Raisina Dialogue 2026

• The 11th Raisina Dialogue (2026), India’s premier conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, has begun in New Delhi.
• This annual multilateral conference was initiated in 2016 to address global governance issues.
• It is modelled on the Shangri-La Dialogue (Singapore) and the Munich Security Conference (Germany).
• Hosts: It is organised jointly by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Observer Research Foundation (ORF).
• Theme: This year’s theme, “Saṁskāra: Assertion, Accommodation, Advancement”, highlights civilisational identity in guiding global engagement, cooperation, and progress.
• Chief Guest: The President of Finland, Dr Alexander Stubb, is this year’s chief guest.
• Six Pillars: Raisina Dialogue 2026 focuses on shifting power centres, governing oceans and cyberspace, climate urgency, sustainability, AI, and digital governance.
• Participation: Representatives from 110 countries, including ministers, former heads of state, military leaders, and industry figures, are participating.
• Significance: It reinforces India’s role as a “Vishwamitra” and as the voice of the Global South.
• ORF: It is an independent Indian think tank established in 1990 that conducts research and offers policy input on international relations, economy, and governance.
• Shangri-La Dialogue: It is Asia’s leading defence and security summit, held annually in Singapore.
• Munich Security Conference: It is an annual conference on international security policy held in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, since 1963.

Bronze art in India

• The Ashmolean Museum (Oxford) is set to return a 16th-century bronze idol of Saint Tirumankai Alvar, after research indicated it was photographed in 1957 at the Soundarrajaperumal temple, Thadikombu (Tamil Nadu) and later replaced by a replica.

About Bronze art in India:

• Bronze art refers to sculptural and ritual objects made from copper-based alloys (bronze/brass; in South India often panchaloha tradition), used for worship icons, processional deities, lamps, utensils, and decorative forms.
• In India, bronze sculptures are not just art objects but living ritual icons, central to temple festivals and devotional culture—especially in the Tamil region.

Technique:

Lost-wax casting (Cire perdue / Madhuchista Vidhan) is the core technique:

• Wax model: The figure is first sculpted in wax with all details.
• Clay mould: Wax model is coated with layers of fine clay to make a mould.
• Dewaxing: The mould is heated so wax melts out, leaving a cavity.
• Metal pouring: Molten metal/alloy is poured into the cavity.
• Finishing: Mould is broken, the casting is filed, polished, detailed, and ritually consecrated (for deity icons, often via opening of the eyes).

Important bronze artefacts in Indian history

• Dancing Girl (Mohenjodaro, c. 2500 BCE): earliest iconic evidence of sophisticated metal casting in the Indus Valley.
• Daimabad bronzes (c. 1500 BCE): notable large bronzes showing advanced casting and likely ritual/ceremonial usage.
• Chola bronzes (c. 9th–13th century CE): the classical peak—especially Nataraja and other temple/processional icons with fluid movement and refined anatomy.

Evolution of bronze art in India:

• Harappan phase: bronze used for tools + a few masterworks (e.g., Dancing Girl) showing early lost-wax competence.
• Early historic–classical phase: bronze becomes more common for ritual and portable icons (Buddhist/Jain/Hindu), aiding mobility of worship and patronage networks.
• Regional flowering: distinct schools develop—Gupta/Vakataka refinement, Pala-Sena Buddhist bronzes, western India traditions, and Himalayan/Kashmir idioms.
• Chola culmination: bronze becomes the supreme temple medium in Tamilakam—icons designed for processions, public darshan, and festival theology.
• Living traditions today: centres like Swamimalai (Kumbakonam region) sustain hereditary artisan lineages (sthapathis), continuing lost-wax methods under shilpa texts—linking craft, faith, and heritage economies.

Global Childhood Obesity and India’s Increasing Burden

• The World Obesity Atlas 2026 highlights rising global trends in childhood obesity and India’s rapidly increasing burden.

Global Childhood Obesity Trends

• Prevalence: Childhood overweight and obesity now affect 20.7% of children worldwide, rising sharply from 14.6% in 2010.
• Geographic Shift: The obesity epidemic mainly affects low- and middle-income countries, led by China, India, and the US.
• Weight Transition: Children with obesity have surpassed underweight children globally for the first time.
• Future Projections: About 227 million children will live with obesity, and 507 million will be overweight or obese by 2040.

