Art and Culture 

Gond Tribe - The Hindu

The Gujarat high court recently sought a response from a power distribution company, the Ahmedabad district collector, and a residential society after 95 families of the Rajgond tribe sought HC directions for electricity connections to their households. 

Gond Tribe

• About: A Dravidian ethno-linguistic group; one of India's largest tribal communities (11 million as per the 2001 census).
• Divisions: Raj Gonds, Madia Gonds, Dhurve Gonds, Khatulwar Gonds.
• Major States: Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Odisha.
• Other States: Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Gujarat.
• Settlement: Gondwana region (9th–13th century AD).
• Rule: Controlled central India (14th century); built forts, palaces, temples, tanks, and lakes.
• Kingdoms: Garha-Mandla, Deogarh, Chanda, Kherla.
• Later Influence: Gained Malwa (1690) after Mughal decline.
• British Era: Fought multiple battles against British rule.
• Primary Language: Gondi (Dravidian family, unwritten language).
• Other Languages: Hindi, Marathi, Telugu (based on region).
• Occupation: Primarily agriculture; also practice animal husbandry and wild plant gathering.
• Beliefs: Worship clan and village gods, along with ancestor worship.
• Major Festivals: Keslapur Jathra, Madai; also celebrate Dussehra.

Geography 

Antarctica’s Extreme Volcano Is Hiding a Secret Underground Ecosystem - Indian Express 

Beneath the frozen wasteland of Antarctica, a hidden world of fire and ice is teeming with life. Inside the subterranean ice caves of Mount Erebus, the southernmost active volcano on Earth, scientists have discovered thriving microbial ecosystems, rewriting what we know about life’s ability to survive in the most extreme environments.

Mount Erebus

• About: The southernmost active volcano in the world.
• Location: Ross Island, Antarctica, in the Ross Sea.
• Type: Glaciated intraplate stratovolcano, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.
• Discovery: 1841 by Sir James Clark Ross, named after his ship, Erebus.
• Height: Second tallest volcano in Antarctica (3,794 m), after Mount Sidley.
• Feature: One of the few volcanoes with an active lava lake (alkalic lava, common in rift volcanoes).
• Nature: Continuously active since 1972, with small Strombolian eruptions.
• McMurdo Station: It is the largest Antarctic settlement which is 40 km away.

World Affairs 

A brief history of the Russia-Ukraine war - The Hindu

The Ukraine conflict has witnessed dramatic developments in recent weeks. U.S. President Donald Trump has brought in a 180-degree shift in the U.S's policy towards the war. Disagreements between Kyiv and Washington on how to end the war have led to an unprecedented public spat between Ukraine and the US. 

Beginning of the War (2022)

• Russian invasion: Ukraine invaded with Russia expecting a swift victory.
• US support to Ukraine: Ukraine armed with U.S.-supplied weapons, resisted, leading to deeper Western involvement.
• U.S. sanctions on Russia: It weakened Russia’s economy and war capability.

Current Status of the War (2023-2025)

• Russia gradually regained control, capturing:
  • Soledar (January 2023), Bakhmut (May 2023), Avdiivka (February 2024).
  • Krasnohorivka (September 2024), Vuhledar (October 2024), Velyka Novosilka (January 2025).
• August 2024: Ukraine launched a surprise attack in Kursk, capturing 1,000 sq. km, but Russia continued advancing.
• 2024: Russia seized 4,168 sq. km in Ukraine and Russia’s Kursk region.

Trump’s Shift in U.S. Ukraine Policy

• Stand: Ruled out Ukraine’s NATO membership and security guarantees.
• Mediation: Opened direct U.S.-Russia talks, bypassing Ukraine and Europe.
• Strategic shift: Sees China as the primary U.S. threat, aims to reset ties with Russia.

Europe’s Perspective

• Initial stance: Initially hesitant about Ukraine’s NATO membership (Germany, France).
• Failed deals: Negotiated Minsk accords (2014) for peace, but they failed.
• Impact: War caused economic crises, Nord Stream pipeline attack, de-industrialization, and public discontent.
• Current stand: Lacks independent capacity to support Ukraine without U.S. backing.

Ukraine’s Dilemma

• Loss: Lost over 20% of its territory to Russia; millions displaced.
• Economy: Economy devastated, energy sector under attack.
• Manpower: Dependent on external military aid, facing a manpower crisis.
• No support from US: U.S. no longer supporting NATO membership or security guarantees.

World Food Programme to close office in southern Africa after Trump aid cuts - The Hindu 

The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) is closing its southern Africa office in the wake of the Trump administration’s aid cuts.

World Food Programme (WFP)

• Overview: A UN agency focused on hunger eradication and food security.
• Operations: Active in 120+ countries, providing food assistance in emergencies and supporting nutrition and resilience.
• India Presence: Operating since 1963.
• UN Affiliation: Member of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
• Funding Source: Voluntary donations from governments, corporates, private donors.
• Humanitarian Work: Largest agency aiding in emergencies and promoting self-sufficiency.

Global Report on Food Crises:

• Focus: Assesses acute hunger worldwide.
• Analysis: Identifies drivers of food crises globally.
• Produced by: Global Network against Food Crises, an international alliance addressing extreme hunger.

