A Rare Sighting in Kaziranga

Yellow-throated marten was recently sighted for the very first time in the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam (UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Yellow-throated Marten (Martes flavigula)

»     It is a diurnal and arboreal member of the mustelid family, a group of carnivorous mammals.

»     Features: Golden-yellow throat, long tail, and defensive scent glands.

»     Behaviour: Fearless, highly social, often hunts in pairs or small groups.

»     Ecological Role: Functions as a mesopredator, controls rodent populations, aids seed dispersal, etc. 

»     Distribution: Found across Southeast Asia, eastern Russia, China, and the Korean Peninsula; in India, occurs mainly in the Himalayas and Northeast.

»     Conservation Status: IUCN (Least Concern); protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

»     Threats: Habitat fragmentation, deforestation, and human encroachment.

Bangladesh’s Water Security Project

Bangladesh approves Padma Barrage Project.

Padma Barrage

»     Location: Proposed on the Padma River (Bangladesh stretch of the Ganga) 

»     Objective: Aims to improve water security and reduce drought conditions in southwest Bangladesh linked to reduced flows from the Farakka Barrage.

»     Padma River is the main distributary of the Ganga river in Bangladesh after it enters the country from India.

Climate Alert: El Niño Returns

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned of an 80% probability of El Niño developing in the coming months.

»     El Niño and La Niña are opposite phases of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO).

»     Southern Oscillation is a coherent inter-annual fluctuation of atmospheric pressure over the tropical Indo-Pacific region.

El Niño

»     El Niño means “Little Boy” in Spanish.

»     Characterized by warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean.

»     Occurs every 2–7 years and typically lasts 9–12 months.

»     Usually develops between March and June and peaks during November–February.

La Niña

»     La Niña means “Little Girl” in Spanish.

»     Characterized by cooling of sea surface temperatures in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific Ocean.

Impact of El Nino 

Global: 

»     Wetter conditions in parts of southern South America, the southern United States, etc. 

»     Drier conditions in northern South America, the Caribbean, Australia, and parts of South Asia.

»     Weakened upwelling (off the coast of Peru) reduces the supply of cold, nutrient-rich water, leading to lower phytoplankton productivity and disruption of marine food chains. 

On India: 

»     It is associated with below-normal southwest monsoon rainfall, disrupting agriculture and water management.

       o   On the other hand, La Niña strengthens the Indian monsoon, resulting in above-normal rainfall. 

»     Increased risk of extreme weather events such as cyclones, wildfires etc., causing human and economic losses.

Cosmic Fireballs

Meteor explosion light up skies over Boston and Rhode Island, experiencing bolides.

Bolides

»     Bolide: An exceptionally bright meteor (fireball) that explodes in Earth’s atmosphere, producing intense flashes of light and often sonic booms before reaching the ground.

       o   Meteoroid: Small asteroid/comet fragment orbiting the Sun.

       o   Meteor: Visible streak (shooting star) produced when a meteoroid enters Earth’s atmosphere.

       o   Meteorite: A meteoroid fragment that survives atmospheric entry and reaches the ground.

»     Effects: Can generate bright sky flashes, loud booms, shock waves, etc.

Global Flashpoints

Israel expanded operations in Southern Lebanon by crossing the Litani River (previously a de-facto boundary), for the first time since 2006.

»     Israel captured Beaufort castle.

»     Beaufort Castle is a 12th-century Crusader fortress located near Nabatiyeh, overlooking the Litani River.

India Moves Towards Producer Price Index

Government has decided to gradually phase out the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) over the next five years and replace it with a comprehensive Producer Price Index (PPI) system.

Wholesale Price Index (WPI)

»     It is a measure of the average change of prices of a fixed set of goods at the first point of bulk sale in a commercial transaction in the domestic market over a given period of time.

»     Released by: Office of the Economic Adviser, DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

Key Changes in the Revised Series:

       o   Base Year Revised: Updated from 2011-12 to 2022-23.

       o   Expanded Coverage: Items increased from 697 to 957.

       o   Energy Basket Rationalisation: Solar, wind, and nuclear energy added under electricity; crude petroleum and natural gas shifted to Fuel & Power.

»     Significance of changes: Ensures more realistic assessment of inflationary trends. 

Producer Price Index (PPI)

»     It measures the average change in the price a producer receives for his goods/services sold in the domestic market/ exports.

»     PPI measured through:  Output PPI, Input PPI and Service PPI (compiled on quarterly basis).

