About Gastrodia indica: 

• It is the first orchid from India that never opens its flower.
• The orchid was found at an elevation of 1,950–2,100 metres above sea level.
• This is the first cleistogamous species of the genus Gastrodia discovered from India.
  • The Gastrodia genus is known for terrestrial, herbaceous, and holomycotrophic orchids.
  • Cleistogamous plants are highly specialized, as they do not depend on external pollinators like insects or wind for reproduction.
  • Holomycotrophic species like Gastrodia indica rely entirely on a fungal host for sustenance, lacking chlorophyll and drawing carbon from underground fungi.
• It is morphologically allied to G. exilis & G.dyeriana but critical examination revealed considerable differences in floral morphological characters.
• This new species thrives in dense, rotten leaf litter and is associated with trees such as Magnolia doltsopa, Acer campbelli, and Quercus lamellose.
• The discovery adds to India's botanical diversity, bringing the total number of Gastrodia species in the country to 10.
• Threats: Gastrodia indica faces potential threats due to its limited population and specific habitat requirements.

Q1: What is Pollination?

It is the act of transferring pollen grains from the male anther of a flower to the female stigma. The goal of every living organism, including plants, is to create offspring for the next generation.

Source: A Orchid that never opens its flower discovered in

About Prokaryotes:

• They are single-celled organisms that lack a distinct nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles. 
• Features
  • Shape: They come in various shapes and sizes (0.5-5 µm), with four basic shapes being rod-like (bacillus), spherical (coccus), comma-shaped (vibrio), and spiral (spirillum).
  • Cell organisation: Prokaryotic cells have a basic structural organisation, which includes a cell wall (except in mycoplasma), cytoplasm, and a plasma membrane. However, they lack a well-defined nucleus.
  • Organelles: They lack membrane-bound organelles, except for ribosomes.
  • They do have unique structures called mesosomes, which are extensions of the plasma membrane used for various functions.
  • Reproduction: Prokaryotic cells reproduce primarily through binary fission, a type of asexual reproduction.
  • DNA: Most prokaryotic cells have a single chromosome, which carries hereditary genes in the form of DNA.
• Prokaryotes include bacteria and “archaea”, another type of single-celled organism.
• These organisms are thought to be the oldest cell-based lifeforms on Earth.
• Habitat: They thrive across the entire planet – on land and in water, from the tropics to the poles.
• Ecological significance: They play a crucial role in the world’s food chains, helping support the nutrient needs of fish humans catch and eat.

Marine prokaryotes grow extremely fast – a process that emits a lot of carbon.

Q1: What are Eukaryotic Cells?

Eukaryotic cells are found in multi-cellular organisms such as protists, plants, animals, and fungi. They are more complex as compared to prokaryotic cells.

Source: Earth’s oldest, tiniest creatures are poised to be climate change winners

About Californium: 

• It is a silvery-white synthetic radioactive metal with the atomic number 98 on the periodic table.
• It was first synthesised in 1950 by a team at the University of California, Berkeley.
• The element is named after the American state of California and the university where it was discovered.
• It is not found naturally and is produced through nuclear reactions, specifically by bombarding curium with helium ions.
• Properties
  • It is known for its intense radioactivity and is considered both valuable and hazardous.
  • Californium is a member of the actinide series in the periodic table.
  • The element’s most notable isotopes include Cf-251, which has a half-life of 898 years and is the most stable, and Cf-249 and Cf-250, which have shorter half-lives.
• Applications
  • It is a very strong neutron emitter and is used in portable metal detectors for identifying gold and silver ores, to help identify water and oil layersin oil wells, and detect metal fatigue and stress in aeroplanes.
  • It’s primary applications include starting nuclear reactors, optimising coal power plants, and treating certain cancers.
  • It is also used in radiography, gold prospecting, and as a neutron source in various industrial applications.

Q1: What is radioactivity?

Radioactivity is the property of some unstable atoms (radionuclides) to spontaneously emit nuclear radiation, usually alpha particles or beta particles often accompanied by gamma-rays.

Source: The Californium that wasn’t — how ‘radioactive’ substance kept Bihar’s Gopalganj police on edge

About Geneva Conventions: 

• They are a set of four treaties which include more than 400 articles, setting out detailed rules for the treatment of prisoners, protecting hospitals and medical staff, allowing humanitarian aid and prohibiting torture, rape and sexual violence.
• It was formalised in 1949 by the United Nations.
• There are three additional protocols, the first two of which were formalised in 1977 and the third in 2005.
• The focus of the Conventions is the treatment of non-combatants and prisoners of war and not the use of conventional or biological and chemical weapons, the use of which is governed respectively by The Hague Conventions and the Geneva Protocol.

List of conventions:

• The First Geneva Convention:
  • It protects wounded and sick soldiers on land during war.
  • It is also applicable on medical and religious personnel, medical units and medical transports.
• The Second Geneva Convention:
  • It protects wounded, sick and shipwrecked military personnel at sea during war.
  • This Convention replaced the Hague Convention of 1907 for the Adaptation to Maritime Warfare of the Principles of the Geneva Convention.
• The Third Geneva Convention
  • It applies to prisoners of war.
  • The Convention establishes the principle that prisoners of war shall be released and repatriated without delay after the cessation of active hostilities.
• The Fourth Geneva Convention
  • It protects civilians, including those in occupied territory.
  • It contains a short section concerning the general protection of populations against certain consequences of war, without addressing the conduct of hostilities.

Q1: What is the United Nations Organisation?

