1. E-Truck Incentive Scheme: India Ride to Sustainable Transport Future

Context

• India rolls out first ever e-truck incentive scheme under India’s Green Mobility Vision.

About the Scheme 

• Under this scheme, demand incentives will be extended to N2 and N3 category electric trucks, as defined under the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR).
• The N2 category includes trucks with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) above 3.5 tonnes and up to 12 tonnes.
• The N3 category covers trucks with GVW exceeding 12 tonnes and up to 55 tonnes. In the case of articulated vehicles, incentives will apply only to the puller tractor of the N3 category.

To ensure reliability and performance, the scheme mandates comprehensive manufacturer-backed warranties.

• The battery must be covered under a warranty for five years or 5 lakh kilometres, whichever is earlier.
• The vehicle and motor must have a warranty of five years or 2.5 lakh kilometres, whichever is earlier.

Other Features

• To promote affordability, the incentive amount will depend on the GVW of the electric truck, with the maximum incentive set at ₹9.6 lakh per vehicle. 
• These incentives will be offered as an upfront reduction in the purchase price and reimbursed to OEMs via the PM E-DRIVE portal on a first-come, first-served basis.
• The scheme is expected to support the deployment of approximately 5,600 e-trucks across the country. 

Sectors to Benefit from the Scheme 

• Cement industry, Ports, Steel, and the Logistics sector.

Conclusion

This forward-looking initiative by the Ministry of Heavy Industries aligns with the Government of India’s broader objective of building a self-reliant electric mobility ecosystem.

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2. Medium Altitude Long Endurance Drone

Context

• India has accelerated the procurement of 87 Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drones from local manufacturers.

About the Drone

• MALE drones are unmanned Ariel vehicles that have the capability to fly over 30 hours at a maximum altitude of at least 35,000 feet. 
• These drones are equipped with advanced surveillance and combat capabilities: including real-time intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) in all kinds of terrain.
• These will enhance surveillance along its sea and land borders.
• Purpose of Medium Altitude Long Endurance Drones: Primarily used for surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike missions.
• Strategic Importance: These drones will enhance the surveillance capabilities of all three services, especially the Indian Air Force to monitor the Eastern and Western Border
• The procurement of 87 drones is aimed at bolstering real-time monitoring and operational readiness across critical areas.
• The 87-drone MALE project serves two parallel aims: fill the medium-altitude tier between smaller tactical UAVs and the high-altitude Guardians, and indigenise a capability so far dominated by Israeli imports.

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3. Maratha Military Landscapes: Extraordinary Network of Forts

Context

• In a remarkable decision taken at the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee, India’s official nomination for 2024-25 cycle, ‘Maratha Military Landscapes of India’ got inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, becoming India’s 44th property to receive this recognition.

About Maratha Military Landscapes

• Spanning from the 17th to 19th centuries CE, this extraordinary network of twelve forts demonstrates the strategic military vision and architectural ingenuity of the Maratha Empire.
• Spread across the states of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, the selected sites, include Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Khanderi, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, along with Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu.
• Represent an extraordinary fortification and military system envisioned by the Maratha rulers.
• It is nominated in the category of cultural criteria.
• The inception of the Maratha Military ideology dates back to 17th Century during the reign of the Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. 
  • It continued through subsequent rules until Peshwa rule till 1818 CE.
• It covers forts from Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
• It is a result of integrating the landscape, terrain and physiographic characteristics distinctive to the
  • Sahyadri mountain ranges, 
  • the Konkan Coast,
  • Deccan Plateau and 
  • the Eastern Ghats in the Indian Peninsula.

Key features of forts in Maratha Landscape 

• Salher:
  • Witnessed an important battle in 1672, fought between Maratha and Mughals
  • Salher Fort is a historic hill fort located in the Nashik district of Maharashtra, India, and is one of the most significant forts in the Western Ghats (Sahyadri Hills)
• Shivneri Fort:
  • Shivneri Fort is one of the most culturally and historically significant forts in Maharashtra, located near Junnar in Pune District.
  • Birth place of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
• Lohgad Fort:
  • It is located near Lonavala in Pune district, Maharashtra.
  • It is important as it is near Bhaje Buddhist Caves.
• Raigad Fort:
  • It is located near Mahad, in Raigad district, Maharashtra.
  • It was capital of the Maratha Empire made by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1674
• Rajgad fort:
  • Recognized as the first political base of ‘Hindavi Swarajya'; Rajgad, formerly known as Murumdev (name based on the mountain Murumbadev, on which it was built).
  • Capital of the Maratha Empire.
  • It was one of the 17 forts that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj kept when he signed the Treaty of Purandar in 1665.
• Gingee fort(Tamil Nadu):
  • It has three distinct hilltop citadels and a massive boundary of thick walls and cliffs

