4th September 2026

Explanation - Purse seines are used in the open ocean to target dense schools of single-species pelagic (midwater) fish species of various sizes. Pelagic fish are those that swim in the water column of the open ocean, up to approximately 600 feet deep. A purse seine is a huge wall of netting that is set in a circle around a school of fish. Once the fish school is encircled, the net is closed underneath the school by hauling the purse line at the bottom of the net, which is called “pursing”. As the volume of the net becomes smaller, the fish become more concentrated, and the catch is harvested by either hauling the net aboard or bringing it alongside the vessel. The size can vary depending on the vessel they are deployed from, the size of the mesh, and the target species

Explanation - Sepsis is a serious medical condition caused by the body's response to an infection, usually bacterial, but it can also be caused by fungi or viruses. It is characterised by a dysregulated and exaggerated immune response, which can lead to widespread inflammation and organ dysfunction. Sepsis is a medical emergency that requires prompt and aggressive treatment in a healthcare setting. Localised infections with minimal systemic effects are not classified as sepsis.

Explanation - The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is indeed an intergovernmental organisation that brings together countries in the Pacific Ocean to enhance cooperation and address regional issues. Australia and New Zealand are among the founding members of the Pacific Islands Forum. The organisation was established in 1971. The primary focus of the PIF is to promote economic and political stability in the Pacific region, addressing issues such as climate change, sustainable development, and regional security.

Explanation - Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) Initiative was launched in 2019 to foster balanced regional development across all districts of the country. The objective of DEH is to identify, brand and promote products from each district, encouraging their sale in both domestic and international markets. It is an initiative of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Department of Commerce. Under this initiative, the export promotion activities are being decentralised to make the districts active stakeholders in boosting export growth of the identified products and services from the districts. Institutional mechanism — An institutional mechanism has been set up in all States/UTs by forming the State Export Promotion Committee (SEPC) and District Export Promotion Committee (DEPC) at the district level. The initiative has identified export potential in specific districts across the country, spanning critical sectors like agriculture, toys, and GI products. District Export Action Plans (DEAP) detailing the existing bottlenecks in the supply chain and identifying possible interventions to mitigate the existing gaps for export of the above identified products. It is supporting local exporters/manufacturers to scale and find potential buyers outside India. Coverage: The DEH initiative has identified products and services with export potential in all districts across the country, including GI products, agricultural clusters, and toy clusters.

Explanation - It was established after the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm in 1972 and is headquartered at Nairobi, Kenya. The UNEP is responsible for coordinating responses to environmental issues within the United Nations system. It does so through the UN Environment Assembly, the world’s highest decision-making body on the environment.

The organisation —

• Develops international environmental agreements, publishes and promotes environmental science and helps national governments achieve environmental targets.
• Through its campaigns, particularly World Environment Day (June 5), UNEP raises awareness and advocates for effective environmental action.
• As a member of the United Nations Development Group, UNEP aims to help the world meet the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
• Hosts the secretariats of several multilateral environmental agreements and research bodies, including —
• The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD),
• The Minamata Convention on Mercury,
• The Convention on Migratory Species and
• The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
• Is also one of several Implementing Agencies for the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol.

In 1988, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and UNEP established the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It also publishes an annual Emissions Gap Report.