😇 Why Nitro furan was in news?

✍ Nitrofurans are a class of synthetic broad-spectrum antibiotics historically used in animals (e.g., poultry, livestock, shrimp) to prevent or treat infections.

Why they are banned

✍ Nitrofurans metabolise into compounds such as AOZ, AMOZ, AHD, SEM, which are persistent residues in animal tissues (including eggs).

✍ Scientific studies have linked these residues to genotoxic and potential carcinogenic effects, prompting global bans or restrictions in many jurisdictions.

✍ Food regulators like FSSAI in India apply a “zero tolerance” policy for nitrofuran residues in food products.

IMPORTANT PLACES IN NEWS 2025
1.MORAND-GANJAL IRRIGATION PROJECT (Madhya Pradesh) ✍️ The NTCA warned that this project will destroy tiger habitat and displace the Korku tribal community located near the Satpura and Melghat Tiger Reserves.
2. GUNERI’S INLAND MANGROVE (Kutch, Gujarat) – ✍️ Designated as Gujarat’s first Biodiversity Heritage Site. This site is unique as it is the only inland mangroves site in India.
3. DHANAURI WETLAND (Uttar Pradesh, near Jewar airport) – ✍️ The National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered the state government to submit the status of notifying this water body as a wetland. It is recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA).
4. KILO AREA : ‘COAL MINE’ REGION (Dima Hasao district, Assam) – ✍️ Flooding trapped workers in a coal mine, drawing attention back to the dangerous practice of ‘rat-hole’ mining.
5. DEMCHOK (Ladakh) – ✍️ India and China restored patrolling rights along the LAC (Line of Actual Control).
6. JALADAM VALLEY (Kakinada district, Andhra Pradesh, on Godavari River) ✍️ Home to the Konda Reddi tribe, which is recognized as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).

7. BANGUS VALLEY (Jammu and Kashmir, Trans-Himalayan region) ✍️– The J&K government is aiming to promote the valley as an ecotourism destination.
8. HAJI PIR PASS (Jammu and Kashmir, Pir Panjal Range) ✍️– Recent terror attacks revived debates over India’s 1966 decision to surrender the pass to Pakistan during the Tashkent Agreement. It connects Poonch (India) to Rawalakot (PoK).
9. SHIKARI DEVI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY (Mandi, Himachal Pradesh) ✍️ – The Government of India designated areas around the sanctuary as Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) to mitigate the impact of urbanization.
10. PETRAPOLE LAND PORT (Indo-Bangladesh border) ✍️ – India terminated the transshipment facility previously provided to Bangladesh for exporting goods to third countries.
11. KASAMPATTY SACRED GROVE (Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu) ✍️– Designated as Tamil Nadu’s second Biodiversity Heritage Site.

Which of the following is/are included under the domains of the UNESCO Convention for Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage?
1. Performing arts
2. Social practices, rituals and festive events
3. Movable cultural property
4. Traditional craftsmanship

PLACES IN NEWS :AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, AND PACIFIC OCEAN
✍️ 1. MOUNT TARANAKI (New Zealand) – Granted legal personhood (Taranaki Maunga), making it the third natural entity in the country to receive this status.
✍️ 2. CHRISTMAS ISLAND (Australia, Indian Ocean) – Google plans to establish a significant artificial intelligence (AI) data centre on this remote territory.
✍️ 3. POINT NEMO (South Pacific Ocean) – Known as the most remote location on Earth. Crossed by INSV Tarini.
✍️. 4 VANUATU ISLAND (South Pacific) – Approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to classify environmental destruction as ecocide.

Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) :

✔ Constitutional/Legal Basis

📌 Established under Section 45ZB of RBI Act, 1934 (amended in 2016).


✔ Composition (Total 6 Members)

✍ 3 from RBI:
RBI Governor – Chairperson
Deputy Governor (in charge of monetary policy)
One officer nominated by RBI Board

📌 3 external members appointed by Central Government.

✔ Functions

📌 Determines repo rate to achieve the inflation target.

📌 India follows Flexible Inflation Targeting (FIT):
4% ± 2% (i.e., range 2%–6%).

✔ Voting

✍ Each member has one vote.

✍ Decision by majority.

✍ Governor has casting vote in case of tie.

✔ Meeting Frequency

✍ Must meet at least 4 times a year (usually every 2 months).

✍ Resolutions must be published immediately after each meeting.

