In News:

India has commenced a year-long national commemoration marking 150 years of Vande Mataram, with an enthusiastic response across the country and abroad. The celebrations were approved by the Union Cabinet on October 1 and formally inaugurated through a grand national event in New Delhi led by the Prime Minister. The President of India and other constitutional authorities have also extended their greetings, underlining the song’s enduring national significance.

About Vande Mataram

• Author: Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
• First Appearance: Serialized in the Bengali journal Bangadarshan and later included in the novel Anandamath (1882)
• Language: Blend of Sanskrit and Bengali
• Status: National Song of India (adopted on 24 January 1950)

Vande Mataram is not merely a song but a symbolic invocation of the motherland, embodying India’s cultural, spiritual, and national identity.

Historical Significance

• First sung publicly by Rabindranath Tagore at the 1896 Indian National Congress session in Calcutta
• Became a political slogan during the Swadeshi Movement (first used as a slogan on 7 August 1905)
• Madam Bhikaji Cama unfurled India’s tricolour in Stuttgart (1907) with the words Vande Mataram inscribed on it
• Served as a rallying cry for freedom fighters, inspiring mass participation in the national movement

The song played a critical role in forging a shared emotional and cultural identity during colonial resistance.

In News:

The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, recently extended greetings to the nation, especially to the people of Odisha, on the occasion of the historic Baliyatra festival and Boita Bandana. She described Baliyatra as a symbol of Odisha’s glorious maritime commercial tradition and rich cultural heritage, inspiring citizens to draw strength from the past to build a developed nation.

About Baliyatra Festival

• Location: Cuttack, Odisha
• Time of Celebration: Annually on Kartika Purnima (full moon day of Kartika month)
• Literal Meaning: Bali Jatra means “Voyage to Bali”

The festival marks the day when ancient Kalingan seafaring traders (Sadhabas) set sail for distant lands across the Bay of Bengal.

Historical Significance

Baliyatra commemorates Odisha’s over 2,000-year-old maritime and trade links between ancient Kalinga (present-day Odisha) and regions of South and Southeast Asia, including:

• Bali
• Java
• Sumatra
• Borneo
• Burma (Myanmar)
• Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

These voyages played a vital role in spreading Indian culture, language, religion, art, and trade networks, making Kalinga one of the most prosperous maritime powers of ancient India.

Cultural Practices and Celebrations

• Boita Bandana: Women float small boats (boitas) made of paper, banana leaf, or sholapith, with lighted lamps, on rivers—especially the Mahanadi—to honour the ancient sailors.
• Festivities:
  • Large fairs and exhibitions
  • Folk dance and music
  • Traditional food and craft stalls
  • Cultural performances reflecting Odisha’s heritage

The festival celebrates the courage, navigational expertise, and commercial acumen of Kalinga’s sailors.

In News:

A Bengaluru-based quantum technology startup, QNu Labs Pvt. Ltd., supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the National Quantum Mission (NQM), has successfully demonstrated India’s first large-scale Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) network spanning over 500 kilometres.
The demonstration was formally announced during the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025.

Institutional and Strategic Support

• Funding Support: I-Hub Quantum Technology Foundation (Technology Innovation Hub under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems – NMICPS, hosted at IISER Pune)
• Defence Collaboration: Indian Army (Southern Command) and Corps of Signals
• Model of Collaboration: STRIDE – Synergy of Technology, Research, Industry and Defence Ecosystem

What is Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)?

• Quantum Key Distribution is a quantum-secure communication technology that uses the principles of quantum mechanics to generate and exchange encryption keys between two parties.
• Key principle: Any attempt to intercept or observe quantum information disturbs its state, making eavesdropping immediately detectable, unlike classical encryption methods.

How QKD Works

• Transmits photons (light particles) through optical fibre
• Information is encoded as qubits
• Measurement or cloning by an intruder alters quantum states
• After error correction and privacy amplification, communicating parties obtain a shared secret key
• The key is used for end-to-end encrypted communication

Types of QKD

• Prepare-and-Measure Protocols: Example – BB84 protocol (most widely used)
• Entanglement-Based Protocols: Uses entangled photon pairs for instant intrusion detection
• DV-QKD (Discrete Variable): Photon-based detection
• CV-QKD (Continuous Variable): Uses amplitude and phase of laser light

Key Features of India’s 500 km QKD Network

• Distance: Over 500 km quantum-secure link
• Infrastructure: Deployed on existing optical fibre networks
• Architecture: Multiple trusted nodes to enable long-distance secure key exchange
• Hardware Integration:
  • Quantum Suraksha Kavach for high-grade data protection
  • QSIP (Quantum Random Number Generator System in Package) for quantum-certified randomness
• Latency & Security: Resistant to both current cyber threats and future quantum computing-based attacks

The test-bed optical fibre network was specially engineered by Southern Command Signals, with selective access provided by the Indian Army in the Rajasthan sector, enabling real-world validation.

In News:

Maharashtra has become the first Indian state to sign a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Starlink Satellite Communications Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of SpaceX (USA), to deliver satellite-based broadband internet across government institutions and remote rural areas.

What is Starlink?

Starlink is a satellite-based broadband internet service operated by SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk. It provides high-speed, low-latency internet using a large constellation of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites.

How Starlink Technology Works

• Orbit Type: Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at ~550 km, unlike traditional geostationary satellites at 35,786 km
• Latency: As low as 25 milliseconds, enabling real-time applications
• Inter-Satellite Links (ISLs): Satellites communicate via optical laser links, reducing dependence on ground stations
• Autonomous Collision Avoidance: AI-driven maneuvering systems to avoid space debris
• Compact Flat-Panel Satellites: Optimised for dense launches using Falcon 9 rockets

This architecture ensures stable, fast, and reliable connectivity even in geographically challenging regions.

Objectives of Maharashtra - Starlink Partnership

• Connect remote and underserved areas
• Provide reliable internet to:
  • Rural schools (online education)
  • Primary health centres (telemedicine)
  • Government offices (e-governance)
• Promote digital inclusion and equitable access to public services
• Support Digital India and Good Governance initiatives

Key Features and Advantages

• True global coverage: Network of thousands of LEO satellites
• Low latency & high speed: Suitable for video conferencing, telemedicine, e-learning
• Rural-first approach: Ideal for regions where fibre optics and mobile towers are impractical
• Rapid deployment: Minimal ground infrastructure required

Significance for India

• First-of-its-kind state-level collaboration with a global satellite internet provider
• Sets a policy and implementation precedent for other Indian states
• Strengthens India’s push towards:
  • Digital governance
  • Inclusive growth
  • Technology-driven public service delivery
• Relevant in the context of emergency connectivity, disaster management, and border/tribal areas.

In News:

Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu has witnessed the arrival of thousands of migratory birds, marking the beginning of the annual nesting and breeding season. More than 20 migratory bird species have already arrived, leading to increased ecological activity and tourist interest.

Location and Background

• Location: Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu
• Distance from Chennai: ~90 km south
• Type: Freshwater wetland and heronry
• Status: One of the oldest protected bird sanctuaries in India

Vedanthangal is a people-protected wetland, with a conservation history spanning centuries. Local communities traditionally protected nesting birds as the manure-rich water (Liquid Guano Effect) from the lake enhanced agricultural productivity in surrounding fields.

Ecological and International Importance

• Recognised as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA)
• Lies in the Coromandel Coast biotic province
• Designated as a Ramsar Site in 2022, highlighting its global wetland importance

Avifaunal Diversity (Fauna)

The sanctuary currently hosts over 15,000 birds during peak season.

Early arrivals and breeding species:

• Open-billed stork (already completed breeding with visible chicks)
• Painted stork
• Black-headed ibis
• Eurasian spoonbill
• White ibis

Other prominent species:

• Grey heron, pond heron, night heron
• Little cormorant, darter
• Pelicans, egrets
• Lesser whistling duck, spot-billed duck
• Red-wattled lapwing, little grebe, common moorhen

Vegetation (Flora)

• Barringtonia trees – preferred nesting trees
• Alangium salviflorum
• Acacia nilotica
• Thorn forests and dry evergreen scrub

Forest authorities plan desilting operations and fresh plantation of barringtonia trees during summer when the tank dries, to support long-term nesting habitats.

