In News:

India celebrated World Lion Day 2025 at Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat, marking a milestone in wildlife conservation. The event highlighted the success of Project Lion, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15th August 2020, and underscored India’s global leadership in protecting the endangered Asiatic Lion (Panthera leopersica).

Status of Asiatic Lions

• Population Growth: Numbers rose from 284 in 1990 to 674 in 2020, and further to 891 in 2025(16th Lion Census). This reflects a 32% increase since 2020 and 70% rise over the last decade.
• Distribution: The lions roam across ~35,000 sq. km in 11 districts of Saurashtra, with Gir National Park as the core habitat. In recent years, Barda Wildlife Sanctuary (192 sq. km) has emerged as a second home, hosting 17 lions including 11 cubs.
• Global Significance: If Asiatic lions survive anywhere today, it is solely in India—making their conservation a matter of both ecological and national pride.

Ecological and Cultural Importance

• Apex Predators: Regulate herbivore populations, prevent overgrazing, and maintain ecosystem balance.
• Cultural Symbolism: Depicted on the National Emblem and Indian currency, symbolizing strength and heritage.
• Unique Traits: Asiatic lions are smaller than African lions, with a distinct belly fold and less prominent mane (ears remain visible).

Conservation Measures

1. Project Lion (2020–2030)

• Budget: ?2,927 crore sanctioned.
• Focus Areas:
  • Habitat improvement and prey base augmentation.
  • Scientific monitoring using GPS, GIS-based real-time surveillance, and automated sensor grids.
  • Veterinary healthcare (National Referral Centre at Junagadh).
  • Human–wildlife conflict mitigation.
  • Community participation and eco-tourism.

2. Greater Gir Concept: Expands protected landscapes toGirnar, Pania, Mitiyala, and Bardasanctuaries to reduce habitat pressure.

3. Recent Developments

• ?180 crore wildlife and ecotourism initiative launched in 2025 for new habitats, safari park, and veterinary facilities.
• Barda Safari Park & Zoo approved to boost ecotourism and conservation.
• Return of lions to Barda after 143 years, enhancing biodiversity and eco-tourism potential.

4. Global Cooperation

• International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA, 2023): A platform of 97 countries for sharing knowledge and resources on big cat conservation.

Conservation Status

• Panthera leo (Lion)IUCN Red List: Vulnerable (Green Status: Largely Depleted).
• CITES: Appendix I.
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I species.
• Part of India’s Species Recovery Programme under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme – Development of Wildlife Habitat.

In News:

India’s space programme is set for a major expansion with the Third Satellite Launch Pad (TLP) being developed at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota. The facility, sanctioned in March 2025, is expected to be fully operational by March 2029, significantly strengthening India’s ability to handle next-generation launch vehicles (NGLV) and ambitious human spaceflight missions.

Development Timeline and Infrastructure

The TLP project has been structured with clear milestones:

• Civil works: by May 2028
• Fluid and propellant storage systems: by July 2028
• Launch pad systems: by September 2028
• Commissioning: by March 2029

Preliminary geotechnical investigations and topographic surveys were completed in May 2025. Currently, tenders for essential road, electrical, and infrastructure works are under evaluation.

Objectives and Capabilities

• Support NGLV Operations: The 91-metre-tall Next Generation Launch Vehicle, designed with semi-cryogenic stages, will have a payload capacity of up to 30 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit (LEO)—a major leap from existing LVM3 capabilities.
• Backup for LVM3: Ensures continuity of operations in case of single-pad disruption.
• Enable Human Spaceflight: Provides critical infrastructure for the Gaganyaan mission, future astronaut flights, and crewed lunar landing plans by 2040.
• Facilitate Deep-Space Missions: Supports long-term goals like BharatiyaAntariksh Station (2035), lunar missions, and interplanetary exploration.

Key Features

• Advanced Propellant Systems: Compatible with cryogenic and semi-cryogenic fuels with higher thrust requirements.
• New Jet Deflection Systems: Built to withstand the powerful thrust of next-gen rockets.
• Make-in-India Integration: Emphasis on collaboration with private industry and MSMEs, ensuring maximum indigenous participation in design, construction, and manufacturing.
• Modular Construction: Use of multiple work packages for efficient execution.
• Increased Launch Capacity: Enhances frequency, redundancy, and capability to handle commercial as well as strategic missions.