The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization that was established with the purpose of promoting international cooperation and maintaining peace and security among its member states. Its charter consists of a preamble and 111 articles grouped into 19 chapters.

Source: The Geneva Conventions at 75

About Biosurfactant: 

• Biosurfactants are surface-active molecules produced by microorganisms, either on the cell surface or secreted extracellularly.
• They form a thin film on the surface of microorganisms and help in their detachment or attachment to other cell surfaces.
• They are involved in regulating the motility of bacteria and quorum sensing.
• Features:
  • Microbial biosurfactants obtained from various microbial sources exhibit high emulsification, solubilization, foaming, adsorption, and other physical characteristics.
  • They are very stable in a wide range of pH, temperature, and salinity, making them suitable for food applications.
  • These are eco-friendly biomolecules and do not impart toxic effects; therefore, they can be considered safe for human consumption.
• Applications
  • These are used in the food industry like bakeries and salad dressings.
  • These can be used for heavy metal removal from vegetables to boost immunity in fish, providing a protective effect against the pathogen.
  • Also, it can be employed in food products as a natural antioxidant to prevent early spoilage. 

What are surfactants?

• These are molecules that slither across surfaces of oil and water, water and oil, or air and water to form an emulsion.
• Surfactants are very useful in the food industry as lubricants and foamers to emulsify fats in batters, improve shelf life, as dispersing agents, and retain moisture.
• Issues: However, the accelerated usage of synthetic food additives and emulsifiers in dietary goods has led to imbalances in the microbiome of the body, gut-related disorders and affect the intestinal barrier permeability leading to declination of beneficial microbiota.

Q1: What is Emulsification?

Emulsification is the process of dispersing two or more immiscible liquids together to form a semistable mixture.

Source: Safe microbial substitute can replace synthetic surfactants in the food industry

About Prerana Programme: 

• It was launched in January 2024 by the Union Education Ministry.
• It is driven by a strong commitment to integrate principles of the Indian education system and the philosophy of value-based education which is a cornerstone of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
• Prerana is a week-long residential program for selected students of class IX to XII.
• It is an experiential and inspirational learning program for students with the best-in-class technology where heritage meets innovation.
• A batch of 20 selected students (10 boys and 10 girls) attend the program every week from various parts of the country.
• Prerana program is running from a Vernacular School, established in 1888 in Vadnagar, Mehsana District, Gujarat.
• The curriculum of Prerana School prepared by IIT Gandhi Nagar is rooted in 9 value based themes:
  • Swabhiman and Vinay, Shaurya and Sahas, Parishram and Samarpan, Karuna and Sewa, Vividhta and Ekta, Satyanishtha and Shuchita, Navachar and Jigyasa, Shraddha aur Vishwas, Swatantrata and Kartavya.
• The program based on above themes will inspire the youth and foster respect for Bharat's unity in diversity, embodying the spirit of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

Q1: What are the aims of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020?

National Education Policy (NEP) aims to revolutionise education in India by bringing comprehensive reforms. Also focuses on holistic development, multilingualism, flexibility, and technology integration and promises to create a more inclusive and future-ready education system.

Source: PRERANA program

About AIM-174B Missile:

• It is an air-launched variant of the versatile SM-6 missile of the US Navy.
• It became operational in July, 2024 and is derived by Raytheon, an Aerospace and defense company.
• It is an extremely long-range air-to-air missile.
• It is capable of striking targets up to 400 km (250 miles) away and it surpasses the range of China’s PL-15 missile.
• It has been deployed in the Indo-Pacific region. This deployment is part of a broader strategy to enhance US power projection as tensions in the region escalate.
• It is an engaging high-priority ground targets, such as air defence sites and warships, functioning in a quasi-ballistic manner.
• Advantages:
  • One of the significant advantages of the AIM-174B is its ability to fly several times farther than the AIM-120 AMRAAM, the previous long-range US missile.
  • The AIM-174B retains the surface strike capability of the SM-6, making it useful for targeting large maritime vessels.
  • The AIM-174B allows the US to keep PLA carrier-hunting aircraft out of firing range and even threaten Chinese planes attacking Taiwan.

Q1: What is Standard Missile 6 (SM-6)?

Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) is a multi-mission missile capable of antiair warfare, terminal ballistic missile defense, and antiship strike roles. It was developed by Raytheon Company, a major U.S. defense contractor, primarily for the United States Navy.

Source: US Navy's newest air-to-air missile AIM-174B could tilt balance in South China Sea

About Captagon: 

• It is a highly addictive amphetamine-type drug, which is produced mainly in Syria.
• The original Captagon contained fenetylline, a synthetic drug of the phenethylamine family to which amphetamine also belongs.
• It was commercially sold in several countries until the 1980s and was banned due to fears of its highly addictive nature.
• It is commonly known as “poor man’s cocaine,” has emerged as the drug of choice among young adults throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
• It is a synthetic drug which was originally manufactured in Germany in the 1960s and 1970s where it was intended to treat attention deficit disorders.
• The pill contains fenethylline, a synthetic amphetamine, caffeine, and other stimulants.
  • Fenethylline is metabolized by the body into two molecules: amphetamine and theophylline, both of which are stimulants.
• It was made illegal in 1986 in most countries and discontinued in medical markets.
• Concern: It has become a major concern for countries in the Middle East like Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Q1) What is a synthetic drug?

It is a drug with properties and effects similar to a known hallucinogen or narcotic but having a slightly altered chemical structure, especially such a drug created in order to evade restrictions against illegal substances.

Source: What is the drug Captagon, and how is it linked to Germany?