May-2025

Teak

• Tissue-cultured teak promotion: Tissue-cultured teak is being promoted as a high-yield, fast-return solution for India’s timber cultivation. This is aimed at boosting timber production and trade.

• Debate on productivity: Claims of higher yields and faster returns from tissue-cultured teak are under debate, requiring further long-term field studies for verification.

• Teak’s Value: Teak (Tectona grandis) is highly valued globally for its durability, strength, and resistance to pests and water, earning it the title “king of timbers.” It is used in shipbuilding, construction, furniture, and musical instruments.

• India’s role: India holds a significant portion (35%) of the world’s planted teak forests, with Asia accounting for over 95% of global teak resources. Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have the largest native teak forests.

• Regulatory hurdles: Green felling in government forests is restricted by the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, and National Forest Policy, 1988, making private plantations crucial for meeting timber demand.

• Traditional propagation issues: Natural teak regeneration faces challenges like low seed viability, while conventional vegetative methods have low success rates.

• Inconsistent tissue culture results: Success

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  of tissue-cultured teak varies greatly, depending on factors like genetic quality and plantation management.

• Importance of management: Intensively managed teak plantations yield higher economic returns compared to unmanaged ones, highlighting the importance of proper spacing, irrigation, and fertilization.

• Need for research: More research is needed to validate claims of accelerated growth and higher productivity from tissue-cultured teak under diverse field conditions.

Bhakra Dam

• Political Consensus: All Punjab political parties have unanimously decided against sharing any additional water from the Bhakra Dam with Haryana.
• BBMB Order: The decision comes in response to an order from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) regarding water sharing with Haryana.
• All-Party Meeting: A two-hour meeting was held, chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, with representatives from seven Punjab political parties, all supporting the state government’s stance.
• PM Meeting Possible: An all-party delegation is likely to seek a meeting with Prime Minister Modi to discuss the water dispute.
• Safeguarding Punjab’s Water Rights: The CM asserted that the order to release water to Haryana was being forced upon Punjab and all parties are together on the issue of safeguarding the state’s waters. He said after hearing the views of all parties, the government will now prepare a plan of action.
• BJP Support: The Punjab BJP unit supports the state government’s position that Punjab has no water to spare for Haryana.
• Bhakra Dam Overview: The Bhakra Dam is a concrete gravity dam on the Sutlej River, one of India’s earliest river valley projects after independence, completed in 1963. Its reservoir is called “Gobind Sagar”, which stores up to 9.34 billion cubic meters of water.
• Importance: The news highlights a united front among Punjab’s political parties to protect the state’s water resources amid ongoing disputes with neighboring Haryana. The Bhakra Dam is a crucial water source, and the decision reflects concerns about water availability within Punjab.

Digha’s Jagannath Temple

• New Temple Inauguration: The Jagannath Dham temple in Digha, West Bengal, opened in April 2024.
• Architectural Inspiration: It’s modeled after Odisha’s Puri Jagannath Temple, using Kalinga-style architecture.
• Structure and Features: The Digha temple includes Vimana, Jagamohan, Nat Mandir, and Bhog Mandap.
• Material Difference: Unlike Puri’s neem wood idols, Digha’s idols are made of stone.
• Cost and Location: Built on a 24-acre plot in Digha at a cost of ₹250 crore, about 350 km from Puri.
• Servitor Concerns: Puri servitors express worries about diluted religious significance due to potential ritual replication and a possible decrease in visitors.
• Controversial Practices: Digha temple plans to allow non-Hindus and foreigners, a contrast to Puri’s tradition.
• Use of “Dham” and Nilachakra: Concerns raised about the use of “Dham” and the Nilachakra image in Digha temple advertisements, as it may undermine the status of Puri.
• Economic Impact: Puri servitors fear competition for Bengali tourists.
• Tourist Dynamics: Bengalis make up a large portion of Odisha’s tourist numbers, with the potential for Digha to impact Puri’s tourism in the long term.

Depot Darpan

• The government is launching the “Depot Darpan” portal and mobile app to enhance quality and performance standards in food storage depots.

• It is an initiative of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.

• Depot Darpan will digitize operations in 2,278 grain depots managed by FCI, CWC, and state agencies.

• The portal allows depot managers to evaluate infrastructure, operations, and finances in near real-time. Geo-tagged data uploads generate automated ratings and action points.

• Warehouses are assessed on infrastructure (safety, storage, environment, technology, statutory compliance) and operational efficiency (stock turnover, losses, space utilization, manpower, profitability).

• A star rating is awarded based on composite scoring from both infrastructure and operational aspects.

• Depot Darpan integrates smart warehousing technologies like CCTV, IoT sensors (temperature, humidity, CO2, phosphine gas, gate shutter, fire/smoke), AI for bag counting, ANPR for vehicle tracking, and face recognition.

• The mobile app provides real-time warehouse performance tracking for supervisors, facilitating informed decisions and continuous improvement.

• The portal’s purpose is to ensure food storage depots meet the highest quality and performance standards.

• Supervisory officials will be able to track warehouse performance in real-time through the mobile app, aiding informed decision-making and continuous improvements.

SECI: India’s Solar Power

• Asia’s Largest Integrated Solar & BESS Project: Reliance, NU Suntech signed a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with SECI for Asia’s largest single-location integrated solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) project.

• SECI’s Role: Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd. (SECI) is the leading Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) for Renewable Energy (RE) development in India and is crucial for expanding RE capacity.

• Sole RE CPSU: SECI is the only CPSU specifically dedicated to the renewable energy sector in India.

• Establishment & Purpose: Incorporated in 2011, SECI was initially a non-profit and later converted to a commercial entity. Its establishment was to facilitate the National Solar Mission.

• Ministry Control: SECI operates under the administrative control of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

• Miniratna Status: SECI has been granted the status of Miniratna Category-I CPSU.

• NDC Implementation: SECI helps India achieve its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by developing solar, wind, and hybrid projects.

• Tariff-Based Bidding: SECI uses a tariff-based competitive e-bidding process to select RE developers.

• Power Purchase & Sale Agreements: SECI signs 25-year PPAs with developers and 25-year Power Sale Agreements (PSAs) with DISCOMs for power procurement and sale.

• Power Trading Licensee: SECI holds the highest-category power trading license, enabling it to trade power pan-India.

• Consultancy Services: SECI offers Project Management Consultancy in the RE sector to government entities.

• Significant Generation Capacity: SECI oversees 65.3 GW of awarded generation capacity, with over 40 GW being solar energy.

Activism on the Bench

• Judicial Activism Debate: India is seeing a growing debate over the judiciary’s expanding role, raising concerns about “judicial despotism” versus the need for court interventions to uphold constitutional values.
• Judicial Despotism: It refers to excessive, unchecked judicial power exceeding constitutional limits, undermining the roles of the legislature and executive.
• Examples of Judicial Activism: Broad use of Article 142, directing liquor shop distances from highways, and issuing guidelines on sexual harassment at the workplace.
• Judicial Restraint: The SC generally upholds public policies, like demonetization, Rafale deal, NRC in Assam, and UAPA bail restrictions.
• Judicial Review: The power of constitutional courts to examine the constitutionality of legislative and executive actions, implied in Articles 13, 32, 226, 131-136, and 137.
• SC’s Stand on Judicial Review: Held as a basic feature of the Constitution in Kesavananda Bharati and Minerva Mills cases.
• Way Forward: Exercise judicial restraint, promote judicial accountability through internal reforms, encourage institutional balance and dialogue, and ensure checks and balances to prevent overreach.
• Criticism of Judicial Review: Some argue that unelected judges should not quash laws passed by democratically elected governments, but most scholars reject this objection in cases pertaining to federal provisions, legislative procedure, or fundamental rights.
• Accountability: All three organs of the government must remain within their allotted spheres and adhere to their constitutional oaths, with fair criticism being welcome but attributing motives to judges or blaming them for violation of separation of powers being unacceptable.

DEHP

• DEHP & Cardiovascular Mortality: A recent study in The Lancet eBioMedicine links DEHP exposure to increased cardiovascular mortality, particularly in the 55-64 age group.
• Widespread Use: DEHP is a plasticiser used to make PVC plastics more flexible and durable, found in food packaging, medical devices, toys, personal care products, and building materials.
• Global Impact: In 2018, DEHP exposure was associated with approximately 356,238 deaths globally in the 55-64 age group, representing over 13% of global heart disease deaths in that age group.
• India’s High Burden: India had the highest number of DEHP-related cardiovascular deaths globally, with an estimated 103,587 deaths, accounting for nearly one-third of the global total in the mentioned age group.
• Mechanism: DEHP is known to cause inflammation in coronary arteries, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
• Other Health Effects: DEHP exposure is associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, hormonal disruptions, infertility, increased cancer risk, and developmental issues in infants.
• Disproportionate Impact: About 75% of global DEHP-related deaths occur in Asia, the Middle East, and the Pacific, highlighting a heavier burden on developing countries.
• Endocrine Disruptor: DEHP is classified as an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) and can cause reproductive and developmental problems.
• Study Methodology: The Lancet study analysed urine samples and environmental data from over 200 countries to establish the link between DEHP exposure and heart disease deaths.
• China and Indonesia deaths: China recorded 33,858, Indonesia recorded 52,219 deaths.

Operation Kagar

• National Debate Call: Telangana Chief Minister advocates for a national discussion on “Operation Kagar”.
• Counterinsurgency Initiative: Operation Kagar is a large-scale effort launched in 2024 to dismantle the Maoist (Naxalite) insurgency in the “Red Corridor” (Chhattisgarh, Telangana, etc.).
• Massive Deployment: Approximately 1 lakh paramilitary troops, including CRPF, CoBRA, DRG, and state police, are involved.
• Technology Integration: Modern technology like drones, AI, and satellite imagery are being utilized for intelligence gathering.
• Goal & Deadline: The primary objective is to eradicate Maoist influence by March 2026.
• Four-Part Strategy:
  • Establishing forward operating bases.
  • Building fortified police stations in reclaimed areas.
  • Gathering intelligence through high-tech monitoring.
  • Implementing a “generous surrender policy”.
• Naxal Ideology: Naxals aim to overthrow the existing government, believing it favors the wealthy and exploits the poor. They advocate for armed struggle to redistribute land and power, ultimately seeking a classless, communist society.
• Operation Kagar Meaning: Roughly translates to ‘Final Mission’.

Scaly Anteater

• Decline in Pangolin Scale Trafficking: Global trafficking of pangolin scales has significantly decreased since 2020.
• Reasons for Decline: COVID-19 disruptions, sustained law enforcement efforts, and evolving smuggling tactics are attributed to the decline.
• Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) Report: The WJC report, “Disruption and Disarray: An Analysis of Pangolin Scale and Ivory Trafficking, 2015–2024,” highlights the drop in large-scale seizures.
• Major Seizures in 2020: Singapore seized approximately 25 tonnes of pangolin scales in two operations in 2020, marking a turning point.
• Peak Trafficking in 2019: Global pangolin scale seizures reached a high of over 100 tonnes in 2019.
• Pangolin Species: There are 8 species (4 in Africa, 4 in Asia). The Indian pangolin is found in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
• Habitat & Role: Pangolins inhabit forests, grasslands, and agricultural areas, consuming ants and termites. They are important for pest control and soil aeration.
• Threats: They are targeted for illegal trade (scales for traditional medicine, meat as delicacy) and habitat loss.
• Conservation Status: Indian pangolin is Endangered, Chinese pangolin is Critically Endangered. Both are protected under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. All species are in CITES Appendix I (prohibiting international commercial trade).
• Traditional Medicine: Pangolin scales are considered valuable in traditional Chinese medicine.

Vizhinjam Port Opens

• Inauguration: Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the Vizhinjam International Seaport (VIS) in Kerala on May 2, 2025, marking a major advancement in India’s maritime infrastructure.
• First Deep-Water Transshipment Port: VIS is India’s first deep-water transshipment port, designed for handling container and multi-purpose cargo.
• Strategic Location: Located near major international shipping routes, enhancing accessibility for large vessels due to its 18-20 meter depth.
• Technological Advancement: It’s India’s first semi-automated port, with an AI-driven control room and indigenous Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS), improving efficiency and traffic flow.
• Economic Impact: Aims to reduce India’s reliance on foreign ports, potentially saving USD 200-220 million annually by handling transshipment domestically.
• Future Expansion: Phases 2 & 3 will increase capacity from 1 million to 3 million TEUs by 2028, attracting ₹9,560 crore investment from Adani Ports.
• Overcoming Challenges: The project overcame significant challenges, including protests against the breakwater construction.
• Engineering Marvel: The 2,960-meter-long breakwater is the deepest constructed in India, essential for berthing large vessels.
• Financial Details: The first phase cost ₹8,867 crore, with contributions from the State government and Adani Group.

