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Earth System Sciences Council

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

Context

• 5 institutes of the Ministry of Earth Sciences have been formally brought under a single umbrella by merging five separate Societies into one single called “Earth System Sciences Council” (ESSC).

Earth System Sciences Council

• Aim: To streamline governance and collectively address the scientific and humanitarian problems posed by the changing climate, erratic monsoons and melting polar regions.

Institutes Merged:

• Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) Pune
• National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) Goa
• National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) Chennai
• National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS) Thiruvananthapuram
• Indian National Centre for Ocean Information and Services (INCOIS) Hyderabad.

Earth System Science Organisation comprises two sub-ordinate offices:

• India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF).
• ESSC formally registered as a body in 2023, MoES Secretary will head the ESSC and the minister for Earth Sciences will act as the ESSC president.

‘YUVA AI for ALL’

Syllabus: GS3/ S&T

In News

• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), under the IndiaAI Mission, has launched ‘YUVA AI for ALL’, a first-of-its-kind free course that introduces the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to all Indians.

‘YUVA AI for ALL’

• It is a short, 5-hour self-paced course designed to make students, professionals and other curious learners comfortable with the basics of AI and to show how it’s transforming the world.
• It aims to empower 1 crore (10 million) citizens with foundational AI skills – helping bridge the digital divide, promote ethical AI adoption, and prepare India’s workforce for the future.

IndiaAI Mission

• Launched in – March 2024.
• Mandate – It is a comprehensive initiative aimed at fostering AI research, development, and innovation in India.
• Implementing Agency: ‘IndiaAI’ Independent Business Division under Digital India Corporation.

Hanoi Convention

Syllabus: GS3/Cybersecurity

Context

• 72 nations have signed a landmark United Nations Convention against Cybercrime treaty in Hanoi aimed at tackling cybercrime.

Hanoi Convention

• Aim: It proposes a legislative framework to boost international cooperation among law enforcement agencies and offer technical assistance to countries that lack adequate infrastructure for combating cybercrime.
• First Universal Convention: The Convention establishes the first universal framework for investigating and prosecuting offences against Cybercrime.
• Legally Binding: The UN Cybercrime Convention is a powerful, legally binding instrument.
• Adoption: It was adopted by the General Assembly in 2024 after five years of negotiation.
• The signing process is expected to remain open till next year.

Key Provisions:It criminalises the following types of crimes:

• Cyber-dependent crimes: Unauthorized access (hacking), data interference.
• Cyber-enabled crimes: Online fraud, non-consensual dissemination of intimate images.
• Child exploitation: Online sexual abuse, distribution of abuse material, solicitation/grooming.
• It facilitates the sharing of electronic evidence across borders and establishes a 24/7 cooperation network among States.
• It also makes history as the first international treaty to recognise the non-consensual dissemination of intimate images as an offence – a significant victory for victims of online abuse.
• Enforcement: It will enter into force 90 days after the 40th State deposits its ratification.
• Conference of the States Parties: After entry into force, a Conference of the States Parties will convene periodically to improve the capacity of and cooperation between States Parties.
• Secretariat: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime serves as the secretariat.

Connect with the basics – Types of Cyber Attacks

• Malware – It is short for malicious software, refers to any kind of software that is designed to cause damage to a single computer, server, or computer network.

Example – Ransomware, Spy ware, Worms, viruses, and Trojans are all varieties of malware.

• Phishing – It is the method of trying to gather personal information using deceptive e-mails and websites.

Types of Malware

• Spyware – Spyware is software that spies on you, tracking your internet activities in order to send advertising (Adware) back to your system.
• Virus – A virus is a contagious program or code that attaches itself to another piece of software, and then reproduces itself when that software is run. Most often this is spread by sharing software or files between computers.
• Worm – A program that replicates itself and destroys data and files on the computer. Worms work to “eat” the system operating files and data files until the drive is empty.

