Answer: c

• Recently, Pakistan and Afghanistan security forces exchanged gunfire at the Torkham border crossing.
• The clash occurred due to a dispute over border post construction.
• The border has been closed for over a week, impacting trade and civilian movement.

About Torkham Border Crossing

• Location: A key transit point between Pakistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Afghanistan (Nangarhar Province).
• Importance: Facilitates trade and travel, serving as the busiest border crossing between the two nations.
• Humanitarian Concerns

1. Critical Timing: The border closure comes during Ramadan, a period when food imports typically surge to meet increased demand.
2. Escalating Food Insecurity: Afghanistan is already grappling with a severe hunger crisis, with millions at risk of starvation.

• Impact of Taliban Rule & Aid Reduction:

1. International sanctions have severely restricted Afghanistan’s banking sector, limiting financial transactions.
2. Declining foreign aid has further exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, making it difficult to secure essential supplies.

Answer: b)

• The Wallace Line has gained attention in the news following recent research that offers fresh perspectives on the complex biogeographical patterns of Southeast Asia and Australia.
• The Wallace Line : A faunal boundary line separating the ecozones of Asia and Australia.
• Discovered by: Alfred Russel Wallace in 1863 during his explorations.

Location:

• Southern part: Intersects the Lombok Strait (between Bali and Lombok).
• Northern part: Passes through the Makassar Strait (between Borneo and Sulawesi).
• Significance:Divides Asian fauna (west) from Australian fauna (east).
• Example species:

1. West (Asia): Orangutans, tigers, rhinos.
2. East (Australia): Tree-kangaroos, Komodo dragons.

• Effects:
• Acts as a barrier for land animals, limiting species migration.
• Does not affect marine life.
• Wallacea: The transitional zone around the Wallace Line, known for high biodiversity.
• Scientific Importance: Helps in studying animal evolution and species distribution.

Answer: c

• The U.S. Air Force recently tested the Harpoon anti-ship missile on F-16s at Nellis Air Force Base, marking a strategic shift to enhance maritime strike capabilities and enable faster deployment of advanced weaponry.
• Harpoon Missile Overview

1. Developer: Boeing; introduced in 1977, used by 30+ countries, including India.
2. Specifications: 4.5m long, 526kg weight, launched from ships, submarines, and aircraft.

• Features:
• All-weather, over-the-horizon targeting.
• Range: 90-240 km; Speed: Mach 0.85.
• GPS-assisted navigation, capable of both anti-ship and land strikes.
• 221kg blast warhead for high-impact destruction.
• Rapid Integration Process

1. Innovative System: The 53rd Test and Evaluation Group introduced a gateway system for quick missile-aircraft communication.
2. Efficiency Gains: Reduces modification needs, allowing faster deployment of advanced weaponry.

• Implications for Naval Warfare

1. Strategic Shift: Traditionally, the Harpoon was reserved for U.S. Navy aircraft.
2. Enhanced Air Force Role: Equipping F-16s with anti-ship capability expands operational versatility and strengthens combat readiness.

Answer: b

• NITI Aayog recently released a report titled From Borrowers to Builders – Women’s Role in India’s Financial Growth Story, highlighting the growing financial engagement of women in India.
• As of December 2024, 27 million women were actively monitoring their credit scores—a 42% rise from the previous year, reflecting increased financial awareness.
• Key Findings

1. Financial Participation: Women’s involvement in financial activities tripled between 2019 and 2024, with 60% of women borrowers residing in semi-urban and rural areas.
2. Credit Monitoring Growth: Women’s share in self-monitoring credit reached 19.43% in December 2024, up from 17.89% in 2023. Non-metro areas saw a 48% rise in credit monitoring compared to 30% in metro areas.
3. Regional Trends: Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana accounted for nearly half of all self-monitoring women. The southern region led with 10.2 million women, while Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest growth in active borrowers.
4. Loan Preferences: Women preferred loans against property (36%), agricultural loans (26%), and business loans (25%). By December 2024, women constituted 35% of business borrowers, with business loan origination rising 14% since 2019.

Answer: c)

• The rise in swine flu (H1N1) cases in India has alarmed health authorities, with over 20,414 infections and 347 fatalities reported by December 2024. States such as Delhi, Kerala, and Maharashtra are the most affected.
• ABOUT:

1. A respiratory infection caused by the H1N1 virus, initially found in pigs but now adapted to humans.
2. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills, and fatigue, similar to seasonal flu.
3. Severe cases may lead to pneumonia and respiratory complications.

• Swine Flu Outbreak in India (2024)

1. Delhi reported the highest number of cases, followed by Kerala and Maharashtra.
2. Maharashtra recorded the highest number of deaths, followed by Kerala, Gujarat, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, and Haryana.
3. The surge is attributed to seasonal changes, increased human interaction, and the spread of multiple viruses like H1N1, H3N2, and adenoviruses.
4. The government is actively monitoring the outbreak through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP).

• Factors Contributing to the Surge

1. Seasonal Trends: Peaks typically occur January–March and August–October.
2. Environmental Conditions: Monsoon and winter months create favorable conditions for the virus.
3. Increased Travel: Post-pandemic movement has facilitated virus transmission.
4. Weakened Immunity: Weather changes, COVID-19 effects, and stress have led to reduced immunity.
5. Vaccination Delays: Limited awareness and access to flu shots contribute to low vaccination rates.

• Transmission

1. Respiratory Droplets: Coughing, sneezing, and talking spread the virus.
2. Contaminated Surfaces: The virus can survive on surfaces for hours.
3. Close Contact: Spending time near infected individuals increases the risk.

• Treatment and Prevention

1. Antiviral medications like oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) are effective when administered within 48 hours of symptom onset.
2. Vaccination, good hygiene, and avoiding crowded places can help prevent infection.

