Prelims Pinpointer 08-02-2026

Nigeria

Location

• Nigeria is located on the western coast of Africa along the Atlantic shoreline.
• It lies along the Gulf of Guinea, forming part of West Africa.

Capital

• Abuja serves as Nigeria’s capital city since 1991.
• It replaced Lagos to ensure better administrative centrality.

Neighbouring Countries & Boundaries

• Niger lies to the north of Nigeria.
• Chad is located to the northeast.
• Cameroon borders Nigeria to the east.
• Gulf of Guinea (Atlantic Ocean) lies to the south.

Key Geographical Features

• Rivers & Drainage System
  • Niger River forms Nigeria’s principal river system.
  • Benue River is the major tributary joining the Niger.
  • Their confluence creates fertile agricultural zones.
  • Niger Delta forms one of the largest wetlands globally.
• Mountains & Plateaus
  • Jos Plateau lies in central Nigeria.
  • Plateau region contains extinct volcanic formations.
  • Chappal Waddi (2,419 m) is the country’s highest peak.
  • It forms part of the Cameroon Highlands.
  • Other ranges include Shebshi Mountains.
  • Udi–Nsukka Escarpment marks eastern highland terrain.
• Plains & Soil Regions
  • Sokoto Plains dominate the northwest region.
  • Borno Plains lie in the northeast.
  • Central Nigeria has fertile savanna soils.
  • Southern regions contain forest-rich tropical soils.
• Climate
  • Climate varies from arid conditions in the north.
  • Southern Nigeria experiences humid equatorial climate.
  • Rainfall increases progressively toward coastal regions.
• Natural Resources
  • Nigeria possesses vast petroleum and natural gas reserves.
  • Hydrocarbons form the backbone of its national economy.

Agni-3 Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM)

Context: India successfully test-fired Agni-3 Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha, validating operational readiness.

About Agni-3 Missile

• Agni-3 is an Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile capable of delivering strategic payloads up to 3,000 km.
• Forms a vital component of India’s land-based nuclear deterrent under Agni missile series.
• Developed by
  • Developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
  • Operationally deployed under Strategic Forces Command (SFC).
• Aim / Objectives
  • Ensure credible minimum nuclear deterrence against long-range adversarial threats.
  • Provide reliable land-based second-strike capability.
  • Strengthen India’s strategic reach beyond short- and medium-range systems.

Key Features

• Range: Approximately 3,000 km operational strike capability.
• Type: Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM).
• Launch platform: Road-mobile launcher; canisterised versions tested earlier.
• Payload: Capable of carrying conventional or nuclear warheads.
• Guidance system: Advanced inertial navigation ensuring high targeting accuracy.
• Propulsion: Two-stage solid-fuel propulsion configuration.
• Operational validation: 2026 test confirmed all mission parameters.

Scheme To Form Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)

Context: Government launched Central Sector Scheme to form 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) nationwide.

What is the Scheme?

• Central Sector Scheme to promote farmer collectivisation for production and marketing.
• Targets small and marginal farmers’ income enhancement.
• Strengthens processing, aggregation, and value-chain integration.
• Launched in: 29 February 2020

Implementing Agencies (IAs)

• SFAC: Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium.
• NABARD: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.
• NCDC: National Cooperative Development Corporation.
• NAFED: National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India.

Aim

• Build sustainable, income-oriented farming ecosystem.
• Improve access to inputs, credit, technology, and markets.
• Enhance farmers’ bargaining power and price realisation.

Key Features

• Cluster & Commodity Approach
  • FPOs formed on produce-cluster basis.
  • Aligned with One District One Product (ODOP) strategy.
• Financial Support
  • Up to ₹18 lakh per FPO for 3-year handholding.
  • Matching equity grant up to ₹15 lakh.
  • Equity support capped at ₹2,000 per farmer.
  • Credit guarantee up to ₹2 crore project loans.
• Market Linkages
  • Forward linkages facilitated by NAFED.
  • Integrates farmers with value chains and buyers.
• Capacity Building
  • Training through BIRD, Lucknow.
  • Support from LINAC, Gurugram.
• Inclusion Focus
  • Encourages women farmer participation.
  • Covers Aspirational Districts extensively.

Deep Tech Start-ups

Context: The Centre formally defined ‘Deep Tech Start-ups’ through a DPIIT gazette notification.

What are Deep Tech Start-ups?

• Enterprises developing solutions using advanced scientific or engineering knowledge.
• Focus on breakthrough innovation, not incremental digital platforms.
• Characterised by high technical uncertainty and scientific complexity.
• Require long gestation periods and sustained R&D investments.

Organisations Involved

• DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade): Certifying authority for deep tech start-ups.
• ANRF (Anusandhan National Research Foundation): Custodian of ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development & Innovation Fund.