Recent Steps Taken in India regarding Cyber Security

• Cyber Surakshit Bharat Initiative – It was launched in 2018 with an aim to spread awareness about cybercrime and building capacity for safety measures for IT staff across all government departments.
• National Cyber security Coordination Centre (NCCC) – In 2017, the NCCC was developed to scan internet traffic and communication metadata coming into the country to detect real-time cyber threats.
• Cyber Swachhta Kendra – In 2017, this platform was introduced for internet users to clean their computers and devices by wiping out viruses and malware.
• Computer Emergency Response Team – India (CERT-IN) – It is the nodal agency which deals with cybersecurity threats like hacking and phishing.

Legislation

• Information Technology Act, 2000.
• Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019.

International Mechanisms

• International Telecommunication Union (ITU) – It is a specialised agency within the United Nations which plays a leading role in the standardisation and development of telecommunications and cyber security issues.

Budapest Convention on Cybercrime

• It is an international treaty that seeks to address Internet and computer crime (cybercrime) by harmonizing national laws, improving investigative techniques, and increasing cooperation among nations.
• It came into force on 1st July 2004.
• India is not a signatory to this convention.

Protection of Plant Variety and Farmers’ Rights Act (PPV&FRA Act)

Syllabus: GS3/Agriculture

Context

• The Union Agriculture Minister said that the Centre will amend the Protection of Plant Variety and Farmers’ Rights Act (PPV&FRA Act), incorporating suggestions from stakeholders.

Protection of Plant Variety and Farmers’ Rights Act (PPV&FRA Act) 2001

• Aim: To provide for the establishment of an effective system for the

1. Protection of plant varieties,
2. Rights of farmers and plant breeders
3. To encourage the development of new varieties of plants.

Significance:

• Balances innovation and farmers’ traditional rights.
• Promotes agrobiodiversity conservation.
• Enhances seed industry growth while protecting rural livelihoods.

India’s Dugong (sea cows) are Under Threat

Syllabus: GS3/Species in News

In News

• A recent report released at the IUCN Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi warns of the growing threat to India’s dugong population.

Dugongs(Dugong dugon)

• Dugongs are primarily herbivorous, grazing on 30 kg-40 kg of seagrass a day.
• They are known as “sea cows,” and peacefully graze on seagrass in shallow coastal waters of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans.
• They are often referred to as the “farmers or gardeners of the sea” for their important role in preserving the coastal ecosystems and aiding fish production.
• Geographic Range: These gentle giants are found in warm waters along coastlines, mainly confined to seagrass beds which occur in calm sheltered habitats such as bays and lagoons.
• Distribution – They are found in the Gulf of Mannar, the Palk Bay, the Gulf of Kutch and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India.
• Threats – Their population was on the decline over the past several decades owing to a variety of factors, including hunting for meat, commercial fishing practices leading to accidental drowning, and habitat degradation.

Protection status :

• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List – Vulnerable
• Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 – Schedule I

Conservation Efforts in India

• Dugong Conservation Reserve: India established its first dugong conservation reserve in Palk Bay, Tamil Nadu, which has been recognized by the IUCN as a global model for marine biodiversity conservation.​
• National Dugong Recovery Program: Launched in collaboration with Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands to protect habitats and promote dugong conservation.
• International Cooperation: India’s efforts align with global conservation frameworks such as CITES and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS).

Ginkgo-toothed Beaked Whales

Syllabus: GS3/Species in News

In News

• A team of scientists has spotted the rare ginkgo-toothed beaked whales for the first time in the wild along the coast of Baja California in Mexico.

Ginkgo-toothed beaked whales (Mesoplodon ginkgodens)

• They are one of 24 species of beaked whales.
• Beaked whales are the deepest-diving mammals on Earth.
• They spend most of their lives in the oceans, only coming to the surface for air for a few minutes at a time, usually far away from coastlines.
• They are found in the tropical and warm-temperate waters of the western Pacific.
• IUCN status – Data Deficient

LeadIT

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

In News

• At COP30 in Belém, Brazil, India’s Union Environment Minister addressed the LeadIT Industry Leaders’ Roundtable, reaffirming India’s role in driving low-carbon industrial transitions.

