1. Similipal Tiger Reserve

The Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha has recently implemented an advanced surveillance system, installing 100-150 AI-enabled cameras to monitor and protect its wildlife.

• Helped in arresting 96 poachers and seizing 86 country-made guns in the last 10 months.
• Recent Success: 6 poachers arrested for hunting a mouse deer (February 16, 2025).
• About Similipal Tiger Reserve: Located in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha (Northern India).

o Establishment: Declared a Tiger Reserve (1956), included under Project Tiger (1973).

o Area: 2,750 sq km (One of India's largest tiger reserves).

• Biodiversity: Flora, 1,076 plant species from 102 families & 96 orchid species recorded.
• Fauna: Mammals include tiger, Asian elephant, gaur, chausingha (four-horned antelope).
• Geography: Hilly Terrain and undulating with dense forests & grasslands.

o Major Peaks: Khairiburu & Meghasani.

o Waterfalls: Barehipani & Joranda.

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2. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

Several major U.S. corporations, including Google, Meta Platforms, Amazon, McDonald's, and Walmart, have recently scaled back their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

• About DEI: It is an organizational policies to promote representation & participation of diverse groups (race, gender, ability, sexual orientation).
• Global Trends: Google, Meta cut diversity hiring targets, restructure DEI programs, driven by political & legal pressures.
• Indian Context: DEI gaining importance, especially gender diversity.

o 77% of employers believe DEI improves performance, but only 21% have formal policies.

o Challenges: Caste-based disparities are less addressed in corporate DEI & Gender, sexuality, and disability get more focus.

• Educational Initiatives: Emphasized Diversity, Equality, Inclusivity, and Wellness in higher education, Colleges & universities seen as key platforms to promote justice, equality, fraternity, and dignity.
• Need of the Hour: DEI evolution reflects legal, societal, and corporate shifts.

o Need for context-specific approaches to ensure inclusivity.

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3. US-India 123 Civil Nuclear Agreement

Recently, the India and the US reaffirm commitment to the bilateral Energy Security Partnership to make the US a leading oil and gas supplier to India.

• Focus: To fully realise the US-India 123 Civil Nuclear Agreement, including building American-designed nuclear reactors in India with localisation and possible technology transfer.
• About US-India 123 Civil Nuclear Agreement: The “Agreement for Co-operation between the Government of India and the United States of America concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy.”
• Legal Basis: Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act, 1954, hence called the 123 Agreement.
• Objective: Full civil nuclear energy cooperation, covering nuclear reactors, enrichment, and reprocessing.
• Legislative Amendments in India:

o Atomic Energy Act, 1962: Proposed amendment to allow private sector participation in nuclear power plant operations, currently limited to NPCIL and joint ventures.

o Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 (CLNDA): Originally created to compensate victims of nuclear accidents → Foreign firms cite it as a barrier to investment due to liability concerns → Amendments planned to facilitate US-India collaboration in nuclear reactors.

• US Legislative Challenge – ‘810’ Roadblock: Part 810 of Title 10, US Code of Federal Regulations restricts US companies from manufacturing nuclear equipment or performing nuclear design work outside the US.
• India’s Demand: Seeks an exception to enable SMR manufacturing in India.
• Importance of SMRs (Small Modular Reactors) for India: Supports India’s clean energy transition and technology-led foreign policy.
• Global SMR Projects: Russia – Akademik Lomonosov (2020) & China – HTR-PM (2023)
• Western SMR Development: Companies include Holtec, Rolls-Royce, NuScale, Westinghouse, and GE-Hitachi.

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4. US-India TRUST (Transforming the Relationship Utilising Strategic Technology)

 India and the US will create a roadmap by the end of the year to accelerate the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure.

• The initiative aims to boost investments in next-generation data centres and expand access to US-origin AI infrastructure in India.
• About US-India TRUST:
• Objective: Enhance government-to-government, academia, and private sector collaboration for promoting critical and emerging technologies.
• Key Areas: Defence, AI, semiconductors, quantum computing, biotechnology, energy, and space.
• Technology Security: Encourages the use of verified technology vendors and ensures the protection of sensitive technologies.
• AI Infrastructure and Industry Collaboration:

o Focus Areas: Enabling industry partnerships and investments in next-generation data centres.

o Cooperation on AI compute and processors for innovation in AI models and applications.

o Addressing protections and controls to safeguard AI technologies and reduce regulatory barriers.

