1. What is the Passport Seva Portal?

Recently, the Passport Seva Portal faced major server disruptions, affecting services at Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) nationwide.

About the Portal:
Launched by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in collaboration with Tata Consultancy Services under a Public-Private Partnership model, the Passport Seva Portal streamlines the passport application and renewal process in India. It allows users to apply for new passports, renewals, and replacements online.

Core sovereign functions like verification, approval, and issuance of passports remain under MEA's control. The portal offers downloadable forms for Police Clearance Certificates, Surrender Certificates, and Identity Certificates. Although most procedures are online, some require physical visits to PSKs after scheduling appointments. Registration on the portal is mandatory for access to its services.

What is the Passport Seva Project (PSP)?

Launched in May 2010 by the MEA, the Passport Seva Project aims to provide citizens with accessible and reliable passport services. It includes setting up PSKs across India, a centralized digital system, data and disaster recovery centers, and multilingual call centers. PSKs operate as extensions of regional passport offices.

The system integrates with state police for verification, India Post for passport delivery, and UIDAI for biometric validation, ensuring a smooth and secure application process across domestic and overseas missions.

2. What is Chemotherapy?

A recent study found that nearly 20% of tested chemotherapy drugs failed quality checks—16 of the 17 manufacturers involved were based in India.

About Chemotherapy:
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells and is often administered intravenously, though it can also be taken orally or topically. It differs from localized treatments like surgery or radiation by targeting cancer cells throughout the body, including those that have metastasized.

How It Works:
Chemo targets fast-dividing cells during their growth cycles. Since cancer cells grow rapidly, chemo disrupts their reproduction. However, it can also affect healthy fast-growing cells (like those in the hair, skin, and digestive tract), causing side effects such as:

• Hair loss

• Fatigue

• Nausea and vomiting

• Anemia

• Loss of appetite

• Diarrhea

• Bleeding

Different chemo drugs are tailored to specific cancer types and stages in the cell cycle, often used in combination for better results.

3. Key Facts about the Tawi River

Nine men were recently rescued from the Tawi River in Jammu after heavy rains caused a sudden rise in water levels.

About the Tawi River:
The Tawi is a significant left-bank tributary of the Chenab River in the Jammu region and is regarded as sacred. Also called "Surya Putri," it originates from Kalpas Kund in Bhaderwah (Doda district), traverses about 141 km through Jammu and Kashmir, and eventually merges with the Chenab in Pakistan.

It passes through steep terrain and is fed by tributaries like Bhuteshwari and Jajjhar. The river bisects Jammu city, supplying drinking water and separating the old town (on higher ground) from the new areas across the river.

4. Iliamna Volcano

Recent satellite images and increased seismic activity have sparked concerns over potential unrest at Alaska’s Iliamna Volcano.

About Iliamna:
Located in southwest Alaska within Lake Clark National Park, Iliamna stands at 10,016 feet in the Chigmit Mountains. It’s a stratovolcano—steep, conical, and known for explosive eruptions. The structure includes andesite lava flows, pyroclastic rocks, and granite foundations, largely covered in snow and ice, with several glaciers radiating from the summit.

Though considered dormant (last erupted in 1876), recent earthquake spikes suggest heightened activity.

What is a Stratovolcano?
Stratovolcanoes are tall, conical volcanoes formed by alternating layers of lava and ash. Found mainly in subduction zones (e.g., the Pacific Ring of Fire), they often erupt violently due to the buildup of gas pressure from viscous lava like andesite and dacite. Many contain summit craters filled with domes, water, or ice.

5. Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary

The Union Government recently issued a final notification declaring the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around the Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary, concluding a decade-long conservation campaign.

About the Sanctuary:
Situated in Gadag district, Karnataka, Kappatagudda spans 244.15 sq.km and is known as the “Western Ghats of North Karnataka.” It features dry deciduous forests, grasslands, and riverine ecosystems.

Historical and Cultural Significance:
The region is dotted with ancient temples and ruins from dynasties like the Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas, showcasing remarkable architecture such as the Trikuteshwara Temple and Brahma Jinalaya.

Flora and Fauna:
The sanctuary hosts around 400 medicinal plant species and is home to carnivores like leopards, gray wolves, and striped hyenas, as well as smaller species like civets and mongooses.

6. Black Mass Recovery Technology
The Technology Development Board (TDB), under the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, has provided financial support for commercializing an indigenous battery recycling technology.

