Samras Model

Context: Recently, 761 out of 4,564 Gram Panchayats which went for panchayat election in Gujarat elected leaders unopposed under the Samras Gram Yojana through a consensus-based selection process

About the Samras Gram Yojana

• It encourages villages to elect Panchayat leaders through consensus, avoiding formal elections to promote harmony and reduce political rivalry.
• Origin: It was launched in 2001 by then Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Narendra Modi.
• Selection Criteria: All Panchayat members and the Sarpanch must be chosen unanimously by village residents without any electoral contest.
• Eligibility and Grants: Villages opting for the Samras model receive financial incentives ranging from ₹3 lakh (for populations below 5,000) to ₹13 lakh (for larger villages).
• For Example: Raningpara Village, Junagadh elected eight panchayat members (four men, four women) unopposed and adopted a rotational Sarpanch model between two women.

Role and Responsibilities under the Model

• Strengthening Local Participation: The model enables inclusive leadership, often empowering women and marginalized groups through rotational leadership arrangements.
• Enhancing Service Delivery: Leaders focus on urgent local needs such as water supply, school expansion, and drug abuse prevention among youth.
• Promoting Cooperative Governance: The consensus approach minimizes conflict, allowing unified planning for agriculture, irrigation, and education development.

International Tiger Day 2025

Context: International Tiger Day is observed annually on July 29 to unite tiger range countries in global efforts for tiger conservation and habitat management.

About International Tiger Day

• The day raises awareness about the urgent need to protect tigers and their rapidly shrinking habitats across the globe.
• Established in: 2010, during the Petersburg Tiger Summit in Russia, with participation from 13 tiger-range countries, including India.
• Theme for 2025:“Securing the future of Tigers with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities at the heart.”
• Global Cultural Significance: Like Western  India’s Waghoba and the Sundarbans’ Dakhin Rai, indigenous groups in Russia venerate the Amur tiger (‘Amba’) as a spiritual guardian.

Tigers of India

• Subspecies Found in India: India is home to the Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) which is also the most populous subspecies globally.
• Habitats: Tigers in India inhabit diverse ecosystems, including mangroves (Sundarbans), grasslands, tropical and subtropical forests, and the Shivalik foothills.
• Current Status: As of 2022, India has an estimated tiger population of 3,682, constituting over 75% of the global wild tiger population.
• Conservation Status
• • IUCN Red List: Endangered
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (India):  Schedule I
  • CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora): Appendix I

Major Conservation Initiatives in India

• Project Tiger (1973): Launched to safeguard tigers in the wild, it began with 9 reserves and now covers 58 tiger reserves across 78,135 sq. km.
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Provides the legal framework for tiger protection, and post-2006 amendments introduced Critical Tiger Habitats and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
• National Tiger Conservation Authority (2006): Established to implement a holistic approach to tiger conservation, ensuring ecological sustainability and community involvement.
• Tiger Task Force (2005): Formed to reassess conservation policies, shifting focus from militarized protection to inclusive forest and wildlife governance.

Mera Gaon Mera Dharohar (MGMD) Programme

Context: Recently, the Union Culture Minister informed Lok Sabha that 4.7 lakh villages are now listed  on the MGMD portal.

About Mera Gaon Mera Dharohar (MGMD) Programme

• Introduction: MGMD is an initiative under the National Mission on Cultural Mapping (NMCM) to preserve and promote India’s rural cultural heritage.
• Aim:  To culturally map 6.5 lakh villages across India, documenting both tangible and intangible heritage elements.
• Started By: Launched in June 2023 as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the programme is being implemented by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) under the Ministry of Culture.

FIDE Women’s World Chess Champion 2025: Divya Deshmukh

Context: Recently, Divya Deshmukh won the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025 after defeating Koneru Humpy at Batumi, Georgia.

• The FIDE Women’s World Cup is a major knockout chess tournament organized by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) for the world’s top female players.

Achievements of Divya Deshmukh

• First Indian woman to win the FIDE Women’s World Cup.
• Fourth Indian woman to become a Grandmaster.

About FIDE

• The International Chess Federation, commonly known as FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs), is the governing body for international chess competitions. 
• Establishment: Founded in Paris, France, in 1924
• Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland.
• Recognition: Recognized as a Global Sporting Organization by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1999.

Operation Mahadev

Context: Recently, three Pakistani terrorists involved in the Pahalgam (Jammu and Kashmir) massacre were killed during ‘Operation Mahadev’.

About Operation Mahadev 

• Operation Mahadev was a joint counter-terror operation by the Indian Army’s Chinar Corps, CRPF, and J&K Police. 
• Objective: Neutralize terrorists linked to the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack and prevent future attacks.

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