About Radio Telemetry:

• Radio telemetry involves using radio waves to automatically transmit data from remote or inaccessible sources to a receiving station for monitoring and analysis.
• It is commonly used in wildlife tracking, weather monitoring, industrial process control, and medical monitoring to gather data without needing physical access to the source.
• Radio Telemetry in Wildlife Tracking:
  • Since the 1960s, scientists have been using radio telemetry to track wildlife, studying their migration patterns, behaviors, and habits.
  • Radio telemetry uses radio signals, which are made up of invisible and silent electromagnetic waves, to determine location.
  • A radio telemetry system is made up of three parts: a radio transmitter, a radio antenna, and a radio receiver.
  • The transmitter can be attached or tagged to the subject using a collar, an ear tag, or a wing tag for birds in particular. It is the part that transmits, or sends, the radio signal.
  • The operator uses an antenna, attached to a receiver, which is programmed to the transmitter’s frequency, to pick up the radio signals given off by the transmitter affixed to the target animal.
    • Receiver antennas may be hand-held, mounted on an object, or affixed to towers to avoid interference from buildings and trees.
    • They may also be fixed to a vehicle, boat, or aircraft to allow the operator to exploit larger areas.
  • The radio signals are then transformed into a beeping sound by the receiver.
  • As the receiver gets closer to the transmitter, the beeps get louder, meaning the animal wearing the transmitter is close by.
  • The researcher can use this audible clue to locate and follow the animal wearing the transmitter.
• Limitations:
  • However, unlike GPS satellite tracking, radio telemetry requires researchers to remain within the signal range of the transmitter to locate the tagged animal.
  • The other limitation is the size and lifespan of the battery required to power the transmitter.

About Direct Seeded Rice (DSR):

• It is a modern farming technique where rice seeds are sown directly into the field, replacing the traditional method of transplanting seedlings from a nursery.
• Preferred Soil Types for DSR:
  • DSR can be operationalized on soils ranging from medium texture (loam) to heavy texture (clay).
  • However, it is recommended not to go for DSR if the soil is light textured and poorly drained.
• Advantages:
  • This method skips the labor-intensive step of transplanting, saving farmers time and effort.
  • DSR uses less water (up to 50%) because it doesn’t require continuous flooding of the fields.
  • By conserving water and reducing labor, DSR makes rice farming more efficient and sustainable.
  • DSR also reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which helps combat climate change.
  • It also offers a congenial soil environment for better growth and productivity of succeeding crops.
  • It increases total income by reducing the cost of cultivation.
  • Mechanized DSR also creates avenues for employment through new service provisions and is less labor-intensive and free from drudgery, hence more attractive to youth and women
• Challenges in DSR Cultivation:
  • Higher seed rates
  • Seeds exposed to birds and pests
  • Weed management
  • Higher risk of lodging
  • Risk of poor or non-uniform crop establishment.

About Cyttopsis indica:

• It is a new species of deep-sea fish.
• It was discovered from the Arabian Sea off southern Kerala.
• It belongs to the genus Cyttopsis, a primitive group of marine fishes commonly known as "dories."
• Cyttopsis indica has been given the common name Indian Dory.
• It can survive under immense pressure by storing high levels of waxy compounds in their bodies, making some of them unsuitable for direct human consumption.

Key Facts about Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI):

• It was established by the Government of India on February 3rd 1947 under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• It later became a member of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) family in 1967.
• The headquarters was shifted from Mandapam Camp in Tamil Nadu to Kochi in Kerala  in 1971.
• Over the years CMFRI has emerged as a leading tropical marine fisheries research institute in the world.
• Mandate:
  • To monitor the exploitation and assess the under-exploitation of the marine fisheries resources of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
  • To understand the fluctuations in abundance of marine fisheries resources in relation to change in the environment.
  • To develop suitable mariculture technologies for finfish, shellfish and other culturable organisms in open seas to supplement capture fishery production.
  • To act as a repository of information on marine fishery resources with a systematic database.
  • To conduct transfer of technology, post graduate and specialized training, education and extension education programmes.
  • To provide consultancy services.

About LokOS Platform:

• LokOS (Lok = People, OS = Operating System) is a web and mobile platform under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
• It offers a comprehensive digital solution for managing Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs).
• The web application of LokOS supports administrators, E-bookkeepers, and transaction approvers in creating and approving SHGs, Village Organizations (VOs), Cluster Level Federations (CLFs), and their members.
• The mobile application enables efficient recording and management of Community-Based Organization (CBO) activities in the field.
• It has enabled large-scale digital integration of community institutions Cluster Level Federations (CLFs), Village Organizations (VOs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and SHG Members nationwide.
• LokOS supports the Lakhpati Didi initiative through large-scale outreach, beneficiary tracking, and digital monitoring.
• Coverage: It currently covers 34 States/UTs.
• Key Features of LokOS App:
  • End-to-End Digital Management: Registers and manages SHGs, Village Organizations (VOs), Cluster Level Federations (CLFs), and their members.
  • Unique Digital IDs: Generates Aadhaar- and bank-linked digital identities for CBOs and members.
  • Digital Financial Records: Records savings, loans, repayments, and other financial transactions.
  • Livelihood Profiling: Captures livelihood data to support planning and convergence with government schemes.
  • Role-Based Administration: Enables user management, approvals, monitoring, and reporting from village to national level.
  • Real-Time Analytics: Provides dashboards and one-click reports for data-driven decision-making.

