In News:

A recent rare case from Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, reported a fetus developing in the liver—a condition termed intrahepatic ectopic pregnancy. This has drawn attention to ectopic pregnancies, a critical medical concern.

What is an Ectopic Pregnancy?

• An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilised egg implants outside the uterus, instead of the uterine lining.
• The fallopian tube is the most common site (called tubal pregnancy).
• Other possible sites include the ovary, abdominal cavity, cervix, or, in extremely rare cases, the liver.

Causes

• Blockage or abnormal movement of the fertilised egg.
• Inflammation or scarring of fallopian tubes.
• Damage from prior surgeries or pelvic infections.
• Congenital irregularities in the structure of the fallopian tubes.

Symptoms

• Early pregnancy-like signs: missed periods, nausea, breast tenderness.
• Progressive symptoms:
  • Vaginal bleeding
  • Abdominal or pelvic pain
  • Back pain, shoulder pain, dizziness
  • Low blood pressure in severe cases.

Risks & Complications

• If untreated, ectopic pregnancy can cause rupture of the fallopian tube, leading to life-threatening internal bleeding.
• It is a medical emergency and a significant cause of maternal morbidity and mortality.

Treatment

• Methotrexate (a drug that stops cell growth and dissolves existing cells) may be used in some cases.
• Surgical intervention is required in cases of rupture or internal bleeding.

In News:

According to the World Air Transport Statistics (WATS) 2024, released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), India has emerged as the world’s 5th-largest aviation market, handling 211 million passengers in 2024.

Key Findings of WATS 2024

• India: 211 million passengers in 2024, growing 11.1% over 2023.
• Ahead of: Japan (205 million, 18.6% growth).
• Global Rankings:
  1. United States – 876 million passengers (+5.2%).
  2. China – 741 million passengers (+18.7%).
  3. United Kingdom – 261 million passengers.
  4. Spain – 241 million passengers.
  5. India – 211 million passengers.
• Busiest Routes (Airport Pairs):
  • Global:Jeju–Seoul (South Korea) – 13.2 million passengers.
  • India: Mumbai–Delhi – 5.9 million passengers, ranked 7th globally.

137851635024. Trend: Asia-Pacific dominated busiest airport-pair rankings.

India’s Aviation Transformation

1. Legislative Reforms

• Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025: Aligns leasing system with the Cape Town Convention, lowering leasing costs and boosting investor confidence.
• BharatiyaVayuyanAdhiniyam, 2024: Replaces colonial-era Aircraft Act, 1934; promotes Make in India, simplifies licensing, and aligns with ICAO norms.

2. Infrastructure Expansion

• New Terminals: Foundation laid at Varanasi, Agra, Darbhanga, Bagdogra.
• Greenfield Airports: 12 operationalised since 2014 (e.g., Shirdi, Mopa, Shivamogga); Navi Mumbai and Noida (Jewar) to be operational by 2025–26.
• Investment: ?91,000 crore allocated under National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP); ?82,600 crore already spent by Nov 2024.

3. Government Initiatives

• UDAN Scheme: Expands regional air connectivity, affordable travel.
• National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP): Boosts MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul), airport development, and leasing ecosystem.
• Green Airports Policy: Promotes renewable energy, waste reduction, and carbon neutrality.
• Aircraft Leasing Hub:GIFT City being developed as a global hub for aircraft leasing and financing.

Significance

• India consolidates its position as a major aviation hub, driven by rising passenger traffic, policy reforms, and infrastructure expansion.
• Reflects growing regional connectivity under UDAN and global competitiveness with regulatory modernisation.
• Places India in the top five global aviation markets for the first time.

In News:

The Asian Giant Tortoise, the largest tortoise in mainland Asia, has been reintroduced into the Zeliang Community Reserve in Peren district, Nagaland. Local youth groups have been engaged as “tortoise guardians” to ensure protection.

About Asian Giant Tortoise

• Scientific name:Manouriaemysphayrei
• Common name: Asian Giant Tortoise / “Small elephants of the forests” (due to their role in forest ecology).
• Lineage: Among the oldest tortoise lineages in the world; display unique nesting behaviour similar to crocodilians, where they protect eggs and regulate incubation temperatures.
• Appearance: Hatchlings are greyish-brown, becoming charcoal-colored in adulthood.
• Diet: Bamboo shoots, tubers, soft vegetation, some invertebrates, and frogs.

Habitat & Distribution

• Habitat: Tropical and subtropical evergreen hill forests.
• Range in India: Northeastern states – Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Assam.
• Global distribution: Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia.

