prelims pointer for 26 December 2025

by Vajiram & Ravi - 26 December 2025

Vajiram & Ravi provides Daily prelims pointer for 26 December 2025, tailored for aspirants. We cover all relevant news and events crucial for the exam, ensuring you stay updated & well-prepared.

Camellia sinensis

December 26, 2025
Camellia sinensis

Camellia sinensis Latest News

Recently, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a clarification that a beverage qualifies to be called tea only if it is derived from the plant Camellia sinensis.

About Camellia sinensis

  • It belongs to the family Theaceae, commonly known as the tea plant.
  • It is the source of various types of tea including green tea, black tea, and oolong tea. 
  • It is a shrub or evergreen tree up to 16 m in height. 
  • It is widely cultivated in mountain slopes, altitude up to 2200 m.
  • Required Climatic Conditions
    • Temperature: Range of 15°C–23°C (optimal growth)
    • Climate: Warm and humid climate with at least 5 hours of sunlight daily
    • Rainfall: Annual rainfall of 150–300 cm, evenly distributed
    • Soil: Slightly acidic, calcium-free soil with porous sub-soil
    • Terrain: Sloping terrain to ensure proper drainage
  • Reproduction: Camellia species flowers are complete, bisexual, i.e., with functional male (androecium) and female (gynoecium), including stamens, carpels and ovary. 
  • Global Distribution: Cultivated in Subtropical and warm temperate zones of South-east Asia
  • It is mainly grown in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Japan, Korea and Malaysia.

Types of Tea Produced in India

  • Green tea: Oxidation is prevented by quickly heating (steaming or pan-frying) the leaves after plucking to keep them green.
  • Oolong Tea: Partially oxidized, falling between green and black teas in flavour and colour.
  • Black tea: It is fully oxidized before drying, resulting in its characteristic dark colour and strong taste.
  • White tea: Minimal processing, often just withered and dried, preserves its delicate nature.

Source: TH

Camellia sinensis FAQs

Q1: What is Camellia sinensis?

Ans: A species of tea plant

Q2: Black tea is produced from?

Ans: Fermented leaves of Camellia sinensis

Vitamin C

December 26, 2025
Vitamin C

Vitamin C Latest News

Recent research suggests that large doses of vitamin C may provide our lungs with a degree of protection from the harmful effects of fine particles in the air.

About Vitamin C

  • Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin.
  • Function: 
    • It is needed for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body. It is used to:
      • Form an important protein called collagen, used to make skin, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels.
      • Heal wounds and form scar tissue.
      • Repair and maintain cartilage, bones, and teeth.
      • Aid in the absorption of iron.
    • It is a powerful antioxidant that can neutralize harmful free radicals.
    • It helps make several hormones and chemical messengers used in the brain and nerves.
  • The body doesn't make vitamin C. It comes from the diet. 
  • Sources: 
    • Vitamin C comes from fruits and vegetables. 
    • Good sources include citrus, red and green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, and greens. 
    • Some juices and cereals have added vitamin C.
  • Vitamin C is sensitive to heat, so some of its nutritional benefits can be lost during cooking. Raw foods are more beneficial as dietary sources.
  • Vitamin C is not stored in your body, so deficiency can happen quickly.
  • Sometimes, vitamin C deficiency can lead to scurvy.
    • Scurvy symptoms and signs can include anemia, exhaustion, spontaneous bleeding, limb pain, swelling, and sometimes ulceration of the gums and loss of teeth.

Source: SA

Vitamin C FAQ's

Q1: What is another name for Vitamin C?

Ans: Vitamin C is also known as ascorbic acid.

Q2: Is Vitamin C water-soluble or fat-soluble?

Ans: Vitamin C is water-soluble.

Q3: Does the human body produce Vitamin C on its own?

Ans: No, the body does not make Vitamin C; it must come from the diet.

Q4: Which are the good sources of Vitamin C?

Ans: Good sources include citrus, red and green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, and greens.

Q5: Is Vitamin C sensitive to heat?

Ans: es, Vitamin C is sensitive to heat and can be lost during cooking.

