29^th November 2025

1. MH-60 Romeo Helicopter: Recently, India signed Letters of Offer and Acceptance (LOAs) with the US for 5-year sustainment support of the Indian Navy’s MH-60R helicopter fleet.

• About MH-60 Romeo: Considered the world’s most advanced maritime helicopter and serves as the S. Navy’s primary anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare platform.

• Built by Lockheed Martin, it is designed for all-weather land and maritime operations.

• Equipped with modern avionics, sensors, and mission systems.

• The helicopter supports a wide range of missions, including: Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)

• Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW)

• Search and Rescue (SAR)

• Naval Gunfire Support (NGFS)

• Surveillance & reconnaissance

• Communications relay

• Logistics and personnel transfer

• Vertical replenishment (VERTREP)

• It can operate from frigates, destroyers, cruisers, amphibious ships, and aircraft carriers, making it effective in both littoral combat and open-ocean operations.

2. Central Ground Water Board: A new report by the Central Ground Water Board has revealed alarming levels of toxic metals and chemical contaminants in Delhi’s groundwater, posing severe long-term health risks for residents dependent on bore wells and hand pumps.

• Key Findings: Delhi Among India’s worst for Toxic Groundwater: High levels of uranium, lead, nitrate, fluoride, and salinity indicators.

• Delhi recorded highest proportion of lead-contaminated samples during pre-monsoon, 3% samples exceeded BIS limits (vs Assam 3.23%, Rajasthan 2.04%).

• Lead impacts children’s cognition, kidneys, BP, and is a probable carcinogen.

• Uranium Contamination: Delhi ranks 3rd after Punjab & Haryana.

• Uranium linked to kidney damage and carcinogenic risks.

• NW belt of Punjab-Haryana-Delhi-Rajasthan-UP is identified as a uranium hotspot

• Health Risks Highlighted: Fluorosis, Methemoglobinemia (blue-baby syndrome), Kidney damage, Carcinogenic effects and Neurological impairment.

3. World Health Organization: Recently, the World Health Organization released it’s first-ever guideline on infertility prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, calling on countries to ensure accessible, science-based fertility care for all.

• Key Highlights: Contains 40 recommendations covering prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
  E.g.: Offers evidence-based pathways for male and female infertility management.

• Encourages governments to integrate fertility treatment into national health financing. E.g.: IVF and related services included under insurance or public schemes.

• Focus on tackling untreated STIs, tobacco use, and lifestyle-related infertility. E.g.: Smoking cessation reduces infertility risk in both men and women.

• Advises balanced diet, physical activity, and avoiding tobacco and harmful substances. E.g.: Couples planning pregnancy guided on nutrition and fitness.

• Encourages teaching fertility concepts in schools and healthcare facilities. E.g.: Youth receiving early information on reproductive timelines.

• Understanding the Global Infertility Burden: Infertility defined as failure to conceive after 12 months of unprotected sex. E.g.: Applies to couples across all income and age groups.

4. Pallid Harrier: Recently, with the onset of winter, migratory Pallid Harriers from Central Asia have begun reaching India, but rapidly declining grasslands and the loss of roosting sites have sparked serious conservation concerns.

• About Pallid Harrier: Scientific Name: Circus macrourus

• A medium-sized migratory raptor known for its graceful flight and marked sexual dimorphism.

• Habitat: Prefers open landscapes such as natural grasslands, dry steppes, bogs, and agricultural fields.

• In India, it is commonly seen in semi-arid and arid grasslands, sparse scrub habitats, and occasionally in the shola grasslands of the Western Ghats.

• Distribution: Breeding Range: Southern Europe, Central Asia, Iran

• Wintering Range: Africa, India, Southeast Asia

• Key Features: Males: Pale, ghost-grey upperparts and white underparts with narrow black wingtip wedges.

• Females: Brown upperparts with white upper tail coverts (“ringtail”), buff underparts streaked with brown, and a distinct facial pattern.

• Juveniles: Rufous (reddish-brown) with a characteristic whitish neck collar or “boa.”

• Diet: Hunts small mammals such as mice, voles, lemmings, ground squirrels.

• Also preys on small terrestrial birds, lizards, frogs, and insects including locusts and dragonflies.

• Conservation Status: IUCN: Near Threatened

• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule IV

5. Operation Sagar Bandhu: Recently, India initiated ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’ to support cyclone-hit Sri Lanka, delivering urgent humanitarian assistance after Cyclone Ditwah triggered extensive floods and landslides across the island nation.

• Key Highlights: Reinforces ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy: India emphasised its commitment to standing with Sri Lanka during natural calamities. E.g.: Similar support extended during COVID-19 and past cyclones.

• First tranche delivered by Indian Navy: INS Vikrant and INS Udaigiri transported earlier consignments. E.g.: Navy ships carried medical stores, rations and emergency kits.