LeadIT

• Launch: 2019, jointly by India and Sweden, with support from the World Economic Forum at the UN Climate Action Summit.
• Purpose: To accelerate the transition of hard-to-abate, high-emitting industries—such as steel, cement, aluminium, chemicals, and heavy transport—towards net-zero by 2050.
• It was among the first global high-level initiatives focused specifically on industrial decarbonisation.
• LeadIT 2.0 (2024–2026), adopted during the LeadIT Summit at COP28 (Dubai). LeadIT 2.0 aims to move from dialogue to implementation.

CRISPR-Cas systems

In News

• Indian scientists at ICAR’s Central Rice Research Institute have developed a patented indigenous Genome-Editing(GE) technology using TnpB proteins as a compact alternative to the globally patented CRISPR-Cas systems.

Do you know?

• In May 2025, ICAR released two genome-edited rice varieties developed by Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR) and the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI).
• IIRR enhanced yields in Samba Mahsuri rice by editing the cytokinin oxidase 2 gene using CRISPR-Cas12a, while IARI improved drought and salinity tolerance in MTU-1010 (Cottondora Sannalu) by editing the DST gene with CRISPR-Cas9.

TnpB or Transposon-associated proteins

• It acts as “molecular scissors,” and precisely cuts and modifies plant DNA, enabling desirable traits without introducing foreign genes.
• Unlike bulky Cas9 and Cas12a proteins, the hypercompact TnpB (408 amino acids) can be easily delivered into cells via viral vectors, bypassing tissue culture methods.

Additional Information- Gene Editing Technology

• It refers to technology that permits the change of an organism’s DNA by allowing genetic material to be added, removed, or altered at particular locations in the genome.

CRISPR Cas9 Technology

• Acronym – Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats.
• Significance – With the use of the gene editing technique CRISPR, researchers can modify the DNA of living things.
• An enzyme called Cas9 functions as molecular scissors, guided by RNA molecules created to precisely match a certain DNA sequence.
• GE (Genome Editing): Involves precise modification of specific genes within an organism’s genome without introducing foreign genes, resulting in targeted genetic changes.
• GM (Genetically Modified): Involves the insertion of foreign genes from unrelated organisms into an organism’s genome to confer specific traits or characteristics.

Regulatory Bodies

• GEAC (Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee): It is a regulatory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).GEAC is responsible for evaluating and approving genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
• Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB): Ensures safe handling of GMOs that may impact biodiversity under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur.

Codex Alimentarius Commission

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

In News

• India has been re-elected to the Codex Alimentarius Commission’s Executive Committee for the Asia region until the end of CAC50 in 2027.

Codex Alimentarius Commission

• Established: 1963 by FAO and WHO.
• Objective: Protect consumer health and promote fair practices in food trade.​
• Members: 189, including 188 countries and 1 organization (European Union).​
• Meetings: Annual sessions rotating between Geneva and Rome.
• Source: TH

Water Budgeting

Syllabus: GS3/ Agriculture

In News

• NITI Aayog released a report on Water Budgeting in Aspiration Blocks to enhance local water security.

Water Budgeting

• Definition – Water budgeting is a systematic estimation of water availability and water demand across all sectors — agriculture, households, livestock, industry, and ecology.
• It directly supports SDG 6 (Clean Water & Sanitation) and the national push toward water-use efficiency.
• Significance – It will strengthen decentralised planning under Jal Jeevan Mission, Jal Shakti Abhiyan, and Atal Bhujal Yojana.

Indira Gandhi Peace Prize

Syllabus: Miscellaneous

Context

• Michelle Bachelet, the former President of Chile, has been awarded the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize for 2024.

Indira Gandhi Peace Prize

• It is an annual award established by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust in India.
• The prize is named in honor of the late Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi
• It was instituted in 1986.
• Prize money: Recently, the prize money has been increased from rupees 25 lakhs to rupees 1 crore.
• Objective – The award is presented to individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to peace, the development of new international economic order, and the strengthening of democracy.
• Generally, the award is presented on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Indira Gandhi on November, 19th.

Categories: The award is presented in three categories:

• Peace: Recognizes efforts to promote and maintain international peace and security.
• Disarmament: Acknowledges contributions to the reduction and elimination of weapons of mass destruction.
• Development: Honors work in promoting economic and social development.

National Action Plan on AMR 2.0 Launched

Syllabus: GS2/Issues Related To Health

Context

• Recently, the Union Health Minister launched the second version of the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR) (2025–29).

