South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN)

Environment

News –

Member countries adopted the Kathmandu Declaration at the first General Assembly of the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN), held in Kathmandu, Nepal.

About

Full form: South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network.
Established: 2011, Bhutan; regional intergovernmental body against illegal wildlife trafficking.
Members: 8 SAARC countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan & Sri Lanka.
Secretariat: Kathmandu, Nepal.
Structure: General Assembly → Executive Committee → Secretariat headed by Secretary-General.
Kathmandu Declaration: Recognises illegal wildlife trade as transnational organised crime.
SAWEN Implementation Plan: 2026–2030 for coordinated enforcement.
SAWEN Day: 30 January.

Kathmandu Declaration

Illegal wildlife trade: Recognised as transnational organised crime.
Enforcement: Intelligence-led operations + anti-money laundering + financial investigations.
Implementation Plan: SAWEN Implementation Plan 2026–2030 for coordinated enforcement.
SAWEN Day: 30 January to mark SAWEN’s foundation and promote biodiversity awareness.

BRICS Photovoltaic Industry Action Plan

International

Context (DTE):

The 18th BRICS Summit (2026), New Delhi, welcomed the Photovoltaic Industry Action Plan adopted by BRICS Industry Ministers in Jaipur in August 2026.

About

Adopted: BRICS Industry Ministers, Jaipur, August 2026; welcomed at 18th BRICS Summit, New Delhi.
Aim: Strengthen PV industry cooperation through the BRICS Photovoltaic Industry Working Group under PartNIR.
Priority areas: Technology cooperation, financing & capacity building.
Knowledge portals: Members encouraged to create national portals for sharing PV policies, developments & best practices.

Basics – Photovoltaic

PV effect: Converts sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductor cells.
Main material: Silicon.
Process: Sunlight → DC electricity → inverter → AC.
Value chain: Polysilicon → Ingots → Wafers → Cells → Modules.
Advantages: Renewable, low emissions, scalable.
Challenges: Intermittency, storage, land and raw-material dependence.

Paraguay

International

News –

India and Paraguay commemorated the 65th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations.

About

Location: Landlocked country in south-central South America.
Capital: Asunción
Borders: Argentina, Brazil & Bolivia

Regions: Eastern Paraguay + Chaco Boreal (≈ two-thirds of country), part of the Gran Chaco.
Climate: Subtropical (east) and tropical (Chaco).
Major Rivers: Paraguay & Paraná.
Mountain ranges: Amambay & Caaguazú.
Membership: OAS, MERCOSUR & WTO.

Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Domestic PNG Connections

Government Schemes

News –

To expand PNG coverage, the Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Domestic PNG Connections was launched on 18 August 2026 and came into effect from 1 September 2026.

About-

Launched: Aug 2026; effective 1 Sept 2026.
Aim: Increase active domestic PNG connections.
Duration: 2 tranches over 6 months.
Benefit: Replaces costlier LNG, reducing CGD sourcing costs.
PNGRB: Statutory regulator under PNGRB Act, 2006; regulates CGD networks.

PNG (Piped Natural Gas) – UPSC

Composition: Mainly methane (CH₄).
Supply: Transported through underground pipelines to households/industries.
Properties: Clean-burning, non-toxic, non-corrosive and highly energy-efficient.
Uses: Cooking, heating and industrial applications.

Badri Cattle

Science & technology

News –

A female Badri calf was born via Ovum Pick-Up and In Vitro Fertilisation (OPU-IVF) technology, following the transfer of a Badri embryo to a Sahiwal recipient cow.

About

Badri: Indigenous hill cattle breed of Uttarakhand; found in Kumaon & Garhwal.
Features: Small, long-legged, sure-footed, disease-resistant; low milk yield but high fat & protein; mainly A2 β-casein.
Sahiwal: Indigenous high-yielding dairy breed; heat-tolerant & low-maintenance.

Ovum Pick-Up (OPU) -IVF technology

OPU: Ultrasound-guided collection of oocytes from donor females.
IVF: Oocytes fertilised with selected sperm in laboratory.
Embryo Transfer: Embryo transferred to a synchronised surrogate/recipient.
Key point: Recipient carries the pregnancy but contributes no genetic material.

Colombo Security Conclave

International

News –

Colombo Security Conclave Table Top Exercise concluded at Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam.

About –

Origin: Trilateral NSA dialogue of India–Sri Lanka–Maldives (2011); revived/rebranded as CSC in 2020.
Members: India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius, Bangladesh & Seychelles.
HQ/Secretariat: Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Focus: Maritime security and non-traditional security threats in the Indian Ocean Region.

5 Pillars:

Maritime safety & security
Counter-terrorism & radicalisation
Disaster management
Cybersecurity & technology
Humanitarian assistance & emergency response

Eravikulam National Park

Environment

News –

A recent survey found Eravikulam National Park as a thriving habitat for the endangered Resplendent Shrub Frog.

About

Established: 1978; Kerala’s first national park.
Location: Idukki district, Kerala, Southern Western Ghats.
Altitude: ~1,600–2,695 m; includes Anamudi, highest peak of South India.
Vegetation: Shola forests, grasslands, medicinal plants & high-altitude flora.
Neelakurinji: Famous for its 12-year flowering cycle.
Key fauna: Nilgiri Tahr, Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur.
Resplendent Shrub Frog: Raorchestes resplendens; known only from Eravikulam NP, especially the Anamudi region; distinctive short limbs and ground-dwelling/crawling behaviour.

Addis Ababa Call to Action on Early Warnings in Africa

International

News-

The Addis Ababa Call to Action on Early Warnings in Africa, adopted at the Africa Early Warnings Forum held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

About

Adopted at: Africa Early Warnings Forum, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Aim: Strengthen cooperation so African communities can anticipate hazards, receive timely warnings & take early action.
Focus: Climate-related hazards and multi-hazard early warning systems.
EW4All: Launched by the UN Secretary-General in 2022.
Goal: Protect every person on Earth by 2027 through multi-hazard early warning systems.