Caspian Sea at Risk

• Rapid Shrinkage: The Caspian Sea is shrinking due to climate change-driven evaporation, threatening biodiversity, economies, and stability.
• Projected Water Level Decline: Even with limited warming (below 2°C), water levels could drop 5-10 meters. Higher warming scenarios project a drastic 21-meter drop by 2100.
• Biodiversity at Risk: Endemic species like the Caspian seal (Endangered) and Beluga sturgeon (Critically Endangered) face extinction. The Caspian Seal is the only true seal that live in interior salt or brackish waters
• Economic Impacts: Major ports (Baku, Anzali, Aktau, Turkmenbashi, Lagan) could become landlocked, disrupting trade and transportation.
• Volga River Threat: The Volga River, vital for connecting the Caspian to the global maritime network, may become unusable.
• Hydrocarbon Industry Affected: Oil and gas production sites (Kashagan, Filanovsky) could become landlocked, hindering operations.
• Public Health Hazard: Dried seabeds may release toxic dust contaminated with industrial pollutants and salt, mirroring the Aral Sea disaster and causing respiratory issues and other health problems.
• Largest Inland Water Body: The Caspian Sea is the world’s largest inland water body, fed by the Volga, Ural, and Terek rivers, and bordered by five countries.
• Regional Instability: Depleting resource base would cause resource wars, human migration and political tensions between bordering states.

India’s Labour Shift

• International Labour Day Focus: Highlights the need for stronger labour law implementation to combat bonded and exploitative labour in India.
• Widespread Informality: A significant portion of India’s workforce (around 39 crore out of 47 crore) operates in the unorganised sector, lacking job security and social protection. Formalisation of
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  labour market lags at 15%.
• Low-Quality Jobs & Skill Gap: Dominance of low-quality informal jobs. Only about half of India’s graduates are deemed employable, indicating a skills gap.
• Delayed Labour Law Implementation: Labour code implementation is delayed. Gig workers are excluded from key protections.
• Gender Disparities: Female labour force participation rate is declining. Underutilization of educated women.
• Low Labour Productivity: India has long working hours but low productivity, with high-pressure environments impacting mental health. Climate change also threatens productivity.
• Bonded Labour Crisis: Millions in India are trapped in bonded labour due to factors like poverty, discrimination, and lack of information. Many are being trafficked.
• Government’s Unmet Targets: The government’s target to rehabilitate bonded labourers by 2030 is far from being met.
• Exploitation in Industries: Forced labour persists in Indian industries, exploiting vulnerable migrant workers for profit.
• Need for Unionization: Unorganised workers lack collective bargaining power due to a lack of unionisation.
• Formalisation: Implement labour codes, expand EPFO/ESIC coverage, and strengthen schemes linked to infrastructure in Tier 2/3 cities.
• Skill Development: Improve vocational training relevance and strengthen industry-academia linkages.
• Social Dialogue: Re-establish the Indian Labour Conference (ILC) and ratify ILO conventions on freedom of association.
• Gender Equality: Implement policies to increase female participation, ensure safe workspaces and childcare support.
• Worker Health & Safety: Improve and enforce occupational health and safety standards.

Orange Ventures

• India’s “Orange Economy” Focus: India is emphasizing its creative economy (Orange Economy) which integrates culture, creativity, technology, and intellectual property to drive economic growth.
• Creator Economy Growth: India’s creator economy is projected to grow significantly, increasing from Rs 19 billion in 2023 to Rs 34 billion by 2026, signaling strong growth potential.
• WAVES 2025 Summit: The World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) in Mumbai aims to position India as a global hub for media, entertainment, and technological innovation.
• “Create in India, Create for the World”: Prime Minister Modi encourages global companies to create content in India, emphasizing respect for all cultures.
• India’s Cultural Strength: India’s culture is highlighted for its inclusivity and ability to embrace and respect diverse cultures.
• Industry Collaboration: WAVES 2025 features global digital marketplaces and collaborations, like with Adobe, to expand Indian talent globally.
• Entertainment Industry Growth: The Indian entertainment industry is projected to increase valuation, with Mr.Ambani stating the valuation is $28 million and will reach to $100 million.
• Responsible Creativity: There is an emphasis on responsible creativity and ensuring human sensitivities are respected in content creation.
• Global Representation: The summit attracts industry leaders, artists, investors, and policymakers from over 100 countries, with over 100 sessions.

Hyena: The Laughing Predator

• International Hyena Day: Celebrated annually on April 27th to raise awareness about hyenas’ ecological importance and dispel negative perceptions.

• Hyena Diversity: Four distinct species exist: spotted, striped, brown, and aardwolf, each with unique characteristics and ecological roles.

• Habitat and Distribution: Hyenas inhabit diverse regions across Africa and parts of Asia, with specific species adapted to particular environments.

• Ecological Importance: They regulate herbivore populations, prevent disease spread by scavenging, recycle nutrients, and control insect populations.

• Threats: Hyena populations face decline due to persecution, habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, hunting, and accidental deaths.

• Spotted Hyenas: Skilled predators living in female-led clans, crucial for maintaining ecosystem balance.

• Striped Hyenas: Nocturnal scavengers/omnivores that use scent marking for communication.

• Brown Hyenas: Scavengers with a strong sense of smell, living in small clans.

• Aardwolves: Specialized termite eaters, vulnerable to pesticide use.

• Conservation Status: While some species are listed as “Least Concern,” overall hyena populations are declining, highlighting the need for conservation efforts.

Arabia’s Green Past

• Recurring Humid Periods: A recent study in Nature provides evidence of multiple “green phases” in the Arabian Desert over the past 8 million years. This challenges the perception of the region as perpetually arid.

• Speleothem Evidence: Stalactites and stalagmites found in Arabian caves indicate periods of consistent rainfall, vegetation, and soil formation. Uranium dating and oxygen isotope analysis confirm these wetter periods.

• Fossil Discoveries: Fossils in the Baynunah Formation (UAE) reveal the presence of hippos, elephants, giraffes, and primates, suggesting a savanna-like environment and a migratory route.

• Green Arabia Hypothesis: The “Green Arabia Hypothesis” proposes that the Arabian Peninsula experienced cyclical wet phases, enabling human and animal migration and biodiversity.

• Relevance to Human Evolution: The Arabian Desert is believed to have acted as a corridor for early human migration from Africa to Eurasia.

• Supporting Evidence: Fossilized lakes, river channels, and ancient stone tools discovered in Saudi Arabia and the UAE support the hypothesis of a greener past.

Kendu Leaf

• Kendu Leaf Trade Deregulation Demand: Eight Gram Sabhas in Baipariguda, Koraput, Odisha, seek government notification to deregulate kendu leaf trade under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.

• Significant Collection: Over 4 lakh bundles of kendu leaves have been collected by the communities in villages like Kalatha Jodi, Kupuli Guda, and Badali Beda, for the 2025 season.

• Economic Impact: Deregulation is crucial for tribal communities, especially vulnerable groups, as kendu leaves (“Green Gold of Odisha”) are a vital income source. Failure to deregulate in the past resulted in substantial losses (estimated Rs 36 lakh).

• FRA Empowerment: The FRA, 2006, grants tribal communities rights to collect, use, and sell Minor Forest Produce (MFP) like kendu leaves independently, without royalties or permissions.

• Transit Permits: The Community Forest Rights Management Committee (CFRMC) should issue transit permits, as per FRA, overriding state laws.

• Medicinal and Commercial Value: Kendu leaves are used for making bidis (local cigarettes) and have medicinal properties, making them economically significant.

• Odisha’s Role: Odisha is a major kendu leaf producer, third-largest after Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

• No Encroachment: Tribal communities assert they are harvesting from areas without designated Forest Department collection centers.

Virgin Hydrogen

• Natural Hydrogen: The Next Big Thing: Natural hydrogen (geologic or white hydrogen) is gaining traction as a clean, abundant, and potentially low-cost energy source.
• Formation: Formed through natural geological processes like serpentinisation, radiolysis, and organic decomposition.
• Discovery: The flame found in Bourakébougou, Mali, in 1987 (identified as 98% hydrogen in 2012) was a turning point. Discoveries in France (Lorraine & Moselle) revealed 92 million tonnes.
• Global Presence: Hydrogen seeps documented in over 10 countries, including Australia, the USA, France, South Korea, Canada, and Spain.
• India’s Potential: India’s geological structures (ultramafic rocks, sedimentary basins, hydrothermal systems) make it a high-potential zone.
• Abundant Resources: If just 2% of global geological hydrogen is recoverable, it could surpass all known natural gas reserves and meet global hydrogen demand for 200 years.
• Cost Advantage: Production cost estimated at USD 1/kg or less, cheaper than green and grey hydrogen.
• Hydrogen Rush: The number of companies exploring natural hydrogen has surged from 10 in 2020 to 40 in 2023.
• USGS Model & Recent Finds: USGS Model suggests a huge worldwide natural hydrogen reserves. Recent finds in France’s Lorraine region estimated to be about 92 million tonnes, worth about $92 billion.
• Industry Investment: Companies like Koloma, BP, and Rio Tinto are investing in natural hydrogen exploration and extraction.

Image Rights

• Madras HC Order: Directs Meta and Telegram to remove fake accounts and channels misusing choreographer Anita R. Ratnam’s images and deepfake audio.
• Reason: Violation of Personality Rights through fraudulent investment schemes.
• Plaintiff: Anita R. Ratnam, pioneer of Neo Bharatam dance style. She is choreographer, performer, producer, speaker, mentor, arts entrepreneur.
• Personality Rights: Protect an individual’s public persona (name, voice, image) and grant control over its commercial use. Includes Right of Publicity and Right to Privacy.
• Legal Basis: Right to Privacy (Article 21 of Indian Constitution), Copyright Act (passing off, deception, moral rights), Trademarks Act (false connection with a person), IT Act (identity theft).
• Recent Actions: Ratnam issued public caution notices and filed cybercrime complaints after discovering misuse of her identity in February 2025. Meta took down over 70 fake accounts earlier.
• John Doe Suit: Filed by Ratnam due to continued emergence of fake accounts infringing her personality rights. Seeks restraint order against misuse for commercial/personal gain.
• Court observation: The HC recognized personality rights even though there is no specific statutory definition in India.
• Interim order: pull down a list of 11 fake Telegram channels and three Facebook accounts which Ms. Ratnam had listed in her plaint and then remove other such fake accounts too as and when Ms. Ratnam reports them to Meta and Telegram.

Makalu: The Black Giant

• ITBP Success: The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) successfully scaled Mt. Makalu (8,485m), the world’s fifth-highest peak, on April 19, 2025. This marks a first-time summit of Makalu by any Central Armed Police Force (CAPF).

• Twin Expedition: The expedition was part of a historic twin summit attempt to Mt. Makalu and Mt. Annapurna, a first for the ITBP.

• Makalu Team Success: The Makalu team, led by Deputy Commandant Anoop Kumar Negi, achieved an 83% success rate, with five climbers reaching the summit.

• Annapurna Attempt: The Annapurna team reached 7,940 meters but retreated due to extreme weather conditions, ensuring a safe return.

• Environmental Commitment: The ITBP team collected 150 kg of non-biodegradable waste as part of the “Clean Himalaya – Save Glacier” campaign.

• ITBP Mountaineering Achievements: With this summit, ITBP has now scaled six of the world’s 14 “eight-thousanders” and a total of 229 peaks.

• Mt. Makalu Facts: Mt. Makalu, located in the Nepal Himalayas on the border between Nepal and Tibet, is known for its challenging climb due to steep pitches and knife-edged ridges.

• Historical Context: The first summit of Mt. Makalu was in 1955 by a French team.

Sandy Cay Reef

• Renewed Tensions: China and the Philippines are in a dispute over Sandy Cay Reef, with each asserting sovereignty.

