1️⃣ India Unveils the National Red List Roadmap in Abu Dhabi

• Event: Launch of the National Red List Roadmap
• Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
• Objective: To strengthen biodiversity conservation efforts and align India’s ecosystem protection initiatives with global standards.
• Organised by: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India.
• Key Aim:
• Develop a comprehensive national database of threatened species.
• Support the creation of India’s own Red List, complementing the IUCN Red List framework.
• Significance: Marks India’s commitment under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to protect and restore natural ecosystems.

2️⃣ Supreme Court Allows Judicial Officers with 7 Years of Experience to Compete for Direct Recruitment as District Judges

• Judgment: Supreme Court of India ruling
• Key Decision: Judicial officers with a minimum of 7 years’ service can now apply for direct recruitment to the post of District Judge.
• Earlier Rule: Only advocates with 7 years of practice were eligible under Article 233(2) of the Constitution.
• Impact:
• Provides career advancement opportunities for existing judicial officers.
• Ensures merit-based selection across both judicial and bar candidates.
• Significance: Strengthens the judiciary by ensuring a wider talent pool and addressing vacancies in the higher judicial service.

3️⃣ Meta Selects Mumbai and Visakhapatnam as India’s Landing Sites for Undersea Cable Project ‘Waterworth’

• Company: Meta Platforms Inc.
• Project Name: Waterworth (part of Meta’s global undersea cable network initiative)
• Landing Sites in India:
• Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
• Objective: To enhance global internet connectivity and data transmission capacity across Asia and beyond.
• Background: The undersea cable project will link India, Southeast Asia, and Africa, boosting digital infrastructure.
• Significance:
• Supports India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) goals.
• Enhances data speed, reliability, and international bandwidth availability.

4️⃣ Kerala Becomes the First State to Amend the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

• State: Kerala
• Legislative Update: First Indian state to amend the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972) at the state level.
• Objective:
• To address human–wildlife conflict.
• Introduce more flexibility in managing problematic wildlife species like wild boars and elephants.
• Significance:
• Sets a precedent for other states to adopt localized solutions.
• Balances biodiversity protection with community safety and livelihood needs.

5️⃣ Ministry of Ayush Launches ‘SPARK 4.0’ Initiative

• Launched by: Ministry of Ayush, Government of India
• Full Form: Scheme to Promote and Accelerate Research and Knowledge in Ayurveda 4.0
• Objective: To enhance research skills and innovation capacity among Ayurveda graduates and scholars.
• Focus Areas:
• Evidence-based Ayurveda research
• Technology integration in traditional medicine
• Start-up and innovation incubation in Ayush sector
• Significance:
• Encourages young researchers to contribute to modern Ayurvedic science.
• Strengthens India’s global leadership in Ayurveda and holistic health systems.