About Similipal Tiger Reserve:

• Location: It is situated in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.
• The park is named after the Simul (silk cotton) tree, which grows in abundance here.
• It is situated in the Deccan Peninsular Bio-geographic Zone, it harbours a unique blend of Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, and eastern Himalayan biodiversity.
• It has some beautiful waterfalls like Joranda and Barehipani.
• Terrain: It is surrounded by high plateaus and hills, the highest peak being the twin peaks of Khairiburu and Meghashini (1515 m above mean sea level).
• Tribes: It is also home to various tribes, including Kolha, Santhala, Bhumija, Bhatudi, Gondas, Khadia, Mankadia, and Sahara.
• Vegetation: The forest is predominantly moist mixed deciduous forest with tropical semi-evergreen forest in areas with suitable microclimatic conditions and sporadic patches of dry deciduous forests and grasslands.
• Flora: Sal is the dominant tree species here. 
  • It houses 7% of the flowering plants and 8% of India’s orchids. The park also has extensive grasslands that are grazing grounds for many of the herbivores. 
• Fauna: It is known for the tiger, elephant, and hill mynah, leopard, sambar etc.

About World Environment Day:

• It is observed every year on June 5.
• It is led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
• It is an international day dedicated to raising global awareness about environmental issues and encouraging individuals, organisations, and others to take a step towards protecting the planet.
• Historical Background:
  • World Environment Day was established in 1972 during the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm. 
  • The UNEP was established in the same year.
  • The UN General Assembly officially designated June 5 as World Environment Day.
  • It was first celebrated in 1973 with the theme “Only One Earth,”
  • Each year, a host nation spearheads the campaign, which raises awareness of a certain issue.
• World Environment Day 2026
  • Theme: "Only One Earth"
  • Host Country 2026: This year, Azerbaijan highlights the planetary crises of climate change and ecosystem degradation and their interconnected impacts on people and nature.

About Screw Pine:

• The Screw Pine or kewra  or kewda plant (pandanus odorifer) is a small branched tree or shrub.
• It is a common species of the family Pandanaceae.
• It is a monocot, more closely related to grasses and palms than to conifers.
• It grows naturally in tropical coastal environments.
• Appearance:
  • It is a small, slender, branching tree with a flexuous trunk supported by brace roots.
  • With rosettes of long-pointed, stiffly leathery, spiny, bluish-green, fragrant leaves.
  • It is known for its distinctive prop roots and long, narrow leaves.
• Distribution: It is found wild in southern India, Burma and the Andamans.
• It grows abundantly in the coastal regions of Orissa, especially along the Ganjam coast between Rushikulya river to the north and Bahuda river to the south.
• Required Climatic Conditions:
  • Climate: It requires bright, direct sunlight and thrives in warm, humid conditions.
  • Soil: It prefers loamy soil that is rich in organic matter and retains moisture well.
  • Rain: Moderate rainfall (1,500–2,000 mm annually)
• Applications:
  • It is widely used to flavour food, in the aromatic, perfumery and cosmetics industry as well as in Ayurvedic medicines.
  • The flowers (only male) are used to extract fragrance/oil.
  • The leaves of the plant are used to make mats, baskets and bags.
• Ecological Significance: It plays a vital role in stabilising shorelines and supporting biodiversity — making it a keystone species in Indian coastal ecosystems.

About Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana:

• It is a skill development programme launched by the government of India in 2015.
• It aims to empower the youth of India to engage in industry relevant skill training and secure a better livelihood.
• Implementing Agency: It is being implemented by the National Skill Development Corporations in partnership with multiple stakeholders.
• Eligibility Criteria of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana:
  • Age Limit: Candidates aged 14 to 35 years are generally eligible for PMKVY training programs.
  • Nationality: Applicants must be Indian citizens to qualify for the scheme.
  • Educational Qualifications: PMKVY caters to individuals from diverse educational backgrounds, including those without formal education.
  • Employment Status: Priority is given to unemployed or underemployed individuals to enhance their employability.
  • Aadhar Card: An Aadhar card is often a mandatory requirement for applying to PMKVY programs.
• Features of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana:
  • Updated Skill Training: Industry experts are consulted regularly in order to ensure that updated skill training is provided according to industry demands. 
  • Short Term Courses: Short term training courses make it easy for people to acquire new skills within a short period of time. 
  • Recognition to Prior Learning: It is also acknowledged through certification without undergoing the same training. 
  • Placement Assistance: The scheme also aims to provide placement assistance for all the candidates trained in a certain skill.

About MY Bharat Platform:

• It is an autonomous body that has been set up by the Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sport.
• It has been set up by the Government of India and registered as society under Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860.
• MY Bharat’s digital platform provides equitable access to opportunities for youth to actualize their aspirations and build Viksit Bharat.
• Features:
  • It is meticulously designed to cater to the needs of the dynamic youth demographic, aged between 15 and 29 years.
  • It provides an over-arching institutional mechanism powered by technology for youth development and youth-led development.
  • The platform connects youth with programs and learning opportunities in Businesses, Government Departments and Non-Profit Organisations. 
  • To supplement theoretical learning in the classroom, youth need experiential learning programs that allow them exposure to work in practical situations in local businesses, in local self-government and in Government bodies.
  • MY Bharat platform will create such an eco-system and empower young individuals to become catalysts for community transformation. 
  • The platform allows youth to generate their individual profiles listing their skill-sets and activities.
  • The platform would allow youth to network with each other and also potential mentors.
  • This platform offers a wealth of resources, mentorship programs, experiential learning opportunities, networks, and invaluable industry connections.