• China’s Actions: China’s coast guard claimed to have implemented “maritime control” over Tiexian Reef (part of Sandy Cay) and displayed a flag to assert sovereignty.

• Philippines’ Response: The Philippines denies China’s claim, calling it “made-up” and an attempt to intimidate. They also released a photo of Filipino sailors raising their flag on the reef.

• Conflicting Claims: Both countries accuse each other of “infringement and provocation” and ecological degradation of disputed landforms.

• Strategic Location: Sandy Cay lies near Thitu Island (Pag-asa), where the Philippines has troops and a coast guard base.

• SCS Dispute Context: This dispute is part of the broader South China Sea conflict, where China claims most of the sea via the “Nine-Dash Line,” a claim rejected by an international ruling.

• Regional Concerns: US-Philippine joint military exercises (“Balikatan”) are viewed by China as provocative, further escalating tensions. Chinese warships have been spotted near the Philippines during these exercises.

• Multiple Claimants: Besides China and the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also claim the reef.

Maharashtra Gujarat Day

• 65th Statehood Day: Maharashtra and Gujarat celebrated their 65th Statehood Day on May 1st, 2025, commemorating their formation in 1960 after the split of Bombay State.

• Linguistic Reorganization: The states were formed based on linguistic identity, reflecting the idea that language shapes identity and governance should reflect cultural realities.

• Samyukta Maharashtra Movement: This movement (1956) advocated for a Marathi-speaking state, including Mumbai and Vidarbha, playing a key role in Maharashtra’s creation.

• Mahagujarat Movement: This movement (1928-1950s) pushed for a Gujarati-speaking state, uniting Saurashtra and Kutch, and promoting regional self-identity.

• Celebrations: Both states celebrate with parades, cultural events, and reflections on their journey. Maharashtra’s main event is in Mumbai’s Shivaji Park, while Gujarat holds events across cities, often at Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Riverfront.

• Economic and Cultural Powerhouses: Both states have become significant economic centers and cultural torchbearers in India.

• Legacy of Unity: Their formation represents a peaceful movement for self-determination achieved through dialogue. The day celebrates the resilience of communities that stood up for self-determination through dialogue, not division.

• Shared Pride: While distinct in language and customs, they share a legacy of a democratic movement that reshaped Indian federalism.

Zoji La

• Early Opening of Zojila Pass: The Zojila Pass has opened earlier than usual, enabling quicker access to Ladakh.

• Siachen Base Camp Access: Tourists can now visit the Siachen base camp without needing prior authorization or NOC.

• Galwan Valley Opening: The Galwan Valley, a key tourist destination, will open to visitors from June 15th, marking the first time it will be accessible for tourism.

• Significance of Zojila Pass: The pass is a crucial link connecting Kashmir Valley with Ladakh, vital for both civilian travel and military logistics. It’s a high-altitude pass in the Himalayas and considered a strategic lifeline.

• Zojila Tunnel Project: The Zojila Tunnel is under construction to provide all-weather connectivity, aiming to drastically reduce travel time and improve accessibility.

• Context: This early opening provided the window to open tourist locations early.

Wind Report 2025

• GWEC Report Warning: The Global Wind Report 2025 warns that projected wind capacity will only meet 77% of the 2030 target, jeopardizing net-zero and Paris Agreement goals.

• Global Capacity Addition: 117 GW of new wind capacity was added in 2024, a slight increase from 2023 (116.6 GW), bringing total capacity to 1,136 GW.

• China’s Dominance: China contributed 70% of new global wind capacity in 2024.

• Regional Success: Uzbekistan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia showed significant onshore wind growth; Africa and Middle East onshore capacity doubled.

• Offshore Wind Decline: Offshore wind installations fell by 26% in 2024 to 8 GW.

• Key Challenges: Policy instability, permitting delays, underinvestment in grid upgrades, inflation, high interest rates, trade protectionism.

• Scaling Up Needed: 320 GW of annual wind installations are required to meet COP28’s renewable energy tripling target.

• India’s Wind Capacity: India has 50.04 GW of installed wind capacity as of March 2025, ranking 4th globally.

• India’s Challenges: Land acquisition, non-modernized grid, policy inconsistencies, high upfront costs, supply chain issues, e-waste.

• India’s Solutions: Strengthen policy framework, land banks, boost offshore wind potential, hybrid projects, financial innovations, domestic manufacturing.

• India’s Domestic Manufacturing Capacity: India’s manufacturing capacity stands at about 18,000 MW annually.

• Call to Action: The report calls for unprecedented levels of international cooperation, policy innovation, and targeted investment in both mature and emerging wind markets.

Emden Deep

• Emden Deep is the world’s third-deepest point, located in the Philippines Trench.
• It was first discovered in 1927 by the German ship Emden.
• The deep was later explored in detail by the Danish ship Galathea in 1951, hence it’s also known as Galathea Deep.
• The Philippine Trench, where Emden Deep is located, is a seismically active area.
• The Emden Deep is named after the German cruiser SMS Emden, which bombed Chennai (Madras) during World War I.
• Emden Deep was a question in a Science Quiz regarding challenging places for Summer Break.

Reasons for newsworthiness:

• Geographic Significance: As the third-deepest point in the world, Emden Deep is naturally of interest to geography enthusiasts and researchers.
• Historical Context: The connection to the SMS Emden links the geographic feature to a historical event, adding another layer of interest.
• Quiz Feature: Inclusion in a popular Science Quiz increases general awareness and highlights Emden Deep as a notable location.
• Seismic Activity: The location within a seismically active trench makes it relevant for those interested in geology and natural disasters.

Palamu’s Tigers

• Village Relocation: Jaigir has become the first village to be entirely relocated from the core area of the Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Jharkhand.

• Reduced Biotic Pressure: The relocation aims to reduce human impact on the PTR’s wild habitat.

• Habitat Improvement: The original Jaigir site will be converted into a grassland to attract prey for tigers.

• Future Relocations: Eight more villages within the PTR’s core area have been identified for relocation.

• PTR Area: The reserve covers 1129.93 sq km, with a core area of 414.08 sq km.

• Relocation Efforts: Relocation efforts were intensified in 2023, with officials emphasizing the benefits to villagers.

• Model Village: Polpol village is being developed as a model to inspire other villages to relocate.

• Location: The PTR is located in the Latehar and Garhwa districts of Jharkhand, part of the Chotanagpur plateau.

• Part of Betla National Park: The reserve forms a part of the Betla National Park.

• Early Tiger Reserve: PTR was one of the first nine tiger reserves created under Project Tiger.

• Pugmark Census: The reserve was the first in the world to conduct a tiger census using pugmark counts in 1932.

• Flora and Fauna: The reserve boasts moist and dry deciduous forests, including sal and bamboo, and is home to tigers, elephants, leopards, wolves, gaurs, and sloth bears.

• Minerals: The area is rich in minerals like Bauxite and Coal.

Private Bill

• What is it? A legislative proposal introduced by an MP who is not a minister.
• Purpose: Reflects MP’s ideology, convictions, or public interest concerns, offering a platform for diverse voices.Mehul Chhabra is a Legislative Assistants to Members of Parliament (LAMP) Fellow 2024-25. Atharva Deshmukh is a Legislative Assistants to Members of Parliament (LAMP) Fellow 2024-25
• Time Allotment: Fridays are reserved for PMBs, but often disrupted or overridden.
• Success Rate: Very low; only 14 passed since Independence, last in 1970.
• Recent Trends: Many introduced but few discussed (e.g., 17th Lok Sabha: 729 introduced in Lok Sabha, only 2 discussed).
• Current Status: Discussions rare due to disruptions and prioritization of government business.
• VP Dhankhar’s View: Emphasized PMBs as “forward-looking” and a “gold mine” for legislative progress.
• Examples: ‘Right to Disconnect’ Bill (Supriya Sule) sparked debate on work-life balance; Transgender Persons Bill (Tiruchi Siva) laid groundwork for later government act.
• Impact of Anti-Defection Law: Limited independent action of MPs, making PMBs a crucial avenue for alternative policies.
• Need for Reforms: Protect dedicated time, institute a review committee, extend parliamentary working hours, and consider adopting the “Ten-Minute Rule” from the U.K. Parliament.
• Safeguarding Democracy: PMBs allow MPs to serve as a voice for their constituents’ aspirations and concerns.

Locust Hordes

• Locust swarms are guided by cognitive decision-making, not randomness: A new study shows locusts use visual cues to coordinate movement, leading to organized swarm behavior.

• Decentralized decision-making drives swarm behavior: Locusts don’t have a central leader; instead, individual locusts make decisions based on visual information, resulting in coordinated swarm movement.

• Model helps predict swarm behavior: Understanding the locusts’ decision-making process can help predict swarm movements and improve early intervention strategies.

• Locusts are destructive migratory pests: Desert Locusts are the most destructive and can form swarms that consume massive amounts of vegetation. A small swarm can eat as much as 35,000 people eat in a day.

• Locusts undergo gregarisation: They transform from solitary insects to social insects that form large swarms.

• Locusts are a trans-border threat: They migrate between Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, posing a challenge to multiple countries.

• India is vulnerable to locust invasions: Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Haryana are particularly susceptible, with invasions often originating from Africa and the Gulf.

• India has a Locust Warning Organization: This organization, along with Locust Circle Offices, monitors and controls locusts in coordination with state governments.

JALAJ

• Jalaj Initiative Review: The Union Jal Shakti Minister reviewed the Jalaj initiative, a flagship program under the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), implemented by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

• Linking Conservation and Livelihoods: Jalaj aims to connect river conservation with sustainable livelihoods, empowering communities in major river basins. This involves engaging locals in protecting aquatic biodiversity.

• Key Components: The initiative includes establishing Jalaj centers for education and skill development, training Ganga Praharis (local volunteers), and promoting sustainable livelihoods through eco-tourism, handicrafts, skill development, and wellness centers.

• Digital Platform Launch: A digital platform, www.rivres.in, was launched, offering ecological insights, conservation data, and information on various Indian rivers.

• Community Engagement: The project emphasizes community involvement, with over 5,000 Ganga Praharis trained. Extensive capacity-building programs have reached thousands of stakeholders.

• Science-Based Approach: The initiative employs a structured, multidisciplinary conservation plan, including monitoring centers, species restoration, and rescue programs. Advanced technologies were used in river surveys.

• Project Dolphin: The initiative includes Project Dolphin to conserve dolphins and their habitats, while supporting local livelihoods.

• Knowledge Products: The MoJS released knowledge products like “Hydrophytes: Green Lungs of Ganga” to strengthen the scientific foundation of biodiversity conservation.

• Overall Goal: Jalaj seeks to promote a river-centric economic model balancing ecological preservation and economic development.

Services Survey

• Pilot Study on Annual Survey of Services Sector Enterprises (ASSSE): Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released findings from a pilot study to address data gaps in India’s incorporated service sector.
• Coverage: Enterprises registered under the Companies Act or Limited Liability Partnership Act. Used GSTN database as primary sampling frame.
• Objective: To test the suitability of the GSTN database, verify frame information, and test survey operational modalities (response of enterprises, clarity of instructions, data collectability). Aimed to firm up the methodology, survey instruments and other operational aspects of conducting a full-fledged pan-India survey
• Two-Phase Approach: Phase I focused on verifying enterprise details. Phase II involved detailed data collection under the Collection of Statistics Act.
• Key Findings: Majority of enterprises are Private Limited Companies (82.4%). Larger enterprises (output ≥ ₹500 crore) dominate in asset ownership, capital formation, and value added. Approximately 28.5% of enterprises have additional places of business within the state, highest in the Trade sector (41.8%).
• Importance of Services Sector: Contributes significantly to GDP, employment, and global trade. Growing integration of services like design, logistics, and after-sales support into manufacturing processes, has boosted productivity. Critical for urbanization, Digital India, and the Smart Cities Mission.
• Challenges: Skill gaps, informal employment, global competition, infrastructure gaps, and post-pandemic vulnerabilities.
• Addressing Challenges: Upskilling initiatives, strengthening global competitiveness through FTAs, improving digital infrastructure and cybersecurity, and fostering growth in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
• Way Forward: The pilot study provides a strong foundation for launching the full-scale annual survey starting in January 2026.The pilot study confirmed the suitability of the GSTN database as a sampling frame for the survey.

