UPSC Prelims Facts - 15 January 2025 - Gokulam Seek IAS Academy

Table of Contents

Makran

Iran plans torelocate its capital from Tehran to the southern Makran coastal region due to economic and ecological concerns.

A semi-desert coastal strip of land, bounded by the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman.
Part of the plateau of Balochistan, which is shared between Pakistan and Iran.
Hosts the Pakistani port of Gwadar and the Iranian port of Chabahar, serving as gateways to the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf.

NFHS-4 data shows higher hysterectomy (surgical removal of uterus) rates in India among low-income agricultural workers and affluent women.

A surgical procedure to remove the woman’s uterus (womb).
Used in cancer treatment and for severe, unresponsive pelvic pain.
Highest Prevalence – Andhra Pradesh (9%) and Telangana (8%)
Lowest Prevalence – Sikkim (0.8%) and Meghalaya (0.7%).
The Southern region has the highest prevalence (4.2%), followed by the Eastern region (3.8%), while the Northeast has the lowest (1.2%).

Prime Minister has inaugurated Z-Morh tunnel in Sonamarg area in J&K.

Initially started by BRO in 2015 and evolved with National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited.
Situated at an altitude of 8,650 feet, it is a 2-lane road tunnel
Significance –
- Enhance all-weather connectivity between Srinagar and Sonamarg enroute to Leh.
- Ensure safe and uninterrupted access to Ladakh region.

India signed bilateral Haj Agreement 2024 with Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to the sacred city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims.
One of the 5 Pillars of Islam, alongside Shahadah (oath that one believes there is no god but Allah (God)), salat (prayer), zakat (almsgiving) and sawm (fasting of Ramadan).
Haj Committee of India – A statutory body under the Ministry of Minority Affairs set up under the provisions of the Haj Committee Act, 2002

DRDO has announced that field evaluation trials of ATGM- Nag-Mk 2 were successfully conducted

Indigenously-developed 3^rd-generation ATGM.
Capable of neutralising modern armoured vehicles equipped with explosive reactive armour.
Range – 500 metres- 4000 metres