Key Terms in News

1. V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything)
   • V2X technology enables vehicles to communicate with each other (V2V), pedestrians and cyclists (V2P), and roadside infrastructure (V2I) through devices exchanging speed, position, and other data.
   • It enhances road safety, traffic management, autonomous driving capabilities, and transport efficiency by enabling real-time sharing of information.
2. Hantavirus
   • Hantaviruses are zoonotic viruses of the Hantaviridae family that naturally infect rodents and can occasionally spread to humans.
   • In humans, they can cause hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) and haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), affecting the lungs, heart, kidneys, and blood vessels.
3. Voyager 1
   • Launched by NASA in 1977, Voyager 1 is the most distant human-made object from Earth and has travelled through interstellar space beyond the heliosphere since 2012.
   • It discovered new rings and moons around Jupiter and five moons of Saturn before becoming the first spacecraft to exit the Sun’s heliosphere.
4. Pathfinder
   • Pixxel and Sarvam are developing Pathfinder, India’s first orbital data centre satellite.
   • The 200-kg “computer in space” will use hyperspectral imaging, GPUs, and AI to analyse Earth observation data in real time and transmit insights back.
5. Ecocide
   • Ecocide refers to severe, widespread, or long-term destruction of the environment caused by unlawful or reckless human activities, often on a large industrial or ecosystem scale.
   • The term was coined in 1970 by Prof Arthur W Galston, a plant biologist whose early research contributed to the development of Agent Orange.
6. Enterprise AI
   • Enterprise AI refers to the integration of artificial intelligence technologies into business operations to improve decision-making, automation, productivity, and customer services.
   • It includes applications such as predictive analytics, generative AI, intelligent automation, and AI-driven cybersecurity across industries.
7. Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS)
   • PMOS is a recently proposed broader medical framework that views Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) as a complex metabolic and endocrine disorder affecting multiple body systems beyond the ovaries.
   • It gained attention after researchers suggested that the term PCOS inadequately captures the syndrome’s metabolic, hormonal, and cardiovascular dimensions.
8. Thucydides Trap
   • Thucydides Trap refers to the heightened risk of conflict when a rising power challenges an established dominant power.
   • The term was popularised by political scientist Graham Allison based on the writings of ancient Greek historian Thucydides regarding the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta.
9. Donanemab
   • Donanemab is a monoclonal antibody drug used for the treatment of early-stage Alzheimer’s disease by targeting amyloid-beta plaques in the brain.
   • It was recently in the news following its launch in India, marking a significant development in advanced Alzheimer’s treatment and neurodegenerative disease care in the country.
10. Mule Accounts
    • Mule accounts are bank accounts used by criminals to illegally transfer or launder money obtained through cyber frauds, scams, or other financial crimes.
    • Such accounts are often opened or operated using unsuspecting individuals, fake identities, or recruited intermediaries called “money mules.”

Species in News

Peacock Tarantula

• Andhra Pradesh recently launched the Peacock Tarantula conservation survey.
• The Peacock Tarantula (Poecilotheria metallica), also called the Gooty ornamental sapphire tarantula, is a critically endangered, arboreal spider endemic to the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh.
• First recorded in Gooty in 1899, it is known for its metallic blue colour with yellow-white markings.
• The species is mainly found in the Nandyal, Giddalur and Seshachalam forest regions, where it inhabits dry deciduous forests and tree crevices.

Caracal

• Rare caracal sighted again in Rajasthan’s Thar Desert near the border.
• Caracal (Caracal caracal), locally called “padang” and also popularly known as the desert lynx, is a medium-sized wild cat protected under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act.
• Recognised for its black ear tufts and powerful leaps, it inhabits dry grasslands, scrublands and semi-deserts.
• In India, its population has declined by over 95%, with only around 50 individuals estimated to survive, mainly in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

White-bellied Heron

• Environment panel cleared Kalai-II project amid white-bellied heron concerns.
• White-bellied Heron is one of Asia’s rarest and least-studied birds, listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN and protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act.
• Fewer than 60 birds survive globally, with around 10 in India, mainly in Arunachal Pradesh’s Namdapha and Walong areas, along free-flowing river habitats threatened by dams, habitat loss, hunting, and human disturbances.

