1. Key Facts about Siliguri Corridor — Rephrased

With political shifts in Bangladesh and rising concerns over China’s proximity to the vulnerable Siliguri Corridor, the Indian Army has strengthened its eastern front by establishing three new garrisons.

About the Siliguri Corridor:

• A narrow strip of land in West Bengal linking mainland India to the Northeast.

• Measures around 170 km in length and 60 km in width, with its narrowest stretch only 20–22 km.

• Covers an area of about 12,200 sq. km.

• Shares borders with Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh; located just 130 km from China’s Chumbi Valley.

• Known as the “Chicken’s Neck” due to its strategic vulnerability.

• Serves as the only land route connecting the Northeast with the rest of India.

• Any disruption — from conflict, natural disasters, or unrest — could isolate the region.

Source: India strengthens eastern defences with three new garrisons near Siliguri ‘Chicken’s Neck’

2. What is Foraminifera? — Rephrased

A global survey of foraminifera, tiny marine organisms, has discovered 57 new living species.

About Foraminifera:

• Single-celled organisms found in oceans, coasts, and estuaries.

• Most have protective shells and are either planktonic (floating) or benthic (living on the sea floor).

• Out of ~8,000 living species, only about 40 are planktonic.

• Typically under 500 microns in size, though some tropical species can reach 20 cm.

• Their flexible bodies lack rigid cell walls, allowing them to change shape.

• Name Origin: “Foramen” means “window” in Latin, referring to the tiny holes in their shells.

• They extend pseudopodia (false feet) through these pores to feed.

Diet: Detritus, diatoms, algae, bacteria, and small organisms.

Shell Formation: Made of calcium carbonate or by cementing sand grains; structures range from single chambers to intricate coiled designs.

Source: Global review identifies 57 new living species of tiny marine foraminifera

3. Key Facts about Thames River — Rephrased

A viral video of an Indian man washing his feet in the Thames River has drawn public attention.

About the Thames:

• A 346 km river flowing through southern England.

• Longest river in England and second longest in the UK.

• Mouth: Flows into the North Sea via the Thames Estuary, marked by The Nore sandbank.

• Basin size: ~16,130 sq. km.

• Becomes tidal upstream of London and transitions into an estuary beyond it.

• Tributaries: Lea, Churn, Coln, Windrush, Kennet (largest), Evenlode, Ock, and Loddon.

• Passes major cities including Oxford (locally called the “Isis”), Reading, Windsor, and London.

• Supplies two-thirds of London’s drinking water.

• Historically vital for transportation and trade.

• Greater London alone has 16 Thames bridges, including the Millennium and Golden Jubilee bridges.

Source: "Ganga, Yamuna Wasn't Enough": Indian Seen Washing Feet In Thames Sparks Row

4. What is Ammonium Nitrate? — Rephrased

Ammonium nitrate, linked to a recent explosion in Delhi, was used in five previous blasts in Mumbai when combined with other chemicals.

About Ammonium Nitrate:

• A white, crystalline solid produced industrially.

• Chemical formula: NH₄NO₃ — a salt of ammonia and nitric acid.

• Widely used as a nitrogen-rich fertilizer and as an oxidizer in explosives.

• Melting point: 170°C; highly soluble in water.

• Heated solutions release nitrous oxide (laughing gas).

• Major ingredient in commercial mining explosives like slurry explosives.

Why It Becomes Explosive:

• Not explosive alone; requires additives like fuel and an initiator such as a detonator.

Legal Controls in India:

• Any mixture with over 45% ammonium nitrate is classified as an explosive.

• District Magistrates can permit up to 30 MT; larger quantities need PESO approval.

• PESO regulates its manufacture, storage, transport, and usage.

Source: Ammonium nitrate mixture used in 5 blasts in Mumbai

5. Key Facts about Caracal — Rephrased

The rare Asiatic Caracal has recently been sighted in Ramgarh, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

About Caracal:

• A secretive, medium-sized wild cat (Caracal caracal).

• Often mistaken for a lynx but more closely related to servals and African golden cats.

• Known as siya gosh in India, meaning “black ear.”

• Distribution: Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East, parts of India, and Pakistan.

