Lipulekh Pass
Context: The new Nepal government has objected to Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Lipulekh Pass, reviving long-standing territorial dispute.
- Disputed Territory: Nepal claims Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura based on the Treaty of Sugauli.
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About the Lipulekh Pass
- Location: High-altitude pass at the tri-junction of India, Nepal, and China (Tibet), located in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand.
- Importance:
- Strategic: Crucial for India’s border security, military logistics, and surveillance near the LAC with China.
- Trade & Pilgrimage Route: Used since 1954 for India–China trade and the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
- Dispute: Claimed by Nepal (citing the Treaty of Sugauli), while India maintains historical administrative control.
- Recent Tensions: Nepal’s 2020 map claim and objections to India–China activities (trade, road, yatra) keep the issue active.
Treaty of Sugauli
- Signed in 1816 in between the Kingdom of Nepal and the British East India Company after the Anglo-Nepal War (1814–16).
- Territorial Changes: Nepal ceded territories west of the Kali River (up to Sutlej) and gave up claims over the Tarai region.
- Boundary Definition: Established the Kali (Mahakali) River as the western boundary of Nepal.
- Resident Provision: Allowed a British Resident in Kathmandu, increasing British influence in Nepal’s affairs.
- Strategic Impact: Reduced Nepal’s expansion and marked the beginning of its modern territorial boundaries.
Sukumar Azhikode Centenary Award
Context: Social activist Medha Patkar and Tamil writer Perumal Murugan have been selected for the Sukumar Azhikode Birth Centenary National Award.
About the Sukumar Azhikode Centenary Award
- Awarded By: Sukumar Azhikode Trust.
- Recognition Areas:
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- Medha Patkar: Honoured for her lifelong commitment to social activism and her work advocating for the rights of displaced communities.
- Perumal Murugan: Recognised for his impact on Indian literature and his bold exploration of complex social issues through his writing.
- Award Components: Includes ₹50,000 cash prize + citation.
- Sukumar Azhikode was a renowned Malayalam writer, eminent literary critic, essayist, and orator from Kerala.
C-ART Observatory
Context: The Open-Field Observatory of the Coastal Atmospheric Research Testbed (C-ART), under the Mission Mausam initiative of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), was recently inaugurated at Andhra University, Visakhapatnam.
About C-ART
- Establishing Agency: It is established by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), an autonomous institute under MoES.
- Location and Infrastructure: Set up at Andhra University, which provided land for an open-field meteorological observatory.
- Nature of Facility: Designed for continuous and integrated atmospheric observations along with research collaboration.
- Objectives
- Monsoon Research: Supports process-level diagnostics of monsoon convection.
- Model Improvement: Improves parameterisation schemes in numerical weather prediction (NWP) models.
- Data & Validation: Enables data assimilation experiments and model evaluation for enhanced forecast skill.
- Instrumentation (Present Setup)
- Impact disdrometer and 2D Video Disdrometer (2DVD) for rain microphysics.
- Disdrometer: It is an instrument that measures the size, shape, and distribution of raindrops.
- 2D Video Disdrometer (2DVD): It is an advanced device that captures two-dimensional images of falling raindrops to study rain microphysics in detail.
- 3D-printed Automatic Weather Station (3D-PAWS) and conventional AWS.
- Automatic Weather Station (AWS): System that automatically records weather parameters like temperature, humidity, wind, and rainfall.
- 3D-PAWS: A 3D-printed low-cost AWS, designed for scalable and efficient weather monitoring
- Eddy covariance tower: Measures exchange of heat, moisture, and gases between the earth’s surface and atmosphere (turbulence fluxes).
- Meteorological balloon for vertical atmospheric profiling.
About the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM)
- Type: Autonomous research institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)
- Established: 1962 (autonomous status: 1971)
- Headquarters: Pune, Maharashtra
- Core Domain: Tropical meteorology with a focus on Indian monsoon and climate science
- Key Functions:
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- Development of Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models
- Climate variability and Earth System modelling
- Research on extreme weather events
- Provides scientific inputs to weather forecasting and climate services in India.
About Mission Mausam
- It is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) to make India “weather-ready and climate-smart” through advanced forecasting systems.
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First-Ever Malaria Treatment For Infants
Context: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has prequalified the first malaria drug developed specifically for infants weighing between 2 and 5 kg.
About the Malaria Drug for Infants
- Drug: Infant-specific formulation of Artemether-lumefantrine (common brand name: Coartem).
- Treatment Gap Addressed:
- Earlier: Infants received adjusted doses of medicines originally designed for older children, which increased the risk of dosage errors.
- Now: The availability of an age-appropriate formulation ensures accurate dosing and improves safety for infants.
