In News:

The Raika community's deep-rooted knowledge of pasture cycles, animal health, and biodiversity continues to play a vital role in sustaining the delicate ecological balance of Rajasthan’s arid regions.

Who are the Raikas?

The Raika tribe, also known as Rabaris, is an indigenous pastoralist community predominantly residing in the arid and semi-arid landscapes of Rajasthan, especially around Kumbhalgarh in Rajsamand district.

Their identity is intricately linked to camel herding, particularly the breeding of the hardy Marwari camel—a breed renowned for its strength, endurance, and adaptability to desert conditions.

Cultural and Ecological Significance

For the Raikas, camel herding is more than just a livelihood—it is a way of life. Their cultural practices, seasonal migrations, and oral traditions are closely tied to their pastoral role.

Over generations, they have cultivated extensive traditional knowledge about:

• Pasture Cycles: Insight into optimal grazing periods and routes to maintain vegetation health.
• Animal Health: Natural methods to ensure the well-being of livestock, particularly camels.
• Biodiversity Management: Sustainable herding practices that promote ecological resilience.

Their traditional migratory routes enable camels to graze on medicinal desert plants, which not only improve animal health but also contribute to preserving the region’s unique biodiversity and ecological stability.

In News:

Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, a fully intact Chinese-made PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile has reportedly been recovered in Hoshiarpur, Punjab. The incident has sparked security and strategic concerns, given the missile's advanced capabilities and origin.

Overview of the PL-15 Missile

Also known as the "Thunderbolt-15," the PL-15 is a cutting-edge beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) developed by China’s 607 Institute and produced by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC). It is specifically designed to engage enemy aircraft at extended distances, far beyond the visual range of the launching platform.

Key Features:

• Propulsion and Speed:The missile is powered by a dual-pulse solid-propellant rocket motor, enabling it to reach speeds of over Mach 5.
• Range Capabilities:The domestic Chinese version has an estimated operational range of 200 to 300 km. The export version, the PL-15E, is officially rated for a maximum range of 145 km, though in practice this may be limited to 100–120 km depending on the launch conditions and platform.
• Warhead:It carries a high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing between 20 and 25 kg, engineered to effectively neutralize maneuvering aerial targets.
• Guidance System:The PL-15 is equipped with an advanced guidance package that includes:
  • Inertial navigation
  • Beidou satellite updates
  • Two-way datalink for real-time mid-course adjustments
  • Terminal active radar homing with an AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar seeker

Why is it in the News?

A mumps outbreak has recently been reported in several states across the country, causing concern among public health officials.

What is Mumps Disease?

• Mumps is a contagious disease caused by the mumps virus, which belongs to the paramyxovirus family.
• It typically involves painful swelling in the parotid salivary glands, located on the sides of the face below and in front of the ears.
• These swollen glands often give the infected person a characteristic "chipmunk-cheek" appearance.
• Humans are the only known host for the mumps virus, which is spread via direct contact or by airborne droplets from the upper respiratory tract of infected individuals.
• Transmission of mumps: Mumps is spread through contact with the saliva or respiratory droplets of an infected person. This can happen through coughing, sneezing, kissing, sharing utensils, or close contact.
• Symptoms:
  • Mumps typically manifest after an incubation period of 2 to 4 weeks, starting with nonspecific symptoms like myalgia, headache, malaise, and low-grade fever.
  • Within days, these initial symptoms progress to the swelling of the parotid salivary glands, either unilaterally or bilaterally, with other salivary glands affected in 10% of cases.
• Prevention: The best way to prevent mumps is to get vaccinated with the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine.
  • The MMR vaccine is safe and effective for most people.
• Other preventive measures include practising good hand hygiene, avoiding close contact with sick people, and covering your coughs and sneezes.
• Treatment: There is no specific treatment for mumps. Most people recover on their own within a few weeks.
  • Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms, such as with pain relievers and fever reducers.
• In general, mumps is a mild, self-limiting disease that resolves without lasting effects.
• However, complications can arise, including encephalitis or sensorineural deafness.
• Orchitis, a painful inflammation of the testes, occurs in approximately 20% of young adult males who contract mumps.