1. Exercise INDRA

India and Russia have launched a six-day bilateral naval exercise, Indra, off Chennai’s coast, featuring advanced maritime drills and live weapon firings.

Key Highlights:

• Indra is a joint naval exercise between India and Russia, first held in 2003.

• It reflects the deep strategic naval cooperation between the two nations, promoting interoperability and operational synergy.

• INDRA 2025 marks the 14th edition of the exercise.

• It consists of two phases:

  • Harbour Phase (in Chennai): Includes the opening ceremony, expert exchanges, reciprocal ship visits, sports events, and pre-sailing briefings.

  • Sea Phase (in Bay of Bengal): Features tactical manoeuvres, live weapon firings, anti-air drills, replenishment at sea, helicopter cross-deck operations, and rider exchanges.

• Participating ships:

  • Russia: Pechanga, Rezkiy, Aldar Tsydenzhapov

  • India: INS Rana, INS Kuthar, and P-8I maritime patrol aircraft

2. Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary

Delhi’s forest department plans to deploy 45 motion-sensor camera traps across the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary to enhance wildlife monitoring.

About the Sanctuary:

• Located in the South Delhi Ridge of the Aravalli range, near the Delhi-Haryana border.

• Merges with the Indo-Gangetic Plain and is part of the North Aravalli Leopard Wildlife Corridor that links Sariska National Park to the Delhi Ridge.

• Vegetation: Classified as Northern Tropical Thorn Forests with xerophytic plants like thorny shrubs, waxy, succulent, and hairy leaves.

• Flora: Includes Neem, Peepal, and Jamun trees.

• Fauna: Inhabited by species such as the Nilgai, Indian Porcupine, Indian Hare, Indian Grey Mongoose, and over 200 bird species including the Indian Peafowl and Indian Grey Hornbill.

3. Mount Marapi

Indonesia’s Mount Marapi recently erupted, sending a plume of ash 1.5 km (4,900 feet) into the sky.

About Mount Marapi:

• Located in the Padang Highlands of western Sumatra, Indonesia.

• A stratovolcano, built from successive layers of hardened lava, ash, and rock.

• Part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, known for intense seismic and volcanic activity.

• Rises to 9,485 ft (2,891 m), making it the highest peak in the region.

• Its summit features the Bancah caldera (1.4 km in diameter) with overlapping craters.

• The deadliest eruption occurred in 1979, killing 60 people due to a lahar (volcanic mudflow) triggered by heavy rains.

4. Dhansiri River

Environmental activists have raised alarms over potential ecological damage caused by hazardous waste from Numaligarh Refinery being discharged into the Dhansiri River.

About the River:

• The main river in Golaghat (Assam) and Dimapur (Nagaland) districts.

• A crucial tributary of the Brahmaputra River.

• Origin: Laisang Peak in Nagaland.

• Course: Flows ~352 km, initially northwest for 40 km, then northeast to Dimapur, and finally north to Golaghat before joining the Brahmaputra at Dhansirimukh.

• Catchment area: 1,220 sq. km.

• The river flows along the Assam–Nagaland border, flanked by the Dhansiri Reserved Forest and Intanki National Park, making it rich in biodiversity.

5. Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)

An international team of astronomers using NASA’s TESS recently discovered a new warm Jupiter exoplanet over 1,000 light years away.

About TESS:

• Launched by NASA in March 2018, TESS is a small space telescope focused on detecting exoplanets around bright nearby stars.

• A successor to the Kepler mission, TESS uses the transit method—monitoring star brightness dips to detect orbiting planets.

• The mission’s goal is to identify planets in the habitable zone—where conditions may support liquid water.

• TESS completed its primary mission in July 2020, covering about 75% of the sky and discovering 66 confirmed exoplanets.

• It continues operations under an extended mission, exploring a wide range of planetary types from rocky worlds to gas giants

6. Thailand

The Indian Prime Minister’s recent visit to Thailand has strengthened bilateral relations through multiple agreements and collaborations.

Geographical & Political Significance

• Location: Strategically positioned in Mainland Southeast Asia, serving as a land and maritime link between India and ASEAN nations.

• Land Borders: Shares boundaries with Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia.

• Water Bodies: Bordered by the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, playing a crucial role in maritime security and the Blue Economy in the Indo-Pacific.

• Capital: Bangkok

• Currency: Thai Baht (THB)

• Official Language: Thai

• Religion: Theravada Buddhism is followed by 95% of the population.

• Significance for India: Thailand is a key player in India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific Vision.

Geography of Thailand

• Mountains:

  • Highest Peak: Doi Inthanon (2,565 m)

  • Other peaks: Doi Chiang Dao, Doi Luang Chiang Dao

• Major Rivers:

  • Chao Phraya River: Vital for transportation and irrigation; flows through Bangkok.

  • Mekong River: Forms a natural border with Laos and is one of Southeast Asia’s longest rivers.

  • Other rivers: Mae Klong, Nan, Ping

• Climate:

  • Influenced by Southwest and Northeast Monsoons.

