Daily Current Affairs 2025  

16/10/2025

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CA-16/10/2025

 
Why in news?
Lagocheilus hayaomiyazakii is a newly discovered species of snail from the evergreen Tilari forest in the Kolhapur district of Maharashtra, India.
 
Key Points

• Lagocheilus hayaomiyazakii is a species of snail that inhabits leafy thickets and rocky areas of the Western Ghats, India.?
• The species was named in honor of Hayao Miyazaki because of his deep and nuanced portrayal of nature and the environment in his films, which resonates with the conservation ethos of the habitat where the snail was found.?
• The discovery highlights the rich biodiversity of the Western Ghats, an ecological hotspot known for its unique and often endangered species.?

 

   
Why in news?
The SAIME Initiative (Sustainable Aquaculture in Mangrove Ecosystems) from West Bengal’s Sundarbans has recently received Global Technical Recognition by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for its innovative integration of shrimp aquaculture with mangrove restoration, benefiting climate, livelihoods, and ecosystem conservation.
 
Key Features

• The initiative integrates brackish water shrimp aquaculture with the restoration and maintenance of mangrove cover (5–30%) within aquaculture ponds, combining economic activity with ecological restoration.?
• SAIME is implemented through partnerships with organizations including the Nature Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS), Global Nature Fund (GNF), Naturland (Germany), and Bangladesh Environment & Development Society (BEDS).?
• Local communities are central to the project, participating in co-management, monitoring, benefit-sharing, and mangrove plantation activities.?
• Aquaculture under SAIME uses natural feed such as mangrove litter, promotes chemical-free practices, and aims for low-input, high-yield, sustainable production.

Objectives

• Restore mangrove ecosystems and maintain shoreline stability, biodiversity, and blue carbon sinks.?
• Provide climate-resilient, conservation-linked livelihoods to vulnerable coastal communities, especially in the cyclone- and erosion-prone Sundarbans.?
• Standardize culture methodology for native black tiger shrimp using Integrated Mangrove Aquaculture systems (IMA), aiming for fair market access, branding, and certification.?
• Support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG-13 (Climate Action), SDG-14 (Life Below Water), and SDG-15 (Life on Land).?

Implementation and Community Impact

• Pilot sites have been established in the Sundarbans, with active engagement of women’s groups, local panchayats, and farmer collectives in mangrove plantation and aquaculture.?

The SAIME Initiative stands as a leading model of climate-adaptive coastal management and sustainable livelihood generation, combining shrimp aquaculture with ecosystem restoration in mangrove-rich regions.
 

 
   
Why in news?

• The MCPS is an advanced, indigenously developed parachute system by India's DRDO, designed for high-altitude combat freefall operations.
• It successfully completed a test jump from 32,000 feet, making it the only parachute system in operational use by the Indian Armed Forces capable of deployment above 25,000 feet.

Key Features and Capabilities

• Developed by DRDO's Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (Agra) and Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory (Bengaluru).
• Allows safe exit, parachute deployment at predetermined altitudes, accurate navigation, and precise landing in designated zones.
• Compatible with NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation), ensuring navigation autonomy and resistance to jamming or interference by adversaries.
• Supports deployment from high altitudes critical for High-Altitude Low-Opening (HALO) and High-Altitude High-Opening (HAHO) operations.
• Enables paratroopers to carry full combat load including weapons and survival gear.

Strategic Importance

• Reduces reliance on imported parachute systems, enhancing self-reliance in defence technology.
• Improves operational readiness and efficiency, especially in difficult terrains such as mountains and hostile environments.
• Supports covert insertions, rapid troop deployment, and disaster response in high-altitude areas like the Himalayas.

The successful development and testing of MCPS represent a significant milestone in India's defence capability and indigenous technological advancement in aerial delivery systems.
 
 
   
Why in news?

• Recently, Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) inviting entries for the 35th edition of the awards to be presented on December 14, 2025, in New Delhi, coinciding with National Energy Conservation Day.
• Year 2025 highlighting the introduction of a new category for digital content creators and social media influencers, acknowledging their pivotal role in raising awareness about energy conservation and alignment with Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment).

