About PM-AJAY:

• It is a comprehensive initiative by the Government of India, launched in FY 2021-22, aimed at the socio-economic upliftment of Scheduled Castes (SCs).
• It is a merger scheme of three erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Schemes, namely, Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY), Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP), and Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana (BJRCY).
• Implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, the scheme focuses on reducing poverty, enhancing educational opportunities, and improving infrastructure in SC-dominated areas.
• The objectives of the Scheme are to:
  • Reduce poverty of the SC communities by generating additional employment opportunities through skill development, income-generating schemes, and other initiatives.
  • Improve socio-economic developmental indicators by ensuring adequate infrastructure and requisite services in the SC-dominated villages.
  • Increase literacy and encourage enrollment of SCs in schools and higher educational institutions by providing adequate residential facilities in quality institutions, as well as residential schools where required, especially in the aspirational districts/SC-dominated blocks and elsewhere in India.
• The scheme is 100% funded by the Central Government. However, the States/UTs are free to provide additional funds from their own resources if they so desire.
• The states are required to submit their Annual Action Plans (AAPs) through the PM-AJAY portal in order to receive funds from the central government.
• The planning process is decentralized, allowing for the creation and approval of projects at both state and district levels.
• Key Components:
  • Adarsh Gram Development: Transforming SC-majority villages into ‘Adarsh Grams’ (model villages) by filling critical gaps in infrastructure and services.​
  • Grants-in-Aid for Socio-Economic Projects: Providing financial assistance for district/state-level projects aimed at the socio-economic betterment of SCs.
  • This includes:​
    • Creation of infrastructure in SC-dominated villages
    • Construction of hostels/residential schools
    • Comprehensive livelihood projects, including skill development and related infrastructure.​
    • Financial assistance towards loans taken by beneficiaries for asset acquisition/creation required for livelihood generation.​
  • Construction of Hostels: It includes building hostels in higher educational institutions ranked under the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) and funded by the Centre/State/UT Governments, schools funded by the Centre/State/UT Governments, and recommended by the Ministry of Education.​
  • Financial support for monitoring and evaluation of the Scheme implementation through the Administrative Head of the Scheme.
• Eligibility Criteria:
  • The SC persons living below the poverty lines are eligible for getting benefits under the various income-generating schemes and skill development programmes.
  • In case of Infrastructure Development, the villages having 50% or more SC population are eligible for grants under the Scheme.

About National Security Guard (NSG):

• It is India’s premier counter-terror force, specially trained and equipped to respond to serious acts of terrorism and other exceptional security situations.
• The NSG members are also known as Black Cats because of the black drill cotton coveralls and balaclavas, or helmets, they wear.
• Establishment:
  • It was raised in 1984, following Operation Blue Star and the assassination of Indira Gandhi.
  • It was established under the National Security Guard Act of 1986.
  • The Act places it under the administrative control of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which exercises operational tasking.
  • The NSG was modelled on the pattern of the Special Air Service of the UK and GSG-9 of Germany.
• The NSG’s specific goals include:
  • Neutralization of terrorist threats
  • Handling hijacking situations in the air and on land.
  • Bomb disposal (search, detection, and neutralisation of IEDs).
  • PBI (Post Blast Investigation)
  • Hostage Rescue
  • VIP Security
• Motto: Sarvatra Sarvottama Suraksa.
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Director General (DG):
  • The head of the NSG, designated as Director General (DG), is selected by the Home Ministry.
  • All the selected DGs have been officers from the Indian Police Service (IPS).
• It is designed to be employed as a specialised counter-terrorism force “only in exceptional situations,” not to take over “functions of the State Police Forces or other paramilitary forces.”
• The teams of NSG work on a basic philosophy of swift and speedy strike and immediate withdrawal from the theatre of action.
• NSG deployments are usually not made public, with most of its operations remaining classified.
• Structurally, the NSG is a two-tier composite force.
  • The Special Action Group (SAG) is the offensive assault component, manned entirely by personnel on deputation from the Indian Army, and constitutes roughly half the force.
  • The Special Ranger Group (SRG) is drawn on deputation from the Central Armed Police Forces (CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF) and the state police, and performs perimeter, support, VIP protection, and logistics roles.
• This dual sourcing is a deliberate design feature: it keeps the cutting-edge assault capability under Army-trained discipline while retaining a police-culture interface for civilian-environment operations.
• The force also fields specialised wings for bomb disposal, electronic countermeasures, and explosive detection and runs the National Bomb Data Centre (NBDC).
  • The NBDC collects, collates, analyses, and evaluates all terrorist bombing activities and disseminates relevant information to concerned law enforcement agencies.

About Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl:

• The spot-bellied eagle-owl, also known as the forest eagle-owl, is a large bird of prey with a formidable appearance.
• Scientific Name: Ketupa nipalensis.
• It is closely related to the barred eagle-owl, which looks similar. However, these two owls live in different areas.
• Habitat and Distribution:
  • It is a forest-inhabiting species found in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
  • In India, these spot-bellied eagle-owl species are distributed in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura, and Mizoram.
  • It can be found in a variety of habitats, including tropical and subtropical forests, woodlands, and savannas.
• Features:
  • It is one of the longest owls in the world.
  • The most distinguishing feature is its striking colouration. The upper parts of its body are a rich chocolate brown, speckled with white spots.
  • The feathers on its wings and tail are barred with alternating shades of brown and white, creating a stunning pattern that helps it blend in with its surroundings.
  • It is primarily nocturnal.
  • It is a solitary bird that is territorial and maintains a home range.
  • It is famous for its strange, human-like calls.
• Conservation Status:
• IUCN Red List: Least Concern

About Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is located in the Karauli district of Rajasthan.
• It serves as a northern extension and buffer zone of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, acting as a wildlife corridor connecting Ranthambore to the Chambal region.
• It is geographically characterized by rugged hills, deep gorges (locally referred to as khos), and dry deciduous forests, with the Banas River on its western edge and the Chambal River to the southeast.
• The sanctuary is also culturally significant due to the Kaila Devi Temple within its boundary, attracting many pilgrims.
• It has become a popular reference among environmentalists and conservationists for the community-initiated forest protection committees (referred to as kulhadi bandh panchayats) that are operational in the area.
  • These forest protection committees prevent the carrying of axes into the forests, a symbol of protecting the forests.
• Flora: The forest vegetation mainly comprises species like dhok, khair, and tendu trees.
• Fauna: Its rich wildlife includes Bengal tigers, leopards, sloth bears, Indian grey wolves, striped hyenas, jackals, nilgai, chinkara, sambar, chital, and over 200 species of birds such as kingfishers and peafowl.

About Murud-Janjira Fort:

• It is an island fort located on an island off the coastal village of Murud, in the Raigad district of Maharashtra.
• It is surrounded by the Arabian Sea on all sides and is one of the strongest marine forts of India.
• History:
  • The history of Murud Janjira Fort dates back to the 15th century, when the Siddi rulers established a powerful naval base along Maharashtra's western coast.
    • The Siddis were the rulers of Murud-Janjira. They were people of African origin who had come to India many centuries ago.
  • The name "Janjira" is believed to have originated from the Arabic word "Jazeera," meaning island.
  • Initially constructed as a small wooden fort by local fishermen, it was later rebuilt into a massive stone fortress under the Siddis.
  • The fort’s strategic location on the bustling maritime trade route connecting Broach, Daman, Diu, and Mangalore made it a vital hub for commerce and military operations.
  • Over the centuries, Siddi alignment with Mughals provoked conflict with local kings, including Shivaji and his son Sambhaji, who attempted to scale the walls and tunnel to it, respectively.
  • However, no outsider (including British, French, and Portuguese colonists) ever made it past the fort’s 12 m-high granite walls, which, when seen during high tide, seem to rise straight from the sea.
  • Despite numerous attempts, its defenses remained unbreached, earning it the moniker “Unconquerable Janjira.”
• Architecture:
  • The structure is built on a rock outcrop and has massive bastions and high protective walls.
  • The fort was made by a mixture of lead, sand, and gul.
  • The main gate of the fort facing Rajapuri on the shore is a huge structure. There is a small gate towards the open sea to escape from the enemies.
  • Once it stood firm and robust in defence with roaring cannons, only a few of the large cannons remain in place today, and the largest of them is known as the Kalaal Bangdi.
  • Earlier the fort was a full-fledged living place with all the necessary facilities like palaces, quarters for officers, a mosque, two small 18 m natural freshwater lakes, etc.
  • There is also a deep well with cold and sweet water, a wonder of nature in the midst of the sea.