16th October 2025

Explanation -
Astra Mark 2 Missile is a Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile. It is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). In addition to various laboratories of DRDO, more than 50 public and private industries, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, have contributed towards successful realisation of the weapon system. The Astra Mark-1 air-to-air missile with a strike range of around 90-100 kms is already in the Indian Air Force and is already integrated with the LCA Tejas and the Su-30 MKI fighter jets. The Astra Mark 2 would give the Indian Air Force an edge over the adversaries in air-to-air combat and can also be offered as an export product to friendly foreign countries. 

Features —
While Astra Mark-1 is a single pulse, smokeless solid-fuelled motor, the Astra Mark-2 is going to be a dual pulse missile, giving it a higher range. Astra Mk-1 is 3.6 m (12 ft) long with a diameter of 178 mm (7.0 in) and weighs 154 kg with a maximum range of 110 km. Astra Mark 2 will be a bigger missile with a diameter of 190 mm and weigh close to 175 kg. It can go up to a distance of 150 to 180 km and can travel at around Mach 4.5. It is equipped with a indigenous Radio Frequency (RF) Seeker from Su-30 Mk-I 

Explanation -
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is the term used to describe the sudden and unexpected death of an infant that is less than one year old, for which no cause can be found even after an investigation. It is sometimes known as 'cot death' or 'crib death', even though cots and cribs are not the cause of these deaths. The most SIDS deaths occur during the first six months of a baby's life. It occurs slightly more in baby boys and happens when the baby is asleep. 

Risk factors for SIDS —
Premature birth or low birth weight; A family history as babies who have had a sibling who died of SIDS are at a higher risk; Exposure to smoking/secondhand smoke during or after pregnancy; Unsafe sleeping positions or environments and poor prenatal care. 

Possible causes of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome —
Problems of under-development of the part of the brain that helps control breathing and waking during sleep. It may also be a genetic vulnerability or a vulnerability to environmental stresses. Vaccines do not cause SIDS. 

Explanation - 
Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder that is caused by degeneration of nerve cells in the part of the brain called the substantia nigra, which controls movement. These nerve cells die or become impaired, losing the ability to produce an important chemical called dopamine. Studies have shown that symptoms of Parkinson's develop in patients with an 80 percent or greater loss of dopamine-producing cells in the substantia nigra. Normally, dopamine operates in a delicate balance with other neurotransmitters to help coordinate the millions of nerve and muscle cells involved in movement. Without enough dopamine, this balance is disrupted, resulting in tremor (trembling in the hands, arms, legs and jaw); rigidity (stiffness of the limbs); slowness of movement; and impaired balance and coordination – the hallmark symptoms of Parkinson's. 

Explanation -
The Union Minister of State for Law and Justice recently inaugurated the Live Cases Dashboard of Legal Information Management and Briefing System (LIMBS) in New Delhi. 

About Live Cases Dashboard of the Legal Information Management and Briefing System (LIMBS) -
It is designed to provide real-time data visualisation of court cases and offer an overview of upcoming hearings to enable proactive decision-making and better inter-ministerial coordination. It provides details of all cases scheduled to be heard in the next seven days in the Supreme Court, High Courts, or any other courts involving various ministries of the Government of India. 

Key Facts about Legal Information Management and Briefing System (LIMBS) -
It is a web-based application for monitoring of all court cases where the Union of India is one of the parties. LIMBS came into existence for all ministries/departments/autonomous organisations/CPSUs in 2016, and an advanced version in January 2020. Since then the application is seamlessly working under the supervision of the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice (as Nodal Ministry). It is an innovative and easy-to-access online tool which is available 24x7 to all the stakeholders,, government officials, department users, nodal officers, higher officials of ministries, advocates, arbitrators, and claimants of ministries to upload the latest information. It is a dashboard-based system for the user Ministries/Departments on which they can see their legal matters at a glance. 

Explanation - 
India is the natural home of the largest population of Asian elephants. It is also found in Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar. It usually resides in shrublands, artificial/ terrestrial forests and grasslands. It is listed as 'Endangered' on the IUCN Red List of threatened species. It is also listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The earliest indications of captive use of Asian elephants are engravings on seals of the Indus Valley Civilisation dated to the 3rd millennium BC.