In News:

A comprehensive national-level cyber security exercise, Cyber Suraksha, was launched by the Defence Cyber Agency (DCyA) under the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS).

About Cyber Suraksha

• Type: Multi-phased cybersecurity drill.
• Organised by: Defence Cyber Agency (DCyA) under the aegis of HQ IDS.
• Duration: From 17–27 June 2025.
• Participants: Over 100 experts from national agencies and defence domains.
• Environment: High-paced, gamified simulation of real-world cyber threats.

Objectives

• Enhance national cyber resilience.
• Train personnel in handling advanced cyberattacks.
• Promote a security-first culture across defence institutions.
• Integrate technical proficiency with strategic leadership.

Key Features

• Training capsules: Technical + leadership components.
• CISOs Conclave: Sessions by cybersecurity leaders, culminating in a table-top simulation.
• Hands-on exercises: Real-time attack simulations to test response capabilities.
• Focus on joint operations and decision-making under crisis.

About Defence Cyber Agency (DCyA)

Background

• Established: Announced in 2018, operational from November 2019.
• Origin: Recommended by Naresh Chandra Committee (2012).
• Part of India’s tri-service defence transformation, alongside proposed Aerospace and Special Operations Commands.

Role & Mandate

• Parent Ministry: Ministry of Defence (MoD).
• Reports to: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) through Integrated Defence Staff (IDS).
• Location: Based in New Delhi.

Functions

• Conducts cyber defence operations for the armed forces.
• Coordinates incident response, cyber intelligence, and audits.
• Develops capabilities in cyber warfare, AI-driven cyber tools, and joint operations.
• Supports capacity building, certification, and training within the military.

In News:

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated Radio Nellikka, an internet radio for children launched by the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KeSCPCR) on June 2025.

What is Radio Nellikka?

• A child-centric internet radio platform launched by KeSCPCR.
• Aims to promote child rights, awareness, and safety through audio content.
• Accessible globally, with 4 hours of programming from Monday to Friday (new content), and repeats on weekends.
• Launch included unveiling of the radio's logo and theme song.

Objectives

• Create a child-friendly Kerala through rights-based literacy.
• Spread awareness on child protection laws, mental health, substance abuse, and cyber safety.
• Empower children with knowledge and build resilience against social challenges.
• Promote responsible parenting and community involvement in child welfare.

Significance

• Addresses rising challenges: social media addiction, cyber threats, child suicides, and mental health issues.
• Provides accessible, engaging content to both children and guardians.
• Acts as a preventive and educational tool against misinformation related to child rights.
• Supports emotional and legal literacy in a format suited for young audiences.

In News:

The integration of Artificial Intelligence into India's biomanufacturing sector is gaining momentum with the launch of the BioE3 Policy and the IndiaAI Mission.

What is Biomanufacturing?

• Biomanufacturing involves the use of living cells, enzymes, or biological systems to produce commercial goods such as vaccines, biologics, biofuels, specialty chemicals, biodegradable plastics, and advanced materials.
• The convergence of synthetic biology, industrial biotechnology, and artificial intelligence (AI) has expanded its scope across sectors like healthcare, agriculture, energy, and materials science.
• India, often called the “Pharmacy of the World”, produces over 60% of global vaccines, underlining its industrial strength in biomanufacturing.

Role of Artificial Intelligence in Biomanufacturing

AI is revolutionizing biomanufacturing by making it predictive, efficient, and scalable:

• AI-Powered Process Optimization: Machine learning tools adjust variables like temperature, pH, and nutrient supply in real time to enhance fermentation and reduce batch failure.
• Digital Twins: Virtual replicas of biomanufacturing plants allow engineers to simulate operations, test changes, and foresee potential disruptions without real-world risks.
• Accelerated Drug Discovery: AI expedites molecular modeling and screening of drug candidates, reducing time and cost of development.
• Predictive Maintenance: AI forecasts machinery failures, improving equipment reliability and reducing downtime.
• Smart Supply Chains: AI-driven logistics optimize cold-chain storage and forecast medicine demand, ensuring timely distribution.

Indian Examples and Industrial Applications

• Biocon uses AI to enhance drug screening and fermentation quality.
• Strand Life Sciences applies machine learning in genomics for faster diagnostics.
• Wipro and TCS are developing AI platforms for clinical trials, molecule screening, and treatment prediction.
• AI is also being explored in rural healthcare, using region-specific data for localized diagnostics and advisories.

Key Government Initiatives

• BioE3 Policy (2024):
  • Envisions Bio-AI hubs, biofoundries, and next-gen biomanufacturing infrastructure.
  • Supports startups with funding and incentives.
• IndiaAI Mission:
  • Promotes ethical, explainable AI in sectors like health and biotech.
  • Supports bias reduction, machine unlearning, and transparency in AI models.
• Biomanufacturing Mission (2023): Aims to promote R&D and domestic production in bio-based sectors.
• PLI Scheme for Biotech: Incentivizes local production of enzymes, fermentation inputs, and biologics.
• Digital Personal Data Protection Act (2023): Lays down principles for lawful data processing, though not tailored for AI-biotech intersection yet.

Challenges in Policy and Regulation

Regulatory Gaps:

• India’s existing drug and biotech laws were designed before the AI era.
• No clear mechanism exists to audit, certify, or govern AI-operated bioreactors or predictive drug systems.

Data and Model Risks:

• AI systems trained on urban datasets may fail in rural or semi-urban manufacturing due to variable water quality, temperature, or power conditions.
• Lack of norms on dataset diversity and model validation raises risk of system failure and reputational damage.
• Intellectual Property Issues: Traditional IP laws do not clarify ownership of AI-generated inventions, molecules, or production protocols.

