Author: instakas

150 Years of Vande Mataram

Syllabus: GS1/ Modern History

Context

• India is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its national song, Vande Mataram.

Historical Background

• It was composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in Sanskrit and first appeared in the novel Anandamath in 1882.
• First sung by Rabindranath Tagore at the 1896 Indian National Congress session gave it national exposure.
• The song celebrates the motherland as an embodiment of strength, prosperity, and divinity and provided a poetic voice to India’s awakening national consciousness.

Rise of National Consciousness

• During the Swadeshi Movement of 1905, Vande Mataram emerged as the anthem of civil resistance.
• Vande Mataram, as a political slogan, was first used on 7 August 1905.
• For many young revolutionaries facing execution, Vande Mataram became the last chant before martyrdom, turning the song into a symbol of sacrifice.
• In 1907, Madam Bhikaji Cama raised the tricolour flag for the first-time outside India in Stuttgart, Berlin. The words Vande Mataram were written on the flag.
• In October 1905, a Bande Mataram Sampradaya was founded in North Calcutta to promote the idea of the Motherland as a mission and a religious passion.
• In 1906, an English daily titled Bande Mataram was launched under the editorship of Bipin Chandra Pal, with Aurobindo later joining as joint editor.

National Song

• After independence, the Constituent Assembly deliberated on the status of Vande Mataram.
• On 24 January 1950, the first two stanzas were adopted as India’s National Song.

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

• Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay was one of the architects of modern Indian literature.
• As a distinguished novelist, poet, and essayist, his contributions significantly influenced the development of modern Bengali prose and the articulation of an emerging Indian nationalism.
• Other works: Durgeshanandini (1865), Kapalkundala (1866), and Devi Chaudhurani (1884).

Thailand-Cambodia Conflict

Syllabus: GS2/IR

In News

• Recently, Thailand launched airstrikes on Cambodian military targets.

Background

• The conflict centers on a long-standing territorial dispute dating back to colonial-era border demarcations made by France in 1907.
• At the heart of the dispute is the Preah Vihear temple, a culturally significant 11th–12th century Khmer shrine claimed by both countries.
• Though the International Court of Justice affirmed Cambodian sovereignty in 1962 and again in 2013, Thailand has rejected the rulings, and the area remains heavily militarized.

UPI Recognized as World’s Largest Real-Time Payment System by IMF

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

In News

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) report on ‘Growing Retail Digital Payments (The Value of Interoperability)’ dated June 2025 had recognized Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as the world’s largest retail fast-payment system (FPS) by transaction volume.

Unified Payments Interface (UPI)

• Launched by – UPI was designed and launched by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2016.
• Objective – It is a system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application (of any participating bank), merging several banking features, seamless fund routing & merchant payments into one hood.
• Countries with operational or planned interoperability include: Singapore (PayNow), UAE, France, Nepal, Bhutan, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and others.

Additional Information – National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)

• Established in – It serves as an umbrella body for the operation of retail payments in India.
• Established by – Reserve Bank of India along with the Indian Bank’s Association.
• Established under – It was set up under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.

Products of NPCI

1. RuPay
2. National Common Mobility Card
3. Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM)
4. Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
5. Bharat Bill Payment System

International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

In News

• The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change addressed a high-level meeting of the Collaborative Initiative for Big Cat Conservation under the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) in New Delhi.

International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

• Headquarters – India,
• Objective – It is a multi-country, multi-agency coalition of 95 big cat range countries with an interest in big cat conservation.
• Genesis: IBCA was launched by the Prime Minister of India in 2023 during the event ‘Commemorating 50 years of Project Tiger’.
• Aim: Conserving seven big cats – Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma.
• Members: Nicaragua, Eswatini, India, Somalia and Liberia have signed the Framework Agreement to formally become members of the IBCA.

C. Rajagopalachari

Syllabus: GS1/History

In News

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to C. Rajagopalachari popularly known as Rajaji on his birth anniversary (10th December).

1. Rajagopalachari

Early Life and Education:

• He was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi.
• Completed Bachelor of Law (1899) and began practicing law in Salem.
• Early political consciousness was shaped by Curzon’s Partition of Bengal (1905) and Tilak’s call for Swaraj.

