About Operation Pawan:

• It was launched by the Rajiv Gandhi government in 1987, sending the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to Sri Lanka to help quell the civil war between the Tamil and Sinhala communities.
• It was India's first major overseas military campaign post-Independence.
• It was launched under the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord, 1987.
• It involved sending Indian troops into Sri Lanka to disarm the Tamil militant groups, including the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), and restore peace.
• One of the most notable martyrs of Operation Pawan was Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran, a Param Vir Chakra recipient.
• ‘Operation Pawan’ formally ended in 1990 with the withdrawal of the IPKF.
• Although Sri Lanka has constructed a memorial acknowledging the IPKF’s role, the operation did not receive formal commemoration at the National War Memorial (Rashtriya Samar Smarak) in New Delhi.
• For decades, veterans and families sought formal recognition. In 2025, the Army finally acknowledged their long-overlooked sacrifice.

About Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA):

• It is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder.
• People with OSA repeatedly stop and start breathing while they sleep.
• These breath pauses are known as apneas.
• There are several types of sleep apnea. OSA occurs when the throat muscles relax and block the airway.
• This happens off and on many times during sleep.
• Loud snoring is a telltale symptom of OSA. Anyone at any age can have OSA. But it's most common in middle-aged and older adults.
• This condition has significant implications for cardiovascular health, mental well-being, quality of life, and driving safety.
• Treatment for OSA may include:
  • Making lifestyle changes like sleeping position adjustments (not sleeping on your back) or maintaining a weight that’s healthy for you.
  • Using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.
  • Wearing oral appliances (mouthpieces).
  • Undergoing surgery.

Key Facts about Parkinson’s Disease:

• It is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects movement.
• It causes nerve cells (neurons) in parts of the brain to weaken, become damaged, and die, leading to symptoms that include problems with movement, tremor, stiffness, and impaired balance.
• As symptoms progress, people with PD may have difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks.
• Although many brain areas are affected in Parkinson’s disease, the most common symptoms result from the loss of neurons in an area near the base of the brain called the substantia nigra.
• Who Does It Affect?
  • The disease usually occurs in older people, but younger people can also be affected.
  • Men are affected more often than women.
  • The cause of PD is unknown but people with a family history of the disease have a higher risk.
  • Exposure to air pollution, pesticides, and solvents may increase risk.
  • People with PD often develop a “parkinsonian gait.”
    • This includes a tendency to lean forward, taking small, quick steps as if hurrying (called festination), and reduced swinging in one or both arms.
    • They may have trouble initiating movement (called “start hesitation”) and stop suddenly as they walk, freezing in place.
  • Diagnosis: Currently, no blood laboratory or radiological tests are available to diagnose Parkinson’s disease.
  • Treatment: There’s no cure for this disease, but treatments can help significantly improve your symptoms.

About Ningaloo Reef:

• It is located on Western Australia's remote coast along the East Indian Ocean.
• It is Australia’s largest fringing coral reef, extending across 300 kilometres of coastline.
• It is one of the world’s most pristine, longest, and largest coral reefs.
• The reef sustains both temperate and tropical marine life, including mammals and reptiles.
• Some of the mega marine species found here are manta rays, whale sharks, humpback whales, potato cod, dugongs, and sea turtles.
• It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

About Hoya dawodiensis:

• It is a new plant species.
• It was discovered in the Vijoynagar region in Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Vijoynagar landscape, accessible only by air or multi-day treks, remains one of the least explored but biologically richest regions of the state.

Key Facts About Hoya Plants:

• Hoyas constitute a diverse group of tropical flowering species, many of which are valued for their ecological roles and unique morphology.
• Hoyas are also known as wax plants or porcelain flowers because of their unique and beautiful flowers that look like they are made of wax.
• Hoyas are native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands, but they can be grown indoors as houseplants in most climates.
• Hoya plants thrive in bright, indirect light.
• Hoyas prefer well-draining, airy soil.
• Hoyas are accustomed to high-humidity environments, though their waxy, thick leaves do help them tolerate periods of dry air.

About Fujiwhara Effect:

• The Fujiwhara Effect (also named as the Fujiwhara interaction or the binary interaction) occurs when two nearby cyclones or hurricanes interact with each other.
• It was first described by a Japanese meteorologist, Dr. Sakuhei Fujiwhara, in 1921. The phenomenon was thus named after him.
• What Happens During The Fujiwhara Effect?
  • During the Fujiwhara interaction, the centers of the two cyclones involved in the phenomenon begin to mutually orbit in a counterclockwise direction about a point between the two cyclones.
  • The position of the point is dependent on the intensity and relative mass of the cyclonic vortices.
  • The smaller cyclone involved in the Fujiwhara Effect moves at a faster rate than the bigger one about the central point.
  • The Fujiwhara Effect might lead the two cyclones to spiral into the central point and merge with each other, or it might trigger the development of a larger cyclone.
  • The effect might also divert the original path of one or both the cyclones.

