Mount Spurr Latest News

Dozens of mini-earthquakes have rattled Alaska's Mount Spurr recently, sparking fears among scientists that the towering 11,000-foot volcano may be on the verge of a major eruption.

About Mount Spurr

• It is an ice- and snow-covered active stratovolcano complex located in the north-central Cook Inlet region about 100 kilometers west of Anchorage, Alaska, United States. 
• The volcano sits at the south edge of a break in the Alaska Range. 
• It is composed mostly of andesite. 
• It consists of a breached stratovolcano, a lava dome at the summit of Mount Spurr, and Crater Peak vent, a small stratocone on the south flank of Mount Spurr volcano.
• The mountain is 3,000 m high and is topped with a 5 by 6 km caldera. 
• The mountain suffered a crater collapse around 10,000 years ago that created Chakachamna Lake.
• There is an active icefield in the caldera and multiple glaciers. 
• The volcano last erupted in 1992. That eruption resulted in heavy ashfall and affected air travel in the region.

Mount Spurr FAQs

Q1. When was the last time Mount Spurr erupted?

Ans. The most recent eruption of Mount Spurr occurred in 1992.

Q2. What type of volcano is Mount Spurr?

Ans. Mount Spurr volcano is an ice- and snow-covered stratovolcano.

Q3. What is the approximate height of Mount Spurr?

Ans. 3,000 meters

Source: TOI

Mahadayi River Latest News

Farmer leaders, environmentalists, religious heads, and advocates came together recently to protest the proposed land acquisition by the state government for the Bandura Nala water diversion project in the Mahadayi river basin.

About Mahadayi River

• The Mahadayi River, also called Mandovi or Mhadei, is a rain-fed river that is shared between Karnataka and Goa for their water needs. 
• Course: 
• It originates from Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in the Western Ghats in Karnataka.
• It travels briefly through Maharashtra before entering Goa and emptying into the Arabian Sea at Panaji, Goa.
• About 76 km of Mahadayi's 111-km length runs through Goa.
• Tributaries: It has several tributaries, namely Rogaro, Kushavati, Nanorem, Nanuz, Valvota, and Mapusa.
• Panaji, the state capital, and the town of Old Goa are situated on the left bank of the Mandovi River.
• The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is located on the island of Chorao in the Mandovi River.

What is the Kalasa-Banduri project?

• The project involves the construction of dams and a canal system to divert water from the Mahadayi River, located in Goa, to the Malaprabha River (a tributary of the Krishna river) basin in Karnataka.
• The main goal of the project is to meet the drinking water needs of the districts of Belagavi, Dharwad, Bagalkot, and Gadag in Karnataka. 
• The project was proposed by the Karnataka Government in the 1980s, but faced opposition from the state of Goa.

Mahadayi River FAQs

Q1. Where does Mahadayi river start and end?

Ans. The Mahadayi River starts in the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka and ends in the Arabian Sea near Panaji in Goa.

Q2. Which states are party to the Mahadayi River water Dispute?

Ans. Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra

Q3. Which river is called the lifeline of Goa?

Ans. The Mandovi is called the lifeline of Goa.

Source: NIE

Long-Range Glide Bomb (LRGB) 'Gaurav' Latest News

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the Release Trials of Long-Range Glide Bomb (LRGB) ‘Gaurav’ recently.

About Long-Range Glide Bomb (LRGB) 'Gaurav'

• "Gaurav" is a 1,000-kg class glide bomb designed and developed indigenously by the DRDO.
  • Unlike conventional bombs that fall vertically after release, glide bombs are equipped with fins or wings that allow them to glide forward through the air toward their target. 
  • Importantly, a glide bomb does not have an engine. Instead, it relies on the momentum from being dropped from a high-flying aircraft and uses aerodynamic surfaces to cover long distances. 
  • This enables the launching aircraft to stay away from the enemy’s radar and air defence systems, thereby reducing risk to pilots while still achieving accurate strikes.
• Developed by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in Hyderabad, the Gaurav project involved active collaboration with Indian private sector partners such as Adani Defence Systems & Technologies, Bharat Forge, and several Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

LRGB 'Gaurav' Features

• With a diameter of 0.6 metre, it is four metre long and has a wingspan of 3.4 metre.
• It is an air-launched glide bomb capable of striking targets at long distances. 
• When launched from high altitudes—typically over 40,000 feet—the Gaurav can glide to a range of over 100 kilometres.
• It is equipped with a dual guidance system that combines an Inertial Navigation System (INS) with satellite-based GPS.

Long-Range Glide Bomb (LRGB) 'Gaurav' FAQs

Q1. What is the range of the Gaurav glide bomb?

Ans. It has an operational range of over 100 kilometers when launched from an aircraft.

