1. Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2024

The Lok Sabha has recently approved the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2024, setting the stage for modernizing maritime legislation in India.

Key Highlights:

• This bill replaces the Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925, a law from the colonial era.

• It defines the responsibilities, liabilities, rights, and immunities for transporting goods from Indian ports to domestic or international destinations.

• The bill aligns with the Hague Rules (1924) and subsequent amendments, ensuring compliance with international maritime conventions.

• It retains all existing provisions while consolidating regulations related to port management, fostering integrated port development, and simplifying business operations in the maritime sector.

• The bill aims to maximize the utilization of India's extensive coastline by empowering State Maritime Boards to manage non-major ports efficiently.

• It also proposes the establishment of the Maritime State Development Council to promote structured growth in the port sector.

• Other key provisions include measures for pollution control, disaster management, emergency response, security, safety, navigation, and port data management.

• The bill introduces mechanisms for port conservation and dispute resolution.

Powers of the Central Government:

• The government is authorized to issue directives for implementing the bill’s provisions.

• It can amend the schedule specifying rules applicable to bills of lading.

2. Key Facts About Ulhas River

Responding to citizen activists' concerns over pollution in the Ulhas River, the Maharashtra State Government has decided to remove water hyacinth from the river within 15 days.

About Ulhas River:

• A west-flowing river in Maharashtra, it drains into the Arabian Sea.

• Originates from the Sahyadri Hills in Raigad district at an elevation of 600 meters above mean sea level.

• Extends 122 km from its source to its mouth.

• The basin is enclosed by the Sahyadri Hills to the east, with westerly offshoots to the north and south, opening into the sea on the west.

• Covers a drainage area of 4,637 sq km, entirely within Maharashtra, spanning Thane, Raigad, and Pune districts.

• Major tributaries: Pej, Barvi, Bhivapuri, Murbari, Kalu, Shari, Bhasta, Salpe, Poshir, and Shilar.

• The Kalu and Bhasta rivers, the largest right-bank tributaries, together account for 7% of the total catchment area.

• The river’s estuary is home to historical ports like Kalyan, Kopri, and Shurparaka.

3. Chicken’s Neck Corridor

Bangladesh has invited China to invest in a river conservation project near India’s ‘Chicken’s Neck’ corridor, a critical land link connecting mainland India to its northeastern states.

About Chicken’s Neck Corridor:

• Also known as the Siliguri Corridor, this narrow stretch of land in West Bengal is India’s only direct link to the northeastern region.

• At its narrowest point, the corridor is just 22 km wide.

• Bordered by Nepal (west), Bhutan (north), and Bangladesh (south).

• It connects Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura to the rest of India.

Strategic Significance:

• A vital passage for military movements, trade, and supply chains.

• Any disruption could sever connectivity to the northeast.

• The region is geopolitically sensitive due to its proximity to China’s Chumbi Valley in Tibet, where China has developed extensive military infrastructure.

• In the event of a conflict, China could attempt to cut off this corridor, posing a serious threat to India’s territorial integrity.

4. Operation Brahma

Following a devastating earthquake in Myanmar, India launched Operation Brahma, a humanitarian relief and rescue mission.

About Operation Brahma:

• Initiated in response to a 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, 2025.

• The disaster claimed over 1,600 lives and caused extensive destruction, affecting Myanmar and parts of Thailand.

• India deployed a large-scale relief mission, including rescue teams, medical assistance, and emergency aid.

Key Contributions:

• National Disaster Response Force (NDRF): An 80-member team equipped with concrete cutters, drills, plasma cutters, and rescue tools was deployed.

• Indian Army: Mobilized a 118-member specialized medical team from the elite Shatrujeet Brigade Medical Responders.

• Medical Aid: A 60-bed Medical Treatment Centre was set up to handle trauma cases, emergency surgeries, and essential healthcare services.

• Naval Assistance: Indian Navy ships INS Satpura and INS Savitri transported 40 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Yangon.

5. Kasampatty Sacred Grove

The Tamil Nadu government has declared Kasampatty (Veera Kovil) Sacred Grove a Biodiversity Heritage Site under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

About Kasampatty Sacred Grove:

• Also known as Veera Kovil Sacred Grove, it is a culturally and ecologically significant site in Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu.

• Covers 4.97 hectares near the Alagarmalai Reserve Forest and is surrounded by mango plantations.

• Home to 48 plant species, 22 shrubs, 21 woody vines (lianas), and 29 herbs.

• Provides habitat for 12 bird species, small mammals, reptiles, and various insects.

• It is Tamil Nadu’s second Biodiversity Heritage Site.

What are Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS)?

BHS are ecologically unique areas with rich biodiversity. They may include:

• Rare, endemic, or threatened species.

• Wild ancestors of cultivated species.

• Fossil-rich sites with historical significance.

• Regions of cultural or ethical importance.

Legal Framework:

• Under Section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, state governments, in consultation with local bodies, can designate areas as BHS.

• The first BHS in India was the Nallur Tamarind Grove in Bengaluru, Karnataka (2007).