Contributions to Freedom’s Struggle:

• He left his legal career in 1919 and went on to play a leading role in several major movements, including the protests against the Rowlatt Act, the Non-Cooperation Movement, the Vaikom Satyagraha, and the Civil Disobedience Movement.
• Led the Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha (1930) in the Madras region, parallel to Gandhi’s Dandi March.
• After Quit India Movement, published “The Way Out”, proposing the C. R. Formula to resolve the constitutional deadlock with the Muslim League over Pakistan.

Post-Independence Contributions:

• Appointed Governor of West Bengal and later became the first Indian Governor-General of India (1947–1950) after independence.
• Worked to protect India’s secular fabric and integrate Muslims into the national mainstream.
• Served as Union Home Minister after Sardar Patel’s death; contributed to national integration & early planning processes, including the First Five-Year Plan.
• Legacy: He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1954 for his contributions to politics, literature and public service.

‘Your Money, Your Right’ Movement

Syllabus: GS2/Governance/GS3/Economy

In News

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to participate in the ‘Your Money, Your Right’ movement.

‘Your Money, Your Right’ movement

• It is an initiative, launched in October 2025
• It was designed to ensure citizens can reclaim their rightful assets.
• It aimed at helping people recover unclaimed deposits, insurance proceeds, dividends and other financial assets.
• Significance – It offers individuals a chance to convert forgotten financial assets into usable funds.

Various Steps

• Dedicated online portals have been created to enable easy tracking and claiming of funds:
• RBI UDGAM Portal for unclaimed bank deposits
• IRDAI Bima Bharosa Portal for unclaimed insurance proceeds
• SEBI MITRA Portal for unclaimed mutual fund amounts; and
• IEPFA Portal for unpaid dividends and unclaimed shares.
• Facilitation camps have been held in 477 districts across the country, with a focus on rural and remote areas.

Technology Development Fund Scheme

Syllabus: GS2/Governance; GS3/Science and Tech

In News

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has handed over seven technologies developed under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme to the three Services.

Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme

• It is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Defence executed by DRDO under ‘Make in India’ initiative.
• Objective – It provides grants-in-aid to Indian industries, especially MSMEs and startups, to innovate, research, design, and develop indigenous defence and dual-use technologies.

Export Promotion Mission (EPM)

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

Context

• The Government has approved the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) with ₹25,060 crore to boost exports, especially for MSMEs and labour-intensive sectors.

Export Promotion Mission

• Launched in – Union Budget for 2025-26, the Finance Minister announced an Export Promotion Mission.
• Objective – It would facilitate easy access to export credit, cross-border factoring support, and support to MSMEs to tackle non-tariff measures in overseas markets.
• Duration – 2025-26 to FY 2030-31.

Two Integrated Sub-Schemes: Niryat Protsahan & Niryat Disha.

Financial Support (Niryat Protsahan)

• Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters (CGSE): Provides 100% coverage by the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Ltd (NCGTC).
• Additional credit facilities up to ₹20,000 crore to eligible exporters (including MSMEs).
• Enables collateral-free credit, improving liquidity and competitiveness.

Non-Financial Support (Niryat Disha)

• Addressing Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs): Funding for compliance, certifications, and technical standards.
• Market Acquisition & Branding: Assistance for international exhibitions, packaging, and branding.
• Logistics Cost Reduction: Support for supply chain efficiency and trade facilitation.

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

Syllabus: GS2/ Statutory Bodies

In News

• A large-scale cancellation of flights by a major Indian airline recently led the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to grant a one-time exemption from the newly implemented Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) rules.

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

• Establishment: Created in 1927 as a government organisation.
• Legal status – It is a statutory body which is responsible for the implementation of the Aircraft Act.
• Administrative Control: Functions under the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA).
• Aim: To promote safe, efficient, and reliable air transport through ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) norms.

Exercise Harimau Shakti

Syllabus: GS3/ Defence

In News

• India and Malaysia have commenced the 5th edition of Exercise Harimau Shakti 2025 at the Mahajan Field Firing Range, Rajasthan.

Exercise Harimau Shakti

• It is a bilateral military exercise between the Indian Army and the Malaysian Army.
• The exercise aimed at training both forces in jungle warfare, counter-insurgency operations, semi-urban combat & enabling smoother cooperation in future missions.

