01^st October 2025

1. Antlion: Recently, researchers discovered two new species of antlions belonging to the family Myrmeleontidae under the order Neuroptera.

• About Antlions: A group of nearly 2,000 insect species.

• They belong to the family Myrmeleontidae.
• Their name comes from the predatory behaviour of their larvae, which often dig pits in sandy soil to trap ants and other small insects.

• New Species:

• Indophanes keralaensis: Found in Sairandhri and Siruvani (Palakkad district) and Pampadum Shola National Park (Idukki). Name honours Kerala and the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot.
• Indophanes sahyadriensis: Recorded from Siruvani (Palakkad), Pakshipathalam and Thirunelly (Wayanad), and Ranipuram (Kasaragod). Name refers to Sahyadri (Western Ghats), known for unique native habitats.

• Genus Indophanes: Previously: 9 species worldwide (China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka).

• Now: 11 species worldwide.
• In India: 5 species total, of which 3 from Kerala.

 2. Bathukamma Festival: Recently, Telangana’s iconic Bathukamma Festival celebrations were recognized by the Guinness World Records.

• About Bathukamma Festival: State Festival of Telangana, dedicated to Goddess Gauri/Parvati, symbolizing fertility and womanhood.

• Duration: Celebrated for 9 days, starting on Mahalaya Amavasya (Sept–Oct) and concluding on Saddula Bathukamma, two days before Dussehra (Dasara).
• Tradition: Women create conical stacks of seasonal flowers (marigold, gunuka, tangedu, banthi, chrysanthemum) arranged to resemble a temple gopuram.
• Agricultural Importance: Marks the end of monsoon and the beginning of the winter cropping season
• Guinness World Records Highlights:  Largest Floral Installation: A 63.11-foot Bathukamma, made with 10.7 tonnes of flowers in 11 layers, was showcased.
  - Synchronized Dance: Nearly 1,354 women performed traditional dances in concentric circles around the floral arrangement.

 3. Environmental Surveillance: Recently, monitoring pathogens in the environment, especially through wastewater surveillance, has emerged as a vital tool for predicting and controlling disease outbreaks.

• About Environmental surveillance: Tracks pathogens (bacteria, viruses, parasites) from wastewater, sewage, soil, and other environmental samples.

• Samples are collected from sewage treatment plants, hospital effluents, railway stations, airplane toilets, etc.
• Pathogens are shed in stool and urine of infected individuals.
• Soil samples can track diseases caused by parasitic worms like roundworms and hookworms.
• Rigorous protocols ensure standardized collection, processing, detection, and genome sequencing to identify variants.
• Benefits of early warning: Helps in public health planning and outbreak preparedness.
  - Detects infection spread in the community, including asymptomatic carriers.
• India’s current efforts: ICMR to start wastewater surveillance for 10 viruses in 50 cities.

 4. Air Pollution: Recently, a study by the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi (IIT-D) in collaboration with Climate Trends found that cutting air pollution could lead to major health improvements.

• Key Findings: Cutting air pollution by 30% can significantly reduce the prevalence of heart disease, diabetes, anaemia, low birth weight, and respiratory infections.

• Data sources: NFHS-5 disease prevalence, Indian epidemiological studies, and satellite-based PM 2.5 data.
• A new “health benefit assessment dashboard” was launched, covering 641 districts (2011 boundaries).
• Heart disease prevalence among women could decline by 3%-10%, with the biggest gains in Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, and Nagaland.
• Diabetes prevalence could fall by 8%-25%, with highest benefits in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, and Haryana.
• Hypertension prevalence could decline by 2%-8%, especially in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Assam, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh.
• Among children, cleaner air could lower cases of anaemia, low birth weight, and lower respiratory infections.
• The Indo-Gangetic plains and eastern states would see the strongest health benefits for children.

5. Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems: Recently, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways mandated that all new and existing electric vehicles (EVs) must have Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems, as per the Central Motor Vehicles Rules.

• About AVAS: A safety device that generates artificial sound cues in electric and hybrid vehicles to make them more noticeable.

• Activation Range: Works automatically between 0–20 km/h, when EVs are otherwise almost silent.
• Sound Design: Emits a steady, low-volume artificial tone to alert pedestrians.
• Above 20 km/h: Additional artificial sound is unnecessary as tyre and aerodynamic noise provide sufficient auditory signals.
• Pedestrian Safety: Electric vehicles (EVs) are nearly silent at low speeds since they lack an internal combustion engine.
  - To prevent accidents and ensure pedestrian safety, especially for the visually impaired, sound alerts are essential.
• Applicability: The mandate applies to all M and N category vehicles, which include: Cars, Buses, Trucks, E-rickshaws and E-carts.

