1. University Grants Commission (UGC) – New Regulations on Foreign Degree Equivalence

Why in the News?
The UGC has officially released the “Recognition and Grant of Equivalence to Qualifications Obtained from Foreign Educational Institutions Regulations, 2025.”
These regulations, shaped by feedback on the 2023 draft, aim to bring clarity and uniformity to the process of recognising foreign qualifications.
This initiative supports the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which promotes the internationalisation of Indian higher education and aims to streamline the integration of international and returning Indian students into the country’s academic and employment frameworks.

What are Equivalence Certificates?
Equivalence certificates formally validate that a foreign qualification (degree/diploma/certificate) matches an equivalent Indian credential.
Under the new regulations, the UGC will now issue these certificates—replacing the earlier system managed by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).

2. River Blindness – Breakthrough in Blackfly Identification by ZSI

Why in the News?
A recent study by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has applied DNA barcoding to identify four blackfly species, known carriers of Onchocerca volvulus, the parasite behind river blindness.
These findings, based on samples collected from eight sites in the central Himalayas, could significantly improve disease control and vector management strategies in ecologically sensitive regions.

What is River Blindness (Onchocerciasis)?
River blindness is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus, transmitted by blackflies (genus Simulium) breeding in fast-flowing rivers.
Symptoms include severe itching, skin lesions, and in advanced stages, irreversible blindness.
The disease is primarily prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, parts of Latin America, and Yemen.
Treatment depends on mass drug administration (MDA) using ivermectin, requiring at least 80% coverage for effective disease control.
According to the WHO, five countries have been declared free of river blindness:

• Colombia (2013)

• Ecuador (2014)

• Mexico (2015)

• Guatemala (2016)

• Niger (2025) – The first African country to achieve this milestone.

3. Hadean Protocrust – New Evidence of Early Plate Tectonics

What is the Hadean Protocrust?
A global research effort led by Macquarie University in Australia suggests that chemical signatures linked to plate tectonics existed in Earth's earliest crust—known as the Hadean protocrust.
This crust formed during the Hadean aeon, over 6 billion years ago, when Earth was young, extremely hot, and geologically unstable.

Geological Conditions of the Hadean Aeon:
In the first 200 million years of Earth’s history, its surface was partially molten with widespread volcanic activity and frequent meteorite impacts.
A magma ocean covered the planet, which slowly cooled to form an unstable, flaky crust.
Thicker segments of this early crust gradually solidified to become the first proto-continents, floating atop the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath.

Origins of Plate Tectonics:
These crustal fragments began interacting—colliding, sliding, or subducting beneath one another—marking the onset of primitive plate tectonics.
Such interactions left distinct geochemical traces that allow scientists today to reconstruct early tectonic activity.

4. Rare Long-snouted Vine Snake Rediscovered in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

Why in the News?
A rare long-snouted vine snake (Ahaetulla longirostris) was recently rediscovered in Uttar Pradesh’s Dudhwa Tiger Reserve during a rhino release in the Palia Kheri division.
This is only the second documented sighting in India, the first being in Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Bihar.

About the Long-snouted Vine Snake:

• Belongs to the Colubridae family (mostly non-venomous snakes)

• Characterised by a distinct, elongated snout

• Slender, bright green or brown body, well-camouflaged in foliage

• Arboreal in nature (tree-dwelling)

• Mildly venomous, but not harmful to humans

About Dudhwa Tiger Reserve:
Located in Lakhimpur Kheri district on the Indo-Nepal border, the reserve comprises:

• Dudhwa National Park

• Kishanpur and Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuaries

• North and South Kheri forests, Shahjahanpur division

Ecological Features:

• Vegetation: Moist deciduous forests, predominantly Sal trees

• Rivers: Sharda, Geruwa, Suheli, and Mohana—all tributaries of the Ghaghara

• Wildlife: Tigers, leopards, fishing cats, langurs, jackals, crocodiles, snakes, and diverse bird species

5. Semaglutide – New Study Finds Cardiovascular Benefits

Why in the News?
A multinational clinical study has found that semaglutide—commonly prescribed for type 2 diabetes and weight management—can lower the risk of major cardiovascular events by 14%.

What is Semaglutide?