Island Forts

• Sindhudurg:
  • Sindhudurg Fort is a majestic sea fort built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, located off the Konkan coast of Maharashtra.
• Suvarnadurg:
  • Suvarnadurg Fort is a coastal sea fort built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, located on the Konkan coast of Maharashtra. It was a critical part of his naval defense strategy and is sometimes called the "Golden Fort" due to its name.
• Khanderi Fort:
  • Khanderi Fort, now officially known as Kanhoji Angre Island, is a historic sea fort located off the coast of Maharashtra, near Alibaug in the Raigad district. 
  • Built during the reign of the Maratha king Shivaji in 1679 CE to keep a check on the Siddhis at Murud-Janjira fort.

Hill Forest Forts

• Pratapgad fort:
  • Major fight with Afzal Khan took place near this fort.
• Panhala fort:
  • Panhala Fort (also known as Panhalgad) is one of the largest and most historically important forts in Maharashtra. Located near Kolhapur, it played a critical role in Maratha history, especially during the time of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
• Vijaydurg:
  • Shivaji captured this fort from Adil Shah of Bijapur and renamed it as “Vijay Durg.
  • It was called the “Eastern Gibraltar”.

Other World Heritage Sites in Maharashtra

Cultural- Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Elephanta Caves, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus), and Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai.  Natural- Western Ghats of Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, and Gujarat. is serial property in natural category (2012).

 

About World Heritage Sites

•  It is any of the areas or objects inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.  
• These sites are designated as having outstanding universal value under the World Heritage Convention of 1972. 
• Sites are selected under three categories i.e., cultural, natural, and mixed.
• There are 44 World Heritage Sites in India.
• WHS are nominated on the basis of the tentative list submitted the members. 
• For inclusion in World Heritage List, a site must meet one of the ten selection criteria. 

Conclusion

Maratha Empire emerged as strong power at time when Mughal power was at its peak. With the help of their mighty forts and tactics they were able to defeat their opponents expand their empire. Addition of forts in the UNESCO Heritage Sites List will promote preservation of forts. 

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4. Kuno National Park

Context

• Eight year old female Namibian Cheetah who was injured a week ago died in Kuno National Park.

About Kuno National Park

• It is located in the Sheopur and Morena districts of Madhya Pradesh.
• It is located near the Vidhyan Hills.
• It was originally declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1981, but was upgraded to National Park in 2018.
• The park lies within the Khathiar–Gir dry deciduous ecoregion.
• It derives its name from the meandering Kuno River (one of the main tributaries of the Chambal River), which flows from south to north and divides the park into two sections.
• It was selected under the ‘Action Plan for Introduction of Cheetah in India’.

Flora

• The national Park features dry deciduous forests (Kardhai, Khair, Salai, Tendu), savannah grasslands, and riverine habitats alongside the lifeline Kuno River.
• Kuno National Park has a rich floral diversity with more than 129 species of trees.

Fauna

• The protected area of the forest is home to the jungle cat, Indian leopard, sloth bear, Indian wolf, striped hyena, golden jackal, Bengal fox, and dhole, along with more than 120 bird species.
• A total of 20 cheetahs were introduced in Kuno National Park (NP), eight from Namibia in September 2022, followed by 12 more from South Africa in February 2023 under the Cheetah Project.

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5. NITI Aayog Roadmap for Strengthening State Science and Technology Council

Context

• NITI Aayog has released a comprehensive roadmap to empower State Science & Technology (S&T) Councils across India.

Key Objectives

• Enhance State S&T Ecosystems: Bridge the gap between scientific innovation and socio-economic development at the state level.
• Foster Collaboration: Improve coordination among ministries, state governments, academia, industry, and funding agencies.
• Promote Innovation: Support patent facilitation, remote sensing, grassroots innovation, science popularisation, and capacity-building.

