• 03 Mar 2025

Maoists Encounter in Chhattisgarh

Why in News? 

Maoists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh.  

 Key Points 

• Maoist Casualties: 
  • The latest encounter increased the number of Maoists killed in the conflict-hit Bastar region to 67 in the first 60 days of 2025. 
  • Sukma, where the encounter took place, is one of the seven districts in the Bastar region. 
  • Additionally, security forces killed 17 Maoists in encounters in Gariaband district, which lies outside Bastar. 
  • The total number of Maoists killed in Chhattisgarh in 2025 is 84. 
  • In 2024, during intensified anti-Naxal operations (ANOs), security forces eliminated 219 Maoists in the state. 
• Details of the Sukma Encounter: 
  • The Inspector-General of Police stated that security forces launched a search operation after receiving intelligence about Maoist presence in the area. 
  • The operation involved personnel from Chhattisgarh Police’s District Reserve Guards (DRG) and Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), an elite unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). 

 District Reserve Guard (DRG)  

• The District Reserve Guard (DRG) is a specialized police unit in Chhattisgarh, established in 2008 to combat Maoist violence.  
• It consists of specially trained personnel operating in affected districts, conducting anti-Maoist operations, search and seizure, and gathering intelligence.  
• The DRG collaborates with other security forces, like the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), to counter the Maoist insurgency. 

 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)  

• The CRPF was initially established as the Crown Representatives Police in 1939 in response to political turmoil and unrest within the princely states.  
• The force was renamed the Central Reserve Police Force in 1949.  
• Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, the then Home Minister, envisioned a multifaceted role for the CRPF, aligning its functions with the evolving needs of a newly independent nation.  

 COBRA  

• It is a special operation unit of the Central Reserve Police Force of India proficient in guerrilla tactics and jungle warfare. Originally established to counter the Naxalite movement.  
• CoBRA is deployed to address insurgent groups engaging in asymmetrical warfare. 

Jharkhand Government Supplementary Budget

Why in News? 

The Jharkhand government presented supplementary demands of Rs 5,508 crore in the Assembly during the ongoing 20-day budget session. 

 Key Points 

• Key Allocations in the Supplementary Budget: 
  • The Energy Department is set to receive the highest allocation of Rs 971.80 crore. 
  • The Rural Works Department follows with an allocation of Rs 873.29 crore. 
  • The Home, Jail, and Disaster Management Department is allocated Rs 502.61 crore. 
  • The Pension Department is proposed to receive Rs 500 crore. 
  • The School Education and Literacy Department is likely to get Rs 393.93 crore. 
• Maiyan Samman Yojana Debate in the Assembly: 
  • The Assembly witnessed a heated debate during Question Hour over the Maiyan Samman Yojana. 
    • The delay in benefit transfers under the scheme was questioned.  
  • It was assured that payments for January and February 2025 would be credited by 15^th March 2025.  
• Maiyan Samman Yojana: Scheme Details and Concerns 
  • The Jharkhand government provides Rs 2,500 per month to over 56 lakh women beneficiaries under the Maiyan Samman Yojana which was launched in August 2024. 
    • However, beneficiaries have not received payments for January and February, 2025. 
  • It was questioned if widows and physically challenged women, who receive Rs 1,000 per month as pension, would also be included under this scheme. 
    • It was pointed out a disparity, as only women aged 18-50 years benefit from Maiyan Samman Yojana, while widows and disabled women receive only Rs 1,000 per month. 
• Support for Widows: 
  • It was highlighted that the state government introduced a widow remarriage incentive scheme called Vidhwa Punarvivah Protsahan Yojana. 
  • Under this scheme, widows receive a one-time incentive of Rs 2 lakh. 

Chamoli Avalanche

Why in News? 

On 1^st March 2025, Uttarakhand Chief Minister conducted an aerial survey of the areas affected by the avalanche near Mana village in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. 

• He also visited Joshimath, met the injured Border Roads Organisation (BRO) workers rescued from the site. 