New Diagnostic Tests for Malaria
- The World Health Organisation (WHO) has prequalified three new rapid diagnostic tests for Malaria.
- Issue with existing tests:
- Most current tests detect the HRP2 protein produced by ‘Plasmodium falciparum’.
- Certain parasite strains have genetic deletions of HRP2, which means the protein is not produced.
- As a result, these infections may not be detected, leading to false negatives and continued transmission.
- Improvement in new tests:
- The new diagnostics detect an alternative parasite protein called pf-LDH (Plasmodium falciparum lactate dehydrogenase).
- This allows more reliable detection, especially in areas where HRP2-negative strains are present.
- WHO recommendation:
- Countries should adopt these new tests when more than 5% of malaria infections are missed due to HRP2 gene deletions.
About Malaria
- Definition: Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, transmitted primarily through bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
- Causative species: Plasmodium falciparum (most severe), along with P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, and P. knowlesi.
- Symptoms & severity: Fever, chills, headache; severe cases may lead to anemia, organ failure, and death.
- Global Burden: According to the World Malaria Report 2025 by the World Health Organisation (WHO):
- Malaria caused an estimated 282 million cases and 610,000 deaths in 2024.
- Children under five account for a majority of deaths, largely in Africa.
- Challenges slowing progress in malaria control: Drug resistance, Insecticide resistance, Diagnostic gaps and declining international funding.
About the World Health Organisation (WHO)
- The World Health Organisation (WHO) is the United Nations’ specialised agency for global public health, responsible for setting health standards, coordinating international responses, and supporting countries in disease control and healthcare systems.
- Establishment: Founded in 1948.
- Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
- India and WHO: India is a founding member and part of the South-East Asia Region (SEARO).
CINBAX-II 2026
Context: India has deployed an Army contingent for Exercise CINBAX-II 2026, a bilateral military drill with Cambodia focused on counter-terrorism and UN peacekeeping operations.
About CINBAX (Cambodia-India Bilateral Army Exercise)-II 2026
- CINBAX-II 2026 is the second edition of a bilateral military exercise between India and Cambodia aimed at enhancing joint operational capabilities.
- Venue: The exercise is being conducted at the Royal Cambodian Air Force Training Centre (Camp Basil).
- CINBAX I was held in Pune, Maharashtra in 2024.
- Participants: The exercise involves 120 personnel from the Indian Army, mainly from the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment, and 160 personnel from the Royal Cambodian Army.
- Focus Areas:
- Company-level joint operations in sub-conventional environments, including counter-terrorism under Chapter VII of the UN Charter
- Training in drone operations, sniper tactics, and mortar handling.
Significance
- CINBAX enhances interoperability, coordination, and operational synergy between the two forces.
- It strengthens India-Cambodia defence ties, and improves preparedness for UN peacekeeping and modern combat scenarios, especially in semi-urban environments.
Padma Doree Initiative
Context: The North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region has launched the Padma Doree initiative.
About the Padma Doree Initiative
- Padma Dore is a cross-regional textile initiative linking Northeast India and Madhya Pradesh.
- Fusion of Traditions: Combines Eri (Ahimsa) silk of Northeast India with Chanderi weaving of Madhya Pradesh.
- Objective: To promote a sustainable, artisan-centric textile ecosystem and revive traditional crafts.
- Significance: Reflects the vision of “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” by integrating diverse cultural traditions.
- Sustainability Focus: Highlights eco-friendly Eri silk production and heritage handloom techniques.
- Cultural Promotion: Includes exhibitions, fashion shows, and artisan participation with live demonstrations.
About the Eri Silk
- Eri Silk, also called “Ahimsa Silk” is produced without killing the silkworm, making it eco-friendly and ethical.
- Source: Derived from the eri silkworm (Samia ricini), mainly fed on castor leaves.
- Region: Predominantly produced in Northeast India (Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh).
- Texture & Properties: Soft, warm, durable, and breathable, ideal for shawls and winter wear.
- Sustainability: Requires low energy and minimal chemical use, supporting sustainable livelihoods.
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About the Chanderi Textile
- Chanderi weaving is a traditional handloom craft from Chanderi town in Madhya Pradesh, with roots in medieval India.
- Fabric Type: Known for lightweight, sheer texture with a glossy finish, often made from silk, cotton, or silk-cotton blends.
- Design Features: Characterised by intricate motifs (peacocks, lotuses, geometric patterns) woven with fine zari work.
- Cultural Significance: Widely used for sarees and traditional attire, symbolising elegance and heritage craftsmanship.
- GI Tag: Chanderi Sarees are recognised as a Geographical Indication (GI) product.
4 May 2026
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