SNIPPETS 11 FEBRUARY 2026

Lake Urmia: Located in north-western Iran+ One of the largest inland lakes of the country +a hypersaline lake+ Major rivers feeding Lake Urmia:Talkheh River (from the northeast), Zarīneh River (south), Sīmīneh River (south)+ Threats:Drought, River diversion, Dam construction+ Protection:Ramsar Site, UNESCO MAB Programme

Malaysia: Capital: Kuala Lumpur+ Region: Southeast Asia+ Divided by: South China Sea (Peninsular + East Malaysia) + Borders: Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei; bridge to Singapore+ Key water bodies: Strait of Malacca, South China Sea +Highest Peak: Mount Kinabalu+ Biodiversity: One of 17 megadiverse countries+ Palm Oil: 2nd largest producer globally+ India–Malaysia Defence Exercises: Harimau Shakti (Army), Udarashakti (Air Force)

National Quantum Mission (NQM): Aim: To seed, nurture and scale up scientific and industrial R&D and create a vibrant & innovative ecosystem in Quantum Technology (QT)+ Budget Allocation: ~₹6,000 crore (2023–24 to 2030–31) + Amaravati is being developed as a major hub for quantum research and innovation, under National Quantum Mission+ Positions India among a select group of elite nations with dedicated quantum missions.

Network Readiness Index (NRI) Report 2025: Assess network-based readiness and digital transformation capacity of countries+ Prepared by – Portulans Institute (Washington DC, USA)+ India’s Performance – Rank – 45th (improved by 4 positions)+ Findings for India – Ranked 2nd among lower-middle-income countries+ India has greater network readiness than expected for its income level.