In News:

The Sheesh Mahal, a 17th-century Mughal-era palace located in Shalimar Bagh, North Delhi, was recently restored and reopened to the public by the Union Culture and Tourism Minister. The restoration was carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).

About Sheesh Mahal

• Built in 1653 by Izz-un-Nisha Begum, wife of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.
• Inspired by and a replica of Shalimar Bagh in Kashmir, designed as a royal retreat from Shahjahanabad.
• The garden was originally called Aizzabad Garden, later renamed Shalimar, meaning “abode of pleasure”.
• The palace was the site of Aurangzeb’s first coronation in 1658.
• Declared a monument of national importance in 1983, under ASI protection.

Architectural Features

• Constructed using red sandstone and brick masonry.
• Features archways, three-arched dalans, and a central hall with compartments on each wing.
• A Baradari (pavilion) lies in the main building with a water channel passing through it.
• Houses mirror-worked chambers with paintings in Kangra and Rajasthani qalam, depicting poetic imagery by Keshav, Surdas, and Bihari.
• Adjacent structure served as a Hamam (bathhouse).

Restoration Highlights

• ASI restored the palace’s original heritage features.
• DDA recreated the traditional Mughal Char Bagh-style landscape.
• Traditional materials used: Lime surkhi, lakhori bricks, gud (jaggery), belgiri, and urad dal.
• An old baradari and three heritage cottages were also restored.

New Additions for Public Engagement

• Two heritage cottages repurposed:
  • The Readers Café Corner – a literary café.
  • Café Shalimar – for general visitors.

In News:

NITI Aayog, in collaboration with the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MoDoNER) and with technical support from UNDP, released the second edition of the North Eastern Region District SDG Index (2023–24).

About the NER District SDG Index

• First Edition: Released in August 2021
• Current Edition: Covers 121 districts across the 8 North Eastern States
• Developed By: NITI Aayog, MoDoNER, and UNDP
• Purpose:
  • Monitor district-wise progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
  • Provide evidence-based planning, resource allocation, and intervention strategies
  • Ensure localisation of SDGs and leave no one behind

Scoring Categories

Districts are classified into four categories:

1. Achiever: Score = 100
2. Front Runner: Score 65–99
3. Performer: Score 50–64
4. Aspirant: Score < 50

Composite Score Range:

• Highest: Hnahthial, Mizoram – 81.43
• Lowest: Longding, Arunachal Pradesh – 58.71

Key Highlights

• 85% of districts showed an increase in composite scores.
• All districts of Mizoram, Sikkim, and Tripura attained Front Runner status.
• Hnahthial (Mizoram) emerged as the best-performing district.
• Nagaland entered the Top 10 with 3 districts.
• Sikkim showed the most consistent intra-state performance with a score range of just 5.5 points.
• Assam saw notable improvements in Zero Hunger, Quality Education, Clean Water & Sanitation, and Decent Work & Economic Growth.

Top Performing Districts

Significance

• Supports the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision by targeting SDG achievement by 2030.
• Enhances cooperative federalism by aligning state and district efforts with national goals.
• Acts as a diagnostic and planning tool for identifying gaps and prioritising interventions.

In News:

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has introduced a nomination-based pilot Golden Visa programme targeting skilled individuals from India and Bangladesh. However, recent rumours around a ?23 lakh “lifetime visa” triggered misinformation, later debunked by UAE authorities.

What is a Golden Visa?

• A long-term residency visa allowing foreign nationals to live, work, or study in the UAE without a local sponsor.
• Designed to attract investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, and skilled professionals.
• Offers 5 to 10 years of renewable residency, and in some cases, lifetime validity under specific frameworks.

Key Features of the UAE Golden Visa Scheme

Controversy: ?23 Lakh ‘Lifetime Golden Visa’ Rumour

• A viral rumour claimed that Indians could buy a lifetime UAE Golden Visa for ?23.3 lakh (AED 1,00,000).
• Debunked by UAE Government within 48 hours as false and misleading.
• Originated from a press release by Rayad Group, later withdrawn and discredited.
• UAE authorities clarified: No consultancy is authorised to process Golden Visas outside official channels.
• Golden Visas are not available for simple purchase; eligibility is merit-based, not transactional.

Eligibility vs. Misconception

• Golden Visas are for High Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs) and exceptional talent — not for general migration or middle-class aspirations.
• Traditional routes still require investments of AED 2 million (~?4.67 crore) or equivalent in real estate or business.

Comparison with Other Countries’ Golden Visa Models

Significance for India-UAE Relations

• Enhances people-to-people links under the India–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
• Offers Indian professionals access to UAE’s innovation, business, and academic ecosystem.
• Promotes economic diversification of UAE beyond oil — with India as a strategic partner.

