One Liners 23-09-2025
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Agriculture
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Equator Initiative Award
The Bibi Fatima Women’s Self-Help Group from Teertha village in Kundgol taluk is one among the 10 winners of the Equator Prize 2025.
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It also referred to as the Nobel Prize for Biodiversity Conservation.
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Presented by – United Nations Development Programme.
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Announced on – International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
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Aim – To honour nature-based solutions led by indigenous people and local communities that promote sustainable development and ecological resilience.
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Theme 2025 – "Women and Youth Leadership for Nature-Based Climate Action”.
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India awarded for – Implementing eco-friendly farming practices in rainfed lands, managing community seed banks.
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Ensuring food and nutrition security and promoting millet cultivation.
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Other winners – Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Indonesia, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Peru, and Tanzania.
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Environment
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Glyphosate
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Glyphosate is a widely used herbicide that can kill certain weeds and grasses.
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Works by – Blocking an enzyme essential for plant growth.
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Primarily used in - Agriculture, but also in forestry and lawn and garden care.
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WHO’s International Agency for Re-search on Cancer classifies it as – “Probably carcinogenic to humans”.
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Security
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MiG-21 fighter jets
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is retiring its iconic MiG-21 fighter jets after nearly six decades of service.
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It is a supersonic jet fighter and interceptor aircraft.
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Introduced in – 1963, as the 1st supersonic fighter for India (1963), 28 Squadron (1st Supersonics').
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Designed by – Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union.
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Hailed as – "Workhorse" of India's air defence.
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Replaced by – Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk 1A.
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Key Roles
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Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)
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An Indian single-engine, delta wing, all weather and multirole light fighter.
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Designed as – A multi-role aircraft capable of taking up offensive air support, close combat and ground attack role at ease.
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To undertake ground maritime operations.
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Designed by – Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA).
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Produced by – Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
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Generation – 4.5 generation fighter aircraft.
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Key component of – India's indigenous defence program.
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Science
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“Smog-Eating” technology
The Delhi government will conduct a time-bound study on “smog-eating” photocatalytic coatings.
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Project - Titanium Oxide-based coatings, which can be applied to roads, pavements, and public spaces.
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Designed to – Neutralise harmful gases like nitrogen dioxide and volatile hydrocarbons that contribute to the capital’s toxic air.
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Aim – To strengthen the city’s pollution-control measures through technology-driven interventions and scientific validation.
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Chronic Insomnia Accelerates Dementia
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Chronic insomnia – It refers to sleep problems that last at least 3 times per week for 3 months.
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Accelerate – Both amyloid buildup and silent blood-vessel damage, nudging the brain toward cognitive decline, especially in people who already carry the high-risk ApoE4 gene.
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ApoE4 gene
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ApoE4 is the primary genetic risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
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Expressed in – 40–65% of all AD patients.
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Associated to – Many pathological processes possibly linked to cognitive impairment, such as amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau pathologies.
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Index
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Report on WASH (2000 – 2024)
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Title – Progress on Household Drinking Water and Sanitation 2000–2024: Special focus on inequalities.
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It presents updated national, regional and global estimates on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for the period 2000–2024.
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Launched by – World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) during World Water Week (August 24-28, 2025).
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Focused particularly on – Inequalities in access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, which continue to impede the achievement of UN-mandated Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.
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Key highlights –
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Open defecation in low-income countries remained 4 times higher than the global average.
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To meet 2030 targets, low-income countries would need a 7-fold increase in access to safe water and an 18-fold increase in sanitation.
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World Water Week
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It is the leading annual conference on global water issues.
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Annually held – since 1991
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Organised by – Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI).
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Aim – To accelerate progress in international processes related to water, development, and climate.
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Theme 2025 – “Water for Climate Action”.
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India Water Week
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It is a 5-day conference and exhibition which is India’s international water resources event.
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Started in – 2012, conducted biannually
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Lasted edition in – 2024.
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Next edition will be conducted in – 2026.
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Organized by – Ministry of Jal Shakti.
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Aim – To focus on “Partnerships and Cooperation for Inclusive Water Development and Management”.
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