1. Harpoon Missile

The U.S. Air Force is considering equipping its F-16 fighter jets with Harpoon anti-ship missiles, marking a potential shift in its naval warfare strategy.

About the Harpoon Missile:

• The Harpoon (RGM-84/UGM-84/AGM-84) is a subsonic anti-ship cruise missile developed by Boeing for the U.S. Navy.
• It was first introduced in 1977 and is currently used by the armed forces of over 30 countries, including India.

Key Features:

• Functions as an all-weather, over-the-horizon anti-ship missile system.
• Measures 4.5 meters in length and weighs 526 kg.
• Powered by a turbojet engine with solid propellant.
• Has an operational range between 90 to 240 km.
• Can be launched from ships, submarines, aircraft, and coastal defense systems.
• Capable of both land-strike and anti-ship missions.
• Achieves speeds of up to Mach 0.85 (1,041 km/h) and carries a 221 kg blast warhead.
• Features GPS-assisted inertial navigation for enhanced targeting accuracy.
• Utilizes mid-course guidance and an active radar seeker for precise target engagement.
• Incorporates low-level, sea-skimming cruise flight and terminal attack maneuvers for improved survivability and effectiveness.

2. MISHTI Scheme

Gujarat has emerged as a national leader in mangrove afforestation, covering 19,020 hectares in two years under the Central Government’s ‘MISHTI’ scheme.

About the MISHTI Scheme:

• The Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) is a government initiative aimed at expanding mangrove cover along coastlines and salt pan lands.
• Launched following India's participation in the Mangrove Alliance for Climate at COP27 in November 2022.
• Officially introduced by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change on World Environment Day (June 5, 2023).
• Targets the restoration/reforestation of 540 sq.km. of mangroves across 9 states and 3 union territories over five years (from 2023-24 onwards).

Focus Areas & Implementation:

• Primarily focuses on the Sundarbans Delta, Hooghly Estuary in West Bengal, and other key wetland regions.
• Provides financial aid to local communities for mangrove plantation activities.
• Conducts awareness campaigns on the importance of mangroves in coastal protection.
• Encourages community participation through local groups and NGOs to ensure sustainability.
• Integrates with schemes such as MGNREGS, CAMPA Fund, and other government initiatives for effective execution.

3. Rushikulya River

Forest officials have imposed restrictions along a 5-km stretch from Gokharakuda to Bateswar near the Rushikulya river mouth in Ganjam district to safeguard Olive Ridley turtle eggs.

About the Rushikulya River:

• A prominent river in Odisha, flowing through Kandhamal, Ganjam, and Boudh districts.
• Originates from the Daringbadi hills in the Eastern Ghats, often called the ‘Kashmir of Odisha’ due to its scenic beauty.
• Travels 165 km before merging with the Bay of Bengal near Ganjam town.
• Uniquely, it does not form a delta before entering the sea.
• Covers a catchment area of approximately 7,500 sq.km.

Tributaries:

• Baghua, Dhanei, and Badanadi

Olive Ridley Turtle Nesting Site:

• The Rushikulya coast is a significant nesting ground for Olive Ridley Turtles.
• Between January and March, thousands of turtles arrive for mass nesting, a phenomenon known as Arribada.

4. Juanga Tribe

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought a report from the Keonjhar district administration on alleged human rights violations against the Juanga tribe, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Odisha.

About the Juanga Tribe:

• One of the 13 PVTGs among 62 tribal communities in Odisha.
• As per the 2011 Census, their population is approximately 50,000.
• Primarily reside in Keonjhar and Dhenkanal districts.

Language & Culture:

• Speak Juang language, part of the Munda family (Austroasiatic languages).
• Historically dependent on hunting, gathering, and limited farming.
• Skilled in basket-weaving, trading their products for essentials.

Clothing & Beliefs:

• Traditionally called "Patuas" or leaf-wearers, Juang women wore leaf girdles, and men wore loincloths.
• Over time, external influences led them to adopt modern clothing.
• While they practice animistic traditions, they also incorporate Hindu deities into their beliefs.

5. White Island

New Zealand’s High Court has overturned the conviction of the owners of White Island (Whakaari), the volcano that erupted in 2019, causing 22 fatalities.

About White Island:

• An active stratovolcano in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty.
• The country’s most active cone volcano, situated 48 km off Whakatāne’s coast.
• Major eruption: December 9, 2019.
• Formed over 150,000 years of continuous volcanic activity.
• The island covers 325 hectares, with about 70% of the volcano submerged underwater.
• Sighted and named by Captain James Cook in 1769.
• Features hot springs, geysers, and fumaroles.
• Declared a private scenic reserve in 1953 and was a tourism site before the eruption.

6. Epidelaxia falciformis and Epidelaxia palustris

Researchers have identified two new species of jumping spiders from the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary and named them Epidelaxia falciformis sp. nov. and Epidelaxia palustris.