23rd India-Russia Annual Summit

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• India and Russia held their 23rd annual bilateral summit, marking a major milestone — 25 years of the Declaration on Strategic Partnership (2000).

Key Outcomes of the Visit

• Economic Programme 2030: The Leaders welcomed the adoption of the Programme for the Development of Strategic Areas of India – Russia Economic Cooperation till 2030 (Programme 2030).
• Trade Target: timely achievement of the revised bilateral trade target of USD 100 billion by 2030.
• Strategic Agreements Signed: India and Russia exchanged sixteen agreements in areas related to defence, trade, economy, healthcare, academics, culture and media.
• Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Push: Both sides are working towards the early conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union.
• Migration Cooperation: India will soon be launching a free 30-day e-tourist visa and a 30-day Group Tourist Visa for Russian citizens.
• Cooperation in Global and Multilateral Platforms: The Russian side has decided to join the International Big Cat Alliance.

70th Mahaparinirvan Diwas

Syllabus: GS1/History

In News

• President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid floral tributes to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on Mahaparinirvan Diwas at the Parliament complex in New Delhi.

Mahaparinirvan Diwas

• Meaning – Parinirvana, regarded as one of the major principles as well as goals of Buddhism, is a Sanskrit term which means release or freedom after death.
• As per the Buddhist text ‘Mahaparinibbana Sutta’, the death of Lord Buddha at the age of 80 is considered as the original Mahaparinirvan.
• Observed on – 6th December is observed to commemorate the unfathomable contribution to society given by Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar and his achievements.
• Owing to Dr. B.R.Ambedkar’s status as a Buddhist leader, his death anniversary is referred to as Mahaparinirvan Diwas.

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar

• Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar was a social reformer, jurist, economist, author, polyglot (knowing or using several languages), orator, a scholar and thinker of comparative religions.
• Birth – He was born in 1891 in Mhow, Central Province (now Madhya Pradesh).

Brief Profile

• He is known as the Father of the Indian Constitution and was India’s first Law Minister.
• He was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution.
• He was a well-known statesman who fought for the rights of the Dalits and other socially backward classes.

Contributions

• He led the Mahad Satyagraha in March 1927 against Hindus who were opposing the decision of the Municipal Board which had barred the untouchables from using water from the mahad tank.
• In 1926, the Municipal Board of Mahad (Maharashtra) passed an order to open the tank to all communities.
• He participated in all three Round Table Conferences.
• In 1932, Dr. Ambedkar signed the Poona pact with Mahatma Gandhiji, which abandoned the idea of separate electorates for the depressed classes (Communal Award).
• However, the seats reserved for the depressed classes were increased from 71 to 147 in provincial legislatures and to 18% of the total in the Central Legislature.
• His ideas before the Hilton Young Commission served as the foundation of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Election and Designation

• In 1937, he was elected to the Bombay Legislative Assembly as a legislator (MLA).
• He was appointed to the Executive Council of Viceroy as a Labour member in 1942.
• In 1947, Dr. Ambedkar accepted PM Nehru’s invitation to become Minister of Law in the first Cabinet of independent India.

Shift to Buddhism

• He resigned from the cabinet in 1951, over differences on the Hindu Code Bill. He converted to Buddhism in 1956.
• He was awarded India’s highest civilian honour the Bharat Ratna in 1990.

Important Works

Journals

• Mooknayak (1920), Bahishkrit Bharat (1927), Samatha (1929), Janata (1930).

Books

• Annihilation of Caste, Buddha or Karl Marx, The Untouchable: Who are They and Why They Have Become Untouchables
• Buddha and His Dhamma
• The Rise and Fall of Hindu Women

Organizations

• Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha (1923)
• Independent Labor Party (1936)
• Scheduled Castes Federation (1942)

Death

• He died on 6th December 1956.
• Chaitya Bhoomi is a memorial to B R Ambedkar, located in Mumbai.

Relevance of Ambedkar in Present Times

• Caste-based inequality in India still persists. While Dalits have acquired a political identity through reservation and forming their own political parties, they lag behind in social (health and education) and economic dimension.

India’s Groundwater Contamination Crisis

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) highlights a disturbing rise in toxic contaminants across India’s aquifers.

