About Jagannath Temple:

• It is a Hindu temple located in Puri, Odisha.
• It is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a form of the Hindu deity Vishnu.
• It is believed to have been built during the reign of King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva, of the Eastern Ganga dynasty, in the 12th century.
  • However, the completion of the temple happened in 1230 AD under Anangbheema Deva III, who also installed the deities in the shrine.
• Architecture:
  • It is a striking example of Kalinga architecture, a distinct Nagara style prevalent in Odisha.
  • The temple complex includes shrines, gardens and sacred tanks, creating a serene atmosphere for devotion.
  • The main temple is located at the center of the inner courtyard on a raised platform.
  • The main temple is constructed in such a way that no shadow of the temple falls on the ground at any time of the day.
  • The temple’s main structure, the sanctum sanctorum, or the garbhagriha, houses the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra.
  • At the pinnacle of the temple, there is a 20-foot-high chakra (wheel) that is positioned in a way to be visible from any part of the city.
• Ratha Yatra is a Hindu festival associated with Lord Jagannath temple.
• It is one of the four sacred pilgrimage sites, known as the Char Dhams, that hold great significance for Hindus.
• It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

About Graphene:

• It is an allotrope of carbon, along with diamond and graphite.
• It is a two-dimensional material consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb structure.
• The stacked form of graphene is graphite.
• Graphene was first isolated in 2004. Since then, it has utilised in various innovative applications, from sensors and electronics to energy storage and healthcare.
• Properties:
  • Thickness: Graphene is the world's thinnest material – it is only one atom thick, one million times thinner than a human hair.
  • Strength: It is 200 times stronger than steel but six times lighter.
  • Flexibility: It is extremely flexible and stretchable.
  • Conductivity: It is an excellent electrical and thermal conductor.
  • Transparency: It is almost perfectly transparent since it only absorbs 2% of light.
  • It is impermeable to gases, even those as light as hydrogen or helium.

About Neutrinos:

• Also called ghost particles, neutrinos are nearly massless, electrically neutral subatomic particles that interact extremely weakly with matter.
• Their tendency not to interact very often with other particles makes detecting them very difficult.
• First predicted in 1930, they weren’t discovered in experiments until 1956, and scientists thought they were massless until recently.
• They belong to the family of particles called leptons, which are not subject to the strong force. Rather, neutrinos are subject to the weak force that underlies certain processes of radioactive decay.
• Source: Neutrinos come from all kinds of different sources and are often the product of heavy particles turning into lighter ones, a process called “decay.”
• They are the most common particles in the universe.
  • Approximately 100 trillion neutrinos pass completely harmlessly through your body every second.
• Neutrinos play crucial roles in the standard model of particle physics, in stellar physics and black holes, and even in cosmology and the nature of the Big Bang.

About Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Act (CLNDA), 2010:

• It is the legal foundation that influences India’s response to nuclear incidents. It was adopted by Parliament of India in 2010.
• It is based on the international principles of civil nuclear liability laid down in the Vienna Convention, Paris Convention and Brussels Supplementary Convention.
• It created a mechanism for compensating victims from damage caused by a nuclear accident, allocating liability and specifying procedures for compensation.
• Features:
  • The CLNDA provides for strict and no-fault liability on the operator of the nuclear plant, where it will be held liable for damage regardless of any fault on its part.
  • This Act establishes the operator’s liability for nuclear catastrophes up to 1,500 crores, which requires insurance or financial security.
  • In case the damage claims exceed ₹1,500 crore, the CLNDA expects the government to step in.
  • The Act has limited the government liability amount to the rupee equivalent of 300 million Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) or about ₹2,100 to ₹2,300 crore.
  • In addition to establishing a timeline for compensation claims, the act authorises the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board to report incidents within 15 days.
  • In addition, the Act establishes a Nuclear Damage Claims Commission to facilitate equitable compensation and conflict resolution.

About Satkosia Tiger Reserve:

• It is located in the heartland of Odisha and spread over four districts viz. Angul, Cuttack, Boudh and Nayagarh.
• It comprises two adjoining sanctuaries, namely Baisipalli Sanctuary and Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary.
• The reserve has an area of 963.87sq km with 523.61sq km as core area.
• The area is also a part of the Mahanadi elephant reserve. The river Mahanadi flows through the valleys in the middle of the reserve.
• Satkosia is the meeting point of two biogeographic regions of India; the Deccan Peninsula and the Eastern Ghats.
• Landscape: The terrain is hilly, with moderate to steep slopes and narrow valleys. The average elevation of the terrain varies between 37 m and 932 m, with the lowest point being at Katrang and the highest point being at Sunakhania.
• Vegetation: The forest vegetation comprises North Indian tropical moist deciduous forests and Moist peninsular low-level Sal.
• Flora:
  • The main tree species is Sal, which grows in gregarious formations.
  • Other associate species are Asan (Terminalia alata), Dhaura (Anogeissus latifolia), Bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus) and Simal (Bombax ceiba).
• Fauna:
  • The reserve has a low population of tiger, leopard, elephant, spotted deer, sambar, chowsingha, barking deer, bison, wild dog, sloth bear, jackal, giant squirrel, and porcupine.
  • It is the natural habitat of two endangered species, viz., the fresh water crocodile and the gharial.

