About Mithun:

• The Mithun, or gayal (Bos frontalis), is a heavily built, semi-domesticated bovine species.
• Mithun is believed to have originated more than 8000 years ago and is considered to be a descendent of wild Indian gaur, or bison.
• It is known as the ‘cattle of the mountain’.
• Distribution:
  • The highest concentration of mithuns in the world is spread over the North Eastern (NE) region of India, with Arunachal Pradesh having the highest population.
  • It is also found in parts of Southeast Asia, viz., Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Bhutan.
  • The geographic zone is covered with tropical evergreen rain forests.
• It is the state animal of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.
• The ‘Soulung’ festival is observed annually by the Adi tribes of Arunachal Pradesh to commemorate the birth and arrival of Mithun on this earth.
• Features:
  • Mithun appears somewhat similar to that of the Guar (Indian bison) but is smaller in size.
  • Like Guars, they are strongly built, large-sized fleshy animals with an average weight of 400-650 kg.
  • The characteristic feature of Mithun lies in the head, which has a well-developed, broad frontal bone with a flat-shaped face, and from the front view, it appears like an inverted triangle from where two horns emerge from the lateral sides.
  • Horn colour varies from whitish yellow to salty black in most animals.
  • The skin color of the head and body is blackish-brown in both sexes, and the forehead is creamy white or yellowish in color.
  • They move in small groups with one or two males and several females and calves.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
  • CITES: Appendix I.

About Oreshnik Missile:

• It is a Russian intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile.
• This high-velocity missile, named after the Russian word for “hazel tree,” was first launched operationally on November 21, 2024, in a precision strike targeting the Pivdenmash defence-industrial facility in Dnipro, Ukraine.
• Its hypersonic speed, mid-flight manoeuvrability, and multiple warheads make it particularly hard to intercept, even with advanced missile defence systems.
• Features:
  • It is a mobile, solid-fueled missile.
  • It is capable of reaching speeds of Mach 10—ten times the speed of sound.
  • The system is reportedly capable of carrying multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs), allowing a single missile to strike several distinct targets simultaneously with either conventional or nuclear warheads.
  • It has a reported range of approximately 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles).

About Bluebird Satellite:

• It is an advanced American communications satellite.
• It was developed by the S.-based AST SpaceMobile.
• The Bluebird satellite boasts revolutionary technology that will enable individuals to make calls using smartphones from space.
• With an innovative antenna spanning 64 square meters and a weight of approximately 6,000 kilograms, the satellite will operate in low Earth orbit, facilitating direct satellite-to-smartphone connections.
• This capability will allow users to make calls and access broadband internet from space without relying on traditional ground-based towers.
• The BlueBird satellites' beams are designed to support a capacity of up to 40 MHz, enabling peak data transmission speeds of up to 120 Mbps.
• After launch, the BlueBird satellites are planned to offer non-continuous cellular broadband service across the United States and in select markets globally.

About Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is located just 20 kilometres from Jaipur, Rajasthan.
• It encompasses a large area of 720 hectares and is situated under the Aravalli range.
• The sanctuary is named after Nahargarh Fort, a historic fort built in the 18th century by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur.
• Nahargarh Biological Park, a part of the Nahargarh sanctuary, is famous for the lion safaris.
• Flora: The vegetation comprises dry deciduous forests, scrublands, and grasslands.
• Fauna:
  • Common species include leopards, wild boars, deer, lions, tigers, sloth bears, and several small mammals.
  • It’s a haven for bird watchers, with a variety of species, including peacocks, owls, and eagles.
  • In addition to mammals and birds, the sanctuary is home to reptiles like Indian rock pythons, monitor lizards, and amphibians like frogs and toads.

About INS Satpura:

• It is an indigenous Shivalik-class stealth multi-role frigate.
• Built by Mumbai’s Mazagaon Docks Ltd, INS Satpura was delivered to the Indian Navy on 9th July 2011 and was officially commissioned on 20th August 2011.
• It is the second ship under the Project 17
• It is a frontline warship of the Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy based at Visakhapatnam.
• Features:
  • It has a length of 142.5 m, a beam of 16.9 m and a draught of 4.5 m.
  • Powered by two French Pielstick diesel engines and two General Electric LM-2500 gas turbines, the multi-role frigate is capable of cruising at a maximum speed of 32 knots.
  • Moreover, INS Satpura displaces about 4,900 tonnes at normal load and 6,200 tonnes at full load.
  • The vessel has the capacity to accommodate around 257 people, including 35 officers.

