About Brihadeeswarar Temple:

• It is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu.
• It is also known as Periya Kovil, RajaRajeswara Temple and Rajarajesvaram.
• It is one of the largest temples in India and is an example of Dravidian architecture during the Chola period.
• It was built by emperor Raja Raja Chola I and completed in 1010 AD.
• It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the “Great Living Chola Temples”, with the other two being the Brihadeeswarar Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Airavatesvara temple.
• Architecture:
  • The temple stands amidst fortified walls that were probably added in the 16th century.
  • ‘The vimanam (temple tower) is 216 ft (66 m) high and is the tallest in the world.
  • The Kumbam (the apex or the bulbous structure on the top) of the temple is carved out of a single rock and weighs around 80 tons.
  • The temple complex spans over 40 acres and is decorated with masses of sculptures and inscriptions that spotlight the era's devotion and craftsmanship.
  • There is a big statue of Nandi (sacred bull), carved out of a single rock measuring about 16 ft (4.9 m) long and 13 ft (4.0 m) high at the entrance.
  • The entire temple structure is made out of granite.

About African Grey Parrot:

• It is a medium-sized, dusty-looking gray bird.
• Scientific Name: Psittacus erithacus
• It is one of the most talented talking/mimicking birds on the planet.
• Habitat and Distribution:
  • African grey parrots are native to West and Central Africa.
  • They inhabit different types of lowland forest, including rainforest, woodlands, and wooded savannah.
  • They can be seen along forest edges and in clearings as well, and sometimes feeding in gardens and cultivated fields.
  • They are kept as pets in many parts of the world, and their popularity dates back centuries.
• Features:
  • It is a mottled grey-colored, medium-sized parrot.
  • It has a large black bill and white mask enclosing a yellow eye and has a striking red vent and tail.
  • Females have a pale gray crown with dark gray edges, a gray body, and scarlet tail feathers.
  • The male looks similar to the female but becomes darker with age.
  • Lifespan: 50+ years
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Endangered.

About Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is located in the eastern region of Guwahati, Assam.
• It is in close proximity to the Mayong village that is renowned as the Black magic capital of India.
• This wildlife sanctuary was established in 1998 with a total area of 48.81 sq.km.
• The sanctuary consists of the Rajamayong Reserve Forest and Pobitora Reserve Forest.
• The region was once part of the vast floodplains of the Brahmaputra River and was known for its rich flora and fauna.
• History:
  • Pobitora became a reserved wooded area in the year of 1971 with the approval of the Government of Assam Tourism.
  • The Government of India included Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary with the association of a rhino breeding program named “Indian Rhino Vision 2020”.
  • The landscape is dominated by alluvial grasslands and dense patches of tall elephant grass.
• Flora:
  • 72% of Pabitora consists of the wet savannah of Arundo donax, Erianthus ravennae, Phragmites karka, Imperata cylindrica, and Saccharum spp.
  • Water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) is a major problem, especially to waterfowl, as it forms thick mats on the water surface.
• Fauna:
  • It is known for holding the highest density of Greater One Horned Rhinoceros in the country.
  • Besides rhinoceros, the other animals are leopard, wild boar, Barking deer, wild buffalo, etc.
  • It is also home to more than 2000 migratory birds and various reptiles.

About Hussain Sagar Lake:

• It is an artificial lake located in Hyderabad, Telangana.
• It is also called Tank Bund and lies on a tributary of River Musi.
• It spreads across an area of 5.7 sq.km. It is one of the largest man-made lakes in Asia.
• It is the largest heart-shaped mark among the marks formed by 78 heart-shaped lakes and 9 heart-shaped islands on the face of the earth.
• It was built during the reign of Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah by Hussain Shah Wali in 1562
• It is renowned for its monolith of Lord Buddha that stands right in its centre.
• It had been of significance in the early days since it connected the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
• Till 1930, the lake was used for irrigation and drinking water requirements.
• Over the years, Hussain Sagar Lake has become polluted through the entry of untreated sewage and industrial effluents through the nalas that flow into the lake.

About Dorjilung Hydroelectric Power Project:

• It is a planned 1125 MW run-of-river project situated in the eastern Lhuentse and Mongar Districts of Bhutan on the Kurichhu River, a tributary of the Drangmechhu that flows into India.
• At a height of approximately 139.5 m, the concrete-gravity dam channels nearly 287 m3/s through a 15 km headrace tunnel to an underground powerhouse housing six Francis turbines, designed to generate around 4.5 terawatt-hours (TWh) annually.
• At a total project cost of ₹13,100 crore, Dorjilung will be Bhutan’s second-largest hydropower project, and the largest Public–Private Partnership (PPP) hydro project ever undertaken in the country.
• The project is financed by the World Bank.
• In November 2024, Bhutan’s Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC) signed an MoU with Tata Power Company Limited for the joint development of the project.
• The Project will be implemented through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), with DGPC and Tata Power holding equity shares of 60% and 40%, respectively.
• The project is expected to be commissioned by early 2032.

