In News:

India has submitted its 7th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity, assessing the country’s progress toward biodiversity conservation and sustainable use targets by 2030. The report evaluates India’s performance against 23 National Biodiversity Targets (NBTs) that are aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

The assessment indicates that only two of the 23 targets are currently on track, although improvements have been observed in policy frameworks, forest cover, and ecosystem restoration initiatives.

Key Findings of the 7th National Report

The report highlights both achievements and gaps in India’s biodiversity governance.

Progress Areas

• Strengthening of policy and institutional frameworks for biodiversity conservation.
• Improvements in forest cover and ecosystem restoration programmes.
• Greater integration of biodiversity concerns into national development policies.

Areas of Concern

• Only two National Biodiversity Targets are clearly on track.
• Several targets related to species conservation, ecosystem protection, and sustainable use of resources require accelerated action.
• Implementation gaps remain due to limited resources, data gaps, and increasing anthropogenic pressures.

The findings underline the need for stronger implementation measures to achieve biodiversity goals by 2030.

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

The Convention on Biological Diversity is one of the most important international agreements addressing biodiversity conservation.

Origin and Evolution

• Opened for signature at the Rio Earth Summit.
• Entered into force on 29 December 1993.
• The first Conference of the Parties (COP) was held in 1994 in the Bahamas.

Membership and Secretariat

• Ratified by 196 countries, making it one of the most widely adopted international treaties.
• The United States remains the only UN member state that has not ratified the convention.
• Secretariat located in Montreal.

Three Core Objectives

1. Conservation of biological diversity
2. Sustainable use of biodiversity components
3. Fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources

The governing body of the CBD is the Conference of the Parties (COP), which meets every two years.

Related Protocols under the CBD

Two important supplementary agreements strengthen the implementation of the convention:

• Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety – focuses on biosafety in biotechnology.
• Nagoya Protocol – governs equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources.

Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF)

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted during COP15 of the CBD in 2022 in Montreal. It is considered a landmark global agreement to address the biodiversity crisis.

Key Features

• 23 global targets to be achieved by 2030.
• Four long-term goals for 2050 aimed at safeguarding biodiversity for present and future generations.
• Focus areas include ecosystem restoration, protection of biodiversity-rich areas, reduction of pollution, and sustainable use of biological resources.
• The framework is not legally binding, but it guides national biodiversity strategies and reporting.

In News:

Recent developments in the ongoing tensions involving United States and Iran have highlighted the continued relevance of traditional aerial munitions and the legal complexities of warfare at sea. The Pete Hegseth announced that the United States would shift toward the use of gravity bombs in its military operations against Iran, signalling a significant tactical adjustment in modern conflict.

What is a Gravity Bomb?

• A gravity bomb, also known as a free-fall bomb, is an unpowered aerial munition dropped from an aircraft. After release, it travels toward its target purely under the influence of gravity, with its trajectory determined by the aircraft’s speed, altitude, and release point.
• Unlike powered missiles such as the Tomahawk cruise missile, gravity bombs do not contain propulsion systems. Despite their origins in World War-era warfare, they remain widely used by the United States Air Force in conflicts including those in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.

Modernisation of Gravity Bombs

Modern gravity bombs have undergone significant technological upgrades. Many are equipped with Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) kits that convert conventional bombs into precision-guided munitions.

Key features of JDAM kits include:

• GPS guidance systems
• Steerable tail fins
• Improved targeting accuracy in adverse weather conditions

This modernization allows gravity bombs to combine the low cost of traditional munitions with the precision of modern guided weapons.

Major Types of Gravity Bombs Used by the US

The United States primarily deploys bombs from the Mark 80 series, which vary by size and operational purpose:

• Mk-82 (500 lb) – Used against relatively soft targets such as vehicles, troop concentrations, or radar installations.
• Mk-83 (1,000 lb) – Designed to damage reinforced structures and command centres.
• Mk-84 (2,000 lb) – A heavy bomb capable of penetrating hardened structures and bunker-type facilities.

With JDAM upgrades, these bombs can achieve high precision at relatively low cost—approximately $25,000–$30,000 per unit, making them far cheaper than advanced cruise missiles.

