Published on: May 26, 2025
Snippets : 26 MAY 2025
Snippets : 26 MAY 2025
- A recent meeting of the NITI Aayog Governing Council was held in New Delhi, chaired by the Prime Minister of India, with the theme “Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat@2047”. Established in January 2015 through a Union Cabinet resolution, NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission and functions as the government’s premier policy think tank. It is neither a constitutional nor a statutory body, created purely by executive action. The body’s twin mandates include overseeing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across India and promoting both competitive and cooperative federalism. Chaired by the Prime Minister, the Governing Council comprises all Chief Ministers, Union Ministers, Lieutenant Governors, and other nominated members. It also forms Regional Councils to address specific regional concerns. The CEO of NITI Aayog, appointed by the Prime Minister, holds the rank of Secretary to the Government of India. NITI Aayog focuses on inclusive development, integrating national security with economic policy, fostering innovation, and enhancing policy coordination across sectors.
- The population of Asiatic lions in Gujarat has grown significantly, increasing by 32% over five years from 674 in 2020 to 891 in 2025, spreading across 11 districts in Saurashtra from their historical core in Gir Forest. This includes 394 lions in the source population (Gir and Pania) and 497 in satellite populations that have expanded into new areas like Barda and Jetpur, and existing zones such as Girnar and Bhavnagar. Amreli, Gir-Somnath, and Junagadh are the top three districts by lion count. Notably, the adult female population rose from 260 to 330, reflecting healthy breeding. Their habitat has expanded from 6,600 sq km in the 1990s to 35,000 sq km in 2025. Government-backed Project Lion, endorsed by PM Modi, has driven successful conservation efforts, though all lions remain within Gujarat, raising concerns about geographic concentration. Despite a Supreme Court order, no lions have yet been translocated to a second habitat like Kuno-Palpur, which now hosts African cheetahs instead.
- Rajasthan has taken steps to classify community-protected ‘Oran’ lands as forests following a Supreme Court directive, aiming to ensure better legal protection and ecological conservation. Orans are traditional sacred groves dedicated to deities by rural communities and play a vital role in both biodiversity and livelihoods. Spread across roughly 6 lakh hectares, Rajasthan hosts around 25,000 Orans, which are used for livestock grazing, forest product collection, and water filtration. These lands contain vital water bodies such as ponds, wells, and streams, particularly valuable in arid regions like the Thar Desert. Additionally, Orans support critical biodiversity, including the habitat of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard, the state bird of Rajasthan. Despite their significance, they were previously only recognized as community land under the 2023 Forest Policy. However, the Supreme Court’s December 2024 ruling mandates their classification as forests under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, to prevent further encroachment and degradation.
- The Chhattisgarh High Court is actively monitoring development initiatives at Madku Dweep, a site of significant local importance. Located on the banks of the Shivnath River in Bilaspur district, Madku Island spans approximately 24 hectares and is renowned for its historical and archaeological significance. The island, named for its frog-like shape, is also called Kedar Tirth and Harihar Kshetra Kedar Dweep. Archaeological excavations have uncovered prehistoric stone tools, epigraphs, coins, and stone inscriptions dating back to the 3rd century BC, written in Brahmi and Shankha scripts. The island houses several ancient idols of Lord Shiva, Ganesha, Shiv-Parvati, Nandi, and other deities, with 19 temples excavated—eighteen facing east and one facing west—exhibiting architectural styles similar to the Kalchuris. Additionally, Madku Dweep hosts the annual Masihi Mela, a prominent Christian fair held every February since 1909, attracting visitors from across Chhattisgarh and beyond
- In a landmark development poised to transform the global standing of traditional medicine systems, an agreement was signed between the Ministry of Ayush and the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 24, 2025. The agreement marks the beginning of work on a dedicated Traditional Medicine module under the International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI).
- South Korea has officially expressed concern to China regarding a recently declared “No-Sail Zone” in the Yellow Sea, a sensitive maritime area where Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of both countries overlap.
