STATE NEWS
Rajasthan Adds Two Wetlands to the List of Ramsar Sites
• Khichan (Phalodi) and Menar (Udaipur) in Rajasthan have been newly recognised as Ramsar Sites, raising India’s total to 91 globally protected wetlands.
• The announcement was made by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, marking a significant boost to India’s wetland conservation efforts.
• PM Narendra Modi applauded the designation, calling it a reflection of India’s proactive, people-centric environmental approach.
• Ramsar Sites are wetlands deemed internationally important under the Ramsar Convention, a global treaty for wetland preservation.
• As of June 5, 2025, the world hosts over 2,500 Ramsar sites, covering more than 2.5 million square kilometers of wetland ecosystems.
• The Ramsar Convention was signed on 2 February 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, and officially came into effect on 21 December 1975.
• Every year, World Wetlands Day is celebrated on February 2 to raise awareness about the value of wetlands and the importance of their conservation.
Kerala Drops 35 Film Industry Assault Cases Following Justice Hema Report
• Kerala Police have closed 35 sexual assault cases related to the Malayalam film industry, citing insufficient evidence and lack of survivor cooperation.
• These developments came after the Justice Hema Committee Report was finally made public in August 2024, revealing systemic exploitation of women in cinema.
• The committee was established in July 2017 in response to the abduction and assault of a well-known actress, following pressure from the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC).
• Though the report was completed in December 2019, it remained unpublished for years, with the government citing privacy concerns for the victims.
• Upon its eventual release—after intervention by the Kerala State Information Commission—the report exposed a culture of abuse, including the casting couch and fear-driven silence.
• Following this, police launched inquiries into nearly 60 cases, but over half were later dropped due to unwillingness of victims to press charges.
• The case dismissals highlight the challenges survivors face in navigating legal systems, even as awareness grows about gender-based exploitation in entertainment.
Himachal Launches Forest Conservation Drive with Community Participation
• CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu introduced the 'Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana' in Hamirpur to boost forest regeneration by planting fruit trees on degraded land.
• The initiative focuses on community-driven forest management, involving women’s groups, youth clubs, and self-help groups.
• A complementary effort, the 'Green Adoption Scheme,' was launched to bring private sector support into afforestation efforts.
• In its first phase, Ambuja Company will plant trees on 25 hectares, while Adani Foundation and UltraTech will develop 10 hectares each.
• Van Mitras, including many women recruits, were appointed to tackle forest department staff shortages and assist in conservation tasks.
• A special publication, "Samvaad," was released to celebrate Van Mitras, and CM Sukhu also launched the book "The Mountainous Wilderness of Spiti."
• The government reaffirmed its 30% police recruitment reservation for women and emphasized youth employment through the Van Mitra Yojana.
SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE
India Hosts 4th Dialogue with Central Asian Nations to Boost Regional Ties
• On June 6, 2025, India held the 4th India-Central Asia Dialogue in New Delhi, chaired by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar.
• High-level delegations from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan participated to enhance multilateral engagement.
• The dialogue emphasized India's deep-rooted cultural ties with Central Asia, describing the region as part of its ‘Extended Neighbourhood’.
• Discussions focused on improving trade, digital connectivity, technology sharing, and developmental partnerships.
• Security challenges and shared global concerns were also key topics during the ministerial exchange.
• Ahead of the main dialogue, the India-Central Asia Business Council met on June 5, co-hosted by MEA and FICCI, to strengthen economic cooperation.
• This initiative is seen as a major step in deepening strategic collaboration between India and Central Asian countries through sustained dialogue.