Agent Orange

• 50th Anniversary & Ongoing Impacts: The 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War’s end highlights the continued suffering of millions of Vietnamese due to Agent Orange exposure.
• Agent Orange Composition & Toxicity: A herbicide mix (2,4-D and 2,4,5-T) contaminated with dioxin, used for defoliation. Dioxin persists in the environment (soil, water) for decades and up to 20 years in human body.
• Health Consequences: Agent Orange exposure causes birth defects, cancer, diabetes, neurological disorders, and other serious health issues, impacting multiple generations. Estimated 3 million Vietnamese suffer from Agent Orange exposure.
• Environmental Damage: Agent Orange rendered agricultural land unusable for years, severely damaging wildlife and soil.
• Scale of Exposure: The US sprayed about 74 million liters of chemicals, more than half of it Agent Orange, over South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia between 1961-1971. Estimated 4.8 million Vietnamese and 2.8 million US soldiers were exposed.
• US Acknowledgement & Limited Action: US stopped using Agent Orange in 1971 and acknowledged in 1991 that certain diseases are related to exposure and made US veterans who had them eligible for benefits but largely ignored impact in Vietnam until mid-2000s.
• Cleanup Efforts & Challenges: The US and Vietnam began cleanup efforts in 2006. However, these efforts are slow, expensive, and face funding cuts. Contaminated sites, like the Da Nang airbase, remain a major concern.
• Call for Responsibility: Vietnam calls on the US government and Agent Orange manufacturers to take responsibility and support the victims, particularly since the country cannot handle the toxic chemical legacy on its own.

Antibiotic Access & CRGN

• Limited Access to Appropriate Antibiotics: Only 7.8% of Indian patients with carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative (CRGN) infections received appropriate antibiotic treatment in 2019. The average across eight LMICs was 6.9%.
• High Mortality: An estimated 3.5 lakh deaths in India were linked to CRGN infections due to lack of proper treatment.
• Barriers to Treatment: Insufficient diagnostic testing, lack of standardized treatment protocols, and issues with antibiotic supply and affordability were identified as key barriers.
• Dual Crisis: India faces a paradox of antibiotic overuse leading to resistance, coupled with insufficient access to necessary antibiotics for those who genuinely need them.
• Call for Action: The study emphasizes the need for a two-pronged approach: preserving antibiotics through responsible use (antibiotic stewardship) and ensuring access for those in need. It recommends stronger regulatory frameworks.
• Study Scope: The research examined nearly 1.5 million CRGN infection cases across eight LMICs to identify barriers in the treatment pathway.
• Overuse and Misuse: High-end antibiotics are extensively overused and misused in countries like India, significantly contributing to resistance against these life-saving drugs
• Recommendations: calls for more research to better understand the barriers in accessing care, diagnoses and appropriate treatment.
• Significance: Lack of access to appropriate treatment increases morbidity, mortality, healthcare costs, and prolongs hospitalization.

Green Hydrogen

• Green Hydrogen Certification Launched: The Indian government has launched a green hydrogen certification scheme.
• Purpose: To establish a framework for certifying green hydrogen production, ensuring transparency, traceability, and market credibility.
• Scope: The scheme covers production stages up to compression and purification.
• Eligibility: Applies to green hydrogen producers utilizing government incentives under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM).
• Exclusions: Exporters not utilizing government incentives are initially excluded.
• Definition of “Green”: Hydrogen is considered “green” if emissions are ≤2 kg CO₂e/kg (12-month average).
• Materiality Threshold: A 1% materiality threshold is set for emission sources.
• Nodal Agency: The Bureau of Energy Efficiency accredits certifying agencies.
• Significance:
  • Decarbonization: Reduces CO₂ emissions in industries. India aims for 5 MMT annual production by 2030.
  • Energy Security: Aims to cut fossil fuel imports.
  • Economic Growth: Targets ₹8 lakh crore investments and 6 lakh jobs by 2030 (NGHM).
• Hydrogen Production Methods: The article provides details on different hydrogen production methods, including green (renewable energy), grey (natural gas), blue (CCS), brown/black (coal), pink (nuclear), turquoise (methane pyrolysis), yellow (grid electricity), and white (natural geological).

Creative Economy

• India’s Orange Economy Spotlighted: The Prime Minister recently highlighted India’s thriving orange economy at the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Mumbai.
• Definition of Orange Economy: It encompasses sectors related to creativity and cultural industries, also known as the “creative economy.”
• Drivers of Growth: Content, creativity, and culture are key drivers, with an emphasis on individual skill and talent.
• Global Impact: The Orange Economy contributes around 3% of global GDP and supports 30 million jobs worldwide (UNESCO data).
• Key Industries: Includes advertising, architecture, arts and crafts, design, fashion, film, music, publishing, software, and more.
• Characteristics: Driven by innovation, unique products (not mass-produced), and digitized processes.
• Origin of the Term: Popularized by Colombian economists, the color “orange” symbolizes creativity and cultural identity.
• Why it Matters: It has potential for job creation, wealth generation, and promoting cultural value.

NSAB

• NSAB Reconstituted: The National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) has been reorganized with new appointments.

• New Chairman: Alok Joshi, former R&AW chief, is the new Chairman.

• Other New Members: Seven new members inducted, including D. B. Venkatesh Varma, Lt Gen A. K. Singh, Air Marshal P. M. Sinha, Rear Admiral Monty Khanna, Rajiv Ranjan Verma, Manmohan Singh and A. B. Mathur.

• Timing: This comes amid tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack.

• Operational Freedom: PM Modi gave armed forces “complete operational freedom” regarding response to the Pahalgam attack.

• Continuity: Reconstitution is a standard practice to introduce new members. Not all members are changed simultaneously to maintain continuity. Half the Board has been recomposed.

• NSAB’s Role: NSAB advises the National Security Council (NSC) on national security issues, recommending policy options.

• NSAB Structure: NSAB established in 1998, comprised of individuals from diverse backgrounds. The National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) assist the NSC, NSAB and the Strategic Policy Group.

• Tenure Board members are appointed for two-year terms.

• Past Contributions: NSAB contributed to the Nuclear Doctrine (2001) and National Security Review (2007).

• Review Task Force: In 2011, a task force headed by Naresh Chandra made suggestions for the Permanent Chairman of Chief of Staff Committee which later became the Chief of Defence Staff.

Ukraine’s Minerals

• US-Ukraine Strategic Minerals Deal: Grants the U.S. preferential access to Ukrainian mineral projects and establishes a joint investment fund for Ukraine’s reconstruction. Signed in Washington after negotiations.
• Critical Minerals Defined: Essential for industries like defense, aerospace, green energy, and electronics. Lack commercially viable substitutes. The U.S. Geological Survey considers 50 minerals critical.
• Rare Earth Elements (REEs): A group of 17 metals crucial for magnets in EVs, smartphones, and missile systems.
• Ukraine’s Mineral Wealth: Holds deposits of 22 of the 34 minerals classified as critical by the EU.
• Key Minerals in Ukraine: Rare earth elements (lanthanum, cerium, neodymium, erbium, yttrium, scandium), lithium, nickel, manganese, beryllium, gallium, zirconium, graphite, apatite, fluorite, and titanium.
• Graphite Reserves: Represent 20% of global resources, important for EV batteries and nuclear reactors. Deposits are in the centre and west of Ukraine.
• Lithium Reserves: Estimated at 500,000 metric tons, among Europe’s largest. Found in the central, eastern, and southeastern regions.
• Titanium: Concentrated in the northwestern and central regions, used in aerospace and defense.
• China’s Dominance: Ukraine offers a strategically attractive alternative to China for Western economies, as China dominates global rare earth production.
• Investment Potential: Ukraine estimates the sector’s total investment potential at about $12-15 billion by 2033, with the government preparing about 100 sites to be jointly licensed and developed.
• Challenges: Inefficient regulations, difficulty accessing geological data and obtaining land plots hinder investment despite Ukraine having a qualified workforce.
• Territorial Control: The war has caused Russia to control around a fifth of Ukraine’s territory, including about 40% of its metal resources and at least two Ukrainian lithium deposits in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia.

Caste Census

• Landmark Achievement: Ghaziabad issued India’s first Certified Green Municipal Bond, raising ₹150 crore for a Tertiary Sewage Treatment Plant (TSTP).

• Purpose & Impact: Funds the development of a TSTP with a 40 MLD capacity, serving 1,400+ industrial units via a 95 km pipeline network. It supplies 9.5 MLD treated water to 800+ firms, reducing reliance on freshwater.

• Financial Innovation: The project utilizes a Public-Private Hybrid Annuity Model (PPP-HAM), with 40% municipal funding.

• Sustainability Focus: The Green Municipal Bond funds environmentally sustainable infrastructure, aligning with the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban’s goal of garbage-free cities by 2026.

• Regulatory Framework: Green Municipal Bonds are regulated under SEBI guidelines, requiring specific certifications and financial discipline from issuers.

• Certified & Recognized: Certified by the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI). Ghaziabad received the Best Municipal Treated Water Reuse Award at the Water Digest World Water Awards 2024-25.

• Significance: This initiative sets a precedent for sustainable urban infrastructure financing, demonstrating financial responsibility while promoting environmental conservation and supports the government’s vision for cleaner cities.

GHCI Certification

• Launch of Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India (GHCI): Initiated by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to establish transparency and credibility in green hydrogen production.

• National Green Hydrogen Mission Support: Aims to position India as a global hub for green hydrogen production and export.

• Emission Threshold: Hydrogen is certified “green” if non-biogenic greenhouse gas emissions are under 2 kg CO₂ equivalent/kg of hydrogen, averaged over 12 months.

• Certification Process: Comprehensive process to verify renewable energy use and emissions, with clear definitions, objectives, and roles for stakeholders.

• Accredited Carbon Verification (ACV) Agencies: Producers must use agencies recognized by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency for independent verification.

• Four Certificate Types: Concept, Facility-Level, Provisional, and Final certificates. Final certificate is mandatory for those using government incentives or selling domestically.

• Data Monitoring (MRV): Requires detailed

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  production and emission records maintained for at least five years, guided by a standardized MRV framework.

• International Alignment: Aligns with international standards like ISO 19870:2023, ensuring global comparability and investor confidence.

• Carbon Credits: Enables producers to access carbon credits under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), subject to compliance.

• Compliance and Penalties: Certificates can be withdrawn for exceeding emissions limits or non-compliance. Repeat offenses can lead to penalties.

• Initial Scope: Applies to companies bidding for government incentives for green hydrogen production.

• Exclusion: Currently excludes exporters who haven’t availed government incentives.

• Materiality Threshold: Sets a 1% materiality threshold for emission sources.

Vizhinjam Port

• Formal Inauguration: The Prime Minister will formally inaugurate the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala. This signifies a major leap for Kerala’s maritime presence on a global scale.

• Location and Uniqueness: Situated in Vizhinjam, Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala, it is India’s first dedicated transshipment port and the country’s first semi-automated port. This distinction makes it a game-changer for Indian maritime infrastructure.

• Investment and Operation: Built at approximately Rs 8,900 crore under a public-private partnership (PPP), with the Adani Group as the operator and the Kerala government holding a majority stake. This blended approach aims to maximize expertise and resources.

• Key Features: Boasts India’s deepest breakwater (nearly 3 km), a natural draft of around 20 meters, and India’s first AI-powered Vessel Traffic Management System developed with IIT Madras. It also features fully automated cranes for faster and safer operations and minimal littoral drift, which reduces maintenance costs.

• Strategic Importance: Its location near a crucial international shipping route and naturally deep waters are ideal for large container vessels. This allows it to compete with established global hubs and reduce India’s reliance on foreign ports for transshipment. This aims to reduce foreign exchange losses by handling more of India’s transshipment traffic domestically.

• Multi-Modal Hub: Plans are underway to develop Vizhinjam into a multi-modal logistics hub with direct highway connectivity (NH-66), a cloverleaf interchange, and a future railway link. This integrated approach will enhance connectivity and efficiency.

Buddha Relic to Vietnam

• Sacred Relic to Vietnam: India is sending a sacred relic of Sakyamuni Buddha from Sarnath to Vietnam for an international exposition.