About Georgia:

• Location: It is located in the far south eastern region of the European continent.
• Georgia is a Transcaucasian country, situated at the dividing line of the continents of Asia and Europe.
• Bordering Countries: It is bordered by 4 countries: by Russia in the north and northeast; by Azerbaijan in the east and southeast; and by Armenia and Turkey in the south.
• Maritime Border: Georgia is bounded by the Black Sea in the west.
• Capital City: Tbilisi
• Geographical Features of Georgia:
  • Terrain: It is largely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the north and Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the south.
  • Climate: It is temperate and ranges from subtropical mediterranean in the west to arid and warm in the east.
  • Highest Peak: Mount Shkhara (5,068 metres) is the highest point of Georgia.
  • Major Rivers: Inguri, Kodori, Mtkvari and Rioni
  • Natural Resources: It mainly consists of manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minor coal and oil deposits.

About Moss Plant:

• It is a small nonvascular spore-bearing land plant belonging to the taxonomic division Bryophyta.
• Mosses existed as early as the Permian Period and more than 100 species have been identified from fossils of the Paleogene and Neogene periods.
• It is among the earliest land plants and has colonised some of the harshest environments on the planet, including Antarctica, volcanic fields, and deserts.
• Types of Moss: Of the 10,000 and more types of mosses on the planet, there are three main types: peat moss, granite moss and true moss.
• Distribution: Mosses are distributed throughout the world except in salt water.
• Habitat: It is the small plant commonly found in damp, shady spots is already known for its resilience on Earth.
• Moss reproduces through spores, which are the equivalent to a flowering plant’s seed.
• Ecological Significance:
  • Ecologically, mosses break down exposed substrata, releasing nutrients for the use of more-complex plants that succeed them.
  • They also aid in soil erosion control by providing surface cover and absorbing water.
  • They are important in the nutrient and water economy of some vegetation types.
  • Mosses can be effective indicators of c02 emissions that pollute the air. They can also signal if an ecosystem has been damaged or harmed by acid rain.

About Methamphetamine:

• Methamphetamine is a powerful, highly addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system.
• It is also known as meth, chalk, ice, and crystal.
• It was developed early in the 20th century from its parent drug, amphetamine, and was used originally in nasal decongestants and bronchial inhalers.
• Properties of Methamphetamine:
  • It is a member of the class of amphetamines.
  • It takes the form of a white, odorless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder that easily dissolves in water or alcohol.
  • Methamphetamine is potent and easy to produce.
  • It has a role as a neurotoxin, a psychotropic drug, a central nervous system stimulant, a xenobiotic and an environmental contaminant.

How does it Affect Humans?

• Like amphetamine, methamphetamine causes increased activity and talkativeness, decreased appetite, and a pleasurable sense of well-being or euphoria. 
• The use of methamphetamine in higher doses can induce psychosis, bleeding in the brain, skeletal muscle breakdown, and seizures. 
• It can cause violent behavior, mood swings, and psychosis such as paranoia, delirium, auditory and visual hallucination, and delusions when used chronically.
• Chronic long-term methamphetamine use can be highly addictive, and if it is discontinued abruptly, it might lead to withdrawal symptoms.

About Limestone:

• Limestone is a sedimentary rock made of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), usually in the form of calcite or aragonite.
• It occurs across almost all geological sequences from Pre-Cambrian to Recent, except in Gondwana formations.
• Composition of Limestone:
  • It contains considerable amounts of magnesium carbonate (dolomite).
  • It also contains minor constituents of clay, iron carbonate, feldspar, pyrite, and quartz.
  • In many cases, the grains are microscopic fragments of fossil animal shells that are also present.
• Distribution in India: Karnataka has the largest share (28%) of total resources, followed by Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Meghalaya, and Chhattisgarh.
• Production Centers: Over three-fourths of India’s limestone is produced in just six states: Andhra Pradesh & Telangana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.
• Uses of Limestone:
  • The principal use of limestone is in the Cement Industry.
  • Metallurgical Processes: It is used as a flux in iron and steel production.
  • Other Industries: Glass, Ceramic, Paper, Textile, and Tanning
  • Chemical Production: Calcium carbide, alkali, bleaching powder
  • Agriculture: It is used as soil conditioning agent and in fertilizer (calcium ammonium nitrate)
  • Consumer Products: Whiting (chalk and precipitated limestone) in rubber, paint, cosmetics, toothpaste, and shoe polish.

About Exercise AUSINDEX:

• It is a bilateral exercise held between India and Australia.
• It is a major biennial maritime exercise which has been conducted since 2015.
• Aim: The exercise is aimed at significantly boosting interoperability and deepening the strategic partnership between the two maritime nations.
• Key Facts about Exercise AUSIDEX 2025:
  • The warships and aircraft of both navies conducted intense joint operations, focusing on anti-submarine warfare, gunnery exercises, and advanced flying operations.
  • The Indian Naval Ship INS Sahyadri, alongside HMAS Ballarat participated in the Exercise.

Other Exercises conducted between Australia and India:

• Ex AUSTRA HIND (Bilateral Exercise with Army)
• EX PITCH BLACK (Australia’s multilateral air combat training exercise)
• Malabar Naval Exercise
• Quad (Multilateral Naval Exercise).