About Liver Cirrhosis:

• Cirrhosis is advanced scarring of the liver caused by many diseases and conditions.
• At this stage, a significant amount of healthy liver tissue has turned to scar tissue. Scarring comes from long-term inflammation in liver
• It is accompanied by distortion of both blood and lymphatic vessels in the liver and intestine.
• Causes: Some of the common causative factors include alcohol, NASH (Non-alcoholic Steato-Hepatitis) and hepatitis B and C viral infections.
• Cirrhosis often has no symptoms until liver damage is serious. When symptoms do happen, they may include: extreme tiredness, easily bleeding or bruising, loss of appetite, swelling in the legs, feet or ankles, called edema etc.
• Treatment of liver cirrhosis: Cirrhosis can be treated if diagnosed early. Both hepatitis B and C can be Abstinence from alcohol can also improve liver disease to some extent controlled or cured with medication.

About Red Panda:

• It is also known as the lesser panda which is primarily a herbivorous, shy, solitary and arboreal animal.
• It uses its long, bushy tails for balance and to cover them in winter, presumably for warmth. 
• It is considered an indicator species for ecological change. 
• Appearance: It is the size of a house cat, the red panda is famous for its cute face and adorable defense stance.
• Distribution: It is mainly found in the mountainous forests of Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, and Nepal.
• Conservation status
  • IUCN Red list: Endangered
  • CITES: Appendix I
  • Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule I
• Threats: The loss of nesting trees and bamboo in the Eastern Himalayas which is causing a decline in red panda populations across much of their range.

What are Indicator Species?

• Indicator species are a species, or group of species, that reflect the biotic or abiotic state of an environment.
• They reveal the possible evidence and impact of environmental change, and indicate the diversity of other species, taxa, or entire communities within an area. 
• Indicator species can provide an early warning of environmental changes.
• They can be used to assess the health of an environment or ecosystem – they are often termed ‘bioindicators’.
• They can be a useful management tool.

About Indo-Burma Ramsar Regional Initiative (IBRRI):

• It was jointly developed by the Ramsar National Focal Points (NFPs) Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam, and IUCN’s Asia Regional Office.
• It is supported by IUCN’s BRIDGE(Building River Dialogue and Governance) project.
• It aims to support the coordinated implementation of the objectives of the Strategic Plan of the Ramsar Convention.
• To ensure oversight and transparency in the management of the IBRRI, the initiative has established a governance structure with representatives from both government and non‐governmental organisations:
• Steering Committee: It includes representatives from Ramsar Administrative Authorities from the five countries.
• Secretariat: It is hosted by the IUCN Asia Regional Office in Bangkok.
• Stakeholder Committee provides technical and strategic guidance as a platform for inclusive, transparent and multi-stakeholder engagement in IBBRI activities.
• The IBRRI officially launched its Strategic Plan 2025–2030during a side event at the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention.
  • The Plan sets out a collaborative, transboundary framework to halt and reverse the loss of wetlands across its Member States.

About Human Outer Planet Exploration:

• HOPE is an analogue site, closely mimicking the geological and environmental conditions found on the Moon and Mars.
• It is developed by Bengaluru-based space tech company Protoplanet, along with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has developed the analogue station.
• It is developed with the aim of conducting “critical research for future crewed interplanetary journeys”.
• The site at Tso Kar, located at an altitude of over 14,500 feet, was chosen because of its terrain and environment, which closely mimics conditions on the Moon and Mars
  • An analogue research station is a site with conditions closest to a planet or planetary body with regard to the topography, environment, etc.
  • These stations usually act as testing grounds for relevant technologies, help advance technology readiness levels (TRL) and engineering integration, and facilitate human studies, crew training and research around geological, geomorphological, habitability, and life detection.
• Currently, there are 33 analogue research stations in the world. Some of the prominent ones are the BIOS-3 in Russia, HERA at the US’ Johnson Space Centre, SHEE in Europe, and the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in the US’ Utah.
• Significance to India: The station marks a significant step towards India’s human space exploration ambitions, helping scientists and researchers understand the physiological and psychological aspects of long-duration space travel.

