{"id":1731,"date":"2025-09-30T07:32:38","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T07:32:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/?p=1731"},"modified":"2025-10-21T13:39:29","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T13:39:29","slug":"current-affairs-13th-september-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/2025\/09\/30\/current-affairs-13th-september-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Current Affairs 13th September 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><u>1. Sushila Karki is Nepal\u2019s first woman PM<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>GS Paper II: International Relations -India and its Neighbourhood <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>GS Paper I (Society): Role of women in leadership and governance.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Essay Paper \/ Ethics:\u00a0Themes of accountability, youth-driven change, and clean leadership.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Context: <\/strong>President\u00a0Ram Chandra Poudel dissolved Parliament\u00a0and administered oath to Sushila Karki as Prime Minister.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>This decision followed\u00a0nationwide Gen Z\u2013led protests, which forced the resignation of former PM K.P. Sharma Oli.<\/li>\n<li>Fresh elections have been scheduled for March 2026.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>About Sushila karki <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Sushila Karki (73) becomes\u00a0Nepal\u2019s first woman Prime Minister.<\/li>\n<li>She was earlier the\u00a0country\u2019s first woman Chief Justice\u00a0(2016\u20132017).<\/li>\n<li>Known for her clean image and anti-corruption stance, she carries credibility as an interim leader.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Why New P.M (Why Now)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Nepal facing massive political turmoil<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Gen Z protests erupted after years of public frustration with corrupt, entrenched political parties.<\/li>\n<li>At least 19 people died during a harsh crackdown under K.P Sharma Oli\u2019s government.<\/li>\n<li>Protesters burned down Parliament, the Supreme Court, and Singha Durbar as a rejection of the old political order.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Oli resigned and placed under Army protection; protesters then selected Karki to lead a civilian cleanup and transition.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Protesters\u2019 Key Demands<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Non-negotiable <strong>dissolution of Parliament<\/strong>\u00a0to prevent old parties from reclaiming influence.<\/li>\n<li>Appointment of a\u00a0neutral and upright leader\u00a0to head an interim administration.<\/li>\n<li>Justice for victims of the September 8 crackdown and accountability for attacks on public property.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>President\u2019s Role<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ram Chandra Poudel appointed Karki as PM and administered her oath.<\/li>\n<li>Dissolved Parliament and set election date on Karki&#8217;s recommendation.<\/li>\n<li>Held consultations with Karki, legal experts, and political leaders to ensure constitutional limits.<\/li>\n<li>Initially concerned about dissolving Parliament before appointing government head, fearing lack of accountability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Army\u2019s Role<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Acted as a\u00a0facilitator and stabilizer\u00a0during the unrest.<\/li>\n<li>Maintained street presence to prevent chaos and pressured for a quick resolution.<\/li>\n<li>Ensured protection of former PM Oli, who resigned and remains under Army care.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Challenges Before Karki<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Forming a Cabinet\u00a0capable of running essential government functions.<\/li>\n<li>Restoring law and order\u00a0and public trust in institutions.<\/li>\n<li>Independent investigation\u00a0into deaths during the crackdown and accountability for state arson and violence.<\/li>\n<li>Overseeing free and fair elections\u00a0by March 2026.<\/li>\n<li>Paving the way for constitutional reforms\u00a0to strengthen democracy and accountability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Why This is Important?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Marks First woman leader marks a\u00a0historical and symbolic shift\u00a0in Nepal\u2019s politics.<\/li>\n<li>Shows youth led movements can force big political parties<\/li>\n<li>Offers a chance for\u00a0clean governance and restoration of public trust.<\/li>\n<li>Sets the stage for reforms that could\u00a0reshape Nepal\u2019s democracy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The appointment of Sushila Karki as Prime Minister represents a\u00a0critical turning point\u00a0in Nepal\u2019s political trajectory. She embodies public aspirations for transparency and accountability at a time of deep disillusionment. Her success in steering the country toward peaceful elections and reforms will determine the\u00a0future credibility of Nepal\u2019s democracy.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>2. India\u2019s manuscripts re<\/u><\/strong><strong><u>fl<\/u><\/strong><strong><u>ect the journey of humanity, says Modi<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>(GS Paper-I) &#8211; Art &amp; Culture Topic: Indian Heritage and Culture- Preservation of Manuscripts<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Context: <\/strong>Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the\u00a0Gyan Bharatam Mission\u00a0and digital portal.