In News:

Indian security forces recently launched Operation Mahadev, a joint counter-terror operation near Srinagar, successfully neutralising three high-value terrorists, including Suleiman Shah, the mastermind behind the April 22 Pahalgam attack.

Key Facts about Operation Mahadev

Objectives and Outcomes

• Primary Aim: To neutralise Lashkar-e-Taiba-affiliated terrorists, specifically those involved in:
  • Pahalgam attack (April 2024)
  • Sonamarg Tunnel attack
• Notable Neutralised Terrorists:
  • Suleiman Shah (main planner of Pahalgam attack)
  • Two other Pakistan-trained terrorists, including a former Pakistani Army personnel

Strategic Significance

• Major blow to cross-border terrorism networks operating in Kashmir
• Reinforces India’s anti-terror posture, especially amidst the ongoing Operation Sindoor policy debate
• Enhances morale of security forces engaged in continuous counter-insurgency in the region

In News:

The Prime Minister recently highlighted the cultural and artisanal significance of Paithani sarees during the monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio programme, bringing national attention to this traditional Maharashtrian textile.

Historical Background

• Origin: Paithani sarees derive their name from Paithan, an ancient town on the banks of the Godavari River in Maharashtra.
• Antiquity: The tradition of Paithani weaving dates back over 2,000 years, with its roots in the Satavahana dynasty (2nd century BCE).
• Royal Patronage: These sarees were patronized by several royal courts, including the Satavahanas, Peshwas of Pune, Nizams of Hyderabad, and Mughal emperors.

Key Features

Recognition and Cultural Value

• Symbol of Heritage: Paithani sarees are considered a symbol of Maharashtrian cultural identity and artisanal excellence.
• GI Tag: Granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2010, acknowledging their unique regional origin and craftsmanship.
• Artistic Value: Among the most exquisite and expensive sarees in India, valued for their aesthetic finesse and traditional techniques.

In News:

Hunger affected up to 720 million people worldwide in 2024 — around 8.2 per cent of the global population, while 2.3 billion people in the world were estimated to have been moderately or severely food insecure, according to the ‘State of Food and Nutrition in the World’ (SOFI) 2025.

Key Highlights:

• Released by: Jointly published by FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP, and WHO.
• Purpose:
• Annual global assessment to monitor progress on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2:
  • Target 2.1: End hunger and ensure access to safe, nutritious food.
  • Target 2.2: End all forms of malnutrition.

Key Global Findings (2024 Data)

• Chronic Hunger:
  • 720 million people (approx. 8.2% of global population) suffered from chronic hunger in 2024.
  • Although lower than 8.5% (2023) and 8.7% (2022), it remains above pre-pandemic (2015) levels.
  • 96 million more people are hungry now than in 2015.
• Food Insecurity:
  • 2.3 billion people were moderately or severely food insecure in 2024.
  • This is 335 million more than in 2019 (pre-COVID) and 683 million more than in 2015.
• Regional Distribution:
  • Asia: 323 million undernourished (highest in absolute numbers).
  • Africa: 307 million (highest prevalence, over 20% of population).
  • Latin America & Caribbean: 34 million.
• Trends & Progress:
  • Modest improvements in Southeast Asia, Southern Asia, and South America.
  • Worsening hunger in parts of Africa and Western Asia due to conflict and climate stress.

Projections for 2030

• By 2030, 512 million people (6% of global population) may remain chronically undernourished.
  • A decline of only 65 million since 2015, far short of the Zero Hunger target.
  • 60% of these undernourished people are projected to be in Africa, with 17.6% prevalence.

India-Specific Insights

• Nutritional Affordability:
  • 6% of Indians cannot afford a healthy diet despite food surplus.
  • Urban areas show improvement due to post-pandemic income recovery.
  • Rural areas face continued hardship due to PDS inefficiencies and price volatility.
• Child Malnutrition:
  • High rates of stunting and wasting persist.
  • Micronutrient deficiencies (hidden hunger) are common due to cereal-heavy diets lacking diversity.
• Policy Recommendations:
  • Strengthen inclusion of millets, pulses, and fortified foods in public nutrition schemes.
  • Address regional and demographic disparities through targeted interventions.

Major Drivers of Food Insecurity

• Post-COVID Aftermath: Reversed a decade of gains in global food security.
• Climate Events: Floods, droughts, and heatwaves have disrupted food systems.
• Conflicts & Wars: Ongoing wars (e.g. Ukraine) have triggered food price inflation and supply disruptions.
• Inflation:
  • Since 2020, food price inflation has outpaced general inflation globally.
  • Disproportionately affects low-income and vulnerable populations.

