First Pig Liver Transplant in Human

Context: In a medical breakthrough achieved by Chinese Doctors, a pig’s  Liver has been transplanted into a Human being. 

More Details about the Transplant Operation

• The liver was transplanted into a brain-dead adult person at the Fourth Military Medical University in the Chinese city of Xi’an
• Published In: The study, “Gene-modified pig-to-human liver xenotransplantation” was published in the journal Nature.
• The liver was sourced from a miniature pig, which had six edited genes. 
• Significance:
• • Bridge Organ: The transplant can help serve as a ‘bridge organ’ to support people who are waiting for a human donor.
    • The pig liver did not completely replace the patient’s original liver. 
  • Future potential of xenotransplantation as a bridge graft or permanent placement will be studied more comprehensively.

About Xenotransplantation

• Xenotransplantation (cross-species transplantation) is the process  of transplanting living cells, tissues, or organs from one species to another, primarily from animals to humans
• Purpose: The primary driver for xenotransplantation is to address the shortage of human organs available for transplantation and save lives.
• Examples: 
  • Pig-to-Human Kidney Transplants: A successful transplantation has been performed by Massachusetts General Hospital and New York University 
  • Pig-to-Human Heart Transplants: Research teams at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have performed pig-to-human heart transplantation.

Green Grabbing

Context: The Asia Development Bank (ADB)-funded Assam Solar Park faces opposition from local communities for allegedly engaging in ‘green grabbing’ of indigenous land.

About Green Grabbing

• Definition: Green grabbing occurs when land is repurposed for environmental projects like carbon offsetting, biodiversity reserves, afforestation, or clean energy.
  • The term Green Grabbing was first used by the Guardian journalist John Vidal to refer to the appropriation of land and resources for environmental ends
• Impact: It displaces communities, threatens livelihoods, undermines food security, and erodes local knowledge that sustains agrobiodiversity.
• Tactics: Land is often acquired coercively under the pretext of environmental conservation or sustainable development.

Case of Assam’s Karbi Anglong

• Scarcity of Fertile Land: The hilly terrain limits arable land, making fertile areas crucial for indigenous communities.
• Government Initiative: Assam’s plan to establish solar parks has led to land acquisition, reducing agricultural space.
• Effect on Indigenous Communities: The Karbi and Naga people face displacement, loss of livelihood, and threats to their traditional way of life.

Asbestos Banned in KVs

Context: The Ministry of Education has issued guidelines to ban asbestos  in construction or refurbishment of all the Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) across India.

About Asbestos

• Asbestos is a group of 6 naturally occurring fibrous minerals that are resistant to heat and corrosion.
• Types: The 6 types of commercial asbestos are chrysotile, crocidolite, tremolite, amosite, actinolite and asbestiform minerals.
• Category: The 6 main types of asbestos fall into 2 categories,
  • Amphibole: Amphibole asbestos fibers are brittle, needle-like and range in color from green to blue to brown.
  • Serpentine: The fibers are long and curly, and chrysotile ( white in color) is the only type of the category.
• Application: 
  • Construction: Asbestos was widely used in building materials for insulation, roofing, siding, flooring, ceiling tiles, and textured paints.
  • Insulation: The tough asbestos fibers could handle heat, electricity and corrosion therefore used in fireproofing materials.
  • Friction Products: Asbestos is widely used in brake pads, clutches and other automotive and electronic parts due to its strength, heat resistance.
  • Asbestos in cloth, paper, cement, plastic and other materials made them heat-resistant and stronger.
  • Consumer products, such as appliances, talc-based cosmetics, textiles and children’s toys, also contain asbestos.
• Health Risk: According to the World Health Organization, all types of asbestos cause,
  • Asbestosis: A lung disease characterized by scarring and inflammation.
  • Carcinogenic: Exposure to asbestos can cause mesotheliomas (a relatively rare cancer of the thin membranes that line the chest and abdomen).
    • It can also cause cancers of the lung, larynx, and ovary.
• India’s Position: Asbestos mining and asbestos waste used in ships is banned in India since 2011
  • Import: India imported 361,164 tonnes of  Chrysotile  asbestos between 2019 and 2020, processed, and used, particularly in the construction industry for asbestos-cement roofing.

‘Sahkar’ Taxi Service

Context: Recently, the Indian Union Home and Cooperation Minister announced the launch of an app-based taxi service called ‘Sahkar,’ similar to Ola and Uber.

About the ‘Sahkar’ Taxi Service

• It is a new cooperative-based ride-hailing initiative.
• Drivers will not just be service providers but will also be stakeholders, allowing them to earn more profits directly.
• Objective: This initiative is aimed at strengthening the financial position of drivers.
• The service will include two-wheeler taxis, auto-rickshaws, and four-wheeler cabs.
• Part of ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’ Mission: The project aligns with the vision of “Sahkar se Samriddhi” (Prosperity through Cooperation) and is expected to roll out nationwide in the coming months.
• Features
  • Cooperative Model: Sahkar Taxi will be managed by cooperative societies, unlike private platforms.
  • Direct Earnings for Drivers: All profits will go directly to the drivers.

Nag Missile System (NAMIS)

Context: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed important contracts for procurement of the Nag Missile System (NAMIS) and around 5,000 light vehicles.

