About Norovirus:

• It is a common and highly contagious virus that causes inflammation in the stomach and intestines, a condition known as gastroenteritis.
• It is also sometimes referred to as the ‘stomach flu’ or the ‘winter vomiting bug’.
• Norovirus outbreaks usually happen seasonally in colder months.
• People of all ages can get infected and sick with norovirus, which spreads very easily and quickly.
• Transmission:
  • It gets transmitted from an infected person, contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces.
• Symptoms:
  • Vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramp, nausea, fever, and tiredness.
  • In extreme cases, loss of fluids could lead to dehydration.
• Treatment:
  • Most people recover completely without treatment.
  • No vaccines are currently available to prevent norovirus.
  • It is important to maintain hydration in the acute phase.
  • In extreme cases, patients have to be administered rehydration fluids intravenously.

What is the Difference Between Norovirus and the Stomach Flu?

• Norovirus causes gastroenteritis, which some people may call the “stomach flu.”
• The influenza virus causes respiratory flu, not gastroenteritis.

About Sariska Tiger Reserve:

• Location: It is located in the Alwar district, Rajasthan.
• It is a part of the Aravali Range and the Kathiawar-Gir dry deciduous forests eco-region.
• It became a Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger in 1979.
• It holds the distinction of being the world's first reserve to successfully relocate tigers after local extinction due to poaching in 2004.
• It is also famous for old temples, palaces, and lakes such as Pandu Pol, Bhangarh Fort, Ajabgarh, Pratapgarh, Siliserh Lake, and Jai Samand Lake.
• Topography: It possesses a rocky landscape, scrub thorn arid forests, grasses, hilly cliffs, and semi-deciduous wood.
• Vegetation: The vegetation of Sariska corresponds to Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests and Northern Tropical Thorn
• Flora:
  • The area of this reserve is covered with dhok trees.
  • Other species found include salar, kadaya, gol, ber, Banyan, gugal, bamboo, kair, adusta, etc.
• Fauna: A variety of other wild animals, like the leopard, sambhar, chital, nilgai, four-horned antelope, wild boar etc are found in the reserve apart from the tiger.

About Svalbard:

• It is a Norwegian archipelago that is situated in the Arctic Ocean, to the north of the European mainland.
• It is located about halfway between the North Pole and the northern part of Norway.
• It is the northernmost place in the world with a permanent population.
• Discovery: It was discovered by the Dutch explorer Willem Barentsz in 1596.
• The Svalbard Treaty, 1920 established Norwegian sovereignty over the Svalbard Islands.
• Spitsbergen is the largest and most populous
  • The island is bounded by the Arctic Ocean, the Greenland Sea, and the Norwegian Sea.
  • The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is also located on Spitsbergen. It is the largest backup facility for the world’s crop diversity.
• Climate: The archipelago features an Arctic climate, although with significantly higher temperatures than other areas at the same latitude.
• Due to its location in the northern part of the Arctic Circle, the Svalbard Islands experience the midnight sun during the summer months and polar night during the winter months.
• Vegetation consists mostly of lichens and mosses; the only trees are the tiny polar willow and the dwarf birch.
• Svalbard is a breeding ground for many seabirds, and also features polar bears, reindeer, the arctic fox, and certain marine mammals.

Key Facts about Walrus:

• It is a large mammal that lives in the cold Arctic seas of Europe, Asia, and North America.
• It is closely related to the seals.
• The walrus can be told apart from seals by the two large upper teeth, called tusks, that stick down from its mouth.
• Scientific Name: Odobenus rosmarus.
• There are two subspecies: the Atlantic walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) and the Pacific walrus (O. rosmarus divergens).
• Features:
  • The walrus has a stocky body and a rounded head.
  • It has flippers instead of legs. Its mouth is covered with stiff whiskers.
  • The skin is wrinkled and grayish brown. A thick layer of fat below the skin, called blubber, keeps the walrus warm.
• Conservation Status: Vulnerable.

About Ramban Sulai Honey:

• Ramban Sulai Honey, produced in the Ramban District of Jammu and Kashmir, is known for its rich taste, aromatic floral undertones, and high nutritional value.
• Extracted from Sulai plants growing in the Himalayas, it is valued for its medicinal properties and purity.
• The bees forage on the nectar of snow-white blossoms of Sulai during the months of August to October to produce this well-rounded, naturally sweet honey with floral undertones.
• This crystal-clear honey, ranging from white to amber, contains essential minerals, enzymes, and vitamins that enhance its health benefits.
• Due to superior bee strains and favourable climatic conditions, the honey yield in Ramban is significantly higher than in other regions.
• It earned a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2021.
• The Government of India declared Ramban Sulai Honey as the district’s “One District, One Product.”

About Protosticta sooryaprakashi:

• It is a new species of damselfly.
• Named the Kodagu Shadowdamsel, it was discovered in Karnataka’s Kodagu district.
• The species has been named in honour of the late Dr. Sooryaprakash Shenoy, a renowned botanist.
  • Sporting striking sky-blue markings, the Kodagu Shadowdamsel thrives in low-light habitats and requires pristine environmental conditions to breed.
• Its presence is a strong indicator of a healthy ecosystem with minimal pollution.
• Despite its resemblance to its close relatives, its slender build makes it the thinnest member of the damselfly family.
• Unlike dragonflies, which inhabit bright, sunny spaces, damselflies like the Kodagu Shadow damsel favour cool, shaded areas, making sightings rare and significant.

About Venezuela:

• Location: It is located on the northern coast of South America.
• Bordering Countries: It is bounded by Guyana to the east, Brazil to the south, and Colombia to the southwest and west. 
• Maritime boundaries: It shares border with the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean to the north.
• Capital: Caracas
• Geographical Features of Venezuela
  • Terrain: Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast
  • Major Rivers: Rio Negro (shared with Colombia and Brazil) and Orinoco (shared with Colombia).
  • Major Lakes: Lake Guri and Lake Maracaibo (the largest lake in South America).
  • Highest Point: Pico Bolivar 
  • The world’s highest waterfall, the Angel Falls is located in the Guiana Highlands.
  • Natural Resources: It is home to the world’s largest oil reserves as well as huge quantities of coal, iron ore, bauxite, and gold.

About Booth Level Officer (BLO):

• The BLOs are representatives of the Election Commission of India (ECI) at the grass-root level who assist in updating the electoral roll using their local knowledge.
• They are local government officials who are familiar with the local electors and enrolled as voters in the same polling area.
  • Teachers, Anganwadi workers, Panchayat Secretary, Village Level Workers, Electricity Bill Readers, etc are mainly appointed as BLOs.
• BLOs are not full-time electoral officials. 
  • Section 13B (2) of the Representation of People Act, 1950 provision paved the way for the introduction of appointing a BLO for the first time in August 2006.
• Roles of Booth Level Officer:
  • They play a significant role in the process of roll revision and collecting actual field information with regard to the roll corresponding to the polling area assigned to them.
  • They maintain accuracy and fidelity of the electoral roll at the polling booth level.
  • Distribution of Voter Slips: An important role of the BLO is the distribution of Voter Slips to the voters’ households before the poll day. 
  • Informing eligible voters for Postal Ballot: BLOs inform the eligible Electors (senior citizens above 85 years & PwDs with benchmark certificate) about availing Home Voting Facility and Postal Ballot Facility by filling Form 12D.
  • Promote use of Election Commission’s IT applications: BLOs promote applications launched by the ECI to facilitate voting and ensure an accurate electoral roll. 
    • The popular voter oriented apps like Voter Helpline App, e-VIGIL app, Know you candidate app, Saksham-ECI.

About Darjeeling Mandarin Orange:

• It is grown in the hills of Darjeeling in West Bengal.
• The Mandarin Orange (Citrus reticulata Blanco) is a major cash crop of the Darjeeling Hills.
• It is the third product from the region, after Darjeeling Tea and Dalley Khursani chilli, to get the tag.
• It is commonly known as “suntala”, and is the pride of Darjeeling hills due to its delightful aroma and flavour.
• Required Climatic Conditions for Darjeeling Mandarin Orange
  • It grows well in all frost free tropical and sub-tropical regions.
  • Annual rainfall: 100-120 cm.
  • Temperature: Ranging from 10–35°C is suitable for cultivation of the crop.
  • Soil: It requires medium or light loamy soils.

What is Geographical Indication Tag?

• It is used for products with a specific geographical origin, possessing unique qualities or reputation due to that origin.
• This is typically used for agricultural products, foodstuffs, beverages, handicrafts and industrial products.
• The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 seeks to provide for the registration and better protection of geographical indications relating to goods in India.
• This GI tag is valid for 10 years following which it can be renewed.

About Bamboo Shrimp:

• It is a freshwater shrimp native to Southeast Asia.
• Common names: Wood Shrimp, Flower Shrimp, Singapore Wood, Marble Shrimp and Asian Fan Shrimp.
• Characteristics of Bamboo Shrimp:
  • They have the ability to camouflage themselves according to the environment.
  • They are primarily nocturnal, spending daylight hours sheltering under rocks or driftwood.
  • They are adapted to live in fast-moving streams and rivers, using their strong legs to cling to rocks and other surfaces.
• Distribution: These shrimps are found in various countries of Southeast Asia. Their distribution range includes Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
• Habitat: They are social invertebrates commonly found in fast-flowing streams and rivers.
• Diet: They are omnivorous filter feeder shrimp species, that feed on algae and microscopic organisms.

About Khiamniungan Tribe:

• The Khiamniungan tribe is one of the major tribes among the Nagas, with habitation both in India and Myanmar.
• The meaning of the term Khiamniungan is ‘source of great water or river’.
• Social Structure: The traditional social structure was based on the clan system.
• Language: They speak Khiamniugan, one of the Naga languages which belong to the Sino- Tibetan language.
• Festivals:
  • They celebrate Tsokum Sumai in the month of September or in the first past of October to invoke blessing for a rich harvest.
  • They also celebrate Khaotzao Sey Hok-ah sumai which marks the end of all agricultural activities for the year.
• Economy: Farming is one of the primary occupations of the people of this region. They traditionally practice jhum cultivation.
• They have been practicing cliff-honey hunting for centuries.