Q2. What propulsion system does the Gaurav glide bomb use?

Ans. None, it is unpowered

Q3. What type of guidance system does the Gaurav bomb use?

Ans. Dual guidance – INS and GPS

Source: PIB

Neutrino Mass and the KATRIN Experiment Latest News

The latest update from the KATRIN experiment has brought significant advancement in particle physics.

What are Neutrinos?

• Neutrinos are electrically neutral subatomic particles that are produced in processes like radioactive decay and nuclear reactions, including those occurring in the sun and stars.
• They are one of the fundamental particles in the Standard Model of particle physics, but their mass remains unknown.
• Unlike other fundamental particles, neutrinos are extremely lightweight, with masses less than a millionth that of an electron.

What is the KATRIN Experiment?

• KATRIN stands for Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino experiment, and it is located in Karlsruhe, Germany.
• Its primary aim is to precisely measure the mass of the electron antineutrino, a type of neutrino produced in beta decay.
• The experiment focuses on studying the decay of tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, which emits both an electron and an electron antineutrino.
• The energy of the emitted electron is affected by the mass of the neutrino — hence, measuring electron energies helps infer the upper limit of the neutrino’s mass.

Recent Findings

• In its latest analysis, KATRIN has reduced the upper limit of the neutrino mass to less than 0.45 electron volts (eV).
• This is a significant improvement over its earlier result and represents a nearly 50% reduction in the previously estimated maximum value.
• The data is based on the precise measurement of energies from 36 million electrons produced in tritium decay.

Neutrino Mass and the KATRIN Experiment FAQs

Q1. What are neutrinos?
Ans. Electrically neutral subatomic particles with minuscule mass, categorized into three “flavors”: electron, muon, and tau.

Q2. Why is measuring neutrino mass crucial?
Ans. It impacts cosmology (dark matter/dark energy) and particle physics (Beyond Standard Model theories).

Q3. How does KATRIN work?
Ans. The Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino Experiment (Germany) measures tritium beta decay to determine neutrino mass, achieving a sensitivity of 0.2 eV/c².

Q4. How is India contributing to neutrino research?
Ans. Through the proposed India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO), focusing on atmospheric neutrino studies in Tamil Nadu.

Source: SCN

Asiatic Lions Latest News

Asiatic lions are gradually expanding their range beyond Gir forests, often crossing state borders and venturing into coastal areas like Diu Island. 

About Asiatic Lions

• The Asiatic lion, also known as the Persian Lion or Indian Lion, belongs to the subspecies Panthera leo persica.
• It is found exclusively in India, specifically in the Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat.
• Once widespread across West Asia and the Middle East, the Asiatic lion has now become extinct in these regions, with India being the last refuge of this species.
• Current distribution: The latest lion census (2020) by the Gujarat Forest Department records 674 lions spread across 30,000 sq km in nine districts and 53 talukas of Saurashtra.
  • Due to sustained conservation, the IUCN moved the Asiatic lion from “Endangered” (2008) to Vulnerable (2025) on its Red List.

Asiatic vs African Lions

About Gir and Girnar

• Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1965 over 1,412 sq km, with an additional buffer zone of 470 sq km, totalling 1,882 sq km of protected habitat.
• Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, established in 2008, is located in the Junagadh district and covers the Girnar hills of the Saurashtra region.
• It comprises dry deciduous forests, with species like teak, dhak, and acacia, and supports a diverse fauna, including Asiatic lions, leopards, Chinkara, Chousingha, and over 300 species of birds.
• The Girnar Sanctuary functions as an extension habitat for lions beyond Gir National Park.

Asiatic Lions FAQs

Q1. Where are Asiatic lions found in India?
Ans. Exclusively in Gujarat’s Gir National Park, with their population rising from 523 (2015) to 674 (2020).

Q2. How do they differ from African lions?
Ans. Asiatic lions have smaller manes, a longitudinal belly fold, and live in prides of 2-3 females vs. Africa’s 4-6.

Q3. What are the major conservation challenges?
Ans. Habitat fragmentation, human-wildlife conflict, and genetic bottlenecks due to a single population.

Q4. What is Project Lion?
Ans. A 2020 initiative to create a second habitat in Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno-Palpur and bolster disease management.

Source: DTE

El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Latest News

The recent La Niña event in the tropical Pacific Ocean has officially ended, with the climate system now transitioning to ENSO-neutral conditions as confirmed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Key Points about ENSO and its Phases

• El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO): ENSO is a significant climate phenomenon that involves changes in sea-surface temperatures (SST) in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. 
• It affects various global weather patterns, including wind behavior, atmospheric pressure, and rainfall distribution.
  • El Niño: Warmer-than-usual sea surface temperatures associated with unusual global warming patterns.
  • La Niña: Cooler-than-usual sea surface temperatures often linked with colder atmospheric patterns and stronger trade winds.
  • ENSO-Neutral: Neither El Niño nor La Niña dominates the climate system, making forecasts less certain but often acting as a transitional phase between the two extreme conditions.