In News:

• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has rated Khangchendzonga National Park as “Good” in its latest global review of Natural World Heritage Sites.
• It is the only Indian site to receive a positive “Good” conservation status, while sites like the Western Ghats and Sundarbans face concerns.

Location & Status

• Located in North Sikkim, along the India–Nepal border.
• Forms the core area of the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve (KBR).
• India’s first “Mixed” UNESCO World Heritage Site (2016) – recognised for natural and cultural values.
• Part of the Himalaya Global Biodiversity Hotspot.

Geographical Features

• Area: ~ 1,784 sq. km
• Altitude Range: From 1,220 m to 8,586 m (vertical sweep of over 7 km).
• Home to Mount Khangchendzonga (8,586 m) - 3rd highest peak in the world.
• Landscape includes plains, deep valleys, alpine meadows, lakes, glaciers, and snow-clad mountains.
• Glaciers:
  • 18 major glaciers (as per park records);
  • Zemu Glacier - one of the largest glaciers in Asia.

Biodiversity

• Flora: Subtropical to alpine vegetation; oak, fir, birch, maple, rhododendron, alpine meadows.
• Fauna (Flagship species):
  • Snow leopard
  • Red panda
  • Tibetan wolf
  • Blue sheep
  • Himalayan tahr
  • Mainland serow
• Avifauna:
  • Nearly half of India’s bird species recorded.
  • Includes Impeyan pheasant (State bird of Sikkim) and Satyr tragopan.

Cultural & Community Significance

• One of the few regions with Lepcha tribal settlements.
• Known as “Mayel Lyang” (sacred land) by the Lepchas.
• Considered a sacred beyul (hidden valley) in Tibetan Buddhism.
• Ancient monasteries such as Tholung Monastery reflect cultural continuity.

In News:

As climate change intensifies and the global transition towards low-carbon energy accelerates, the integration of renewable energy into power grids has become a major policy and technological challenge. Solar and wind energy, though abundant and clean, are intermittent in nature, creating mismatches between electricity generation and demand. In this context, Gravity Energy Storage (GES) is emerging as a promising long-duration, grid-scale energy storage technology, offering a viable alternative to conventional battery-based systems.

What is Gravity Energy Storage?

Gravity Energy Storage is an innovative energy storage technology that harnesses gravitational potential energy to store and release electricity. It involves lifting a heavy mass during periods of surplus electricity generation and allowing it to descend when demand rises, thereby converting stored energy back into electricity. The technology is particularly suited for renewable-dominated power systems, where supply fluctuations are frequent.

Working Mechanism

The basic principle of gravity energy storage is simple yet effective:

• During periods of excess renewable energy generation, such as peak solar output, surplus electricity is used to lift a heavy mass—commonly water, concrete blocks, or compressed earth blocks.
• This process converts electrical energy into stored gravitational potential energy.
• When electricity demand exceeds supply or renewable generation falls, the mass is released to descend under gravity.
• The downward motion drives water or mechanical systems through a turbine, generating electricity that is fed back into the grid.

A typical configuration may involve a heavy piston within a fluid-filled cylindrical container, where the piston’s vertical movement enables controlled energy storage and release. Unlike pumped-hydro storage, gravity energy storage systems offer greater flexibility in site selection and do not require large reservoirs or specific topographical features.

Advantages of Gravity Energy Storage

Gravity energy storage offers several strategic advantages that make it attractive for long-term energy planning:

• Long operational life: These systems can operate for several decades with minimal maintenance, unlike batteries which degrade chemically over time.
• Environmentally benign: The absence of toxic chemicals eliminates risks related to pollution, recycling, and disposal, aligning with sustainability goals.
• Cost-effective at scale: Lower lifetime costs of energy and storage make it suitable for large-scale grid applications.
• Flexible deployment: Can be installed in urban, space-constrained, or environmentally sensitive areas where pumped-hydro or large battery systems are not feasible.
• Grid stability: Provides reliable energy during peak demand and enhances grid resilience in renewable-heavy energy systems.

Limitations and Challenges

Despite its potential, gravity energy storage faces certain constraints:

• Early stage of development: High initial capital costs and limited commercial deployment pose adoption challenges.
• Regulatory and infrastructure hurdles: Large-scale installations require regulatory approvals and long-term planning.
• Geographical constraints: Although more flexible than pumped hydro, suitable locations are still required for large infrastructure.
• Lower energy density: Compared to batteries, gravity energy storage is less suitable for compact or small-scale applications.

Significance for Energy Transition

Gravity energy storage represents an important step towards clean, reliable, and sustainable energy systems. By addressing the intermittency of renewable sources, it supports grid stability, energy security, and decarbonisation goals. For countries like India, which are rapidly expanding solar and wind capacity, such storage technologies can play a vital role in achieving energy transition targets, reducing dependence on fossil-fuel-based peaking power, and strengthening climate resilience.

In News:

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) has emerged as one of the most significant non-communicable diseases affecting global health systems. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), COPD is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for 3.5 million deaths in 2021, accounting for nearly 5 per cent of all global deaths. The disease disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), highlighting the intersection between environmental exposure, socio-economic conditions, and public health outcomes.

What is COPD?

COPD is a chronic, progressive lung disease characterised by persistent airflow limitation, leading to breathing difficulties. The condition arises due to long-term damage to lung tissues, involving inflammation and scarring of the airways, the air sacs (alveoli), or both. While the lung damage caused by COPD is largely irreversible, early diagnosis and appropriate management can significantly improve quality of life and reduce complications.

Types of COPD

COPD primarily includes two clinical conditions, which often coexist:

• Chronic Bronchitis: This condition results from prolonged inflammation of the bronchi, the airways that carry air to the lungs. Inflammation narrows these airways and leads to excessive production of thick mucus, causing persistent cough and restricted airflow.
• Emphysema: Emphysema develops when the alveoli are damaged, reducing the lungs’ ability to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream. This leads to breathlessness, especially during physical activity.

Causes and Risk Factors

The leading cause of COPD is tobacco smoking, which accounts for over 70 per cent of cases in high-income countries. However, the disease burden in LMICs is shaped by a broader range of risk factors. In these countries, smoking contributes to 30–40 per cent of cases, while household air pollution emerges as a major cause.

Indoor air pollution results from the use of biomass fuels such as firewood, animal dung, crop residues, and coal for cooking and heating, often in poorly ventilated homes. Other risk factors include:

• Long-term occupational exposure to dust, fumes, and chemicals
• Second-hand smoke
• Outdoor air pollution
• Childhood respiratory infections and underdeveloped lungs
• Asthma and advancing age
• Rare genetic conditions such as Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

Signs and Symptoms

COPD symptoms typically appear late, after significant lung damage has already occurred. Common symptoms include:

• A chronic cough with mucus lasting for three months or more
• Shortness of breath, particularly during physical exertion
• Chest tightness
• Wheezing or whistling sounds while breathing
• Frequent chest infections
• Fatigue and reduced exercise tolerance

Patients may experience acute exacerbations or flare-ups, during which symptoms worsen for days or weeks. These episodes can be triggered by infections, cold air, pollution, or strong odours. COPD also increases vulnerability to pneumonia, influenza, and cardiovascular diseases.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of COPD relies on clinical history, symptom assessment, and confirmatory tests. Spirometry is the most important diagnostic tool, measuring how much air the lungs can hold and how quickly air can be expelled. Based on spirometry results, COPD is staged according to severity, guiding treatment decisions. However, diagnosis is often delayed or missed, as symptoms may resemble other respiratory conditions.

Treatment and Management

There is no definitive cure for COPD, but effective management can slow disease progression and reduce symptom severity. The most crucial intervention is smoking cessation, supported by tobacco cessation programmes.

Treatment options include:

• Medications such as inhaled bronchodilators (to relax airway muscles) and corticosteroids (to reduce inflammation)
• Nebulised medicines for severe cases
• Antibiotics and oral steroids during flare-ups
• Oxygen therapy for patients with advanced disease
• Pulmonary rehabilitation, combining exercise training, breathing techniques, and patient education

In selected cases, surgical interventions may be recommended, including lung volume reduction surgery, removal of large air spaces (bullectomy), placement of endobronchial valves, or even lung transplantation.

Preventive measures include avoiding tobacco and pollutants, vaccination against influenza and pneumonia, maintaining physical activity, and practicing respiratory hygiene.

