Current Context : The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) awarded the 2025 Young Champions of the Earth Prize to three entrepreneurs from India, Kenya, and the United States for innovative environmental solutions.

ABOUT the Prize

• Established: 2017; relaunched in 2025 with Planet A.
• Eligibility: Individuals under 30 years.
• Award: $20,000 seed funding, mentoring, and global platform support.
• Winners 2025:
  • India – Jinali Mody: Banofi Leather (eco-friendly leather from banana waste).
  • Kenya – Joseph Nguthiru: HyaPak (converts invasive water hyacinth into packaging).
  • USA – Noemi Florea: Cycleau (compact greywater-to-drinking water reuse system).

ABOUT UNEP

• Founded: 1972.
• Role: Leading global voice on environment; works with states, civil society, private sector, and UN agencies.

Current Context : The National Green Tribunal (southern bench) has ordered a halt on construction within one kilometre of the Pallikaranai Marshland in Tamil Nadu until a scientific study is conducted.

ABOUT Pallikaranai Marshland

• Location: 20 km south of Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• Type: Freshwater marsh and partly saline wetland.
• Significance: Acts as a flood buffer for Chennai and Chengalpattu.
• Extent: 65 wetlands; drains into Bay of Bengal via Okkiyam Madavu and Kovalam Creek.
• Ramsar Site: Recognised for its ecological importance.
• Fauna:
  • 115 bird species, 10 mammals, 21 reptiles, 10 amphibians, 46 fish, 9 molluscs, 5 crustaceans, 7 butterflies.
  • Key species: Russell’s viper, glossy ibis, grey-headed lapwing, pheasant-tailed jacana.
• Threats: Encroachments, sewage discharge, and urbanisation pressure.

Current Context : The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the Mahi Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (MBRAPP) near Mahi Dam, Banswara, Rajasthan.

ABOUT MBRAPP Project

• Location: Banswara, Rajasthan (near River Mahi).
• Capacity: 4 × 700 MWe PHWRs (Indigenous Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors).
• Developer: Anushakti Vidhyut Nigam (ASHVINI), a joint venture of NPCIL and NTPC.
• Fleet Mode Initiative: Part of India’s programme to construct ten 700 MW reactors with uniform design and procurement.

Nuclear Power in India

• Current Capacity: 24 reactors across 7 plants, with 8,180 MW capacity (January 2025).
• Target: Increase to 22,480 MW by 2031–32.
• Contribution: Nuclear power generated 3.61% of India’s electricity (2022–23).
• Stages of India’s Nuclear Programme:
  • Stage 1: Uranium-fuelled PHWRs.
  • Stage 2: Fast Breeder Reactors (plutonium-based fuel).
  • Stage 3: Thorium-based reactors.

Current Context : Environmentalists have raised concerns over unregulated tourism and construction in Odisha’s Mahendragiri Hills, threatening its biodiversity despite its Biodiversity Heritage Site status since 2022.

ABOUT Mahendragiri Hills

• Location: Gajapati district, Odisha; part of Eastern Ghats.
• Declared as: Biodiversity Heritage Site in 2022.
• Elevation: 1,501 metres above sea level.
• Tribal Communities: Home to Saora (Saura) and Kondh tribes.
• Biodiversity: 1,348 plant species, 388 animal species (many endemic & threatened).
• Rivers: Mahendra Tanaya originates here.
• Vegetation: Tropical dry & wet deciduous forests.
• Pilgrimage: Famous for Panchpandava temples.
• Geology: Granite, charnokite, khondalite rocks with quartz intrusions.

Observed  every year on  27^th September

• Aim :To highlight the importance of tourism in generating employment and building a sustainable future for millions worldwide.
• Theme : Tourism and sustainable transformation

Current Context: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the extension of tenure of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) till May 2026.

ABOUT ACC

• Type: One of the eight Cabinet Committees within the Union Executive.
• Composition: Prime Minister (Chairperson), Minister of Home Affairs (Member)
• Functions:
  • Decides senior-level government appointments including Secretaries, Additional Secretaries, and Joint Secretaries.
  • Handles appointments in Public Sector Units (PSUs), banks, insurance companies, and autonomous bodies.

Current Context: India hosted a meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Forum for India–Pacific Island Cooperation (FIPIC).

ABOUT FIPIC

• Founded: 2014, under India’s Act East Policy.
• Members: 14 Pacific Island nations – Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.
• Island Groups: Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia.
• Objective: Strengthen cooperation between India and Pacific Island countries in trade, climate resilience, development, and connectivity.

Current Context: The Central Water Commission organised a virtual workshop on “Technology for Efficient Water Management” under the Sujalam Bharat Summit (2025).

ABOUT CWC

• Organisation: Premier technical body under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• Headquarters: New Delhi.
• Functions: Flood control, irrigation, hydropower, drinking water, navigation, project planning, and implementation.

ABOUT SUJALAM BHARAT SUMMIT (2025)

• Led by: Ministry of Jal Shakti, coordinated by NITI Aayog.
• Objective: Promote water management, sanitation, and sustainable practices.

Features: Grassroots feedback for national water policy, six departmental summits planned.

Current Context: A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck northwest Venezuela, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey.

ABOUT VENEZUELA

• Location: Northern coast of South America.
• Boundaries: Guyana (east), Brazil (south), Colombia (southwest/west), Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean (north).
• Terrain: Andes Mountains, Maracaibo Lowlands, central plains (llanos), Guiana Highlands.
• Rivers: Orinoco and Rio Negro.
• Lakes: Lake Maracaibo (largest in South America), Lake Guri.
• Natural Resources: World’s largest oil reserves, coal, iron ore, bauxite, gold.
• Special Features: Angel Falls (world’s highest waterfall) in Guiana Highlands.
• Capital:

Current Context: Recently, UNESCO has placed the Varkala Cliff in Kerala on its tentative list of World Heritage Sites.

ABOUT VARKALA CLIFF

• Location: Varkala, Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala.
• Geological Significance: Exposes the Warkalli Formation of Mio-Pliocene age (13 lakh–2.5 crore years).
• Local Name: Sivagiri Thuruthu.
• Features: Laterite and sedimentary layers with fossils and traces of ancient climate.
• Environmental Importance:
  • Acts as a natural aquifer and water harvesting system.
  • Supports biodiversity and underwater reefs vital for fishing communities.
• Status: 27th national geological monument in India and 2nd in Kerala (after Angadipuram Laterite).