 ENSO-Neutral Phase

• The ENSO-neutral phase is typically seen as a transition period between El Niño and La Niña.
• In March 2025, NOAA scientists observed that SST anomalies in the Niño-3.4 region had reached -0.01°C, much warmer than the La Niña threshold of -0.5°C.
• The cool waters that had characterized La Niña in previous months have now faded.
• Despite the presence of some La Niña-like atmospheric conditions (like strong trade winds), the lack of cool SSTs has led to the declaration of ENSO-neutral conditions.
• Temperature and Atmospheric Changes: The shift to neutral conditions occurred as warm waters spread westward across the eastern Pacific. Simultaneously, the pool of cool water beneath the surface began to shrink.
  • Although signs of La Niña (like strong trade winds) persisted for a short time, the absence of cold surface waters meant the system no longer met the criteria to be classified as La Niña.

El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) FAQs

Q1. What is ENSO’s impact on India’s monsoon?
Ans. El Niño weakens monsoon rains (e.g., 2023 saw 94% of average rainfall), while La Niña enhances it (2022: 106%).

Q2. How does ENSO affect global agriculture?
Ans. El Niño triggers droughts in Australia/SE Asia but floods in South America. The 2023-24 El Niño reduced India’s wheat output by 5%.

Q3. What is the “Walker Circulation”?
Ans. A Pacific air-current system disrupted during ENSO events, altering trade winds and ocean upwelling.

Q4. How is climate change affecting ENSO?
Ans. Studies suggest increased frequency of extreme El Niño events (from once every 20 to 10 years) due to warmer Pacific waters.

Q5. What is the Indian Ocean Dipole’s (IOD) role?
Ans. A positive IOD (warm western Indian Ocean) can offset El Niño’s monsoon impact, as seen in 2019.

Source: DTE

The Beijing India Report 2024 Latest News

Recently, the Beijing India Report 2024, submitted on the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995), highlighted progress on gender equality and exposed gaps in addressing the gender-climate nexus.

Background: Beijing Declaration & Platform for Action (1995)

• It was a landmark global framework adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women by the United Nations.
• It identified 12 critical areas for action, including poverty, education, health, violence against women, and decision-making.
• The Declaration emphasized women’s rights as human rights and promoted legal and social reforms to achieve gender equality.
• India’s Progress: India, as a signatory, has enacted several laws including the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (2005) and the POSH Act (2013) for workplace safety. However, their implementation remains inconsistent, revealing a gap between legislation and lived reality.

India’s International Commitments

• India is a signatory to several international frameworks that mandate gender equity and climate justice, including:
  • Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948),
  • ICCPR (1966),
  • CEDAW (1979),
  • UN Convention Against Corruption (2003),
  • Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, and
  • Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995).

The Beijing India Report 2024 FAQs

Q1. What is the Beijing India Report 2024?
Ans. A bilateral analysis by Chinese think tanks assessing India’s economic, technological, and geopolitical trajectory, focusing on areas like semiconductor manufacturing and Indo-Pacific strategy.

Q2. Why is this report significant?
Ans. It highlights China’s strategic interest in India’s growth and attempts to recalibrate bilateral ties amid border tensions and trade imbalances ($100 billion in 2023).

Q3. What key areas does the report emphasise?
Ans. Renewable energy collaboration, digital governance, and connectivity projects like the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

Source: TH

Index of Industrial Production (IIP) Latest News

Industrial output grew by only 2.9% in February 2025, marking the slowest growth in six months, well below the market expectation of 4%.

About the Index of Industrial Production (IIP)

• The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is a key statistical tool used to measure the short-term changes in the volume of production in Indian industries. 
• It provides insight into the growth or contraction of industrial activity over a given period, making it a crucial economic performance indicator.
• The IIP is published by the Central Statistics Office(CSO), which is part of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
• The current base year for the index is 2011–12. This base year was adopted to reflect modern industrial structure and production patterns, following periodic revisions from earlier base years such as 1937, 1946, 1951, 1956, and so on.
• Sectoral Composition of IIP (Weight-wise): 
  • Manufacturing: 77.63% of total weight (809 items)
  • Mining: 14.37% (29 items)
  • Electricity: 7.99% (1 item)
• Sectoral Growth (Year-on-Year in February)
  • Mining: Slowed sharply to 1.6%, down from 8.1% in Feb 2024.
  • Manufacturing: Grew at 2.9%, lower than 4.9% a year ago.
  • Electricity: Output growth dropped to 3.6% from 7.6% in Feb 2024.

