About ‘One Case One Data’ Initiative:

• It is a major digital initiative launched by the Supreme Court of India.
• It is a comprehensive digital platform designed to integrate case-related information from the Supreme Court, High Courts, district courts and taluka courts into a unified system.
• It is aimed at strengthening the case management framework through integrated judicial data access in courts across India.
• It will automate data retrieval from the concerned courts’ database and facilitate swift online verification of case-related information.
• Each case will be assigned a single unique digital identity, allowing all related records to be linked in one continuous case file.
• When a case moves from a lower court to a higher court, existing records will not be recreated but will be seamlessly integrated and updated , ensuring continuity and easier access to complete case history.
• Reciprocal access to case information shall also be provided to High Courts and Government departments as and when required.
• The integration could significantly reduce procedural delays arising from manual verification and fragmented judicial records while improving coordination between courts.

What is Su Sahay?

• It is an Artificial Intelligence-powered assistance chatbot integrated with the Supreme Court website to facilitate easier access to justice and court-related services for litigants.
• It was developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) in collaboration with the Supreme Court Registry.
• The tool provides essential guidance on accessing services, filing procedures, and general court-related inquiries.

About Valley Fever:

• Valley fever, also known as acute coccidioidomycosis, is a fungal infection that primarily affects the lungs.
• It is caused by the Coccidioides fungus, which grows in dry and dusty soil in parts of the southwestern United States, Mexico, and regions of Central and South America.
• Transmission:
  • The fungi’s spores can be stirred into the air by anything that disrupts the soil, such as farming, construction, and wind.
  • People can then breathe the fungi into their lungs.
  • Pets can also become infected.
  • It does not spread from person to person or between people and animals.
• Treatment:
  • Mild cases of valley fever usually resolve on their own.
  • In more-severe cases, doctors treat the infection with antifungal medications.
  • Sometimes surgery is needed to remove the infected part of the lung (for chronic or severe disease).
  • There is no vaccine to prevent valley fever.

About Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is located in the Wayanad district in Kerala.
• It is part of the larger Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
• Tholpetty in the north is one of the two discontinuous pockets of Wayanad Sanctuary, the other being Muthanga in the south.
• Flora:
  • The forests consist of both tropical moist dry deciduous and semi-evergreen
  • Plantations of teak, eucalyptus, silver oak, and rosewood cover about one-third of the sanctuary.
• Fauna:
  • Elephants, tigers, panthers, jungle cats, civet cats, monkeys, wild dogs, bison, deer, bears, and snakes can be spotted in the sanctuary.
  • The sanctuary is also a bird watcher's paradise, hosting over 300 species of birds.
  • Some notable avian residents include the Malabar grey hornbill, crested serpent eagle, peafowl, and various species of woodpeckers and kingfishers.

Key Facts about Gaur:

• Gaur, also known as Indian bison, is the largest species among the wild cattle and the Bovidae.
• Scientific Name: Bos gaurus
• Habitat and Distribution:
  • Gaurs are indigenous to the South and Southeast parts of Asia.
  • They are found in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Myanmar, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, and Nepal.
  • They are primarily found in evergreen and semi-evergreen forests along with moist deciduous forests with open grasslands.
  • They prefer hilly-terrains below an altitude of 1,500-1,800 m with large and undisturbed forest tracts and abundant water.
• Features:
  • Gaur is a large animal with a sturdy build.
  • It has a short and deep neck, a massive head, and frequently a large dewlap on the throat and chest.
  • The color of their body varies from reddish or brown to black, while the limbs are pale colored.
  • Both males and females have upwardly curved horns, growing from the sides of their heads. Their horns have a yellow base and black tip.
  • These animals have a hump on their shoulders, which is especially prominent in adult males.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

About Limestone:

• It is a sedimentary rock made of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), usually in the form of calcite or aragonite.
• It occurs across almost all geological sequences from Pre-Cambrian to recent, except in Gondwana formations.
• Composition of Limestone:
  • It often contains magnesium carbonate, either as dolomite CaMg (CO3 )2 or magnesite (MgCO3 ) mixed with calcite.
  • It also contains minor constituents of clay, iron carbonate, feldspar, pyrite, and quartz.
• Distribution of Limestone in India: Karnataka has the largest share (28%) of total resources, followed by Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Meghalaya, and Chhattisgarh.
• Uses of Limestone:
  • The principal use of limestone is in the Cement Industry.
  • Metallurgical Processes: It is used as a flux in iron and steel production.
  • Chemical Production: It is used in production of Calcium carbide, alkali, bleaching powder.
  • Agriculture: It is used as soil conditioning agent, fertilizer (calcium ammonium nitrate).
  • Consumer Products: Whiting (chalk and precipitated limestone) in rubber, paint, cosmetics, toothpaste, and shoe polish.

