• 10 Oct 2025

IUCN's First Gharial Green Status Assessment

Why in News? 

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has conducted its first-ever 'Green Status' assessment of the Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus). 

• The species has been classified as "Critically Depleted" due to ongoing threats despite years of conservation efforts. 

Key Findings 

• Current Population and Habitat: The Chambal River (spanning 500 km across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan) remains the last stronghold of the gharial, housing several thousand individuals. 
  • The Chambal Sanctuary (established in 1979) is the only site with a viable gharial breeding population in the wild. This sanctuary also protects other endangered species like the Ganges River dolphin and the red-crowned roof turtle. 
  • Other populations exist only in small, isolated pockets across northern India and Nepal. 
  • The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) India report reveals that only 0.5% of young gharials survive to adulthood, underscoring the critical need for protection of nesting habitats to aid in their recovery. 
• Historical Range and Decline: Once abundant across major river systems such as the Ganga, Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Indus, and Irrawaddy, gharials faced rapid habitat destruction due to Large-scale sand mining, hunting for skins, Egg collection, Construction of dams and barrages. 
  • By the 1970s, the species had disappeared from nearly 98% of its historic range. 
  • The current estimate is around 681 adult gharials remaining in the wild, with 80% residing in the Chambal River. 
• IUCN 'Green Status' vs. Red List: The IUCN Green Status differs from the traditional Red List by assessing progress toward full ecological recovery rather than just extinction risk. 

Rajasthan to Boost Quality of Education

Why in News? 

The Rajasthan Education Department has outlined a comprehensive four-part action plan aimed at strengthening foundational literacy among students and enhancing the overall quality of education in government schools.  

• The proposed program aims to transform Rajasthan into a model state for implementing National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, enhance government school enrolment, improve children's employability, and lead national academic rankings. 

Key Focus Areas of the Plan 

• Student Upliftment: 
  • Digital Monitoring: Attendance of students will be digitally monitored to ensure consistent engagement. 
  • Textbook Distribution: The timely distribution of textbooks will be ensured, ideally within one month from the start of the academic year. 
  • Emotional Empowerment: Special video seminars on social, emotional, and ethical learning will be organized, along with counseling camps to help students cope with stress and emotional challenges. 
  • Board Exam Support: Two question banks or assessment materials will be provided to students preparing for board exams, along with on-call support from subject experts. 
  • Competitive Exam Preparation: High-performing students in secondary classes will be identified and provided with study materials or reimbursement for purchasing competitive exam materials. 
• School Development: 
  • School Categorization: Schools will be categorized into Gold, Silver, and Bronze based on student test results, academic performance, and sports achievements. 
  • Gold Schools: High-performing schools will receive priority in resource allocation. 
• Teacher Empowerment: 
  • Teacher Transfer Policy: A new teacher transfer policy will prioritise transfers based on student performance and other criteria, ensuring that skilled teachers are placed in schools where they can have the most impact. 
  • Specialised Teacher Selection: Teachers with superior academic results will be selected for specialised state-level institutions, ensuring quality education at the institutional level. 
• Parental Involvement: 
  • Mega Parent-Teacher Meetings: Monthly meetings will be organised across the state to engage parents in the educational progress of their children, ensuring that parents play an active role in their child's learning journey. 

Exercise Indra 2025

Why in News? 

The Indo-Russian joint military exercise 'Indra 2025' is being held from 6th to 15th October 2025, at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Bikaner, Rajasthan.  

Key Points 

• Objectives: This year’s exercise emphasises counter-terrorism, aligning with the strategic doctrines of both India and Russia, reflecting their shared priorities in addressing modern security challenges. 
• Focus Areas: 
  • Joint tactical exercises 
  • Live-fire training 
  • Close-quarter combat under desert conditions 
  • Simulated hostage-rescue missions, elimination of insurgent networks, and precision engagement of fortified positions. 
• Features: 
  • The exercise involves high-intensity drills, including rehearsals of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) integration for reconnaissance and target acquisition. 
  • Air support coordination and the synchronisation of artillery and armoured elements in limited-visibility environments are also key components of the drills. 
  • Troops will operate under strict rules of engagement to ensure realistic and disciplined execution of operations. 
• Historical Context: 
  • The Indra series of exercises began in 2003 and alternates between India and Russia. 
  • The last exercise was held in 2021, but the series was paused after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022. 
• Significance: With evolving military technologies and joint operations, this exercise helps both nations refine their tactics and improve interoperability, especially in hostile environments.

Unreported Cash Property Deals Flagged in Bihar and UP

Why in News? 

The income tax department has focused on cash transactions exceeding Rs 2 lakh in property deals, uncovering violations in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, particularly in districts bordering Nepal, where sub-registrars have failed to share data. 

Key Points 

• About: A nationwide exercise, initiated following the Supreme Court's April 2025  directions, uncovered multiple instances of entire property transactions being conducted in cash, highlighting concerns over transparency and compliance. 
  • The department has intensified its efforts to track black money and crack down on cash transactions in high-value deals by collecting and analyzing vast amounts of data. 
• Misreporting of Data: Sub-registrars in Bihar and UP have been found misreporting property transaction data, prompting the tax department to raise concerns and instruct officials to ensure proper data sharing and compliance with registration processes.   
• Scale of Problem in Bihar: Spot verifications in districts like Kishanganj, Sitamarhi, Araria, and Madhubani in Bihar revealed: 
  • Around 250-300 instances of cash transactions over Rs 2 lakh not being reported. 
  • Failure to report transactions exceeding Rs 30 lakh as mandated by law.  
  • In a single sub-registrar office, over 600 property transactions worth Rs 250 crore were not reported over three years. 
  • PAN details for transactions were not captured or shared.  
• Scale of Problem in UP: While the problem is less severe in UP, issues were found in districts like Maharajganj and Pilibhit. 
  • There were defective entries in several property deals, and cash transactions exceeding Rs 2 lakh were still prevalent, though on a smaller scale compared to Bihar.