Overview of Black Mass Recovery Technology:
This technology facilitates the extraction of battery-grade lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese from used lithium-ion batteries.
It features a dual-mode recovery process (both wet and dry methods), achieving high separation efficiency and recovery rates of 97–99%.
The entire process—from battery collection, shredding, and metal leaching to purification—has been developed and patented domestically, reducing dependency on imported recycling machinery.

Significance:
The technology helps reduce the country’s reliance on critical mineral imports by recycling existing resources.
The output compounds, like lithium carbonate and cobalt sulphate, meet international standards and are suitable for both domestic use and export.

What is Black Mass?
Black mass refers to the dark, granular residue left after shredding lithium-ion batteries during recycling.
It contains valuable metals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and graphite—key materials for manufacturing new batteries used in electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and electronics.

7. Tansen
Recently, the Madhya Pradesh High Court rejected a plea to allow religious and cultural events at the tomb of Hazrat Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus, which also contains the grave of legendary musician Tansen in Gwalior.

About Tansen:
Tansen was a celebrated composer, vocalist, and instrumentalist in Indian classical music, known for refining the plucked rabab instrument.
Initially patronized by Daulat Khan, son of Sher Shah Suri, and later by King Ramchandra of Bandhavgarh, Tansen eventually became a prominent court musician under Mughal Emperor Akbar.
He was honored with the title "Mian" by Akbar and was one of the Navaratnas (nine gems) in the royal court.

Cultural Legacy:
Tansen is credited with creating famous ragas like Miyan ki Malhar, Miyan ki Todi, and Darbari.
His contributions to the Dhrupad style of classical music remain significant.
The tomb of Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus, where Tansen is buried, has been a protected monument since 1962 under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

8. Leptospirosis
In the past three weeks, five people have died due to leptospirosis in Ernakulam, Kerala.

About Leptospirosis:
Leptospirosis is a potentially fatal zoonotic infection caused by the Leptospira interrogans bacteria.
The bacteria are found in the urine of infected animals such as rats, dogs, and cattle, and can enter the human body through cuts or abrasions, especially on the feet.

Transmission and Prevalence:
The disease is more common in warm and humid environments and can occur in both urban and rural settings.
It primarily spreads through contact with contaminated water or soil, where infected animals shed the bacteria.
Animals can excrete the bacteria for months or even years after infection.

Symptoms and Phases:
The disease typically has two phases. The first includes fever, chills, headaches, muscle pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Some patients may recover temporarily before developing more severe symptoms in the second phase, such as liver or kidney failure or meningitis.

Treatment:
Leptospirosis is treatable with antibiotics if diagnosed early.

9. Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) Alliance
The IBAT Alliance recently announced a record $2.5 million investment in biodiversity data for 2024, up from $1.2 million in 2023.

About the IBAT Alliance:
Formed in 2008, the IBAT Alliance is a collaboration among four major conservation organizations:

• BirdLife International

• Conservation International

• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

• United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)

IBAT provides access to the world’s most reliable biodiversity data, supporting governments, private companies, NGOs, and researchers in making data-driven decisions to protect nature.

Key Features:

• Offers authoritative datasets such as the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA), World Database of Key Biodiversity Areas (WDKBA), and the IUCN Red List.

• Provides advanced analytical tools like the Rarity-Weighted Richness layer and the STAR (Species Threat Abatement and Restoration) metric.

• Licensed platform access helps align biodiversity goals with global sustainability frameworks.

• Headquartered in Cambridge, UK, IBAT sets the gold standard in biodiversity information.

10. International Potato Centre (CIP)
The Indian Cabinet recently approved the establishment of the South Asia Regional Centre (CSARC) of the International Potato Centre (CIP) at Agra, Uttar Pradesh.

About the International Potato Centre:
Established in 1971, CIP is a global research-for-development institution focused on potatoes, sweet potatoes, and other Andean root and tuber crops.
Its mission is to develop science-driven solutions for nutritious food security, inclusive economic growth, and climate-resilient agricultural systems.
CIP is part of the CGIAR—a global network of research centers aimed at transforming food, land, and water systems.
The Centre collaborates with national research institutes, academic bodies, civil society, and the private sector.

Global and Regional Presence:
CIP is headquartered in Lima, Peru, and operates in more than 20 countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
The new regional center in Agra will serve not only Indian farmers but also those in neighboring South Asian countries.

Potato Production in India:
India is the world’s second-largest producer and consumer of potatoes.
Leading potato-growing states include Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab.
Research on tuber crops is also conducted by ICAR institutions such as:

• ICAR-CPRI (Central Potato Research Institute), Shimla

• ICAR-CTCRI (Central Tuber Crops Research Institute), Thiruvananthapuram