1. Blue Washing and CPCB’s Blue Category

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has introduced a new 'Blue Category' under Essential Environmental Services (EES), covering activities like composting, sewage treatment, and material recovery.

However, this has sparked concerns of ‘Blue Washing’, where highly polluting industries—like Waste-to-Energy (WTE) incineration—are misleadingly presented as environmentally friendly by moving them from the Red Category (PI 60+) to the cleaner-sounding Blue.

WTE incineration burns municipal solid waste to generate electricity but emits high CO₂ levels. This reclassification may downplay its environmental impact.

Pollution Index (PI), introduced by MoEFCC, classifies industries:

• White (0–20): Least polluting

• Green (21–40)

• Orange (41–59)

• Red (60–100): Most polluting

2. Bioluminescent Backwaters in Kochi

Kochi’s backwaters recently witnessed glowing bioluminescent blue waves, driven by Noctiluca scintillans (sea sparkle), attracting tourists but raising environmental concerns.

Bioluminescence is a natural light-emission from algae or plankton due to mechanical disturbances. This glow, often seen from March–May ("Kavaru" in Malayalam), results from chemical reactions within the plankton.

The phenomenon is triggered by eutrophication—caused by nutrient-rich runoff—along with rising temperatures, high salinity, and low rainfall. Excessive blooms (>500,000 cells/litre) cause red tides and Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), harming marine biodiversity, fisheries, and even human health via toxins like domoic acid.

3. Sea Lions Turning Aggressive in California

An algal bloom off California’s coast has led to a rise in domoic acid, a neurotoxin affecting marine life. Sea lions, typically non-aggressive, have exhibited lethal behavior, attacking people and showing signs of neurological distress.

This is due to Pseudo-nitzschia, a toxic algae that thrives in nutrient-rich waters. The neurotoxin travels up the food chain, affecting fish-eating predators like sea lions.

Sea lions (Otariidae), found from Alaska to Mexico, usually live up to 30 years and are known for their social behavior. The current toxin exposure has disrupted their natural temperament.

4. Sunbird: Nuclear Fusion Rocket

Sunbird, developed by UK-based Pulsar Fusion, is a nuclear fusion-powered rocket that could revolutionize interplanetary travel by cutting travel time to Mars and even reaching Pluto in just 4 years.

Targeted for an orbital demo in 2027, it’s expected to reach speeds up to 805,000 km/h, surpassing even NASA’s Parker Solar Probe.

Nuclear fusion, the same process powering stars, involves fusing atomic nuclei to release massive energy with minimal radioactive waste—unlike nuclear fission.

5. PM-POSHAN Scheme: Nutritional Support for School Children

The Government of India approved a 9.5% hike in food costs under the PM-POSHAN Scheme, increasing central spending by ₹954 crore from May 1, 2025.

Formerly the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, PM-POSHAN provides cooked meals to over 20 crore children in Balvatikas and Classes 1–8 in government and aided schools.

New per-day material costs:

• ₹6.78 for Balvatika & Primary (up from ₹6.19)

• ₹10.17 for Upper Primary (up from ₹9.29)

Nutritional standards include pulses, vegetables, and oil. Inflation adjustments are based on CPI-RL data from 600 rural villages. The scheme aims to boost nutrition and improve school attendance.

Also linked is Mission POSHAN 2.0, merging earlier nutrition programs under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, with funding shared 60:40 between Centre and States, and 100% funded for UTs without legislatures.

6. Mahatma Jyotiba Phule
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid homage to Mahatma Jyotirao Phule on his birth anniversary.

About Mahatma Jyotiba Phule
Mahatma Jyotirao Phule (1827–1890), a visionary social reformer, educator, and writer from Maharashtra, is remembered for his tireless efforts to eradicate caste and gender-based discrimination.

• Early Life: Born on April 11, 1827, in Pune, into the Mali caste, he was influenced by progressive ideas while studying at Scottish Mission High School.

• Turning Point: An incident of caste discrimination at a friend’s wedding in 1848 ignited his commitment to social reform.

