About SOLAR-1:

• It is the first United States satellite designed exclusively for continuous operational space weather observation.
• It is operated by theS. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
• Originally named Space Weather Follow On – Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1), the satellite was renamed to Space Weather Observations at L1 to Advance Readiness – 1 (SOLAR-1).
• Primary Mission: Continuous monitoring of solar activity and space weather.
• Launch Date: 24 September 2025
• Launch Vehicle: SpaceX Falcon 9
• Orbit:
  • Positioned at the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1, about 1.6 million kilometres from Earth towards the Sun, SOLAR-1 enjoys a constant, unobstructed view of solar activity.
  • From this vantage point, it continuously measures solar wind and tracks coronal mass ejections (CMEs) before they reach Earth.
  • The location’s gravitational stability allows the spacecraft to maintain position with minimal fuel use.
• It uses a special telescope, called a compact coronagraph, to monitor the sun's activity in addition to a suite of instruments to make real-time measurements of the solar wind.
• It can transmit CME images to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center within 30 minutes, compared to up to eight hours for older systems.
• Its enhanced capabilities are expected to improve aurora forecasts and strengthen the protection of power grids, navigation, communications, and space missions from severe space weather.

About Vitamin C:

• Vitamin C (also known as L-ascorbic acid or ascorbate) is a water-soluble vitamin.
• Function:
  • It is a powerful antioxidant that can neutralize harmful free radicals.
  • It is needed for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body.
  • It helps make several hormones and chemical messengers used in the brain and nerves.
  • It is used to:
    • Form an important protein called collagen, used to make skin, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels.
    • Heal wounds and form scar tissue.
    • Repair and maintain cartilage, bones, and teeth.
    • Aid in the absorption of iron.
  • Sources:
    • Unlike most mammals and other animals, humans do not have the ability to synthesize vitamin C and must obtain it from the diet.
    • Vitamin C comes from fruits and vegetables.
    • Good sources include berries, cantaloupe, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, spinach, and citrus fruits, such as oranges.
    • Some juices and cereals have added vitamin C.
    • Vitamin C is sensitive to heat, so some of its nutritional benefits can be lost during cooking. Raw foods are more beneficial as dietary sources.
  • Vitamin C Deficiency:
    • Vitamin C is not stored in body, so deficiency can happen quickly.
    • Vitamin C deficiency is more likely in people who:
      • Smoke or are around secondhand smoke.
      • Have certain conditions of the digestive tract or certain types of cancer.
      • Have a diet that doesn't include enough fruits and vegetables.
    • Not having enough vitamin C can lead to a condition called scurvy.
      • Scurvy causes anemia, bleeding gums, bruising, and poor wound healing.

About Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is located in the Bhadradri Kothagudem district, Telangana, on the right bank of the Godavari River.
• It derives its name from the perennial Kinnerasani River, which flows through the heart of the forest and eventually joins the Godavari
• It is also part of Dandakaranya Forest and lies close to the Kinnerasani Dam.
• It hosts the Kinnerasani Lake and densely forested islands in the middle of the sanctuary.
• It is predominantly inhabited by tribal communities like Koyas and Gonds.
• Flora: The forest comprises dry deciduous vegetation dominated by teak (Tectona grandis), bamboo, Terminalia, Anogeissus, Pterocarpus, and medicinal plants.
• Fauna: It is home to an impressive diversity of fauna, including Bengal Tigers, Indian Leopards (Panthers), Sloth Bears, Indian Gaurs (Bison), Dholes, Sambar, Cheetal, Chinkara, Chousingha (Four-horned antelope), Blackbucks, Wild Boars, Hyenas, and Jackals.

About Masroor Rock-Cut Temples:

• Masroor Rock-Cut Temples, also referred to as Masroor Temples, is an early 8th-century complex of rock-cut Hindu temples in the Kangra Valley of the Beas River in Himachal Pradesh.
• They are often referred to as the Ellora of Himachal and the Himalayan pyramid.
• History:
  • Archaeological surveys say that they have been built around the 8th century, almost 1200 years ago, due to their resemblance to the “Gupta style of architecture” from the same period.
  • However, there is no mention of the temple in any of the scriptures or historical records.
  • The temple complex was first reported by Henry Shuttleworth in 1913, bringing it to the attention of archaeologists.
  • They were independently surveyed by Harold Hargreaves of the Archaeological Survey of India in
• Architecture:
  • The 15-monument temple complex resembles the North Indian Nagara architecture style and is dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, and Lord Lakshmana.
  • Unlike other Hindu temples in the country that face the east, this one faces northeast towards the Dhauladhar mountains.
  • The temples were carved out of monolithic rock with a shikhara and provided with a sacred pool of water.
  • The temple complex follows a symmetrically laid-out square grid.
  • The main temple, with a square plan, is surrounded by smaller temples arranged in a mandala pattern.
  • Three entrances adorn the temple, facing northeast, southeast, and northwest. Interestingly, evidence points towards a planned but unfinished fourth entrance, often overlooked in historical records.
  • The Masrur Temples display elaborate reliefs portraying significant Vedic and Puranic deities.
  • These reliefs are accompanied by captivating friezes that narrate ancient tales from Hindu texts.
  • Much of the Masroor temple’s sculpture and reliefs have been lost. They were also quite damaged, most likely from earthquakes.

