In News:

The Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Scheme was launched by the Government of India to promote clean energy, reduce dependence on fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum, and control pollution. By harnessing solar power through rooftop installations, the scheme provides households, institutions, and commercial entities with access to low-cost, sustainable electricity, while contributing to India’s climate goals.

Solar Rooftop System

• Definition: Installation of solar photovoltaic (SPV) panels on rooftops of residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings.
• Types:
  1. With Battery Storage – Stores excess solar energy for later use.
  2. Grid Connected (SPV System) – Converts DC power from solar panels into AC power, which is used for captive consumption and surplus energy is fed into the grid. During low solar generation, the grid compensates for the shortfall.

Objectives of the Programme

• Achieve 40,000 MW capacity by 2022 (target set under the National Solar Mission).
• Central government allocation: ?11,814 crore.
• Phase II incentives:
  • Up to 40% subsidy for systems up to 3 kW.
  • 20% subsidy for systems between 3–10 kW.
• Increase the role of Distribution Companies (DISCOMs) in promotion and implementation.

Advantages of Grid-Connected Rooftop Solar

• Economic:
  • Reduces consumer electricity bills.
  • No additional land requirement as panels are roof-mounted.
  • Short gestation period compared to large-scale power projects.
• Technical:
  • Minimises transmission and distribution losses.
  • Reduces congestion and improves voltage at tail ends of distribution lines.
• Environmental:
  • Cuts carbon emissions.
  • Strengthens long-term energy and environmental security.

Implementation & Nodal Ministry

• Implemented by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• MNRE promotes research, innovation, and global collaboration in renewable energy sectors (solar, wind, hydropower, and biogas).
• Broader goals include:
  • Increasing renewable energy share in India’s energy mix.
  • Reducing dependence on oil-based energy.
  • Supporting clean cooking, heating, and energy equity across regions.

In News:

The Sundarbans Tiger Reserve (STR) in West Bengal has become India’s second-largest tiger reserve after the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) approved the state government’s proposal to expand its area by 1,044.68 sq km. With this addition, STR now spans 3,629.57 sq km, moving up from the seventh to the second position among the country’s 58 tiger reserves, next only to Andhra Pradesh’s Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (3,727.82 sq km).

Expansion Details

• The newly added area includes three tiger-bearing forest ranges of South 24 Parganas district: Matla, Raidighi, and Ramganga.
• The expansion brings all tiger-bearing mangrove forests under the unified management of STR, ensuring uniform application of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines.
• The proposal was first conceived nearly two decades ago, revived in 2022–23, and formally cleared by NBWL in August 2025 after approvals from the State Wildlife Board and NTCA.

Location and Ecological Importance

• STR is located in the coastal districts of West Bengal, at the southernmost tip of the Gangetic delta, bordering the Bay of Bengal.
• It is part of the world’s largest delta, formed by the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers.
• STR is unique as it is the only mangrove habitat in the world (shared with Bangladesh) that supports a significant tiger population.
• It also holds the status of a National Park and a Biosphere Reserve.

Boundaries

• East: International boundary with Bangladesh (rivers Harinbhanga, Raimangal, Kalindi).
• South: Bay of Bengal.
• West: River Matla (boundary with South 24-Parganas Forest Division).
• North-West: Rivers Bidya and Gomdi.

Biodiversity

• Flora: True mangroves, mangrove associates, halophytic herbs, shrubs, weeds, epiphytes, and parasitic plants.
• Fauna: Bengal tiger, estuarine crocodile, fishing cat, Gangetic and Irrawaddy dolphins, king cobra, water monitor lizard, and numerous bird and fish species.

Conservation and Development Implications

• Estimated tiger population: ~101 (80 within STR, 21 in adjoining forests). The number is expected to increase with better management.
• Expansion is expected to enhance:
  • Central funding for tiger conservation.
  • Tourism potential and local economic benefits.
  • Infrastructure and staff capacity within the reserve.
• Conservationists welcome the move as long overdue, while some forest officials caution about manpower shortages (currently only 40% of sanctioned strength).

In News:

The Government of India has undertaken multiple initiatives for the welfare and empowerment of marginalized groups, including the transgender community. A significant step in this direction is the launch of a 15-day Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) under the Support for Marginalized Individual for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE) scheme.

