Kumki elephants
Odisha government requested the deployment of kumki elephants to address escalating human-elephant conflicts.
- Kumkis – Trained captive elephants excel in trapping, rescuing, and tranquilizing wild elephants.
- Used by – Tamil Nadu
- Used to –
- Mitigate damage to crops, human settlements, and minimize the risk to both human and elephant lives.
- For forest patrolling
- Rescue operations.
Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar
The President conferred PMRBP to 19 children.
- Aim – To honor children aged 5–18 for excellence in Bravery, Art & Culture, Environment, Innovation, Science & Technology, Social Service, and Sports that deserve national recognition
- Awarded by – Ministry of Women and Child Development (Annually)
- Presented on – Week before Republic Day.
- Eligibility – Limited to Indian citizens residing in India.
Exercise Khanjar & Exercise Cyclone
- Exercise Khanjar –
- India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise Khanjar
- Commenced in – Himachal Pradesh.
- Exercise Cyclone –
- 2nd edition of the India-Egypt exercise ‘Cyclone’
- Commenced in – Egypt
Wadge Bank Ecosystem
Wadge Bank Ecosystem may be impacted by proposed exploration and development of oil and gas blocks.
- Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea meet with a distinct pattern of water currents in different seasons
- One of the most productive coastal areas in the world.
- Part of Indian continental shelf
- Location – South of Cape Comorin in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu
- Exploration project under – Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP)
Social Audit Advisory Body
First meeting of the Social Audit Advisory Body (SAAB) held
- Social Audit Advisory Body – Advisory body of India to promote transparency and accountability, strengthen institutions at the grassroots level etc.
- Set up in – National Institute of Social Defence (NISD)
- Ministry – Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
- Objective – To promote capacity building of the members of Social Justice Cell of the Social Audit Units.