National Action Plan on AMR 2.0 (2025–29)

• It addresses gaps from NAP-AMR 1.0 (2017–2021), including strengthening surveillance, expanding public awareness, enhancing private-sector engagement, and improving regulatory and laboratory capacity.

Connect with the basics – Antimicrobial Resistance

• Definition – It occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.
• Nearly 700,000 people die of AMR every year. The toll can rise to as many as 10 million by 2050 and eat up 3.8 per cent of annual global gross domestic product (GDP).

Causes

• Overuse and Misuse of Antibiotics
• Inadequate Dosage and Duration
• Self-Medication
• Antibiotics Consumption in Food-Animals
• Poor Sanitation

Global Efforts against Antimicrobial Resistance

• Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (GAP)
• World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW)
• Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS)
• Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP)

Measures Taken against Antimicrobial Resistance in India

• National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR)
• AMR Surveillance Network
• India’s Red Line campaign: Which demands that prescription-only antibiotics be marked with a red line, to discourage the over-the-counter sale of antibiotics– is a step forward.

Removing of Ineligible Beneficiaries from NFSA List

Syllabus: GS3/Food Security

Context

• The Union Government has removed around 2.25 crore ineligible beneficiaries from the free monthly ration scheme under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) over the past four to five months.

National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013

• The right to food is implicit in the right to life under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
• Mandate – It aims to provide subsidized foodgrains to a larger section of India’s population.
• It amounts to roughly35 crore people under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), based on the 2011 Census data.

It covers:

• Up to 75% of the rural population;
• Up to 50% of the urban population;

Categories of Beneficiaries: The Act divides beneficiaries into two main groups:

• Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) Households: Entitled to 35 kg of foodgrains per month.
• Priority Household (PHH) Individuals: Entitled to 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month.
• Currently, free foodgrains (wheat and rice) are distributed every month to poor households under these categories.

Scale of Distribution

• India currently has over 19 crore ration card holders, and around 5 lakh fair price shops operating across States and Union Territories.
• It leverages the existing infrastructure of the Public Distribution System (PDS) and integrates schemes like the Mid-Day Meal Scheme and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS).

Targeting Only ‘Rightful’ Beneficiaries

• The government’s objective is to ensure that only genuine beneficiaries—those who truly need assistance—receive the benefits.
• The Department of Food and Public Distribution identified ineligible individuals using various criteria and shared the lists with State governments for verification and deletion.
• It used Aadhaar-based verification to identify and remove ineligible names.

Key reasons for removal included:

• Ownership of four-wheelers;
• High income above the eligibility threshold
• Company directorships;
• Deceased beneficiaries

Modified UDAN Regional Air Connectivity Scheme

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

In News

• The government has proposed a ₹30,000 crore outlay for the modified UDAN regional air connectivity scheme, to extend it beyond April 2027.
• Of this, ₹18,000 crore is earmarked for new airport development and ₹12,000 crore for viability gap funding (VGF) to support airlines connecting underserved regions.

UDAN Scheme

• It is a regional connectivity scheme launched in 2016.
• The first UDAN flight operated between Shimla and Delhi in 2017.
• Ministry: Ministry of Civil Aviation.
• Aim: To make air travel affordable and accessible to the common citizen by connecting Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities to major hubs.

Implementation: 0

• Viability Gap Funding (VGF): Financial support to airlines to ensure affordable fares.
• Airfare Cap to ensure affordability.

India-U.S. Defence Deal

Syllabus: GS2/International Relation

Context

• The US State Department has approved the sale of the FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile system worth $93 million to India.

FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile system

• It is a modern anti-tank guided missile system.
• It is a single man-portable fire-and-forget medium-range anti-tank weapon system designed to defeat all known threat armour.

Additional Information – India – USMilitary Exercises

1. Yudh Abhyas: Land forces.
2. Malabar: Naval quadrilateral with US, India, Japan, Australia.
3.  Cope India: Air exercise.
4. Tiger Triumph: Tri-service HADR exercise.
5. Vajra Prahar: Special forces.