India’s Childhood Obesity Burden

• Rank: India is now second globally in the number of children living with overweight and obesity.
• Age Pattern: Children aged 5–9 make up 36% of India’s overweight or obese population, while adolescents aged 10–19 account for 64%.
• Regional Share: India leads the WHO South-East Asia Region with over 45 million individuals aged 0–19 living with overweight or obesity.
• Growth Rate: India reports one of the fastest rises in childhood obesity globally, with an average annual increase of nearly 5%.

Structural Drivers of Childhood Obesity

• Physical Inactivity: About 74% of Indian adolescents fail to meet the WHO physical activity guidelines due to sedentary lifestyles.
• Dietary Pattern: Children consume more ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks, increasing daily calories and obesity risk.
• Nutrition Gap: Only 35.5% of school children receive regulated meals; 32.6% of infants get sub-optimal breastfeeding, weakening early metabolic protection.
• Maternal Factors: High BMI and Type 2 diabetes in women of reproductive age elevate the risk of obesity in their children.

Future Burden and Implications for India

• Future Burden: India may have 56 million children with high BMI by 2040, including 20 million children living with obesity.
• Rising NCDs: By 2040, BMI-related hypertension could impact 4.21 million children, while hyperglycaemia might affect 1.91 million children.
• Economic Burden: Obesity-related diseases may cost over 3% of the global GDP by 2060, risking India’s fiscal stability.
• Demographic Risk: Early diabetes and cardiovascular disease in youth threaten India’s future workforce productivity and demographic dividend.

Moonshot Project

• The Indian Institute of Science has launched a Moonshot project on brain co-processors in partnership with the Pratiksha Trust.

About Moonshot Project:

• The Moonshot Project is an advanced research initiative to develop brain co-processors—devices that interface with the human brain to decode neural signals, process them using AI, and stimulate the brain to restore lost functions.
• It combines neuromorphic computing, artificial intelligence, neuroscience, and bioelectronics to create closed-loop brain–machine systems.

Launched by:

• The project is led by the Indian Institute of Science.
• It is funded by the Pratiksha Trust, founded by Kris Gopalakrishnan and Sudha Gopalakrishnan.

Aim:

• To develop AI-driven brain co-processors that restore cognitive and motor functions, especially in patients affected by neurological disorders such as stroke.
• To build indigenous neurotechnology solutions suited for clinical use in India and other low-resource healthcare systems.

Key features:

• Neuromorphic hardware + AI algorithms – Devices mimic brain-like computing systems to process neural signals efficiently.
• Closed-loop brain interface – The system decodes brain signals, processes them using AI, and sends feedback via neural stimulation or neurofeedback.
• Implantable and non-invasive versions – Development of both external devices and minimally invasive implants.
• Stroke rehabilitation focus – Designed to restore sensorimotor functions such as reaching and grasping in stroke survivors.
• Creation of neural datasets – Development of India-specific stereo EEG and ECoG brain-signal databases.
• Open digital tools – AI tools, datasets, and visualization platforms will be developed as open digital public goods.

Two-phase development plan

• Phase 1: Non-invasive neural co-processor for sensorimotor feedback.
• Phase 2: Minimally invasive embedded implant to restore coordination in chronic stroke patients.

Significance:

• Positions India at the frontier of AI-driven brain-machine interface research.
• Could transform stroke rehabilitation and treatment of neurological disorders.

An Iranian warship IRIS Dena was sunk

• An Iranian warship IRIS Dena was sunk by a US submarine off the coast of Sri Lanka while returning from the International Fleet Review 2026 at Visakhapatnam.

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS):

• UNCLOS is the comprehensive international treaty that establishes the legal framework governing the use of the world’s oceans and seas.
• It is often called the Constitution of the Oceans because it defines rights and responsibilities of states in maritime zones.

Came into force:

• Adopted in 1982 at Montego Bay, Jamaica.
• Entered into force in 1994 after sufficient ratifications.

Members:

• 168 parties including the European Union.
• Major maritime powers like India are parties, while the United States has signed but not ratified the convention.

Aim:

• To ensure peaceful use of oceans, equitable use of marine resources, protection of marine environment, and regulation of maritime boundaries.

