About Narmada River:

• It is the largest west-flowing river in peninsular India.
• Of the major rivers of peninsular India, only the Narmada, the Tapti, and the Mahirun from east to west.
• It has long been an important route between the Arabian Sea and the Ganges (Ganga) River valley.
• The Narmada was called Namade by the 2nd-century-ce Greek geographer Ptolemy.
• Course:
  • The origin of the river is a tiny reservoir named Narmada Kund, which is situated on the Amarkantak Hill in East Madhya Pradesh at an elevation of 1,057 m on the border with Chhattisgarh.
  • The river flows through Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat between Vindhya and Satpura hill ranges before falling into the Gulf of Cambay in the Arabian Sea about 10 km north of Bharuch, Gujarat.
• Length: It is the fifth longest river of India.
• Narmada flows through the Hoshangabad plains, the Dhar upland, the Mahishmati plains, and the gorges at Mandhata and Murakta.
• The basin is bounded on the north by the Vindhyas, on the east by the Maikala range, on the south by the Satpuras, and on the west by the Arabian Sea.
• The Tropic of Cancer crosses the Narmada basin in the upper plains area, and a major part of the basin lies just below this line.
• It is one of the rivers that flow in a rift valley and acts as a divider between north India and south India.
• These rift valleys are the result of the faulting that took place when the northern flank of the Peninsula suffered subsidence.
• The river has numerous waterfalls, notably the Dhuandhar Falls, southwest of Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.
• Tributaries:
  • The main tributaries of Narmada River are, namely, Hallon River, Banjar River, Barna River, and Tawa River.
  • The Tawa River is the longest tributary of the Narmada River.
• There are also numerous pilgrimage spots on the banks of the river, the most important among them are Mahewswar and Omkareshwar temples.
• There are several dams along the course of the river, including major hydroelectric projects, such as the Sardar Sarovar Dam, the Indira Sagar Dam, the Omkareshwar Dam, the Bargi Dam, and the Maheshwar Dam.

About INS Sindhukesari:

• It is a Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine of the Indian Navy.
• It was commissioned in 1988.
• It was designed as part of Project 877 and built under a contract between Rosvooruzhenie, Russia, and the Ministry of Defence (India).
• Features:
  • It has an operational endurance of up to 45 days.
  • It is armed with a combination of torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, and mines, and has been retrofitted to carry advanced Klub/3M-54E cruise missiles.

What are Kilo-class submarines?

• The Kilo Class is the NATO designation for a naval diesel-electric attack submarine designed and built by the Soviet Union (now Russia).
• The original version of the vessels were designated Project 877 Paltus (Halibut) in Russia.
• They are mainly intended for anti-shipping and anti-submarine operations in relatively shallow waters.
• The first Kilo Class submarine entered service in the Soviet Navy in 1980, and the vessel continues to be in service in the Russian Navy.
• These submarines are 70-74 meters long. It can travel at a maximum speed of 10-12 knots when surfaced and 17-25 knots when underwater.
• These vessels can carry up to eight surface-to-air missiles and 18 torpedoes or 14 underwater mines.
• Stealth: Known for extremely low noise levels, earning the nickname “Black Hole” among naval forces.

About Vitamin B12:

• It is a water-soluble
• It is also called cobalamin.
• It is a vitamin the body uses to make and support healthy nerve cells.
• It’s also used to make healthy red blood cells and the genetic material inside cells called DNA.
• The human body cannot produce B12 on its own, so it must be obtained through foods high in vitamin B12 or supplements.
• It is naturally found in animal foods such as fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products.
• It is not present in plant foods unless fortified.
• The body stores vitamin B12 in the liver.
• The body can store vitamin B12 for 2 to 5 years, and it can get rid of any excess or unwanted vitamin B12 in the urine.
• Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Deficiency is most common in people who:
  • Are over the age of 50
  • Follow a vegetarian or vegan diet
  • Have had stomach or intestinal surgery, such as weight loss surgery
  • Have digestive system conditions such as celiac disease or Crohn’s disease
  • Have pernicious anemia, an autoimmune condition that occurs when your body destroys cells in your stomach that make an intrinsic factor, which is needed to help your body absorb B12 efficiently.
• Low levels of B12 can cause:
  • Anemia
  • Loss of balance
  • Numbness or tingling in the arms and legs
  • Weakness
  • Dementia due to metabolic causes

About Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR):

• It is located in the Chandrapur district in Maharashtra.
• It is the largest and oldest tiger reserve in Maharashtra.
• Established in 1955, the reserve consists of Tadoba National Park and Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary.
• The word ‘Tadoba’ is derived from the name of the God “Tadoba” or “Taru,” which is praised by local tribal people of this region, and “Andhari” is derived from the name of the Andhari River that flows in this area.
• It has corridor linkages with Nagzira-Navegaon and Pench Tiger Reserves within the State.
• Drainage: There are two lakes and one waterway in the reserve: Tadoba Lake, Kolsa Lake, and the Tadoba River.
• Vegetation: The reserve falls in the central plateau province of the Deccan peninsula, with tropical dry deciduous forests and a typical central Indian faunal assemblage.
• Flora:
  • The major tree species are: Teak, Ain, Bamboo, Bija, Dhaoda, Haldu, Salai, Semal and Tendu.
  • Along the moist areas, species like Mango, Jamun and Arjun are found. Bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus) is spread over 40% of the habitat.
• Fauna:
  • Apart from tigers, the reserve is home to Indian leopards, sloth bears, Indian gaur (bison), wild dogs (dholes), striped hyenas, marsh crocodiles, sambar deer, chital (spotted deer), barking deer, and four-horned antelopes (chousingha).
  • It is also a birdwatcher’s paradise, with over 250 species of birds, including crested serpent eagles, grey-headed fish eagles, paradise flycatchers, and hornbills.

About Notice to Airmen (NOTAM):

• Notice to Airmen, also known as Notice to Air Mission, is a notice containing information concerning the establishment, condition, or change in any aeronautical facility, service, procedure, or hazard, the timely knowledge of which is essential to personnel concerned with flight operations.
• In short, a NOTAM is a notification from an official body alerting airspace users to hazards along their route, both in the air and on the ground.
• NOTAMs update pilots about changes in airspace, airports, and equipment that affect aircraft operations.
• NOTAMs are issued by national aviation authorities for a number of reasons, such as:
  • Hazards such as air-shows, parachute jumps, and glider or micro-light flying;
  • Flights by important people such as heads of state;
  • Closed runways, taxiways, etc;
  • Unserviceable radio navigational aids;
  • Military exercises with resulting airspace restrictions;
  • Unserviceable lights on tall obstructions;
  • Temporary erection of obstacles near airfields (e.g. cranes).
• For reasons of conciseness and precision, NOTAMs are encoded, although the code is usually sufficiently self-evident to allow the user to identify a hazard.
• NOTAMs are communicated by the issuing agency using the fastest available means to all addressees for whom the information is assessed as being of direct operational significance, and who would not otherwise have at least seven days’ prior notification.
• NOTAMs are typically accessible through online platforms, electronic flight planning tools, and aviation weather services, allowing pilots to conveniently access up-to-date information and make informed decisions regarding their flight activities.
• Pilots who do not review NOTAMs before flight put themselves (and others) in danger.

About Project Deepak:

• It was initiated in 1962 by the Border Roads Organisation.
• The project has been instrumental in executing critical infrastructure works in some of the most challenging terrains of the country.
• It’s area of responsibility spanning key districts of Himachal Pradesh including Shimla, Kinnaur, Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti.
• Achievements:
  • Project Deepak- one of the oldest projects- has also been at the forefront of developing critical infrastructure such as Hindustan-Tibet Road and key stretches of Manali-Leh axis.
  • In addition to infrastructure development, this project has demonstrated exceptional commitment towards disaster management and humanitarian assistance.

Key Facts about Border Roads Organisation

• It is a road construction executive force in India that provides support to the Indian Armed Forces.
• BRO was entirely brought under the Ministry of Defence in 2015.
• Establishment: It was formed on 7 May 1960 to secure India’s borders and develop infrastructure in remote areas of the north and northeastern states of the country.
• It develops and maintains road networks in India’s border areas and friendly neighboring countries.
• Motto: Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam (everything is achievable through hard work).

