1. Plastic Ice VII

First-Ever Direct Observation

For the first time in scientific history, researchers have directly observed a rare and unusual phase of water known as Plastic Ice VII, believed to naturally occur deep within the icy interiors of planets and moons like Neptune, Europa, and Titan.

What is Plastic Ice VII?
Plastic Ice VII is a unique state of water that blends properties of both solids and liquids.

• Like a typical solid, its water molecules are locked in place within a cubic crystal lattice.

• However, those same molecules can spin freely, resembling the fluid behavior of a liquid.

This dual nature gives the ice a remarkable plasticity, allowing it to deform under pressure like a soft, moldable material—unlike conventional ice found on Earth.

Why the Name “Plastic” Ice?
Here, "plastic" refers to the physical trait of plasticity, not to synthetic plastics.
It describes the ice’s ability to be shaped or squeezed while maintaining a solid structure.
Physicist Livia Bove, one of the study’s lead researchers, likens it to a solid that can be pressed through a hole—highlighting its semi-fluid behavior under stress.

2. Asian Hornet in the UK

Rapid Spread Confirmed in 2025

Sightings of the Asian hornet have surged across the UK in 2025. DNA analysis confirms, for the first time, that these hornets are not only breeding but also successfully overwintering in the country.

About the Asian Hornet

• Species: Vespa velutina, also called the yellow-legged hornet

• Origin: Native to Southeast Asia

• Often confused with the Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia), but it's smaller and just as ecologically harmful.

• A fierce predator of honeybees, vital pollinators in ecosystems

• Known for lethal ambushes at hive entrances, picking off bees mid-flight

Invasion and Spread

• First arrived in Europe in 2004, likely through imported Chinese pottery.

• Now present in 15 European countries, with France alone home to over 500,000 nests.

• The UK recorded its first official case in 2016.

3. Sir Sankaran Nair

Honored on the 106th Anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

On the occasion of the 106th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the Prime Minister paid tribute to Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair—a bold and outspoken figure who opposed British colonial rule.

Early Life and Education

• Born in 1857 in Mankara, Palakkad (present-day Kerala), to an aristocratic family.

• Studied at Presidency College, Madras, and began his legal career under Sir Horatio Shepherd.

Career Highlights

• Became the youngest President of the Indian National Congress in 1897—the only Malayali to hold the post.

• Served on the Raleigh University Commission (1902).

• Honored with the Companion of the Indian Empire (1904) and knighthood (1912).

• Became a permanent judge of the Madras High Court in 1908.

• Appointed to the Viceroy’s Executive Council in 1915, overseeing education.

Nationalist Role

• Advocated strongly for Indian self-rule.

• Played a key role in the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919).

• Resigned from the Viceroy’s Council in protest after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, triggering press freedom and martial law rollbacks in Punjab.

Historic Defamation Trial

• Accused Michael O’Dwyer, then Punjab's Lieutenant Governor, of orchestrating the massacre.

• Faced a defamation trial in England (1922), the longest civil trial in British history.

• Although Nair lost (11–1 jury vote), the case exposed deep colonial biases and energized the Indian independence movement.

4. Rare Earth Magnets

China Halts Exports Amid Trade Tensions

China has paused exports of vital components, including rare earth magnets, disrupting supply chains in sectors like automotive, defense, and consumer electronics.

What Are Rare Earth Magnets?

• High-performance permanent magnets made using rare earth elements like Neodymium (Nd), Samarium (Sm), and Dysprosium (Dy).

• Essential in:

  • Electric vehicles (EVs)

  • Wind turbines

  • Military systems (missile guidance, radar)

  • Electronics (smartphones, speakers)

  • Drones and robotics

Global Dependence on China

• China controls over 80% of the world’s rare earth refining capacity, giving it significant geopolitical leverage.

• The current suspension highlights vulnerabilities in global supply chains, especially for countries like the United States.

Rare Earth Elements (REEs) Overview

• Total: 17 elements, including Scandium, Yttrium, and the 15 Lanthanides

• LREEs (Light): La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu

• HREEs (Heavy): Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu

• Despite their light weight, Scandium and Yttrium are grouped with HREEs due to their similar properties.

5. Cheetah Relocation: Kuno to Gandhi Sagar

Steering Committee Approves Wildlife Move

India’s Cheetah Project Steering Committee, established under the NTCA, has officially approved the relocation of some cheetahs from Kuno National Park to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.

Background

• Project Cheetah launched in 2022, bringing 20 cheetahs (8 from Namibia, 12 from South Africa) to Kuno.

• However, the initiative faced major setbacks: 8 adults and 5 cubs have since died.

