About Bascanichthys chepakakiensis:

• It is a new species of snake eel discovered in Kakinada fishing harbour in Andhra Pradesh.
• The specific name, chepakakiensis, is a combination of two words from the regional Telugu language: chepa, which means "fish," and "kaki, a shortened nickname for Kakinada.
• It is the only second time a species of this snake-eel genus has been described from Indian waters.
• Features of Bascanichthys chepakakiensis:
  • It has a distinct bicoloured body.
  • It has a noticeably shorter snout, a different tooth arrangement in its jaws, and fewer vertebrae before its anal fin.
  • It also possesses incredibly tiny, flap-like pectoral fins that are barely visible.

What are Snake eels?

• Snake eels are members of the family Ophichthidae, and are named for their snake-like appearance
• Habitat: These eels mainly live in sandy areas in shallow seas, however some live in depths to 800m.
• Distribution: They are found in both tropical and temperate waters in oceans around the world.
• The snake eel uses its tail to burrow backward into the sea bottom, creating a protective burrow.

About Indonesia:

• Location: It is an archipelagic nation located off the Southeast Asian mainland in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
• Bordering countries: It is bordered by Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste.
• Maritime Border: It is surrounded by the Indian Ocean in the south; by the Pacific Ocean (South China Sea) in the north.
• Capital City:
• Geographical Features of Indonesia:
  • Terrain: The major Indonesian islands are characterized by densely forested volcanic mountains in the interior that slope downward to coastal plains covered by thick alluvial swamps. 
  • Climate: The climate of Indonesia is almost everywhere equatorial, ie hot, humid and rainy throughout the year
  • Rivers: Main Rivers are Kapuas, Barito, Musi, and Digul.
  • Highest Peak: Puncak Jaya
  • Natural Resources: It is dominated by natural gas and crude petroleum. Other major mineral exports include coal, nickel, bauxite, gold, tin, and copper.

About e-Jagriti Platform:

• It is a flagship initiative by the Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
• It was launched on 1 January 2025.
• It is aimed at strengthening the consumer dispute redressal system across the country.
• Features of e-Jagriti Platform:
  • Global Accessibility: NRIs and citizens can file and manage cases from any location, with secure end-to-end encryption and role-based permissions.
  • Inclusivity: Features like multilingual interfaces and accessibility tools make it user-friendly for diverse demographics.
  • Integrated Platforms: It has unified four legacy applications Online Case Monitoring System (OCMS), e-Daakhil, NCDRC CMS and CONFONET into a single AI-enabled, paperless platform. 
  • AI-Powered smart search: It has case filing, online fee payment, case monitoring modules for seamless disposal of cases by all the Commissions, has Smart search facility on archived consumer complaints / cases / judgements using AI technology for metadata and keyword creation, and Voice-to-text conversion of judgements, case history and other details using AI / ML technology.
  • It enabled consumers to file complaints, track case statuses, and access judgments online.
  • The platform played a vital role in digitizing consumer commissions and empowering citizens by providing easy access to legal remedies.
  • It provides simple, fast and a more cost-effective consumer disputes redressal software solution at all levels.

About Pyroprocessing:

• It is a way to change a solid material physically or chemically using high temperature.
• It is a dry process and very energy-intensive. Three sectors that use it most are cement-making, metallurgy, and nuclear power.
• Applications of Pyroprocessing:
• Cement Making:
  • This sector uses pyroprocessing the most and it involves
  • First, finely ground limestone, clay and iron — the raw materials — are fed into a rotary kiln.
  • As the temperature increases to 900° C, the limestone loses its carbon dioxide, and at around 1,450° C, the mix partly melts to form marble-sized nodules called clinker.
  • The clinker is then ground to produce cement.
• Metallurgy Sector:
  • Pyroprocessing is used to extract metals from their ores in multiple stages.
  • For example, sulphide ores are heated in air, or roasted, to convert them into metal oxides, like zinc sulphide.
  • Smelting melts an ore to separate the metal from waste impurities called slag.
• Nuclear industry:
  • It uses pyroprocessing to reprocess spent nuclear fuel.
  • First, used nuclear fuel is broken up into pieces and placed in a salt bath — usually a mixture of lithium and potassium chlorides at 500° C or more.
  • Then, an electric current is passed through the salt bath, causing different elements to become separated depending on their electrochemical properties.
  • Operators then recover the elements of interest in separate streams.

About Land Port Management System:

• It is a state-of-the-art digital platform designed to integrate operations across Land Ports into a unified system.
• Features of Land Port Management System:
  • Real time information: It enables secure, real-time exchange of logistics and regulatory information, bringing land ports at par with digital systems operational at airports and seaports.
  • Inclusion and Coordination: LPMS will facilitate seamless coordination among various stakeholders, including government agencies and private operators,
  • Digitization: The system introduces end-to-end digital workflows for cargo and passenger processing, including slot booking, payments, tracking, and single-window clearances.
  • Integration with Platforms: It is fully integrated with key national platforms such as ICEGATE, ULIP, and the motor vehicle ecosystem.
  • LPMS will enable interoperable, efficient, and transparent border management.
• Significance: It reduces delays and enhancing operational efficiency.