Rusty-spotted Cat

• Rusty-spotted cat breeding recorded for the first time in Delhi-NCR Aravallis.
• One of the world’s smallest wildcats, the rusty-spotted cat measures 35–48 cm, nearly half of which is its bushy tail.
• It has short reddish-grey fur with rusty spots on the back and sides.
• Native to India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, it is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List and protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act.

Western Hoolock Gibbon

• Western Hoolock Gibbon was recently in news after successful use of specially constructed canopy bridges over railway tracks in Assam’s Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary.
• The Western Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) is India’s only ape species and is found mainly in the forested regions of Northeast India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
• It is an arboreal primate known for its loud calls and brachiation (tree-swinging movement), inhabiting tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests.
• The species is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Places in News (India)

Dhar  

• Dhar in Madhya Pradesh was recently in news after the Madhya Pradesh High Court recognised the Bhojshala complex as a Saraswati temple in the ongoing Bhojshala–Kamal Maula Mosque dispute.
• Bhojshala is a medieval monument associated with Paramara king Bhoja and is believed by Hindus to have been a centre of learning and a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati.
• The site is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and has remained a subject of religious and legal dispute between Hindu and Muslim communities for decades.

Tripura

• Tripura was recently in news for becoming the first Indian State to complete all deregulation priority areas under Phase I and Phase II of the National Compliance Reduction and Deregulation Initiative.
• The initiative aims to reduce regulatory burden, simplify compliance procedures, decriminalise minor business-related provisions, and improve the ease of doing business ecosystem across States and Union Territories.

Thoothukudi

• Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu was recently in news after signing of the landmark MoU for development of India’s first Mega Greenfield Shipyard under the India–Republic of Korea maritime cooperation framework “VOYAGES”.
• The proposed shipyard is envisaged with an annual shipbuilding capacity of 2.5 Million Gross Tonnage (GT) and forms part of the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
• Thoothukudi is an important port city on the Gulf of Mannar and hosts the V.O. Chidambaranar Port, one of India’s major ports and a key hub for maritime trade and logistics.

Warangal (India’s first PM MITRA Park)

• Warangal in Telangana was recently in news after inauguration of India’s first PM MITRA (Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel) Park.
• PM MITRA Parks are being developed to create integrated textile manufacturing ecosystems with world-class infrastructure, logistics support, and plug-and-play facilities.
• Warangal was selected due to its strong textile base, connectivity, and proximity to cotton-producing regions, and the project is expected to strengthen India’s textile exports and employment generation.

Places in News (World)

Mount Dukono

• Three hikers were killed during an eruption-related incident near Mount Dukono in Indonesia.
• Mount Dukono is one of Indonesia’s most active complex volcanoes, located on Halmahera Island in North Maluku.
• It has shown near-continuous eruptive activity since 1933, with explosive eruptions, ash clouds and mudflows.
• The volcano has erupted more than 200 times since March 2026 and remains under Indonesia’s level-two volcano alert system.
• Indonesia experiences frequent volcanic activity because it lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, where tectonic plates collide.

Suriname

• Suriname was recently in the news following the visit of India’s External Affairs Minister, highlighting growing India–CARICOM and South America outreach.
• Suriname (capital - Paramaribo) is a small country on the northeastern coast of South America, bordered by Guyana, Brazil, French Guiana, and the Atlantic Ocean.
• It has a significant Indian-origin population descended from indentured labourers brought during the colonial period, making it an important partner in India’s diaspora diplomacy.

Vietnam

• Vietnam (capital - Hanoi) was in the news following the visit of the President of Vietnam to India aimed at strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
• Located in Southeast Asia along the South China Sea, Vietnam is strategically important in the Indo-Pacific region and ASEAN architecture.
• India and Vietnam cooperate closely in defence, maritime security, trade, energy exploration, and regional connectivity, particularly amid concerns over the South China Sea.
• The two countries also conduct the bilateral military exercise “VINBAX” (Vietnam–India Bilateral Army Exercise), focused on UN peacekeeping operations and defence cooperation.

Caspian Sea

• The Caspian Sea was recently in the news as an alternative trade and logistics corridor between Russia and Iran amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and the ongoing West Asia conflict.
• It is the world’s largest inland water body, bordered by Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan, and is strategically important for Eurasian energy and trade connectivity.
• The Caspian region is strategically important for energy resources, the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), and Eurasian trade connectivity involving India, Russia, and Central Asia.