Category: Environment and Ecology

Context:

• Although breeding has declined, experts say there is no immediate cause for concern as the vulture population in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary remains stable, with around 80 vultures recorded.

About Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary:

• • Location: It is located in Wayanad, Kerala, in the southern trenches of the Western Ghats.

• Other names: It is also known as Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary.

• • Establishment: Founded in 1973, it was brought under Project Elephant in 1991–92.

• Area: The sanctuary covers an expansive area of about 344 sq.km.

• Significance: It forms an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• • Bordering regions: It is bordered by the protected areas of Nagarhole and Bandipur in Karnataka on the northeastern side and Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu on the southeastern side.
  • Rivers: Important rivers like the Kabini, Cherupuzha, and Bavali flow through the sanctuary.

• Tribes: Tribes living in these forests include some scheduled adivasis, such as Paniyas, Kattunaikkans, Kurumas, Ooralis, Adiyans, and Kurichiyas.

• Flora: It is a mosaic of the Western Ghats’ significant vegetation types, ranging from moist deciduous to dry deciduous and semi-evergreen patches. About one-third of the sanctuary is covered by plantations of teak, rosewood, eucalyptus, and silver oak.

• Fauna: It boasts one of the largest populations of Asian elephants and tigers, which are considered its flagship species. Other mammals include leopards, gaur (Indian bison), sambar deer, wild boars, sloth bears, and jungle cats.
• Birds: About 216 species of birds, like peacock, owl, babbler, black woodpecker, golden backed three- toed wood pecker, cuckoo and jungle fowl, are found in the area.

Source:

• The Hindu

Category: Defence and Security

Context:

• As Prime Minister pays his second state visit to Israel, India is keen to take forward the talks on acquiring the Israeli-origin ‘Sky Sting’ missile for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

About Sky Sting Missile:

• • Nature: It is a 6th-generation beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM).
  • Development: It is being developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., an Israeli defence technology company. 

• Compatibility: Weighing between 180-200 kg, the missile is light enough to be carried by aircraft such as the Tejas Mk1A, while also being compatible with Su-30MKI fighters. 

• Range: It boasts a range of 250 km.

• • AI-driven: Its radio-frequency seeker, supported by AI-driven target discrimination and jam-resistant technology, allows precise early lock-on and robust electronic counter-countermeasures.

• Propulsion: It features a three-pulse solid-fuel rocket motor, enabling high manoeuvrability and end-game speeds exceeding Mach 5.

• • Real-time communication: A two-way data link ensures real-time communication between the pilot and the missile during engagements.

• Addresses modern challenges: Designed to provide air forces with a significant tactical edge by allowing pilots to neutralise threats from a safe distance, Sky Sting addresses modern challenges like stealth targets and electronic warfare.

Source:

• Zee News

Category: Polity and Governance

Context:

• Recently, the Union Minister for Railways launched the e- Railway Claims Tribunal system as reform under Indian Railways’ flagship “52 Reforms in 52 Weeks” initiative.

About E- Railway Claims Tribunal System:

• Nature: It enables the end-to-end computerisation and digitisation of the Railway Claims Tribunal.

• • Objective: It will transform the filing, processing and adjudication of claims by making the process faster, more transparent and accessible from anywhere in the country.

• Jurisdictional Ease: Claimants can file cases electronically from anywhere, solving the common problem of determining which specific bench has jurisdiction after a cross-state accident.

• Hybrid Hearings: The system supports hybrid mode hearings (both physical and virtual), aligning with Supreme Court guidelines to reduce the need for physical travel.
• Paperless Courts: It integrates all 23 benches of the Railway Claims Tribunal (RCT) onto a single digital platform to eliminate physical paperwork.
• AI Integration: The platform is AI-enabled, designed to automate litigation processes and improve data-driven decision-making.
• Three components: The platform comprises three core components
  • E-Filing: It helps in 24×7 online filing of claims and legal documents from any location and uploading of petitions, affidavits, annexures and supporting records.
  • Case Information System (CIS): It is a centralized database of all cases for auto-allocation, case registration and real-time tracking from filing to final to final disposal.
  • Document Management System (DMS): It is the digital storage of pleadings, notices, summons, orders and judgements along with digitally signed records

About Railway Claims Tribunal:

• Legal Basis: It is a quasi-judicial body constituted under the Railway Claims Tribunal Act, 1987.

• • Jurisdiction: It adjudicates claims for compensation related to:
    • Death or injury in railway accidents and “untoward incidents”.
    • Loss, damage, or non-delivery of goods and animals.
    • Refund of fares or freight.
  • Structure: It is headquartered at the Principal Bench in Delhi with 23 benches across 21 cities.

• Composition: Each bench comprising a Judicial Member and a Technical Member.

Source:

• PIB

Category: Government Schemes

Context:

• Recently, the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) under NITI Aayog launched the country’s first State Innovation Mission (SIM) in Tripura.

