About Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is located on the outskirts of Udaipur city in Rajasthan.
• It is nestled in the Aravalli hill range, covering an area of approximately 5.19 sq.km.
• The Sanctuary lies around the Sajjangarh Fort, built by the erstwhile Maharana Sajjan Singh of Mewar in 1874 on Bansdara Hill.
• Bari Lake, popularly known as Tiger Lake, is situated on the western slope of the Sanctuary. This lake was built by Maharana Raj Singh of the Mewar dynasty.
• Vegetation: It encompasses a blend of deciduous and semi-evergreen
• Flora:
  • It boasts a lush environment dominated by trees like teak, mango, neem, jamun, khair, and ber.
  • The presence of abundant bamboo groves further enhances the habitat.
• Fauna: It is home to animals like panthers, hyenas, wild boars, jackals, sloth bears, sambar deer, spotted deer, and four-horned antelopes.

About Pratibimb Module:

• It is a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based software launched by the Union Home Ministry's Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C).
• Objective: To help enforcement agencies, including state police forces, to map cybercriminals in real time and destroy their network.
• Pratibimb offers a unique advantage of projecting mobile numbers used in cybercrimes across the entire country into a GIS map.
• The software also provides a map view to personnel of the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and service providers to ascertain the actual locations of mobile numbers active in criminal activities.

Samanvaya Platform:

• It was launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs as a coordination platform for LEAs for cybercrime data sharing and analytics.
• It provides analytics based on interstate linkages of crimes and criminals involved in cybercrime complaints across various States/UTs.

Key Facts about Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C):

• I4C has been established under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to deal with cybercrime in the country in a coordinated and comprehensive manner.
• The I4C focuses on tackling issues related to cybercrime for citizens, including improving coordination between various Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) and stakeholders.
• The centre is located in New Delhi.
• Functions:
  • To act as a nodal point in the fight against cybercrime.
  • Identify the research problems and needs of LEAs and take up R&D activities in developing new technologies and forensic tools in collaboration with academia/research institutes within India and abroad.
  • To prevent misuse of cyberspace for furthering the cause of extremist and terrorist groups.
  • Suggest amendments, if required, in cyber laws to keep pace with fast changing technologies and international cooperation.
  • To coordinate all activities related to the implementation of Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLAT) with other countries related to cybercrimes in consultation with the concerned nodal authority in MHA.
• I4C brings together academia, industry, public and government in the prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of cybercrimes.
• I4C has envisaged the Cyber Crime Volunteers Program to bring together citizens with a passion to serve the nation on a single platform and contribute in the fight against cybercrime in the country.

About Fuego Volcano:

• Volcan de Fuego, which translates to "Volcano of Fire" in Spanish, is one of three large stratovolcanoes overlooking Guatemala's former capital, Antigua.
  • Guatemala lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity.
• Fuego is one of Central America's most active volcanoes.
• It has a long history of violent eruptions, with records dating back to the 16th century.
  • A deadly eruption in 2018 claimed 194 lives and left 234 people missing.
• The volcano's eruptive style is characterised by explosive events, lava flows, and pyroclastic flows, which pose major threats to nearby populations.

What is a Stratovolcano?

• It is a tall, steep, and cone-shaped type of volcano.
• Unlike flat shield volcanoes, they have higher peaks. At the peak, stratovolcanoes usually have a small crater.
• They are usually about half-half lava and pyroclastic material, and the layering of these products gives them their other common name of composite volcanoes.
• They are typically found above subduction zones, and they are often part of large volcanically active regions, such as the Ring of Fire that frames much of the Pacific Ocean.
• Stratovolcanoes comprise the largest percentage (~60%) of the Earth's individual volcanoes.
• Most are characterized by eruptions of andesite and dacite, lavas that are cooler and more viscous than basalt.
• These more viscous lavas allow gas pressures to build up to high levels. Therefore, these volcanoes often suffer explosive eruptions.

About POLG Disease:

• It is a genetic mitochondrial disorder that prevents the body’s cells from producing adequate energy, which in turn can cause multiple organ dysfunctions and failures.
• The disease affects multiple organs of the body, primarily the brain, nerves, muscles, and liver.
• It could also affect a person’s vision due to the involvement of affected brain structures.
• People with POLG “likely end up bedridden and unable to function in so many of those activities of daily living.
• Causes:
  • The condition affects mitochondria, the “powerhouse" of the cell, which converts food into ATP (Adenosine triphosphate), the primary source of energy in living cells of a body.
  • Mitochondria contain their own DNA, which requires a specific enzyme to replicate, found in the host cell’s POLG and POLG2 genes.
  • Mutations in these genes therefore impact the ability for mitochondria to replicate.
• Symptoms:
  • A person can see symptoms, from mild to severe, starting from early childhood to adulthood.
  • The most frequent symptoms include muscle weakness, ophthalmoplegia (weakness or paralysis of the eye), epilepsy, and liver failure.
  • POLG also affects neurological function and impacts a person’s ability to balance, talk, and walk, and it causes seizures and more.
• Treatment:
  • There is currently no cure for POLG.
  • Available treatment for the POLG focuses on managing the symptoms and quality of life.

 About INS Imphal:

• Commissioned in December 2023, INS Imphal is the third of the four Project 15B Visakhapatnam-class stealth-guided missile destroyers.
  • The other destroyers in the Visakhapatnam class are INS Visakhapatnam, INS Mormugao, and INS Surat.
• INS Imphal is a potent platform capable of undertaking a variety of tasks and missions, spanning the full spectrum of maritime warfare.
• The Navy’s Warship Design Bureau designed the ship in-house, and Mazagon Dock Ltd. (MDL) was responsible for its construction.
• It is the first warship to be named after a city in the Northeast, Imphal -- the capital of Manipur.
• It was the first naval warship commissioned with accommodation for women officers and sailors.
• Features:
  • It is among the largest destroyers constructed in India, with an overall length of 164 metres and a displacement of over 7500 tonnes.
  • Speed: It can achieve a maximum speed of 56 km/hr.
  • INS Imphal is capable of undertaking anti-submarine warfare operations.
  • The made-in-India destroyer has a 75 percent high indigenous content, including, medium-range surface-to-surface missile, the BrahMos missile, torpedo tube launchers, and a 76mm super rapid gun mount.
  • It has modern surveillance radar, which provides target data to the gunnery weapon systems.
  • It has a total atmospheric control system (TACS) that offers protection to the crew from chemical, biological, and nuclear threats.
  • The crest design depicts the Kangla Palace on the left and ‘Kangla-Sa’ on the right.
    • The Kangla Palace is an important historical and archaeological site of Manipur, and was the traditional seat of the past kingdom.
    • With a dragon’s head and lion’s body, the ‘Kangla-Sa’ is a mythical being from Manipur history, and is symbolic as the guardian/protector of its people. ‘Kangla-Sa’ is also the state emblem of Manipur.

