SASCI Initiative

Context: Recently, the Ministry of Tourism launched the SASCI initiative to develop iconic and lesser-known tourist destinations across India.

About SASCI Initiative

• Refers to: Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme for developing infrastructure and visitor experiences at emerging tourist destinations.
• Aim: To create end-to-end tourist experiences that provide cultural, economic, and environmental value.
  • Promote lesser-known destinations to reduce congestion at popular sites.
• Objectives:
  • Encourage responsible and sustainable tourism.
  • Boost the local economy by creating employment for communities and artisans.
  • Attract high-value domestic and foreign tourists.
  • Ensure inclusive growth and community participation.
  • Preserve cultural heritage and strengthen the tourism ecosystem.
• Key Features:
  • Selection Criteria: Projects selected through a challenge method evaluating connectivity, ecosystem, carrying capacity, utilities, project impact, sustainability, and private investment potential.
  • Funding Mechanism: 100% central funding for development; operation and maintenance by respective State Governments.
  • Implementation Timeline: Projects expected to be completed by March 2026.
  • Holistic Approach: Focus on comprehensive infrastructure, branding, sustainability, and tourism diversification.
• Notable Projects:
  • Bateshwar (UP): Historical temples
  • Ponda (Goa): Cultural and natural attractions
  • Gandikota (AP): Grand Canyon of India
  • Porbandar (Gujarat): Birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi
  • Rang Ghar (Assam): Heritage amphitheater
  • Matsyagandha Lake (Bihar): Eco-tourism
  • Orchha (MP): Historical monuments
• Significance:
  • Economic Empowerment: Boosts local economies, livelihoods, and tourism revenues.
  • Sustainable Development: Promotes eco-friendly and responsible tourism.
    
  • Cultural Preservation: Safeguards heritage sites and local traditions.
  • Global Competitiveness: Positions India as a globally attractive tourism destination.
  • Community Engagement: Encourages local participation and private sector involvement.

Asian Palm Civet

Context: Kerala has been witnessing rising instances of human–civet encounters, as the Asian Palm Civet increasingly ventures into urban and semi-urban areas, raising ecological, cultural, and legal concerns.

About Asian Palm Civet

• Species: Asian Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), also called Toddy Cat.
• Features: Small, nocturnal mammal with slender body, pointed snout, and white facial mask.
• Habitat & Range: Distributed across South and Southeast Asia, including India.
• Diet: Omnivorous—feeds on fruits, insects, and small animals; key agent of seed dispersal.
• Unique Trait: Produces Kopi Luwak coffee from digested beans.
• Conservation Status: 
  • Least Concern (IUCN Red List)
  • Protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (India)
• Ecological Significance:
  • Seed Dispersal: Vital for forest regeneration and biodiversity.
  • Pest Control: Helps regulate insect and rodent populations.
  • Cultural Importance: Historically associated with toddy tapping in Kerala, hence called Toddy Cat.

About Civet Species

• The African Civet (Civettictis civetta) is found in Sub-Saharan Africa, listed as Least Concern (IUCN), and not found in India.
• The African Palm Civet (Nandinia binotata) is found in Equatorial Africa, listed as Least Concern (IUCN), and not present in India.
• The Asian Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), also called Toddy Cat, is widespread in India and Southeast Asia, listed as Least Concern (IUCN), and protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• The Brown Palm Civet (Paradoxurus jerdoni) is endemic to the Western Ghats, India, listed as Least Concern (IUCN), and protected under Schedule II of WPA 1972.
• The Golden Palm Civet (Paradoxurus zeylonensis) is endemic to Sri Lanka, listed as Least Concern (IUCN), and absent in India.
• The Small Indian Civet (Viverricula indica) is widely distributed in India and Southeast Asia, listed as Least Concern (IUCN), and protected under Schedule II of WPA 1972.
• The Large Indian Civet (Viverra zibetha) is found in Northeast and Eastern India, and Southeast Asia, listed as Near Threatened (IUCN), and protected under Schedule I of WPA 1972 (highest protection).
• The Malayan Civet (Viverra tangalunga) is distributed in Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, listed as Least Concern (IUCN), and not found in India.
• The Large-spotted Civet (Viverra megaspila) is found in Southeast Asia (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia), listed as Endangered (IUCN), and absent in India.
• The Owston’s Civet (Chrotogale owstoni) occurs in Vietnam, Laos, and Southern China, listed as Endangered (IUCN), and not in India.
• The Hose’s Civet (Diplogale hosei) is endemic to Borneo, listed as Endangered (IUCN), and absent in India.
• The Otter Civet (Cynogale bennettii) is found in Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo, listed as Endangered (IUCN), and not present in India.

