1. Khoe-San

A recent study in Cell Press shows that European colonisation profoundly reshaped the genetic ancestry of the Khoe-San, southern Africa’s earliest divergent lineage.

• Communities: San (hunter-gatherers) and Khoekhoe (pastoralists).

• Findings: European male settlers displaced Khoe-San men, while women contributed significantly to modern lineages.

• Slave Trade: VOC (1652–1808) brought ~63,000 enslaved people from Africa & Asia, largely women, influencing ancestry.

• Historical Interactions: Eastern African and Bantu migrations (2,000–1,500 years ago) displaced many Khoe-San groups.

2. BRICS

The Indian PM and Russian Deputy PM discussed setting up a BRICS Grain Exchange to boost agri-trade.

• Origin: Coined as BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) in 2001; became BRICS with South Africa in 2010.

• Expansion: Iran, Egypt, UAE, Ethiopia (2024); Indonesia (2025). Saudi Arabia pending, Argentina opted out.

• Members (2025): 10 core + 11 partner nations.

3. Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA)

The Union Home Ministry revoked the FCRA licence of SECMOL, founded by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk.

• Purpose: Regulates foreign donations to safeguard sovereignty and internal security.

• Key Amendments:

  • 2010: Expanded to NGOs/companies, strengthened oversight.

  • 2020: Ban on fund transfers, Aadhaar for office-bearers, funds only via SBI Delhi branch, admin cost limit cut to 20%.

  • 2022: Relaxed family remittances (₹10 lakh cap) but tightened safeguards.

4. Mahendragiri Hills

Environmentalists warn against unchecked tourism in Odisha’s Mahendragiri Hills, a Biodiversity Heritage Site (2022).

• Location: Gajapati district, Eastern Ghats, 1,501m altitude.

• Biodiversity: 1,348 plant and 388 animal species, many endemic.

• Communities: Home to Saora and Kondh tribes.

• Cultural: Famous for Panchpandava temples.

• Rivers: Source of Mahendra Tanaya.

5. Nightmare Bacteria

CDC warns of rising cases of drug-resistant CRE, nicknamed “nightmare bacteria.”

• Cause: NDM-1 gene makes them resistant to last-resort carbapenems.

• Infections: Urinary, bloodstream, and pneumonia with severe symptoms.

• Drivers: Antibiotic misuse, hospital transmission, global travel, post-COVID vulnerabilities.

6. Agni-Prime Missile

DRDO successfully tested the Agni-Prime (Agni-P) missile from a rail-based launcher.

• Type: Medium-range ballistic missile (1,000–2,000 km).

• Features:

  • Canisterised, two-stage solid propellant.

  • Payload: ~1,000 kg (conventional/nuclear).

  • Advanced guidance, navigation, and communication.

• Significance: India joins nations with rail-based mobile launch platforms (Russia, US, China, N. Korea).

7. FIPIC (Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation)

India hosted the FIPIC Foreign Ministers’ meet in New York.

• Established: 2014, during PM’s visit to Fiji.

• Members: 14 Pacific Island nations.

• Focus: Trade ($300M annually), digital connectivity, climate adaptation, space tech, visa-on-arrival, training programmes.

• Summits: 2014 (Suva), 2015 (Jaipur), 2023 (Port Moresby).

8. UNEP Young Champions of the Earth 2025

UNEP awarded its flagship youth prize to innovators under 30.

• Prize: $20,000 funding + mentorship.

• Winners:

  • Jinali Mody (India): Banana waste-based eco-leather.

  • Joseph Nguthiru (Kenya): Hyacinth-based biodegradable packaging.

  • Noemi Florea (US): Greywater-to-drinking-water reuse system.

9. National Geoscience Awards 2024

Instituted in 1966, these awards honour excellence in geosciences.

• Categories: Lifetime Achievement, NGA, Young Geoscientist Award.

• 2024: 12 awards (9 individual, 3 team).

• Objective: Recognises contributions in mineral exploration, applied/fundamental geosciences, and mining tech.

10. Pallikaranai Marshland

The NGT has banned construction within 1 km of Pallikaranai Marshland, Chennai, pending a scientific study.

• Type: Freshwater marsh + Ramsar wetland.

• Biodiversity: 115 bird species, 10 mammals, 21 reptiles, 46 fish, and rare species like Russell’s viper, glossy ibis, and Pheasant-tailed jacana.

• Ecological Role: Acts as a flood buffer for Chennai.

• Threats: Encroachment, sewage inflow, and urban pressure.