• A C-130 aircraft reached Colombo with food items, sanitary supplies and essential rations. E.g.: Relief handed over at Bandaranaike International Airport at 1:30 a.m.

• NDRF teams travelled with eight tonnes of specialist rescue equipment. E.g.: Teams equipped for flood rescue, debris clearance and emergency response.

6. Vitamin B12: Recently, it has been observed that early symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency often manifest on the skin—such as hyperpigmentation, dryness, or paleness—due to reduced oxygen and nutrient delivery to skin cells.

• About Vitamin B12: Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin, also known as cobalamin.

• It is essential for maintaining healthy nerve cells, forming red blood cells, and producing DNA.

• Since the body cannot make B12 on its own, it must be obtained from food or supplements.

• Naturally occurs only in animal-based foods: fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and dairy products.

• Plant foods do not contain B12 unless they are fortified.

• The liver stores Vitamin B12, and the body can retain it for 2–5 years.

• Excess B12 is removed through the urine.

• Vitamin B12 Deficiency: More likely in vegetarians and vegans, as plant foods lack B12.

• Older adults and people who’ve undergone stomach surgery may have absorption issues.

• People with digestive disorders like Crohn’s disease or celiac disease are also at risk.

• Severe deficiency can cause fatigue, muscle weakness, digestive problems, nerve damage, vision issues, and mood changes.

• It may also lead to anaemia or generally low blood counts.

7. Bonded Labourers: Recently, a new national report named 'Migrant Bonded Labour in India' revealed that most rescued bonded labourers in India continue to be denied compensation and basic rehabilitation support, exposing systemic failures in the implementation of existing protection schemes.

• Key Findings: Majority did not receive interim assistance: 63% of workers rescued after 2016 were denied even immediate travel assistance. E.g.: Survivors returned home without funds for transport or basic needs.

• Compensation largely unpaid: 53.8% of rescued children and 33% of rescued women received no compensation. E.g.: Only one woman received between ₹1–2 lakh; no male survivor received his mandated ₹1 lakh.
• Rehabilitation tied to release certificates: Survivors get benefits only after a formal release certificate. E.g.: Delays keep families without support for months or years.
• Marginalised communities: 63% from Scheduled Castes, 13% from Scheduled Tribes, 24% from OBCs; none from general category. E.g.: Pattern shows structural vulnerability due to caste-based inequalities.
• Report released by National Campaign Committee for the Eradication of Bonded Labour (NCCEBL). E.g.: Based on testimonies from around 950 labourers.

8. SoLAR Phase II: Recently, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation launched SoLAR Phase II.

• About SoLAR Phase II: A multi-country programme to accelerate climate-resilient, equitable solar irrigation across India, Bangladesh, Kenya and Ethiopia.

• Phase I generated strong evidence on technical, economic and environmental performance of solar irrigation pumps (SIPs). E.g.: Grid-connected SIPs delivered higher CO₂ offsets than off-grid systems.

• Phase II extends work from South Asia to East Africa. E.g.: Kenya and Ethiopia added to India and Bangladesh.

• Solar Energy’s Growing Role in Agriculture: Solar pumps provide affordable irrigation power and cut diesel use. E.g.: Off-grid SIP pilots significantly reduced farmers’ diesel expenditure.

• Supports emerging models like agrivoltaics: Integrating solar panels with crops increases land productivity. E.g.: Dual use of farmland for energy and farming in India’s pilot projects.

• Strong government initiatives driving adoption: India scaling solar pumps through PM-KUSUM scheme. E.g.: 1.43 million farmers benefitted from PM-KUSUM by July 2025.

• Focus on equity and sustainability: Ensures benefits reach women, marginal farmers, and water-stressed regions. E.g.: Targeted rollout in deprived agro-ecological zones.

9. Grey Seal: Recently, researchers discovered that grey seal milk contains 332 distinct types of oligosaccharides — complex sugars crucial for early development and immunity.

• About Grey Seal: A large marine mammal belonging to the family Phocidae.

• Also called the Atlantic seal or horsehead seal.

• Found along both coasts of the North Atlantic Ocean.

• Distribution: Occurs in coastal regions from the mid-Atlantic up to the Baltic Sea.
• Habitat: Spends most of its life in coastal waters. When on land, it rests on rocky shores, islands, sandbars, and occasionally ice shelves or icebergs.
• Appearance: Males can grow up to 10 feet, while females are smaller.

• Pups have white lanugo fur, which absorbs sunlight and helps retain warmth.

• Behaviour: Primarily diurnal, active during the day and resting at night.

• Exhibits bottling behaviour — staying upright in water with only the head above the surface.

• Diet: Carnivorous, mainly piscivorous. Feeds on various benthic or demersal fish species.
• Life Span: Typically lives 25–35 years.
• Conservation Status: IUCN: Least Concern