About Public Trust Doctrine:

• It is a legal principle asserting that the government acts as the custodian of certain natural resources for the benefit of the public.
• It rests on the principle that certain resources have such great importance to the people as a whole that it would be wholly unjustified to make them a subject of private ownership.
• Rooted in Roman law and developed through English common law, this doctrine encompasses various public assets such as tidal waters, lakes, rivers, wetlands, and ecosystems.
• It imposes an obligation on the state to act as a trustee of natural resources.
• The public is considered the owner of the resources, and the government protects and maintains these resources for the public’s use.
• It guarantees that everyone has access to essential resources, which benefits society as a whole.
• Three types of restrictions on governmental authority are often thought to be imposed by the public trust:
  • the property subject to the trust must not only be used for a public purpose, but it must be held available for use by the general public;
  • the property may not be sold, even for a fair cash equivalent;
  • the property must be maintained for particular types of uses.
• It has emerged as a vital environmental and constitutional principle in India, ensuring the protection and preservation of natural resources for public use.
• The Supreme Court held that the principle of the public trust is a part of the Indian legal system.
• Supreme Court accepted that as far as “trusteeship” is concerned, there is not any doubt that the State is the holder of all natural resources in a fiduciary relationship with the public.

About Strait of Gibraltar:

• It is the body of water separating Europe from Africa and connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the west with the Mediterranean Sea in the east.
• It is located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula.
• Bordering Countries: It is bordered by Spain and the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar in the north and by the African country of Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in the south.
• It is the only natural link between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea and is one of the busiest waterways in the world.
• Until the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, the Strait of Gibraltar was the only means of oceanic access to and from the Mediterranean Sea.
• An important port located on the Strait of Gibraltar is the Moroccan port of Tanger-Med, near Tangier. 

About CJ-1000 Missile:

• It is a road-mobile hypersonic cruise missile developed by China.
• It is the world’s first and so far only operational land-based scramjet-powered hypersonic missile.
• CJ-1000 is mounted on a diesel-electric hybrid transporter-erector-launcher.
• It is estimated to have a range of at least 2,500 km.
• Why Are Scramjet Missiles More Dangerous Than Glide Vehicles?
  • Scramjet missiles have a cruise altitude of 20 km to 30 km, which is much lower than that of glide vehicles. Glide vehicles typically fly at an altitude of approximately 60 km to 80 km.
  • For enemy air defence radar systems, the lower a missile flies, the more difficult it is to detect and respond to.
  • Furthermore, the scramjet engine operates throughout the cruise and terminal phases, providing greater manoeuvrability and accuracy against targets.
  • Glide vehicles, in contrast, rely largely on inertia during the final approach.

About Mount Kanlaon:

• Mount Kanlaon, also called Kanlaon Volcano, is a stratovolcano located on the island of Negros, Philippines.
• It is the tallest mountain on Negros Island and in the Visayas region.
• It is one of the active volcanoes in the Philippines and part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.
• The volcano comprises a number of pyroclastic cones and craters.

About Spinosaurus mirabilis:

• It is a new meat-eating dinosaur, belonging to ‘Spinosaurus’ species.
• The dinosaur’s fossils were uncovered in the remote fossil area of Jengueb in Niger, deep in the central Sahara.
• It existed nearly 95 million years ago.
• It likely lived in a forested inland habitat dissected by rivers.
• With this new finding, mirabilis becomes the second known species of Spinosaurus.
  • The remains of first known species – Spinosaurus aegyptiacus – were discovered in 1915 from fossils excavated in Egypt. 

About National Commission for Scheduled Tribes:

• It is a constitutional body established by amending Article 338 and inserting a new Article 338A.
• Historical Evolution:
  • The NCST’s establishment is rooted in the Constitution (89th Amendment) Act, 2003.
  • Prior to this amendment, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was a combined entity.
  • The separation into two distinct Commissions-NCSC and NCST-occurred in
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Composition of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes
  • Chairperson: Holds the rank of a Union Cabinet Minister.
  • Vice-Chairperson: Holds the rank of a Minister of State. 
  • Members: Their ranks are equivalent to that of a Secretary to the Government of India.
  • The terms of office for these positions are three years from the date of assuming charge.
• Functions of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes
  • To monitor safeguards provided for STs under the Constitution or under other laws;
  • To inquire into specific complaints relating to Rights & Safeguards of STs;
  • To advise in the Planning Process relating to Socio-economic development of STs;
  • To submit report to the President annually and other times on welfare Measures required related to Socio-economic development of STs;
  • To discharge such other functions in relation to STs as the President may by rule specify.

