Red Crowned Roofed Turtles

Context: After 30 years, 20 critically endangered red-crowned roofed turtles were reintroduced to the Ganga  River in western Uttar Pradesh.

• All turtles were fitted with sonic transmitters to track their movement and assess survival.

About Red Crowned Roofed Turtles

• Scientific Name: Batagur kachuga 
• Native Range: It is native to India, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
  • It is among Asia’s 50 most endangered freshwater turtles and tortoises.
• Distribution: It is a freshwater turtle species found in deep flowing rivers with terrestrial nesting sites.
• Conservation Status:
  • International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): Critically Endangered
  • Wildlife Protection Act (IWPA): Schedule I
  • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Appendix II
• Current Wild Population: The species currently survives only in the Chambal River (National Chambal River Gharial Sanctuary), with fewer than 300 individuals.
• Behavior: They leave the water to thermoregulate by basking in the sun on rocks, logs, and sandbanks.
• Threats: Poaching for their meat and shells, Accidental drowning in fishing gear, water pollution, Hydroelectric infrastructure projects, Habitat destruction by sand mining, and Egg predation by jackals.

Index of Industrial Production (IIP)

Context: The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grew 3% as electricity and manufacturing sector production surged in March 2025, according to data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. 

• The Annual IIP growth for FY 2024–25 stood at 4%, lowest in four years.

About Index Of Industrial Production (IIP)

• IIP is an indicator that measures changes in the volume of industrial production over a specific period.
• Compilation and Published: National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
• Classification of IIP
  • Broad Sectors: Mining, Manufacturing and Electricity.
  • Use-Based Sectors: Basic Goods, Capital Goods and Intermediate Goods.
• Base Year: 2011–12.
  • The base year in IIP is assigned a value of 100. So, if the current IIP is 116, it indicates that industrial production has increased by 16% compared to the base year level.

About Eight Core Sectors

• These comprise 40.27% of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
• The eight core sector industries in decreasing order of their weightage: Refinery Products> Electricity> Steel> Coal> Crude Oil> Natural Gas> Cement> Fertilizers.

India’s Military Expenditure in 2024

Context: According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) report titled “Trends in World Military Expenditure 2024”, India’s military spending in 2024 was nearly nine times that of Pakistan’s expenditure.

Key Findings of SIPRI On Military expenditure

• India ranked fifth among the top five countries with the highest military expenditure globally.
  • United States, China, Russia, Germany, India.
  • Together, these five countries accounted for 60% of total global military spending.
• Military expenditure of India in 2024: $86.1 billion
  • Increase from 2023: 1.6%
  • Increase since 2015: 42%
• Pakistan’s Military Budget: Global Rank is 29th with military expenditure of $10.2 billion.
• China’s military expenditure increased by 7% and outspends India on defence in 2024.

About SIPRI

• It is an independent think tank founded in 1966 and based in Stockholm, Sweden.
• It is dedicated to conducting research on conflict, armaments, arms control, and disarmament. SIPRI provides data-driven insights, analysis  based on open sources.

Tiexian Reef

Context: Recently, The Chinese Coast Guard took control of Tiexian Reef (Sandy Cay).

About Tiexian Reef

• Tiexian Reef is a small reef (about 200 square metres) located in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea.
• Known as: Sandy Cay. 
• It lies close to Thitu Island (also known as Pag-asa Island), where the Philippines has a military post and a new Coast Guard base.
• It is located in the Northern Hemisphere.
• Strategic Importance
  • Part of the disputed South China Sea, a region of high strategic and economic significance.
  • Located near major fishing grounds and international shipping routes.

AIM4NatuRe

Context: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) launched the AIM4NatuRe initiative on Earth Day. 

About AIM4NatuRe

• It refers to Accelerating Innovative Monitoring for Nature Restoration.
• Purpose: To improve global monitoring and reporting of ecosystem restoration.
• Funded with £7 million (approximately USD 9 million) by the United Kingdom. 
• Significance of AIM4NatuRe
  • Tackles Challenges: Addresses the lack of technical expertise and data for restoration reporting.
  • Global Dataset Creation: Aims to build a comprehensive database for ecosystem restoration worldwide.
• Global Frameworks: Aligns with the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030).
  • Supports the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) Target 2GBF Target 2, endorsed at the CBD COP16 meeting in Rome.

CSR Spending

Context: CSR spending by listed companies rose by 16% in 2023–24 to ₹17,967 crore, compared to ₹15,524 crore in 2022–23.

Reason for rise in CSR spending

• This increase was due to an 18% rise in average net profits (over the past 3 years), as companies must spend 2% of average profits on CSR as per law.

What is CSR expenditure?

• CSR expenditure refers to spending by companies on CSR activities.
• CSR refers to corporate social responsibility
  Under this  concept, companies voluntarily  integrate social and environmental concerns into business operations.
  • Interact with stakeholders (employees, customers, communities) to create a positive impact on society. 
  • Came into effect in April 2014.
  • Companies must spend 2% of average profits of last 3 years on CSR if they meet any of the following:
    • Net worth ≥ ₹500 crore
    • Revenue ≥ ₹1,000 crore
      Net profit ≥ ₹5 crore

Zero Shadow Day

Context: The ‘Zero Shadow Day’ was observed by the Cosmology Education and Research Training Center (COSMOS), Mysore.

About Zero Shadow Day

• Zero Shadow Day is a special day when the Sun is exactly overhead at noon. 
• On this day, any object that stands straight (like a pole or a stick) will not cast a shadow for a short time.
  • The Sun is directly above, so shadows fall directly below the object and seem to disappear.
• It happens twice a year in places between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
• Location in India:  It is common to every city located between the Equator and the Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N latitude) in India.
• • Some of the cities include, Bengaluru, Chennai, Mangaluru etc.
  • These cities have direct sunlight at some time of the year, and because of this, the phenomenon of Zero Shadow Day is experienced.
• The exact time of zero shadow varies depending on the location.

Significance of Zero Shadow Day

• Demonstrates Earth’s Tilt and Orbit: It visually illustrates the Earth’s axial tilt and orbit around the Sun.
• Enhances Science Education: It offers a hands-on opportunity for students and the public to observe celestial mechanics in action.
  • Concepts like solar declination, the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, and latitude can be better understood through this event.
• Raises Astronomical Awareness: It inspires interest in astronomy and natural sciences, promoting curiosity and observation of the sky.

Gyan Post

Context:  India Post introduced ‘Gyan Post’, a specialized postal service to bridge the educational gap by ensuring last-mile connectivity for learning resources. 

• It reflects the commitment to the objectives of the New Education Policy (NEP).

Affordable Pricing

• ₹20 for packets up to 300 grams.
• ₹100 for packets up to 5 kilograms.

Eligibility

• Only non-commercial educational materials are allowed.
• Books must mention the name of the printer or publisher.
• Material containing commercial advertisements is not eligible (except incidental announcements or book lists).

No Obligation to Return to India Visa

Context: A total of 50 Pakistani nationals, who hold the NORI (No Obligation to Return to India) visa, were allowed to come to India through the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at the Attari border.

About the No Obligation to Return to India visa

• A NORI visa is issued by India to Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals who have close relatives holding Indian citizenship. 
• They include men and women who are married to Indian nationals.
• The NORI certificates are issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for brief visits to Pakistan or Bangladesh and holders are allowed to return to India without any restrictions.

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