Operational Advantages and Limitations

Advantages

• Cost-effective compared to precision missiles
• High payload capacity
• Compatibility with precision-guidance kits

Limitations

• Aircraft must fly relatively close to the target to deploy them.
• Effective deployment generally requires air superiority and minimal air-defence threats.

Thus, gravity bombs are typically used in environments where a military has already established control of the airspace.

Legal Framework Governing Maritime Conflict

The use of military force at sea—such as attacks on ships during conflict—is regulated by international law. Key legal principles arise from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and customary international humanitarian law (IHL).

Important legal principles include:

1. Distinction: Combatants must distinguish between military targets and civilian vessels.
2. Proportionality: Attacks should avoid excessive civilian damage relative to the anticipated military advantage.
3. Military Necessity: Actions must be justified by a legitimate military objective.
4. Protection of Neutral Shipping: Ships belonging to neutral states generally enjoy protection unless directly involved in hostilities.

The San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea (1994) also provides widely accepted guidelines on naval warfare and maritime targeting.

In News:

The 11th edition of the Raisina Dialogue 2026 was held in New Delhi. The annual dialogue has emerged as India’s foremost platform for discussions on geopolitics, geo-economics, and global governance, bringing together global leaders, policymakers, diplomats, scholars, and strategic experts to deliberate on pressing international issues.

About the Raisina Dialogue

• The Raisina Dialogue was launched in 2016 by the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with the Observer Research Foundation.
• Named after Raisina Hills in New Delhi, the conference has evolved into a major global forum for strategic discussions. It is often compared to leading international strategic conferences such as the Munich Security Conference and the Shangri-La Dialogue.
• The forum convenes representatives from governments, academia, industry, and civil society to address complex global challenges ranging from security to economic governance.

Theme of Raisina Dialogue 2026

The theme for the 2026 edition was “Samskara: Assertion, Accommodation, Advancement.”

The theme reflects three key ideas:

• Assertion – Civilisations and nations asserting their identity and strategic interests.
• Accommodation – Managing diversity and cooperation in an interconnected world.
• Advancement – Progress through innovation, technology, and collaborative global governance.

Major Takeaways from Raisina Dialogue 2026

1. Launch of Raisina Science Diplomacy Initiative: One of the landmark announcements was the Raisina Science Diplomacy Initiative (SDI), aimed at integrating science, technology, and innovation into foreign policy frameworks.

Key focus areas include:

• Artificial Intelligence governance
• Semiconductor supply chains
• India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for developing countries

The initiative seeks to strengthen the role of technology in shaping international cooperation and diplomacy.

2. Emergence of a Multipolar Global Order: Participants widely acknowledged the ongoing transition toward a multipolar world, where power is increasingly distributed among multiple regional and global actors.

Key observations included:

• Growing influence of the Global South in shaping global governance.
• Rising importance of South–South cooperation and flexible plurilateral groupings.

India’s strategic engagements through groupings such as BRICS, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, and the India-France-UAE Trilateral illustrate its role as a key bridge between developed and developing worlds.

3. Call for Reformed Multilateralism: Another major theme was the need to reform global governance institutions to reflect contemporary geopolitical realities.

In particular:

• Participants emphasised reforms of the United Nations Security Council.
• There was growing international support for India’s permanent membership in a reformed UNSC.

4. Maritime Security and Supply Chain Protection: The dialogue also highlighted the importance of safeguarding global maritime trade routes and infrastructure, particularly in light of rising geopolitical tensions.

Key concerns included:

• Protection of undersea communication cables
• Security of global supply chains
• Stability of strategic maritime zones such as the Indian Ocean, Red Sea, and Indo-Pacific region

In News:

Recent research has led to the discovery of a new species of Asian grass lizard, Takydromus ultapanensis, from the Manas Biosphere landscape in Assam. The finding highlights the rich biodiversity of Northeast India and underscores the importance of conserving fragile forest ecosystems that harbour previously undocumented species.

About the Newly Discovered Species

Takydromus ultapanensis is a newly identified member of the Asian grass lizard genus (Takydromus), a group known for slender bodies and long tails adapted to life in grassland and forest vegetation. The species was discovered in the Ultapani Reserve Forest located in Kokrajhar district of Assam, within the larger Manas landscape.

