theIASHub | 09 Jul, 2025 | 42
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The Great Hornbill : Recently, in a rare ecological occurrence, the Great Hornbill, the majestic bird was spotted far from its typical forested habitat, in the coastal region of Kakkampara near Ezhimala in Kannur district.
o These large, fruit-eating birds are commonly seen around fleshy-fruited trees, aiding forest regeneration.
o Also called the Concave-casqued Hornbill, Great Indian Hornbill, or Great Pied Hornbill, is a large and prominent species belonging to the hornbill family.
o Nagaland's Hornbill Festival is named after the hornbill bird, which symbolizes fidelity, beauty, and grace in Naga folklore.
o It is the State Bird of both Kerala and Arunachal Pradesh.
o It inhabits the upper canopy of tall trees found in the Western Ghats, the northeastern states, and the Himalayan region.
o Hornbills are distributed across tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia.
o Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (India): Schedule I (providing the highest level of protection)
o CITES: Appendix I (restricts international trade)
Nyangai Island : Recently in the southern waters of Sierra Leone, Nyangai Island, once a thriving coastal settlement, has come dangerously close to vanishing. In less than a decade, the island has lost nearly two-thirds of its landmass, now reduced to just 200 by 100 metres.
o Impact of Rising Sea Levels: The encroaching Atlantic Ocean continues to erode the island, leading to the destruction of homes, farmlands, and essential infrastructure.
o Sharp Population Decline: The population has plummeted from around 1,000 residents to just 300, as families are forced to relocate or live in overcrowded, deteriorating conditions.
o Loss of Cultural Heritage: The ongoing environmental devastation is threatening centuries-old fishing traditions, community practices, and the islanders’ way of life.
o Borders: It shares its northern and eastern borders with Guinea, its southern border with Liberia, and is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west.
Japonica Rice: Recently, in a landmark step towards sustainable agriculture, scientists at the National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR) in Delhi successfully used CRISPR-Cas9 technology to genetically edit japonica rice. This will enhance its ability to absorb and transport phosphate—one of the key nutrient limitations in Indian soils.
o The gene-edited rice lines showed up to 20% higher yields under normal phosphate application, and up to 40% yield boost even when just 10% of recommended phosphate fertilizer was used.
o Characteristics : The grains are short to medium in size and don't break or fall off easily.
- They are thicker, harder, and stickier than regular white rice.
- They have low to medium starch (amylose) content—between 0% and 20%.
o Famous Varieties: Some popular types are sushi rice and glutinous rice. (Glutinous rice is sticky but gluten-free.)
o Best Climate for Growing: It grows well in cooler parts of subtropical and temperate areas.
o Mostly Grown : Japan, China, Korea, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
o A powerful genome editing tool that allows scientists to precisely alter DNA sequences at specific locations in the genome.
o How It Works: Functions like a cut-and-paste mechanism on DNA strands.
- The targeted genetic code is identified.
- The Cas9 protein acts as a molecular scissor to cut the DNA at the desired location.
- This enables insertion, deletion, or modification of genes.
- Modifying crop genes to improve yield, resilience, and nutrient use efficiency.
- Creating models to study diseases and test new drugs.
Impact Of Melting Of Glaciers On Volcanic Activity : Recently, a scientific study presented at the 2025 Goldschmidt Conference in Prague warned that melting glaciers and ice caps could trigger increased volcanic activity in several parts of the world.
o The research highlights West Antarctica as the most vulnerable region, with nearly 100 volcanoes lying beneath thick ice sheets that are rapidly retreating due to rising global temperatures.
o Melting Lifts Pressure: As ice melts, the pressure is released, allowing gases and magma to expand, potentially triggering eruptions.
o Lower Melting Point of Rocks: Reduced pressure lowers the melting point of rocks, encouraging magma formation deep underground.
o Water Infiltration Increases Risk: Climate-driven precipitation can seep underground and interact with magma chambers, raising eruption likelihood.
o 26,000–18,000 years ago: Thick ice sheet suppressed volcanic eruptions, causing magma to build up 10–15 km below the surface.
o Around 13,000 years ago: As the ice melted, highly explosive eruptions occurred.
o Confirms that ice loss can trigger dormant volcanoes into eruptive activity.
o Large or sustained eruptions release CO₂ and methane, potent greenhouse gases that intensify global warming.
International Solar Alliance (ISA) : Recently, the International Solar Alliance (ISA) announced the convening of the Seventh Regional Committee Meeting (RCM) for the Asia and Pacific Region, aimed at enhancing solar collaboration under the theme: “Advancing Solar Cooperation Across a Region of Diversity and Opportunity.”
o ISA launched its “Silicon Valley for Solar” vision via a hub-and-spoke model, STAR Centres, the SolarX Challenge, and digital platforms to boost technical capacity.
o Emphasis on Green Hydrogen, Energy Storage Systems (ESS), and Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES).
o It was conceived as a joint effort by India and France to mobilize efforts against climate change through deployment of solar energy solutions.
o It was first proposed by the PM of India in 2015 (Suryaputra ("Sons of the Sun"))
o Launched: It was conceptualized at the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21), 2015.
o Headquarter: Gurugram, Haryana (India).
o Vision: “Let us together make the sun brighter”.
o Objective: Increase worldwide demand to drive down solar energy deployment costs.
- Enhance research and development, focusing on efficient storage systems.
- Advocate for standardized equipment and electricity generation processes.
PARAKH : Recently, the Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development – Rashtriya Sarvekshan (PARAKH-RS), formerly known as the National Achievement Survey (NAS), released its findings.
o The report highlights the top-performing states and critical learning outcomes in school education for Grades 3, 6, and 9 across India.
o Grade 6: Kerala, Punjab, and Dadra Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu led; Garo Hills districts in Meghalaya performed the poorest.
o Grade 9: Punjab, Kerala, and Chandigarh were top performers; Shi Yomi (Arunachal Pradesh) and Garo Hills districts lagged behind.
o Kendriya Vidyalayas: Weak in Grade 3 Maths, but excelled in Grade 9 Language and overall subjects.
o Government-aided and State-run schools underperformed in Grade 6 Mathematics.
o Objective: To establish norms, standards, and guidelines for student assessments.
o To implement key assessment-related tasks as outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
o Mandate: Create a common assessment framework across all State and Union Territory school boards.
Extended Range Anti-Submarine Rocket (ERASR) : Recently, successful user trials of the Extended Range Anti-Submarine Rocket (ERASR) were conducted from INS Kavaratti, marking a major milestone in India’s journey towards self-reliance in defence capabilities.
o Development Agencies: Developed by DRDO’s Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune in collaboration with High Energy Materials Research Laboratory and Naval Science & Technological Laboratory.
o Utilizes an indigenously developed Electronic Time Fuze for enhanced precision.
o 17 ERASR rockets were successfully test-evaluated across various range scenarios.
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