COPD in India and the Global South

COPD poses a particularly serious challenge for India. WHO estimates place COPD as the eighth leading cause of poor health globally, measured in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Nearly 90 per cent of COPD deaths among people under 70 years occur in LMICs.

Studies suggest that the prevalence of COPD in India is about 7.4 per cent, with higher prevalence in urban areas (11 per cent) compared to rural areas (5.6 per cent). Given India’s population distribution and the fact that COPD occurs at a younger age (above 35 years), the estimated burden of spirometry-defined COPD in India is approximately 37.6 million people. Importantly, a substantial proportion of cases arise from non-smoking causes, especially household air pollution.

In News:

The recent sighting of a rare striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) in the Kali Tiger Reserve near the Ganeshgudi bridge in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka has drawn attention to changing wildlife movement patterns and the ecological importance of lesser-known carnivores. The observation, recorded on video by a local resident in early November 2025, marks the first documented presence of the species in this part of the Western Ghats, where it was previously unrecorded, particularly in the dense forests of the Dandeli region.

About the Striped Hyena

The striped hyena is a mammal belonging to the family Hyaenidae, which comprises four members: striped hyena, spotted hyena, brown hyena, and the aardwolf (the latter not being a true wolf). Compared to the spotted hyena, the striped hyena is smaller in size, with a distinctive coat marked by dark vertical stripes, giving it its name.

The species has a wide but fragmented distribution, extending across South Asia (India, Nepal, Afghanistan), North and Sub-Saharan Africa, West Asia, and parts of Central Asia. In India, it is typically associated with arid and semi-arid landscapes, inhabiting open savannas, grasslands, scrublands, and dry woodlands, rather than dense tropical forests.

Behaviour and Ecological Role

Striped hyenas are primarily nocturnal and solitary, though they display a limited social structure. They are territorial animals, marking boundaries through scent to deter rivals. An important behavioural trait is female dominance, with adult females generally more aggressive and dominant than males.

Ecologically, striped hyenas function mainly as scavengers, feeding on carrion and human refuse. By consuming animal remains, they play a critical role in ecosystem health, helping to prevent the spread of diseases and recycle nutrients. Forest officials have emphasised that the species poses no threat to humans, countering common misconceptions associated with hyenas.

Significance of the Kali Tiger Reserve Sighting

The appearance of a striped hyena in the lush, forested landscape of the Western Ghats is unusual and has generated scientific interest. Experts suggest that the animal may have dispersed from drier regions of northern Karnataka, such as Dharwad, possibly due to food scarcity, seasonal movement, climate-related habitat stress, or improved connectivity through wildlife corridors.

The sighting highlights the importance of landscape-level conservation, as wildlife movement increasingly transcends traditional habitat boundaries. In response, forest authorities have initiated non-invasive monitoring using camera traps to track the animal’s movement, ensure its safety, and assess the possibility of range expansion or previously undetected populations.

Conservation Status and Legal Protection

Despite its ecological importance, the striped hyena faces multiple threats, including habitat loss, road kills, persecution, and declining prey availability. Reflecting these pressures, the species is classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

In India, it enjoys the highest level of legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, underscoring its conservation priority and the need for stringent safeguards.

In News:

Land degradation has emerged as a silent but profound global crisis, undermining food security, livelihoods, and ecological sustainability. According to the State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) Report 2025, published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, nearly 1.7 billion people live in regions where agricultural productivity is declining due to human-induced land degradation. This degradation not only threatens global food systems but also exacerbates poverty, hunger, and malnutrition, particularly in developing regions.

Nature and Drivers of Land Degradation

The SOFA 2025 report provides a comprehensive assessment of how human activities have reshaped global land-use patterns over centuries. It identifies agricultural expansion as the primary driver of global deforestation, accounting for nearly 90 per cent of forest loss worldwide. While agriculture remains central to food production, its unregulated expansion has caused large-scale ecological stress.

In the 21st century (2001–2023), global agricultural land declined by 78 million hectares (mha), reflecting a complex land-use transition. Within this overall decline, cropland expanded by 78 mha, while permanent meadows and pastures contracted by 151 mha, indicating a shift towards more intensive cultivation. Regional variations were stark:

• Sub-Saharan Africa witnessed cropland expansion of 69 mha, accompanied by 72 mha of forest loss.
• Latin America recorded 25 mha of cropland growth, but lost 85 mha of forests, highlighting the trade-off between agricultural expansion and environmental sustainability.

Regional and National Impacts

The impacts of land degradation are unevenly distributed. The largest affected populations are concentrated in eastern and southern Asia, regions characterised by high population density and extensive land degradation. India stands out as one of the countries experiencing some of the highest yield gaps due to human-induced degradation, posing serious concerns for long-term food security and farmer incomes.

Globally, the report highlights that around 3.6 million hectares of croplands are abandoned every year, with land degradation playing a significant role. This abandonment reflects declining soil fertility, water stress, and unsustainable land management practices.

Land Degradation, Poverty and Nutrition

A critical contribution of the SOFA 2025 report lies in its identification of vulnerability hotspots, where land degradation overlaps with poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition. The most severe intersections occur in Southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, regions already facing socio-economic stress.

Alarmingly, about 47 million children under the age of five, suffering from stunted growth, live in areas where severe yield losses are directly linked to land degradation. This underscores that land degradation is not merely an environmental issue but a human development challenge with intergenerational consequences.

Farm Size, Productivity and Degradation

The report also examines how farm size influences land management and degradation outcomes. Of the world’s approximately 570 million farms, nearly 85 per cent are smallholdings below 2 hectares, yet they cultivate only 9 per cent of global farmland. In contrast, just 0.1 per cent of farms larger than 1,000 hectares control about half of the world’s agricultural land.

Large farms often deploy advanced technologies and high external inputs to sustain yields. However, in intensively cultivated regions such as Europe and North America, historical degradation is often masked by heavy fertiliser and water use, leading to increasing economic and environmental costs.

Smallholder-dominated regions, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, face large yield gaps primarily due to resource constraints, limited access to credit, inputs, technology, and markets. Degraded soils in these regions respond poorly even when inputs become available, compounding vulnerability.

Despite these constraints, the world’s 500 million smallholder farmers play a vital role in global food systems, contributing 16 per cent of global dietary energy, 12 per cent of proteins, and 9 per cent of fats from crops, and supporting dietary diversity and rural livelihoods.

Scope for Reversal and Policy Implications

Importantly, the report highlights the significant potential for reversing land degradation. Restoring just 10 per cent of human-induced degradation on existing croplands could generate enough additional food to feed 154 million people annually. Furthermore, rehabilitating abandoned croplands could potentially feed between 292 and 476 million people, demonstrating that land restoration is a powerful tool for addressing global hunger.

In News:

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has recently released an extensive 340-page global guidance on asset recovery, marking a significant shift in international financial crime enforcement. Moving beyond its traditional focus on corruption, the new framework expands asset recovery mechanisms to cover a wide range of economic and financial crimes, including fraud, cybercrime, investment scams, money laundering, and cryptocurrency-related offences.

This development reflects the evolving nature of transnational crime and the growing need for coordinated international responses to trace, seize, and repatriate illicit assets.

What is new in the FATF Asset Recovery Guidance?

The updated guidance introduces a comprehensive lifecycle approach to asset recovery. It outlines best practices across every stage, including:

• Establishing robust legal and policy frameworks
• Identifying and tracing illicit assets
• Preserving and managing seized properties
• Ensuring international cooperation for cross-border recovery
• Restitution and compensation of victims

A notable feature of the guidance is its victim-centric orientation, which emphasizes restoring assets to affected individuals rather than limiting recovery to punitive confiscation.

Expansion Beyond Corruption

Unlike earlier frameworks that primarily addressed corruption-linked assets, the new guidance broadens its scope to include:

• Financial fraud and Ponzi schemes
• Cyber-enabled crimes and digital laundering
• Investment scams and real estate fraud
• Cryptocurrency misuse and virtual asset laundering

This expansion acknowledges that modern financial crimes increasingly exploit digital platforms, complex financial instruments, and cross-border networks.

