1. Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary

Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary recently hosted the inaugural 'Indian Bison Fest,' a unique initiative aimed at raising awareness about its ecological importance and conservation efforts.

About Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Location: Situated in Odisha’s Bargarh district, near the Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi River.

• Historical Significance: The sanctuary holds historical importance as it served as a base for freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai during his rebellion against British rule. His stronghold, ‘Barapathara,’ was located within the sanctuary.

• Establishment: Declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1985.

• Vegetation: Comprises dry deciduous mixed forests.

• Flora: Dominated by species such as Sal, Asana, Bija, Aanla, and Dhaura.

• Fauna: Home to a diverse range of wildlife, including Tigers, Sloth Bears, Leopards, Hyenas, Spotted Deer, Antelopes, Sambar, Gaur, Nilgai, Bison, and Langur Monkeys.

Key Facts About the Indian Bison:

• The Indian Bison, or Gaur, is among the largest living bovines, reaching a shoulder height of up to 220 cm.

• Habitat: Found in forested hills and grasslands across South and Southeast Asia.

• Distribution:

  • Global population estimated between 13,000 and 30,000, with around 85% residing in India.

  • Also present in Burma and Thailand.

  • The Western Ghats, particularly the Wayanad-Nagarhole-Mudumalai-Bandipur complex, serve as a stronghold for the species.

• State Symbol: Recognized as the State Animal of Goa and Bihar.

• Conservation Status:

  • IUCN: Vulnerable

  • CITES: Listed in Appendix I

  • Wildlife Protection Act (1972): Schedule I

2. Exercise Prachand Prahar

The Indian Armed Forces recently conducted 'Exercise Prachand Prahar,' a multi-domain military exercise in Arunachal Pradesh.

About Exercise Prachand Prahar:

• A tri-service, integrated warfare exercise conducted in high-altitude terrain.

• Held deep in Arunachal Pradesh’s eastern sector, along the 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC).

• Conducted under the Eastern Army Command’s supervision.

• Involved the Army, Indian Air Force (IAF), and other combat units in a coordinated simulation of modern warfare.

Key Highlights:

• Began with deploying advanced surveillance assets, including IAF long-range surveillance aircraft, Indian Navy’s maritime domain awareness aircraft, helicopters, and UAVs.

• Special forces of the Indian Army were involved in intelligence gathering and simulated target identification.

• Targets were eliminated using synchronized joint firepower, including:

  • Fighter jets

  • Long-range rocket systems

  • Medium artillery

  • Armed helicopters

  • Swarm drones

  • Loitering munitions

  • Kamikaze drones

• Conducted in an electronically contested environment to enhance combat readiness.

• Objective: Validated integrated planning, command, and execution of surveillance and firepower coordination across all three forces.

• Continuation of: 'Exercise Poorvi Prahar' (November 2024), which focused on aviation assets' integrated application.

3. Channa nachi

A newly discovered snakehead fish species, Channa nachi, has been identified in Meghalaya.

About Channa nachi:

• Classification: A species of snakehead fish.

• Discovery Site: Found in a shallow, slow-moving stream that flows into Meghalaya’s Simsang River near Chokpot village. The stream has a sandy, pebble-laden substrate with leaf litter, providing a suitable habitat for lesser-known aquatic species.

• Coexisting Species: Shares its habitat with freshwater fish like Schistura reticulofasciata, Dario kajal, Pseudolaguvia sp., and Barilius bendelisis.

Distinctive Features:

• Medium-sized with a striking bicolor pattern.

• Slender body with a creamish-yellow to greyish-blue hue.

• Pale blue marbling on the ventral side.

• 10–12 pale brown saddle-like markings on its dorsal half.

• Lacks spots, blotches, or transverse caudal fin markings.

4. Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-Informatics (BISAG-N)

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has partnered with the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N) to enhance the use of advanced geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing technologies.

About BISAG-N:

• Status: An autonomous scientific society under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India.

• Location: Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

• Mission:

  • Technology development and management.

  • Research and innovation.

  • Promoting national and international collaborations.

  • Capacity building and technology transfer.

  • Supporting entrepreneurship in geospatial technology.

Key Areas of Work:

• Three Core Domains:

  • Satellite communication

  • Geo-informatics

  • Geospatial technology

• GIS Services:

  • Development of GIS databases and maps.

  • Data migration, conversion, and software customization.

  • Enterprise-level GIS system integration.

• Remote Sensing Applications:

  • Agricultural crop monitoring

  • Watershed management

  • Forest fire mapping

• Government Collaboration: Works closely with ministries and state agencies, positioning itself as a national leader in satellite communication and geospatial technology for governance and development.

5. US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has recommended targeted sanctions against India’s external intelligence agency, R&AW, citing alleged involvement in assassination plots against Sikh separatists.

About USCIRF:

• Establishment: Created under the US International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998.

• Role:

  • Monitors violations of religious freedom worldwide.

  • Provides policy recommendations to the US President, Secretary of State, and Congress.

• Commission Composition: Consists of nine commissioners appointed by either the President or Congressional leaders from both parties.

• Annual Report:

  • Evaluates US compliance with IRFA.

  • Identifies "Countries of Particular Concern" for severe religious freedom violations.

  • Assesses global religious freedom conditions and proposes policy measures.

• International Framework: Aligns with Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees:

  • Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.

  • The right to change one’s religion or belief.

  • The right to practice, teach, and observe religion individually or collectively.

6. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

NATO Issues Clarification on Missing U.S. Soldiers in Lithuania

Why in the News?
NATO has clarified its earlier statement regarding the status of four missing U.S. soldiers in Lithuania, emphasizing that "the search is ongoing."

Initial confusion arose when NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte implied that the soldiers had died; however, NATO later clarified that Rutte was referencing unverified news reports rather than confirming their fate.

The soldiers, part of the U.S. Army’s 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, were conducting training exercises near Pabradė, Lithuania, close to the Belarus border. Their armored vehicle was discovered submerged in water, and recovery operations are ongoing.

Geopolitical Context

• Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, as NATO members, have strained relations with Russia and Belarus.

• Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine has heightened regional security concerns, prompting increased military exercises and NATO presence in the Baltic region.

• Belarus, a key ally of Russia, shares borders with Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland, making NATO operations in these areas strategically significant.

7. Nag Anti-Tank Missile System (NAMIS)

Defence Ministry Approves ₹2,500 Crore Contracts for NAMIS and Light Vehicles

About Nag Anti-Tank Missile System (NAMIS)

Developed by:

• Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), DRDO

• Manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL)

Key Features:

• A tracked version of the Nag Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) mounted on a BMP-2 chassis.

• Third-generation ‘fire-and-forget’ missile utilizing an Imaging Infrared (IIR) Seeker for target acquisition before launch.

• Designed to penetrate heavily armored enemy tanks, including those equipped with composite and reactive armor.

• Equipped with night-strike capability, enabling operations in low visibility conditions.

Attack Modes:

• Top Attack Mode: The missile ascends post-launch and then strikes the target from above.

• Direct Attack Mode: Travels at a lower altitude to directly hit the target.

Range: 500 meters to 4 km.

NAMICA (Nag Missile Carrier):

• Based on the Russian-origin BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle.

• Amphibious capability for maneuverability across varied terrains.

Other Versions of Nag ATGM:

• Helina (Helicopter-Launched Version): Successfully tested in 2018 and designed for Rudra and Light Combat Helicopters (LCHs).

8. Mount Kenya

Climate Change Accelerates Glacier Melting on Mount Kenya

Why in the News?
The Lewis Glacier, once a significant ice mass on Mount Kenya, has shrunk drastically, with studies predicting the mountain could become entirely ice-free by 2030.

A 2011 study by Austria’s University of Innsbruck revealed that Lewis Glacier lost 90% of its volume between 1934 and 2010. A 2023 satellite study found that only 4.2% of the ice observed in 1900 remains today.

About Mount Kenya:

• Location: Central Kenya, just south of the Equator.

• Elevation: 5,199 meters (17,058 feet) at its highest peak (Batian).

• UNESCO World Heritage Site: Recognized in 1997 for its ecological and cultural significance.

• Geological Origin: A long-extinct stratovolcano, heavily eroded over time.

• Glaciers: Home to Lewis Glacier and Tyndall Glacier, among the last remaining tropical glaciers in Africa.

9. Gaia Space Telescope

ESA Confirms Retirement of Gaia Space Telescope

Why in the News?
On March 27, 2025, the European Space Agency (ESA) confirmed that the Gaia spacecraft was "passivated" (deactivated) and placed into a safe "retirement orbit" around the Sun.

About the Gaia Mission:

• Originally named Global Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics (GAIA), later simplified to Gaia.

• Launched in 2013 by ESA to create the most precise 3D map of the Milky Way using astrometry (the measurement of celestial positions and motions).

• Position: Placed at Lagrange Point 2 (L2), 5 million km from Earth, ensuring an unobstructed cosmic view.

Scientific Instruments:

• Twin Telescopes: Captured light from multiple directions.

• Digital Camera: The largest ever flown in space, with nearly 1 billion pixels.

• Three Key Instruments:

  • Astrometer: Measured precise locations of celestial objects.

  • Photometer: Determined brightness and temperature of stars.

  • Spectrometer: Analyzed chemical composition and motion of celestial bodies.

Key Discoveries of Gaia:

• 3D Mapping of the Milky Way: Enhanced understanding of the galaxy’s shape, including its spiral arms, central bar, and past interactions with smaller galaxies.

• Discovery of New Black Holes: Identified a class of invisible black holes detectable only through gravitational effects.

• Asteroid Tracking: Mapped over 150,000 asteroids, tracking their orbits and potential threats to Earth.

10. Free Movement Regime

India to End Free Movement Regime (FMR) Along Myanmar Border

Why in the News?
In February 2024, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the discontinuation of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the India-Myanmar border.

The decision was reportedly influenced by former Manipur CM N. Biren Singh, who attributed unregulated cross-border movement to escalating ethnic conflicts in Manipur. However, Mizoram and Nagaland opposed the move, and no official notification or bilateral agreement has been issued yet.

About Free Movement Regime (FMR):

• A bilateral agreement between India and Myanmar allowing unrestricted movement within 16 km on either side of the 1,643 km Indo-Myanmar border.

• Eligibility: Members of hill tribes (both Indian and Myanmar citizens) can cross the border with a border pass valid for one year, permitting stays of up to two weeks per visit.

• Objective:

  • To preserve historical, cultural, and social ties among trans-border communities.

  • To promote local trade and facilitate familial interactions.

  • To support India’s Act East Policy, strengthening relations with Southeast Asia.

• Implementation:

  • Formally introduced in 2018, though informal movement existed for centuries.

  • Inspired by India’s Act East Policy, fostering regional cooperation.