About Indian Civets

• India hosts four civet species – Asian Palm Civet, Brown Palm Civet, Small Indian Civet, and Large Indian Civet.
• The Large Indian Civet is the only Schedule I species in India.
• The other three – Asian Palm Civet, Brown Palm Civet, and Small Indian Civet – are protected under Schedule II of WPA 1972.
• All Indian civet species are Least Concern (IUCN), except the Large Indian Civet (Near Threatened).
• The Brown Palm Civet is endemic to the Western Ghats and important for seed dispersal.
• Major threats: Habitat loss, hunting for musk, and zoonotic disease links.
• Conservation efforts: Legal protection, habitat conservation, and awareness programs.

Planting Trees in Tropics has most Positive Climate Impacts: Study

Context: A new study published in npj Climate Action highlights that planting trees in tropical regions offers the strongest climate benefits, while in higher latitudes, tree planting may in some cases have a slight heating effect.

Findings of the Study

• Tropical Advantage: Tropical regions provide the most powerful climate benefits from tree planting.
• Year-Round Growth: In warm, wet regions, trees grow year-round, leading to more cooling benefits.
• Latitude Limits: Higher latitudes may see reduced or even slightly warming effects from tree planting.

Cooling Mechanisms

• Evapotranspiration (“Tree Sweating”): Trees pull water from soil, releasing vapor through leaves, cooling both the tree and surrounding air.
• Humidity & Cloud Formation: More water vapor increases humidity, leading to cloud formation and reduced sunlight reaching Earth’s surface.
• Fire Suppression Effect: In tropical savannahs, trees resist fires better than grasses, reducing fire risks.
• Carbon Capture: Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Tropical Region

• Location: Geographically, the tropics lie between the Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N latitude) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5°S latitude).
• Sunlight: This zone receives direct sunlight year-round, resulting in generally hot climates with minimal seasonal variation.
• Rainfall & Vegetation: The region is typically marked by high temperatures, distinct wet and dry seasons, and dense vegetation such as tropical rainforests and savannas.

Mercator Projection

Context: The African Union (AU) has endorsed the Correct the Map campaign, calling for the replacement of the widely used Mercator projection with a more accurate map that reflects Africa’s true size.

About Mercator projection

• Origin: Introduced in 1569 by cartographer Gerardus Mercator.
• Type: It is Classified as a cylindrical projection, though derived mathematically.
• Features: Features a grid of right-angled latitude and longitude lines, making compass directions easy to follow.
  • Meridians: Shown as equally spaced, parallel vertical lines.
  • Parallels of Latitude: Depicted as horizontal straight lines, increasingly spaced farther apart from the Equator.
• Limitations:
  • Not suitable for accurate world maps.
  • Scale distortion increases toward the poles.
  • Greenland (real size: comparable to DRC) looks as large as the entire African continent.
  • Europe, North America, and Russia look disproportionately big.
  • India appears smaller than its actual landmass.

Alternatives

• Gall-Peters Projection (1970s): Adopted in some schools (e.g., Boston in 2017). Shows continents in their true relative size.
• Equal Earth Projection (2018): Proposed by the AU as a replacement. Offers better proportionality without excessive distortion.

E1 Settlement Plan

Context: Israel has recently approved the controversial E1 Settlement Plan near East Jerusalem, drawing global criticism as it threatens Palestinian territorial continuity and undermines prospects for a two-state solution.

About E1 Settlement Plan

• Refers to construction in the E1 area (East 1), a corridor of ~12 sq. km between East Jerusalem and the Ma’ale Adumim settlement in the West Bank.
• Objective: To link Jerusalem with Ma’ale Adumim, thereby strengthening Israeli control.
• Controversy: Would effectively cut the West Bank into northern and southern parts, making a contiguous Palestinian state unviable.
• International Response:
  • UN & EU: Condemned the move as a violation of international law, specifically Fourth Geneva Convention.
  • USA: Expressed opposition, citing concerns over peace process viability.
  • Palestinian Authority: Called it a “death blow” to the two-state solution.

