About Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite: 

• It is a NASA mission that's searching for planets orbiting the brightest stars in Earth's sky. 
• It is designed to discover thousands of exoplanets orbit around the brightest dwarf stars in the sky.
• It is finding planets ranging from small, rocky worlds to giant planets, showcasing the diversity of planets in our galaxy. It has so far found 410 confirmed exoplanets or “new worlds” circling stars other than the Sun.
• The satellite is a follow-up to NASA's highly successful Kepler space telescope, which found thousands of exoplanets during a decade of work after its launch in 2009.
• It was launched on April 18, 2018, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket out of Cape Canaveral.
• It circles Earth in a unique high Earth orbit of 12 to 15 days, which is inclined in such a way that the telescope’s sky view is largely free from obstructionsby our bright planet and the Moon.
• The prime mission ended on July 4, 2020, and TESS is now on an extended mission.
• TESS is finding planets ranging from small, rocky worlds to giant planets, showcasing the diversity of planets in the galaxy. 

Q1: What is Kepler Space Telescope?

It was NASA’s first planet-hunting mission, assigned to search a portion of the Milky Way galaxy for Earth-sized planets orbiting stars outside our solar system. It was launched on March 6, 2009.The spacecraft was named after the famed German astronomer Johannes Kepler (1571-1630).

Source: International study observes smaller object in a black hole pair directly for the first time

About Bhusanket Web Portal: 

• This web portal will facilitate the dissemination of relevant data and information on landslide hazards, initiating short-range and medium-range landslide forecasting in the country.
• Integrated with the Bhusanket Web Portal, the user-friendly Bhooskhalan Mobile App will enable quick dissemination of daily landslide forecasts and allow stakeholders to share and update spatial and temporal information on landslide occurrences.
• The app is available on Bhusanket web portal and will soon be available on Google Play Store.

Key facts about Geological Survey of India

• It was set up in 1851 primarily to find coal deposits for the Railways.
• It is an attached office to the Ministry of Mines.
• Its main functions relate to creating and updating of national geoscientific information and mineral resource assessment.
• These objectives are achieved through ground surveys, air-borne and marine surveys, mineral prospecting and investigations, multi-disciplinary geoscientific, geo-technical, geo-environmental and natural hazards studies, glaciology, seismo-tectonic study and carrying out fundamental research.
• GSI also emphasizes on systematic documentation of all geological processes both surface and subsurface, of the country and its offshore areas.
• It functions as a ‘Repository’ for the purpose and uses the latest computer-based technologies for dissemination of geoscientific information and spatial data, through cooperation and collaboration with other stakeholders in the Geo-informatics sector.
• Headquarter: Kolkata and it has six regional offices located in Lucknow, Jaipur, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Shillong.

Q1: What is a landslide?

A landslide is a mass movement of material, such as rock, earth or debris, down a slope. They can happen suddenly or more slowly over long periods of time. When the force of gravity acting on a slope exceeds the resisting forces of a slope, the slope will fail and a landslide occurs.

Source: Union Minister G Kishan Reddy inaugurates National Landslide Forecasting Centre and Launches Bhusanket Web Portal & Bhooskhalan Mobile App

About Cadmium Telluride: 

• It is a material made from the combination of two elements: Cadmium (Cd) and Tellurium (Te). 
• It is an odorless and black crystalline solid.
• Properties
  • It is insoluble in water but resolves in nitrate acid, and resulting oxidation in moisture air under long time exposure.
  • It has lowest carbon dioxide emissions, ozone depletion potential, human health effects, and particulate air pollution.
• Applications: It is considered a prospective material for the room temperature semiconductor detector application such as an infrared optical window and lens, thin film solar cell material.
  • CdTe is the second most common Photo Voltaic (PV) technology in the world, after silicon. 
  • It was one of five solar cell technologies on which the IIT scientists conducted a life-cycle assessment (LCA) to identify the most sustainable options for solar energy production in India.
  • The other four were mono-silicon, polysilicon, Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS), and Passivated Emitter & Rear Contact (PERC).

Q1: What is a photovoltaic (PV) cell?

It is commonly called a solar cell, is a nonmechanical device that converts sunlight directly into electricity. Some PV cells can convert artificial light into electricity. Sunlight is composed of photons, or particles of solar energy.

Source: IIT Mandi researchers assess environmental impact of solar cells: Here’s what they found

About Bhil tribe: 

• Bhils are considered as one of the oldest tribes in India.
• The name 'Bhil' is derived from the word villu or billu, which according to the Dravidian language is known as Bow. 
• They could be identified as one of the Dravidian racial tribes of Western India and belong to the Australoid group of tribes.
• They are mainly divided into two main groups: the central and eastern or Rajput Bhils.
• The central Bhils are found in the mountain regions in the Indian states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan. Bhils are also found in the north eastern parts of Tripura.
• Language: They speak Bhili, which is an Indo Aryan language.
• Religion practice among the Bhils differ from place to place.
• Most of them worship local deities like Khandoba, Kanhoba, Bahiroba, and Sitalmata. Some worship the Tiger God called 'vaghdev'.
• They consult Badvas -the hereditary sorcerers on all the occasions. 
• Main festivals: The Baneshwar fair is the main festival celebrated among the Bhils. This fair is held during the period of Shivratri and is dedicated to Baneshwar Mahadev also known as Lord Shiva.