• Event Significance: The exposition marks the United Nations Day of Vesak on 12th May 2025. It is organized by the Ministry of Culture and the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC). It aims to highlight Buddhism’s influence in Southeast Asia.

• Sarnath Relic’s Importance: Excavated in Andhra Pradesh (Nagarjuna Konda), it is believed to be a corporeal relic of Buddha. Enshrined at Mulagandha Kuti Vihara in Sarnath since 1932 (gifted to the Mahabodhi Society of India).

• Ashoka’s Role: Emperor Ashoka sent missionaries (including his son and daughter) to spread Buddhism in Southeast Asia (Sri Lanka). This helped plant the seeds of Theravāda Buddhism.

• Gupta Period Influence: The Gupta Empire promoted Mahayana Buddhism through trade and scholars. They supported Buddhist universities (Nalanda), attracting monks from across Asia.

• Trade and Religious Exchange: Indian rulers (Maurya & Gupta) promoted maritime trade, connecting Indian ports with Southeast Asia. Buddhist monks and artisans spread Buddhist ideas, rituals, and iconography.

• Cultural Diplomacy: Indian epigraphy, Sanskrit inscriptions, and Buddhist art styles were adopted in Southeast Asia. Angkor Wat (Cambodia) and Bagan (Myanmar) exemplify Indian influence on religious architecture.

IPMDA

• U.S. Approval of Foreign Military Sale to India: The U.S. State Department has approved a potential $131 million sale of IPMDA-related equipment and technology to India.
• Key Components of the Sale: This includes SeaVision software, Technical Assistance Field Team (TAFT) training, remote software support, documentation, and logistics assistance.
• Purpose of IPMDA: The Quad-led initiative aims to track “dark shipping” and enhance
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  maritime domain awareness in the Indo-Pacific by creating a comprehensive surveillance network.
• Geographic Focus: IPMDA targets three sub-regions: Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, and the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• Strategic Importance for the U.S.: The sale strengthens the U.S.-India strategic relationship, bolstering regional security and stability.
• India’s Enhanced Capabilities: The acquisition improves India’s maritime domain awareness, analytical capabilities, and strategic posture to address current and future threats.
• Principal Contractor: Hawkeye 360 will be the primary contractor for this sale.
• Pilot Program Success: IPMDA has been tested on a pilot scale within a Quad country and is now set for full-scale launch.
• Navy Chief’s Perspective: IPMDA will monitor and secure maritime activities and promote cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Quad Initiative: Announced at the Tokyo summit in May 2022, IPMDA is a collaborative effort by India, Australia, Japan, and the U.S.

Tunnel T-8: Rishikesh-Karnaprayag

• India’s Longest Rail Tunnel: Tunnel T-8 on the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail line is set to be India’s longest rail transportation tunnel at 14.57 km.

• Strategic Importance: The Rishikesh-Karnaprayag project is strategically important as it provides access to the China border and facilitates the Char Dham Yatra.

• Time Reduction: The rail line will cut travel time between Rishikesh and Karnaprayag from 7 hours to 2 hours.

• Tunnel Breakthrough: A tunnel breakthrough was completed on April 16, marking the connection of the tunnel excavated from both ends, coinciding with a significant date for Indian Railways.

• Twin Tunnel: T-8 is a twin tunnel project; excavation of the second tunnel is underway and expected to be completed by June.

• Extensive Tunnelling: Approximately 83% (104 km) of the 125-km Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail line consists of tunnels.

• Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs): TBMs, weighing 2,200 tonnes and imported from Germany, were used for the first time in Himalayan rail projects to excavate 10.4 km of T-8.

• New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM): The NATM was used to excavate the remaining 4.11 km of the tunnel, especially in non-uniform geological zones.

• Advanced Technologies: Three advanced technologies were deployed for safety and precision: Tunnel Seismic Prediction (TSP), Torque Box, and Void Measurement.

• Challenges: Difficulties included mobilising heavy machinery, managing Himalayan geology, and preventing tunnel collapse due to squeezing. The project also faced a massive inflow of water during excavation.

• Cost Overruns: The anticipated cost of the project has increased from Rs. 16,216 crore to an expected Rs 35,000 crore.

AML Act

• Increased ED Activity: Significant intensification of Enforcement Directorate (ED) actions under PMLA since 2014, with 5,113 new investigations initiated between 2014-2024, averaging over 500 cases per year. In 2024-25, 775 new PMLA investigations were launched, and 333 prosecution complaints filed.

• High Conviction Rate: ED achieved a 93.6% conviction rate in the 47 PMLA cases decided in court.

• Asset Attachments: Provisional attachment orders valued at ₹30,036 crore were issued in 2024-25, a 141% rise in total value compared to the previous year. Total value of assets under provisional attachment stands at ₹1,54,594 crore as of March 31, 2025.

• Restitution to Victims: ED facilitated restitution of ₹15,261 crore to victims/claimants in 30 cases during 2024-25.

• Focus on FEMA and Fugitive Economic Offenders: Key focus areas include Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) cases and actions under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018. Applications filed against 24 individuals under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, with 14 declared as fugitive economic offenders and over ₹900 crore worth of assets confiscated.

• International Cooperation: Enhanced cooperation with foreign counterparts through MoUs. First MoU signed with Financial Crimes Commission of Mauritius.

• Advanced Technology: The ED will be employing advanced technology and forensics in investigations.

• PMLA Objectives: The Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, aims to prevent money laundering, confiscate properties derived from laundered money, and address related economic offenses.

Chandola Lake

• Demolition Drive Upheld: The Gujarat High Court recently upheld a demolition drive in the Chandola Lake area of Ahmedabad.

• Artificial Lake in Ahmedabad: Chandola Lake is an artificial lake situated in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

• Established by a Mughal Sultan’s Wife: The lake was established by the wife of a Mughal Sultan of Ahmedabad, Tajn Khan Nari Ali.

• Significant Water Source: Chandola Lake spans around 1200 hectares, and acts as a significant water source for nearby industrial and residential areas.

• Circular Shape and Divisions: The lake is circular in shape and divided into Chota Chandola and Bada Chandola.

• Kharicut Canal Scheme: The lake is linked to the Kharicut Canal Scheme, one of Gujarat’s oldest irrigation schemes, intended to irrigate rice land.

• Bird Habitat: Chandola Lake is a habitat for various bird species including cormorants, painted storks, and spoonbills.

• Shah Aalam’s Tomb: Adjacent to the lake is the tomb of Shah Aalam, a revered Muslim religious teacher of Ahmedabad, built between 1475 and 1483. The tomb is known for its gold and stone decorations.

Dustlik 2025

• Joint Military Exercise: “Dustlik 2025” (6th edition) between India and Uzbekistan.
• Location & Dates: Foreign Training Node, Aundh (Pune), India, from April 16-28, 2025.
• Participants: Indian contingent: JAT Regiment battalion & Indian Air Force (IAF); Uzbekistan contingent: Uzbekistan Army personnel.
• Alternating Venue: Conducted annually, alternating between India and Uzbekistan. Previous edition (2024) in Termez, Uzbekistan.
• Focus: Joint multi-domain sub-conventional operations in semi-urban scenarios, specifically responding to terrorist activities involving territory capture.
• Key Activities: Establishment of Joint Operations Centre, counter-terrorism missions (population control, raids, search-and-destroy), use of air assets, securing helipads, drone deployment, counter-UAS measures, logistics support by IAF. Helicopters for reconnaissance and special operations.
• Objectives: Share best practices, enhance interoperability, build camaraderie, boost defense cooperation, and strengthen India-Uzbekistan bilateral relations.
• Significance: Improves joint operational capabilities and strengthens the defense partnership between India and Uzbekistan by focusing on counter-terrorism and interoperability.
• Theme: Joint Multi Domain Sub Conventional operations in Semi-Urban Scenario.

Basaveshwara

• Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi commemorated Jagadguru Basaveshwara on Basava Jayanthi, recognizing his lasting impact.

• Who He Was: A 12th-century philosopher, statesman, poet, and social reformer from Karnataka. He served as a minister in the court of King Bijjala I.

• Key Contributions: Founded Anubhava Mantapa, a public institution promoting open discussions regardless of social background. Founder of the Lingayat (Veerashaiva) sect.

• Philosophical Stance: Championed monotheism, rejected the caste system, ritualism, and Brahmanical dominance. Strongly advocated for ahimsa.

• Core Teachings: Emphasized Kayaka (work ethics) and Dasoha (selfless service), promoting gender equality and uplifting marginalized communities.

• Literary Legacy: Composed Vachanas, powerful Kannada poetic expressions making spirituality accessible.

• Impact and Legacy: Inspired social reform and a non-Brahminical religious movement, significantly impacting Karnataka. Lingayatism remains a major religious community today.

• Recognition: Commemorated with a statue near the Thames in London, unveiled by PM Modi in 2015.

Raghuji I Bhosale

• Sword Reclaimed: The Maharashtra government successfully reclaimed the sword of Raghuji Bhosale I from an auction in London for approximately ₹47.15 lakh.

• Historical Significance: The sword is an 18th-century artifact with a ‘firangi’ style, featuring a European blade and a Mulheri hilt adorned with gold inlay.

• Inscription: The sword bears a Devanagari inscription near the hilt, reading ‘Shrimant Raghoji Bhosale Senasaheb Subha Firang’, indicating it was either made for or used by Raghuji Bhosale I.

• Rare Weapon: It is considered rare due to its decorative detailing and the presence of the owner’s name, uncommon for medieval Indian weapons.

• Arms Trade Reflection: The European-made blade highlights the global arms trade in 18th-century India, showcasing the blend of Indian and European craftsmanship.

• Potential Loot: Experts believe the sword may have been looted by the British after the 1817 Battle of Sitabuldi or gifted to them.

• Government Action: The Maharashtra government, led by CM and Deputy CMs, acted swiftly after news of the auction surfaced to retrieve the historical artifact.

• Raghuji Bhosale I Overview: Founder of the Bhosale family of Nagpur, an important Maratha commander under Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, known for his bravery and war strategy. Bestowed with title ‘Senasahibsubha’

• Territorial Expansion: He led military campaigns in Bengal (1745 & 1755) and expanded the Maratha Empire into Bengal and Odisha, also establishing dominance in regions like Chanda, Chhattisgarh, and Sambalpur. Defeated Nawabs of Cuddapah and Kurnool.

• Nagpur Bhonsles: Played a significant role in expanding the Maratha Empire, ruling over a mineral-rich region (iron and copper) and were known for their skilled weaponry craftsmanship.

NHRC Explained

• NHRC Takes Suo Motu Cognizance: NHRC has taken suo motu cognizance of the abduction, rape, and murder of a minor girl in Hubballi, Karnataka, and the subsequent death of the accused in a police encounter (April 2025).
• Violation of Human Rights: NHRC observed that the incident, if true, indicates a serious violation of the human rights of both the victim and the accused.
• Report Demanded: Notices issued to the Chief Secretary and DGP of Karnataka, requesting a detailed report within four weeks, including post-mortem and magisterial enquiry reports of both deceased individuals.
• Citizen Protest: Reports indicate citizens protested demanding arrest of the accused after recovery of the girl’s body.
• Accused Death: The accused was apprehended but died after allegedly attacking the police while being taken for questioning, resulting in gunshot injuries.
• NHRC’s Role: This highlights NHRC’s mandate to independently investigate alleged human rights violations and its active role in safeguarding human rights.
• NHRC Structure The NHRC is a statutory body established in 1993, consisting of a Chairperson (retired CJI) and members including judges and human rights experts.
• Appointment and Tenure: Members are appointed by the President of India and serve for three years or until age 70.
• Mandate and Objectives The commission focuses on strengthening human rights frameworks, investigating violations, and supporting other institutions in promoting human rights.

Red-Crowned Roof Turtle

• Return to Ganga River: The endangered Red-Crowned Roofed Turtle (Batagur kachuga) has reappeared in the Ganga River after 30 years. This marks a significant success in biodiversity conservation efforts.

• Species Overview: It’s a freshwater turtle endemic to South Asia (India, Bangladesh, Nepal). Historically widespread in the Ganga and Brahmaputra basins.

• Current Habitat: A substantial population now exists only in India’s National Chambal River Gharial Sanctuary.

