In News:

India has launched the Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) programme to prepare a new generation equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) skills, aligning education and skilling systems with the demands of a rapidly digitalising global economy. The initiative reflects the government’s commitment to fostering an AI-driven workforce, supporting the vision of “Viksit Bharat @2047.”

About the SOAR Programme

• The Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) programme was launched in July 2025 by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) as part of the Skill India Mission’s 10-year milestone.
• It aims to integrate artificial intelligence learning into school education and teacher training, enabling India’s youth to adapt to the future of work shaped by automation, data science, and emerging technologies.
• SOAR aligns with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasises digital literacy and inclusion of emerging technologies like AI in school curricula.

Objectives

• AI Literacy: To introduce students to foundational concepts of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data ethics.
• Capacity Building: To equip educators with the skills to integrate AI modules effectively into classroom teaching.
• Future Workforce Readiness: To develop AI competencies that align with industry demand and global technological trends.
• Promoting Atmanirbhar Bharat: To support economic self-reliance by preparing youth for jobs and entrepreneurship in AI-driven sectors.

Key Features of SOAR

• Targets school students (Classes 6–12) and educators across India.
• Offers three 15-hour modules for students and a 45-hour module for teachers, focusing on:
  • Fundamentals of AI and machine learning
  • Data literacy and responsible AI use
  • Ethical, inclusive, and sustainable AI practices
• The Union Budget 2025–26 has allocated ?500 crore to establish a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for Education, which will:
  • Develop AI-based learning tools and multilingual AI resources in Indian languages.
  • Promote AI curriculum design and teacher capacity building.
  • Foster innovation in classrooms and strengthen AI integration across schools and technical institutions.
• As of June 2025, over 1,480 apprentices have been trained in AI-related roles such as AI Data Engineer and Machine Learning Engineer under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS-2).

Integration with Skill India Mission

The SOAR initiative is an extension of the Skill India Mission (SIM) and complements schemes like:

• Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0, which focuses on skilling for futuristic domains such as AI, robotics, and data analytics.
• National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS-2), supporting apprenticeship opportunities in emerging tech roles.
• Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), providing online AI learning resources and digital inclusion for rural learners.
• National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) and Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), which are incorporating AI-related modules for vocational training.

AI and Education Reform

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping India’s education system in line with NEP 2020 recommendations:

• The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) introduced AI as a subject for Class IX in 2019–20 and extended it to Class XI in 2020–21.
• The Centre of Excellence for AI in Education will promote advanced learning tools, digital assessment systems, and “chalkboards to chipsets” transformation in classrooms.
• The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are already offering specialised courses in Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and Predictive Analytics, strengthening the higher education pipeline for AI careers.

Strategic Importance and Expected Outcomes

• Strengthens Skill India Mission: Creates a structured AI learning ecosystem for school and vocational education.
• Bridges Digital Divide: Extends AI training to rural and government schools through digital platforms, promoting inclusivity.
• Empowers Educators: Builds AI literacy among teachers to ensure effective curriculum delivery.
• Drives Economic Growth: Develops a skilled workforce ready for AI-driven sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, education, and finance.
• Enhances Global Competitiveness: Positions India as a hub for AI innovation and responsible AI deployment.

In News:

The Delhi High Court has recently ruled that courts possess the discretion to exempt a property from the application of the doctrine of lis pendens under certain circumstances. The decision aims to protect genuine property owners from vexatious or frivolous litigation that seeks to unjustly restrict the transfer or enjoyment of property rights.

About the Doctrine of Lis Pendens

• The term Lis Pendens is derived from Latin, meaning “pending litigation.”
• In India, the doctrine is codified under Section 52 of the Transfer of Property Act (TPA), 1882.
• The principle holds that any transfer of immovable property during the pendency of a legal dispute concerning that property will be subject to the outcome of the litigation.
• The doctrine does not invalidate the transfer but makes it subordinate to the result of the pending case.
• Its primary objective is to prevent one party from defeating the rights of another through the transfer of the disputed property while the court proceedings are ongoing.

Essence and Legal Rationale

• The doctrine seeks to maintain the status quo of property ownership during litigation, ensuring that the final judgment of a competent court remains effective despite any transactions made during the pendency of the case.
• It prevents the multiplicity of proceedings and protects the interests of the rightful claimant, as the transferee of such property is bound by the court’s decree.

