About Valles Marineris:

• Valles Marineris, or Mariner Valley, is a vast system of interconnected canyons on the planet Mars.
• The system was discovered during, and named for, the Mariner 9 mission in 1971.
• The canyons extend in an east-west direction for roughly 4,000 km just south of the equator.
• By comparison, Earth’s natural wonder, the Grand Canyon, is only 446 km long.
• It is one of the larger canyons in the solar system.
• It spans about 20 percent of the entire circumference of Mars.
• Individual canyons are typically 200 km across and have walls 2–5 km high.
• At the centre of the system, several canyons merge to form a depression 600 km across and 9 km deep.
• The canyon system contains a number of different features that give clues to its formation.
  • Some of the canyon walls appear to be fault scarps that formed as a result of crustal movement along faults radiating from the Tharsis rise, an enormous volcanic bulge to the northwest.
  • Erosion, however, has also played a significant role in canyon formation, as indicated by deep gullies cut in the walls.
  • In places, the canyons contain thick sedimentary sequences that may have been deposited in lakes that formerly occupied the canyons.
  • These lakes later may have drained catastrophically to the east, where there is evidence of large floods.

About Ganymede:

• It is the largest of Jupiter’s satellites and of all the satellites in the solar system.
• It is the only moon known to possess its own magnetic field.
• Discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610, Ganymede's name is derived from a figure in Roman mythology associated with the god Jupiter.
• It has a diameter of about 5,270 km, which makes it larger than the planet Mercury.
• It is situated about one million kilometers from Jupiter, exhibiting synchronous rotation, which means it always shows the same face to the planet.
• Ganymede’s relatively low density of 1.93 grams per cubic cm indicates that its composition is roughly half rock and half water ice by mass.
• Ganymede has a core of metallic iron, which is followed by a layer of rock that is topped off by a crust of mostly ice that is very thick.
• There are also a number of bumps on Ganymede's surface, which may be rock formations.
• It is believed that Ganymede has a saltwater ocean below its surface.
• A thin atmosphere surrounds Ganymede, containing hydrogen and possibly other compounds like carbon dioxide.
• Ongoing exploration, including missions like the recently launched Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE), aims to deepen our understanding of Ganymede's geology, potential oceanic layers, and its role in the broader context of the solar system's formation and evolution.

About Exercise Veer Guardian:

• It is a bilateral air exercise between the Indian Air Force and the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF).
• The first edition of the exercise was held in 2023 at Hyakuri Air Base, Japan.
• It seeks to enhance interoperability, operational synergy, and mutual understanding, reinforcing the enduring bonds of friendship between India and Japan.
• Ex Veer Guardian 2026:
  • Location: Jodhpur, Rajasthan
  • It will focus on improving the tactical proficiency of participating units and deepening mutual understanding between the two air forces.
  • The training will include air-combat manoeuvring, giving personnel from both countries an opportunity to train together in complex operational scenarios.
  • Japan is participating with three F-2A fighter aircraft from the 8th Air Wing at Tsuiki Air Base, along with approximately 110 personnel.
  • This is the first time that the Mitsubishi F-2 fighter aircraft will participate in an exercise in India.

About Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC):

• It is India’s premier nuclear research facility.
• It is headquartered in Trombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• It operates under the Department of Atomic Energy, which is directly overseen by the Prime Minister of India.
• The statutory framework governing its activities is the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, which vests in the central government exclusive control over atomic minerals, fissile material, and nuclear research, superseding the earlier Atomic Energy Act of 1948.
• It is a multi-disciplinary research centre with extensive infrastructure for advanced research and development covering the entire spectrum of nuclear science and engineering and related areas.
• BARC is the research backbone of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL), which currently operates all nuclear power reactors in India.
• History:
  • Homi Jehangir Bhabha conceived the nuclear program in India.
  • Bhabha established the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) to carry out nuclear science research in 1945.
  • Bhabha established the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET), in January 1954 for a multidisciplinary research program essential for the ambitious nuclear program of India.
  • After the death of Bhabha in 1966, AEET was renamed Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).
• Functions:
  • It is engaged in research with the objective of generating knowledge and techniques for nuclear power production, the advancement of nuclear science, the use of radioisotopes in industry, health, and agriculture, and research in frontier areas of science and technology.
  • It is responsible for the design and development of nuclear reactors, fuel cycle technologies, radiation protection, and safety systems.
  • BARC also plays an important role in nuclear education and training. It offers various training programs for scientists, engineers, and technicians in the areas of nuclear science and technology.

About Thismia daemona:

• It is a new species of leafless flowering plant.
• It was discovered from Thong Pha Phum National Park in western Thailand.
• It belongs to Thismia, a genus of tiny species also known as "fairy lanterns."
  • The distinctive quality of these plants is that they lack chlorophyll and do not carry out photosynthesis.
  • Instead, they produce their food from fungi beneath the earth's surface and also remain concealed beneath layers of leaf litter for nearly their entire lives.
• Thismia daemona plant was found growing at an elevation of approximately 1,000 meters, an unusually high and seasonally dry setting for this genus.
• Its unusual, almost supernatural appearance inspired its name: Thismia daemona, the "devil flower."
  • Its flower is mostly black and topped with horn-like appendages that rise from a dome-shaped "miter."
  • Bright reddish-orange patches near the base resemble glowing eyes, adding to its demon-like appearance.
• It is known from fewer than 50 individuals and has therefore been provisionally assessed as Critically Endangered.

