About Idukki Hydroelectric Project:

• It is built across the Periyar River in the Idukki district of Kerala.
• It is the largest hydroelectric project in Kerala.
• The powerhouse at Moolamattom is the longest underground power station in India, and the pressure shaft is the largest in the country.
• There are three dams associated with this project. They are: Idukki Arch Dam, Cheruthoni Dam & Kulamavu Dam.
  • The Idukki dam is one of the highest ten arch dams in the world and the third highest in India after the Tehri Dam (Uttarakhand) and Bhakra Nangal Dam (Himachal Pradesh).
  • It is the first dam in Asia that is constructed in a double-curvature arch dam type and the second in the world.

About Mud Volcano:

• It is a mound of mud heaved up through overlying sediments.
• The craters are usually shallow and may intermittently erupt mud.
• These eruptions continuously rebuild the cones, which are eroded relatively easily.
• Some mud volcanoes are created by hot-spring activity where large amounts of gas and small amounts of water react chemically with the surrounding rocks and form a boiling mud.
• Other mud volcanoes, entirely of a nonigneous origin, occur only in oil-field regions that are relatively young and have soft, unconsolidated formations.
• Mud volcanoes, also known as “sedimentary volcanoes” or “gas-oil volcanoes,”.
• Mud volcanoes also exist on the floor of the sea and can form islands and banks that alter the topography and shape of the coastline.
• In India, the only mud volcano lies in Baratang Island, a part of the Andaman chain of islands.

About Kapilash Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is located in the Dhenkanal district of Odisha.
• Vegetation: It is classified as an Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forest
• Flora: It is dominated by sal trees and a rich variety of flora like amla, teak, and kadamba.
• Fauna:
  • It is home to diverse wildlife, including elephants, jungle cats, sloth bears, spotted deer, jackals, and various species of birds such as peacocks, junglefowl, and kingfishers.
  • It also supports several reptiles and unique species like pangolins and porcupines.

About Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi):

• It is a corporate climate action organization that enables companies and financial institutions worldwide to play their part in combating the climate crisis.
• Mission: To drive science-based climate action in the corporate sector consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C.
• SBTi develops standards, tools, and guidance which allow companies to set GHG emissions reduction targets.
• The SBTi validates companies' targets and assists other industry leaders in creating the best practice for their organisations with targets in line with the Paris Agreement.
• The SBTi was formed as a collaboration between the World Resources Institute, CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
• The SBTi also helps companies and financial institutions worldwide to improve their risk management, attract investors, gain a competitive advantage, and become leaders in sustainability.

About Valley of the Kings:

• It was the burial site of pharaohs, or kings, of ancient Egypt.
• It was part of the ancient city of Thebes.
• These pharaohs ruled from 1539 to 1077 BC, during the period of Egyptian history known as the New Kingdom.
• The tombs in the Valley of the Kings were carved into rocky hillsides with only a doorway marking their location.
• In 1979 UNESCO made the Valley of the Kings part of the World Heritage site of ancient Thebes.

About Lion‑Tailed Macaques:

• It is an Old World monkey.
• It is also known as the ‘beard ape’ because of its mane. 
• It is one of the smallest macaque species in the world.
• Distribution: It is endemic to evergreen rainforests of the southern part in Western Ghats.
• Characteristics of Lion‑Tailed Macaques:
  • It is an arboreal and diurnal creature.
  • It is a territorial and communicative animal.
  • It is omnivorous
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN: Endangered
  • CITES: Appendix I
  • The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
• Threats: Its population faces threats from habitat loss, fragmentation, and human encroachment.

About Continental Mantle Earthquakes:

• These are seismic events which originate in the mantle beneath continents.
• Origin: These earthquakes often occur more than 80 km below the Mohorovicic discontinuity (boundary between the crust and the mantle).
• Impact: They are too deep to cause much shaking or danger at Earth's surface.
• Occurrence: They occur worldwide but are regionally clustered, particularly beneath the Himalayas in southern Asia and the Bering Strait between Asia and North America.
• Significance: The new map will help scientists learn more about the mechanics of mantle earthquakes.

What is Mohorovicic discontinuity?

• It is the boundary lying between the crust and the mantle of the earth across which seismic waves change velocities.

About Corruption Perceptions Index:

• It is the most widely used global corruption ranking in the world.
• The index has been published annually by the non-governmental organisation Transparency International since 1995.
• Methodology Used:
  • It is an index which ranks countries “by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, as determined by expert assessments and opinion surveys.”
  • It uses a scale of zero to 100, where “zero” is highly corrupt and “100” is very clean.

Key Highlights of Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025:

• Least Corrupt nations: Denmark, Finland and Singapore.
• Most Corrupt nations: South Sudan, Somalia and Venezuela.
• India’s Performance: Its rank improved from 96 (2024) to 91 (2025).

About Rashtriya Karmayogi Large Scale Jan Seva Programme:

• It is a national behavioural transformation initiative for civil servants.
• It is launched by the Capacity Building Commission (CBC).
• It was designed to emphasize upon the deeper sense of Seva Bhav (spirit of service) and Svadharma (duty aligned with personal purpose) among Government servants, with the objective of strengthening citizen-centric governance.
• It is focused on improving quality of service delivery, enhancing responsiveness and collaboration across governance structures, and fostering greater engagement and satisfaction among officers.

What is Capacity Building Commission?

• It is the executive body of the Mission Karmayogi framework, to drive civil service reforms through capacity building and competency-based learning.
• Functions of Capacity Building Commission
  • It works to strengthen the human resource foundations of the government by focusing on developing individual and institutional capacities, promoting citizen-centric governance, future readiness.
  • It fosters a culture of lifelong learning across all levels of public administration.
  • The Commission designs frameworks, sets standards, and encourages collaboration to make governance more transparent, accountable, citizen-centric, and future-ready.

About Lysosomal Storage Disorders:

• Lysosomal storage diseases or disorders (LSDs) are rare genetic conditions that cause a buildup of toxic materials in your body’s cells.
• LSDs cause a buildup of toxic materials in the body’s cells.
• These disorders usually appear during pregnancy or soon after birth and rarely, adults may develop LSDs. 
• The majority of the LSDs are caused by mutations in the genes encoding a lysosomal enzyme.
  • A lysosome is a membrane-bound cell organelle that contains digestive enzymes. 
  • Lysosomes are involved with various cell processes. They break down excess or worn-out cell parts.
  • People with LSDs lack certain enzymes or a substance that helps the enzyme work (enzyme activator or modifier). Enzymes assist your cells’ lysosomes with metabolism. 
  • Without functioning enzymes, your body can’t break down fats, sugars and other substances. 
  • If those build up in your body, they can be harmful. They cause dysfunction of those organs where they accumulate and contribute to great morbidity and mortality.
• Exceptions: All LSDs except Hunter syndrome(MPS II) and Fabry disease are autosomal recessive disorders. This means both parents must carry the abnormal gene that prevents the body from making an enzyme with normal activity.
• Treatment: 
  • There are no cures for lysosomal storage diseases. 
  • But treatments can help you to manage your symptoms and lessen damage to organs and tissues.