Ranthambore Tiger Reserve faces risk of submergence under water due to proposed Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal-Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (PKC-ERCP).

About Ranthambore Tiger Reserve

• Location: It is located between Aravali and Vindhya hills. 
• It was declared Tiger reserve in 1973. It comprises Ranthambore National Park, Sawai madhopur Sanctuary, Keladevi sanctuary, part of National Gharial Sanctuary etc.
• Rivers: It lies between Banas River (north) & Chambal River (south).
• Flora: Most dominant tree is Dhok (Anogeissus pendula).
• Fauna: Royal Bengal tiger, leopards, Indian wild boars, chital, serpent eagle, waterfowl, cormorant, painted spurfowl, sarus crane, etc.
• Cultural Significance: Ranthambore Fort within the reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Since the launch of the online ‘suspect registry,’ the Centre has declined six lakh fraudulent transactions and saved Rs 1,800 crore in just 90 days.

Central Suspect Registry

• The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has established the suspect registry in collaboration with banks and financial intermediaries.
• Aim: To enhance fraud risk management in the financial ecosystem. 
• Features
  • It contains data of 1.4 million cybercriminals.
  • The registry will serve as a central-level database with consolidated data on cybercrime suspects. 
  • Using data from the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP), the registry makes it possible to identify cybercriminals as potential threats.

Recently, over 2,900 senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) applied for home voting for the upcoming Delhi Legislative Assembly Election. 

About Home Voting

• It is a postal ballot facility that was first introduced during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to facilitate senior citizens and people with disability in casting their votes. 
• Eligibility: Senior citizens aged 85 and above and PwDs with a benchmark disability of 40% or more.
• The Union Law Ministry amended the Conduct of Elections Rules-1961 to allow postal ballots for those aged 85 and above just before the 2024 Lok Sabha Election.

Experts attribute the severity of the wildfires in USA to hydroclimate whiplash, a phenomenon intensified by climate change.

About Hydroclimate Whiplash

• It is a rare meteorological Hydro climatic volatility condition wherein an extremely wet season is succeeded by an extremely dry season.
• Impact 
  • Amplification of hazards like flash floods, wildfires, landslides, disease outbreaks etc.
  • Affect water quality via harmful algal blooms or the influx of excess organic and/or mineral content.
  • Affect food security through decreased plant productivity, crop failures, livestock mortality, etc.

Lakhs of devotees took a dip at Gangasagar Mela on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.

About Gangasagar Mela

• Location: The mela is held at Sagar Island, located in the Sundarbans delta of West Bengal. 
  • The island is situated at the point where the Ganges River merges with the Bay of Bengal.
• It is an annual religious fair where the main ritual involves taking a dip in the waters at the confluence, especially at sunrise on Makar Sankranti.
• The pilgrimage site: Kapil Muni Temple, dedicated to the sage Kapil Muni.
• Significance: Second-largest human gathering after Kumbh Mela.

India has successfully tested its first indigenous micro-missile system, Bhargavastra, designed to counter the threat of swarm drones.

• Swarm drones are multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) working together as a coordinated system.

Key Features of Bhargavastra

• Detection Capability: Capable of detecting small incoming drones at distances exceeding 6 kilometers. 
• Rapid Response: Designed for rapid deployment on mobile platforms.
• Multi-Target Engagement: Can simultaneously detect and track & engage up to 64 targets.
• Guided Micro Munitions: Utilizes micro munitions that can be guided towards identified threats.

Recently, a research team has developed Electrokinetic Mining (EKM), an eco-friendly method for extracting rare earth elements (REEs).

• REEs are a group of 17 metallic elements with unique magnetic, electronic, and chemical properties, critical for modern technologies.

About Electrokinetic Mining (EKM)

• It is an innovative technique that uses electrokinetics, the movement of particles or fluids under an electric field to extract rare earth elements (REEs) from ore bodies.
• Key Features 
  • High Recovery Rate: over 95% recovery of REEs.
  • Environmental Benefits: Reduces chemical leaching by 80% & energy consumption by 60% making breakthrough in sustainable mining.