About the Programme

• Inaugurated at Garima Greh, a shelter home for transgender persons in Delhi.
• Organized by the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment (DoSJE) and implemented by the National Institute of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD).
• Initially, 25 transgender candidates will be trained, with a target of 18 programmes nationwide on a pilot basis, benefitting around 1800 persons.
• Training includes:
  • Business opportunity identification and market survey
  • Knowledge of the entrepreneurship ecosystem
  • Financial aid support schemes and banking procedures
  • Entrepreneurial accounting, taxation, and regulatory compliances
  • Exposure visits (e.g., incubation centres of NSIC)
• Trainees will prepare business plans and be linked with banks for financial support. Post-training, 6 months of handholding support will ensure sustainability of enterprises.

Financial Inclusion Measures

On the request of DoSJE, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has included the transgender community in the Priority Sector Lending (PSL) category. This ensures easier access to credit and financial services for entrepreneurial ventures.

The SMILE Scheme – Key Features

The SMILE scheme is a Central Sector Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. It has two components:

1. Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons
2. Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in Begging

Provisions under SMILE

• Education: Scholarships for transgender students (Class IX to Post-Graduation).
• Skill Development & Livelihood: Training support under PM-DAKSH.
• Healthcare: Composite medical support through convergence with PM-JAY, including gender-reaffirmation surgeries in selected hospitals.
• Housing: Garima Greh shelters providing food, clothing, skill training, recreational and medical support.
• Protection & Legal Support: Establishment of Transgender Protection Cells in each state for timely investigation and prosecution of offences.
• Information Support: National Portal & Helpline for grievance redressal and information dissemination.

Significance

• Promotes economic empowerment and self-reliance of transgender persons.
• Ensures financial inclusion through PSL categorization.
• Strengthens India’s commitment towards an inclusive “Viksit Bharat” by addressing social and economic vulnerabilities of marginalized groups.

In News:

A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.5 struck the Drake Passage, the stretch of ocean between South America’s Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica.

About Drake Passage

• Location: Lies between Cape Horn (South America) and the South Shetland Islands (Antarctica).
• Geography: A deep and wide waterway connecting the southwestern Atlantic and southeastern Pacific Oceans; also the narrowest stretch of the Southern Ocean, spanning nearly 800 km between South America and the West Antarctic Peninsula.
• Climatic Role: Marks a climatic transition zone, separating the cool, humid subpolar conditions of Tierra del Fuego from the frigid polar climate of Antarctica.
• Navigation: Considered among the roughest seas in the world due to the collision of cold southern currents and warmer northern waters, which create strong eddies, compounded by powerful westerly winds around Cape Horn.
• Historical Importance: Before the opening of the Panama Canal, it served as a vital maritime trade route in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Naming: The passage is named after Sir Francis Drake, the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe.

In News:

India has rejected Nepal’s claims over Lipulekh Pass after the resumption of India–China trade through this border point. The issue has once again brought the strategic and political importance of the pass into focus.

Location & Geography

• Situated in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, near the trijunction of India, Nepal, and China.
• Altitude: ~5,334 metres (17,500 feet).
• Serves as a gateway to the higher Himalayan ranges and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Historical & Trade Importance

• A traditional trade route connecting India with Tibet for centuries.
• In 1992, Lipulekh became the first Indian border post opened for official trade with China.
  • Later followed by Shipki La (Himachal Pradesh, 1994) and Nathu La (Sikkim, 2006).

Religious Significance

• Forms an integral part of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, an important Hindu pilgrimage route to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in Tibet.

Strategic Significance

• Its geopolitical location near the trijunction makes it strategically vital for India’s border security and connectivity with Tibet.
• The dispute with Nepal underscores its sensitive nature in regional geopolitics.

In News:

Seaweed farming has emerged as a potential Blue Carbon strategy, yet empirical estimates of carbon burial from such farms remain lacking in the literature.

What is Blue Carbon?

• Blue Carbon refers to organic carbon captured and stored by ocean-based vegetated ecosystems such as mangroves, saltmarshes, and seagrass meadows.
• The term “blue” highlights its association with aquatic ecosystems.
• Most blue carbon comes from carbon dioxide dissolved directly into the ocean. Smaller amounts are stored in:
  • Underwater sediments and soils
  • Coastal vegetation
  • Organic molecules (DNA, proteins, etc.)
  • Marine organisms (phytoplankton, whales, etc.)
• Despite covering just 2% of the ocean surface, these ecosystems account for 50% of total oceanic carbon absorption, making them vital in global climate mitigation efforts.