Minamitori Island

December 26, 2025
Minamitori Island

Minamitori Island Latest News

Japan will conduct test mining of rare-earth-rich mud from the deep seabed off Minamitori Island

About Minamitori Island

  • It is also known as Marcus Island, is an isolated Japanese coral atoll in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.
  • It is at the easternmost edge of Japan, the island is the first in Japan to see the sun rise.
  • It lies 1,950 km southeast of central Tokyo.

Topography and Formation of Minamitori Island

  • It is the summit of a giant seamount rising from the seafloor located on the Marcus-Necker Ridge, and the only land of it in Japan on the Pacific Plate.
  • Climate: It is in the transitional zone between tropical and subtropical climates, has an oceanic climate with an average annual temperature of around 25.6°C.
  • Resources: Valuable marine mineral resources like rare-earth muds and cobalt-rich crust have been discovered in the waters surrounding the Minamitorishima Island.

What is Rare-earth mud?

  • Rare-earth muds are pelagic muds made by accumulated remains of plankton in which a large amount of rare-earth is contained.
  • It contains significant amounts of minerals such as neodymium and dysprosium, which are used in high-performance magnets for motors and power generators.
  • It is distributed across the ocean floor as a thin layer and cannot be excavated deeply like coal. 

Source: Reuters

Minamitori Island FAQs

Q1: Where is Minamitori Island located?

Ans: Pacific Ocean

Q2: What is found around Minamitori Island?

Ans: Rare earth deposits

Himalayan Red Fox

December 26, 2025
Himalayan Red Fox

Himalayan Red Fox Latest News

A brief roadside encounter with a Himalayan red fox near Pangong Tso in Ladakh has captivated social media users recently, but the viral clip has also prompted a cautionary note from wildlife officials about the hidden risks of human interference.

About Himalayan Red Fox

  • The Himalayan Red Fox, a subspecies of the widespread red fox (Vulpes vulpes), is one of the most adaptable predators of the high-altitude landscapes. 
  • Scientific Name: Vulpes vulpes montana

Himalayan Red Fox Distribution

  • It is native to the Himalayan mountain range in India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet.
  • It has a wide distribution in the Indian Himalayan region, including the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.

Himalayan Red Fox Habitat

  • Highly adaptable, the red fox inhabits altitudes ranging from 2,500 to 5,000 meters.
  • They are known to occupy a variety of habitats, including alpine meadows, grasslands, forests, and agricultural lands.

Himalayan Red Fox Features

  • It is a medium-sized mammal, with a body length of 50-90 cm and a tail length of 30-45 cm. 
  • Adults typically weigh between 4-7 kg, with males being slightly larger and heavier than females.
  • The coat of the Himalayan red fox is typically rusty-red in color, with white underparts and a distinctive white-tipped tail. 
  • The fur is dense and insulating, providing protection against the harsh, cold weather.
  • It is an agile and fast runner, capable of reaching speeds of up to 60 km/hr. 
  • They are also good climbers and swimmers.
  • It is a solitary and nocturnal animal.
  • An opportunistic feeder, its diet includes rodents, birds, insects, fruits, and even carrion.

Himalayan Red Fox Conservation Status

It is classified as 'Least Concern' under the IUCN Red List.

Key Facts about Pangong Tso

  • Pangong Tso, or Pangong Lake, is a long, narrow, endorheic (landlocked) lake situated at a height of more than 14,000 ft (4,350 meters) in the Ladakh Himalayas.
  • The lake is 5 kilometers wide and 134 kilometers long, with one-third of it lying in India & the other two-thirds in China. 
  • It is the world’s highest saltwater lake.
  • The lake is also very deep and reaches a maximum depth of almost 328 feet.
  • It is also known to change colors, appearing blue, green, and red at different times.

Source: ETVB

Himalayan Red Fox FAQs

Q1: Himalayan Red Fox is native to which region?

Ans: It is native to the Himalayan mountain range in India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet.

Q2: Why does the Himalayan Red Fox have dense fur?

Ans: To provide insulation against harsh, cold weather.

Q3: Is the Himalayan Red Fox solitary or social in nature?

Ans: It is solitary.

Q4: What is the IUCN conservation status of the Himalayan Red Fox?

Ans: Least Concern.

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