Key functions:

• Defines Maritime Zones – Establishes legal zones such as Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and High Seas.
• Navigation Rights – Guarantees freedom of navigation and innocent passage for ships through territorial waters.
• Resource Governance – Regulates exploration and exploitation of marine resources such as fisheries, oil, and minerals.
• Marine Environmental Protection – Provides legal provisions to prevent pollution and protect marine biodiversity.
• Dispute Settlement – Establishes mechanisms like the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) for resolving maritime disputes.
• Seabed Governance – Creates the International Seabed Authority (ISA) to regulate mineral resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

What are International Waters?

• International waters, also called the High Seas, are areas of the ocean beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone (200 nautical miles) of any coastal state.

Features associated with International Waters:

• Freedom of Navigation – Ships of all states can sail freely without interference.
• Freedom of Overflight – Aircraft can pass over high seas without restriction.
• Peaceful Use Principle – Under Article 88 of UNCLOS, high seas must be reserved for peaceful purposes.
• The latest strike off Sri Lanka has raised questions about the legality of a military strike in international waters.
• A state could use force in international waters if it was responding in self-defence.
• Shared Global Commons – No country can claim sovereignty over international waters.
• Limited Use of Force – Military action in international waters is generally restricted unless self-defence or UN Security Council authorization exists.
• Common Heritage Principle – Resources in the seabed beyond national jurisdiction are treated as the common heritage of mankind.

Project HANUMAN

• The Government of Andhra Pradesh launched Project HANUMAN on World Wildlife Day 2026 to address the rising human–wildlife conflict in the state.

About Project HANUMAN:

• Project HANUMAN stands for Healing and Nurturing Units for Monitoring, Aid and Nursing of Wildlife.
• It is a state-level wildlife protection and conflict mitigation initiative aimed at rescuing, treating, rehabilitating, and monitoring wildlife while protecting communities near forests.
• State: Andhra Pradesh

Aim:

• To reduce human–wildlife conflict and ensure coexistence between local communities and wildlife.
• To improve rapid response, wildlife rescue operations, and scientific monitoring of animal movement.

Key Features:

• Rapid Response Infrastructure – Deployment of 100 vehicles (93 rapid response units and 7 wildlife ambulances) for quick rescue and medical aid.
• Wildlife Rescue Centres – Establishment of four rescue and treatment centres in Visakhapatnam, Rajamahendravaram, Tirupati, and Birlut.
• Village-level Volunteer Teams – Creation of ‘Vajra’ (Wildlife Rakshak) teams to handle snake rescues and minor wildlife incidents in villages.
• AI-based Monitoring – Use of Artificial Intelligence systems to track wildlife movement and provide early warnings when animals approach human settlements.
• HANUMAN Digital App – A digital platform for wildlife monitoring, reporting conflicts, and coordination with authorities.
• Compensation Support – Increase in compensation for wildlife attacks: ₹10 lakh for death and ₹2 lakh for injuries, with livestock compensation based on market value.
• Use of Kumki Elephants – Deployment of trained elephants to manage and drive away wild elephant herds in conflict-prone districts.
• Inter-departmental Coordination – Collaboration between forest, police, agriculture, revenue, horticulture, and Panchayati Raj departments.

Significance

• Human safety: Protects communities living near forests from wildlife attacks.
• Wildlife conservation: Ensures safe rescue, treatment, and rehabilitation of injured animals.

Golestan Palace

• The Golestan Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Tehran, reportedly suffered damage due to shockwaves and debris from nearby airstrikes amid escalating US–Israel–Iran tensions in 2026.

About Golestan Palace:

• Golestan Palace is a historic royal complex that served as the official residence of the Qajar dynasty and is one of the oldest historic monuments in Tehran.
• The palace complex, comprising multiple buildings, halls, and museums, reflects a unique blend of Persian architecture and European artistic influences.
• Located in: Tehran (Iran)
• Status: UNESCO World Heritage Site (inscribed in 2013)

History:

• The origins of the site date back to the Safavid era (16th century) when Tehran’s royal citadel was developed.
• The complex gained prominence when the Qajar dynasty (1794–1925) made Tehran the capital and adopted Golestan Palace as the royal residence.
• Major reconstruction occurred during the reign of Naser al-Din Shah in the 19th century, giving the palace its current form.
• During the Pahlavi era (1925–1979), it was mainly used for formal state ceremonies, including royal coronations.
• Today, the complex functions as a museum and cultural heritage site.