Unlike many of its related species that typically inhabit montane or subtropical environments, T. ultapanensis occupies lowland semi-evergreen forests interspersed with waterlogged grasslands and patches of ferns. This ecological preference distinguishes it from several of its congeners and indicates adaptation to a unique microhabitat within the Manas ecosystem.

Habitat and Behaviour

Researchers observed individuals of this species basking on fern bushes in open patches of forest. These areas are often intersected by seasonal water channels, creating a moist and complex habitat structure suitable for small reptiles. The lizards appear to rely on vegetation cover and sunlit clearings for thermoregulation and feeding.

Such habitats are characteristic of the Manas Biosphere landscape, a biodiversity-rich region located along the Indo-Bhutan border and known for its mixture of grasslands, forests, and wetlands.

Distinct Morphological Characteristics

The newly identified species exhibits several morphological differences that distinguish it from closely related lizards found in Northeast India. In particular, T. ultapanensis differs from species such as Takydromus khasiensis and Takydromus sikkimensis in:

• Scale patterns
• Body proportions
• Diagnostic head features

These differences were crucial in confirming it as a distinct species rather than a variation of existing grass lizards.

Conservation Concerns

At present, Takydromus ultapanensis has been recorded only from a single forest range in the Ultapani Reserve Forest. Such a limited distribution raises concerns about its vulnerability to habitat disturbance.

The Manas landscape, although ecologically significant, faces pressures from habitat fragmentation, land-use change, and human activities. Species restricted to narrow habitats are particularly vulnerable to environmental change, highlighting the need for continued ecological monitoring and habitat protection.

In News:

The Italian Parliament recently enacted a landmark law that recognises femicide as a distinct criminal offence and prescribes life imprisonment for the gender-motivated killing of women. The legislation, passed with bipartisan support, marks a significant step in addressing gender-based violence and aligns Italy with a small but growing group of countries that legally recognise femicide as a specific crime.

What is Femicide?

Femicide refers to the intentional killing of women or girls because of their gender. It is widely recognised by international organisations as the most extreme form of violence against women and girls (VAWG).

According to the United Nations, femicide often occurs in contexts such as:

• Intimate partner violence (current or former partners)
• Family-related killings, including so-called honour killings
• Gender-motivated murders by other perpetrators

Globally, many cases of femicide occur within domestic settings, reflecting deeper structural inequalities and patriarchal norms that perpetuate violence against women.

Italy’s Law Against Femicide

Italy’s legislation introduces femicide as a separate category within the criminal code, making gender-motivated killing punishable with life imprisonment.

Key Features of the Law

• Recognises gender as a motive for homicide.
• Introduces life imprisonment as the maximum penalty.
• Strengthens legal responses to crimes linked with gender-based violence.
• Passed amid growing concern over violence against women in the country.

The law was passed on 25 November, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, highlighting the symbolic and policy significance of the measure.

Why Recognising Femicide as a Separate Crime Matters

Treating femicide as a distinct offence has several legal and policy implications:

• Acknowledging Gender Motivation: It explicitly recognises that certain killings stem from systemic discrimination and patriarchal violence.
• Improved Data Collection: Legal recognition enables governments to track gender-based killings more accurately, aiding evidence-based policymaking.
• Targeted Criminal Justice Response: Special legal provisions allow harsher penalties and focused investigations.
• Public Awareness and Social Change: Naming the crime brings visibility to the structural nature of violence against women and helps mobilise social and institutional responses.

Global Legal Trends

• Italy joins a limited number of countries that have adopted specific legal provisions for femicide, including: Mexico, Chile, Cyprus, Morocco, North Macedonia, Türkiye and Gabon
• Several Latin American countries have also criminalised femicide as part of broader gender-violence laws, reflecting the region’s efforts to combat high rates of gender-based killings.

India’s Legal Framework on Gender-Based Killings

India does not legally recognise femicide as a separate criminal category. Instead, gender-based violence and killings are addressed through general criminal provisions and specific protective laws for women.

Important legislations include:

• Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005
• Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961
• Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006
• National Commission for Women Act, 1990

Murders of women motivated by dowry demands, honour, or domestic violence are typically prosecuted under general homicide provisions of the Indian Penal Code along with these special laws.

International Observance

• The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is observed annually on 25 November, following its designation by the United Nations General Assembly in 1999. The day seeks to raise awareness and mobilise action against violence directed at women and girls worldwide.