SNIPPETS 31 JANUARY 2026

Pygmy Hog: smallest & rarest wild pig+ Endemic to India+ Unique feature → builds grass nest with roof+ Indicator species of grassland health+ Habitat → undisturbed riverine tall grasslands+ Present only in: Manas NP, Orang NP (Assam)+ Ecological role: Soil aeration, Seed dispersal+ IUCN → Critically Endangered+ WPA 1972 → Schedule I

Gita Mittal Committee: 3 member All-women committee comprising former High Court judges+ Constituted in August 2023 by SC to address the humanitarian concerns stemming from the ethnic clashes in Manipur+ Headed by former Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Justice Gita Mittal+ Inquire into nature of violence against women; ensure free and psychological medical assistance to survivors, etc+ Supreme Court (SC) extended the tenure of Gita Mittal Committee by another six months

Supercapacitors: A high-voltage supercapacitor based on a dual-functional porous graphene carbon nanocomposite (PGCN) electrode+ Enable electric vehicles (EVs) to achieve faster acceleration and extended driving range+ Electrochemical cells that store electric charge through electrostatic action+ Long cycle life, high strength and environment friendly.

Paathara (Khoni) Practice:  A traditional underground grain storage pit in Andhra Pradesh+ highly scientific, indigenous method used by farmers to preserve freshly harvested paddy for long-term household consumption and rituals+ The tradition thrives in inland, hilly terrains. It is rarely found in coastal belts because high moisture levels in seaside soil can spoil the grain+ The storage process begins with a puja, where women draw a bindi on the pit and offer wildflowers and paddy grains to ensure prosperity.