About National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture:

• It was launched in 2014-15 under the framework of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
• It was envisaged as a strategic intervention to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate variability on agriculture while ensuring long-term food and livelihood security.
  • Since 2022-23 it has been included under the umbrella of Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PMRKVY).
• It promotes climate-resilient farming through a set of targeted and integrated interventions.
• It provides a strong foundation for sustainable agricultural development by enhancing water-use efficiency, improving soil health, and strengthening climate resilient agriculture.
• Key interventions under NMSA:
  • Rainfed Area Development (RAD): It encourages Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) for diversified and risk-resilient agriculture.
  • Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) initiative: It promotes micro-irrigation to improve water-use efficiency.
  • Soil Health Management (SHM): It is supported by the Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme, which promotes balanced nutrient use and sustains long-term soil fertility.
  • Climate Change and Sustainable Agriculture: Monitoring, Modeling and Networking (CCSAMMN): It provides creation and bidirectional (land/farmers to research/scientific establishments and vice versa) dissemination of climate change related information and knowledge. 
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

About Fermented Organic Manure:

• It is a type of organic fertilizer produced through a controlled fermentation process of organic materials like manure, crop residues, and compost.
• It is a byproduct of operational biogas or compressed biogas (CBG) plants used as a fertilizer.
• Preparation of Fermented Organic Manure:
  • It involves organic materials like animal manure, crop residues, and kitchen scraps which are combined with water and allowed to ferment in a controlled environment.
  • This fermentation process breaks down the organic matter, releasing nutrients and beneficial microorganisms. 
• Benefits of Fermented Organic Manure
  • It improves soil fertility
  • It enhances soil structure
  • It is beneficial for microorganisms
  • It helps in waste management
  • It also helps in sustainable farming

About SEHAT Mission:

• SEHAT (Science Excellence for Health through Agricultural Transformation) is a national mission-mode programme designed to translate agricultural advancements into tangible health outcomes for the people of India.
• It has been jointly launched by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
• Objective: Launched with the objective of building a framework for ‘Healthy Food, Healthy Farms and a Healthy India’.
• It strategically align agricultural research and innovation with national priorities in nutrition, preventive and promotive healthcare and One Health. 
• The mission focuses on five priority areas
  • Development and evaluation of biofortified and nutrient-dense crop varieties to address malnutrition and improve nutritional status; 
  • Strengthening integrated farming systems to promote dietary diversification, enhance farm incomes, and build resilience;
  • Addressing occupational health risks among agricultural workers through targeted, evidence-based interventions; 
  • Advancing agriculture-enabled strategies: It is for the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases through the promotion of functional foods and nutritionally superior crop varieties
  • Strengthening One Health preparedness: It is through integrated surveillance, diagnostics, and research at the human–animal–environment interface.

About Jute Crop Information System:

• It is a technology-driven platform developed in collaboration with Indian Space Research Organisation and the Jute Corporation of India.
• It is being implemented since 2023.
• Purpose: To improve crop monitoring and production assessment in the jute sector.
• Working:
  • It integrates satellite imagery, weather analytics, vegetation indices and field-level inputs to enable near real-time monitoring of jute cultivation and production trends.
  • It includes two digital tools
    • BHUVAN JUMP: It is a mobile application for field-level monitoring.
    • PATSAN: It is a web-based analytics platform designed to provide surveillance and crop-related assessments for officials and stakeholders.
  • This new system has introduced a more structured and evidence-based approach to crop monitoring by combining multiple data sources on a single platform.
  • Features:
    • The framework supports automated reporting, near real-time crop estimation and early warning alerts linked to weather and crop stress conditions.
    • Through its I-CARE field network, the National Jute Board has facilitated large-scale collection of geo-tagged field data using the BHUVAN JUMP application.
    • It has supported Crop Cutting Experiments using geospatial smart-sampling techniques aimed at improving the accuracy of yield estimation and production modelling.
    • It has also been used to develop flood impact assessment models based on satellite data and field validation to estimate crop and quality losses in affected areas.
    • Weather analytics integrated into the platform are supporting district-level early warning systems for rainfall variation, dry spells and temperature fluctuations.

Why in news?

India is entering a summer marked by multiple climate extremes, including unseasonal rainfall from Western Disturbances, the possible impact of El Niño on monsoon patterns, and rising heatwaves intensified by humidity.

These weather conditions are making temperatures feel more severe than actual readings and are influencing rainfall, heat stress, and seasonal climate patterns across the country.

The article explains key climate terms shaping this summer’s weather and their practical implications for everyday life.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Western Disturbance
• What Does an El Niño Year Mean?
• What is a Heat Wave?
• What is Wet Bulb Temperature?
• What is “Feels Like” Temperature?

