The Sharavathi Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project (PSHP) in Karnataka, aimed at generating 2,000 MW and supplying drinking water to Bengaluru, faces strong opposition from environmentalists due to its impact on the Western Ghats ecosystem.

About the Project:

• Location: The project is proposed on the Sharavathi River in Shivamogga district,
• Reservoirs: It will utilize the existing Talakalale and Gerusoppa reservoirs for pumped storage operations.

Key Facts:

• Project Details: Involves upper and lower reservoirs, five tunnels, and eight pumping stations, modeled after Telangana’s Kaleshwaram project.
• Environmental Concerns: Threatens 360 acres of forest land in a wildlife sanctuary, home to endangered species like the Lion-tailed Macaque and Great Indian Hornbill. Violations of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, are alleged.
• Technical Issues: The project consumes more power than it generates (12,000 MWH vs. 14,833 MWH), raising doubts about its economic viability.

Legal and Political Disputes: The Karnataka High Court has issued a stay order over allegations of corruption in the bidding process, favoring Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited (MEIL).

• Russian troops have initiated a large-scale military operation to reclaim significant areas of the western Kursk region from Ukrainian forces. The offensive marks an escalation in the conflict, with intense clashes reported in the region.
• Location: Administrative center of Kursk Oblast, Russia, about 450 km south of Moscow, on the upper Seym River.
• Geography: Part of the Black Earth region, known for highly fertile soil.

History:

• First mentioned in 1032, one of Russia’s oldest cities.
• Destroyed by Tatars in 1240, rebuilt in 1586 as a military outpost.
• World War II & Battle of Kursk: Site of the largest tank battle (July–August 1943), leading to German defeat.

• Leaders of the Koch-Rajbongshi Sanmilita Joutha Mancha recently submitted a 15-point memorandum to BJP Assam president Dilip Saikia, highlighting their long-pending demands for recognition and welfare.
• Origin & Identity: An ancient tribe from the Koch Kingdom, also known as Rajbanshi/Rajvanshi, meaning “royal community.”
• Geographical Presence: Found in Lower Nepal, Northern Bengal, North Bihar, Northern Bangladesh, Assam, Meghalaya, and Bhutan—historically part of the Kamata Kingdom.
• Caste Classification: Classified as OBC in Assam, SC in Bengal, and ST in Meghalaya.
• Language: Rajbongshi/Rajbanshi language is spoken by 1 crore people (2001 Census) and has a complete grammar.
• Religion: Predominantly Hindu, with some followers of Islam, Christianity, and Buddhism.
• Livelihood: Mainly agriculture and farming, with a strong connection to nature and animist

• The Jadayaswamy Festival was recently celebrated in Tamil Nadu by the Badagas community of the Nilgiris.

About Jadayaswamy Festival

• Community Involved: Celebrated by the Badagas, an aboriginal tribal group in Tamil Nadu.
• Location: Observed in Jackanarai village near Kotagiri in the Nilgiris district.
• Significance: Dedicated to Jadayaswamy, a revered deity of the Badagas, symbolizing faith, devotion, and ancestral tradition.

Rituals and Traditions

• Procession & Offerings: Eight villages organize a grand procession to the Jadayaswamy temple.
• Firewalk Ritual: Devotees perform a firewalk as an act of devotion and endurance.
• Cultural Significance: The festival preserves Badaga heritage and strengthens community bonds.

About the Badagas

• Settlement Pattern: The Badagas live in villages called “Hattis”.
• Language: They speak Badugu, a distinct Dravidian language.
• Occupation: Primarily engaged in agriculture, cultivating crops like millets, potatoes, and tea.

General Studies Paper-2

Context: The Minister of Science and Technology has said that India’s Space technology is playing a major role in revolutionising governance at the “Good Governance” Conclave.

What is Space Technology?

• Space technologies designate technologies used to enable activities conducted in outer space:
  • such as Earth observation, satellite communication, satellite navigation or even robotic and human space exploration beyond Earth’s orbits.
• Governments use space technology, geospatial data, and field information for planning, monitoring, and evaluating developmental activities.

Use of Space Technology in Governance

• Disaster Management and Response: National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) provides satellite data that helps in identifying flood-affected areas, mapping damage, and planning rehabilitation.
  • The Indian National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) uses it for disaster relief operations.
• Agriculture and Rural Development: FASAL (Forecasting Agricultural output using Space, Agrometeorology, and Land-based observations) uses satellite data to predict crop yields, helping farmers make informed decisions.
  • Soil Health Management and irrigation management are optimized using remote sensing technologies.
• Efficient Land Management: Initiatives like “Swamitva Yojana” use satellite mapping for land record management.
  • This initiative simplifies land verification and promotes transparency in land ownership.
• Environmental Monitoring: Bhuvan an Indian web-based application developed by ISRO provides satellite data for various environmental and land-use applications.
  • Satellites like the Oceansat series provide data on sea surface temperatures, sea level rise, and coastal erosion.
• Security and Defense: Satellites help in remote sensing for border surveillance.
• Administrative Efficiency: Satellite data helps in the implementation of the Digital India initiative by enabling access to e-governance services.

Challenges

• High Costs: The development, maintenance, and launch of satellites are expensive.
• Technical and Infrastructure Gaps: Lack of adequate ground infrastructure, technical expertise, and trained personnel in remote areas.
• Data Interpretation and Accuracy: Space-based data requires accurate interpretation and analysis, and errors in data processing can lead to wrong decisions in governance.
• Privacy Concerns: Increased surveillance and monitoring through space technology raise privacy and security concerns among citizens.
• Environmental Impact: Increased space missions and satellite launches can contribute to space debris and environmental pollution.

