About Batukeshwar Dutt:

• Batukeshwar Dutt was an Indian revolutionary and a freedom fighter in the early 1900s.
• He was born on November 18, 1910, in Bengal’s Burdwan district.
• He was a close associate of freedom fighters Chandrashekhar Azad and Bhagat Singh.
• He joined the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) and learned how to make bombs.
• The Central Assembly Bombing (April 8, 1929):
  • He is best known for having exploded non-lethal bombs, along with Bhagat Singh, in the Central Legislative Assembly in New Delhi on 8 April 1929.
  • This was planned to protest the passage of the repressive Public Safety Bill and Trade Disputes Bill.
  • During the action, they raised the historic slogan Inquilab Zindabad! (Long Live the Revolution!), and distributed leaflets stating, ‘’if the deaf are to hear, the sound has to be very loud’’.
  • Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt quietly courted arrest after the incident.
  • They were famously defended by M. Asaf Ali but were both sentenced to imprisonment for life.
• After they were imprisoned, he and Bhagat Singh initiated a historic hunger strike protesting against the abusive treatment of Indian political prisoners and eventually secured some rights for them.
• Bhagat Singh was also tried for his involvement in the murder of British police officer John Saunders, along with Rajguru and Sukhdev. He was sentenced to death and executed on 23rd March 1931.
• After Dutt’s release, he took part in the freedom struggle notably in the Quit India Movement. He was jailed again for four years.
• He passed away on July 20, 1965.
• He was cremated in the Hussainiwala National Martyrs Memorial in Punjab. This is the same place where his friends Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru, and Sukhdev Thapar were cremated.

About Okinotori Island:

• Okinotori, also known as Parece Vela, is a tiny, uninhabited island that belongs to Japan.
• It's located far out in the Philippine Sea, which is part of the big Pacific Ocean.
• It's actually an atoll, which is a ring-shaped coral reef with a lagoon in the middle.
• At high tide, only two tiny rocky outcrops remain above sea level.
• This atoll is part of a long underwater mountain range called the Palau-Kyushu Ridge.
• Okinotori is part of a group called the Ogasawara Islands governed by Japan.
• It is Japan's southernmost island.
• It is the only Japanese territory south of the Tropic of Cancer and lies to the south of Hong Kong and Taiwan.
• Japan says that the waters around Okinotori are its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
• However, some other countries, like China, do not agree with Japan's claim over this specific EEZ.
• It is in a very important spot for military and shipping routes.
  • It sits about halfway between Taiwan and Guam (island territory of the United States).
  • This makes its location strategic in the Pacific Ocean.

About Harishchandragad Fort:

• It is a hill fort located in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra.
• History:
  • The fort originally dates back to the 6th century during the rule of the Kalchuri dynasty.
  • The citadel was built during this era, and various caves probably have been carved out in the 11th century
  • Later the fort was under the control of the Mughals and the Marathas captured it in 1747
  • Remnants of microlithic human inhabitants have been discovered here.
  • The various Puranas, like Matsyapurana, Agnipurana, and Skandapurana, have many references about Harishchandragad.
• Architecture:
  • One of the most prominent structures on the fort is the Harishchandreshwar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva.
    • Built in the Hemadpanti architectural style, the temple boasts intricate carvings and a massive Nandi sculpture at its entrance.
    • The temple’s sanctum houses a shivling, making it a revered pilgrimage site.
  • The Konkan Kada, or the Konkan Cliff, is one of Harishchandragad’s most striking features.
    • This semicircular overhanging cliff offers stunning views of the Konkan region, and during certain seasons, a rare phenomenon called the “Brocken Spectre” can be observed, where one’s shadow appears on the clouds with a rainbow halo.

About Salal Dam:

• The Salal Dam, also known as Salal Hydroelectric Power Station, is a 690 MW run-of-the-river power project on the Chenab River in the Reasi District of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Though the dam was first conceptualized in 1920, the construction commenced in 1970 and subsequently entered into commercial operation in 1987.
• This was the first hydropower project, which was built by India under the Indus Water Treaty regime in Kashmir.
• The project is developed and owned by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC).
• Power Distribution:
  • Jammu and Kashmir receives 12.5 percent of the energy generated from the project.
  • The rest is transmitted to the Northern Grid, where it is distributed to the states of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
  • Jammu and Kashmir also purchases additional power at regular prices.

About Disporum yobinorum:

• It is a new species of flowering plant.
• It was discovered in the forests of Vijaynagar in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Vijaynagar is one of India’s least disturbed forest landscapes.
  • Nestled along the border with Myanmar’s Kachin State, the region shares its geography and flora with the forests of Yunnan in China, making it part of a biologically rich transboundary landscape.
• The species was named yobinorum in honour of the Yobin community, recognising their support for scientific exploration in the region.
  • The Yobin, also known as the Lisu in Myanmar and China, are one of Arunachal Pradesh’s smallest indigenous tribes.
• Disporum yobinorum grows in moist, shaded evergreen forests.
• Researchers recommended that the species be treated as Data Deficient under IUCN criteria.

About Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award:

• It is India's highest national honour for outstanding achievements in the field of adventure.
• The objectives of the award are:
  • To recognize the achievements of the person in the field of adventure.
  • To encourage young people to develop the spirit of endurance, risk-taking, cooperative teamwork, and quick, ready, and effective reflexes in challenging situations.
  • To provide incentives to the young people for getting exposed to the adventure activities.
• Award: The Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award carries a bronze statuette, a certificate, a blazer with a silken tie (or saree), and cash prize of ₹15 lakh. 
• The award enjoys a status equivalent to the Arjuna Awards and is presented by the Government of India along with the National Sports Awards.
• Number of Awardees:
  • Awards can be given in four categories namely, Land Adventure, Water (Sea) Adventure, Air Adventure and Life Time Achievement for adventure activities on Land, Sea and Air.
  • Ordinarily not more than one Award will be made in each category.

About SMILE Scheme:

• The SMILE (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) is an umbrella programme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• It is a central sector scheme.
• It aims to realise the vision of a “Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Bharat” (Begging-Free India) by adopting a convergence-based approach involving
  • the Central Government, State Governments, Union Territories, district administrations, urban local bodies, municipal corporations and implementing agencies. 
• Target: It will cover 295 cities by the financial year 2030-31, with a special focus on metropolitan centres as well as religious, tourist and historical destinations.
• The larger scheme includes the:
  • ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons’
  • Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in the Act of Begging
• These two schemes provide comprehensive welfare and rehabilitation measures to the transgender community and the people engaged in the act of begging.
• To strengthen implementation and transparency, the Ministry has introduced the SMILE-Beggary National Portal, which enables digital registration, monitoring and tracking of rehabilitation centres and shelter homes.

About Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing Aircraft

• It is a battery-powered aircraft that can take off and land vertically like a helicopter before transitioning to forward flight like a conventional aeroplane.
• An eVTOL does not require long runways.
• It is a low-altitude urban air mobility aircraft.
• Features
  • Most designs use multiple electrically powered propellers instead of a single large rotor, allowing them to lift off from relatively small spaces.
  • eVTOL aircraft use multiple electric motors and propellers powered by batteries.
• Technology used:
  • Most eVTOLs use distributed electric propulsion technology which means integrating a complex propulsion system with the airframe.
  • There are multiple motors for various functions; to increase efficiency; and to also ensure safety.
• Applications: Air Taxi, Delivery, Medical assistance (EMS), Cargo Transport, Recreation.

About Allographa:

• It is a genus of script lichens or lichen-forming fungi (a fungus that teams up with algae or cyanobacteria to create a lichen) with elongated fruiting bodies in the family 
• It has more than 200 species and in India these Allographa species are limited, particularly from the Western Ghats.
• Ecological Role: These are highly sensitive to pollution, climate shifts and habitat disturbance, making them reliable indicators of ecosystem health.
• The recently discovered five new Allographa species from Western Ghats are:Allographa keralensis, A. paraconsanguinea; A. persistinspersa and A. semicarbonisata. 

What are Lichens?

• Lichens are not just one organism but two (sometimes more) living in intimate symbiosis: a fungus that offers structure and protection, and a photobiont (usually a green alga or cyanobacterium) that captures sunlight and makes food.
• Ecological Significance: Lichens play critical roles in ecosystems, building soil, feeding insects and serving as nature’s bioindicators.

About Mission Golden Spice:

• It is an integrated Lakadong Turmeric Value Chain Enhancement Project.
• It is a convergence-led initiative for turmeric cultivation and value-chain development in the State of Meghalaya.
• Time Period: Five-year roadmap (2025–2030)
• Phases: It is to be implemented in two phases namely Value Chain Strengthening (Phase 1) followed by Expansion & Scale-up (Phase 2).
• It is anchored by MDoNER and the North Eastern Council (NEC).
• The Mission builds upon convergence with schemes and interventions of the Ministries of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Food Processing Industries and Commerce, along with APEDA, the Spices Board, the National Turmeric Board, ICAR, MeitY, NABARD, SFAC and the Government of Meghalaya.

Key Facts about Lakadong Turmeric:

• It is mainly cultivated in the Lakadong area of Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya.
• It is distinguished by its remarkable curcumin content, ranging from 7 to 12%
• It is darker in colour and is grown organically without the use of fertilisers.
• It has been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2024.
• Benefits: It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties.