Long-snouted Vine Snake (Ahaetulla longirostris) Latest News

Recently, a rare long-snouted vine snake (Ahaetulla longirostris) was rediscovered in the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Uttar Pradesh, during a rhino release operation in the Palia Kheri division.

Why in the News?

• This marks the first recorded sighting in Uttar Pradesh and only the second documented instance in India.
• The species was previously seen only in the Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Bihar, and some parts of Odisha, with its natural range usually in Southeast Asia.

About Long-snouted Vine Snake (Ahaetulla longirostris)

• It belongs to the Colubridae family, which includes mostly non-venomous snakes.
• It has a long, slender body that is typically bright green or brown, helping it to camouflage in foliage.
• A distinctive elongated snout (rostral extension) differentiates it from other vine snakes.
• It is an arboreal species, living on trees, and easily blends with leaves and branches.
• It is mildly venomous but not dangerous to humans.

About Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

• Located on the Indo-Nepal border in the Lakhimpur Kheri district, Uttar Pradesh.
• The reserve includes Dudhwa National Park, Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary, Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, and forest areas of North Kheri, South Kheri, and Shahjahanpur.
• It lies within the Tarai-Bhabar zone of the Upper Gangetic Plains Biogeographic Province.
• Major Rivers in the Region:
  • Sharda River near Kishanpur Sanctuary
  • Geruwa River through Katarniaghat Sanctuary
  • Suheli and Mohana Rivers in Dudhwa National Park
  • All are tributaries of the Ghaghara River
• Vegetation and Flora: Features North Indian Moist Deciduous Forests, dominated by Sal trees (Shorea robusta). Other important trees include:
  • Terminalia alata (Asna)
  • Lagerstroemia parviflora (Asidha)
  • Adina cordifolia (Haldu)
  • Mitragyna parviflora (Faldu)
  • Gmelina arborea (Ghamhar)
  • Holoptelea integrifolia (Kanju)
• Major Mammals: Tiger, Leopard (Guldar), Fishing cat, Langur, Jackal, Civet, Mongoose
• Birds: Dabchick, Spot-billed Pelican, Large and Little Cormorants, Grey Heron, White and Black Stork, White Ibis
• Reptiles: Gharial, Mugger crocodile, Python, Banded krait, Russell’s viper, Sand boa, Rat snake

Long-snouted Vine Snake FAQs

Q1. What is the Long-snouted Vine Snake?
Ans. It is a newly discovered snake species from the Western Ghats, India, under the genus Ahaetulla.

Q2. Where was it discovered?
Ans. In the Western Ghats of Maharashtra and Goa, known for rich endemic biodiversity.

Q3. What is unique about this species?
Ans. It has an exceptionally long snout, distinguishing it from other vine snakes.

Q4. What is its conservation status?
Ans. As a newly described species, its IUCN status is yet to be assessed.

Source: TH

Hadean Protocrust Latest News

A new international study led by Macquarie University, Australia, suggests that the chemical signatures attributed to plate tectonics were already present in the Hadean protocrust.

What is the Hadean Protocrust?

• The Hadean protocrust refers to the earliest known crust of the Earth—its outermost solid layer—that formed during the Hadean aeon, the planet’s first geologic era, which began around 4.6 billion years ago.
• This period is named after ‘Hades’, the Greek god of the underworld, due to the extremely hot, hostile, and unstable conditions that prevailed on early Earth.

Geological Conditions During the Hadean Aeon

• The Earth, within its first 200 million years, had a surface that was partially molten, with widespread volcanic activity and constant meteorite bombardment from space.
• During this time, the magma ocean—a vast reservoir of molten rock covering Earth’s surface—began to cool gradually.
• As the surface cooled, early fragments of solid crust began to form. These fragments were not stable and often broke off, while new layers solidified, creating a flaky, unstable crustal layer.
• Some thicker segments of this primitive crust eventually consolidated into the first proto-continents, floating on the underlying asthenospheric mantle—a semi-fluid layer extending up to 400 km beneath the surface.

