23rd August 2025

Explanation – The Krishna is the second largest east flowing river of the Deccan Peninsula. The Krishna Basin extends over Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka having a total area of 2.6 lakh Sq.km. It is bounded by Balaghat range on the north, by the Eastern Ghats on the south and the east and by the Western Ghats on the west. The Krishna River rises from the Western Ghats near Jor village of Satara district of Maharashtra at an altitude of 1,337 m just north of Mahabaleshwar. The total length of river from origin to its outfall into the Bay of Bengal is 1,400 km. The major part of basin is covered with agricultural land accounting to 75.86% of the total area. The Krishna forms a large delta with a shoreline of about 120 km. The Krishna delta appears to merge with that formed by the Godavari and extends about 35 km into the sea. 

Explanation – The QCI has been established as a National body for Accreditation on recommendation of Expert Mission of EU after consultation in Inter-Ministerial Task Force, Committee of Secretaries and Group of Ministers through a Cabinet decision in 1996. Accordingly, the QCI was set up through a PPP model as an independent autonomous organisation with the support of Government of India and the Indian Industry represented by the three premier industry associations, (i) Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), (ii) Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and (iii) Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Chairman of QCI is appointed by the Prime Minister on recommendation of the industry to the government. The Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (now Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, is the nodal ministry for QCI. 

Explanation – Ballistic Missiles are initially powered by a rocket or series of rockets in stages, but then follow an unpowered trajectory that arches upwards before descending to reach its intended target at high speed. Unlike intercontinental ballistic missiles that exit the Earth's atmosphere, short-range ballistic missiles stay within it. 

Explanation – The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations, established in 1944 to manage the administration and governance of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention). The ICAO laid the foundation for the standards and procedures for peaceful global air navigation. With 193 member states and industrial groups, the ICAO works to reach a consensus on the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and policies for international civil aviation. The SARPs are important for a safe, secure, efficient, environmentally responsible and economically sustainable civil aviation sector. These SARPs and policies are used by ICAO Member States to ensure that their local civil aviation operations and regulations conform to global norms, which in turn permits more than 100,000 daily flights in aviation's global network to operate safely and reliably in every region of the world. The ICAO is governed by the ICAO Council, which is headed by a President. 

Explanation – Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is a government agency established in 2012 within the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Its primary responsibility is to investigate aircraft accidents and serious incidents in India's airspace. The purpose is to determine how the accident happened and recommend safety improvements, not to assign blame or punish people. Before AAIB, such investigations were handled by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which also regulated airlines. Mandate — It is responsible for classification of 'Safety Occurrences' involving aircraft operating in the Indian Airspace into Accidents, Serious Incidents and Incidents. All Accidents and Serious Incidents involving aircraft with AUW more than 2250 Kgs or Turbojet aircraft are investigated by AAIB. AAIB may investigate serious incidents or incidents to aircraft apart from the ones mentioned above, if it appears expedient to hold an investigation into the circumstances of such serious incident or incident. As per the Rule 3 of Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017 the sole objective of the investigations carried out by AAIB is prevention of accidents and incidents and not to apportion blame or liability. After completion of Investigation and acceptance of the same by the Director General, AAIB, the Investigation Reports are made public and published by AAIB on its website. The accepted 'Final Investigation Reports' are also forwarded to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the States participating in the investigation.