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One Liners 20-09-2025
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History, Art and Culture
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Lothal
PM Modi to review progress of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal.
- It is the world’s oldest known artificial dock.
- It is the southernmost city of the Indus Valley Civilization.
- Lothal – Loth and thal, which in Gujarati means ‘the mound of the dead.’
- Inhabited – During 3700 BCE and was a thriving trading port.
- Connected to – An old course of the Sabarmati River.
- Discovered in – 1954 by SR Rao.
- Nominated for – UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.
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National Maritime Heritage Complex
- Developed by – Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterway.
- Objectives –
- To become a leading global tourist designation.
- To preserve and showcase 4,500 years old maritime heritage of India.
- To establish a maritime training and research centre.
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Geography
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Gulf of Finland
- It is the easternmost extension of the Baltic Sea.
- It is one of the largest bodies of brackish water in the world.
- Located in – Northern Europe.
- Area coverage – 30,000 sq.km.
- Extends for – 400 km from east to west but only 19 to 130 km from north to south.
- Bordered by – Finland in north, Russia in east, and Estonia in south.
- Low salinity – 6 parts per thousand, the gulf freezes over for 3 to 5 months in winter.
- River course – Neva & Narva rivers and the Saimaa Canal.
- Climate – Humid continental climate with hot summers & relatively harsh winters.
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Social Issues
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Durbar mahila samanwaya committee (DMSC)
Kolkata's Sonagachi highlights sex workers' 30-year struggle for recognition and rights, led by DMSC.
- It is a collective of sex workers (male, female and transgender) based in West Bengal, India which represents the voices.
- Started in – 1992 for HIV-AIDS prevention, evolved into a rights organization.
- Principles – 3R i.e., Respect, Reliance and Recognition of sex workers.
- Key Demands – Recognition as workers, labour rights, decriminalization of sex work.
- Challenges – Social stigma, violence, lack of basic services.
- Achievements – USHA Cooperative (financial), successful fight for own Durga Puja.
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Polity
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SLAPP
SC warned against 'SLAPP' suits and cautioned against pre-trial gag orders stifling free speech.
- SLAPP – Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation.
- It is a lawsuit alleging defamation, routinely used against public watchdogs with an active role in the protection of democracy and the rule of law.
- Targets – Journalists, independent media outlets, academics, civil society and human rights NGOs.
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Environment
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Delhi’s Air is Poisoned with Mercury
National capital’s air contains 6.9 nanograms of mercury per cubic metre on average, which is much higher than the global average.
- Reported by – Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune.
- Global average
- Northern Hemisphere (1.7 nanograms per cubic metre)
- Southern Hemisphere (1.3 nanograms per cubic metre).
- Source – Some 72 % to 92 % of pollution were due to human activities, primarily from fossil fuel combustion, industrial activities, and vehicular emissions.
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Mercury
- It is a naturally occurring element that is found in air, water and soil.
- It is a toxic metal which is considered among the top 10 chemicals or groups of chemicals of major public health concerns by the World Health Organization.
- Impact on – The nervous, digestive and immune systems, and on lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes.
- Disease – Minamata Disease, caused by methylmercury poisoning.
- Convention – Minamata convention on mercury, adopted in 2013 and came into force in 2017.
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Science
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UPSC tests AI-Enabled Facial Authentication
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has successfully conducted a pilot programme to test AI-enabled facial authentication technology for swift and secure candidate verification during various examinations.
- Collaborated with – National e-Governance Division.
- Aim – To strengthen the integrity of the examination process and enhance the ease of entry for candidates at examination centres.
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AI-Enabled Facial Authentication
- Face recognition using AI – It is a computer vision technology that is used to identify a person or object from an image or video.
- Combination of techniques – Such as deep learning, computer vision algorithms, and Image processing.
- Aim – To detect, recognize, and verify faces in digital images or videos.
- Applications – Such as unlocking a smartphone, unlocking doors, passport authentication, security systems, medical applications, and so on.
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Melioidosis
- It is a bacterial infection in both animals and humans.
- Caused by – Burkholderia pseudomallei.
- Spread through – Contact with contaminated soil, air, or water.
- Symptoms – Fever, headache, trouble in breathing, stomach or chest pain, muscle pain, confusion and seizure.
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