About Salamander:

• It is an amphibian with a slender body and a long tail.
• Features:
  • Their size varies with different species, ranging from 2.5 cm to 20 cm. The largest salamander in the world is the Chinese Giant Salamander, which can grow up to a length of 5 feet.
  • Most salamanders look like a cross between a lizard and a frog. They have moist, smooth skin, like frogs, and long tails, like lizards.
  • They are nocturnal and cold-blooded species and their temperature changes with their habitat.
  • Some salamander species can be poisonous, and some even have teeth.
  • They are capable of regenerating lost limbs within a few weeks, including tails and toes, allowing them to survive attacks from predators.
• Habitat: They live in or near water or find shelter on moist ground and are typically found in brooks, creeks, ponds, and other moist locations, such as under rocks. 
• Distribution: They are mainly found in North America, Europe, Asia, the northern parts of South America and North Africa. 

Highlights of the research:

• The researchers have uncovered that the wandering salamanders can finely control and regulate blood flow to each side of their toe tips.
• This allows them to adjust pressure asymmetrically, improving grip on irregular surfaces like tree bark.
• The blood rushing in before “toe off” appears to help salamanders detach rather than attach. By slightly inflating the toe tip, the salamanders reduce the surface area in contact with the surface they are on, minimising the energy required to let go.
• Significance: Insights into salamander toe mechanics could ultimately inform the development of adhesives, prosthetics, and even robotic appendages.

About Algorithmic Trading:

• It is a method of executing trading orders by providing a predefined set of rules to a computer program.
• This helps in placing share orders at a speed and frequency not possible for human traders.
• Algo trading is already prevalent in India among both institutional as well as retail investors. 

New Algo Trading Framework by SEBI:

• It is aimed at spelling out the rights and responsibilities of the main stakeholders of the trading ecosystem such as investors, brokers, algo providers/vendors and Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs) so that the retail investors can avail algo facilities with requisite safeguards.
• Under the framework, retail investors will get access to the approved algos only from the registered brokers.
• The facility of algo trading would be provided by the stock broker only after obtaining requisite permission from the stock exchange for each algo.
• All algo orders shall be tagged with a unique identifier provided by the exchange in order to establish audit trail and the broker shall seek approval from the exchange for any modification or change to the approved algos,"
• Brokers will be solely responsible for handling investor grievances related to algo trading and the monitoring of APIs for prohibited activities.
• Algos will be categorised into two categories:
  • White box algos, where logic is disclosed and replicable i.e. execution algos.
  • Black box algos, where the logic is not known to the user and is not replicable.

About Cook Islands:

• It is a small, self-governing Pacific nation that has a "free association" pact with New Zealand.
• It is located in the South Pacific Ocean, between Tonga to the west and French Polynesia to the east.
• It consists of 15 islands divided into a northern group of six islands and a southern group of nine islands.
  • Northern Islands:They are mostly low-lying and sparsely populated coral atolls; and include the islands of Manihiki, Nassau, Penrhyn, Pukapuka, Rakahanga, and Suwarrow. They are covered in light vegetation and equipped with stunning white sand beaches. 
  • Southern islands: They generally consists of much larger higher islands that are volcanic in origin and more densely populated. The southern island group includes Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Atiu, Mangaia, Manuae, Mauke, Mitiaro, Palmerston, and Takutea.
• The highest point is Te Mangawhich rises to 652m on the Rarotonga island.
• Most of the population is found on the island of Rarotonga.
• Capital city:Avarua, which is on Rarotonga island.

About Bombay Blood Group:

• The Bombay, also known as HH, blood group is a rare blood group first discovered in Mumbai in 1952 by Y.M. Bhende.
• The Bombay blood group lacks A, B and H antigens, which are found in the common ABO blood groups.
• In normal individuals, the H antigen serves as the base structure for building A and B antigens. In Bombay blood group individuals, the gene responsible for producing the H antigen is mutated or absent, so neither A nor B antigens can be formed.
• Consequently, the people with Bombay Blood Group are incompatible with all standard blood types, including O-negative, complicating both transfusions and organ transplants.
• They can only receive blood from another Bombay blood group donor. Its prevalence is about 0.0004% (one in 4 million) of the total human population.
• While it drops to one in a million in the European population and one in 10,000 in Mumbai, the act of finding a donor is still daunting.

About Kashmir Hand-knotted Carpet:

• The origin of hand knotted carpets, locally known as "Kal baffi" dates back to 15th century after which it progressively attained the high degree of perfection.
• It is said that Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin brought carpet weavers from Persia and central Asia in to Kashmir to train the local inhabitants.
• The loom used in Kashmir carpet weaving is composed of two horizontal wooden beams between which the wrap threads are stretched, one beam in front of the weaver and the second behind the first.
• The difference between a carpet and other hand woven rugs lies in the fact that short lengths of the thread or yarn are tied to wrap chains to form the pile of the carpet. These are commonly called knots though it is a loop rather than an actual knot.
• In Kashmir, the primary type of knot used in carpet weaving is called the "Farsi baff" or the "Sehna" knot, which is a Persian system of knotting.
• Very simple tools are used to thread these knots - a wood or a metal comb to push knots and weft tightly together and a pair of short scissors to cut the pile of the carpet to an even form once it is finished.

