1st October 2026

Explanation - It is a high-altitude glacial lake located in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. It is situated at an elevation of about 4,795 meters in the Raikana valley. It serves as an originating source for the Dhauliganga River, a vital tributary of the Alaknanda. The lake sits at the snout of the Raikana Glacier which is the primary source of this lake. It was classified as Category A, the highest-risk category lake by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

Explanation - PRAMAAN stands for Programme for Recognition and Accreditation of sustainable Management practices for Agroforestry And Natural forestry resources. Launched by: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) It is a nationally accepted framework for certification of forests, wood and non-timber forest products. Standards & Accreditation — Under the framework, Forest Management certification is assessed against Indian Forest Management Standards derived from the National Working Plan Code 2023. PRAMAAN’s accreditation architecture is benchmarked against international frameworks, ensuring recognition among domestic and global buyers and regulators. Audited by: The certification is audited by certification bodies accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB) under the Quality Council of India. Three types of Certification under IFWCS “PRAMAAN” — Forest Management (FM) Certification: For recorded forest areas and forest plantations, in accordance with the Indian Forest Management Standard Trees Outside Forests (TOF) Management Certification: For agroforestry systems and private plantations in accordance with the Trees Outside Forests (Management) Standard Chain of Custody (CoC) Management Certification: Ensures traceability of timber and non-timber forest products at each step of production, from its source to the customer. Significance — The IFWCS-PRAMAAN certificate enhances the social, and ecological values of India’s forests, agroforestry systems and the Indian wood-based industries.

Explanation - UNICORN, also known as NORA-50, is a shipborne integrated antenna system. It is a mast with integrated communication systems that is engineered to dramatically enhance a warship's stealth and situational awareness. Developed jointly by three Japanese companies (NEC Corporation, Sampa Kogyo K.K., and The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.), the system is already in service aboard Japan’s Mogami-class frigates. What does UNICORN do? Conventional warships typically carry several exposed antennas – for radar, communications, and electronic warfare – bolted onto a mast. Each of these surfaces adds to a ship’s radar cross-section, making it easier for an adversary to detect. UNICORN does away with that arrangement by consolidating multiple antennas into a single enclosed radome mounted on one mast, cutting down the number of reflective surfaces a hostile radar can pick up. Its design stacks the antennas vertically inside a bar-shaped dome, moving components such as the tactical air navigation antenna from an exposed position at the top of the mast to a more sheltered spot lower down. A lightning diverter strip runs across the mast's surface as a safety measure, given the exposure of ships at sea to lightning strikes. Inside this unified mast are several vital subsystems, including those for tactical data links, Tactical Air Navigation Systems (TACAN), Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), Electronic Support Measures (ESM), and general communications. This innovation significantly reduces the cross-section of naval platforms, thereby enhancing their stealth characteristics and enabling them to operate with reduced electronic signatures. Beyond stealth, the system is also designed to reduce mutual interference between closely packed antennas, improve the range at which external radio signals can be detected, and simplify installation and maintenance.

Explanation - In 2005 the Jeevan Reddy Commission said that AFSPA should be repealed and the clauses that are required should be included in other Acts.

Explanation - Ministry of Home Affairs is empowered to declare an area as “disturbed area” under the Section 3 of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958. AFSPA was introduced in 1958 to provide special legal security to the armed forces carrying out operations in the troubled areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura (seven sisters). In 1990 the act was extended to the state of Jammu and Kashmir to confront the rising insurgency in the area.