About AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopter:

• It is the world’s most advanced multi-role combat helicopter.
• It is widely used for advanced reconnaissance, precision strikes, and close air support missions globally.
• Country of Origin: United States of America
• Manufacturer: Boeing
• It is also known as the Apache Guardian.
• The AH-64E attack helicopter is the latest version of the Apache used by the US Army.
• Other purchasers: India, Egypt, Greece, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Netherlands, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, UAE, and UK.
• Apache for Indian defence forces: The Indian Air Force has a fleet of 22 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.
• Features:
  • Max Speed: 300 kph
  • It is a heavily armed, twin-engine ground-attack helicopter.
  • Armed with Hellfire missiles, chain gun, the helicopter can engage tanks, vehicles, troop concentrations, communications and logistics centres, etc.
  • It can also fire short-range air-to-air missiles like the Stinger.
  • The AH-64E includes a new integrated infrared laser that allows for easier target designation and enhanced infrared imagery that blends infrared and night vision capabilities.
  • It can track up to 128 targets per minute and prioritise threat levels.

About Param Vir Chakra:

• It is India’s highest military decoration, awarded for displaying the most exceptional acts of valour, courage, and self-sacrifice during war.
• It was introduced on January 26, 1950, on the first Republic Day with retrospective effect from 15 August 1947.
• Literally, Param Vir Chakra means ‘Wheel (or Cross) of the Ultimate Brave’.
• It can be awarded to officers, men, and women of all ranks of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force; of any of the Reserve Forces, of the Territorial Army Militia; and of any other lawfully constituted Armed Forces.
• It can be, and often has been, awarded posthumously.
• It is similar to the British Victoria Cross, the US Medal of Honor, the French Legion of Honor, or the Russian Cross of St. George.
• Design:
  • The medal was designed by Mrs. Savitri Khanolkar.
  • The medal is cast in bronze and circular in shape.
  • In the centre, on a raised circle, is the state emblem, surrounded by four replicas of Indra’s Vajra, flanked by the sword of Shivaji.
  • On its reverse, it has embossed Param Vir Chakra both in Hindi and English with lotus flowers.
• First winner: Major Somanth Sharma, from the Kumaon regiment.
• Till now, only 21 people had been given the Param Vir Chakra award, of which 14 are posthumous.

What are Gallantry Awards?

• They have been instituted by the Government of India to honour the acts of bravery and sacrifice of the officers/personnel of the Armed Forces, other lawfully constituted forces, and civilians.
• They are announced twice in a year – first on the occasion of the Republic Day and then on the occasion of the Independence Day.
• All the gallantry awards may be awarded posthumously.
• India’s Gallantry Awards in the Order of Precedence:
  • Param Vir Chakra
  • Ashoka Chakra
  • Mahavir Chakra
  • Kirti Chakra
  • Vir Chakra
  • Shaurya Chakra.
• The President awards the gallantry awards to the awardees or their next of kin at the Defence Investiture Ceremony held every year at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
• However, the Param Vir Chakra and the Ashoka Chakra are conferred by the President to the awardees on the occasion of the Republic Day Parade at the Rajpath.

About Natyashastra:

• It is an ancient Sanskrit treatise on performing arts.
• The title is a combination of two Sanskrit words – Natya and Shastra.
  • Natya refers to the technique of dance and drama, and shastra refers to science.
• It was composed by the sage Bharata Muni.
• It has been dated to between the second century BCE and the second century CE.
• It is the earliest known treatise on performative arts in South Asia.
• It comprises verses detailing drama (natya), performance (abhinaya), music (sangita), emotions (bhava), and aesthetic experience (rasa).
• One of the text's most profound contributions is the articulation of the concept of Rasa, the essential emotional essence that lies at the heart of any great work of art.
  • Bharata Muni identified eight primary Rasas - Shringara (love), Hasya (humor), Karuna (compassion), Raudra (anger), Veera (heroism), Bhayanaka (fear), Bibhatsa (disgust), and Adbhuta (wonder).
  • He also explained how the skilled performer, through the skillful deployment of bhava (emotional expression), could evoke these sentiments in the audience.
• UNESCO added Natyashastra to its Memory of the World Register, recognizing its global cultural significance.

Key Facts about Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA):

• It was established as an autonomous body by the Government of India, under the Ministry of Culture.
• Mandate:
  • Document, preserve, conserve and disseminate the Indian arts and cultural heritage.
  • Train competent professionals to work in the specialized field of culture.
• The IGNCA has six functional units:
  • Kalanidhi, the multi-form library;
  • Kalakosa, devoted mainly to the study and publication of fundamental texts, predominantly in Sanskrit;
  • Janapada Sampada, the division engaged in lifestyle studies;
  • Kaladarsana, the executive unit which transforms researches and studies emanating from the IGNCA into visible forms through exhibitions;
  • Cultural Informatics Lab, which applies technology tools for cultural preservation and propagation;
  • Sutradhara, the administrative section that acts as a spine supporting and coordinating all the activities.