Ecological Role

• Seed Dispersal: Helps regenerate forests by dispersing seeds.
• Scavenging: Cleans forest floor by feeding on decomposed organic matter.

Threats

• Hunting and collection for consumption.
• Illegal trade (pets and exotic meat).
• Habitat destruction due to shifting cultivation, deforestation, and infrastructure projects.

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
• CITES: Appendix II

Conservation Efforts

• Captive Breeding & Assurance Colonies for population recovery.
• Reintroduction Programmes like the recent one in Nagaland.
• Community-based conservation with active participation of locals as guardians.
• Field Surveys to monitor population health and habitat conditions.

In News:

Bengaluru ranks 26thin Global AI City Index, Singapore secures top spot.

About the Index

• Published by: Market research firm Counterpoint Research.
• Objective: Benchmarks global cities on their AI capacity, investment, and innovation.
• Evaluation Criteria:
  • AI R&D ecosystem and startup strength
  • Investment inflows & public–private partnerships
  • AI applications in transport, healthcare, and education
  • Data centre growth & digital infrastructure readiness
  • Governance and regulatory frameworks

Global Rankings (2025)

• Top 5 Cities: Singapore (1st), Seoul (2nd), Beijing (3rd), Dubai (4th), San Francisco (5th).
• Key Trends:
  • Singapore’s success driven by strong startup ecosystem and public–private collaboration in healthcare, telecom, and transport.
  • Seoul excels in AI healthcare and education applications.
  • Beijing introduced formal AI education for all primary & secondary school students (2025).
  • Investments in supercomputing expected to reduce gap between North America and China.
  • Tech industry leaders: Microsoft (most active vendor with AI data centres, training, innovation hubs), followed by Google and Amazon expanding their global AI footprint.

India’s Performance

• Bengaluru: Ranked 26th globally – India’s top AI R&D and data centre hub with a vibrant startup ecosystem attracting foreign investment.
• Other Indian Cities:
  • Mumbai & Delhi – Leveraging AI for traffic management and public security.
  • Chennai & Kolkata – Emerging AI hubs.
• India’s Challenge: Report highlights need for a comprehensive AI roadmap and robust regulatory framework to maximize growth potential.

Significance

• Establishes Bengaluru as India’s AI capital, strengthening its role in digital infrastructure and innovation.
• Reflects India’s growing presence in the global AI landscape while underlining policy gaps.
• Offers lessons from global leaders like Singapore and Seoul on AI integration in governance, education, and healthcare.

In News:

NITI Aayog launched the India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI), a first-of-its-kind tool developed to comprehensively track and benchmark the progress of States and Union Territories (UTs) in achieving their Electric Mobility goals.

Key Highlights:

• Objective: The IEMIis a first-of-its-kind national tool designed to comprehensively track, evaluate, and benchmark the performance of States and Union Territories (UTs) in their electric mobility transition. It aims to guide sub-national policies, strengthen EV adoption, and align efforts with India’s net-zero by 2070 target.

Core Features of IEMI

• Benchmarking Framework: Scores States/UTs on a 0–100 scale.
• Indicators: Covers 16 indicators under three core themes:
  1. Transport Electrification Progress – Demand-side adoption in passenger, freight, and public transport.
  2. Charging Infrastructure Readiness – Deployment of public/private charging stations and supportive policies.
  3. EV Research & Innovation Ecosystem – R&D, manufacturing capacity, and technological advancements.
• Dashboard Access: Interactive tool for real-time comparison, rankings, and insights.
• Policy Guidance Tool: Identifies gaps, best practices, and investment priorities.
• Cross-Sectoral Utility: Supports inter-ministerial coordination, capacity building, and infrastructure planning.

Trends & Rankings in IEMI 2024

• Top Performers:Delhi, Maharashtra, and Chandigarh led in EV readiness and innovation.
• EV Share in Sales: Grew from 5% (2018) to 7.7% (2024).
• Total EVs on Road: Surpassed 5 million by June 2025, with 12 lakh EVs registered in 2024 alone.
• Charging Infrastructure: Over 25,000 public charging stations installed by October 2024; Karnataka leads in installations.
• Policy Coverage:29 States/UTs have notified EV policies; 4 more are in draft stage.

Significance of IEMI

• Promotes Green Mobility: Aligns state actions with India’s decarbonisation roadmap.
• Encourages Healthy Competition: Enables peer learning and best practice sharing among states.
• Supports Make in India: Strengthens domestic EV manufacturing and innovation clusters.
• Guides Infrastructure Planning: Highlights charging network gaps for targeted rollouts.
• Informs Policy: Helps States/UTs design tailored strategies for equitable e-mobility adoption.