About Plastic Ice:

• Under normal conditions, water exists in three phases: solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas (vapour or steam). Unlike ordinary ice, Plastic Ice VII allows water molecules to rotate freely within a rigid crystalline structure.
• This phase was first predicted in 2008, but scientists have now provided solid evidence of its existence using advanced neutron-scattering experiments at the Institut Laue-Langevin in France.
• The unique structure of Plastic Ice VII forms at pressures exceeding three gigapascals (GPa), about 30,000 times atmospheric pressure on Earth, and temperatures above 450 Kelvin (177°C).

How Was It Discovered?

• Researchers used quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS) and diamond-anvil cells to study tiny high-pressure samples. These techniques allowed them to analyze molecular motion at the atomic scale.
• Their findings confirm that while Plastic Ice VII retains a crystalline structure, its molecules rotate in specific, preferred directions.

Significance of Plastic Ice Discovery:

• This discovery has profound implications for planetary science. Ice VII, an earlier known phase, exists deep inside the icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn, such as Callisto, Ganymede, and Titan.
• Now, the confirmation of Plastic Ice VII suggests that water in extreme environments behaves in even more complex ways than previously thought.
• Understanding this exotic ice could help scientists explore whether extreme planetary conditions could support life and how water influences the structure of celestial bodies.
• Scientists believe this discovery could lead to new insights in materials science, planetary exploration, and even the development of futuristic technologies that use extreme pressure conditions.

About Gulf of Oman:

• The Gulf of Oman, also called the Gulf of Makran, is the western extension of the Arabian Sea in the Middle East, forming the only entrance to the Persian Gulf from the Indian Ocean.
• It connects the Arabian Sea to the Strait of Hormuz, which leads into the Persian Gulf.
• It borders Iran and Pakistan on the north, Oman on the south, and the United Arab Emirates on the west.
• The small ports along the gulf include Ṣuḥār, al-Khābūrah, Muscat, and Ṣūr, in Oman, and Jāsk and Chāh Bahār, in Iran.
• Some of the significant islands that are located in the Gulf of Oman include Sheytan Island, Al Fahal Island, Dimaniyat Islands, and the Sawadi Islands.
• Some fishing is carried on, but the Gulf’s main importance is as a shipping route for the oil-producing area around the Persian Gulf.
• The Gulf of Oman offers the only entrance from the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean into the Persian Gulf.
• The world’s major oil exporters and importers have a joint interest in its security. Roughly one-third of the world's oil is exported via the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman.

Marine Security Belt 2025:

• The Marine Security Belt 2025 is a joint naval exercise involving China, Russia, and Iran. Conducted in the Gulf of Oman, it aims to enhance maritime security, counter piracy, and terrorism in the northern Indian Ocean.
• The drills include simulated attacks, search and rescue operations, and damage control exercises.

About World Air Quality Report 2024:

• World Air Quality Report is published by the Swiss organisation IQAir every year. The 2024 World Air Quality Report evaluates the global state of air quality for the year 2024.
• This comprehensive report presents 5 air quality data collected from 8,954 cities across 138 countries, regions, and territories.

India-Specific Findings:

• According to the 2024 World Air Quality Report, with an average PM 2.5 concentration of 91.8 μg/m3, Delhi continues to be the most polluted Capital city in the world.
• According to the report, 13 of the 20 most polluted cities in the world are in India, with Byrnihat on the Assam-Meghalaya border being the most polluted.
• The other cities include Faridabad, Loni (Ghaziabad), Gurgaon, Greater Noida, Bhiwadi, Noida, Muzaffarnagar, New Delhi (Central Delhi) and Delhi (taking the average from the rest of the city).
• India is the fifth most polluted country in the world, with an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 50.6 μg/m3 – 10 times higher than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) annual PM2.5 guideline value of 5 μg/m3. In 2023, it was the third most polluted country.

About Immigration and Foreigners Bill:

• The Immigration and Foreigners Bill 2025 aims to streamline immigration laws, strengthen national security, and impose stricter penalties for violations.
• The bill proposes to replace four colonial-era laws, including the Foreigners Act, 1946, and the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, to create a single, modern legal framework.

Key features:

• National Secuirty: The bill prioritises national security and sovereignty, stating that any foreigner posing a threat to India's integrity will be denied entry or permission to stay.
• Powers of Immigration Officers: Immigration officers can arrest without a warrant if they suspect a foreigner of violating immigration laws. They can also restrict movements and name changes.
• Registration and Reporting Requirements: Foreigners must register upon arrival and report any changes in movement or identity. Institutions like hospitals and schools must notify authorities about foreigners under their care.
• Strict Entry and Stay Regulations: All foreigners need a valid passport and visa to enter or leave India. Carriers are responsible for ensuring passengers have proper documents or face fines and transport seizure.
• Penalties for Violations:
  • No valid documents – Up to 5 years jail, ₹5 lakh fine
  • Forged documents – 2 to 7 years jail, ₹1–10 lakh fine
  • Overstaying – Up to 3 years jail, ₹3 lakh fine
  • Transporting foreigners without papers – ₹5 lakh fine and vehicle seizure
• Handling of Dual Citizenship: Foreigners with dual citizenship will be treated as citizens of the country whose passport they used to enter India.

About Kuki Tribe:

• The Kukis are an ethnic group including multiple tribes originally inhabiting the Northeastern States of India, including Manipur, Mizoram and Assam; parts of Myanmar, and Sylhet district and Chittagong hill tracts of Bangladesh.
• The Chin people of Myanmar and the Mizo people of Mizoram are kindred tribes of the Kukis and are collectively known as the Zo people.
• Notably, Kuki is not a term coined by the ethnic group itself, the tribes associated with it came to be generically called Kuki under the colonial rule, and were further divided by the British into ‘old Kukis’ and ‘new Kukis’.
• The Kukis have a rich cultural heritage, with institutions like Sawm and Lawm playing significant roles in their society.
  • Sawm is a community center for boys where they learn under the guidance of elders, while Lawm is a youth club that fosters social activities and practical skills
• The Kukis traditionally engaged in shifting or Jhum cultivation in the forested hills, which allowed them to expand their settlements through the wooded areas over generations.
• Their expansionist land ownership patterns due to Jhum cultivation put them at odds with the Nagas, who practised territorial agriculture, and the Meiteis, who lived in the cultivated valley areas.

