About Open Data Kit (ODK) Platform:

• It is a digital platform which allows the CAG to collect and manage data securely.
• It is used for designing, collecting, and managing data to enhance transparency in public spending and accountability in government schemes.
• Features:
  • It is integrated with CAG's own operating system called OIOS.
  • It is end-to-end encrypted online portal.
  • It is used to collect information for identifying problem areas warranting additional review.
  • It also helps CAG in launching surveys in multiple languages at the same time
• Benefits:
  • Beneficiary Survey is one of the sources for information for audit planning as well as for collection of audit evidence.
  • ODK toolkit was deployed to ascertain patient satisfaction while gathering evidence in auditing the performance of the AIIMS at Mangalagiri in Guntur district and the AIIMS at Bibinagar in Hyderabad.

About Project VISTAAR:

• It is a digital platform designed by integrating information about start-ups in the agriculture and allied sectors.
• The initiative aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the agricultural extension system through digitalisation.
• This will help farmers and other stakeholders access the capabilities and offerings of these start-ups more easily.
• It contains details on over 12,000 start-ups in the agriculture and farming sectors.
• This database serves as a valuable resource for connecting farmers with relevant technological solutions and services.
• Significance:
  • The digitalisation of the agricultural extension system will substantially expand its outreach, enabling every farmer to access high-quality advisory services on crop production, marketing, value addition, and supply chain management.
  • Additionally, the advisory services will provide comprehensive information on government schemes related to agriculture, allied sectors, and rural development, ensuring farmers can benefit from them effectively.
  • By delivering timely, contextual, and accurate information, the process of digitalisation will augment the current extension system, ensuring better support for farmers in agriculture and allied fields.

About Methylcobalamin:

• It is a naturally occurring form of vitamin B12 that can be obtained through supplements, as well as food sources like fish, meat, eggs, milk and milk products.
• It consists of distinctive methyl group (-CH3) bonded to the cobalt atom, methylcobalamin differs structurally from other forms of vitamin B12, such as cyanocobalamin, adenosylcobalamin, and hydroxocobalamin.
  • Vitamin B12 is crucial water-soluble vitamin, is integral to DNA synthesis, red blood cell production, and neurological function.
  • Deficiency in this vitamin can lead to serious health consequences, often requiring supplementation.
• It regulates body functions like cell growth, blood formation, and protein synthesis.
• Uses:
  • It has been used as a supplement in patients with vitamin B12 deficiency and in those with diabetes and other neuropathies.
  • It is essential for the creation of red blood cells, which helps to avoid anemia.
  • A healthy consumption of Methylcobalamin enables adequate erythrocyte synthesis, minimizing weariness and weakness.
  • Its relevance extends to its role in the prevention and treatment of neurological illnesses.
  • It also participates in the production of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, which are critical in controlling mood, emotions, and general mental health.

About Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) 2024:

• It is the 6th edition of the LEADS report.
• It was conceived on the lines of the Logistics Performance Index of World Bank in 2018 by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• It evaluates logistics performance across four key pillars: Logistics Infrastructure, Logistics Services, Operating and Regulatory Environment, and the newly introduced Sustainable Logistics.
• It highlights initiatives undertaken by various States and UTs across the identified pillars also focusses on State/UT-specific opportunities to enable informed decision-making.

Key highlights of LEADS 2024:

• Coastal Group
  • Achievers: Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu
  • Fast Movers: Andhra Pradesh, Goa
  • Aspirers: Kerala, West Bengal
• Landlocked Group
  • Achievers: Haryana, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand
  • Fast Movers: Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan
  • Aspirers: Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand
• North-Eastern Group
  • Achievers: Assam, Arunachal Pradesh
  • Fast Movers: Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura
  • Aspirers: Manipur
• Union Territories
  • Achievers: Chandigarh, Delhi
  • Fast Movers: Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, Puducherry
  • Aspirers: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Ladakh

About Human Metapneumovirus:

• It is a respiratory virus that causes mild infections similar to that caused by a common cold.
• It was first identified by scientists in 2001 which belongs to the Pneumoviridae family, of which respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), measles and mumps are also members.
• It can cause both upper and lower respiratory tract infections and is generally seen in winter and early spring.
• Children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to the infection and to developing complications from it.
• Signs and symptoms:
  • Symptoms can resemble those caused by a common cold. They include a cough, runny or blocked nose, sore, throat, fever and wheezing.
  • The estimated incubation period is three to six days.
  • In most people, the illness goes away on its own within a few days, with rest and supportive care at home.
  • In a few people however, complications such as bronchitis or pneumonia may arise, requiring medical care.
• Transmission:
• • It spreads through contact with an infected person or touching objects that have the virus on them.
  • This can be through: secretions from coughs, sneezes; close contact with someone who has the infection such as shaking hands, hugging; touching a doorknob or a phone or a keyboard that may be contaminated with the virus and then touching the mouth, nose or eyes.
• Treatment: There is no vaccine and there is no specific antiviral to treat HMPV. Most people require over-the-counter medications to relieve fever and pain, possibly with a decongestant. Antibiotics will not work for HMPV.

