Prelims Focus 5th March 2026
Project HANUMAN Overview
In News:Launched around World Wildlife Day (March 3, 2026) amid surging conflicts in districts like Chittoor and Parvathipuram Manyam, it highlights state-level conservation innovation, drawing UPSC-relevant attention to environment policy and current affairs.
About:
Project HANUMAN, launched by Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, stands for Healing and Nurturing Units for Monitoring, Aid, and Nursing of Wildlife. It targets rising human-wildlife conflicts in forest-fringe areas through rapid response measures and technology.
Key Features
- Deploys 100 GPS-enabled vehicles: 93 rapid response units and 7 wildlife ambulances, staffed with forest officers, vets, and local teams.
- Establishes 4 wildlife rescue and treatment centers, plus village-level “Vajra” teams for local handling of snakes and other animals.
- Introduces AI-based early warning systems, a dedicated app, and GPS tracking for real-time monitoring.
Objectives and Impact
The project aims to minimize crop damage, livestock loss, and threats to human life while promoting coexistence, rooted in India’s “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” philosophy. Compensation for attacks has doubled: Rs. 10 lakhs for deaths (from Rs. 5 lakhs) and Rs. 2 lakhs for injuries, following over 2,100 cases and Rs. 4 crore paid out in 2025-26.
Golestan Palace
In News: The incident highlights risks to cultural heritage in the intensifying US-Israel-Iran tensions, which killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and prompted regional retaliations, drawing global attention from UNESCO and media on war crimes against protected site.
Overview
- Golestan Palace, Tehran’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013, is a Qajar-era complex spanning over 400 years with 17 historic structures like museums, halls, and the iconic Marble Throne.
- Located near Arg Square and Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, it showcases Persian architecture through mirror work, wooden features, and intricate decorations.
Damage Details
- On March 1, 2026, the palace sustained damage from shockwaves and debris caused by a US-Israeli airstrike on nearby Arg Square during escalated attacks on Iran starting February 28.
- Blast waves shattered windows, affected the Hall of Mirrors and Abyaz Palace, and damaged decorative elements; Iranian officials, including cultural ministers, inspected the site, with UNESCO confirming the impact and urging protection of heritage amid conflict.
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