About Kadar Tribe:

• The Kadars are an indigenous community residing primarily in the southern parts of India.
• They are predominantly found in the forests of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• The Kadar tribe is classified as a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) by the Government of India.
• Their name, “Kadar,” is derived from the word “kaadu,” which means forest in Tamil and Malayalam, reflecting their deep connection with the forest environment.
• Language: They speak a Dravidian language known as Kadar or Kadars, which is influenced by Tamil and Malayalam. 
• Occupation:
  • They are traditionally a nomadic group, known for their hunter-gatherer lifestyle.
  • They have a profound knowledge of the forest and its resources, relying on gathering honey, fruits, tubers, and medicinal plants for their sustenance. 
  • Hunting, though less prevalent today, was also a significant part of their livelihood.
  • In recent years, some Kadars have taken up small-scale agriculture and wage labor, but they continue to depend heavily on forest produce for their livelihood.
• They are known for their traditional medicinal knowledge, particularly in the use of herbs and plants for healing. 
• Kadar have a symbiotic relationship with nature, and they believe in the coexistence of Kadar and Kaadu (forest). 
  • The Kadar have traditional protocols to ensure the sustainable use of forest resources.
  • Every practice of resource collection—be it honey, firewood, resin, or herbs—is designed to allow time for regeneration.
• The Kadar community follows a simple social structure, typically organized around extended families.
• They live in small settlements called “hamlets” or “oorus,” usually comprising a few huts made of bamboo, leaves, and other forest materials. 
• Their population was estimated at approximately 2,000 individuals in the early 21st century. 
• They worship jungle spirits and their own kindly creator couple, as well as local forms of the Hindu deities.\

Q1: What is a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG)?

PVTGs are a more vulnerable group among tribal groups in India. These groups have primitive traits, geographical isolation, low literacy, zero to negative population growth rate and backwardness. Moreover, they are largely dependent on hunting for food and a pre-agriculture level of technology. Currently, there are 2.8 million PVTGs belonging to 75 tribes across 22,544 villages in 220 districts across 18 states and Union Territories in India.

News: A tribal community takes charge against invasive alien species

About Bhu-Aadhaar:

• Bhu-Aadhaaris also known as Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN).
• ULPIN was launched in 2021 as part of the Central government’s Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP).
• It aims to streamline and bring uniformity to the process adopted by states in assigning unique identification numbers to land parcels.
• It is accorded to a land parcel based on the longitude and latitude coordinates of the land parcel and depends on detailed surveys and geo-referenced cadastral maps.
• Under this initiative a 14-digit alpha-numeric identity is given to each land parcel.
  • It contains State code, District code, Sub-district code, Village code and aUnique plot ID number.
• Once the ULPIN or Bhu-Aadhaar is generated, it is stamped on the physical land record document held by the owner.
• The same ULPIN will be permanently attached to the plot of land. Even if the land is transferred, sub-divided, or undergoes any change, the ULPIN will remain the same for that geographic boundary.
• Key objectives of ULPIN/Bhu-Aadhaar are
  • To assign a unique ID to each plot of land for easy identification and retrieval of records.
  • To create accurate digital land records with details of land owners, plot boundaries, area, usage, etc.
  • To link land records and property registration processes
  • To facilitate online delivery of land record services
  • To assist in government planning by maintaining updated land data

News:3 years on, 30% of rural land parcels have Bhu-Aadhaar. Centre pushes for completion by 2026

About Begonia neisti:

• It is a new species of flowering plant.
• It was discovered from Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh.
• The plant belongs to the begonia sect platycentrum.
  • The genus Begonia is one of the largest groups in the plant kingdom, with more than 2,100 known species globally, many of which are valued for their ornamental appeal.
• The species has been named ‘begonia neisti’ to honour the North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST) on the successful completion of its 60 years and its immense contribution through science and technology towards the benefit of the local people of the Northeast region of India.
• Begonia neisti boasts striking variegated leaves adorned with white-silver circular spots and dark brownish-red patches near the veins.
• The large leaves and the distinctive white stripealong the stems and petioles give the plant an unusual appearance, setting it apart from other Begonia species. 
• The plant thrives on moist, hilly slopes between Hunli and Anini, blooming from November to January.
• Classified as Data Deficient (DD) by the IUCN Red List, Begonia neisti’s habitat is threatened by road expansion, sparking concerns about its future.

Q1: What is the North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST)?

NEIST, Jorhat, Assam, a constituent establishment of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, has been engaged in multidisciplinary R&D work relevant to the country in general and North Eastern Region in particular.

