Research shows that Dung beetles navigate via the Milky Way.

About Dung Beetle

• They are terrestrial insects that feed on the feces of large herbivores. 

• Navigation: Certain dung beetles navigate at night using the Milky Way, moving in straight lines while rolling dung balls.

• They rely on polarised light patterns and the diffuse glow of the night sky rather than individual stars.

Clashes were reported in Odisha’s Rayagada district triggered by the construction of a 3-km approach road to the Sijimali bauxite mine.

• The conflict is part of a broader "Mali" (hill) protection movement and local tribal communities allege that Gram Sabha consents were obtained fraudulently. 

About Bauxite

• It is an ore of aluminium that contains hydrated aluminium oxide as main constituent and iron oxide, silica & titania as minor constituents.
• Major Bauxite Reserves in India: Odisha (41%), Chhattisgarh (20%), Andhra Pradesh (12%), Gujarat (8%), Jharkhand (6%), etc.
• Top Bauxite producing nations: Australia, Guinea, China, Brazil and India (5th largest). 

A Parliamentary Standing Committee has flagged critical gaps in the functioning of the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust (NMEDT).

About NMEDT

• It is a statutory trust set up to boost mineral exploration in India, especially for deep-seated and critical minerals.
• Established: under Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.
• Objective: Accelerate and strengthen mineral exploration.
• Funding Mechanism: a levy equivalent to 3% of the royalty paid by holders of mining leases .
• Governance structure
  • Governing Body: Headed by Union Minister of Mines.
  • Executive Committee: Headed by Secretary, Ministry of Mines.

A new research study has identified 219 hanging glaciers in Uttarakhand’s Alaknanda basin with unstable ice volumes and avalanche potential.

About Hanging Glaciers:

• A hanging glacier is a glacier that terminates at the edge of a cliff or a steep slope, rather than extending into a valley floor. 
• Mechanism of Transfer: Unlike valley glaciers that flow slowly, hanging glaciers "feed" the ice below primarily through icefalls and avalanches. 
• Hazard: They are inherently unstable, and may produce catastrophic break-off events, hit glacial lakes (triggering GLOFs) or block rivers.

China deploys ships to block disputed South China Sea (SCS) Scarborough Shoal.

About Scarborough Shoal

• It is a disputed atoll in the SCS, claimed by both China and the Philippines as part of their territory. 
• Strategic importance: Located along major sea lanes with rich fishing grounds and potential resources.
• Other disputed islands in the SCS: Paracel, Spratly Island, etc.

Rapid ocean warming is forcing mesothermic fishes to seek cooler waters with low availability of suitable prey base, delivering a double ecological blow.

About Mesothermic Fishes

• They can retain metabolic heat and keep parts of their bodies warmer than the surrounding seawater.
• Examples: Great White Shark, tunas, etc.

Other types of Fishes

• Ectothermic fishes: These are cold-blooded creatures, comprising the vast majority of fish species that rely on their surrounding aquatic environment to regulate their body temperature.
• Endothermic fishes: These are warm blooded fish species able to metabolically control their body temperature.

Government expands coverage of RELIEF Scheme amid West Asia crisis.

About RELIEF Scheme

• It is a time-bound intervention under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM).
• Objective: Help Indian exporters deal with high freight costs, rising insurance premiums and war related export risks.
• Nodal and Implementing Agency: ECGC Ltd. (Formerly Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India Ltd.), wholly owned by Government of India (Ministry of Commerce & Industry).
• Key Features

• MSME-Focused Assistance: Ensuring reimbursement support for High logistics costs and surcharges.
• Export Cycle Coverage: For End-to-end support for shipment planning, Insurance etc.

The Kankaria Coaching Depot in Ahmedabad has become India's first "water-neutral" railway facility.

• The depot conserves water by treating and reusing its wastewater using phytoremediation technique.

About Phytoremediation

• It is a bioremediation process that uses living organisms like plants, microalgae and seaweeds to remove toxic heavy metals from the soil.
• It is a sustainable and eco-friendly technology compared to other technologies used in removing toxicity from the soil.
• E.g.: Water hyacinth, duckweed and water lettuce 

Bioremediation Techniques

• In-situ: Treatment occurs directly at the contaminated site (e.g., bioventing, bioaugmentation).
• Ex-situ: Contaminated material is excavated or pumped for treatment elsewhere (e.g., landfarming, bioreactors).

For the first time, a nominated member was elected as Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for the third consecutive term.

About Deputy Chairman

• Under Article 89 of the Constitution deputy chairman is elected by the Rajya Sabha itself from amongst its members. 
• The Deputy Chairman performs the duty of the Chairman’s office when it is vacant or when the Vice-President acts as a President.

Nominated Members

• Under Article 80 of the Constitution, Rajya Sabha can have up to 250 members, including 12 nominated by the President.
• Nominations are from fields like literature, science, art, and social service.
• Powers and Functions

• Can participate fully in debates and discussions.
• Cannot vote in Presidential elections.
• Can vote in Vice-Presidential elections.
• Can join a political party within 6 months of taking a seat.
• So far, no nominated member has been part of the Council of Ministers.