• 15 May 2025

Indian Grey Wolf

Why in News? 

In the Kadbanwadi grassland of the Deccan Plateau in Pune, Maharashtra, Indian grey wolves—apex predators crucial to the health of grassland ecosystems—are facing a sharp decline, driven by habitat disruption from expanding agriculture and the growing menace of feral dogs. 

 

Key Points 

• Indian Grey Wolf: 
  • About:  
    • Indian grey wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) is a subspecies of grey wolf found across Southwest Asia and the Indian subcontinent.  
      • It lives in smaller packs and is less vocal compared to other wolf subspecies.   
      • It is primarily nocturnal, hunting from dusk to dawn.  
    • These wolves are distinguishable by brown coats with black-and-white markings on their backs. 
  • Habitat:  
    • It is an apex predator in India’s scrublands, grasslands and semi-arid agro-ecosystems. Thrives in regions with warmer temperatures.  
  • Conservation Status:  
    • IUCN: Endangered (population in India: 2,000 - 3,000 individuals).  
    • CITES: Appendix I.  
    • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I. 
• Kadbanwadi Grassland: 
  • It spans approximately 2,000 hectares and surrounds Kadbanwadi village, located about 276 km from Mumbai atop a hill in Indapur tehsil. 
  • The Shegar Dhangar, a pastoralist community, has long coexisted with local wildlife. 
  • Key species include the Bengal fox, striped hyena, and Brahminy kite. 
  • The Indian grey wolf is seen as the “guardian” of the grassland, playing a vital role in maintaining ecological balance. 
• Rising Threats to the Wolf Population: 
  • Habitat loss due to agriculture and semi-urban expansion. 
  • Free-ranging dogs, which spread diseases and cause genetic hybridisation. 
  • Disease Transmission from Dogs: 
    • Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) is a highly contagious and fatal disease for wolves, transmitted through direct contact or contaminated surfaces. 
    • Canine Parvovirus and Rabies pose serious threats to wolves, spreading through bites, saliva, or scratches. 
  • Genetic and Behavioural Risks: 
    • Cross-breeding between stray dogs and wolves leads to genetic dilution, disrupts wolf pack dynamics, and creates hybrids with unpredictable behaviour and health problems. 
• Rapid Decline in Wolf Numbers: 
  • In 2016, Kadbanwadi had around 70 adult wolves. 
  • By December 2024, the count had fallen to 11. 
  • The most recent tally recorded just six wolves in the region. 
• Challenges: 
  • Officials can remove or kill stray dogs in protected areas like Kadbanwadi grassland, a reserve forest, under Maharashtra Forest Rules (2014). 
  • However, officials hesitate to act due to potential backlash from animal rights groups. 
  • Vaccination of dogs is under consideration, but capturing them remains a challenge. 

 Dhangar Community 

• About: 
  • The Dhangars are a traditional shepherd community spread across several Indian states. 
  • Besides Maharashtra, they also reside in Gujarat, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. 
• Legal and Social Status: 
  • In Maharashtra, the Dhangars are listed under the Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes (VJNT) category. 
  • They typically lead a secluded life, migrating through forests, hills, and mountainous regions. 
• Population: 
  • Dhangar households are small, tightly-knit, and family-centric. 
  • The community's estimated population is around 1 crore, making up approximately 9% of Maharashtra’s total population. 
  • The tribe includes nearly 20 sub-castes and clusters, each with unique customs and cultural practices. 
• Livelihood and Lifestyle: 
  • Their primary occupation is sheep and goat herding. 
  • They follow a mix of nomadic pastoralism, semi-nomadic living, and agriculture-based livelihoods in rural landscapes. 
• Seasonal Migration: 
  • Every year, after the bajra harvest ends in October, Dhangars begin their seasonal migration to find new grazing grounds for their livestock. 
• Cultural Practices: 
  • They honour their ancestors through rituals conducted during their migratory journeys. 
  • Singing traditional songs, especially at night, is a key aspect of their culture. 
  • These songs, known as Sumbaran, form a rich oral tradition that preserves the history, values, and identity of the Dhangar community. 

Gomti River

Why in News? 

Environmental experts and citizens have raised concerns about the Gomti River, as it struggles with plummeting oxygen levels, high fecal coliform counts, and a heavy load of untreated sewage. 

