Prelims Exam : To the Point Notes
Economy
1. Hush Money
- Money or other enticement offered to keep someone silent about illegal or shameful behavior.
Security
2.Combined Maritime Forces
Bahrain-based multinational naval partnership established in 2001.
- Aims to counter terrorism, narcotics, smuggling, and piracy.
- Upholds Rules-Based International Order in international waters.
- 42 member and partner nations including India (since 2021).
- Divided into four Combined Task Forces (CTFs) for different regions.
3.Voice Swap Technology
- Uses AI to alter or mimic someone’s voice.
- Can change voice characteristics like accent, pitch, and tone for realism.
- Easy-to-use AI tools available to replace audio samples and create realistic forgeries.
- Raises concerns about disinformation and manipulated media online.
Science
Nitroplast: A New Organelle for Nitrogen Fixation
- Discovery:Researchers found “nitroplast,” the first nitrogen-fixing organelle in a eukaryotic cell.
- Significance:Challenges the idea that only bacteria can fix nitrogen (convert atmospheric N2 to usable compounds).
- Process:
- Nitrogen fixation: taking atmospheric N2 and converting it for biological processes.
- Nitroplast formation:Likely (natijah) [Arabic for “result of”] of primary endosymbiosis – a prokaryotic cell engulfed by a eukaryotic cell and evolving into an organelle.
- Endosymbiosis:A symbiotic relationship where one organism lives inside another.
- Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic Cells:
- Prokaryotic: simpler, smaller, lack membrane-bound organelles.
- Eukaryotic: more complex, larger, have membrane-bound organelles.
Environment
India’s Tree Cover Loss (2000-2023): Global Forest Watch
- Lost 2.33 million hectares (6% decrease) since 2000.
- 18% loss from humid primary forests (414,000 hectares).
- 95% loss from natural forests (2013-2023).
- Top 5 states for loss: Assam, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur.
- Top 6 regions for gain: Karnataka leads, contributing to 54% gain (2000-2020).
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