Key Facts about Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI)

• It is a statutory body under the Department of Border Management, Ministry of Home Affairs.
• It is responsible for developing and managing land ports to facilitate trade, connectivity, and regional cooperation.
• Currently, LPAI operates 15 land ports across India’s international borders:
  • India-Pakistan Border (2): Attari (Punjab) and Dera Baba Nanak (Punjab)
  • India–Nepal Border (3): Rupaidiha (Uttar Pradesh), Raxaul (Bihar) and Jogbani (Bihar)
  • India–Bhutan Border (1): Darranga (Assam)
  • India–Bangladesh Border (8) : Petrapole (West Bengal), Dawki (Meghalaya), Sutarkandi, Golakganj and Mankachar (Assam), Agartala, Srimantapur and Sabroom (Tripura)
  • India–Myanmar Border (1): Moreh (Manipur)

About Bhakra Dam:

• It is a concrete gravity dam across the Sutlej River.
• It is located at a gorge near the upstream Bhakra village in the Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh.
• It is near the border between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.
• It is the highest straight gravity dam in the world, with a height of about 207.26 meters.
• It is Asia’s second tallest dam, next to the Tehri Dam.
• History:
  • The Bhakra Dam is one of the earliest river valley development schemes undertaken by India after independence.
  • The construction of this dam started in 1948, when Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first prime minister of India, poured the first bucket of concrete into the foundations of Bhakra.
  • The dam was completed by the end of 1963.
  • Bhakra Dam was described as the ‘New Temple of Resurgent India’ by Jawaharlal Nehru.
  • Operation and maintenance of the Bhakra dam is done by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).
• The dam created the massive Gobind Sagar reservoir and plays a crucial role in irrigation, flood control, and hydroelectric power generation for Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Chandigarh.
  • In terms of storage of water, it is the second largest reservoir in India, the first being Indira Sagar Dam in Madhya Pradesh with a capacity of 12.22 billion cu m.
• Nangal Dam is another dam downstream of Bhakra Sometimes both the dams together are called the Bhakra-Nangal Dam, though they are two separate dams.
  • It serves as an auxiliary dam to channel the water released from Bhakra Dam to two powerhouses.
  • The installed capacity of Bhakra Right Bank Power House is 785 MW, and that of Bhakra Left Bank Power House is 630 MW.

About Barren Island:

• It is a volcanic island located in the Andaman Sea.
• It is the emergent summit of a volcano.
• It is a part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• It lies above the subduction zone of the India and Burmese plates.
• This island has a big crater of the volcano.
  • It is the only active volcano in South Asia. It is the only active volcano among the chain of islands from Myanmar to Sumatra.
  • It is a stratovolcano composed of lava, rock fragments, and volcanic ash.
  • It has erupted multiple times in recent history, with the most recent significant eruptions occurring in 2017.
• The volcanic zone is devoid of vegetation and covered in sharp basaltic rocks that cover nearly half its area.
• The island itself is extraordinarily remote and largely uninhabited.

About Kirthai-II Hydroelectric Project:

• It is a 930 MW hydropower project planned on the Chenab River in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The project is being developed by Chenab Valley Power Projects.
• NHPC and Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development currently own the project having ownership stakes of 51% and 49%, respectively.
• It is a run-of-river project. The hydro reservoir capacity is planned to be 51.26 million cubic meters.

Key Facts about Chenab River:

• It is a tributary of the Indus River.
• Origin:
  • It is formed by the confluence of two streams, Chandra and Bhaga, in the Lahaul and Spiti Districts of Himachal Pradesh.
  • In its upper reaches, it is also known as the Chandrabhaga.
  • It flows through the Jammu and Kashmir union territory, Himachal Pradesh, and after receiving the Jhelum River near Trimmu, the Chenab empties into the Sutlej River.
• Major Tributaries:
  • Left Bank: Niru, Tawi, Neeru, and Liddrari
  • Right Bank: Ans, Bhut Nalla, Bichleri, Kalnai Marusudar, and Miyar Nalla.
• Major Dams on Chenab River: Salal (rockfill dam), Aalal (concrete dam), Baglihar, and Dul.

About Autoimmune Blistering Diseases (AIBDs):

• Autoimmune Blistering Diseases (AIBDs), also called autoimmune bullous disorders, are a group of rare skin diseases.
• They happen when immune system attacks skin and mucous membranes -- the lining inside mouth, nose, and other parts of body. This causes blisters to form.
• Symptoms:
  • The places on body where blisters form depend on which disorder one has.
  • Some AIBDs cause blisters to grow on the skin.
  • Other types cause them to form in the mucous membranes that line the mouth, nose, throat, eyes, and genitals.
  • They can be painful or itchy. They can break open and leave a sore.
• Although rare, AIBDs can be severe and even life-threatening if untreated because of:
  • Extensive skin loss
  • Secondary infections
  • Nutritional deficiencies
  • Damage to mucous membranes and eyes
• Treatment aims to suppress the abnormal immune response and prevent new blister formation:
  • Corticosteroids
  • Immunosuppressive drugs
  • Biologic therapies such as Rituximab
  • Wound care and infection prevention

About Jhajjar-Bachauli Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is located in the Rupnagar district of Punjab.
• It lies near the Sutlej (Satluj) River in the foothills of the Shivalik Range.
• Vegetation: The sanctuary is characterized by dry deciduous forests.
• Flora: The sanctuary boasts a vibrant array of plant life, such as Eucalyptus, Khair, Neem, Shisham, and Amla, many of which hold medicinal properties.
• Fauna: It shelters various wildlife including Sambar deer, Barking deer, Hare, Jackal, migratory Leopards, Blue Bull (Nilgai), Mongoose, Jungle Cat, Porcupine, Pangolin, Wild Boar, and a variety of birds and reptiles like Python, Cobra, and Monitor Lizard.
• In January 2026, the Punjab State Board for Wildlife approved renaming the sanctuary as Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Wildlife Sanctuary in honor of Guru Tegh Bahadur.