6. Future Circular Collider (FCC)

Plans for the Future Circular Collider (FCC), a proposed $30 billion initiative by CERN, have sparked debate within the scientific community.

What is the Future Circular Collider (FCC)?

• Project Scope: A 91 km circular tunnel beneath the Swiss-French border, designed to accelerate and collide particles at unprecedented energy levels.

• Objective: Initially (Phase 1, ~2040), the collider will produce large quantities of Higgs bosons; later (Phase 2, ~2070), it will facilitate proton collisions at extreme energies.

• Estimated Cost: $30 billion, with financial commitments extending over several decades.

• Supporters' Viewpoint: CERN officials and prominent physicists like Fabiola Gianotti and Mark Thomson argue that the FCC will be the most advanced tool for studying the fundamental nature of matter.

• Critics' Concerns: Some physicists worry that the project could divert funding from other critical scientific endeavors.

Alternative Approaches to the FCC

• Linear Accelerators: A more cost-effective and flexible alternative for particle physics research.

• Plasma Wave Technology: An innovative method using plasma waves to accelerate particles in a compact space, potentially revolutionizing collider design within two decades.

Understanding Hadrons

• Definition: Subatomic particles composed of quarks, held together by the strong nuclear force.

• Types:

  • Mesons (e.g., pions, kaons)

  • Baryons (e.g., protons, neutrons)

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC)

• Location: On the Franco-Swiss border, operated by CERN.

• Structure: A 27 km circular tunnel.

• Purpose: Collides protons at high energies to investigate fundamental forces and particles.

• Key Discovery: The Higgs boson (2012), confirming the existence of the Higgs field, which imparts mass to particles.

• Speed: Accelerates particles to 99.9999% of the speed of light.

• Significance: Helps replicate early universe conditions and test theories such as supersymmetry and extra dimensions.

7. Frankincense

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has issued a warning regarding the decline of Frankincense-producing trees (Boswellia species), with several species facing an increased risk of extinction.

What is Frankincense?

• A fragrant resin obtained from trees of the Boswellia genus.

• Historically prized for its use in incense, perfumes, and traditional medicine.

• Cultural Significance: One of the three gifts—Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh—presented to Jesus by the Magi, as per the Bible.

Why is Frankincense at Risk?

• Habitat Loss & Overgrazing: Overgrazing by goats prevents new trees from growing, while traditional rotational grazing practices have declined.

• Climate Change & Extreme Weather: Increasingly frequent cyclones, flash floods, and droughts (notably in 2015 and 2018) have devastated tree populations.

• Unsustainable Harvesting: Excessive resin extraction weakens trees and hampers seed production.

• Lack of Conservation Measures: Inadequate protection, including a lack of fencing and regulated harvesting, has worsened the situation.

8. Amur Tigers

A recent study published in Oryx highlights a rise in tiger fatalities due to road accidents, posing a threat to the species’ long-term survival.

About the Amur Tiger

• Scientific Name: Panthera tigris altaica

• Common Names: Amur Tiger, Siberian Tiger

• IUCN Status: Endangered

• Population: Estimated 265–486 (2022) in Russia, with a small population in China and possibly North Korea.

• Habitat: Mainly found in eastern Russia’s birch forests, with a minor presence in China and North Korea.

• Diet: Carnivorous—preys on elk, wild boar, and other ungulates.

• Size: Can reach 10.75 feet in length and weigh up to 660 pounds.

• Lifespan: 10–15 years in the wild; up to 20 years in captivity.

• Adaptations: Thick fur, large body size, and a lighter coat color for survival in cold climates.

9. Xenotransplantation

Chinese researchers have successfully transplanted a genetically modified pig liver into a brain-dead human to assess its viability and function.

What is Xenotransplantation?

• The process of transplanting, implanting, or infusing live animal cells, tissues, or organs into a human recipient.

• Also includes human cells, tissues, or organs that have interacted with non-human animal components.

• Initial attempts in the 1980s involved heart transplants.

• Genetic modifications are essential to prevent immune rejection.

• Close post-transplant monitoring is necessary to ensure proper function and detect potential immune responses.

Why are Pigs Used for Xenotransplantation?

• Pig heart valves have been used in human heart surgeries for over 50 years.

• Anatomical and physiological similarities make pigs ideal donors.

• Pigs are widely farmed, ensuring a scalable and cost-effective organ supply.

• Different pig breeds allow for size-matching with human recipients.

Recent Advancements in Xenotransplantation

• First Genetically Modified Pig Heart Transplant (2022): A groundbreaking human heart transplant using a genetically modified pig heart.

• Gene-Edited Pig Liver Transplantation (2025): Conducted by Chinese researchers at the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an.

Key Genetic Modifications

• Six genes were edited to prevent immune rejection.

• Human transgenes were introduced to enhance compatibility.

Observations Over 10 Days

• The pig liver functioned by producing bile and albumin.

• Stable blood flow was maintained.

• Immunosuppressants prevented signs of rejection.

Potential Applications

• Gene-modified pig livers could serve as temporary "bridge therapy" for patients awaiting human organ transplants.

• However, the long-term viability and full functionality of such transplants remain uncertain.