 Key Points 

• Rescue Operations in Mana Avalanche: 
  • Rescue teams have successfully saved 47 out of 55 BRO workers trapped under snow. 
  • Eight workers remain trapped, and rescue operations are still underway. 
  • Authorities have deployed four Army helicopters to aid in the rescue efforts. 
• Government and Administrative Efforts: 
  • It was confirmed that four helicopters, arranged with the help of the Centre and the State Government, have joined the rescue mission. 
  • Seven rescued workers have been transported to Joshimath Hospital for treatment. 
  • Doctors are monitoring their condition, and three of them are reported stable. 
• Joint Efforts by Security Forces: 
  • The avalanche, which struck near Mana village, buried several BRO workers under snow. 
  • Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Army, and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) are conducting joint rescue operations on a war footing. 

Border Road Organisation 

• About: 
  • BRO was conceived and raised in 1960 by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru for coordinating the speedy development of a network of roads in the North and the North Eastern border regions of the country. 
  • It works under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence. 
  • It has diversified into a large spectrum of construction and development works comprising airfields, building projects, defence works and tunneling and has endeared itself to the people. 
• Achievements so far: 
  • The BRO, in more than six decades, has constructed over 61,000 kms of roads, over 900 Bridges, four Tunnels and 19 airfields under challenging conditions along India’s borders and in friendly foreign countries, including Bhutan, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. 
  • In 2022-23, the BRO completed 103 infrastructure projects, the most by the organisation in a single year. 
    • These include construction of Shyok Bridge in Eastern Ladakh and Steel Arch Siyom Bridge of Load Class 70 in Arunachal Pradesh on Along-Yinkiong Road.  

 Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) 

• The ITBP was established on 24^th October, 1962. 
• It is responsible for guarding the Indo-Tibetan border and the mountainous regions of the 3,488 km long India-China border, monitoring the northern borders of India. 
• In 2004, the ITBP replaced the Assam Rifles in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. The force secures the Indo-China border across the following states: 
  • Jammu & Kashmir 
  • Himachal Pradesh 
  • Uttarakhand 
  • Sikkim 
  • Arunachal Pradesh 

 National Disaster Relief Fund 

• National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF) was renamed as National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) with the enactment of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. 
  • It is defined in Section 46 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (DM Act). 
• It is managed by the Central Government to meet the expenses for emergency response, relief and rehabilitation due to any threatening disaster situation or disaster. 
  • It supplements the SDRF in case of a disaster of a severe nature, provided adequate funds are not available in the SDRF. 

NGT Seeks Presence of Uttarakhand Officials

Why in News? 

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Member Secretary of the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UKPCB) and the State's Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to appear before it in a case involving the illegal felling of 176 trees in Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand. 

 Key Points 

• About the Hearing: 
  • The NGT is reviewing a petition regarding the unauthorized felling of trees for the development of a residential colony by private individuals in Chandpur village, Udham Singh Nagar district. 
• Findings of the Joint Committee: 
  • In its order, an NGT Bench referred to a joint committee report confirming the illegal felling of 176 trees. 
  • The tribunal stated that environmental compensation must be recovered for the unauthorized deforestation. 
  • The joint committee investigating the matter includes: 
    • The District Magistrate 
    • The Dehradun regional office of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change 
    • The Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UKPCB) 
• Tribunal's Directives: 
  • After reviewing the report, the NGT sought a response from the Uttarakhand Chief Secretary and other concerned officials. 
  • The tribunal stressed the importance of personal appearances by: 
    • The Member Secretary of UKPCB 
    • The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) 
  • It directed them to attend the next hearing physically or via video conferencing to assist in the case. 
  • The tribunal emphasized that their presence is crucial for a just and proper adjudication. 

 Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UKPCB) 

• It is a statutory organisation established under the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. 
• The UKPCB is responsible for the prevention, control, and abatement of pollution in the state of Uttarakhand, India. 
• It is headquartered in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. 

Aaju Goja

Why in News? 

On 22-23 February 2025, the first Children's Festival 'Aaju Guja' was organized in Bikaner, Rajasthan. 