Why WPI is being replaced by PPI? 

»     Global Best Practice: Aligns India’s inflation measurement with advanced economies and IMF recommendations. 

»     Broader Coverage: Captures input, output and service prices, providing a more comprehensive inflation picture than WPI. 

»     Better Cost Analysis: Enables assessment of input cost pressures and their pass-through to output prices.  

India Revamps Industrial Output Index

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has revised the base year of IIP from 2011-12 to 2022-23 to better reflect current industrial structure and dynamics.

»     This is the 10th revision of base year of All India IIP. The first IIP was prepared with base year 1937.

Major Changes in New Series of IIP

»     Base Year Revision: It is revised to 2022-23 under the aegis of the Technical Advisory Committee for base year revision (TAC-IIP).

»     Coverage: It added Gas Supply, Water Supply, Sewerage & Waste Management activities while retaining the existing sectors.

»     Inclusive Mining Classification: It added minor minerals and rare earth minerals for better sectoral representation.

»     Revamped Item Basket: Basket expanded from 839 items to 1,042 products (463 item groups).

       o   Additions: Cards with a magnetic stripe, CCTV camera, Articles of non-woven textiles, Parts of aircraft and spacecraft, Stents, Vaccine (other than veterinary).

       o   Deletions: Kerosene, Fluorescent tubes and CFLs, Tubes for bicycle/ tricycle/ rickshaw tyres. Tubes for LMV tyres, Printing machinery, Sewing machines.

»     Enhanced Granularity: It provides a more detailed disaggregation of industrial activities. In mining covering: (i) Fuel Minerals, (ii) Metallic Minerals, including Rare Earth Minerals, and (iii) Non-Metallic Minerals, including Minor Minerals.

       o   The Electricity Index now separately tracks generation from renewable and non-renewable sources.

Need of Change in Base Year: To capture emerging sectors, changing production patterns and evolving consumption trends, to align IIP methodology with UN best practices and Include New Products & Industries etc.

India’s Indigenous Strike Missile

India successfully flight-tests indigenous RudraM-II Missile.

RudraM-II 

»     Indigenous air-to-surface missile launched from an airborne platform.

»     Developed By: Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad a nodal laboratory of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and other organizations.

»     Significance: Strengthens India''s indigenous defence capability and advances Aatmanirbhar Bharat in advanced weapon systems.

India–Nepal Boundary Issues

The Prime Minister of Nepal acknowledged encroaching on certain Indian territories.

India-Nepal Border

»     Length: The India–Nepal border stretches 1,751 km.

»     Boundary: With 5 states (Sikkim, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Bihar).

       o   Mechi bridge connect Panitanki Bypass(West Bengal) in India with Kakarvitta in Nepal.

Disputed Border Areas

»     West: Kalapani-Limpiyadhura-Lipulekh tri-junction (Uttarakhand)

»     Kalapani is located near the India-Nepal-China tri-junction, giving it strategic importance. 

        o   Limpiyadhura: Northwest of Kalapani, claimed by Nepal as the true source of the Kali (Mahakali) River under the Treaty of Sugauli.

        o   Lipulekh is also an important mountain pass. Used by Indian pilgrims travelling to Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet.

»     East: Susta area (Bihar).

Peace and Stability Along the LAC

The 35th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) reviewed the situation in the India-China border areas.

India-China Border Dispute

»     Origin: Different perceptions of the Line of Actual Control as India shares second longest land boundary with China (3488 km) only after Bangladesh (4096.7 km).

        o   In 1865, when WH Johnson, a civil servant with the Survey of India, proposed the ''Johnson Line'', which placed Aksai Chin within Jammu and Kashmir which Chinese dynasty refused.

        o   In Simla meeting, 1914, between British India,Tibet and, China; proposed line from Bhutan to Burma (now Myanmar) (McMahon Line) but opposed by China.

»     Conflict: 1962 India–China War when China attacked India.

»     Disputed Areas: (Along three sectors)

        o   Western Sector (Ladakh–Aksai Chin): China controls Aksai Chin, which India claims as part of Ladakh.

        o   Middle Sector: Kauirik Lahaul and Spiti Valley (Himachal Pradesh), Bara Hoti and Nelang Valley (Uttarakhand).

        o   Eastern Sector (Mainly Arunachal Pradesh): China claims Arunachal Pradesh, especially the Tawang region, as "South Tibet" (Zàng Nán).

