About National Environmental Standard Laboratory:

• It was established to test and recalibrate instruments used for air pollution monitoring systems and environmental sensors under Indian environmental conditions.
• It provides ensured credible data for the National Clean Air Programme.
• Location: CSIR–National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi
• Features of National Environmental Standard Laboratory:
  • NESL allowed manufacturers, industries, and municipal agencies to validate performance within the country,
  • It provides Industrial emission audits, and smart-city monitoring networks, and provided reference gases, protocols.
• Significance: It is expected to help MSMEs, start-ups, and indigenous manufacturers to demonstrate product quality at lower cost, meet tightening regulatory guidelines on quality and transparency.

Key Facts about Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR):

• CSIR is a cutting edge R&D organisation dealing in diverse fields of science and technology.
• It undertakes research, design & development of scientific & industrial instruments, components and systems.
• It facilitates service, maintenance, testing & calibration of instruments.
• It promotes Human Resource Development in the area of instrumentation.
• It offers technical assistance to industry and provides ecosystem support.
• Headquarter: New Delhi.

About Bannerghatta National Park:

• Location: It is in the hills of the Anekal range, near Bangalore, Karnataka.
• It was declared a National Park in 1974. 
• In 2006, India’s first butterfly enclosure was inaugurated at the park.
• River: The Suvarnamukhi stream, the main source of water for the animals in the park, runs through the centre of the park.
• Vegetation: There are three types of vegetation that can be found: Dry Deciduous Scrub Forests, Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests and Southern Tropical Moist Mixed Forests.
• Flora: Include Narcissus latifolia, Schleichera oleosa, Sandalwood, Neem, Tamarind, Bamboo, Eucalyptus, etc.
• Fauna: Prime habitat for several species, including the endangered Asian Elephant, Indian gaur, Tiger, Sambar deer, Spotted deer,Leopard, Wild dog, Wild pig, Sloth bear, Common mongoose, Pangolin, Slender loris, Black-naped hare, etc.

What is Ecologically Sensitive Zone?

• Eco-Sensitive Zones are created as “shock absorbers” for the protected areas, to minimize the negative impact on the “fragile ecosystems”.
• These zones are notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

About Mustard Crop:

• It is a predominantly self-pollinating crop.
• Common Name: Sarason (Hindi), Rai (Punjabi), Katuku (Tamil), Kaduk (Malayalam), Avalu (Telugu). 
• Crop Season:Rabi season 
• Mustard seeds and its oil is used for culinary purpose. Young leaves are used for vegetable purpose. Its oil cake is used for feeding cattle.
• Climatic Requirements for Mustard crop
  • Soil Requirements: Sandy loam soil is the most ideal textural classification for the cultivation of mustard crop. 
  • Mustard thrives well in dry and chilled environmental conditions.
  • Temperature: It requires temperatures ranging between 10°C to 25°C
  • Rainfall: An annual rainfall between 625 to 1000 mm is suitable for cultivation of mustard crop.
  • It is highly sensitive to frost damage.
• Major Mustard Production States: Rajasthan (largest producing state), Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh.

Key Facts about Orobanche aegyptiaca

• It is a parasitic weed that attaches to mustard roots and siphons off water and nutrients, leading to poor plant growth and reduced seed yields.
• This leads to wilting, yellowing, stunted plant growth and ultimately sharp declines in seed yields. 
• This parasite remains hidden below the soil initially, damage is already extensive by the time it becomes visible.

About Indian Customs Electronic Gateway:

• It is known as ICEGATE which was established in 2007.
• It is the national portal of Indian Customs of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).
• It provides e-filing services to the Trade, Cargo Carriers and other Trading Partners electronically.
• It serves as a centralized hub for all electronic interactions between Indian customs and the trading community.
• It is the main infrastructure for connecting trade users with the Indian government’s customs department, and acts as a hub for exchanging information between external trading partners involved in international trading.
• It is internally linked with multiple partner agencies including RBI, Banks, DGFT, DGCIS, Ministry of Steel, Directorate of Valuation and other various Partner Government Agencies involved in EXIM.
• Functions: It collectively contributes to streamlining customs procedures, enhancing trade facilitation and promoting transparency and efficiency in cross – border trade activities in India by providing multiple features for its users.