Other GI tagged Kashmir crafts:

• Apart from the hand-knotted carpet, six other crafts have already been GI registered, which include Papier Mache, Kashmir Pashmina, Kani, Sozni, Khatamband and Walnut Wood Carving.

About Cayman Islands:

• It is a British overseas territory in the Caribbean Sea located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica.
• The Cayman Islands are made up of three distinct islands - Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.
• The Cayman Ridge is an enormous underwater mountain range that is responsible for the formation of the islands. The islands are themselves the peaks of this ridgeline.
• The islands are famous for coral reefs, crystal-clear waters, and white sand beaches.
• Grand Cayman is the largest and the most populous island.
• In total, the islands cover a small area of just 264 sq. km.
• Its capital is George Town, on Grand Cayman.
• Official Language: English
• Currency: Cayman Islands Dollar (KYD)
• Ethnic groups: Afro-European 40%, African 20%, European 20%, other 20%.

 About Article 22:

• Article 22 of the Constitution of India provides protection from and against arrest and detention in certain cases.
• These safeguards help in avoiding any miscarriage of justice by acting as a kind of check and balance on the powers of police officers making arrests and authorities empowered to detain a person.
• These safeguards are available to all people, irrespective of whether they are citizens of India or not. However, it cannot be availed by an enemy alien.
• These are applicable to all arrests, except those made under a warrant issued by the court.
• The offence can either be criminal or quasi-criminal in nature or any activity prejudicial to the interests of the state.
• However, these safeguards are not applicable to a person arrested or detained in a civil matter.
• The seven clauses of the Article have been explained below:
  • Article 22(1) provides that no person can be arrested or detained without providing the reasons for the same. The person is also entitled to consult or be defended by a legal practitioner of his choice.
  • Article 22(2) further provides that the person arrested or detained in custody must be produced before the nearest Magistrate within 24 hours of his arrest or detention.
    • This time period does not include the time taken to travel from the place of arrest to the court of the Magistrate.
    • Further, it provides that no person can be detained in custody after the above-mentioned period has passed, without the permission of the Magistrate.
  • Clause (3) is an exception to Article 22(1) and 22(2). It states that the said clauses are not applicable to:
    • An enemy alien; or
    • Any person who has been arrested or detained under any preventive detention law.
  • Article 22(4) provides that no person can be detained for more than three months under any law relating to preventive detention, unless it has been opined by the Advisory Board that such detention is justified.
  • As per Article 22(5), it is mandatory to disclose the grounds of arrest or detention to the arrestee or person detained in custody. The person must also be given an opportunity to make representation against the order of his detention.
  • Article 22(6) states that the detaining authority is empowered to not disclose facts that are against public interest, while disclosing the grounds of arrest or detention to the concerned person.
  • Under Article 22(7), lays down that the Parliament has been empowered to prescribe the:
    • Circumstances or classes under which a person may be detained for more than three months, without obtaining any opinion of the Advisory Board.
    • Maximum period for which a person can be detained under preventive detention laws.
    • Procedure to be followed by an Advisory Board in an inquiry as per clause 4 of Article 22.

About Klub-S Missile System:

• Developed by Russian defense company NPO Novator, the Klub, also known as Kalibr, is a cruise missile inducted into Moscow's defense forces in 1994.
• The Klub-S missiles have a warhead payload of 400 kilograms and are capable of targeting surface ships, submarines, and ground targets up to 300 kilometers away.
• This system includes a fire control system, a vertical launcher unit (VLU), and ammunition.
• It is known for its excellent performance in dangerous combat zones.
• It is designed for use in situations where the enemy is engaged in heavy firing and electronic warfare is at its peak.
• It can accelerate to supersonic speeds in the terminal phase, making it difficult for enemy defenses to intercept.
• It cruises at an altitude of 10-15 meters, reducing the reaction time for enemy defenses.

About Bhil Tribe:

• Bhils are considered as one of the oldest tribes in India.
• They are the most widely distributed tribal groups in India.
• The name 'Bhil' is derived from the word villu or billu, which according to the Dravidian language is known as Bow.
• They could be identified as one of the Dravidian racial tribes of Western India and belong to the Australoid group of tribes.
• Distribution:
  • They are mainly divided into two main groups: the Central and Eastern or Rajput Bhils.
  • The Central Bhils are found in the mountain regions in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan.
  • Bhils are also found in the north eastern parts of Tripura.
• Occupation: Nearly all of the Bhil engage in agriculture, some using the slash-and-burn (jhum) method but most employing the ploughs.
• Language: They speak Bhili, which is an Indo Aryan language.
• Beliefs:
  • Almost all Bhils practice ethnic religions that have been highly influenced by Hinduism.
  • Most of them worship local deities like Khandoba, Kanhoba, Bahiroba, and Sitalmata. Some worship the Tiger God called 'vaghdev'.
• Main festivals: The Baneshwar fair is the main festival celebrated among the Bhils. This fair is held during the period of Shivratri and is dedicated to Baneshwar Mahadev also known as Lord Shiva.

