1. Shishtachar Squad

The Delhi Police has launched district-wise anti-eve-teasing squads, known as Shishtachar Squads, to combat harassment and enhance women's safety in public spaces.

About Shishtachar Squad:

• A specialized initiative by the Delhi Police aimed at improving women's security in public areas.
• Inspired by Uttar Pradesh’s Anti-Romeo Squads, it follows a multi-pronged strategy of prevention, intervention, and victim support.
• Each district will have at least two squads under the supervision of the ACP, Crime Against Women cell of the respective district.

Key Features:

• Squad Composition: Comprises one inspector, one sub-inspector, five male officers, four female officers, and technical support from the Anti-Auto Theft Squad.
• Identifying Risk Areas: District DCPs will compile a list of high-risk zones for women’s safety.
• Regular Patrolling: Squads will conduct daily drives at vulnerable locations.
• Surprise Inspections: Officers in plain clothes will monitor public transport and collaborate with DTC staff to encourage reporting of harassment cases.

2. Mount Fuji

Japan will introduce a US$27 climbing fee on Mount Fuji’s four main trails this summer to manage overcrowding and improve safety for tourists.

About Mount Fuji:

• Also known as Fuji-san, it is Japan’s highest peak at 3,776 meters.
• Located near the Pacific coast, spanning Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures on Honshu Island, about 100 km southwest of Tokyo.
• Part of the Fuji Volcanic Zone, which extends from the Mariana Islands to northern Honshu.
• A stratovolcano that last erupted in 1707 but remains classified as active.
• Recognized as one of Japan’s "Three Holy Mountains", alongside Mount Tate and Mount Haku.
• A major landmark within Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park (established in 1936) and a UNESCO World Heritage site (2013).

Formation of Mount Fuji:

• Traditionally believed to have formed in 286 BCE due to an earthquake, though geological evidence suggests a more complex history.
• Estimated to have developed over the past 2.6 million years, with early eruptions beginning around 700,000 years ago.
• The present mountain is a composite of three successive volcanoes:
  • Komitake (base layer)
  • Ko Fuji ("Old Fuji") (formed ~100,000 years ago)
  • Shin Fuji ("New Fuji"), the most recent formation

3. River Betwa

Once a lifeline for the Vindhya region, the Betwa River—witness to ancient kingdoms, sages, and warriors—now struggles for survival.

About River Betwa:

• Historically known as Vetravati, it is a tributary of the Yamuna River.
• Originates in Jhiri village, Raisen district, Madhya Pradesh, within the Vindhya Range.
• Flows northeast through Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, covering 610 km before merging with the Yamuna near Hamirpur.
• Nearly half its course traverses the Malwa Plateau before descending into Bundelkhand.

Key Aspects:

• Major Tributaries: Jamni River and Dhasan River.
• Dams: Notable ones include Dukwan Dam and Deogarh Dam for irrigation and water management.
• Cultural & Historical Significance:
  • Mentioned in the Vedas and the Mahabharata as Vetravati, symbolizing purity and resilience.
  • Plays a crucial role in the Ken-Betwa Link Project.
  • Honored by the Indian Navy through the warship INS Betwa.

Ken-Betwa Link Project:

• A large-scale river interlinking initiative aimed at transferring surplus water from the Ken River to the Betwa River.
• The first project under the National Perspective Plan (1980) for river interlinking.
• Phased Development:
  • Phase I: Construction of the Daudhan Dam, tunnels, link canals, and powerhouses.
  • Phase II: Includes Lower Orr Dam, Bina Complex Project, and Kotha Barrage.

4. PM Internship Scheme

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has launched a mobile app for the Prime Minister Internship Scheme, urging more companies to participate.

About PM Internship Scheme:

• A government-backed initiative providing 12-month internships to young individuals (aged 21-24 years) from low-income backgrounds.
• The pilot phase aims to benefit 25 lakh youth, with a five-year target of one crore internships.
• Covers 24 industries, including energy, travel, hospitality, banking, and finance.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must have completed 10th, 12th, ITI, Polytechnic, or Diploma courses.
• Open to fresh graduates from non-premier institutions.
• Annual household income must be Rs. 8 lakh or less.
• No family member should be employed in a government job.
• Exclusions: Students from IITs, IIMs, National Law Universities, and professionals with CA, MBA, MBBS degrees to ensure inclusivity.

The program bridges the gap between academic learning and industry experience, fostering employment readiness.

5. RBI's Sarthi and Pravaah Initiatives

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has won the UK’s Digital Transformation Award 2025 for its Sarthi and Pravaah technological innovations.

About Sarthi Initiative:

• Launched in January 2023, Sarthi (meaning ‘charioteer’ in Hindi) digitizes RBI’s internal workflows.
• Features secure document storage, improved record management, and data analysis through dashboards.
• Includes Sarthi Pathshala (an online learning module) and Sarthi Mitras (expert employees assisting colleagues with system-related issues).

About Pravaah Initiative:

• Introduced in May 2024, Pravaah (meaning ‘smooth flow’ in Hindi) enables external users to submit regulatory applications digitally.
• Integrates with Sarthi for seamless processing within RBI offices.
• Enhances transparency with real-time tracking and analytics.
• The shift from paper-based to digital applications has led to an 80% increase in monthly submissions.

6. Pi Day

A 10-year-old boy, Alberto Davila Aragon from Bristol, UK, has set a new world record by recalling 280 decimal places of Pi in just one minute on Pi Day.

