• 07 Oct 2025

India’s First Animal Birth Control (ABC) Training Centre

Why in News? 

The Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) has established India’s first Animal Birth Control (ABC) Training Centre in Jarhara, Uttar Pradesh, aiming to train professionals in street dog management and serve as a national hub for ABC training. 

Key Points 

• Partnership: The centre is a collaboration between LMC, the Animal Welfare Board of India, and the Uttar Pradesh government, in partnership with Humane World for Animals India.  
• Objective: Its primary goal is to strengthen street dog sterilisation programmes and improve animal welfare practices. 
• Training Programmes: The centre offers a 15-day training course that includes both theoretical and practical components. Participants will gain expertise in dog handling, anaesthesia administration, sterilisation techniques, and post-operative care. 
• Target Audience: The training is open to veterinarians, para-veterinarians, animal handlers, and organisations involved in street dog management. 
• Certification: Upon successful completion, participants will receive a certificate, signifying their readiness to conduct humane and effective ABC procedures. 

Rajasthan Targets 10% Rise in Cooperative Societies

Why in News? 

During the launch of the Sahkar Membership Campaign, Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma announced a plan to increase the number of cooperative societies by 10%, reinforcing the role of cooperatives in promoting rural prosperity and inclusive growth.

Key Points 

• Sahkar Membership Campaign: The drive, held between 2nd to 15th October 2025, aims to expand the cooperative movement across the state with a focus on women and youth participation. 
• PACS Expansion: New Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) will be established in 2,158 gram panchayats where none currently exist. Land will be allotted to cooperatives lacking warehouse space. 
• Farmer Empowerment: 
  • Over 7.7 million farmers have received interest-free crop loans worth ₹42,765 crore. 
  • 2.48 lakh new farmers benefited from ₹433 crore in fresh loans, and 30,000 beneficiaries availed ₹260 crore in livelihood loans. 
• Support Schemes: 
  • Under PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, 7.6 million farmers received ₹7,054 crore. 
  • The state adds ₹3,000 annually per farmer under the CM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana. 
• Animal Husbandry & Dairy: The Gopal Credit Card Loan Scheme provides up to ₹1 lakh interest-free loans for dairy activities. Mobile veterinary units are being deployed for animal health services.

Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) 

• About: PACS are village-level cooperative credit institutions forming the base of India’s three-tier cooperative credit structure, under State Cooperative Banks (SCBs) and District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs).  
  • They provide short- and medium-term agricultural loans directly to farmers. The first PACS was established in 1904. 
  • PACS are not banks as they are registered as societies under the Cooperative Societies Act,1912. 
• Status: As per the RBI (December 2022), India has about 1.02 lakh PACS, though only 47,297 were profitable as of March 2021.

Haryana Undertakes Wetland Verification

Why in News? 

The Haryana government has instructed all deputy commissioners (DCs) to complete the ground verification and digital boundary demarcation of 1,881 wetlands identified across the state, following the Supreme Court's directive. 

• This order comes after the Supreme Court's warning regarding non-compliance with the deadline, with the court issuing an ultimatum for environment secretaries of non-compliant states to appear before it on 7th October 2025.

Key Points 

• Objective: Wetland demarcation and protection are crucial for environmental preservation and will form the basis for their legal notification under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017. 
  • Ground truthing, the verification of satellite data accuracy, is essential to correctly identify and protect water bodies that were previously excluded from earlier satellite-based maps. 
• Categories:  
  • Man-Made Wetlands: Total 25,606 wetlands covering 23,527.1 hectares, making up 63.61% of the total wetland area. These are mainly artificial ponds, tanks, and waterlogged areas. 
  • Natural Wetlands: Total 13,141.1 hectares, constituting 35.53% of the wetland area, playing a critical role in biodiversity and ecological balance. 
• District-wise Distribution: Wetland distribution in Haryana's districts varies, with Panchkula having the highest share at 2.95%, followed by Yamunanagar at 2.20%, Faridabad at 1.72%, while the smallest share is in Mahendragarh (0.16%) and Kurukshetra (0.08%).

Wetlands and  Ramsar Convention 

• About Wetlands: They are areas of marsh, fen, peatland, or water (natural or artificial) with water that is static or flowing, including marine areas with a depth not exceeding six meters. 
  • Wetlands are an ecotone, having land transitional between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. 
• About Ramsar Convention: It was adopted in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, and provides a global framework for wetland conservation and wise use. India joined it in 1982. 
  • The Montreux Record (threatened list) lists wetlands with deteriorating ecological character due to human activity or pollution. 

Rajasthan Hikes Gaushala Subsidy

Why in News? 

Rajasthan CM announced measures for cow protection and traditional farming, including increased subsidies for gaushalas and financial incentives for farmers using bullocks, highlighting the government's commitment to sustainable agriculture.

Key Points 

• Increased Gaushala Grant: Daily aid for registered gaushalas has been raised to ₹50 per cow and ₹25 per calf, strengthening livestock welfare efforts. 
• Farmer Incentives: The Rajasthan Budget 2025–26 includes a provision of ₹30,000 annually for small and marginal farmers continuing traditional bullock-based farming. 
• Religious Tourism Development: The state has made budgetary allocations for sites like Khatushyamji Temple and Poonchhri Ka Lotha, aligning with PM Modi’s vision of cultural heritage revival. 
  • Sites associated with Lord Krishna’s life are being developed under this project to promote spiritual tourism.

Note:

• In 2023-24, Agriculture and allied sectors contributed to 26.72% in Rajasthan's Gross State Value Added (GSVA) at current prices, which was 28.56% in 2011-12. 
• In 2023-24, the share of crops is estimated to be 44.53%, livestock is estimated to be 48.58%, forestry & logging contribute to 6.40% and fishing is around 0.49% in the agriculture and allied sectors.
  

