In News:

Researchers have recently discovered a new species of jumping spider in the Baner Hill area, underscoring the region's rich biodiversity and the growing need to preserve the natural landscapes around Pune.

About Okinawicius tekdi:

• The newly identified species, named Okinawicius tekdi, is a jumping spider that contributes to the growing diversity of India's spider population, now numbering 326 species of jumping spiders.
• The name "tekdi" comes from the Marathi word for "hill," reflecting the spider's habitat.
• The last time a spider species was identified in Pune was over three decades ago.

About Jumping Spiders:

• Jumping spiders belong to the family Salticidae and are known for their distinctive eight legs and remarkable jumping ability.
• These spiders possess a segmented body, a tough exoskeleton, and jointed legs.
• In addition to their agility, they are famous for spinning webs that they use to capture their prey.

In News:

The World Cities Report 2024, released by UN-Habitat, highlights the urgent need for cities to address climate change, both as victims and major contributors.

Key Findings of the Report

• Temperature Increases by 2040: Nearly 2 billion people living in urban areas are projected to face at least a 0.5°C rise in temperature by 2040, exposing them to heatwaves and other climate-related risks.
• Urban Vulnerability and Climate Risk:
  • Cities are disproportionately affected by climate change while being major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, which exacerbates their vulnerability to events like floods, cyclones, and heatwaves.
  • The urban population is facing a dual challenge: increased heat and extreme weather events such as flooding, cyclones, and erratic rainfall.
• Sea-Level Rise and Coastal Risks: Over 2,000 cities in low coastal areas, many located under 5 meters above sea level, are at heightened risk from sea-level rise and storm surges, potentially affecting more than 1.4 billion people by 2040.
• Riverine Flooding: Flood exposure in cities is growing 3.5 times faster than in rural areas, with 517 million people in urban areas projected to be exposed to riverine flooding by 2030.
• Investment Gap: Cities require between USD 4.5 trillion and USD 5.4 trillion annually to build and maintain climate-resilient systems, but current investments stand at only USD 831 billion, highlighting a massive funding shortfall.
• Decline in Urban Green Spaces: The average share of urban green spaces has dropped from 19.5% in 1990 to 13.9% in 2020, reducing cities' ability to absorb carbon, manage heat, and provide essential ecosystem services.
• Vulnerable Communities: Informal settlements and slums, often situated in environmentally sensitive areas, are disproportionately affected by climate impacts. These communities lack adequate infrastructure and are often unable to invest in necessary upgrades due to eviction fears or lack of legal recognition.
• Green Gentrification: While climate interventions like park creation can provide environmental benefits, they can also lead to green gentrification—displacing low-income households or increasing property values and rents, thus pricing vulnerable communities out.

Contributing Factors to Urban Global Warming

• Energy Consumption: Urban areas account for 71-76% of global CO? emissions from energy use, driven by dense populations, industrial activities, transportation, and high-energy demand for buildings.
• Industrial Activities: Urban industries and power plants release a variety of greenhouse gases (GHGs), including CO?, methane (CH?), and nitrous oxide (N?O).
• Land Use Changes: Urban expansion leads to deforestation and reduced carbon absorption, contributing to global warming. Urban land areas are expected to more than triple by 2050, accelerating environmental degradation.
• Waste Generation: Decomposing waste in landfills releases methane, a potent GHG, exacerbating the greenhouse effect.
• Urban Heat Island Effect: Urban Heat Islands (UHIs) occur when cities absorb and retain more heat due to their dense infrastructure (asphalt, concrete, and buildings), increasing local temperatures and energy consumption.

Impacts of Global Warming on Cities

• Heatwaves: Cities, especially in warmer regions like India, are experiencing more severe heatwaves and rising temperatures.
• Urban Heat Island Effect: UHIs increase the intensity of heatwaves, particularly in high-density cities, where buildings and roads trap heat, exacerbating energy demands and public health risks.
• Coastal Flooding: Rising sea levels threaten coastal cities with flooding and storm surges, displacing communities and disrupting economies.
• Wildfire Seasons: Warming temperatures and prolonged droughts increase the risk of wildfires in urban areas, particularly in forest-adjacent cities.

India's Climate Initiatives for Urban Areas

• Smart Cities Mission: Focuses on developing sustainable urban infrastructure, promoting smart technologies, and enhancing resilience to climate impacts.
• AMRUT Mission: Aims to provide basic infrastructure and sustainable urban development in cities, including water supply, sewage, and green spaces.
• Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban: Focuses on improving waste management and reducing pollution in urban areas.
• FAME India Scheme (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles): Promotes electric vehicles to reduce urban air pollution and carbon emissions.
• Green Energy Corridor (GEC): Facilitates the integration of renewable energy sources into the national grid, encouraging clean energy use in urban centers.

In News:

• The 21st India-US Military Cooperation Group (MCG) meeting was held from November 5 to 6, 2024, at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi.
• The meeting focused on strengthening defence ties between India and the US, covering a wide range of topics aimed at improving military cooperation.

Key Areas of Discussion

• Capacity Building: The meeting discussed initiatives for enhancing defence capacity through training exchanges, joint exercises, and sharing best practices.
• Defence Industrial Cooperation: Both countries explored opportunities for collaborative defence industrial ventures and technology sharing.
• Joint Exercises: The advancement of joint military exercises was highlighted to boost readiness against both conventional and hybrid threats.
• Strategic Objectives: The meeting aimed to enhance interoperability between the two countries' armed forces, enabling more effective joint operations.