Western Disturbance

• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a fresh Western Disturbance over North India between May 11 and May 13, 2026.
• About Western Disturbance
  • It is an eastward-moving rain-bearing weather system that originates beyond Afghanistan and Iran and influences weather conditions in North India and neighbouring regions.
  • These systems gather moisture from the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea, and Arabian Sea.
  • Western Disturbances are extra-tropical cyclones formed due to interactions between polar and tropical air masses, creating low-pressure systems that bring rain and snowfall.
  • They are embedded within the subtropical westerly jet stream — a high-altitude, fast-moving air current flowing from west to east over the Himalayan and Tibetan regions.
  • Western Disturbances are most common during the winter months from December to March, although they can also bring unseasonal rainfall during summer.
  • These weather systems mainly affect: northwestern India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and parts of Central Asia such as Tajikistan.

What Does an El Niño Year Mean?

• El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a climate phenomenon involving changes in Pacific Ocean temperatures and atmospheric conditions that influence global weather patterns.
• ENSO has three phases:
  • El Niño – warm phase,
  • La Niña – cool phase, and
  • Neutral phase.
    • These cycles generally occur every 2 to 7 years.
• Under neutral conditions, the eastern Pacific Ocean near South America remains cooler than the western Pacific near Indonesia because trade winds push warm surface water westward.
• What Happens During El Niño?
• During El Niño, the eastern Pacific Ocean becomes unusually warm, disrupting atmospheric circulation and weakening moisture-bearing winds reaching India.
• El Niño conditions often lead to:
  • weak or delayed monsoons,
  • dry spells in agricultural regions, and
  • more frequent and intense heatwaves across India.
• The U.S. Climate Prediction Center projected a 61% probability of El Niño developing between May and July 2026 and continuing through the year.
• La Niña and Its Impact
  • La Niña is the opposite phase, marked by cooler eastern Pacific waters. It generally strengthens India’s southwest monsoon by enhancing moisture-bearing winds.
  • While La Niña often improves rainfall in India, stronger monsoons can also trigger flooding and crop damage during extreme conditions.

What is a Heat Wave?

• It is a prolonged period of unusually high temperatures significantly above the normal levels of a region.
• Heat waves can become more severe due to:
  • high humidity,
  • strong winds, and
  • longer duration of extreme heat conditions.
• The IMD considers heat wave conditions when temperatures reach 40°C or more in plains, or 30°C or more in hilly regions.
• A heat wave may be declared when temperatures are:
  • 4.5°C to 6.4°C above normal, while
  • a severe heat wave is declared if temperatures exceed 6.4°C above normal.
• Regardless of normal temperatures:
  • a heat wave is declared at 45°C or above, and
  • a severe heat wave is declared at 47°C or above.
• For coastal regions, where humidity is higher, heat wave conditions may be declared if temperatures reach at least 37°C and remain significantly above normal.
• Heat wave criteria must be met in at least two stations within a meteorological subdivision for two consecutive days, with the official declaration issued on the second day.

What is Wet Bulb Temperature?

• The temperature usually measured by a normal thermometer is called Dry Bulb Temperature, which does not account for humidity.
• Wet Bulb Temperature measures the lowest temperature achievable through evaporation and reflects the effect of humidity on cooling.
• Wet Bulb Temperature indicates how effectively the human body can cool itself through sweating and evaporation.
• High humidity reduces the evaporation of sweat, making it harder for the body to regulate temperature and increasing the risk of heat stress and dehydration.
• Difference Between Dry and Wet Bulb Temperatures
  • Wet Bulb Temperature is generally lower than Dry Bulb Temperature. The difference becomes larger when the air is drier and evaporation is more effective.
• Health Risks
  • According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC):
    • sustained exposure above 35°C wet bulb temperature can be fatal, and
    • exposure above 31°C can become dangerous during intense physical activity.
  • People with heart disease, diabetes, and outdoor labourers are especially vulnerable because humidity and dehydration increase physical stress during extreme heat.

What is “Feels Like” Temperature?

• “Feels like” temperature, also known as apparent temperature, is different from Wet Bulb Temperature.
• It estimates how hot or cold weather actually feels to the human body by considering humidity and wind conditions.
• Apparent temperature combines - actual air temperature, humidity levels, and wind conditions - to measure human thermal comfort.
• Apparent temperature helps people better understand the real physical stress caused by weather conditions, especially during heatwaves and humid summers.
• Heat Index
  • The “feels like” temperature is often expressed through the heat index, which combines temperature and relative humidity to estimate how hot conditions feel to the body.
• Wind Chill Index
  • Another type of apparent temperature is the wind chill index, which combines temperature and wind speed to show how cold weather feels when wind removes the body’s insulating warm air layer.