About Indian Sandalwood:

• Santalum album L. (Santalaceae) commonly known as Indian Sandalwood is one of the oldest and precious sources of natural fragrance.
• It is known by the name "Chandan" and "Srigandha"in India.
• Required Climatic Conditions for Indian Sandalwood
  • Soil: Sandalwood grows better in slight alkaline condition soil PH Range between 6.7. to 7.5.
  • Climate: It thrives in hot and humid climate.
  • The ideal temperature for the growth of Sandalwood is between 12 degrees Celsius to 35 degrees celsius.
  • It requires good drainage and does not stand water logged ground.
• It is a long-duration crop, taking nearly 20 years to develop quality heartwood, which is the primary source of sandalwood oil. 
• It freely produces seed and natural regeneration occurs both via seedlings and through root suckers after trees have been uprooted.
• Uses: Sandalwood and its essential oils have very high commercial values because of its use in aromatherapy, soap industry, perfumery, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
• Major Sandalwood Growing States: It is mostly grown in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu in India. 
• Reasons for decline in sandalwood production: Illegal logging and smuggling, habitat loss due to deforestation, slow growth and long maturation cycle, pests and diseases.

About Vibrant Villages Programme–II:

• It is a Central Sector Scheme.
• It is designed to ensure comprehensive and sustainable development of border villages through a saturation-based and convergence-driven approach.
• Objective: To create better living conditions and adequate livelihood opportunities to ensure prosperous and safe borders, control trans-border crime and assimilate the border population with the nation.
• States Covered: It is implemented in select strategic villages in the States/UTs of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, J&K. Ladakh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
• Key Features of Vibrant Villages Programme–II:
  • It shall provide funds for infrastructure development within the village or a cluster of villages like education infrastructure like SMART classes, development of tourism circuits.
  • It focuses on value chain development through cooperatives, SHGs, etc to create diverse & sustainable livelihood opportunities in the border areas.
  • It emphasizes enhancing vibrancy in these villages by organizing activities including fairs & festivals, awareness camps, celebration of National days.

About Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Location: It is located in Uttarakhand.
• It is situated in Terai Arc Landscape, it forms part of Shivalik Elephant Reserve.
• It connects Corbett and Rajaji landscape on West with Pilibhit-Dudwa along with Terai area of Nepal in East.
• Rivers: It is flanked by River Gola in the west and River Sharda in the east and intersected by River Nandhaur.
• Vegetation: It mainly consists of Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest, Mixed Deciduous Forests, riverine forests.
• Flora: It has many tree species, including the shisham, bamboo, teak, and chir pine.
• Fauna: Asian elephants, leopards and sloth bears, Tigers, Asiatic black bear and Sloth Bear. etc.

About Salem Sago:

• It is locally known as Javvarisi in Tamil Nadu, is a starch-based food product extracted from tapioca roots.
• Sago is derived from raw tapiocas.
• It is in the form of small hard globules or pearls and is pearl white in colour.
• It is manufactured from the wet starch powder crushed from tapioca roots.
• The wet starch powder is used for producing sago and the dry powder has been used as a raw material for industrial purposes.
• In 2023 Salem Sago secured a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
• Uses: Sago is used in various industries, including food, paper, construction, textile, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, mining, and alcohol, among others.

Key Facts about Tapioca

• It is a major horticulture crop cultivated in Tamil Nadu.
• Required Climatic Conditions for Tapioca
  • Soil: Any well drained soil preferably red lateritic loamy soil.
  • Climate: It thrives best in tropical, warm humid climate
  • Rainfall: Well distributed rainfall of over 100 cm per annum.
  • This crop can be cultivated upto an elevation of 1000 m.