About Arun-3 Hydropower Project:

• It is a 900 MW run-of-the-river hydropower project located on the Arun River in the Nepal. 
  • Arun is a tributary of the Kosi River in Nepal.
• Once completed, it will be the biggest hydroelectric facility in Nepal.
• SJVN Arun-III Power Development Company (SAPDC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of India’s Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN), is developing the project on a build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) basis.
  • SJVN is a joint venture between the Government of India and the Government of Himachal Pradesh.
• The project will provide surplus power to India, strengthening economic linkages with Nepal.
• The power from the project shall be exported from Dhalkebar in Nepal to Muzaffarpur in India.

About Channa bhoi:

• It is a new species of snakehead fish.
• It was discovered from a small mountain stream near Iewmawlong village in the Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya.
• It has been named Channa bhoi, after the indigenous Bhoi people of the Khasi tribe who inhabit the Ri-Bhoi region.
• It belongs to the “Gachua group” of snakehead fishes, a group known for its high diversity in the Eastern Himalayan region. 

About Narpuh Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Location: It is situated in East Jantia Hills in Jowai, Meghalaya.
• It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 2014 and is the only protected area in the Jaintia Hills.
• The Sanctuary is bounded by Reserve Forests on all sides except a part in South West which shares boundary with Assam. 
• Rivers: The northern part of the sanctuary is bounded by Lukha River forming a physical barrier.
• It is prone to extremely heavy rainfall.
• Its climate is favorable for the propagation and sustenance of a rich and wide variety of wild, endangered Flora and Fauna.
• Vegetation: Some of the tallest evergreen and semi-evergreen forests remaining in Meghalaya are found in this region.
• Fauna: Hoolock Gibbon, Serow, Slow Loris, Sloth Bear, Large Indian Civet, Leopard Cat, Clouded Leopard, Barking Deer etc are found here.
• Flora : Castanopsis indica, C. tribuloides, Dysoxylum Sp., Elaeocarpus Sp., Engelhardtia spicata, Syzygium Sp. Etc.

About National Digital Livestock Mission:

• It was launched by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India for creating a digital database of livestock and related services across the country. 
• Aims: To enhance livestock productivity and breed improvement, strengthen disease surveillance and control, enable traceability of livestock products and create a farmer-centric digital ecosystem for efficient service delivery.
• It has been implemented across all States in India.
• key objectives of the NDLM:
  • Improving breeding outcomes suited to India’s diverse agro-climatic conditions.
  • Enabling real-time disease monitoring and control, and establishing a robust traceability mechanism for livestock products.
  • The mission also focuses on empowering farmers by providing easy access to information on government schemes and livestock-related services.
• The digital backbone of the mission is the ‘Bharat Pashudhan’ platform.
  • Bharat Pashudhan’ platform includes mobile and web-based applications used by field workers to record livestock-related activities.
  • Under this each animal is assigned a unique 12-digit bar-coded ear tag, which serves as its digital identity.
  • Using this system, field workers capture data on animal registration, artificial insemination and breeding, ownership changes, vaccinations, disease reporting, milk recording, ration balancing and e-prescriptions.

Ekam AI and SAMBHAV

About Ekam AI:

• It is a fully indigenous and secure artificial intelligence platform designed for sensitive environments.
• Features of Ekam AI:
  • It enables users to analyse information, manage documents, and support decision-making without dependence on foreign software or external cloud systems.
  • It allows personnel at different levels to leverage AI-enabled support without requiring specialised technical expertise.
• Significance: It ensures complete data security and sovereignty. It also marks a significant step towards building trusted national digital systems.

About SAMBHAV:

• It is a portable communication system that provides mobile connectivity using satellite support.
• Features: The system can be deployed quickly in remote or disaster-affected areas, improving communication for both soldiers and civilians.
• Significance: The project highlights how defence innovation can also strengthen national communication infrastructure.

What is Vijay Diwas?

• Vijay Diwas is commemorated on December 16 every year to honor the victory of the Indian armed forces over Pakistan in the 1971 war which led to the liberation of Bangladesh.

About DHRUV64:

• It is a fully indigenously developed microprocessor.
• It is developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) under the Microprocessor Development Programme (MDP).
• Key Features of DHRUV64:
  • Processor Core & Speed: It is a 64-bit dual-core processor running at 1.0 GHz, giving it the ability to handle multiple tasks smoothly.
  • ​Execution Method: It uses superscalar execution, which allows the processor to start more than one instruction in the same moment for better speed.
  • ​Instruction Handling: It supports out-of-order processing, meaning it can complete instructions that are ready first, improving overall efficiency.
  • ​Packaging & Integration: It includes built-in communication and control functions inside an advanced FCBGA package, making the chip compact and ready for use in many systems.
• Potential application of DHRUV64:
  • It is capable of supporting strategic and commercial applications.
  • It is suitable for sectors such as 5G infrastructure, automotive systems, consumer electronics, industrial automation and the Internet of Things (IoT).
  • It provides a homegrown microprocessor technology designed for startups, academia, and industry to build, test, and scale indigenous computing products without relying on foreign processors.
  • It supports prototype development for new system architectures at lower cost.