About Animal Discoveries and Plant Discoveries 2025:

• The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), the country’s premier institution for faunal exploration and research, publishes Animal Discoveries every year detailing the new discoveries of fauna.
• Similarly, the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), the country’s premier organisation for plant research and taxonomy, publishes Plant Discoveries every year detailing the new discoveries of flora.

Highlights of Animal Discoveries 2025:

• India added many new species to its fauna in 2025.

• Among the states, Kerala recorded the highest number of new species (98), followed by West Bengal (76), Karnataka (67), and Arunachal Pradesh (65).
• Among the animal groups added to the country’s fauna Hymenoptera contributed the highest number of additions (106), followed by Lepidoptera (65), Diptera (64), Arachnida (64), Coleoptera (55), and Pisces (50), reflecting the remarkable diversity and continuing discovery of India’s invertebrate fauna.
• Among the crucial fauna discovered in 2025 are:
  • Myotis himalaicus, a new species of Himalayan bat.
  • Ptyctolaemus namdaphaensis and Ptyctolaemu siangensis are two newly discovered species of green fan-throated lizard from Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Lycodon irwini, a species commonly known as Irwin’s wolf snake, discovered on the remote Great Nicobar Island.

Highlights of Plant Discoveries 2025:

• Among the states, Arunachal Pradesh emerged as the leading contributor with 49 discoveries, followed by Uttarakhand (39) and Kerala (37).
• Nearly 64 percent of all newly documented taxa were recorded from the Himalayan region, the Western Ghats, and the North-Eastern states.
• Approximately 43% of the newly described taxa belong to vascular plants.
• Among the most notable discoveries are several wild relatives of economically and ecologically significant plant groups, including Begonia, Impatiens (balsams), legumes, and orchids.
• Among the crucial plants discovered are,
  • Polystichum siangense, a recently discovered species of fern belonging to the family Dryopteridaceae, found in the Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Miliusa beddomei, a new wild member of the custard apple family discovered in the Western Ghats.
  • Hericium indicum, a recently discovered species of wild edible tooth fungus in Uttarakhand.

About Trimbakeshwar Temple:

• It is an ancient and historic Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
• It is located in Trimbak village in the Nasik district of Maharashtra.
• It lies near the mountain named Brahamagiri, from which the river Godavari flows.
• It is one of twelve famous Jyotirlingas in India.
• The spiritual history of the Trimbakeshwar Temple dates back many centuries and is mentioned in sacred texts such as the Shiva Purana, Skanda Purana, and Padma Purana.
• The present temple structure was constructed by the third Peshwa, Balaji Bajirao (1740-1760), on the site of an old temple.
• Architecture:
  • The temple is constructed in the Hemadpanthi style, a traditional architectural form known for its strength, symmetry, and minimal use of mortar.
  • It is built entirely from black basalt stone.
  • Its walls and tower (shikhara) have many small carvings.
  • he courtyard is wide, and small shrines line the outer walls.
  • The sanctum houses the three-faced Jyotirlinga, which is adorned with a dazzling jewelled crown, believed to be from the Pandava era.
  • Within the temple premises lies the Kushavarta Kund, a sacred pond regarded as the origin of the Godavari River.

About Marburg Virus Disease (MVD):

• MVD, formerly known as Marburg haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness caused by the Marburg virus.
• The Marburg virus is a zoonotic virus that belongs to the Filoviridae family (filovirus), the same group of viruses that includes Ebola.
• It is a rare disease that occurs in humans and non-human primates (chimpanzees, gorillas, and monkeys).
• It is named for the German city where scientists became ill with the disease's first known cases in 1967 while handling monkeys imported from Africa.
• The Marburg virus is most commonly found in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Transmission:
  • The Marburg virus is naturally carried by Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus), which serve as its primary reservoir.
  • Once a human is infected, the virus spreads through direct contact with the blood, saliva, vomit, urine, faeces, and other bodily fluids of an infected person.
  • It can also spread through contaminated objects such as bedding, clothing or medical equipment that have come into contact with infected bodily fluids.
  • Unlike some respiratory viruses, Marburg is not airborne and does not spread through casual contact.
• Treatment:
  • There is no approved vaccine or specific treatment for MVD.
  • Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and supporting patients through the course of the disease.