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The event was part of an international conference on\u00a0reclaiming India\u2019s manuscript heritage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>What is the Gyan Bharatam Portal?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Launched by PM Modi under Ministry of Culture as a national digital archive for ancient Indian manuscripts.<\/li>\n<li>Accelerates survey, documentation, conservation, digitization, and public access to over one crore manuscripts.<\/li>\n<li>Provides global access and uses advanced tools like OCR for Indian languages.<\/li>\n<li>Integrates innovations like Gyan-Setu AI to make texts searchable and interactive.<\/li>\n<li>Aims to preserve traditional knowledge, support research, and revive cultural heritage.<\/li>\n<li>Part of the Gyan Bharatam Mission, blending ancient wisdom with modern technology<strong>.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>What is a Manuscript?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Manuscripts are\u00a0ancient handwritten documents\u00a0preserving India\u2019s traditional knowledge, culture, science, and learning across centuries.<\/li>\n<li>They cover diverse scripts, languages, and subjects, representing a valuable part of India\u2019s intellectual and cultural heritage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>History of<\/strong> <strong>Indian Manuscripts<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>India holds the\u00a0world\u2019s largest collection of about one crore manuscripts.<\/li>\n<li>Manuscripts reflect centuries of devotion to\u00a0knowledge, science, and learning.<\/li>\n<li>Despite many manuscripts being destroyed over time, the surviving ones represent the\u00a0intellectual legacy of humanity\u2019s development journey.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Why Digitization is Important?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Helps in\u00a0preserving fragile and ancient manuscripts\u00a0from decay and loss.<\/li>\n<li>Prevents intellectual piracy\u00a0where traditional knowledge is copied and patented by others.<\/li>\n<li>Supports India\u2019s vision of\u00a0Swadeshi (made in India)\u00a0and\u00a0Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).<\/li>\n<li>Facilitates wider\u00a0access and sharing of traditional knowledge\u00a0globally.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Global Dimensions<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>India is collaborating with countries like\u00a0Thailand, Vietnam, and Mongolia, which also have rich manuscript heritages.<\/li>\n<li>Reinforces\u00a0cultural ties\u00a0and common preservation efforts among these nations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>PM\u2019s Key Points<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Manuscripts demonstrate India\u2019s\u00a0contribution to human knowledge and civilization.<\/li>\n<li>Digitization is a step toward\u00a0protecting, preserving, and presenting India\u2019s heritage\u00a0to the world.<\/li>\n<li>Praised the role of\u00a0private organizations\u00a0working alongside the government in digitization efforts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Additional points <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Government of India plans to host the\u00a0first-ever International Manuscript Heritage Conference\u00a0in September 11\u201313 &#8211; 2025 at\u00a0Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi,<\/li>\n<li>The event commemorates the\u00a0132nd anniversary of Swami Vivekananda\u2019s historic 1893 address\u00a0at the Parliament of the World\u2019s Religions in Chicago.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Conference Title:<\/strong> The conference is titled:\u00a0\u2018Reclaiming India\u2019s Knowledge Legacy Through\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Manuscript Heritage\u2019.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Key themes and focus areas of the conference include:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Decipherment of Ancient Scripts: Indus, Gilgit and Sankha<\/li>\n<li>Survey, Documentation, Metadata Standards and Digital Archiving<\/li>\n<li>Manuscriptology and Paleography, Codicology<\/li>\n<li>Digitization Tools, Platforms, and Protocols (HTR, AI, IIIF)<\/li>\n<li>Conservation and Restoration of Manuscripts<\/li>\n<li>Decoding Manuscripts: Pathways to the Indian Knowledge System<\/li>\n<li>Manuscripts as Tools of Cultural Diplomacy<\/li>\n<li>Legal and Ethical Frameworks for Manuscript Preservation and Access<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>3. The RTI\u2019s shift to a \u2018right to deny information\u2019<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>GS Paper II: International Relations (Cultural diplomacy and global collaborations)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>GS Paper III: Science &amp; Technology (Digitization, AI, preservation technologies)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ethics &amp; Integrity: Preservation of cultural heritage, combating intellectual piracy.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Context: <\/strong>The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, amended Section 8(1)(j) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, raising concerns about reduced transparency and increased secrecy around \u201cpersonal information.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>RTI Act: The Original Spirit<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Enacted in 2005 to uphold democratic values where government-held information belongs to citizens.<\/li>\n<li>Emphasizes maximum disclosure with specific exemptions to protect certain interests.