Janadriyah festival:

• Jenadriyah is cultural and heritage festival of Saudi Arabia. It is held annually at Jenadriyah village near Riyadh.
• It is organised every year by National Guard.
• It was held for first time in 1985. It draws more than one million visitors every year.
• The festival normally falls during the month of February or March.
• The activities in festivals include camel race, horse race, sports, dance, arts, history, falconry, and traditional arts and crafts.

J-20:

• It is China’s fourth-generation medium and long-range fighter jet.
• It is single-seat, twinjet, all-weather, and stealth fighter aircraft.
• It has been developed by China’s Chengdu Aerospace Corporation for PLAAF.

Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH):

• Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH) also known as parasitic worm is a type of helminth infection (helminthiasis) caused by different species of roundworms.
• Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH) interfere with nutrients uptake in children; can lead to anaemia, malnourishment and impaired mental and physical development.
• The situation of undernutrition and anaemia which is linked to STH ranges from 40% to 70% in different population groups across the country (WHO).
• They also pose a serious threat to children’s education and productivity later in life.
• India carries the highest burden of worm infestation and 64% of Indian population less than 14 years of age are at risk of Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH) or worms’ infestation (WHO).

Central Administrative Tribunal:

• The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) was established by an Act of Parliament namely Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985 as sequel to the 42nd amendment of the Constitution of India inserting Article 323 A.
• The Principal seat of Central Administrative Tribunal is at New Delhi and it has 16 Outlying Benches scattered all over the Country.

Composition of CAT:

• The Tribunal is headed by the Chairman and 65 Members, 33 from Judicial (including Chairman) and 33 from the Administrative stream.
• The Chairman is normally a retired Chief Justice of a High Court.

Functions of CAT:

• The tribunal adjudicates disputes and complaints with respect to Recruitment and Conditions of Service of the persons appointed to the Public Services and Posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or any State or of any other Local Authorities within the territory of India or under the control of the Government of India.
• Apart from above the Tribunal also has the jurisdiction on the employees of 208 Public Sector Undertakings/ Organizations notified by the Government.

Rhododendron:

• Rhododendron — literally rose tree in Greek — found in the region, with 18 species endemic to India.
• Found in varied habitats from subtropical forest to alpine shrubs, rhododendrons range from dwarf shrubs to large trees.
• There are 132 taxa (80 species, 25 sub species and 27 varieties) of Rhododendron found in India, of which 129 are found in the north-eastern India alone.
• Only three taxa — Rhododendron arboretum nilagiricum found in south India and Rhododendron colletianum and Rhododendron rawatti from the western Himalayas are not found in the north-east.
• Arunachal Pradesh is home to the highest number with 119 taxa (74 species, 21 sub species and 24 varieties) of the Rhododendron.
• The small State of Sikkim is home to 42 taxa (25 species, 11 sub-species and six varieties) while 10 taxa are found in Manipur, four in Mizoram and 11 in Nagaland.
• The eastern Himalayas are regarded as one of the centres of diversity for the genus, which means that the Rhododendron has migrated to different parts of world from this region.
• The Sikkim Forest department and the Sikkim Rhododendron Society have identified nine Rhododedron ecosystems and protected area networks in the State. The two famous Rhododendron sanctuaries in the State are Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary and Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary.

Environmental concerns:

• The scientists have pointed to the need for conservation of Rhododendrons.
• Epiphytic species, which grow on other trees or plants, of rhododendrons with limited population are most vulnerable due to loss of the host trees.
• While in high altitude areas of Arunachal Pradesh, rhododendrons are routinely cut for firewood by local people, forest fires in the dry seasons in Manipur and Nagaland were threatening the survival of many species.
• The endemic R. wattii from Dzukou hills of Manipur and Nagaland is one of the most critically endangered species in India, with only a few adult trees remaining in their natural habitat.

Maldives:

• Maldives is a South Asian island country, located in the Indian Ocean, situated in the Arabian Sea.
• It lies southwest of Sri Lanka and India.
• The chain of 26 atolls stretches from Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in the north to the Addu City in the south.
• Maldives is one of the world’s most geographically dispersed countries, as well as the smallest Asian country by both land area and population.
• It is the world’s lowest country, with even its highest natural point being the lowest in the world.
• The Maldives archipelago is located atop the Chagos-Maldives-Laccadive Ridge, a vast submarine mountain range in the Indian Ocean, which also forms a terrestrial ecoregion, together with the Chagos and the Lakshadweep.
• The Maldives is a founding member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). It is also a member of the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Non Aligned Movement. The World Bank classifies the Maldives as having an upper middle income economy.

 “Motion of Thanks”

• President’s Address and Motion of Thanks are governed by Articles 86 (1) and 87 (1) of the Constitution and Rules 16 to 24 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha.
• The President makes an address to a joint sitting of Parliament at the start of the Budget session, which is prepared by the government and lists its achievements.
• The President’s speech is a statement of the legislative and policy achievements of the government during the preceding year and gives a broad indication of the agenda for the year ahead.
• The address is followed by a motion of thanks moved in each House by ruling party MPs.
• During the session, political parties discuss the motion of thanks also suggesting amendments.

Amendments to the “Motion of Thanks”:

• Notices of amendments to Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address can be tabled after the President has delivered his Address.
• Amendments may refer to matters contained in the Address as well as to matters, in the opinion of the member, the Address has failed to mention. 
• Amendments can be moved to the Motion of Thanks in such form as may be considered appropriate by the Speaker.

Mercury:

• It is commonly known as quicksilver and was formerly named hydrargyrum.
• Mercury is the only metallic element that is liquid at standard conditions for temperature and pressure. The only other element that is liquid under these conditions is bromine.
• Mercury occurs in deposits throughout the world mostly as cinnabar(mercuric sulfide).
• Mercury poisoning can result from exposure to water-soluble forms of mercury (such as mercuric chloride or methylmercury), inhalation of mercury vapor, or eating seafood contaminated with mercury.
• Mercury is a very rare element in the Earth’s crust. It accounts for only about only 0.08 parts per million (ppm).
• It is a relatively poor conductor of heat. Most metals are excellent thermal conductors.
• Mercury is used in thermometers, barometers, manometers, sphygmomanometers, float valves, mercury switches, mercury relays, fluorescent lamps and other devices.
• It is also used in lighting: electricity passed through mercury vapor in a fluorescent lamp produces short-wave ultraviolet light which then causes the phosphor in the tube to fluoresce, making visible light.

Prithvi-II:

• The Prithvi-II is a short-range surface-to-surface missile.
• The missile is capable of carrying warheads weighing 500 kg to 1,000 kg.
• Notably, Prithvi is India’s first indigenously-built ballistic missile.
• With a strike range of 350 km, Prithvi-II is powered by twin-engines which use liquid propulsion.
• It uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory to hit its target.
• It is one of the five missiles being developed under the country’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.
• The missile was inducted into the armed forces in 2003.