About Har Ghar Lakhpati Scheme:

• It is a pre-calculated recurring deposit scheme designed to help customers to accumulate Rs 1 lakh or multiples thereof.
• The new scheme simplifies the process of achieving financial goals, allowing customers to plan and save effectively.
• This product is also available to minors, encouraging early financial planning and savings habits.
• The minimum tenure of recurring deposits is 12 months (one year), and the maximum is 120 months (10 years).

About SBI Patrons Scheme:

• This is a specialized fixed deposit scheme tailored for senior citizens aged 80 years and above. 
• It offers enhanced interest rates, recognizing the long-standing relationship many senior customers have with the bank.
• SBI Patrons is available to existing and new term deposit customers.
• SBI Patron's depositors would earn an additional 10 basis points higher interest rate than what is offered to senior citizens.

About Centralized Pension Payments System (CPPS):

• It is implemented by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) which allows pensioners to access their pension from any bank or branch nationwide.
• It aims to streamline the payment process, eliminate the need for physical verifications, and ensure seamless pension disbursement for over 7.85 million pensioners.
• It is a paradigm shift from the existing pension disbursement system that is decentralised, with each zonal/regional office of EPFO maintaining separate agreements with only 3-4 banks, the ministry explained in a statement.
• Under CPPS, a beneficiary will be able to withdraw pension from any bank and there will be no need for to visit the bank for verification at the time of commencement of pension, and the amount will be immediately credited upon release.
• It will also ensure disbursement of pension throughout India without any need for transfer of pension payment orders (PPO) from one office to another even when the pensioner moves from one location to another or changes his bank or branch.

Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO):

• It is a statutory body under the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Act, 1952. 
• It is under the administrative control of the Union Ministry of Labor and Employment. 
• Structure of EPFO:
  • The Act and all its schemes are administered by a tripartite board called the Central Board of Trustees.
  • The board comprises representatives of the Government (both Central and State), employers, and employees. 
  • The board is chaired by the Union Minister of Labour and Employment, Government of India. 
• The Central Board of Trustees operates 3 schemes:
  • The Employees’ Provident Funds Scheme, 1952 (EPF)
  • The Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995 (EPS)
  • The Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme, 1976 (EDLI)
• EPFO is also the nodal agency for implementing Bilateral Social Security Agreements with other countries on a reciprocal basis. 
• Coverage: The schemes offered by EPFO cover Indian workers and international workers(from countries with whom the EPFO has signed bilateral agreements).

About Blue Baby Syndrome:

• Blue baby syndrome, also called cyanosis, is a condition in babies in which their skin appears blue or purple tinged. 
• What causes blue baby syndrome?
  • The baby takes on a bluish hue because of poorly oxygenated blood.
  • Normally, blood is pumped from the heart to the lungs, where it receives oxygen.
  • The blood is circulated back through the heart and then throughout the body.
  • When there’s a problem with the heart, lungs, or blood, blood may not be oxygenated properly.
  • This causes the skin to take on a blue color.
  • The lack of oxygenation can occur for several reasons.
    • It can occur due to several congenital (meaning present at birth) heart defects or environmental or genetic factors.
    • Acquired methemoglobinemia is more common than the congenital form. It can be caused by exposure to a variety of substances and by some health conditions.
    • The most common cause of blue baby syndrome is water contaminated with nitrates.
• Symptoms:
• • The most common symptom of blue baby syndrome is a blue discoloration of the skin around the mouth, hands, and feet.
  • Other potential symptoms of blue baby syndrome include:
    • difficulty breathing
    • vomiting
    • diarrhea
    • lethargy
    • increased salivation
    • loss of consciousness
    • seizures
  • In severe cases, blue baby syndrome can even cause death.
• Treatment:
  • Treatment will vary depending on what is causing the baby to turn blue.
  • If congenital heart disease is causing the discoloration, surgery may be required to correct the abnormalities.
  • Children with a more severe form of the condition may need a medication called methylene blue, which a doctor will give as an injection.

