Prelims Focus 12th June 2025

12/06/2025

201 2 minutes read

Hodeidah Port

In News: Israel performed its first-ever naval strike on Yemen’s Hodeidah Port, focused on key piers.

Location: Yemen’s Hodeidah Port is situated on the western coast of Yemen, along the Red Sea at the Tihāmah coastal plain.
Historical Context: The port has historic significance, having been shelled in the course of the Italo-Ottoman War (1911–1912). Its region along the Red Sea has made it a focal point in regional power struggles.
Significance: Hodeidah Port is the biggest and most important seaport for Yemen, facilitating the import of critical goods, along with humanitarian aid, gas, and industrial imports.

National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited (NIIF)

In News: The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs chaired the 6th meeting of the Governing Council (GC) of the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited (NIIF) in New Delhi.

NIIF was established in 2015 by the Government of India as a sovereign-related alternative investment platform.
Objective: It pursuits to attract long-time period capital from international and domestic traders into infrastructure and different high-priority sectors of the Indian economy.
NIIF is registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) as an Alternative Investment Fund (AIF).
The Government of India holds a 49% share in NIIF, whilst the closing is open to other institutional traders.
The Governing Council of NIIF is chaired by the Union Finance Minister.

Jan Man Survey

In News: The Jan Man Survey is a nationwide digital initiative launched on the NaMo App to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 11 years in office. It invites Indian citizens to provide feedback on government policies and national issues, aiming to actively engage the public in the democratic process and shape future policies based on their views.

Key details about the Jan Man Survey:

It is hosted on the NaMo App, accessible on both Android and iOS platforms.
The survey consists of 15 questions covering topics such as national security, governance, digital services, youth development, cultural pride, and India’s growth vision.
Questions include multiple-choice and rating scale formats, taking about 2 minutes to complete.
Participants receive 75 points and a certificate of completion after finishing the survey.

Tourette Syndrome

In News: Tourette Syndrome typically emerges between ages 2 and 15, with the average onset around 6 years old. The first symptoms usually occur between ages 5 and 10, often starting with motor tics in the head and neck area. The severity of tics tends to peak between ages 8 and 12 and often declines through adolescence.

Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurological disorder characterized by sudden, involuntary, repetitive movements and vocalizations known as tics.
These tics can be motor, involving movements like eye blinking, head jerking, or shoulder shrugging, or vocal, such as throat clearing, grunting, or in rare cases, involuntary swearing.
TS typically begins in childhood, with symptoms usually appearing between ages 5 and 10, often starting with motor tics in the head and neck region before progressing.
The severity and frequency of tics can vary over time, often peaking in early adolescence and improving by adulthood for many individuals.
Although the exact cause is unknown, TS is believed to involve genetic and neurochemical factors affecting brain circuits.
While there is no cure, treatments including behavioral therapies and medications can help manage symptoms.
Importantly, TS does not affect intelligence or life expectancy, and many people with the condition lead normal lives despite the challenges posed by their tics.