Key Conditions for Applicability

1. A suit or proceeding must be pending before a court of competent jurisdiction.
2. The dispute must directly relate to the title or rights of an immovable property.
3. The property must be specifically identifiable and properly described in the suit.
4. The transfer of the property must occur during the pendency of the litigation.
5. The suit must be bona fide, i.e., not collusive or fraudulent in nature.

If these conditions are met, any transfer made during the lawsuit will not override the court’s final decision.

Non-Applicability of the Doctrine

The doctrine does not apply in certain cases, including:

• When the mortgagor transfers property under a power explicitly granted in the mortgage deed.
• When the transfer affects only the transferor’s interest and not the other party’s rights.
• In collusive suits—where the proceedings are staged to defraud others.
• When the property is not properly described, making its identification impossible.
• Where the right to the property is not directly in dispute and alienation has been permitted.

Recent Delhi High Court Ruling

• A Division Bench of the Delhi High Court, led by Justice Anil Kshetarpal, clarified that the doctrine of lis pendens is not absolute and can be relaxed by judicial discretion.
• The Court held that in cases where litigation is filed with mala fide intent or used as a tool to harass legitimate owners, the court may exempt the concerned property from the operation of the doctrine to protect bona fide ownership and prevent misuse of legal processes.
• This interpretation strengthens the judiciary’s power to distinguish genuine disputes from vexatious claims, thereby ensuring fairness and efficiency in property litigation.

Significance of the Judgment

• Protects Genuine Owners: Shields rightful property holders from baseless legal actions aimed at stalling legitimate transactions.
• Prevents Misuse of Law: Discourages abuse of the doctrine for fraudulent or extortionate purposes.
• Balances Rights and Justice: Ensures that while the doctrine maintains judicial control over disputed properties, it does not become a weapon against bona fide parties.
• Clarifies Judicial Discretion: Affirms that courts have the inherent authority to exclude specific cases from the doctrine’s ambit when equity demands.

In News:

Researchers have recently discovered a new plant species named Tetrataeniummanilalianum in the Eravikulam National Park, Kerala, adding to the extraordinary biodiversity of the Western Ghats, one of the eight “hottest biodiversity hotspots” in the world. The finding has been published in the Nordic Journal of Botany (Sweden), underscoring India’s growing contributions to global botanical research.

About Tetrataeniummanilalianum

• The newly identified plant belongs to the carrot family (Apiaceae/Umbelliferae), which also includes species such as carrot, coriander, cumin, fennel, and ajwain.
• It was discovered in the high-altitude grasslands bordering the shola forests of the Eravikulam National Park in Idukki district, Kerala.
• The plant bears white flowers and possesses underground rhizomes. It sprouts and blooms only during the monsoon season, adapting to the region’s moist climatic conditions.
• This discovery marks the 48th identified species within the Tetrataenium genus and is the first of its kind recorded globally.
• The species has been named in honour of Prof. K.S. Manilal, a distinguished botanist, founder president of the Indian Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy (IAAT), and former Head of the Department of Botany at the University of Calicut.=

Ecological Context – Eravikulam National Park

• Location: Situated in the Idukki district of Kerala, the park spans 97 sq. km along the summit of the Western Ghats.
• Topography: Encompasses rolling grasslands interspersed with shola forests in the upper valleys.
• Climate: Receives heavy rainfall during both the southwest (June–July) and northeast (October–November) monsoons, making it one of the wettest regions in the world.
• Flora: Rich in endemic species such as Actinodaphnebourdilloni, Microtropisramiflora, Pittosporum tetraspermium, and the once-thought-extinct orchid Brachycorythiswightii.
• Fauna: Home to the endangered NilgiriTahr, with nearly half the world’s population residing here. Other species include the Gaur, Sloth Bear, Nilgiri Langur, Tiger, Leopard, Giant Squirrel, and Wild Dog.
• The park also hosts the Anamudi Peak (2,695 m), the highest mountain in South India, and is famous for the Neelakurinji flowers that bloom once every twelve years.

In News:

• The World Trade Organization (WTO) has commended India’s liberalisedAuthorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme for significantly enhancing the participation of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in global trade and for improving customs facilitation measures.
• The initiative, implemented by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), is increasingly being seen as a model for balancing trade facilitation with supply chain security.