PLACES IN NEWS :THE AMERICAS
✍️ 1. FUEGO VOLCANO (Guatemala, Central America) – The active stratovolcano's eruption triggered strong explosions and pyroclastic flows.
✍️2. MOUNT MCKINLEY (Alaska, USA) – The highest peak in North America.
✍️3. LAKE GATUN (Panama) – Water levels were significantly lower due to recent droughts, impacting this essential artificial lake for the Panama Canal.
✍️4. DARIEN GAP (Colombia and Panama) – Notorious as a treacherous, roadless jungle involved in the illegal migrant journey route into the US.
✍️5. COLORADO RIVER (USA) – Faces a crisis due to diminishing flow, prompting states to compete for future water rights.
✍️6. KAFFEKLUBBEN ISLAND (Greenland) – Noted as the northernmost point of land in the world.
✍️7. UTURUNCU VOLCANO (Bolivia, Andes Mountains) – Referred to as a “zombie” volcano because it is dormant yet seismically active due to internal liquid and gas movement.
✍️8. PERITO MORENO GLACIER (Argentina, Andes Mountains) – Faces rapid disintegration due to rising global temperatures.
✍️9. BELEM (Brazil) – The location where the UNFCCC’s 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) concluded with the adoption of the Belem Package.

Thalassemia
• Genetic blood disorder affecting hemoglobin synthesis
• Leads to reduced or absent globin chain production
• Causes chronic anemia
• Autosomal recessive inheritance
• Common in Mediterranean, Middle East, South Asia (including India)
• Symptoms: pallor, fatigue, jaundice, growth retardation
• Treatment: regular blood transfusions (severe cases)
• Risk of iron overload → requires chelation therapy
• Bone marrow transplant is curative in selected cases
• Prevention: carrier screening & genetic counseling

New Ramsar Sites Added

1. Siliserh Lake – Rajasthan
• India’s 96th Ramsar site
• Located in Alwar, near Sariska Tiger Reserve
• Artificial freshwater lake (1845)
• Important for migratory birds & biodiversity
• Supports local water supply & groundwater recharge

2. Kopra Jalashay – Chhattisgarh
• First Ramsar site of Chhattisgarh
• Located in Bilaspur district
• Reservoir-type wetland
• Habitat for migratory birds
• Supports irrigation, drinking water & livelihoods

India–Russia Trade in National Currency

✍ India and Russia agreed to expand bilateral trade settlement in national currencies (INR–Ruble).Decision taken at the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit.

Aim: Ensure uninterrupted trade and reduce dependence on the US Dollar.

✍ Key Points
👍 Interoperability of payment systems to be enhanced.
👍 Cooperation on financial messaging systems.
👍 Collaboration on Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) platforms.
👍 Focus on smooth and reliable payment mechanisms.

Trade Facilitation

✍ Address tariff and non-tariff barriers,Remove logistics bottlenecks.
,Improve insurance and reinsurance solutions.

Targets & Significance

👍 USD 100 billion bilateral trade target by 2030.

👍 Helps address India’s trade deficit with Russia.

👍 Supports de-dollarisation and rupee internationalisation.

TH Editorial analysis

📘 Digital Constitutionalism
✍️ Definition:
Digital constitutionalism is the projection of constitutional principles into the digital society, aiming to safeguard rights and regulate power in cyberspace.

✍️ Origin:
Emerged in the early 21st century with the rise of the internet and digital technologies, as scholars debated how constitutional values should evolve in the digital age.
✍️ Core Idea:
Ensures that digital technologies—which shape communication, governance, and freedoms—are aligned with constitutional values like liberty, equality, privacy, and accountability.

✍️ Scope:
Involves laws, policies, and frameworks that regulate internet governance, data protection, platform accountability, and digital rights.

Key Features:

✍️Protection of fundamental rights (privacy, freedom of expression, access to information).

✍️ Checks on digital power of states and corporations.

✍️ Norms for internet governance to prevent fragmentation and polarization.

✍️ Adaptation of constitutionalism to new challenges like AI, surveillance, and big data. #MAINS PERSPECTIVE # CONCEPT BUILDING #THNEWS

RBI to Conduct OMO Purchases

✍️ What happened?
RBI announced Open Market Operation (OMO) purchases of ₹1 lakh crore of Government Securities (G-Secs).

✍️ Objective: Inject durable liquidity into the banking system.

✍️ Execution plan: ₹50,000 crore on December 11 ,₹50,000 crore later in the month

✍️ Additional Liquidity Measure

RBI will also undertake a $5 billion USD/INR Buy–Sell swap (3-year tenor).
Purpose: Add long-term rupee liquidity without directly intervening in spot forex market.
Why RBI did this?

🛠 Evolving liquidity conditions and outlook.

