1. UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC)

1.UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC): Israel recently announced it would withdraw from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), citing bias and anti-Semitism.

• United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC): Intergovernmental Body works under the United Nations to promote and protect human rights globally.

oEstablishment: Created by the UN General Assembly on 15 March 2006, replacing the Commission on Human Rights.

oMembership: Comprises 47 members elected on a regional group basis.

oTenure: Members serve for three years and cannot seek immediate re-election after two consecutive terms.

oElection: Chosen by the General Assembly through a direct and secret ballot.

oCriteria: Selection considers human rights contributions, voluntary pledges, and commitments.

oGeographical Distribution: Ensures equitable regional representation.

• Functions: Investigates human rights violations in UN member states → Addresses key issues like Freedom of association, assembly, expression, and religion → Women's rights and LGBTI rights → Rights of racial and ethnic minorities.
• Recent Developments:

oUN Experts' Findings: UN experts called for Israel’s suspension from the UN, citing its unlawful occupation of Palestinian territories and violations of UN resolutions.

oPrevious Boycotts: Israel had boycotted the council twice before and already refused to participate in discussions on Palestinian human rights violations.

oUS Withdrawal: The move came a day after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to withdraw from several UN bodies, including the Human Rights Council.

---

2. Dibru Saikhowa National Park

2.Dibru Saikhowa National Park: Oil India Limited (OIL) was denied permission to explore and extract oil and gas in Dibru Saikhowa National Park, Assam, due to Supreme Court restrictions on mining in protected areas.

• About Dibru-Saikhowa National Park: Located in Dibrugarh & Tinsukia districts, Assam, India.

oBiosphere Reserve: Declared in July 1997.

oNational Park status: Given to 340 km² in 1999.

oRivers: Brahmaputra & Lohit Rivers (North) & Dibru River (South)

oClimate: Tropical monsoon (Hot & wet summers, cool & dry winters).

oVegetation: Moist semi-evergreen & deciduous forests → Canebrakes & grasslands → Largest Salix swamp forest in NE India.

oBiodiversity: White-winged wood duck, black-breasted parrotbill, capped langur (Rare species) Tiger, water buffalo, rich fish diversity.

• About Supreme Court Rulings & Mining Restrictions: In 2006, Supreme Court ruled that no mining inside national parks, sanctuaries, and forest areas → In 2023, extended no-mining zone by 1 km around national parks and sanctuaries.

---

3. Chandrayaan-4 Mission

3.Chandrayaan-4 Mission: The ministry of Science & Technology, GOI, recently stated that the Chandrayaan-4 mission will be launched in 2027.

• About Chandrayaan-4 Mission: Objective to bring back undamaged and uncontaminated lunar samples.
• Launch Vehicle: At least two LVM-3 rockets carrying five mission components, assembled in orbit.
• ISRO Vision: Part of PM Modi’s Space Vision 2047, which includes Bharatiya Antariksha Station by 2035 → Indian Moon landing by 2040.
• Previous Chandrayaan Missions like Chandrayaan-1 (2008) & Chandrayaan-2 (2019): Studied lunar surface, sub-surface & exosphere.

oChandrayaan-3 (2023): First-ever successful soft landing & robotic exploration in the Southern part of the moon.

Objectives of Chandrayaan-3: To demonstrate Safe and Soft Landing on Lunar Surface, to demonstrate Rover roving on the moon and to conduct in-situ scientific experiments.

• Other Space Missions:

oGaganyaan Mission (2026): Objective to send Indian astronauts to low-earth orbit and return safely, first Uncrewed Mission carrying Vyommitra (female robot astronaut) in 2024.

oSamudrayaan Mission (2026): Objective to carry three scientists in a submersible to 6,000m depth in the deep ocean.

üDevelopments: NIOT Chennai developed 6,000m depth-rated ROV & underwater instruments.

• ISRO’s Infrastructure & Expansion: Launch Pads- First Launch Pad (1993) → Second Launch Pad (2004) → Third Launch Pad (Upcoming) for heavier rockets.

oNew Launch Site: Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, for small satellite launches.

• India’s Space Economy & Growth: Current Valuation of $8 billion, and projected Valuation (Next Decade) upto $44 billion.

---

4. Shatavari

4.Shatavari: The Ministry of Ayush recently launched the “Shatavari – For Better Health” campaign to raise awareness about medicinal plants.

• About Shatavari: Also known as Asparagus racemosus, native to the Indian subcontinent, can be found in Sri Lanka, India, and the Himalayas.

oCan grow in humid tropical jungles and arid conditions.

oA medicinal herb used in Ayurveda and other traditional medical systems. 