• Significance: Comes amid US restrictions on GPU exports and the Stargate Project (US companies investing $500 billion in AI infrastructure).

o India plans to develop foundational AI models over the next 10 months, requiring AI infrastructure.

o India has started allocating 19,000 GPUs for startups, academia, and researchers.

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5. INS Sujata

Recently, ICGS Veera (1st Training Squadron) and INS Sujata has arrived at Sihanoukville Port, Cambodia, as part of a Long Range Training Deployment to South East Asia.

• Engagements: PASSEX (Passage Exercise) with Royal Cambodian Navy (RCN).
• Objective: Strengthen India-Cambodia maritime relations under the ‘Act East’ policy.
• Previous Engagement: Cambodian Navy participated in Ex-MILAN 24 (Feb 2024) at Visakhapatnam.
• About INS Sujata: Sukanya-class Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) for coastal & offshore patrolling, surveillance, and training cadets.

o Commissioning: 3 November 1993.

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6. UN Global Compact Network India (GCNI)

NTPC Ltd. won the Forward Faster Sustainability Award 2025 in the Water Resilience category, presented at a UN Global Compact Network India (UN GCNI) event in Chennai.

• About UN GCNI: Established in November 2000, registered as a non-profit society in 2003.
• Role: Indian Local Network of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), New York.
• Significance: First Local Network globally to attain full legal recognition.
• Mission: Align Indian businesses, civil organizations, and the public and private sectors with the Ten UNGC Principles (Human Rights, Labour, Environment, and Anti-Corruption).
• Membership: Largest corporate sustainability initiative in India with 500+ members.
• Regional Presence: Chapters in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, and Bangalore.
• Key Initiatives: India CEO Forum on Human Rights → Women Empowerment Principles → Collective Action Projects → National Conventions to promote corporate sustainability.
• Governance Structure:

o Governing Council: Elected biennially by General Body members.

o Secretariat: Led by an Executive Director, supported by sub-committees focused on UNGC principles.

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7. National Games of India

Recently, 38th National Games of India concluded in Uttarakhand.

• About National Games of India: The National Games continue to foster sports excellence and national unity among Indian athletes.
• History: Originated as Indian Olympic Games (1924, Lahore) to select athletes for 1924 Paris Olympics, renamed National Games in 1940 (9th edition, Bombay).
• Modern Era: First modern National Games held in New Delhi (1985), modeled after the Olympics.
• Hosted by various states: Kerala (1987), Maharashtra (1994), Karnataka (1997), Goa (2023), Uttarakhand (2025).
• Purpose: Identifies and nurtures national sports talent for global competitions like the Olympics.
• Recent Editions: 37th National Games (2023) – Hosted in Goa, 39th National Games (2026) – Scheduled in Meghalaya.
• Performance Highlights (38th National Games, 2025): Services Sports Control Board – Overall Champions (68 Gold).

o Maharashtra – First Runner-up & Haryana – Second Runner-up.

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8. Lake Victoria

Toxic cyanobacteria (CyanoHABs) in Lake Victoria are rapidly increasing, threatening aquatic life and human health. A study in Kenya’s Winam Gulf identified Dolichospermum as dominant and linked Microcystis to the deadly microcystin toxin.

• About Lake Victoria: largest Lake in Africa, world’s second-largest freshwater lake by surface area.

o Shared by: Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya.

o Major basin: Winam/Nyanza Gulf (Kenya) – most affected by cyanobacterial blooms.

• Causes of CyanoHABs in Lake Victoria: Nutrient influx from fertilizers, sewage, industrial waste, and urbanization → Rising temperatures & climate change promote cyanobacteria growth → Excess algal growth depletes oxygen, kills fish, and disrupts ecosystems.

• Scientific Advancements: Genomic sequencing reveals 300+ uncharacterized genes in cyanobacteria → Targeted monitoring helps authorities issue public safety alerts → Nutrient reduction measures can help prevent cyanoHAB outbreaks.

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