1. Kathak & Kumudini Lakhia

Renowned Kathak exponent Kumudini Lakhia passed away at 94, leaving behind a transformative legacy in Indian classical dance.
About Kathak
Derived from the Sanskrit word Katha (meaning story), Kathak began as temple storytelling and later evolved into a Mughal court performance.
Key Features:

• Major gharanas: Lucknow, Jaipur, and Benaras

• Noted for intricate footwork (Tatkaar), spins (Chakkars), expressive gestures, and rhythmic movements with ankle bells (ghungroos)

• Uniquely associated with Hindustani music

• Received patronage from Wajid Ali Shah of Awadh

• Famous artists: Birju Maharaj, Sitara Devi, Shovana Narayan, Aditi Mangaldas

Kumudini Lakhia’s Impact:
She redefined Kathak by shifting from mythological storytelling to pure movement and ensemble choreography. She introduced abstract, contemporary themes and group formats.
Honours: Padma Shri (1987), Padma Bhushan (2010), Padma Vibhushan (2024)

2. India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC)

India and Italy have pledged to enhance cooperation in trade, defense, clean energy, and technology under the Joint Strategic Action Plan (2025–2029).

About IMEEC:
A strategic connectivity initiative, IMEEC links India, the Middle East, and Europe through a multimodal infrastructure network.
Launched: At the 2023 G20 Summit in New Delhi via MoU with India, EU, US, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and others.
Purpose: Improve trade, transport, and counterbalance China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
Corridors:

• Eastern Corridor – India to Gulf

• Northern Corridor – Gulf to Europe
  Part of: Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), announced at the G7 Summit 2021

3. Microplastics in Plants

A global study has shown that microplastics and nanoplastics can be absorbed directly by plant leaves from the atmosphere.

About Microplastics:

• Definition: Plastic particles <5mm; nanoplastics <1,000 nm

• Types: Primary (e.g., cosmetics) and Secondary (degraded plastics)

• Issues: Persistent, mobile, and toxic; can accumulate in organisms and ecosystems

Plant Absorption:
Particles enter through stomata and the waxy cuticle, traveling through plant tissues and accumulating in structures like trichomes.
Implications:
Raises concerns over atmospheric plastic pollution, food chain contamination, and long-term health effects in humans.
Further Research Needed: On dietary exposure, digestive absorption, and internal accumulation in humans

4. Carbon Tax on Shipping

India, along with 62 countries, supported the first global carbon tax on shipping, adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

What is a Carbon Tax?
A financial charge on fossil fuels based on their carbon emissions, aimed at reducing greenhouse gases and encouraging clean alternatives.
Types:

• Emissions Tax

• Energy Tax

• Cap-and-Trade

• Border Tax Adjustment

Carbon Tax in India:
India lacks a national carbon tax but proposed one in 2015 (INR 50/ton on coal). Tamil Nadu has imposed state-level levies.
Clean Energy Initiatives:

• National Solar Mission

• National Clean Energy Fund

• Energy Conservation Building Code

About IMO:
A UN agency regulating global maritime safety and sustainability, contributing to SDG 14. It relies on member countries for enforcement.

5. rt-LAMP Assay for Tuberculosis Detection

Researchers from SCTIMST have developed an indigenous, real-time LAMP (rt-LAMP) assay for rapid TB diagnosis.

What is rt-LAMP?
A single-temperature molecular test with higher sensitivity and speed compared to RT-PCR. Detects TB DNA with as few as 10 copies/μL.
Advantages:

• Faster results (10–20 minutes)

• Uses six primers for high specificity

• Fluorescent dye Syto 16 prevents false negatives

Status:

• Licensed for production

• Approved by CDSCO

• Under validation by ICMR and WHO HTAP

Importance for India:
As of 2023, most TB diagnoses still use outdated smear microscopy. rt-LAMP offers a cost-effective, rapid solution to strengthen India’s TB elimination strategy under NTEP.

6. Phawngpui National Park
Recent forest fires have affected nearly one-ninth of Phawngpui National Park in Mizoram, officials reported.

About the Park:

• Also called the Blue Mountain National Park, it is located in southeastern Mizoram near the India-Myanmar border.

• It is the highest peak in the state at 2,157 meters above sea level and overlooks the Chhimtuipui River and Myanmar hills.

• Spread over 50 sq.km., it holds cultural significance for the local Mizo people, who believe it's inhabited by ancestral spirits.

• The mountain appears blue due to frequent cloud cover.

• Flora: Dense forests with patches of grasslands, including oak, rhododendrons, and rare bamboos.

• Fauna: Rich in birdlife like Blyth’s Tragopan and Hume’s Pheasant, and mammals including tigers, leopards, slow loris, capped langur, and Asiatic black bear.

7. Saras Mk2
The Saras Mk2, an upgraded indigenous civilian aircraft, is scheduled for its maiden test flight in December 2027, according to CSIR-NAL.

About Saras Mk2:

• A 19-seater multipurpose light transport aircraft, developed by CSIR-NAL, Bengaluru, under CSIR.

• Upgraded from Saras Mk1, it’s suited for passenger transport, medical emergencies, and disaster response.

• Ideal for connecting Tier-1 cities with Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.

Specifications:

• Weight: 7.5 tons; Range: 775 km (with full load), up to 2,450 km (with fewer passengers).

• Cruise speed: 500 kmph; Endurance: 6 hours; Ceiling: 29,000 ft.

• Takeoff: 790 m; Landing: 740 m.

• Powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67A turboprop engines.

8. Ramgarh Lake
Revival efforts are underway for the historic Ramgarh Lake near Jaipur, once a key water source for the city.

About the Lake:

• Located in Jamwa Ramgarh subdivision, Jaipur district, Rajasthan.

• Built in 1876 by Sawai Ram Singh II through an embankment on forested hills.

• Once spread over 15.5 sq.km. and was Jaipur’s primary water source.

• Four rivers—Roda, Banganga, Tala, and Madhoveni—once fed the lake but have dried up due to deforestation and mining.

• Hosted a rowing event during the 1982 Asian Games.

• Nearby sites include Jamwa Mata Temple and a premier Polo Ground.

• Declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1982; home to nilgai, chital, and even lions.

9. Bullet Curtain
China’s Norinco has unveiled the Bullet Curtain, the world’s first anti-drone barrage system.

Key Highlights:

• Designed to counter low-flying aerial threats like rockets, drones, helicopters, and missiles.

• Inspired by the “Metal Storm” concept from the late 1990s.

• Differs from conventional “point-to-point” interceptors by using a “plane-to-point” approach to create a wide curtain of fire.

Features:

• Equipped with a 4x4 array of 35mm gun barrels using AHEAD ammunition that disperses sub-projectiles mid-air.

• Integrated with radar, optics, fire-control, and management systems.

• Mounted on a 6x6 truck for mobility; adaptable to land vehicles, naval vessels, or fixed sites.

• A computer system dynamically adjusts fire depending on the nature of the threat.

10. Typhloperipatus williamsoni
Scientists have rediscovered Typhloperipatus williamsoni, a velvet worm species, after 111 years in Arunachal Pradesh’s Siang Valley.

About the Species:

• Belongs to the ancient phylum Onychophora, dating back over 350 million years.

• One of the few surviving “living fossils” that evolved alongside dinosaurs.

• First discovered during the 1911 Abor Expedition by Stanley Kemp.

• Molecular studies suggest that South Asian velvet worms diverged from their Neotropical and African relatives around 237 million years ago.

• Remarkably, they show no evolutionary relation to their Australian counterparts—unusual for Southeast Asian invertebrates.