Current Context: The Ramman Festival, listed in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, was celebrated in the villages of Saloor-Dungra, Uttarakhand.

About Ramman Festival:

• Location: Twin villages of Saloor-Dungra in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand.
• Timing: Celebrated annually in late April after the harvest.
• Deity Worshipped: Dedicated to Bhumiyal Devta, the village’s tutelary deity.
• Cultural Elements: Includes masked dances, epic recitations of Ramayana, and folk song performances.
• Unique Feature: Features Jagar singing, a ritual invocation of ancestral and local legends.

UNESCO Listing: Inscribed in 2009 as a living expression of Himalayan religious and cultural traditions.

Current Context: Karnataka Government notified Hesaraghatta Grassland as a Conservation Reserve under Section 36A of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, in early 2025.

About Hesaraghatta Grassland Conservation Reserve:

• Location: Near Hesaraghatta Lake, Bengaluru; the last remaining grassland habitat in the region.
• Protection Status: Declared a Conservation Reserve, acting as a buffer zone under WPA 1972.
• Ecological Role: Supports biodiversity including leopards, Indian foxes, otters, and migratory birds.
• Hydrological Importance: Functions as a natural sponge for monsoon runoff and recharges groundwater.
• Governance: Managed by a state-appointed Conservation Reserve Management Committee.
• Coverage: Part of India’s 24% grassland biome; globally, grasslands span 20–40% of land area.

Current Context: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched Operation Hawk to crack down on international cybercrime networks involved in online child sexual exploitation.

About Operation Hawk:

• Objective: Targets individuals and syndicates involved in producing and sharing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).
• Predecessors: Builds on Operation CARBON (2021) and Operation Megh Chakra (2022).
• Scope: Includes digital forensics, data analysis, and cross-border law enforcement cooperation.
• Reach: International in scale, supported by agencies like Interpol and Europol.

Current Context: The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) launched VoTAN to provide global support for victims and survivors of terrorism.

About Victims of Terrorism Associations Network (VoTAN):

• Background: Emerged from the “Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism,” co-chaired by Spain and Iraq, established six years ago to promote victim rights.
• Origin: Key outcome of the 2022 UN Global Congress on Victims of Terrorism.
• Purpose: Offers a safe space for victims to share experiences, foster resilience, and act as peacebuilders, educators, and advocates.
• Funding: Financially supported by the Government of Spain.
• Coordination: Managed by the UNOCT with global collaboration.

Current Context: The Lakkundi temples in Karnataka are being proposed for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list, recognizing their historical and architectural significance.

Key Facts:

• Location: Lakkundi, Gadag district, Karnataka.
• Historical Significance:
  • Known as “Lokki-Gundi” in ancient inscriptions.
  • Flourished under the Western Chalukyas, Kalachuris, Seunas (Yadavas), Hoysalas, and Vijayanagara rulers.
• Architectural Highlights:
  • Over 50 ancient temples and 101 stepped wells (Kalyanis).
  • Notable temples include Kasivisvesvara, Nannesvara, and Brahma Jinalaya.
  • Exhibits a blend of North and South Indian architectural styles .
• Preservation Efforts:
  • Protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.
  • State government has established the Lakkundi Heritage Area Protection Authority for conservation .

Current Context: Indian badminton players Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were jointly awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2024 for their outstanding performance in men’s doubles badminton.

Key Facts:

• Awarded for: Spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports over a period of four years.
• Established: 1991–92 as Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award; renamed in 2021.
• Award Components: Medallion, certificate, and a cash prize.
• Satwiksairaj Rankireddy:
  • Born on August 13, 2000, in Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh.
  • Set a Guinness World Record for the fastest badminton hit by a male player at 565 km/h in 2023 .
• Chirag Shetty:
  • Born on July 4, 1997, in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
  • Partnered with Rankireddy to achieve world No. 1 ranking in men’s doubles on October 10, 2023 .
• Achievements:
  • Won gold at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
  • First Indian men’s doubles pair to achieve world No. 1 ranking.

World Asthma Day 2025 is observed on May 6 to raise awareness about asthma and improve asthma care worldwide.

• Organized by: Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), established in 1993.
• 2025 Theme: “Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL”
• Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways.
• Symptoms include wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing.
• Focus of 2025: “Asthma Education Empowers”.

Observed annually on May 6.

Aim : To  promote body positivity and challenges diet culture.

Key Facts:

• Origin: Initiated in 1992 by British feminist Mary Evans Young to promote body acceptance and raise awareness about the dangers of dieting.
• Symbol: Light blue ribbon.

Current Context: In response to the rising global threat of encephalitis and its impact on public health, the UK-based Encephalitis International launched a global campaign to promote the importance of vaccination as a preventive measure.

About Encephalitis:

• Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain caused by infections (viral, bacterial) or autoimmune responses, leading to brain swelling and symptoms like headaches, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, mental confusion, and seizures.
• Causes: Common pathogens include Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV), Influenza, and West Nile Virus.
• Symptoms: Fever, headache, mental confusion, and seizures are typical indicators of encephalitis.

India’s Efforts:

• Universal Immunization Programme (UIP):
  • Provides free vaccination for Japanese Encephalitis (JE).
  • SA 14-14-2 Vaccine is part of the immunization schedule.
  • Target Areas: High-risk zones, including endemic districts.
  • As of recent reports, 132 districts have been included under the vaccination program.

Current Context: India has opposed the inclusion of the hazardous insecticide Chlorpyrifos under the Stockholm Convention for global phase-out in 2021, which would restrict its use globally due to its harmful environmental and health effects.

About the Convention:

• Genesis: Adopted in 2001 and enforced in 2004.
• Objective: Protect human health and the environment from Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
• POPs Definition: Carbon-based chemicals that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate in living organisms, and are toxic to humans and wildlife.
• Key Features:
  • The convention lists chemicals in three annexes:
  • Annex A: Elimination of chemicals.
  • Annex B and C: Restriction of use.
• India’s Position: India signed and ratified the convention but opposes the phase-out of Chlorpyrifos, arguing that it is still widely used in agriculture and there are no safer alternatives for its widespread uses.

Significance of the Issue:

• Chlorpyrifos Use: Widely used as an insecticide in agriculture, particularly in the U.S., India, and parts of the EU.
• Environmental Impact: Chlorpyrifos is toxic to wildlife and poses risks to human health, including neurotoxic effects, particularly for children.
• India’s Stance: The government is advocating for more research into safer alternatives and for the recognition of agricultural needs in developing countries.