About Darwin Tree of Life (DToL) Project:

• It aims to sequence the genomes of 70,000 species of eukaryotic organisms in Britain and Ireland.
• It is one of several initiatives across the globe working towards the ultimate goal of sequencing all complex life on Earth, in a venture known as the Earth BioGenome Project.
• It will carefully collect representatives of each species, use advanced DNA sequencing technologies to generate high quality genome sequences.
• It also uses cutting edge computational tools to understand how the DNA sequence translates into the diversity of life.
• It is a collaborative project between ten biodiversity, genomics and analysis partners.

What are Eukaryotes?

• Eukaryotic cells are found in multi-cellular organisms such as protists, plants, animals, and fungi. They are more complex as compared to prokaryotic cells.
• These are any cell or organism that possesses a clearly defined nucleus.
• The eukaryotic cell has a nuclear membrane that surrounds the nucleus, in which the well-defined chromosomes are located.
• Eukaryotic cells also contain organelles, including mitochondria (cellular energy exchangers), a Golgi apparatus. 
• Reproduction: Eukaryotes can reproduce asexually through mitosis and sexually through meiosis and gamete fusion.

About Sabarmati River:

• It is a monsoon-fed, west-flowing river.
• Course:
  • It originates in the Aravalli Mountain Range in the Udaipur district of the northern Indian state of Rajasthan.
  • The river is also called Wakal in its initial course.
  • The river flows in a southwesterly direction across Rajasthan and Gujarat.
  • It finally empties into the Gulf of Khambhat of the Arabian Sea.
• It is about 371 km in length. In Gujarat, the river extends to a length of about 323 km, while in Rajasthan the river has a length of about 48 km.
• The Sabarmati basin extends over an area of 21,674 sq.km with a maximum length and width of 300 km and 150 km.
• The basin is bounded by Aravalli hills on the north and north-east, by the Rann of Kutch on the west, and by the Gulf of Khambhat on the south.
• The major part of the basin is covered with agriculture, accounting for 68% of the total area.
• The banks of the Sabarmati River have Indian cities like Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.
• It flows north-south through Ahmedabad, bisecting the city into its western and eastern halves.
• Major Tributaries: Wakal River, Harnav River, Hathmati River, Watrak River, and Madhumati

About Doctrine of Merger:

• The Doctrine of Merger is a common law doctrine founded on the principle of maintenance of decorum and propriety in the functioning of Courts and Tribunals and preserving the sanctity of the justice delivery system.
• It provides that when an appellate court passes an order, the order passed by the lower court is merged with that order.
• The underlying logic being that there cannot be more than one decree or operative order governing the same subject-matter at a given point of time.
• The doctrine is not recognized statutorily but is a statement of judicial propriety and seeks to instill discipline in the functioning of subordinate adjudicating authorities, whether judicial, quasi-judicial or administrative.
• The applicability of the doctrine of merger entails the existence of a decision of a subordinate court/forum against which a right of appeal/revision before a superior forum/authority exists, which has been exercised and which has either modified, reversed or affirmed the decision of the subordinate authority.
• The consequence of such an act would be that the decision of the subordinate authority shall merge with that of the superior forum, which only shall sustain, be operative and capable of being enforced.
• The essence of the doctrine of merger is that it is only the decisions of the appellate, revisional or higher authority that subsist and the order under challenge ceases to have an independent existence.
• The doctrine solves the issue of which order must be enforced and given importance if there are multiple orders passed by both subordinate and superior courts on a single issue.
• It is not a doctrine of universal or unlimited application. It will depend on the nature of jurisdiction exercised by the superior forum and the content or subject-matter of the challenge.

About Grant in Aid to National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) Scheme:

• It is a Central Sector Scheme with an outlay of ₹2, 000 crore for a period of four years from 2025-26 to 2028-29 (₹500 crore each year from FY 2025-26).
• The grant of ₹2,000 crore will be sourced through budgetary support from the Government of India.
• The approved grant will enable NCDC to raise ₹20,000 crore from the open market over the next four years.
• These funds will be utilised by NCDC for granting loans to Cooperatives for setting up new projects/expansion of plants, and loans for meeting the working capital requirements.
• Benefits: Approximately9 crore members of 13,288 Cooperative societies of various sectors like Dairy, Livestock, Fisheries, Sugar, Textile, Food Processing, Storage and Cold Storage; Labour and Women led cooperatives. across the country are likely to get benefitted.
• Implementation Strategy and Targets:
  • NCDC will be the executing agency for this scheme for the purpose of disbursement, follow-up, monitoring of implementation of the project, and recovery of loans disbursed out of the fund.
  • NCDC will provide loans to cooperatives either through state government or directly, as per NCDC guidelines. Cooperatives that meet the criteria of direct funding guidelines of NCDC would be considered for financial assistance directly against admissible security or a state government guarantee.
  • NCDC will provide loans to cooperatives, long-term credit for setting up/ modernization/ technology upgradation/ expansion of project facilities for various sectors, and working capital to run their businesses efficiently and profitably.

