Iran’s New Missiles Latest News

Iran recently unveiled two missiles, named Etemad and Ghadr-380.

About Etemad Missile

• It is a new ballistic missile built by the Iranian defence ministry.
• Dubbed Etemad, or "trust" in Persian, it has a maximum range of 1,700 kilometres (1,056 miles).
• With a length of 16 meters and a diameter of 1.25 meters, the missile is equipped with a precision-guided warhead.

About Ghadr-380

• It is an anti-warship cruise missile developed by Iran.

It has a range of over 1,000 kilometers.

• It has anti-jamming capability.

Ballistic Missile vs. Cruise Missile

• Ballistic missiles 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. 
• As gravity pulls the ballistic warhead back to Earth, speeds of several times the speed of sound are reached.
• Ballistic missiles can carry either nuclear or conventional warheads.
• Cruise missiles are unmanned vehicles that are propelled by jet engines, much like an airplane. 
• They are self-propelled for the majority of their time in the air, flying in a relatively straight line and at lower altitudes thanks to a rocket propellant. 
• They can be launched from ground, air, or sea platforms. 
• They remain within the atmosphere for the duration of their flight and can fly as low as a few meters off the ground. 
• Flying low to the surface of the earth expends more fuel but makes a cruise missile very difficult to detect.
• Thus, think of a ballistic missile's flight path as a large arc up and back down again, while that of a cruise missile — fired from a warship, for instance — is closer to a straight line.

Iran’s New Missiles FAQs

Q1. How fast is Iran's hypersonic missile?

Ans. Iran's hypersonic missile, the Fattah, has a range of 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) and can reach speeds of up to Mach 15 (5.1 kilometers or 3.2 miles per second)

Q2. Does India have supersonic missile?

Ans. Yes, India has developed and successfully tested supersonic missiles, one of the most notable being the BrahMos missile.

Q3. What is anti-jamming capability?

Ans. Anti-jamming capability refers to the ability of a system—such as a communication or navigation system—to resist interference or disruption caused by jamming. 

Source: TOI

Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana Latest News

The budget 2025-26 allocation under the PM Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana increased by 37% compared to last year.

About Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana

• It is a government scheme meant for the old-age protection and social security of unorganized workers.
• It is a Central Sector Scheme administered by the Ministry of Labour and Employment and implemented through Life Insurance Corporation of India and CSC eGovernance Services India Limited (CSC SPV). 
• LIC will be the Pension Fund Manager and responsible for pension pay out. 
• The amount collected under the PM-SYM shall be invested as per the investment pattern specified by the Government of India.

Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana Eligibility

• Should be an Indian Citizen
• Unorganised Workers (working as street vendors, agriculture-related work, construction site workers, workers in industries of leather, handloom, mid-day meal, rickshaw or auto wheelers, rag picking, carpenters, fishermen, etc.
• Age group of 18-40 years
• Monthly income is below Rs. 15000 and not a member of EPFO/ESIC/NPS (Govt. funded).

Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana Features

• It is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme.
• Minimum Assured Pension: Each subscriber under the PM-SYM shall receive minimum assured pension of Rs 3000/- per month after attaining the age of 60 years.
• Contribution by the Subscriber:
  • The subscriber’s contributions to PM-SYM shall be made through ‘auto-debit’ facility from his/ her savings bank account/Jan- Dhan account. 
  • The subscriber is required to contribute the prescribed contribution amount from the age of joining PM-SYM till the age of 60 years. 
  • Matching contribution by the Central Government: It is a pension scheme on a 50:50 basis where prescribed age-specific contributions shall be made by the beneficiary and the matching contribution by the Central Government.
• Family Pension: 
  • During the receipt of pension, if the subscriber dies, the spouse of the beneficiary shall be entitled to receive 50% of the pension received by the beneficiary as a family pension. Family pension is applicable only to spouse.
  • If a beneficiary has given regular contributions and died due to any cause (before age 60 years), his/her spouse will be entitled to join and continue the scheme subsequently by payment of regular contributions or exit the scheme as per provisions of exit and withdrawal.
• Exit: 
  • Even if the subscriber wants to opt out of the scheme before 10 years, the share of the subscriber will be given back along with the interest amount accrued. 
  • If the subscriber opts out after 10 years but before 60 years of age, the share of the subscriber contribution, adding the accumulated interest will be given back to the candidate. 

Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana FAQs

Q1. What is the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)?

Ans. LIC is a state-owned organization and India's largest life insurance company.

Q2. What is a Central Sector Scheme?