• With Savitribai Phule: His wife, Savitribai, India’s first female teacher, joined him in establishing the first school for girls in Pune in 1848.

Key Contributions

• Education: Established schools for girls and marginalised groups; introduced night schools for working individuals.

• Social Reforms: Founded Satyashodhak Samaj (1873) to fight caste oppression and promote social equality.

• Women’s Rights: Advocated for widow remarriage and opposed child marriage and female infanticide.

• Literary Work: Wrote Gulamgiri (Slavery) and Shetkaryacha Asud (Cultivator’s Whip) highlighting caste injustice and farmer exploitation.

• Critique of Orthodoxy: Challenged Brahmanical dominance and caste hierarchy to advocate true social justice.

7. BM-04 Missile
India showcased its latest short-range ballistic missile (SRBM), the BM-04, at the Vigyan Vaibhav 2025 defense expo in Hyderabad, marking a leap in conventional counterforce capabilities.

About BM-04
Developed by DRDO, the BM-04 features:

• Specifications: 10.2 meters long, 1.2 meters in diameter, and weighs 11,500 kg.

• Range & Payload: Can strike targets up to 1,500 km with a 500 kg conventional warhead; has a high accuracy with a 30-meter CEP.

• Mobility: Launched via an indigenous six-wheeled TEL; canisterized for quick deployment.

• Advanced Features: Equipped with a Common Hypersonic Glide Body (C-HGB) for evasive maneuvers and survivability against enemy defenses.

• Upgradability: Designed for regular enhancements with advanced warheads, sensors, and propulsion systems.

About DRDO
Established in 1958, DRDO is India’s premier defense R&D agency, with seven technology clusters, driving indigenous innovation in defense systems.

8. Legionnaires’ Disease
Health officials in New South Wales have issued a warning after a spike in Legionnaires’ disease cases in Sydney, linked to contaminated air conditioning systems.

About the Disease

• Cause: Caused by Legionella bacteria, typically found in freshwater but also thrives in artificial water systems.

• Types:

  • Legionnaires’ disease: A severe form of pneumonia.

  • Pontiac fever: A milder respiratory illness.

• Symptoms: Fever, cough, muscle pain, headache, shortness of breath, and sometimes gastrointestinal or neurological issues.

• Transmission: Through inhalation of contaminated aerosols; not spread person-to-person.

• Treatment: Managed with antibiotics; no vaccine currently available.

9. Indian Giant Flying Squirrel
A rare sighting of the Indian giant flying squirrel was reported in Ranikhet, Uttarakhand, exciting wildlife enthusiasts.

About the Species

• Scientific Name: Petaurista philippensis

• Size & Features: Body length 30–45 cm; tail up to 60 cm. Characterized by a reddish coat, large eyes, and a gliding membrane from wrists to ankles.

• Habitat: Found in tropical and subtropical forests of central and southern India.

• Diet: Eats fruits, leaves, nuts, and bark; vital for seed dispersal.

• Behavior: Nocturnal and arboreal, capable of gliding up to 60 meters; gives alarm calls upon detecting predators like owls.

• Conservation Status:

  • WPA: Listed in Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

  • IUCN: Globally "Least Concern", but classified as "Near Threatened" within India due to habitat degradation.

10. Taiwan Strait
China has commenced large-scale military exercises in the Taiwan Strait, escalating regional tensions.

About the Taiwan Strait

• Geography: Separates mainland China and Taiwan; 130–180 km wide, linking the South China Sea to the East China Sea.

• Importance:

  • Vital global shipping lane, with ~40% of the world’s container traffic passing through.

  • Home to rich fishing grounds and over 100 key marine species.

• Historical Significance:

  • A hotspot since 1949, after the Chinese Civil War.

  • Site of major military standoffs including the Taiwan Strait Crises (1954–55, 1958), with U.S. involvement to deter escalation.

• Strategic Sensitivity: A flashpoint in China–Taiwan relations, with regular military drills by the People’s Liberation Army near the strait.