Key Features:

• Architectural Complex: The palace consists of 17 structures, including palaces, museums, halls, and gardens built largely during the Qajar period.
• Blend of Architectural Styles: Combines traditional Persian architectural design with European decorative elements, reflecting Iran’s interaction with the West in the 19th century.
• Major Structures: Important buildings include Marble Throne (Takht-e Marmar), Mirror Hall, Brilliant Hall, Salam Hall, Diamond Hall, and the Edifice of the Sun (Shams-ol-Emareh).
• Cultural Archives: The complex houses photographic archives, manuscript libraries, and historical documents, representing early photography in Iran.
• Royal Ceremonial Site: Historically used for coronations, royal receptions, and diplomatic ceremonies.

Significance:

• Symbolises the political and cultural history of the Qajar dynasty and Iran’s transformation into a modern state.
• Represents a rare fusion of Persian and European artistic traditions.

India’s Expanding Global Export Footprint

• Context (PIB): India has leveraged its robust banking system, significant foreign reserves, and stable current account balance to develop a resilient export economy.

India’s Export Performance

• Cumulative: India’s exports grew 6.15% YoY to $720.76 billion in Apr-Jan 2025-26.
• Services exports reached $354.13 billion, growing 10.57% YoY.
• Partnership: UNCTAD Trade and Development Report 2025 ranks India 3rd among Global South economies in trade partnership diversity, behind China and the UAE.
• FTA: India concluded 9 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) covering 38 countries over the last three years.
• These FTAs provide mostly zero-duty access to markets representing ~70% of global GDP.

Sector-wise Export Performance

• Electronics: Electronics emerged as the 3rd-largest export category in FY25, after engineering goods and petroleum products.
• Mobile Phones: India is the 2nd largest mobile phone manufacturer, with production rising 28-fold between FY15 and FY25.
• Petroleum: It ranks 7th in refined petroleum exports and among the top five refining nations.
• Pharmaceuticals: India, known as the Pharmacy of the World, ranks 3rd in pharmaceutical exports by volume and 11th by value.
• Automobiles: Employing over 30 million, the sector saw 30% export growth between FY21 and FY25.
• Textiles: India is the 6th largest exporter of textiles and apparel, with a 4% share in world exports.
• Defence: Defence exports grew ~23-fold from below ₹1,000 crore in 2014 to ₹23,622 crore in FY25, now reaching over 100 countries.

Government Interventions Under Export Promotion Mission

• EPM: Export Promotion Mission (EPM) consolidates fragmented export support schemes like IES and MAI into a unified framework.
• Sub-schemes: EPM operates through two integrated sub-schemes –
• Niryat Protsahan: Provides financial support to exporters through Export Factoring, E-Commerce Credit, and Emerging Market Support instruments.
• Niryat Disha: Strengthens market readiness through non-financial interventions covering compliance, logistics, and trade intelligence; includes TRACE, FLOW, LIFT, and INSIGHT.

Finland

• The President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, is on a State Visit to India and is scheduled to meet the President of India and Prime Minister.

About Finland:

• Finland is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, known for its strong welfare system, advanced technology sector, and high environmental standards.
• It gained independence from Russia on 6 December 1917 after being part of Sweden and later the Russian Empire.
• Capital: Helsinki

Neighbouring Nations:

• Norway, Russia, and Sweden.
• Surrounded by water bodies such as the Gulf of Finland and Gulf of Bothnia.

Key Features:

• Highly Forested Landscape – Nearly two-thirds of Finland is covered by forests, making it one of the most densely forested countries in Europe.
• Land of Lakes – Finland has about 56,000 lakes, with Lake Saimaa being the largest.
• Precambrian Shield – The country sits on an ancient granite shield formed during Precambrian geological periods.
• Glacial Landforms – Landscapes shaped by Ice Age glaciation, producing features like moraines and eskers (gravel ridges).
• Arctic Geography – Around one-third of Finland lies north of the Arctic Circle, experiencing phenomena such as the midnight sun and polar night.