India’s Contribution: Enforcement Directorate as a Model

The FATF guidance draws extensively from India’s enforcement experience, particularly the work of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Several Indian cases are highlighted as global best practices:

• Agri Gold Investment Scam: Coordination between ED and Andhra Pradesh CID led to the attachment and restoration of assets worth ?6,000 crore to defrauded investors.
• IREO Realty Case: Demonstrated India’s use of value-based confiscation, with assets worth ?1,800 crore attached, equivalent to proceeds of crime transferred abroad.
• BitConnect Crypto Fraud: ED seized cryptocurrencies worth ?1,646 crore, secured them in cold wallets, and attached additional properties worth ?500 crore, showcasing effective handling of virtual assets.
• Rose Valley Scheme: Cited as an example of victim restitution, where funds collected through fraudulent debentures were diverted via shell companies.

The guidance also refers to India’s Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, highlighting the principle of fugitive disentitlement, which allows confiscation of assets belonging to offenders who evade judicial processes.

About FATF

The Financial Action Task Force is an intergovernmental body established in 1989 by G7 countries at the Paris Summit. Headquartered in Paris, France, FATF sets global standards to combat:

• Money laundering
• Terrorist financing
• Proliferation financing

Its core functions include:

• Issuing and updating FATF Recommendations
• Conducting mutual evaluations of member countries
• Identifying high-risk jurisdictions through grey and black lists
• Promoting international cooperation in financial investigations
• Addressing emerging threats such as crypto laundering and cyber-financing

FATF’s work aligns closely with UN Security Council resolutions and G20 mandates.

Significance for Global and Indian Context

The new asset recovery guidance strengthens the global financial architecture by:

• Enhancing cross-border cooperation in financial investigations
• Improving recovery of illicit assets in complex digital crimes
• Reinforcing the credibility of national enforcement agencies
• Supporting victim justice and economic stability

For India, FATF’s recognition reinforces its position as a key stakeholder in global financial governance and validates its evolving legal tools to combat economic offences.

In News:

In a significant action against the illicit drug trade, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) recently dismantled a clandestine alprazolam manufacturing unit in Valsad, Gujarat, under an intelligence-led operation codenamed “Operation White Cauldron.” The bust highlights the growing challenge of synthetic drug production in India and underscores the role of enforcement agencies in implementing the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

Alprazolam

Alprazolam belongs to the benzodiazepine class of drugs, which act as central nervous system (CNS) depressants. Medically, it is prescribed for anxiety and panic disorders, but its misuse can lead to addiction, cognitive impairment, and overdose. Due to its abuse potential, alprazolam is classified as a psychotropic substance under the NDPS Act, 1985, making its unauthorised manufacture, possession, and trafficking a serious criminal offence.

NDPS Act, 1985: Legal Framework

The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 forms the backbone of India’s drug control regime. It:

• Prohibits unauthorised production, cultivation, manufacture, sale, transport, storage, and consumption of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
• Enables forfeiture of property derived from or used in illicit drug trafficking.
• Empowers the government to add or remove substances from the list of controlled drugs.
• Seeks to implement India’s obligations under international drug control conventions.

The Act aims not only at law enforcement but also at prevention, regulation, and deterrence of drug abuse and trafficking.

Wider Implications and Trends

The Valsad bust is part of a broader pattern. In 2025 alone, the DRI dismantled four illegal drug manufacturing units across multiple states. A similar operation earlier in the year in Andhra Pradesh uncovered another alprazolam unit, with drugs again intended for Telangana. These cases highlight:

• The rise of domestic synthetic drug manufacturing.
• Increasing misuse of pharmaceutical psychotropics.
• The need for tighter monitoring of precursor chemicals and supply chains.

Relevance to National Initiatives

Such enforcement actions directly support the government’s Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, which seeks to reduce drug demand, disrupt supply networks, and protect vulnerable communities from substance abuse.

In News:

In a significant technological development, Google has announced a new research initiative called Project Suncatcher, aimed at exploring the feasibility of hosting AI data centres in space using solar-powered satellite constellations. The project reflects an emerging intersection of artificial intelligence, space technology, and sustainable energy, with potential long-term implications for global computing infrastructure.

What is Project Suncatcher?

Project Suncatcher is a “moonshot” research initiative by Google that seeks to examine whether space can serve as a scalable and sustainable platform for AI compute systems. The core idea is to deploy high-performance AI accelerators on satellites powered directly by solar energy, thereby creating a space-based data centre ecosystem.

The initiative has been driven by the rapidly growing energy and water footprint of terrestrial AI data centres, which are increasingly straining environmental resources. According to Google, space offers access to virtually uninterrupted solar power, making it an attractive alternative for energy-intensive AI workloads.

Key Features and Technical Architecture

• Solar-Powered Satellite Constellation
  • The proposed system consists of a constellation of modular satellites, likely placed in dawn–dusk sun-synchronous low Earth orbit (LEO), ensuring near-continuous exposure to sunlight.
  • Solar panels in space could generate significantly more power than those on Earth due to the absence of atmospheric losses.
• AI Compute in Space
  • Each satellite would host Google’s Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), which are specialised chips designed for machine learning and AI tasks.
  • Google claims that space-based solar generation could make these systems several times more powerful than Earth-based equivalents.
• High-Speed Optical Communication
  • Satellites would be interconnected using free-space optical communication (laser-based links), enabling data transfer at tens of terabits per second.
  • Early terrestrial tests have demonstrated bidirectional speeds of over 1.6 Tbps, which Google believes can be scaled further in space.
• Prototype Testing and Partnerships
  • Google plans to launch two prototype satellites by early 2027, in partnership with Planet Labs, to test durability, performance, and reliability in orbit.
  • Initial experiments indicate that Google’s Trillium-generation TPUs can withstand radiation levels equivalent to a five-year space mission without permanent failure.

Engineering and Operational Challenges

Despite its promise, Project Suncatcher faces several complex challenges:

• Thermal management of high-performance chips in the vacuum of space.
• Ensuring long-term on-orbit reliability of AI hardware.
• Maintaining ultra-high-speed inter-satellite communication at close orbital distances.
• High launch and maintenance costs, along with space debris and regulatory concerns.

These challenges imply that Project Suncatcher remains a long-term research effort rather than a near-term commercial deployment.

In News:

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in its Emissions Gap Report (EGR) 2025 – “Off Target”, has warned that despite updated climate pledges by countries, the world remains dangerously off course to meet the Paris Agreement temperature goals. Current trajectories indicate that global warming will reach 2.3–2.5°C this century, far exceeding the ambition of limiting warming to well below 2°C, preferably 1.5°C.

About the Emissions Gap Report

The Emissions Gap Report is an annual flagship publication of UNEP, co-produced with the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP-CCC). It assesses the gap between where global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are heading under current pledges and where they should be to meet Paris Agreement targets. The report is released every year ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP).

Key Findings of Emissions Gap Report 2025

• Marginal Progress in Climate Pledges
  • Even if all countries fully implement their latest Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), global temperature rise is projected at 2.3–2.5°C.
  • This is only a modest improvement from last year’s estimate of 2.6–2.8°C, and UNEP notes that much of this improvement is due to accounting and methodological changes, not real emission reductions.
• Rising Global Emissions
  • Global GHG emissions rose by 2.3% in 2024, reaching a record 57.7 gigatonnes of CO? equivalent.
  • This growth rate is over four times the annual average of the 2010s, signalling a reversal of earlier decarbonisation trends.
• Low Participation and Weak Ambition
  • As of September 30, 2025, only 60 Parties, representing 63% of global emissions, had submitted or announced new 2035 NDCs.
  • Even full implementation of existing NDCs would reduce global emissions by only 15% by 2035 (from 2019 levels), whereas a 55% reduction is required to stay on the 1.5°C pathway.
• Implementation Gap
  • Most countries are not on track to meet even their 2030 targets, revealing a “huge implementation gap” between commitments and action.
• Overshoot of 1.5°C is Now Likely
  • UNEP warns that global temperatures are very likely to exceed 1.5°C within the next decade.
  • The policy focus has shifted from prevention to ensuring that this overshoot is temporary and limited, as every fraction of warming avoided reduces climate damages, health risks, and dependence on uncertain carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies.

Role of the G20

The G20, responsible for about 77% of global emissions (excluding the African Union), holds the key to closing the emissions gap. Despite some members submitting new NDCs, the group as a whole remains off track for its 2030 goals, undermining global mitigation efforts.