Key Points 

• River Profile:  
  • Gomti is a 960-km long tributary of the Ganga River. 
  • It originates from Madho Tanda in Pilibhit district and merges with the Ganga at Kaithi in Ghazipur. 
  • In Lucknow, the river faces increasing threats from urbanisation, including low oxygen levels and rising faecal contamination. 
• Urbanisation Pressure and Sewage Burden: 
  • Rapid population growth and city expansion are straining Gomti’s ecological balance. 
  • The city currently treats 450 MLD out of 730 MLD needed; around 280 MLD of untreated sewage flows directly into the river. 
• Mega Township Projects:  
  • The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) is planning four major projects: Wellness City, IT City, Educational City, and Prabandhnagar. 
  • Other key developments include Anant Nagar (Mohaan Road) and Aero City (Amausi Airport). 
  • These townships lie along major corridors and will further increase population density and sewage load on Gomti. 
• Need for Sustainable Urban Planning: 
  • Environmentalists stress the urgency of scientific urban planning, including integrated drainage, green spaces, Sewage Treatment Plants, and water reuse systems. 
• Public Health Concerns: 
  • Sharp rise in faecal coliform levels and falling oxygen in the river present serious health and ecological risks. 
  • Untreated discharge from nullahs and inadequate infrastructure pose a threat to both aquatic life and human health.

Asia Pacific Sprint Cup 2025

Why in News? 

Prince Goswami from Madhya Pradesh delivered an outstanding performance and won the gold medal at the Asia Pacific Sprint Cup 2025. 

 Key Points 

• About the Players:  
  • Prince Goswami is a player associated with Madhya Pradesh State Kayaking-Canoeing Academy. 
  • He won first place in the 1000 metres men's event in the C-1 category. 
  • Medal Winners: 
    • Silver Medal: Kotaro Sawata (Japan) 
    • Bronze Medal: Fumiya Ando (Japan) 
•  Venue of the Competition :  
  • The competition was held from 9 to 11 May, 2025 at Lake Kiba in Komatsu , Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan . 
  • It is a prestigious international competition in the kayaking-canoeing category of water sports.

Jageshwarnath Dham Corridor

Why in News? 

The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh laid the foundation stone of the corridor project of Devshree Jageshwarnath temple located in Damoh district. 

 

Key Points 

• About Corridor Construction: 
  • The planned corridor aims to elevate Devshree Jageshwarnath Temple into a national-level religious and tourist destination. 
  • The total proposed cost of construction of the corridore is Rs 100 crore.  
    • In the first phase, construction work has been started commenced at a cost of  Rs 10 crore. 
  • The proposed corridor will include a Sanskrit school and replicas of the 12 Jyotirlingas, turning the temple into a spiritual and cultural complex. 
  •  This development will boost religious tourism, reinforcing the cultural identity of Damoh district and the Bundelkhand region. 
  • The corridor project is expected to generate local employment, especially in the commerce and service sectors. 
• Jageshwarnath Temple:  
  • Jageshwarnath Dham is located in Bandakpur village of Damoh district (MP). 
  • The temple was built by Diwan Balaji Rao Chandorkar in 1711 . 
  • The Shivalinga situated in this temple is considered to be self-manifested and has been present here since time immemorial. 
  • This Shivalinga is miraculous and a centre of special faith for the devotees. 

Bihar First in PMFME Scheme

Why in News? 

Bihar has emerged as the top-performing state in the country under the Prime Minister Micro Food Processing Enterprises Upgradation (PMFME) Scheme. 

 Key Points 

• About the Scheme: 
  • The PMFME Scheme aims to boost the competitiveness of existing private micro-enterprises operating in the unorganised food processing sector. 
  • It also seeks to promote the formalisation of this sector by encouraging structured growth and regulatory integration. 
  • The PMFME Scheme is operational for a period of five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25 with an outlay of Rs 10,000 crore. 
• Focused Areas: 
  • The scheme adopts One District One Product (ODOP) approach to leverage the advantages of scale with respect to procurement of inputs, common services and marketing of products. 
  • Other focus areas include waste to wealth products, minor forest produce and aspiring districts. 
  • Assistance Available under PMFME Scheme: 
    • Individual/Group Category Micro Enterprises: 
      • 35% of the eligible project cost will be given as credit-linked capital subsidy, with a maximum limit of Rs 10 lakh per unit. 
    •  Self Help Groups (SHGs) for Seed Capital: 
      • Seed capital of up to Rs. 40,000 per member of SHGs engaged in food processing with a maximum of Rs 4 lakh per SHG for working capital and purchase of small equipment. 
    • Support for Common Infrastructure: 
      • Credit-linked capital subsidy of 35% with a maximum of Rs 3 crore to support any Government agency for setting up FPOs, SHGs, cooperatives and common infrastructure. 
    • Capacity building: 
      • The scheme envisages training for Entrepreneurship Development Skilling (EDP+), a modified programme to meet the requirements of the food processing industry and product specific skills. 
    • District Resource Persons (DRPs) have been appointed to provide assistance to micro food processing enterprises in complying with FSSAI and other statutory requirements.