Prelims Mantra – (10/09/2025)

Polity

Vice-President of India:

• • P. Radhakrishnan was elected the 17^th Vice-President of India (17^th vice presidential election).
  • He is the 15^th person to hold the office of vice president.
  • He won the vice-presidential election by a margin of 152 votes. While Mr Radhakrishnan bagged 452 votes, his opponent B Sudershan Reddy polled 300 votes.
  • P. Radhakrishnan previously served as Governor of Maharashtrafrom July 2024 to September 2025, the Governor of Jharkhandfrom February 2023 to July 2024, and lieutenant governors of Puducherry from 22 March 2024 to 6 August 2024.

 

(TH)

Art and culture

Langkhun festival:

• • Tiwa tribesmen celebrate Langkhun festival in Umsowai village in Karbi Anglong district of
  • The Tiwa Langkhun festival is celebrated with great cultural significance and community involvement, praying for a good harvest.
  • The Tiwa people(also known as Lalung) is a Tibeto-Burmese ethnic group primarily inhabiting the northeast Indian states of Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Nagaland and some parts of neighbouring Bangladesh and
  • Tiwa people are closely associated with the principality of Kobâ (Gobha).
  • The Gobha chief who became vassal of the Ahoms during the reign Pratap Singha, died in the Battle of Pandu, fighting from the side of the Ahoms against the Mughals. 

 

(TH)

Science & Technology

First indigenous malaria vaccine:

• • Union government has given licences to five firms for manufacturing and commercialisation of its first indigenous multi-stage malaria vaccine developed by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and its partners.
  • Indian Immunologicals Ltd., Techinvention Lifecare Private Ltd., Panacea Biotec Ltd., Biological E Ltd., and Zydus Lifesciences will make the vaccine targeting the parasite before it enters bloodstream to prevent transmission.
  • It remains effective for more than nine months at room temperature.
  • It is a recombinant chimeric multi-stage malaria vaccine (AdFalciVax) against Plasmodium falciparum useful in preventing infection in humans and minimising community transmission.
  • India carries 1.4% of the global malaria case burden and accounted for 66% of cases in the Southeast Asia region.

 

(TH)

Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM):

• • It is caused most often by Naegleria fowleri, sometimes called the “brain-eating amoeba”.
  • fowleri lives in warm freshwater, including lakes, hot springs, and in poorly chlorinated pools.
  • An infection begins when contaminated water rushes up the nasal passages.
  • Amoeba travels along olfactory nerves, passing through cribriform plate and into olfactory bulbs of the brain.
  • Unlike viruses, N. fowleri is a free-living amoeba. In nature it survives by feeding on bacteria.
  • Once in the brain, however, it mistakes neurons and glial cells for food. It uses small projections called amoebostomes that literally bite into host cells, ingesting their contents piece by piece. It also releases enzymes and toxins in the form of proteases, phospholipases, and pore-forming proteins that dissolve tissue and kill the host cells.
  • So “brain-eating” isn’t just a metaphor: N. fowleri actively consumes living neural cells as a source of nutrients. And as the pathogen feeds and multiplies, its proliferation triggers a profound inflammatory response in host’s body.
  • Immune system floods the brain with neutrophils and cytokines, causing swelling, bleeding, and necrosis. Together with amoeba directly consuming cells, the result is a rapid and catastrophic destruction of brain tissue.
  • PAM also progresses very rapidly, often going from first symptoms to death in under 10 days. This is why an N. fowleri infection is far more lethal than viral encephalitis.

 

(IE)

UPI–UPU Integration project:

• • India launched the UPI–UPU Integration project at 28th Universal Postal Congress in Dubai, aiming to make cross-border remittances faster, safer, and more affordable by connecting India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) platform.
  • The initiative leverages India’s vast postal network and digital payments infrastructure, combining the reliability of posts with the speed of UPI to serve families and businesses across borders.
  • It is expected to enhance financial inclusion, enable seamless digital financial services for migrants and digital enterprises, and modernise the postal sector through AI and advanced technology.
  • India committed $10 million to drive innovation in e-commerce and digital payments within the global postal ecosystem and announced its candidature for key UPU councils.

About Universal Postal Union (UPU):

• • UPU was founded by the Treaty of Bern on 9 October 1874 and is headquartered in Bern, Switzerland.
  • Incorporated as a UN specialized agency in 1948.
  • 192 member countries; India joined in 1876.