Geopolitical and Structural Challenges

UNEP highlights that geopolitical uncertainties, including the proposed withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement in 2026, could offset climate gains. According to the report, this alone could negate around 0.1°C of the projected improvement.

Opportunities and Way Forward

Despite the bleak outlook, UNEP notes that the world is technically well-positioned to accelerate climate action due to:

• Rapidly declining costs of renewable energy technologies such as solar and wind.
• Proven solutions that can deliver economic growth, jobs, energy security, and health benefits alongside emission reductions.

UNEP’s Key Recommendations

To close the emissions gap, UNEP calls for:

• Removal of policy, governance, institutional, and technical barriers.
• A massive scale-up of climate finance and technology transfer to developing countries.
• Redesign of the international financial architecture to unlock affordable and predictable climate finance.

In News:

The Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD-2) is being held Doha, Qatar, under the aegis of the United Nations. India is represented at the summit by the Minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, underscoring India’s commitment to global social development and social justice.

Background and Evolution

The first World Summit for Social Development was held in Copenhagen in 1995, marking a watershed moment in global consensus on placing people-centric development at the heart of economic policy. It resulted in the Copenhagen Declaration, which laid down 10 commitments focused on poverty eradication, employment generation, and social inclusion.

Three decades later, WSSD-2 seeks to reassess global progress, address emerging challenges, and reinvigorate global solidarity in the context of widening inequalities, technological disruption, climate stress, and demographic transitions.

Objectives of WSSD-2

The summit aims to:

• Reaffirm commitment to poverty eradication, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.
• Promote social inclusion, equality, and well-being, particularly for vulnerable and marginalized groups.
• Assess gaps in implementation of social development commitments since 1995.
• Strengthen the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Reaffirm the 10 commitments of the Copenhagen Declaration.
• Enhance global cooperation and solidarity in social development.

Importantly, WSSD-2 is aligned with other key global processes, including the 2023 SDG Summit Political Declaration, the Pact of the Future, and the forthcoming Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), ensuring policy coherence across global development frameworks.

India’s Participation and Contributions

At the summit, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya is participating in the Opening Plenary, delivering India’s National Statement, and joining global leaders in adopting the Doha Political Declaration, which will guide future international action on social development.

India is actively contributing to the High-Level Round Table on the Three Pillars of Social Development:

1. Poverty Eradication
2. Full and Productive Employment and Decent Work for All
3. Social Inclusion

In this forum, India is showcasing its inclusive and digitally enabled growth model, highlighting how digital public infrastructure, financial inclusion, and targeted welfare delivery have strengthened social protection and employment outcomes.

Bilateral and Multilateral Engagements

On the sidelines of WSSD-2, India is strengthening international cooperation through bilateral meetings with representatives from Qatar, Romania, Mauritius, and the European Union, as well as interactions with the Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and senior UN officials. These engagements focus on:

• Labour mobility
• Skilling and workforce development
• Social protection frameworks
• Employment generation

Additionally, India is highlighting institutional innovations such as the National Career Service (NCS) Portal, which connects job seekers and employers, improving transparency and inclusivity in labour markets.

In News:

NASA astronomers have confirmed the chemical fingerprint of water on the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS using ultraviolet data from the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. This marks a major advance in understanding the chemistry of planetary systems beyond the Sun.

What is 3I/ATLAS?

• Designation: 3I/ATLAS
• Discovery: 1 July 2025 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Hawaii.
• Category: Third confirmed interstellar object after 1I/‘Oumuamua (2017) and 2I/Borisov (2019).
• Origin: Formed in another planetary system, possibly 7 billion years old, older than Earth.

Trajectory & Motion

• Travels on a hyperbolic orbit—meaning it is not gravitationally bound to the Sun and will exit the Solar System permanently.
• Speed relative to Sun: 57–68 km/s.

Physical Characteristics

• An active comet with a visible coma of dust and icy particles.
• Expected to form a cometary tail as it approaches the Sun.
• Surface hue: Slightly reddish, indicating the presence of complex organics or water ice.
• Nucleus size: Estimated 10–30 km wide.
• Age: Nearly twice as old as Earth, making it one of the oldest comets ever observed.

Breakthrough Discovery: Water Signature Detected

How was it detected?

• Swift Observatory captured faint ultraviolet emissions from hydroxyl (OH).
• OH forms when sunlight breaks apart water molecules → indirect but strong evidence of water ice sublimation.

Why is it important?

• First chemical confirmation of water activity on an interstellar comet at such a large distance from the Sun.
• Indicates that protoplanetary systems outside the Solar System may share similar chemical building blocks.

Unusual Behaviour

• 3I/ATLAS was losing water at ~40 kg per second even when far beyond the usual frost line where comets become active.
• Suggests:
  • Presence of small icy grains being heated by sunlight,
  • Complex physical and chemical processes not seen in typical comets.

Scientists noted its activity “defies our models”, indicating new insights into comet evolution.

Significance for Planetary Science & Astrobiology

• Strengthens the idea that organic chemistry and water—key ingredients for life—are common across the Galaxy.
• Provides clues on:
  • Composition of ancient planetary systems,
  • How water and organics travel between stars,
  • Early stages of planet formation.

3I/ATLAS acts as a “messenger” from another star, preserving primordial material from its home system.

Interstellar Objects:

• Formed outside the Solar System and travel through it.
• Not gravitationally bound → follow open-ended hyperbolic trajectories.
• Have a perihelion (closest approach to Sun) but no aphelion.
• Often ejected from their home systems due to collisions or gravitational slingshot events.

In News:

A rare Indian mouse deer (Moschiola indica) was recently photographed at the Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary (TWS) in Vasai by the Wildlife Research Division of the Vivek PARC Foundation. Sightings of this species are uncommon due to its nocturnal and secretive behaviour, highlighting the ecological value of the sanctuary as a refuge for elusive fauna.

About the Indian Mouse Deer

Taxonomy

• Common Name: Indian Mouse Deer / Indian Spotted Chevrotain
• Scientific Name: Moschiola indica
• Family: Tragulidae
• Order: Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates)
• One of the smallest ungulates globally and the smallest deer-like species in India.

Key Characteristics

• Size:
  • Shoulder height: 25–30 cm
  • Body length: ~57.5 cm (23 inches)
  • Weight: 2–4 kg
• Appearance:
  • Dark brown fur with 4–5 rows of white dorsal spots
  • White underparts
• Canines: Males possess tusk-like upper canines, used during territorial or mating conflicts.
• Stomach: Unique among ruminant-like species—has a three-chambered stomach instead of the typical four.
• Diet:
  • Omnivorous tendencies: fruits, leaves, herbs, roots
  • Occasionally eats insects, crustaceans, and small mammals
• Lifespan: 8–12 years
• Behaviour:
  • Nocturnal, shy, and highly elusive, usually found in dense forest cover.
  • Prefers habitats away from human settlements, making sightings rare.

Distribution

• Endemic to the Indian Subcontinent.
• India:
  • Widespread in peninsular India.
  • Common in Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats up to Odisha, and central Indian forests.
• Outside India:
  • Old records from Nepal.
  • Sri Lanka hosts a separate species: Spotted Chevrotain (Moschiola meminna).

Habitat

• Found in:
  • Semi-evergreen forests
  • Moist evergreen forests
  • Tropical deciduous forests

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Least Concern (LC)
  • However, populations face threats from:
    • Habitat loss and fragmentation
    • Human disturbance
    • Declining forest quality

In News:

During a special session of the Uttarakhand Assembly, President of India Droupadi Murmu was presented with a traditional Ramman mask, bringing national attention to this centuries-old ritual festival practiced in the Garhwal region.

About the Ramman Festival

• Type: Annual religious and cultural festival
• Location: Twin villages of Saloor–Dungra, Chamoli district, Uttarakhand
• Time: Celebrated in late April during Baisakhi
• Deity: Dedicated to the tutelary deity Bhumiyal Devta, worshipped at his temple courtyard where the festival is performed.
• UNESCO Status: Inscribed in 2009 on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.

UNESCO recognises Ramman as a multiform cultural event integrating theatre, music, historical reconstruction, and oral tradition—reinforcing the community’s identity and relationship with nature.