News: New plant species discovered in Arunachal’s Dibang valley

About Emissions Gap Report (EGR):

• It is an annual report published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
• The EGR series tracks our progress inlimiting global warming well below 2°Cand pursuing 1.5°C in line with the Paris Agreement. 
• Since 2010, it has provided an annual science-based assessment of the gap between estimated future global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions if countries implement their climate mitigation pledges and where they should be to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
• Each year, the report also highlights key opportunities to bridge the emissions gap, tackling a specific issue of interest.
• With the aim to inform the climate negotiations among UN Member States, the EGR is launched every year ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP). 
• Highlights of 2024 EGR:
  • The report, titled “No More Hot Air... Please!”, underscores that if countries fail to collectively cut annual GHG emissions by 42 percent by 2030 and by 57 percent by 2035, the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C global temperature target will become unattainable within a few years.
  • For the 2°C target, reductions of 28 percent by 2030 and 37 percent by 2035 are required.
  • Without a significant enhancement in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) targets, the UNEP warns global temperatures could rise by 2.6-3.1°Cby the century’ send.
• NDCs are national climate action plans updated every five years by countries to align with the Paris Agreement, which seeks to limit global temperature rise to well below 2°C, ideally to 1.5°C.
  • GHG emissions increased by 1.3 percent in 2023 relative to 2022, with the power sector being the largest contributor, followed by transport, agriculture, and industry.
  • Among major economies, India in FY23 recorded the steepest increase in GHG emission, climbing 6.1 percent, with China trailing closebehind at 5.2 percent.
  • In contrast, GHG emission decreased in both the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) by 7.5 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively.
  • Despite India’s rise, its 2023 GHG emission remains relatively low at 4,140 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO₂e) against China’s 16,000 and the US’s 5,970.
  • The EU’s emission was slightly lower than India’s, at 3,230 MtCO₂e.
  • India is the third largest emitter globally, behind China and the United States.
  • The six largest GHG emitters accounted for 63% of global GHG emissions. By contrast, least developed countries accounted for only 3%.

Q1: What is the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)?

It is the leading environmental authority in the United Nations system. UNEP uses its expertise to strengthen environmental standards and practices while helping implement environmental obligations at the country, regional, and global levels. UNEP is driving transformational change by drilling down on the root causes of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution. It is headquartered at Nairobi, Kenya.

News: Climate may warm by 3.1°C if current policies don’t change, warns UN report

Why in News:

• Presently, NMM is a part of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts.
• The new body, likely to be named the National Manuscripts Authority, will be an autonomous entity under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.

About National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM):

• It was established in February 2003, by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Government of India.
• Mandate: Documenting, conserving and disseminating the knowledge preserved in the manuscripts.
• Motto: ‘Conserving the past for the future’
• A unique project in its programme and mandate, the NMM seeks to unearth and preserve the vast manuscript wealth of India.
  • India possesses an estimate of ten million manuscripts, probably the largest collection in the world.
  • These cover a variety of themes, textures, and aesthetics, scripts, languages, calligraphies, illuminations, and illustrations.
  • While 75% of the existing manuscripts are in Sanskrit, 25% are in regional languages, according to the NMM.
• Objectives:
  • Locate manuscripts through a national-level survey and post-survey.
  • Document each and every manuscript and manuscript repository, for a National Electronic Database that currently contains information on four million manuscripts making this the largest database on Indian manuscripts in the world.
  • Conserve manuscripts incorporating both modern and indigenous methods of conservation and training a new generation of manuscript conservators.
  • To train the next generation of scholars in various aspects of Manuscript Studies like languages, scripts and critical editing and cataloguing of texts and conservation of manuscripts.
  • To promote access to manuscripts by digitizing the rarest and most endangered manuscripts.
  • To promote access to manuscripts through the publication of critical editions of unpublished manuscripts and catalogues.
  • To facilitate public's engagement with manuscripts through lectures, seminars, publications and other outreach programmes.
• To achieve this mandate, the mission has established more than 100 Manuscripts Resource Centres and Manuscripts Conservation Centres all over India.

What is a Manuscript?

• A manuscript is a handwritten composition on paper, bark, cloth, metal, palm leaf, or any other material dating back at least seventy-five years that has significant scientific, historical, or aesthetic value.
• Lithographs and printed volumes are not manuscripts.
• Manuscripts are found in hundreds of different languages and scripts.
  • Often, one language is written in a number of different scripts. For example, Sanskrit is written in Oriya script, Grantha script, Devanagari script, and many other scripts.
• Manuscripts are distinct from historical records such as epigraphs on rocks, firm ans, and revenue records, which provide direct information on events or processes in history.
• Manuscripts have knowledge content.