 

(PIB)

Development of dual-use tech under new ASPIRE program:

• • iDEX-DIO (Innovations for Defence Excellence – Defence Innovation Organisation) signed an MoU with EdCIL (India) Limited on September 9, 2025, to develop dual-use cutting-edge technologies combining defence expertise with emerging educational technology solutions, under the ASPIRE program.
  • The collaboration aims to extend iDEX’s defence innovation model to the civilian sector, leveraging strengths of both organizations to promote scalable, impactful indigenous technologies.
  • iDEX, launched in 2018, has engaged with over 650 start-ups/MSMEs, with procurement clearances worth over Rs 3,250 crore and orders worth Rs 1,652 crore for defence products developed under its framework.
  • EdCIL (India) Limited is a Mini Ratna Category-I CPSE under the Ministry of Education offering project management, consultancy, and ed-tech services across India and overseas, with strong recent growth and a significant role in education innovation.

 

(PIB)

Geography & Environment

Scientists uncover hidden freshwater under sea floor:

• • Large offshore freshwater aquifers have been confirmed under the Atlantic Ocean, stretching from New Jersey to Maine, as a result of systematic drilling expeditions.
  • These offshore aquifers are porous rock or sediment layers beneath the sea floor that contain freshwater, potentially more than all onshore aquifers combined.
  • Formation theories include water seepage during ice ages when sea levels were lower, and possible ongoing connection to land-based aquifers.
  • Turning such reserves into viable sources faces major technical, ecological, and governance challenges.
  • Offshore aquifers may be a significant untapped source in the face of global freshwater scarcity, but their extraction must be carefully managed due to high costs, uncertain ecological impacts, and unresolved issues of ownership and rights.

 

(IE)

Connection between the formation of antarctica and evolution of Indian monsoon:

• • Fossil leaves from the Laisong Formation in Nagaland, dating back about 34 million years, reveal that the region once had a warm, wet climate with very high rainfall and temperatures.
  • The timing of these fossils matches the formation of massive ice sheets in Antarctica, indicating a global connection where Antarctic ice growth shifted major wind and rainfall patterns, including the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) toward the tropics.
  • This shift caused increased monsoonal rains and warmer temperatures in India, influencing the early evolution of the Indian monsoon system and allowing lush forests to flourish across the subcontinent.
  • The study warns that ongoing Antarctic ice melt due to climate change may again shift ITCZ, potentially disrupting monsoon rainfall patterns critical for agriculture and water supply in India and neighbouring countries.
  • It highlights interconnected nature of Earth’s climate system and importance of understanding past climate responses to prepare for impacts of modern climate change.

 

(PIB)

Regulation of Biostimulant Products:

• • Biostimulants were included in the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), 1985 in February 2021 to regulate their quality, as previously around 30,000 unregulated products existed in the market.
  • Biostimulants are substances or microorganisms that enhance plant growth and nutrient uptake but do not include pesticides or plant growth regulators; they fall under categories like botanical extracts, biochemicals, amino acids, vitamins, antioxidants, anti-transpirants, humic & fulvic acids, and live microorganisms excluding biofertilisers.
  • Provisional registrations were granted to over 8000 biostimulant products to allow time for data generation on their efficacy and safety.
  • Currently, only 146 biostimulant products are included in Schedule VI of the FCO.

 

(PIB)

Mapping

Ethiopia inaugurates Africa’s biggest dam:

• • The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is a gravity dam on the Blue Nile River.
  • The Blue Nile is a river originating at Lake Tana in Ethiopia. It travels for approximately 1,450 km (900 mi) through Ethiopia and Sudan. Along with the White Nile, it is one of the two major tributaries of the Nile.

(TH)

Extra Facts and Data

Rare earth elements (REEs):

• • According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), they comprise 17 metals, typically grouped into light rare earths (LREEs) — including lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium and europium — and heavy rare earths (HREEs) such as gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, scandium and yttrium. Promethium is not included in the list as it is radioactive and does not occur in mineable quantities.
  • They are critical components in clean energy technologies such as electric vehicles and wind turbines, as well as in defence applications. Rare earths are also essential for high-tech devices including smartphones and hard drives.
  • Although rare earth deposits exist in countries such as Brazil, Australia, and India, China holds nearly half of global reserves.
  • China is also the world’s largest producer, contributing over 60% of global production in the last five years.
  • China dominates the value chain with around 92% of global refining capacity, according to the IEA. Moreover, in the last five years, China has been the largest exporter, supplying close to 30% of global demand.
  • India, too, is heavily dependent on China for its rare earth imports. Since 2021, more than 75% have come from China.