Major Challenges

• Weak Governance: Irregular meetings, lack of executive leadership, and delays in decision-making.
• Inadequate Funding: Disparities in budget allocations, over-reliance on core grants, and underutilization of available central support.
• Manpower Shortages: Many councils have unfilled positions, limited career progression, and insufficient skilled personnel.
• Limited Collaboration: Weak linkages with industry, academia, and central institutions restrict the impact and reach of S&T initiatives.
• Administrative Bottlenecks: Rigid rules and fragmented mandates slow down project execution and resource utilization.

Recommendations

• Structural Reforms: Expand Governing Councils to include representatives from central institutions, universities, industry, and PSUs.
• Appoint a full-time Executive Director with scientific expertise for each council.
• Financial Support: States should allocate at least 0.5% of GSDP to S&T.
• Shift from core grants to project-based grants (except for NE and UTs).
• Encourage performance-based grants and wider funding from industry and central ministries.
• Human Resources: Maintain a 70:30 ratio of scientific to non-scientific staff.
• Ensure regular positions are state-supported with clear career progression.
• Use faculty secondment and retired scientists for capacity building.
• State-Focused Roles: Conduct state-specific S&T need mapping.
• Establish substructures (e.g., Patent Facilitation, Tech Transfer, Biodiversity Cells).
• Program Redefinition: Prioritize R&D support to state institutions.
• Institute state-level awards, fellowships, and internships.
• Regularly update science cities and centres for outreach.
• Collaboration & Linkages: Strengthen ties with central government agencies, industry, PSUs, and academic institutions.
• Organize annual STI conclaves and collaborative activities for knowledge exchange.

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6. Bharat 6G Alliance

Context

• The Union Minister of Communications recently reviewed the progress of the Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA), highlighting India’s ambition to become a global leader in 6G technology by 2030.

About the Alliance

• Bharat 6G Alliance is India’s flagship platform for collaborative 6G innovation, uniting diverse stakeholders to build an advanced, secure, and globally relevant 6G ecosystem.
• The Alliance is central to India’s “Bharat 6G Vision,” aiming for pre-commercial 6G trials by 2026 and commercial rollout by 2029–2030.
• It targets achieving 10% of global 6G intellectual property rights (IPRs), positioning India as a global technology leader.

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7. Astra Missile: Beyond Visual Range Air-to-AIR Missile

Context

• Recently, the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) & Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully conducted the flight-test of Astra missile.

About the Missile

• Astra is India’s first indigenous Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) designed for engaging enemy aircraft beyond line-of-sight.
• It is a key strategic missile system integrated on fighter aircraft like the Su-30 MKI.
• It has a range exceeding 100 kms and is equipped with state-of-the art guidance and navigation system.

Features

• Strike Range: Capable of hitting aerial targets over 100 km away, making it a long-range engagement weapon.
• Capable of hitting aerial targets over 100 km away, making it a long-range engagement weapon.
• Compatible with multiple fighter platforms, including Tejas, Mirage-2000, and MiG-29 (planned upgrades).

Significance of the Missile

• Strategic Self-Reliance: Strengthens India’s indigenous capability under Atmanirbhar Bharat in Defence.
• Reduces Import Dependency: Eliminates need for foreign BVRAAMs like Meteor or AMRAAM, saving forex and boosting local R&D.
• Force Multiplier: Enhances IAF’s air dominance in hostile airspace, especially in high-threat zones like the LAC or LOC.

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8. Rhino Horn

Context

• The Assam Forest Department, in coordination with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), has initiated genetic analysis of 2,573 rhino horn samples stored before their destruction in 2021.

About Rhino Horn

• The Horn is the most distinctive feature of a rhinoceros, made not of bone but Keratin, the same protein present in human nails and hair.
• Rhino horns grow continuously, gaining about 2 cm per year.

Features of Rhino Horn

• Unlike antlers, rhino horns are not hollow and are composed of compacted keratin layers.
• Contains Melanin and calcium, enhancing strength and resistance to UV damage.
• Each horn has unique keratin layers influenced by diet and climate aiding genetic fingerprinting under RhoDIS.