Significance:

• Strategic location in Northern Europe, acting as a bridge between Western Europe and Russia.
• Technological hub known for innovation in telecommunications, digital technology, and clean energy.

India’s Growing Breast Cancer Burden and Global Trends

• A recent Lancet analysis examined breast cancer trends (1990–2023) across more than 200 countries and predicted the global burden until 2050.

Key Global Trends

• Incidence Projection: Global breast cancer cases will rise by one-third, reaching 3.5 million cases annually by 2050, with a 44% increase in deaths.
• Age Pattern: Incidence among women aged 20–54 increased by 29% since 1990, indicating a rising disease burden in younger populations.
• Geographic Shift: High-income countries have the highest incidence, while low-income countries have seen nearly 150% growth in cases since 1990.
• Mortality Gap: Mortality fell ~30% in high-income countries due to better screening and treatment, while it nearly doubled in low-income countries since 1990.
• Key Drivers: Six risk factors account for 28% of the total burden — tobacco use, obesity, high blood sugar, inactivity, red meat consumption, and unhealthy weight.
• Preventable Loss: Adopting a healthy lifestyle could prevent a quarter of the 24 million years of healthy life lost due to illness and premature death.

Breast Cancer Burden in India

• Incidence Surge: Cases have more than doubled, rising from 13 per lakh in 1990 to 29.4 per lakh in 2023, with mortality increasing by 74%.
• Disease Share: Breast cancer is the most common female cancer in India, making up nearly a quarter of all cancer cases among women.
• Age Pattern: Indian women bear the burden at younger ages, with incidence rates rising sharply from their early 30s.
• Major Bottleneck: More than 60% of Indian breast cancer patients are diagnosed late because of delayed clinical presentation.

Policy and Public Health Imperatives

• Early Diagnosis: Expand screening programmes and improve treatment capacity to reduce mortality.
• Data Systems: Broaden the coverage of cancer registries to generate region-specific, accurate data for improved strategies.
• Risk Reduction: Adopt health policies that promote obesity management, tobacco reduction, healthy diets, and regular physical activity.
• Financial Protection: Reduce out-of-pocket expenditure for cancer patients and their households.

Defence Ministry Signs Contracts for ALH Mk-III Helicopters and VL-Shtil Missiles

• Ministry of Defence signed a ₹2,901 crore contract with HAL for six ALH Mk-III (Maritime Role) helicopters for the Indian Coast Guard under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category.
• It also signed a ₹2,182 crore contract with Russia’s JSC Rosoboronexport for Vertical Launch Shtil (VL-Shtil) missiles for the Indian Navy.

Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mk-III

• The ALH Mk-III is an indigenously developed twin-engine helicopter designed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) as part of the Dhruv ALH family.
• Configuration: It is powered by two Shakti-1H1 engines and equipped with a 270-degree surveillance radar for wide-area scanning.
• Multirole: ALH Mk-III is a multirole helicopter capable of coastal patrolling, search and rescue, maritime security operations, and pollution response.
• Basing: The helicopter can operate from both shore-based airfields and naval ships.

Vertical Launch Shtil (VL-Shtil)

• VL-Shtil, also known as Shtil-1, is a Russian-designed ship-based medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system.
• Purpose: It provides near-instantaneous 360-degree layered air defence for frontline warships.
• Launch System: Its below-deck Vertical Launch System (VLS) cells offer omnidirectional defence and a higher rate of fire (one missile every 2-3 seconds)
• Parameters: The system has an operational range of up to 50 km and a speed of up to Mach 4.5.
• Altitude: It can engage targets from as low as 5 metres (sea-skimming) up to 15 km altitude.
• Capacity: A single installation can track and engage up to 12 targets simultaneously.

Climate Change Challenges to Core Principles of International Law

• Climate change impacts such as sea-level rise and fossil fuel phase-out pressures are challenging fundamental principles of international law.

Evolving Challenges to International Legal Principles

1. Permanent Sovereignty over Natural Resources (PSNR)

• Resource Sovereignty: PSNR recognises every state’s sovereign right to exploit all natural resources for economic development.
• Legal Origin: United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 1803 (1962) codified PSNR as a principle of economic self-determination.
• Sovereignty Clash: Climate governance treats fossil fuels as a global concern, while PSNR treats them as sovereign entitlements of states.
• Policy Tension: Climate mitigation policies challenge the traditional scope of PSNR by requiring limits on fossil-fuel extraction.

