Flamingo Revolution

Environment

Context

People in Albania have launched the “Flamingo Revolution” to oppose a proposed $1.6 billion luxury resort project.
The project includes constructions on Sazan island and Vjosa-Narta, a wetland home for flamingos, seals and nesting sites for sea turtles, creating concern over the government’s negligence towards environmental degradation.

Flamingo

Genus – Phoenicopteridae.
They are famous for their pink plumage, long necks, and uniquely curved beaks adapted for filter feeding.
Distribution – There are six living species of flamingos found across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus).
Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor).
American / Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber).
Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis).
Andean Flamingo (Phoenicoparrus andinus).
James’s / Puna Flamingo (Phoenicoparrus jamesi).

In India, the Greater Flamingo and Lesser Flamingo are found, especially in coastal wetlands and salt pans.
Threats – habitat degradation, pollution, disturbance at breeding sites, and climate change affecting wetlands.

Conservation status

Greater Flamingo (IUCN): Least Concern.
Lesser Flamingo (IUCN): Near Threatened.

SUMAN Roadmap 2030

Polity

Context

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, launched the SUMAN Roadmap 2030 to strengthen maternal and newborn healthcare.

SUMAN Roadmap 2030

It is a comprehensive national strategy to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 related to maternal and newborn health.
The framework seeks to reduce the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) to below 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030, while also lowering neonatal and infant mortality rates and advancing the goal of zero preventable maternal and newborn deaths.

Maternal Mortality

- Maternal death is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy,

Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is the number of maternal deaths per 1,00,000 live births.

The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.1 targets reducing the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 1,00,000 live births by 2030.

Additional Information- Maternal Health Initiatives

Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY): Gives cash to poor women who choose to give birth in a hospital instead of at home.
Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) – Makes hospital births 100% free. Covers medicine, food, tests, and free rides to and from the hospital.
Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN) – It Promises dignified care with zero tolerance for being turned away by a hospital.
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) – Gives direct cash (₹5,000 for the first child and ₹6,000 for a second girl child) to buy nutritious food.
LaQshya: Upgrades the quality and safety of hospital delivery rooms.

Global Report on Food Crises 2026 (GRFC 2026) report

International

Context

According to the Global Report on Food Crises 2026 (GRFC 2026) report, more than 266 million people are facing high levels of acute food insecurity across 47 countries.

Key Findings of the Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) 2026

High Acute Hunger: Around 266 million people (22.9% of the assessed population) experienced high levels of acute food insecurity in 2025.
Regional Distribution of Hunger Crisis: Ten countries accounted for nearly two-thirds of the global burden.
Catastrophic Hunger: About 1.4 million people in six countries were classified under the ‘Catastrophe’ (IPC Phase 5) category, the highest level of acute food insecurity.

Initiatives & Efforts In India

National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013: It provides subsidised food grains to nearly two-thirds of India’s population.
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY): It ensures free food grains to NFSA beneficiaries.
POSHAN Abhiyaan and Mission POSHAN 2.0: It aims to improve nutritional outcomes among women, children and adolescent girls through convergence and technology-enabled monitoring.
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS): It provides supplementary nutrition, immunisation, health check-ups and pre-school education.
PM-POSHAN Scheme: It provides cooked mid-day meals to school children to improve nutrition and educational outcomes.
Anaemia Mukt Bharat: It targets reduction of anaemia among women, adolescents and children.
Eat Right India Initiative: It promotes safe, healthy and sustainable dietary practices.

Kisan Sarathi Platform

Polity

Context

Kisan Sarathi, launched in 2021, is India’s largest integrated digital agro-advisory platform.

About

Launched by: Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Implemented by: The Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute and the Digital India Corporation.

Kisan Sarathi app connects farmers with:

730+ Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs);
100+ ICAR institutes;
65+ agricultural universities.

Features:

Personalized advisory based on farm and farmer profile.
Live interaction in 13 regional languages with domain experts.
Call facilities and conferencing support as per the farmer’s needs.
Access to the farmer’s knowledge database.

Significance:

Farmers can get region-specific, real-time advisories on weather updates, market prices, and more.
Helps farmers discover government schemes suitable to their specific needs.
Farmers can easily access the mandi prices and district-wise market rates for major crops.
It improves query resolution and strengthens the transfer of technology from lab to field.

‘Shastrarth’ Tradition at Nalanda University

History & Culture

Context

PM Modi praised Nalanda University for reviving the ancient Indian tradition of Shastrarth (scholarly debate).

About

The ancient Indian tradition of Śāstrārtha is the scholarly discourse and dialogue on scriptures and philosophical subjects.
Śāstrārtha served as a primary method of teaching, learning and testing knowledge through rigorous intellectual discourse at the ancient Nalanda and Vikramshila universities.

Nalanda

- It is the first residential university of the world founded at Nalanda by the Emperor Kumaragupta in 427CE in Rajgir, Bihar.
- It flourished for over 800 years till the end in 12th century CE.
- It is believed to possess 2,000 teachers and 10,000 students.
- Nalanda had attracted scholars to its campus from places as distant as China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, and South East Asia.
- The most detailed accounts have come from Chinese scholars and the best known of these is Xuan Zang, who carried back many hundred scriptures which were later translated into Chinese.
- Revival: In 2006, the former President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam proposed the revival of the ancient Nalanda.
The Parliament of India passed the Nalanda University Act, 2010.

Project BRAHMANK Marks its 16th Raising Day

Defence

Context

Project BRAHMANK of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) celebrated its 16th Raising Day at Ranaghat, Arunachal Pradesh.

About

- The Project was raised on 29 June 2011 at Ranaghat, East Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh, and became fully functional in December 2011.
- The Project is responsible for development and maintenance of strategic road infrastructure across the Siang, East Siang, West Siang, Upper Siang and Shi-Yomi districts of Arunachal Pradesh, as well as parts of Dhemaji district in Assam.
The Project is entrusted with the maintenance and development of 811 km of roads and approximately 86 bridges, ranging from culverts to major steel and arch bridges.

PM Family Care Tracker (PM-FCT)

Polity

Context

Project BRAHMANK of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) celebrated its 16th Raising Day at Ranaghat, Arunachal Pradesh.

About

- The Project was raised on 29 June 2011 at Ranaghat, East Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh, and became fully functional in December 2011.
- The Project is responsible for development and maintenance of strategic road infrastructure across the Siang, East Siang, West Siang, Upper Siang and Shi-Yomi districts of Arunachal Pradesh, as well as parts of Dhemaji district in Assam.
The Project is entrusted with the maintenance and development of 811 km of roads and approximately 86 bridges, ranging from culverts to major steel and arch bridges.

Baaz Battalions

Defence

Context

The Indian Army is set to establish specialised drone units called “Baaz Battalions”.

About

The battalions will build on the Army’s existing Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Flights that will provide a dedicated organisational framework for drone operations across different theatres.
The specialised units will comprise trained personnel managing drone systems, strengthening intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities while improving target acquisition and real-time battlefield awareness.
The decision to establish the Baaz Battalions has been driven by lessons from the LAC standoffs with China, the effective use of drones during Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, and recent global conflicts, particularly the Russia–Ukraine war.