Key Features of the Festival

1. Rituals, Recitations & Divine Storytelling

• Begins with an invocation to Lord Ganesha, followed by the dance of the Sun God, and enactments of the birth of Brahma and Ganesha.
• Includes performances of Bur Deva, dances of Krishna and Radhika, and multiple ritual acts.
• Central attraction: Enactment of the local Ramkatha (episodes from the Ramayana), sung to 324 beats and steps.

2. Theatrical Performances & Masked Dances

• Combines narration, ritual drama, masked dances, music, and local legends.
• 18 different types of masks made from Bhojpatra (Himalayan birch) are used.
• Masks are accompanied by natural make-up materials such as sheep’s wool, honey, vermilion, wheat flour, oil, turmeric, soot, and plant-based dyes.

3. Instruments Used

• Dhol, Damau (percussion)
• Manjira, Jhanjhar (cymbals)
• Bhankora (trumpet)

4. Sacred Space & Community Participation

• Performed in the courtyard of Bhumiyal Devta temple.
• The entire village contributes—roles are caste-based:
  • Brahmins: lead rituals
  • Bhandaris (Rajputs): allowed to wear the sacred Narasimha mask
  • Das drummers (lower caste): play percussion
  • Jagaris/Bhallas (Rajput caste): act as bards singing epics and legends
• Funding and organisation are managed by village households collectively.

5. Transmission of Knowledge

• Oral transmission of epic songs, ritual lore, dance forms, mask-making, and traditional practices from elders to the younger generation.

Origin and Evolution

• Exact origins are unclear but believed to date back to medieval times.
• Linked to the arrival of Vaishnavite saints who brought the Ramayana tradition to the Central Himalayas.
• Initially a purely religious tradition centered on Ram bhakti, later expanded to include local folklore, social narratives, and community histories.

Examples of Local Narrative Additions

• Mwar–Mwarin dance: depicts the hardships of buffalo herders attacked by a tiger.
• Baniya–Baniyain Nritya: portrays the struggles of a trader-couple attacked by robbers.

These stories localise the Ramayana tradition, connecting mythic narratives to regional realities.

Cultural Significance

• Reinforces ties between humans, nature, and the divine.
• Ritual offerings include sprouted maize and barley seeds symbolising prosperity and agricultural abundance.
• Embodies the environmental, spiritual, and cultural ethos of the Garhwal Himalayan communities.

In News:

The Katkari tribe, one of India’s Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), continues to face structural marginalisation, landlessness, bonded labour, and livelihood precarity. To highlight these long-standing injustices, the Shramjeevi Organisation has announced a two-day protest titled ‘Aatmakalesh se Aatmanirdhar’ (From Anguish to Resolve), featuring silent fasts and symbolic lamp-lighting across villages in Maharashtra’s Thane district.

About the Katkari Tribe

Classification & Distribution

• A PVTG—one among the 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups of India.
• Primarily concentrated in Maharashtra (Pune, Raigad, Thane, and Palghar districts) and parts of Gujarat.
• Historically forest-dependent tribal community.

Cultural Features

• Also known as Kathodis, due to their traditional occupation of preparing Katha (Catechu) from the sap of Acacia catechu (Khair tree).
• Traditionally consumed rodents, a reflection of their unique food culture.
• Housing: Many still reside in bamboo huts and forest-based structures.
• Family Structure: Despite a patriarchal system, they largely follow nuclear family setups rather than joint families.

Language

• Bilingual community.
• Speak the Katkari language within the group and Marathi with others; some speak Hindi as well.

Livelihoods

• Dominated by agricultural labour, sale of firewood, fishing, coal making, and brick manufacturing.
• Seasonal migration is common due to limited livelihood options.
• Possess extensive knowledge of uncultivated foods — fish, crabs, small fauna, tubers, wild vegetables, nuts, fruits, etc.
• Landlessness is severe:
  • About 87% of Katkari households are landless (vs. 48% national rural average).
  • High landlessness → rampant migration, vulnerability to exploitation, and unstable incomes.

Contemporary Issues Faced by the Katkaris

• Bonded labour and trafficking continue to affect segments of the community.
• Unpaid wages and limited access to social protection schemes.
• Breakdown of education among children due to seasonal migration of families.
• Weak implementation of:
  • Forest Rights Act (FRA) land titles
  • Village rehabilitation schemes
  • Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA/MNREGA) payments
• Rising issues of alcohol abuse, livelihood insecurity, and lack of government follow-through on rehabilitation commitments.

Significance

• Highlights persistent vulnerability among India’s PVTGs despite decades of welfare schemes.
• Calls attention to landlessness and migration as structural issues aggravating poverty.
• Reaffirms the need for targeted tribal development, effective FRA implementation, and monitoring of labour rights.
• Aligns with the broader national effort to focus on PVTG development, especially under the government’s PVTG Mission and tribal empowerment initiatives.

In News:

The Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) recently laid the foundation stone for the Integrated Sohra Tourism Circuit in Meghalaya under the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North Eastern Region (PM-DevINE) scheme.

About the Integrated Sohra Tourism Circuit

• A joint initiative of the Ministry of DoNER and the Government of Meghalaya.
• Envisioned to transform Sohra (Cherrapunji) into a multi-day, experiential, sustainable tourism destination.
• Total investment: Over ?650 crore, including ?221 crore under DoNER.

Key Components

1. Sohra Experience Centre (Kutmadan)

• Investment: ?115 crore.
• Acts as the cultural nucleus showcasing:
  • Tribal heritage of Meghalaya
  • Amphitheatres
  • Rain experience parks
  • Art galleries
  • Craft and cultural pavilions

2. Supporting Tourism Infrastructure

• Nohkalikai Falls Precinct – ?26 crore
• Mawsmai Eco Park – ?29 crore
• Seven Sisters Falls Viewpoint
• Shella Riverside Development
• Wahkaliar Canyon with adventure tourism (including proposed hot-air balloon experiences)

Associated Infrastructure Projects Launched

1. Pynursla–Latangriwan–Mawlynnong Road (?29.97 crore)

• Provides all-weather connectivity to Mawlynnong, known as Asia’s cleanest village.
• Enhances cross-border tourism and local market access.

2. Mawshynrut–Hahim Road (?99.76 crore)

• Upgraded to intermediate lane standards.
• Improves agricultural mobility in Western Meghalaya.

3. Bridge over Umngot River (?21.86 crore)

• Links East Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills.
• Facilitates trade and intra-district connectivity.

4. Broader Connectivity Boost

• 166.8 km Shillong–Silchar Greenfield Expressway (?22,864 crore) under construction.
• Expansion of Umroi Airport enabling larger aircraft operations.
• New Shillong Western Bypass and improved Guwahati–Sohra access reducing travel time to ~4 hours.

Meghalaya’s Transformation Narrative

• Under the 10% Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) policy, over ?6.2 lakh crore has been channelled to the Northeast in the last decade.
• Meghalaya has recorded 12–16% post-COVID growth driven by focused investments in connectivity and tourism.
• Projects like the Integrated Sohra Circuit are part of the broader push to make Meghalaya a “connected, confident, and competitive state.”

Community Empowerment Measures

• Skill development programs in partnership with the Meghalaya Skills Development Society and IHM Shillong.
• Training in hospitality, eco-tourism, adventure safety, and cultural curation.
• Objective: ensure local families directly benefit from tourism inflows.

PM-DevINE Scheme:

• Launched: 2022
• Scheme Type: Central Sector scheme (100% central funding)
• Duration: FY 2022–23 to 2025–26
• Outlay: ?6,600 crore

Objectives

1. Infrastructure development in line with PM GatiShakti principles.
2. Support social development projects in the North East.
3. Promote livelihood generation for youth and women.

In News:

A biodiversity exploration team working in the Western Ghats has discovered a new spider species, Pilia malenadu, marking a major addition to India’s arachnid diversity. The finding is notable because species belonging to the genus Pilia were last reported more than 123 years ago (1902) from Kerala.

About Pilia malenadu

• Pilia malenadu is a newly identified jumping spider belonging to the genus Pilia (Family: Salticidae).
• Location of Discovery:
  • Found at Madhugundi, in Mudigere taluk, Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka.
  • The site lies at the foothills of the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot.
• Etymology:
  • The species is named “malenadu” to honour the local region (Malenadu/Malnad).
• Scientific Importance:
  • First recorded species of Pilia since 1902.
  • First time both male and female specimens of a Pilia species have been documented.

