About Bonda Tribe

• The Bondas are exclusively found in the Malkangiri district of Odisha and are mostly concentrated in the Khairaput block of the district.
• It is a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) and one of the oldest tribes of India.
• They are also known as Bondo, Bondas, Bonda Paraja, and Bhonda.
• They are considered one of the first settlers in India, with their lineage tracing back to the Austroasiatic race.
• Language:
  • The Bonda people speak Remo, a language belonging to the Austroasiatic linguistic family.
  • This is distinct from mainstream Indian languages, making it difficult for outsiders to communicate with them.
• The Bondas are divided into two groups because of their distinct cultural practices:
  • The Lower Bondas, who live in the Malkangiri district in south Odisha and border Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, and
  • The Upper Bondas, who live in the remote villages of the district’s hilly terrain.
• The social organization is hierarchical, with a council of elders that makes important decisions for the community.
• The Bonda people live in small villages organized around communal spaces where ceremonies and meetings take place.
• Bonda architecture is characterized by mud and thatched-roof houses, designed to adapt to the mountainous environment and climatic conditions.
• The art of the Bonda is expressed mainly through the creation of decorative tools and utensils, in addition to their colorful fabrics and jewelry.
• They have an interesting dressing style – ladies are semiclad and wear different sorts of rings and pieces of jewelry around their bodies, while the men wear deadly attires.
• Religion: The religion of the Bonda people is animistic, focused on the worship of nature and ancestral spirits.
• Occupation:
  • Their economy is based mainly on subsistence agriculture, hunting, and gathering.
  • They are known for their unique practice of shifting cultivation called dangar chas.
  • They grow crops like paddy, millet, pulses, and vegetables.
• Only 6% of Bondas are literate. The life expectancy of the tribe is so low they are nearly extinct.

About Cold Wave:

• Cold waves are unusual weather occurrences caused by extremely low temperatures in the near-surface atmosphere.
• Their duration can range from several days to a few weeks, contingent upon the geography and climatic conditions of the region.
• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) defines a cold wave as a rapid fall in temperature within 24 hours.
• This is distinguished by a marked cooling of the air, or with the invasion of very cold air, over a large area.
• As per IMD, a cold wave is considered when the minimum temperature of a station is 10°C or less for plains and 0°C or less for hilly regions.
  • A cold wave and severe cold wave is considered a negative departure from normal i.e., 4.5°C to 6.4°C and more than 6.4°C in hill stations,
  • Similarly, the departure in minimum temperature of ≤ 04°C and ≤ 02°C for plains is considered a cold wave and severe cold wave, respectively.
• Cold waves are predominantly experienced during the period December-February, when minimum temperatures drop to very low levels, especially over the northern parts of India.
• Health Risks:
  • Exposure to extreme cold can lead to frostbite, hypothermia, and other cold-related illnesses.
  • Non-freezing cold injuries, such as Immersion Foot—caused by prolonged exposure to cold, wet conditions—are also a risk.
  • In extreme cases, cold exposure may result in fatalities if adequate precautions are not taken.

About Chaprala wildlife sanctuary:

• It is located in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra.
• The Markhanda and Pedigundam hills flank the sanctuary from northeast and south, and the Pranhita River flows along its western boundary.
• It is located on the bank of the confluence of the Wardha and Wainganga rivers.
• During the monsoons, river water swells and enters the sanctuary.
• Additionally, several water bodies, including the Murgikunta, Raikonta, and Komatkunta tanks, further contribute to the sanctuary’s biodiversity.
• Vegetation: It is dominated by southern tropical dry deciduous forests interspersed with grasslands.
• Flora: The dominant tree species include teak, Arjun, salai, mahua, bel, dhawada, tendu, sissoo, and semal.
• Fauna:
  • It is inhabited by Tiger, Leopard, Wild boar, Sloth bear, Wild dogs, Langurs, Blackbuck, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Jackal, Mongoose, etc.
  • The sanctuary also features a distinctive riparian ecosystem that supports a diverse aquatic fauna, including fish, prawns, and turtles.

Key Facts about Striped Grassbird:

• It is a species of bird in the Locustellidae family.
• Scientific Name: Megalurus palustris
• Distribution: It is widely found across South and Southeast Asia, including China, India, Pakistan, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Least Concern.

