5th June 2025

Explanation: 

Established in collaboration with WHO, the NPSN began functioning in the late 1990s to detect, monitor, and eliminate polio from India. It includes over 280 surveillance units nationwide and works closely with public health departments, immunisation campaigns, and global partners. Achievements of NPSN — Played a vital role in India being declared polio-free in 2014. Detected and responded to poliovirus transmission rapidly, preventing outbreaks. Expanded to support surveillance for other vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, rubella, and DPT. 

Explanation: 

Mount Etna is the highest and one of the most active volcanoes in Europe. It is located on the east coast of the island of Sicily in Italy. Mount Etna is situated on the eastern coast of the Italian island of Sicily. While Mount Etna is of great geological interest and significance, it has not been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, the nearby archaeological site of Syracuse, also in Sicily, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The volcanic activity of Mount Etna is related to the complex interactions between the African Plate and the Eurasian Plate. Specifically, it involves the subduction of the African Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate, causing the melting of rocks and the generation of magma.

Explanation: 

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was established in 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos, it is a regional political and economic union of fifteen countries located in West Africa. The goal of ECOWAS is to achieve "collective self-sufficiency" for its member states by creating a single large trade bloc by building a full economic and trading union. It also serves as a peacekeeping force in the region. ECOWAS includes two sub-regional blocs - The West African Economic and Monetary Union is an organisation of eight, mainly French-speaking states. The West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ), established in 2000, comprises six mainly English-speaking countries. 

Explanation: 

Kheer Bhawani Mela is an Annual Festival during which the devotees of the Goddess Mata Kheer Bhawani fast and gather here on the day of "Jyeshtha Ashtami," the eighth day of the full moon in the month of May/June when, according to belief, the Goddess changes the colour of the spring's waters. Ragyna Devi Temple in Tulmulla Ganderbal village, near Srinagar (J&K) is popularly known as "Mata Kheer Bhawani temple" The temple is dedicated to the Goddess Kheer Bhawani. The deity is also called as Maharagya Devi, Ragnya Devi, Rajni, Ragnya Bhagwati. The term Kheer refers to rice pudding that is offered in the spring located in the temple to Please the Goddess. This is the most important temple for Kashmiri Pandits. 

Explanation: 

National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction is a centrally sponsored scheme. The aim is reduction of adverse consequences of drug abuse through a multi-pronged strategy: education, de-addiction, and rehabilitation of affected individuals and families. Objectives — Create awareness and educate people on the ill-effects of drug abuse, reduce stigmatisation, and facilitate social reintegration. Develop human resources and build capacity. Facilitate research, training, documentation, innovation, and information collection. Provide community-based services for identification, motivation, counselling, de-addiction, after-care, and rehabilitation for Whole Person Recovery (WPR). Formulate and implement comprehensive guidelines, schemes, and programs using a multi-agency approach. Address all forms of drug abuse. Alleviate the consequences of drug dependence. Under this scheme financial assistance is provided to — State Governments/ Union Territory (UT) Administrations for Preventive Education and Awareness Generation, Capacity Building, Programmes for Drug Demand Reduction by States/UTs etc. NGOs/VOs for running and maintenance of Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (IRCAs), Integrated Rehabilitation Centres (IRCAs), Community Peer-led Interventions (CPLI) Outreach and Drop-in Centres (ODIC) and District De-Addiction Centres (DDACs); and Government Hospitals for Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) Target Period: 2018-2025