1 . Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)
Syllabus Mapping: GS3: Agriculture; Animal Husbandry; Livestock Health
- Recently, the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) organised a National Workshop on Compartmentalization and Zoning for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) at Bhubaneswar to accelerate India’s goal of achieving FMD-free status by 2030 in line with international standards.
- Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, pigs and deer.
- It is caused by the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV), a single-stranded RNA virus of the genus Aphthovirus (Family: Picornaviridae).
- The disease is characterised by fever and vesicles (blisters) in the mouth, tongue, feet and teats, leading to severe production losses in milk and meat.
- FMD spreads through direct contact, aerosols, contaminated feed, equipment, vehicles and animal products, making it one of the most economically significant livestock diseases.
- India is implementing the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) to achieve FMD-free status through 100% vaccination of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats and pigs.
- Control of FMD is crucial for improving livestock productivity, enhancing farmers’ income and expanding livestock exports, as FMD-free status is recognised internationally by the WOAH.
2. Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR)
Syllabus Mapping: GS3: Defence Technology; Indigenisation of Defence; Internal Security
- DRDO successfully conducted the flight-test of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR) at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha, validating its minimum operational range of 60 km with pinpoint accuracy.
- Pinaka is an indigenously developed Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) designed by DRDO; it was first used operationally during the Kargil War (1999).
- A Pinaka launcher carries 12 rockets and can fire a full salvo in about 44 seconds, saturating an area of approximately 1 km × 1 km.
- Variants: Pinaka Mk-I (~38 km) → Enhanced Pinaka (~75 km) → Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR) (~120 km). Future 300-km class variants are under development.
- Pinaka LRGR uses INS/GNSS-based guidance, enabling high-precision strikes, while remaining compatible with existing Pinaka launchers.
- Pinaka is intended to replace the Russian BM-21 Grad rocket system in the Indian Army and forms a key component of India’s indigenous artillery modernisation.
3. Bhubaneswar Declaration
Syllabus Mapping: GS2: Welfare of Scheduled Tribes; Governance; Government Policies • GS1: Tribal Culture
- The Bhubaneswar Declaration was adopted at the National Workshop on Strengthening Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) organised by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in Bhubaneswar.
- It provides a national roadmap to transform Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) into Centres of Excellence for tribal research, policy support, capacity building and cultural preservation.
- The Declaration promotes technology-driven documentation, digitisation of tribal knowledge and integration of platforms such as TribeX (formerly Adi Sanskriti).
- It emphasises evidence-based policymaking, stronger collaboration among TRIs, universities, research institutions and tribal communities, and greater community participation.
- It calls for preserving tribal languages, traditional knowledge systems, oral traditions and indigenous practices, while encouraging research on tribal health, education, livelihoods and climate resilience.
- The Declaration aligns with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 by strengthening institutional support for inclusive tribal development.
4. National Rainfed Area Authority
Syllabus Mapping: GS3: Agriculture; Sustainable Agriculture; Climate-Resilient Farming
- Recently, National Rainfed Area Authority(NRAA) organised a National Consultation on “Quality Data Generation and Dissemination for Efficient Project Planning and Implementation in Rainfed Areas” to improve data-driven planning for rainfed agriculture.
- The consultation brought together research institutions, State governments and data users to address challenges related to data accessibility, standardisation and quality for effective project implementation.
- National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) is an expert body under the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, established in 2006.
- It provides policy inputs, technical guidance and inter-ministerial coordination for the holistic development of rainfed and dryland agriculture.
- The Authority promotes watershed development, integrated farming systems, natural resource management and climate-resilient agriculture to improve productivity and farmers’ livelihoods.
- NRAA supports the implementation of schemes under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) through knowledge-based interventions.
5. Mt. Khyam Tso Massif
Syllabus Mapping: GS1: Physical Geography (Himalayas)
- Recently, a 22-member expedition from the Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering & Winter Sports (JIM&WS), Pahalgam successfully scaled the Khyam Tso Massif in the Rumtse Phu region of Ladakh.
- The expedition summited Peak Pt 5901 m, Peak Pt 6090 m, Peak Pt 5944 m and finally Khyam-III (6018 m), reinforcing India’s presence in the unexplored mountain ranges of Ladakh.
- A notable achievement was the first-ever paragliding flight from an altitude of 5,600 m, showcasing India’s high-altitude adventure capabilities.
- The Rumtse Phu region lies in the Trans-Himalayan cold desert of eastern Ladakh and is known for its rugged terrain, alpine meadows and strategic proximity to the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
- Such expeditions enhance high-altitude survival, mountaineering skills and terrain familiarisation, contributing to India’s border preparedness.