Habitat Specificity

• The species demonstrates high microhabitat specialization.
• Observed only on two plant species:
  • Memecylon umbellatum
  • Memecylon malabaricum
• Spiders were found concealed between the leaves of these plants, indicating a narrow ecological niche.

Conservation Implications

• The study highlights that Pilia malenadu is strictly habitat-specific.
• Loss or alteration of its host plant species or habitat could threaten the survival of this newly discovered spider.
• Underscores the need for habitat-level conservation in the Western Ghats, particularly in lesser-studied microhabitats.

In News:

Researchers from Berhampur University (Odisha) and Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University (Gujarat) have identified two new species of marine amphipods from the Chilika Lagoon and the Gulf of Khambhat, underscoring India’s expanding marine biodiversity documentation.

What are Amphipods?

• Amphipods are small, shrimp-like crustaceans belonging to the subclass Amphipoda.
• They are related to crabs, lobsters, and shrimp.
• Occur in a wide range of habitats: marine, freshwater, subterranean caves, and even terrestrial zones (e.g., sandhoppers).
• The name Amphipoda means “different-footed”, referring to their anatomically varied appendages.
• Globally, 7,000+ species are known (majority under Gammaridea).
• Size range: 0.1 cm to 34 cm; deep-sea species tend to be the largest.
• Ecological role: mostly detritivorous or scavenging species that contribute to nutrient cycling and ecosystem cleaning.

Newly Discovered Species

1. Grandidierella geetanjalae

• Location: Chilika Lagoon, near Rambha (Ganjam district, Odisha).
• Size: ~5.5–6 mm.
• Naming: In honour of Geetanjali Dash, Vice-Chancellor of Berhampur University.
• Nature: Detritivorous; important for organic matter decomposition.

2. Grandidierella khambhatensis

• Location: Gulf of Khambhat, Gujarat.
• Size: ~5.5–6 mm.
• Naming: After its type locality (Khambhat).
• Ecological Role: Similar detritivorous function supporting ecosystem health.

Research Background and Previous Discoveries

• The research team has earlier discovered five amphipod species from eastern India, including:
  • Quadrivisio chilikensis (Chilika, near Nalabana Bird Sanctuary)
  • Demaorchestia alanensis (Barkul beach)
  • Talorchestia buensis (West Bengal coast)
• These discoveries indicate that Indian coastal ecosystems remain under-explored and possess high micro-faunal diversity.

Ecological Importance

• Amphipods function as key components of benthic food webs, recycling detritus and supporting fish populations.
• Their presence is an indicator of habitat quality, especially in sensitive ecosystems such as lagoons, estuaries, and coastal wetlands.
• Discoveries from Chilika and Khambhat strengthen the case for monitoring anthropogenic pressures, salinity changes, and sediment dynamics in Indian coastal habitats.

In News:

The Rowmari–Donduwa Wetland Complex in Assam has recently emerged as a strong contender for Ramsar Site designation, driven by its exceptional biodiversity, critical ecological functions, and strategic location within the Kaziranga landscape.

Location and Ecological Setting

• The Rowmari–Donduwa Wetland Complex lies within the Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, a buffer zone of the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve.
• It forms an interconnected floodplain–marsh system extending 2.5–3 sq km.
• Together with the adjoining Burhachapori WLS, it serves as an important wildlife corridor between the Kaziranga–Orang landscape, with the Brahmaputra River shaping its riverine and wetland ecosystems.

Biodiversity Significance

1. Exceptional Avifaunal Diversity

• The 6th Kaziranga Wetland Bird Census (2025) reported
  • 20,653 birds from 75 species at Rowmari Beel
  • 26,480 birds from 88 species at Donduwa Beel
  • Total: 47,000+ birds
• This exceeds the bird counts of Northeast India’s existing Ramsar sites—Deepor Beel (Assam) and Loktak Lake (Manipur).
• More than 120 species of resident and migratory birds recorded, including threatened species such as:
  • Knob-billed Duck
  • Black-necked Stork
  • Ferruginous Pochard

2. Habitat Diversity: The wetland complex contains marshes, floodplain lakes, grasslands, and riverine islands (chars), supporting high ecological productivity.

3. Presence of Rare & Endangered Species: Recent surveys by scholars from Tezpur, Gauhati, and Nagaon Universities have documented rare and critically endangered waterbirds, emphasizing the site's international ecological value.

The Ramsar Convention (1971)

• A global treaty for conservation and wise use of wetlands, signed at Ramsar, Iran (1971).
• India joined in 1982 and today hosts 94 Ramsar Sites (as of Nov 2025)—the highest in Asia.
• Chilika Lake (Odisha) was India’s first Ramsar Site (1981).
• Tamil Nadu has the highest number of Ramsar Sites among Indian states.
• About 10% of India’s wetland area is under the Ramsar framework.

Laokhowa–Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary

• Serves as a buffer and migration corridor between Kaziranga and Orang National Parks.
• Home to key species:
  • Great Indian One-horned Rhinoceros
  • Royal Bengal Tiger
  • Asiatic Elephant
  • Asiatic Water Buffalo
  • Otters, pangolins
• The Brahmaputra River supports the Gangetic River Dolphin.

Kaziranga National Park

• Established: 1908, National Park (1974)
• UNESCO World Heritage Site: 1985
• Tiger Reserve: 2006
• Supports ~2,200 one-horned rhinos (≈ two-thirds of global population).
• Rich in large mammals, birds, and aquatic fauna, forming the ecological backbone of the region.

In News:

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched CMS-03 (GSAT-7R), India’s heaviest communication satellite, aboard the LVM3-M5 launch vehicle from Sriharikota. The mission strengthens India’s strategic communication architecture, particularly maritime and defence networks, while reinforcing self-reliance in heavy satellite launch capability.

CMS-03 (GSAT-7R)

• CMS-03, also known as GSAT-7R, is an advanced multi-band communication satellite designed to enhance secure, high-capacity communication links across land and oceanic regions.
• It replaces the ageing GSAT-7 “Rukmini” and significantly expands India’s maritime communication footprint.
• Developed by: ISRO under the Department of Space, with all stages, subsystems, and payloads built using indigenous technology.
• Key Objectives:

• To provide secure, high-bandwidth communication for defence, especially the Indian Navy.
• To enhance network-centric warfare, fleet coordination, and maritime domain awareness.
• To strengthen India’s digital, strategic, and disaster management communication infrastructure.
• To expand India’s oceanic communication footprint under Atmanirbhar Bharat.

• Major Features

• Mass: 4,410 kg — heaviest Indian satellite launched from Indian soil.
• Bands & Payloads: Multi-band communication including C, extended-C, Ku, Ka, and support for UHF & S bands for strategic defence applications.
• High-throughput transponders supporting broadband, satellite internet, and real-time secure data flow.
• Coverage: Entire Indian mainland and wide Indian Ocean Region (IOR), including remote and contested waters.
• Mission Life: ~15 years.
• Role in Naval Operations:
  • Backbone of the Navy’s communication grid.
  • Supports secure voice, video, and data links between warships, submarines, aircraft, and command centres.
  • Enhances situational awareness, joint operations, and maritime security.

LVM3-M5

• The Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM3), known as the “Baahubali” of Indian rockets, is ISRO’s most powerful three-stage heavy-lift launcher capable of placing 4-tonne class satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
• Key Objectives:

• To ensure self-reliance in launching heavy communication and strategic satellites.
• To reduce dependence on foreign launch services.
• To support future deep-space, high-mass, and crewed platforms.

• Key Features
  • Three-stage configuration:
    • Two S200 solid boosters
    • One L110 liquid core stage
    • C25 cryogenic upper stage with an indigenously developed engine

• Capabilities:
  • 4,000 kg to GTO
  • 8,000 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
• Mass & Size: 641 tonnes; 43.5 metres tall.
• Cryogenic re-ignition test conducted for future multi-satellite deployment.
• Developed by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) with enhanced payload efficiency (~10%).
• Proven reliability in eight consecutive missions, including Chandrayaan-3 and now CMS-03.
• Candidate launcher for future Gaganyaan crewed missions.