About National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC):

• It was established in 1994 as an autonomous institution of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
• Its primary objective is to ensure and enhance the quality of higher education through a rigorous accreditation process.
• It conducts assessment and accreditation of Higher Educational Institutions (HEI) such as colleges, universities or other recognised institutions to derive an understanding of the ‘Quality Status’ of the institution.
• It evaluates institutions based on various parameters such as curricular aspects, teaching-learning processes, infrastructure, governance, and innovation.
• It functions through its General Council (GC) and Executive Committee (EC), comprising educational administrators, policymakers, and senior academicians from a cross-section of the Indian higher education system.
• The Chairperson of the UGC is the President of the GC of the NAAC; the Chairperson of the EC is an eminent academician nominated by the President of the GC (NAAC).
• At present, the assessment and accreditation by NAAC is done on a voluntary basis.
• Headquarters: Bengaluru

About Dashavatar Theatre:

• It is a popular form of theatre with a history of 800 years.
• This traditional folk theater is performed in Maharashtra and Northern Goa region.
• Theme: The stories presented in these shows are based on the 10 incarnations of Vishnu namely Matsya, Koorma, Varaha, Narsimha, Wamana, Parashurama, Ram, Krishna, Buddha and Kalki.
• Every year, the Dashavatar season begins after the paddy harvest, towards the end of the Navratri fast in October, and continues until May the following year.
• Musical instruments used: Paddle harmonium, Tabala and Zanj.
• The show is mostly musical sometimes dialogues are used.
• The origin of Marathi theatre can be traced to Dashavatara tradition.

About Restructured National Bamboo Mission:

• The restructured National Bamboo Mission was launched as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in 2018-19.
• It provides assistance to both the Government & private sectors for the propagation and cultivation of bamboo in non-forest land, bamboo treatment, establishment of markets, incubation centers, value added product development & processing and development of tools & equipment.
• Funding Pattern: The funding pattern is 60:40 between Centre and State Government for all States except NE & Hilly States, where it is 90:10 and 100% in case of Union Territories/Bamboo Technology Support Groups (BTSGs) and National Level Agencies. 
• Major objectives:
  • To increase the availability of quality planting materials, area expansion of bamboo cultivation.
  • To improve post-harvest management, primary treatment and seasoning, preservation technologies, market infrastructure, product development, promote skill development and re-align efforts to reduce dependency on import of bamboo and bamboo products.
• Implementation: It is being implemented through the state nodal department which is nominated by the State/UT governments concerned.

About Vishwamitri River:

• It originates on the hill of Pavagadh hills in Gujarat. 
• It is linked with two other tributaries Dhadhar and Jambuva and finally culminates in the Gulf of Kambhat.
• It is primarily rain-fed, flows through a 25-km stretch of Vadodara, along the way before meeting the sea in Bharuch district.
• It is highly meandering sinuous river which has a unique ecosystem bearing a plethora of beautiful ravines right from its beginning till its end.
• The Vadodara stretch of the Vishwamitri is unique in that it is home to a large population of mugger or marsh crocodiles (Crocodylus palustris). 

Mugger Crocodiles:

• It is one of the 24 extant species of crocodilians found globally.
• Habitat: It is native to freshwater and inhabits marshes, lakes, rivers and artificial ponds.
• Distribution: In India it is found in 15 states, with the largest populations in the middle Ganges (Bihar-Jharkhand) and Chambal (Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan) basins.
• They are also found in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh — as well as south-eastern Iran.
• Conservation status:
  • IUCN: Vulnerable
  • CITES: Appendix I 

About Potash:

• Potash is the general name given to various inorganic compounds that contain potassium in a water-soluble form.
• Ores: The principal ore is sylvinite, a mixture of sylvite (KCl) and halite (NaCl).
• Uses:
  • Over 90% of potash is used as fertilizer and it is one of the three primary agricultural nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium or N-P-K).
  • Potash can be used on all plants to boost plant health and nutrition as well as to increase crop yields.
  • While all potash fertilizers contain potassium there are a number of different forms in which it exists.
  • Among these forms is Sulphate of Potash (SOP), a premium potash fertilizer that is free of chloride (a compound considered harmful to plants) is used primarily on high-value crops, usually leafy plants, fruits and vegetables
  • On the other hand, Muriate of Potash or MOP contains some chloride, is commonly used on carbohydrate-type crops, such as wheat.
• Potash reserves in India: Rajasthan (alone contributes 89% to the total resources), Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
• Potash reserves across world: It mainly located in Canada (31%), Belarus (21%), Russia (11%), China (10%), USA (6%), Germany (4%) and Chile (3%).

About National Commission for Scheduled Tribes:

• It was established by amending Article 338 and inserting a new Article 338A in the Constitution through the Constitution (89th Amendment) Act, 2003.
• By this amendment, the erstwhile National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was replaced by two separate Commissions namely - the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), and the NCST.
• Composition:
  • It comprises a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and three full-time Members (including one female Member).
  • The term of office of Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and each member is three years from the date of assumption of charge.
  • The Chairperson has been given the rank of Union Cabinet Minister, and the Vice-Chairperson that of a Minister of State and other Members have the ranks of a Secretary to the Government of India.
• Functions:
  • To monitor safeguards provided for STs under the Constitution or under other laws;
  • To inquire into specific complaints relating to Rights & Safeguards of STs;
  • To advise in the Planning Process relating to Socio-economic development of STs;
  • To submit report to the President annually and other times on welfare Measures required related to Socio-economic development of STs;
  • To discharge such other functions in relation to STs as the President may by rule specify;

About Cascade Range:

• It is a prominent collection of mountains found in the Pacific Northwest area of the northwestern United States and southwestern Canada.
• The range was formed by the subduction of the Juan de Fuca Plate beneath the North American Plate, which continues to drive volcanic activity.
• It is known for its snow-capped peaks, massive glaciers, steep scree slopes, and lush forests.
• The range is home to 4375 named mountains, the highest and most visible of which is Mount Rainier 4,392 m.
• It includes both volcanic and non-volcanic mountains, including the rugged spires of the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades.
• The Cascades are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, the ring of volcanoes and associated mountains around the Pacific Ocean.
• All of the known historic eruptions in the contiguous United States have been from Cascade volcanoes.

