KARNATAKA ISSUES

• Leopard presence is increasing on Bengaluru’s outskirts, especially around Bannerghatta National Park (BNP), due to urban expansion and habitat fragmentation. BNP, a biodiversity hotspot, hosts 80–85 leopards and endangered species like the tiger and pangolin, with 34 mammal species identified. Leopards are adapting to peri-urban areas, including agricultural and private lands. Camera traps and SECR methods track their population, which has risen from 40 in 2019 to 54 in 2025. Urbanisation is causing habitat conflict and prey depletion. Conservation efforts urge the expansion of BNP, creation of reserves, and protection of corridors to maintain genetic flow and wildlife dispersal.
• The Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot, faces severe ecological degradation due to deforestation and habitat fragmentation. Ecological restoration is vital to revive native ecosystems and enhance climate resilience. PlantWise, a newly launched web tool, supports scientific restoration by helping users choose suitable native evergreen tree species, especially those endemic to the region. Developed by NCF, BITS Pilani-Hyderabad, and Thackeray Wildlife Foundation with the Ecological Restoration Alliance, it leverages curated data, environmental variables, and species distribution models. By combining field expertise and data science

POLITY

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) has upgraded its Index Card system—a crucial post-election statistical reporting tool—to a digital, automated format. Traditionally a manual and error-prone process, the Index Card consolidates key constituency-level electoral data, forming the basis for 35 Lok Sabha and 14 State Assembly reports. The revamped system, announced in New Delhi, enhances data accuracy, speeds up processing, and ensures real-time access. It supports researchers, policymakers, and public transparency, aligning with Digital India and e-Governance goals. This modernization will significantly improve electoral data management, aid governance insights, and reinforce democratic accountability through better public scrutiny.
• Ladakh’s new reservation policy grants 85% government job reservation for locals, with a 5% domicile quota requiring 15 years of residence since 2019. Total reservations, including EWS, reach 95%. Policies also reserve one-third of hill council seats for women and recognize multiple languages. Following the revocation of Article 370, locals demand protections like statehood, autonomy, and constitutional safeguards amid concerns over land and resource rights. The region continues to seek greater political and constitutional recognition.

SOCIAL ISSUES

• On World Environment Day 2025, India reinforced its commitment to environmental justice and sanitation worker dignity through the NAMASTE scheme, now expanded to include Waste Pickers. Initially designed for Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs), the scheme—run by MoSJE and MoHUA—now seeks to digitally profile 2.5 lakh Waste Pickers for targeted welfare. The initiative provides health insurance, occupational ID cards, PPE kits, skill training, and livelihood support. It also promotes collective empowerment through Dry Waste Collection Centres (DWCCs). Knowledge products released include a resource guide and socio-economic report. As of May 2025, over 80,000 SSWs have been enumerated and validated.

ENVIRONMENT

• India is planning fiscal measures to boost domestic rare earth magnet production after China curbed exports of key rare earth materials, essential for electric vehicles, clean energy, defence systems, and electronics. China controls 90% of global processing, posing strategic risks. Though India has rare earth reserves, it lacks processing capacity. The Ministry of Heavy Industries is proposing Production-Linked Incentives (PLIs) and funding to bridge the price gap with Chinese magnets. The aim is to ensure supply chain self-reliance and stockpiling. India currently relies on imports, and automakers like Suzuki have halted production due to shortages, prompting urgent policy responses.
• Dhanushkodi in Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathapuram district, covering 524.7 hectares, lies within the ecologically rich Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve. This wetland is crucial for migratory birds along the Central Asian Flyway, hosting over 10,700 birds of 128 species, including flamingos, herons, and sandpipers. It supports diverse habitats like mangroves, mudflats, and marshes, with key mangrove species such as Avicennia and Rhizophora. Legally notified in June 2024, the site aims to conserve biodiversity, protect against erosion, and promote eco-tourism. Future designation as a wildlife sanctuary under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, is also under consideration.
• Tigers in India rely heavily on ungulates such as spotted deer, sambar, wild pigs, and gaur for survival. A 2022 national assessment shows significant prey declines in regions like Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh due to habitat loss, hunting, and fragmentation, threatening tiger populations and ecological balance. Some areas, including the Western Ghats and Central India, maintain healthy prey populations. Vulnerable species like hog deer and barasingha require targeted conservation. Poor prey availability increases human-tiger conflicts and livestock predation. Recommendations emphasize habitat restoration, enhanced protection, prey monitoring through technology, and breeding programs to sustain tiger prey and support tiger conservation efforts.
• Released on June 5, 2025, by MoSPI during the National Workshop on “Alternate Data & Frontier Technologies,” the 8th edition of EnviStats India aligns with the UN’s FDES 2013 framework to provide comprehensive environmental statistics. Initiated by NSO in 2018, it aids evidence-based policymaking on climate, resources, and sustainability. The 2025 edition includes expert-recommended structural improvements and new indicators like electricity access and Ramsar sites. Key trends show rising temperatures, variable rainfall, increased thermal and renewable energy generation, and growth in inland fisheries. India’s biodiversity is rich, with 6% of global faunal species, while environment sustainability expenditure leads government funding, with agro-forestry least funded.

SCIENCE

• The Indian Air Force is considering acquiring Israel’s ‘Ice Breaker’ missile, developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, to boost its air strike precision and strategic deterrence amid regional security concerns. The Ice Breaker is an air-launched cruise missile with a 300 km range, high subsonic speed, and a 250 lb warhead. Lightweight and compact (~4 meters, under 400 kg), it can be launched from fighter jets, drones, helicopters, naval vessels, and ground vehicles. Equipped with AI, an electro-optical seeker, and stealth features, it offers autonomous and networked multi-missile attack capabilities, enhancing India’s deep strike, low-detection, and multi-domain warfare readiness.

MISCELLANEOUS

• The revamped “Hall of Nuclear Power: Atoms Serving the Nation” was inaugurated on June 5, 2025, at the National Science Centre, Delhi. Originally opened in 2016, the gallery now features over 56 interactive exhibits across 7,000 sq. ft., including 3D walkthroughs, reactor artifacts, and immersive simulations to educate the public on nuclear energy’s science, safety, and strategic importance in India. It honors pioneers like Dr. Homi J. Bhabha and emphasizes India’s thorium reserves for energy security. Managed by NPCIL and NSC under the National Council of Science Museums, it targets students, educators, and the general public to promote scientific awareness and nuclear literacy.