In News:

The Government of Andhra Pradesh has officially approved the Amaravati Quantum Valley Declaration (AQVD), aiming to transform Amaravati into India’s first Quantum Valley and a global hub for quantum technologies.

What is AQVD?

• A strategic framework signed by the Andhra Pradesh Government, IBM, TCS, L&T, academia, and startups.
• It envisions a collaborative ecosystem for quantum computing, communication, sensing, and chip development.
• Seeks to align with India’s National Quantum Mission (NQM) to position Amaravati as a deep-tech capital.

Key Features and Targets

• Investment Goals: Total investment target of $1 billion by 2029, with $500 million by 2027.
• QChipIN: Creation of India’s largest open quantum testbed, integrating quantum computers and enabling hands-on innovation.
• Focus Areas: Quantum computing, quantum chip design, sensing technologies, and secure quantum communication.
• Skilling & Research: Encourages development of quantum talent and promotes industry-academia synergy.

Quantum Computing – Core Concepts

• Qubit: Basic unit of quantum data, unlike classical bits, can be in a state of superposition (0 and 1 simultaneously).
• Superposition: Enables parallel processing.
• Entanglement: Qubits can be interlinked, allowing instantaneous state sharing.
• Quantum Gates: Analogous to classical logic gates but work on qubits to perform complex operations.

Strategic & National Significance

• Dual-Use Technology: Quantum computing impacts national security, health, climate modeling, logistics, cryptography, and more.
• Data Sovereignty: Reduces dependence on foreign cloud-based quantum platforms.
• Global Competitiveness: Puts India on the map with nations like the US, China, and the EU in the quantum race.

Related National Initiatives

• National Quantum Mission (NQM):
  • Launched with ?6,003 crore outlay.
  • Target: Develop quantum computers with 50–1000 qubits by 2031.
• QpiAI-Indus (2025): India’s first full-stack quantum computer with 25 superconducting qubits.
• ISRO-SAC Projects: Satellite-based Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) for ultra-secure communications.
• Quantum Materials: Focus on superconductors and topological materials for robust devices.

Challenges Ahead

In News:

The National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), New Delhi, has successfully used CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology to develop japonica rice lines with enhanced phosphate uptake, leading to up to 40% higher yield under limited fertilizer conditions. The research is published in the Plant Biotechnology Journal.

Background: Phosphorus and Agriculture

• Phosphorus (P) is vital for plant growth, involved in photosynthesis, energy transfer, and root development.
• However, only 15–20% of phosphate fertilizers are absorbed by crops; the rest is lost due to leaching or chemical fixation in soils.
• India imports ~4.5 million tonnes of DAP (Diammonium Phosphate) annually, making it crucial to improve P-use efficiency.

The Innovation: CRISPR-Based Precision Editing

• Target Gene: OsPHO1;2, a phosphate transporter responsible for P movement from root to shoot.
• Repressor Gene Identified: OsWRKY6, a negative regulator of OsPHO1;2.
• Initial approach (complete knockout of repressor) caused negative effects due to loss of other essential functions.
• Final strategy: Only the 30 base-pair binding site of OsWRKY6 on the promoter was deleted using CRISPR-Cas9, ensuring:
  • Increased transporter expression
  • Normal functioning of other plant processes
  • Enhanced phosphate transfer and absorption

Key Outcomes:

• Yield Increase:
  • 20% with full phosphate dose
  • 40% with only 10% of recommended fertilizer
• Improved panicle number and seed count
• No compromise on seed size, starch content, or quality
• Roots acted as efficient phosphate sinks, absorbing more P from soil
• Gene-editing localized to promoter site, ensuring minimal genetic disturbance

Safety and Regulatory Assurance

• No off-target effects: Verified using leading in silico tools and genome analysis
• No foreign DNA in final seeds: Foreign genes (e.g., Cas9, Agrobacterium vector) eliminated via Mendelian segregation
• Plants with precise edits were screened and only accurate lines were cultivated further

Significance for India

• Phosphorus-deficient soils are common across India, especially in alkaline or acidic regions
• Potential application to indica rice varieties, widely grown in India
• Supports sustainable agriculture by reducing fertilizer usage and environmental runoff
• Strengthens food security and reduces import dependency on fertilizers

About Japonica Rice:

• One of the two main varieties of Oryza sativa (the other is Indica)
• Short, sticky grains; grown primarily in Japan, Korea, China, and other East Asian countries
• Model variety used: Nipponbare, due to ease of genetic manipulation
• Japonica is commonly used in research; adaptation to Indian indica cultivars is under process