STATE NEWS

Rare Caracal Spotted in Madhya Pradesh After Two Decades

• A caracal has been photographed in Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, marking Madhya Pradesh’s first confirmed sighting in nearly 20 years.

• The discovery is tied to Project Cheetah, which began wildlife monitoring in the area in 2023.

• Camera traps set up in the Cheetah Closed Natural Area captured images of the elusive cat in the Golabavdi beat of the West Range.

• The project, led by the Wildlife Institute of India and the state forest department, aims to restore habitats and enhance biodiversity.

• The sighting signals hope for the revival of rare species, highlighting the success of ongoing conservation measures.

• Caracals (Caracal caracal) are solitary, nocturnal hunters, known for their distinctive black ear tufts and leaping ability.

• They prefer scrublands, semi-arid zones, and woodlands, but are threatened by habitat degradation and human activities.

• In India, the caracal is classified as threatened under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

AWARDS

Former Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha Honoured with Hem Bahadur Malla Award 2080

• Kalyan Shrestha, Nepal’s 25th Chief Justice, received the Hem Bahadur Malla Award 2080 for his significant contributions to the judiciary.

• The award was presented by Chief Justice Prakashman Singh Raut at a ceremony in Kathmandu.

• Shrestha was acknowledged for advancing transitional justice, environmental justice, and promoting inclusive democracy.

• The award carries a cash prize of Rs 200,000 and a certificate of recognition.

• Named after Hem Bahadur Malla, founder of the Salt Trading Corporation, the award celebrates excellence in public service and administration.

• The selection committee was headed by Umesh Mainali, former Public Service Commission chairman.

• Justice Raut praised Shrestha as a key figure in Nepal’s judicial development and reform journey.

• This annual honour recognizes individuals or institutions making outstanding contributions to governance and public management.

LEGAL NEWS

Forest Clearance Controversy Sparks Legal and Environmental Concerns in 2025

• The Indian government has approved diversion of over 8,500 hectares of forest land in the first half of 2025, raising legal and environmental concerns.

• This decision has drawn criticism for allegedly violating a Supreme Court directive issued in February 2025 that bars forest land reduction without pre-identified compensatory land.

• Several approved areas reportedly include legally protected forests, contradicting earlier court-imposed safeguards.

• Compensatory afforestation (CA) is controversially being permitted on existing forest land, defying the Court's intention.

• Petitioners argue this approach breaches the 1996 Godavarman judgment and recent Supreme Court rulings.

• The dispute highlights concerns over the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023, which critics say weakens forest protection frameworks.

• Environmentalists claim that current afforestation claims are misleading, masking real ecological damage.

• The case underscores growing tension between development goals and forest conservation obligations in India.

Supreme Court Allows Electoral Roll Revision in Bihar, Emphasizes Transparency

• The Supreme Court declined to halt the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections.

• The Court advised the Election Commission of India (ECI) to consider documents like Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration cards, but left the final decision to the ECI.

• The SIR process involves a house-to-house survey and a fresh preparation of the voter list, requiring proof of birth and earlier registration.

• The Court identified three major concerns: the ECI’s authority, the revision procedure, and its timing close to elections.

• The ECI maintained that Aadhaar cannot prove citizenship, and said expanding the list of acceptable documents now would disrupt the process.

• Petitioners, including NGOs and political leaders, feared wrongful voter exclusion and likened the process to a citizenship check.

• They demanded that the revision be delinked from election timelines to avoid hurried errors.

• The Court stressed that the process must be lawful, fair, and transparent, though it allowed it to proceed.

• Practical concerns about conducting personal verifications at scale were raised, urging the ECI to balance accuracy with election readiness.

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

Sanchar Mitra Scheme Goes Nationwide to Boost Telecom Awareness and Digital Literacy

• The Sanchar Mitra Scheme, led by the Department of Telecommunications, has now been scaled up as a nationwide campaign to promote telecom awareness and digital responsibility.

• Initially piloted in select colleges, it now involves student volunteers as digital ambassadors trained to spread awareness on cyber safety, EMF radiation, and responsible mobile usage.

• The program is structured around three pillars: Connect (linking citizens to telecom services), Educate (raising awareness), and Innovate (encouraging research and tech engagement).

• Engineering and tech students are selected as Sanchar Mitras and receive training from experts at the National Communications Academy and DoT’s Media Wing.

• Their role includes organizing awareness drives, partnering with NGOs, and promoting informed telecom usage at the community level.

• Volunteers get exposure to cutting-edge telecom tech like 5G, 6G, AI, and cyber security, with top performers offered internships and national project roles.

• The scheme supports India’s goal of becoming a global telecom leader, building a digitally skilled and innovative youth force.

• Premier institutes like IITs, NITs, and IIITs are actively collaborating with the DoT, nominating students and ensuring structured implementation across the country.