About Open Market Operations (OMO):

• OMOs refer to a central bank selling or purchasing securities in the open market in an effort to influence the money supply.
• In India, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) uses OMOs to manage liquidity and ensure financial stability.
• By influencing the availability of funds in the banking system, OMOs play a critical role in shaping interest rates and controlling inflation.
  • When the RBI buys government securities, it injects money into the banking system, increasing liquidity and lowering interest rates.
  • When the RBI sells government securities, it reduces liquidity by absorbing money, leading to higher interest rates.
• OMOs are used to:
  • Control inflation: By selling government securities, the RBI reduces liquidity, causing interest rates to rise. This, in turn, helps control inflation by curbing excess demand.
  • Boost economic growth: During economic slowdowns, the RBI can buy securities to inject liquidity into the system. Lower interest rates encourage borrowing and investment, which can help stimulate growth.
  • Manage exchange rates: OMOs can influence the exchange rate of the Indian Rupee by impacting the supply of money. This can be particularly relevant in maintaining stability amidst volatile foreign exchange markets.

About Shani Shingnapur Temple:

• It is a Hindu temple located in Maharashtra.
• It is dedicated to Lord Shanidev, the popular Hindu god associated with the planet Saturn.
• The deity here is a five-and-a-half-feet-high black rock standing on a platform and is believed to be swayambhu (self-emerged).
• Apart from the temple, Shingnapur is a small village which is also famous for the fact that in the whole village no house has doors, and despite this, no theft has been reported in the village.
• Architecture:
  • It has no roofs, doors, or walls around.
  • The temple is unique, as it is the only one where Lord Shani is worshipped in an open-sky setting.
  • The premises also contain a tomb of Saint Udasi Baba and a temple dedicated to Dattatreya.

About Centre for Chronic Disease Control (CCDC):

• Established in 2000, CCDC is an independent, not-for-profit, biomedical research organization based in New Delhi.
• It aims to reduce the burden of chronic diseases in India and low- and middle-income countries through surveillance, capacity building, and translational research in cardio-metabolic diseases.
• It is a Scientific & Industrial Research Organization recognized by the Department of Scientific & Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.
• It has been designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Surveillance, Capacity Building, and Translational Research in Cardio-Metabolic Diseases.
• Recently, CCDC received the recognition of a collaborating Centre of Excellence (CoE) by the Indian Council of Medical Research.
• It also holds registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976.
• CCDC undertakes clinical research with special emphasis on chronic non-communicable diseases (NCD).
  • Within the spectrum of chronic diseases, CCDC’s main focus areas are: cardiology, diabetes and metabolic disease, vascular diseases, cancers, and mental health.
• In addition, basic science research in diet/nutrition and cardiac biochemistry are also carried out.

About Dolomedes indicus:

• It is a new species of spider.
• It was discovered in the evergreen rainforests of the Western Ghats, in the Wayanad district of Kerala.
• It marks the first time a spider of the Dolomedes genus, commonly known as raft or fishing spiders, has been described in India.
  • Unlike the common house spiders that wait passively in webs, Dolomedes indicus is an active, semi-aquatic predator that uses the water’s surface tension to its advantage.
• It appears to be highly sensitive to its environment, thriving only in pristine, cool waters under a forest canopy.
• It could serve as a vital indicator species, helping conservationists monitor the health of freshwater ecosystems.

About Powai Lake:

• It is an artificial lake situated in the northern suburb of Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• The lake was built by the British in 1890.
• The Padmavati Devi Temple, situated on the bank of the lake, dates back to the 10th century AD.
• The lake is surrounded by the Powai Bird Sanctuary.
• It is an important resting, feeding, and breeding site of several bird species, resident and migratory.
• Among some of the lake’s rare and distinguished residents and visitors are the Watercock, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Slaty-legged Crake, Ruddy-breasted Crake, Woolly-necked Stork, Caspian Tern, and Peregrine Falcon.
• In recent times, 40% of the lake has disappeared. The lake has deteriorated due to accelerated growth of residential, commercial, and industrial areas around the lake.

About Afar region:

• It is the northeastern part of Ethiopia, where the Red Sea meets the Gulf of Aden.
• The Afar depression, also known as the Danakil depression, forms the northern part of the region and is largely desert scrubland with shallow salty lakes and long chains of volcanoes.
• The Awash River valley forms the southern part of the area.
• Tectonic Significance: It is situated at a unique triple junction where the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and East African Rift converge.
• Terrain: The region’s landscape is marked by deep rift valleys, volcanic plateaus, and extensive fissures, reflecting the dynamic forces reshaping the Earth’s crust. 
  • It is one of the hottest places on earth.
• It offers scientists a rare opportunity to observe the processes of continental break-up and ocean genesis in action.
• The region is well known for its early hominid fossil finds including 'Lucy', an Australopithecus afarensis, discovered in 1974.

About Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe:

• It is a dynamic organization that is dedicated to promoting peace, stability, and security throughout Europe and Central Asia. 
• It is the world’s largest regional security organization.
• Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE), in 1994, was renamed the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
• India is not a member country.
• Objective: It works for stability, peace and democracy through political dialogue about shared values and through practical work that makes a lasting difference.
• Decision-making bodies of OSCE: There are four decision-making bodies with delineated, distinct mandates namely;
  • Summits: It is the highest decision-making body of the OSCE
  • Ministerial Councils: The OSCE’s central decision-making and governing body
  • Permanent Council: It is responsible for the day-to-day business of the Organization
  • Forum for Security Co-operation: It deals with the politico-military dimension of security
• Leadership: The OSCE’s leadership includes the Chairperson-in-Office, the Secretary General, and the heads of its institutions and field operations.
• Headquarter: Vienna.

About Exercise Harimau Shakti:

• It is a joint military exercise conducted between India and Malaysia.
• The Indian contingent is being represented mainly by troops from the DOGRA Regiment.
• The aim of the exercise is to jointly rehearse conduct of Sub Conventional Operations under Chapter VII of United Nations Mandate.
• Both sides will practice tactical actions such as cordon, search and destroy missions, heliborne operations, etc.
• Key Facts about Exercise Harimau Shakti – 2025:
  • In this exercise both sides will rehearse drills to secure helipads and undertake casualty evacuation during counter-terrorist operations.
  • Both sides will exchange views and practices of joint drills on a wide spectrum of combat skills that will facilitate the participants to mutually learn from each other.
  • Sharing of best practices will further enhance the level of defence cooperation between Indian Army and Royal Malaysian Army.
• Significance: The exercise will also foster strong bilateral relations between the two nations.