 

(TH)

Terms in the News

Undersea cable:

• • Undersea cables (submarine cables) are crucial for global internet connectivity, carrying vast amounts of data across continents under the oceans.
  • Data travels as binary code through these cables, connecting data centres and users worldwide, with mobile towers acting as intermediaries.
  • Cables are mostly fibre optic today, protected by several layers to withstand harsh ocean conditions and human activities.
  • Threats to these cables include earthquakes, ocean currents, fishing, ship anchors, and even marine life, with repairs being expensive and complex; hundreds of damage incidents occur annually, mainly due to human actions.
  • Large technology firms now increasingly own and operate these cable networks, raising concerns about control over vital digital infrastructure by a few powerful companies.

 

(IE)

Miscellaneous

Exercise ZAPAD 2025:

• • Indian Armed Forces contingent has departed for Russia to take part in multilateral joint military exercise ZAPAD 2025 from 10 to 16 September 2025.
  • The exercise aims to enhance military cooperation, interoperability, and exchange of tactics in conventional warfare and counterterrorism among participating nations.
  • Focus will be on joint company-level operationsin open terrain, including joint planning, tactical drills, and technology integration in a multinational environment.
  • Participation is expected to strengthen defence ties and camaraderie between India and Russia, reinforcing mutual trust and collaboration.

 

(PIB)

PRACTICE MCQS

 

Q1. Consider the following statements about Universal Postal Union:

1. It was founded by the Treaty of Bern.

2. It is specialized agency of the United Nations.

3. India is member country.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: D

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: UPU was founded by the Treaty of Bern on 9 October 1874 and is headquartered in Bern, Switzerland.

Statement 2 is correct: It is incorporated as a UN specialized agency in 1948.

Statement 3 is correct: It has 192 member countries; India joined in 1876.

 

Q2. Consider the following statements:

1. China has largest deposits of Rare Earth Elements in the world.

2. China produces about 60% of the world’s Rare Earth Elements.

3. India imports more than 75% of Rare Earth Elements from China.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

a) Only one

b) Only two

c) All three

d) None

Answer: C

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct; Although rare earth deposits exist in countries such as Brazil, Australia, and India, China holds nearly half of global reserves.

Statement 2 is correct; China is also the world’s largest producer, contributing over 60% of global production in the last five years.

Statement 3 is correct; India, too, is heavily dependent on China for its rare earth imports. Since 2021, more than 75% have come from China.

 

Q3. Consider the following statements:

1. Biostimulants were included in the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), 1985 in February 2021 to regulate their quality.

2. They fall under categories like botanical extracts, biochemicals, biofertilisers. and live microorganisms.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: A

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Biostimulants were included in the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), 1985 in February 2021 to regulate their quality.

Statement 2 is incorrect: they fall under categories like botanical extracts, biochemicals, amino acids, vitamins, antioxidants, anti-transpirants, humic & fulvic acids, and live microorganisms excluding biofertilisers.

 

Q4. Consider the following statements:

Statement I: Recombinant vaccines are a type of vaccine created using recombinant DNA technology to produce antigens.

Statement II: These vaccines use weakened or inactivated pathogens.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I

b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II does not explain Statement-I

c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is not correct

d) Statement-I is not correct but Statement-II is correct

Answer: C

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Recombinant vaccines are a type of vaccine created using recombinant DNA technology to produce antigens, the parts of a pathogen that stimulate an immune response.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Instead of using weakened or inactivated whole pathogens, these vaccines use a single protein or genetic material from the pathogen, or a harmless virus or bacterium as a vector to deliver this genetic material. 

 

Q5. Consider the following statements:

1. Lake Tana, located in the Ethiopian highlands, is the primary source of the White Nile, a major tributary that merges with the Blue Nile in Sudan to form the main Nile River.

2. Lake Tana is Ethiopia’s largest lake, situated on its northwestern plateau.

3. It originated from volcanic activity that blocked inflowing rivers, creating the lake in the early Pleistocene epoch.

Which of the above given statements are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: B

Statement 1 is incorrect: Lake Tana, located in the Ethiopian highlands, is the primary source of the Blue Nile, a major tributary that merges with the White Nile in Sudan to form the main Nile River.

Statement 2 is correct: Lake Tana is Ethiopia’s largest lake, situated on its northwestern plateau. 

Statement 3 is correct: It originated from volcanic activity that blocked inflowing rivers, creating the lake in the early Pleistocene epoch.

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