[Newsbits] 1-7.11.2024: Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR, Census 2025 & more

India has joined the Asset Recovery Interagency Network-Asia Pacific (ARIN-AP) Steering Committee through its Enforcement Directorate. This collaboration enhances India’s cross-border asset recovery efforts, aligning with G-20 priorities, and India will assume the ARIN-AP presidency in 2026, showcasing its leadership in tackling economic crimes.

The recently discovered orchid species, Gastrodia lohitensis, found in Lohit district, Arunachal Pradesh, is unique due to its leafless structure and reliance on fungal nutrients in shaded bamboo thickets. Standing 50-110 cm tall, this rare orchid, led by researcher Krishna Chowlu of the Botanical Survey of India, adds to India’s endemic flora. However, it faces threats from habitat disturbance, prompting a preliminary “Endangered” IUCN status. Protecting this orchid’s ecosystem is vital for conserving Arunachal Pradesh’s biodiversity and highlights the global importance of preserving fragile environments.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) launched the “First in the World Challenge” to foster breakthrough health solutions and drive innovation in biomedical research. The initiative, emphasizing high-risk, high-reward projects, invites Indian scientists to propose unprecedented ideas in vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Proposals must be bold and transformative, not incremental advances. Open to individual or collaborative teams, submissions undergo a rigorous review by experts. This initiative positions ICMR to champion revolutionary health advancements, with the potential for significant global health impacts and enhanced creativity in India’s biomedical research landscape.

October 2024 marked India’s hottest October since records began, with Delhi experiencing its warmest month since 1951 and no rainfall. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported a 76% drop in rainfall due to the absence of western disturbances, which typically provide winter precipitation. Global warming, high humidity, and lingering monsoon moisture contributed to these temperature spikes. This trend is part of broader climate changes affecting various countries, including Japan and Pakistan, and raises concerns about increasingly frequent humid heatwaves. The extreme temperatures in October highlight the need for urgent climate action to mitigate global warming and its interconnected impacts.

India introduced its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) at the UN biodiversity conference in Cali, Colombia, in alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Focused on halting biodiversity loss by 2030, NBSAP sets 23 targets covering threat mitigation, sustainable resource use, and ecosystem restoration. India aims to restore 30% of degraded ecosystems and manage invasive species through targeted strategies. With significant projected expenditure of Rs 81,664.88 crore annually (2024-2030), the plan emphasizes robust financial support. This framework aims to address India’s biodiversity challenges while contributing to global conservation goals.