About State Innovation Mission:

• • Nature: It is part of the approved Atal Innovation Mission (AIM 2.0) programme, under the aegis of NITI Aayog’s State Support Mission (SSM).
  • Objective: It is designed as a long-term institutional mechanism to support States and Union Territories in building robust, inclusive, and context-specific innovation ecosystems aligned with national priorities and local strengths.
  • Mechanism: Under SIM, AIM will work closely with the Government of Tripura to:

• Design and implement a long-term innovation strategy

• Strengthen policy frameworks and regulatory support

• • • Enable partnerships between government, academia, industry, and civil society

• Facilitate peer learning and national-level collaboration

• • Support startups with infrastructure, mentorship, and access to funding
• Focus areas: The mission emphasises inclusion, regional balance, and capacity building across the entire innovation lifecycle– from school education to advanced entrepreneurship.

About Atal Innovation Mission (AIM):

• Launch: It is a flagship initiative set up by the NITI Aayog in 2016.

• • Objective: It aims to create and encourage an environment of innovation and entrepreneurship across schools, educational organisations, research institutes, and industries, including MSMEs.
  • Functions: AIM has two functions
    • To promote entrepreneurship by encouraging innovators to become entrepreneurs through financial support as well as mentorship.
    • To promote innovation by creating a platform where ideas are generated through like-minded individuals.
  • Initiatives undertaken: AIM has created four programs to support these functions:

• Atal Tinkering Labs

• Atal Incubation Centres

• Atal New India Challenges, and

• Atal Grand Challenges.

Source:

• PIB

Category: Geography

Context:

• Research showed that timings of the moist heatwaves are controlled by the active and break periods of the southwest monsoon and can be predicted weeks in advance.

About Moist Heatwave:

• • Trigger: Moist heatwaves are triggered by a combined impact of high temperatures and elevated humidity levels in the atmosphere.
  • Measurement: The best way to measure the combined effect of humidity and temperature is ‘wet bulb temperature’. 
  • Wet bulb temperature: Wet bulb temperature is the lowest temperature to which air can be cooled by the evaporation of water into the air at constant pressure. This is a process happening on human skin when people sweat.

• Accepted level: The globally accepted level for wet bulb temperature that forms the limit of human survivability is 35°C.

• • IMD Criteria for Heatwaves: While the India Meteorological Department (IMD) primarily uses temperature thresholds, moist heat is increasingly factored into “Heat Index” warnings:

• Plains: Max temperature ≥ 40°C.

• Coastal Regions: Max temperature ≥ 37°C.

• Hilly Regions: Max temperature ≥ 30°C.

• Impact of Moist Heatwaves on humans:

• • • When air is already humid, sweat cannot evaporate from skin, leaving the body unable to cool itself. This can lead to heat exhaustion and fatal heatstroke within hours. 
    • It is because high humidity impairs evaporation, limiting the human body’s ability to dissipate metabolic heat and regulate core temperature.

• In such circumstances, the physiological strain on the human body intensifies, exacerbating the risks of cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses.

• • A thermoregulatory failure can lead to hyperthermia, heat exhaustion, and fatal heatstroke in extreme cases.

Source:

• Down To Earth

(UPSC GS Paper II – Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests; Important International institutions, agencies and fora)

Context (Introduction)

Rising geopolitical tensions — from the Russia-Ukraine war to the Israel-Gaza conflict and U.S.–Iran frictions — have triggered claims that international law is collapsing. However, despite repeated breaches, its norms remain resilient and continue structuring global governance.

Main Arguments

• Prohibition on Use of Force Remains Foundational: Article 2(4) of the UN Charter prohibits threat or use of force. Although repeatedly breached — from the Soviet-Afghan war (1979) to Iraq (2003) and Ukraine (2022) — it has survived similar Cold War violations.

• In 1970, Thomas Franck had declared Article 2(4) “dead,” yet the norm endured. Even powerful states continue invoking legal justifications (e.g., expanded interpretation of self-defence), indicating that legality still matters for legitimacy.

• Legalisation Creates Accountability Framework: As Monica Hakimi argues, when international relations are legalised, states must justify actions within legal frameworks. Even flawed or contested interpretations reflect the continuing normative pull of law.

• International law gives weaker states a platform to question powerful actors — through UN forums, international courts, and treaty bodies. A norm-free order would eliminate even this minimal accountability.

• Present Challenge: Populist-Authoritarian Disregard: Unlike earlier periods where legal reasoning accompanied use of force, today’s authoritarian tendencies show greater brazenness, often sidestepping legal explanation altogether.The threat lies less in violations per se and more in open dismissal of legal norms, which weakens deliberative space.

1. International Law Beyond the UN Charter: Reducing international law to the UN Charter is analytically flawed. Over eight decades, international law has expanded into:

• Trade (WTO framework)
• Investment treaties
• Climate governance (Paris Agreement)
• Human rights conventions
• Maritime law (UNCLOS)
• Civil aviation (ICAO regime)
• Biological and chemical weapons conventions

This demonstrates dense legalisation of global interactions.