Ans. A Central Sector Scheme refers to a government program or initiative that is entirely funded and implemented by the Central Government. 

Q3. What is CSC eGovernance Services India Limited (CSC SPV)?

Ans. CSC SPV is a special purpose vehicle established by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under the Government of India.

Source: TH

 About Deepor Beel

• It is a perennial freshwater lake located on the outskirts of Guwahati, Assam. 
• It lies in a former channel of the Brahmaputra River.
• It covers an area of 4.1 sq.km.
• It is the only major stormwater storage basin for the city of Guwahati. 
• The lake's outflow is the Khandajan rivulet, which joins the Brahmaputra.
• It was recognised as a Ramsar Site in 2002 and as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) in 2004. It is the only Ramsar site in the state of Assam.
• This lake is a staging site on migratory flyways, and some of the largest concentrations of aquatic birds in Assam can be seen, especially in winter. 
• Some globally threatened birds are supported, including Spot-billed Pelican, Lesser Greater Adjutant Stork, and Baer's Pochard.
• About 50 fish species and aquatic resources provide livelihood support to about 1,200 households residing in about 12 villages on the fringes of the wetland.
• The Rani and Garbhanga hills, the habitat of the Asiatic elephants on the southern side of the beel, are part of this ecosystem.

Deepor Beel FAQs

Q1. Is Deepor Beel drained by Brahmaputra?

Ans. The Beel drains into the Brahmaputra river, located about 5 km away.

Q2. Which type of lake is Deepor Beel?

Ans. It is a perennial freshwater lake.

Q3. Which is the first Ramsar site in India?

Ans. The first Ramsar sites in India were Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan), both designated on 1st October 1981.

Source: TOI

World Wetlands Day Latest News

 Recently, the union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) organised the World Wetlands Day 2025 celebrations at the Parvati Arga Ramsar Site.

About World Wetlands Day

• It is celebrated annually on February 2.
• It aims tospread awareness about conserving one of the most critical ecosystems on the planet.
• This date marks the adoption of the Ramsar Convention in 1971.
• Theme of 2025 World Wetlands Day: This year, the theme was “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future”. 
• India has been a party to the Convention since 1982, designating 89 Ramsar sites.

What are wetlands?

• Wetlands are regions covered by water either perennially or seasonally, such as marshes and lakes.

Significance of Wetlands

• They are vital reservoirs of biodiversity, aid water conservation and provide habitat for numerous migratory birds, aquatic species, and plant life. They also help recharge groundwater, control floods and support fisheries and local communities.
• From the point of view of climate change mitigation, wetlands are important carbon sinks, meaning they absorb more carbon from the atmosphere
• The major threats to wetlands, in general, are due to man-made factors, leading to habitat degradation and declining biodiversity.

World Wetlands Day FAQs

Q1: Why do we celebrate World Wetland Day?

Ans: It is celebrated to raise awareness among all sections of the society about values and functions of wetlands, utilization of their resources and their environmental importance.

Q2: Which is the largest Ramsar site in India?

Ans: Sunderban of West Bengal.

Q3: Which country is top in Ramsar sites?

Ans: The United Kingdom

Source: PIB

SwaRail Application Latest News

Recently, the Ministry of Railways has introduced the SuperApp ‘SwaRail’, a one-stop solution for seamless railway services.

About SwaRail Application

• It integrates various railway services, eliminating the need for multiple applications and reducing space consumption on user devices.
• A key focus of the App is enhancing user experience with a seamless and clean user interface (UI). 
• The App caters to a wide range of user needs, including: reserved and unreserved ticket bookings, parcel and Freight Enquiries, train and PNR status enquiries, food Orders on Trains, rail madad for Complaint Management.
• Developed by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) the SuperApp integrates all public-facing applications of Indian Railways into a single platform.

What is the Centre for Railway Information Systems?

• It is an organization under the Ministry of Railways.
• It is a unique combination of competent IT professionals and experienced Railway personnel enabling it to successfully deliver complex Railway IT systems in core areas.
• It is developing/maintaining softwares for the following key functional areas of the Indian Railways.

SwaRail Application FAQs

Q1. What is an UI example?

Ans. UI stands for user interface. It is the bridge between humans and computers. Anything you interact with as a user is part of the user interface.

Q2. Where is the UI used?

Ans. User interface (UI) design is the process designers use to build interfaces in software or computerized devices.

Q3. What is PNR full form?