FSSAI orders immediate removal of misleading ORS-labelled beverages

Syllabus: GS2/ Health

In News

• The FSSAI has directed the authorities to immediately remove from sale all fruit-based beverages, ready-to-serve drinks, energy drinks, electrolyte beverages, and similar products that are being marketed using the term ORS.

ORS (Oral Rehydration Salts)

• WHO–UNICEF–recommended sachets that are dissolved in clean water to make an Oral Rehydration Solution.
• Purpose – to prevent and treat dehydration from acute diarrhoea (including cholera) in all age groups,
• ORS formulation contains sodium chloride, anhydrous glucose, potassium chloride and trisodium citrate dihydrate in precise amounts.

Additional Information – Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

• Established in – It is an autonomous body established in 2011 under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
• Functions under – Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
• Objective – It is a statutory body related to food safety and regulation in India.
• Headquarters – New Delhi

Initiatives of FSSAI

• Eat Right Movement campaign: To ensure safe, healthy and sustainable food for all Indians.
• Clean Street Food: Providing training to street food vendors and spreading awareness among them regarding the violations of the FSS Act.
• Diet4Life: Spreading awareness about the different types of metabolic disorders and how to avoid them.
• Save Food, Share Food, Share Joy: FSSAI promoted and encouraged people to avoid food wastage and promote the donation of food.
• Heart Attack Rewind: It is a mass media campaign of FSSAI to support FSSAI’s target of eliminating trans fat in India by the year 2022.

Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM)

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

In News

• India described the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) as a key instrument for expanding equitable and technology-driven climate action at COP30 in Belém, Brazil.

Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM)

• The JCM is a bilateral initiative that allows a partner country, such as India, to cooperate with Japan to implement low-carbon projects and receive carbon credits.
• These credits, generated from projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, can be used by both countries to help meet their national climate targets.
• The JCM facilitates technology transfer, mobilizes investment in green technologies, and promotes sustainable development in the partner country.

Acanthosis Nigricans

Syllabus: GS2/Health

Context

• Acanthosis Nigricans can manifest in skin folds and creases on skin closely linked to the insulin resistance.

Acanthosis Nigricans (AN)

• It is a skin condition characterised by dark, velvety patches on skin folds.
• The skin changes do not appear overnight, but develop gradually over the course of several months.
• It is strongly linked to insulin resistance, which makes it an important early warning sign for prediabetes and diabetes.
• Causes – Obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus and extremely rarely, in melanomas, stomach or liver malignancies.
• Treatment: In most cases related to obesity or insulin resistance, improving metabolic health can help lighten the skin discoloration.

The India International Trade Fair

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

Context

• The India International Trade Fair (IITF), held at Bharat Mandapam, stands as one of India’s largest and most culturally immersive exhibitions.

The India International Trade Fair

• Organised by – Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• Mandate – This annual event provides a common platform for the manufacturers, traders, exporters and importers.
• It is held every year at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
• It is recognised as one of the largest integrated trade fairs in South Asia.
• It was first held in 1980.
• Theme: ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.

Global Methane Status Report 2025

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

In News

• The Global Methane Status Report released by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) at COP30 in Belem.

Key Points of the Report

• Methane Emissions Rising: Despite stronger waste regulations and improved monitoring, global trends remain far short of the target to cut methane by 30% by 2030.
• Potency and Impact: Methane is around 80 times more powerful than CO₂ over a 20-year timescale, accounting for approximately one-third of current warming.
• Methane Emissions: India emitted about 31 million tonnes of methane in 2020, accounting for 9% of global emission It contributes 12% of global agricultural methane—the highest share worldwide.
• Agriculture Profile: Livestock (enteric fermentation) is the largest source, followed by rice cultivation, which is projected to increase by 8% in emissions by 2030. Crop residue burning is rising, making India a global hotspot.

Methane

• It is a short-lived climate pollutant (12-year atmospheric lifetime).
• It is 80–84 times more potent than CO₂ over 20 years
• Main Sources Globally: Agriculture (40%), energy (35%), and waste (20%).