India’s Groundwater Contamination Crisis

• India holds 18% of the world’s population but only 4% of its freshwater resources, placing enormous pressure on available water systems.
• India depends on groundwater for about 85% of its rural drinking water needs and around 60% of irrigation water.

Crisis of Groundwater Contamination

• India’s aquifers show simultaneous contamination with, Arsenic, Fluoride, Nitrate, Uranium, Salinity and Heavy metals.

Government Initiatives

• Jal Shakti Abhiyan (2019): Focuses on water conservation and groundwater recharge in water-stressed districts.
• Amrit Sarovar Mission: Aims to develop and rejuvenate 75 water bodies per district.
• National Aquifer Mapping Program (NAQUIM): Helps delineate and understand aquifers for sustainable management.
• Atal Bhujal Yojana – It was launched to improve groundwater management in priority areas with critical and overexploited blocks.

PM JI-VAN

Syllabus: GS2/Govt Policy & Intervention; GS3/Environment

Context

• Recently, the Union Government has expanded the timeline of the Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana, reaffirming its commitment to sustainable development and energy security.

PM JI-VAN

• It was launched in 2019
• Implementation- Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoP&NG).
• Objective: To promote 2G ethanol projects, use agricultural waste (biomass), meet Ethanol Blending (EBP) targets, increase farmers’ income and help in environmental goals (such as net-zero emissions).
• Methodology: The scheme encourages ethanol production from molasses and non-edible biomass (such as crop residues) instead of the petrochemical route.

Importance

• Energy security: reducing dependence on fossil fuel imports.
• Rural Economy: Providing farmers with new markets for their crop residues, increasing their income.
• Environment: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, tackling pollution, contributing to the net-zero emissions target.
• Investment: Attracting private investment in the 2G ethanol sector.
• Example: India’s first 2G ethanol project (at Panipat by IOCL) was set up under this scheme and dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minister in 2022.

Additional Information – Biofuels

• Definition – Biofuels are alternative fuels made from plant and plant-derived resources.
• Example: Bioethanol, Biodiesel, Green diesel, Biogas etc.

National Policy on Biofuels, 2018

• The National Policy on Biofuels 2018 (amended in 2022) provides a framework for increasing the use of biofuels in India to enhance energy security.

Government Efforts for Biofuel Expansion

• Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana (Jaiv Indhan – Vatavaran Anukool fasal awashesh Nivaran Yojana): It promotes 2G ethanol production from agricultural waste and residues.
• GOBAR-Dhan Scheme (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan): It promotes biogas and bio-CNG production from cattle dung and organic waste.
• SATAT Scheme (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation): It promotes Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) production as a fuel alternative.

Antarctic Ozone Hole Closes Early in 2025

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

In News

• The Antarctic ozone hole that formed in August 2025 closed earlier than usual, offering hope for recovery amid record global warming.

OZONE LAYER DEPLETION

Basics – Ozone Layer (O₃)

• It is a highly reactive molecule containing three oxygen atoms.
• Found in – It is present between 10 and 50 km above the earth’s surface, called the stratosphere.
• Function – This ozone layer serves as a natural filter for blocking deadly incoming UV radiation from the sun.
• Significance – This ozone shield is necessary for the survival of human life on the earth.

OZONE LAYER DEPLETION

• Definition – The decrease in ozone concentration in the middle layers of the atmosphere – mainly in the stratosphere is referred to as the depletion of the ozone layer.
• Caused by – It is caused by emissions of anthropogenic halogenated hydrocarbons such as CFCs, HCFCs, Halons, Carbon tetrachloride and Methyl bromide.

Why is ozone depletion more in Antarctica than the equator?

• The severe depletion of the Antarctic ozone layer known as the “ozone hole” occurs because of the special weather conditions that exist there and nowhere else on the globe.
  • The very low temperatures of the Antarctic stratosphere create ice clouds called polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs).

Measures to Prevent Ozone Layer Depletion

Vienna Convention

• Objective – To protect human health and the environment from any harmful effects of the depletion of the ozone layer.
• Held in – Vienna , Austria
• Adopted in – 1985.
• Came into force – 1988.

