The Caspian Sea has been shrinking since the mid-1990s, but the rate at which it's disappearing has sped up since 2005.
About Caspian Sea:
It is the world’s largest inland body of water, covering a total surface area of about 386,400 sq.km.
It is located between Asia and Europe.
It lies to the east of the Caucasus Mountains and to the west of the vast steppe of Central Asia.
It is bordered by:
Russia and Azerbaijan on the west
Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan on the north and east
Iran on the south.
It is named after the Kaspi, ancient peoples who once lived on its western shores.
It is a lake and not a sea, as it is an enclosed water body without any direct outlet to the ocean.
About 5.5 million years ago, it was part of the ancient Paratethys Sea (an ancient sea in the Tethys Ocean) and got landlocked as a result of tectonic uplift and sea-level fall.
Hence, its seafloor is composed of oceanic basalt and not continental granite.
Its composition of the water varies from almost fresh in the northern parts of the lake to saltier southwards.
Its mean salinity is about one-third that of the oceans.
Three major rivers, Volga, Ural and Tarek, empty into the Caspian from the north.
Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is the largest city on the Caspian. Another important city along the Caspian is Iran’s Nowshahr.
It is known for its abundance of energy resources (oil and natural gas reserves in offshore fields and onshore on the coast of the sea).
Topic: Rivers
2. Godavari
Why in the news?
The Godavari Initiative (TGI) successfully concluded its National Consultation on Collective Action for the Godavari River Basin, a pivotal event held during the India CSR and ESG Summit 2024.
This landmark event highlighted the critical need for collective action to tackle the severe ecological challenges afflicting the Godavari River Basin.
The consultation focused on developing the TGI Collective Action Charter, which aims to foster a shared vision for sustainable water management, driving impactful and long-term solutions for the region's water security.
About Godavari:
It is the largest river in Peninsular India.
It is known as the Dakshin Ganga or Vridha Ganga (old Ganga) because of its age, size, and length. It is navigable in the delta region.
It rises from Trimbak located in the Western Ghats in Nashik district in Maharashtra.
It drains into the Bay of Bengal before forming a large delta below Rajahmundry.
Its basin extends over states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha in addition to smaller parts in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and the Union Territory of Puducherry (Yanam) having a total area of ~ 3 lakh sq.km.
The basin is bounded by Satmala hills, the Ajanta range, and the Mahadeo hills on the north, by the Eastern Ghats on the south and the east, and by the Western Ghats on the west.
The total length of Godavari from its origin to outfall into the Bay of Bengal is 1,465 km.
Rajahmundry is the largest city on the banks of Godavari.
The Sri Ram Sagar project which was constructed on this river (1964-69) serves the irrigation needs of Adilabad, Nizamabad. Karimnagar and Warangal districts.
Nashik, Trimbakeshwar, Nanded, Aurangabad, Nagpur, Bhadrachalam, Nizamabad, Rajamundry, Balaghat, Yanam, and Kovvur are the important urban centers on its banks.
godavari river cities
Tributaries:
Its left bank tributaries include Dharna, Penganga, Wainganga, Wardha, Pranahita (conveying the combined waters of Penganga, the Wardha and Wainganga), Pench, Kanhan, Sabari, Indravati etc.
Its right bank tributaries include Pravara, Mula, Manjra, Peddavagu, Maner etc.
Below Rajahmundry, the river divides itself into two main streams, the Gautami Godavari on the east and the Vashishta Godavari on the west, and forms a large delta before it pours into the Bay of Bengal.
The delta of the Godavari is of lobate type with a round bulge and many distributaries.
Environment and Ecology
Topic: Biodiversity
3. Nilgiri tit butterfly
Why in the news?
Butterfly enthusiasts from the Nilgiris have recorded for the first time in India, the Nilgiri tit (Hypolycaena nilgirica) utilizing a large terrestrial orchid plant as a host. The study, which was conducted near the Kallar horticultural garden, it is hoped, will help preserve the habitat utilized by the rare, endemic butterfly that is classified under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act.
About Nilgiri tit butterfly:
It belongs to the family Lycaenidae.
It was first described in 1884 from Coonoor in the Nilgiris; it has since been recorded in Sri Lanka.
It was also found in Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary of Idukki district, and Silent Valley National Park of Palakkad district in Kerala.
Appearance:
The male is dark reddish purple-brown on the upper side. It has two black spots capped in orange near the tails.
The female is pale brown.
It inhabits forests and lush home gardens, especially those with orchids.
It was noted to lay its eggs on the inflorescence (complete flower head) of the larval host plant, Eulophia epidendraea, a terrestrial orchid species.
This is the first known record of the butterfly using this particular species of plant as a host.
This terrestrial orchid was found on rocky slopes in humid areas.
This butterfly is classified under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act.
Topic: Protected Areas
4. Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary
Why in the news?