• Silent Functioning of International Law

• International law operates routinely and quietly
•  Conclusion of India–EU FTA negotiations reflects continued treaty-making.
• High Seas Treaty strengthens marine biodiversity governance.
• Pandemic Agreement enhances global health preparedness.
• Judicialisation through bodies like the International Criminal Court and regional courts sustains dispute resolution mechanisms.

As Philippe Sands notes, much of international law functions seamlessly, enabling global trade, travel, communication and cooperation.

Implications

1. Normative Stability Amid Power Politics:Even in crises, states frame conduct within legal narratives, showing that law retains persuasive authority.
2. Importance for Middle Powers like India:For India, adherence to rule-based order safeguards sovereignty, maritime interests, trade access and diaspora protection.
3. Risks of Norm Erosion:If legality is abandoned, unilateralism may dominate, undermining smaller states’ security.

Way Forward

1. Strengthen Multilateralism: Reinforce commitment to UN Charter principles and dispute resolution mechanisms.
2. Support Judicial Institutions: Engage constructively with global and regional courts to uphold rule-based norms.
3. Promote Legal Diplomacy: Use international legal forums to address global governance challenges (climate, health, cyber norms).
4. Resist Populist Erosion of Norms: Normative advocacy and coalition-building among middle powers can preserve rule-based order.

Conclusion

International law is not dead; it is contested. Its resilience lies in its pervasive institutionalisation across global governance domains. Proclaiming its demise risks normalising unilateralism and empowering global bullies, whereas defending it preserves accountability and stability in international relations

Mains Question

1. Despite repeated violations, international law continues to structure global governance.Discuss (250 words, 15 marks)

Source: The Hindu

(UPSC GS Paper II – Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests; Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests)

Context (Introduction)

Mark Carney’s visit to India signals a calibrated reset in India–Canada relations after the 2023 diplomatic freeze. Driven by economic diversification needs and geopolitical shifts, both middle powers seek to rebuild ties anchored in trade, energy and strategic cooperation.

Key Developments

• Bilateral goods trade reached $13.3 billion in 2024, despite strained ties.
• Likely conclusion of a $2.8 billion uranium supply deal for a decade.
• Reboot of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) negotiations aiming to double trade to $60 billion by 2030.
• Nearly 430,000 Indian students in Canada underline deep people-to-people linkages.

Background

• In September 2023, relations hit a historic low when then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The fallout included suspension of visa services, recall of High Commissioners and collapse of free trade negotiations.
• However, changing geopolitical realities — including renewed U.S. protectionism under Donald Trump and economic pressures on Canada — made prolonged estrangement costly for both sides. Quiet engagements at the G7 (Kananaskis, 2025) and G20 (Johannesburg, 2025) laid the groundwork for reconciliation.

Strategic Drivers of the Reset

• Energy and Nuclear Cooperation: India’s ambition to expand civilian nuclear energy capacity makes Canadian uranium critical. The expected $2.8 billion uranium agreement strengthens energy security and diversifies supply chains.

• Trade and Economic Diversification: CEPA aims to double trade to $60 billion by 2030. For Canada, facing U.S. tariffs and decertification threats (e.g., aircraft exports), India offers a vast and growing market. For India, Canada provides capital, technology and access to North American markets.

• Critical Minerals and Green Transition: Canada’s reserves of lithium, cobalt and copper align with India’s EV mobility and renewable energy expansion goals. Canada positions itself as an alternative to China in critical mineral supply chains.

• Geopolitical Recalibration: Canada’s Indo-Pacific pivot reflects its desire to diversify alliances amid U.S. unpredictability. India’s multi-alignment strategy similarly favours strengthening ties with middle powers to reduce overdependence on any single bloc.

• Security Dialogue Parallelism: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval’s visit to Ottawa and agreement on a “shared work plan” reflect an approach where security issues are addressed through institutional channels without derailing economic cooperation.

Persistent Challenges

1. Khalistan and Security Concerns:The Nijjar controversy and concerns over separatist activities remain sensitive fault lines.
2. Political Trust Deficit: Though diplomatic channels are restored, mutual trust requires sustained engagement.
3. Trade Negotiation Complexity: CEPA negotiations must address market access, agricultural sensitivities and regulatory standards.

Broader Significance

• Demonstrates pragmatic diplomacy among middle powers in a fractured global order.
• Reflects separation of political disputes from economic imperatives.
• Reinforces India’s diversification of energy and mineral supply chains
• Highlights resilience of diaspora-led ties in sustaining bilateral engagement.

Conclusion

Mark Carney’s visit marks more than a diplomatic thaw; it represents a strategic reset shaped by economic realism and geopolitical necessity. In an era of protectionism and polarisation, India and Canada appear to be transitioning towards a mature, interest-driven partnership grounded in energy security, trade expansion and resilient middle-power cooperation.

Mains Question

1. India–Canada relations have witnessed both diplomatic strain and economic interdependence in recent years. Examine the strategic drivers behind India- Canada ties and discuss the challenges ahead. (250 words, 15 marks)

Source: Indian Express