Kokborok Language
Tripura is conducting language mapping for development of ‘Kokborok’ language’.
- Recognised as one of the State-language of Tripura.
- Part of the Sino-Tibetan language family.
- Mother tongue of communities like Debbarma (Tripuri) Reang, Jamatia, Noatia, Kalai etc.
Ratnagiri
Recently, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) found ancient Buddhist artefacts in excavations at Odisha’s Ratnagiri.
- Associated Buddhism since Emperor Ashoka’s invasion of Kalinga (ancient Odisha).
- Was a learning center for Buddhist learning, particularly for Mahayana & Tantrayana (Vajrayana) Buddhist traditions.
- Other Buddhist sites in Odisha – Lalitagiri and Udayagiri
Karnali Hydropower Project
Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has finalized a Joint Venture Agreement for the development of the Upper Karnali Hydro-electric Project in Nepal.
- Run-of-River (RoR) type project that will export power from Nepal to India and Bangladesh.
- Run of the river project – A type of hydropower plant that uses the natural flow of a river to generate electricity.
- There is no need of large dam and reservoir in it.
- Karnali River – Originates from Tibet and flows through Nepal and meets the Ghaghara River in India.
Yala Glacier
Yala Glacier in Himalayas Projected to vanish by 2040s
- Location – Nepal
- Only glacier in entire Himalayas to be included in the Global Glacier Casualty List (GGCL) which highlights accelerating impact of climate change on Himalayan cryosphere.
- Cryosphere – Frozen part of the Earth, including snow, ice, and frozen ground.
- GGCL project – Launched in 2024 by Rice University, University of Iceland, Iceland Glaciological Society, World Glacier Monitoring Service, & UNESCO
World Employment and Social Outlook 2025
International Labour Organization (ILO) has recently released its World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2025 report.
- Key findings –
- Global unemployment remains at 5% in 2024
- Slowing global economy is making it more difficult for labor markets to fully recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- ILO – Only tripartite UN agency
- HQ – Geneva, Switzerland.