8th December 2025

Explanation - Circular Economy (CE) is a system shifting from "take-make-dispose" to keeping resources in use longer via reuse, repair, refurbishing, and recycling, aiming to eliminate waste and regenerate nature. Key features — Closed-loop system: Designs out waste and pollution, keeps products and materials in use, and regenerates natural systems. Contrast to linear model: Moves away from consuming resources, making products, and discarding them. Key actions: Involves sharing, leasing, repairing, refurbishing, remanufacturing, and recycling. Initiatives in India — India promotes CE through policies like the Vehicle Scrappage Policy, Mission LiFE for behavioural change, Promoting bio-CNG/fertiliser plants (like Banas Dairy's model), and Initiatives under Swachh Bharat, focusing on resource efficiency, waste-to-wealth, and sustainable consumption.

Explanation - Open Market Operations (OMOs) involve the purchase and sale of government securities, including both bonds and treasury bills, by the central bank in the open market. OMOs are one of the important monetary policy tools used by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to manage liquidity in the banking system, influence interest rates, and control the money supply. When the RBI buys government securities through OMOs, it pays for them with newly created money. This increases the reserves of banks, leading to an injection of liquidity into the banking system. OMOs can be conducted with government securities issued by both the central government and state governments. The RBI can buy and sell securities issued by both entities as part of its open market operations.

Explanation - An Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) is a financial instrument introduced in India to facilitate investment in infrastructure projects. It operates as a trust where investors pool their funds to invest in income-generating infrastructure assets such as roads, highways, power transmission, and other similar projects. InvITs are designed to provide investors with regular income in the form of dividends, and they are listed on stock exchanges, allowing investors to buy and sell units like shares. This structure allows retail and institutional investors to participate in infrastructure development while providing a level of liquidity and transparency typically associated with publicly listed securities.

Explanation - It is the regulatory body in the field of civil aviation primarily dealing with safety issues. It is an attached office of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (not Ministry of Commerce and Industry). It is responsible for regulation of air transport services to/from/within India and for enforcement of civil air regulations, air safety and airworthiness standards. It also coordinates all regulatory functions with the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Headquarters — New Delhi. Functions and Responsibilities of the DGCA — One of the main functions of the DGCA is to ensure the safety of passengers and crew members on all flights operating in India. It conducts regular safety inspections of all airlines and aircraft to meet the required safety standards. It also investigates any incidents or accidents that occur within the Indian airspace. It plays a crucial role in developing new airports and modernising existing facilities to ensure that they can meet the growing demands of the aviation industry. It is responsible for the regulation of air traffic in India. It works closely with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to ensure air traffic is managed safely and efficiently. The DGCA also plays a key role in developing new air traffic control systems and technologies to improve the overall efficiency of Indian airspace. It is also responsible for issuing licenses and certificates to pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers, and other aviation personnel.

Explanation - Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Shingles itself is not contagious, but the virus can spread to someone who has never had chickenpox, causing chickenpox, not shingles. The risk of shingles increases with age, especially in people over 50. Postherpetic neuralgia is a common complication of shingles, leading to prolonged pain after the rash has healed.