SOFI 2025: Recommendations

• Protect vulnerable populations via targeted fiscal support.
• Align macroeconomic policies to stabilize food markets.
• Invest in resilient agrifood systems and nutrition-sensitive agriculture.
• Strengthen food and nutrition data systems for informed policymaking.
• Promote dietary diversity and nutrition education.

SDG Context & Governance

• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) is among the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals adopted in 2015.
• These are non-binding, but serve as guiding principles for national policy and international cooperation.
• The SOFI report tracks progress annually against Targets 2.1 & 2.2.
• With only 5 years left to 2030, the current pace is inadequate for achieving global food and nutrition targets.

In News:

Gavri is a unique 40-day ritualistic folk festival celebrated annually by the Bhil tribal community of the Mewar region in Rajasthan. It is a vibrant blend of dance, drama, music, and oral storytelling rooted deeply in the Bhil worldview, spirituality, and socio-cultural expression.

Key Features:

• Duration: 40 days, usually observed during the Hindu months of Shravana and Bhadrapada (July to September), coinciding with the monsoon and early harvest season.
• Form: A fusion of dance, drama (khel), mime, and dialogues.
• Theme: Enacts mythological battles between good and evil, primarily featuring Goddess Gauri/Amba and demons such as Bhasmasur or Bhiamwal, symbolizing the triumph of good.
• Performance Spaces: Villages where the performers' married sisters and daughters reside, reinforcing familial ties and social cohesion.
• Characters: All roles, including female ones, are portrayed by male performers, due to prevailing patriarchal norms.
• Narration: A storyteller called Kutkadiya introduces each scene, enhancing audience immersion.
• Costumes & Music: Colorful attire, energetic drumming, and folk instruments create a lively, theatrical atmosphere.

Cultural and Social Significance

• Spiritual Identity: The Bhil community considers themselves descendants of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, viewing Parvati (Gauri) as their divine sister. Gavri is performed to honour her and ensure the well-being of their married women.
• Oral Heritage: The festival preserves centuries-old oral traditions, possibly dating back to the 3rd or 4th century CE, with references to the era of Siddhraj Jai Singh of Gujarat.
• Carnivalesque Spirit: Gavri subverts caste and class hierarchies through humor, parody, and satire. Authority figures, kings, and even gods may be lampooned in the plays.
• Resistance & Nature Worship: Performances like Badliya Hindwa and Bhilurana reflect themes of nature worship, tribal resistance to invaders (Mughals, British), and warnings against ecological destruction.
• Gender Fluidity: Though patriarchal in nature, the performance of female roles by men adds a layer of gender expression and cultural fluidity during the ritual.

Bhil Tribe: An Overview

• One of India's largest Adivasi groups, found mainly in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
• Speak the Bhili language and practice a syncretic faith combining animism with Hindu mythology.
• Their cultural identity is closely tied to forests, nature, and community-based rituals like Gavri.

In News:

A recent citizen science study conducted by the Aranyakam Nature Foundation estimates that Kerala is home to approximately 20,000 to 30,000 golden jackals (Canis aureus naria), highlighting the species' wide distribution and adaptability across the state’s diverse landscapes.

Key Ecological Facts

• Scientific Name: Canis aureus
• Common Names: Golden Jackal, Common Jackal
• Physical Appearance: Medium-sized canid, smaller than a wolf and larger than a fox; coat ranges from golden to pale brown, varying seasonally.
• Behaviour: Primarily nocturnal in human-dominated areas; lives in monogamous pairs, often uses burrows or rock crevices for shelter.
• Diet: Omnivorous; consumes small mammals, birds, fish, insects, hares, fruits, and is known to scavenge near human settlements.

Habitat and Distribution

• Found in South, Southeast, and Central Asia, extending into Southeastern Europe and North-East Africa.
• In India, widespread from the Himalayan foothills to the Western Ghats, including Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Haryana.
• Preferred Habitats: Open lowland regions, especially below 200m elevation. In Kerala:
  • Coconut groves (24%)
  • Rural settlements (10%)
  • Urban areas (5.6%)
  • Rare in protected forest areas (only 2% of sightings)

Key Findings from Kerala Study

• Over 5,000 sightings were recorded across 874 villages, involving 2,200+ participants.
• High adaptability to human-modified landscapes such as peri-urban zones and coastal belts.
• Ecological Concerns:
  • Rising cases of poultry predation
  • Risk of rabies transmission
  • Increasing dependence on organic waste, especially near coastlines
  • Threat of hybridisation with stray dogs, posing genetic risks

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Least Concern
• CITES: Appendix III
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (India): Schedule I (highest protection under Indian law)