• A GLP-1 receptor agonist that mimics a natural hormone (GLP-1)

• Regulates blood sugar and suppresses appetite

• Used to treat type 2 diabetes and support weight loss

• Available in injectable and oral forms (the study focused on the oral form: Rybelsus, by Novo Nordisk)

Findings from the SOUL Trial:

• Phase 3, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial (launched in 2019)

• Target group: Type 2 diabetes patients with cardiovascular or kidney disease

• Goal: Measure reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) – including cardiovascular death, heart attacks, and strokes

• Result: 14% reduction in cardiovascular risk with oral semaglutide compared to placebo

6. Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary – Shrinking Green Cover

In the News:
A recent study has revealed that the dense vegetation cover in Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha, has declined from 41.8% in 1993 to 37.1% in 2023, indicating ecological stress.

Key Facts about the Sanctuary:

• Location: Puri district, Odisha

• Declared: 23 April 1984

• Area: 87 sq. km

• Landscape: Sandy coastal tract between Puri and Konark with casuarina and cashew plantations

• Water Sources: Crossed by Nuanai, Kusabhadra, Kadua, and Prachi rivers

Flora:

• Predominantly planted species: Cashew, casuarina, eucalyptus, and Australian acacia

• Natural species along riverbanks: Jamun, ficus, neem, karanj, polang

Fauna:

• Inhabitants: Spotted deer, blackbucks, monkeys, jungle cats, hyenas, snakes, monitor lizards

• Coastal visitors: Olive Ridley turtles nest along the beach

7. Woolly Flying Squirrel – Rare Mammal Captured on Camera

In the News:
For the first time, photographic evidence of the elusive Woolly Flying Squirrel has been captured in Miyar Valley, Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh.

About the Species:

• Also known as Western Woolly Flying Squirrel

• Scientific Name: Eupetaurus cinereus

• Status: Endemic to the northwestern Himalayas, rediscovered in 1994 after being presumed extinct for 70 years

• Habitat: Fragmented zones of dry conifer woodlands within a narrow altitudinal band

• Distribution: Northern Pakistan and parts of northwestern India

Physical Features:

• Elastic membranes connecting limbs for gliding

• Dense, silky fur: Blue-gray dorsal coat, pale gray underside, creamy throat and ears, black fur on feet soles

• IUCN Status: Endangered

8. UN Report – Maternal Mortality Trends (2000–2023)

In the News:
According to the UN's Trends in Maternal Mortality 2000–2023 report, India reported the second-highest maternal deaths in 2023, tied with DR Congo (19,000 deaths each), following Nigeria (75,000 deaths).

About the Report:

• Released by the UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank, UNDESA)

• Provides global, regional, and national estimates of maternal mortality

Key Highlights (2023):

• Global maternal deaths: 260,000 (712 per day)

• India’s MMR: Dropped from 362 in 2000 to 80 in 2023 – a 78% decline

• Top contributors: Nigeria (28.7%), India (7.2%), DR Congo (7.2%), Pakistan (4.1%) – together account for 47% of global maternal deaths

• COVID-19 impact (2021): Spike to 322,000 maternal deaths globally, from 282,000 in 2020

• Main cause: Haemorrhage remains the leading direct cause of maternal deaths

• Positives: No country reported “extremely high” MMR for the first time

9. Women and Men in India 2024 – Gender Data Report

In the News:
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has released the 26th edition of “Women and Men in India 2024: Selected Indicators and Data.”

Report Overview:

• Offers gender-disaggregated data across sectors: population, health, education, employment, and finance

• Covers urban-rural divides and regional variations

Key Highlights:

• Education:

  • Gender Parity Index (GPI) improved in FY24

  • Equal enrolments at upper primary and elementary levels

• Employment:

  • Female Labour Force Participation Rate rose from 49.8% (2017–18) to 60.1% (2023–24)

• Finance:

  • Women hold 39.2% of bank accounts, making up 7% of deposits

  • In rural areas, women account for 42.2% of account holders

  • Female-owned DEMAT accounts rose from 6.67 million (2021) to 27.71 million (2024)

• Entrepreneurship:

  • Startups with at least one woman director rose from 1,943 (2017) to 17,405 (2024)

• Voter Participation:

  • Female turnout in 2024 elections: 65.8%, higher than male turnout

  • Total voters rose from 173.2 million (1952) to 978 million (2024)