7th September 2026

Explanation - It is India’s premier nuclear research facility. It is headquartered in Trombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra. It operates under the Department of Atomic Energy, which is directly overseen by the Prime Minister of India. It is a multi-disciplinary research centre with extensive infrastructure for advanced research and development covering the entire spectrum nuclear science and engineering and related areas. BARC is the research backbone of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL), which currently operates all nuclear power reactors in India.

History — Homi Jehangir Bhabha conceived the nuclear program in India. Bhabha established the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) to carry out nuclear science research in 1945. To intensify the effort to exploit nuclear energy for the benefit of the nation, Dr. Bhabha established the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET), in January 1954 for a multidisciplinary research program essential for the ambitious nuclear program of India. After the death of Bhabha in 1966, AEET was renamed Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).

Functions — It is engaged in research with the objective of generating knowledge and techniques for nuclear power production, the advancement of nuclear science, the use of radioisotopes in industry, health, and agriculture, and research in frontier areas of science and technology. It is responsible for the design and development of nuclear reactors, fuel cycle technologies, radiation protection, and safety systems. BARC also plays an important role in nuclear education and training. It offers various training programs for scientists, engineers and technicians in the areas of nuclear science and technology.

Explanation - The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations. Its primary mission is to lead international efforts in the fight against hunger and to promote sustainable agricultural practices. FAO's work encompasses a wide range of areas including food security, nutrition, agricultural production, fisheries, forestry, and more. The organisation plays a crucial role in global efforts to address the challenges of food security and sustainable development.

Explanation - Agentic AI is an advanced form of artificial intelligence focused on autonomous decision-making and action. It consists of AI agents—machine learning models that mimic human decision-making to solve problems in real time. Unlike traditional AI, which primarily responds to commands or analyses data, agentic AI can set goals, plan, and execute tasks with minimal human intervention. “Agentic” indicates agency — the ability of these systems to act independently, but in a goal-driven manner. At its core, this technology is built on several key components: Perception: Agentic AI starts by gathering information from its surroundings and different sources, such as sensors, databases, and user interfaces. Reasoning: Using a large language model (LLM), agentic AI analyses the gathered data to understand the context, identify relevant information, and formulate potential solutions. Planning: The AI then uses the information it gathered to develop a plan. This involves setting goals, breaking them down into smaller steps, and figuring out the best way to achieve them. Action: Based on its plan, the AI takes action. This could involve performing tasks, making decisions, or interacting with other systems. Reflection: After taking action, the AI learns from the results. It evaluates whether its actions were successful and uses this feedback to adjust its plans and actions in the future.

Explanation - A totaliser is a device that allows votes from about 14 polling booths to be counted together, instead of the current practice of tallying votes booth by booth. It is developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (Bengaluru) and Electronics Corporation of India Limited (Hyderabad). It works as an interface connected to the main control unit of a cluster of 14 EVMs. Pressing a single result button gives the consolidated vote count for each candidate across that entire cluster — without revealing how votes were split booth-wise.

Explanation - EOS-05 has been positioned in a high-altitude orbit of around 36,000 km, above the South Asian landmass, at an inclination of about 19.28° to the equator. Geosynchronous orbit means the satellite's orbital period matches Earth's rotation, allowing it to return to the same position relative to Earth at regular intervals. A geostationary orbit is a special case of geosynchronous orbit—circular, equatorial and appearing stationary over one point on Earth. EOS-05's inclined orbit is therefore more precisely described as geosynchronous rather than strictly geostationary. Unlike conventional Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Earth-observation satellites, which periodically pass over the same region, EOS-05 can maintain an almost-continuous watch over the Indian region.