1. Lagrangian Growth-Advection (GA) Model
Researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) and Florida State University have introduced a novel satellite-based method for estimating oceanic carbon export.
Overview:
The Lagrangian Growth-Advection Model integrates the tracking of individual fluid particles with water movement (advection) and biological growth of phytoplankton. This methodology maps phytoplankton succession and carbon export by following ocean surface currents, particularly in upwelling zones like the California Current.
Key Features:

• Captures spatial and temporal lags between carbon generation and export.

• Includes zooplankton activity, plankton movement, and biological succession.

• Offers an alternative to traditional ocean colour-based models.
  Validation:
  Model outputs align with deep-sea carbon data (e.g., MBARI’s Station M). It explains carbon flux pulses previously undetected by earlier models.
  Significance:
  The model enhances understanding of the biological pump—a vital process where marine life transforms atmospheric CO₂ into sinking organic carbon, aiding long-term carbon sequestration.

2. Cashless Treatment Scheme for Road Accident Victims, 2025
The Government of India has launched a nationwide scheme providing cashless medical treatment to victims of road accidents.
Scheme Highlights:

• Applicable to any person injured in a motor vehicle accident on public roads.

• Offers cashless treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh for up to 7 days post-accident.

• Non-designated hospitals may offer only stabilisation care.
  Implementation Structure:

• The National Health Authority (NHA) will coordinate the scheme.

• State Road Safety Councils will act as nodal agencies at the regional level.

• Responsibilities include hospital onboarding, victim care, and payment management via a dedicated portal.

• A 17-member steering committee led by the Road Transport Secretary will oversee execution.

3. Human Development Report 2025
India ranks 130th out of 193 nations in the Human Development Index (HDI), as per the 2025 UNDP Human Development Report.
About the Report:
Published annually by the UNDP, the report evaluates countries using the HDI, which incorporates health, education, and income metrics.
Highlights of HDR 2025 – “A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI”:

• AI's role in human development is emphasized.

• Global HDI progress has stagnated due to economic and geopolitical challenges.

• Iceland tops the list (HDI: 0.972); South Sudan ranks lowest (0.388).
  India’s Performance:

• HDI improved from 0.676 (2022) to 0.685 (2023), nearing the high development threshold (0.700).

• Life expectancy rose to 72 years; expected schooling years reached 13.

• GNI per capita increased from $6,951 to $9,047 (PPP 2021).

• India remains in the medium HDI category but shows strong AI capabilities—ranking in the top 10 globally for AI skills penetration and talent retention.

4. Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP)
The National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) has identified severe structural damage in three barrages under the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project in Telangana.
Project Overview:

• Located on the Godavari River in Kaleshwaram, it is the world’s largest multi-stage lift irrigation project.

• Supplies water for irrigation and drinking across 20 districts, including Hyderabad.

• Covers 500 km via seven links and 28 packages; canal network spans 1,800 km.

• Sources water from the Pranhita-Godavari confluence and several tributaries.
  Water Allocation:

• Provides 240 TMC for irrigation, drinking, municipal, and industrial use

5. INS Tamal – Indian Navy’s New Stealth Frigate
Following increased regional tensions, the Indian Navy is set to commission INS Tamal, its latest stealth guided missile frigate.
Key Details:

• Part of a $2.5 billion India-Russia agreement for four frigates—two built in Russia, two at Goa Shipyard.

• INS Tamal, an advanced Krivak-III class warship, is the last to be imported; future frigates will be domestically built.

• Preceded by INS Tushil (commissioned in 2024); successors Triput and Tavasya are under construction in India.
  Specifications:

• Length: 125 meters; Displacement: 3,900 tonnes.

• Speed: Up to 30 knots; Range: 3,000 km per deployment.

• Armament: BrahMos cruise missiles, Shtil SAMs, torpedoes, rocket launchers.

• Features radar-evading stealth and supports multi-role helicopter operations.

• Incorporates 26% indigenous components and blends Russian design with Indian technologies.

6. Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary
Despite restrictions, unauthorized public access to the ecologically fragile Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS) in Khanapur taluk continues unabated, raising alarms among conservationists.

About Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Located in Karnataka’s Belgaum district, the sanctuary forms part of the Western Ghats and was officially designated in December 2011.

• It is named after the historic Bhimgad Fort, built by Shivaji Maharaj in the 17th century as a strategic defence against Portuguese forces.

• The sanctuary borders several protected areas: Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary (north), Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park (north-west), Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary (north), and Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary (east).

• Its terrain includes hills, valleys, and plateaus and is a source of key rivers like Tillari, Malaprabha, and Mhadei, along with numerous perennial streams.

• Notably, the Barapede caves within the sanctuary are the only known breeding site of the critically endangered Wroughton’s Free-tailed Bat.