• Physical Characteristics: Medium-sized (up to 56 cm, 25 kg). Males smaller than females. Reddish-orange head with black crown, greenish-brown carapace, yellow plastron with black markings.

• Diet: Omnivorous, feeding on plants and animals.

• Conservation Status:

  • IUCN: Critically Endangered
  • Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972: Schedule I
  • CITES: Appendix II

May Day 2025

• International Labour Day (May Day) is observed on May 1st to honor workers’ contributions globally.

• Celebrates the struggles and achievements of the labor movement.

• Originated from the 1886 Chicago strike for an 8-hour workday and the Haymarket Affair.

• May 1st declared International Workers’ Day in 1889 by the Second International in Paris.

• Over 160 countries observe May 1st with parades, gatherings, and emphasis on worker rights.

• The US and Canada celebrate Labor Day on the first Monday of September.

• This divergence is due to political reasons, particularly distancing from socialist/communist associations and the bloody Pullman Strike in the US.

• The UK commemorates labor with the Early May Bank Holiday (first Monday of May).

• First celebrated in India in Chennai in 1923 by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan.

• Serves as a reminder of sacrifices of the labor movement and its role in building just societies.

Stockholm Convention

• India’s Opposition: India has opposed listing Chlorpyrifos, a hazardous insecticide, under Annex A of the Stockholm Convention.
• Chlorpyrifos Concerns: Chlorpyrifos is linked to neurodevelopmental issues, reduced birth size, and potential cancer risks upon chronic exposure.
• BRS Convention: Discussions regarding Chlorpyrifos are taking place at the BRS conventions (Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm) in Geneva.
• POPRC Recommendation: The Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC) recommended Chlorpyrifos’s inclusion, citing its persistence, bioaccumulation, and long-range transport.
• India’s Stance: India initially argued against the listing due to potential impacts on food security. It has also approved the use of chlorpyrifos on several crops.
• Exemptions Under Consideration: Discussions involve numerous crop-specific exemptions, including those for cotton, rice, and sugarcane. India is seeking further exemptions.
• Alternatives: The Indian government promotes alternatives such as natural farming. The government has already banned/phased out 46 pesticides and four pesticide formulations
• Global Impact: If consensus is reached on exemptions, Chlorpyrifos usage in India needs further review.
• Historical Context: India previously opposed the global ban of endosulfan in 2010.
• Widespread Use: Chlorpyrifos was a widely used pesticide in India, accounting for a significant portion of insecticide consumption.
• Health Concerns: The WHO classifies chlorpyrifos as moderately hazardous, affecting the nervous system. Chlorpyrifos is the most detected pesticide with a detection frequency of 33 per cent in food products in some Indian markets.
• Global Trends: Over 40 countries have already banned Chlorpyrifos.

S8: The Breaking Point

• S8 Tension: Mismatch in S8 (a measure of matter clumpiness) values obtained from CMB measurements (higher) vs. cosmic shear/lensing surveys (lower). This challenges the standard cosmological model (ΛCDM).

• S8 Definition: Sigma 8 (S8) quantifies the clustering of matter in the universe on a scale of about 26 million light-years. Higher S8 means more clumping.

• CMB Measurement: The Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), radiation leftover from the Big Bang, suggests a more uniform early universe. CMB measurements yield a higher S8 value.

• Cosmic Shear: Cosmic shear, the distortion of galaxy shapes by gravitational lensing, is used to map dark matter distribution and calculate S8. These surveys find a lower S8 value, indicating less clumping.

• Subaru Telescope Result: The Subaru Telescope in Hawaii, using the Hyper Suprime-Cam, reported an S8 value of 0.747, consistent with previous lensing estimates, but still disagreeing with CMB.

• Implications: The S8 tension suggests a potential problem with the ΛCDM model and could indicate issues with the understanding of dark matter and dark energy.

• Future Research: The Rubin Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) is expected to provide new data that may help resolve the S8 tension.

• Unresolved issues The discrepancies are also there because of the lack of understanding of how fast galaxies are receding away from us which makes the entire understanding doubtful in some sense.

• Possible Deceleration: Data suggest dark energy’s push might be weakening, potentially leading to a slowing expansion or even a “big crunch” scenario.

Vembanad Lake

• Vembanad Lake Rejuvenation Project: Inspired by the Namami Gange Programme, aiming to restore the deteriorating Vembanad Lake.

• ₹188.25 Crore Plan: A comprehensive five-year plan has been submitted to the Kerala Chief Minister for approval, focusing on various restoration aspects.

• Subcommittees Established: Eight subcommittees formed across sectors like agriculture, fisheries, water resources, and disaster management to coordinate restoration efforts.

• Lake Shrinkage: The lake has shrunk by 27% between 1917 and 1990 due to land reclamation, sedimentation, and encroachment, reducing floodwater retention.

• Pollution and Eutrophication: Severe threats from plastic waste, pollution, eutrophication, unsustainable agricultural practices, and invasive weed proliferation affect the lake’s health.

• Cleaning Drives: Recent drives have removed 28.72 tonnes of plastic waste and water hyacinth from the lake.

• Ecological Significance: Vembanad Lake is the longest lake in India, a Ramsar site, and crucial for Kerala’s ecology, tourism (Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race), and water resources.

• Declining Fish Catch: Fish catch has declined by about 66% over the last three decades due to deteriorating water quality.

• Short-Term Goals: Include plastic waste removal, bio-shields, fish ranching, weed eradication, and bio bund construction.

• Long-Term Targets: Involve dredging, promoting organic farming, conserving flora and fauna, establishing treatment plants, creating value-added products from water hyacinth, and boosting tourism and fish yield.

• Challenges Remain: Houseboat pollution and land encroachment pose significant hurdles, requiring strong political support and decisive action.

BCI: Brain & Machine

• Breakthrough in BCI Technology: Researchers at UCSF developed a BCI enabling a paralyzed man to control a robotic arm by imagining movements.
• How it Works: The BCI uses sensors implanted on the brain’s surface to detect neural signals representing imagined movements. An AI algorithm decodes these signals to control a robotic arm.
• Addressing Instability: The research team developed an AI framework to account for shifts in brain activity patterns that occur over time, improving the BCI’s stability and allowing it to function for months.
• Successful Applications: The paralyzed participant could perform tasks like picking up objects, turning them, relocating them, opening a cabinet, retrieving a cup, and holding it under a water dispenser.
• Significance of the Study: This breakthrough represents a significant step towards restoring mobility and independence for individuals with paralysis.
• Future Goals: Further refinement is needed for the technology to function smoothly in complex real-world scenarios.
• Understanding the Technology: A Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) is a technology that enables direct communication between the human brain and an external device (such as a computer or prosthetic limb), bypassing traditional neural pathways.
• Types of BCI: Invasive, Semi-invasive, Non-invasive.
• Applications of BCI: Medical(Restoring mobility in paralysis, aiding speech in locked-in syndrome), Military, Neuroprosthetics, Gaming & Communication.

Tech & Forest Sustainability

• AI-Based Real-Time Forest Alert System (RTFAS): Madhya Pradesh is the first state in India to pilot RTFAS for active forest management.
• Technology Integration: RTFAS uses satellite imagery, AI, machine learning, and mobile feedback.
• Deforestation Combat: It detects land encroachment, land use change, and forest degradation.
• Real-Time Monitoring: Alerts are sent to field staff via a mobile app for verification.
• Pilot Project: Initially implemented in Shivpuri, Guna, Vidisha, Burhanpur, and Khandwa divisions.
• Multi-Temporal Data Analysis: Google Earth Engine analyzes satellite data to identify land use changes.
• Continuous Improvement: Combines satellite data, AI, and field feedback in a self-improving cycle.
• Key Features: Polygon alerts, field verification via mobile app, GPS-tagged photos, voice notes.
• Dashboard Monitoring: Divisional Forest Officers can monitor real-time alerts by beat and field post.
• Early Fire Detection: AI cameras & thermal sensors detect smoke and heat for early fire alerts. FireSat tracks wildfires.
• Encroachment Detection: Systems like RTFAS notify forest officers of unauthorized activities.
• Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation: AI camera traps & GPS track animal movement, reducing conflicts.
• Carbon Management: Satellites monitor forest health, while hyperspectral imaging assesses carbon stock.
• Afforestation: Green bots track tree growth and soil health.
• Biodiversity Monitoring: Acoustic sensors use AI to recognize animal sounds and track endangered species.
• Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM): Afforestation is crucial for reducing carbon intensity of exports and trade competitiveness.
• Green India Mission (GIM): Increased forest cover by 0.56% between 2017 and 2021.
• Article 6 of the Paris Agreement: Establishing a national carbon credit registry to incentivize afforestation.

Caste Count

• Delayed 2021 Census: The 2021 Census, postponed due to COVID-19, is imminent but without confirmed dates.
• Historical Context: Since 1951, Censuses only collect data on SCs, STs, and religious denominations, excluding other caste groups. The last comprehensive caste data is from 1931.
• Demand for Caste Census: Parties with OBC support have repeatedly requested a caste census for better representation and policy-making.
• SECC 2011: A Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) was conducted in 2011 separately from the Census but its caste data remains unreleased.
• Logistical Concerns: Objections to including caste in the Census cite difficulties in accurate data verification and analysis by enumerators.
• Political Pressure: UPA allies pushed for SECC due to OBC representation concerns.
• State-Level Initiatives: Some states are conducting caste “surveys” to implement “quota within quota” for OBCs.
• NCBC Request: The National Commission for Backward Classes urged the government to collect OBC population data in the 2021 Census.
• Government Stance: In 2021, the government stated it would not enumerate caste-wise populations other than SCs and STs in the Census.
• Electoral Impact: Ahead of the 2024 elections, most parties supported a caste census.
• Pending Petitions: Several petitions demanding a caste census are before the Supreme Court.
• Impact on Delimitation: Census data impacts the delimitation of constituencies, frozen until after the first Census after 2026, also affecting women’s reservation in legislatures.
• Increased Reservations: A caste census is likely to fuel demands for increased reservations and sub-categorization, particularly among OBCs.

301 Report

• India on Priority Watch List: The U.S. has placed India on its ‘priority watch list’ in the 2025 Special 301 Report. This indicates serious concerns regarding intellectual property rights (IPR) protection and enforcement in India.

• USTR’s Assessment: The Special 301 Report, issued annually by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), evaluates global IPR protection and enforcement.

• Inconsistent Progress: The report highlights India’s “inconsistent” progress in IPR protection over the past year, despite some efforts to strengthen its IP regime.

• Long-Standing Concerns: The report points to continued lack of progress on pre-existing IPR issues, particularly patent-related concerns. These include potential patent revocations, discretionary application of patentability criteria, long patent grant waiting periods, and excessive reporting requirements.

• Patent Issues: Patent issues are a major concern, including interpretation vagueness, long waiting periods, and potential revocations.

• High Customs Duties: The report mentions India’s high customs duties on IP-intensive products like technology and pharmaceuticals.

• U.S. Trade Interests: The report comes amid negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement between the U.S. and India, aiming to boost trade and address the U.S.’s trade deficit.

• India’s Stance: India views the report as a unilateral measure and maintains its IPR regime complies with global trade norms, specifically the WTO’s TRIPS agreement.

• Other Countries: The report also places other countries on the Priority Watch List (China, Russia, etc.) and Watch List.

Ban Chlorpyrifos Now

• Global Call to Ban Chlorpyrifos: The Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Stockholm Convention is considering listing

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  chlorpyrifos under Annex A, effectively banning it globally.

• Reasons for the Ban:

  • Health Impacts: Chlorpyrifos exposure can cause neurological damage, especially in children, impacting brain development and leading to lifelong consequences.
  • Environmental Persistence: It persists in the environment, contaminating remote areas like the Arctic, and poses risks to birds, fish, bees, and earthworms.
  • Residue Concerns: Chlorpyrifos residues have been found in agricultural produce, water, human blood, and breast milk, even at levels exceeding safety limits.

• India’s Opposition: India opposes the ban, citing the lack of viable alternatives and potential threats to food security.

• What is Chlorpyrifos? An organophosphate insecticide used to control pests in agriculture and public health. It inhibits an enzyme essential for nerve function.

• Stockholm Convention: An international treaty aiming to eliminate or restrict Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) to protect human health and the environment. Annex A lists chemicals for complete elimination.