Strategic Significance

1. Redundancy and Reliability – Reduces dependence on two existing pads, mitigating risks of delays due to maintenance or failure.
2. Future-Proofing India’s Space Infrastructure – Specifically designed for larger payloads, human-rated systems, and next-gen propulsion.
3. Boost to Space Economy – By enabling frequent and diverse launches, TLP supports India’s rising commercial space sector under the Make-in-India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
4. Geopolitical Leverage – Strengthens India’s position in the global space economy, catering to both domestic and international clients.

In News:

A Lancet Global Health study (2023), based on the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI), has highlighted the alarming rise of diabetes among Indians aged 45 years and above. The findings underscore the urgent need for universal screening, awareness, and improved management strategies to address this public health challenge.

Key Findings of the Study

• Prevalence: One in five Indians aged 45+ (approx. 20%) had diabetes in 2019.
• Undiagnosed Diabetes: Nearly 40% of people with diabetes were unaware of their condition—around 20 million Indians remain undiagnosed.
• Treatment Gaps:
  • 5% had untreated diabetes.
  • 47% were under-treated.
  • Only 36% were adequately treated.
• Awareness and Treatment: Once aware, 94% of patients sought treatment, highlighting the impact of diagnosis.
• Control Rates:
  • 46% achieved blood sugar control,
  • 59% achieved blood pressure control,
  • 6% used lipid-lowering medicines.
• Urban-Rural Divide: Urban prevalence (30%) was nearly double that of rural areas (15%).
• Gender Gap: Prevalence was similar in men (19.6%) and women (20.1%).
• Regional Trends:
  • Highest rates: Chandigarh (36.9%), Kerala (36%), Puducherry (36%).
  • Largest number of diabetics: Tamil Nadu (6.1 mn), Maharashtra (5.8 mn), Uttar Pradesh (4.7 mn).
• Methodology: Diagnosis based on HbA1c testing (3-month blood sugar average), more accurate than random glucose tests used in earlier surveys.

Understanding Diabetes

• Type 1: Autoimmune; body destroys insulin-producing cells. Requires lifelong insulin.
• Type 2: Accounts for 95%+ of cases; due to insulin resistance or inadequate production; linked to obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and genetics. Preventable via lifestyle changes.
• Gestational Diabetes: Occurs during pregnancy; increases risk of complications and later Type 2 diabetes.
• Type 5 (Newly Recognized): Seen in lean adolescents (BMI < 18.5 kg/m²); caused by malnutrition damaging pancreatic beta cells, leading to insulin deficiency.

India’s Policy and Programmatic Response

• Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Health and Wellness Centres): Provide population-based diabetes screening.
• Fit India Movement: Encourages preventive health and fitness practices.
• School Interventions: CBSE mandates ‘sugar boards’ to educate students about hidden sugars and health risks.
• National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS): Strengthens NCD screening and management across primary healthcare.

In News:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently released the recommendations of its Internal Working Group (IWG) constituted to review the Liquidity Management Framework (LMF), which has been operational since February 2020. The review seeks to enhance efficiency, transparency, and predictability in liquidity operations—crucial for ensuring smooth monetary policy transmission.

Liquidity Management Framework (LMF):

• Objective: To manage systemic liquidity and guide short-term interest rates in alignment with monetary policy objectives.
• Core Mechanism: Operates through the Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF)—using repo (liquidity injection) and reverse repo (liquidity absorption) operations.
• Corridor System: The policy repo rate sits at the middle of the interest rate corridor, while the Weighted Average Call Rate (WACR) serves as the operating target of monetary policy.
• Other Tools: Open Market Operations (OMO), Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) for durable liquidity; and Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) for absorbing surplus liquidity.

