About African Swine Fever (ASF):

• It is a highly contagious and hemorrhagic viral disease affecting pigs and wild boar.
• The disease does not infect humans (not zoonotic) or other livestock 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.
• India notified the first outbreak of ASF virus in January, 2020 in the Northeastern States of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
• Transmission:
  • The virus is highly resistant in the environment, meaning that it can survive on clothes, boots, wheels, and other materials.
  • It can also survive in various pork products, such as ham, sausages, or bacon.
  • Therefore, human behaviours can play an important role in spreading this disease.
  • Infection can occur through direct contact between pigs or boars, but also, for example, through soft ticks in (sub)tropical regions, through contaminated materials or contaminated feed.
• 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 treatment or vaccine available against ASF, so prevention by adopting strict biosecurity measures, such as culling the animals, is the only way to prevent ASF.

About Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS):

• It is a series of surface-to-surface ballistic missiles developed in the United States.
• It is manufactured by the US defense company Lockheed Martin.
• ATACMS was first developed by the U.S. in the 1980s to rival the former Soviet Union’s long-range artillery and missile systems.
• It is also designated M39 by the US Army, and its Department of Defence (DoD) designation is MGM-140.
• The missile first saw use during the 1991 Persian Gulf War.
• This weapon’s known operators other than the US are Bahrain, Greece, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates.
• Features:
  • ATACMS are 24/7, all-weather, surface-to-surface, inertially guided ballistic missiles.
  • Range: It has a range of about 190 miles (305 km).
  • Propulsion: Single-stage, solid propellant.
  • These missiles are fired from either the tracked M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) or the wheeled M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).
  • Each one costs around $1.5m (£1.2m).
  • They can be configured to carry two different types of warhead.
    • The first is a cluster fitted with hundreds of bomblets designed to destroy lighter-armoured units over a wide area.
    • The second type is a single warhead, a 225 kg high explosive variant of which is designed to destroy hardened facilities and larger structures.
  • ATACMS missiles travel at high altitudes before descending at immense speeds, making them difficult to intercept.

About Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome (APS):

• It is a rare autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly makes certain abnormal antibodies that attack tissues in the body.
• These antibodies target proteins attached to fat molecules (phospholipids), which makes the blood more likely to clot.
• APS can cause blood clots to form in arteries and veins.
  • Blood clots can form in the legs, lungs, and other organs, such as the kidneys and spleen.
  • The clots can lead to heart attack, stroke, and other conditions.
• During pregnancy, APS also can result in miscarriage and stillbirth.
• Some people who have the antibodies may not have any symptoms.
• There's no cure for this uncommon condition, but medicines can reduce the risk of blood clots and miscarriage.
• It is more common in women than in men.
• Having another autoimmune condition, such as systemic lupus erythematosus or other connective tissue diseases, increases the risk of APS.

About Raulane Festival:

• It is a traditional festival celebrated in Kalpa, Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh, in winter or early spring.
• It is believed to be around 5,000 years old.
• This ancient festival honours celestial fairies, known as Saunis, said to be radiant and gentle beings.
• Locals believe that the Saunis protect villagers during harsh winters by offering warmth and guidance.
• During the festival, two men symbolically "marry" and become vessels for the Saunis, embodying a divine couple, the Raula (groom) and the Raulane (bride).
• They get dressed in heavy woollen robes, ornaments and unique face masks.
• They also perform a slow, meditative dance at the Nagin Narayan Temple, and the whole community joins in.
• The Raulane festival preserves ancient Himalayan culture and traditions, with villagers coming together to honour their protectors.

About Leadership Group for Industry Transition:

• It was jointly launched by the governments of Sweden and India at the UN Climate Action Summit in September 2019.
• It is supported by the World Economic Forum.
• It was the first global high level initiative aimed at reaching net zero emissions from heavy industry. 
• Aim: It gathers countries and companies that are committed to reaching net-zero carbon emissions from industry by 2050.
• LeadIT fosters public and private partnerships to enable the necessary policy environment, finance flows, and exchange of best practice for a just and inclusive industry transition.
• LeadIT 2.0 was initiated for the period 2024-26, at COP-28 in Dubai which focus on;
  • Inclusive & Just Industry Transition
  • Co-development & transfer of low-carbon technology
  • Financial support to emerging economies for Industry Transition
• LeadIT’s three-year Mission Statement, adopted at the annual LeadIT Summit at COP28.
• Secretariat: It is hosted by the Stockholm Environment Institute.
• Member countries: 18 countries and 27 companies.