About National Energy Conservation Award (NECA)
The National Energy Conservation Award (NECA) is a prestigious initiative by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Ministry of Power, established in 1991 to honor exemplary achievements in enhancing energy efficiency and reducing energy consumption across the nation.?
 
Key Features

• The award recognizes outstanding contributions of industries, buildings, transport undertakings, institutions, and for the first time in 2025, digital content creators and influencers, towards energy efficiency and conservation.?
• The awards are presented annually on December 14, celebrated as National Energy Conservation Day.
• Major sectors covered include chemicals, steel plants, textiles, petrochemicals, sugar, metro and railway stations, ports, educational institutions, government and residential buildings, appliances, and individual professionals.?
• It aims to inspire widespread adoption of energy-efficient technologies and best practices in line with national sustainability and climate goals.

The National Energy Conservation Award thus serves as a strong catalyst for national energy awareness and progressive energy management, rewarding both institutional and individual excellence.
 
 
 
   

Why in news?
The Supreme Court recently permitted the use of only NEERI-certified green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR for Diwali, emphasizing emission reduction and public health protection.
 
About NEERI

• NEERI is a premier research institute headquartered in Nagpur, Maharashtra, functioning under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India.
• Established in 1958 as the Central Public Health Engineering Research Institute (CPHERI) and renamed NEERI in 1974,
• It has played a leading role in environmental science, engineering research, and technology development addressing water, air, and waste challenges.

Key functions and areas of work:

• Environmental research & technology: Focus on pollution monitoring, mitigation, waste management, water purification, air quality modeling, and ecosystem services.?
• Support to government & industry: Provides scientific consultancy for national programs like Swachh Bharat Mission, river rejuvenation, and clean air initiatives.
• Skill development: Offers training, certificate courses, and capacity-building programs for professionals, students, and policymakers.

Vision and impact:

• NEERI is dedicated to advancing sustainable environmental solutions, resource-efficient practices, circular economy principles, and green innovation, aiming to enhance environmental quality, public health, and regulatory compliance.

• Its interdisciplinary approach addresses contemporary challenges in decarbonization, climate change, and rural development.

 

   
Why in news?
Researchers and forest department staff documented six new odonate (dragonfly and damselfly) species during a survey held from October 10-12, 2025.
 
Newly recorded species 

• Long-legged Clubtail (Merogomphus longistigma)
• Fraser’s Torrent Hawk (Macromia irata)
• Dark Daggerhead (Macromidia donaldi)
• Blue-necked Reedtail (Protosticta mortoni)
• Wayanad Torrent Dart (Euphaea wayanadensis)
• Black and Yellow Bambootail (Elattoneura tetrica)?

Many of these species are endemic to the Western Ghats and are sensitive indicators of freshwater and forest health, highlighting the park as a critical habitat for rare and localised fauna.?
 
Ecological and Conservation Insights

• The discovery of these odonates underscores the park’s microhabitat diversity and stability, suggesting minimal pollution and well-preserved aquatic systems.
• Odonates (dragonflies and damselflies) are bioindicators; their presence and diversity reveal important information about forest health and freshwater quality.?

Key facts about Silent Valley National Park

• Location: Kerala, in the Nilgiri hills, about 40 km northwest of Mannarkkad.?
• Area: Core zone: 89.52 sq.km; Buffer zone: 148 sq.km.?
• Formation: Declared a National Park in 1984, inaugurated in 1985.?
• Ecosystem: Home to tropical moist evergreen rainforest, unique micro-climate, and diverse wildlife.?
• Biodiversity:
  • Over 41 mammals, 211 birds, 49 reptiles, 47 amphibians, 12 fish species, 164 butterflies, and 400 moth species recorded.?
  • Lion-tailed macaque is the flagship species; other prominent fauna include Malabar giant squirrel, Black monkey, elephants, and various endemic species.?
• Rivers: Kunthipuzha River flows through the park, originating from the Nilgiri hills.?

 
 

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