20th August 2026

Explanation - Corporate investment refers to expenditure by businesses on productive assets such as factories, machinery, equipment, technology and other forms of fixed capital. It is an important driver of economic growth because it expands productive capacity, creates employment and can improve productivity. A recently conducted study examines corporate investment through the lens of manufacturing firms and asks why private investment has remained subdued despite measures such as corporate tax cuts and a relatively low-interest-rate environment. According to the analysis, corporate investment as a share of GDP experienced a major increase in 2004, rising from 6.5% to 10.3% in a single year. It subsequently increased during India's high-growth period. Investment declined during the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) but later began recovering. This revival continued until demonetisation in 2016, after which corporate investment entered a prolonged decline. The study highlights that the decline after demonetisation is particularly significant because, unlike the Global Financial Crisis, which originated from an external global shock, demonetisation was a domestic policy shock. The analysis also notes that investment had already begun declining before the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that the pandemic alone cannot explain the prolonged weakness.

Explanation - The Narasimham committee on rural credit (1975) recommended the establishment of Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) on the ground that they would be much better suited than the commercial banks or co-operative banks in meeting the needs of rural areas. Accepting the recommendations of the committee, the government passed the Regional Rural Banks Act, 1976. They have been created with a view of serving primarily the rural areas of India with basic banking and financial services. However, RRBs may have branches set up for urban operations and their area of operation may include urban area too. Ownership – RRBs are jointly owned by the Central Government, the concerned State Government and Sponsor Banks. The issued capital of a RRB is shared by the owners in the proportion of 50%, 15% and 35% Primary objectives of RRBs include —

• Bridging the credit gap in rural areas.
• Check the outflow of rural deposits to urban areas.
• Reduce regional imbalances and increase rural employment generation.

Explanation - The National Sports Awards are given every year to recognise and reward excellence in sports. Nodal Ministry — Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Arjuna Award — It is given for good performance over a period of the previous four years and for showing qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and a sense of discipline. Arjuna Awards (Lifetime) — It is given to honour and motivate those sportspersons who have contributed to sports by their performance and continue to contribute to promotion of sports even after their retirement from active sporting careers. Dronacharya Award — It is given to coaches for doing outstanding and meritorious work on a consistent basis and for enabling sportspersons to excel in International events. Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar — The ‘Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar’ is given to corporate entity (Public/Private), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), who have played a visible role in the area of sports promotion and development.

Explanation - Helicase is a crucial enzyme in molecular biology, playing an essential role in DNA replication, repair, and transcription. It is a motor protein and unwinds the double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) into single strands, so that the cell can copy the genetic information stored in them. Working of Helicase — First, the enzyme attaches to a particular region of DNA and moves along the molecule. It uses energy from ATP (the cell’s main chemical energy source) to change its shape and force apart the two DNA strands. The result is a Y-shaped region called the replication fork, where the two strands are exposed. However, DNA tends to become increasingly twisted ahead of the replication fork as helicase moves along it. Other enzymes called topoisomerases relieve this twisting and prevent the DNA from becoming tangled or breaking. Once helicase has separated the strands, other replication machinery can use each exposed strand as a template to make a new complementary strand.

Explanation - Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD), also known as histiocytic necrotising lymphadenopathy, is a rare inflammatory disorder of the lymph nodes. It causes swollen, painful lymph nodes that most often develop in neck (cervical lymphadenopathy), along with fever and fatigue. It most often affects people aged 30 and under. It can closely mimic tuberculosis and lymphoma. Causes: The cause of KFD remains unclear, but both viral infections and autoimmune mechanisms have been suggested as potential triggers. Usually, this disease does not cause severe problems and gets better on its own. However, in some people, it can be associated with autoimmune disorders, conditions where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s cells and tissues. Treatment — There isn’t a specific cure, but certain medication can help to relieve symptoms, including: NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), for fever, pain, and headache. Corticosteroids may be used in severe cases to reduce swelling in lymph nodes.