In News:

India has formally concluded its operations at the Ayni Air Base (Gissar Military Aerodrome) in Tajikistan, ending a two-decade presence that began in 2002. The withdrawal followed the expiry of a bilateral agreement in 2022, after which Tajikistan chose not to renew the lease. Indian personnel and equipment were pulled out by early 2023.

About Ayni Air Base

• Location: Near Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
• Status: India’s first overseas military facility.
• Origins: A Soviet-era base that fell into disrepair after the USSR’s collapse.
• Indian Involvement:
  • India began modernising it in the early 2000s under a strategic arrangement with Tajikistan.
  • Approx. USD 100 million invested in runway extension, hangars, refuelling systems, and repair facilities.
  • Runway extended to 3,200 metres to support fighter aircraft operations.
  • Included temporary deployment of Su-30MKI jets and helicopters.
  • At times, ~200 Indian Army and IAF personnel were stationed at the site.

Withdrawal: Why Now?

• The bilateral agreement for joint operation expired in 2022 and was not renewed.
• Tajikistan reportedly faced pressure from Russia and China to avoid hosting non-regional military forces.
• After India's withdrawal, Russian forces have taken over operational control.
• The base’s strategic value reduced after the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan (2021), which changed the regional security landscape.

Strategic Significance for India

1. Afghanistan & Anti-Taliban Engagement

• Initially helped India support the Northern Alliance against the Taliban.
• Geographic proximity enabled humanitarian and logistical access to Afghanistan.
• Used during August 2021 evacuations of Indian nationals following the Taliban’s return to power.

2. Leverage Against Pakistan

• Ayni lies ~20 km from the Wakhan Corridor, which borders Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
• Provided theoretical capability to monitor or target strategic locations such as Peshawar, giving India an indirect pressure point.

3. Presence in Central Asia

• Offered India a rare strategic foothold in a region traditionally influenced by Russia and increasingly by China.
• Served as a platform to expand defence, diplomatic, and economic engagement in Central Asia.

Consequences of India’s Exit

• Reduced Indian military reach in Central Asia.
• Greater Russian and Chinese influence over Tajik defence infrastructure.
• Limits India’s ability to operate in the region at a time of shifting geopolitics around Afghanistan and Eurasia.

In News:

• The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has facilitated the first-ever air shipment of GI-tagged Indi Lime (Karnataka) and Puliyankudi Lime (Tamil Nadu) to the United Kingdom. The initiative marks a significant step in expanding India's agricultural export basket and enhancing global recognition of region-specific products.
• This milestone aligns with India’s broader efforts to promote GI-tagged agricultural commodities and support farmer incomes through improved market access.

What is a GI Tag?

• A Geographical Indication (GI) is an Intellectual Property Right (IPR) recognising products whose qualities or reputation are linked to a specific geographical origin.
• Legislation: Registered under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
• Issuing Authority: GI Registry, Chennai under DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• Purpose:
  • Protect regional uniqueness
  • Prevent unauthorised use
  • Enhance export potential
  • Provide economic benefits to local communities

Indi Lime (Karnataka)

• Region: Primarily grown in Vijayapura district.
• Characteristics:
  • High juice content
  • Strong aroma
  • Balanced acidity
• Uses: Culinary applications, traditional medicine, and cultural practices; reflects Karnataka’s agrarian heritage.
• Earlier in 2025, APEDA also exported 3 MT of GI-tagged Swadeshi Indi Lime to the UAE, showcasing rising global demand.

Puliyankudi Lime (Tamil Nadu)

• Region: Grown widely in Tenkasi district, known as the “Lemon City of Tamil Nadu.”
• Popular Variety: Kadayam Lime
• Features:
  • Thin peel
  • Strong acidity
  • High juice yield (≈55%)
  • Rich in Vitamin C (≈34.3 mg/100g) and antioxidants
• GI Recognition: Granted in April 2025, acknowledging its superior regional traits.

Export Significance

• Enhances global visibility of India’s GI-tagged agricultural products.
• Opens new markets for limes, traditionally exported in small volumes.
• Strengthens farmer incomes and supports rural economies in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
• Builds on India’s expanding export footprint, which recently included:
  • Gharwali apples
  • Apricots from Kargil

to Gulf markets such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar.

Institutional & Trade Context

• APEDA, under the Department of Commerce, plays a leading role in diversifying India’s agri-exports.
• The announcement coincided with India–EU FTA discussions in Brussels, where Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and EU officials reiterated the need for a balanced and mutually beneficial agreement to strengthen bilateral trade.

In News:

The Axial Seamount, an active underwater volcano located in the northeast Pacific Ocean off the coast of Oregon (USA), has shown increased seismic activity, prompting scientists to warn of a possible eruption in the near future. Despite the alert, experts emphasize that any eruption would pose no threat to coastal populations due to the volcano’s great depth.

Location & Geological Setting

• Located ~300 miles off the Oregon coast in the Pacific Ocean.
• Situated on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, a divergent boundary between the Pacific Plate and the Juan de Fuca Plate.
• Classified as a shield volcano with a summit caldera.
• Rises to a depth of approx. 1,400 m (≈4,900 ft) below sea level.
• Formed by a hotspot, where mantle plumes rise beneath the oceanic crust.