<\/li>\n<li>Section 8(1)(j) balanced disclosure and privacy, allowing withholding personal information only if unrelated to public interest or constitutes unwarranted privacy invasion.<\/li>\n<li>Included a safeguard that information not deniable to Parliament or State Legislatures cannot be denied to citizens.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Original Section 8(1)(j)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A detailed provision guiding Public Information Officers (PIOs) to weigh privacy against public interest.<\/li>\n<li>Privacy is case-specific, respecting constitutional limits of decency and morality.<\/li>\n<li>Government-collected information is generally shareable unless it severely invades privacy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table style=\"height: 461px;\" width=\"1055\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"699\"><strong>What is the DPDP Act?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, is India\u2019s first comprehensive law regulating the processing of digital personal data. It focuses on protecting individuals&#8217; privacy while balancing lawful data use for various purposes.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Key highlights include:<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Consent-based data processing<\/strong>: Personal data can only be processed with the free, informed, specific, and unambiguous consent of the data principal (the individual).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Rights of Data Principals<\/strong>: Individuals have rights to access, correct, erase their data, and seek grievance redressal.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Obligations on Data Fiduciaries<\/strong>: Entities processing data must ensure data security, maintain accuracy, delete data no longer needed, and report breaches.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Regulatory authority<\/strong>: Establishes a Digital Personal Data Protection Board to enforce the law and penalize violations, with fines up to \u20b9250 crore.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Applicability<\/strong>: Covers personal data collected digitally within India and processing outside India if it relates to offering goods or services to Indians.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Exemptions<\/strong>: Personal data processed for personal\/domestic purposes or made publicly available is excluded. There are specific exemptions for state-related uses concerning security, public order, and government functions.<\/li>\n<li>Child data protection: Requires parental consent and restricts harmful processing of children\u2019s data.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Global alignment:<\/strong> Includes provisions for cross-border data transfers under adequacy frameworks, similar to GDPR standards<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>DPDP Act Amendment: What Changed?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Section 8(1)(j) condensed to a six-word clause exempting all \u201cinformation which relates to personal information.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Removed the public interest override and Parliament access safeguard.<\/li>\n<li>Created ambiguity in defining \u201cpersonal information,\u201d aligning with the expansive DPDP definition that includes natural persons, firms, associations, and the State.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Two Possible Interpretations<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Narrow: \u201cPersonal information\u201d refers only to data on natural persons (individuals).<\/li>\n<li>Expansive: Includes corporate bodies, Hindu undivided families, associations, and even the State, broadening the scope for denial.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Why This is Dangerous?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Allows easy denial of most government information, transforming RTI into a \u201cRight to Deny Information.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>PIOs fear heavy penalties (up to \u20b9250 crore) under the DPDP Act, leading to conservative disclosure.<\/li>\n<li>Hampers anti-corruption efforts by restricting citizen access to critical information.<\/li>\n<li>The \u201clarger public interest\u201d clause exists but is practically ineffective due to complexity and risk aversion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>How its Impact Democracy?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Prioritizes privacy over access, potentially eroding citizen-led checks on power.<\/li>\n<li>Weakens institutional watchdogs like the Lokpal by limiting investigative information flows.<\/li>\n<li>Fosters secrecy culture, complicating exposure of systemic issues from welfare fraud to policy lapses.<\/li>\n<li>Risks public disinterest, as privacy framing masks broader accountability losses.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Way Forward<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Encourage nationwide media and citizen engagement to debate these changes.<\/li>\n<li>Demand political accountability and party promise to reverse regressive amendments.<\/li>\n<li>Strengthen legal clarity on \u201cpersonal information\u201d to prevent misuse.<\/li>\n<li>Promote the practical and balanced implementation of the \u201clarger public interest\u201d clause.<\/li>\n<li>Mobilize civil society and legal activism to uphold the integrity of the RTI Act.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>4. Property rights, tribals and the gender parity gap<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>GS PAPER I -Indian society: Salient features of Indian Society<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Context: <\/strong>The Supreme Court of India delivered a landmark judgment in\u00a0Ram Charan and Ors. vs Sukhram and Ors.