21st October 2026

Explanation - It is a fatal disease of the coconut palm, characterised by the rotting of the terminal bud and the surrounding tissues. It affects the palms of all ages, but young palms are found to be most vulnerable. It is caused by the fungus Phytophthora palmivora, which attacks the growing point of the coconut palm. Once the growing point is attacked, the palm is beyond recovery. The incidence is found to be severe during the monsoon when the relative humidity is high. With the onset of dry weather, the infection becomes less severe, and the fungus remains dormant in the leaf base. The disease is often seen in river banks subject to flooding. Normally, the disease is observed sporadically in widely scattered palms.

Explanation - It is the fifth edition of the Indian Navy’s flagship Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Seminar. Venue: Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi The fifth edition will focus on converting indigenous technological innovations into operational capabilities for the Indian Navy. It aims to strengthen collaboration between the armed forces and India's domestic innovation ecosystem as the maritime security environment evolves. The two-day event will bring together innovators, industry partners, startups, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), academic institutions, investors, and representatives of the Defence Forces. The exhibition will showcase indigenous technologies across several areas, including maritime surveillance, counter-unmanned aircraft systems (counter-UAS), artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, nuclear, biological, chemical, and damage control (NBCD), and systems designed to improve safety and operational efficiency. The programme will also include discussions on defence innovation, self-reliance, funding opportunities and the commercialisation of technologies developed by Indian enterprises. The seminar has also been supported by the Government of India, the Ministry of Defence, the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers, and the Defence Innovation Organisation.

Explanation - Vitamin D is synthesised in the skin when it is exposed to sunlight. The ultraviolet B (UVB) rays from the sun react with a form of cholesterol present in the skin, leading to the production of Vitamin D. This vitamin is vital for calcium absorption in the intestines, ensuring that an adequate amount of calcium is absorbed into the bloodstream. Calcium is crucial for maintaining strong and healthy bones, and Vitamin D helps regulate calcium levels in the body, thus contributing to bone health. Deficiency of Vitamin D can lead to weakened bones and conditions like rickets in children and osteoporosis in adults.

Explanation - I4C has been established under the Ministry of Home affairs (MHA) to act as a nodal point at National level in the fight against cybercrime. The scheme to set up the I4C was approved by the MHA in October 2018, however, it was inaugurated in New Delhi in January 2020. It aims to provide a platform to deal with cybercrimes by improving coordination between various Law Enforcement Agencies and stakeholders. One of the important objectives of I4C is to create an ecosystem that brings together academia, industry, public and government in prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of cybercrimes. I4C has envisaged the Cyber Crime Volunteers Program to bring together citizens with passion to serve the nation on a single platform and contribute in the fight against cybercrime in the country.

Explanation - It is an intergovernmental organisation established in 1955 to promote the global harmonisation of legal metrology procedures. It is an international standard-setting body. Meeting — A meeting of the OIML Conference is held every four years to establish general policy, vote on the budget and confirm the decisions of the CIML. Headquarter — Paris Functions — It develops international recommendations, standards and related documents for measuring instruments used in trade, industry, healthcare, safety and environmental protection. It plays a crucial role in harmonising national laws and regulations on performance of measuring instruments like clinical thermometers, alcohol breath analysers, radar speed measuring instruments, ship tanks found at ports, and petrol dispensing units. It develops model regulations, standards and related documents for use by legal metrology authorities and industry. Members — There are 63 Member States (voting) and 66 Corresponding Members (nonvoting). India became a member of the OIML in 1956. In the same year, India signed the metric convention. India can issue Internationally Accepted OIML (International Organisation of Legal Metrology) Certificates for selling weights & measures anywhere in the world. (There are 13 countries who can issues these certificates). To sell a weight or measure in the International market an OIML Pattern Approval certificate is mandatory. Administrative Structure — The International Committee of Legal Metrology (CIML) is the principal decision-making body responsible for guiding the technical and administrative activities of the OIML.