Birth of Plate Tectonics

• As these crustal plates drifted across the mantle, they began to interact in various ways: colliding, sliding past, or subducting (diving under) one another.
• These early plate movements laid the foundation for plate tectonics, a key process in shaping the Earth's geological features.
• Over time, these interactions left distinct chemical signatures in the Earth’s crust, enabling scientists to reconstruct the history of tectonic activity.

Hadean Protocrust FAQs

Q1. What is the Hadean Protocrust?
Ans. It refers to the earliest crust of the Earth, formed during the Hadean Eon (4.6 to 4 billion years ago).

Q2. Why is it important in geology?
Ans.It provides insights into early Earth formation, plate tectonics, and crust evolution.

Q3. Where has evidence of Hadean Protocrust been found?
Ans. Mainly in zircon crystals from the Jack Hills, Australia—some of the oldest known materials on Earth.

Q4. How does it relate to continental crust formation?
Ans. It suggests that the continental crust began forming earlier than previously thought, possibly influencing early life.

Q5.What methods are used to study it?
Ans. Isotopic dating (U-Pb in zircons) and geochemical analysis are primary tools.

Source: TH

University Grants Commission Latest News

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has notified the “Recognition and Grant of Equivalence to Qualifications Obtained from Foreign Educational Institutions Regulations, 2025”.

Why in the News?

• These regulations were finalised after public feedback on the 2023 draft and aim to provide a transparent, structured, and standardised process for recognising foreign academic qualifications.
• This move aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasises the internationalisation of Indian higher education and the need to seamlessly integrate international students and returning Indian students into India’s education and employment systems.

What Are Equivalence Certificates?

• An equivalence certificate is an official document that certifies a foreign qualification (degree/diploma/certificate) as equivalent to a corresponding Indian qualification.
• These certificates are now to be issued by the UGC, replacing the previous system managed by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).

About the University Grants Commission (UGC)

University Grants Commission FAQs

Q1. What is the UGC?
Ans. The University Grants Commission is a statutory body under the Ministry of Education, India, established in 1956.

Q2. What is its primary role?
Ans. To coordinate, determine, and maintain standards of higher education in India.

Q3. Is UGC responsible for funding universities?
Ans. Yes, it allocates grants to universities and colleges recognized under Section 2(f) and 12(B) of the UGC Act.

Q4. What is UGC-NET?
Ans. It is a national eligibility test conducted to determine eligibility for lectureship and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF).

Source: IE

Trends in Maternal Mortality 2000-2023 Report Latest News

In 2023, India accounted for the second highest maternal deaths globally, tied with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with 19,000 and second only to Nigeria, according to the Trends in Maternal Mortality 2000-2023 report released recently. 

About Trends in Maternal Mortality 2000-2023 Report

• It is a new report from the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), comprising WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, the World Bank Group, and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA/population division). 
• It presents the most up-to-date, internationally comparable estimates of maternal deaths at global, regional, and country levels.