Scientific Importance

• Considered the most active submarine volcano in the northeast Pacific.
• Documented eruptions: 1998, 2011, 2015.
• The 2015 eruption triggered:
  • ~8,000 earthquakes
  • 400-ft-thick lava flows
  • Seafloor subsidence of nearly 8 ft

Current Activity

• Recent USGS-recorded quakes of M4.8 and M5.4 occurred close to Axial Seamount.
• Over 2,000 micro-earthquakes in a single day were noted this year.
• Scientists expect the next eruption between late 2025 and early 2026, though the timing remains unpredictable.
• Surface uplift has been observed, matching levels seen prior to the 2015 eruption.

Hydrothermal Vent Ecosystem

• Hosts hydrothermal vents, releasing super-heated, mineral-rich fluids.
• Supports unique chemosynthetic ecosystems, including:
  • Microbes using volcanic gases for energy
  • Giant tubeworms
  • Crabs, clams, fish, octopuses
• Provides a natural laboratory for studying extreme environments and deep-sea biodiversity.

Monitoring Infrastructure

• Part of the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI).
• Hosts the New Millennium Observatory (NeMO) — the world’s first underwater volcanic observatory.
• Real-time monitoring via undersea cables transmitting continuous data on:
  • Seismic activity
  • Gas emissions
  • Vent temperatures
  • Seafloor deformation

Hazards & Human Impact

• Despite increased activity, eruptions do not threaten humans or coastal infrastructure.
• Events occur deep underwater and may pass unnoticed at the surface.
• However, they are crucial for advancing scientific understanding of:
  • Mid-ocean ridge volcanism
  • Crustal formation
  • Seafloor hydrothermal systems

In News:

• The AmazonFACE Project, launched near Manaus, Brazil, is a pioneering climate research experiment designed to study how the Amazon rainforest—the world’s largest tropical forest—responds to future elevated CO? levels. The initiative is significant as Brazil prepares to host COP30 in Belém.
• It is the first experiment of its scale in a natural tropical forest, marking a major advancement in global climate science.

What is AmazonFACE?

• A long-term field experiment exposing mature tropical trees to projected future CO? concentrations.
• Located in an old-growth Amazon forest stand.
• Aims to understand how increased atmospheric carbon affects forest functioning, carbon cycling, water exchange and overall ecosystem resilience.

Technology Used: FACE

FACE (Free-Air CO? Enrichment) technology:

• Releases controlled amounts of CO? into open-air forest environments.
• Allows real-time assessment of how trees respond without disturbing natural forest structure.
• Previously used in temperate biomes, but AmazonFACE is the first large-scale FACE experiment in tropical forests.

Structure & Working

• The site contains six large steel-ring towers, each enclosing 50–70 mature trees.
• Three rings are fumigated with CO? at concentrations matching climate projections for 2050–2060.
• Three rings act as control plots.
• Sensors record data every 10 minutes, including:
  • CO? absorption
  • Oxygen and water vapour release
  • Responses to rainfall, sunlight, and storms
• Later stages will simulate artificial microclimates with higher atmospheric CO?.

Institutional Support

• Led by INPA (National Institute for Amazon Research) and Universidade Estadual de Campinas.
• Supported by the Brazilian federal government and the United Kingdom.

Significance

• Helps model the future behaviour of the Amazon under climate stress.
• Provides insights into:
  • Carbon sequestration capacity
  • Forest growth patterns
  • Water cycle feedbacks
  • Potential ecosystem tipping points
• Critical for global climate policymaking, especially ahead of COP30, where adaptation and mitigation strategies for the Amazon biome will be central.

In News:

• The Government of India has launched the Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS), a first-of-its-kind national initiative aimed at strengthening Janbhagidari (people’s participation) and promoting grassroots democratic engagement among school students.
• The programme is being jointly implemented by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, the Ministry of Education (Department of School Education & Literacy), and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

Aim & Significance

• To inculcate democratic values, civic responsibility, and leadership skills among youth.
• To familiarise students with Gram Sabha processes, village-level planning and budgeting.
• To nurture future citizen-leaders aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat.
• Aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasises experiential learning and civic participation.

What is Model Youth Gram Sabha?

• A simulated Gram Sabha forum conducted in schools.
• Modelled on the concept of Model United Nations (MUN) but adapted to the Panchayati Raj system.
• Provides hands-on exposure to local self-governance, decision-making and village-level institutions.

Coverage & Implementation

• To be implemented in 1,000+ schools across India, including:
  • Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs)
  • Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs)
  • State Government Schools
• Schools will conduct mock Gram Sabha sessions as guided by the training module.
• Financial support of ?20,000 per school will be provided by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to conduct the sessions.
• Launch event includes participation from 650+ delegates, including students, teachers, PRI representatives and officials.

Key Features

• Student Participation: Students from Classes 9–12 enact roles such as:
  • Sarpanch
  • Ward Members
  • Village Secretary
  • Anganwadi Worker
  • Other village-level functionaries
• Simulation Activities:
  • Conducting mock Gram Sabha meetings
  • Discussions on local issues and development needs
  • Preparation of a village budget and development plan
  • Exposure to decentralized planning, accountability and community engagement
• Digital Support Tools:
  • MYGS Portal for resources, learning materials and reporting
  • Training Module for teachers to facilitate sessions effectively