About the AEO Programme

• Origin:The AEO Programme operates under the World Customs Organization’s (WCO) SAFE Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade (SAFE FoS), adopted in June 2005 to strengthen global supply chain security.AEO constitutes one of the three key pillars of this framework.
• Implementation in India:
  • Introduced by CBIC as a pilot project in 2011 and revamped through Circular No. 33/2016-Customs (July 22, 2016).
  • Managed by the Directorate of International Customs (CBIC).
  • Aligns with Article 7.7 of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), which promotes the recognition of “trusted traders.”

Objectives

• To enhance international supply chain security and ease of doing business.
• To foster trusted partnerships between Customs and compliant business entities.
• To reduce transaction costs and clearance times for legitimate traders.
• To increase MSME participation in international trade through simplified customs procedures.

Key Features

• Voluntary and Trust-Based:AEO is a voluntary compliance programme that certifies entities—such as importers, exporters, logistics providers, customs brokers, custodians, and warehouse operators—who meet security and legal standards.
• Three-Tier Certification:
  • AEO-T1, AEO-T2, and AEO-T3 for importers/exporters (in ascending order of benefits).
  • AEO-LO for logistics operators, custodians, and other intermediaries.
• Simplified Customs Procedures:
  • Reduced documentation requirements.
  • Decentralised approvals at the Customs Zonal level.
  • Segmented risk management—allowing Customs to focus on higher-risk consignments.
• Global Integration:
  • Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) with countries such as South Korea and Hong Kong.
  • Negotiations underway with the USA, UAE, and Taiwan for reciprocal recognition.
  • Ensures international credibility and cross-border facilitation for Indian traders.
• Targeted Expansion:The CBIC aims to accredit over 3,500 AEO-certified entities across India to build a more secure and efficient trade environment.

Benefits to Traders

Significance for India

• Supports MSMEs: Encourages smaller exporters and manufacturers to integrate with global value chains.
• Trade Facilitation: Reduces bureaucratic delays and improves India’s ranking in Ease of Doing Business and Logistics Performance Index.
• Customs Efficiency: Allows authorities to focus resources on non-compliant and high-risk traders.
• Global Credibility: Strengthens India’s image as a trusted trading partner under the WCO framework.
• Policy Alignment: Advances India’s commitments under the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement.

In News:

Researchers from Nagaland University have identified Sinapic acid, a naturally occurring plant compound, as a potential therapeutic agent for accelerating wound healing in diabetic patients. The study — the first globally to demonstrate its oral efficacy — has been published in Nature Scientific Reports (Springer Nature).

About Sinapic Acid

• Chemical Nature:Sinapic acid is a natural phenolic acid and a derivative of cinnamic acid.
• Occurrence:Found widely in spices, citrus and berry fruits, vegetables, cereals, and oilseed crops.
• Properties:Possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antibacterial, and neuroprotective activities.
• Mechanism of Action:The compound promotes wound repair by activating the SIRT1 pathway, which regulates tissue regeneration, angiogenesis, and inflammation control.

Key Research Findings

• First-of-its-kind Study:Demonstrated that oral administration of Sinapic acid accelerates wound healing in preclinical diabetic models.
• Optimal Dosage:The study observed an “inverted dose–response” — a lower dose (20 mg/kg) proved more effective than a higher one (40 mg/kg).
• Clinical Significance:
  • Accelerates recovery from diabetic foot ulcers
  • Reduces the risk of infection and amputation
  • Offers a safe, plant-based, and affordable alternative to synthetic drugs
  • Could enhance healthcare accessibility, especially in rural and resource-limited regions

About Diabetes Mellitus

• A metabolic disorder characterized by chronically elevated blood glucose levels.
• One of the world’s leading chronic diseases, affecting hundreds of millions globally.
• Complications:Include delayed wound healing, neuropathy, poor blood circulation, and diabetic foot ulcers, often resulting in amputation if untreated.

Significance of the Discovery

• Represents an indigenous scientific advancement with global healthcare potential.
• Supports the Make-in-India and One Health approach by integrating biotechnology and natural product research for sustainable medical solutions.
• Marks a major milestone in developing natural, safe, and cost-effective treatments for diabetic wound management.