Kuki Rebellion of 1917-19:

• The first resistance to British hegemony by the Kuki people was the Kuki Rebellion of 1917-19, after which their territory was subjugated by the British and divided between the administrations of British India and British Burma.
• Up until their defeat in 1919, the Kukis had been an independent people ruled by their chieftains.

About La Nina:

• La Niña is a climate pattern that describes the cooling of surface-ocean waters along the tropical west coast of South America.
• It is considered to be the counterpart to El Niño, which is characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the equatorial region of the Pacific Ocean.
• Together, La Niña and El Niño are the "cold" (La Niña) and "warm" (El Niño) phases of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). ENSO is series of linked weather- and ocean-related phenomena.
• La Niña events are indicated by sea-surface temperature decreases of more than 0.5 degrees Celsius (0.9 degrees Fahrenheit) for at least five successive three-month seasons.

Causes:

• La Niña is caused by a build-up of cooler-than-normal waters in the tropical Pacific, the area of the Pacific Ocean between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
• Unusually strong, eastward-moving trade winds and ocean currents bring this cold water to the surface, a process known as upwelling. Upwelling can cause a drastic drop in sea-surface temperature.

Effects:

• Impact on Air Pressure and Rainfall: La Niña lowers air pressure over the western Pacific, leading to increased rainfall. South Asia experiences stronger summer monsoons, benefiting agriculture in India and Bangladesh.
• Risk of Flooding in Australia: While La Niña supports agriculture in South Asia, strong events can cause severe flooding in northern Australia due to excessive rainfall and low-pressure systems.
• Global Rainfall Patterns: La Niña brings more rain to southeastern Africa and northern Brazil. In contrast, it increases air pressure over the central and eastern Pacific, causing dry conditions.
• Drier Conditions in Some Regions: Regions like the west coast of tropical South America, the Gulf Coast of the US, and the pampas of South America experience reduced rainfall and dry spells during La Niña.
• Boost to the Fishing Industry: Upwelling caused by La Niña brings cold, nutrient-rich waters to the surface, supporting plankton growth. This benefits fish populations and predators like sea bass.
• Duration and Seasonal Peak: La Niña events usually last between one and three years, whereas El Niño typically lasts less than a year. Both tend to peak during the Northern Hemisphere winter.

About Chandrayaan-3:

• Chandrayaan-3 was the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) second attempt, after Chandrayaan-2, to achieve a successful landing and rover operation on the Moon's surface.
• It was launched using ISRO's LVM3 rocket, designed to place modules into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) at a lower cost.
  • LVM3 is a three-stage rocket with two solid strap-on boosters and a core liquid stage.
  • The LVM3 M4 launcher positioned the integrated modules in an elliptical parking orbit of approximately 170 x 36,500 km.
• Objectives: The mission aims to explore the presence of water ice, which could support future lunar habitation and provide fuel for interplanetary missions. Key goals include:
  • Achieving a safe and soft landing on the Moon.
  • Conducting rover-based exploration of the lunar surface.
  • Performing in-situ scientific experiments through the rover.
• Mission Components: Chandrayaan-3 consists of a Lander Module (LM), a Propulsion Module (PM), and a Rover designed to develop and demonstrate interplanetary mission technologies.

Chandrayaan-3 Recent Findings:

• New data from Chandrayaan-3 indicates possible water-ice deposits beyond the Moon's polar regions.
• A study by the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, using data from Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) instrument, supports this finding.
• ChaSTE measured a 60°C temperature difference between the lunar surface and 10 cm below it, revealing that the Moon’s surface layer is highly non-conductive, providing insights into its composition and thermal properties.

About Kisan Credit Card:

• The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme was introduced in 1998 for issue of Kisan Credit Cards to farmers on the basis of their holdings for uniform adoption by the banks so that farmers may use them to readily purchase agriculture inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides etc. and draw cash for their production needs.
  • The scheme was extended in 2004 to cover farmers' investment credit needs for allied and non-farm activities.
  • In Budget 2018-19, the government extended the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility to fisheries and animal husbandry farmers for meeting working capital needs.
• Implementation: The Kisan Credit Card Scheme is implemented by Scheduled Commercial Banks, RRBs, Small Finance Banks and Cooperatives.
• Objective: The Kisan Credit Card scheme aims at providing adequate and timely credit support from the banking system under a single window with flexible and simplified procedure to the farmers for their cultivation and other needs as indicated below:
  • To meet the short term credit requirements for cultivation of crops;
  • Post-harvest expenses;
  • Produce marketing loan;
  • Consumption requirements of farmer household;
  • Working capital for maintenance of farm assets and activities allied to agriculture;
  • Investment credit requirement for agriculture and allied activities.
• Eligibility:
  • Farmers - individual/joint borrowers who are owner cultivators;
  • Tenant farmers, oral lessees & share croppers;
  • Self Help Groups (SHGs) or Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) of farmers including tenant farmers, share croppers etc.

Kisan Rin Portal:

• The portal helps farmers avail subsidised loans under the Kisan Credit Card (KCC).
• It was developed in collaboration with multiple government departments.
• It offers a comprehensive view of farmer data, loan disbursement specifics, interest subvention claims, and scheme utilisation progress.
• It fosters seamless integration with banks for more focused and efficient agriculture credit.

About H1N1 Virus:

• Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen.
• First case in India: The first confirmed case of H1N1 in India was reported in May 2009. Since then, the virus has caused several outbreaks, with significant case numbers recorded in 2021, 2022, 2023 and now more recently.
• Transmission: Flu viruses are spread from person to person mainly through coughing or sneezing. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
• Symptoms:
  • The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.
  • Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people.
• Treatment: There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza.

About North Sea:

• Location: The North Sea is a shallow northeastern arm of the Atlantic Ocean, covering 220,000 square miles (570,000 square km) between the British Isles and northwestern Europe.
• Borders and Connections:
  • Bordered by Great Britain (southwest and west), Orkney and Shetland islands (northwest), Norway (northeast), Denmark (east), Germany and the Netherlands (southeast), and Belgium and France (south).
  • It is connected to the Atlantic Ocean through the Strait of Dover and the English Channel.
  • The Skagerrak links the North Sea to the Baltic Sea via the Kattegat and the Danish straits.
• Rivers: Major rivers that drain into the North Sea include the Forth, Elbe, the Weser, the Ems, the Rhine and Meuse, the Scheldt, the Thames, and the Humber.
• Economic Importance:
  • It is one of Europe’s most productive fisheries.
  • Major shipping zone for trade among European countries and between Europe and the Middle East.
  • Contains significant reserves of petroleum and natural gas beneath the seafloor.