Eligibility Criteria

• Core work must generate new scientific or engineering knowledge.
• Significant expenditure devoted to Research & Development activities.
• Ownership or creation of novel Intellectual Property (IP).
• Commercialisation roadmap for developed technologies mandatory.
• High infrastructure, capital, and scientific risk exposure.
• Long development timelines before market deployment.
• Non-core investments prohibited unless linked to knowledge creation.
• Mandatory certification application to DPIIT required.

Key Features

• Recognition & Regulatory Support
  • Extended recognition period up to 20 years.
  • Higher turnover eligibility threshold of ₹300 crore.
• Financing Support
  • Access to concessional long-term finance.
  • Interest rates reported in 2–4% range.
  • Loan tenure may extend up to 15 years.
• Governance Mechanism
  • Certification overseen by inter-ministerial technical board.
  • Ensures scientific authenticity and innovation depth.

Mount Aconcagua

Context: Indian mountaineer Kabak Yano summited Mount Aconcagua during her Seven Summits Expedition.

What is Mount Aconcagua?

• Mount Aconcagua is the highest mountain in South America.
• It is the tallest peak in the Western Hemisphere.
• It is the highest mountain outside Asia.
• Elevation: 22,831 feet (6,959 metres) above sea level.
• Considered a challenging non-technical climb among Seven Summits.

Location

• Located in Argentina, western Mendoza Province.
• Lies close to the Argentina–Chile border.
• Forms part of the Southern Andes mountain range.

Geological Features

• Mountain has a volcanic origin but is not active.
• Formed mainly through tectonic uplift of Andes.
• Contains two peaks — North and South summits.
• Joined by ridge called Cresta del Guanaco.
• Region experiences thin air and extreme winds.
• Sub-zero temperatures create severe climbing conditions.
• Altitude sickness remains a major expedition risk.

Significance

• Geographical Importance
  • Highest point in both Southern and Western Hemispheres.
• Mountaineering Importance
  • Part of the prestigious Seven Summits challenge.
  • Attracts climbers globally despite harsh climate.
• Scientific Importance
  • Elevation studied using modern GPS measurements.
  • Subject of debate over exact summit height.

Bharat GenAI (Generative Artificial Intelligence) Initiative

Context: The Ministry of Science & Technology informed that Bharat GenAI text models will cover all 22 Scheduled Languages soon.

What is Bharat GenAI?

• BharatGen is India’s first government-supported sovereign foundational AI initiative.
• Develops AI models tailored to Indian languages and societal contexts.
• Focuses on building indigenous Large Language Models (LLMs).
• Designed to reduce dependence on foreign AI ecosystems.

Aim

• To transform AI innovation across India’s linguistic and cultural diversity.
• To enable inclusive digital services in regional languages.
• To support governance, education, and research applications.

Modalities Covered

• Text models through Large Language Models (LLMs).
• Speech systems: Text-to-Speech (TTS) and Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR).
• Vision-language integrated AI systems.

Language Coverage

• Currently supports 15 Indian languages.
• Includes Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Maithili.
• Also Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi.
• Covers Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, and Telugu.
• Target: Coverage of all 22 Scheduled Languages.

Institutional Framework

• Developed under National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS).
• Implemented through TIH Foundation for IoT and IoE at IIT Bombay.
• Executed via a network of 25 Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs).
• Four hubs upgraded as Technology Translational Research Parks (TTRPs).

Pillars of Bharat GenAI

• Technology development.
• Entrepreneurship promotion.
• Human resource development.
• International collaboration.

Key Features

• Multilingual and multimodal AI models.
• Training on Bhartiya datasets.
• Open-source technology architecture.
• Indigenous generative AI research ecosystem.

Bailey Bridge

Context: India recently sent Bailey bridge materials to Sri Lanka for post-Cyclone reconstruction assistance.

What is a Bailey Bridge?

• Bailey Bridge is a modular, prefabricated truss bridge system.
• Components are pre-built and assembled rapidly on-site.
• Designed for quick deployment in emergencies and conflict zones.

Inventor

• Invented by Donald Coleman Bailey, an English civil engineer.
• Developed in 1941 during World War-II.

Key Characteristics

• Modular design enables flexible bridge length.
• Highly portable; parts transported easily.
• Strong load-bearing steel framework.
• Extremely versatile across terrains and conditions.

Design & Construction

• Built using prefabricated steel panels.
• Panels assembled manually without heavy machinery.
• Sections joined to create full bridge span.
• Connected using pins and bolts.
• Forms a truss structure distributing load evenly.

Construction Advantages

• Requires minimal equipment and logistics.
• Rapid installation in disaster-hit areas.
• Suitable where cranes or hoisting machines cannot reach.
• Assembly occupies limited ground space.

Load Capacity

• Designed to carry heavy military and civilian loads.
• Can support tanks and heavy vehicles.

Ideal Usage Areas

• River crossings.
• Mountain valleys.
• Remote or conflict-affected regions.
• Temporary restoration after floods, cyclones, earthquakes.

Significance

• Critical for military logistics and disaster response.
• Enables rapid restoration of connectivity.
• Widely used in humanitarian relief operations.