.