About Vasuki indicus:

• It is an ancient snake species, the fossils of which were first unearthed in 2005 at the Panandhro Lignite Mine in the Kutch district of Gujarat.
• However, the species was only identified and described as a new genus in 2024.
• It is named after Vasuki, the mythical snake often depicted around the neck of the Hindu god Shiva.
• It belonged to the now-extinct Madtsoiidae family, a group of large, non-venomous constrictor snakes.
• It is thought to have existed during the Middle Eocene (47.8 to 38 million years ago), when the Earth's temperature was good enough to permit the evolution of large, cold-blooded reptiles. 

About Barda Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is located in the Barda Hills of Gujarat, near the coastal city of Porbandar.
• Known locally as Jam Barda, it was once a private hunting ground for the royal families of Jamnagar and Porbandar.
• It is surrounded by agricultural fields, wastelands, and forests, and the terrain of Barda is almost hilly.
• Rivers: There are two waterways, the Bileshvary River and the Joghri River, and two dams, Khambala and Fodara.
• Tribes: Ethnic races such as Maldharis, Bharvads, Rabaris, and Gadhvis live in this region.
• Vegetation: There are several forest sub-types, such as southern tropical forest, southern dry mixed deciduous forest, and northern tropical thorn forest.
• Flora:
  • Gorad, Babul, Dhav, Rayan, Ber, Jamun, Amli, Dhudhlo, Bamboo, etc.
  • Medicinal plants of great use grow profusely within the forested belt of the sanctuary.
• Fauna:
  • It shelters species like leopards, wolves, sambar deer, chinkara, hyenas, and blue bulls (nilgai).
  • The sanctuary is also a paradise for bird watchers, with numerous resident and migratory birds such as eagles, owls, crested serpent eagles, and partridges found here.
  • The sanctuary is a key area for the conservation of Asiatic Lions.
  • To develop Barda as the second home for the Asiatic lion, the state government implemented the ‘Gir-Barda Project’ in 1979.
  • It is the first fully protected satellite lion habitat in Gujarat.
  • It is now home to Asiatic lions, according to recent reports.

About Exercise Akhand Prahar-II:

• It is a military exercise conducted by the Indian Army.
• It was jointly conducted by the Army’s "Black Mace" Brigade and "Battle Axe" Division at Jaisalmer in the desert region of Rajasthan.
• It followed the success of "Akhand Prahar-I", during which the Army demonstrated its combat and operational readiness through joint military operations.
• The exercise focused on strengthening operational effectiveness by integrating New Generation Equipment (NGEs) and Force Multipliers (FMs).
• It also tested the formations’ preparedness to meet the evolving challenges of modern warfare, highlighting the Army’s emphasis on technological advancement, operational coordination, and battlefield adaptability.
• During the exercise, the formations tested integrated battle drills in a multi-domain operational environment, demonstrating coordination among combat elements and the effective use of advanced technologies.
• The drills showcased their ability to combine different operational capabilities, execute tasks with precision, and improve combat effectiveness across multiple domains.

About Barak River:

• It is a transboundary river in India and Bangladesh.
• It is the second largest river in Northeast India, after the Brahmaputra.
• Course:
  • It rises from the Manipur hills, south of Mao in the Senapati district of Manipur.
  • It flows through the hilly regions of Manipur, along parts of the Manipur–Nagaland and Manipur–Mizoram boundaries, and through Assam before entering Bangladesh.
  • In Bangladesh, the Barak divides into the Surma and Kushiyara rivers, which eventually form the Meghna River and drain into the Bay of Bengal.
• The 121-km stretch of the river between Lakhipur and Bhanga in Assam was declared by the Government of India as National Waterway 16.
• Basin:
  • The Barak River basin, formed by the Barak and its tributaries, drains India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
  • In India the basin spreads over states of Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Assam, Tripura, and Nagaland.
  • It is bounded by the Barail range separating it from the Brahmaputra basin on the north, by the Naga and Lushai hills on the east, and by the Mizo hills and the territory of Bangladesh on the south and west.
  • The entire basin falls in the Eastern Himalayan region of the Agro Climatic Zone.
  • The major part of the basin is covered by forest.
  • Due to the hilly topography, terrace farming is common in this region.
• In Assam, the Barak Valley gets its name from the river and includes the districts of Cachar, Hailakandi, and Karimganj, forming the southernmost part of the state.
  • The valley is home to many tribal and linguistic groups, including Dimasa, Manipuri, Rongmei Naga, and Hmar people and a large proportion of Bengali-speaking people.
• Tributaries: The principal tributaries of the Barak are Jiri, Chiri, Modhura, Jatinga, Harang, Dhaleswari, Singla, Longai, Sonai, and Katakhal.
• There are four major dams, namely Khoupum Dam, Mawphlang Dam, Gumti Hydro Dam, and Myntdu-Leshka Dam.

About Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR):

• It is the apex body of the Government of India for research in the social and human sciences.
• It was established in the year 1969 by the Government of India on the recommendation of the V. K. R. V. Rao Committee.
• Purpose: Encourage, promote, and fund social science research in the country.
• It is an autonomous organisation working under the aegis of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education.
• Objectives:
  • To review and survey the progress of social science research and advise the Government on policy issues
  • To fund and promote social science research in Universities/Colleges/Research Institutes
  • To award Doctoral, Post–Doctoral, Senior, and National Fellowships to researchers and faculties
  • To award minor, major and collaborative research projects to researchers and faculties
  • To fund national and international seminars and conferences to disseminate social science research findings
  • To support training and capacity-building Programmes for young researchers and faculties
  • To provide International Travel and Data Collection Grants to scholars and faculties
  • To encourage international collaboration in social science research with well recognized foreign research funding agencies
  • To fund the publication of journals and books in social science research and also strengthen professional social science associations/organizations
  • To provide library, documentation, data, and online services for social science research
  • To indicate periodic themes in neglected and new critical areas of research
• Organisational Structure:
  • The ICSSR’s highest decision-making body, known as the Council, has 26 members, which includes the ICSSR Chairman and the Member-Secretary, 17 Social Scientists (Non-Ex-Officio members), one co-opted member, and six Ex-officio members representing the Government of India.
  • The Member Secretary is the Chief Executive Officer and heads the ICSSR Secretariat, consisting of Directors, Deputy Directors, Assistant Directors, and other officials.
  • The Council has three standing committees, namely the Research Committee (RC), Research Institutes Committee (RIC), and Planning and Administration Committee (PAC).
• An all-India network of 24 frontline research institutes and six regional centres is maintained, and five recognized institutes are programmatically supported by the ICSSR.
• The Documentation center of ICSSR–National Social Science Documentation Centre (NASSDOC)-provides library and information support services to researchers in social sciences.
• ICSSR has developed the ICSSR Data Service to serve as a national data service for promoting a powerful research environment through sharing and reuse of data among the social science community in India.

About France:

• Location: It is a country located in North Western Europe.
• Bordering countries: It is bordered by 7 countries: Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Andorra.
• Water bodies: It is bounded by the Bay of Biscay (North Atlantic Ocean) in the west; by the English Channel in the northwest and by the Mediterranean Sea in the south. 
• Capital City: Paris
• Geographical Features of France:
  • Climate: The climate in mainland France is temperate, with quite significant regional differences.
  • Major Rivers: It is drained by Loire (drains into Atlantic ocean ), Seine (drains into English channel).
  • Major Mountains: Alps (southern France), Jura Mountains (north of Alps), Pyrenees (forms border with Spain).
  • Highest Point: The highest mountain in France is Mont Blanc.
  • Natural Resources: It consists of Coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorspar, gypsum.

About Valley of Flowers National Park:        

• Location: It is located in Uttarakhand.
• It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and forms one of the two core zones (the other being the Nanda Devi National Park) of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve.
• The gentle landscape of the Valley of Flowers National Park complements the rugged mountain wilderness of Nanda Devi National Park. 
• Together they encompass a unique transition zone between the Zanskar and Great Himalayan ranges.
• It is famous for its alpine meadows and rich biodiversity.
• Flora: 
  • It mainly consists of Exotic flowers like orchids, poppies, primulas, marigolds, daisies, and anemones are an eye-catching spectacle. 
  • Sub-alpine forests birch and rhododendron cover parts of the park’s area.
• Fauna: It is home to such rare and amazing wildlife species like the gray langur, the flying squirrel, the Himalayan weasel, black bear, the red fox, the lime butterfly, and the snow leopard.