About Pi Day:

Pi Day, also known as the International Day of Mathematics, is celebrated annually on March 14 to honor the mathematical constant Pi and its significance in mathematics.
Mathematics enthusiasts observe this day with Pi recital competitions and Pi Day-themed activities to foster interest in learning and practicing mathematics.
The theme for Pi Day 2025 is ‘Mathematics, Art, and Creativity’.

Why is Pi Day Celebrated on March 14?

• The approximate value of Pi is 3.14.
• When written in the month/day format (3/14), it corresponds to the first three digits of Pi.

History of Pi Day:

• The first Pi Day was celebrated in 1988 by physicist Larry Shaw at the San Francisco Exploratorium.
• In 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives officially recognized March 14 as Pi Day.
• In 2019, UNESCO designated Pi Day as the International Day of Mathematics.
• March 14 also marks the birth anniversary of Albert Einstein (1879), the renowned physicist known for the General Theory of Relativity.

What is Pi (π)?

Pi (π) is a fundamental mathematical constant representing the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter.

• It is an irrational and transcendental number, meaning it has infinite decimal places without repetition or a fixed pattern.
• The exact value of Pi is unknowable, but it has been calculated to over 50 trillion digits.
• Common approximations: 3.14 or 22/7.
• The symbol π originates from the Greek word ‘periphery’ and was introduced by British mathematician William Jones in 1706.

History of Pi:

• Pi has been known for nearly 4,000 years and was first studied by the Babylonians.
• Greek mathematician Archimedes of Syracuse (287–212 B.C.) made one of the earliest calculations of Pi.

Applications of Pi:

Pi is widely used in geometry, trigonometry, calculus, and various scientific computations.

7. Kanger Valley National Park (KVNP)

Kanger Valley National Park, once a Maoist-affected area in Bastar district, Chhattisgarh, has recently been included in UNESCO’s tentative list of World Heritage Sites under the ‘Natural’ category.

About Kanger Valley National Park:

• Located in Jagdalpur, Bastar district, Chhattisgarh.
• Named after the Kanger River, which flows centrally from northwest to southeast.
• Kanger River is a tributary of the Kolab River, which eventually merges with the Godavari River.

Geographical Features:

• Characterized by flatlands, slopes, steep inclines, plateaus, deep gorges, valleys, and meandering streams.
• Tirathgarh Falls, originating from the Kanger River, cascades from a height of 150 feet, offering a stunning view.
• Home to over 15 limestone caves, including Kotumsar, Kailash, and Dandak caves.

Flora & Fauna:

• Vegetation: Mixed moist deciduous forests dominated by Sal, teak, and bamboo.
• Wildlife: Tigers, leopards, wildcats, sambar, chital, barking deer, langurs, jackals, rhesus macaques, and flying squirrels.
• Birdlife: Common hill myna, red jungle fowl, spotted owlet, racket-tailed drongos, and parrots.

8. Bar Council of India (BCI)

The Bar Council of India (BCI) recently issued a strict warning against misleading legal advertisements and unethical social media promotions by advocates, calling it professional misconduct.

About the Bar Council of India (BCI):

• Established under the Advocates Act, 1961, based on the recommendations of the All India Bar Committee.
• A statutory body that regulates and represents the legal profession in India.

Functions:

• Sets standards of professional conduct and has disciplinary jurisdiction over advocates.
• Regulates legal education and recognizes universities whose law degrees qualify for advocate enrollment.
• Conducts the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) to issue a ‘Certificate of Practice’ for legal professionals.
• Provides welfare schemes for economically weaker and physically challenged advocates.
• Recognizes foreign law qualifications for admission to the Indian Bar on a reciprocal basis.

Composition:

• Includes members elected from each State Bar Council, along with the Attorney General of India and Solicitor General of India as ex-officio members.
• State Bar Council members serve a five-year term.
• The Chairman and Vice-Chairman are elected from among the members for a two-year tenure.

9. Caracal

A rare caracal was recently spotted in Rajasthan's Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve, sparking excitement among wildlife enthusiasts.

About Caracal:

• Scientific Name: Caracal caracal
• Common Name in India: Siya gosh (Persian for "black ear").
• Distribution: Found in rocky hills, grasslands, and forests across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.
• India Population: Less than 50 individuals, primarily in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Physical Features:

• Medium-sized nocturnal wildcat with a slender body and long legs.
• Weighs 8-18 kg and can grow up to 1 meter in length.
• Has short, dense fur in tawny-brown to reddish-tan shades with white underparts.
• Distinctive black-tufted ears and dark facial markings.
• Notable for leaping over 2 meters to catch birds mid-air.
• Can reach speeds of 80 km/h (50 mph).

Conservation Status:

• IUCN Red List: Least Concern
• Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I (highest protection)

10. Human Coronavirus HKU1

A 45-year-old woman from Garia, Kolkata has been diagnosed with human coronavirus HKU1 (HCoV-HKU1).

About Human Coronavirus HKU1:

• Also known as Betacoronavirus hongkonense.
• Identified in 2004 by researchers at Hong Kong University.

Symptoms:

• Runny nose, fever, cough, wheezing, headache, sore throat.
• Can lead to bronchiolitis and pneumonia in severe cases.

Transmission:

• Spreads via respiratory droplets (coughing/sneezing) and contaminated surfaces.

Risk Factors:

• Typically self-limiting but poses a higher risk for elderly individuals, children, pregnant women, and immunocompromised patients.

Treatment:

• No vaccine or specific antiviral treatment is available.
• Most cases recover with supportive care.

Difference Between HKU1 and COVID-19:

• HKU1 is one of the four common human coronaviruses, mainly causing the common cold.
• COVID-19 (caused by SARS-CoV-2) is a novel coronavirus responsible for the global pandemic.