 About M23 Rebels:

• M23, or the March 23 Movement, is one of more than 100 armed groups fighting Congolese forces in the mineral-rich eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
• M23’s leadership is dominated by ethnic Tutsis, a minority group in eastern DR Congo.
• It is present in North Kivu province in areas bordering Rwanda and Uganda and has more than 8,000 fighters, according to the UN.
• It is named after the date in 2009 of the signing of an accord between the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP), a Tutsi-led rebel group, and the Congolese government to end a revolt led by the Tutsi people in eastern DRC.
  • The agreement promised better political representation and integration of former rebels into the Congolese army.
• It is alleged that Rwanda is backing the M23 rebels.
• Why is M23 fighting Congolese forces?
  • It was created in 2012 after former CNDP troops rebelled against the Congolese government, accusing it of failing to implement the 2009 agreement by integrating Tutsi fighters into the army, protecting minorities, and distributing resources evenly.
  • Its objective is to safeguard the interests of the Congolese Tutsi and other minorities, including protecting them against Hutu rebel groups who escaped to the DRC after taking part in the 1994 Rwandan genocide that targeted Tutsis.

About Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It spans over the Western Ghats in Belgaum district of Karnataka.
• It was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in December 2011.
• The sanctuary has been named after the Bhimgad Fort, constructed and commanded by Shivaji in the 17th century as a defence from Portuguese troops.
• It shares its boundary with the north of Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, north-west of the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park, north of Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary and east of Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.
• BWS forms the headwaters of a number of rivers like Tillari, Malaprabha and Mhadei and several perennial streams.
• The forest is also famed for its Barapede caves which serve as the only known breeding area of a threatened species on the verge of extinction called Wroughton's free-tailed bat.
• Flora: It mainly comprises a combination of tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests and grasslands. It also hosts a number of medicinal plants.
• Fauna: It has a rich biodiversity and shelters animals like Elephants, King Cobras, Wild Dogs, Foxes, Chitals, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Sloth Bear, Gaur, Leopards and Tigers.

About Donkey Route:

• Named after a Punjabi idiom referring to an arduous, unplanned journey, it involves crossing multiple international borders, often through treacherous terrain, under false promises of legal entry.
• It typically involves illegal border crossings via indirect routes with multiple stops in different countries.
  • For instance, individuals might obtain a tourist visa for the European Union's Schengen Area, allowing free movement across 26 countries, and then illegally enter the UK with the help of "consultants" or "agents."
  • These agents often charge hefty fees for services ranging from fake documentation to smuggling via shipping containers.

About Daya River:

• It is a 37 km small river in Odisha.
• It originates from the Kusabhadra River and flows through the Khurda and Puri districts before emptying into the Chilika Lake, the largest coastal lagoon in India.
• Tributaries: Malaguni River
• It supports wetland biodiversity, providing habitat for fish and migratory birds near Chilika Lake.
• Historical significance:
  • The Daya River is historically important because of its connection to the Kalinga War (261 BCE), fought between Emperor Ashoka and the Kalinga kingdom.
  • It is believed that after the battle, the river turned red with the blood of slain soldiers.
  • This sight deeply moved Ashoka, leading him to embrace Buddhism and adopt a path of non-violence.

About National Commission for Safai Karamcharis:

• It was first set up in 1994 under the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis Act, 1993.
• It was functioning as a statutory body till 2004, when the law lapsed.
• Since then, the commission is acting as a non-statutory body under the Social Justice Ministry with its tenure being extended from time to time. 
• Functions of National Commission for Safai Karamcharis:
  • The NCSK gives recommendations to the Government regarding specific programmes for welfare of Safai Karamcharis, study and evaluate the existing welfare programmes for Safai Karamcharis, investigate cases of specific grievances etc.  
  • The NCSK has been assigned the work to monitor the implementation of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.
  • It is the only body keeping track of sewer deaths in the entire country.

About Marsupials:

• Marsupials are the group of mammals commonly thought of as pouched mammals.
• They give birth to relatively undeveloped young that often reside in a pouch located on their mothers' abdomen for a certain amount of time. 
• A distinctive characteristic common to most of these species is that the young are carried in a pouch. They have an extra pubic bone, the epipubic bone, to support their pouch.
  • Examples: Marsupials include opossums, Tasmanian devils, kangaroos, koalas, wombats, wallabies, bandicoots, and the extinct thylacine.
• They represent the clade originating from the last common ancestor of extant metatherian, the group containing all mammals more closely related to marsupials than to placentals. Not all marsupials have pouches.
• Distribution: There are over 330 species of marsupials. Around two-thirds of them live in The other third live mostly in South America.

What is In-Vitro Fertilization?