Commitment to Strengthen Indo-US Defence Ties

• Strategic Partnership: Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the Indo-US defence partnership, recognizing the shared challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Focus on Regional Security: The discussions underscored the importance of ensuring regional security and global stability in the face of emerging threats.

The Role of the MCG

• Purpose: The MCG forum serves as a key platform for enhancing strategic and operational defence collaboration between India and the US.
• Long-term Goals: The MCG aims to build mutual defence capabilities, counter emerging threats, and ensure the security of both nations and the wider region.

In News:

• The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 will be held in Prayagraj from January 13 to February 26.
• The event is a sacred pilgrimage that draws millions of pilgrims to bathe in the holy waters of the Triveni Sangam (the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Sarasvati rivers) for spiritual purification and liberation.

Significance and Spiritual Importance

• Sacred Rituals:
  • The central ritual is the act of bathing in the holy waters of the confluence, believed to cleanse one’s sins and bring spiritual liberation (Moksha).
  • Pilgrims also engage in worship, spiritual discourses, and seek blessings from revered sadhus and saints.
• Auspicious Dates:
  • The event includes Shahi Snan (Royal Bath), where prominent saints and their followers bathe on specific dates, marking the beginning of the Mela.
  • Paush Purnima marks the start of the auspicious bathing period.
• Cultural Ceremonies:
  • The Mela features a grand procession (Peshwai) with Akharas (spiritual orders) on elephants, horses, and chariots.
  • Cultural performances, traditional music, dance, and art are also part of the festivities, showcasing India’s vibrant cultural diversity.

Mythological and Historical Roots

• Mythology:
  • The Kumbh Mela is deeply embedded in Hindu mythology, symbolizing humanity’s quest for spiritual unity and enlightenment.
  • The timing of the event is based on astrological positions of celestial bodies, particularly the Sun, Moon, and Jupiter.
• Historical Significance:
  • The origins of the Kumbh Mela trace back over 2,000 years, with references found in the Maurya and Gupta periods.
  • Royal Patronage: Emperors like Akbar supported the Mela, symbolizing unity among different religions and cultures.
  • British Colonial Era: British officials documented the Mela, fascinated by its scale and ritualistic practices.
• Modern Recognition:
  • In 2017, the UNESCO recognized the Kumbh Mela as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, underscoring its global significance.

Cultural Celebration and Unity

• Cultural Diversity:
  • The Maha Kumbh Mela is a celebration of India's rich cultural heritage, where pilgrims experience traditional crafts, art, music, and dance, alongside spiritual practices.
• International Participation:
  • Pilgrims from across the globe attend the Mela, drawn by its message of unity, tolerance, and the universal quest for spiritual growth and peace.
• Message of Unity:
  • The Mela serves as a reminder of humanity’s shared desire for self-realization and spiritual fulfillment, transcending national, cultural, and religious boundaries.

In News:

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the PM Vidyalaxmi scheme to provide financial assistance to meritorious students for higher education.
• Objective: The scheme aims to ensure that financial constraints do not hinder students from pursuing quality higher education.

Key Features of the scheme:

• Eligibility:
  • Students admitted to top 860 Quality Higher Education Institutions (QHEIs) are eligible.
  • Includes both government and private institutions, as per the NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) rankings.
• Loan Provision:
  • Collateral-free and guarantor-free education loans for tuition fees and other course-related expenses.
  • Loans up to ?7.5 lakhs will have a 75% credit guarantee from the government to encourage banks to offer loans.
• Interest Subvention:
  • For students with an annual family income of up to ?8 lakhs (and not eligible for other scholarships or schemes), a 3% interest subvention will be provided on loans up to ?10 lakhs.
  • This subvention applies during the moratorium period (when repayment is deferred).
  • Preference for interest subvention is given to students in technical/professional courses and those from government institutions.
• Target Beneficiaries:
  • Around 22 lakh students are expected to benefit from the scheme annually.
  • The government has allocated ?3,600 crore for the period 2024-2025 to 2030-2031, with 7 lakh fresh students anticipated to receive the benefit each year.
• Digital Process:
  • A unified “PM-Vidyalaxmi” portal will allow students to apply for loans and interest subvention in a simplified, transparent, and digital manner.
• Payment Method:
  • Interest subvention will be paid via E-vouchers or Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) wallets.

Loan Product Features

• Collateral-free & Guarantor-free: Loans will be accessible without the need for collateral or a guarantor.
• Loan Coverage:
  • The scheme will cover full tuition fees and other related expenses.
• Eligibility Criteria:
  • Students enrolled in NIRF top 100 HEIs, state institutions ranked 101-200, and central government institutions are eligible.
  • The list of eligible institutions will be updated annually based on the latest NIRF rankings.

Government's Commitment

• The scheme is a part of the National Education Policy 2020’s vision to enhance access to quality education through financial support.
• Additional Support:
  • It complements the existing Central Sector Interest Subsidy (CSIS) and Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Education Loans (CGFSEL) under PM-USP.
  • The CSIS scheme provides full interest subvention for students with an annual family income of up to ?4.5 lakhs, pursuing technical/professional courses.