About Tetrachloroethylene:

• It appears as a clear colorless volatile liquid having an ether-like odor.
• It is noncombustible and insoluble in water.
• Other names for tetrachloroethylene include perchloroethylene, PCE, perc, tetrachloroethene, and perchlor
• How does it enter the environment?
  • It breaks down very slowly in the air and so it can be transported long distances in the air.
  • It evaporates quickly from water into air. It is generally slow to break down in water.
  • It is generally slow to break down in soil.
  • It can also seep into soil and groundwater through factory waste or improper disposal, making drinking water another potential source of exposure.
• Health Impacts: Exposure to very high concentrations of tetrachloroethylene can cause dizziness headaches, sleepiness, incoordination confusion, nausea, unconsciousness, and even death.
• Applications of Tetrachloroethylene
  • It is used to remove grease in industrial and household settings.
  • It is widely used for dry cleaning of fabrics
  • It is also used to make other chemicals and is used in some consumer products.

About Viscose Staple Fibre:

• It is a natural and biodegradable fiber which has characteristics that are similar to cotton.
• It is produced by regenerating natural materials, such as cotton linter or wood pulp.
• Production Process of Viscose Staple Fibre:
  • It is made by processing cellulose xanthate, (main constituent of plant cell walls) which is extracted from wood and plant fibres into a viscous liquid.
  • It is then subjected to a series of chemical processes to make a fibre.
• Characteristics of Viscose Staple Fibre:
  • It is used as a substitute for cotton or polyester due to its favorable properties, such as good breathability, high moisture absorbency, and comfort.
  • It is a versatile fibre which blends very well with other fibres.
  • It has excellent colour retention capacity and is relatively light.
  • Chemically, viscose resembles cotton, but it can also take on many different qualities depending on its manufacture.
• Applications of Viscose Staple Fibre:
  • It is a highly versatile material that is widely adopted in the fashion & apparel industry.
  • It is widely used for home textiles, dress materials, knitted wear and non-woven applications.

About Ginkgo-Toothed Beaked Whale:

• It is one of 24 species of beaked whales, which are the second most diverse group of cetaceans after dolphins.
• Distribution: It resides in tropical and temperate waters throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
• Appearance:
  • It has a robust body and is less heavily scarred than other beaked whales.
  • The flippers are small, pointed and narrow.
  • It has a pair of distinguishing ginkgo-shaped teeth, one on each side of the lower jaw towards the middle of the beak.
• Characteristics of Ginkgo-Toothed Beaked whale:
  • These beaked whales are the deepest-diving mammals on Earth.
  • They spend most of their lives in the oceans, only coming to the surface for air for a few minutes at a time, usually far away from coastlines.
  • They are very shy and easily frightened when approached by a boat.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Data Deficient
  • CITES: Appendix II.

About Trade Intelligence and Analytics Portal:

• It is a one-stop trade intelligence and analytics platform that integrates multiple global and national databases.
• It is developed by the Department of Commerce.
• Features of Trade Intelligence and Analytics Portal:
  • It serves as a centralized digital hub that consolidates diverse trade databases—both global and bilateral—into a single integrated system.
  • It offers more than 270 interactive visualisations across over 28 dashboards.
  • It provides real-time, interactive insights on India and global trade, commodities and sectoral analytics and market intelligence.
  • It also includes automated trade reports and tracking of trade trends for the production-linked incentive (PLI) sectors and critical minerals.
  • It also provides tools to compare and contrast macroeconomic, trade and investment indicators across countries.
  • It incorporates trade indices such as:
    • Trade Complementarity Index: It assesses alignment between India’s export profile and partner countries’ import needs.
    • Revealed Comparative Advantage index: It highlights products where India holds a competitive edge.
    • Trade Intensity Index: It measures the strength of bilateral trade relationships relative to global flows.
  • Significance: Its new and more exhaustive capabilities of the TIA Portal significantly improve accessibility and usability of trade data at one place.