About Mortonagrion santha:

• It is a new species of damselfly.
• It was discovered around a small farm pond surrounded by a coconut plantation in Dasarathpur, Rangat tehsil, in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• It belongs to a genus of insects known for their incredible secrecy, often blending perfectly into the shaded coastal vegetation.
• The Mortonagrion santha’s physical distinct features separate it from its closest known relative, Mortonagrion arthuri, a species found further east in Southeast Asia.
  • The new damselfly has unique pale-blue, crescent-shaped postocular spots located just behind its eyes.
  • It also has a distinctive bright-blue splash of colour on its ninth abdominal segment.
  • Under a microscope, M. santha also shows a uniquely shaped, three-lobed collar area (the prothorax) and different proportions in its tail-like mating appendages, where the upper parts are only about half the length of the lower parts.

About Shigellosis:

• It is a highly contagious bacterial diarrhoeal disease caused by shigella.
• It can affect anyone, but children under five are particularly susceptible.
• It is one of the leading bacterial causes of diarrhoea worldwide.
• Humans are the only natural reservoir of the Shigella bacteria.
• The disease may be more severe in young children, older adults, immune-compromised individuals or malnourished persons.
• Transmission:
  • The infection is transmitted through direct, close contact with infected individuals, through the faecal-oral route and through sexual contact.
  • It can also spread through contaminated food and water or contact with faeces of an infected person.
• Treatment: Medicines, including antibiotics may be prescribed for a serious infection.

About One Station One Product Initiative:

• It was launched in 2022.
• It is an initiative of Indian Railways.
• It aims to enhance livelihoods through skill development for local artisans, weavers, and craftsmen. Sale outlets are provided at stations nationwide, allotted through a tendering process.
• It leverages the extensive reach of Indian Railways to transform stations into accessible marketplaces for regional products.
• OSOP was scaled up through a structured rollout, with stalls allotted on a rotational basis at nominal fees to ensure wider participation.
• The OSOP initiative is helping artisans expand their market reach by improving visibility, creating better sales opportunities, and supporting sustainable livelihoods.
• Implementation: Railway divisions implement the scheme in coordination with state agencies, SHGs, and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
• Significance: It is playing a crucial role in reviving traditional crafts that were gradually losing prominence.

About Jordan:

• Location: It is a landlocked country located in the rocky desert of the northern Arabian Peninsula.
• Bordering Countries: It is bordered by 5 Nations: Syria in the north, Iraq in the east, Saudi Arabia in the south and southeast and Israel and West Bank in the west.
• Water bodies: Dead Sea, the Gulf of Aqaba and the Sea of Galilee.
• The Dead Sea is located along the western borders of the country.
• Capital City: Amman
• Geographical Features of Jordan:
  • Terrain: It has arid desert plateau; a great north-south geological rift along the west of the country is the dominant topographical feature.
  • Highest Point: Jabal Umm ad Dami is the highest point of Jordan.
  • Rivers: The Jordan River which drains into the Dead Sea.
  • Ports: Al-Aqabah, the only port of Jordan is located in the south-western part of the country along the coasts of the Gulf of Aqaba.
  • Natural Resources: It mainly consists of phosphates, potash and shale oil.

About Network Survey Vehicle:

• It is a specialized infrastructure management tool comprising vehicles equipped with advanced sensors and data acquisition systems.
• These vehicles systematically collect data on road inventory and condition of National Highways.
• Key Features:
  • It is equipped with laser profilers, GPS and cutting-edge imaging technology.
  • It is equipped with advanced 3D laser-based systems across all states and its network.
  • With advanced technology, NSV surveys up to 300 km daily.
  • It is usually a specialised van or SUV equipped with multiple sensors and instruments.
  • It consists of Laser, Global Positioning System (GPS), Video image processing tools, High-resolution cameras, Inertial Measurement Units (IMU), and DMI (Distance Measuring Indicator).
• Working of Network Survey Vehicle:
  • The survey will capture 13 types of defects, including crack measurement, ravelling, patch area, potholes, edge break, roughness, rutting, lane marking, etc.
  • It will also cover details like carriageway type, road type, pavement and shoulder width, topography, median details, right of way, utilities, land use, etc.
  • The data will be collected for all projects involving 2/4/6 and 8 lanes with NSV before the start of work and thereafter at regular intervals of six months.
  • Data collected through NSV survey will be uploaded on NHAI’s ‘AI’ based portal Data Lake, where it will be analysed to transform data into knowledge and subsequent actionable insights.
  • Raw survey data is encrypted and transmitted to the centralised NSV centre within 48 hours.
  • Expert teams, strategically deployed across five zones, monitor and report findings systematically.
  • Within 10 days, raw data is transformed into actionable insights — a process that earlier stretched to 4-6 months.