Way Ahead

• Develop and upgrade ground infrastructure, data centers, and communication systems to support space-based services effectively.
• Encourage collaboration between the government and private sector to reduce costs, foster innovation, and improve the application of space technology.
• Increase the number and diversity of satellites for better coverage, particularly in remote and underserved regions of the country.
• Encourage research in space technology and its applications to address emerging governance challenges, including climate change and urban planning.
• Adopt sustainable practices for satellite launches and space missions to minimize environmental impacts and manage space debris effectively.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Surat Food Security Saturation Campaign in Limbayat, Surat, to provide food security benefits under the National Food Security Act to over 2.3 lakh

Key Goals

• The campaign aims for comprehensive food security, focusing on inclusivity and fairness.
• Over 5 lakh new beneficiaries, including elderly and differently-abled individuals, have been identified to receive free rations and nutritious food.

Government Initiatives for Food Security

• Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana – Support for the poor during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• PM Poshan Scheme – Nutritious meals for school children.
• Saksham Anganwadi Program – Focus on mothers and young children.
• PM Matru Vandana Yojana – Financial aid for pregnant women.

Importance of Nutrition & Hygiene

• The government prioritizes eliminating malnutrition and anaemia. Surat’s hygiene efforts, supported by the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, have improved public health.
• The Har Ghar Jal campaign ensures clean drinking water access.

Financial Inclusion & Support for the Poor

• One Nation, One Ration Card – Nationwide access to food rations.
• Mudra Yojana – Collateral-free loans for small businesses.
• PM SVANidhi Yojana – Financial aid for street vendors.

• The Union Minister for Women and Child Development will lead India’s delegation at the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations headquarters, New York.

About the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)

• Principal global intergovernmental body for gender equality and women’s empowerment.
• A functional commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), established on June 21, 1946.
• Works to promote women’s political, economic, civil, social, and educational rights.
• Monitors and reviews progress on gender equality, including the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995).
• Highlights urgent issues like the impact of conflicts on women and girls.

Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action

• Adopted by 189 countries, it remains the most comprehensive global agenda for women’s rights and gender equality.
• CSW plays a key role in mainstreaming gender perspectives across UN policies and programs.

• The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025 was recently released, highlighting global terrorism trends, the most affected regions, and the evolving threat landscape.

About GTI Report

• Published by: Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).
• Coverage: 163 countries, covering 7% of the world’s population.
• The GTI ranks countries on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 indicating no impact from terrorism and 10 representing the highest recorded impact.
• Parameters: Measures terrorist attacks, deaths, injuries, hostages, economic impact, and terrorism trends.

Key Findings from the GTI 2025 Report:

1. Sahel region remains the global terrorism hotspot, accounting for over 50% of all terrorism-related deaths.
2. Islamic State (IS) expanded to 22 countries, maintaining its status as the deadliest terrorist organization, primarily active in Syria and the DRC.
3. Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) emerged as the fastest-growing terrorist group, with a 90% rise in fatalities.
4. Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding the Sahel) saw a 10% decline in terrorism-related deaths, reaching its lowest level since 2016.
5. Terrorist attacks in the West surged by 63%, with Europe witnessing the most significant rise, as attacks doubled to 67.
6. Youth radicalization is rising: In 2024, one in five terror suspects in the West was under 18, with Europe seeing the highest number of IS-related arrests among teenagers.
7. Seven Western nations ranked among the 50 most terrorism-affected countries.
8. Hate crimes surged worldwide: Antisemitic incidents in theS. increased by 200%, alongside a significant rise in Islamophobia.
9. Terrorist incidents dropped by 22% to 3,350, yet attacks became more lethal, with incidents reported in only 50 countries, a decline from previous years.

Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025: Top 10 Affected Countries

• Lithuania has become the first country to withdraw from the Convention on Cluster Munitions, citing security concerns amid the Russia-Ukraine war.

About the Convention

• Adopted: 2008, in Oslo, Norway.
• Objective: Prohibits the use, production, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster munitions to protect civilians from unexploded submunitions.

Impact of Cluster Munitions:

• Dropped from aircraft or fired from artillery, exploding mid-air and dispersing multiple bomblets over a wide area.
• Unexploded submunitions pose a long-term threat to civilians.
• Signatories: Over 100 countries have signed/ratified the treaty.
• Non-Signatories: U.S., India, Russia, and China have not signed the convention.

• The Government of India has introduced a modified Ethanol Interest Subvention Scheme to support Cooperative Sugar Mills (CSMs) in expanding ethanol production beyond sugarcane.

Objective:

• Enhance the operational viability of Cooperative Sugar Mills (CSMs).
• Facilitate the conversion of sugarcane-based ethanol plants into multi-feedstock facilities.
• Ensure year-round ethanol production by utilizing maize, damaged food grains (DFG), and other feedstocks along with sugarcane.

Key Features of the Modified Scheme:

• Interest subvention provided at 6% per annum or 50% of the bank interest rate.
• Applicable for loans taken for five years, including a one-year moratorium.
• Financial support to expand ethanol production beyond sugarcane dependency.

Advantages of Multi-Feedstock Conversion

• Enables CSMs to utilize various raw materials, ensuring continuous operation.
• Improves operational efficiency and financial sustainability of sugar mills.
• Reduces dependence on imported fossil fuels, supporting India’s energy security.

Impact on Ethanol Blending Targets:

• The government is working towards achieving 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2025.
• As of February 2025, the blending rate reached6%, marking significant progress.
• The expansion of ethanol production capacity will help meet the EBP Programme’s goal.