To ensure Smooth monetary transmission, Adequate liquidity for credit growth

Liquidity impacted by: Currency in circulation, Forex operations, Reserve maintenance by banks


✍️ RBI is comfortable with current rupee level.

Does not target any specific exchange rate or band.
Allows market-determined exchange rate, intervenes only to curb excessive volatility.

✍️✍️ OPEN MARKET OPERTAION (OMO) BY RBI

OMO refers to the buying and selling of government securities by RBI in the open market to regulate liquidity and money supply.

Types of OMO

1. OMO Purchase

RBI buys G-Secs from banks

👉 Injects liquidity

2. OMO Sale

RBI sells G-Secs to banks

👉 Absorbs liquidity
KEY OBJECTIVES
Manage system liquidity, Support credit flow, Improve monetary policy transmission, Stabilize interest rates
NOTE: VERY IMPORTANT FROM PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

IMPORTANT PLACES IN NEWS 2025 (REVISION) 1. PANGSAU PASS (India-Myanmar border, Patkai Hills) – The Pangsau Pass International Festival was held here after a four-year gap. It is famous for the nearby “Lake of No Return” (Myanmar).

2. NEW RAMSAR WETLAND SITES (Various) – India’s total number of Ramsar wetlands increased to 94. New additions mentioned include Khecheopalri Wetland (Sikkim), Udhwa Lake (Jharkhand), Gokul Jalashay (Bihar - an oxbow lake), and Gogabeel Lake (Bihar - an oxbow wetland that joins the Ganga and Mahananda during floods).
3. BHORAMDEV WILDLIFE SANCTUARY (Chhattisgarh) – Highlighted due to Human-Wildlife Conflict, and forms part of the Kanha-Achanakmar Wildlife Corridor.
4. NONGKHYLLEM WILDLIFE SANCTUARY (Meghalaya) – A proposed ecotourism project here triggered opposition from local communities and activists.
5. TSARAP CHU CONSERVATION RESERVE (Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh) – Notified under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, it is India’s largest conservation reserve.

6. NAGSHANKAR TEMPLE (Assam) – Officially declared a model temple for turtle conservation, as it houses critically endangered “black softshell turtles”.
7. KUMRAM BHEEM CONSERVATION RESERVE (Telangana + Maharashtra + Chhattisgarh) – Declared a key tiger corridor intended to safeguard connectivity between Kawal Tiger Reserve (Telangana) and reserves across neighboring states.
8. SAWALKOTE HYDROPOWER PROJECT (Jammu & Kashmir, on Chenab River) – The stalled project is being fast-tracked due to its strategic and energy significance.
9. NAHARGARH WILDLIFE SANCTUARY (Jaipur, Rajasthan) – Plans were initiated to revise boundaries to resolve existing legal complications. It is part of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve Corridor.
10. MAHUADANR WOLF SANCTUARY (Jharkhand) – Described as India’s first and only wolf sanctuary, dedicated exclusively to protecting the Indian grey wolf. NOTE: CRUCIAL POINTS FOR PRELIMS 2026

IMPORTANT PLACES IN NEWS 2025 REVISION (EUROPE )
1. SANTORINI ISLAND (Greece, Aegean Sea) – The volcanic crater island was recently shaken by a swarm of earthquakes.
2. KERCH STRAIT (Crimea) – Noted as a natural maritime corridor connecting the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. It faced an environmental threat after two Russian ships spilled low-grade fuel.

3. OKJÖKULL GLACIER (Iceland) – Became the first glacier to be officially declared dead due to climate change.
4. GEORGIA (Caucasus region) – Achieved WHO malaria-free certification. Turkey is now the only country in the WHO European Region not yet certified malaria-free.

5. BIRCH GLACIER (Switzerland, Swiss Alps) – Its catastrophic collapse triggered a massive landslide, posing a risk of flooding to the River Lonza.
6. ZANGEZUR CORRIDOR (Planned route through Armenia) – A planned transport route intended to connect Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan region and link Azerbaijan’s capital Baku to Kars in Turkey.