In News:

• The Ministry of Labour and Employment has launched the Employee’s Enrolment Scheme 2025 (EES-2025) to widen the social security net by bringing excluded employees into the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) fold.
• Implemented by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), the scheme provides a single, time-bound opportunity for employers to voluntarily regularise workers who should have been covered under the EPF Act but were not enrolled earlier.

About the Scheme

• Type: One-time voluntary compliance window.
• Implementing Agency: EPFO, Ministry of Labour & Employment.
• Coverage Period for Eligible Employees: 1 July 2017 to 31 October 2025.
• Operational Window: 1 November 2025 – 30 April 2026 (six months).

The scheme allows employers to declare and enrol employees who were omitted—intentionally or inadvertently—from EPF coverage during the above period.

Objectives

• To expand EPF coverage under the EPF & MP Act, 1952.
• To promote voluntary compliance and foster trust between employers and regulators.
• To support workforce formalisation and ensure financial protection for previously unregistered workers.
• To reduce litigation and compliance burden by providing a simplified remedial mechanism.

Key Features

• Employers may enrol all eligible employees engaged between July 2017 and October 2025 who were not covered earlier.
• Waiver of employee contribution for the past period if it was not deducted earlier.
• Employers are required to pay:
  • Employer’s share of EPF contribution, and
  • A nominal penalty of ?100 per establishment.
• Applicable even to establishments under inquiry under:
  • Section 7A of the EPF Act, or
  • Paragraph 26B of the EPF Scheme.
• EPFO will not initiate suo motu action for earlier non-compliance once the employer makes full voluntary disclosure under the scheme.

Significance

• Strengthens social security by widening EPF coverage for millions of workers.
• Boosts ease of doing business by reducing penalties and enabling smooth compliance.
• Encourages formalisation, aligning with India's goal of universal social protection.
• Helps reduce disputes, improve employer-employee relations, and enhance long-term financial safety for the workforce.

In News:

Russia has announced the successful testing of its Burevestnik nuclear-powered, nuclear-capable cruise missile, significantly escalating global concerns regarding a renewed nuclear arms race. The missile, known in Russia as 9M730 Burevestnik (“Storm Petrel”), is part of a new class of strategic weapons first unveiled in 2018.

About the Burevestnik Missile

• Type: Ground-launched, low-flying cruise missile.
• Capabilities:
  • Nuclear-powered propulsion system.
  • Nuclear warhead–capable.
  • Designed for unlimited range and unpredictable flight trajectory.
• NATO Code Name: SSC-X-9 Skyfall.
• Developer: Russia.
• Introduced: One of six new strategic weapons announced by President Putin in 2018.

Key Features

1. Nuclear Propulsion System

• Powered by a miniaturised nuclear reactor.
• Reactor heats incoming air to generate thrust — replacing traditional chemical fuel.
• Enables theoretically unlimited flight time, constrained only by material durability and guidance systems.
• Offers the ability to loiter for days and strike from unexpected directions.

2. Long Range & Stealth

• Russia claims a test in 2023/2025 achieved:
  • 14,000 km travel
  • 15 hours of flight
• Low-altitude flight path makes detection by radar extremely difficult.
• Unpredictable trajectory designed to defeat missile defence systems.

3. Strategic Role

• Intended as a second-strike or surprise-attack weapon that can bypass US and NATO missile shields.
• Falls outside current New START definitions, as it is neither an ICBM, SLBM, nor heavy bomber.

Technical Background

• Nuclear-powered missiles were previously explored under the 1960s US Project Pluto (SLAM) but abandoned due to extreme safety risks.
• According to the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), the Burevestnik uses a compact reactor similar in concept to nuclear ramjet technology.

Arms Control Context – New START Treaty

• New START Treaty (effective 2011, extended to 2026) limits deployed strategic nuclear weapons of the US and Russia.
• Russia suspended participation in February 2023.
• The Burevestnik is not restricted under New START, as it represents a new category of strategic cruise missile not covered under existing treaty definitions.
• Russia’s testing signals an attempt to sidestep treaty limits and intensify the nuclear competition.

In News:

Civil society groups and conservationists in Assam have urged the government to designate the Roumari–Donduwa Wetland Complex, located within the Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, as a Ramsar Site. The demand is based on the wetland’s high ecological value, rich avifaunal diversity, and its fulfillment of multiple Ramsar criteria.

About Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location: Southern bank of the Brahmaputra River, in Nagaon District, Assam.
• Area: Approximately 70.13 sq. km.
• Ecological System: Part of the Laokhowa–Burachapori ecosystem and a notified buffer zone of Kaziranga Tiger Reserve (KTR).
• Landscape: Lies within the Brahmaputra Valley; surrounded by human-dominated areas except to the north.
• Flora: Habitat types include:
  • Alluvial grasslands
  • Alluvial forests
  • Moist deciduous forests
  • Tropical semi-evergreen forests

• Fauna: Home to key species such as:
  • Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros
  • Royal Bengal Tiger
  • Asiatic Water Buffalo
  • Elephants

Roumari–Donduwa Wetland Complex

• Situated within Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary; covers ~2.5–3 sq. km.
• Supports 120+ resident and migratory bird species.
• During the 6th Kaziranga Wetland Bird Census (2025):
  • 47,000+ birds from 163 species were recorded—higher than counts from Assam’s only current Ramsar Site, Deepor Beel.
• Important species recorded include:
  • Knob-billed Duck
  • Lesser Adjutant Stork (EN)
  • Black-necked Stork
  • Ferruginous Pochard (NT)
  • Common Pochard (VU)

In News:

The Ramnami tribe of Chhattisgarh recently came into national focus when two members of the community emotionally expressed gratitude after the Prime Minister allowed them to adorn him with their traditional peacock-feather crown, breaking official protocol. This gesture highlighted the tribe’s unique cultural identity and historical struggle for social equality.

Who Are the Ramnamis?

• A distinctive devotional sect from central and northern Chhattisgarh.
• Known for tattooing the word “Ram” across their faces and bodies, symbolising the omnipresence of God.
• Their belief centres on nirgun Ram—the formless, unmanifest divine.

Origin and Historical Background

• Emerged in the late 19th century as a peaceful socio-religious resistance against caste discrimination.
• Traditionally, many Ramnamis were denied access to temples.
• Founder is believed to be Parsuram Bhardwaj, the son of a low-caste sharecropper.
• Tattoos became a form of protest, asserting that God is accessible to all, irrespective of caste hierarchy.

Legal Recognition

• In 1910, upper-caste groups filed a case against the community for tattooing "Ram" on their bodies and garments.
• The Ramnami Samaj won the case, affirming their right to inscribe the divine name on their skin, attire, and homes.

Cultural Features

• Clothing: Plain white garments adorned with repeated inscriptions of “Ram”.
• Headgear: A crown made of peacock feathers, carrying symbolic and mythological significance.
• Music & Rituals:
  • Use of ghungroos during devotional dances and bhajans.
  • Emphasis on simplicity, devotion, and gender equality.
• Devotional Practice: Worship of Ram in any form—saffron robes, shaved head, or tattooed body—reflecting spiritual inclusivity.

Demographic Snapshot

• Historically estimated at ~6 lakh members.
• Numbers have declined significantly; current estimates range between 20,000 to 1,00,000 individuals.

In News:

India has added Gogabeel Lake in Katihar district, Bihar to the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance, raising the country’s total Ramsar sites to 94. With this, Bihar now has six Ramsar sites, placing it third after Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.

About Gogabeel Lake

• Location: Katihar district, Bihar; part of the Trans-Gangetic Plains.
• Wetland Type: A classic oxbow lake, situated between:
  • River Mahananda (North-East)
  • River Ganga (South)
• Hydrology: During floods, the lake temporarily links the two rivers.
• Legal Status: Bihar’s first Community Reserve, managed with active involvement of local communities.
• Cultural Significance: Traditional festivals such as Sirva, Adra, and Chhath are observed in the wetland region.

Ecological Features

• Flora: Dominated by tropical dry deciduous vegetation typical of the region.
• Fauna: Important wintering site for migratory birds and species of global conservation significance. Key species:
  • Smooth-Coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) – Vulnerable.
  • Helicopter Catfish (Wallago attu) – Vulnerable, with the lake serving as a breeding ground.