UP Launches ‘Good Samaritan’ Initiative

Why in News? 

The Uttar Pradesh government has introduced a reward program for helpers called 'Raah-Veer' under the 'Good Samaritan' initiative, recognising individuals who assist road accident victims in reaching hospitals within the crucial "golden hour." 

• The initiative, although designed by the Union Ministry of Road and Highways, is being implemented by state governments and Union Territories across India to encourage prompt assistance to accident victims. 
• According to the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, a 'Good Samaritan' is someone who, in good faith and without expecting any reward, offers emergency medical or non-medical help or transports victims to a hospital after an accident.

Key Points

• About: The scheme recognises and rewards individuals who act as first responders during the "Golden Hour," the first critical hour after a traumatic injury when immediate medical care can save lives. 
  • In 2023, 1.5 million lives were lost to road accidents, with many victims' lives being saved if they had received prompt medical attention within the Golden Hour.  
  • The "Golden Hour" concept, highlighted under Section 2(12A) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, underscores the importance of immediate medical intervention in preventing fatalities. 
• Recognition and Reward: A "Raah-Veer" certificate, along with a ₹25,000 incentive, will be provided to the first responder for each incident. If multiple responders assist a victim, the reward is shared equally. 
• Eligibility: The scheme applies to major road accidents involving motor vehicles where victims sustain severe injuries, requiring more than three days of hospitalisation or suffer from brain or spinal cord injuries.  
  • Even if the victim succumbs to their injuries during treatment, the first responder will still be eligible for the reward. 
• Transparency and Verification: The UP Police will verify the details of each rescuer in collaboration with the hospital.  
  • After confirmation, a district-level committee, led by the district magistrate, will issue an acknowledgement and process the reward. 
• Impact: This initiative is expected to motivate more citizens to help accident victims without fear of legal complications or hesitation. In the past, many potential helpers refrained from intervening, fearing police involvement or legal issues. 
  • According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2023 data, UP recorded the highest number of road accident deaths in India, with 22,532 fatalities in 2023 alone, accounting for 14% of national road deaths. 

Indore Zoo Gets Exotic Bison and Ostrich

Why in News? 

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav visited Indore Zoo and underlined the state’s growing wildlife portfolio, with new additions and future conservation projects strengthening biodiversity management.

Key Points 

• New Arrivals: Four Indian Bisons — Rudra, Tulsi, Kalki, and Tapti — along with two pairs of Ostriches, joined Indore Zoo, enhancing its wildlife diversity. 
  • These animals were brought from Shimoga Zoo in Karnataka under the Tiger Breeding and Exchange Programme, in return for one Tiger sent from Indore Zoo. 
• Wildlife Care & Breeding Success: CM praised the zoo’s care standards, citing the successful breeding of Zebras as a model of effective animal management. 
  • The CM urged citizens to show compassion towards animals, emphasising that “animals and birds are an integral part of our environmental system.” 
• Future Plans: The development of Central India’s most attractive aquarium at the Indore Zoo premises to further boost eco-tourism and public awareness about aquatic biodiversity. 

Indian Bison (Gaur) 

• About: The Indian Bison or Gaur (Bos gaurus) is the largest and tallest species of wild cattle in India and the world’s largest extant bovine.  
  • The global population is estimated at 13,000–30,000, with about 85% found in India. 
• Habitat & Distribution: Native to South and Southeast Asia, the Gaur is abundant in the Western Ghats, mainly in Nagarhole, Bandipur, Masinagudi, and Biligirirangana Hills (BR Hills).  
  • It also occurs in Myanmar and Thailand, preferring evergreen and moist deciduous forests below 6,000 ft altitude. 
• Conservation Status: 
  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable 
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I

Ostriches (Struthio camelus) 

• Flightless birds, exceptional runners with speeds up to 43 mph. 
• Native to African savannas and deserts (Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa) 
• Live in small herds (fewer than a dozen), led by males who primarily mate with the leading female. 
• Largest Living Birds with 2-2.8 metres height and weighing 90-160 kg 
• IUCN Status is Least Concern 

Tribal Village Vision 2030 Under Adi Sewa Parv

Why in News? 

Tribal Village Vision 2030 was officially adopted across 1 lakh tribal villages and tolas through special Gram Sabhas held on 2nd October 2025. 

• The initiative forms the core of the Adi Sewa Parv under the Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan, the world’s largest tribal grassroots leadership mission launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Dhar, Madhya Pradesh.

Key Points 

• Massive Participation: The initiative has reached 11.5 crore tribal citizens across 1 lakh villages and tolas in 30 States/UTs, supported by 20 lakh trained Adi Karmayogis and 7.5 lakh Adi Sathi & Sahyogis. 
• Village Vision 2030: Each tribal village prepared its own development roadmap focusing on education, health, livelihood, inclusion, and infrastructure, aligning with Viksit Bharat@2047. 
• Community-Led Governance: Villagers conducted Transect Walks, Focused Group Discussions, and Gap Analyses to identify local needs, ensuring participatory planning. 
• Integration with Flagship Schemes: Village action plans are linked with PM JANMAN, Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan 2.0, and other Central and State schemes for convergence. 
• Establishment of Adi Sewa Kendras: One lakh Adi Sewa Kendras are being developed as single-window citizen service centres, where villagers volunteer one hour weekly (Adi Sewa Samay) for community work. 
• Technology-Enabled Governance: The AI-powered Adi Vaani App enables real-time communication between government officers and tribal citizens in local languages, ensuring last-mile scheme delivery. 
• Entitlement Distribution: Over 23 lakh beneficiaries have received identity and entitlement cards under Aadhaar, Ayushman Bharat, PM Kisan, and PM Jan Dhan through the campaign.