• Shatavari’s Importance: Supports women’s health and enhances immunity, and identified as a key resource for women’s well-being under the Panch Pran Goal of making India a developed nation by 2047.
• Government Initiatives: Central Sector Scheme for conservation, development, and sustainable management of medicinal plants.

Agro-Economic Potential: Shatavari’s cultivation and medicinal benefits will be promoted for wider public adoption.

---

5. SARAT (Search and Rescue Aid Tool) Version 2:

5.SARAT (Search and Rescue Aid Tool) Version 2: The Union Minister, GOI recently stated that SARAT (Search and Rescue Aid Tool) Version 2 improves efficiency, response time, and success rates in Indian search-and-rescue operations.

• About: SARAT is designed to track objects/persons lost at sea using predicted ocean currents and surface winds at the last known location to estimate their probable location.

oA mobile app has also been developed for easy access.

• Key Improvements in SARAT Version 2:

oMore Accurate Search Areas: Now based on the Last Known Position (LKP) instead of the minimum longitude in the earlier version.

oEnsures precise and aligned search area computation.

oExportable Search Data & Enhanced Visualization: Digital format enables integration with rescue planning maps.

oNew features: Individual & mean particle trajectories, color-coded search regions, and LKP marker for improved interpretation.

• Training & Capacity Building: INCOIS initiatives to train Indian Coast Guard (ICG) & SAR agencies for effective SARAT use.

---

6. e-Courts Mission Mode Project

6.e-Courts Mission Mode Project: The Government recently allocated ₹7210 crore for Phase-III of e-Courts Mission to strengthen court infrastructure at district and sub-district levels.

• About the e-Courts Project: Conceptualization based on the National Policy and Action Plan (2005) for ICT implementation in the Indian Judiciary.
• e-Courts Mission Mode Project: Pan-India Project for District Courts, monitored and funded by the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India.
• Key Initiatives: Advanced e-Sewa Kendras in all court complexes→ Interlinking of all courts (High Courts, District, and Subordinate Courts)→ ICT enablement for a cost-effective, transparent, and accountable justice system→ Paperless courts developed in a phase-wise manner → Expansion of virtual courts for digital hearings→ Live streaming of court proceedings → Digitisation of court records and E-filing of cases→ Video conferencing facilities in courts.
• Futuristic Technologies: Integration of AI, Blockchain, and other technologies.

---

7. In-vitro fertilisation (IVF)

7.In-vitro fertilisation (IVF): Scientists produced the first kangaroo embryos using in vitro fertilisation (IVF), a technique used in humans and domesticated animals.

• About: The IVF is a procedure that helps people conceive by combining eggs and sperm in a laboratory setting.
• Objective: A crucial step towards the conservation of endangered marsupial species, led by researchers at the University of Queensland, Australia.
• Conservation Concerns: Australia has the highest mammal extinction rate globally.

o87% of unique endemic mammal species lost in under 250 years.

o38 species extinct since colonization; 52 critically endangered or endangered (2022 study).

• Future Goals: Support conservation of koalas, Tasmanian devils, northern hairy-nosed wombats, and Leadbeater's possums.

oRefining techniques to collect, culture, and preserve marsupial eggs and sperm.

oDevelop genetic preservation methods for long-term survival of marsupials.

oBirth of a marsupial via IVF could become reality within a decade.

• Previous Success: IVF has been used in conservation efforts for endangered species.

In 2024, the first IVF pregnancy in a rhinoceros was achieved in Kenya.

---

8. Cocoa Production

8.Cocoa Production: A new study suggests that ongoing climate change is likely to affect cocoa production in West and Central Africa. The area is responsible for over 70 % of the world's cocoa production.

• About Cocoa: It is grown for chocolate production worldwide, the native region includes Amazon Basin, South America.
• Climatic & Soil Requirements: Found in the humid tropics, between 20° N and 20° S latitude.

oGrows up to 300 m above mean sea level and requires 1500-2000 mm annually.

oTemperature: Thrives in 15°C-39°C, with 25°C as optimum.

oSoil: Prefers deep, well-drained soils (clay loam & sandy loam).

• Production: Over 70% of the world's cocoa comes from West and Central Africa.

oRegional Impact on Yield: Ivory Coast & Ghana (Northern edge) → 12% reduction Nigeria→10% reduction→ Cameroon: 2% reduction.

• Cocoa prod. In India: In the states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. 

---