Einstein Ring :

• The Euclid space mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) spotted an Einstein ring in (also known as an Einstein–Chwolson ring or Chwolson ring) the galaxy NGC 6505,  (590 million light-years from the earth).
• NGC 6505 is an elliptical galaxy in the Draco constellation, about 608 million light years away from the Milky Way, discovered in 1884 by Lewis A. Swift.
• An Einstein ring is a ring-shaped image that occurs when light from a distant galaxy is bent around a massive object in the foreground. This phenomenon is called gravitational lensing.
• Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity predicted this phenomenon. (Option (d) is correct).
• Bruno Altieri (Astronomer) 1st noticed the Einstein ring (Nicknamed as Alteri’s Ring) in galaxy NGC 6505 in 2023 in a blurry image captured by Euclid mission of European Space Agency.

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Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) :

• PLFS is the main source of data on employment and unemployment in India.
• It provides key indicators like Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR), and Unemployment Rate (UR).
• It is released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). (Option (c) is correct).
• The Key Findings of the latest PLFS are as follows:
• The LFPR for people aged 15 and above in urban areas increased from 49.9% to 50.4%.
• The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) for people aged 15 and above in urban areas increased from 46.6% to 47.2%.
• The overall unemployment rate in urban areas decreased from 6.5% to 6.4%.
• State-wise Unemployment Trends:
• Assam recorded the highest urban youth unemployment rate, increasing from 23.9% to 27.5%.
• Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat showed slight decreases in unemployment rates.   

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Blue-Cheeked Bee-eater :

• It is a near passerine bird (perching bird) in the bee-eater family, Meropidae. (Statement 1 is correct).
• It breeds across Northern Africa and the Middle East, from eastern Turkey to Kazakhstan and India.
• Occasionally, this bird appears as a rare vagrant north of its usual range, particularly in Italy and Greece. It is not endemic to India. (Statement 2 is not correct).
• Recently, the first breeding site of the Blue-Cheeked Bee-eater in peninsular India has been discovered in the saltpans of Aandivilai near the Manakudy Mangroves in Kanniyakumari district.
• The nesting sites are often located in sandy banks, embankments, or low cliffs, and occasionally on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
• Its breeding was primarily recorded in regions such as Nile Delta, Pakistan, and Iran while its wintering grounds include parts of Africa.
• The bird is listed as Least Concerned by the IUCN Red List. (Statement 3 is not correct).

Minerals:

• Ministry of Mines moved 4 minerals-(Barytes, Felspar, Mica, and Quartz) from minor to major status.
• Quartz  -
• Common mineral in Earth's crust.
• Found in all forms of rock.
• Used in clocks and watches.
• Feldspar –
• Aluminosilicate minerals containing calcium, sodium, or potassium.
• Comprises more than half of Earth’s crust.
• Used in glassmaking, ceramics, construction, and manufacturing.
• Mica - 
• Group of minerals that are light, soft, and flexible.
• Used in cosmetics, medicine, and electronics.
• Barytes –
• Naturally occurring mineral made of barium sulphate (BaSO4).
• Used in paint, rubber, and concrete.

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Varanasi-Ranchi-Kolkata Expressway Project:

• Varanasi–Kolkata Expressway (NH-319B) is an 710 km long, 6 lane, greenfield access-controlled expressway. (Statement 1 is correct).
• It is an umbrella scheme under Bharat Mala Yojana. (Statement 2 is correct).
• Nodal Ministry – Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
• Objective – To boost trade and freight movement, particularly benefiting industries reliant on the Kolkata and Haldia ports.
• States covered – Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. (Statement 3 is not correct).

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