In News:

NASA astronomers have confirmed the chemical fingerprint of water on the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS using ultraviolet data from the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. This marks a major advance in understanding the chemistry of planetary systems beyond the Sun.

What is 3I/ATLAS?

• Designation: 3I/ATLAS
• Discovery: 1 July 2025 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Hawaii.
• Category: Third confirmed interstellar object after 1I/‘Oumuamua (2017) and 2I/Borisov (2019).
• Origin: Formed in another planetary system, possibly 7 billion years old, older than Earth.

Trajectory & Motion

• Travels on a hyperbolic orbit—meaning it is not gravitationally bound to the Sun and will exit the Solar System permanently.
• Speed relative to Sun: 57–68 km/s.

Physical Characteristics

• An active comet with a visible coma of dust and icy particles.
• Expected to form a cometary tail as it approaches the Sun.
• Surface hue: Slightly reddish, indicating the presence of complex organics or water ice.
• Nucleus size: Estimated 10–30 km wide.
• Age: Nearly twice as old as Earth, making it one of the oldest comets ever observed.

Breakthrough Discovery: Water Signature Detected

How was it detected?

• Swift Observatory captured faint ultraviolet emissions from hydroxyl (OH).
• OH forms when sunlight breaks apart water molecules → indirect but strong evidence of water ice sublimation.

Why is it important?

• First chemical confirmation of water activity on an interstellar comet at such a large distance from the Sun.
• Indicates that protoplanetary systems outside the Solar System may share similar chemical building blocks.

Unusual Behaviour

• 3I/ATLAS was losing water at ~40 kg per second even when far beyond the usual frost line where comets become active.
• Suggests:
  • Presence of small icy grains being heated by sunlight,
  • Complex physical and chemical processes not seen in typical comets.

Scientists noted its activity “defies our models”, indicating new insights into comet evolution.

Significance for Planetary Science & Astrobiology

• Strengthens the idea that organic chemistry and water—key ingredients for life—are common across the Galaxy.
• Provides clues on:
  • Composition of ancient planetary systems,
  • How water and organics travel between stars,
  • Early stages of planet formation.

3I/ATLAS acts as a “messenger” from another star, preserving primordial material from its home system.

Interstellar Objects:

• Formed outside the Solar System and travel through it.
• Not gravitationally bound → follow open-ended hyperbolic trajectories.
• Have a perihelion (closest approach to Sun) but no aphelion.
• Often ejected from their home systems due to collisions or gravitational slingshot events.

In News:

A rare Indian mouse deer (Moschiola indica) was recently photographed at the Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary (TWS) in Vasai by the Wildlife Research Division of the Vivek PARC Foundation. Sightings of this species are uncommon due to its nocturnal and secretive behaviour, highlighting the ecological value of the sanctuary as a refuge for elusive fauna.

About the Indian Mouse Deer

Taxonomy

• Common Name: Indian Mouse Deer / Indian Spotted Chevrotain
• Scientific Name: Moschiola indica
• Family: Tragulidae
• Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)
• One of the smallest ungulates globally and the smallest deer-like species in India.

Key Characteristics

• Size:
  • Shoulder height: 25–30 cm
  • Body length: ~57.5 cm (23 inches)
  • Weight: 2–4 kg
• Appearance:
  • Dark brown fur with 4–5 rows of white dorsal spots
  • White underparts
• Canines: Males possess tusk-like upper canines, used during territorial or mating conflicts.
• Stomach: Unique among ruminant-like species—has a three-chambered stomach instead of the typical four.
• Diet:
  • Omnivorous tendencies: fruits, leaves, herbs, roots
  • Occasionally eats insects, crustaceans, and small mammals
• Lifespan: 8–12 years
• Behaviour:
  • Nocturnal, shy, and highly elusive, usually found in dense forest cover.
  • Prefers habitats away from human settlements, making sightings rare.

Distribution

• Endemic to the Indian Subcontinent.
• India:
  • Widespread in peninsular India.
  • Common in Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats up to Odisha, and central Indian forests.
• Outside India:
  • Old records from Nepal.
  • Sri Lanka hosts a separate species: Spotted Chevrotain (Moschiola meminna).