Highlights of the Report

• In 2023, an estimated 260,000 maternal deaths occurred worldwide, equivalent to 712 deaths each day. 
• This marks a 40% reduction in maternal mortality since 2000, reflecting sustained global efforts to improve access to essential health services. 
• For the first time, no country was estimated to have an extremely high maternal mortality ratio (MMR), and no region was classified as having a very high MMR.
• Despite these gains, disparities remain stark. Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 70% of global maternal deaths, with Central and Southern Asia contributing nearly 17%. 
• In 2023, 37 countries were classified as being in conflict or experiencing institutional or social fragility, yet they accounted for 64% of global maternal deaths.
• Nigeria had the highest number of maternal deaths and accounted for more than a quarter (28.7 percent) of all estimated global maternal deaths in 2023, with approximately 75,000 deaths.
• Only three other countries had more than 10,000 maternal deaths in 2023—India, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Pakistan (11,000). 
• India and DRC accounted for 7.2 percent each, while Pakistan accounted for 4.1 percent of global maternal deaths.
• Together, these four countries accounted for almost half (47 percent) of all maternal deaths globally in 2023.
• China, the only other country on the planet comparable to India by population, registered just 1,400 maternal deaths in 2023.
• The statistics reveal that India’s maternal mortality rate (MMR)—or the rate at which women per lakh die due to childbirth or pregnancy-related issues—was 362 in 2000and came down to 80 in 2023, marking a decline of 78 percent over the period.
• The report also provides the first global account of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on maternal survival. 
• In 2021, when the second wave of COVID was at its peak in most parts of the world, an estimated 40,000 more women died due to pregnancy or childbirth, taking the total number of deaths that year to 3,22,000 from 282,000 the previous year.
• Haemorrhage is a direct obstetric cause of death and remains the leading cause of maternal mortality globally. 

Trends in Maternal Mortality 2000-2023 Report FAQs

Q1. Which global body published the "Trends in Maternal Mortality 2000–2023" report?

Ans. United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG)

Q2. What was the estimated number of maternal deaths worldwide in 2023?

Ans. 260,000

Q3. Which country had the highest number of maternal deaths in 2023?

Ans. Nigeria

Source: TP

Women and Men in India 2024: Selected Indicators and Data Latest News

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of India, recently released the 26th edition of its publication titled “Women and Men in India 2024: Selected Indicators and Data”.

About Women and Men in India 2024: Selected Indicators and Data

• It was published by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of India.
• It offers a comprehensive overview of the gender landscape in India, presenting selected indicators and data across key areas like population, education, health, economic participation, and decision-making, all sourced from various Ministries/ Departments/Organizations. 
• Utilizing official statistics, it presents gender-disaggregated data across urban-rural divides and geographic regions, facilitating a nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by women and men.

Highlights of the Women and Men in India 2024: Selected Indicators and Data 

• Gender Parity Index (GPI) for enrolments at the primary and higher secondary was higher in FY24 than in FY23 and FY22, meaning more girls are being enrolled now.
• At upper primary and elementary levels, the enrolment numbers were more or less the same for boys and girls.
• The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for women aged 15 and above improved significantly, rising from 49.8% in 2017-18 to 60.1% in 2023-24.
• In the financial sector, women own 39.2% of all bank accounts and contribute to 39.7% of total deposits, with their presence most prominent in rural areas, where they account for 42.2% of account holders.
• Female participation in the capital market is also growing, but overall numbers are small.
• Between March 2021 and November 2024, the number of DEMAT accounts surged from 33.26 million to 143.02 million. Of these, the number of women account holders rose from 6.67 million in 2021 to 27.71 million in 2024.
• A Rising percentage of female-headed proprietary establishments across manufacturing, trade, and other services sectors over the years 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24 has been observed.
• The number of male and female voters grew from 173.2 million in 1952 to 978 million in 2024, with an increasing share of females.
• In the 2024 general elections, female voter turnout (65.8%) surpassed male turnout, even as it dipped slightly from 67.2% in 2019.
• Female entrepreneurship is also on the rise. The number of startups recognized by DPIIT with at least one woman director rose sharply from 1,943 in 2017 to 17,405 in 2024.

Women and Men in India 2024: Selected Indicators and Data FAQs

Q1. Which ministry publishes the ‘Women and Men in India 2024: Selected Indicators and Data’ report?

Ans. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)

Q2. What percentage of all bank accounts in India are owned by women, as per the 2024 data?

Ans. 39.2%

Q3. In the 2024 general elections, what was the female voter turnout?

Ans. 65.8%

Source: PIB

World Health Day 2025 Latest News

Every year on April 7, World Health Day is observed to increase global awareness of a varied range of health-related concerns.

