About Zombie Deer Disease:

• Known scientifically as Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), it is a progressive and fatal neurological disease which primarily affects deer, elk, moose, and reindeer.
• It affects the central nervous system (the brain and the spinal cord).
• What causes CWD?
  • CWD is caused by infectious proteins called prions.
  • Prions are unique in that they don’t contain DNA or RNA, unlike bacteria or viruses.
  • Instead, they are misfolded proteins that cause other proteins in the brain to likewise misfold, ultimately leading to brain damage.
  • Once these proteins accumulate in the brain, they create spongy holes in the tissue, resulting in severe neurological dysfunction.
• Transmission:
  • CWD prions are highly contagious and spread through body fluids such as saliva, feces, blood, or urine, either by direct contact or environmental contamination.
  • Once present in an area, prions remain infectious in soil, water, and plants for years, posing long-term risks to animal populations.
• Symptoms:
  • It has an extended incubation period averaging 18–24 months between infection and the onset of noticeable signs. During this time frame, animals look and act normal.
  • The most obvious sign of CWD is progressive weight loss.
  • Numerous behavioral changes have also been reported, including decreased social interaction, loss of awareness, and loss of fear of humans.
  • Diseased animals also may exhibit increased drinking, urination, and excessive salivation.
  • In the final stages of disease, animals become debilitated and ultimately die.
  • How fast CWD progresses depends on the species and the animal's genetics.
• Treatment: It is always fatal in infected animals. There is no vaccine or treatment.
• Can Humans Get CWD?
  • So far, there has been no confirmed case of CWD transmission to humans. However, experts remain cautious.

About New Development Bank (NDB):

• The New Development Bank (NDB), formerly known as the BRICS Development Bank, is a multilateral development bank established by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS).
• Objective: NDB aims to mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS countries and other emerging economies and developing countries.
• The idea of setting up NDB was first conceived in 2012 during the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India.
• The agreement for establishing the NDB was signed during the BRICS Summit held in Fortaleza on July 15, 2014, and the Bank started operations on July 21, 2015.
• The bank is headquartered in Shanghai, China, with regional offices in South Africa and Brazil.
• Membership in NDB is open to any member of the United Nations.
• NDB’s key areas of operation include clean energy and energy efficiency; transport infrastructure; water and sanitation; environmental protection; social infrastructure; and digital infrastructure.
• Capital: The NDB has an initial authorized capital of USD 100 billion and an initial subscribed capital of USD 50 billion, which was equally distributed among the five founding members (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa).
• Unlike in the case of the World Bank or ADB, each member in the NDB has an equal voting power.
• Governance Structure:
  • The Bank is governed by a Board of Governors made up of the finance ministers of the five BRICS countries, and a Board of Directors.
  • Both the presidency and vice-presidency of the NDB are rotated among BRICS founding members.

About Tuvalu:

• Tuvalu, formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is an island country in the west-central Pacific Ocean.
• It is the 4th smallest country in the world with 26 sq.km. of land.
• It sits about halfway between Australia and Hawaii.
• Its neighbours include Kiribati, to the north, and Fiji, to the south.
• It is a collection of small islands and atolls largely made out of coral reefs and volcanic rock.
• All islands are low-lying, with no point on Tuvalu being higher than 4.5 m above sea level. Thus, the islands are threatened by any future sea level rise.
• There are no rivers. Tuvalu’s climate is hot and rainy.
• With the exception of tiny Vatican City, Tuvalu has the fewest inhabitants of any other independent nation.
• Capital: Funafuti
• Languages: Most people speak a language called Tuvaluan. English is widely used.
• Currency: Tuvalu dollar (equivalent to the Australian dollar)
• Political System:
  • Tuvalu became independent from the United Kingdom in October 1978.
  • It operates as a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy.
  • It is part of the Commonwealth Realm, with King Charles III recognized as King of Tuvalu. He is represented by a Governor-General, who is appointed upon the advice of the Prime Minister.
  • There are no political parties: the prime minister is chosen by and from the legislature.
• Economy:
  • Most people are subsistence farmers and are aided by remittances from relatives working overseas.
  • A small quantity of copra is produced for export, the sale of stamps accounts for modest earnings, and fees are collected from foreign fishing fleets.

About Rakchham Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is located in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh.
• It is spread over an area of 30.98 sq.km.
• It is situated at an elevation ranging from 3200 to 5486 meters above sea level.
• It is a part of the Western Himalayan range.
• It is surrounded by snow-capped mountains, lush green valleys, and gushing rivers.
• The perilous Lamkhanga Pass is one of the many trekking routes that pass through this sanctuary.
  • This pass connects the Himachal Pradesh province of Kinnaur to the Uttarakhand region of Gangotri.
• Unlike the climate of other sanctuaries in Himachal Pradesh, the sanctuary is located in a dry zone, hence it does not experience monsoons.
• Flora: Some of the common flora found in the sanctuary include rhododendrons, oak trees, pine trees, and medicinal herbs.
• Fauna: It is also home to various species of wildlife, such as snow leopards, Himalayan black bears, musk deer, and numerous bird species.

About International Maritime Organization (IMO):

• It is the United Nations' specialized agency responsible for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.
• With 176 Member States and three Associate Members, IMO is based in London.
• IMO is the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security, and environmental performance of international shipping.
• Its main role is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally adopted, and universally implemented.
• The IMO formulates regulations on shipping safety, maritime security, and environmental protection but does not enforce them.
  • Once a member state adopts a regulation, it becomes part of that country’s domestic law.
• It contributes directly to UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, which focuses on the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and marine resources.
• The organisation also deals with legal matters such as liability, compensation, and facilitation of maritime traffic.
• Organisational Structure:
  • The Assembly is the supreme governing body, comprising all member states. It meets every two years to approve the work programme, budget, and elect members to the Council.
  • The Council acts as the Executive Organ, overseeing IMO’s work in between Assembly sessions.
  • The IMO has five major committees, which are responsible for policy development and regulation formulation, including the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC).
  • Funding is sourced through mandatory contributions by member states and also from voluntary donations and commercial revenue.