  • Tropical Wet and Dry (Savanna) Climate dominates most regions.

  • Tropical Monsoon Climate in the south and east, with some areas experiencing a Tropical Rainforest Climate.

Natural Resources

• Key Resources: Rubber, rice, tin, natural gas, timber, tungsten, tantalum.

• Thailand is one of the world’s largest exporters of rubber, fruits, vegetables, and rice.

• Other resources: Lead, fish, gypsum, fluorite, lignite.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

• Historic City of Ayutthaya

• Sukhothai Historical Park

• Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) – a renowned Buddhist temple in Bangkok.

7. Artificial Rain

Delhi’s Environment Minister recently held discussions with key agencies to evaluate the feasibility of using artificial rain through cloud seeding.

What is Artificial Rain?

• A weather modification technique that induces precipitation by cloud seeding.

• Used to increase rainfall, mitigate droughts, and reduce air pollution.

How Cloud Seeding Works

• Chemicals used: Silver iodide, potassium iodide, and dry ice.

• These chemicals are dispersed into clouds via aircraft or helicopters, acting as condensation nuclei that form raindrops.

• Successful cloud seeding depends on the availability of moisture and suitable atmospheric conditions.

Types of Cloud Seeding

1. Hygroscopic Cloud Seeding: Enhances raindrop formation by accelerating droplet coalescence in liquid clouds.

2. Glaciogenic Cloud Seeding: Uses ice-forming agents to convert supercooled water vapor into ice crystals, which later melt into rain.

Alternative Weather Modification Technologies

• Static artificial rain systems: Utilize natural ionization technology to trigger precipitation.

• Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI): Inspired by volcanic eruptions, it injects aerosols like sulfur dioxide to reflect sunlight and cool the planet.

• Diamond Dust Experiment: Investigates the use of diamond dust as an alternative to sulfur-based aerosols, though high costs remain a challenge.

8. Seaweed

Seaweed farming is emerging as a sustainable and profitable global industry.

Why is it in the News?

• India’s Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) aims to increase seaweed production to 1.12 million tonnes within five years.

• The global seaweed industry is valued at $5.6 billion and is expanding rapidly.

What is Seaweed?

• A marine plant that thrives in oceans and seas.

• Rich in nutrients: Contains 54 trace elements, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.

• Health benefits: Supports immunity and helps prevent cancer, diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

• Eco-friendly & sustainable:

  • Grows without land, freshwater, fertilizers, or pesticides.

  • Microscopic phytoplankton drive oceanic productivity and marine food chains.

  • Large seaweeds like giant kelp form underwater forests, acting as biodiversity hotspots.

  • Contributes to oxygen production and carbon sequestration, playing a crucial role in climate regulation.

9. Heard & McDonald Islands

The US recently imposed a 10% tariff on imports from Heard and McDonald Islands, despite the islands having no known exports to the country.

About Heard and McDonald Islands

• A remote sub-Antarctic volcanic island group, located in the southern Indian Ocean.

• Distance:

  • ~4,100 km southwest of Perth, Australia.

  • ~1,600 km north of Antarctica.

• Political Status: One of Australia’s seven external territories, directly governed by the Australian government.

Geographical & Environmental Significance

• Volcanic Origin:

  • Big Ben Volcano (Mawson Peak) on Heard Island is Australia’s highest mountain outside the mainland and Tasmania (2,745 m).

  • McDonald Island has shown recent volcanic activity, doubling in size in the late 1990s and 2000s.

• Only volcanically active sub-Antarctic islands, making them a natural laboratory for studying:

  • Earth’s crustal processes

  • Oceanic and atmospheric warming

  • Glacial dynamics

• UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 1997):

  • Strict nature reserve (IUCN Category Ia) with an untouched sub-Antarctic ecosystem.

  • Home to large penguin, seabird, and elephant seal populations.

  • Remarkably free of invasive species, making them vital for biodiversity and evolutionary studies.

10. Kannadippaya

Kannadippaya, a traditional tribal handicraft from Kerala, has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

What is Kannadippaya?

• "Kannadippaya" translates to "mirror mat," named for its distinct reflective surface.

• Material: Woven from the soft inner layers of reed bamboo, providing thermal insulation—warm in winter and cool in summer.

Cultural & Craftsmanship Significance

• Handcrafted by tribal communities in Kerala, including:

  • Oorali, Mannan, Muthuva, Malayan, Kadar, Ulladan, Malayarayan, and Hill Pulaya artisans.

• Primary regions: Idukki, Thrissur, Ernakulam, and Palakkad districts.

• Raw Material: The finest mats are made from Teinostachyum wightii (locally known as Njoonjileetta, Njoojoora, Ponneetta, Meieeta, and Neytheetta).

• Other bamboo varieties, such as Ochlandra sp. (Kareetta, Pereetta, Velleeta, Chitoora, Kanjoora), are also used.

• First tribal handicraft from Kerala to receive a GI tag.