Notes:
Recently discovered in India, the rare butterfly Neptis philyra was found in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tale Valley wildlife sanctuary. Known as the long-streak sailor, it boasts serrated wings with rich brownish-black above and yellow-brown below. Native to East Asia, it frequents evergreen forests, riverine vegetation, and rocky streams. Its habitat spans eastern Siberia, Korea, Japan, central, and southwest China. This marks the first sighting of the species in India.

Notes:
The “Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2023 Report” by SIPRI, established in 1966, highlights global military spending. India ranked fourth in military spending at $83.6 billion after the US, China, and Russia. NATO states’ expenditure totaled $1341 billion, comprising 55% of global spending. The report attributes the record-high global military expenditure of $2443 billion to Russia’s Ukraine invasion and geopolitical tensions. SIPRI focuses on conflict research, armaments, arms control, and disarmament.

Notes:
The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) achieved captive breeding of the high-value marine fish, golden trevally. This breakthrough will enhance sustainable seafood production and boost India’s mariculture activities. Golden trevally, a reef-associated species, cohabits with larger fishes like skates and groupers. It’s utilized for consumption and ornamental purposes. CMFRI, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, monitors and assesses marine fisheries resources within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Established in 1967, CMFRI is part of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

Notes:
India, at the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference in Barcelona, proposed a region-specific ocean observation center for deep-sea ecosystem understanding. Led by Earth Sciences Secretary M. Ravichandran, the delegation emphasized better forecasting. The conference, from April 10 to 12, aimed to assess progress toward UN Decade of Ocean Science goals (2021-2030). Spain, with UNESCO, hosted the event under the theme “Delivering the science we need for the ocean we want.”

Notes:
Over 40 years, ISRO’s satellite imagery reveals a 178% expansion of the Gepang Gath glacial lake in Himachal Pradesh, growing from 36.49 to 101.30 hectares by 2022. ISRO warns of a 1.96-hectare yearly increase, signaling heightened risk. Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) threaten downstream communities, triggered by natural dam failures due to factors like avalanches and extreme weather. Recent GLOFs in Sikkim caused severe flooding, damaging infrastructure and raising concerns over future events.