• It is a medical procedure used to assist individuals or couples who are facing fertility challenges in achieving pregnancy.
• It is the most common and effective type of assisted reproductive technology (ART).
• Process:
  • It is a complex process that involves retrieving eggs from ovaries and manually combining them with sperm in a lab for fertilization.
  • Several days after fertilization, the fertilized egg (now called an embryo) is placed inside a uterus. 
  • Pregnancy occurs when this embryo implants itself into the uterine wall.
  • The procedure can be done using a couple's own eggs and sperm. Or IVF may involve eggs, sperm or embryos from a known or anonymous donor.

About Swavalambini Programme:

• It was launched by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) through Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), in collaboration with NITI Aayog in Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram.
• This initiative is aimed at empowering female students in select Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the northeast by equipping them with the essential entrepreneurial mind-set, resources, and mentorship they need to succeed in their entrepreneurial journey.
• Those who successfully build their ventures will be recognized and awarded, ensuring that their success stories inspire others. This initiative will define a clear process for how we nurture and scale women-led enterprises in India.
• The initiative aims to provide structured training through the Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme (EAP) which introduces 600 female students to entrepreneurship as a viable career option.
• For 300 selected students, the Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) offers an intensive 40-hour training covering crucial business aspects such as training and skilling, access to finance, market linkages, compliance and legal support, business services, and networking opportunities.
• This will be followed by six months of mentorship and handholding support to help participants translate their ideas into sustainable prospects.

About Shatavari Plant:

• Asparagus racemosus (family Asparagaceae), also known by the name Shatavari, is one of the well-known drugs in Ayurveda. Shatavari means “acceptable to many”.
• It belongs to family Liliaceae and commonly known as Satawar or Satamuli.
• Appearance: It is a woody climber growing to 1-2 m in height. The leaves are like pine needles, small and uniform and the flowers are white and have small spikes.
• Habitat and Distribution: Its habitat is common at low altitudes in shade and in tropical climates throughout Asia, Australia and Africa. 
• In Ayurveda, this amazing herb is known as the “Queen of herbs”, because it promotes love and devotion.
• Charak Samhita, written by Charak, and Ashtang Hridyam, written by Vagbhata, list racemosus as part of the formulas to treat women's health disorder.
• Uses of Shatavari Plant:
  • The dried roots of the plant are used as drug. The roots are said to be tonic and diuretic and galactagogue, the drug has ulcer healing effect probably via strengthening the mucosal resistance or cytoprotection.
  • This herb is highly effective in problems related with female reproductive system.

About TROPEX-25:

• It is an operational level exercise is conducted bienniallywith participation by all operational Indian Naval units along with substantial participation of Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Coast Guard assets.
• TROPEX 25 is aimed at validating Indian Navy's core warfighting skills, and ensuring a synchronised, integrated response to preserve and protect national maritime security interests in a contested maritime environment against conventional, asymmetric as well as hybrid threats.
• The exercise is being conducted in various phases - both in Harbour and at Sea, integrating various facets of combat operations, cyber and electronic warfare operations, live weapon firings during Joint Work Up Phase and Amphibious Exercise (AMPHEX).
• During the exercise, the combined fleets comprising approximately 65 Indian Naval Ships, 09 Submarines and over 80 Aircrafts of different types, are put through complex maritime operational scenarios.
• It is witnessing participation of platforms like indigenous aircraft carrier Vikrant, state-of-the-art Visakhapatnam and Kolkata-class destroyers, Kalvari-class submarines and aircraft fleet comprising MiG 29K, P8I, HALE Sea Guardian and MH-60R helicopters.
• Towards enhancing synergy and jointness amongst the Services, IA, IAF and Indian Coast Guard have also been integrated into the exercise, with participation of Sukhoi-30, Jaguar, C-130, Flight Refueller, AWACS aircraft.
• TROPEX 25 is a step forward in coordinated planning, precise targeting, combat effectiveness and credible joint operations in a dynamic environment, towards safeguarding India's national maritime interests.

About Grameen Credit Score:

• It aims to formalize self-help group (SHG) transactions within the central credit system of India, thereby allowing leading financial institutions to better assess creditworthiness.  
• The objective behind this scheme is to promote financial inclusion for self-help group (SHGs) women entrepreneurs.
• It is basically to provide them the much-needed support to grow in life by trying to build businesses. 
• This score, hence, represents a significant shift in analysing the creditworthiness of millions of women involved in the SHGs across India's rural areas.
• The introduction of the Grameen credit score is expected to bring several positive changes:
  • Enhanced financial access:It will open up new financial opportunities for rural women. Thus, enabling them to expand their businesses and improve their livelihoods. It will also introduce them with concepts like credit cards, creditworthiness, loan EMIs, loan repayment etc.
  • Customized financial products:It will be supplemented by customized credit cards for micro-enterprises, with limits of up to ₹5 lakh. This will propel grassroot level financial empowerment.
  • Improved credit assessment:By providing a digital framework for assessing creditworthiness, it will bridge existing gaps in the current credit bureau system, which often overlooks SHG members. It will also allow them to check their credit score, credit limits and ways to improve the same.
  • Economic stability:Now with increase in credit availability women led SHGs will be in a position to better contribute more effectively to their houses. This will propel the growth in the rural community at large.