The Delhi High Court directed local authorities to shift all the monkeys of the Capital to the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary on priority.
A Bench of Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, which was hearing a PIL plea moved by the NGO Dhananjay Sanjogta Foundation on the issue of stray dogs and monkeys attacking differently-abled people, said stray animals cannot be allowed to take over the city.
About Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary:
It covers an area of 32.71 sq km on the Southern Delhi Ridge of the Aravalli hill range on the Delhi-Haryana border.
It lies in Southern Delhi and the northern parts of Faridabad and Gurugram districts of Haryana state.
It is a part of the Sariska-Delhi Wildlife Corridor, which runs from the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan to Delhi Ridge.
Vegetation:
As per Champion & Seth (1968), the vegetation falls under the Northern Tropical Thorn Forests type.
The native plants exhibit xerophytic adaptations such as thorny appendages, wax-coated, succulent, and tomentose leaves.
Its climate is mainly influenced by its remote inland position and prevalence of air of continental character, which is characterized by extreme summer heat alternating with great winter cold.
Flora:
Prosopis juliflora is the dominant exotic species and Diospyros montana is the dominant native species in the sanctuary.
Fauna:
Golden Jackals, Striped-Hyenas, Indian crested-Porcupines, Civets, Jungle Cats, Snakes, Monitor Lizards, Mongoose etc. are commonly found here.
Aravalli Range:
It is one of the oldest fold mountains in the world and runs in a southwest direction, starting near Delhi, passing through southern Haryana and Rajasthan, and ending in Gujarat.
Its highest peak is Guru Shikhar at 1,722 m. (5,650 ft).
Three major rivers originate from the Aravali hills, namely Banas, Sahibi and Luni River (which flows into the Rann of Kutch).
Science and Technology
Topic: Diseases
5. Malaria
Why in the news?
Malaria infection rates are soaring in Ethiopia, where a combination of armed conflict, climate change and mosquitoes’ growing resistance to drugs and insecticides has accelerated the spread of a disease the country once thought it was bringing under control.
About Malaria:
It is an acute febrile illness which is spread to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
It is caused by Plasmodium parasites. Five species of parasites can cause malaria in humans and 2 of these species - Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, pose the greatest threat.
It is a life-threatening disease primarily found in tropical countries.
It is preventable and curable.
It is not contagious and cannot spread from one person to another.
Symptoms:
The initial symptoms of malaria usually begin within 10–15 days after the bite from an infected mosquito.
Fever, headache and chills are typically experienced, though these symptoms may be mild and difficult to recognize as malaria.
In malaria endemic areas, people who have developed partial immunity may become infected but experience no symptoms.
Prevention:
Vector control interventions:
It is the main approach to prevent malaria and reduce transmission.
Two forms of vector control are effective for people living in malaria-endemic countries:
insecticide-treated nets, and
indoor residual spraying, which is the application of an insecticide to surfaces where mosquitoes tend to rest.
Chemopreventive therapies and chemoprophylaxis
Although designed to treat patients already infected with malaria, some antimalarial medicines can also be used to prevent the disease.
Malaria in India:
Malaria remains one of the major public health problems in India.
The country carries 1.7% of the global malaria case burden, 1.2% of global malaria deaths.
States of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Meghalaya and Madhya Pradesh disproportionately accounted for nearly 45.47 percent of malaria cases.
Steps taken:
National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME) launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2016.
National Strategic Plan (NSP) for Malaria Elimination (2016-2030) launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
It has a vision of a malaria-free country by 2027 and elimination by 2030.
Topic: Government initiatives
6. IN–SPACe
Why in the news?
The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the establishment of a Rs.1,000 crore Venture Capital (VC) Fund dedicated to supporting India’s space sector.
This pioneering initiative, developed under the aegis of IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center), aims to propel the growth of space startups, strengthen India’s space economy, and position the country as a global leader in space technology.
The establishment of this fund aligns with the government’s broader vision of promoting innovation, ensuring economic growth, and fostering self-reliance in high-tech industries, thus supporting the goals of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
About Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN–SPACe):
It is a single-window autonomous agency under the Department of Space of the Government of India.
It was established in June 2020.
It acts as a link between the ISRO and private sector companies, assessing "how best to utilize India’s space resources and increase space-based activities."
It evaluates demands of private sector companies, including educational institutes, and finds ways to attune their demands, in consultation with ISRO.
Its decisions are binding on both ISRO and private sector organizations.
The space sector was earlier regulated by ISRO, but now the organization focuses on its core activity of research and development.
Venture Capital Fund
The proposed Rs. 1,000 crore Venture Capital Fund aims to support the growth of India’s space economy, currently valued at $8.4 billion, with a target to reach $44 billion by 2033.
It addresses the need for risk capital in a high-tech sector, as traditional lenders often hesitate to finance startups. The fund is expected to support approximately 40 startups.