About One-Horned Rhino

• The greater one-horned rhino (or “Indian rhino”) is the largest of the rhino species. 
• Indian Rhinos are brownish-grey in colour and are hairless. 
• They have knobby skin that appears to be armour-plated. A single horn sits on top of their snout, and their upper lip is semi-prehensile.
• The greater one-horned rhino is identified by a single black horn about 8-25 inches long and a grey-brown hide with skin folds, which gives it an armour-plated appearance. 
• HABITAT: It is confined to the tall grasslands and forests in the foothills of the Himalayas.
• The Great one-horned rhino is commonly found in Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan and in Assam, India. 
• Conservation Status: Vulnerable

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9. Gharial and Sloth Bear

Context

• Gharial and Sloth bears were recommended for for inclusion under Species Recovery Programme of Centrally sponsored Scheme, Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats.

About

• Species were recommended by Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL), which has been constituted by NBWL under the Wildlife (Protection) Act (WPA) 1972 to make recommendations for conservation and protection of wildlife and forests.

About Gharial 

• Habitat: Freshwater rivers with major population occurring in tributaries of Ganga River – Chambal and Girwa Rivers in India and Rapti-Naryani River in Nepal.
• Conservation status:
• IUCN:   Critically Endangered.
• WPA, 1972:  Schedule I.
• CITES:   Appendix I.
•  Characteristics:
• Their snout is uniquely the thinnest and most elongated among all the crocodilians. 
• Adult males sport a large bulb at the tip of their snout, called the 'ghara'.
• Most aquatic of all crocodilians.

About Sloth Bear

• Habitat: Native to India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. 
• Five Biogeographic zones in India viz. Peninsular India, Western Ghats, Deccan Plateau, Gangetic Plain and North East. 
• Conservation status:
• IUCN: Vulnerable.
• WPA, 1972:  Schedule I.
• CITES:   Appendix I.
•  Characteristics:
• Sloth bear is small bear with a shaggy coat.
• Sloth bears feed predominantly on termites and ants.
• Solitary creatures and generally nocturnal. 

About CSS-IDWH

• Objective: It provides financial and technical assistance to the State/UT Governments for activities aimed at wildlife conservation.
• Components of IDWH:
• Support to protected areas (national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, conservation reserves, and community reserves).
• Protection of wildlife outside protected areas and mitigation of Human Wildlife Conflict. 
• Recovery programmes for saving critically endangered species and habitats.
• So far, 22 species including Snow Leopard, Asiatic Lion, Great Indian Bustard etc. have been identified under the Species recovery programme.

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10. UN Environment Programme Released Frontiers 2025: The Weight of Time Report

Context

The Frontiers Report spotlights emerging environmental issues before they escalate into global or regional crises. 

Major Environmental Issues Highlighted in the Report

• Reactivation of Microbes in a Warming Cryosphere: Climate warming could reactivate and remobilize dormant microbes into new environments, potentially altering microbial communities, introducing pathogens, or causing biodiversity loss as some might fail to survive thawing. 
• Microbes that thrive under extremely challenging habitats like frozen environments are generally referred to as psychrophiles. 
• River Barriers: All barriers (dams, weir or low-head dam, barrage, culverts, sluices etc.) affect the river ecosystem.
• Impact of River Barriers: Modify water flow and temperature, habitat quality and quantity, downstream sediment transport, displace indigenous community and fish movement.
• Report recognizes Barrier Removals as an accepted strategy to restore river health.
• Barrier removals reduce river fragmentation (which will affect 89% of global river volume) and restore connectivity in river ecosystems. Demographic Challenge: Climate change is exacerbating environmental risks such as heatwaves, air pollution, and floods, which disproportionately threaten increasing population of older adults. 
• Remobilization of legacy pollutants by flood events: Persistent contaminants (Heavy metal, organic compounds etc.) in water and sediment can enter and accumulate in plants and animals (bioaccumulation), and subsequently contaminate food chains with increased concentrations (biomagnification).

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11. Rare Earth Mining: New Frontiers

Context

• West Bengal gears up for rare earth mining in Purulia District.

About the news

• West Bengal is set to join India’s rare earth mining map with Geological Survey of India conducting advanced exploration in Purulia District, West Bengal.
• G2-level exploration is underway in two blocks one in Karbi Anglong district of Assam and the other in Purulia, West Bengal.
• Both blocks will be ready for auction in an year.

About Rare Earth Elements

• The Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are 17 metals in Group 3 of the Periodic Table comprising Lanthanide series elements and Scandium and Yttrium (due to similar physical properties and found in the same ores and deposits).
• Rare Earth Elements are important components in over 200 products, spanning applications in consumer electronics, electric vehicles, defence systems, and many more.
• Rare Earth Elements: Scandium, Yttrium and the 15 Lanthanides, lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), promethium (Pm)
• Other Rare Earth Minerals are samarium (Sm), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb) and lutetium (Lu).