About Banded Royal Butterfly:

• It is a species of lycaenid or blue butterfly found in parts of South and Southeast Asia.
• Scientific Name: Rachana jalindra
• Habitat:
• Found in forests, particularly near the Western Ghats, Northeast India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, and Malaysia.
• Prefers dense vegetation and can often be seen resting on leaves.
• There are three subspecies of R. jalindra found in India, including j. macanita (distributed from southwest India to Goa), R. j. tarpina (distributed in the Andamans) and R. j. indra (distributed from Orissa to lower West Bengal and Bangladesh).
• Presently the subspecies j. indra is recorded from Assam, Meghalaya, and Jharkhand.
• Appearance:
  • Upper Side: Males have a deep purple or bluish sheen with dark brown borders, while females are more brownish with white markings.
  • Under Side: Pale brown with distinct white bands running across the wings, giving it the "banded" appearance.
• It is legally protected under Schedule II of the Indian Wildlife (Protected) Act, 1972.

Key Facts about Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary (SWL):

• It is situated in the state of Tripura, spanning an area of approximately 18.53 sq.km.
• It is divided into five sections, basically to segregate the different types of animals living here. They are the carnivore section, primate section, ungulate section, reptile section, and aviary section.
• Clouded Leopard National Park, established in 2007, is a part of SWL.
• It also has two natural lakes, namely Abasarika and Amrit Sagar.
• Vegetation: Moist deciduous forest
• Flora: The sanctuary has no less than 456 plant species; many kinds of bambooand a variety of grasses and medicinal plants also grow in the sanctuary.
• Fauna: It is the habitat of different species of primates like Rhesus macaque, Pigtailed macaque,Capped langur, Spectacled langur, Slow loris and several other wild animals like Leopard, Clouded leopard, Jungle fowl, Civets, Barking, Deer, Wild pig, etc.
• The crab-eating mongoose (which was last seen in the 1930s) has also been revived here.

About Baanknet Portal:

• It is an e-auction portal that consolidates information on all properties that are put up for e-auction by public sector banks (PSBs).
• The portal is a one-stop destination for buyers and investors offering a wide range of properties.
• The listings on the new platform include residential properties such as flats, independent houses, and open plots, as well as commercial properties, industrial land and buildings, shops, vehicles, plant and machinery, and agricultural and non-agricultural land.
• Features:
  • The new portal is equipped with improved and enhanced features, including frictionless user journeys where the portal will have the entire pre-auction, auction, and post-auction journeys in a single application. 
  • It includes an automated and integrated payment gateway alongside KYC tools, all built on a microservices-based architecture that allows for third-party integration through open application programming interface (API).
  • Users can benefit from a dashboard feature for easy access to ‘Spend Analytics’ and various ‘Management Information System (MIS) Reports’ at the click of a button.
  • Additionally, a dedicated helpdesk and call centre facility with a callback request option ensures customer support.
• By gathering all these details in one place, the portal simplifies the process of finding and participating in property e-auctions, making it easier for buyers and investors to identify valuable opportunities.
• It significantly aids the recovery process of public sector banks (PSBs), thereby improving the balance sheet of banks and enhancing credit availability to businesses and individuals.
• More than 122,500 properties have already been migrated to the new portal for auction.

About National Sports Awards:

• National Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports.
• ‘Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award’ is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over the period of the previous four years.
• Arjuna Award is given for outstanding performance in Sports and Games’ is given for good performance over a period of the previous four years and for showing qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and a sense of discipline.
• Arjuna Award (Lifetime) is given to honour and motivate those sportspersons who have contributed to sports by their performance and continue to contribute to promotion of sports even after their retirement from active sporting career.
• ‘Dronacharya Award is given for outstanding coaches in Sports and Games’ is given to coaches for doing outstanding and meritorious work on a consistent basis and for enabling sportspersons to excel in International events.
• Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy is awarded for the overall top performing university in Khelo India University Games.
• This year’s awards were decided by the Selection Committee headed by Justice (Retd.) V. Ramasubramanian, Supreme Court of India and consisting members from eminent sportspersons, persons having experience in sports journalism and sports administrators.

About Banana:

• It is basically a tropical crop and the second most important fruit crop in India next to mango.
• Climatic Conditions Requirement:
  • Temperature: It grows well in a temperature range of 15ºC – 35ºC with relative humidity of 75-85%.
  • It prefers tropical humid lowlands and is grown from the sea level to an elevation of 2000m.
  • Soil: Deep, rich loamy soil with pH between 6.5 -7.5 is most preferred for banana cultivation.  Soil for banana should have good drainage, adequate fertility and moisture. Saline solid, calcareous soils are not suitable for banana cultivation.
  • In India this crop is being cultivated in climate ranging from humid tropical to dry mild subtropics through selection of appropriate varieties. 
• Varieties cultivated in India : Dwarf Cavendish, Robusta, Monthan, Poovan, Nendran, Red banana, Nyali, Safed Velchi, Basrai, Ardhapuri, Rasthali, Karpurvalli, Karthali and Grand Naine etc.
• Major Producing States: Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, etc.