 Key Points 

• About the Festival: 
  • The festival was organised by the district administration , in which more than 50 artists from across the country participated. 
  • During the festival children were introduced to dance, music, painting and many other art forms. 
• Arts and Crafts Activities: 
  • The festival captivated children with a vibrant array of performances, including puppetry, storytelling, theatre, painting, mime, clown acts, magic shows, ventriloquism, Kavad, bioscope, and folk music and dance. 
  • An exhibition of children's literature books was also organised by various publishers , prominent among them being Pratham, National Book Trust, Eklavya, Amar Chitra Katha, Adidev, Raj Comics, and Callastic. 

National Book Trust (NBT) 

• NBT, India is an apex body established by the Government of India (Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development) in the year 1957. 
• The objectives of the NBT are: 
  • to produce and encourage the production of good literature in English, Hindi and other Indian languages. 
  • to make such literature available at moderate prices to the public. 
  • to bring out book catalogues, arrange book fairs/exhibitions and seminars and take all necessary steps to make the people book minded. 

Exercise Desert Hunt 2025

Why in News? 

The Indian Air Force conducted an integrated Tri-Service Special Forces exercise, Exercise Desert Hunt 2025, at Air Force Station Jodhpur from February 24 to 28, 2025. 

 

Key Points 

• Participation of Special Forces: 
  • This exercise brought together elite Para (Special Forces) of the Indian Army, Marine Commandos (MARCOS) of the Indian Navy, and Garud (Special Forces) of the Indian Air Force. 
  • These units operated in a simulated combat environment, executing joint missions. 
• Objectives and Key Focus Areas: 
  • The exercise aimed to enhance interoperability, coordination, and synergy among the three Special Forces units. 
  • It focused on ensuring a swift and effective response to emerging security challenges. 
  • The exercise featured a range of high-intensity drills, including: 
    • Airborne insertion 
    • Precision strikes 
    • Hostage rescue operations 
    • Counter-terrorism missions 
    • Combat free falls 
    • Urban warfare scenarios 
  • The Special Forces operated under realistic conditions to test their combat readiness. 
• Supervision and Strategic Significance: 
  • Senior military officials supervised the exercise to validate joint operational doctrines. 

The exercise reinforced the Indian Armed Forces' commitment to national security by promoting seamless inter-service cooperation. 

Tribal Surveillance in MP

Why in News? 

Forest rights activists and lawyers across the country criticized the Madhya Pradesh government for issuing a discriminatory executive order against tribal and forest dwellers, allowing search and surveillance of ‘infamous hunting communities’ in various forest circles. 

 Key Points 

• Order Lacks Legal Basis: 
  • A forest rights activist called the order draconian and stated that it lacks any legal foundation. 
  • He highlighted that the British colonial administration had once categorized certain tribes as criminals under the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871, which was repealed after independence and led to their denotification. 
• The Government Order: 
  • On 29^th January 2025, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Madhya Pradesh, issued an order for: 
    • Extensive search and surveillance of nomadic tribes, including the Pardhi community, a Scheduled Tribe in Madhya Pradesh. 
    • Targeted search operations in the forest circles of Narmadapuram, Seoni, Chhindwara, Betul, Bhopal, Jabalpur, and Balaghat. 
    • Use of dog squads to conduct searches at the homes of nomadic tribes. 
    • Mandatory documentation of the denotified tribes’ presence at the nearest police station. 
    • Surveillance of tribal traders selling household plastic items, bedsheets, herbs, and plants in tiger corridors. 
• Colonial Mindset and Legal Violations: 
  • It was pointed out that the Forest Department is stereotyping nomadic tribes as habitual criminals, which contradicts multiple Supreme Court judgments. 
  • Experts argue that the order violates rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, which ensures: 
    • Right to reside and cultivate forest land 
    • Access to forest produce 
    • Community tenure rights over habitats 
    • Seasonal resource access for nomadic and pastoralist communities 
    • Protection Under SC/ST Act & Potential Legal Repercussions 
    • Tribal rights also receive protection under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. 

 Pardhi Tribe 

• It is found mostly in Maharashtra and parts of Madhya Pradesh. 
• The word Pardhi is derived from the Marathi word ‘Paradh’ meaning hunting and the Sanskrit word ‘papardhi’ meaning the game to be hunted. 
• They speak mixed dialects of Rajasthani and Gujarati, mainly Wagdi and Pardhi languages. 
  • These languages are grouped in the Bhil languages of the western Indo-Aryan language group.