2, Territorial Requirement for Statehood

• Statehood Criteria: Montevideo Convention (1933) defines statehood through four elements – defined territory, permanent population, effective government, and capacity for international relations.
• Territorial Rule: The Convention does not prescribe any minimum territorial size as a requirement for statehood.
• Submergence Risk: Sea-level rise (SLR) may submerge low-lying states such as Tuvalu and Kiribati, undermining the territorial basis of statehood.
• Legal Gap: International law does not clarify whether submerged states retain sovereignty, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) rights, treaty obligations, or UN membership.

3. Climate-Induced Migration and Refugee Protection

• Narrow Definition: The 1951 Refugee Convention defines a refugee as a person fleeing persecution due to race, religion, nationality, social group, or political opinion.
• Legal Exclusion: Environmental or climate-driven displacement does not meet the Convention’s definition and does not qualify for treaty-based refugee protection.
• Fragmented Response: Climate migration relies on diverse national policies and humanitarian visas due to the absence of a single global legal framework.
• Assumption Gap: Refugee law assumes temporary flight and eventual return to the country of origin, whereas displacement from submerged territories may become permanent.

4. Unsettling of Maritime Zones

• UNCLOS Framework: United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) defines maritime zones based on coastal baselines.
• Ambulatory Baseline: Under UNCLOS, baselines change with natural coastline alterations like erosion or sea-level rise.
• Baseline Retreat: Rising sea levels move baselines inland, shrinking maritime zones and decreasing access to fisheries and seabed resources.
• Legal Conflict: Demands by small island states for permanent baselines conflict with the ambulatory baseline doctrine under UNCLOS.

Megalithic Rock-Cut Chamber Unearthed in Kerala

• An underground laterite rock-cut burial chamber was uncovered at Panayal in Kasaragod district, Kerala.
• The structure belongs to the Megalithic cultural phase, dating back around 2,000 years.
• Key Features: A vertical rectangular shaft leads to an underground chamber with a circular or hemispherical interior and a domed ceiling.
• Unique Feature: A small circular opening at the top, probably a symbolic vent for ritual offerings.
• Local Names: These structures are locally called Muniyara, Pandava Cave, Peeranki Cave, and Nidhikuzhi.

About Megalithic Culture

• Megalithic culture in India (1500 BCE to 300 CE) marks a transition between the Neolithic-Chalcolithic periods and the early Historic period.
• Key Feature: Large stones (megaliths) used as memorials or burial markers for graves.
• Distinguishing Pottery: Wheel-made Black-and-Red Ware often marked with graffiti symbols.
• Iron-Age Link: Most Megalithic sites have iron objects, connecting the culture to the Iron Age.
• Burial Forms: South Indian sites feature umbrella stones (Kudakkallu) and hat stones (Thoppikkallu) above ground, along with underground chambers for secondary burials.

Two New Primitive Earthworm Species Discovered in Silent Valley National Park

• Scientists discovered two new primitive moniligastrid earthworm species, named Moniligaster girishi and Drawida reynoldsi, in the Silent Valley National Park in Kerala.
• Significance: The discovery raises India’s total recognised moniligastrid species count to 95, with 70 found in the Western Ghats.

Newly Discovered Species

1. Moniligaster girishi

• Feature: M. girishi has a single, undivided spermathecal atrial gland (sperm-storage organ) on each side of its anterior body.
• Prostatic Capsule: Its prostatic capsule (reproductive fluid gland) remains smooth and tubular at one end and flattens into a strap-like shape at the other.
• Habitat: The species inhabits tropical wet evergreen forests and lives inside decaying logs.
• Endemism: It is endemic to the Chembotti region of Silent Valley National Park in Kerala.

2. Drawida reynoldsi

• Features: D. reynoldsi has a sausage-shaped prostatic capsule and a large, erect, spermathecal atrium.
• Habitat: The species inhabits high-altitude montane grasslands, especially the Shola grassland.
• Endemism: It has been recorded only from the Silent Valley National Park.