8th MAY CURRENT AFFAIRS

1. World’s First “Smart Island” Monitoring System

The World’s first “Smart Island” monitoring system has been introduced on the island of Floreana in the archipelago.

It provides conservation teams a real‑time insight into wildlife movement, ecosystem health, and restoration progress, according to a statement by non-profit Island Conservation.

The Smart Island Monitoring model replaces manual work by a whopping 98 per cent, the equivalent of 110 staff hours (83 days a year)

The initiative is part of the Floreana Island Ecological Restoration Project, which is led by the Galápagos National Park Directorate as the environmental authority, together with the Galápagos Biosecurity Agency.

2.National Bamboo Mission

India has the highest area (13.96 million hectare) under bamboo and is the second richest country, after China, in terms of bamboo diversity with 136 species (125 indigenous and 11 exotic).

The Restructured National Bamboo Mission (NBM) was approved in April 2018 by the Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), for implementation across the country for boosting cultivation of quality and appropriate species, treatment

Physical progress of the restructured NBM as of December 31, 2024 is as follows:

408 Bamboo nurseries including 14 accredited nurseries have been established.

60,000 hectares of non-forest area have been covered under bamboo plantation.

104 bamboo treatment and preservation units have been established.

Varieties of bamboo and their uses

Bambusa balcooa-Bamboo uesd for Agarbatti stick

Melocanna baccifera-flute

MIDH Suraksha is aScheme for the holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, root & tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers,coconut, cashew, cocoa and bamboo.

3. PM SHRI scheme

A Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched to upgrade 14,500 schools into model institutions that demonstrate best practices under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, integrating technology, sustainability, and inclusivity.

Launched in: September 2022 by the Ministry of Education, Government of India.

Implemented by: Jointly by the Department of School Education & Literacy (MOE)

Objective:

To provide high-quality, holistic, and skill-based education through experiential learning; align school infrastructure and pedagogy with NEP 2020 and serve as "lighthouse schools" for others to emulate.

Funding Pattern: Centre-State Share: 60:40 (General States/UTs with legislature); 90:10 (NE & Himalayan States, J&K); 100% Central for UTs without legislature

Some states, including Punjab and West Bengal, have refused to sign the MoU while Tamil Nadu and Kerala have shown conditional willingness.

As a result, the central government has stopped funding under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) to states that have not signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to participate in the PM SHRI scheme.

4. India Hosts 5th BRICS SAI Leaders’ Summit in Bengaluru to Champion ‘Ease of Living’ and Urban Accountability

The government has approved an $11 billion Urban Challenge Fund to manage this change

The Hon’ble Prime Minister’s "5-E" vision is central to this urban transformation. This vision includes Ease of Living, Education, Employment, Economy, and Entertainment.

SAI India is supporting this shift by integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics into its processes. The institution is currently auditing 101 cities to evaluate sustainability and the quality of life

The delegates are expected to adopt the BRICS SAI Work Plan 2027–28 and the Bengaluru Declaration.

BRICS

BRICS acronym originally stood for Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining later in 2010

Foundation and Evolution: The term BRIC was first coined by economist Jim O'Neill in 2001. The group began formal cooperation at the 2006 G-8 Outreach Summit and held its first official summit in Russia in 2009.

Expansion of Membership: The group expanded in 2024 with the addition of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE. Indonesia joined in 2025.

India’s current BRICS Sherpa is Sudhakar Dalela.

5India launching its First Green Methanol Plant in Gujarat

India’s first green methanol plant to turn Kutch’s most invasive weed into marine fuel

Prosopis juliflora, which has for decades threatened biodiversity in Kutch’s Banni grasslands, will be turned into methanol

plant that has been ranked as one of the “top 100 invasive species in the world”

The plant was first introduced by the British in the 1920s to ‘green’ Delhi and by the Gujarat forest department in 1961 to halt the encroaching salt desert in the Rann.

This weed is to become the feedstock for India’s first green methanol production plant, designed to fuel ocean-going ships.

The project, sited at the Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) in Kandla, will produce five tonnes of methanol a day and is being built by Pune-based Thermax Energy with gasification technology from Vadodara’s Ankur Scientific, and will be owned by the port Authority

Green methanol is a low-carbon, renewable liquid fuel and chemical feedstock produced from biomass (bio-methanol) or green hydrogen and captured \(CO_{2}\) (e-methanol)

IT is a key sustainable alternative to fossil-based fuels, capable of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 60–95%, primarily serving as a clean marine fuel and chemical raw material