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- Recently, Chhota Bheem, one of the most renowned tigers of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, passed away while receiving treatment for multiple fractures at Van Vihar in Bhopal.
- About Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve:
- Located in the Satpura and Vindhya Mountain ranges in Umaria district, Madhya Pradesh, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is a significant wildlife sanctuary in India.
- The name "Bandhavgarh" is derived from the ancient Bandhavgarh Fort, which stands atop a hill within the park. According to legend, the fort was a gift from Lord Rama to his brother Lakshmana, hence the name "Bandhavgarh" meaning Brother's Fort.
- The reserve covers an area of 1536 sq. km, with a 716 sq. km core zone and an 820 sq. km buffer zone.
- Bandhavgarh is famous for having one of the highest densities of tigers in the world, making it a vital sanctuary for tiger conservation.
- The landscape is diverse, characterized by valleys, hills, and plains, with the Bandhavgarh Fort being a prominent landmark.
- Flora and Fauna:
- Flora: The reserve is primarily covered with evergreen Sal forests, mixed forests, and expansive grasslands, providing a rich ecosystem for wildlife.
- Fauna: Aside from tigers, the park is home to other key species, such as leopards, sloth bears, Indian bison (gaur), Asiatic elephants, and a variety of deer species, including sambar and chital.
- Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) chief urged global leaders to put pressure on Washington to reconsider President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the U.N. health agency.
- About the World Health Organization (WHO):
- WHO is a specialized agency of the United Nations focused on public health.
- Established in 1948, the WHO aims to ensure the highest attainable level of health for all people globally.
- According to the WHO Constitution, health is defined as complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
- The organization plays a crucial role in global health leadership, shaping health research agendas, setting norms and standards, providing technical support to countries, and monitoring and assessing health trends worldwide.
- WHO currently has 193 member countries and two associate members.
- The WHO's administrative headquarters is located in Geneva, Switzerland.
- Structure:
- Governance: The governance of WHO is carried out through the World Health Assembly, which meets annually to discuss and set policies, and an Executive Board consisting of health specialists elected for three-year terms by the Assembly.
- The WHO is led by a Director-General, who is nominated by the Executive Board and appointed by the World Health Assembly.
- Funding:
- About 16% of WHO’s budget comes from mandatory dues paid by its member countries, while the rest is funded through voluntary donations from governments and private partners.
- The largest contributors in recent years have included the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
- World Health Day:
- Each year, April 7, the anniversary of its founding, is celebrated as World Health Day by WHO.
- The Union Budget 2025-26 recently introduced the Gyan Bharatam Mission, aimed at conserving and documenting one crore manuscripts.
- About Gyan Bharatam Mission:
- The Gyan Bharatam Mission is a dedicated initiative for the survey, documentation, and conservation of India’s rich manuscript heritage, which resides in academic institutions, museums, libraries, and private collections.
- The mission's objective is to preserve and document more than one crore manuscripts.
- A central component of the mission is the creation of a national digital repository for the Indian knowledge system.
- This repository will serve as a vital platform for knowledge sharing, ensuring that India’s traditional wisdom is preserved for future generations.
- The digital archive will facilitate the digitisation and centralisation of valuable manuscripts, making them accessible to researchers, students, and institutions across the globe.