Key Recommendations of the IWG

1. WACR as Operating Target
   • Recommendation: Continue using overnight WACR as the operating target.
   • Rationale: WACR strongly correlates with collateralized overnight money market rates, making it reliable for transmitting policy signals across the system.
2. Discontinuation of 14-day VRR/VRRR as Main Operation
   • Recommendation: Replace 14-day Variable Rate Repo/Reverse Repo (VRR/VRRR) as the main liquidity management tool.
   • Alternative: Manage transient liquidity primarily through 7-day repo/reverse repo operations and other operations (overnight to 14-day tenor) at RBI’s discretion.
   • Rationale: 14-day auctions have witnessed lower participation, as banks prefer shorter-tenor instruments like SDF.
3. Advance Notice for Liquidity Operations
   • Recommendation: RBI should provide at least one-day advance notice for repo/reverse repo operations.
   • Exception: Same-day operations may be undertaken in response to evolving liquidity shocks.
   • Rationale: Predictability reduces market uncertainty and stabilizes money market rates.
4. Variable Rate Auction Mechanism
   • Recommendation: Continue using variable rate auctions for repo and reverse repo operations, including longer tenors.
   • Rationale: Enhances price discovery and aligns market rates with liquidity conditions.
5. Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) Norms
   • Recommendation: Continue with the 90% daily minimum maintenance requirement of CRR.
   • Rationale: Ensures banks maintain sufficient reserves, preventing liquidity shortfalls.
6. Durable Liquidity Tools
   • Observation: Existing instruments under the LMF are sufficient to meet durable liquidity needs; no changes are required at this stage.

Key Terms:

• WACR (Weighted Average Call Rate): The average overnight interest rate at which banks borrow and lend funds, weighted by transaction volume; RBI’s operating target for monetary policy.
• Repo Rate: Rate at which RBI lends to banks against collateral to inject liquidity.
• Reverse Repo Rate: Rate at which RBI borrows from banks to absorb excess liquidity.
• VRR/VRRR: Auction-based repo/reverse repo operations, where rates are determined by market bids.
• SDF (Standing Deposit Facility): Tool for absorbing liquidity without collateral.
• CRR (Cash Reserve Ratio): Portion of deposits banks must maintain with RBI as liquid cash.

Significance of Recommendations

• For Monetary Policy: Reinforces the role of WACR in aligning short-term rates with policy stance.
• For Markets: Enhances predictability, reducing volatility in money markets.
• For Banks: Offers greater flexibility in managing short-term liquidity needs.
• For RBI: Provides operational flexibility to balance stability with market efficiency.

In News:

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) has selected Standard Nuclear as the first company to establish a domestic supply chain for TRi-structural ISOtropic (TRISO) nuclear fuel, marking a major step toward reducing dependence on Russian uranium and advancing nuclear innovation. The initiative, part of DOE’s Fuel Line Pilot Program (2025), is designed to strengthen US energy security, promote private sector participation, and accelerate the deployment of advanced nuclear reactors.

Why TRISO Matters

TRISO is a next-generation nuclear fuel specifically engineered for high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs) and molten salt-cooled reactors, both of which fall under Generation IV (Gen-IV) advanced reactor designs.

• Composition: TRISO fuel consists of a uranium–carbon–oxygen fuel kernel encapsulated by three protective layers of carbon and ceramic materials.
• Form: The particles are extremely small—seed-sized—and can be fabricated into cylindrical pellets or “pebbles.”
• Key Features:
  • Extreme durability: Resistant to neutron irradiation, corrosion, oxidation, and very high temperatures.
  • Self-containment: Each particle acts as its own containment system, preventing radiation leakage even under extreme reactor conditions.
  • Versatility: Compatible with multiple advanced reactor designs, including small modular reactors (SMRs).

This makes TRISO structurally and functionally superior to conventional nuclear fuels, ensuring safer, more reliable, and more efficient reactor performance.

Strategic Implications

• Energy Security & Supply Chains
  • The US has historically relied on imports of enriched uranium, particularly from Russia.
  • By developing domestic TRISO production in Tennessee and Idaho, the DOE seeks to build a resilient nuclear fuel ecosystem independent of geopolitical disruptions.
• Advanced Reactor Deployment
  • DOE’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program targets at least three new advanced reactor designs to achieve criticality by July 4, 2026.
  • TRISO fuel is central to this push, enabling safer operation of SMRs and Gen-IV reactors, both of which are crucial to America’s clean energy transition.
• Private–Public Partnership
  • Standard Nuclear will finance construction, operation, and decommissioning of TRISO fabrication facilities.
  • Reactor developers will source nuclear material feedstock, partly through DOE’s high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) allocation program.
• Technological Momentum
  • Other firms, such as BWX Technologies (BWXT), have also developed TRISO production lines, including uranium nitride TRISO, in collaboration with Idaho and Oak Ridge National Laboratories.
  • These advancements reinforce US leadership in nuclear innovation while supporting its broader climate and national security goals.