11th June 2026

Explanation – Gharial is a freshwater crocodile belonging to the Crocodylia Order and Crocodylidae Family. The name 'gharial' comes from the Hindi word ghara, meaning pot or vessel, referring to the bulbous snout tip of adult males, which resembles an inverted pot.

Habitat Preference: Gharials inhabit deep, clear, freshwater rivers with sandy banks, primarily within Himalayan river systems.

Distribution:

• It is mainly found in the rivers of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.
• Their major population occurs in three tributaries of the Ganga River: the Chambal (hosts the largest wild population) and Girwa Rivers in India, and the Rapti-Naryani River in Nepal.

The Gharial reserves of India are located in three states: Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan

Explanation – The largest black holes are called "supermassive." These black holes have masses that are more than 1 million suns together. Scientists have found proof that every large galaxy contains a supermassive black hole at its centre. The supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way galaxy is called Sagittarius A*. It has a mass equal to about 4 million suns and would fit inside a very large ball that could hold a few million Earths.

Explanation – Dark patterns refer to deceptive design practices used in websites and apps that intentionally lead users into making choices they might not have made otherwise. These tactics often manipulate users into actions such as purchasing items, subscribing to services, or sharing personal data without fully realising the consequences. Unlike user-friendly design, which aims to facilitate and enhance the user's experience, dark patterns are employed to benefit the business, often at the expense of the user's best interest.

Explanation – It is a major under-construction road tunnel that will connect Sonamarg in Jammu & Kashmir to Dras in Ladakh. It is situated under the Zoji La pass on the Srinagar-Leh Highway (NH-1). Upon completion, the tunnel will join the Ganderbal district of Jammu & Kashmir and the Kargil district of Ladakh, providing all-weather connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh.

Key Features:

• It is being constructed on the complex, rocky terrain at an elevation of 11,578 feet above sea level.
• It is the world's longest single tube bi directional road tunnel at the highest altitude.
• Once completed, it will reduce travel time across the Zojila stretch from around 90 minutes to just 15 minutes.
• It is being constructed using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), a method particularly suited to fragile Himalayan geology and variable rock conditions.

Explanation – Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank) [FCNR(B)] deposits are fixed-term deposits maintained by Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs), and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs).

Key Features:

• Deposits are held in foreign currencies such as the US Dollar (USD), Pound Sterling (GBP), Euro (EUR), Japanese Yen (JPY), Australian Dollar (AUD), and Canadian Dollar (CAD).
• Such deposits protect depositors from exchange-rate fluctuations.
• Interest earned is exempt from income tax in India for eligible non-residents.
• Interest rates are linked to international benchmark rates.