About Large Phased Array Radar (LPAR):

• It has been established by China in Yunnan province, near the China-Myanmar border.
• It boasts a surveillance range exceeding 5,000 kilometers, allowing China to monitor extensive areas of the Indian Ocean and deep into Indian Territory.
• It possesses the capability to detect and track ballistic missile launches in real time.
• Unlike traditional radars, which rely on mechanical rotation, LPARs use electronically controlled antennas to scan vast areas almost instantly.
  • This allows them to track multiple targets, including ballistic missiles, with high precision.
  • Such radars play a critical role in early warning systems and air defence networks.

● How does China's LPAR compare to the world?

• Besides China, only the US and Russia have the LPAR
• The capabilities of China's LPAR are being compared to the US PAVE PAWS (Precision Acquisition Vehicle Entry Phased Array Warning System), a Cold War-era radar designed to detect long-range missile launches.
• The American system has a detection range of approximately 5,600 km and can track multiple projectiles, including submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

● Concerns for India:

• The Yunnan-based LPAR can monitor deep into Indian territory and track missile tests conducted from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off India's eastern coast.
• This site is crucial for testing strategic weapons like the Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile and the K-4 submarine-launched missile.
• By capturing vital data on missile trajectories, speeds, and distances, China gains a strategic advantage, enabling it to analyse and develop countermeasures.

About Sarus Crane:

• It is the tallest flying bird in the world.
• Scientific name: Grus antigone
• Distribution:
  • They live in Southeast Asia, northern India, and northern Australia.
  • In India, most sarus cranes are widely distributed along the Gangetic plain and in eastern Rajasthan in the northern states of India. Population densities decrease going to the south.
  • This species is not known to be migratory.
• Habitat: They live mainly in wetlands such as canals, marshes, and ponds, sometimes near humans.
• Features:
  • They are the tallest of flying birds, standing at 152-156 cm tall.
  • They can have a wingspan of 2.5 m and can weigh anywhere from 5 to 12 kg.
  • They have a predominantly grey plumage with a red head and upper neck and pale red legs.
  • The very top of the head has a white patch as well as a small white spot behind the eye
  • They are regarded as the least social crane species, found mostly in pairs or small groups of three or four.
  • They are monogamous birds and pairs mate for life.
  • Nests are constructed on water in natural wetlands or in flooded paddy fields.
  • Lifespan: It has been estimated that cranes in general can live 30 to 40 years, though some species of cranes have been recorded to live up to 80 years.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
  • CITES: Appendix II
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule IV

About Trade-to-Trade (T2T) Segment:

• T2T stocks or Trade-to-Trade stock means stocks that must be delivered in order to be traded (T+2 settlement).
• This implies that such equities cannot be traded intraday or, in the case of Buy Today Sell Tomorrow, on a daily basis.
• This means if you acquire T2T stocks today, you won’t be able to sell them until the settlement takes place.
  • Your order will be refused if you try to sell these shares the same day or before they are in the Demat account.
• Stocks are put under the T2T segment by the exchanges based on criteria such as their price-earnings ratio, price variations, market capitalisation, etc.
• Stocks that are very volatile or have irregular price movements are monitored by exchanges in cooperation with the market regulator, SEBI.
• They put stocks in the T2T section to shield regular investors from being caught up in the volatility and to limit unwarranted speculation on such equities.
• On a bi-weekly basis, exchanges relocate stocks to the T2T section, and they are shifted in and out of the segment depending on quarterly evaluations.
• Also evaluated for transfer to the T2T sector are stocks that are not available for trade in the Futures & Options section.
• How to identify stocks in the T2T segment? Stocks in the T2T segment can be identified by changes in their scrip names:
  • National Stock Exchange (NSE): The addition of the word "BE" to the scrip name. For example, "ADANIPOWER" becomes "ADANIPOWER BE" in the T2T segment and reverts to "ADANIPOWER" after normal trading is allowed.
  • Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE): The addition of the letter "T" to the scrip name. For instance, "ADANIPOWER" changes to "ADANIPOWER T" when moved to the T2T segment.

About KHANJAR:

• It is an annual exercise conducted alternatively in India-Kyrgyzstan. It was first initiated in December 2011, in Nahan, India.
• It is the 12th edition of the annual India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise.
• The Indian contingent is represented by troops from the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), and the Kyrgyzstan contingent is represented by the Kyrgyz Scorpion Brigade.
• The primary objective of the exercise is to exchange expertise in counterterrorism operations and special forces' tactics, particularly in mountainous and high-altitude environments.
• Training modules will include advanced sniping, close-quarters combat, complex building interventions, and mountain warfare techniques.
• In addition to military drills, the exercise will foster cultural ties through engagements such as celebrating Nowruz, the Kyrgyz New Year festival.

About Global Arms Trade:

• Ukraine became the largest importer of major arms in the world during the period between 2020 and 2024, clocking a nearly 100-fold rise in imports compared with the figures for 2015–2019.
  • Ukraine received 8% of global arms imports in 2020-24.
• Four countries in Asia and Oceania—India, Pakistan, Japan, and Australia— ranked among the 10 largest arms importers globally in 2020-24.
• India was the second-largest arms importer, though the trade figures decreased by 9.3% between 2015-19 and 2020-24.
  • The largest share of Indian arms imports (36%) came from Russia, a significantly smaller share than in 2015-19 (55%) and 2010-14 (72%).
  • India was the biggest arms export destination for both Russia and France.
• TheS. further increased its share of global arms exports to 43%, while Russia’s exports fell by 64%, accounting for 7.8% of global arms exports, falling behind France (9.6%), which emerged as the second largest arms exporter in 2020-24.
• India received by far the largest share of French arms exports (28%)—almost twice the share that went to all European recipients combined (15%).
• Russia delivered major arms to 33 countries in 2020-24, of which two-thirds went to three countries — India (38%), China (17%), and Kazakhstan (11%).
• European arms imports overall grew by 155% between the same periods as the continent rearms itself.
• China dropped out of the list of top 10 arms importers for the first time since 1990-94, showcasing its expanding domestic industrial base.
• Arms imports by Pakistan grew by 61% between 2015-19 and 2020-24.
  • China became even more dominant as its supplier, accounting for 81% of Pakistan’s arms imports in 2020-24, compared with 74% in 2015–19.
• Global transfer volume: The overall volume of arms transfers globally remained at roughly the same level as in 2015-19 and 2010-14 (but was 18% higher than in 2005–2009), as increasing imports in Europe and the Americas were offset by decreases in other regions.

