News In Short 29-August-2025

Burmese pythons

Syllabus :GS3/Species 

In News

• Florida officials are deploying robotic rabbits as a new tool to capture invasive Burmese pythons.

Burmese pythons(Python bivittatus)

• Burmese pythons are among the longest snakes in the world.
• It primarily inhabits forested areas like mangroves and rainforests but is also found in grasslands, marshes, wetlands, and near streams and rivers. 
• Distributed : It  is a widely distributed species found throughout Southeast Asia, with evidence of extensive and widespread population declines.
  • It is found in isolated areas of northeast India, Nepal, Indonesia, and China.
  • It is also an invasive, established population in southern Florida, USA, where it has severely impacted native wildlife.
• Protection status :  IUCN Red List of threatened species classifies it as Vulnerable.

Source : IE

Prithu Rae of the Khen Dynasty

Syllabus: GS1/History

Context

• The Assam Cabinet decided that a new flyover being constructed in the heart of Guwahati would be named after Prithu, a 13th-century Kamrup ruler. 

About

• Bakhtiyar Khilji/Khalji (c. 1200 CE) was a Turko-Afghan military general under Muhammad of Ghor.
• In 1206 CE, he launched an expedition into Kamrup (present-day Assam), but suffered defeat.
• His forces were reportedly annihilated, but the identity of the local ruler remains disputed.
• Later historians (esp. Kanak Lal Barua, 1933) linked this victory to a ruler named Prithu of Kamarupa.

About Raja Prithu and the Kamarupa Kingdom

• In the early 13th century, Kamrupa was ruled by Raja Prithu Rae of the Khen Dynasty, believed to be of humble origins and descended from Narakasura. 
• Kamarupa was the first historical kingdom of Assam, existing roughly from the 4th century CE to the 13th century CE.
• It was located in the Brahmaputra valley, with Pragjyotishpura (modern Guwahati) as its capital.

Political Transition after the 13th Century

• After the decline of the Palas and Prithu’s fall, Kamarupa fragmented into small principalities.
• The western part evolved into the Kamata kingdom (13th–16th century).
• Eastern Assam saw the rise of the Ahoms (from 1228 CE), who later became dominant.

Source: IE

Nuakhai festival

Syllabus: GS1/Culture

Context

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended heartfelt wishes to the people of India on the occasion of Nuakhai.

About the festival

• Nuakhai is celebrated in the western districts of Odisha. The word “Nuakhai” comes from two Odia words: “Nua”, which means “new,” and”Khai”, which means “food” or “eating.”
• On this day, farmers offer the season’s first grains to the deity as a gesture of gratitude for a bountiful harvest and seek blessings from elders.
• The festival features community gatherings with traditional dance, music, games, and feasts, and is observed a day after Ganesh Chaturthi.

Source: PIB

Mount Fuji 

Syllabus: GS1/ Geography

Context

• Japan recently released an AI-generated video of Mount Fuji erupting, to give people an idea of what to expect if the disaster strikes and how to prepare themselves.

About

• Mount Fuji is an active stratovolcano located on the Japanese island of Honshu, with a summit elevation of 3,776.24 m.
• Geographical Significance: It is the highest mountain in Japan, the second-highest volcano on any Asian island, and seventh-highest peak of an island on Earth.
• Cultural Significance: It is revered as one of Japan’s “Three Holy Mountains”, along with Mount Tate and Mount Haku.
  • Mount Fuji was inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2013 as Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration.
• The volcano has not erupted since 1707.

Source: IE

Extended Range Attack Munitions (ERAM) Missiles

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

Context

• The United States has approved the sale of 3,350 Extended Range Attack Munitions (ERAM) missiles to Ukraine.

The ERAMs

• Type: Next-generation, air-launched, precision-guided missile.
• Range and Warhead: With a range of 240 to 450 kilometers and a 500-pound warhead, these missiles can hit supply depots, command centers, and critical infrastructure deep inside occupied territories, including Crimea.
• Guidance: GPS, inertial navigation, and terminal seeker, with accuracy within 10 meters, even under electronic jamming.
• Launch Platforms: Modular design allows deployment on Western fighter jets like F-16s or retrofitting on Soviet-era aircraft.

Source: AIR

National Sports Day

Syllabus: Miscellaneous

Context

• On National Sports Day, India honors Major Dhyan Chand, celebrated as one of the greatest hockey players in history.

National Sports Day

• The Indian Government declared August 29 as National Sports Day in 2012. 
• It is celebrated annually  to emphasise the importance of sports and physical activities and serves to honour Major Dhyan Chand’s legacy in Indian hockey
• This year’s celebrations include a three-day Sports Movement under the theme “Ek Ghanta, Khel ke Maidan Main”.
• India has several campaigns to promote health, sports, and fitness, including ‘Khelo India’ and ‘Fit India Movement’.
• The International Sports Day, on the other hand, is celebrated on April 6 to mark the first Olympic Games held in Athens.