 About International Criminal Court (ICC):

• It is the only permanent international criminal tribunal.
• It was established in 2002 by an international agreement, the Rome Statute, on 17 July 1998.
  • The Rome Statute sets out the Court’s jurisdiction, structures, and functions.
  • The Statute entered into force on 1 July 2002.
• Mandate: ICC investigates and, where warranted, tries individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression.
• As a court of last resort, it seeks to complement, not replace, national Courts.
• Members: There are 125 member countries, but dozens of governments are not ICC parties, including China, India, Israel, Russia and the United States.
• Funding: The Court is funded by contributions from the States Parties and by voluntary contributions from Governments, international organizations, individuals, corporations, and other entities.
• Composition:
  • Judges: The court has 18 judges, each from a different member country, elected to non-renewable 9-year terms.
  • The Presidency: Consists of three judges (the President and two Vice-Presidents) elected from among the judges. It represents the Court to the outside world and helps with the organization of the work of the judges.
  • Judicial Divisions: 18 judges in 3 divisions, the Pre-Trial Division, the Trial Division, and the Appeals Division.
  • Office of the Prosecutor (OTP): It is responsible for receiving referrals and any substantiated information on crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court.
  • Registry: The core function of the Registry is to provide administrative and operational support to the Chambers and the Office of the Prosecutor.
• Jurisdiction of ICC:
  • Unlike the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which hears disputes between states, the ICC handles prosecutions of individuals.
  • The ICC is only competent to hear a case if:
    • the country where the offence was committed is a party to the Rome Statute; or
    • The perpetrator's country of origin is a party to the Rome Statute.
  • The ICC may exercise its jurisdiction if the national court is unable or unwilling to do so.
  • The ICC only has jurisdiction over offences committed after the Statute’s entry into force on 1 July 2002.
• Relation with United Nations (UN):
  • Article 2 of the Rome Statute provides for the ICC's relationship with the UN.
  • While not a United Nations organization, the Court has a cooperation agreement with the UN.
  • When a situation is not within the Court’s jurisdiction, the UN Security Council can refer the situation to the ICC, granting it jurisdiction.

About Kanjar Tribe:

• The Kanjar are a nomadic tribe of North India and Pakistan.
• They are most concentrated in the fertile and more densely populated areas of the Indus River valley and Punjab.
• They were labeled a "criminal tribe" during colonial rule, later decriminalised after the Independence.
• There is no accurate demographic or other census information on Kanjar in either country.
• Kanjar owns no land or permanent shelters. They survive by traveling from community to community through diverse regions, transporting their physical possessions on mule-drawn carts (rehra) or donkeys.
• Occupation: They have historically been associated with occupations like hunting, fishing, basket weaving and entertainment.
• Linguistic Affiliation:
  • Kanjar are fluent in several languages and many regional dialects of Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi and Sindhi.
  • Their own language, Kanjari, has affinities with Indo-Aryan Prakrit and Romani.
• Chakri is one of the most popular folk dances of the Kanjar tribe.

About Pinaka Multiple Rocket Launch Systems (MRLS):

• It is a battle-proven, all-weather, indirect area fire Artillery Weapon System.
• It was developed by DRDO’s Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE).
• It was first used during the Kargil War, where it successfully neutralised Pakistan Army positions on the mountain tops.
• Features:
  • The quick response and relatively high pointing accuracy of the launcher enable it to deliver a large volume of fire against critical and time-sensitive enemy targets, within a very short time.
  • Each launcher carries 12 rockets, and a battery consists of six launchers (72 rockets total).
  • It delivers a variety of warheads, including high-explosive and submunitions.
  • It now has a range of over 75 kilometers.
  • Initially unguided, now the Pinaka-Guided version uses INS/GPS navigation for precision strikes.
  • The system is mounted on a Tatra truck for mobility.

About NavIC:

• It is India’s regional navigation satellite system designed to provide accurate Position, Velocity and Timing (PVT) service to users in India as well as the region extending about 1500 km beyond the Indian landmass.
• It is a satellite-based navigation system developed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
• The first NavIC satellite was launched in 2013.
• NavIC is designed with a constellation of 7 satellites and a network of ground stations operating 24 x 7.
  • Three satellites of the constellation are placed in geostationary orbit, at 32.5°E, 83°E and 129.5°E respectively.
  • Four satellites are placed in inclined geosynchronous orbit with equatorial crossing of 55°E and 111.75°E respectively, with inclination of 29° (two satellites in each plane).
  • The ground network consists of control centre, precise timing facility, range and integrity monitoring stations, two-way ranging stations, etc.
• NavIC offers two services - Standard Position Service (SPS) for civilian users and Restricted Service (RS) for strategic users.
  • These two services are provided in both L5 (1176.45 MHz) and S band (2498.028 MHz).
• The system provides positioning accuracy of better than 10 m throughout India and better than 20 m for the area surrounding India by 1,500 km, and timing accuracy better than 50 nanoseconds.
• NavIC SPS signals are interoperable with the other global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals namely GPS, Glonass, Galileo and BeiDou.
• Applications:
  • Transportation (terrestrial, aerial and marine)
  • Location -based services
  • Personal mobility
  • Resource monitoring
  • Surveying and geodesy
  • Scientific research
  • Time dissemination and synchronisation
  • Safety-of-life alert dissemination

About Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Pong Dam Lake (also known as Maharana Pratap Sagar) is a manmade reservoir formed due to the construction of Pong Dam on Beas River in the wetland zone of Shivalik hills in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh.
• It is one of the largest man-made wetlands in Northern India. It covers an area of almost 307 sq km.
• It was designated a Ramsar site in 2002.
• Flora: It consists of submerged vegetation, grasslands, and forests, including species like eucalyptus, acacia and shisham.
• Fauna:
  • Given the site's location on the trans-Himalayan flyway, more than 220 bird species have been identified, with 54 species of waterfowl.
  • Avifauna include Bar-headed geese, Pintails, common pochards, coots, Grebes, Cormorants, Herons, Storks, angle fowls, peafowl, Grey partridges, etc.
  • It is also home to animals like Sambar, Barking Deer, Wild Bear, Nilgai, Clawless Otter and Leopards.

About Jevons Paradox:

• It is the idea that technological progress that makes a resource cheaper or more efficient to use often leads to an increase in demand for that resource.
• This refers to a form of induced demand wherein efficiency improvements in the use of a resource causes increased consumption of the resource rather than a decrease in its use.
• Origin of Jevons Paradox:
  • It was proposed by the English economist, William Stanley Jevons, in his 1865 book The Coal Question.
  • Jevons observed that the efficient use of coal made possible by technology actually caused more coal to be extracted and consumed rather than allowing the preservation of existing reserves.
  • Technological progress, in other words, only allows people to satisfy demands that could not be satisfied earlier in the absence of an appropriate technology.
• Examples of Jevons Paradox:
  • Fuel Efficiency and Vehicle Usage: Vehicle fuel efficiency improvements can also increase consumption. When cars become more fuel-efficient, the cost of driving per mile decreases, making it more affordable for individuals to use their vehicles — often increasing vehicle miles travelled, offsetting any energy conservation benefits from improved fuel efficiency.
  • Digital Technology and Energy Consumption: The rise of digital technology and the internet has undoubtedly brought numerous benefits to society. Yet, the proliferation of intelligent devices and data centres has substantially increased energy consumption. 

About Dibru Saikhowa National Park:

• It is a National Park as well as a Biosphere Reserve situated in the south bank of the river Brahmaputra in the extreme east of Assam state in India. 
• It is bounded by the Brahmaputra and Lohit Rivers in the north and Dibru River in the south.
• Vegetation: It mainly consists of moist mixed semi-evergreen forests and moist mixed deciduous forests.
• It is the largest Salix swamp forest in north-eastern India, with a tropical monsoon climate with a hot and wet summer and cool and usually dry winter.
• Flora: It consists of Dillenia indica, Bischofia javanica, Bombax ceiba, Lagerstroemia parviflora, etc.
• Fauna:  Tiger, Elephant, Leopard, Jungle Cat, Bears, Small Indian Civet, Squirrels, Gangetic Dolphin, Slow Loris, Assamese Macague etc.

• It is an identified Important Bird Area (IBA) having more than 382 species of birds, some of which are Greater Adjutant Stork, Lesser Adjutant Stork, Greater Crested Grebe.

About GREAT Scheme:

• It was launched in August 2023 with the aim to develop the Startup Ecosystem in Technical Textiles in India. 
• It has evolved under the Research, Development, and Innovation Component of National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM).

• It encourages young innovators, scientists/technologists, and startup ventures in the field of Technical Textiles to translate their ideas into commercial technologies/products and make India self-reliant.
• It supports individual entrepreneurs or start-ups for functional prototypes or commercialization of their technologies for Technical Textile.
• It supports innovations under application areas in all segments of Technical Textiles such as Agro-textiles, Building-textiles, Cloth-textiles, Geotextiles, Home-textiles, Industrial-textiles, Medical-textiles, Mobile-textiles, Oeko-textiles, Packaging- textiles, Protective-textiles, Sports-textiles, etc.
• Funding: A grant-in-aid of up to Rs 50 lakh for up to a period of 18 months will be provided.

National Technical Textiles Mission:

• It was launched to increase the penetration level of technical textiles in India while leveraging the extraordinary growth rate of the sector.
• The mission aims to position India as a global leader in Technical Textiles.
• Components:
  • Research, Innovation and Development
  • Promotion and Market Development
  • Export Promotion
  • Education, Training, Skill Development
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Textiles

About Rhododendron wattii:

• It is a small tree attaining a maximum height of 25 feet.
• It is endemic to India and is found in Manipur and Nagaland, in its natural habitat at Dzukou Valley (Nagaland).
• It was first collected by Sir George Watt from Nagaland’s Japfu Hill range during his 1882-85 survey.
• Characteristics:
  • It is an evergreen plant, and leaf renewal occurs throughout the year.
  • Its flowering occurs from the end of February to April, and fruiting is observed from April to December.
  • The flowers present in trusses of 18-25 flowers are pink with darker flecks and purplish basal blotches.
  • It is foraged and pollinated by the fire-tailed sunbird (Aethopyga ignicauda) and bumble bees.

Issues with Rhododendron wattii:

• A recent study has found that the natural regeneration of the plant species to be very low although it produces numerous seeds.
• Poor seedling survivability, anthropogenic activities and wildfires were among the factors responsible for the disappearance of this species.