News in Shorts: 28 March 2026

Amrabad Tiger Reserve

Context: The Telangana government has initiated voluntary relocation of tribal families from the core area of Amrabad Tiger Reserve to reduce human–wildlife conflict.

About Amrabad Tiger Reserve

• Location: Amrabad Tiger Reserve is located in the Nallamala Hills in Nagarkurnool and Nalgonda districts of Telangana.
• Formation: It was established as a tiger reserve in 2014 after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, separating from the Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve.
• Biodiversity: It supports diverse fauna including the Bengal tiger, leopard, sloth bear, dhole, and herbivores like sambar and chinkara, along with rich dry deciduous flora.
• Chenchu Tribe: The reserve is traditionally inhabited by the Chenchu tribe, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), dependent on forest-based livelihoods.
• Rivers & Ecology: The Krishna River flows along its periphery, supporting the forest ecosystem and influencing the reserve’s biodiversity and microclimate.

Euthalia zubeengargi

Context: A new butterfly species, Euthalia zubeengargi, has been discovered in Arunachal Pradesh.

About Euthalia zubeengargi

• Naming: The species is named after Zubeen Garg to honour his cultural contributions.
• Common Name: Researchers have proposed the common name “Basar Duke” after the Basar region of Leparada district.
• Habitat: It inhabits semi-evergreen forests at elevations of 600–750 metres.
• Rarity: Only two male individuals have been recorded, indicating the species may be rare or highly localised.
• Taxonomy: It belongs to the genus Euthalia, which is widely distributed across South and Southeast Asia.
• Behaviour: It prefers cool, shaded forest interiors, rests on low vegetation, feeds on tree sap, and is active mainly from late morning to early afternoon.
• Significance: The discovery highlights the rich biodiversity of Northeast India and the need for conservation of forest ecosystems.

Nasha Mukt Vidyalaya

Context: Recently, the Nasha Mukt Vidyalaya Initiative was launched at the 9th Apex Meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD).

About Nasha Mukt Vidyalaya Initiative

• A school-focused programme under the broader anti-drug framework to tackle rising substance abuse among children and adolescents.
• Mission Mode: Three-year action plan to be implemented in mission mode across all States and Union Territories.
• Objective
  • To create drug-free educational environments and promote behavioural change among students.
  • To position schools as the first line of defence against substance abuse.
• Key Features
  • Declaration of 500-metre radius around schools as drug-free zones.
  • Mandatory reporting of violations by school authorities to local administration and police.
  • Integration of preventive education, awareness campaigns, and counselling support.
  • Focus on capacity building of teachers, peer-led student initiatives, and IEC activities.
  • Establishment of monitoring and reporting mechanisms at the school, district, and state levels.

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About Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA)

• Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan was launched on 15 August 2020 to combat drug abuse in India.
• Nodal Ministry: Implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in coordination with other ministries.
• Coverage: Initially covered 272 vulnerable districts, later expanded to all districts in 2023.
• Objectives
• • To reduce demand for drugs through awareness, counselling, and rehabilitation.
  • To promote community participation and behavioural change.
  • To ensure convergence among health, education, and law enforcement agencies.
• Significance: Reflects a holistic, multi-sectoral approach combining education, enforcement, and rehabilitation to address substance abuse as a major public health challenge

About Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD)

• The NCORD was established by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2016 and restructured in 2019 into a 4-tier mechanism
  • Apex (Policy), Executive (Operational), State, and District.
• Objective: To enhance coordination between Central/State drug enforcement agencies.
• Role: It brings together law enforcement, intelligence, and welfare agencies to tackle drug trafficking and abuse under the NDPS Act.
• Initiatives: Manages the NCORD Portal for information sharing, the (National Integrated Database on Arrested Narco-offenders) NIDAAN database for tracking offenders, and the MANAS 24×7 helpline.

Hope Island: Olive Ridley Conservation

Context: Nearly 20,000 Olive Ridley turtle eggs were conserved on Hope Island highlight its ecological importance as a key nesting and coastal protection site in Andhra Pradesh.

About Hope Island

• Hope Island is a tadpole-shaped sand-spit island formed by sediment deposition over the past 200 years.
• Location: Bay of Bengal off the Kakinada coast in Andhra Pradesh.
• Key Features and Roles
  • Climate and vegetation: Tropical savannah climate (Aw) with high temperatures (19-32 degree Celcius ) and ~110 cm annual rainfall supporting dense mangrove vegetation and salt marshes.
  • Rich Ecosystem: It is part of the ecosystem of the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary.
    • Serves as a vital nesting ground for Olive Ridley Turtle as a site for in-situ conservation, aiding hatchling survival.
    • Supports rich biodiversity, including migratory birds like Greater Flamingos.
  • Natural Disaster Mitigation: It functions as a natural breakwater, protecting the Kakinada coast from cyclones and storm surges.
    • Helps maintain a calm natural harbour, aiding local economy and fisheries.
  • Strategic Importance: Its proximity to Satish Dhawan Space Centre makes it an option for developing a new Launch Pad for ISRO.

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About Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)

• The Olive Ridley turtle is the smallest and most abundant sea turtle species, named after the olive-green colour of its carapace.
• Habitat: It inhabits warm tropical and subtropical marine waters, preferring coastal areas near estuaries and bays for nesting.
• Distribution: Olive Ridley turtles are found in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans.
  • In India, major nesting occurs along the Odisha coast, Andaman Islands, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka (the only western-coast rookery).
• Diet: They are omnivorous, feeding on algae, jellyfish, crabs, lobsters, molluscs, and tunicates.
• Nesting Practice: A unique feature is arribada, a mass nesting phenomenon where thousands of females lay eggs simultaneously on the same beach.
  • In India, major arribada sites include Gahirmatha, Devi River mouth, and Rushikulya in Odisha.
  • Each female lays about 100–140 eggs.
• Conservation Status
  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
  • CITES: Appendix I
• Threats: Major threats include bycatch in fishing nets, coastal development, climate change, marine pollution, illegal harvesting of eggs, and predation by stray animals

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