Israel – Bordering Countries & Water Bodies

• Bordering Countries:
  • North: Lebanon
  • Northeast: Syria
  • East: Jordan (separated largely by River Jordan)
  • Southwest: Egypt
  • Palestinian Territories: West Bank (east of Israel) and Gaza Strip (southwest, bordering Egypt)
• Water Bodies:
• • West: Mediterranean Sea (coastline ~270 km)
  • East: Dead Sea (lowest point on Earth, ~430 m below sea level; shared with Jordan & West Bank)
  • North: Sea of Galilee (Lake Tiberias / Kinneret), freshwater lake, major water source for Israel; fed by River Jordan.
  • Rivers: Jordan River, flows from Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea

Souda Bay, Greece

Context: Recently, INS Tamal, the latest stealth frigate, arrived at Souda Bay, Crete (Greece) during her return passage to India after commissioning in Russia.

About INS Tamal

• Type: Latest stealth frigate of the Indian Navy.
  • A stealth frigate is a type of warship (frigate-class) that is specially designed to reduce its visibility to enemy detection systems such as radar, infrared sensors, sonar, and even visual observation.
• Commissioning: Recently commissioned in Russia (2025).
• Role: Blue-water operations, maritime security, defence diplomacy.

About Souda Bay

• Location: Northwest Crete Island, Greece, opens into the Mediterranean Sea.
• Significance:
  • One of the safest natural harbours of the Mediterranean.
  • Hosts Hellenic Navy Base & U.S. Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay.
  • Strategic for NATO maritime operations.

Khelo India Water Games debut on Dal Lake

Context: Dal Lake in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, hosted the first-ever Khelo India Water Games in August 2025, marking a major push to promote adventure and water sports in India.

About the Event

• Organizer: Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports under the Khelo India Scheme.
  • Khelo India Scheme was launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MoYAS) to revive sports culture in India at the grassroots level and make India a sporting nation.
    • Consolidated earlier schemes like Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan, Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme, National Sports Talent Search System etc.
• Sports Included: Canoeing, Kayaking, Rowing, Dragon Boat Racing, and Traditional Kashmiri Shikara Race.
• Participants: 409 athletes (202 women) from 36 States/UTs.
  • Madhya Pradesh (44), Haryana (37), Odisha (34), Kerala (33) sent largest contingents.
• Significance of the Initiative:
  • Promotion of Water Sports: First dedicated national-level water sports games in India.
  • Boost to Tourism: Strengthens Kashmir’s profile as a global sports & tourism hub.
  • Local Youth Engagement: Encourages talent identification and participation from J&K.
  • Integration with Khelo India Vision: Aligns with the goal of creating a sporting culture and developing world-class athletes.

About Dal Lake

• Location: Srinagar, J&K (in the foothills of Zabarwan Range).
• Nickname: “Jewel in the crown of Kashmir.”
• Features: Famous for houseboats, shikaras, floating gardens, known as “Raad”.
• Significance: Important for tourism, economy, and cultural identity of Kashmir.

Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor

Context: The government announced in Rajya Sabha that the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) being commissioned by BHAVINI is expected to achieve criticality by March 2026 and full power generation by December 2026.

About the Fast Breeder Reactor

• A nuclear reactor that uses fast neutrons to generate more fuel than it consumes.
• The term “breeder” refers to its ability to produce additional nuclear fuel during operation
• Fast Neutrons: FBRs use neutrons faster than thermal neutrons to convert Uranium-238 into Plutonium-239, a fissile fuel.
• Fuel Type: Uses Uranium-Plutonium Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel, a blend of Uranium and Plutonium.

Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR)

• Overview: India’s first indigenous fast breeder reactor.Key component of the three-stage nuclear power program.
• Operator: Managed by BHAVINI under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).
• Location: Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu.

What is Criticality ? 

• In a nuclear reactor, criticality occurs when the neutrons produced by fission exactly balance those lost through leakage or absorption, keeping the neutron population steady.
• It is the point at which a self-sustaining nuclear fission reaction begins, enabling the Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) to generate electricity.

Three Stages of India’s Nuclear Programme

• Stage 1 – PHWRs with Natural Uranium: Uses natural uranium in Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs).
• Stage 2 – Fast Breeder Reactors: Uses Plutonium-239 from reprocessed spent fuel of PHWRs, along with U-238 in Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel.
• Stage 3 – Advanced Reactors with Uranium-233: 

About Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI)

• Ownership: BHAVINIis a government-owned company under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).
• Establishment: Founded in 2003 to advance India’s nuclear energy program.
• Key Achievement: Developed the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam.