Workforce and Infrastructure:

• Biomanufacturing needs a workforce skilled in both computational biology and automation.
• India’s AI-bio talent gap and limited high-tech infrastructure outside metro cities hinders inclusive growth.

Ethical & Safety Concerns:

• Without context-specific oversight, AI errors can threaten public safety and product integrity.
• Trust in AI systems requires clear guidelines on explainability, accountability, and redress mechanisms.

Global Best Practices

• EU’s AI Act (2024): Classifies AI applications based on risk levels. High-risk applications (e.g., genetic editing) are subject to strict audits.
• US FDA Guidance (2025):
  • Introduces seven-step credibility frameworks for AI in healthcare.
  • Predetermined Change Control Plans (PCCPs) allow iterative AI updates while ensuring safety.

India lacks similar risk-based, adaptive oversight.

Policy Recommendations

• Establish AI-Biomanufacturing Regulatory Framework:
  • Introduce tiered regulation based on context and risk.
  • Define use-cases, audit mechanisms, and model validation standards.
• Mandate Dataset Diversity & Safety Audits:
  • Ensure AI tools are trained on representative, unbiased, clean data.
  • Create regulatory sandboxes to test AI systems in controlled environments.
• Strengthen Public–Private Partnerships:
  • Boost industry-academia collaborations.
  • Incentivize private investment through R&D credits and de-risking instruments.
• Modernize IP and Licensing Laws:
  • Establish clarity on ownership of AI-generated discoveries.
  • Develop licensing frameworks for bio-AI algorithms and training data.
• Upskill the Workforce: Promote interdisciplinary training across life sciences, data science, and industrial robotics.

In News:

Recently, the global ornithological and conservation community witnessed a landmark development with the launch of AviList, the first-ever unified global checklist of bird species. This effort is the culmination of four years of work by the Working Group on Avian Checklists, representing leading ornithological and conservation institutions.

About AviList:

• What is it? AviList is a comprehensive, standardized, and freely accessible global bird species checklist.
• Total Entries (2025 Edition):
  • Species: 11,131
  • Subspecies: 19,879
  • Genera: 2,376
  • Families: 252
  • Orders: 46
• Replacing Previous Lists:
  • International Ornithological Committee (IOC) List
  • Clements Checklist
• Update Mechanism: To be updated annually
• Access and Formats:
  • Available freely at www.avilist.org
  • Downloadable in full or short versions in .xlsx and .csv formats.

Developed By:

Working Group on Avian Checklists, comprising representatives from:

• BirdLife International
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• American Ornithologists' Society
• International Ornithologists’ Union
• Avibase (Global Bird Database)

Significance and Benefits:

• Conservation and Research Clarity:
  • A unified taxonomy helps prioritize conservation efforts by eliminating taxonomic inconsistencies.
  • Scientists can now communicate uniformly on species classification and distribution.
• Global Standardization: Replaces multiple competing checklists, reducing confusion and ensuring consistency across countries and platforms.
• Interdisciplinary Use: Supports birdwatchers, scientists, policymakers, and conservationists in sharing data, linking platforms, and enhancing global collaborations.
• Improved Policy and Decision-Making: Aids in aligning biodiversity policies across nations by ensuring a standardized species concept.
• Technological Integration: Enables harmonization of databases and online tools like eBird, Avibase, and global biodiversity monitoring platforms.

In News:

Following the tragic crash of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick (June 2025), authorities have initiated DNA-based identification to match the remains of victims. In mass fatality incidents where bodies are mutilated or decomposed, DNA analysis becomes the gold standard for establishing identity.

What is DNA Identification?

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) is a unique genetic code present in almost every cell of the human body, with the exception of identical twins. It is widely used in forensic science for accurate identification, particularly in disasters where visual identification is impossible.

Sample Collection and Preservation:

• DNA begins degrading post-mortem, and the rate of degradation is influenced by:
  • Type of tissue (soft vs hard)
  • Environmental conditions (humidity, temperature)
• Hard tissues such as bones and teeth are preferred due to better preservation against decomposition.
• Soft tissues (like skin and muscle) degrade faster and, if used, must be stored in 95% ethanol or frozen at -20°C.
• In large-scale accidents, sample collection from wreckage can take weeks or even months (e.g., 9/11 took 10 months).

Reference Samples:

To match unidentified remains, reference DNA is taken from biological relatives—preferably parents or children of the victims, who share about 50% of their DNA.

Methods of DNA Analysis:

1. Short Tandem Repeat (STR) Analysis:

• Evaluates short, repeating DNA sequences that vary among individuals.
• Requires nuclear DNA, hence not suitable if the DNA is highly degraded.
• Analysis of 15+ hyper-variable STR regions can confirm family relationships with high accuracy.

2. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Analysis:

• Used when nuclear DNA is not recoverable.
• mtDNA is inherited exclusively from the mother and is present in multiple copies per cell.
• Effective for matching with maternal relatives (e.g., mother, maternal uncles/aunts, siblings).

3. Y-Chromosome Analysis:

• Targets male-specific genetic material.
• Useful for identifying remains using DNA from paternal male relatives (father, brothers, paternal uncles).
• Helpful when direct relatives are unavailable but male-line relatives exist.

4. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) Analysis:

• Suitable when DNA is highly degraded.
• Analyzes variations at single base-pair locations in DNA.
• Can also match DNA with personal items like a toothbrush or hairbrush.
• However, less accurate than STR analysis.

Significance for Disaster Management and Forensics:

• DNA-based victim identification ensures scientific accuracy, aiding in closure for families, and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations.
• Modern forensic genetics has become an essential tool in mass disaster response protocols worldwide.