About World Health Day 2025

• World Health Day is observed on April 07 every year. 
• This day marks the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948 and has been celebrated since 1950. . 
• Each year, World Health Day is used as an opportunity to draw attention to a specific health topic that affects people all over the world. 
• By emphasizing one particular theme every year, World Health Day encourages governments, healthcare organisations, and individuals to work collectively toward improving health standards and access to healthcare.
• The theme for World Health Day 2025 is 'Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures.'
  • This year's theme will kick off a year-long campaign on maternal and newborn health. 
  • This initiative will encourage governments and the healthcare sector to intensify their actions to eliminate preventable maternal and newborn deaths. 
  • It will also focus on the long-term health and well-being of women.
  • The campaign will aim to promote information and strategies that can help support healthy pregnancies and births, and better postnatal health.

World Health Day 2025 FAQs

Q1. On which date is World Health Day observed annually?

Ans. April 7

Q2. What is the theme of World Health Day 2025?

Ans. Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures

Q3. Why is 7th April celebrated as World Health Day?

Ans. It commemorates the establishment of WHO on 7 April 1948.

Source: BS

River Blindness Latest News

ZSI study on blackflies offers hope for river blindness control, Researchers worked on four species collected from eight locations in the central Himalayan region

Why in the News?

• A new study by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has introduced DNA barcoding to accurately identify blackfly species—the carriers of Onchocerca volvulus, the parasitic worm that causes river blindness (onchocerciasis).
• This innovation is expected to enhance disease control and vector management, especially in vulnerable ecological zones like the central Himalayas.

What is River Blindness (Onchocerciasis)?

• River blindness is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus.
• The disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blackflies belonging to the genus Simulium, which breed in fast-flowing rivers and streams.
• Symptoms include intense skin itching, disfiguring skin changes, and in advanced cases, permanent vision loss or blindness.
• Globally, it is second only to trachoma in causing infection-related blindness, especially affecting rural populations in sub-Saharan Africa, Yemen, and parts of Latin America.
• Treatment relies on mass drug administration (MDA) using ivermectin, with a minimum 80% therapeutic coverage required for effective control.
• According to the World Health Organization (WHO), river blindness remains one of the most neglected tropical diseases, especially in remote and rural areas.
• Five countries have been officially declared free of the disease by WHO:
  • Colombia (2013)
  • Ecuador (2014)
  • Mexico (2015)
  • Guatemala (2016)
  • Niger (2025) – the first African country to achieve this milestone.

River Blindness FAQs

Q1. What is River Blindness?
Ans. Also known as Onchocerciasis, it is a neglected tropical disease caused by the parasite Onchocerca volvulus.

Q2. How is it transmitted?
Ans. By the bite of infected blackflies (genus Simulium), usually found near fast-flowing rivers.

Q3. What are the symptoms?
Ans. Severe skin itching, nodules under the skin, and permanent blindness in chronic cases.

Q4. Which region is most affected?
Ans. It is endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa, but also occurs in parts of Latin America and Yemen.

Source: TH

Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary Latest News

A recent study found that dense vegetation in Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary, home to spotted deer and blackbucks, has shrunk from 41.8% in 1993 to 37.1% in 2023.

About Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is located in Puri district, Odisha.
• It was declared a sanctuary on 23 April 1984.
• It has an area of 87 sq.km.
• It was established on the sandy tract covered by plantation of casurina and cashew trees, along the coast between Puri and Konark. 
• It is traversed by the rivulets such as Nuanai River, Kusabhadra River, Kadua River, and Prachi River.
• Flora: 
  • Apart from cashew and casurina plantation, Australian acacia and eucalyptus plantations has also been done. 
  • Jamun, ficus, neem, karanj, and polang trees are also found, mostly along the course of the Kusabhadra and Nuanai rivers.
• Fauna:
  • It is home to herds of herbivores (spotted deer), monkeys, jungle cat, hyena, monitor lizard, snakes, etc. 
  • Olive Ridley sea turtles have been seen nesting on the beach.

Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary FAQs

Q1. In which Indian state is the Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary located?

Ans. Odisha

Q2. What kind of habitat is the sanctuary primarily based on?

Ans. Sandy coastal tract

Q3. Which marine species nests on the beach near the Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary ?

Ans. Olive Ridley turtle

Source: TOI

Woolly Flying Squirrel Latest News

The wildlife wing of Himachal Pradesh Forest Department (HPFD) recently captured the first-ever photographic evidence of the elusive Woolly Flying Squirrel at Miyar Valley in Lahaul and Spiti district.

About Woolly Flying Squirrel

• Woolly Flying Squirrel, also known as Western Woolly Flying Squirrel, is one of the rarest and least known mammals in Asia.
• It is endemic to the northwestern Himalayas.
• Scientific Name: Eupetaurus cinereus
• It is the sole species of the genus Eupetaurus. 
• It was long believed to be extinct until its rediscovery in 1994 — nearly after seventy years. 
• Habitat: It appears to live in a fragmented habitat within a very limited area in a thin elevational band of dry conifer woodland. 

Woolly Flying Squirrel Distribution

• It is native to northern Pakistan and northwestern India.
• Since 1994, specimens have been captured in the Sai Valley, Gorabad, and Balti Gali, all in northern Pakistan.

Woolly Flying Squirrel Features

• Like other flying squirrels, it has elastic membranes on each side of the body connecting the fore and hind legs.
• The body is covered by a dense coat of straight, silky hairs. 
• The dorsal pelage appears blue-gray, while the underside is pale gray in color. 
• Creamy white hairs cover the throat and ears, and dense, black fur covers the soles of the feet except for the naked, pinkish brown toe pads.

Woolly Flying Squirrel Conservation Status

It is classified as ‘Endangered’ under the IUCN Red List.

Woolly Flying Squirrel FAQs

Q1. Are woolly flying squirrels extinct?

Ans. It was long believed to be extinct until its rediscovery in 1994 — nearly after seventy years. 

Q2. The Woolly Flying Squirrel is endemic to which region?

Ans. Northwestern Himalayas

Q3. What is the IUCN Red List conservation status of the Woolly Flying Squirrel?

Ans. Endangered

Source: DH

Semaglutide Latest News

A recent international, multicentre clinical study has found that semaglutide, a medication primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, can reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events by 14%.

What is Semaglutide?

• Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA).
• It mimics GLP-1, a natural hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and appetite.
• It is used to:
  • Treat type 2 diabetes by enhancing insulin secretion and lowering blood sugar levels.
  • Aid weight loss in overweight or obese individuals, along with proper diet and exercise.
• It is available in two forms: injectable and oral tablets. The SOUL trial specifically tested the oral version, known as Rybelsus (by Novo Nordisk).

Key Findings from the SOUL Trial

• The SOUL trial, launched in 2019, was a phase three, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study designed to assess whether oral semaglutide can lower the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) who also suffer from cardiovascular disease (CVD) or chronic kidney disease (CKD).
• The study enrolled 9,650 participants worldwide, including 788 individuals across 32 centres in India, making it a significant part of global research efforts.
• The primary composite endpoint of the trial was a reduction in cardiovascular death, non-fatal heart attacks (myocardial infarction), and non-fatal strokes.
• The results revealed a statistically significant 14% reduction in the risk of such cardiovascular events in patients using oral semaglutide as compared to those receiving a placebo alongside standard care.

Semaglutide FAQs

Q1. What is Semaglutide?
Ans. Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity by regulating blood sugar and appetite.

Q2. Which company developed Semaglutide?
Ans. It was developed by the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk.

Q3. How is Semaglutide administered?
Ans: It is administered either via injection (weekly) or as an oral tablet.

Q4: Why has Semaglutide gained global attention recently?
Ans: Due to its weight-loss effects, it became popular under brand names like Ozempic and Wegovy, especially in the US.

Source: TH