Integration of ICEGATE -Land Port Management System

• The integration focuses on critical customs data elements, including Bill of Entry, Shipping Bill, Out of Charge (OOC), and Let Export Order (LEO).
• It enables real-time, bidirectional exchange of data between ICEGATE and the Land Port Management System, creating a seamless digital ecosystem at land ports. 
• It also helps in early risk assessment, identification of anomalies, and selective application of controls.
• This approach improves compliance outcomes while minimising disruption to compliant trade.

About Yemen:

• Location: It is situated at the south-western corner of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia.
• Borders: It shares Saudi Arabia (North) and Oman (East).
• Coastline & Strategic Importance:
  • Red Sea (West), Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and Guardafui Channel (South).
  • Yemen is strategically located at the entrance of the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. The strait links the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea via the Gulf of Aden.
• Capital City: Sanaa
• Geographical Features of Yemen
  • Climate: It lies in the border zone between two main weather patterns: the regular northerly winds (from the Mediterranean basin) and the southwest monsoon winds.
  • Desert: Rub' Al Khali Desert.

About Bhadrakali Inscription:

• Location: It is situated in Prabhas Patan, Gujarat specifically on the wall of the Bhadrakali Temple.
• It was carved in 1169 CE and currently protected by the State Department of Archaeology.
• It is a eulogistic inscription of Param Pashupata Acharya Shriman Bhavabrihaspati, the (spiritual preceptor of Maharajadhiraj Kumarapala of Anhilwad Patan).
• Historical Details in Bhadrakali Inscription:
  • It mentions the construction of Somnath Temple in all four yugas.
  • The historic Bhadrakali inscription reflects the devotion of the Solanki rulers and scholars like Bhavabrihaspati. 
• Protection: State Department of Archaeology, Gujarat.

About National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Limited:

• It was established in 1960 to build a strong and vibrant co-operative sugar sector in India. 
• It is deemed to be under the Multi State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002.
• Functions of National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Limited:
  • It participates in sugar policy formulation at national and state level and helps set agenda for the development and growth of the sector in India.
  • It advocates, promotes and safeguards the collective interests of its members in accordance with the cooperative principles.
  • It also offers Techno-commercial services to establish, expand and modernize sugar factories, within India and Overseas.
• Governance: It functions under the overall guidance of an elected Board of Directors, comprising of representatives of Cooperative Sugar Factories and State Sugar Federations across India.

About Man Portable Anti-tank Guided Missile Weapon System:

• It is indigenously designed and developed by Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO).
• The system consisted of the MPATGM, Launcher, Target Acquisition System, and the Fire Control Unit.
• It is the third-generation “fire and forget” missile.
• Features of Man Portable Anti-tank Guided Missile Weapon System:
  • It incorporates cutting-edge indigenous technologies, including:
    • An Imaging Infrared (IIR) homing seeker, all-electric control actuation system, advanced fire control system, tandem warhead, propulsion system and a high-performance sighting system.
  • The IIR seeker provides robust day-and-night operational capability.
  • The tandem warhead is designed to defeat modern main battle tanks equipped with advanced armour protection.
  • The missile can be launched from a tripod-mounted system as well as from a military vehicle-based launcher, enhancing its operational flexibility.
  • Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) are the development-cum-production partners (DcPP) for the MPATGM.

About Bargi Dam:

• It is a major multi-purpose dam, serving irrigation, water supply and power generation. 
• It is on the Narmada River.
• Location: It is located in Madhya Pradesh.

 What is 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 the Authority include: 
  • implementing the policies formulated by the National Committee on Dam Safety;
  • resolving issues between State Dam Safety Organisations (SDSOs), or between a SDSO and any dam owner in that state;
  • specifying regulations for inspection and investigation of dams;
  • providing accreditation to agencies working on construction, design, and alteration of dams.