About Major Dhyan Chand

• He is Known as the “Wizard of Hockey” for his exemplary display of sportsmanship. 
• Achievements: Won Olympic Gold medals in 1928 (Amsterdam), 1932 (Los Angeles), and 1936 (Berlin).
• He was honoured with the country’s prestigious civilian honour, Padma Bhushan, in 1956.

Source: AIR

National Annual Report and Index on Women’s Safety (NARI) 2025

Syllabus: GS1/Society

Context

• The National Annual Report and Index on Women’s Safety (NARI) 2025 was recently released by the National Commission for Women (NCW).

About

• It was conducted across 31 cities with the participation of 12,770 women.
• Developed by: Pvalue Analytics, The NorthCap University, Jindal Global Law School, and published by Group of Intellectuals and Academicians (GIA).
• Objective: To capture both crime data and women’s perceptions of safety.

Key Findings

• National Safety Score: It placed the national safety score at 65%, categorising cities as “much above”, “above”, “below” or “much below” this benchmark.
• Safest Cities: Kohima, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Aizawl, Gangtok, Itanagar, Mumbai.
• Least Safe Cities: Patna, Jaipur, Faridabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Srinagar, Ranchi.
• Factors for Safety: Stronger gender equity, civic participation, women-friendly infrastructure, better policing.
• Factors for Low Safety: Patriarchal norms, weak institutional responsiveness, and urban infrastructure gaps.

Source: TH

Features and legacy of INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri, now commissioned into the Indian Navy

Syllabus: GS 3/Defence

In News

• The Indian Navy simultaneously commissioned two Nilgiri-class stealth guided-missile frigates, the INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri, at Visakhapatnam.

Udaygiri

• INS Udaygiri is the second ship of the Project 17A stealth frigates built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai.
• It is the 100th ship designed by the Navy’s in-house Warship Design Bureau.
• It is a modern Avatar of its predecessor, erstwhile INS Udaygiri which was a Steam Ship, decommissioned in August 2007 after rendering 31 years of glorious service to the nation.
• It also holds the distinction of being the fastest ship of her class to be delivered post-launch.

Himgiri

• INS Himgiri is the first of the Project 17A ships constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
• It is a reincarnation of the erstwhile INS Himgiri, a Leander-class frigate, that was decommissioned in May 2005 after 30 years of glorious service to the nation.

Design and Capabilities

• Each ship is 149 meters long, displaces 6,670 tonnes, reaches 28 knots, and has a range of 5,500 NM.
• Crew size: 225 personnel.
• Equipped with advanced weaponry like BrahMos missiles, Barak-8, torpedoes, rocket launchers, radars, electronic warfare systems, and sonar.
• Features low radar cross-section for stealth and Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion plants propulsion.

Significance 

• The induction of Udaygiri and Himgiri will enhance the Navy’s combat capabilities and reinforce India’s commitment to self-reliance in warship design and construction. 
• Once commissioned, both frigates will become part of the Eastern Fleet, boosting India’s capacity to protect its maritime interests in the Indian Ocean Region.

Source :IE

Mahatma Ayyankal

Syllabus: GS1/History

Context

• The Prime Minister of India paid tribute to Mahatma Ayyankali, commemorating his birth anniversary and honoring his enduring legacy as a champion of social justice and empowerment.

About the Mahatma Ayyankali (1863–1941)

• Born: August 28, 1863, in Princely State of Travancore (present day Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala).
• He belonged to the Pulayar Community, historically marginalized and denied basic rights.

Key Movements and Struggles

• Villuvandi (Bullock Cart) Protest (1893): He defied caste restrictions by riding a bullock cart on public roads, asserting Dalit rights to mobility.
• Kudippallikoodam Strike (1907): He led a historic protest demanding school access for Dalit children, which eventually forced the Travancore government to open public schools to all castes.
• Agricultural Labor Reforms: He organized workers to demand fair wages and better working conditions, laying the groundwork for labor rights in Kerala.
• Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham (SJPS), 1907: It was a pioneering organization that advocated for Dalit education and social upliftment, founded by him.

Legacy in Education and Equality

• The first school admission for a Dalit girl, Panchami, which sparked widespread resistance but ultimately catalyzed reform.
  • The establishment of Ayyankali Panchami Memorial School, commemorating his fight for inclusive education.
• Ayyankali’s contributions have been honored through:
  • A commemorative postal stamp (2002);
  • Statues and memorials across Kerala;
  • Inclusion in school curricula and public discourse.

Source: PIB