About ICC Champions Trophy:

• The ICC Champions Trophy is a premier One Day International (ODI) cricket tournament featuring the world's top eight teams.
• The tournament was originally called the ICC Knockout when it began in 1998 in Dhaka (Bangladesh). It was renamed the ICC Champions Trophy in 2002.
• It was held every two years until 2009. After that, the event transitioned to a four-year cycle.
• Tournament Format:
  • The format of the competition has endured since 2006. The eight teams are divided into two groups of four teams each.
  • Each team plays once against every other team in the group.
  • And then, the top-two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals, determining the two that feature in the summit clash.
• What made this year’s team selection different?
  • Previously the top-eight ranked ODI sides would feature in the Champions Trophy. But for the 2025 edition, the qualification used the results of the 2023 edition of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
  • The teams that occupied the top-eight spots in the 10-team points table, including the hosts Pakistan, sealed their place for the Champions Trophy.
• Teams in 2025: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, New Zealand were in Group A while the remaining four teams — Australia, Afghanistan, England, South Africa — were in group B.

International Cricket Council (ICC):

• The International Cricket Council (ICC) is the global governing body for cricket. Representing 108 members, the ICC governs and administrates the game and works with our members to grow the sport.
• The ICC is also responsible for the staging of all ICC Events. The ICC presides over the ICC Code of Conduct, playing conditions, the Decision Review System and other ICC regulations.

About Kursk Region

• Kursk is a city and the administrative centre of Kursk Oblast, positioned along Russia’s southwestern border.
• It lies in the heart of the European part of Russia, approximately 450 km (280 miles) south of Moscow, along the upper Seym River.
• The region is part of the Black Earth territory, known for its highly fertile soil. Kursk experiences a moderately continental climate, characterized by distinct seasonal variations.
• History:
  • One of Russia’s oldest cities, Kursk was first mentioned in historical documents in 1032, highlighting its long-standing role in the region's development.
  • The city was completely destroyed by the Tatars in 1240 and remained in ruins until 1586, when it was rebuilt as a military outpost to defend Russian settlers.
  • World War II & Battle of Kursk: The city witnessed intense fighting during World War II, particularly in the Battle of Kursk (July–August 1943), the largest tank battle of the war, which resulted in a German defeat.
  • Modern Economy & Industries: Kursk has a diverse industrial base, including machine building, food processing, and the production of electronic equipment and synthetic fibres, contributing to the region’s economic growth.
• Recent Developments:
  • It was captured by Ukrainian troops in the summer of 2024 in an unexpected lightning attack.
  • Ukraine’s presence in Russia’s Kursk region has deteriorated sharply, with the Russian advance threatening Kyiv’s sole territorial bargaining counter at a crucial time in the war.

About Tejas LCA Mk1A

• The Tejas LCA Mk1A is an advanced variant of India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• It incorporates more than 40 improvements over the previous Tejas Mk1 variant, significantly enhancing its combat capabilities and operational efficiency.
• Key upgrades include advanced avionics suites centred around Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars such as the Israeli EL/M-2052 AESA Radar and the indigenously developed Uttam AESA Radar.
• The aircraft features an upgraded Digital Fly-by-Wire Flight Control Computer (DFCC Mk1A), a Unified Electronic Warfare Suite (UEWS), and an externally mounted Advanced Self Protection Jammer pod for enhanced survivability.
• The Tejas Mk1A is equipped with nine hardpoints capable of carrying a variety of weaponry, including Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles, Air-to-Air/Ground missiles, and Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air missiles (ASRAAM).

What is Tejas LCA?

• Tejas is India's indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft designed by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• It entered service with the Indian Air Force (IAF) in July 2016. It has three production models: Tejas Mark 1, Mark 1A, and trainer variant.
• It aims to replace ageing fighter jets like MiG variants currently in service with the Indian Air Force.

About Jalantheeswarar Temple:

• Location: Jalantheeswarar Temple (also known as Thiruvooral) is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, situated in Thakkolam village of Ranipet district, Tamil Nadu.
• Deity: The presiding deity is Lord Shiva worshipped as Jalantheeswarar, represented by a lingam made of sand (prithvi lingam), known as Theenda Thirumeni.
• Construction: The original temple complex was constructed by Pallavas and later expanded by Cholas. The present masonry structure dates back to the Nayak period in the 16th century.
• Architectural Features: The temple complex spans approximately 1.5 acres, featuring a three-tiered gopuram (gateway tower) and concentric granite walls. The main sanctum houses the deity Jalantheeswarar in the form of a lingam made of sand.
• Religious Significance: It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams - Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Tevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanars Sambandar.

Sambandar:

• Thirugnana Sambandar, also known as Sambandar, was a 7th-century CE Saiva poet-saint from Tamil Nadu and a contemporary of Appar.
• As per Tamil Shaiva tradition, he composed 16,000 hymns in intricate meters, of which 383 (or 384) hymns with 4,181 stanzas have survived.

About Madhav National Park:

• The Madhav National Park is situated in the Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh and, on the northern fringe of the Central Highlands of India forming a part of the Upper Vindhyan Hills intermixed with plateaus and valley sections.
• The Park was the hunting ground of Mughal emperors and Maharaja of Gwalior. It got the status of a National Park in 1958. The park was established as Madhya Bharat National Park in 1955 and received its present name in 1959.
• Originally, the park had an area of 64 square miles (165 square km), but a later extension to the east increased the protected area to 137 square miles (355 square km).
• Vegetation: The forests of the park fall within the category of Northern tropical dry deciduous mixed forests as well as Dry Thorn Forests typical of North – Western Madhya Pradesh.
• Fauna: It is home to antelopes like Nilgai, Chinkara and Chowsinga and Deer including Chital, Sambar and Barking Deer. Animals like the Leopard, Wolf, Jackal, Fox, Wild Dog, Wild Pig, Porcupine, Python etc are also sighted in the park.
• Aquatic Life: The Park is unique in having both lake, meadow and forest ecosystems. Sakhya Sagar and Madhav Sagar are the two lakes in the southern part of the park, providing the aquatic biodiversity and lifeline for the terrestrial species.
• Recent developments: With the recent declaration it has become the 58th tiger reserve of India and the 9th tiger reserve of Madhya Pradesh, with home to five tigers including two cubs born recently.

