Current Context: A new study in Mahuadanr Wolf Sanctuary, Jharkhand, examines the link between tribal cultural practices and wolf denning behavior.

Key Highlights

• Location: Jharkhand, within Palamau Tiger Reserve.
• Established: 1976 to conserve the Indian gray wolf.
• Habitat: Rugged grasslands, forests, and hills; home to wolves, leopards, sloth bears, hyenas, jackals, deer, and birds.
• Special Note: India’s only protected area exclusively for the Indian gray wolf.

About Indian Gray Wolf

• Scientific Name: Canis lupus.
• Former Range: Northern Hemisphere — from North America to India.
• Current Range: Restricted to remote wilderness areas in Canada, Alaska, northern USA, Europe, and Asia.
• CITES Status: General populations — Appendix II.
• Populations in India, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan — Appendix I.
• IUCN Red List: Least Concern.

Current Context: Pakistan’s Cholistan Canal Project has been suspended amid rising tensions with India and internal opposition, especially concerning the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).

Key Highlights

• Led by: Pakistan Army, backed by Green Pakistan Initiative.

Background:

• Aimed at irrigating 1.2 million acres in southern Punjab.
• Facing backlash from Sindh province due to concerns over water rights.
• Environmental risks like reduced freshwater flow to the Indus Delta and biodiversity loss.
• India’s suspension of IWT complicates water security.

Current Context: The Bilaspur district administration has awarded development rights for three islands in Gobind Sagar Lake, aiming to establish Himachal Pradesh’s first island tourism hub. The islands will be developed on the Andaman and Nicobar model to enhance tourism and employment opportunities.

Key Highlights

• Selected Islands: The islands in Jhandutta Tehsil include Jyori Patan, Dhararsani, and Bholu & Jyor.
• Development Rights Awarded: Tender process completed, with two firms emerging as highest bidders.
• Tourism Features: The islands will have hotels, restaurants, pre-wedding shoot locations, destination weddings, adventure sports, picnic spots, eco-friendly camping sites, and cultural festivals.
• Transport & Activities: Tourists and locals will be transported by boats. Nature trails, hiking routes, recreational fishing, and water sports (cruise-shaped motorboats, shikaras) will be available.
• Cultural Promotion: Cultural festivals will showcase traditional dance, drama, and music by local artists.
• Tourism Development Goal: This initiative will position Bilaspur as a leading water tourism destination in Himachal Pradesh, alongside other water sports activities at Kol Dam.

Background

• Gobind Sagar Lake: Created by the Bhakra Dam, one of the world’s highest gravity dams. The lake spans 90 km and covers 170 square km.

Current Context: Akashvani won six awards at the India Audio Summit and Awards 2025, held in Mumbai, recognizing excellence in radio and audio content production.

Key Highlights

• Top Award: Smriti Irani’s program ‘Nai Soch Nai Kahani – A Radio Journey with Smriti Irani’ won Series of the Year.

Other Awards:

• Best Late Night Show: ‘Chhayageet’
• Best Celebrity Show on Air: ‘Ujale Unki Yadon Ke’
• Best Travel Show: ‘Safarcast’
• Director General of Akashvani: Dr. Pragya Paliwal Gaur.

Current Context: The National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship, and Management (NIFTEM) hosted the second edition of SUFALAM 2025 (Start-Up Forum for Aspiring Leaders and Mentors) at its campus in Kundli, Sonipat, Haryana.

• The event, inaugurated by the Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Chirag Paswan, on 25th April 2025, focuses on strengthening India’s food processing sector through innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration.

About NIFTEM

• Established: 2012 by the Union Ministry of Food Processing, at Kundli, Sonepat, Haryana.
• Recognition: Institute of National Importance (since 2021).
• SUFALAM 2024: The first edition was held in New Delhi on 13-14 February 2024.

Current Context: The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), through its Grand Challenges India (GCI) initiative at Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), announced the successful scientific review and validation of India’s first indigenously developed Human Papillomavirus (HPV) test kits for cervical cancer screening.

About

• Developed by Molbio Diagnostics Ltd., Bangalore and Mylab Discovery Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Pune.
• Validation supported by World Health Organization (WHO)’sInternational Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
• Aims to strengthen cervical cancer diagnostics through affordable, indigenous solutions.
• Part of efforts to promote healthcare innovation under the biotechnology sector.

Current Context: The Viksit Vibrant Villages Program, launched by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Ministry of Home Affairs, aims to transform border villages in Leh-Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

• It will run from 15th to 30th May 2025, with 500 Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) volunteers involved.

About

• Objective: Youth-led grassroots development of border villages.
• Support: Local governance and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
• Volunteers: 500 selected nationally; registration started on 23rd April 2025 via MY Bharat Portal.
• Activities: Community engagement, leadership, healthcare, education, cultural promotion, and career counseling.
• Orientation: Pre-deployment training in Delhi.
• Vision: Transform border villages into hubs of heritage, innovation, and national pride, contributing to Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Current Context: The Sachet mobile application, launched by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), enhances disaster preparedness in India. Mentioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his ‘Mann ki Baat’ address, it provides real-time, geo-tagged alerts for various disasters.

Key Features

• Alerts: Real-time notifications on disasters like floods, cyclones, and tsunamis, based on user location.
• Technology: Uses Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) for timely updates.
• Weather Updates: Daily forecasts from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
• Satellite Connectivity: Ensures communication during extreme emergencies.
• Languages: Supports 12 Indian languages for broader accessibility.
• Platforms: Available on Android and iOS.

International Aid

• Operation Brahma: India’s response to the Myanmar earthquake, providing rescue, relief, and humanitarian aid.

Individual Alertness

PM Modi emphasized the importance of individual alertness in disaster management, encouraging citizens to use the Sachet app for safety.

Current Context: The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has been authorized to share information with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to combat rising cyber frauds targeting the public.

About I4C

• Operates under: Ministry of Home Affairs
• Purpose: Central hub for addressing cybercrime, enhancing public awareness, and improving law enforcement capacity.
• Role of ED: The ED can now act against offenders under the anti-money laundering law.

Nature of Cyber Frauds

• Tactics: Fake websites, deceptive social media pages, fraudulent ads, and malicious links that compromise individuals’ devices, leading to financial losses.

Public Reporting Initiatives

• Citizens can report frauds via the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal and the helpline ‘1930’ for tracking and combating cybercrime.

Capacity Building and Awareness

• Training: I4C offers cyber forensics training for law enforcement.
• Campaigns: Promotes public education on cyber hygiene and partners with the Department of Telecommunications for awareness initiatives like caller tune campaigns.

• Celebrated on April 29, established by the International Sculpture Center (ISC) to appreciate the art of sculpture.​
• Highlights the creative and cultural significance of sculpture in society.​
• Engagement: Encourages exhibitions, workshops, and public art installations to engage communities.​
• Significance: Promotes understanding and appreciation of sculpture as a vital form of artistic expression.​