Current Affairs - National

Santhals rank as the third largest scheduled tribe in India, after Gonds and Bhils. They are predominantly found in Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha. The Santhali language, written in the Ol-Chiki script, is recognized as a scheduled language in the Indian Constitution.

India has initiated the Rupee-Kyat trade mechanism with Myanmar to enhance bilateral trade. This arrangement, facilitated by Punjab National Bank's Yangon office, marks a significant step in using local currencies for trade transactions between the two nations, focusing on goods like pulses.

The 41,000-year-old ostrich nest was discovered in Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh. This finding provides significant evidence of ostriches' historical presence in southern India and contributes to the understanding of megafauna extinction theories related to human arrival in the region around 30,000 years ago.

Kerala recently reported the fourth case of amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare brain infection caused by a free-living amoeba found in contaminated waters. This infection has a high fatality rate, emphasizing the need for public health measures to prevent such cases in the future.

Bajaj Auto made headlines by launching Freedom, the world's pioneering CNG motorcycle. This innovative vehicle represents a significant step towards environmental sustainability and cost efficiency in the automotive sector. Endorsed by Nitin Gadkari for its eco-friendliness, Freedom features a dual-fuel capability (CNG and petrol), offering users substantial savings in daily operating expenses. With a 12.5-litre CNG cylinder and a range of 100 km/kg, it addresses concerns about fossil fuel dependency and pollution. Bajaj's introduction of Freedom underscores its commitment to advancing green technologies and reshaping the future of urban mobility with innovative solutions.