Current Context: Madhya Pradesh has initiated a plan to introduce a female cheetah into the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary to expand the cheetah reintroduction programme in India.

ABOUT GANDHI SAGAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

• Location: Northwestern Madhya Pradesh (along MP-Rajasthan border)
• Declared as: Wildlife sanctuary in 1974
• Area: 368 sq. km
• Rivers: Chambal River flows through it, dividing it into two parts
• Ecoregion: Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests

Key Features:

• Identified as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA)
• Includes historical and archaeological sites like:
  • Chaurasigarh
  • Chaturbhujnath Temple
  • Bhadkaji rock paintings
  • Hinglajgarh Fort
  • Taxakeshwar Temple

Current Context: Andhra Pradesh’s Erra Matti Dibbalu (Red Sand Dunes) have recently been included in the UNESCO Tentative List of World Heritage Sites.

ABOUT ERRA MATTI DIBBALU

• Location: Near Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
• Discovered by: British geologist William King in 1886
• Declared as: National Geo-heritage Monument by Geological Survey of India in 2016

Key Features:

• Composed of sand, silt, and clay with a distinct red colour due to natural oxidation
• Represent the late Quaternary geologic age
• Show unique badland topography with gullies, dunes, buried channels, beach ridges, wave-cut terraces, etc.
• Depict real-time climate change effects and geological evolution
• Archaeological significance: Artefacts from the Upper Palaeolithic period (around 20,000 BC) found
• Only two similar sites exist globally — one in Sri Lanka and one in Tamil Nadu (Teri Sands)
• Faces threats from uncontrolled tourism and filming activities

Current Context: India has successfully tested the indigenously developed Supersonic TARget (STAR) missile, ending the country’s dependence on costly imported target systems for missile training exercises.

ABOUT STAR MISSILE

• Developer: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
• Purpose: To simulate realistic threats for training India’s armed forces in missile interception and defence systems
• Nature: Not a combat weapon — mimics enemy missiles for training

Variants:

• Air-Launched STAR:
  • Can be launched from fighter jets like LCA Tejas
  • Simulates air-to-air and air-to-ground strikes including Anti-Radiation and Anti-AWACS roles
• Ground-Launched STAR:
  • Truck-mounted, mobile
  • Can be launched from shorelines or remote areas

Key Features:

• Two-stage propulsion:
  • Solid booster rocket for launch
  • Liquid Fuel Ramjet (LFRJ) for sustained supersonic speed
• Speed: Mach 1.8 – 2.5
• Altitude: 100 metres – 10 kilometres
• Range: 55 – 175 kilometres
• Flight time: 50 – 200 seconds
• Simulates sea-skimming and high-altitude attack profiles
• Highly manoeuvrable and can perform evasive movements
• Allows radar and missile systems to practice interception
• Option for safe recovery or detonation after mission

Observed on 15 September every year to promote democratic values worldwide.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DEMOCRACY

• Established in 2007 by the United Nations General Assembly.
• Aim: To raise public awareness about democracy as a universal value and to uphold human rights and the rule of law.
• Emphasises that democracy is about people and participation, not just elections.
• Encourages governments to strengthen democratic institutions and civic education.

Celebrated on 15 September every year in India

Aim : to honour the contribution of engineers in nation building.

ABOUT ENGINEER’S DAY

• It marks the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya (1861–1962).
• Visvesvaraya was a renowned civil engineer, statesman, and the Diwan of Mysore (1912–1919).
• He made pioneering contributions in the field of irrigation, flood control, and dams (notably the Krishna Raja Sagara Dam).

Celebrated on 14 September every year to honour the adoption of Hindi as the official language of India.

ABOUT HINDI DIWAS

• On 14 September 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted Hindi in Devanagari script as the official language of the Republic of India.
• It recognises the role of Hindi in national integration and communication.
• The day promotes awareness about the use and importance of the Hindi language.
• The first Hindi Diwas was celebrated in 1953.

