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- Why in News?
- Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan is set to visit Singapore to participate in the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue, a prominent annual security forum organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).
- Key Provisions:-
- Held every June at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore, this summit is the leading platform in Asia for dialogue on defence and strategic issues.
- Established in 2002, it gathers defence ministers, military leaders, policymakers, and security experts from around the world to discuss both traditional and emerging security challenges in the Asia-Pacific region.
- Co-hosted by Singapore’s Ministry of Defence, the Dialogue covers topics such as territorial disputes, military collaboration, terrorism, cybersecurity, and climate change.
- The event features open sessions where delegates share views and promote understanding, as well as closed-door meetings for deeper, solution-oriented discussions.
- The forum plays a vital role in shaping regional security cooperation and fostering dialogue among key stakeholders on pressing defence matters.
- Why in News?
- An Indian Army contingent recently departed to participate in the 17th edition of the India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise, NOMADIC ELEPHANT, scheduled in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
- Key Provisions:-
- This annual bilateral exercise is held alternately in both countries, with the previous edition hosted in Umroi, Meghalaya in July 2024.
- The Indian team, comprising 45 personnel primarily from the ARUNACHAL SCOUTS, will engage in a platoon-level field training exercise with Mongolian forces.
- The objective is to strengthen interoperability in semi-conventional operations across semi-urban and mountainous terrain, particularly under UN peacekeeping mandates.
- This year, the exercise will also include components of cyber warfare to reflect modern operational complexities. NOMADIC ELEPHANT not only enhances tactical coordination but also underscores the deep-rooted strategic partnership between India and Mongolia.
- It highlights a shared commitment to regional peace and security, while fostering cultural exchange and military cooperation—reinforcing the historical bond and mutual trust between the two nations in the Indo-Pacific region.
- Why in News
- The Central government has recently notified an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around the Tral Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Pulwama district, Jammu and Kashmir.
- Key Provisions:-
- This move is aimed at strengthening environmental protection around the sanctuary, which serves as a vital corridor for the endangered Hangul, or Kashmir Stag.
- Tral is among the limited habitats outside Dachigam National Park where the Hangul population still persists. The sanctuary features diverse Himalayan vegetation, ranging from moist temperate to alpine forests.
- Key plant species include Aesculus indica, Fraxinus hookeri, Juglans regia, and various shrubs like Lonicera and Jasminum species.
- Tral Wildlife Sanctuary is home to around 15 mammal species, including the rare Kashmir Musk Deer and Kashmir Gray Langur, along with over 200 bird species.
As a protected corridor, it plays a critical role in conserving endemic and threatened fauna, reinforcing its ecological significance in maintaining biodiversity in the Kashmir Valley.