About Cuban gar:

• The Cuban gar (Atractosteus tristoechus), also known as the manjuarí, is a fish in the family Lepisosteidae.
• This fish is part of a family called "gars," which have been around for about 100 million years.
• It is a tropical, freshwater species, although it also inhabits brackish water.
• Habitat: Found in various habitats from large lakes and rivers to sluggish tributaries, backwaters and pools, and can survive in both fresh and brackish waters.
• Distribution: It is found in rivers and lakes of western Cuba and the Isla de la Juventud. 
• Diet: Gars are ambush predators feeding on smaller fishes and aquatic crustaceans in nature.
• Characteristics of Cuban gar:
  • It is also notable for its high tolerance of high ammonia and nitrate levels in water.
  • It has the ability to breathe some atmospheric air in absence of sufficiently oxygenated water.
• Threats: Habitat loss, and introduction of invasive species African walking catfish.
• Conservation Status
  • IUCN: Critically Endangered.

About Manchurian Walnut Tree:

• It is a hardy deciduous tree known for its robust growth and adaptability to a range of soil types.
• Distribution: It is found in Manchuria (China) and also grows on the Korean Peninsula and in the Far East of Russia.
• Climatic requirements for the Manchurian Walnut Tree:
  • Soil: It grows well in the well-drained fertile soils with a neutral p It is highly cold-resistant.
• Uses of Manchurian walnut Tree:
  • Medicinal Use: The plant is widely used in pharmaceuticals and folk medicine. Preparations made from Manchurian walnuts have a strong analgesic, antifungal, and antiparasitic effect.
  • Other uses: Green fruits are used to make jams, and wood is used in furniture production.

About Satpura Tiger Reserve:

• Location:
  • It is located in Madhya Pradesh.
  • It is situated in the Satpura ranges.
  • It lies south of the river Narmada.
• The tiger reserve comprises three protected areas,
  • Satpura National Park
  • Bori Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Pachmarhi Sanctuary.
• Vegetation: It mainly consists of mixed deciduous forest with a variety of flora typical of the Central Indian Highlands.
• Flora: It includes teak, bamboo, Indian ebony, various acacias, wild mango, Indian gooseberry, satinwood, etc.
• Fauna:  It is home to a wide range of wildlife, including tigers, leopards, sloth bears, Indian gaurs (bison), and sambar deer.

Key Facts about Denwa River:

• It is a lifeline river of Satpura National Park.
• This river originates from the south-eastern part of the Hoshangabad district in Madhya Pradesh.
• It flows from east to west before joining the Tawa River.

About Abujhmadiya Tribe:

• They are an ancestral and patriarchal tribe primarily residing in the Abujmarh region in Chhattisgarh, India.
• Abujhmadiya tribal community is a sub-group of Gond tribe of Central India region. 
• Culture and Traditions of Abujhmadiya Tribe:
  • Language: They speak Abuj Maria, Hindi or Chhattisgarhi.
  • Belief: They follow a form of animism, worshipping nature spirits and deities associated with natural elements.
    • Festivals: They celebrate “saja festival”, to honor nature spirits and good harvest. They also celebrate Bastar Dussehra.
  • Economy: They primarily engage in subsistence agriculture, cultivating crops like rice, maize, and pulses. They also practice hunting, fishing, and gathering forest products.
  • Social Structure: Their society is organized into clans, each with its own customs and traditions.
• It is a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).

About Exercise SURYAKIRAN:

• It is the joint military exercise conducted between India and Nepal.
• The Indian contingent is being represented mainly by troops from the ASSAM Regiment.
• It is an annual event conducted alternately in both countries.
• The aim of the exercise is to jointly rehearse conduct of Sub Conventional operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Mandate.’
• Key Facts about Exercise SURYAKIRAN–XIX
  • Scope: To strengthen battalion-level synergy in Jungle Warfare, Counter-Terrorism Operations in Mountainous Terrain, Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR), Environmental Conservation, and Integrated Ground–Aviation Operations.
  • It will focus on incorporating niche and emerging technologies, including Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), drone-based ISR,   AI-enabled decision support tools, unmanned logistic vehicles and armoured protection platforms, enabling both armies to refine and adapt Tactics.
  • Both sides will exchange views and practices of joint drills on a wide spectrum of combat skills.
  • Significance: It will further enhance the level of defence cooperation between Indian Army and Nepal Army.