Q1) Who are the Australoids?

It is a racial a classification that is used in reference to the people of Southeast Asia, South Asia, Melanesia, Australia, and other regions in East Asia. The idea of the Australoid race came because of the typological racial classification.

Source: Why members of the Bhil tribe have again demanded a separate ‘Bhil Pradesh’

About International Centre for Audit of Local Governance: 

• It is a collaborative platform for policymakers, administrators and auditors linked with local governments.
• It will enhance the local government auditors’ independence to ensure improved financial performance assessment, service delivery, and data reporting.
• It will also serve as a centre of excellence for capacity building of local government auditors.
• Its primary objectives are to develop and enhance standards for Local Government Audits, strengthen data collection and reporting, and empower auditors, executives, and elected representatives through comprehensive training programs and leadership development initiatives.
• The establishment of iCAL underscores the importance of Local Governments in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by fostering grassroots engagement and nurturing citizen ownership and accountability.
• How are local bodies audited in India?
  • Many state governments have an Examiner of Local Fund Accounts (ELFA) or Director of Local Fund Accounts (DLFA) for auditing their accounts.
  • ELFA audits the utilisation of funds granted by the state government to local bodies.
  • The CAG, on the other hand, conducts audits of all funds (including the state and Central governments).
  • It also exercises control and supervision over the proper maintenance of accounts and auditing for all three levels of PRIs/ULBs. Under its technical guidance and support initiative, CAG also advises and supports ELFA or DLFA.

Q1: What is the role of Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)?

CAG is the apex authority responsible for external and internal audits of the expenses of the National and state governments in the country. The Constitution of India provides for an independent office of the CAG in Chapter V. The CAG is mentioned in the Constitution of India under Article 148 – 151.

Source: What is the International Centre for Audit of Local Governance, which the CAG inaugurated in Gujarat?

About Pralay Missile:

• 'Pralay' is a 350-500 km short-range,quasi-ballistic surface-to-surface missile with a payload capacity of 500-1,000 kg.
• The solid-fuel, battlefield missile is based on the Prithvi Defence Vehicle.
• The missile has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in view of the country's defence requirements along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Line of Control (LoC).
• Features:
  • The Pralay, powered by a solid propellant rocket motor,never leaves the atmosphere and follows a flat trajectory.
  • Range: It can hit targets 150-500 km away.
  • The missile navigates to its target using inertial guidance. It can be controlled throughout its flight.
  • It features a radio frequency (DSMAC—Digital Scene-Matching Area Correlation) seeker for terminal guidance.
  • The missile is fitted with an indigenously developed Fused Silica Radar Dome (RADOME).
  • The Pralay missile features a jet vane system for thrust vector control, suggesting that the missile can perform evasive maneuvers in the terminal phase of flight.
  • The missile can feature different types of warheads, including PF (Pre-fragmented), Monolithic PCB (Penetration cum blast), and Submunition PCB.
  • The Pralay missile features two sets of small fins to reduce its radar signature.

Q1: What are ballistic missiles?

A ballistic missile is a rocket-propelled, self-guided strategic-weapons system that follows a ballistic trajectory to deliver a payload from its launch site to a predetermined target. They are powered initially by a rocket or series of rockets in stages, but then follow an unpowered trajectory that arches upwards before descending to reach its intended target. They can carry conventional high explosives as well as chemical, biological, or nuclear munitions.

About Newcastle Disease (ND):

• It is a highly contagious and often severe disease found worldwide that affects birds, including domestic poultry.
• It is caused by a virus in the family of paramyxoviruses.
• It attacks their respiratory, nervous, and digestive systems.
• ND only affects birds, particularly poultry, such as chickens.
• It can cause illness and death in large numbers of birds quickly.
• Transmission:
  • ND is transmitted most often by direct contact with diseased or carrier birds.
  • Infected birds may shed the virus in their feces, contaminating the environment.
  • Transmission can then occur by direct contact with feces and respiratory discharges or by contaminated food, water, equipment, and human clothing.
  • ND viruses can survive for several weeks in the environment, especially in cool weather.
• The disease is very contagious. When the virus is introduced into a susceptible flock, virtually all the birds will be infected within two to six days.
• Symptoms: Infected birds may show signs of:
  • loss of appetite, coughing, gasping, nasal discharge, watery eyes, bright green diarrhoea, and nervous signs such as paralysis and convulsions
  • combs and wattles may look swollen, enlarged, and discoloured (purple or blue)
  • reduced egg production, and the few eggs that are produced may be soft shelled and malformed.
• Treatment:
  • There is no treatment for ND, and, in many countries, infected and susceptible birds in the vicinity of an outbreak are culled to contain transmission of the disease.
  • Prevention is accomplished through vaccination and strict biosecurity.

Q1: What is a Virus?