Answer: c

• In a recent move, the countries of the Lake Tanganyika Basin have initiated a five-year effort to analyze and combat transboundary threats to the lake’s biodiversity.
• Overview
• Ancient lake located in East Africa.
• Bordering Countries: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Tanzania, and Zambia.
• One of the world’s longest and deepest lakes (over 400 miles long).
• Forms part of the Western Rift Valley, with steep rising lands along most of its shores.
• Geographical & Ecological Importance
• Divides Eastern and Western African floral regions.
• Oil palms, characteristic of Western African flora, grow along its shores.
• Major rivers feeding the lake: Malagarasi, Ruzizi, and Kalambo.
• Lukuga River serves as the lake’s outlet, flowing into the Lualaba River.
• Economic activities: Rice farming, subsistence agriculture, and fishing.
• Recent Biodiversity Protection Initiative
• Led by UNEP, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
• Enhances transboundary cooperation among the four bordering nations.
• Objectives:
• Promote sustainable fisheries.
• Protect biodiversity and restore degraded landscapes.
• Establish core conservation zones in three protected areas.
• Ensure sustainable natural resource use in protected areas and buffer zones.

Answer: b)

• The Indian government launched Project Lion to conserve and expand the Asiatic lion population, with an approved budget of Rs 2,927.71 crore, showcasing its commitment to wildlife conservation.
• The Asiatic lion population is currently concentrated in Gujarat, with a census reporting 674 individuals in 2020 (29% increase from 2015).

Key Components

• Habitat Management

1. Barda Dungar Wildlife Sanctuary (100 km from Gir) developed as an alternative habitat.
2. First lion spotted in Barda in 2023, confirming its potential.
3. Additional habitats in Saurashtra: Girnar, Mitiyala, Jesor-Hipawadi, Hingolgadh, Rajula to Jafrabad.

• Wildlife Health Monitoring

1. Health protocols to prevent disease outbreaks.
2. Veterinary Hospital in Sasan, Gir (National Wildlife Disease Diagnostic Centre) planned.
3. Focus on diseases like Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) and Babesia, which posed threats in 2018 and 2020.

• Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation

1. 1,000 sq. km. exclusive lion habitat by relocating human settlements.
2. More lion habitats in Saurashtra: Girnar, Mitiyala, Jesor-Hipawadi, Hingolgadh, Rajula to Jafrabad.

• Other Conservation Measures

1. Community involvement to encourage coexistence.
2. Technology-based monitoring: Drone surveillance, CCTV, 33 rapid response units for lion protection.
3. 100 new tracker positions for lion rescue operations.

• Significance

1. Strengthens India’s commitment to wildlife conservation.
2. Protects the Asiatic lion, an important species in the ecosystem.
3. Promotes eco-tourism and sustainable development.

Answer: C)

• A research team from China and Japan has discovered compelling evidence that niobium diselenide (NbSe₂) demonstrates characteristics of a Bose metal, a quantum state that has long been theorized but remains unproven.
• Definition: A Bose metal is a quantum metallic state where Cooper pairs exist but do not condense into a superconducting phase. It exhibits conductivity between that of a superconductor (infinite conductivity) and an insulator (zero conductivity) at temperatures near absolute zero.
• Key Features:

1. Formation of Cooper Pairs:Electrons experience an attractive force, forming Cooper pairs (similar to superconductors).
2. Absence of Superconducting Coherence:Despite pairing, these particles fail to establish long-range superconducting order.
3. Intermediate Conductivity:Conductivity remains finite—neither infinite (as in superconductors) nor zero (as in insulators).
4. Magnetic Field Sensitivity:Strong magnetic fields can disrupt or modify the behavior of a Bose metal.

• Limitations:

1. No Practical Applications Yet:Currently, Bose metals have no widespread industrial use, but they hold potential for future quantum electronic applications.
2. Experimental Challenges:Requires precise control of temperature, material thickness, and magnetic fields for study.
3. Ambiguous Definition:Ongoing debate whether Bose metals are a distinct quantum state or just a transition phase between superconductors and insulators.

Answer: C)

• According to recent news, market experts, including Samir Arora, are strongly criticizing India’s newly introduced capital gains tax on foreign investors, deeming it a ‘significant policy misstep.
• The tax is perceived as a deterrent to Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs), potentially reducing foreign investment in Indian markets.
• About Capital Gains Tax:Levied on profits from the sale of capital assets.
• Capital assets include:

1. Stocks
2. Mutual funds
3. Property
4. Gold

Types of Capital Gains Tax

• Short-Term Capital Gains (STCG):

1. Applies when assets are sold within a short period.
2. Taxed at a higher rate to discourage speculative trading.

• Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG):

1. Applies when assets are held for a longer duration.
2. Taxed at a lower rate to encourage long-term investments.

Answer: B)

• India recently launched the Cities Coalition for Circularity (C-3).The initiative was announced by the Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs to promote sustainable urban development.
• About Cities Coalition for Circularity
• A multi-nation alliance for city-to-city collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and private sector partnerships.
• Announced at the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific (Jaipur).
• Aims to promote resource efficiency and a low-carbon economy by strengthening cooperation between policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers.
• Key Details of the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum
• Theme: Realizing Circular Societies Towards Achieving SDGs and Carbon Neutrality in Asia-Pacific.
• Venue: Rajasthan International Centre, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
• Organized by:
• Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (India)
• United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD)
• Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
• Supported by:United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP),
• Japan’s Ministry of Environment & Other international and regional organizations.
• Jaipur Declaration (2025-2034) to be adopted – a nonpolitical, nonbinding commitment guiding the next decade’s efforts towards resource efficiency and sustainable urban development.