 6. Increasing Tree Size Across Amazonia: Recently, a study titled Increasing tree size across Amazonia, published in Nature Plants, found that Amazon rainforest trees are growing larger each decade due to rising CO₂ levels.

• Key Findings: Tree size in the Amazon is increasing by about 3.3% in diameter every decade.

• Normally, in old-growth forests, average tree size stays constant (saplings replace fallen big trees).
• In the Amazon, this balance has shifted due to rising atmospheric CO2 (up nearly 20% in 30 years).
• Growth is linked to the carbon fertilisation effect: higher CO2 → more photosynthesis → faster growth.
• Significance: Bigger trees can absorb more carbon than before, strengthening the Amazon as a carbon sink.
  - Provides some reassurance that forests are helping buffer climate change impacts.

• About Amazon Rainforest: World’s largest tropical rainforest, spread across 9 South American countries (60% in Brazil).

• Covers ~1% of Earth’s surface but harbours 10% of known wildlife species.
• Estimated to store 150–200 billion tonnes of carbon.
• Called the “lungs of the planet” for its role in absorbing CO2 and releasing oxygen.

7. Swachh Shehar Jodi: Recently, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched the Swachh Shehar Jodi (SSJ) initiative under the Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban (SBM-U).

• About SSJ: It is a structured mentorship and collaboration program involving 72 mentor cities and nearly 200 mentee cities.

• Mentor-mentee pairings are based on the Swachh Survekshan rankings: Top-performing cities are designated as mentor cities and Low-performing cities are chosen as mentee cities.
• Aim: To help low-performing cities improve their cleanliness and sanitation performance by leveraging the experience of successful cities.
• Key objectives: Replicating proven best practices in sanitation and waste management.
  - Facilitating knowledge-sharing, peer learning, and adoption of innovative solutions across cities.

 8. India’s Dietary Habits: Recently, a study by ICMR-INDIAB and MDRF, published in Nature Medicine, revealed that India’s dietary habits are driving a surge in lifestyle-related health issues. The research highlights a sharp rise in diabetes, obesity, and other metabolic disorders.

• Key Findings: 62% of calories in Indian diets come from carbohydrates (mostly low-quality sources: white rice, milled wheat, refined grains, added sugar).

• Protein intake low: averages 12%E (below optimal).
• High sugar intake: At least 21 states/UTs exceed the national recommendation (<5%E of energy from added sugar).
• Fat intake: Within guideline (≤30%E), but saturated fat exceeds safe threshold (7%E) in all but 4 states (Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur).
• Protective fats (MUFA & omega-3 PUFA) remain low nationwide.
• Regional differences: Refined cereal intake highest in Northeast (51.7%E), then South (36%E) and East (31.5%E) — mostly from white rice (95%).
  • Central (30.9%E) and Northern (27.8%E) India consume more milled wheat flour.
  • Millets minimal (1.4%E) except in Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra.
  • Northeast highest protein intake (13.8%E) – Nagaland (18%), Mizoram (16%), Manipur & Meghalaya (14%).
  • North had highest dairy protein (3.6%E), while East (1.2%E) & Northeast (1.1%E) had lowest.

 9. Ophiorrhiza Echinata: Recently, a new coffee plant species, Ophiorrhiza echinata, was discovered in the Western Ghats. It was found in the shola forests of Devikulam, Idukki, and Kerala.

• About Ophiorrhiza echinata: Grows in the ecotone region between evergreen forests and grasslands.

• Found at an altitude of 1,630 m above sea level.
• Belongs to the Rubiaceae family.
• Closely related to Ophiorrhiza mungos (Indian Snake Root), known for its role in cancer treatment and antidote preparations.
• May have medicinal potential (further studies needed on chemical components).
• Restricted to montane evergreen forests, making it ecologically vulnerable to human pressures.
• Highlights importance of conserving shola forests – called the “womb of speciation”.
• Broader Significance: Adds to the number of endemic Rubiaceae species in the Western Ghats.
  - Reinforces the ecological uniqueness of the region.
  - India produced ~363,500 metric tonnes of coffee in 2024–25 (mainly Arabica and Robusta).
  - Globally, there are 100+ coffee plant species, with 10+ species found in the Western Ghats.