Union Government has restructured reporting relationships within National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS).

About National Security Council (NSC)

• It is a 3-tiered organization, created in 1998, that oversees political, economic, energy, and security issues of strategic concern.
  • National Security Advisor presides over the NSC.
• It operates within the executive office of the Prime Minister of India.
• It comprises the Strategic Policy Group, National Security Advisory Board, and Secretariat from the Joint Intelligence Committee.
• NSC’s agenda includes issues of external and internal security, military affairs, conventional and non-conventional defense, etc.

NABARD will launch an Integrated Tribal Development Programme (ITDP) in the Kulathupuzha Gram Panchayat in Kerala.

About ITDP

• It is a flagship project of NABARD that has been implemented since 2005-06.
• It is centred around ‘wadi’, which is a small orchard based programme. 
  • ‘Wadi’ model is holistic in approach, based on tribals’ affinity to trees and forests.
• Projects are funded through Tribal Development Fund (TDF).
  • Objective of TDF: To create replicable models of integrated development of tribal families on participatory basis, through adoption of sustainable income generating activities.

A recent survey revealed a devastating decline in population of endangered marine mammal, the Vaquita.

About Vaquita

• It is the smallest and now most endangered species of the cetacean order.
• It is a toothed whale, like dolphins and sperm whales, as opposed to whales with baleen (Baleen is a filter-feeding system inside the mouths), such as the blue whale.
• It is endemic to the Gulf of California where it lives in the shallow waters bordering the Colorado estuary.
• IUCN Conservation Status: Critically endangered.
• Threats: Low reproductive rate and limited geographical distribution make it highly vulnerable to human disturbances.

A recent paper published by researchers at the University of California emphasized on the role of transposons in gene-editing

About Transposons

• Transposons, or jumping genes, are DNA sequences that can change their position within a genome.
• Discovered by: Noble Laureate Barbara McClintock.
• Function: Transposons can reversibly alter gene expression depending on their insertion points.
• Prevalence: Over 45% of the human genome consists of transposable elements.
• Role in Evolution: Transposons are crucial for genetic diversity and evolution, capable of turning genes on or off using epigenetic mechanisms.
• Can also cause mutations leading to diseases.

Scientists have identified bone remains found in a Tibetan Baishiya Karst Cave as belonging to a Denisovan individual.

About Denisovans

• An extinct species of hominid and a close relative to modern humans.
• May have ranged from Siberia to Southeast Asia during the last Ice Age.
• DNA evidence suggests Denisovans are related to both Neanderthals and modern humans, and may have interbred with both.
• Share a common ancestor - Homo Heidelbergensis (most likely lived in Africa) - with both modern humans and Neanderthals. 

UN warns of escalating tensions on Lebanon-Israel ‘Blue Line’ frontier. 

About Blue line

• Israel and Lebanon have no official border separating them, except the Blue Line.
• It was set by the United Nations in 2000. It is made of blue barrels and runs from the Mediterranean to the Golan Heights to the east.
• Its purpose was to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the south of Lebanon.

Note: Blue Line is also a learning ecosystem created by the UN System Staff College. 

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) unveils prototype of the country’s indigenous light Zorawar tank.

About Zorawar Tank 

• Jointly developed jointly by the DRDO and private sector firm L&T.
• Named after the legendary General Zorawar Singh who led multiple successful victories in Tibet.
• Key Features: 
  • Equipped with advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), integration of tactical surveillance drones, etc.
  • Designed for rapid deployment and manoeuvrability in mountainous regions, providing the same firepower as regular tanks but with enhanced mobility and situational awareness.
  • Tanks are amphibious, making them versatile for operations in riverine regions.

India Participated in the 33rd PMNCH Board Meeting at Geneva (Switzerland).

About PMNCH

• Established in 2005
• About: World’s largest alliance for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health and well-being.
  • Supported by inter-governmental organizations, and UN agencies etc. 
• Aim: To have world in which every woman, child and adolescent realizes their right to health and well-being, leaving no one behind.
• Governance: PMNCH is governed by a Board and administered by a Secretariat hosted by World Health Organization (WHO).

Ministry of Culture initiates Project PARI for the 46th World Heritage Committee Meeting.

• First intervention under Project is taking place in Delhi

About Project PARI 

• It’s being executed by Lalit Kala Akademi (an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture) and National Gallery of Modern Art.
• Aim: Promotes democratization of art through public installations in urban landscapes, transforming them into accessible galleries. 
• More than 150 visual artists from all over the country would create artwork in Delhi such as paintings, murals, sculptures etc.
  • It includes Thangka painting (Sikkim/Ladakh), Cheriyal painting (Telangana), Bani Thani Painting (Rajasthan), Alpana art (Tripura), etc. 

As per Satellite images it has been claimed that China is digging in close to Pangong Tso in Eastern Ladakh to build some structure. 

About Pangong Tso

•  Located at 4,350m altitude and is an endorheic (landlocked). 
  • World’s highest saltwater lake. 
  • One-third of the lake lies in India and the other two-thirds in China.
• Change colors (appears blue, green and red at different times).
• Neither a part of the Indus River basin, nor a Ramsar Site.
• Acts as an important breeding ground for a variety of birds including a number of migratory birds. 
• Formerly, Pangong lake had an outlet to Shyok River (tributary of Indus) but it was closed off due to natural damming.