IMP PLACES IN NEWS 2025 REVISION : AFRICA
1. LAKE NAIVASHA (Kenya, Rift Valley) – Severely impacted by the invasive water hyacinth, disrupting ecosystems by depleting oxygen and blocking waterways. It is a Ramsar site.
2. TUTI ISLAND (Sudan, at the confluence of the Blue Nile and White Nile) – Was a site of violent civil war involving the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
3. DARFUR & KORDOFAN REGION (Sudan) – Identified as the site of one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises due to mass killings and displacement from internal conflict.
4. MOUNT FENTALE (Ehiopia, stratovolcano) – The volcano emitted massive methane plumes, described as an unprecedented natural event with climate change implications. Methane is 28 times more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide.
5. DAR-ES-SALAAM PORT (Tanzania) – Hosted part of India’s Maiden India-Africa Naval Exercise.
6. SUEZ CANAL (Northeastern Egypt) – Shipping traffic was drastically disrupted due to the Red Sea security crisis, triggered by Houthi attacks on commercial vessels. The canal connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean.
7. SIERRA LEONE – Several islands in this nation are facing imminent submergence due to rising sea levels.
8. LAKE TURKANA (Kenya and Ethiopia) – Its lower water levels were studied for their potential impact on earthquakes

IMPORTANT PLACES IN NEWS 2025 REVISION : ASIA
1. LAKE SAPANCA (Turkey, freshwater lake) – Experiences habitat degradation due to urbanization and industrial expansion along its shore.

2. GULF OF TONKIN (South China Sea) – The location of a territorial dispute between China and Vietnam.
3. MOUNT LEWOTOBI LAKI-LAKI (Flores Island, Southeastern Indonesia) – Its eruption triggered earthquakes, fatalities, and mass evacuations.
4. ARAL SEA (Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan) – A case of ecological collapse where the North Aral Sea is rebounding while the South Aral Sea dries up.
5. MOUNT IBU (Halmahera Island, Indonesia) – Erupted more than 1,000 times in January 2025.
6. CASPIAN SEA (Bordered by Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia) – Noted for its declining water levels. It is the world’s largest inland water body.
7. ZAGROS MOUNTAINS (Covers Turkey, Iraq, Iran) – Highlighted because a hilly area in Iraq surrounding the mountains is currently sinking into the Earth, caused by the Neotethys oceanic slab slowly sinking into the Earth’s mantle.
8. YALA GLACIER (Langtang Valley, Nepal) – Became the first glacier in Nepal to be declared “dead”, having shrunk by 66% since the 1970s.
9. SANDY CAY REEF (South China Sea, Spratly Islands) – A territorial dispute between China and the Philippines sparked renewed tensions.
10. “DEATH TRIANGLE” & “DEATH CRESCENT” – These are India’s renamed terms for two high-crime geopolitical regions: the Death Crescent (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran) is an arc of instability involving terrorism and narcotics, and the Death Triangle (Myanmar, Laos, Thailand tri-border) is a hub of drug trade and cyber-fraud.
11. AYNI AIRBASE (Tajikistan, near the Wakhan Corridor) – India withdrew from the air base.
12. KUNAR RIVER (Afghanistan) – New Delhi extended support to Afghanistan to build a dam over the river

IMPORTANT PLACES IN NEWS 2025 1. NETZARIM CORRIDOR (Gaza) – A military-controlled zone in northern Gaza from 2023 to 2025.
2. PHILADELPHI CORRIDOR (Gaza-Egypt border) – This corridor links the Mediterranean Sea to the Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel.
3. KURDISTAN REGION (Spans Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria) – India dispatched a humanitarian aid consignment to the region of Iraq.

AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, AND PACIFIC OCEAN
1. MOUNT TARANAKI (New Zealand) – Granted legal personhood (Taranaki Maunga), making it the third natural entity in the country to receive this status.
2. CHRISTMAS ISLAND (Australia, Indian Ocean) – Google plans to establish a significant artificial intelligence (AI) data centre on this remote territory.
3. POINT NEMO (South Pacific Ocean) – Known as the most remote location on Earth. Crossed by INSV Tarini.
4. VANUATU ISLAND (South Pacific) – Approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to classify environmental destruction as ecocide.

Q. With reference to Cyclone Ditwah (2025), consider the following statements:

1. It attained the intensity of a Severe Cyclonic Storm before landfall.
2. The cyclone caused extensive damage mainly due to heavy rainfall rather than wind speed.
3. The name “Ditwah” was suggested by Yemen.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 2 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

✅ Correct Answer: (a) 2 and 3 only

Explanation
Statement 1 – Incorrect ❌
Cyclone Ditwah did not intensify into a Severe Cyclonic Storm.
It peaked only as a Cyclonic Storm under IMD classification.

Statement 2 – Correct ✅
The major destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah, especially in Sri Lanka,
👉 This makes it a rainfall-dominated cyclone.

Statement 3 – Correct ✅
The name “Ditwah” was suggested by Yemen, following the WMO/ESCAP cyclone naming protocol for the North Indian Ocean.