\u00a0(July 17, 2025), affirming the right of tribal women and their heirs to equal inheritance rights in ancestral property. This highlights the ongoing struggle for gender equality among indigenous populations of India, making the issue highly topical following the recent International Day of the World&#8217;s Indigenous Peoples.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Why Are Tribal Women Excluded from Property Rights?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Tribal customary laws, especially in Scheduled Areas (Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, etc.), govern marriage, succession, and adoption and often exclude women from inheriting ancestral property.<\/li>\n<li>Many tribal societies uphold\u00a0communitarian ownership, where land is not individually owned.<\/li>\n<li>Concerns over tribal women marrying outside the community leading to alienation of tribal land also contribute to restrictive customs.<\/li>\n<li>No formal statutory protections grant tribal women property rights, except for matrilineal tribes in the Northeast.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Judicial Response to the Landmark Case<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Supreme Court ruled that\u00a0denying inheritance due to unproven or outdated customs violates Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality and prohibit gender discrimination.<\/li>\n<li>The Court emphasized that in the absence of a clear customary or personal law barring women\u2019s rights, principles of\u00a0justice, equity, and good conscience\u00a0prevail (Central Provinces Laws Act, 1875).<\/li>\n<li>Earlier lower court decisions that dismissed tribal women\u2019s claims based on unestablished customs were overturned.<\/li>\n<li>The Court drew analogies with reforms under the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005, which granted daughters coparcenary rights.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>What Does the Historical Judicial Background Reveal?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Earlier rulings (e.g.,\u00a0Madhu Kishwar vs State of Bihar, 1996) upheld customary exclusions despite claims of inequality.<\/li>\n<li>The current judgment marks a shift by rejecting customs that perpetuate gender injustice and aligns customary laws with constitutional mandates.<\/li>\n<li>It signals judicial willingness to reinterpret or invalidate discriminatory customs to uphold equality.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Why Is Codification or a New Law Necessary?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Hindu Succession Act, 1956, explicitly excludes Scheduled Tribes from its applicability (Section 2(2)).<\/li>\n<li>Lack of a unified, statutorily codified succession law for tribal communities results in legal uncertainty and inconsistent protections.<\/li>\n<li>Codification can harmonize diverse tribal customs with constitutional values and provide clear inheritance rights to tribal women.<\/li>\n<li>A separate\u00a0Tribal Succession Act\u00a0could address tribal specificities while ensuring gender equality and legal clarity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>What Makes This Issue Urgent and Significant?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>16.7% of Scheduled Tribe women owning land vs. 83.3% of men (Agriculture Census 2015-16) illustrates glaring gender disparity.<\/li>\n<li>Property and land rights are crucial for economic independence, social security, and dignity.<\/li>\n<li>Changing socio-economic contexts require updating customary practices to protect tribal women&#8217;s rights.<\/li>\n<li>Ensuring equality in inheritance rights is vital for inclusive tribal development and gender justice.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Conclusion: <\/strong>The Supreme Court\u2019s ruling in\u00a0<em>Ram Charan vs Sukhram<\/em>\u00a0marks a transformative step towards gender justice in tribal communities. It underscores the importance of aligning customary practices with constitutional guarantees of equality. A separate codified legal framework for tribal succession is essential to protect tribal women&#8217;s property rights, reconcile customs with constitutional morality, and ensure social justice for India&#8217;s indigenous populations.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>5. Kerala capital to host two-day blue economy conclave<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>GS Paper III (Economics and Environment), Topic:\u00a0Blue Economy, International Cooperation, Sustainable Development, Marine Resources Management<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Context: Kerala\u2019s<\/strong> Fisheries Department is hosting a two-day blue economy conclave titled\u00a0\u2018Blue Tides \u2013 Two Shores One Vision\u2019\u00a0on September 18-19, 2025, at The Leela Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The event is organized in collaboration with the Union government and the European Union.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>About the Conclave<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Representatives from 29 European countries are expected, with 17 countries confirmed, including Finland, France, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Denmark, Bulgaria, Austria, Malta, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Romania, and Germany.<\/li>\n<li>The EU Ambassador to India and Bhutan, Herv\u00e9 Delphin, will attend alongside other dignitaries.<\/li>\n<li>Experts and stakeholders from India and Europe will discuss blue economy themes and foster partnerships.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Objectives<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>To develop Kerala as a\u00a0sustainable and resilient blue economy model.