About African Swine Fever (ASF):

• It is a highly contagious and hemorrhagic viral disease affecting pigs and wild boar.
• It does not affect humans, nor does it affect other animal species.
• ASF causes a destructive effect on piggery due to high morbidity and mortality (up to 90-100 %).
• Originally found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, ASF is now prevalent in many countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
• In India it was first confirmed in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in February-March 2020.
• Transmission:
  • It can be transmitted either via direct animal contact or via dissemination of contaminated food (e.g. sausages or uncooked meat).
  • It can also be spread by soft ticks and through contaminated objects such as vehicles, clothes and equipment.
• Symptoms: The clinical symptoms can look very much like those of classical swine fever: fever, weak pigs, lack of appetite, inflamed eye mucous membranes, red skin, (bloody) diarrhea, and vomiting.
• Prevention: Currently, there is no effective vaccine available against ASF, so prevention by adopting strict biosecurity measures, such as culling the animals, is the only way to prevent ASF.

About Ashtamudi Lake:

• It is a freshwater lake located in the Kollam District of Kerala.
• It is the second largest lake in Kerala, after Vembanad Lake.
• It covers an area of around 61.4 sq.km. The lake runs over a length of 16 kilometres.
• It is often referred to as the gateway to the backwaters of Kerala.
• It is a large palm-shaped (also described as octopus-shaped) water body.
• The name ‘Ashtamudi’is adapted from the topography of the lake.‘ Ashta’ means eight, and ‘mudi’ means coned.
• The lake gets its name, Ashtamudi, because of its 8 arms or channels.
• The lake is fed by several rivers, including the Kallada River.
• It eventually drains into the Arabian Sea through the Neendakara estuary.
• It was designated as a Ramsar site in 2002.
• The historical significance of Ashtamudi Lake dates back to the 14th century, when the lake surroundings were the important port connecting the ancient city of Quilon to the rest of the world.
• Historical records of the Moroccan explorer Ibn Battuta highlights Quilon city, on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake as one of the major trading centers in the ancient period.
• Biodiversity:
  • The wetland supports 57 species of birds (6 migratory and 51 resident species) and 97 species of fish (42 typically marine, 3 estuarine, 9 estuarine-riverine, and 15 marine-estuarine).
  • The lake supports several endangered and endemic species, such as the pearl spot fish, the mangrove crab, the otter, the water snake, the kingfisher, the egret, the heron, and the cormorant.

About Piprahwa Relics:

• These are associated with the mortal remains of Lord Buddha.
• Key Features: The Piprahwa Relics, which include bone fragments, soapstone and crystal caskets, a sandstone coffer, and offerings such as gold ornaments and gemstones. An inscription in Brahmi script on one of the caskets confirms these as relics of the Buddha, deposited by the Sakya clan.
• Discovered by: In 1898, William Claxton Peppé, an English estate manager and engineer, during an excavation found a stupa at Piprahwa, just south of Lumbini believed to be the birthplace of Lord Buddha.
• The British crown claimed Peppé’s find under the 1878 Indian Treasure Trove Act, and the bone and ash fragments were gifted by the British to King Chulalongkorn of Siam, now Thailand.
• The majorities of these relics were transferred to the Indian Museum, Kolkata, in 1899.
• These are classified as ‘AA’ antiquities under Indian law, prohibiting their removal or sale.