Current Context: ISRO signed an agreement with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to transfer technology for Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLV) production.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Marks a major step in industry participation in space sector.
• This is the 100th technology transfer facilitated by INSPACe (space sector promoter).
• ISRO will complete the transfer process within 24 months, with training and technical support to HAL.
• HAL will then be able to independently build and sell SSLVs in domestic and international markets.

ABOUT SSLV

• Type: 3-stage, all-solid fuel launch vehicle
• Payload: Up to 500 kg into Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
• Purpose:
  • Quick turnaround, on-demand launches
  • Industry-friendly production design
  • Targeted at global small satellite launch market

Current Context: The 48th Annual Conference on Oceans Law & Policy (COLP48) was hosted for the first time in the Indian subcontinent, with participation from governments, international agencies, and maritime experts.

 ABOUT COLP48

• Theme: Developing World Approaches to Ocean Governance: Perspectives from the Indian Ocean Rim
• Organisers:
  • Stockton Center for International Law (U.S. Naval War College)
  • Gujarat Maritime University
  • Supported by India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences
  • Traditionally organised by Center for Oceans Law & Policy, University of Virginia (USA)

 INDIA’S 5 PRIORITY AREAS FOR OCEAN GOVERNANCE

• Ensure livelihood & food security through sustainable fisheries.
• Deepen regional cooperation among Indian Ocean Rim nations based on South-South solidarity.
• Blend traditional knowledge and participatory governance with modern science.
• Promote climate resilience & ecosystem-based approaches for biodiversity protection.
• Mobilise innovative finance & build research and technology capacity.

 ABOUT INDIAN OCEAN

• Covers ~1/5th of world ocean area.
• Boundaries:
  • North: Iran, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh
  • East: Malay Peninsula, Sunda Islands (Indonesia), Australia
  • South: Southern Ocean
  • West: Africa, Arabian Peninsula

Current Context: Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh virtually flagged off ‘Samudra Pradakshina’ on 11 September 2025 from Mumbai — the world’s first Tri-service all-women circumnavigation sailing expedition.

 ABOUT SAMUDRA PRADAKSHINA

• Type: First-ever Tri-Service (Army, Navy, Air Force) all-women sailing circumnavigation expedition.
• Vessel: Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni – indigenously built.
• Team: 10 women officers from Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• Route & Duration:
  • Will sail ~26,000 nautical miles on an easterly route.
  • Will cross Equator twice and round the three Great Capes: Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn, and Cape of Good Hope.
  • Will cover all major oceans including the Southern Ocean and the Drake Passage.
  • Expedition will last 9 months (Sep 2025–May 2026) with 4 international port calls.
• Scientific Component:
  • Will conduct research with National Institute of Oceanography (NIO).
  • Study microplastics, document ocean life, and raise awareness on marine health.
• Norms: Will follow World Sailing Speed Record Council rules — must cross all longitudes, equator, and complete >21,600 nautical miles under sail alone (no canal or engine use).
• Challenge: Rounding Cape Horn in Southern Ocean (Dec 2025–Feb 2026) — considered the toughest test of seamanship.
• Indian Navy all-women circumnavigation expeditions on INSV Tarini.

Current Context: The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) launched two key schemes to expand social security and simplify compliance for industries.

SPREE-2025

• Full Form: Scheme for Promoting Registration of Employers and Employees
• Validity: Up to 31 December 2025
• Key Features:
  • Allows unregistered employers/employees to enrol via ESI Portal, Shram Suvidha Portal, or Company Affairs Portal
  • No demand for old dues during registration
  • Coverage starts from registration date or declared earlier date
  • Immediate ESI benefits to newly registered employees
• Objective: Promote voluntary registration, reduce litigation, build trust, and simplify compliance

AMNESTY SCHEME-2025

• Duration: 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2026
• Purpose: One-time settlement of pending disputes related to damages, interest, and coverage under ESI Act
• Benefits:
  • Dispute resolution and compliance improvement
  • Reduces lawsuits and ensures uninterrupted social security benefits
• Goal: Provide legal relief to industries and expand ESI coverage to more workers