Montreal Protocol

• Enforcement – It was agreed upon in 1987 in Montreal, Canada and entered into force in 1989.
• Objective – To protect the Ozone layer by reducing the production of substances that are supposed to be responsible for Ozone layer depletion.
• Kigali Agreement – The protocol was further strengthened with the ratification of the legally binding Kigali Agreement in 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda.
• Significance – It seeks to phase out the production of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) that are potent greenhouse gases by the late 2040s.

BNHS to Reintroduce Two Vulture Species in Assam

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), is set to reintroduce two critically endangered vulture species, Slender-billed Vultures (Gyps tenuirostris) and White-rumped Vultures (Gyps bengalensis), in Assam.

Vulture

• Vultures are one of the 22 species of large carrion-eating birds that live mostly in the tropics and subtropics.

India is home to nine species of Vulture namely

1. Oriental white-backed,
2. Long-billed,
3. Slender-billed
4. Himalayan,
5. Red-headed,
6. Egyptian,
7. Bearded,
8. Cinereous
9. Eurasian Griffon.

Threats

• Use of Diclofenac: A veterinary nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) found in the carcass of cattle the vultures feed on. The veterinary use of diclofenac was banned in 2008.
• Pesticides: The presence of organochlorine pesticide, polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals were also the major cause of mortality.
• Other threats include lack of nesting trees, electrocution by power lines, and food dearth and contaminated food.

Conservation Efforts

• The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has approved an Action Plan for Vulture Conservation 2020-2025. It includes:
• Vulture Conservation Centre: Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu will get a vulture conservation and breeding centre.
• India has lost 99 percent of the population of the three species, Oriental White-Backed Vulture, Long-billed Vulture and Slender-billed Vulture.

Conservation Status

• Schedule-1 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Bearded, Long-billed, Slender-billed, Oriental white-backed.
• Rest are protected under ‘Schedule IV’.

IUCN Red List;

• Critically Endangered: Oriental White-backed Vulture, Long-billed Vulture, Slender-billed Vulture and Red-headed Vulture.
• Endangered: Egyptian Vulture.
• Least Concerned: Eurasian Griffon.
• Near Threatened: Himalayan, Bearded and Cinereous.

Additional Information – Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)

• It is one of the largest and oldest non-governmental organizations in India
• Founded on September 15, 1883, in Mumbai,
• Objective – to conserve nature through action based on research, education, and public awareness.

Leprosy

Syllabus: GS2/Health

Context

• The Supreme Court has directed the NHRC to address discrimination against persons affected by leprosy.

Leprosy in India

• India continues to report about 57 % of leprosy cases worldwide,
• States with highest prevalence of leprosy – Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Odisha.

Elimination efforts –

• National Strategic Plan (NSP) and Roadmap for Leprosy (2023-27) – Launched in 2023, to achieve zero transmission of leprosy by 2027.
• The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.3 aims to end leprosy by 2030.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Jordan as the first country in the world to eliminate leprosy in 2024.

Leprosy

• Leprosy is also known as Hansen’s disease.
• Pathogen – It is a chronic infectious disease caused by a type of bacteria, Mycobacterium leprae.
• It is known to occur at all ages ranging from early childhood to old age.
• Symptoms: The disease predominantly affects the skin and peripheral nerves.

1. Loss of sensation in affected areas.
2. Left untreated, the disease may cause progressive and permanent disabilities.

• Transmission: Through droplets from the nose and mouth.
• Treatment: Leprosy is a curable disease through the multi-drug therapy (MDT).

Inhalable Microplastics (iMPs)

Syllabus: GS2/ Health

In News

• Recent study has revealed the presence of inhalable microplastics (iMPs) in the air of major Indian markets, marking them as a new class of pollutants comparable to PM2.5 and PM10.

Inhalable microplastics (iMPs)

• They are plastic particles less than 10 micrometres (microns) in size and can enter human lungs through the nose.
• It found the highest concentrations in Kolkata and Delhi, with iMPs contributing up to 5% of urban particulate matter, largely from synthetic clothing, packaging, tyre wear, and footwear.
• Inhalable microplastics (iMPs) can penetrate deep into the lungs, enter the bloodstream, and act as carriers for toxic chemicals like diethyl phthalate and heavy metals such as lead.
• It poses risks of cancer, respiratory, hormonal, and neurological disorders.