• India hosts only about 50 individuals, mainly in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

• Habitat: Semi-deserts, savannahs, shrublands, steppes, forests.

• Features: Strong build, long legs, short face, and distinctive tufted ears.

• Fur is sandy-red; black variants exist. Back legs are longer than front.

• Outstanding jumpers (up to 3 m high) and can sprint up to 80 kph.

• Mostly nocturnal and very shy.

• IUCN Status: Least Concern.

Source: Rare Asiatic Caracal spotted at Ramgarh in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer

6. Portugal — Rephrased

Storm Claudia recently caused severe weather in Portugal, leaving three dead and many injured.

About Portugal:

• Westernmost country in mainland Europe, located on the Iberian Peninsula.

• Shares its land border with Spain; bordered by the North Atlantic Ocean to the west and south.

• Includes the autonomous archipelagos of Madeira and the Azores.

• Capital: Lisbon.

Geography:

• Mediterranean-style climate: hot summers, mild winters.

• Major River: Tagus, dividing the mountainous north from the plains of the south.

Highest Point: Ponta do Pico in the Azores.

Resources: Iron ore, copper, tin, tungsten, silver, gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum.

Source: Storm Claudia Kills 3, Injures Dozens in Portugal

7. Senkaku Islands — Rephrased

A China Coast Guard fleet recently entered waters near the disputed Senkaku Islands.

About Senkaku Islands:

• A group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea.

• Includes Uotsuri, Kuba, Taisho, Kitakojima, Minamikojima, Tobise, Okinokitaiwa, and Okinominamiiwa.

• Total land area: ~6.3 sq. km.

Features:

• Made up of conglomerate sandstone, tuff, and andesitic lava.

• Includes coral formations uplifted during the Holocene.

• Located in a volcanically active zone with fault-related geology.

Dispute:

• Claimed by China (Diaoyu) and Japan.

• Currently administered by Japan as part of Ishigaki city in Okinawa Prefecture.

Source: China Coast Guard ships sail through Japan-administered Senkaku Islands

8. Sakurajima Volcano — Rephrased

Japan’s Sakurajima volcano recently erupted several times, sending ash clouds up to 4.4 km high.

About Sakurajima:

• Located near Kagoshima city on Kyushu Island.

• One of Japan’s most active and regularly erupting volcanoes.

• A stratovolcano formed at a convergent plate boundary.

• Consists of two main peaks: Kitadake (north) and Minamidake (south).

• Once an island, it connected to the mainland in 1914 after a massive eruption.

• Volcano Definition: An opening that releases material from a planet’s interior through eruptions — either explosive or gentle.

Source: Japan’s Sakurajima volcano erupts, ashfall cancels flights

9. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) — Rephrased

The GCC has approved a new one-stop travel system that simplifies movement across member nations.

About GCC:

• Established in 1981 as a political and economic bloc.

• Members: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE.

• Formed amid regional tensions like the Iranian Revolution and Iran–Iraq War.

Structure:

• Supreme Council: Heads of member states; meets annually with rotating presidency.

• Ministerial Council: Foreign ministers; implements policies.

• Secretariat General: Coordinates joint projects; headquartered in Riyadh.

One-Stop Travel System:

• Aims to remove redundant travel procedures.

• Allows all immigration, customs, and security processes at a single point for Gulf citizens.

Source: GCC approves landmark One-Stop Travel System

10. e-Jagriti Platform — Rephrased

e-Jagriti, launched on 1 January 2025, has already registered over two lakh users, transforming consumer grievance redressal in India.

About the Platform:

• A key initiative of the Department of Consumer Affairs.

• Designed to modernize and streamline consumer dispute resolution.

Key Features:

• Multilingual and accessible interface.

• Integrates older systems like OCMS, e-Daakhil, NCDRC CMS, and CONFONET.

• AI-enabled smart search for archived cases and judgments.

• Allows filing, tracking, fee payments, and access to orders online.

• Enables global access for NRIs with secure, role-based permissions.

• Helps digitize consumer commissions and offers a faster, cost-effective dispute resolution system.

Source : e-Jagriti Revolutionizes Consumer Justice in 2025: Delivering Swifter Redressal and Outperforming 2024 Benchmarks