About Preventive Detention:

• Preventive detention refers to the detention of an individual without a trial or conviction by a court.
• The primary objective of preventive detention is not to punish an individual for a past offence but to prevent them from committing an offence in the future.
• Preventive detention laws are enacted by governments to ensure public safety and maintain social order.
• Constitutional Provisions and Safeguards:
  • Article 22 of the Indian Constitution grants protection to individuals who are arrested or detained.
  • It has two parts—the first part deals with cases of ordinary law, which includes situations where an individual is detained as part of a criminal investigation.
  • The second part deals with cases of preventive detention law, which pertains to the detention of individuals without a trial or conviction.
  • Article 22(4) states that no law providing for preventive detention shall authorise the detention of a person for a longer period than three months unless an Advisory Board reports sufficient cause for extended detention.
  • The detainee is entitled to know the grounds of his detention. The state, however, may refuse to divulge the grounds of detention if it is in the public interest to do so.
  • The detaining authorities must give the detainee earliest opportunities for making representation against the detention.
• Who can make laws under Preventive Detention?
  • Parliament has the exclusive power to enact a law for preventive detention for reasons connected with defence, foreign affairs, or security of India.
  • Both Parliament and State Legislature have powers to enact a law for preventive detention for reasons related to the maintenance of public order or the maintenance of supplies or services essential to the community.
• Laws that provide for Preventive Detention:
  • In India, various laws provide for preventive detention, including the National Security Act (NSA) of 1980, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) of 1967, and state-specific laws like the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) and the Public Safety Acts (PSA) in certain states.
  • Under these laws, authorities can detain an individual for a specific period, typically up to 12 months, without presenting formal charges or conducting a trial.
  • The detention order is issued by a designated authority or government official and is subject to periodic review by an advisory board.

About Shingles Disease:

• Shingles (herpes zoster) is a viral infection that causes an outbreak of a painful rash or blisters on the skin.
• The rash most often appears as a band of rashes or blisters in one area of the body.
• Shingles can occur anywhere on the body.
• The risk of shingles goes up as you get older and it is most common in people over age 50.

● What Causes Shingles?

• It's caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox.
• When you have chickenpox as a child, your body fights off the varicella-zoster virus and the physical signs of chickenpox fade away, but the virus always remains in your body.
• In adulthood, sometimes the virus becomes active again.
• This time, the varicella-zoster virus makes its second appearance in the form of shingles.

• Is Shingles Contagious?
  • Shingles is not contagious, but the virus can be spread to someone who has never had chickenpox.
  • This will cause chickenpox, not shingles.
• Symptoms:
  • The symptoms of shingles can include pain, itching, tingling, and numbness, as well as fever, headache, chills, and fatigue.
  • Shingles isn't life-threatening. But it can be very painful.
  • The most common complication is postherpetic neuralgia. This is a painful condition that causes shingles pain for a long time after your blisters have cleared.
• Prevention: There is a vaccine called Shingrix available, which helps in preventing shingles and its complications.
• Treatment: There is no cure for shingles. Antiviral medications can reduce the severity and duration of shingles, especially if started early.

About Vanuatu:

• It is an island country located in the South Pacific Ocean.
• It is an archipelago made up of 83 islands, of which only 65 are inhabited.
• The islands extend north-south for some 400 miles (650 km) in an irregular Y shape.
• It lies east of Australia and north of New Zealand, or midway between Australia and Fiji.
• Geography:
  • A diverse relief—ranging from rugged mountains and high plateaus to rolling hills and low plateaus, with coastal terraces and offshore coral reefs—characterizes the islands.
  • The country is home to several active volcanoes, including Mount Yasur, which is one of the world’s most accessible active volcanoes.
• Capital: Its capital and largest city is Port Vila, located on Efate Island.
• Currency: The vatu is the currency of Vanuatu.
• The population of Vanuatu is 94% indigenous Melanesian.
• Language:
  • The national language of the Republic of Vanuatu is Bislama (a Creole language).
  • The official languages are Bislama, English, and
• Government:
  • Type: Parliamentary democracy.
  • Independence: July 30, 1980.
• Economy:
• • The economy is based on agriculture, tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services, with kava exports playing a significant role.
  • Vanuatu does not have income tax, withholding tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, or exchange control.
  • VAT, tourism, and agricultural exports contribute to the national income.
• Vanuatu offers a citizenship-by-investment programme, allowing foreigners to obtain citizenship in exchange for a financial contribution, typically for around $1,50,000 USD.
  • Passports provide a major source of government revenues.
  • Vanuatu passport holders can travel without a visa to 56 countries, making its citizenship-by-investment programme a highly attractive scheme.

About Commission on the Status of Women (CSW):

• It is the global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality, the rights, and the empowerment of women.
• It is part of the United Nations, and works to promote women's political, economic, civil, social, and educational rights.
• As a functional commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), it was established by ECOSOC resolution of 21 June 1946.
• The CSW is instrumental in promoting women’s and girls' rights, documenting the reality of their lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
• CSW can also highlight urgent problems, such as the situation of women and girls affected by conflict.
• In 1996, ECOSOC expanded the Commission’s mandate and decided that it should take a leading role in monitoring and reviewing progress and problems in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and in mainstreaming a gender perspective in UN activities.
  • The Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action, adopted by 189 countries, is the most comprehensive and transformative global agenda for the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
• Annual Sessions:
  • During the Commission’s annual two-week session, representatives of UN member states, civil society organizations, and UN entities gather at UN headquarters in New York.
  • They discuss progress and gaps in the implementation of the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and the 23rd special session of the General Assembly held in 2000 (Beijing+5), as well as emerging issues that affect gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
  • Member States agree on further actions to accelerate progress and promote women’s and girls' enjoyment of their rights in political, economic, and social fields.
  • The outcomes and recommendations of each session are forwarded to ECOSOC for follow-up.

About Koch-Rajbongshis:

• Koch Rajbongshi is an ancient tribe originally from the ancient Koch kingdom.
• The Rajbongshi tribe is referred to as Koch Rajbongshi, or Rajbanshi, or Rajvanshi.
• The word "Rajbongshi" literally means "royal community".
• Considered as indigenous people of South Asia, at present they live in lower Nepal, Northern Bengal, North Bihar, Northern Bangladesh, the whole of Assam, parts of Meghalaya, and Bhutan.
• These modern geographical areas were once part of the Kamata kingdom ruled by the Koches for many centuries.
• The community is variously designated as OBC (Assam), SC (Bengal), and ST (Meghalaya).
• Language:
  • The Rajbongshi/Rajbanshi language is spoken by one crore people, according to a 2001 census.
  • It has a complete grammar.
• Religion and Beliefs:
  • They are largely Hindus with lots of their own deities and rituals.
  • A large section of Koch Rajbanshi became followers of Islam, and the present Muslims of North Bengal, West Assam and Northern Bangladesh are of Koch Rajbanshi origin.
  • There are also Christian and Buddhist Koch Rajbanshis.
• The primary livelihood of the tribe is agriculture and farming. They live very close to nature because of the fact that primitively they were ‘Animist’ and the same significance is still prevailing among the tribe.

