theIASHub | 29 Jul, 2025 | 12
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Wolf Spider And New Species Of Parasitic Wasps: Recently, scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new species of wolf spider and four new species of parasitic wasps in West Bengal, underscoring the region’s rich yet largely unexplored biodiversity.
o Marks the first-ever record of the genus Piratula in India.
o Belongs to the Lycosidae family – commonly known as wolf spiders, which are nocturnal, ground-dwelling hunters that don’t spin webs.
o Medium-sized spider (8–10 mm) with a creamy-white body, brown and chalk-white spots, and distinct genital features.
o Detailed study published in Zootaxa, titled First record of the genus Piratula Roewer, 1960 from India.
o Species identified: Idris bianor, Idris furvus, Idris Hyllus and Idris longiscapus
o These egg parasitoids target jumping spiders (Salticidae) and exhibit gregarious parasitism i.e. multiple wasps emerge from a single egg sac.
o Identification involved a mix of classical taxonomy and DNA barcoding.
o Published in the European Journal of Taxonomy under Description of four new species of Idris Forsters, 1856 (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) from India.
State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2025 Report : Recently, the United Nations released the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2025 report, revealing that 720 million people or 8.2% of the global population, were undernourished in 2024.
o This marks a slight improvement from 2023, when 8.5% of the world’s population faced undernourishment.
o Asia had the highest number of undernourished people at 323 million, followed by Africa (307 million), and Latin America & Caribbean (34 million).
o Projections suggest that by 2030, 512 million people (6% of the global population) may still remain chronically undernourished.
o By 2030: 60% of the world’s undernourished population will be in Africa.
ü Undernourishment will fall below 5% in Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
o Largest number of undernourished people globally, mainly due to population size.
o 18% of Indian children under five were wasted in 2024, the highest rate in the world
o 37 million children under five were stunted, reflecting chronic undernutrition.
o In 2023, anaemia affected 53% of Indian women in the 15–49 age group, impacting around 203 million women nationwide.
o India ranks 4th globally and 1st in Asia in terms of anaemia prevalence among women.
o 42% of India’s population could not afford a healthy diet in 2024.
o Double burden of malnutrition is growing: Overweight children under five rose from 2.7 million (2012) to 4.2 million (2024).
ü Obese adults doubled from 33 million to 71 million in a decade.
Heavy Water (D₂O) : Recently, India established its first private test facility for upgrading depleted heavy water (D₂O), a crucial process in Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) that form the backbone of the country’s nuclear energy programme.
o This subtle change gives heavy water unique nuclear properties, making it essential in specific types of nuclear reactors.
o Used primarily in Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) for two critical functions:
ü As a Moderator: Slows down neutrons produced during fission, increasing the chances of sustaining the chain reaction. Enables the use of natural (unenriched) uranium as fuel, reducing dependency on costly uranium enrichment.
ü As a Coolant: Efficiently absorbs and transfers the heat generated in the reactor core. Delivers this heat to steam generators that convert it into electricity.
o Supports Self-Reliance: Based on indigenous technology, reducing dependence on foreign nuclear systems.
o Safe and Economical: Offers built-in safety features and lower construction and operating costs.
Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana : Recently, the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) launched the Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana, a scheme aimed at providing free legal aid to defence personnel, ex-servicemen, and their families.
o Implementation Mechanism: Legal Services Clinics will be set up across Rajya and Zila Sainik Boards in every state and union territory. These clinics will work in close coordination with the Ministry of Defence and respective Sainik Welfare Directorates.
o Target Beneficiaries: Defence personnel in remote postings who face challenges in attending legal proceedings.
ü Legal issues such as family property, land disputes, and domestic matters will be addressed.
ü Free legal assistance will also be extended to paramilitary forces like BSF, CRPF, and ITBP.
o Legal Aid Providers: Panel lawyers and paralegal volunteers from legal services authorities will provide assistance.
Indians in Flood-Prone Slums: Recently, a groundbreaking study published in Nature Cities revealed that India has the highest number of slum dwellers living in floodplains worldwide, over 158 million people, surpassing the entire population of Russia.
o 2.3 billion people globally are exposed to flooding annually (Moody’s 2024).
o Countries with the highest concentrations of slum dwellers in floodplains include India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Brazil, Rwanda, and parts of North Africa.
o 600 million people in India are at risk of coastal or inland flooding.
o 40% of India’s slum dwellers reside in urban and suburban areas.
o Cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata show a strong correlation between informal settlements and flood-prone areas.
TRACERS Mission : Recently, NASA successfully launched the TRACERS mission, an ambitious twin-satellite project aimed at exploring how solar activity influences Earth's magnetic environment. The satellites lifted off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
o It involves two identical satellites flying in low Earth orbit, focused on the polar cusp regions—funnel-shaped zones where solar particles can directly enter Earth's atmosphere.
o The mission aims to study magnetic reconnection, a key process in space weather dynamics.
o Understand how solar wind (a stream of charged particles from the Sun) interacts with Earth’s magnetic shield.
o Collect data to improve space weather forecasting, helping protect: Satellites, Astronauts, GPS and communication systems
o Record and analyze over 3,000 reconnection events within the first year.
o This can lead to: Auroras (Northern and Southern Lights)
ü Disruption of satellite operations and communication systems
ü Hazards to astronauts in orbit
Gavri Festival : Every year, following the full moon of Raksha Bandhan in August month, the Mewar Bhils begin Gavri, a vibrant folk ritual.
o Who Performs: Male performers, known as khelyas, form troupes that travel from village to village, including the homes of their married sisters and daughters.
o They perform khels (dance-dramas), songs, and sacred rites.
o Divine Dedication: Gavri is performed in honour of Gorkhiya Mata, an incarnation of Goddess Parvati, whom the Bhils regard as their sister.
ü It also invokes Lord Shiva and narrates mythological tales like the story of Shiva and the demon Bhasmasur.
o Themes and Symbolism: Celebrates the victory of good over evil, as seen in plays like the battle between Goddess Amba and demon Bhiamwal.
ü Despite being a patriarchal society, men perform all roles, including those of women, to honour feminine divinity.
o They belong to the Australoid racial group and are identified as Dravidian tribes of Western India.
o The term ‘Bhil’ is derived from the Dravidian word villu or billu, meaning bow, reflecting their traditional skills as archers.
o Geographical Distribution: Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.
o Occupation: The majority are engaged in agriculture.
o Language: They speak Bhili, an Indo-Aryan language with multiple regional dialects.
o They worship local deities such as: Khandoba, Kanhoba, Bahiroba, and Sitalmata
ü The Tiger God known as Vaghdev is especially revered.
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