Areca Nut Development

Context: A high-level meeting on areca nut development was held at Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi, under the chairmanship of Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

About Areca Nut

• The arecanut palm produces the well-known chewing nut, popularly called betel nut or supari.
• It carries deep cultural and religious significance in India.
• Climatic Conditions:
  • Region: Grows mostly within 28° north and south of the equator.
  • Optimum temperature: 14°C–36°C; growth is hampered below 10°C or above 40°C.
  • Altitude limit: up to 1000 m.
  • Requires abundant, well-distributed rainfall (750–4500 mm annually).
  • Irrigation is essential during prolonged dry spells.
• Season: June – December is found to be the optimum.
• Soil Requirements:
  • Predominantly cultivated in gravelly laterite red clay soils of Southern Kerala and Coastal Karnataka.
  • Best suited to laterite, red loam, and alluvial soils.
• Production: India is the world’s largest producer, ~63% of global production.
• Top Producer: Karnataka (40%)
  • Other producing states: Kerala, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu.

Grading of Arecanut

• Kernels are boiled, de-husked, dried, and graded.
• Market grades include Nuli, Hasa, Rashi, Bette, and Gorabalu.

Varieties of Areca Nut

• White Variety – Produced by harvesting fully ripe nuts and sun-drying for about 2 months.
• Red Variety – Produced from green nuts that are boiled, husked, and dried.

Direct Action Day

Context: Vivek Agnihotri’s film “Bengal Files” depicts the Great Calcutta Killings—the communal riots that engulfed Kolkata for four days starting on August 16, 1946, observed by the Muslim League as “Direct Action Day” to press for the creation of Pakistan.

About Direct Action Day

• Call by Muslim League: It was declared by Muhammad Ali Jinnah to demand Pakistan and reject Congress’s leadership.
• Hartal & Centre of Riots: Marked by a nationwide strike; Calcutta, under a Muslim League ministry, became the epicentre.
• Spread of Unrest: Deepened Hindu-Muslim divide, extending to Bombay, Noakhali, Bihar, Tipperah, and United Provinces.
• Political Consequence: Exposed the British failure to maintain order, paving the way for the Interim Government (Sept 1946) under Jawaharlal Nehru.

Madras Day

Context: August 22 is annually celebrated as Madras Day, to commemorate the foundation day of the city of Madras (now Chennai).

• It was on this day in 1639 that the town of Madrasapatnam, was purchased by the East India Company (EIC) from local kings.

About Madrasapatnam

• Name Origins: The name Madras has debated roots: from Madresan (a fisherman), a Madrassa, or the church Madre de Deus; patnam means “coastal town.”
• Pre-British Rule: The region was earlier under the Pallavas, Cholas, and Vijayanagar Empire.
• Land Grant (1639): Vijayanagar chieftain Damarla Venkatapathy Nayak granted land between the Cooum and Egmore rivers to the English.
• Fort St. George: Established in 1639–40; in 1641, Andrew Cogan shifted the East India Company’s agency from Masulipatnam to Madras.
• Chennapatanam & Chennai: The adjoining settlement, Chennapatanam (named after Chennappa Nayak), later merged with Madrasapatnam, inspiring the name Chennai.
• Growth Under British: City expanded around Fort St. George, with “White Town” (Europeans) and “Black Town” (Indians); Governor Elihu Yale (1687–92) set up a mayor and corporation, later adding areas like Egmore and Tondiarpet.

Lipulekh Pass

Context: India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that Nepal’s objection to trade through Lipulekh Pass is not justified and emphasised that trade through Lipulekh has been a long-standing practice with no alteration of the status quo.

About Lipulekh Pass

• Location: Tri-junction of India (Uttarakhand – Pithoragarh district), Nepal (Darchula district), and China (Tibet Autonomous Region).
• Altitude: ~5,000 m, in the Kumaon Himalayas.
• Strategic & Historical Significance:
  • Gateway to higher Himalayas, connecting the Indian subcontinent with the Tibetan plateau.
  • Served as an ancient trade route for centuries.
  • First Indian border post opened for trade with China (1992).
    • Later followed by Shipki La (Himachal Pradesh, 1994) and Nathu La (Sikkim, 2006).
  • Religious Importance: The Old Lipulekh Pass in the Vyas Valley, Pithoragarh is a key part of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra route.
• India–Nepal Dispute:
  • Nepal’s Claim: Claims Lipulekh–Kalapani–Limpiyadhura (372 sq km) as its own territory.
    • Incorporated into its 2020 revised political map.
  • India’s Stand: Disputes Nepal’s claims, calling them unilateral and unjustified.
    • The region is an integral part of Uttarakhand.
    • Trade and pilgrimage through Lipulekh are a time-tested practice with no new alterations.
• Strategic Importance for India:
  • Security: Key vantage point at India–Nepal–China tri-junction for monitoring Chinese activities.
  • Connectivity: Border Roads Organisation (BRO) developed the Dharchula–Lipulekh road (2020), improving access.
  • Pilgrimage: Shortest and most secure route to Kailash Mansarovar.
  • Trade Gateway: Facilitates Indo-China border trade in essential goods and traditional commodities.

