CURRENT-AFFAIRS

​​​​​​

• The Ratapani Sanctuary is aiming to achieve tiger reserve status, and the government is committed to making this happen.
• About Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary:
  • Location: Nestled in the Raisen and Sehore districts of Madhya Pradesh, the sanctuary spans an impressive 825.90 square kilometers. This rugged terrain features a blend of rocky landscapes and aquatic environments across the Vindhya Hills. It runs alongside the northern bank of the Narmada River, with the Kolar River marking its western edge. The sanctuary is home to Bhimbetika, a renowned site of rock shelters and ancient paintings recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Additionally, it encompasses various historical and religious sites, including Ginnourgarh Fort, a POW camp, Keri Mahadeo, Ratapani Dam, and Jholiyapur Dam.
  • Landscape: The sanctuary boasts a diverse landscape characterized by hills, valleys, plateaus, and plains.
  • Flora: The forest predominantly consists of dry deciduous and moist deciduous types. Approximately 55% of the area is dominated by teak trees, while the remainder features a mix of various dry deciduous species.
  • Fauna: The majestic tiger serves as the apex predator in this ecosystem, with estimates indicating around 40 tigers inhabit the sanctuary. Additionally, it is a refuge for the endangered chinkara, along with a variety of other wildlife, including panthers, hyenas, jackals, Indian foxes, wild dogs, jungle cats, small Indian civets, blue bulls, black bucks, chausinghas, spotted deer, and barking deer.

​​​​​​

• A recent study has shed light on evolutionary adaptations by exploring the unique "walking" abilities of sea robins, bottom-dwelling fish that utilize leg-like appendages to traverse the ocean floor.
• About Sea Robins:
  • Sea robins belong to the family Triglidae, a group of ray-finned fish found in a variety of habitats, from shallow salt marshes to deep ocean environments worldwide. They inhabit warm and temperate seas across the globe.
  • Most Triglidae species are benthic specialists, spending a significant portion of their time on the ocean floor, where they hunt for fish, crustaceans, and other invertebrates buried in the sand.
  • To adapt to their benthic lifestyle, sea robins have developed several unique features, with their six leg-like appendages being the most distinctive. These elongated fish have armored, bony heads and two dorsal fins.
  • Their name comes from their large, wing-like pectoral fins, which they can fan out when threatened or excited, allowing them to appear larger and blend in with the sandy seabed. These fins open and close as they swim, reminiscent of a bird in flight.
  • While some sea robins are covered in scales, others feature bony plates, and they are typically brightly colored, with some displaying intricate patterns on their pectoral fins. Notably, sea robins are also vocal, producing sounds through their swim bladders and associated muscles.

​​​​​​

• Six people have lost their lives in Rwanda due to an outbreak of the Marburg virus, according to the country's health ministry.
• About Marburg Virus Disease:
  • Marburg Virus Disease (MVD), formerly known as Marburg hemorrhagic fever, is a rare yet severe hemorrhagic illness that affects both humans and non-human primates.
  • Causative Agent: MVD is caused by the Marburg virus, a genetically distinct zoonotic (animal-borne) RNA virus. Both the Marburg and Ebola viruses belong to the Filoviridae family (filoviruses). The virus was first identified in 1967 in the German city of Marburg, where lab workers had been exposed to infected green monkeys imported from Uganda.
  • Reservoir Host: The African fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus, is recognized as the reservoir host for the Marburg virus.
  • Transmission: The virus can spread from bats to primates, including humans, and is then transmitted through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of infected individuals.
  • Symptoms: Initial symptoms of Marburg disease include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, a rash with flat and raised bumps (often on the torso), chest pain, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. As the disease progresses, symptoms can intensify, potentially leading to liver failure, delirium, shock, hemorrhaging, and multi-organ dysfunction.
  • Fatality: The average fatality rate for MVD is around 50%, although it has ranged from 24% to 88% in past outbreaks, influenced by the virus strain and the management of cases.
  • Treatment: Currently, there is no specific treatment or vaccine for Marburg disease. Supportive care, including intravenous fluids, electrolyte replacement, supplemental oxygen, and the transfusion of blood and blood products, can help improve survival rates.

​​​​​​

• The Poumai Naga tribe of Purul village in Manipur’s Senapati district has made a significant commitment to wildlife conservation by implementing a ban on hunting, trapping, and killing wild animals and birds within their territory.
• About the Poumai Naga Tribe:
  • The Poumai Naga tribe is an indigenous ethnic group predominantly found in the Senapati district of Manipur and parts of Nagaland. Approximately 95.7% of the Poumai population resides in Senapati. As one of the oldest and largest Naga tribes in Manipur, they have a rich cultural heritage. The tribe communicates in a language known as "POULA," and Christianity is the predominant faith among the community.
  • Historically, the Poumai are renowned for their craftsmanship, particularly in pottery (referred to as Pouli) and salt production (known as Poutai), which were well-known across tribal regions of Manipur and Nagaland.
  • Agriculture is the mainstay of the Poumai Naga livelihood, although traditional shifting cultivation practices have declined in recent years.
• Popular Festivals:
  • The Poumai Naga community celebrates several vibrant festivals, including Paonii, Donii, Laonii, Daonii, Rounii, Duhnii, Loukanii, Thounii, Khiinii, and Taithounii. Among these, Laonii is particularly significant, celebrated in the Poumai villages after the rice transplantation season.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

• The Indian External Affairs Minister recently convened with his BRICS counterparts to reinforce the group's significance in a multipolar world.
• About the BRICS Grouping:
  • BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—a coalition of countries that came together following the coining of the term in 2001 by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill (initially without South Africa). South Africa joined the group in 2010, completing the acronym as "BRICS."
  • This grouping aims to unite some of the world's key developing nations to counterbalance the political and economic dominance of wealthier countries in North America and Western Europe. BRICS operates as an organization focused on enhancing economic cooperation among its members and boosting their political and economic influence globally.
  • In 2024, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt became new members of BRICS. The expanded coalition now encompasses approximately 3.5 billion people, representing around 45% of the global population. Collectively, the economies of BRICS members exceed $28.5 trillion, accounting for about 28% of the world's economy. With the inclusion of Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, BRICS countries together produce roughly 44% of the world's crude oil.

​​​​​​

• Russia's use of thermobaric weapons in Ukraine has garnered significant attention due to their devastating impact, but the development and deployment of these powerful bombs are not exclusive to Russia.
• Often referred to as “vacuum bombs” or “enhanced blast weapons,” thermobaric weapons operate using a unique mechanism.
• Mechanism of Action
  • These weapons consist of a fuel container with two distinct explosive charges. They can be launched as rockets or dropped as bombs from aircraft. Upon striking the target, the first charge detonates, releasing a fuel mixture that disperses into a cloud. This cloud can infiltrate openings in buildings or defenses that are not completely sealed.
  • The second charge then ignites the cloud, creating an immense fireball, a massive blast wave, and a vacuum that rapidly draws in surrounding oxygen. This weapon has the potential to obliterate reinforced structures, destroy equipment, and inflict severe injuries or fatalities on individuals nearby.
• Impacts
  • The shockwave generated by thermobaric bombs can demolish buildings, while the pressure differential created by the blast can cause catastrophic harm to the human body, including ruptured organs and lungs.
  • Currently, there are no specific international laws prohibiting the use of thermobaric weapons. However, if a nation employs them against civilian populations in populated areas such as schools or hospitals, it could be held accountable for war crimes under the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907.