About Brazilian Velvet Ant:

• Velvet ants are a group of parasitic wasps that are well known for a suite of defensive adaptations including bright coloration and a formidable sting.
• Appearance: They are wasps, some of which are wingless, and are named in part for their exteriors. Velvet ant is known for its distinct black and white markings.
• Habitat: It is found in shrub desert in Brazil called the Caatinga.
• Characteristics:
  • It demonstrates remarkable mobility and covers significant distances in pursuit of hosts on the ground.
  • It is usually found throughout the day, peak activity typically coincides with the early morning and late afternoon, during periods of subdued sunlight.
  • It is recently found that the black parts on female velvet ants were actually ultrablack   so that they absorbed nearly all visible light.
• Why this finding is Unique?
  • Ultrablack pigmentation is rare in the animal kingdom.
  • In organisms that have it, it helps them hide from predators, regulate body temperature or even attract mates, as the contrast against brighter colors can be visually enticing.

About Rural Community Immigration Class Scheme:

• It is a new programme launched by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in December 2024.
• It aims to address labour shortages and promote development in smaller rural communities by attracting individuals willing to settle long-term in these areas.
• Eligibility:
  • Education Level: Applicants can include those with 10+2, graduation, or secondary school qualifications.
  • Studies: Students who have completed at least 18 months of study in one of the designated communities are eligible to apply for PR directly. Those who studied outside these communities can also apply but must meet additional conditions.
  • Job Offer: Applicants need a job offer letter from a registered or designated employer in the community. This job offer can be in any category, including non-skilled roles. The offer must be submitted to the community, which will then issue a certificate supporting the PR application.
  • Work Experience: Relevant work experience is typically required, though this condition may be waived for international graduates who meet certain criteria.
  • Language Proficiency: Applicants must meet the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) requirements based on the job’s NOC TEER (National Occupational Classification Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities) level: TEER 0-1: CLB 6,TEER 2-3: CLB 5 and TEER 4-5: CLB 4
  • Financial Proof: Applicants must demonstrate they have at least half of the low-income threshold for rural areas (as determined by Statistics Canada) to sustain themselves for one year.
  • Intent to Reside: Candidates must provide genuine proof of their intention to live in the designated rural community.

About Melatonin:

• It is a neurohormone secreted from the pineal gland of the brain in response to darkness.
• It is related to the timing and quality of our sleep and wake rhythms and determined by our internal body clock.
• It makes us sleepy at certain times of the day. It starts to secrete when our bodies are getting ready to go to sleep and usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes to take full effect.
• Melatonin secretion is at its highest in the middle of the night and gradually starts to decrease until we are ready to wake up and start our day.

Key facts about Parkinson's disease:

• It is a progressive neurological disorderthat affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves. 
• It is a condition in which a patient has limited or no control over his movements and body balance. 
• The risk of developing Parkinson’s disease naturally increases with age, and the average age at which it starts is 60 years old.
• Many studies have suggested that men are more likely to be affectedby Parkinson’s than women.
• Cause:
  • It is caused by the degeneration of nerve cells in the part of the brain called the substantia nigra, which controls movement.
  • These nerve cells die or become impaired, losing the ability to produce an important chemical called dopamine.
  • Dopamine operates with other neurotransmitters to help coordinate the millions of nerve and muscle cells involved in the movement.
  • Lack of dopamine causes the slowed movements and tremors symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
• Treatment: There's no cure for this disease, but treatments can help significantly improve your symptoms.

About Pallas’s Cat:

• The Pallas’s cat, or manul (Otocolobus manul), is a small, long-haired cat(family Felidae).
• It was named Pallas’s cat after Peter Simon Pallas, who first described it in 1776 based on specimens collected near Lake Baikal, Russia.
• Distribution:
  • It is primarily found in Central Asia, with the range extending to western Iran, Mongolia, China, Russia (on the border of Mongolia and China), Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
  • In these regions, it inhabits mountainous plains and semi-desert foothills.
• Features:
  • It is a soft-furred animalabout the size of a house cat and is pale silvery gray or light brown in colour.
  • Head and body length ranges from 45 to 60 centimetres (18 to 24 inches) with an additional 23–30 cm for the tail; weight ranges from 2.5 to 3.5 kilograms (5.5 to 7.7 pounds).
  • It is distinguished by a broad head with high-set eyes and low-set ears.
  • The end of its tail is ringed and tipped with black, and some individuals have vague, dark markings on the body. 
  • The fur of the underparts is about twice as long as that of the upperparts and possibly represents an adaptation to the cat’s habitual lying and crouching on cold ground.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Least Concern
  • CITES: Appendix II 