About Supply and Use Table:

• It represents a detailed snapshot of all economic activities taking place in the economy.
• They are powerful analytical tools that present the structure of an economy as well as interlinkages among the various economic actors.
• Purpose of Supply and Use Tables
  • They serve multiple purposes and have gained prominence due to their statistical robustness and analytical flexibility.
  • They offer a comprehensive framework that integrates the three approaches to measuring Gross Domestic Product (GDP)—production, income, and expenditure within a unified structure.
  • SUT is a very powerful tool for comparing and reconciling data from diverse sources, thereby improving the coherence and consistency between production and expenditure estimates.
• Supply and Use Tables (SUT) are presented as two interlinked matrices: the Supply Table and the Use Table, structured in a product-by-industry matrix.
  • The Supply Table captures the total supply of goods and services, both from domestic production by industry and from imports.
  • In contrast, the Use Table records the utilization of these products across various components—intermediate consumption by industries, final consumption, gross capital formation, and exports.

About UN Women:

• It is the United Nations (UN) entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women.
• It was created in July 2010 by the UN General Assembly.
• The main roles of UN Women are:
  • To support inter-governmental bodies, such as the Commission on the Status of Women, in their formulation of policies, global standards, and norms.
  • To help member states implement these standards, standing ready to provide suitable technical and financial support to those countries that request it, and to forge effective partnerships with civil society.
  • To lead and coordinate the UN system’s work on gender equality as well as promote accountability, including through regular monitoring of system-wide progress.
• It works globally to make the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) a reality for women and girls and stands behind women’s equal participation in all aspects of life.
• Within countries that request its assistance, UN Women works with government and non-governmental partners to help them put in place the policies, laws, services, and resources that women require to move towards equality.
• Grant-making Funds: UN Women provides grants to fuel innovative, high-impact programmes by government agencies and civil society groups through two funds—the Fund for Gender Equality and the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women.
• Commission on the Status of Women (CSW): A global policy-making body, the CSW is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), dedicated exclusively to gender equality and the advancement of women.
• It maintains the UN Secretary-General’s database on violence against women, which tracks measures to end violence taken by UN Member States and UN organizations.

About Darwin's Frog:

• Darwin's frog (Rhinoderma darwinii ), also called the southern Darwin's frog.
• Features of Darwin's Frog
  • It is unique among amphibians for its brooding habits.
  • It is a tiny amphibian with leaf-like skin whose males carry tadpoles within pouches in their mouths.
  • It is a diurnal creature, meaning it sleeps at night and is mostly active during daytime.
  • When threatened by predators, the frog plays dead. It lays very still on the forest floor or floating in a stream.
• It measures 3 cm (1.18 inches), and was discovered in Chile's southern Chiloe islands by Charles Darwin during his 1834 trip around the world.
• Distribution: It is a rhinodermatid frog native to the forest streams of Chile and Argentina.
• Habitat: It is found in a variety of vegetation types and it appears that a mixture of grassland, mossy areas, coarse woody debris, and young trees and bushes in a mature native forest provides its optimum habitat requirements.
• Diet: Darwin's frog feeds on insects and other arthropods.
• It actually comprises two: the endangered Rhinoderma darwinii (Southern Darwin's frog) and the Rhinoderma rufum (Northern Darwin's frog), which is categorized as "critically endangered" and has already virtually disappeared.
• Threats: Forest fires, climate change, invasive species and urbanization have hurt the humid forests of southern Chile and Argentina where the Darwin's frog typically lives.

About INS Himgiri:

• It is the third ship of Nilgiri Class (Project 17A) and the first of the class built at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE).
• It is a reincarnation of the erstwhile INS Himgiri, a Leander-class frigate,that was decommissioned on 06 May 2005 after 30 years of glorious service to the nation.
• It is designed by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and overseen by the Warship Overseeing Team (Kolkata).
• Features of INS Himgiri 
  • P17A ships are fitted with an advanced weapon and sensor suite compared to the P17 (Shivalik) class.
  • These ships are configured with Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion plants, comprising a diesel engine and gas turbine, that drives a Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP) on each shaft, and a state-of-the-art Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS).
  • The weapon suite comprises supersonic Surface-to-Surface missile system, Medium-Range Surface to Air Missile system, rapid-fire Close-in Weapon Systems.
  • It has indigenous content of 75%, which has involved over 200 MSMEs at GRSE.
  • P17A frigates reflect a generational leap in indigenous ship design, stealth, survivability, and combat capability.
• Significance: Delivery of Himgiri showcases the design, ship construction and engineering prowess of the nation, and reflects Indian Navy’s unrelenting focus on Aatmanirbharta in both ship design and shipbuilding.