Habitat

• Found in:
  • Semi-evergreen forests
  • Moist evergreen forests
  • Tropical deciduous forests

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Least Concern (LC)
  • However, populations face threats from:
    • Habitat loss and fragmentation
    • Human disturbance
    • Declining forest quality

In News:

During a special session of the Uttarakhand Assembly, President of India Droupadi Murmu was presented with a traditional Ramman mask, bringing national attention to this centuries-old ritual festival practiced in the Garhwal region.

About the Ramman Festival

• Type: Annual religious and cultural festival
• Location: Twin villages of Saloor–Dungra, Chamoli district, Uttarakhand
• Time: Celebrated in late April during Baisakhi
• Deity: Dedicated to the tutelary deity Bhumiyal Devta, worshipped at his temple courtyard where the festival is performed.
• UNESCO Status: Inscribed in 2009 on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.

UNESCO recognises Ramman as a multiform cultural event integrating theatre, music, historical reconstruction, and oral tradition—reinforcing the community’s identity and relationship with nature.

Key Features of the Festival

1. Rituals, Recitations & Divine Storytelling

• Begins with an invocation to Lord Ganesha, followed by the dance of the Sun God, and enactments of the birth of Brahma and Ganesha.
• Includes performances of Bur Deva, dances of Krishna and Radhika, and multiple ritual acts.
• Central attraction: Enactment of the local Ramkatha (episodes from the Ramayana), sung to 324 beats and steps.

2. Theatrical Performances & Masked Dances

• Combines narration, ritual drama, masked dances, music, and local legends.
• 18 different types of masks made from Bhojpatra (Himalayan birch) are used.
• Masks are accompanied by natural make-up materials such as sheep’s wool, honey, vermilion, wheat flour, oil, turmeric, soot, and plant-based dyes.

3. Instruments Used

• Dhol, Damau (percussion)
• Manjira, Jhanjhar (cymbals)
• Bhankora (trumpet)

4. Sacred Space & Community Participation

• Performed in the courtyard of Bhumiyal Devta temple.
• The entire village contributes—roles are caste-based:
  • Brahmins: lead rituals
  • Bhandaris (Rajputs): allowed to wear the sacred Narasimha mask
  • Das drummers (lower caste): play percussion
  • Jagaris/Bhallas (Rajput caste): act as bards singing epics and legends
• Funding and organisation are managed by village households collectively.

5. Transmission of Knowledge

• Oral transmission of epic songs, ritual lore, dance forms, mask-making, and traditional practices from elders to the younger generation.

Origin and Evolution

• Exact origins are unclear but believed to date back to medieval times.
• Linked to the arrival of Vaishnavite saints who brought the Ramayana tradition to the Central Himalayas.
• Initially a purely religious tradition centered on Ram bhakti, later expanded to include local folklore, social narratives, and community histories.

Examples of Local Narrative Additions

• Mwar–Mwarin dance: depicts the hardships of buffalo herders attacked by a tiger.
• Baniya–Baniyain Nritya: portrays the struggles of a trader-couple attacked by robbers.

These stories localise the Ramayana tradition, connecting mythic narratives to regional realities.

Cultural Significance

• Reinforces ties between humans, nature, and the divine.
• Ritual offerings include sprouted maize and barley seeds symbolising prosperity and agricultural abundance.
• Embodies the environmental, spiritual, and cultural ethos of the Garhwal Himalayan communities.

In News:

The Katkari tribe, one of India’s Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), continues to face structural marginalisation, landlessness, bonded labour, and livelihood precarity. To highlight these long-standing injustices, the Shramjeevi Organisation has announced a two-day protest titled ‘Aatmakalesh se Aatmanirdhar’ (From Anguish to Resolve), featuring silent fasts and symbolic lamp-lighting across villages in Maharashtra’s Thane district.

About the Katkari Tribe

Classification & Distribution

• A PVTG—one among the 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups of India.
• Primarily concentrated in Maharashtra (Pune, Raigad, Thane, and Palghar districts) and parts of Gujarat.
• Historically forest-dependent tribal community.

Cultural Features

• Also known as Kathodis, due to their traditional occupation of preparing Katha (Catechu) from the sap of Acacia catechu (Khair tree).
• Traditionally consumed rodents, a reflection of their unique food culture.
• Housing: Many still reside in bamboo huts and forest-based structures.
• Family Structure: Despite a patriarchal system, they largely follow nuclear family setups rather than joint families.

Language

• Bilingual community.
• Speak the Katkari language within the group and Marathi with others; some speak Hindi as well.