Types

• Based on the atomic weight, Rare Earth Elements are divided into two groups.
• Light REE’S:These are those with atomic numbers from 57 to 63 (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm and Eu)
• Heavy REE’S: These are those with atomic numbers from 64 to 71 (Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu).
• Scandium and Yttrium, although light, have been placed with the heavy REEs group due to their similar chemical and physical properties.

Characteristics

• REEs are characterised by high density, high melting point, high conductivity and high thermal conductance.
• Rare Earth Elements share a trivalent charge (+3) and similar ionic radii, hence similar properties.

Sources

• The principal sources of REE are bastnaesite (a fluorocarbonate which occurs in carbonatites and related igneous rocks), xenotime (yttrium phosphate) commonly found in mineral sand deposits, loparite which occurs in alkaline igneous rocks and monazite (a phosphate).
• Several rare-earth minerals contain thorium and uranium in variable amounts, but they do not constitute essential components in the composition of the minerals.
• Cerium is the most abundant rare earth, approximately the same as that of Copper.

Significance

• Rare Earth Elements are very important for futuristic technology.
• They have wide applications in clean energy, high-end electronics, defence, etc with no equal substitutes.

Application of Rare Earth Elements

• Permanent magnet: Neodymium magnets (Nd-Fe-B magnets) are permanent magnets made of neodymium, iron and boron.
• They have the highest magnetic properties of all permanent magnets and can withstand temperatures as high as 230 degrees C.
• They are used in automobiles for anti-lock brakes, in computer hard disk drives, CD-ROMs, digital cameras, etc.
• These magnets are also used in a variety of conventional automotive subsystems, such as power steering, electric windows, power seats, and audio speakers.
• Electronics and Displays: Rare Earth Elements are used in high-technology devices such as smartphones, hard disks, digital cameras, fluorescent and light-emitting-diode lights, computer monitors and electronic displays. 
• Some rare earth elements have phosphorescent properties, which makes them to be used in the manufacture of flat television screens and computer monitors.
• Lanthanum makes up as much as 50 per cent of digital camera lenses, including cell phone cameras.
• Eu, Y, and Tb are used in the manufacturing of phosphors (substances that emit luminescence) to be used in many types of ray tubes and flat panel displays for screens that range in size from smartphone displays to stadium scoreboards.
• Erbium is used to make fibre optic cables and laser repeaters.
• Green Technologies: They play a critical role in green technologies such as wind turbines and electric vehicles that are going to support net zero carbon emissions goals.
• Nickel-metal hydride batteries are built with lanthanum-based alloys as anodes which are used in electric vehicles.
• Cerium-based catalysts are used in automotive catalytic converters.
• Lanthanum acts as a hydrogen absorber in rechargeable batteries and is an important element in hybrid car batteries.

Rare Earth Elements in India

• India is the fifth-largest rare earth resource globally, with significant deposits in the monazite minerals.
• Resources: There are around 13.07 million tonnes of REEs, mainly found in the monazite sand, which contains 55-60% total Rare Earth Elements oxide. These are found in:
• Coastal beach placer monazite sands of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
• Inland placer deposits of Jharkhand, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
• Types: India contains mainly Light REEs while Heavy REEs are not available in extractable quantities.
• Only Neodymium and Praseodymium are available in India and are being extracted up to the 99.9 % purity level.

Mining

• Indian Rare Earth Limited (IREL) is a major player in mining and processing, producing rare earth compounds.
• Foreign collaboration: Toyotsu Rare Earths India Limited, Visakhapatnam (Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan with IREL) 

Initiatives by Government

• Initiatives like the setting up of a Rare Earth Theme Park and joint ventures aim to enhance India’s position in this critical industry.
• RE and Titanium Theme Park was developed by IREL to cater for the technologies developed by BARC.
• India is actively exploring collaborations, and initiatives such as Toyotsu Rare Earths India Limited in Visakhapatnam to enhance efforts to refine rare earths through foreign collaboration.
• Recently, a Carbonatite Deposit was found in Gujarat.
• IREL processing plants have been established in Ganjam, Odisha and Aluva, Kerala.

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