Ans. PNR is the abbreviation of Passenger Name Record

Source: PIB

RBI's Digital Payments Index Latest News

The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) digital payments index (DPI) rose to 465.33 as of September 2024, compared to 445.5 in March 2024, reflecting the rapid adoption of digital payments in the country.

About RBI's Digital Payments Index

• It has been constructed by the RBI to measure the extent of digitisation of payments across the country.
• It is based on multiple parameters and reflects the expansion of various digital payment modes accurately.
• It is a first-of-its kind index to measure the spread of digital payments across the country.
• It was first launched in January 2021.
• The DPI index indicates the extent of digitisation of payments across the country.
• Base Year of RBI's Digital Payments Index: It has been constructed with March 2018 as the base period, i.e., the DPI score for March 2018 is set at 100.
• The DPI index comprises five broad parameters that enable the measurement of deepening and penetration of digital payments in the country over different time periods. The parameters include:
  • Payment enablers (25 per cent weightage in the index)
  • Demand-side and supply-side payment infrastructure factors (10 per cent each) 
  • Payment performance (45 per cent) 
  • Consumer centricity (5 per cent) 
• Each of the parameters has sub-parameters, which, in turn, consist of various measurable indicators.

RBI's Digital Payments Index FAQs

Q1. What is the DPI index?

Ans. The RBI constructed a composite Digital Payments Index (DPI) to capture the extent of digitisation of payments across the country.

Q2. What are the three foundational pillars of the digital economy?

Ans. The three pillars of the digital revolution: data, talent and innovation

Q3. Who released the digital payment index?

Ans. The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI)

Source: BS

Golden-headed Cisticola Latest News

Recently, Golden-headed Cisticola bird was discovered for the first time in the Mathikettan Shola National Park, Idukki in the southern Western Ghats after an extensive gap.

About Golden-headed Cisticola

• The Scientific Name of the Golden-headed Cisticola is Cisticola exilis.
• It is also known as the bright-capped cisticola, is a species of warbler in the family Cisticolidae.
• It is omnivorous, primarily eating invertebrates such as insects and small slugs, but also eating grass seeds.
• Habitat of Golden-headed Cisticola: It is usually found in grasslands in the mountain ranges.
• Distribution of Golden-headed Cisticola: It is found in Australia and Asian countries. In India it has been observed in parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and northern Kerala.
• Golden-headed Cisticola Appearance: Male birds have distinct golden-orange plumage on their head, neck, and chest during breeding. They also have pinkish beaks and black streaks on their backs. They can be easily identified by their distinctive call.
• The bird was previously spotted in the grasslands of Banasura Hills in Wayanad.
• Conservation Status
  • IUCN: Least Concern

Mathikettan Shola National Park

• It is located in the southern part of the Palakkad Gap in the Western Ghats of Kerala.
• Vegetation of Mathikettan Shola National Park: It houses evergreen forests, moist deciduous forests, shola grasslands and semi-evergreens.
• Three streams namely Uchillkuthi Puzha, Mathikettan Puzha, and Njandar being the tributaries of Panniyar, originate from the hill ranges of Mathikettan.
• Highest Point of Mathikettan Shola National Park : Kattumala is located in the eastern border of the park adjoining Tamil Nadu.
• Muthavan tribes are situated about the northeastern borders of Mathikettan Shola.

Golden-headed Cisticola FAQs

Q1. Why is the Golden-headed Cisticola called the tailor bird?

Ans. The Golden-headed Cisticola is its habit of sewing leaves together with cobweb to form (and conceal) its nest.

Q2. What is a Cisticola?

Ans. These are a genus of very small insectivorous birds 

Q3. What is the Golden-headed Cisticola habitat?

Ans. It lives in sub-coastal areas, wetlands, swamp margins

Source: TH

Small Modular Reactors Latest News

The Finance Minister recently announced a ₹20,000 crore ‘Nuclear Energy Mission’ to develop indigenous Small Modular Reactors (SMR).

About Small Modular Reactors 

• SMRs are defined as small nuclear reactors with a maximum output of 300 Megawatt electric (MWe) and can produce 7.2 million kWh per day.
• By comparison, large-size nuclear power plants have an output of over 1,000 MWe and can produce 24 million kWh per day. 
• SMRs, which can produce a large amount of low-carbon electricity, are:
  • Small – physically a fraction of the size of a conventional nuclear power reactor.
  • Modular – making it possible for systems and components to be factory-assembled and transported as a unit to a location for installation.
  • Reactors – harnessing nuclear fission to generate heat to produce energy.

