Context

• Recently, Ministry of Environment forest and Climate change along with UNDP and WWF implemented this programme to conserve Wild Cats in Partnership with Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Arunachal Pradesh.

About the Programme 

• The program was launched as part of a GEF-7 (Global Environment Facility) project titled “Strengthening conservation and resilience of globally significant wild‑cat landscapes through focus on small wild cat conservation.”
• A national-level inception workshop took place at Dudhwa National Park in the year of 2022.

Species Identified and Baseline Survey

• The ministry on July 29, 2025, conducted the first-ever national survey to assess the Status of Small Cats in Tiger Landscapes of India, with a focus on four species found in Uttar Pradesh.
• Four Species are:
• Jungle cat
• Fishing cat
• Leopard cat
• Rusty-spotted cat
• These species also serve as bio-indicators as their presence helps assess the health of habitat and ecosystem integrity.

Programme Design and its Objectives

• The initiative aims to conduct detailed population surveys using camera traps and field inspections.
• Train forest staff and watchers to distinguish small cat species and document sightings.
• As a step to reduce human wildlife conflict the programme aims to reduce threats such as habitat loss, poaching, and hybridization with compensation mechanisms to prevent conflict with local communities.
• Awareness campaigns are rolled out to educate about the cats' ecological roles and how to coexist peacefully.

Why Dudhwa Tiger Reserve was chosen

• Dudhwa Tiger Reserve in the Terai belt is rich in wetlands and grasslands ideal for supporting both tigers and small wild cats in shared territories without competition, thanks to different prey preferences.

Tiger Population

• As tiger numbers surged (from 173 in 2018 to 222 in 2022), Dudhwa now hosts around 135 tigers. This rise underscores its ecological suitability and the need for broad conservation strategies that include smaller species.

Context

• Uttar Pradesh has taken a pioneering step in higher education by inaugurating India's first private AI-augmented multidisciplinary Chandigarh University campus in Unnao.
• The university aims to blend modern education with cutting-edge technology and India's cultural heritage, marking a significant milestone in Uttar Pradesh's educational and technological landscape.

Key Highlights

• AI-Driven Multidisciplinary Education: The newly inaugurated university will leverage artificial intelligence to enhance teaching methodologies, focusing on research, innovation, and holistic growth.  
• This aligns with the National Education policy's emphasis on multidisciplinary education. 
• Aligning with National Missions: CM Yogi highlighted the university's alignment with national initiatives like Start up India, aiming to strengthen Uttar Pradesh’s global presence by fostering entrepreneurship and industry collaboration. 
• Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated that universities should act as platforms for career guidance, industry-oriented skill development, and opportunity gateways for students. 

Alignment with Government Projects

• The project supports Uttar Pradesh’s broader AI Pragya Scheme, aimed at training 10 lakh individuals monthly in AI, data analytics, machine learning, and cybersecurity—including students, teachers, officials, and farmers
• It’s co-located in the Lucknow State Capital Region (SCR) near the emerging AI City, reinforcing infrastructure synergy for innovation and startups.

Education Reforms and Infrastructure in UP 

• UP has facilitated the establishment of 23 new private universities and also hosts the country’s first Ayush University (Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath AYUSH University in Gorakhpur) and is building a sports university (Major Dhyanchand Sports University). 
• Under the new reform, the state now allows private universities on 50 acres of land in rural areas and 20 acres in urban areas.
• Universities across the state are increasingly committed to improving their NAAC assessments and NIRF RANKINGS. As a result, six state universities have earned A++ grades, two have received A+ grades, and notable progress has been made in national rankings. 

Innovation Potential in UP 

• Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the THIRD LARGEST STARTUP HUB in India, with over 7,200 active startups generating more than 1 lakh jobs. The state is also home to 8 unicorns. 
• An ambitious AI City project is initiated in Lucknow, with the goal of creating over 50,000 jobs through the participation of more than 400 companies.  
• IBM will lead the establishment of the AI Center.

Context

• The LPS Cardiology Institute in Kanpur has become the first government medical college in Uttar Pradesh to offer TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) for heart valve replacement in elderly patients.  
• TAVI avoids open-heart surgery by implanting a new valve without intense invasive procedure. It promises to reduce risks and improve the quality of life for senior heart patients. 

Key Points 

• TAVI: TAVI is a minimally invasive procedure that involves implanting a new aortic valve using a catheter inserted through a vein in the patient's leg.  
• Unlike traditional open-heart surgery, TAVI avoids the need for large incisions, reducing recovery time and risks, especially for elderly patients. 
• Procedure and Benefits: The new valve, made from the membrane of animal hearts, is implanted in place of the damaged valve.  
• Unlike metal valves, which come with higher risks, animal membrane valves have a longer lifespan of 15 years. 
• Global Significance and History: The TAVI technique was pioneered by German specialist Dr. Alain Kreebeyer in the early 1990s and was first implemented in 2002. 
• India adopted this innovative procedure in 2010.

Human Heart

• Function: Pumps blood throughout the body via blood vessels, supplying oxygen and nutrients, and removing waste products. 
• Heart Wall: 
  • Epicardium: Outer layer. 
  • Myocardium: Middle muscular layer (responsible for heart contraction). 
  • Endocardium: Inner lining. 
• Chambers of the Heart: 
  • Atria (upper chambers): Receive blood. 
  • Ventricles (lower chambers): Pump blood. 
  • Right Heart: Right atrium + right ventricle. 
  • Left Heart: Left atrium + left ventricle. 
  • Septum: Divides the left and right sides of the heart. 
• Heart Valves: Prevent backflow of blood, ensuring one-direction flow. 
• Pacemaker and Heart Rhythm: Controlled by the Sinoatrial (SA) Node, generating electrical impulses. 
  • Heart rate: 60-100 beats per minute at rest. 
• Blood Flow: 
  • Deoxygenated Blood: From body → right atrium → right ventricle → lungs (oxygenated). 
  • Oxygenated Blood: From lungs → left atrium → left ventricle → body. 
• Tachycardia: 
  • Heart rate > 100 beats per minute. 
  • Caused by stress, medications, or underlying heart condition