Flora and Fauna:

• Vegetation: Dominated by tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, including species like Malabar teak, rosewood, and various dipterocarps. Medicinal plants are also abundant.

• Wildlife: Hosts endangered species such as the Indian sloth bear, pangolin, and black panther. Other notable species include the Malabar giant squirrel, gaur, sambar deer, Malabar trogon, and the great Indian hornbill.

• The sanctuary’s rocky formations provide crucial breeding grounds for the King Cobra, the world’s longest venomous snake.

7. Palaeofires
Scientists have uncovered evidence of ancient wildfires, or palaeofires, dating back to the Permian Period (~250 million years ago) in the Godavari Basin.

What are Palaeofires and Key Insights:

• Palaeofires refer to ancient wildfire events preserved in geological records, offering insights into past vegetation, climate shifts, and coal formation processes.

• The study spans geological eras from the Late Silurian (443.8–419.2 million years ago) to the Quaternary (2.58 million years ago–present), illustrating how wildfires shaped ecosystems over time.

• Techniques used: Palynofacies analysis, Raman Spectroscopy, Rock-Eval Pyrolysis, and FTIR Spectroscopy, examining fossil charcoal and organic matter.

Key Findings:

• Three major organic components were identified:

  1. Translucent Organic Matter (TrOM) – plant remains and pollen.

  2. Palaeofire Charcoal (PAL-CH) – direct fire evidence.

  3. Oxidized Charcoal (OX-CH) – reworked or transported charcoal.

• Differentiation between in situ and ex situ charcoal helped settle debates on their origin in coal layers.

• Fire residues were concentrated in regressive (sea-level drop) phases and scattered in transgressive (sea-level rise) phases.

• High oxygen levels during the Permian likely intensified wildfires.

• Early charcoal evidence in the Raniganj Coalfield indicated the presence of palaeofires in ancient peatlands.

• These findings improve understanding of wildfire impacts on ancient carbon cycles, informing current climate strategies.

8. IXPE (Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer)
NASA’s IXPE mission has provided new insights into the origins of X-ray emissions in black hole jets.

About IXPE:

• Launched on December 9, 2021, by NASA and the Italian Space Agency, IXPE is the first satellite capable of measuring X-ray polarisation, vital for understanding high-energy cosmic phenomena.

Blazars and BL Lacertae:

• Blazars are active galactic nuclei (AGN) with relativistic jets from supermassive black holes directed at Earth.

• BL Lacertae, a notable blazar in the Lacerta constellation, is known for its high variability and intense emissions, making it ideal for polarisation studies.

Key Discoveries by IXPE:

• The mission resolved a long-standing question: whether X-rays in blazar jets originate from protons or electrons.

• IXPE detected weak X-ray polarisation (≤6%) from BL Lac, while optical light showed high polarisation (~5%).

• These observations discredit proton-based models and support the electron-based theory.

Compton Scattering Explained:

• The X-rays are generated via Compton Scattering, where fast-moving electrons scatter lower-energy photons (e.g., infrared), raising them to X-ray levels.

• This confirms a direct link between relativistic electrons and X-ray production in extreme cosmic environments.

9. Yangtze Finless Porpoise
Chinese researchers have mapped the historical range of the Yangtze finless porpoise using ancient Chinese poetry, tracing its decline from the Tang Dynasty to the present.

About the Yangtze Finless Porpoise:

• This species is exclusive to the Yangtze River and is the world’s only known freshwater porpoise.

• Known for its intelligence and playful nature, it serves as an ecological indicator of freshwater health.

• Characteristics: Small, slow-moving, non-migratory.

Conservation Status:

• IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered

• Population Estimate: 1,000–1,800 individuals

• Scientists warn of extinction risks similar to the Baiji dolphin, declared functionally extinct in 2006 due to human activities.

• The use of classical literature highlights innovative methods in biodiversity research and conservation tracking.

10. Global Space Exploration Summit (GLEX) 2025
India is set to host the 12th edition of the Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX 2025) from May 7–9, 2025, in New Delhi.

About GLEX 2025:

• Theme: “Reaching New Worlds: A Space Exploration Renaissance”, with a focus on innovation, inclusivity, and international collaboration in space research.

• Organisers:

  • International Astronautical Federation (IAF) – the world’s leading space cooperation body.

  • Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) – host agency.

  • Astronautical Society of India (ASI) – co-host.

Significance:

• Reflects India’s growing role in the global space sector, transitioning from a regional player to a leading international force.

About IAF:

• Founded in 1951, it includes 500+ members from 78 countries, encompassing space agencies, academic institutions, and private companies.

• Guided by the motto “Connecting @ll Space People,” the IAF promotes space cooperation for global benefit.

• The GLEX series provides a platform for sharing insights into policy, technology, and joint missions.