Kumki Elephants

Context: Karnataka will hand over trained Kumki elephants to Andhra Pradesh as part of efforts to address the growing man-elephant conflict along the border of the two states.

About Kumki Elephants

• The term “Kumki” originates from the Tamil word “kumkiyam,” meaning “aid” or “helper.
• Kumki elephants are trained captive Asian elephants, primarily used to manage and control wild elephants.
• Roles of Kumki Elephants in Human-Wildlife Management: 
• • Conflict Management: Helps drive wild elephants away from human settlements and farmlands.
  • Rescue and Patrolling: Play a vital role in rescue operations, forest patrolling, and wildlife conservation.
  • Medical Assistance: Assist in providing medical care to injured wild elephants.
  • Human-Elephant Mediation: Act as mediators between humans and wild elephants to reduce.

About Asian Elephants

• Population in India: 26,000 – 29,000
• IUCN Status: Endangered
• Gestation: 18–22 months
• Only the male Asian Elephant has tusks. 
  • The exceptions are makhnas, who are tusk-less males.
• An elephant herd is led by the senior female, who is also called the ‘Matriarch’.
  • Matriarch remembers migratory routes clearly.
• Has no sweat glands

Saroj Ghose Passes Away

Context: Saroj Ghose, regarded as the father of India’s science museum movement, passed away in Seattle, USA, at the age of 89.

About Saroj Ghose

• Tenure and Role at NCSM: Served as Director General of the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) from 1979 to 1997.
• • Known as the architect of India’s network of science centres and museums.
• Served as President of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), headquartered in Paris.
• Landmark Institutions Designed: Science City, Kolkata, National Science Centre, New Delhi, Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai
• Recognition: Awarded the Padma Shri in 1989 and the Padma Bhushan in 2007, Indira Gandhi Prize (1988), and the National Award for Best Effort in Science Popularization Amongst Children (2001)

About National Council of Science Museums (NCSM)

• It is an autonomous society under the Ministry of Culture formed in 1978.
• Headquartered in Kolkata.
• Manages 26 science centres and museums across India, including 7 national-level centres.

Women make for 35% STEM Graduates Globally: UNESCO

Context: Women account for just 35 per cent of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) graduates worldwide, with little improvement recorded over the past decade, according to UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring (GEM) team.

Key Observations Of UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring (GEM) team

• The digital transformation remains predominantly male-led.
• Women form only:
  • 26% of the global data science and AI workforce.
  • 15% of the workforce in engineering.
  • 12% in cloud computing roles.
• In the European Union, only 1 in 4 women with an IT degree enter digital occupations, compared to 1 in 2 men.

Barriers to Participation as per UNESCO’s GEM team

• Low confidence in mathematics develops early among girls, despite good performance.
• Persistent gender stereotypes discourage girls from pursuing STEM careers.
• STEM workplace culture is often male-dominated and unwelcoming, reducing female retention.
• Policy Gaps: While 68% of countries have policies supporting STEM education, only half of these policies specifically address girls and women in STEM.

UNESCO’s Key Recommendations: 

• Gender-Responsive Policies: Education systems must integrate gender-sensitive guidance and train educators accordingly.
• Early School Interventions: Schools should address biases and foster STEM interest in girls from an early age.

Mentorship & Role Models: Visible female mentors are essential to inspire and retain girls in STEM.

Menar Wetland

Context: Menar wetland in Udaipur, Rajasthan has become a key stopover for migratory bird species, with sightings of rare and threatened birds. 

About Menar Wetlands:

• Geographical Setting: Part of the semi-arid zone of India.
• Wetland Complex: Comprises of two main wetlands:

• Brahma Wetland – Larger and deeper.
• Dhandh Wetland – Smaller and shallower.
• Includes rain-fed ponds, channels, and seasonal water bodies

• Ecological Significance: 

• Biodiversity Hotspot: Hosts 200+ species of birds, including many migratory and threatened species. Example: Dalmatian pelican, Ferruginous pochard, Black-necked stork, Himalayan griffon vulture etc.
• Lies on the Central Asian Flyway – critical for global bird migration.
• It is recognized as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) and is also known as the bird village.

About Wetlands:

• According to the Ramsar Convention, Wetlands are areas with water, natural or man made, permanent or temporary, such as marshes, swamps, or shallow seas (up to six meters deep), where the water can be still or flowing, fresh, salty, or brackish.

Example: Mangroves, Lakes, Rivers, and Floodplains.

Honduras Embassy in Delhi

Context: Recently, The Embassy of Honduras in New Delhi was inaugurated which is a significant step in strengthening India-Honduras diplomatic relations.

About Honduras

• • It is the second largest country in Central America.

• It is positioned in the Northern and Western hemispheres of the Earth

• Bordered by Guatemala, Nicaragua, and El Salvador.

• To the north, it has a long coastline along the Caribbean Sea.

• To the south, it has a short coastal stretch along the Pacific Ocean.

• Geographical Features: Honduras is divided into four distinct geographical regions:

• Central Highlands – hilly and mountainous terrain forms the interior core.

• Pacific Lowlands – located along the southern coast near the Pacific.

• Eastern Caribbean Lowlands – flat and tropical in nature.

• Northern Coastal Plains and Mountains – stretch along the northern coastline.

• Major Rivers: Patuca, Ulúa

• Currency: lempira 
• There are no volcanoes in  Honduras.  

• Capital: Tegucigalpa

It’s also home to the ancient Maya city of Copán, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Bird Wing

Context: A huge solar flare eruption, nicknamed the “Bird-Wing”, was observed.

• The “Bird-Wing” nickname comes from the wide, symmetrical arcs of plasma released during this particular flare, resembling the outstretched wings of a bird.

Signifcance: 

• • This event triggered a large Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) directed towards Earth.

• Such eruptions help scientists study solar-terrestrial interactions and improve space weather forecasts.

What Are Solar Flares?

• Solar flares are sudden bursts of electromagnetic radiation released from the Sun due to intense magnetic activity.

• • They occur when magnetic field lines break and reconnect, releasing huge amounts of energy.

• These bursts are powerful enough to affect radio signals, satellite communications, and even electrical grids on Earth.

What is a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)?

• A CME is a giant cloud of charged plasma ejected from the Sun.

• CMEs often occur alongside solar flares and eject charged particles into space.
• While solar flares travel at the speed of light, CMEs move at 250 km/s to 3000 km/s, taking a few days to reach Earth.

If the CME interacts with Earth’s magnetic field, it could cause powerful auroras and potential disruptions to satellites.

India’s First International Furniture Park

Context: India’s first International Furniture Park, launched in Thoothukudi in  Tamil Nadu is struggling to attract investment which is threatening its promise of large-scale employment.

About India’s first International Furniture Park

• Developed by: SIPCOT (State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu).

• Objective: Transforming India into a global furniture manufacturing hub.

Reasons for Slow Development

• Infrastructure Challenges: The lack of proper infrastructure, including delays in acquiring electricity, water, and drainage connections, has discouraged investors. 

• Limited Promotional Efforts: The government has invested in roads and basic facilities, but promotion to attract large-scale investors has been inadequate, affecting interest in the project.

• Feasibility and Market Challenges

• • • India imports more furniture than it exports which makes domestic production costly and less competitive. 

• Craftsmanship and pricing challenges further reduce viability.

Employment and Global Competition : Cheap imports from China, Indonesia, and other countries provide more affordable options than locally manufactured furniture, affecting demand.

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