About Chambal River:

• The Chambal River, called Charmanvati in ancient times, is one of the major tributaries of the Yamuna
• Located in Central India, the river forms part of the greater Gangetic drainage system.
• Course:
  • It is a perennial river and has its source in Janapav, located to the south of Mhow Town close to Indore on the southern sides of the Vindhya Mountain Range in Madhya Pradesh.
  • It flows through three Indian states: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
    • The Chambal and its tributaries drain the Malwa region of northwestern Madhya Pradesh, while its tributary, the Banas, which rises in the Aravalli Range, drains southeastern Rajasthan.
    • Notable Landmark: Pachnada confluence in Uttar Pradesh, where it meets the Kwari, Yamuna, Sind, and Pahuj rivers.
  • Major Dams: Gandhi Sagar, Jawahar Sagar, Rana Pratap Sagar, and Kota Barrage dams are built on this river.
  • National Chambal Sanctuary:
    • Established in 1979, it covers Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.
    • Known for protecting the critically endangered Gharial crocodile, along with other crocodile species, turtles, and diverse fish.
    • A hotspot for bird watching with many bird species, including the endangered Indian Skimmer.

What is a Ravine?

• It is a narrow valley with steep sides, usually caused by stream bank erosion.
• Ravines are smaller than canyons and larger than gullies.

About Bitra Island:

• It is located in the northern region of Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea.
• It is the smallest inhabited island in the territory.
• Climate:
  • The climate of Bitra is similar to the climatic conditions of Kerala. March to May is the hottest period of the year.
• It is strategically important to India, as it lies in a key position in the Arabian Sea.
• Bitra would become the third island in the archipelago with a defence establishment – two Indian naval bases in the archipelago are INS Dweeprakshak in Kavaratti, the capital of the UT, and INS Jatayu in Minicoy.

About Rock Eagle Owl

• It is also called Indian eagle-owl (Bubo bengalensis) or Bengal eagle-owl.
• It is a large-horned owl species native to hilly scrub forests in India.
• It was earlier treated as a subspecies of the Eurasian eagle-owl.
• Habitat: It is especially found near rocky places within the mainland of the Indian Subcontinent south of the Himalayas.
  • It avoids humid evergreen forests and extremely arid areas.
• Distribution: It is mainly found in South Asian countries like India, Nepal, Pakistan.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN: Least Concern
  • CITES: Appendix II.

About National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research:

• It was established as an autonomous Research and Development Institution on the 25th May 1998.
• It was formerly known as the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR).
• It has been at the forefront of leading India's scientific expeditions and research programmes in the Polar regions and the Southern Ocean.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences Government of India
• Location: Vasco da Gama, Goa.
• Mandate and Functions of National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research:
  • It is designated as the nodal organization for the co-ordination and implementation of the Indian Antarctic Programme, and executing polar expeditions in the Antarctic, Arctic, Southern Ocean, and Himalayas.
  • It also works on strategically vital projects like: Mapping of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Continental shelf surveys, and the Deep Ocean Mission.
  • It has established and operationalised permanent Indian research stations -- DakshinGangotri, Maitri, and Bharati in Antarctica, and Himadri in the Arctic, along with the Himalayan station Himansh.

About GLP-1 Drugs:

• The Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs or GLP-1 receptor agonists are synthetic drugs which are being used for the treatment of obesity in adults.  
• These drugs are mainly injectables, though oral versions are under development.
  • Examples: Two leading GLP-1 drugs are: Semaglutide and Tirzepatide
• Both have been introduced in India and are transforming obesity and diabetes treatment.
• How Do GLP-1 Drugs Work?
  • These drugs act by:
    • Increasing insulin secretion when glucose is high.
    • Inhibiting glucagon release, reducing liver glucose output.
    • Slowing gastric emptying, preventing sudden spikes in blood sugar.
    • Suppressing appetite, making the person feel full sooner.

Key Facts about Glucagon-like peptide-1

• GLP-1 is both an incretin hormone and a neurotransmitter.
• It is a naturally occurring gut hormone (incretin) released after food intake.
• Secretion: It is secreted from the small intestine and from the hindbrain.
  • It moves to the pancreas, where it helps to regulate blood sugar by increasing insulin and decreasing glucagon.

About Chaolung Sukapha:

• He was a 13th-century ruler who founded the Ahom kingdom that ruled Assam for six centuries.
• He is widely referred to as the architect of “Bor Asom” or “greater Assam”.
• It was in Charaideo he established his first small principality, sowing the seeds of further expansion of the Ahom kingdom.
• Administration:
  • He divided the kingdom into territorial units called khels or phoids, each under an officer responsible for supplying a fixed number of paiks.
    • Paiks are the able-bodied male population who owed labour and military service to the state.
    • Every adult male between sixteen and fifty was registered as a paik and served the king for part of the year in agriculture, construction, or war. In return, he was allotted land for personal cultivation.
  • He emphasized guerrilla tactics suited to the terrain of rivers, jungles, and hills. 
• Why is Sukapha important?
  • Sukapha’s significance lies in his successful efforts towards assimilation of different communities and tribes.
  • He adopted a policy of conciliation and assimilation rather than annihilation.
  • Sukapha developed very amiable relationships with the tribal communities living in Assam — especially the Sutias, the Morans and the Kacharis.