Small Modular Reactors Advantages

• Relatively small physical footprints;
• Reduced capital investment;
• Can be factory-built, unlike the conventional nuclear reactors that are built on-site;
• Ability to be sited in locations not possible for larger nuclear plants;
• Provisions for incremental power additions;
• It also offers distinct safeguards, security, and non-proliferation advantages.
• They are well suited to be integrated into energy hubs in combination with other sources of energy.
• They are adapted to supply electricity and additionally capable of supplying heat for industrial applications, district heating, as well as for the production of hydrogen.

Small Modular Reactors FAQs

Q1. Where are small modular reactors used?

Ans. SMRs can be used for power generation, process heat, desalination, or other industrial uses.

Q2. What are the benefits of small modular reactors?

Ans. SMRs offer enhanced safety, lower costs, faster deployment, scalability, reduced environmental impact, and flexibility for diverse applications.

Q3. What is the working principle of SMR?

Ans. SMRs nuclear fission reactions to generate heat that can be used directly or for generating electricity.

Source: TH

Henipavirus Latest News

Camp Hill virus, a henipavirus related to Nipah, has been recently detected in North America, raising concerns of a potential outbreak.

About Henipavirus

• Henipaviruses (family Paramyxoviridae) are zoonotic, negative-sense RNA viruses.
• Fruit bats (Pteropus species, also called ‘flying foxes’) are the natural hosts of Henipaviruses.
• Henipaviruses can cross species barriers, infecting various mammals, including humans.
• They often cause severe respiratory illness and encephalitis and are associated with high case fatality rates.
• The two most notable henipaviruses are Hendra virus and Nipah virus. 
  • Hendra virus, first identified in Australia, has caused outbreaks with mortality rates up to 70%.
  • The Nipah virus has been linked with numerous outbreaks in Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysia and Bangladesh, with case-fatality rates estimated at 40%–75% depending on surveillance and clinical management.
• Why are henipaviruses so deadly?
  • It lies in their ability to encode several proteins which block the innate immune response in infected animals and humans. 
  • These inhibit the cell’s response to viral infection, and allow viral replication. 

Henipavirus Transmission

• Direct contact with infected animals (e.g., bats, horses, pigs).
• Consumption of contaminated food or water.
• Human-to-human transmission through bodily fluids, close contact, or respiratory droplets.

Henipavirus Symptoms

• Common symptoms include dizziness, headache, fever, and myalgias. 
• However, fatality often occurs when the disease progresses to severe encephalitis and symptoms like confusion, abnormal reflexes, seizures, and coma occur.

Henipavirus Treatment

• Treatment is symptomatic, and no vaccine or antiviral drug has been developed so far to treat the disease.

Henipavirus FAQs

Q1. Is Henipavirus zoonotic?

Ans. Yes, Henipavirus is zoonotic, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans. 

Q2. What is the incubation period of Henipavirus?

Ans. Among humans, the incubation periods are 4–20 days and 5–12 days, for Nipah and Hendra, respectively.

Q3. What does the Nipah virus do to humans?

Ans. Infection with Nipah virus can cause mild to severe disease, including encephalitis and potentially death. 

Source: N18

Very Short-Range Air Defence System Latest News

Recently, the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted three successive flight-trials of the Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) from Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.

About Very Short-Range Air Defence System

• It is a Man Portable Air Defence system.
• Features of Very Short-Range Air Defence System
• It is short-range, lightweight and portable surface-to-air missiles that can be fired by individuals or small groups to destroy aircraft or helicopters. 
• Range: They have a maximum range of 8 kilometres and can engage targets at altitudes of 4.5 km. 
• The missile incorporates many novel technologies including a miniaturized Reaction Control System (RCS) and integrated avionics, which have been successfully proven during the tests. 
• The RCS is responsible for attitude control and steering by the use of thrusters and is also capable of providing small amounts of thrust in any desired direction or combination of directions. 
• It is designed and developed indigenously by the Research Center Imarat in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and Development cum Production Partners.
• The missile system has the capability to meet the needs of all the three branches of the Armed Forces, viz. Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.

Very Short-Range Air Defence System FAQs

Q1. What is the short range air defense system?

Ans. Short range air defense (SHORAD) is a group of anti-aircraft weapons and tactics that have to do with defense against low-altitude air threats

Q2. What is the smallest anti air missile?

Ans. The Spike, also called the Forward Firing Miniature Munition (F2M2), 

Q3. Which organisation flight tested the very short range air defence system missile?

Ans. Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO)

Source: PIB