Economy 

Cotton crisis in Punjab - Indian Express 

The crop was cultivated in only one lakh hectares in Punjab in 2024, down from nearly eight lakh hectares three decades back. Ahead of the cotton sowing season, farmers are thus calling for the swift approval of Bollgard-3, a new pest-resistant genetically-modified (GM) cotton variety developed by Monsanto.

Bollgard-3

• Overview: A genetically modified (GM) pest-resistant cotton variety developed by Monsanto.

• Features:

• Contains three Bt proteins (Cry1Ac, Cry2Ab, Vip3A) that disrupt insect gut function, leading to pest death.
• Effective against lepidopteran pests, including pink bollworm.
• Increases cotton yield by reducing pest damage.

• Evolution of Bollgard Cotton in India:
  • Bollgard-1 (2002): First Bt cotton introduced in India by Monsanto.
  • Bollgard-2 (2006): Improved version, but ineffective against whitefly (2015-16) and pink bollworm (2018-19).
  • Bollgard-3: Farmers demand its introduction for better pest resistance.
• Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)
  • A soil bacterium with insecticidal properties.
  • Genes from Bt are inserted into crops to provide pest resistance.

Environment 

What the first-ever comprehensive survey of India's river dolphins found - Indian Express 

Prime Minister recently released the results of the first-ever comprehensive population estimation of riverine dolphins – Gangetic and Indus dolphins – done in India.

Findings of Gangetic and Indus Dolphin Population Survey (2021-2023)

• Rivers: Ganga and Brahmaputra river basins from 2021-2023.
• Estimation: 6,324 Gangetic dolphins (range: 5,977-6,688).
• Indus River dolphins: Found only 3 such dolphins, all in Punjab's Beas River.
• Threats: Pollution, riverbed mining, habitat damage, prey decline, and climate change.
• Classification: Both species endangered under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Survey Methodology

• Conducted by: Wildlife Institute of India.
• Coverage: Covered 28 rivers by boat and 30 by road.
• Area: 7,109 km in the Ganga basin, 1,297 km in the Brahmaputra basin, and 101 km in Beas.
• Population estimates:
  • Ganga main stem: 3,275 dolphins.
  • Ganga tributaries: 2,414 dolphins.
  • Brahmaputra main stem: 584 dolphins.
  • Brahmaputra tributaries: 51 dolphins.
  • Beas River: 3 Indus dolphins.
• Highest population: UP (2,397), followed by Bihar (2,220), West Bengal (815), Jharkhand (162), Rajasthan & MP (95), and Punjab (3).

Challenges in Estimation

• Observer errors: Dolphins surface only for 1.26 seconds and dive for 107 seconds, causing observer errors.
• Used visual and acoustic surveys:
  • Hydrophones recorded dolphin echolocation clicks.
  • Double observer method for deep, wide channels.
  • Tandem method for narrow channels <600m wide.
  • Single boat method for very narrow channels <300m wide.

Dolphin Hotspots & Coldspots

• Coldspots (low dolphin density):
  • Narora-Kanpur (366 km, encounter rate: 0.1/km).
  • Yamuna (Kaushambi-Chitrakoot), Sharda (Pilibhit), and Rapti (Balrampur-Sidhharth Nagar).
  • Barak River (Assam).
• Hotspots (high dolphin density):
  • Bihar (encounter rate: 1.62/km), Uttar Pradesh (0.62/km).
  • Chausa-Manihar (590 km, 2.20/km), Manihari-Rajmahal (2.75/km).
  • Brahmaputra tributaries show declining population, especially Subansiri & Kulsi.

Rare civet cat spotted near Tadepalli - The Hindu 

A rare civet cat, typically found in the Seshachalam forests near Tirumala, was spotted near Tadepalli in Guntur district.

Civet

• Family: Viverridae (includes civets, genets, oyans, and linsangs).
• Species: 15–20 species in 10–12 genera.
• Distribution: Found in Africa, southern Europe, and Asia.
• India: 8 species, with Common Palm Civet and Small Indian Civet widely distributed.
• Rarest Species: Malabar Large-Spotted Civet (Viverra civettina), endemic to Western Ghats; classified as Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List).
• Appearance: Thickly furred tail, small ears, pointed snout (cat-like).
• Coloration: Buff/grayish with black spots, stripes, or both.
• Size: Length 40–85 cm, tail 13–66 cm, weight 1.5–11 kg.
• Behavior: Solitary, nocturnal, found in tree hollows and rocky areas.
• Diet: Fruits, insects, and small animals.

Sci and Tech 

Microsoft unveils new AI assistant ‘Dragon Copilot’ - Indian Express 

Microsoft has introduced a new voice-activated AI assistant designed to help doctors and healthcare professionals transcribe clinical notes and draft paperwork as well as quickly search for information from medical sources.

Dragon Copilot

• Overview: AI tool under Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare to assist doctors in transcribing clinical notes and paperwork.
• Developer: Built on Nuance AI voice technology, enhanced with generative AI and healthcare safeguards.
• Language: Uses natural language voice dictation and ambient listening technology.
• Basis: Dragon Medical One (DMO) and DAX by Nuance Communications.
• Other features: 
  • Supports personalized memo and note drafting in various formats.
  • Allows voice-to-text transcription and AI-generated notes via prompts/templates.
  • Provides medical information search from trusted sources.
• Automation: Automates tasks like conversational orders, clinical summaries, referral letters, and after-visit reports.
• Accessibility: Accessible via mobile app, browser, and desktop, integrated with electronic health records (EHRs).