PRELIMS
LAKE MANASAROVAR PILGRIMAGE RESUMES
Location: Tibet Autonomous Region, China; ~2000 km from Lhasa
Geography: One of the world’s highest freshwater lakes; lies south of Mount Kailash
Religious Significance:
- Hinduism: Created by Lord Brahma for ritual purification
- Buddhism: Linked to Jambhala, god of wealth
Why in News: Indian pilgrims visited after 5-year pause
- Relevance: Map-based question; interlink with India-China border geography and cultural diplomacy
ADI KARMAYOGI PROGRAMME
Launched by: Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Target: 20 lakh tribal welfare functionaries (officials, workers)
Focus Areas:
- Addressing healthcare gaps (esp. sickle cell disease)
- Improving staffing in tribal schools
- Enhancing access to public services
- Link: Part of broader Mission Karmayogi (2020) – NPCSCB
- Relevance: Tribal welfare schemes; governance reforms in tribal belts
SPREE SCHEME 2025
Full Form: Scheme to Promote Registration of Employers/Employees
Objective: Formalize unregistered employers and workers under ESI Act
Original Launch: 2016 | Relaunched: 2025 (July 1 to Dec 31)
Amnesty Scheme 2025: Oct 2025 – Sept 2026 to resolve disputes under ESI Act
Benefits: Litigation reduction, compliance encouragement, ESI coverage expansion
Relevance: Labour laws, Social Security, Informal to Formal transition
VARIABLE RATE REVERSE REPO (VRRR) AUCTION
Tool: Under RBI’s Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF)
Purpose: To absorb excess liquidity at market-determined rates
Recent Auction: ₹84,975 crore accepted out of ₹1 lakh crore
Cut-off Rate: 5.49% | Weighted Avg. Rate: 5.45%
Relevance: Money Market Instruments; RBI monetary tools; inflation management
INDIA REPORTS CURRENT ACCOUNT SURPLUS
Q4 FY25: $13.5 billion surplus
Why Important:
- Indicates stronger foreign exchange position
- Boosts investor confidence
Current Account: Includes goods/services trade, income, and transfers
Relevance: Balance of Payments, external sector strength
ALPHAGENOME BY GOOGLE DEEPMIND
What: AI model to predict functional effects of genetic mutations
Capabilities: Analyzes 1 million DNA base pairs; identifies impact on gene regulation
Uses: Not for clinical use yet; available via API for research
Relevance: Role of AI in Genomics; Precision Health; Ethical AI use
TEC-VERSE 2025
Organizer: MeitY
Purpose: Annual showcase of India’s cutting-edge digital innovations
Partners: C-DAC, SAMEER, C-MET
Goal: Build towards Viksit Bharat 2047 vision; push product-based R&D economy
Relevance: Digital economy; public R&D ecosystem
IBAT ALLIANCE
Full Form: Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool
Founding: 2008 (IUCN Congress)
Members: IUCN, BirdLife Int., UNEP-WCMC, Conservation Int.
Purpose: Biodiversity data platform to aid ESG decisions and risk assessments
Headquarters: UK
Relevance: Environment governance, data tools for biodiversity monitoring
GREEN DATA CENTRE — UTTAR PRADESH
Location: Sahibabad, Ghaziabad
Partners: CEL + ESDS (Private)
Features:
- Smart cooling, reflective roofing, Tier-III Uptime compliant
- Renewable energy use, rainwater harvesting
- CEL: PSU under Min. of Science & Tech; developed India’s 1st solar cell/panel
Relevance: Sustainable infrastructure, Digital India, Green Technology
DHOLE SIGHTIBF IN ASSAM
Species: Dhole (Cuon alpinus) – Asiatic wild dog
Rediscovered: In Kaziranga–Karbi Anglong Landscape (KKAL)
IUCN Status: Endangered
CITES: Appendix II
Habitat Range: India, Nepal, Bhutan, SE Asia
Threats: Habitat loss, disease, competition, prey depletion
Relevance: Species conservation, Eastern Himalayan biodiversity