             Ø  Sikkim Sector: Nathu La pass, the Naku La sector, Cho La, Mount Gipmochi, Batang La, and the Doklam Plateau (Situated at the crucial tri-junction of India, China, and Bhutan) and adjoining Jampheri Ridge.

Principles India Should Follow for Dispute Settlement

»     Preserve the 2005 Framework: A package settlement through a three-step process: political parameters, a settlement framework, and final delineation and demarcation of the boundary.

»     Focus on LAC Stability: Make peace and tranquility on the LAC a precondition for progress; oppose unilateral changes and persistent buffer zones.

»     Seek a Comprehensive Political Settlement: Push for meaningful political negotiations on the entire boundary issue.

Reviving Assam’s Golden Silk

Mission seeks to strengthen the entire Muga silk value chain through Cluster-based Coverage under Ministry of Development of North-East Region (MDoNER) in collaboration with the Government of Assam, the Central Silk Board and other stakeholders.

Mission Senehjori

»     Objective: Transforming Assam''s unique Muga silk sector into high-value luxury textile ecosystem from host-plant cultivation and silkworm seed production to reeling, weaving, branding, export promotion, digital traceability and tourism.

»     Targets by 2028: Establishment of 5 modern Muga reeling units and a Muga Spun Mill, creation of 30 FPOs, etc.

Muga Silk

»     It is one of the 5 major natural varieties of silk. (India produces all the five).

»     Silk is a natural protein fibre produced by silkworms, primarily from the Bombyx mori species.

»     Unique Identity: Muga silk is the world’s only naturally golden silk and India’s first GI-tagged silk (2007).

»     Production: Assam accounts for 90 percent of the world’s Muga silk production. 

»     Silkworm: It is obtained from semi-domesticated multivoltine silkworm, Antheraea assamensis.

o   It feeds on the aromatic leaves of Som and Soalu plants and are reared on trees similar to that of tasar. 

Other types of Silk

»     Mulberry (~92% of India’s silk production): Produced mainly in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, etc.

»     Tropical Tussar (Kosa):  It is tropical variety; It is copperish colour, coarse silk, generated by the silkworm, Antheraea mylitta which mainly thrive on the food plants Asan and Arjun.

»     Tropical Tussar: Temperate or Oak tasar practiced in its sub-Himalayan belt extending from Kashmir to Manipur.

»     Eri: Also known as Endi or Errandi Silk, it is produced from the domesticated silkworm Philosamia ricini, that feeds mainly on castor leaves.

       o   The North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Ltd. (NEHHDC) obtained Oeko-Tex certification for eri silk; from Germany which will enhance the marketability and export of eri silk. 

            Ø  Oeko-Tex is a worldwide certification for textiles tests for harmful substances in textile products ensuring that the final product is safe for human use.

Strengthening India’s Research Ecosystem

The Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education has launched applications for the Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) Scheme 2026.

PMRC Scheme

»     It is a flagship initiative of the Government of India to strengthen the country''s research and innovation ecosystem.

»     Aim: To attract and engage distinguished Indian-origin researchers, scientists, and professionals from across the world.

       o   It places globally experienced experts in leading Indian higher research institutions.

»     Eligibility: Young Research Fellows (0–5 years post-PhD), Senior Fellows (5–10 years post-PhD), and Research Chairs (10+ years post-PhD with demonstrated research leadership).

»     Host Institutions: Government HEIs ranked among the Top 100 (NIRF Overall/Engineering) or Top 50 (Research), etc.

UN Peacekeepers Honoured

Indian Peacekeepers serving with United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have been awarded the UN Medal of Honour. 

UN Peacekeepers (Blue Helmet)

»     Origin: Began in 1948 when the UN deployed military observers to West Asia to observe the Armistice Agreement.

»     Also called Blue Helmets, as they use blue helmets while carrying out peacekeeping missions around the world. 

»     Deployment Mechanism: UN Security Council by adopting a resolution.

»     Principles of Peacekeeping are based on Consent of the parties, Impartiality, Non-use of force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate

»     Department of Peace Operations (DPO) of UN provides political and executive direction to peacekeeping operations.

World’s Largest Coral Discovery

Giant potato coral patch found on southeastern side of Kadmat Island in Lakshadweep.

»     Potato Patch Coral Colony (Pavona clavus)

»     Covers about 4,250 sq. m. (1.05 acres), potentially the world''s largest living Pavona clavus colony.

»     Scientific Value: Serves as a natural time capsule for studying coral longevity, climate adaptation, and past ocean conditions.