About Income Tax Appellate Tribunal:

• It is a quasi-judicial institution set up in 1941 and specializes in dealing with appeals under the Direct Taxes Acts.
• It adjudicates appeals made under the Income Tax Act of 1961.
• Initial Structure: It was started in 1941 with six Members constituting three Benches – one each at Delhi, Kolkata (Calcutta), and Mumbai (Bombay).
• Present Structure: It presently has 63 Benches at 27 different cities.
• Nodal Ministry: It functions under the Ministry of Law and Justice.
• Composition of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal:
  • President: The President of the ITAT constitutes a bench from among the members of the ITAT.
  • Member: Each bench has an accountant member and a judicial member.
  • Special Bench: In some cases, a special bench with three or more members may be constituted to dispose of income tax appeals.
• Functions of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal:
  • Hearing Appeal: It hears appeals concerning orders passed by the income-tax authorities.
  • Dispute Resolution: ITAT serves as the final fact-finding body in tax disputes, offering both taxpayers and the income tax authorities a convenient platform to resolve disputes.
  • It is the second forum to hear income-tax appeals after the Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals)
  • ITAT functions under the regional High Court’s jurisdiction and must adhere to the rules of the same.
  • ITAT is subordinate to both the region’s High Court and the Indian Supreme Court.
  • The orders passed by the ITAT are final. An appeal lies to the High Court only if a substantial question of law arises for determination.

About Port of Constanta:       

• Location: It is one of the key Romanian maritime ports in the Black Sea Region.
• It is the only seaport directly connected to the Danube River through the Danube—Black Sea Canal.
• This port also plays a key role for the Danube countries in Central and East Europe through the Danube River.
• Significance: It is playing a highly important role as the transit node for the landlocked countries in the Central and South-East Europe.

Key facts about Black Sea:

• It is a large inland sea situated at the southeastern extremity of Europe.
• It is located where Europe and Asia meet.
• Bordering Countries: It is bordered by Ukraine to the north, Russia to the northeast, Georgia to the east, Turkey to the south, and Bulgaria and Romania to the west.
• Though far inland, it connects with the Atlantic Ocean through a series of other waterways. 
• The Bosporus Strait, the Sea of Marmara, and the Dardanelles Strait link the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and finally, the
• To its east, the Kerch Strait links the Black Sea to the smaller Sea of Azov. 
• Rivers: Major rivers flowing into it include the Danube, Dnieper, Southern Bug, Rioni, and Dniester.

About Kufri Jamunia:

• It is a biofortified table variety purple potato developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research- Central Potato Research Institute.
• It was officially released in 2024.
• It is a medium-maturing potato variety with medium-tall plants and a semi-compact canopy.
• Kufri jamunia has demonstrated stable performance in multi-location trials and has been recommended for cultivation in the North Indian plains.
• Salient characteristics of Kufri jamunia:
  • It possesses good storage quality with low rottage and minimal weight loss.
  • Nutritional Content: The variety contains higher levels of ascorbic acid, anthocyanin, and carotenoids.
  • Its purple flesh indicates high antioxidant content and better nutritional quality. Kufri jamunia also contains enhanced levels of zinc and iron.
  • Applications: It is suitable for a wide range of culinary applications.
• Other Varieties of Potatoes:
  • Kufri Neelkanth
    • It was the first purple-skinned specialty potato variety developed by ICAR-CPRI (Central Potato Research Institute), released in 2018.
    • The variety is suitable for cultivation in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
    • It is known for its high antioxidant content. The variety is suitable for people of all age groups.
  • Kufri manik:
    • It was released in 2021.
    • It produces attractive, deep red tubers with a round shape, medium eyes, and yellow flesh.
    • The variety is rich in nutrients and contains high levels of anthocyanin, zinc, and iron.