2nd May 2026

Explanation -
CDV causes a highly contagious and life-threatening disease in dogs.

CDV also affects other wild carnivores, including wolves, foxes, raccoons, red pandas, ferrets, hyenas, tigers, and lions.

CDV spreads through aerosol droplets and through contact with infected bodily fluids, including nasal and ocular secretions, faeces, and urine.

The virus then enters the blood stream and infects the respiratory, gastrointestinal, urogenital, epithelial, and central nervous systems, and optic nerves.

Explanation -
May 1 is May Day, also known as International Workers' Day and as Labour Day in different parts of the world.

It is an occasion that commemorates the contributions of workers and the historic labour movement.

It was decided to do so in memory of the Haymarket affair of 1886, in Chicago in the United States, in which a peaceful rally in support of workers led to a violent clash with the police, leading to the deaths of 4 civilian and 7 police officers.

In 1889, The Second International, an organisation created by socialist and labour parties, declared that May 1 would be commemorated as International Workers' Day from then on.

In India, May Day was first celebrated on May 1, 1923, after the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan initiated and Comrade Singaravelar (Singaravelu Chettiar) helmed the celebrations.

Explanation -
Past Risk and Return Verification Agency (PaRRVA) is a regulatory initiative designed to bring transparency and standardisation to performance claims made by financial intermediaries.

It has been operationalised by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)

Designated Entities:
CARE Ratings Limited has been granted recognition as the PaRRVA and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE) will function as the PaRRVA Data Centre (PDC).

The following entities can Use PaRRVA —

• Investment Advisers (IA)
• Research Analysts (RA)
• Trading Members (TM)

Investors seeking verified performance data

Features —
It will enable regulated entities such as investment advisers, research analysts, and algorithmic trading service providers to showcase their verified performance.

It will enable investors to access reliable and standardised data for informed decision-making.

Additionally, regulated entities will be permitted to use PaRRVA-verified performance in their advertisements, in line with SEBI's regulatory provisions.

It ensures that all risk-return metrics presented to investors are independently verified and compliant with SEBI guidelines.

Explanation -
Brain Death, also called brain stem death, is an irreversible condition in which all brain activity—including vital functions like breathing controlled by the brain stem—completely stops.

Although the patient may appear alive due to machines like ventilators keeping the heart beating and blood circulating, there is no possibility of recovery, and the person is medically considered dead.

Causes and Clinical Context —
Brain death typically occurs after severe brain injuries, such as those from road accidents or falls, where the brain is deprived of oxygen. These injuries permanently damage brain function, making revival impossible.

Importance in Organ Donation —
Patients who are brain dead are crucial for organ donation, as life support systems keep organs viable. They can donate vital organs such as the heart and lungs, which living donors cannot.

While organ donation is also possible after circulatory death (when heartbeat and breathing stop), brain-dead donors remain the most common source.

Explanation -
HAM is a public-private partnership model used mainly for road and highway projects in India.

It was introduced to revive private sector participation in infrastructure after earlier models such as Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) faced difficulties due to land delays, traffic risks, financing problems, and stressed balance sheets of developers.

HAM combines features of the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model and the Build-Operate-Transfer Annuity model.

Under this system, the government and the private developer share financial responsibility, while the government also takes over major revenue risks.

In HAM road projects, the government generally pays 40% of the project cost during the construction period. The remaining 60% is arranged by the private developer and is paid back by the government in the form of annuity payments during the operation period.

Since toll collection risk remains with the government, the private developer is not dependent on uncertain traffic revenue.

Key Features of HAM -

• Shared financing: The government contributes 40% of the project cost during construction, reducing the initial financial burden on private developers.
• Annuity-based repayment: The remaining amount is paid to the developer in instalments after construction, usually over the concession period.
• Government bears traffic risk: Unlike BOT-Toll projects, the developer does not depend directly on toll collections.
• Private sector efficiency: Construction, operation, and maintenance responsibilities remain with the private player, encouraging timely completion and better project management.
• Performance-linked payments: Payments are linked to project milestones and maintenance standards, creating incentives for quality work.
• Lower investment risk: Since the government assures payments, banks and financial institutions are more willing to fund such projects.