Eight Core Industries (Weight in IIP: 40.27%)

• Listed in decreasing order of weightage:
  • Refinery Products
  • Electricity
  • Steel
  • Coal
  • Crude Oil
  • Natural Gas
  • Cement
  • Fertilisers

Index of Industrial Production (IIP) FAQs

Q1. What does the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) measure?
Ans. The IIP tracks short-term changes in industrial output, covering mining, manufacturing, and electricity sectors. It uses a base year (currently 2011-12) to measure volume growth.

Q2. Why is the IIP significant for policymakers?
An. It serves as a lead indicator of economic health, guiding monetary policy and industrial strategies. However, it excludes unorganized sectors, limiting its comprehensive assessment.

Q3. What are the limitations of the IIP?
Ans. It excludes services and informal sectors, relies on outdated base years, and faces data lags. Recent reforms aim to include newer products like solar panels.

Source: TH

Amrit Bharat Station Scheme Latest News

The Railway Minister recently announced that 104 of the 1,300 stations being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat scheme are complete.

About Amrit Bharat Station Scheme

• It is an ongoing Indian Railways mission launched in February 2023.
• It aims to enhance and modernize railway stations throughout the Indian Railways network. 
• The scheme currently intends to upgrade and modernize a total of 1,300 stations across the Indian Railway system.
• It envisages the development of stations on a continuous basis with a long-term approach. 
• It involves the preparation of Master Plans and their implementation in phases to improve the amenities at the stations, like improvement of station access, circulating areas, waiting halls, toilets, lift/escalators as necessary, cleanliness, free Wi-Fi, kiosks for local products through schemes like ‘One Station One Product’, better passenger information systems, Executive Lounges, nominated spaces for business meetings, landscaping etc.
• The scheme will cater to each station according to its unique requirements, and also draw inspiration from the local culture, heritage, and architecture of the region in the redesign of every station.
• The scheme emphasizes upgrading station structures, integrating stations with the surrounding city areas on both sides, promoting multimodal connectivity, providing facilities for individuals with disabilities (Divyangjans), implementing sustainable and eco-friendly solutions, introducing ballastless tracks, incorporating 'Roof Plazas' when required, and considering the feasibility and phasing of improvements.
• The ultimate goal is to transform these stations into vibrant city centres over the long term.

Amrit Bharat Station Scheme FAQs

Q1. When was the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme launched?

Ans. February 2023

Q2. What is the main goal of the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme?

Ans. To enhance and modernize railway stations.

Q3. How many stations are intended to be upgraded under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme?

Ans. 1,300 stations

Source: ET

Modernization of Command Area Development and Water Management Scheme Latest News

The Union Cabinet recently approved the ‘Modernisation of Command Area Development and Water Management (M-CADWM)’ as a sub-scheme of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).

About Modernization of Command Area Development and Water Management Scheme

• It is a sub-scheme of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).
• This initiative, with an initial outlay of ₹1,600 crore, is set to run from 2025-2026 and is designed to significantly enhance the irrigation infrastructure in India.
• The key goal of the M-CADWM is to modernise the irrigation water supply network, ensuring that irrigation water reaches the designated farming clusters from existing canals or other water sources. 
• This will help farmers with small land-holdings, by improving water-use efficiency through the use of advanced technologies such as SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) and the Internet of Things (IoT). 
• These technologies will assist in better water accounting and management, directly contributing to increased Water Use Efficiency (WUE) at the farm level.
• A key feature of the M-CADWM scheme is the implementation of underground pressurised, piped irrigation systems, extending up to 1 hectare per farm. 
• This infrastructure will be developed to enhance micro-irrigation practices, enabling farmers to use water more effectively and ultimately increasing agricultural production and productivity.
• In addition to modernising the irrigation systems, the scheme aims to build sustainable farming practices.
  • It proposes the Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT) to Water User Societies (WUS), empowering these communities to manage irrigation assets independently. 
  • To ensure long-term success, these societies will receive support for the next five years, helping them connect with Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) or Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS). 
  • This is expected to profitably improve sustainable water management practices.
• The M-CADWM scheme also seeks to make agriculture more appealing to youth by encouraging the adoption of modern irrigation techniques, creating new opportunities for young people in the agricultural sector. 

Modernization of Command Area Development and Water Management Scheme FAQs

Q1. When did the command area development program start?

Ans. The Command Area Development & Water Management (CADWM) Program was started as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in the year 1974-75.

Q2. What is the basic concept of command area?

Ans. The command area is the geographical area that receives water from an irrigation system, such as a canal network or a drip irrigation system.

Q3. Modernization of Command Area Development and Water Management (M-CADWM) Scheme is a sub-scheme of which major program?

Ans. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)

Source: TH