About Bathou Religion:

• It is the traditional faith of the Bodos, the largest plains tribe of
• The word ‘Bathou’ is derived from the Bodo language, where ‘Ba’ means ‘five’ and ‘thou’ means ‘deep philosophical thought’.
• The faith system is based on five elements: Bar (Air), San (Sun), Ha (Earth), Or (Fire), and Okhrang (Sky).
• Beliefs of Bathousim
• The community worships Bwrai Bathou as the supreme god. In the Bodo language, the word ‘Bwrai‘ refers to the ‘eldest’ man concerning power or knowledge.
• The Bathou faith is centred on the Sijou plant (Euphorbia splendens).
  • The plant is planted in the Bathou altar at the centre as the symbol of Bathou religion of the Bodos.
  • It has an important place and has been widely accepted as the symbol of life or soul by the Bodo people since time immemorial.
  • This plant is the living symbol of Bathoubwrai, the supreme God of the Bodos.
  • Bodos plant the sijou tree on an elevated altar encircled with a bamboo fencing of eighteen pairs of posts weaved with five pieces of bamboo split.
  • The five bamboo strips signify the five bindings of Bathou, viz. (i) birth, (ii) marriage or procreation, (iii) sorrow, (iv) happiness and (v) death.

About Food and Agriculture Organization:

• It is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.
• It is the oldest permanent specialized agency of the UN, established in October 1945.
• Mandate: To improve nutrition, increase agricultural productivity, raise the standard of living in rural populations, and contribute to global economic growth.
• Functions:
  • The FAO coordinates the efforts of governments and technical agencies in programs for developing agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and land and water resources.
  • It leads international efforts to fight hunger.
  • It is both a forum for negotiating agreements between developing and developed countries and a source of technical knowledge and information to aid development.
• Members: It currently has 195 members - 194 countries and the European Union. (India is a founding member of FAO)
• Funding: FAO receives its funding from its member countries.
• Reports published by the FAO: The State of the World’s Forests (SOFO), The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA), The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets (SOCO), The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI).
• Headquarters: Rome, Italy.

About Nafithromycin:

• It is an antibiotic which has been developed with the support of “Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council” (BIRAC).
• It has been brought to market under the trade name “Miqnaf”.
• It is the first molecule entirely conceptualized, developed and clinically validated in India.
• It is the country’s first indigenously developed antibiotic aimed at tackling Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
• It is effective against resistant respiratory infections, particularly useful for cancer patients and poorly controlled diabetics.
• This innovation is designed to treat Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (CABP).
• Nafithromycin’s efficacy stands out as it targets both typical and atypical pathogens, offering a potent solution where no new antibiotic in this class has been developed worldwide for over three decades.

What is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)?

• It occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines.
• As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become difficult or impossible to treat.
• It increases the risk of disease spread, severe illness, disability and death.
• AMR is a natural process driven by genetic changes in pathogens over time, its spread is significantly accelerated by human activities.

About We Rise Initiative:

• The Women Entrepreneurs Reimagining Inclusive and Sustainable Enterprises (We Rise) initiative was launched by NITI Aayog and DP World.
• It was launched under the aegis of WEP’s Award to Reward (ATR) initiative.
• Aim: It aims to help women entrepreneurs in India to scale their businesses globally through trade facilitation, mentorship, and strategic partnerships.
• As part of this effort, WEP and DP World have joined hands to empower product centric women entrepreneurs.
• It is unique public-private collaboration focused on expanding trade access and unlock opportunities for women businesses to grow exponentially.

What is a Women Entrepreneurship Platform?

• It was incubated in NITI Aayog in 2018 as an aggregator platform, transitioned into a public-private partnership in 2022.
• It serves as a national aggregator to strengthen India’s women entrepreneurship ecosystem and make women-led development a reality.
• Function: WEP functions as an enabler, addressing six key ecosystem needs — access to finance, market linkages, training and skilling, mentoring and networking, compliance and legal assistance, and business development services.

About Hygrocybe Pellucida:

• It is a fungi species characterised by their bright, waxy and often vividly coloured fruiting bodies.
• Habitat: It is typically found in unimproved grasslands, mossy forest floors and other nutrient-poor habitats and commonly known for wax cups.
• It was described as a new species in the Hygrophoraceae family from Kerala during 2024.
• The genus Hygrocybe is a well-known genera of agarics with 350 listed species and distributed worldwide.

Key Facts about Kawal Tiger Reserve:

• Location: It is located in the Telangana State along the banks of river Godavari, forming part of the Deccan peninsula-central highlands.
• The reserve is nestled in the Sahyadri Mountain Ranges.
• The government of India declared Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary a Tiger Reserve in 2012.
• Rivers: The reserve is the catchment for the rivers Godavari and Kadam, which flow towards the south of the sanctuary.
• Geographically, the reserve is situated at the southernmost tip of the Central Indian Tiger Landscape, having linkages with the Tadoba-Andhari (Maharashtra) and Indravati (Chhattisgarh) tiger reserves.
• Vegetation: Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest.
• Flora: Teak along with Bamboo and other species like Anogeissus latifolia, Mitragyna parviflora, etc.
• Fauna: nilgai, chousinga, chinkara, black buck, sambar, spotted deer etc.