About the Relocation

• Gandhi Sagar is key to forming a cheetah meta-population of 60–70 individuals across the Kuno–Gandhi Sagar landscape (Madhya Pradesh & Rajasthan).

• Current cheetah count at Kuno: 26, with 17 in the wild and 9 in large enclosures.

• Prey base at Gandhi Sagar includes chinkara, chousingha, nilgai, and chital.

About Cheetahs

• Listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List

• Protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act (1972)

• Included in Appendix I of CITES for maximum international protection

• Females mature at 20–24 months, males at 24–30 months

• Gestation lasts about 90–95 days, with litters of 3–5 cubs

6. Sillahalla Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project
In April 2025, protests against the Sillahalla Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project intensified in the Nilgiris, as farmers, tribal communities, and environmental activists voiced their opposition and submitted petitions to the Tamil Nadu government.

About the Project:
The Sillahalla Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project (SPSHEP), proposed by the Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited (TNGECL), aims to address peak power shortages and support renewable energy integration in the state.

• Location: Kundah region of Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu, near Silent Valley and Mukurthi National Parks.

• Capacity: Designed to generate 1,000 MW of electricity during peak demand.

• Key Components:

  • Two reservoirs (upper and lower dams)

  • Tunnels: 2.8 km head race and 1.56 km tail race

  • Underground powerhouse and surface storage units

Environmental and Social Concerns:

• Approximately 1,000 acres of farmland and 500 acres of forest are at risk of submergence.

• Nearly 3,000 farmers could be affected, many of whom hold land under joint pattas, complicating compensation.

• Locals who previously gave land for road projects claim they haven’t been compensated yet.

Public Response:
Local communities have raised alarms about potential environmental damage and the loss of their livelihoods.

7. Repo Rate
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently cut the repo rate by 25 basis points, lowering it to 6%.

Understanding the Repo Rate:
The repo rate is the interest rate at which the RBI lends money to commercial banks against government securities. It serves as a key monetary policy tool to manage liquidity, inflation, and overall economic activity.

• Lowering the repo rate encourages banks to borrow more, thus increasing the money supply.

• Raising the rate has the opposite effect, discouraging borrowing and tightening liquidity.

Impact of the Repo Rate Cut:

• Cheaper Loans: Banks benefit from lower borrowing costs and may pass this on through reduced interest rates on loans.

• Reduced FD Returns: Fixed Deposit interest rates generally drop following a repo rate cut, impacting new depositors.

• Boost to Economy: Easier credit access stimulates investment and consumption, especially in real estate and infrastructure.

• Support During Global Uncertainty: The RBI’s move is seen as a buffer against global economic challenges, including U.S. trade tariffs that may hurt exports.

8. Yimkhiung Tribe
The Yimkhiung Tribal Council (YTC) recently led large-scale protests in Pungro Town, Nagaland, opposing the Indian government’s decision to fence the Indo-Myanmar border and abolish the Free Movement Regime (FMR).

About the Yimkhiung Tribe:

• A prominent Naga tribe residing mainly in Kiphire district, Nagaland, and adjacent areas of Myanmar.

• Society is organized around clans and communal land ownership, with rich oral traditions and festivals like Tsüngkamnyo, a post-harvest celebration.

• The Yimkhiungrü language, spoken by over 100,000 people, belongs to the Sino-Tibetan family.

• The tribe is divided by the Indo-Myanmar border, a colonial-era demarcation seen as an arbitrary line that splits families and ancestral lands.

Border Fencing Controversy:

• In February 2024, India ended the Free Movement Regime (FMR), which allowed residents to travel up to 10–16 km across the border without a visa.

• Plans to build a 1,643 km border fence, including a 215 km stretch in Nagaland, have sparked resistance from the Yimkhiung and other border communities.

9. STELLAR Model
On April 11, 2025, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) launched the STELLAR Model—an advanced, indigenous software designed to enhance India’s electricity planning and reliability.

About STELLAR Model:
STELLAR (State-of-the-art, Totally indigenously developed Resource adequacy model) is a comprehensive planning tool created to support states and discoms in ensuring reliable electricity supply by integrating generation, transmission, storage, and demand response.

• Integrated Planning: Simultaneously supports long-term planning for generation, transmission, and storage infrastructure.

• Regulatory Compliance: Helps states align with evolving resource adequacy norms set by the Ministry of Power (June 2023).

• User-Friendly: Fully developed in India under the CEA’s supervision and designed to be transparent and easy to use.

• Free for All States: Distributed at no cost to promote uniform adoption across the country.

• Collaborative Development: Created in partnership with The Lantau Group (TLG) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) under a technical assistance initiative.