Invasive Alien Plants in India

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

In News

• Invasive alien plants are rapidly transforming India’s ecosystems, nearly doubling their range in sensitive regions like the Western Ghats, Himalayas, and the north-east, driven by climate change, land-use shifts, and biodiversity loss.

Invasive Alien Plants

• Definition – Invasive species refer to non native species that, when introduced to a new environment, can cause harm to the ecosystem, economy, or human health.
• These species often outcompete or negatively interact with native species, disrupt natural processes, and can lead to significant ecological imbalances.
• They can be plants, animals, fungi, or even microbes.

Characteristics of Invasive Species

• Rapid reproduction and growth
• High dispersal ability
• Broad dietary range
• Physiological adaptability to new conditions
• Tolerance to a wide range of environmental factors
• Capacity to alter growth forms based on surroundings

Common Invasive Species Found in India

• Viper grass
• Lantana camara
• Prosopis juliflora
• Water hyacinth
• African catfish
• Cotton Mealy Bug
• Primrose Willow

Measures taken at the International Level

• United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD – 1992): The Convention emphasizes the need to prevent the introduction of, control, or eradicate invasive alien species that threaten ecosystems, habitats, or species.
• Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF – 2022): It has been agreed under the UN CBD and aims to reduce the rate of introduction and establishment of invasive alien species by at least 50% by 2030.
• Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP): It supports research, capacity building, and management strategies to address invasive species issues worldwide.

Measures taken at the National Level

• National Action Plan on Invasive Alien Species (NAPINVAS): It focuses on the prevention, early detection, control, and management of invasive species.
• National Invasive Species Information Center (NISIC) – It  provides information and resources on invasive species in India.
• The Himalayan Environmental Foundation is working to control invasive species like Lantana camara in the Himalayas.

World Soil Day

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• World Soil Day is observed annually on December 5 to raise awareness about the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for sustainable management.

World Soil Day

• Observed on – December 5
• Observed by – International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS).
• 2025 theme – “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities”.

Initiatives for Soil Conservation

• Soil Health Card Scheme: It provides farmers with soil nutrient status reports to encourage balanced fertilizer use and improve productivity.
• Promotion of Organic Farming: Initiatives like Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) encourage organic farming practices to maintain soil health.

Global Initiatives

• Global Soil Partnership (GSP): It is an FAO-led initiative to improve global soil governance and promote sustainable soil management.
• United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD): It works to prevent land degradation and promote sustainable land management
• It has a pledge for land degradation neutrality (LDN) by 2030.

Kuno National Park (KNP)

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

Context

• On International Cheetah Day (December 4), the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister released three cheetahs into the wild at Kuno National Park.

Kuno

• Located in – Sheopur district, Madhya Pradesh.
• It is named after the Kuno River, a perennial tributary of the Chambal that flows through the park.
• Notified as – Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary in 1981
• Forest type – Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous

Do you know?

• Twelve years after the Supreme Court’s 2013 order to shift some Asiatic lions from Gujarat to Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno as a second home, the translocation still hasn’t materialised.

About

• India declared the cheetah extinct in 1952, after decades of over-hunting, habitat fragmentation, and depletion of prey species.
• The launch of Project Cheetah in 2022 and the arrival of cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa created the world’s first intercontinental relocation programme for a large carnivore.
• Botswana – It’s a landlocked country with nearly 70% of its landmass covered by the Kalahari Desert, and holds one of the world’s largest wild cheetah populations.

Project Cheetah

• Overview: Project Cheetah is India’s ambitious attempt to reintroduce the cheetah in suitable open forest and grassland ecosystems.
• Launched By: National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a statutory body under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (amended 2006).
• Uniqueness – It is the world’s first intercontinental translocation of a large wild carnivore.

Translocations So Far:

• 8 cheetahs from Namibia in 2022
• 12 cheetahs from South Africa in 2023
• 8 cheetahs from Botswana (2025 announcement)

Cheetah(Acinonyx jubatus)

• It is the world’s fastest mammal and the only large carnivore to have gone extinct in India (1952).
• Unlike other big cats, cheetahs do not roar.
• There are two main species: the African cheetah (Vulnerable) and the Asiatic cheetah (Critically Endangered), found only in eastern Iran and parts of Africa.​