About Bar-Headed Goose:

• It is a migratory bird species.
• Scientific name: Anser indicus
• It is known to be one of the highest-flying birds in the world.
  • It can fly at altitudes of 25,000 feet, while migrating over the Himalayas, where oxygen and temperature levels are extremely low.
• Distribution:
  • Native to central Asia, where the species breeds, Bar-headed geese are found in countries like India, Pakistan, Nepal, Kazakhstan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Japan, and other nearby regions.
  • They migrate to parts of South Asia during winters.
  • In India, their geographical range extends from the northeast to the southern parts of the country.
• Habitat:
  • They reside near water bodies, preferring high-altitude lakes during the breeding season and freshwater lakes, rivers, and streams in their wintering habitats.
  • They are also found in rocky regions, farmlands and marshes.
• Features:
  • This species is gray and white with two horseshoe-shaped, brownish-black bars on the back of its white head.
  • The body is gray overall, and the bill and legs are pink, orange, or yellow.
  • The wingspan of the bird ranges from 140 to 160 cm.
  • Although male and female birds appear similar, the male bird is slightly larger than the female.
  • They usually form monogamous pairs and are seasonal breeders.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Least Concern

About Sharavathi Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project (PSHP):

• It is a pumped storage power project on the Sharavathi River in Karnataka.
• The Sharavathi River serves as a crucial source of hydroelectric power in Karnataka, and this project, with its planned total power generation capacity of 2000 MW, stands as the largest pumped storage power generation unit in the country.
• PSHP will be built between two existing reservoirs.
  • The Talakalale dam, which stands at 62.48 meters tall, will be the upper reservoir. This dam currently helps balance water for the existing Sharavathy hydroelectric project.
  • The Gerusoppa dam will be the lower reservoir, and it is about 64 meters tall.
• Water will be pumped uphill during the off-season using grid power and released downhill during peak demand to generate electricity.
• Modelled on the lines of Telangana’s Kaleshwaram project, it also aims to supply drinking water to Bengaluru.
• Five tunnels and eight pumping stations are critical parts of the plan.

Key Facts about Sharavathi River:

• It is a west flowing river in the western Karnataka State.
• A large part of its basin lies in the Western Ghats.
• Course:
  • Rising in the Western Ghats, it flows in a northwesterly direction to the Arabian Sea at Honavar in Uttara Kannada District.
  • The length of the river is 128 km, and the river basin covers 2,985 sq km.
  • On its way, the Sharavathi forms the Jog Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in India, where the river falls from a height of 253 m.
• Diverse geological features mark the river’s course, including rocky outcrops, fertile plains, and deep gorges.
• Major Tributaries: Nandihole, Haridravathi, Mavinahole, Hilkunji, Yennehole, Hurlihole, and Nagodihole.

About Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC):

• The IPCC was established by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1988.
• Membership: The IPCC is an organisation of governments that are members of the United Nations or the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The IPCC currently has 195 members.
• Objective: To assess scientific, technical, and socio-economic information relevant to the understanding of human-induced climate change, potential impacts of climate change, and options for mitigation and adaptation.
• The IPCC provides governments with scientific information for use in developing climate policies.
• The main activity of the IPCC is the preparation of reports assessing the state of knowledge of climate change. These include assessment reports, special reports and methodology reports.
• IPCC reports are also key inputs into international climate change negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• The IPCC does not undertake new research or monitor climate-related data.
  • Instead, it conducts assessments of the state of climate change knowledge on the basis of published and peer-reviewed scientific and technical literature.
  • Scientists volunteer their time to assess the thousands of scientific papers published each year to provide a comprehensive summary of what is known about the drivers of climate change, impacts and future risks, and how adaptation and mitigation can reduce those risks.
• The IPPC’s first assessment report was released in 1990. The IPCC finished its Sixth Assessment Report cycle in 2023 and has now entered its Seventh Assessment Report cycle.

What are the IPCC working groups?

• It comprises three working groups, which focus on different aspects of climate science and climate change response.
  • Working Group I: looks at the physics of climate change;
  • Working Group II: examines climate change impacts and adaptation;
  • Working Group III: focuses on climate change mitigation;
• The three working groups release separate reports, which are then compiled into a synthesis report.

About Dehing Patkai National Park:

• It is located in the Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts of Assam.
• It lies in the Dehing Patkai Landscape, which is a dipterocarp-dominated lowland rainforest.
• It is situated at the foothills of Patkai Hill Ranges, on the banks of the River Dehing (Tributary of Brahmaputra), and adjacent to the Namdapha Wildlife Sanctuary.
• It is often referred to as the ‘Amazon of the East‘, owing to its expanse and the thick forest.
• It is famous for its largest stretch of tropical lowland rainforests in India, covering an area of 231.65 sq.km. of Dehing Patkai rainforest.
• It was declared a wildlife sanctuary on 13 June 2004. On 13 December 2020, Government of Assam upgraded it into a national park.
• The climate of the region is mostly tropical with an annual rainfall of more than 4,000 mm.
• There are more than a dozen different ethnic groups living in the area including the indigenous Assamese communities, particularly Tai Phake, Khamyang, Khampti, Singpho, Nocte, Ahom, Kaibarta, Moran and Motok, Burmese, and non-indigenous Nepali people.
• Flora: It is dominated by species like Hollong, Nahor, Mekai, Paroli, Simul, various orchids, ferns, cane, and bamboo.
• Fauna: The rich biodiversity includes diverse species such as slow loris, pig-tailed macaque, stump-tailed macaque, capped langur, Indian leopard, Asian elephant, royal Bengal tiger, gaur, Himalayan black bear, clouded leopard, barking deer, Chinese pangolin, etc.

About Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS):

• It is a rare infectious disease that begins with flu-like symptoms and progresses rapidly to more severe disease.
• It can lead to life-threatening lung and heart problems.
• The disease is also called hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome.
• Several strains of the hantavirus can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
• Transmission:
  • They are spread mainly by rodents like rats and mice and are not spread from person to person.
  • Infection is usually caused by inhaling hantaviruses that have become airborne from rodent urine, droppings, or saliva.
  • Though rare, it can also spread through rodent bites or scratches.
• Symptoms:
  • Symptoms often start with fatigue, fever, and muscle aches, followed by headaches, dizziness, chills, and abdominal issues.
  • If respiratory symptoms develop, the mortality rate is approximately 38%.
• Treatment: There is no specific treatment for hantavirus infection, but early medical care can help if serious disease develops.

About D. camanchaca:

• It is a newly discovered amphipod, a shrimp-like marine creature, marking the first known predatory amphipod in the hadal zone—depths exceeding 6,000 meters below the ocean surface.
• Unlike most amphipods that feed on detritus, it is an active predator, using specialized appendages to catch and consume other organisms.
  • This behaviour is rare among deep-sea creatures, which typically rely on scavenging due to the scarcity of food.
• camanchaca has adapted to freezing temperatures and immense pressure, which exceeds 1,000 times the atmospheric pressure at sea level.
• The genus name Dulcibella is inspired by Dulcinea, a character from Don Quixote. However, since this name was already assigned to another species, researchers chose camanchaca, meaning "darkness" in some South American languages—a fitting name for a creature that thrives in total darkness.

Atacama Trench:

• The Atacama Trench stretches along the eastern South Pacific Ocean, plunging to depths exceeding 8,000 m off the coast of northern Chile.
• It is part of the hadal zone, a region characterised by intense pressure, near-freezing temperatures, and complete darkness.
• It is one of the most geographically isolated hadal features and is situated below eutrophic surface waters and characterized by high sediment loads.

About Convention on Cluster Munitions:

• The Convention on Cluster Munitions is an international treaty of more than 100 states, adopted on 30 May 2008, signed on 3 December 2008 and entered into force on 1 August 2010.
• Objective: The Convention prohibits all use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions. States Parties are committed to the full universalization of the Convention and to promote its norms, as well as to fully implement it.
• Membership Status: The convention has 112 member states and 12 signatories yet to ratify it, while India, the U.S., Russia, China, Ukraine, and Israel have not signed due to military and strategic concerns.
• The Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) was born out of a collective determination to address the humanitarian consequences and unacceptable harm to civilians caused by cluster munitions.
• Its implementation contributes to advancing the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the promotion of international peace and security, human rights and international humanitarian law.

About Loss and Damage Fund (LDF):

• Loss and damage refers to the negative consequences that arise from the unavoidable risks of climate change, like rising sea levels, prolonged heatwaves, desertification, the acidification of the sea and extreme events, such as bushfires, species extinction and crop failures.
• Establishment: The Fund was established at the 2022 UNFCCC Conference (COP27) in Egypt, to provide financial support to regions suffering both economic and non-economic losses caused by climate change.
• Developing countries, particularly small island states that face the greatest threats from climate impacts, had been demanding financial assistance in case of climate-related disasters, arguing that they were having to suffer due to a problem created by rich and developed countries.
• About $750 million has so far been promised for the fund, of which the US has contributed $17.5 million. The US, in fact, is one of the very few countries to have already transferred its committed amount to the Fund.
• The LDF is overseen by a Governing Board that determines how the fund’s resources are disbursed, with the World Bank serving as the interim trustee tasked with hosting the fund for four years.

Paris Agreement:

• The Paris Agreement is an international accord that was adopted by nearly every country in 2015 to address climate change and its adverse effects.
• Its primary goal is to substantially reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in a bid to limit global warming in this century to “well below” 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels while pursuing the means to curb warming to 1.5 degrees.
• The agreement mentions the safer limit of 1.5 degrees based on a fact-finding report which found that breaching the threshold could lead to “some regions and vulnerable ecosystems” facing high risks, over an extended, decades-long period.
• The treaty also requires all Parties (countries which have joined the agreement) to state every five years what they are doing to tackle climate change — what is known as their nationally determined contribution (NDC).

About T-72 Tank:

• T-72 is a mainstay of tank fleet of the Indian Army which is at present fitted with 780 HP Engine. Equipping the existing fleet of T-72 Tanks with 1000 HP Engine.
• The T-72, a Soviet-designed main battle tank, has been a cornerstone of many armed forces since its introduction in 1971.
• Designed by Uralvagonzavod in the Soviet Union, T-72 tanks are locally manufactured and upgraded in India at the Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi.
• The tank is provided with high-accuracy laying and sighting materiel, and with an automatic loading gear ensuring high effective rate of gun fire.
• Features:
  • The T-72 has greater mobility as its 780 hp engine appears to be remarkably smoke-free and smooth-running, having eliminated the excessive vibration.
  • The T-72 has better armour protection due to the use of layered armor.
  • The tank is fitted with a 125mm D-81 smoothbore gun, a 7.62mm co-axial machine gun and a 12.7mm air defence machine gun mounted on the commander’s cupola.
  • The T-72 carries 44 rounds of 125 mm ammunition, 22 rounds of which are carried on an automatic loading carousel.

About Ponzi Scheme:

• A Ponzi scheme is an investment scam that pays early investors with money taken from later investors to create an illusion of big profits. A Ponzi scheme promises a high rate of return with little risk to the investor.
• Origin: The Ponzi scheme gets its name from a swindler named Charles Ponzi, who in 1920 became a millionaire by promoting a nonexistent investing opportunity.
• Working:
  • It relies on word-of-mouth, as new investors hear about the big returns earned by early investors.
  • Inevitably, the scheme collapses when the flow of new money slows, making it impossible to keep up the payments of alleged profits.
  • A Ponzi scheme is similar to a pyramid scheme in that use new investors' funds to pay earlier backers.
  • A pyramid scheme usually relies on rewarding early participants to recruit more participants but collapses when the supply of potential participants dwindles.
• Notable Ponzi Scams in India:
  • Saradha Scam (2013): A multi-crore chit fund scam in West Bengal that defrauded lakhs of investors.
  • Rose Valley Scam: A larger scam than Saradha, involving over Rs 15,000 crore.
  • SpeakAsia (2011): A pyramid-like scheme posing as an online survey business.
  • PACL (Pearl Agro Corporation Limited) Scam: Collected Rs 49,100 crore from investors under the guise of land investments.

Safeguards against Ponzi Schemes in India:

• Ponzi schemes are banned under the Prize Chit and Money Circulation (Banning) Act, 1978, a Central Act enforced by State governments.
• Additionally, the Unregulated Deposit Schemes Act, 2019 explicitly bans Ponzi schemes, further strengthening legal action against such frauds.
• These are also dealt with by the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.