<\/li>\n<li>To leverage the EU\u2019s expertise and Kerala&#8217;s strategic marine resources.<\/li>\n<li>Focus areas include marine logistics, fisheries, aquaculture, coastal tourism, renewable marine energy, green technologies, skill development, academic collaboration, policy innovation, research and development, and startup promotion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Significance<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The conclave aims to position Kerala as a global leader in the blue economy.<\/li>\n<li>It fosters international cooperation for sustainable ocean-based economic growth while protecting marine ecosystems.<\/li>\n<li>The initiative supports livelihood creation, economic growth, and sustainable use of ocean resources.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><u>Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR)<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>6. GS paper III: Conservation, Environmental Pollution &amp; Degradation.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Context:<\/strong> The Union Environment Ministry has approved the capture and translocation of eight tigers from Tadoba-Andhari and Pench Tiger Reserves to the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR) in western Maharashtra. This move aims to bolster the tiger population and strengthen conservation efforts.<\/p>\n<p><strong>About Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Location:\u00a0Situated in the Sahyadri Range of the Western Ghats, covering Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Ratnagiri districts in Maharashtra.<\/li>\n<li>Status:\u00a0Declared a Tiger Reserve in 2010 and part of the UNESCO Western Ghats World Heritage Site since 2012.<\/li>\n<li>Geography:\u00a0Dominated by the Shivsagar (Koyna) and Vasant Sagar (Warana) reservoirs; terrain includes rocky plateaus called \u201cSadas.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Vegetation:\u00a0Moist evergreen, semi-evergreen, and moist &amp; dry deciduous forests with endemic species like karvi, bamboo, Terminalia, and Emblica.<\/li>\n<li>Fauna:\u00a0Bengal tiger, leopard, dhole, gaur, antelopes, mouse deer, giant squirrel, hornbills, vultures, and river tern birds.<\/li>\n<li>Tiger Population:\u00a0Tigers were absent for years, with 5-9 individuals recorded since 2018; presence remains unstable.<\/li>\n<li>Corridor Linkages:\u00a0Connected to Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary (north) and Anshi-Dandeli Tiger Reserve (south, Karnataka), providing a critical corridor in the Western Ghats.<\/li>\n<li>Ecological Role:\u00a0Protects catchments of Koyna and Warana rivers, vital for agriculture and livelihoods.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Need for Tiger Translocation<\/strong><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1732 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-30-130149-300x204.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"204\" srcset=\"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-30-130149-300x204.png 300w, https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-30-130149.png 340w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The reserve has a prey-rich habitat but lacks a stable breeding tiger population.<\/li>\n<li>Translocation will prevent local extinction of tigers and strengthen genetic diversity.<\/li>\n<li>Enhances corridor connectivity and supports Project Tiger conservation goals.<\/li>\n<li>Aims to conserve the biodiversity of the Western Ghats and safeguard watershed ecosystems vital for downstream water security.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>1. Sushila Karki is Nepal\u2019s first woman PM GS Paper II: International Relations -India and its Neighbourhood GS<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2509,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1731","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-current-affairs"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/generated-image-32.jpg",2048,2048,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/generated-image-32-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/generated-image-32-300x300.jpg",300,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/generated-image-32-768x768.jpg",640,640,true],"large":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/generated-image-32-1024x1024.jpg",640,640,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/generated-image-32-1536x1536.jpg",1536,1536,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/generated-image-32.jpg",2048,2048,false],"morenews-large":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/generated-image-32-825x575.jpg",825,575,true],"morenews-medium":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/generated-image-32-590x410.jpg",590,410,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"ArkReflections","author_link":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/author\/arkreflectionsiaspost\/"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/category\/daily-current-affairs\/\" rel=\"category tag\">DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS<\/a>","tag_info":"DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1731","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1731"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1731\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1733,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1731\/revisions\/1733"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2509"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1731"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1731"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1731"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}