• Arguments for the Ban Reinforced: Findings from the POPs Review Committee (POPRC) concluded that chlorpyrifos meets all criteria for a global phased-out ban.

• Alternatives Exist: Safe and effective alternatives, including agroecological and organic pest management techniques, are available.

• Impact on Developing Nations: Such pesticides disproportionately affect vulnerable communities and unborn children.

Arjan Singh’s Birth Anniversary

• 106th Birth Anniversary: Celebrated on April 15, 2025, commemorating the birth of Air Force Marshal Arjan Singh.
• Bust Unveiled: A bust of Marshal Arjan Singh was unveiled at Astha Senior Citizen Home, Tughlakabad, Delhi, as a tribute.
• Key Attendees: Air Mshl Vijay Kumar Garg, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Maintenance Command, and Air Mshl Jagjeet Singh (Retd), Senior Vice President Air Force Association, unveiled the bust. Other attendees included Mrs Ritu Garg, President AFFWA(R), IAF veterans, and personnel from Air Force Station, Tughlakbad.
• Legacy Highlighted: The event emphasized his courage, leadership, and service, particularly his role in the 1965 Indo-Pak war.
• 1965 War Significance: As Chief of Air Staff in 1965, his leadership enabled the IAF to repel Pakistan’s offensive in Akhnoor, leading to India’s victory.
• Five-Star Rank: He is the only IAF officer with the Five-Star rank of Marshal of the Air Force.
• Interaction with Veterans and Seniors: The AOC-in-C, Maintenance Command and President AFFWA (R) interacted with senior citizens, and Air Force personnel had the opportunity to engage with veterans who served with the Marshal.
• Enduring Inspiration: Marshal Arjan Singh is remembered as a guiding figure for future generations of the IAF.

India’s Waste Crisis

• India is a Major Plastic Polluter: India emits 9.3 million tonnes of plastic annually, ~20% of global plastic emissions, largely due to mismanaged waste.
• Underreporting & Data Issues: Official waste data is underestimated, especially in rural areas and informal sectors. No clear methodology is in place for auditing waste data, particularly in rural areas.
• Infrastructure Deficit: Dumpsites significantly outnumber sanitary landfills (10:1). Waste collection is overestimated, and processing facilities are limited, especially in rural areas.
• Key Initiatives in place: Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is showing positive impact on waste management. Waste to Wealth scheme, and Waste Management Rules are other key initiatives.
• Judicial Intervention Needed: Courts should enforce compliance with environmental norms using the “polluter pays” principle. The Supreme Court emphasizes the constitutional imperative of environmental protection, including waste management.
• Third-Party Scrutiny & Geotagging: Waste data should be transparent, independently verified, and publicly accessible. Geotagging waste management infrastructure enhances tracking and accountability.
• Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs): Local governments need mandatory links to MRFs, recyclers, and EPR kiosks. Kiosks should be established to collect waste, especially under EPR schemes.
• Circularity Imperative: Shift to product designs that prioritize recyclability, reusability, and modularity. Consumer engagement is crucial.
• International Collaboration: India can adopt global best practices through collaborations like the Global Alliance for Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency (GACERE).
• Accountability for Pollution: The waste management system must be held accountable for health impacts caused by pollution.

Digital Life & Liberty

• SC Ruling (Amar Jain v. Union of India & Ors, 2025): Inclusive digital access to e-governance and welfare is a fundamental right under Article 21 (right to life and liberty).

• KYC Accessibility: SC directed revisions to digital KYC norms to accommodate PwDs (Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016), including vision impaired and acid attack survivors. RBI and other entities must ensure accessibility.

• Addressing Digital Divide: Court highlighted the digital divide affecting PwDs, rural communities, senior citizens, and economically weaker sections. Universal digital access for vulnerable groups is a constitutional obligation (Articles 21, 14, 15, 38).

• Key Hindrances for PwDs: Digital literacy gap, weak enforcement of accessibility guidelines (RPwD Act, 2016, Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan), and scarcity of affordable assistive technologies (AT).

• Measures for Digital Empowerment: Inclusive digital infrastructure (assistive technologies, WCAG adherence), improved digital literacy programs (NIEPMD, PMGDISHA), disability-sensitive urban planning, and an Inclusive Innovation Lab.

• Obligation to Marginalised: State has a duty to provide an inclusive digital ecosystem to the marginalised, underprivileged, vulnerable, disabled, and historically-excluded.

• 20 Directions Issued: To improve KYC processes to make them more accessible.

• Constitutional Imperative: Bridging the digital divide is a constitutional imperative to ensure a life of dignity, autonomy, equal participation in public life.

• Substantive Equality: Digital transformation must be inclusive and equitable.

• India must uphold its obligations: under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), 2006.

NOTAM

• India Issues NOTAM: India recently issued a Notice to Air Mission (NOTAM) that restricts its airspace.

• Pakistan-linked Aircraft Banned: The NOTAM specifically prohibits Pakistan-registered, operated, or leased aircraft (including airlines and military flights) from using Indian airspace.

• NOTAM Definition: A NOTAM is a notice that provides timely information about any changes/hazards to aeronautical facilities, services, procedures, or airspace that are essential for flight operations.

• Purpose of NOTAMs: NOTAMs inform pilots about temporary or permanent changes affecting airspace, airports and equipment.

• Issuer: A country’s national aviation authority issues NOTAMs.

• Reasons for Issuance: NOTAMs are issued for various reasons, including airshows, VIP flights, runway closures, unserviceable navigation aids, military exercises, and temporary obstacles.

• Concise & Encoded: NOTAMs are encoded for conciseness but are generally self-explanatory.

• Communication Method: NOTAMs are rapidly communicated to relevant parties who need the information and would not otherwise receive it in a timely manner.

• Accessibility: NOTAMs are accessible through online platforms, flight planning tools, and aviation weather services.

• Pilot Responsibility: Pilots must review NOTAMs before each flight to ensure safety. Neglecting to do so poses safety risks.

Caste Count in Census

• Caste Enumeration Approved: The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs has approved the inclusion of caste enumeration in the upcoming population census, a move that comes as the Opposition is also pushing for the same.

• Historical Data: Detailed caste data was last recorded in the 1931 Census. While the 1941 Census collected caste information, it wasn’t published due to World War II. Since 1951, only SC/ST data has been consistently included, leaving OBC population estimates unclear.

• Absence of OBC Data: The lack of comprehensive OBC data makes it difficult to accurately assess their population and tailor welfare programs effectively.

• 2011 SECC: The 2011 Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) aimed to improve welfare targeting but its caste data remains largely unpublished, limiting its impact.

• Government’s Shifting Stance: In July 2021, the government stated it had no plans for a caste census but now it has shifted stance to include caste enumeration.

• UPA’s Attempt: The UPA government initiated the SECC but faced challenges in classifying and categorizing the data.

• Differing Views: While there’s support for collecting caste data for welfare purposes, some oppose it, fearing its use for political gains and its potential to hinder the creation of a casteless society.

GARDP

• GARDP Research Findings: A recent GARDP study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases reveals significant gaps in access to appropriate treatment for multidrug-resistant infections in LMICs, including India.

• India’s Situation: Only 7.8% of patients with drug-resistant infections in India receive appropriate antibiotics, compared to an average of 6.9% across the eight countries studied.

• Impact of Lack of Access: Insufficient access to appropriate treatment increases morbidity, mortality, healthcare costs, and hospitalisation duration.

• Study Focus: The study examined the barriers along the treatment pathway, from presentation at a healthcare facility to diagnostic testing and antibiotic access, focusing on carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative (CRGN) infections.

• Paradox: There is irrational overuse of high-end antibiotics in countries like India, which contributes significantly to resistance against these life-saving drugs, alongside insufficient access to these same antibiotics for those who genuinely need them.

• Recommendations: The study calls for regulatory measures to control antibiotic use and bridge the access gap, as well as more research to understand barriers to care, diagnosis, and appropriate treatment.

• GARDP’s Goal: To develop and provide access to new antibiotics for drug-resistant infections.

• GARDP’s Creation: GARDP was created by the WHO and Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi).

• GARDP’s Headquarters: GARDP is legally established as an independent foundation in Geneva, Switzerland.

Native Hydrogen

• Renewed Interest: The American Association of Petroleum Geologists and USGS have initiated formal hydrogen exploration programs.

• Fuel of the Future: Hydrogen is viewed as a clean energy source for decarbonizing the global economy. Natural hydrogen offers a potentially low-cost and low-emission alternative to grey and green hydrogen.

• Formation Processes: Natural hydrogen is generated via serpentinization, radiolysis, and decomposition of organic matter.

• Potential in India: Regions with hard rock formations, ophiolite complexes, cratonic belts (Dharwar, Singhbhum), sedimentary basins (Vindhyan, Cuddapah, Gondwana, Chhattisgarh), fractured basement rocks, and hot springs show promise for natural hydrogen.

• Global Reserves: Significant hydrogen seeps have been cataloged worldwide, potentially supplying demand for thousands of years. Lorraine region in France has deposits estimated at 92 million tonnes.

• Industry Rush: The potential for untapped renewable fuel reserves has sparked a “gold rush,” with approximately 40 companies actively searching for natural hydrogen by the end of 2023, up from 10 in 2020.

• Extraction Cost: Producers estimate extraction costs around $1/kg or less.

• Investment: Venture funding in natural hydrogen startups is increasing, with investments from Amazon’s climate fund and Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures. Conventional energy companies are also investing.

• Why it matters: If even 2% of the earth’s proven natural gas reserves were commerically exploitatable, it would provide about twice as much energy as all the earth’s provable natural gas reserves – enough to meet projected hydrogen demand for around two hundred years.

Deep-Tech Doldrums in India

• Limited Incubation Support: Only 25% of public-funded R&D orgs in India offer incubation to startups; only 16% focus on deep-tech.
• Low Collaboration: Only 15% of institutions collaborate with foreign industry; 50% restrict facility access to external researchers.
• R&D Spending Issues: Government R&D spend skewed towards strategic sectors (defense, space, atomic energy); Only 25% institutions spend 75-100% budget on R&D activities.CSIR, ICMR, Ministry of AYUSH, and DST reported R&D spending below the median level
• Focus on Consumer Services: Indian startups primarily target consumer-facing sectors due to quick profitability, diverting investment from deep-tech.
• Low R&D Investment: India’s R&D spending is 0.64% of GDP, far below leading nations, and concentrated in strategic sectors inaccessible to startups.
• Lack of Risk Capital: Deep-tech needs substantial upfront and sustained funding, which is lacking in India.
• Insufficient Collaboration: Weak industry-academia partnerships hinder applying research to real-world solutions.
• Infrastructure Deficiencies: Inadequate infrastructure, especially in Tier II/III cities, limits deep-tech startup growth.
• Talent Drain: Researchers migrate to countries with better funding and opportunities.
• Policy Delays: Slow policy responses, like delayed AI initiatives, hinder deep-tech development. Complex regulations add challenges.
• Staffing Issues: Labs reported decreased permanent staff and increased reliance on contractual staff.

Why These Points are Important: These points highlight systemic weaknesses in India’s support for deep-tech startups, hindering innovation in crucial sectors like AI, semiconductors, and biotechnology. Addressing these issues is crucial for India to achieve technological self-reliance and compete globally.

FIIs

• FIIs Net Buyers: FIIs turned net buyers in April 2025 after four months, with inflows of ₹4,223 crore in Indian equities.
• Fiscal Year Trends: FIIs were net sellers for seven months in fiscal 2025, with significant outflows after October 2024 (almost ₹1 lakh crore).
• Dollar Index Impact: A softening U.S. Dollar Index (from 104-105 to 99-100) improved the Indian rupee’s relative strength and encouraged FII participation.
• Sectoral Focus: FIIs increased investments in banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) sectors due to the RBI’s accommodative stance.
• IT Sector Reduction: FIIs reduced exposure to the IT sector amid U.S. recession concerns and potential impact on tech earnings.
• Rupee Appreciation: The rupee experienced its largest single-day gain since November 2022, appreciating 42 paisa against the U.S. dollar.
• Regulatory Framework: FIIs are governed by FEMA 1999 and SEBI (Foreign Portfolio Investors) Regulations. The RBI monitors sectoral investment ceilings.
• Investment Limits: FIIs can invest up to 10% in a single Indian company, with a cumulative FII/NRI/PIO limit of 24%.
• Trade Deal Optimism: Increase in foreign inflows may be impacted by the 90-day pause on U.S. tariffs until July 9, along with potential of India being among first nations to seal a trade deal with the U.S.

