About Solar Flare:

• It is an intense burst of radiation coming from the release of magnetic energy associated with sunspots.
• A flare appears as a sudden, intense brightening of a region on the Sun, lasting several minutes to hours.
• Flares occur when intense magnetic fields on the Sun become too tangled.
  • Like a rubber band that snaps when it is twisted too far, the tangled magnetic fields release energy when they snap.
• The energy emitted by a solar flare is more than a million times greater than the energy from a volcanic eruption on Earth.
• Although solar flares can be visible in white light, they are often more readily noticed via their bright X-ray and ultraviolet emissions.
• Coronal mass ejections often accompany solar flares, though scientists are still trying to determine exactly how the two phenomena are related.
• Effect of Solar Flare on Earth:
  • The intense radiation emitted during a solar flare can affect satellite communications, disrupt radio signals, and even pose a risk to astronauts in space.
  • Additionally, the increased solar radiation can lead to geomagnetic storms, which may impact power grids and cause auroras (northern and southern lights) at lower latitudes.

What are Sunspots?

• Sunspots are areas that appear dark on the surface of the Sun.
• They appear dark because they are cooler than other parts of the Sun’s surface.
• Why are sunspots relatively cool?
  • It’s because they form in areas where magnetic fields are particularly strong.
  • These magnetic fields are so strong that they keep some of the heat within the Sun from reaching the surface.

About Ebola:

• It is a severe and often deadly disease caused by a group of viruses known as orthoebolaviruses (formally ebolavirus).
• Orthoebolaviruses were discovered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and are found primarily in sub-Saharan Africa.
• It is known as a hemorrhagic fever virus because it can cause problems with the clotting system of the body and lead to internal bleeding as blood leaks from small blood vessels.
• It gets its name from the Ebola River, which is near one of the villages in the Democratic Republic of Congo where the disease first appeared.
• Ebola can occur in humans and other primates (gorillas, monkeys, and chimpanzees).
• Transmission:
  • The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals (such as fruit bats, porcupines, and non-human primates) and then spreads in the human population through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected people and with surfaces and materials (e.g., bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids.
  • Ebola cannot be transmitted by air.
• Symptoms:
  • It includes fever, diarrhea, vomiting, bleeding, and often, death.
• Treatment:
  • There is no known cure for Ebola. Experimental treatments have been used, but none have been fully tested to see if they work well and are safe.
  • For example, there are two FDA-approved monoclonal antibody treatments for the Ebola Zaire strain (Inmazeb and Ebanga).
  • Current therapy consists of maintenance of fluid and electrolyte balance and the administration of blood and plasma to control bleeding.

About Dudhwa Tiger Reserve:

• It is located on the Indo-Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh.
• It includes the Dudhwa National Park and two nearby sanctuaries, viz. Kishanpur and Katerniaghat, besides forest areas of North Kheri, South Kheri, and Shahjahanpur forest divisions in its buffer.
• Topography: It is a typical Tarai-Bhabar habitat of the upper Gangetic plains biogeographic province.
• Rivers: The Sharda River flows by the Kishanpur WL Sanctuary, the Geruwa River flows through the Katerniaghat WL Sanctuary, and the Suheli and Mohana streams flow in the Dudhwa National Park, all of which are tributaries of the mighty Ghagra River.
• Vegetation: The vegetation is of the Moist Deciduous type, with sal forests.
• Fauna:
  • The main mammals spotted here are Tiger, leopard, Swamp deer, Rhinoceros, chital, hog deer, barking deer, Sambhar, wild boar, and Ratel.
  • It hosts various species of birds like: Florican and black-necked storks.

Key Facts about Rainbow Water Snake:

• It is a slightly venomous, fish-eating water snake.
• Scientific Name: Enhydris enhydris
• It mainly inhabits freshwater habitats.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Least Concern.

About Caller Name Presentation (CNAP):

• CNAP is a technology that enables mobile users to see an incoming caller’s name.
• The system retrieves the caller’s name from a telecom operator’s database and displays it on the recipient’s phone.
• Unlike third-party apps, CNAP will rely on the official Customer Application Form (CAF) details provided during SIM registration.

_{How Will CNAP Work?}

• Each telecom provider will maintain a database of subscriber names linked to mobile numbers.
• When a call is made, the system will fetch the caller’s registered name and display it on the recipient’s screen.
• Initially, CNAP will work only within the same network, meaning an Airtel-to-Airtel call will display the caller’s name, but cross-operator name display, such as Jio-to-Vodafone, will require regulatory approval for data sharing between telecom providers.

• Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recommended the adoption of CNAP for all smartphones, urging telecom operators to introduce the feature.
  • The aim is to reduce customer harassment from unknown or spam callers.

About Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) Act, 1959:

• The Indian Statistical Institute was founded by Professor P.C. Mahalanobis in Calcutta in 1931.
• The ISI, established earlier as a society, plays a crucial role in statistical research, education, and training in India.
• The ISI Act, 1959 primarily applies to the ISI, its governing body, employees, and students.
• The Act aimed to recognize the ISI’s contributions to national development and provide it with the necessary autonomy and support to carry out its functions effectively.
• The ISA Act 1959 declared the ISI an institution of national importance.
• This Act falls under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
• Salient Features of ISI Act, 1959:
  • Empowers the ISI to grant degrees and diplomas in statistics, mathematics, quantitative economics, computer science, and related subjects.
  • Provides for grants, loans, and other financial assistance from the Central Government.
  • Mandates the audit of the Institute’s accounts by qualified auditors.
  • Requires prior approval from the Central Government for certain actions by the Institute, such as altering its objectives, amending its memorandum, or disposing of certain properties.
  • Provides for the constitution of committees by the Central Government to prepare the Institute’s program of work and review its activities.
  • Empowers the Central Government to issue directions to the Institute.
  • Allows the Central Government to assume control of the Institute under certain circumstances.

About Alaknanda Galaxy:

• It is located about 12 billion light years away and has textbook spiral structure.
• It is named after a Himalayan river Alaknanda and the Hindi word for the Milky Way.
• It is a powerhouse of stellar birth.
• It looks remarkably similar to our own Milky Way.
• It was discovered through NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.

What is Spiral Galaxy?

• Spiral galaxies are twisted collections of stars and gas.
• In a spiral galaxy, the stars, gas, and dust are gathered in spiral arms that spread outward from the galaxy’s center.

About Green Tug Transition Programme:

• It aims to transition India's harbour tug fleet from conventional diesel-powered vessels to greener alternatives.
• It was launched by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways in in 2024.
• Implementation:
  • Under this programme, 50 green tugs will be inducted by 2030.
  • In Phase 1, two green tugs each will be stationed at DPA, Paradip Port Authority, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority and V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority.
  • One tug each will be deployed at the remaining eight major ports.
  • This is achieved through a phased approach spanning five phases from 2024 to 2040.
• Nodal Agency: National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS) will act as the nodal entity for this programme.
• ‘Green Hybrid Tugs’ will be powered by Green Hybrid Propulsion systems. These Green hybrid tugs will subsequently adopt non-fossil fuel solutions like (Methanol, Ammonia, and Hydrogen).

About Humpback Whale:

• The Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a species of baleen whale.
• It is a rorqual; a member of the family Balaenopteridae.
• Appearance:
  • It has the distinctive hump on its back.
  • Its long pectoral fins inspired its scientific name, Megaptera, which means “big-winged” 
  • Humpback females are larger than males.
• Distribution: They inhabit all major oceans from sub-polar latitudes to the equator.
  • They undertake long migrations between polar feeding grounds in summer and tropical or subtropical breeding grounds in winter. 
• Behavior: They use a unique method of feeding called bubble netting, in which bubbles are exhaled as the whale swims in a spiral below a patch of water dense with food.
• Diet: They filter their food through baleen plates. They strain krill, anchovies, cod, sardines, mackerel, capelin, and other schooling fish from the waters.
• Conservation status:
  • IUCN: Least concern.

About RBI Integrated Ombudsman Scheme:

• It was launched in 2021.
• Objective: To provide customers of Regulated Entities (REs) a speedy, cost-effective and expeditious alternate grievance redress mechanism.
• It integrated the erstwhile three Ombudsman schemes of RBI namely:
  • The Banking Ombudsman Scheme, 2006, the Ombudsman Scheme for Non-Banking Financial Companies, 2018 and the Ombudsman Scheme for Digital Transactions, 2019.
• It adopted ‘One Nation One Ombudsman’ approach by making the RBI Ombudsman mechanism jurisdiction neutral.
• Features of RBI Integrated Ombudsman Scheme
  • It defines ‘deficiency in service’ as the ground for filing a complaint, with a specified list of exclusions.
  • Covered Banks: It covers all commercial banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), RRBs, Payment System Participants, most Primary (Urban) Cooperative Banks with a deposit size of ₹50 crore and Credit Information Companies.
  • A Centralised Receipt and Processing Centre has been set up at RBI, Chandigarh, for receipt and initial processing of physical and email complaints in any language.
  • Under this scheme, compensation up to Rupees 20 lakh, in addition to, up to 1 lakh for the loss of the complainant’s time, expenses incurred and for harassment/mental anguish suffered by the complainant can be awarded.

About INS Aridhaman:

• It is India's third indigenously built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine.
• It is the second submarine in the Arihant class.
• It is being built under the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project to build nuclear submarines at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam.
• Features of INS Aridhaman:
  • Armaments:
    • It has launch tubes capable of deploying K-15 Sagarika submarine each with a 750 km range;
    • Longer-range K-4 missiles extending to 3,500 km for intercontinental strikes.
  • It also has anechoic tiles for acoustic damping and advanced sonar suites enhancing its survivability against detection.

History of India’s Nuclear Submarine:

• INS Arihant was the first vessel under the SSBN project. It was launched in 2009 and later commissioned in 2016.
• The Navy commissioned its second indigenous SSBN, INS Arighaat in 2024.