About Incineration:

• It is the process of burning hazardous materials at temperatures high enough to destroy contaminants.
• It is conducted in an “incinerator,” which is a type of furnace designed for burning hazardous materials in a combustion chamber.
• Many different types of hazardous materials can be treated by incineration, including soil, sludge, liquids, and gases.
• Although it destroys many kinds of harmful chemicals, such as solvents, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), and pesticides, incineration does not destroy metals such as lead and chromium.
• Waste incineration can be a form of waste-to-energy because the heat generated during combustion can be used to create electricity.
• How Does It Work?
  • Hazardous materials must be excavated or pumped into containers before incineration.
  • They may require further preparation, such as grinding or removing large rocks and debris, or removing excess water.
  • The materials are then placed in the combustion chamber of an incinerator where they are heated to an extremely high temperature for a specified period of time.
  • The temperature and length of time depend on the types of wastes and contaminants present.
  • Air or pure oxygen may be added to the chamber to supply the oxygen needed for burning.
  • As the wastes heat up, the contaminants volatilize (change into gases), and most are destroyed.
  • Gases that are not destroyed pass through a secondary combustion chamber for further heating and destruction.
  • The resulting gases then pass through air pollution control equipment, which removes particulate matter (extremely small particles or liquid droplets) and “acid gases.”

About Gomti River:

• It is a tributary of the Ganges (Ganga) River, flowing entirely through the State of Uttar Pradesh.
• Course:
  • It originates from the Gomat Taal, also called Fulhaar Jheel, which is found near the Madho Tanda in the Pilibhit district in Uttar Pradesh.
  • The river drains the area between rivers Ramganga and Sharda.
  • After flowing southwards through the districts of Lucknow, Barabhanki, Sultanpur, Faizabad, and Jaunpur, it joins the River Ganga.
• The river extends to about 900 km. It drains a basin of about 7,240 square miles (18,750 square km).
• It is a perennial river, characterised by sluggish flow throughout the year, except during the monsoon season, when heavy rainfall causes a manifold increase in the runoff.
• Significant tributaries of the Gomti include the Sai River, Chowka River, Kathina River, and Saryu River.

About Ramesh Chand Panel:

• It has been established to revise the base year of the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) from 2011-12 to 2022-23.
• Among its key mandates, the panel will:
  • Propose a revised commodity basket for the WPI and the Producer Price Index (PPI) with the base year 2022-23, considering structural changes in the economy.
  • Review the current system of price collection and recommend improvements.
  • It will also decide on the computational methodology to be adopted for WPI and PPI.
• The panel will have economists in the government, rating agencies, asset management companies, banks, and representatives from the government and the Reserve Bank of India.
• It has been asked to submit its final report to the Office of the Economic Adviser at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIT) within 18 months.

Wholesale Price Index (WPI) vs. Producer Price Index (PPI):

• WPI represents the price of goods at a wholesale stage,e. goods that are sold in bulk and traded between organisations instead of consumers.
  • It does not account for inflation at the level of the ordinary public because they do not buy products at wholesale prices.
  • WPI excludes the service sector, which covers about 55% of GDP.
  • WPI has an inbuilt bias due to double counting of the same product and doesn’t include exports and imports.
• PPI measures wholesale prices from the point of view of producers of goods and services by tracking prices at different stages of production.
  • PPI is different from WPI in the way that it measures the average change in prices received by producers and excludes indirect taxes.
  • It looks at inflation from the viewpoint of industry and business and measures price changes before consumers purchase final goods and services.
  • Weight of an item in WPI is based on net traded value, whereas in PPI weights are retrieved from Supply Use Tables.
  • PPI also includes services, while WPI only has goods.
  • PPI has replaced WPI in most countries as it is conceptually in line with the internationally agreed System of National Accounts (SNA) to compile measures of economic activity.

About Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC):

• It is a statutory committee constituted under the “Rules for the Manufacture, Use/Import/Export and Storage of Hazardous Micro Organisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells (Rules, 1989)” framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. 
• It was earlier called the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee, which was changed to Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee in the year 2010.
• It functions under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
• The functions of GEAC as prescribed in the Rules 1989 are as follows:
  • To appraise activities involving large-scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production from the environmental angle.
  • To appraise proposals relating to the release of genetically engineered organisms and products into the environment, including experimental field trials.
  • The committee or any persons authorized by it has powers to take punitive action under the Environment Protection Act.
• It keeps a check on the use, import, and export of genetically modified (GM) organisms and crops. 
• Clearance of GEAC is mandatory for the environmental release of GM crops.
• Composition:
  • GEAC is chaired by the Special Secretary/Additional Secretary of MoEF&CC and co-chaired by a representative from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
  • Presently, it has 24 members and meets every month. The members comprise experts from other ministries as well as institutions such as the ICAR, ICMR, CCMB, and so on.

