1. Sagar Bhavan and Polar Bhavan

Sagar Bhavan and Polar Bhavan: Recently, two state-of-the-art research facilities—'Sagar Bhavan' and 'Polar Bhavan'—were inaugurated at the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in Goa, providing a significant boost to India’s capabilities in oceanographic and polar research.

• About Polar Bhavan : India’s largest integrated polar research hub.

၀ Feature advanced labs, 55 researcher rooms, meeting spaces, a library, canteen, and the Science On Sphere (SOS) 3D visualization platform.

၀ Will house India’s first Polar and Ocean Museum.

• About Sagar Bhavan : Equipped with ultra-cold -30°C ice core labs and +4°C storage for sediment and biological samples.
• About National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) Founded in 1998, an autonomous institute and India’s foremost R&D hub for polar and ocean research {under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)}

၀ Leads the nation's scientific pursuits in the Polar Regions and the Southern Ocean, including the Arctic, Antarctic, Himalayas, and beyond.

၀ Solely responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing India’s polar expeditions and associated scientific studies.

၀ Plays a critical part in national projects such as mapping the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), studying continental shelf margins, and implementing the Deep Ocean Mission.

၀ HQ in Vasco da Gama, Goa {previously known as the National Center for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR)}

---

2. Ideas4LiFE Initiative:

Ideas4LiFE Initiative: Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) unveiled the 21 winning ideas under the ‘Ideas4LiFE’ initiative.

• About Ideas4LiFE: A flagship program supporting the Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment).

၀ Introduced through the dedicated portal ideas4life.in, in collaboration with UNICEF YuWaah.

၀ Purpose: To gather innovative, citizen-focused, and sustainable solutions encouraging environmentally friendly lifestyles.

• About Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment): Launched by India as a global mass movement to inspire individual and community action for environmental protection.

၀ Inaugurated  at COP26, Glasgow, November 2021.

၀ Aims to engage one billion people globally to embrace sustainable lifestyles.

၀ Acts as a platform highlighting sustainable goals and climate initiatives from countries and individuals worldwide.

၀ Follows the P3 model: Pro Planet, Pro People, promoting shared environmental responsibility.

၀ Guided by the principle of a lifestyle "of the planet, for the planet, and by the planet."

---

3. Lancet Commission Report

Lancet Commission Report : Recently, the Second Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing released a comprehensive report highlighting alarming projections for global adolescent health by 2030.

၀ The report warns that without more investment, half of the world’s one billion adolescents will face complex, multi-burden health challenges.

• Key Findings : By 2030, 464 million adolescents will be overweight or obese, an increase of 143 million since 2015.

၀ Mental health issues will cause 42 million years of healthy life lost, 2 million more than in 2015.

၀ The report calls for increased and better-targeted funding to address adolescent health challenges.

• About Lancet Commission: Launched in 2021, the Commission comprised 44 members, including 10 youth representatives. It actively engaged 122 adolescents through Youth Solution Labs to shape its discussions and solutions.

---

4. Chagos Islands

Chagos Islands: Recently, the United Kingdom signed an agreement transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, ending decades of colonial-era contention.

၀ The deal allows UK and US military operations to continue on Diego Garcia, the archipelago’s largest island, through a 99-year lease with an annual payment of £101 million ($136 million) to Mauritius.

• About Chagos Islands : Located 500 km south of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean; consists of 58 islands.

၀ Originally inhabited by enslaved Africans and Indians under French rule in the 18th century.

၀ Ceded to Britain in 1814; detached from Mauritius in 1965 to form British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT).

၀ Despite Mauritius’ 1968 independence, the UK retained control until agreeing to transfer sovereignty in 2024.

• About Diego Garcia: Largest island in the Chagos archipelago; coral atoll located 7° south of the equator.

၀ Leased to the UK and US in 1967; became a key military base in 1986.

၀ 2024 agreement allows UK-US operations to continue under a 99-year lease.

၀ International Court of Justice backed Mauritius’ sovereignty claim in 2019.

၀ Played a major role in the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, and post-9/11 operations.

---

5. Mt. Khangchendzonga

Mt. Khangchendzonga : Recently, a team from the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS), Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh, became the first Indian team this climbing season to successfully summit Mt. Khangchendzonga.

• About Mt. Khangchendzonga: Borders Sikkim and Nepal and is India’s highest peak.

၀ Ranked as the world’s third-highest mountain.

၀ It is situated within the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve.

- Khangchendzonga National Park (KNP) was designated a World Heritage Site in 2016 under the ‘mixed’ category (Mixed heritage sites contain elements of both natural and cultural significance).

၀ Protected under the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.

၀ Holds spiritual significance and is central to Pang Lhabsol, an annual Sikkimese festival honoring the mountain.

   Its name translates to "Five Treasures of Snows," referring to its five prominent peaks.

---

6. Gallantry Awards:

Gallantry Awards: Recently, Indian President honored 6 Kirti Chakras and 33 Shaurya Chakras to personnel from the Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), and State & Union Territory Police in recognition of their exceptional bravery and valor.

• About Gallantry Awards: Instituted to recognize exceptional bravery and sacrifice by Armed Forces personnel, lawfully constituted forces, and civilians.

၀ Historical Timeline:

- January 26, 1950: Introduction of the first three awards — Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, and Vir Chakra — with retrospective effect from August 15, 1947.

- January 4, 1952: Introduction of three additional awards — Ashoka Chakra Class-I, II, and III, also effective from August 15, 1947.

- January 1967: These were renamed to Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra respectively.

၀ Announced twice annually, on Republic Day and Independence Day.

၀ Classification of Awards:

- Wartime Gallantry Awards – For acts of bravery in direct confrontation with the enemy.

- Peacetime Gallantry Awards – For courageous actions in non-combat situations.

• Order of precedence: Param Vir Chakra, the Ashoka Chakra, the Mahavir Chakra, the Kirti Chakra, the Vir Chakra and the Shaurya Chakra.

---

7. Community Seed Banks:

Community Seed Banks: Recently, on the occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE),called for strong government support for community seed banks.

• About: Community seed banks are decentralised grassroots initiatives — a form of gene banks — managed by local farmer groups, self-help groups, non-profits and women.
• Primary purpose: To preserve indigenous and climate-resilient seeds and the knowledge around their use. Traditional seeds are more resilient to extreme weather events.

• Key Highlightes: Farmers conserving traditional seeds should be recognized as “custodians of biodiversity” through certification, public acknowledgment, and inclusion in national biodiversity plans.

၀ Increased government support is needed, including financial and technical aid, access to gene banks like National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources(NBPGR), and alignment with climate-resilient agriculture policies.

၀ Survey across 15 states identified over 887 traditional seed varieties from 71 crops preserved through effective seed collection, storage, and distribution systems.

---

8. National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use

National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use: The Union government recently announced plans for a fresh, more extensive nationwide survey to assess substance use across India.

၀ This new survey will build on the landmark 2017-18 National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use, which was the first comprehensive study estimating illicit drug use in the country.

• Survey Scale and Scope: The new survey will have a sample size 3 to 4 times larger than the 2017-18 survey.

၀ For the first time, it will capture substance use data at the district level for more targeted interventions.

၀ The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is finalizing the survey design and formalities

၀ It will provide updated insights on changing substance use trends, helping policymakers and health professionals adjust strategies.

---