A virus is an infectious microbe consisting of a segment of nucleic acid (either DNA or RNA) surrounded by a protein coat. A virus cannot replicate alone; instead, it must infect cells and use components of the host cell to make copies of itself. Often, a virus ends up killing the host cell in the process, causing damage to the host organism. Well-known examples of viruses causing human disease include AIDS, COVID-19, measles and smallpox.

Source: Brazil declares animal health emergency after Newcastle disease case

About Adam's Bridge:

• The Adam’s Bridge, also known as the Ram Sethu Bridge, connects Rameswaram Island,off the southeast coast of India,to Mannar Island, off the northwest coast of Sri Lanka.
• It separates the Gulf of Mannar (southwest) from the Palk Strait (northeast). 
• The bridge is a 48 km long chain of natural limestone shoals.
• Some of the sandbanks are dry, and the sea in the area is very shallow, being only 1 to 10 metres deep in places, whichhinders navigation.
• Geologic evidence suggests that Adam’s Bridge represents a former land connection between India and Sri Lanka. 
• Ram Setu is mentioned in the epic Ramayana, as the bridge constructed by Lord Rama and his vanara (monkey) army.
  • The bridge was constructed to cross over to Lanka to rescue Goddess Sita from the clutches of the demon king Ravana.
  • In Valmiki’s Ramayana, the bridge is described as Sethubanthan. 
• As per Islamic legend, Adam used this bridge to reach Adam’s Peak in Sri Lanka.
• The Rameshwaram temple records suggest that Adam’s bridge was completely above sea level till 1480. It was submerged in the shallow sea due to natural calamities. 

Q1: What is a Strait?

A strait is a narrow waterway between two pieces of land that connects two large bodies of water. Well-known straits include the Bering Strait, which links the Arctic Ocean with the Bering Sea and separates the continents of Asia and North America at their closest point. The Strait of Gibraltar, located between Spain and Africa, connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean. The Strait of Magellan lies between the southern tip of South America and the islands of Tierra del Fuego and links the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Source: ISRO Scientists Create First Undersea Mapping of Ram Setu Using NASA Satellite

About Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It stretches across 823 sq. km in the Raisen and Sehore districts of Madhya Pradesh.
• This rocky forest with aquatic environment is spread on the Vindhya Hills.
• It runs parallel on the northern side of the Narmada River. The Kolar River forms the western boundary of the Sanctuary. 
• The sanctuary was first notified in 1976 and then extended in 1983. In 2008, it was declared as a Tiger Reserve. 
• The Sanctuary has Bhimbetika, "a group of rock shelters and rock paintings", which is one of the '' World Heritage Site '' declared by UNESCO.
• Landscape: It is rugged with hills, valleys, plateaus, and plains.
• Flora: 
  • The forest of this Sanctuary is of dry deciduous and moist deciduous types.
  • About 55% of the area is covered by teak. The remaining mixed forests consist of various dry deciduous species.
• Fauna: 
  • The regal striped cat is the apex predator, and estimates suggest that 40 tigers roam these forests. 
  • Chinkara, an endangered species, is also found in the Sanctuary. 
  • It is also home to animals like the Panther, Hyena, Jackal, Indian Fox, Wild Dog, Jungle Cat, Small Indian Civet, Blue Bull, Chinkara, Black Buck, Chausingha, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, etc.

Q1: What is a World Heritage Site (WHS)?

A World Heritage Site (WHS) is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the UNESCO under the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972. These sites are designated by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, scientific or other forms of significance.

Source: Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary May Become 8th Tiger Reserve of MP, 1st One With Proximity to State Capital

About Mashco Piro Tribe:

• Mashco Piro are believed to be the largest uncontacted tribe on Earth, numbering more than 750 people.
• These nomadic hunter-gatherers live in the Amazon jungles of the Madre de Dios Region, close to Peru’s border with Brazil and Bolivia.
• They are believed to have fled into the recesses of the jungle during the Amazon Rubber Boom in the late 1800s, a time of enslavement and death for many tribes.
• They live on the banks of the Las Piedras River in the Alto Purús National Parkin huts constructed of palm leaf. In the rainy season, they retreat to huts in the rain forest.
• The Mashco-Piro tribe speaks a dialect of the Piro language.
• Way of Life:
  • Members of the tribe wear very little clothing.
  • Men, women, and children alike wear only a yellowish-brown cloth above the waist and perhaps arm and leg bands of the same color.
  • They have medium stature and athletic build.
  • All have straight black hairworn shoulder length or longer.
• Men probably hunt with the weapons they have been seen carrying, such as bows and arrows, as well as spears. 
• Peru’s government has forbidden all contact with the Mashco Piro, fearing the spread of a disease among the population to which it has no immunity. 

Q1: Amazon rainforest spreads across which countries?

The Amazon rainforest spreads across nine countries namely Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, Suriname, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Guyana, and French Guiana. Some of these countries hold a bigger part of the Amazon forest than others.

Source: Watch: Rare video captures Mashco Piro tribe in Peruvian Amazon fleeing logging encroachment