It will boost investor confidence and signal a commitment to advancing space reforms, operating as an Alternative Investment Fund under SEBI regulations to provide early-stage equity to startups.
It will be deployed over five years from the commencement of operations. The average annual investment is expected to range from Rs. 150 to 250 crore, depending on available opportunities.
Expected Benefits:
Multiplier Effect: Attracting additional funding from private investors for later-stage development.
Company Retention: Reducing the trend of Indian companies moving abroad.
Space Economy Expansion: Aiming for a fivefold increase in the Indian space economy over the next decade.
Advancements in Technology: Strengthening India’s leadership through private sector engagement.
Enhanced Global Competitiveness: Positioning India favorably in the global space market.
Support for Atmanirbhar Bharat: Contributing to national self-reliance goals.
Employment Generation Potential:
The fund is expected to create jobs across the entire space supply chain—upstream, midstream, and downstream.
Investments may lead to hundreds of direct jobs in fields like engineering, software development, data analysis, and manufacturing.
Indirect job creation could extend to thousands in supply chains, logistics, and professional services.
A strong startup ecosystem will not only create jobs but also develop a skilled workforce, driving innovation in the space sector.
Economy
Topic: IT & Computers
7. Online Gaming
Why in the news?
Identifying money laundering as a major threat to the Indian online gaming sector’s integrity and long-term success, a report by the Digital India Foundation (DIF) has recommended that the government should establish a ‘whitelist’ of compliant gaming companies, ensuring that payment gateways and Internet Service Providers serve only the listed operators.
About Online Gaming:
It refers to mobile games or video games that are played over the internet through various devices.
It involves collaborative gameplay in which player connections are facilitated through the internet.
The online gaming industry in India is predominantly a home-grown start-up ecosystem growing at 27% compound annual growth rate (CAGR).
It is widely estimated that AI and online gaming can add up to $300 billion to India’s GDP by 2026-27.
Types of Online Gaming:
e-Sports: These are video games that were played privately or on consoles in video game stores in the 1990s, but are currently played online in a structured manner between professional players, either individually or in teams.
Fantasy sports: These are games in which the player selects a team of real sports players from several teams and earns points based on how well the players perform in real life. For example, Dream11.
Online casual games:
These could be skill-based, where the outcome is heavily impacted by mental or physical skill or chance-based, where the outcome is heavily influenced by some randomized activity, such as rolling a die.
A game of chance may be considered as gambling if players bet money or anything of monetary value.
Money Laundering:
It is the processing of illegitimate money to disguise its illegal origin and make it appear as coming from legitimate sources.
The illegitimate money/black money arises from either proceeds of corruption, proceeds of crime, or tax evasion on legally earned money.
It enables the criminal to enjoy these profits without fear of law enforcement agencies. Therefore, it is an essential step in almost all types of organized criminal activities such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, arms smuggling, and so on.
Moreover, it is crucial in funding terrorism activities around the globe including in India.
Digital India Foundation (DIF):
It is a not-for-profit think-tank aiming to foster digital inclusion and adoption, and the use of the Internet and related technologies for the developmental process.
It aims to further and foster discussions on options and opportunities under the rubric of the entire ecosystem formulated by the Indian government and its Digital India programme
There is no direct connection between DIF and the government programme.
Government Schemes
Topic: Tribal Welfare
8. National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS)
Why in the news?
National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) successfully organized a workshop on “Building Quality Infrastructure for Tribal Education”.
This event is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to provide quality educational infrastructure for tribal communities through Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs), ensuring sustainable and effective learning environments.
About National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS):
It is an autonomous organization that was established under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) in 2019.
It was set up at the Central level under society registration act 1860.
It was set up to manage Eklavya Model Residential Schools for tribal students.
It is responsible for recommending the syllabi, the school and hostel standards, and the teacher recruitment guidelines.
According to the guidelines issued to states in 2020 by NESTS, each school had been recommended to have a total of 52 staffers.
After NESTS, State Education Societies for Tribal Students (SESTS) were also set up, which would receive the funding from the Ministry and allocate it accordingly.
SESTSs are in charge of implementing teacher recruitment with room for local modifications in each of these areas.
Ekalavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS):
EMRS started in the year 1997-98 to impart quality education to ST children in remote areas to enable them to access the best opportunities in education and to bring them at par with the general population.
These are established in the States/UTs from the grants received under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India.
Features:
These are co-educational residential schools from Class VI to XII.
Eklavya schools will be on par with Navodaya Vidyalayas and will have special facilities for preserving local art and culture besides providing training in sports and skill development.
Each school has a capacity of 480 students with equal number of seats for boys and girls.
Non-ST students can be admitted in these schools on seats up to 10% of the total seats.
CBSE curriculum is followed in these schools, and education is completely free.
The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), is responsible for establishing and managing EMRS across the country.
Online Classes
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