Broligarchs

Context: The Cambridge Dictionary (2025 edition) has added several Internet-origin words such as Skibidi, Broligarchy, Delulu, and Tradwife, sparking debate on the evolution of language in the digital age.

About Newly Added Words

• Tradwife: Derived from traditional wife; a woman embracing traditional gender roles as homemaker and mother. 
• Broligarchy: Bro + oligarchy; powerful, wealthy “tech bros” with political/economic influence. 
• Delulu: Short for delusional; used for those detached from reality. 
• Skibidi: A nonsensical Internet slang; popularized by YouTube “Skibidi Toilet” videos; now used as a flexible filler for “cool/bad/joke.”

Why These Words?

• Lexicographers’ criteria: Frequency, context spread, staying power.
• Reflect global social trends:
  • Rise of identity-based communities (tradwives, fandoms).
  • Growing tech power and digital oligarchs.
  • Absurdist humor as escape in chaotic times (skibidi).
• Algorithmic culture: Words gain traction due to TikTok/Instagram algorithms: shows AI-driven evolution of culture.

Broader Significance

• Sociological Dimension: Mirrors cultural wars: gender roles, tech power, escapist humour.
  • Expands digital sociology: language is a barometer of societal anxieties.
• Linguistic Dimension: Reinforces the idea that language is dynamic, not static.
  • Internet is a new linguistic laboratory producing portmanteaus, abbreviations, memes.
  • Connects with Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, language influences thought.
• Political & Economic Relevance: Terms like broligarchy indicate growing unease over Big Tech’s role in governance and democracy.
• Ethical Dimension: Raises questions like should dictionaries record usage neutrally, or act as gatekeepers of linguistic purity?
  • Reflects freedom vs responsibility debate in knowledge systems.

Monsoon Session 2025

Context: The Monsoon Session 2025 of Parliament was adjourned sine die a day early after passing 15 bills amidst frequent disruptions.

Key Outcomes of Monsoon Session 2025

• Legislative Work Completed: Significant legislations included the Income-tax (No. 2) Bill, 2025, National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, and five major shipping bills.
  • The Houses also approved the extension of President’s Rule in Manipur and passed the state budget.
    • Article 356 enables Parliament to pass state Bills including Budget during President’s Rule.
• Special Discussions and Debates: Operation Sindoor was debated.
• Productivity and Disruptions: Lok Sabha recorded only 31% productivity, while Rajya Sabha achieved 33%.
  • Out of 120 available hours, Lok Sabha functioned for just 37 hours, reflecting the impact of continuous opposition protests over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar.
    

What is Legislative Productivity?

• Legislative productivity refers to the ratio of actual hours spent in deliberation, debate, and lawmaking compared to the total scheduled hours of a session.
• Over the last decade, average productivity in Lok Sabha ranged between 45–65%, except during highly disrupted sessions where it fell below 40%.

Constitutional Provision for Parliamentary Sessions

• Article 85(1): The President summons each House of Parliament at such time and place as deemed fit.
• Adjournment: Temporary suspension of a sitting for a specified time, such as hours or days, by the Presiding Officer (PO).
  • Adjournment Sine Die: Termination of a session by PO  without fixing a date for its next sitting.
  • Prorogation: Formal termination of a session by the President after adjournment sine die, ending all pending business.
• Frequency: As per Article 85 there should not be more than a six-month gap between two sessions.
• Types of Sessions: Parliament generally meets in three sessions annually.
  • Budget Session: Held February–May; focuses on Union Budget and financial business.
  • Monsoon Session: Held July–August; addresses legislative business and current issues.
  • Winter Session: Held November–December; reviews pending bills and urgent national matters.
• Special Session: Apart from these regular sessions, a special session can be summoned by the President under Article 85 to discuss urgent or extraordinary matters outside the normal session calendar.

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