About New Zealand:

• It is an island country and one of the many islands that make up Oceania.
• It is located in the South Pacific Ocean to the southeast of Australia, south of New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga Islands.
• It is primarily divided into two main islands, the North Island and the South Island, separated by the Cook Strait.
• Capital City: Wellington
• Geographical Features of New Zealand:
  • It is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire—the circum-Pacific seismic belt marked by frequent earthquakes and considerable volcanic activity.
  • Climate: New Zealand’s climate is complex and varies from warm subtropical in the far north to cool temperate climates in the far south.
  • Highest Peak: Mount Cook
  • Active Volcano: Mount Ruapehu
  • Glacier: Tasman Glacier, the largest in New Zealand
  • Lake: Lake Taupō which is the largest natural lake
  • Natural Resources: These include gold, silver, iron sands, phosphate and limestone etc.

About Borjuli Wetland:

• Location: It is located in
• It is known for harbouring a disease and pest-resistant variety of wild rice known as Oryza rufipogon.
  • Oryza rufipogon, is the progenitor of present-day cultivated rice, Oryza sativa.
  • It is resistant to pests and diseases and can tolerate flooding and saline conditions, making it a valuable genetic resource for developing climate-resilient crop varieties.
  • It is photosensitive in nature and flowers during short days during the months of November and December.
  • The seeds have a tendency to shatter as soon as they mature.

Key facts about Biodiversity Heritage Site:

• BHS are unique ecosystems having rich biodiversity consisting of any one or more of the following components:
  • Richness of wild as well as domesticated species or intra-specific categories.
  • High endemism
  • Presence of rare and threatened species, keystone species, and species of evolutionary significance.
  • Wild ancestors of domestic/cultivated species or their varieties.
  • Past pre-eminence of biological components represented by fossil beds and having significant cultural, ethical or aesthetic values and are important for the maintenance of cultural diversity, with or without a long history of human association with them.
• Under Section-37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, the State Government, in consultation with local bodies, may notify areas of biodiversity importance as BHS.
• The purpose of declaring BHS is to enhance the quality of life of the local communities through the conservation of such sites.
• In 2007, the Nallur Tamarind Grove in Bengaluru, Karnataka, was designated as India’s first BHS.

About Giant African Snail:

• It is the common name for several large African land snail species. The most damaging of these pests is Lissachatina fulica.
• It is one of the world’s worst invasive species.
• It is native to East Africa but it has been widely introduced to other parts of the world through the pet trade, as a food resource, and by accidental introduction.
• Habitat: It thrives in warm tropical climates with mild temperatures all year round and high humidity.
  • It is found in agricultural areas, coastal areas and wetlands, natural and planted forests, riparian zones, scrublands and shrublands, and the urban zones.
• Key Features:
  • It is a hermaphrodite.
  • Health Impact: The snails can carry the rat lungworm parasite (Angiostrongylus cantonensis), which can cause eosinophilic meningitis in humans.

About National Water Awards:

• The first edition of the National Water Awards was introduced in the year 2018.
• It aims to sensitize the public about the importance of water and motivate them to adopt the best water usage practices.
• Objective: The objective of the National Water Awards is to encourage the stakeholders to adopt a holistic approach toward water resource management in the country as surface water and groundwater play a significant role in the water cycle.
• Eligibility for the awards: Any State, District, Urban Local Body, Dam Owning Agencies, & Industry who have done good work in the field of water conservation and management is eligible.
• Trophy and Citation: Each winner would be provided a Trophy with a Citation.
• Categories: This year's awards cover several categories, including Best State, Best District, Best Urban Local Body, Best Implemented Project in the Water Sector, and Best Industry for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives in the water sector.
• These awards are instituted by the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.

About Specialised Investment Fund:

• It is a new investment product introduced by Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
• It was introduced to bridge the gap between regular mutual funds and high-ticket Portfolio Management Services (PMS).
• This framework has been introduced through amendments to the SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996.
• Minimum Investment:
  • The minimum investment in a SIF will be Rs 10 lakh per investor.
  • The fund house can offer a systematic investment plan (SIP) and systematic withdrawal plan (SWP), but it must comply with the minimum threshold amount.
  • The SIF can be open-ended, closed-ended, or interval-based.
• Categories of Investment Strategy:
  • Equity-oriented strategies: Such as equity long-short funds, equity ex-top 100 long-short funds and sector rotation longshort funds.
  • Debt-oriented strategies: Such as debt long-short funds and sectoral debt long-short funds.
  • Hybrid strategies: Like active asset allocator long-short funds and hybrid long-short funds. The current framework allows only one strategy per category per SIF.
• Eligibility Criteria for SIFs: The eligibility criteria for Asset Management Companies (AMCs) to establish an SIF include two routes:
  • The fund house must be in operation for three years at least and have average assets under management (AUM) of Rs 10,000 crore immediately preceding the three years.
    • The alternative route is that the AMC must appoint a chief investment officer (CIO) with at least 10 years of experience and managing assets of Rs 5,000 crore or more.
  • The AMC must also have an additional fund manager who has at least three years of experience managing an AUM of Rs 500 crore.