1. Alluri Sitaram Raju

The Defence Minister recently stated that the government has followed the ideals of legendary freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju by elevating a tribal woman, Droupadi Murmu, to the position of President of India.

Who was Alluri Sitaram Raju?

• Alluri Sitaram Raju was a revolutionary leader who led an armed struggle against British colonial rule.

• Born on July 4, 1897, in Bhimavaram (present-day Andhra Pradesh), he was inspired to resist British policies, particularly the 1882 Madras Forest Act, which curtailed tribal mobility and traditional agricultural practices like ‘Podu’.

• His resistance culminated in the Rampa Rebellion of 1922, where he rallied Adivasis, farmers, and sympathizers for guerrilla warfare across the forested regions of East Godavari and Visakhapatnam (now Alluri Sitharama Raju district).

• Locals dubbed him "Manyam Veerudu" (Hero of the Jungle) due to his bravery and strategic prowess.

• Drawing influence from the Non-Cooperation Movement, he promoted ideas like temperance and the use of panchayat courts over colonial institutions to mobilize public support.

• Despite early suppression, his movement spread to the plains, where he subtly prepared for an armed uprising under the radar of colonial authorities.

• After resisting British forces for nearly two years, he was captured in the Chintapalle forests and executed on May 7, 1924, in Koyyuru village.

• His tomb is located in Krishnadevipeta, near Visakhapatnam.

• The British eventually acknowledged his effective guerrilla tactics, noting the immense resources—over ₹40 lakh at the time—expended to defeat him.

2. Nipah Virus

Kerala's Health Minister recently confirmed that 425 individuals have been identified for monitoring due to a new Nipah virus outbreak.

About the Nipah Virus:

• Nipah Virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus transmitted from animals (mainly fruit bats) to humans, and also through contaminated food or direct person-to-person contact.

• Natural hosts: Fruit bats from the Pteropodidae family.

• NiV infections may range from asymptomatic cases to severe respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis.

Symptoms include:

• Early stage: Fever, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, cough, and nausea.

• Severe cases: Dizziness, confusion, altered consciousness, seizures, and coma, typically developing within 24–48 hours.

• Mortality rate ranges from 40% to 75%, depending on the virus strain and quality of healthcare access.

Treatment & History:

• No approved vaccine or specific treatment exists.

• First outbreak: 1998–99 in Malaysia, affecting pig farmers in Sungai Nipah.

• Since then, sporadic outbreaks have occurred in Bangladesh, India, the Philippines, and Singapore.

• It is listed by the WHO as a priority disease under the R&D Blueprint due to its epidemic potential.

3. Key Facts About the Onge Tribe

The Andaman & Nicobar administration has recently launched a Van Dhan Vikas Kendra at Dugong Creek to empower the Onge tribe through coconut-based livelihood initiatives under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyay Maha Abhiyan.

Who are the Onges?

• Among India’s most primitive tribes, the Onges are of Negrito racial origin.

• They are indigenous to Little Andaman Island, where they traditionally led a semi-nomadic lifestyle relying entirely on nature.

• Their spiritual beliefs are rooted in animism; they do not practice ritualistic worship but believe in spirits linked to natural elements and ancestors.

• They speak a unique language without a script, and maintain cultural customs such as:

  • Coloring teeth red (pearly white teeth are considered a symbol of death).

  • Decorating their bodies with white and ochre clay.

• Until the 1940s, Onges were the only permanent inhabitants of Little Andaman (which they called Goubalambabey).

• The population declined drastically from 670 in 1900 to 96 by the early 2000s, following exposure to British and Indian settlers.

• In 1976, they were relocated to Dugong Creek, where they now live in a reserve that is a small portion of their original land.

• They are among the least fertile communities in the world, with over 40% of married couples facing infertility issues.

4. Gini Index

According to the World Bank, India now ranks as the world’s fourth most equal society with a Gini Index of 25.5, surpassing all G7 and G20 countries.

What is the Gini Index?

• The Gini Index (also known as the Gini Coefficient) measures income inequality within a country.

• Developed in 1912 by Italian statistician Corrado Gini.

• The score ranges from 0 (perfect equality) to 1 (perfect inequality).

  • A score of 0 means everyone earns the same.

  • A score of 1 means one individual earns all the income.

How it works:

• Based on the Lorenz curve, which plots cumulative population vs. cumulative income or wealth.

• The Gini Index does not measure absolute income, only how evenly income is distributed.

India’s Performance:

• As per the World Bank, India’s Gini Index has improved from 8 (in 2011) to 25.5 (in 2022).

• This places India just behind the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, and Belarus.

• It also outperforms China (Gini: 35.7) and all G7/G20 economies in income equality.

5. Tokara Islands

Southern Japan's Tokara Islands have recently experienced over 1,000 earthquakes in just two weeks—a rare seismic occurrence.
About Tokara Islands:

• Located between Kyushu and the Amami Islands, the Tokara archipelago is part of Japan and is sometimes called the Toshima Islands.

• Governed by the administrative unit Toshima-mura, the archipelago comprises seven inhabited islands (e.g., Kuchinoshima, Nakanoshima, Suwanosejima) and five uninhabited ones.

• Spanning about 160 km, Toshima is considered “Japan’s longest village.”

• Nakanoshima, the largest island, is home to Mount Otake—the tallest peak in the group at 979 meters.

• The region lies between subtropical and temperate climate zones, averaging 20°C annually and receiving 2,700 mm of rainfall.

• The islands are in one of the most seismically active zones globally.

6. Chautal

During a recent official welcome ceremony in Trinidad and Tobago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honored with a performance of the traditional Bhojpuri Chautal.
About Chautal:

• Chautal (also spelled Chartaal or Chowtaal) is a 12-beat rhythmic cycle used in Hindustani classical music, especially in Dhrupad and Dhamar compositions.

• The term “Chautal” means “four claps,” referencing its structure.

• One school explains its rhythm as divided into vibhags (sections) of 4, 4, 2, and 2 matras, while another compares it to Ektal, having six equal divisions.

• Closely associated with the pakhawaj drum, Chautal is known for its intense, powerful style, contrasting with the delicacy of tabla rhythms.

7. Green Climate Fund (GCF)

The Green Climate Fund has recently allocated over USD 120 million to enhance climate resilience in Ghana, the Maldives, and Mauritania.
About GCF:

• Established during COP 16 in Cancun (2010), the GCF is the largest global climate fund.

• It operates under the UNFCCC to help developing nations achieve their climate goals under the Paris Agreement.

• GCF promotes a country-led approach and offers flexible financing for climate adaptation and mitigation.

• It commits 50% of funds to adaptation and prioritizes SIDS, LDCs, and African nations.

• The fund is headquartered in Songdo, South Korea, and began operations in 2013.

• It supports climate projects through grants, loans, equity, and guarantees.

8. Very Massive Stars

New research indicates that very massive stars may release significantly more material during their lifetime than previously understood.
About Very Massive Stars:

• These stars have masses exceeding 100 times that of the Sun.

• They consume fuel rapidly, resulting in short lifespans of just a few million years.

• When their fuel is depleted, they collapse into black holes.

• Their intense stellar winds eject outer layers into space, dispersing elements like carbon and oxygen crucial to life.

• Despite their distance, they shape cosmic environments and may eventually form black hole binaries, which generate gravitational waves detectable on Earth.