Altermagnet Spintronics

• Altermagnet Breakthrough: HKUST researchers report the first experimental observation of a 2D layered room-temperature altermagnet.
• Altermagnets Defined: Altermagnets are antiferromagnetic materials with momentum-dependent spin splitting without needing spin-orbit coupling or net magnetization.
• Unique Property: C-paired SVL: Altermagnets exhibit C-paired spin-valley locking (SVL) due to exchange interactions between crystal-symmetry-connected magnetic sublattices.
• Altermagnet Advantages: They combine the stability of antiferromagnets with spin-split energy bands, making them ideal for spintronics.
• Spintronics Explained: Spintronics uses electron spin and charge for data storage, processing, and transfer.
• Spintronics Benefits: Spintronics offers faster speeds, higher density, and lower energy use than conventional electronics.
• Spintronic Devices: Examples include spin transistors, diodes, filters, RAM, and logic gates.
• Valleytronics Defined: Valleytronics uses valley degrees of freedom (energy minima) for data storage and manipulation.
• Valleytronics Potential: Valley indices can serve as binary information units for faster, denser processing.
• Altermagnet Significance: Offer spin control without net magnetization, crucial for advanced spintronic applications.

Trading Secrets

• SEBI Investigation: SEBI alleges Pranav Adani, a director in Adani group companies and nephew of Gautam Adani, shared price-sensitive information related to Adani Green’s acquisition of SB Energy in 2021.
• Insider Trading Allegation: Pranav Adani is accused of communicating unpublished price-sensitive information (UPSI) to his brother-in-law, Kunal Shah, before the deal’s announcement, violating insider trading regulations.
• Trades and Gains: Kunal Shah and his brother Nrupal Shah allegedly traded in Adani Green shares based on this information, making “ill-gotten gains” of 9 million rupees ($108,000).
• Pranav Adani’s Response: Pranav Adani is seeking to settle the charges without admitting or denying the allegations, stating he has not violated any securities law.
• Shah Brothers’ Defense: The Shah brothers contend the information was already public and deny trading with knowledge of UPSI or with any malicious intent.
• Settlement Terms: SEBI had proposed that Kunal and Nrupal Shah also settle, but the brothers chose to contest the allegations as they found the terms too onerous.
• Significance of Acquisition: Adani Green’s acquisition of SB Energy for $3.5 billion was the largest in India’s renewable energy sector.
• Adani Group’s Challenges: This is the latest challenge for the Adani Group, following previous indictments in the U.S. regarding bribery allegations, which the group denies.
• SEBI’s Role: SEBI regulates insider trading to ensure fair trading practices and protect investors. Violations can result in fines and prohibitions from trading in the capital market.
• Insider Trading Definition: Insider trading involves using non-public, material information to buy or sell securities, violating a duty of trust.

Lairai Devi

• Tragic Stampede: At least six people died and over 70 were injured during the annual Lairai Jatra procession at the Shree Lairai Devi temple in Shirgaon, North Goa.
• Temple Significance: The Lairai Devi Temple is a revered spiritual site in Shirgao, dedicated to Goddess Lairai, an incarnation of Goddess Parvati.
• Cultural Harmony: The temple symbolizes religious harmony, as both Hindus and Catholics regard Lairai Devi and the Virgin Mary of Mapusa as sisters.
• Annual Jatra: The temple is best known for the annual Lairai Devi Jatra (Shirgao Jatra), featuring a dramatic fire-walking ritual (Agnidivya) performed by devotees called “dhonds.”
• Fire-Walking Ritual: The ritual involves devotees walking across burning embers, chanting the goddess’s name, believing the righteous will remain unharmed.
• Massive Gathering: The event draws tens of thousands of devotees from Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
• Lairai Devi’s Story: Lairai Devi is believed to be one of seven divine sisters who settled in different parts of Goa, choosing Shirgao as her abode and performing penance by walking on fire with her devotees.
• Seven Sisters of Goa: The seven sisters are Lairai, Kelbai, Mahamaya, Mirabai, Morjai, Shitalai, and Ajidipa, and their brother is Khetoba.

Submarine Canyon Flows

• Microplastic Transport: Turbidity currents transport microplastics into the deep sea, even in areas without river input.
• Turbidity Currents Defined: Rapid, downslope flows of sediment-laden water, denser than surrounding water, acting as underwater avalanches.
• Triggers: Earthquakes, submarine landslides, slope failures initiate turbidity currents.
• Erosion and Sedimentation: They erode the seafloor, forming and enlarging submarine canyons, and deposit graded sediment layers.
• Canyon Formation: Turbidity currents are a primary force in carving out submarine canyons, similar to rivers forming canyons on land.
• Canyon Prevalence: Approximately 9,477 submarine canyons exist globally, covering about 11% of continental slope areas.
• Active vs. Passive Margins: Canyons on active margins are steeper and shorter; passive margin canyons are more gradual.
• Canyon Instability: Canyon walls are prone to collapse, contributing sediment to turbidity flows.
• Other Submarine Features: Banks are flat-topped elevations on continental margins; Shoals are shallow sediment accumulations; Reefs are coral/algae structures, biodiversity hotspots.

ICAR: Indian Agriculture

• Genome-Edited Rice Varieties Developed: ICAR successfully developed two genome-edited rice varieties, a “first-ever” achievement using genome editing technology in India. Expected announcement date: May 4, 2025.
• DRR Dhan 100 Kamala: Derived from Samba Mahsuri, this variety matures 15-20 days earlier, boasts a 25% higher yield (eight tonnes more per hectare), and produces 450-500 more grains per panicle. It’s also climate-friendly, water and mineral efficient, temperature tolerant and can be cultivated by direct seeding method.
• Pusa DST Rice 1: Developed from MTU1010, this variety exhibits tolerance to salinity. Yields are significantly higher than MTU1010 under salinity, alkaline, and salinity tension conditions (9.66%, 14.66%, and 30.36% respectively).
• ICAR’s Role: ICAR is the apex body in India for agricultural research and education, operating under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It
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  coordinates, guides, and manages research and education in agriculture and allied sciences.
• Historical Impact: Established in 1929, ICAR has been crucial in increasing India’s agricultural production, contributing significantly to food and nutritional security.

Abdali Missile

• Pakistan Conducts Training Launch: Pakistan announced a successful training launch of the Abdali (Hatf-II) Weapon System. This is the primary news event.

• Short-Range Ballistic Missile: Abdali is a short-range, road-mobile, solid-fuel ballistic missile. This provides context about the type of weapon system.

• Developed by SUPARCO: The missile was developed by Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO). This identifies the developer.

• Tactical Battlefield Use: Designed for tactical battlefield use with both conventional and nuclear warhead delivery capability. This highlights its intended purpose.

• Increased Range (Claimed): The latest test claims a range of 450 km, a significant increase from the previously reported 180-200 km. This range extension is a key development.

• Advanced Navigation: Equipped with an advanced inertial navigation system, offering high accuracy (CEP of 100-150 meters). This points to improved precision.

• Road-Mobile Launcher: Launched from a Transporter-Erector-Launcher (TEL) for rapid deployment and mobility. The road mobility enhances survivability and flexibility.

• Payload Capacity: Can carry a single payload (high explosive, submunitions, or conventional warhead) weighing between 250-500 kg. This gives insight into the missile’s destructive potential.

• Solid Propellant Engine: The solid-propellant engine allows for quick reaction and storage. The solid fuel enhances battlefield utility.

• Operational Since 2005: Already in operational service with Pakistan’s Army Strategic Forces Command since 2005. The system has been integrated into Pakistan’s military for almost two decades.

Angola: Unveiled

• Angolan President’s State Visit to India: President João Lourenço of Angola made his first State visit to India. Hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

• 40th Anniversary of Diplomatic Ties: The visit marks the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Angola.

• India-Africa Partnership: India is committed to mutually beneficial and sustainable partnerships with all African countries.

• African Union’s Role: President Murmu congratulated President Lourenço on Angola assuming the Chair of the African Union. India supported the inclusion of the African Union as a full member of the G20 during its presidency.

• Shared Global South Goals: Both leaders agreed to collaborate for the progress of their nations and the broader Global South.

• Condemnation of Terrorism: President Murmu acknowledged Angola’s support following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, and reiterated that terrorism should be unequivocally condemned.

• Indian Diaspora in Angola: The Indian Diaspora in Angola serves as a cultural and economic bridge between the two nations.

• Angola’s Strategic Location: Angola is located on the southwestern coast of Africa, has a strategic Atlantic Ocean coastline and key maritime hub, Luanda

IICT

• Establishment of IICT: The Indian government has announced the establishment of the Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) in Mumbai.
• Modeled After IITs and IIMs: IICT is designed to emulate the success of IITs and IIMs, setting high standards for education and research in creative technology.
• Focus on AVGC-XR: The institute will specialize in Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR).
• National Centre of Excellence: IICT is positioned as a National Centre of Excellence to foster talent and innovation in the digital content industry.
• Industry Support: Seven leading technology companies – JioStar, Google, Adobe, Meta, Apple, NVIDIA, and Microsoft – have provided Letters of Intent to support the institute.
• Partnership Goals: These partnerships aim to jointly develop contemporary skills, tools, and platforms, strengthening the institute’s foundation.
• Location: The permanent campus will be located at Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari (Film City), Goregaon, Mumbai, with initial operations starting at Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC).
• Mission: To create Indian intellectual property, leverage cultural heritage, and cultivate talent for the global digital content industry.
• Infrastructure: IICT will feature state-of-the-art facilities, including immersive studios, animation and gaming labs, virtual production setups, and editing and sound suites.
• Objective The institute will focus on the convergence of creativity, technology, and innovation, providing opportunities for Indian youth.
• Waves 2025 Launch IICT’s launch at WAVES 2025 aims to make India a global creative powerhouse by developing quality talent.
• JioStar CEO Quote: According to Sanjog Gupta, CEO of JioStar, IICT’s launch marks a step towards making India a global creative powerhouse.

Phlegraean Fields

• Unrest: Campi Flegrei is experiencing cyclical episodes of unrest (1982-1984 & 2011-2024), marked by ground uplift, seismic activity, and underground rumbling.

• Location & Nature: It’s an active volcanic region near Naples, Italy, unlike a single volcano. It is a large volcanic system spread across a large caldera.

• Caldera Size: The caldera is 12-15 km in diameter, formed by a massive eruption ~39,000 years ago.

• Supervolcano Status: Campi Flegrei is classified as a supervolcano, meaning a major eruption could have global climate impacts.

• Last Eruption: The last eruption was in 1538, forming Monte Nuovo.

• Bradyseism Activity: The area exhibits active bradyseism, gradual ground movement due to magma.

Zero-G

• Microgravity’s Effect on Body Temperature: Research from IIST reveals microgravity consistently increases human core body temperature, which is critical for long-duration space missions like future voyages similar to Voyager 1.
• IIST’s Thermoregulation Model: A 3D computational model simulates heat movement in the body under microgravity, incorporating sweating, shivering, clothing, organ heat, and blood redistribution.
• Key Model Findings:
  • Hands and feet become cooler in space over time.
  • Head, abdomen, and core regions become warmer.
  • Body temperature rises faster during exercise
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    in space.
  • Core temperature could rise from 36.3°C to 37.8°C in 2.5 months; with exercise, potentially to a dangerous 40°C.
• Model Validation: Accuracy confirmed using data from Mir Space Station and ISS astronauts, matching historical observations.
• Blood Redistribution Impact: The redistribution of blood from lower limbs to the upper body significantly affects body temperature distribution in microgravity.
• Model predicts outcomes on ISS by calculating universal thermal climate index a number that indicates how hot or cold it feels outside by considering factors like wind, humidity, and sunlight.
• Importance of Thermoregulation: Maintaining stable internal temperature (thermoregulation) is vital for astronauts’ well-being in space due to the unique physiological challenges posed by microgravity.
• Wider Applications: Thermoregulation models have uses beyond space, including clothing design, architecture, and medical procedures.