About Germanium:

• It has the chemical symbol Ge and the atomic number 32.
• It is a silvery-gray metalloid, intermediate in properties between the metals and the nonmetals. 
• Properties of Germanium:
  • It has a diamond like crystalline structure, and it is similar in chemical and physical properties to silicon. 
  • It is stable in air and water and is unaffected by alkalis and acids, except nitric acid.
  • It is widely distributed in nature but is too reactive to occur free.
• Germanium ores are rare. They are found in small quantities as the minerals germanite and argyrodite.
• It is extracted as a by-product of zinc production and from coal fly ash. 
• It is estimated that 75% of world wide production of germanium is sourced from zinc ores, mainly the zinc sulfide mineral sphalerite, and 25% from coal.
• Applications: Its main use is to produce solid-state electronics, semiconductors and fiber optic systems, components for devices such as rectifiers and photocells.
• Major Producers: 
  • The major worldwide producer of germanium is China, responsible for around 60% of total production. 
  • The remaining production of germanium comes from Canada, Finland, Russia, and the United States.

About Electronic Gold Receipts:

• EGRs are dematerialised securities that represent ownership of physical gold.
• The underlying gold is stored in SEBI-regulated vaults, and investors hold the receipts in their demat accounts — similar to shares or ETFs.
• Vault Manager is a new entity registered by SEBI for providing vaulting services for gold deposited for the purpose of creation of EGR.
• Each EGR is backed by actual gold, ensuring authenticity and standardisation.
• It is operated under SEBI guidelines.
• Working of Electronic Gold Receipts:
  • The process starts with depositing physical gold at accredited vaults, which is then converted into EGR units.
  • These units are credited to a demat account and can be traded on the exchange.
  • Investors can also convert EGRs back into physical gold, offering flexibility between digital and physical ownership.
  • Participated By: The EGR ecosystem is designed for a wide set of participants, including jewellers, refiners, traders, and retail and institutional investors.

About Asian Development Bank:

• It is a multilateral development bank established on 19th December 1966.
• It is the principal international development finance institution for the Asia-Pacific region.
• It envisions a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty in the region.
• Its membership is open to other regional countries and non-regional developed countries that are members of the U.N. or of any of its specialized agencies.
• Members: 69 (50 regional, 19 non-regional).
• Headquarters: Manila, Philippines.
• Governance:
  • Board of Governors: One representative from each member country; top policy-making body.
  • Board of Directors: Twelve directors manage operations; eight from regional members, four from non-regional members.
  • President: Chairs the Board of Directors and manages ADB
  • Voting System: Weighted voting based on each country’s capital contribution.
    • Key Shareholders: Five shareholders are Japan and the USA (each with 15.6% of total shares), China (6.4%), India (6.3%), and Australia (5.8%).
  • Functions of Asian Development Bank
    • Provides Loans: It provides loans and grants to member countries for development projects in infrastructure, social sectors, and environmental sustainability.
    • Technical Assistance: It offers technical assistance and advisory services to improve policy-making, governance, and institutional capacity.
    • Regional Cooperation: It promotes regional cooperation and integration by funding cross-border projects and encouraging trade and investment.
    • Supports private sector: It supports development of private sector by providing financing, guarantees, equity, and mezzanine funds for socially beneficial projects.

About Philippines:

• Location: It is an island country of Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean.
• Water Bodies: It is surrounded by the South China (north and west); Philippine Sea (east); Celebes Sea (south); and by the Sulu Sea to the (southwest). 
• Capital city: Manila
• Geographical Features of Philippines:
  • Climate: It majorly consists of tropical and monsoonal type of climate.
  • Highest Point: Mount Apo.
  • Major Rivers: Cagayan River (Philippines’ longest river), Mindanao, Agusan etc.
  • Major Lake: Laguna de Bay
  • Volcano: Mayon Volcano, one of the most active in the country. Other volcanoes are Bulusan and Kanlaon.
  • Natural resources: Timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper
  • The Philippines is the third-largest producer of geothermal energy globally, after the United States and Indonesia.