Livelihoods

• Dominated by agricultural labour, sale of firewood, fishing, coal making, and brick manufacturing.
• Seasonal migration is common due to limited livelihood options.
• Possess extensive knowledge of uncultivated foods — fish, crabs, small fauna, tubers, wild vegetables, nuts, fruits, etc.
• Landlessness is severe:
  • About 87% of Katkari households are landless (vs. 48% national rural average).
  • High landlessness → rampant migration, vulnerability to exploitation, and unstable incomes.

Contemporary Issues Faced by the Katkaris

• Bonded labour and trafficking continue to affect segments of the community.
• Unpaid wages and limited access to social protection schemes.
• Breakdown of education among children due to seasonal migration of families.
• Weak implementation of:
  • Forest Rights Act (FRA) land titles
  • Village rehabilitation schemes
  • Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA/MNREGA) payments
• Rising issues of alcohol abuse, livelihood insecurity, and lack of government follow-through on rehabilitation commitments.

Significance

• Highlights persistent vulnerability among India’s PVTGs despite decades of welfare schemes.
• Calls attention to landlessness and migration as structural issues aggravating poverty.
• Reaffirms the need for targeted tribal development, effective FRA implementation, and monitoring of labour rights.
• Aligns with the broader national effort to focus on PVTG development, especially under the government’s PVTG Mission and tribal empowerment initiatives.

In News:

The Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) recently laid the foundation stone for the Integrated Sohra Tourism Circuit in Meghalaya under the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North Eastern Region (PM-DevINE) scheme.

About the Integrated Sohra Tourism Circuit

• A joint initiative of the Ministry of DoNER and the Government of Meghalaya.
• Envisioned to transform Sohra (Cherrapunji) into a multi-day, experiential, sustainable tourism destination.
• Total investment: Over ?650 crore, including ?221 crore under DoNER.

Key Components

1. Sohra Experience Centre (Kutmadan)

• Investment: ?115 crore.
• Acts as the cultural nucleus showcasing:
  • Tribal heritage of Meghalaya
  • Amphitheatres
  • Rain experience parks
  • Art galleries
  • Craft and cultural pavilions

2. Supporting Tourism Infrastructure

• Nohkalikai Falls Precinct – ?26 crore
• Mawsmai Eco Park – ?29 crore
• Seven Sisters Falls Viewpoint
• Shella Riverside Development
• Wahkaliar Canyon with adventure tourism (including proposed hot-air balloon experiences)

Associated Infrastructure Projects Launched

1. Pynursla–Latangriwan–Mawlynnong Road (?29.97 crore)

• Provides all-weather connectivity to Mawlynnong, known as Asia’s cleanest village.
• Enhances cross-border tourism and local market access.

2. Mawshynrut–Hahim Road (?99.76 crore)

• Upgraded to intermediate lane standards.
• Improves agricultural mobility in Western Meghalaya.

3. Bridge over Umngot River (?21.86 crore)

• Links East Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills.
• Facilitates trade and intra-district connectivity.

4. Broader Connectivity Boost

• 166.8 km Shillong–Silchar Greenfield Expressway (?22,864 crore) under construction.
• Expansion of Umroi Airport enabling larger aircraft operations.
• New Shillong Western Bypass and improved Guwahati–Sohra access reducing travel time to ~4 hours.

Meghalaya’s Transformation Narrative

• Under the 10% Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) policy, over ?6.2 lakh crore has been channelled to the Northeast in the last decade.
• Meghalaya has recorded 12–16% post-COVID growth driven by focused investments in connectivity and tourism.
• Projects like the Integrated Sohra Circuit are part of the broader push to make Meghalaya a “connected, confident, and competitive state.”

Community Empowerment Measures

• Skill development programs in partnership with the Meghalaya Skills Development Society and IHM Shillong.
• Training in hospitality, eco-tourism, adventure safety, and cultural curation.
• Objective: ensure local families directly benefit from tourism inflows.

PM-DevINE Scheme:

• Launched: 2022
• Scheme Type: Central Sector scheme (100% central funding)
• Duration: FY 2022–23 to 2025–26
• Outlay: ?6,600 crore

Objectives

1. Infrastructure development in line with PM GatiShakti principles.
2. Support social development projects in the North East.
3. Promote livelihood generation for youth and women.