About E. falciformis and E. palustris

• These jumping spiders belong to the genus Epidelaxia.
• This is the first recorded occurrence of the Epidelaxia genus in India, as it was previously considered endemic to Sri Lanka.

Physical Characteristics

• Notable for a yellow triangular-shaped mark on the prosoma (front part of the body) in females.
• Distinguished by unique copulatory organ traits in both males and females.
• E. falciformis males have a brown carapace with a yellow-brown stripe, whereas E. palustris males feature a pale brown band along their bodies.
• Females of both species share similar coloration, with white orbital setae around their eyes.
• Size variations:
  • E. falciformis: 4.39 mm (male)
  • E. palustris: 4.57 mm (male), 3.69 mm (female)
• These species are well-adapted to their environment, residing in the dense foliage of the Western Ghats.

7. Neonatal Sepsis

A recent study published in The Lancet Global Health journal has revealed that more than one-third of newborns diagnosed with sepsis are at risk of mortality.

About Neonatal Sepsis

• A blood infection occurring in infants under 90 days old.
• Caused by bacterial infections, including Escherichia coli, Listeria, and certain strains of Streptococcus.

Types of Neonatal Sepsis

• Early-onset neonatal sepsis (EONS): Develops within the first 72 hours after birth.
• Late-onset neonatal sepsis (LONS): Develops after three days of life.

Symptoms

• Fluctuations in body temperature
• Breathing difficulties
• Diarrhea or reduced bowel movements

Treatment

• Requires hospitalization and is typically treated with intravenous antibiotics.

Prevalence

• More than 550,000 newborns succumb to neonatal sepsis worldwide every year.
• India accounts for nearly 25% of all infection-related neonatal deaths globally.

8. Aadhaar Good Governance Portal

The Indian government has launched the Aadhaar Good Governance Portal to streamline the approval process for Aadhaar authentication requests.

About the Aadhaar Good Governance Portal

• Designed to simplify Aadhaar authentication approvals.
• Launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• Aligns with the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules, 2025, as per the Aadhaar Act, 2016.
• Aims to enhance service delivery and improve citizen access to welfare schemes.
• Functions as a comprehensive resource guide, offering Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for entities seeking Aadhaar authentication.
• Includes potential integration of face authentication in customer-facing applications for anytime, anywhere authentication.

Key Facts About Aadhaar

• A 12-digit unique identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
• Serves as proof of identity, linked to an individual's biometric and demographic data.
• Introduced in 2009 to provide a verifiable identity for residents.
• Mandatory for several government services and also widely used by private entities for identification.

9. Blue Ghost Mission

The Blue Ghost lunar lander, developed by Firefly Aerospace, has successfully landed in the Mare Crisium region of the Moon following a controlled descent.

About the Blue Ghost Mission

• Developed by Firefly Aerospace as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program.
• Carries 10 NASA payloads aimed at supporting future lunar exploration.
• Seeks to advance scientific knowledge about the lunar environment.
• Equipped with Lunar PlanetVac (LPV), a device for collecting lunar soil samples.
• Features a drill capable of measuring subsurface temperatures up to 3 meters (10 feet) deep.

Mission Objectives

• Heat flow analysis: Studies heat transfer from the Moon’s interior to understand its thermal evolution.
• Plume-surface interactions: Observes how lunar regolith responds to the lander's engine plumes to refine landing techniques.
• Magnetic and electric field studies: Gathers data to provide insights into the Moon’s geological history.
• Operational duration: Designed to function for 14 Earth days (one lunar day), conducting scientific research and technology demonstrations.

10. Kawal Tiger Reserve

At Kawal Tiger Reserve, a blend of nature and technology is revolutionizing conservation efforts. Solar pumps have been installed near borewells to ensure a steady water supply to tanks, pits, and natural reservoirs.

About Kawal Tiger Reserve

• Located in Telangana, along the Godavari River, forming part of the Deccan Peninsula–Central Highlands.
• Nestled in the Sahyadri Mountain Ranges (Western Ghats).
• Declared a Tiger Reserve by the Government of India.

Geography & Rivers

• Serves as the catchment area for the Godavari and Kadam rivers, which flow south of the sanctuary.
• Lies at the southernmost end of the Central Indian Tiger Landscape, with ecological linkages to Tadoba-Andhari (Maharashtra) and Indravati (Chhattisgarh) Tiger Reserves.

Habitat & Vegetation

• Encompasses dense forests, grasslands, open areas, rivers, and water bodies.
• Features Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests.
• Dominated by Teak, Bamboo, and species like Anogeissus latifolia, Mitragyna parviflora, Terminalia crenulata, Terminalia arjuna, and Boswellia serrata.

Fauna

• Home to diverse wildlife, including:
  • Herbivores: Nilgai, Chowsinga, Chinkara, Blackbuck, Sambar, Spotted Deer.
  • Carnivores: Tigers, Leopards, Wild Dogs, Wolves, Jackals, Foxes, and Jungle Cats.