New Rules Governing the Selection of Experts:

• Under the new rules, an “expert member” ought to be disclosing their “interest” that could conflict with their duties.
• The expert is also expected to take all steps necessary to ensure that any conflict of interest not affect any decision of the GEAC.
• An expert member with any direct or indirect association with a matter being discussed in a meeting of the committee is obliged to disclose this prior to the meeting.
• Unless specifically requested by the committee, the expert is expected to recuse their selves from the meeting.
• All selected members would also have to fill out a form detailing their professional affiliations to a decade prior to joining the committee.

About S. bengalensis:

• It is the annual herb plant of the genus Stellaria (family Caryophyllaceae).
• It was found growing on muddy soil slopes — at altitudes of 2,245-2,450 metres in the Sangser forest, Kalimpong. 
• Characteristics:
• It is an annual herb growing to a height of 8 to 10.5 cm, characterized by white flowers, absence of bract, shorter petals (or included within the sepal), sharp and pointed seeds.
• Flowering and fruiting occur during May to September.
• India has around 22 Stellaria species mostly distributed in the Himalayan region.
• The researchers have for the time being assessed the new species as ‘data deficient’ under International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria.
• Other species Stellaria mcclintockiae, of the same genus, was found on Nelliyampathy Hills of Kerala.

About Tobacco Board of India:

• It is a statutory body established on 1st January 1976 by an Act of Parliament “Tobacco Board Act, 1975 (Act 4 of 1975)”.
• The Board is headed by a chairperson and is responsible for the development of the tobacco industry.
• Functions:
  • The primary function of the Board is export promotion of all varieties of tobacco and its allied products, its functions extend to production, distribution (for domestic consumption and exports) and regulation of Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco.
  • It ensures the smooth functioning of the farming system and to ensure fair and remunerative prices for tobacco farmers and the promotion of exports. 
  • Financial assistance is extended to farmers through banks, along with the necessary inputs for the production of quality tobacco.
  • The Board also engages in extension and developmental activities to promote sustainable tobacco cultivation practices.
  • The Board supports farmers by providing handholding assistance to produce tobacco of requisite quality to meet the standards of importing countries.
• Headquarters: Guntur, Andhra Pradesh
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Commerce and Industry

India’s Tobacco Industry:

• India is the 2nd largest producer of tobacco in the world after China.
• India is the 4th largest producer of FCV tobacco in the world after China, Brazil and Zimbabwe.
• India is the 2nd largest exporter of unmanufactured tobacco (quantity terms) after Brazil.

About National e-Governance Awards Scheme:

• It is recognized amongst the most competitive and prestigious digital governance awards schemes in the country.
• The objective of the Scheme is to recognize and promote excellence in implementation of e-Governance initiatives.
• The NAeG Awards, 2025 will consist of Trophy, Certificate and an incentive of Rs 10 lakh for Gold Awardees and Rs 5 Lakhs for Silver Awardees to be awarded to the district/organization for being utilized 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 2025. Of these 10 will be Gold Awards and 6 will be silver Awards.
• For the year 2025, there are six categories under which the National Awards for e-Governance 2026 will be conferred:
  • 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-Governance Practices/Innovation in Cyber Security
  • Grassroot Level Initiatives for Deepening/ Widening of Service Delivery with focus on initiatives by Districts/ULBs/Gram Panchayats
  • Replication and Scaling up of Successful National Awarded Projects like NAeG, Prime Minister Awards in Excellence, Awards conferred by other Central Ministries by State/UT/ District The NAeG 2024
  • Digital transformation by use of data analytics in digital platforms by Central Ministries/States/UTs
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

About Tinnitus:

• It is the perception of sound that does not have an external source, meaning only the affected individual can hear it. 
• Causes: It is usually caused by an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing loss, an ear injury or a problem with the circulatory system.
• Symptoms:
• It can include sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, irritability, and significant impacts on mental health and social life.
• It can also cause other types of phantom noises in your ears, including: Buzzing, Roaring and Clicking etc.
• Treatment: It may include hearing aids, sound-masking devices, medicines, and ways to learn how to cope with the noise.

Key facts about the newly developed device:

• This device along with its supporting application software, offers a comprehensive approach to managing tinnitus.
• It features precise tinnitus matching, which helps identify the exact nature and frequency of the sound experienced by the patient.
• It provides a customizable, multimodal approach to treatment, ensuring each patient receives a tailored experience suited to their unique condition.
• The software also includes tools for tracking disease progression, enabling clinicians to monitor patient improvement over time.