Initiatives to Curb Methane Pollution- Global Initiatives:

Global Methane Pledge (GMP), 2021:

• It is a voluntary international framework to reduce methane emissions by 30% from 2020 levels by 2030.
• Launched at – COP26 by the US, EU, and Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).
• Note – India has not signed the pledge.

India’s Initiatives:

National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA):

• Promotes climate-resilient and low-emission agriculture.
• Focus on soil health, water efficiency, and crop diversification, indirectly reducing methane.
• Technologies & Practices to Reduce Methane from Rice Agriculture

Rhesus Monkeys

Syllabus: GS3/Species in News

In News

• The National Board for Wildlife has recommended reinstating Rhesus Macaques under Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Rhesus Macaque(Macaca mulatta)

• Habitat: It is a diurnal, omnivorous species that lives both in trees and on the ground. It occupies a wide range of habitats—from coniferous, deciduous, bamboo, and mixed forests to mangroves, scrublands, rainforests, and even areas near human settlements.
• Distribution :It is found throughout most of southern Asia, in eastern Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China and India.
• Ecological Roles : It is vital seed dispersers, aiding forest regeneration and biodiversity, making their protection essential for both ecological balance and sustainable coexistence.
• Threats : It is generally unthreatened, though its original habitat is increasingly being lost to development
• Protection status : It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
• It is listed on CITES Appendix II.

AJEYA WARRIOR-25

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

Context

• The 8th edition of the India–United Kingdom (UK) Joint Military Exercise “AJEYA WARRIOR-25” commenced in Rajasthan.

AJEYA WARRIOR-25

• Objective – The exercise focuses on counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban environments.

Additional information –

• KONKAN is a bilateral naval exercise conducted between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy (UK).
• Indradhanush is a bilateral air exercise conducted between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Air Force of UK.

Sentinel-6B

Syllabus: GS3/Space

Context

• Sentinel-6B has been successfully launched from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA.

Sentinel-6B

• It is an ocean-tracking satellite with six onboard science instruments that will measure the rising sea levels and its impacts on the planet.
• It will orbit Earth at a speed of 7.2 km per second, completing one revolution every 112 minutes.
• The mission is a joint collaboration between NASA, NOAA, and the European Space Agency (ESA).

Senkaku Islands

Syllabus: GS1/Places

In News

• A China Coast Guard ship formation conducted a “rights enforcement patrol” near the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, escalating tensions with Japan.

The Senkaku Islands

• The Senkaku Islands is the collective term that refers to a group of islands that includes Uotsuri, Kitakojima, Minamikojima, Kuba, Taisho, Okinokitaiwa, Okinominamiiwa, and Tobise
• Dispute: The Senkaku Islands have long been a contentious issue in Japan-China relations.
• At present it is being controlled by the Japanese.

Siliguri Corridor

Syllabus: GS3/Internal Security

Context

• Indian Army sets up three new garrisons near the strategic Siliguri Corridor.

Siliguri Corridor

• It is also referred to as the Chicken’s Neck.
• It is a narrow strip of land in West Bengal that connects the Northeastern States to the rest of the country.
• It is a very important strategic area of eastern India, located between Mahananda and Teesta river.

Significance of Siliguri Corridor

• Strategic Connectivity: If disrupted, it would isolate the north east states, making it difficult for the government to supply essential goods, services, and military support.
• Military and Defense Considerations: It lies close to sensitive international borders, particularly with China, Nepal, and Bangladesh.

Supreme Court Prohibited Tiger Safaris in Core Tiger Habitats

Syllabus: GS3/Environment, Conservation

Context

• The Supreme Court has issued directions to prohibit tiger safaris in the core or critical tiger habitat.

Eco Sensitive Zones

• Notified by – These are notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) under the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986.
• Definition – The land falling within 10 km of the boundaries of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries are notified as eco-fragile zones or Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs).

Activities in ESZs

• Prohibited Activities: Commercial mining, saw mills, industries causing pollution (air, water, soil, noise etc), establishment of major hydroelectric projects (HEP), commercial use of wood.
• Regulated Activities: Felling of trees, establishment of hotels and resorts, commercial use of natural water, erection of electrical cables, drastic change of agriculture system.
• Permitted Activities: Ongoing agricultural or horticultural practices, rainwater harvesting, organic farming.