SNIPPETS 14 FEBRUARY 2026

Swami Dayanand Saraswati: Remembered on his birth anniversary (February 12) + born in Gujarat+ Established Arya Samaj in the year 1875+ Opposed the evil practices of child marriage and enforced widowhood+ He was in favour of an educational system which would emphasize on grammar, philosophy, Vedas, sciences, medicine, music and art+ Important Literary work: Satyartha Prakasha+ Spiritual works: He put forward the Vedic concept of Traitavada

National Medicinal Plant Board: Completed 25 years+ Established in 2000 by a Government Resolution+ Union Ministry of AYUSH+ Chairperson: Union Minister for AYUSH+ To promote coordination among State, central Governments, etc., on all matters relating to medicinal plants+E charak portal: online market mechanism for information exchange between various stakeholders

Pangolins: Mammals covered in scales, also known as scaly anteaters+ Types – 4 Asian species – Chinese, Sunda, Indian, and Philippine pangolins+ Live in tropical forests and grasslands+ They are found across tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia + The Indian Pangolin is found across the subcontinent+ The Chinese Pangolin in the Northeast Region+ Nocturnal in nature, burrowing and insectivorous; rolls into a protective ball when threatened+ They are the only mammals wholly covered in keratin scales, and they use those scales to protect themselves from predators in the wild+ Indian Pangolin – Endangered+ Chinese pangolin – Critically Endangered