About National e-Vidhan Application:

• It is an online platform designed to digitize the legislative processes of all State and Union Territory assemblies.
• It is one of the 44 Mission Mode Projects (MMPs) under the Digital India Programme of the Government of India.
• It aims to make the functioning of all State Legislatures paperless and integrate all Legislative Houses on a single digital platform under the vision of ‘One Nation, One Application’.
• NeVA is a device neutral and member centric application created to equip them to handle diverse House Business smartly by putting entire information regarding member contact details, rules of procedure, list of business, notices, bulletins, bills etc.
• It assists the Chair of the House in conducting proceedings smoothly while enabling members to fulfill their responsibilities efficiently.
• The NeVA platform is hosted on Meghraj 2.0, India’s cloud infrastructure, ensuring robust scalability, security, and data integrity.
• Features of National e-Vidhan Application:
  • It provides real-time access to key legislative documents, such as agendas, bills, and reports.
  • The platform features a secure digital repository, safeguarding the confidentiality and integrity of legislative data.
  • The platform also offers multilingual capabilities, catering to the linguistic diversity across states and regions, making it accessible to a broader range of users.
  • Its device-agnostic nature allows it to be accessed seamlessly across smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktops.

About North Eastern Council:

• It was established under the North Eastern Council Act, 1971.
• It is the nodal agency for the economic and social development of the North Eastern Region.
• States: It consists of the eight States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. 
• Sikkim was included as the eighth member state through the NEC (Amendment) Act, 2002
• Composition:
  • Ex-Officio Chairman: Union Home Minister
  • Ex-Officio Vice-Chairman: Minister of state, ministry of development of north eastern region (DoNER).
  • Members: It comprises governors & chief ministers of constituent states and three members nominated by the President.
• Functions: It serves as the apex regional planning body for the North Eastern Region and plays a pivotal role in fostering coordinated development and strengthening cooperative federalism in the region.

About Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority:

• It is a statutory body established by the Government of India under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act in December, 1985.
• Nodal Ministry: It works under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Objective: To develop and promote the export of scheduled products.
• Functions:
  • Setting the standards and specifications for the scheduled products.
  • Registration of exporters of the scheduled products on payment of required fees.
  • Carrying out an inspection of products to ensure the quality of such products.
  • Training in various aspects of the industries connected with the scheduled products.
  • Development of industries relating to the scheduled products and undertaking surveys, feasibility studies, etc.
  • It is responsible for providing financial assistance, information, and guidelines for the development of scheduled products. 
  • It also functions as the Secretariat to the National Accreditation Board (NAB) for the implementation of accreditation of the Certification Bodies under National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) for Organic exports.
• APEDA is headed by a Chairman appointed by the Central Government.
• Headquarters: New Delhi
  • APEDA has set up 15 Regional Offices at Mumbai, Bengaluru, Telangana, Kolkata, Guwahati, Ahmedabad, Varanasi, Chandigarh, Bhopal, Chennai, Kochi, Tripura, Srinagar, Jammu, and Ladakh.

About Cambodia:

• Location: It is located in the southern portion of the Indo China Peninsula in Southeast Asia.
• Bordering Countries: It is bordered by three countries namely Vietnam (East and southeast) Laos (Northeast) and Thailand (Northwest).
• Maritime Boundaries: It is bounded by the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest.
• Capital: Phnom Penh
• Geographical Features of Cambodia:
  • Climate: The country is characterised by a tropical savanna climate and monsoons.
  • Mountain Ranges: It mainly consists of Dangrek Mountains, Krâvanh and Dâmrei Mountains.
  • Highest Point: The highest point in Cambodia is the 1,810 m (5,938 ft) high Phnom Aural.
  • Major Rivers: Mekong River
  • Lake: Tonlé Sap Lake is a large lake that is connected to the Mekong River.
  • Natural Resources: It mainly consists of iron ore, copper, and gold.
  • World Heritage Sites: Temple of Angkor Wat and Temple of Preah Vihear (It is dedicated to Lord Shiva).

About National Awards for e-Governance:

• NAeG are presented every year to recognize and promote excellence in implementation of e-Governance initiatives. 
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
• The NAeG Awards, 2026 consist of:
  • Trophy, Certificate and an incentive of Rs 10 lakh for Gold Awardees and Rs 5 lakh for Silver Awardees to be awarded to Central Ministry/Department/State/UT/ District/Organisation/Gram Panchayat for being utilised for implementation of project/programme or bridging resources gaps in any area of public welfare.
• This year 16 Awards are being conferred under the NAeG 2026. Of these 10 will be Gold Awards and 6 will be silver Awards.
• The seven categories for the NAeG 2026, are:
  • Government Process Re-engineering by Use of Technology for Digital Transformation
  • Innovation by Use of AI and Other New Age Technologies for Providing Citizen Centric Services
  • Best e-Gov Practices/Innovation in Cyber Security
  • District Level Initiatives in e-Governance
  • Grassroots Level Initiatives by Gram Panchayats or equivalent Traditional Local Bodies for Deepening/Widening of Service Delivery
  • Replication and Scaling of Nationally Awarded and Mission-Mode e-Governance Projects by States/UTs/Districts,
  • Digital transformation by Use of Data Analytics in Digital Platforms by Central Ministries/States/UTs.