About Belly Landing:

• Also known as gear-up landing, it is an emergency landing technique that involves an aeroplane landing without extending its landing gear.
• It is a last resort for pilots who are unable to deploy their landing gear owing to a technical or mechanical malfunction.
• Belly-landings are risky and carried out only in an emergency. It results in considerable damage to the plane, its engines and wings as the aircraft skids to a stop and can leave those onboard injured.
• The friction generated by the aircraft skidding on the runway can also create sparks or result in a fire.
• A cockpit crew decides to land an aircraft on its belly in the following situations:
  • Landing gear fails to deploy.
  • A stricken aircraft cannot make it to an airport and landing is done in a field. The pilot considers skidding the aircraft to a stop safer than touching down on wheels.
  • Ditching: when an aircraft makes an emergency landing on water.
  • Any other situation a pilot considers a belly-landing safer than landing on wheels.

Other aviation terminology:

• Landing long and fast: It is an aviation term that means an aircraft touches down far beyond the designated touchdown zone on the runway, leaving the crew with less runway length to stop the aircraft, and at a speed far exceeding the recommended landing speed.

About UDISE+:

• UDISE+ is one of the largest Management Information Systems initiated by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, Government of India, covering more than 14.72 lakhs of schools, 98.08 lakhs of teachers, and 24.80 crores of children.
• It is an online portal facility created by DoSEL for record of data related to schools, teachers, enrolment, infrastructure, in respect of all recognized schools in the country.
• In UDISE+, school wise data is captured through Data Capture Format (DCF).
• Each school has been provided with a login ID and password for facilitating online data compilation by respective schools.
• The Head Teacher/ Head Master of the school in all the States compiles the data, and it goes through a 3-stage validation/verification process, viz., Block/ Cluster level, District level, and State level.
• This data is finally certified by the State Project Director (SPD) at the State level.
• The data once certified by SPD of the respective State is considered as approved by the State. 
• Therefore, data is entered in the UDISE+ portal by the respective State itself.
• UDISE+ data is the only pan-India and most trusted database in school education in the country. 

Highlights of UDISE+ Report 2023-24:

• 8 crore students enrolled in 2023-2024, while this figure stood at 25.18 crore in 2022-2023.
• The figures for the previous four years – 26.52 crore (2021-2022), 26.44 crore (2020-2021), 26.45 crore (2019-2020), and 26.03 crore (2018-2019) – show that the average total enrolment stood around 26.36 crore.
• Data shows that when compared from the period between 2018-2019 (reference year for UDISE+ data) and 2021-2022, the decline in enrolment – for the first time since the pandemic – has been over 1 crore between 2022-2023 and 2023-2024.
• Boys account for 51.9% of enrolments and girls 48.1%.
• The representation of minorities in total enrolment stood at around 20 percent.
• Among the minorities, 79.6 percent were Muslims, 10 percent Christians, 6.9 percent Sikhs, 2.2 percent Buddhists, 1.3 percent Jains, and 0.1 percent Parsis.
• In 2023-2024, the total SC students enrolled were 47 crore, while this figure was 4.59 crore in 2022-2023.
• While 2 crore students enrolled in the OBC category in 2023-2024, the same was 11.45 crore in 2022-2023.
• While over 90% of schools have basic amenities like electricity and gender-specific toilets, advanced facilities such as functional desktops, internet access, and ramps with handrails remain limited.
• Only 57.2% of schools have functional computers, 53.9% have internet, and 52.3% are equipped with ramps, underscoring significant gaps in accessibility and tech readiness.

About INS Surat:

• It is a stealth destroyer, the fourth and last of the Project-15B or Vishakhapatnam Class.
• It is designed in-house by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and is being constructed by Mazagaon Dock Limited (MDL).
• It has an indigenous content of 72%.
• Features:
• It is the Indian Navy’s first AI-enabled warship to enhance its operational efficiency manifold times.
• It will have a displacement of 7,400 tons and a length of 163 meters and can rip through at a top speed of nearly 60 km/h.
• The ship has a maximum range of 15,000 km. 
• It is armed with supersonic surface-to-surface BrahMos missiles and 'Barak-8 medium-range surface-to-air missiles.
• The destroyer is fitted with indigenously developed anti-submarine weapons and sensors, prominently the hull-mounted Sonar Humsa NG, heavy-weight torpedo tube launchers, and ASW rocket launchers.

