Art and Culture

Etikoppaka toys shine at Republic Day parade - Indian Express 

As the nation celebrated its 76th Republic Day, a particularly captivating tableau from Andhra Pradesh made its way down New Delhi’s Kartavya Path, earning applause from onlookers. Adorned with meticulously crafted wooden toys, the display offered a glimpse into the ancient art of Etikoppaka Bommalu, a 400-year-old craft that has become synonymous with eco-friendly creativity and cultural heritage.

Etikoppaka Toys/ Etikoppaka Bommalu

• Origin: Originated in Etikoppaka village, Andhra Pradesh.
• Features:
  • Made from 'ankudu' wood (Wrightia tinctoria), known for its soft texture.
  • Smooth, rounded contours, no sharp edges.
  • Colored using natural dyes from seeds, lacquer, bark, roots, and leaves.
• Recognition: Received Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2017.

World Affairs 

India-China thaw: What fine print of the countries' statements says - Indian Express 

In a major diplomatic breakthrough, New Delhi and Beijing have decided on a slew of measures to repair bilateral ties: resuming Kailash Mansarovar Yatra this summer, restoring direct flights between the two capitals, issuing visas for journalists and think tanks, and sharing trans-border river data, a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday.

Economy 

To curb grey market activity, SEBI is working on launching ‘when-listed’ platform - Indian Express

Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is looking to launch a “when-listed” platform for trading of shares of companies that have finished their initial public offering (IPO) and are yet to be listed on stock exchanges.

Environment 

Pumped storage project in Sharavathy Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary gets condition approval - The Hindu

In a move expected to rile environmentalists working to conserve green cover in the Western Ghats, the State Board of Wildlife recently gave conditional approval for the Sharavathy Pumped Storage Project in the Sharavathy Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary.

Sharavathy Lion-Tailed Macaque Sanctuary

• Location: Sharavathi River Valley, Sagar taluk, Shivamogga District, Karnataka (Western Ghats).
• Vegetation: Dominated by evergreen and semi-evergreen forests in valleys.

• Formation: 

• Creation: Merging Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Aghanashini Lion-Tailed Macaque Conservation Reserve, and adjoining reserve forests.
• Transition zone: Shares the southwestern boundary with Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Flora: Dhoopa, Gulmavu, Surahonne, Mavu, Nandi.

• Fauna: Lion-Tailed Macaque ; Tiger, leopard, wild dog, jackal, sloth bear, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, mouse deer, wild pig, common langur, bonnet macaque, Malabar giant squirrel.

INCOIS identifies nine key algal bloom hotspots along India’s east and west coasts - The Hindu 

India’s coastline, rich in biodiversity, is grappling with a growing phenomenon of algal blooms. These events, caused by a sudden surge in phytoplankton biomass, are becoming more frequent and intense owing to environmental and human factors.

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)

• About: Occur due to excessive algae growth in water bodies.
• Colors: Green, blue-green, red, or brown, based on algae type.
• Occurrence: Freshwater, marine, and brackish water.
• Types: 
  • Most blooms are harmless and serve as food for aquatic animals.
  • HABs (Harmful Algal Blooms) 
• Causes of HABs:
  • Triggered by warmer temperatures, excess nutrients (fertilizers, sewage runoff).
  • Mainly caused by cyanobacteria, dinoflagellates, and diatoms.
• Impacts:
  • Produce toxins, causing acute or chronic diseases in vertebrates.
  • Deplete oxygen, leading to fish and aquatic life deaths.
  • Block sunlight, affecting deeper water organisms.

Science and Technology 

ISRO’s 100th launch lifts NavIC satellite into orbit—The Hindu

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recenylu launched its historic 100th mission — GSLV-F15 lifting off with a navigation satellite from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The NVS-02 is the second satellite in the NVS series and part of India’s Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC).