• India's first bullet train project, connecting Mumbai and Ahmedabad via a 508 km corridor.
• Length and Route: 508 km route (352 km in Gujarat, 156 km in Maharashtra, and 4 km in Dadra and Nagar Haveli)
• Stations: A total of 12 stations, including Mumbai (BKC), Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati.
• Implementation: By the National High-Speed ​​Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) with technical and financial assistance from Japan.
• High-speed rail operations are expected to extend to Thane by 2028, with the corridor reaching Mumbai by 2029.

• Capital: Amaravati
• Formation Day: November 1, 1956 (Current form – after June 2, 2014)
• Bordering States: Telangana, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
• Major Rivers: Godavari, Krishna, Penna, Vamsadhara

• Official Language: Telugu
• Other Major Language: Urdu
• Famous Dance: Kuchipudi
• Famous Ports: Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Krishnapatnam

• This exemption applies only to unmanufactured tobacco and tobacco refuse that is not sold under a brand name and is not packaged for retail sale.
• Branded or retail-packaged unmanufactured tobacco will still be subject to the 18% excise duty.

Constitutional Basis:

• Article 355: Empowers the central government to ensure that states function in accordance with the Constitution.
• Article 356: If a state government fails to function constitutionally, the President can impose President's Rule on the recommendation of the Governor or at the President's discretion.
• Article 365: If a state fails to comply with the directions of the central government, the President can declare that its government cannot function constitutionally.
• Duration: President's Rule initially lasts for six months, which can be extended every six months with parliamentary approval up to a maximum of 3 years.
• Extension beyond three years requires a constitutional amendment (for example, the 67th and 68th Amendments for Punjab during the insurgency).
• Revocation: The President can revoke President's Rule at any time, even without parliamentary approval.
• President's Rule does not curtail the fundamental rights of citizens.

• Formation: The name BRICS is an acronym formed from the first letters of the English names of its founding members—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
• The term was first used in 2001 by economist Jim O'Neill, and the first formal summit was held in Russia in 2009.
• India officially assumed the BRICS chairmanship on January 1, 2026, and will host the 18th summit.

• India Container Shipping Line (BCSL): A strategic alliance has been formed between Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), CONCOR, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, and other stakeholders for its formation.
• Port Development Financing: The second agreement is for financing the 'Outer Harbour Development' project of V.O. Chidambaranar Port (Tuticorin). Under this agreement, Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL) will jointly provide financing up to ₹15,000 crore.
• This move is in line with the 'Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme' (CMAS) announced in the Union Budget 2026-27, for which an allocation of ₹10,000 crore has been made.

• Location and Duration: The exercise is being conducted in Missamari, Assam (Sonitpur district) from February 4 to 17, 2026.
• Participants: Soldiers from the Indian Army's Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) and the Kyrgyz Scorpion Brigade are participating.
• Main Objective: The primary objective is to enhance interoperability and coordination between the special forces of both countries in urban warfare and counter-terrorism operations under the UN mandate.
• 'Khanjar' is an annual exercise that began in 2011. It is held alternately in India and Kyrgyzstan. The previous edition (12th) was held in Kyrgyzstan in March 2025.

• Objective: This technology is crucial for the development of long-range air-to-air missiles (BVRAAMs), particularly the Astra Mark-3.
• Performance: During the test, all sub-systems, including the nozzle-less booster, solid fuel ducted ramjet motor, and fuel flow controller, performed as expected.
• Global Achievement: With this successful test, India has joined the elite club of select countries that possess advanced ramjet-based missile propulsion technology.
• Range Capability: This technology will enable future missiles to strike targets at ranges exceeding 350 km.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO):

• Year of Establishment: 1958
• Objective: To achieve self-reliance and modernization in India's defence technology.
• Areas of Work: Armaments, missiles, aeronautics, electronics, life sciences, etc.
• Major Achievements: Missiles, fighter aircraft, radars, electronic warfare systems, etc.
• Foundation Day: January 1
• Current Chairman: Dr. Samir V. Kamat

• This year's theme: The theme is "Close the Care Gap"
• Initiation of the Day: Started at the World Summit Against Cancer held in Paris on February 4, 1999.
• First Day Celebration: February 4, 2000
• Established by: Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), a leading international organization in the fight against cancer.
• National Cancer Awareness Day: November 7

Cancer:

• Cancer is a disease in which the body's cells grow and spread uncontrollably.
• These abnormal cells can form tumors that can invade surrounding tissues and spread to other parts of the body.

Types of Cancer:

• Carcinoma: Affects the skin or the lining of internal organs (e.g., lungs, breasts).
• Sarcoma: Develops in bones, muscles, or connective tissues.
• Leukemia: Starts in the bone marrow and affects blood cells.
• Lymphoma: Affects the lymphatic system (e.g., lymph nodes).
• Melanoma: Cancer of the pigment-producing cells in the skin.
• CNS Cancers: Occur in the brain or spinal cord.

Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment:

• Diagnosis: Biopsy, imaging tests, and blood tests.
• Treatment: Several options are available for treating cancer, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.

• Award: Swachhta Pakhwada Award 2025 - First Place
• Recipient: Paradip Port Authority (PPA)
• Awarding Authority: Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW)
• Key Initiatives: 'Jan Bhagidari' (People's Participation), 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' (One Tree in the Name of Mother) (40,000 saplings), Waste-to-Wealth, and campaign against single-use plastics