About INS Nilgiri:

• It is the first of the seven multi-role frigates being constructed under the Project-17A, four at the MDL and three at GRSE in Kolkata, at an overall cost of around Rs 45,000 crore.
• These ships have been designed indigenously by the Indian Navy's Directorate of Naval Design, New Delhi.
• Constructed at MDL, this 6,670-tonne vessel is equipped with cutting-edge weapons and sensors to address threats from enemy submarines, ships, and aircraft.
• The ship has state-of-the-art stealth features, achieved through the shaping of the hull and radar-transparent deck fittings, which make ships difficult to detect.
• It is mounted with guns for close-in defence capability and effective naval gunfire.
• Nilgiri is enabled to operate independently without supporting vessels and to function as the flagship of the Naval task force.

 About INS Vagsheer:

• INS Vagsheer (S26) is thesixth and final submarine of the first batch of six Kalvari-class submarines built for the Indian Navy.
• It is named after the sand fish, a deadly deep-sea predator of the Indian Ocean. 
• It is designed by French naval defence and energy group Naval Group and manufactured by MDL.
• It is designed to operate in all theatres of operation, showcasing interoperability with other components of a Naval Task Force.

About Central Groundwater Board (CGWB):

• CGWB is a multi-disciplinary scientific organization of the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India.
• It is the National Apex Agency entrusted with the responsibilities of providing scientific inputs for management, exploration, monitoring, assessment, augmentation, and regulation of groundwater resources of the country.
• Mandate: Develop and disseminate technologies and monitor and implement national policies for the scientific and sustainable development and management of India’s groundwater resources, including their exploration, assessment, conservation, augmentation, protection from pollution, and distribution, based on principles of economic and ecological efficiency and equity.
• Organization Setup:
  • The Board is headed by the Chairman and has five members.
  • CGWB is a multi-disciplinary scientific organization consisting of Hydrogeologists, Geophysicists, Chemists, Hydrologists, Hydrometeorologists, and Engineers. 
• Headquarters: Bhujal Bhawan, Faridabad, Haryana. 
• The major activities of the CGWB are:
  • National Aquifer mapping and Management (NAQUIM) involving Preparation of Aquifer Maps and Management Plans.
  • Groundwater explorations to delineate groundwater worthy areas and potential aquifers.
  • Geophysical surveys to delineate groundwater bearing zones, etc.
  • Periodic assessment of the country’s groundwater resources.
  • Monitoring of groundwater levels and quality through groundwater observation wells.
  • Dissemination of Ground Water Data and knowledge.
  • Groundwater modelling.
  • GIS and Remote sensing.
  • Regulation and control of groundwater development and management by CGWA in coordination with State Government
  • Coordination with State Government with a view to establish benchmark methodologies for groundwater studies.
  • R&D studies in ground water sector and application and operationalization of new technologies/techniques for groundwater investigation, development, and management.
  • Water conservation and artificial recharge to groundwater.
  • Capacity building and knowledge transfer.

About Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is located in the southern part of the Western Ghats in the Kollam district of Kerala.
• It spans an area of approximately 172 sq.km. and forms part of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve.
• Most of the Sanctuary area is hilly and interspersed with ravines.
• Drainage: The major rivers are Shendurney, Kazhuthuruthy, and Kulathupuzha, which join together to form the Kallada River.
• Flora:
  • The vegetation primarily consists of tropical evergreen forests, semi-evergreen forests, and moist deciduous forests.
  • The name "Shendurney" is derived from the name of a tree species, Gluta travancorica, locally known as ‘Chenkurunji’, which is endemic to this region and found in abundance within the sanctuary.
• Fauna:
  • Notable mammals include elephants, tigers, leopards, gaurs (Indian bison), sambar deer, barking deer, wild boars, and bonnet macaques.
  • The sanctuary also supports a significant population of Nilgiri langurs and lion-tailed macaques, both of which are endemic to the Western Ghats.
  • Over 200 species of birds are recorded in the sanctuary. Some of the notable species include the great Indian hornbill, Malabar pied hornbill, grey-headed bulbul, white-bellied treepie, and various species of woodpeckers, flycatchers, and raptors. 

About Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP):

• It is one of the most widely used fertilizers globally, providing essential nutrients —nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)—for plant growth.
• It is the second most commonly used fertilizer in India after urea.
• It is high in phosphorus (P) that stimulates root establishment and development-without which plants cannot grow to their normal size or will take too long to mature. 
• It’s highly soluble and thus dissolves quickly in soil to release plant-available phosphate and ammonium.
• DAP has additional uses, including:
  • As a fire retardant. For example, a mixture of DAP and other ingredients can be spread in advance of a fire to prevent a forest from burning.
  • In various industrial processes, such as metal finishing.
  • An addition to wine to sustain yeast fermentation.
  • An addition to milk to produce cheese cultures.
  • It proves as a flux for soldering tin, copper, brass, and zinc.