About Bar Council of India:

• It is a statutory body created by Parliament to regulate and represent the Indian bar.
• It was established under the Advocates Act, 1961, based on the recommendations of the All India Bar Committee.
• Objective: Its main objective is safeguarding the rights, interests, and privileges of advocates throughout India.
• Functions of Bar Council of India:
  • Regulatory: It performs the regulatory function by prescribing standards of professional conduct and etiquette and by exercising disciplinary jurisdiction over the bar.
  • Setting Standard: It also sets standards for legal education and grants recognition to Universities whose degrees in law will serve as qualification for enrolment as an advocate.
  • It conducts the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) to grant a ‘Certificate of Practice’ to advocates practising law in India.
  • BCI also funds welfare schemes for economically weaker and physically handicapped advocates.
  • It also recognizes on a reciprocal basis foreign qualifications in law obtained outside India for admission as an advocate under this Act.
• Composition of Bar Council of India:
  • It comprises members elected from each State Bar Council, the Attorney General of India, and the Solicitor of India, who serve as members automatically. 
  • The members of the State Bar Councils are elected for five years.
  • The Council has the power to choose its own Chairman and Vice-Chairman from among its members, and they serve for two years.

About Anak Krakatau Volcano:

• Location: It is a stratovolcano located in the Sunda Strait, between Java and Sumatra in Indonesia.
• It is a part of the Ring of Fire, a chain of volcanoes in the Pacific Ocean. 
• History:
  • Anak Krakatau, or "child of Krakatau", is linked to the famed Krakatau, whose 1883 eruption triggered a period of global cooling.
  • It emerged from the sea in 1927.
  • Over the following years, frequent strombolian eruptions resulted in the growth of the volcano. 
  • It sits above multiple magma chambers.
  • In 2018, an eruption led to the collapse of the southwestern flank of the volcano, with the resulting landslide generating a tsunami.

What is Stratovolcano?

• It is also called a composite volcano, typically a steep-sided, symmetrical cones built of alternating layers of lava flows, volcanic ash, and other eruptive products.
• They are typically found above subduction zones, and they are often part of large volcanically active regions, such as the Ring of Fire that frames much of the Pacific Ocean.
• Stratovolcanoes comprise the largest percentage (~60%) of the Earth’s individual volcanoes.
• They are formed from viscous, sticky lava that does not flow easily.
• The lava therefore builds up around the vent, forming a volcano with steep sides. Stratovolcanoes are more likely to produce explosive eruptions due to gas building up in the viscous magma.

About Striped Hyena:

• It is one of four species belonging to the family Hyaenidae.
  • Other three are the Spotted Hyena, the Brown Hyena and the Aardwolf.
• Appearance: It is a bit smaller than the spotted hyenas and has stripes all over their bodies. 
• Habitat: It inhabits savannas, grasslands, semi-deserts, open woodlands, and mountainous regions.
• Distribution: It is mainly found in South Asia (India, Nepal, Afghanistan), North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Western Asia, and Central Asia.
• It ranges across Africa (North as well as Sub-Saharan), the Middle East (West Asia) as well as Asia (Central and South Asia).
• Characteristics of Striped Hyena:
  • They are territorial creatures and scent-mark their territorial boundaries as a warning to their rivals.
  • Diet: Striped hyenas are primarily scavengers and eat mainly carrion and human refuse
  • Adult Striped hyena females are dominant over males and aggressive toward other females.
  • The striped hyena is generally considered solitary, but has some social organization.
• Conservation Status
  • IUCN Red List: Near Threatened.
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

About Poland:

• Location: It is a Central European country.
• Bordering Countries: It is bordered by 7 nations: Germany in the west; the Czech Republic in the southwest; Slovakia in the south; Ukraine in the southeast; Belarus in the east; Lithuania and Russia in the northeast.
• Water Bodies: It is bordered in the north by the Baltic Sea.
• It is a member of both NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and the European Union (EU).
• Capital City: Warsaw
• Geographical Features of Poland:
  • Climate: It has a continental climate, moderated by westerly winds. 
  • Mountain Ranges: Major ranges include the Sudetes, and the Tatra Mountains, which are the most elevated part of the Carpathian Mountains.
  • Highest Point: Its highest point is Rysy which stands at 2,499 m (8,199 ft) in elevation.
  • Major Rivers: It is drained by the Rivers Vistula Warta and Oder.
  • Natural Resources: The country has deposits of coal, natural gas, and economically important minerals such as copper, rhenium, sulfur, and salt.

About Gegeneophis chandgadi:

• It is caecilians species discovered in the state of Maharashtra.
• Caecilians may look like oversized earthworms or small snakes and this group of amphibians live mostly underground.
• The species name, chandgadi, is a tribute to the local culture.
• It is named after the ‘Chandgadi language,’ a distinct dialect of Marathi spoken by the people living in the region where the animal was found.
• Distribution: The researchers noted that the northern Western Ghats is a hotspot for these elusive animals.
• Features
  • It has a slender, flesh-colored body and a specific pattern of rings (called annuli) that encircle its trunk.
  • It has primary rings along its entire length; its secondary rings are concentrated only on the back half of its body.
  • It is a legless, worm-like amphibian.

What are Caecilians?

• These are tropical amphibians that look like large worms or slick snakes.
• They have no arms or legs, and their shiny skin is ringed with skin folds called annuli.
• Most caecilians are burrowers, living in a network of tunnels underground. A hard, thick, pointy skull helps these amphibians dig in soft dirt. 
• Habitat:
  • Most caecilians inhabit moist tropical and subtropical regions of South and Central America, South and Southeast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Almost all caecilians are terrestrial, but they are elusive as they spend the majority of their lives underground.