State PCS - West Bengal (WBCS)

• 22 Sep 2025

Bengal Maps India's First Wolf Corridors

Why in News?

West Bengal has recently made a remarkable stride in wildlife conservation with the successful mapping of two wolf corridors near the industrial town of Durgapur.

Key Points

• About: The pioneering initiative marks a first-of-its-kind initiative in India and contributes to the broader Indian Grey Wolf Conservation Project in West Burdwan. 
  • The corridors, located in the West and East Burdwan regions, span a combined area of approximately 20 kilometers and represent a crucial movement space for the Indian grey wolves.
  • With the help of local experts and organizations like the Wildlife Information and Nature Guide Society (WINGS) and WWF-India, this corridor mapping seeks to understand and protect the movement patterns of urban wolves. 
• Corridor Mapping: The mapping identifies two key corridors:
  • Intra-District Corridor: Linking the forests of Madhaiganj-Kantaberia to Garh Jungle in West Burdwan.
  • Inter-District Corridor: Connecting the forests under the Ukhra and Durgapur ranges of West Burdwan to those in East Burdwan (Panagarh, Durgapur, Guskara ranges).
• Findings on Wolf Population: Approximately 30 wolves have been recorded in the area, organized into four packs. The presence of at least 15-24 Indian wolves was also noted in a 2024 study conducted near Durgapur.
• Ecological Insights: These corridors are vital habitats for the species, with evidence pointing to the highest abundance of wolves found within the corridors over the last one and a half years. The study has also identified key breeding habitats and rendezvous sites, critical for the wolves' lifecycle.
• Dietary Habits: Through scat analysis, researchers have identified that the wolves' diet is primarily livestock-based (goats and sheep) but also includes scavenged cow, buffalo, rodent, and bird remains, which is essential for understanding the species' ecological role.
• Deterrent Measures: Fladry deterrent flags—brightly colored flags that create moving barriers—have been installed in conflict-prone areas to minimize human-wolf conflict.

Indian Grey Wolf

• About: The 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. 
• 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. 

Mohanlal Honored with Dadasaheb Phalke Award

Why in News?

Veteran Malayalam actor Mohanlal will receive the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2023, as announced by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

• The award will be conferred on Mohanlal on 23rd September 2025, during the 71st National Film Awards ceremony.

Key Points 

• About: Born on 21st May 1960, in Pathanamthitta, Mohanlal began his acting career with Thiranottam (1978) and debuted as a villain in Manjil Virinja Pookkal (1980).
  • By 1986, his role in Rajavinte Makan established him as Malayalam cinema's first modern superstar.
  • With over 45 years and 400 films to his name, Mohanlal remains a defining figure in Mollywood, starring in notable films like Thanmathra, Iruvar, Drishyam, and Lucifer.
  • He won the National Film Award for Best Actor in 1991 and received the Padma Shri in 2001 and the Padma Bhushan in 2019.
• Dadasaheb Phalke Award: 
  • It is the country’s highest film honour, introduced in 1969, conferred for “Outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema”. 
  • It was awarded for the first time to Devika Rani, “the first lady of Indian cinema”. 
  • This award includes a 'Swarna Kamal,' a cash prize of INR 10 lakh, a certificate, a silk roll, and a shawl.  
  • The President of India presents it. 
• Dhundiraj Govind Phalke:  
  • He was an Indian producer, director, and screenwriter who directed India's first feature film, Raja Harischandra (1913). 
  • He is known as the “Father of Indian Cinema”.