About INS Trikand:

• It is a frontline guided missile frigate of the Indian Navy.
• It is the third and final ship of the second batch of Talwar-class frigates ordered by the Indian Navy.
• It was built by the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia.
• It was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 2013 at Kaliningrad, Russia.
• It is part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet and operates under the Western Naval Command headquartered at Mumbai.
• Features:
  • It is powered by four gas turbines and is capable of speeds in excess of 30 knots.
  • Armory: It carries a supersonic BRAHMOS missile system; advanced surface-to-air missiles, Shtil; an upgraded A190 medium-range gun; electro-optical 30 mm close-in weapon system; anti-submarine weapons such as torpedoes and rockets; and an advanced electronic warfare system.
  • The weapons and sensors are integrated through a Combat Management System, ‘Trebovanie-M’, which enables the ship to simultaneously neutralise multiple surface, sub-surface, and air threats.
  • The ship also incorporates innovative features to reduce radar, magnetic, and acoustic signatures, which have earned this class of ships the sobriquet of ‘Stealth’ frigates.
  • The ship can carry an integrated Kamov 31 helicopter, which is best suited for airborne early warning roles.

About Caspian Cobra:

• The Caspian cobra, also called the Central Asian cobra, ladle snake, Oxus cobra, or Russian cobra, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae.
• It is the most venomous cobra in the world.
• Scientific Name: Naja oxiana
• Habitat and Distribution:
  • It is native to Central Asia.
  • It is found in parts of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, the Fergana Valley, north and east Afghanistan, northeastern Iran, the northern half of Pakistan from the Kashmir region east to the state of Himachal Pradesh in India.
  • It thrives in arid and semi-arid regions, including rocky hillsides and scrublands.
  • Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

About Marine Products Export Development Authority:

• It is a statutory body entrusted with the primary task of promotion of export of marine products.
• History: It was set up by an act of Parliament during 1972. The erstwhile Marine Products Export Promotion Council established by the Government of India in September, 1961 was merged into MPEDA on 24th August, 1972.
• Functions:
  • Developing and regulating off-shore and deep-sea fishing and undertaking measures for the conservation and management of off-shore and deep-sea fisheries;
  • Registering fishing vessels, processing plants or storage premises for marine products and conveyances used for the transport of marine products; fixing of standards and specifications for marine products for purposes of export;
  • Regulating the export of marine products; registering of exporters of marine products on payment of such fees as may be prescribed;
• It has set up five full-fledged Quality Control Laboratories, at Kochi, Nellore & Bhimavaram, Bhubaneshwar and Porbandar.
• In order to reach out to the exporters in different parts of the Country, it has set up 18 – Regional / Sub Regional Divisions / Desk offices.
• Headquarters: Kochi, Kerala
• It has Trade Promotion offices at New Delhi, Tokyo and New York.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Commerce and Industry

About Hul Diwas:

• It is observed every year on 30th June to commemorate the Santhal Rebellion of 1855.
• In the Santhali language, the term “Hul” means revolution, uprising, or resistance.
• It is a day of cultural pride, remembrance, and resistance for the tribal communities of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, and Bihar.

Key Facts about Santhal Uprising:

• Santhal Rebellion was one of the first tribal uprisings against British colonial rule and the feudal-zamindari system.
• The movement was initiated by the Santhal tribe, primarily led by Sidho Murmu and Kanhu Murmu, with the support of thousands of tribal men and women.
• The rebellion began on 30th June 1855 in Bhognadih village, located in present-day Sahibganj district of Jharkhand.
• It quickly spread across parts of present-day Jharkhand, Bihar, and West Bengal. The rebellion lasted until January 3, 1856.
• Leaders:
  • Sidho Murmu and Kanhu Murmu
• Reasons for Santhal Uprising:
  • Land alienation: Santhals were displaced from their ancestral lands by outsiders.
  • Economic exploitation: Local moneylenders, zamindars, and British agents imposed harsh taxes and usurious loans.
  • Loss of tribal autonomy and interference in their traditional governance and justice systems.
  • British apathy to tribal grievances and increasing oppression.
• Impact: The Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act of 1876 (SPT Act) enacted by the British, which prohibits the transfer of Adivasi lands (urban or rural land) to non-Adivasis, was the result of the Hul.

About International Renewable Energy Agency:

• It is an intergovernmental organisation that was founded in 2009 to support countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future.
• Mandate: It serves as the principal platform for international cooperation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy.
• Member countries: It has 170 Members (169 States and the European Union). India is also one of the founder members of IRENA.
• Headquarters: It is located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
• Governance of International Renewable Energy Agency:
  • Assembly: It is IRENA’s ultimate decision-making authority, made up of one representative from each Member.
  • Council: It is composed of 21 Member States elected for a two-year term and is accountable to the Assembly.
  • Council members serve on a rotating basis to ensure the effective participation of both developing and developed countries and a fair and equitable geographical distribution.
  • Secretariat: It comprises the Director-General and his staff, provides administrative and technical support to the Assembly, the Council and their subsidiary bodies.
  • It is an official United Nations observer.