About Nag Missile System (NAMIS – Tracked Version)

• NAMIS is a tracked version of the Nag Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) mounted on a BMP-2 chassis.
• Developed by:  The Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) of DRDO.
• Manufactured by : Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL)
  • The variants include:
    • Helina (air-launched)
    • Dhruvastra (advanced Helina)
    • NAMICA (Nag Missile Carrier)
    • MPATGM (Man-Portable ATGM
  • Objective: Aimed at modernizing the anti-tank capability of the Indian Army’s Mechanised Infantry.
• Features of NAMIS (Tr):
  • Advanced anti-tank weapon system designed to target enemy armour.
  • Fire-and-Forget Technology: Once launched, the missile automatically tracks and destroys its target.
  • Target Capability: Can destroy heavily armored tanks, including tanks with reactive armor.
  • Night Strike: Works effectively in day and night conditions.
    Enhances firepower, lethality, and operational readiness of the Indian Army.

DX-EDGE

Context: The NITI Aayog launched a new initiative called DX-EDGE (Empowering Excellence and Growth through Digital Transformation) to support and enhance the performance of India’s MSMEs (Medium, Small, and Micro Enterprises).

What is DX-EDGE?

DX-EDGE is a national program aimed at boosting digital transformation for MSMEs by:

• Building a strong ecosystem connecting MSMEs, technology providers, and academic institutions.
• Enhancing MSMEs’ access to technology at lower costs to improve efficiency, increase revenues, and enhance their global competitiveness.
• Key Highlights
  • Support for 6 Crore MSMEs: The initiative will help MSMEs across India through the use of advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital solutions.
  • Skilled Workforce Development: DX-EDGE will create a large pool of technical experts. 
• Significance of DX- EDGE
  • Promotes Collaboration: The program will bring together public, private, and academic sectors to encourage innovation.
  • Adoption of Digital Technologies: MSMEs need to embrace digitalization and frontier technologies to remain competitive in the modern economy.

WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC)

Context: The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC) is established in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India.

About WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC)

• It is a specialised centre/knowledge hub for traditional medicine  to promote evidence-based research, training, and awareness in Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) on a global scale.

Key Highlights of GTMC

• First Global Centre for Traditional Medicine: GTMC is the first and only outposted WHO Centre dedicated to traditional medicine worldwide.
• Core Objectives:
  • Serve as a knowledge hub for traditional medicine.
  • Support scientific research and innovation in Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH).
  • Promote evidence-based traditional medicine practices globally.
    Facilitate training and skill development in TCIM.
• Strategic Collaboration:
  • The Centre works with global institutions, researchers, and policymakers to integrate traditional medicine into mainstream healthcare systems.
  • Aligns with WHO’s global strategy on traditional medicine to strengthen its role in universal health coverage.
• Hosting Institution in India:
  • GTMC is based at the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA) in Jamnagar, which is recognized as an Institute of National Importance under the Ministry of AYUSH.

Kasampatty Sacred Grove

Context: The Tamil Nadu government has notified Kasampatty (Veera Kovil) sacred grove as a Biodiversity Heritage Site

• The Forest Department has officially published the notification in the Government Gazette under the Biological Diversity Act of 2002.
• Kasampatty Sacred Grove becomes the second officially designated Biodiversity Heritage Site in Tamil Nadu.
  • The first Biodiversity Heritage Site in Tamil Nadu is Arittapatti in Madurai.

About Kasampatty Sacred Grove

• Location: The sacred grove is nestled in the heart of Kasampatty village in Rediyapatty panchayat located near Alagarmalai Reserve Forest in Dindigul district.
• Religious Deity: Locals worship the deity ‘Veeranan’ at Veera Kovil Temple
• Biodiversity Hotspot: The site hosts 48 plant species, 22 shrubs, 21 lianas, and 29 herbs, contributing to its genetic richness
  • The grove also provides shelter to over 12 species of birds, small mammals, reptiles, and an array of insects.
• Significance: The grove plays a crucial role in preserving biodiversity and regulating the local climate.

About Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS)

• These are areas of ecological significance, rich in both wild and domesticated species, rare and threatened species, and areas with high endemism or evolutionary significance.
• Notification: These are declared by state governments under Section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, to protect and conserve them
• Example: Nalluru Heritage Tamarind Grove (Nalluru Kote) in Bengaluru, Karnataka is India’s first designated Biodiversity Heritage Site.

Fungal Species Threatened with Extinction: IUCN Report

Context: Over 1,000 fungal species are now threatened with extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

About the listing of fungal species

• The IUCN Red List (as of March 27, 2025) now includes 169,420 species, with 47,187 at risk of extinction.
• The recent assessment added 482 fungal species, bringing the total to 1,300, of which at least 411 are endangered.
• The fibrous waxcap (Hygrocybe intermedia), a well-known European countryside species, is now classified as Vulnerable.

Threats to Fungal Survival

• Deforestation, agricultural expansion, and urbanization are destroying fungal habitats.
  • For Example 279 species are at risk due to habitat loss from agriculture and urban expansion.
  • 198 species face extinction due to deforestation, including illegal logging and land clearing for agriculture.
• Pollution from fertilizers and vehicle emissions is affecting fungal growth.
  • 91 species are threatened by nitrogen and ammonia pollution from fertilizers and engine emissions.
• Changes in fire patterns in forests are disrupting natural ecosystems.
  • Over 50 species in the USA are endangered due to changing forest  fire patterns that have altered forest ecosystems.

Importance of Fungi

• Fungi are the second-largest kingdom after animals, with an estimated 2.5 million species (only 155,000 named).
• They play a vital role in ecosystems, plant nutrition, decomposition, medicine, and food production.
• IUCN urges urgent conservation efforts to protect fungi, calling them “unsung heroes of life on Earth.”

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