PRELIMS
Gharial and Sloth Bear Recommended for Inclusion under Species Recovery Programme
Why in News: The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) has recommended the inclusion of Gharial and Sloth Bear under the Species Recovery Programme of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme – Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (CSS-IDWH).
About Gharial
Habitat: Freshwater rivers; major populations in Chambal & Girwa Rivers (India), Rapti-Naryani River (Nepal).
Conservation Status:
- IUCN: Critically Endangered
- WPA, 1972: Schedule I
- CITES: Appendix I
Key Features:
- Thinnest, most elongated snout among crocodilians.
- Adult males have a bulbous ‘ghara’ on snout tip.
- Most aquatic of all crocodilian species.
About Sloth Bear
Habitat: Native to India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka; found in Peninsular India, Western Ghats, Deccan Plateau, Gangetic Plain, and North East.
Conservation Status:
- IUCN: Vulnerable
- WPA, 1972: Schedule I
- CITES: Appendix I
Key Features:
- Shaggy coat; smaller in size.
- Feeds mainly on termites and ants.
- Solitary and nocturnal in nature.
About CSS–IDWH (Centrally Sponsored Scheme – Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats)
Objective:
- To provide financial and technical assistance to State/UT Governments for activities aimed at wildlife conservation.
Key Components:
1. Support to Protected Areas
- Includes National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves, and Community Reserves.
2. Protection Outside Protected Areas
- Wildlife protection in non-protected regions and mitigation of Human-Wildlife Conflict.
3. Species Recovery Programme
- Focused on saving critically endangered species and habitats.
- So far, 22 species have been identified under this programme.
- Includes species like Snow Leopard, Asiatic Lion, Great Indian Bustard, etc.
Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 – India Participates
Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 – India Participates
Why in News: India is participating in Talisman Sabre 2025, a major multinational military exercise led by Australia, along with 18 other nations. It is the 11th edition and the largest-ever iteration of the drill.
About Exercise Talisman Sabre
Type: Biennial, large-scale bilateral military exercise between Australia and the United States.
Started: In 2005; held every two years.
Purpose:
- To enhance interoperability and defence cooperation.
- Promotes a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Scale (2025):
- Over 35,000 military personnel participating.
- Held across land, air, and sea domains in multiple locations in and around Australia.
Participating Nations (2025)
Full Participants: USA, Australia, India, etc.
Astra Missile Successfully Flight-Tested
Why in News: The DRDO and Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully conducted the flight test of the indigenously developed Astra Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM).
About Astra Missile
Type: Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM).
Developed by: DRDO, with contributions from over 50 public & private industries including HAL.
Launch Platform: Designed for fighter aircraft (e.g., Su-30 MKI).
Key Features
- Range: Exceeds 100 km.
- Seeker: Equipped with an indigenous Radio Frequency (RF) Seeker.
- Navigation: State-of-the-art guidance and navigation system.
Test Highlights
- Two successful launches against high-speed unmanned aerial targets under different conditions.
- Indigenous RF seeker and all subsystems performed as expected.
- Tests conducted at Integrated Test Range, Chandipur using real-time tracking instruments.
Nipah Virus (NiV)
Why in news: Amid Nipah scare, people warned against visiting hospitals in Malappuram, Palakkad
About Nipah Virus
Type: Zoonotic virus (transmits from animals to humans).
Family: Paramyxoviridae, Genus: Henipavirus
First Detected: 1999 – pig farmers in Malaysia
In India: First outbreak in Siliguri (2001), later in 2007, and Kerala (2018, 2023)
Structure
- Genome: Single-stranded, negative-sense RNA virus
- Proteins: N, P, M, F, G, L
- Components: Nucleocapsid, matrix protein, fusion and glycoproteins
Geographic Spread
Found in: Bangladesh, India, Cambodia, Ghana, Thailand
Transmission
- Direct contact with infected bats, pigs, or their fluids
- Contaminated food, e.g., bat saliva on fruits
- Human-to-human transmission also confirmed in recent outbreaks
Diagnosis Methods
- RT-PCR
- ELISA
- Serum Neutralisation Test (SNT)
- Immunohistochemistry (IHC)
Symptoms
- Early: Fever, headache, muscle pain, sore throat
- Progression: Dizziness, drowsiness, signs of acute encephalitis
- Severe: Seizures, coma within 24–48 hours
Treatment & Vaccine
- No specific treatment or vaccine yet available
- Ribavirin may reduce mortality
- Supportive care is the main treatment method
India’s Response Strategy
- Kerala Govt. + Central Govt. coordination: 19 core committees formed
- House-to-house surveillance (53,000+ homes)
- Movement restrictionsÂ
- Testing labs activated, isolation & ICU units prepared
- Public awareness campaigns + anti-fake news measures
- WHO guidelines used for outbreak response planning
