Recent study identified a link between exposure to Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP) and heart disease deaths.

About DEHP (also known as bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate)

• It is a manufactured chemical that is commonly added to plastics to make them flexible.
• It is a colorless liquid with almost no odor.
• It does not evaporate easily, and little will be present in the air even near sources of production.
•  It dissolves more easily in materials such as gasoline, paint removers, and oils than it does in water.
• It is prevalent in numerous household items, including food containers, medical equipment, toys, shampoos and lotions.
• The developing fetus and male reproductive system are targets of DEHP toxicity.

India has reduced the flow of water through the Baglihar Dam after the Indus Treaty suspension.

• Bahlihar is a run-of-river Hydropower Project, located on the Chenab River in Jammu & Kashmir.

About Chenab river

• It is the largest tributary of the Indus.
  • It joins Indus at Mithankot (Pakistan).
• Source: It is formed by the confluence of two streams, Chandra and Bhaga
  • These streams rise on the opposite sides of the Baralacha pass of Himachal Pradesh.
• It is also known as Chandrabhaga.
• The Jhelum joins the Chenab near Jhang in Pakistan.
• Key Tributaries: Miyar Nalla, Sohal, Marusudar, Lidrar, etc. 

Recently, it has been highlighted that Agriphotovoltaics (APVs) provide a model that maximises land-use efficiency and augments farmers’ income.

About APVs (Agrivoltaics or Solar farming)

• Definition: Combined use of the same area of land for agricultural production as the primary use and for electricity production utilizing a solar PV system as a secondary use.
• Components: Solar panels, solar tracking systems (follow the sun for maximum efficiency), and shade-tolerant crops (protection against strong solar irradiation, winds).
• Benefits: 
  • For farmers: Financial buffer in times of crop failure, optimize food and energy security.
  • For environment: Reduced carbon emissions, preservation of land, water conservation by reducing evaporation.

National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) reported significant damage to the KLIP barrages post-2023 flooding incident.

• NDSA, India’s national safety regulator for large dams, is a statutory body set up under the National Dam Safety Act, 2021.

About KLIP

• KLIP is a multi-purpose irrigation project on the Godavari River in Kaleshwaram, Telangana.
  • Godavari river, also known as Dakshin Ganga, is the largest Peninsular river. 
    • It rises from slopes of Western Ghats in Nasik district of Maharashtra and drains into Bay of Bengal. 
• It will be the world’s largest multi-stage lift irrigation project.
  • In a lift irrigation project, water is lifted by means of pumps or surge pools to a main delivery chamber at the highest point in the project, from where it is distributed to beneficiary fields.
• It spans over ~500kms in 13 districts with a canal network of 1800kms.

Archeologists’ unearthed pre-historic tools from the Lower Paleolithic age in Mangar Bani.

About Mangar Bani

• It is a Paleolithic site and a sacred grove hill forest in the Aravalli ranges along the Delhi-Haryana border.
• It is located in the only primary forest of Delhi NCR.
  • A primary forest is one which is largely undisturbed by human activities and consists of naturally regenerated forest of native tree species.
• Key Features:
  • Continuous occupation is demonstrable from 100,000 year before present (BP) to 1000 AD.
  • Rock shelters, rock paintings and cave paintings dating back some 20,000-40,000 years ago.

The US has recently approved sale of HawkEye 360 technology to India to boost the country’s surveillance capabilities.

About HawkEye 360 technology

• It uses clusters of three satellites in Low Earth Orbit to detect, geolocate, and analyze radio frequency (RF) signals. 

Significance for India

• It can detect vessels that turn off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) to avoid tracking in disputed or sensitive areas.
• It will boost India’s maritime domain awareness in the Indo-Pacific.
  • Indian forces can now more effectively monitor illegal fishing, smuggling, and conduct surveillance.

Indian Army received new Russian Igla-S missiles to counter drones, choppers, jets.

About Igla-S 

• It is a man-portable, shoulder-launched surface-to-air missile (SAM) system designed for mobile ground units operating in high-threat environments
  • It is an improved version of Very Short Range Air Defence Systems (VSHORADS). 
• Key Features: 
  • It uses infrared (IR) homing to detect and lock onto the heat signatures of aerial targets.
  • Once the missile is launched, it automatically follows the heat coming from the target's engine. 
    • This makes it very good at hitting fast and small targets like drones and helicopters.
  • Range: It can engage targets at ranges up to 6 km and altitudes up to 3.5 km.

Santhara, a Jain ritual, has been recently in the news.

About Santhara/Sallekhana/Pandit-maran/Sakham-maran:

• It is a Jain religious practice in which an individual voluntarily chooses to end their life through fasting.
• Believed to have been practised since the foundation of Jainism and finds mention in agams. 
• Types — Trivihar (giving up food but not water) and Chauvihar (giving up food as well as water).
• According to Jain scriptures, Santhara should only be observed when death is near, or when a person is unable to follow religious duties due to old age, incurable illness, or extreme conditions like famine.
• Legal Status: In 2015, Rajasthan HC ruled that Santhara should be considered illegal, equating it to suicide under Section 306 of IPC (Later Stayed by SC).