Q1: What is Lithography?

A lithograph is a print that's made using a stone or metal plate. Lithographs are etched into the plate using a chemical reaction.

News: Government seeks to relaunch National Manuscript Mission, set up autonomous body

About Center for Generative AI:

• It will identify and empower the next generation of AI innovators and entrepreneurs using open-source AI and exploring possibilities in Large Language Models (LLM).
• The research under its aegis will be shared with students via AICTE and through direct connection with colleges.
• Shrijan will engage young developers to deploy open-source LLMs across India and unearth indigenous use cases through Hackathons.
• It will conduct master training activation workshops for select colleges, data labs, and ITIs, introducing them to foundations of LLMs to ignite interest.
• It will help support the creation of student-led startups experimenting with Open Source LLMs by identifying the young developers.
• Srijan is to foster indigenous research ecosystem of the country.
• It aims to nurture 1 lakh youth developers & entrepreneurs in AI skills over the next 3 years.
• The idea is to remain future ready in our Development of innovative indigenous AI solutions in key areas like healthcare, education, agriculture, smart cities, smart mobility, sustainability, financial and social inclusion.
• IIT Jodhpur COE Srijan will collaborate with academic, government & industry stakeholders both national & global to advance GenAI research and technology.
• This includes Open science innovation, Develop and transfer technology solutions, Education & capacity building besides Policy advisory and governance.
• Funding: Meta has committed to invest up to INR 750 Lakhs (as donation) over the period of three years. The IndiaAI will support the researcher working in the CoE being setup at IIT Jodhpur’s Centre Srijan.

Q1: What is a Large Language Model (LLMs)?

A large language model (LLM) is a type of artificial intelligence (AI) program that can recognize and generate text, among other tasks.

News:'IndiaAI' and Meta announces the establishment of the Center for Generative AI, Shrijan (सृजन) at IIT Jodhpur

About Great Eared Nightjar :

• The name 'nightjar' comes from the bird's nocturnal habits and the fact that its calls are often described as jarring.
• Their diet usually consists of smaller insects. Instead of making nests really high up on trees, they typically roost on the ground or low branches.
• Nightjars are well known for their silent flight, which is due to the structure of their feathers. Hence they can easily sneak up on their prey and also move away without anyone noticing, if faced with a potential threat.
• Unlike other birds, the Great Eared Nightjar lays its eggs directly on the floor instead of building a nest. 
• Habitat: These birds prefer to dwell in thick forests, woodlands and mangroves. Since they are nocturnal, you can catch them flying only at dusk or dawn, searching for food.
• Distribution: The Nightjar can be found roaming the skies from parts of India and Sri Lanka to the Malay Peninsula, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
• Conservation status
  • IUCN: Least Concern
• Threat: Due to rapid loss in their habitat, they are under threat.

Q1: What are Mangroves?

It is a dense salt-tolerant forest found along tropical and subtropical coastlines. Covering approximately 4,740 square kilometers, they are a unique ecosystem which offer ecological as well as economic utility for coastal areas.

News: Is it a bird or a baby dragon? All about the mysterious creature

About Nemaline Myopathy:

• It is a rare genetic muscle disorder characterised by the presence of thread-like structures within muscle fibres affecting mobility and functionality.
• It is also known as rod myopathy, is a rare congenital disorder that weakens the skeletal muscles.
• This condition is hereditary, stemming from genetic mutations that impact muscle proteins.
• It is found in approximately 1 in every 50,000 births.
• The disorder can vary in severity, ranging from mild cases with minimal impact on daily life to more severe forms that lead to substantial muscle weakness, requiring significant medical intervention.
• Symptoms
  • Muscle weakness in the face, neck, and trunk, along with difficulties in feeding, breathing, and sometimes deformities.
  • Affected individuals may also experience foot deformities, abnormal curvature of the spine (scoliosis), and joint deformities (contractures).
• Treatment: There is no cure for this disease. Currently, treatment for nemaline myopathy is largely symptomatic and focuses on supportive care, including physiotherapy and muscle strengthening exercises.

Q1: What is genetic mutation?

It is a change to a gene's DNA sequence to produce something different. It creates a permanent change to that gene's DNA sequence. Genetic variations are important for humans to evolve, which is the process of change over generations.

News: CJI opens up about foster daughters' battle with nemaline myopathy. What is this rare disorder?