Seaweed Farming as a Blue Carbon Strategy

• Emerging Role: Seaweed cultivation has been identified as a potential Blue Carbon pathway, though empirical evidence of its carbon burial capacity has been limited until recently.
• Global Study: An analysis of 20 seaweed farms worldwide, aged between 2 and 300 years and ranging from 1 to 15,000 hectares, provides new insights.
• Findings:
  • Sediment organic carbon stocks increased with farm age, reaching 140 tC ha?¹ in the oldest farm.
  • Average burial rates: 1.87 ± 0.73 tCO?e ha?¹ yr?¹ in farm sediments, nearly double that of nearby reference sediments.
  • Excess CO?e burial attributable to seaweed farming: 1.06 ± 0.74 tCO?e ha?¹ yr?¹.
• Conclusion: Seaweed farms in depositional environments act as effective carbon sinks, with burial rates at the lower end of traditional Blue Carbon habitats but increasing significantly with farm maturity.

Significance

• Reinforces the role of marine ecosystems in carbon sequestration.
• Highlights seaweed farming as a scalable, nature-based climate solution alongside mangroves, saltmarshes, and seagrasses.
• Provides a scientific basis for integrating seaweed aquaculture into Blue Carbon policies and climate strategies.

In News:

A Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) is an innovative electronic component that transformed imaging technology and left a lasting impact across multiple disciplines.

What is a CCD?

• A CCD is a technology that converts light into electrical signals using an arrangement of capacitors, which transfer stored charges sequentially.
• It is built as an integrated circuit containing a grid of tiny picture elements, or pixels.
• Each pixel functions as a miniature light sensor that captures incoming photons and converts them into electrical charges.
• These charges are then shifted across the device pixel by pixel until they reach a readout register, where they are processed into a digital image.

Working Principle

• Based on the photoelectric effect, where incident light generates electron-hole pairs in a semiconductor.
• When photons hit a pixel, they dislodge electrons, creating an electric charge proportional to the light intensity at that point.
• Each pixel acts like a capacitor, storing the accumulated electrons.
• By applying a controlled voltage to electrodes over the pixels, the stored charges are moved step by step across the array—similar to passing buckets of water along a line.
• Once charges reach the output stage, they are converted into voltage signals, amplified, and digitized to form a high-resolution digital image.
• This sequential transfer mechanism is what gives the device its name—charge-coupled.

Applications

• Everyday Use:
  • Revolutionized digital photography by replacing traditional film.
  • Widely used in CCTV cameras, offering high-quality surveillance in banks, malls, hospitals, and other sensitive locations.
• Medical Field:
  • Integral to diagnostic imaging such as X-rays, CT scans, and endoscopy.
  • Also employed in microscopes, spectrometers, and particle detectors, enabling detailed scientific analysis.
• Astronomy:CCD-equipped telescopes capture faint and distant celestial objects with greater sensitivity and accuracy than old photographic plates, driving advances in space observation.

CCDs remain one of the most influential inventions in modern imaging, bridging science, medicine, security, and astronomy.

In News:

The Indian Army, in collaboration with the state governments of Assam and Manipur, inaugurated Exercise Samanvay Shakti 2025 at Laipuli in Tinsukia district, Assam. The initiative is a Military–Civil Integration Exercise designed to build cooperation, cohesion, and mutual understanding among various stakeholder

Aim & Objectives

• Enhance synergy between the armed forces, government departments, and civil institutions.
• Develop a unified and coordinated approach to address the region’s complex challenges.
• Improve preparedness through refined SOPs, effective communication channels, and practical rehearsals.
• Strengthen the bond of trust between local communities and institutions.
• Promote nation-building, development, and national integration.

Participation

The inaugural session saw participation from:

• Indian Army and Indian Air Force.
• State administration, Police, and Intelligence Agencies.
• NDRF, SDRF, BRO, GREF, Medical officials, and Railways.
• Educational institutions and security teams from OIL India, IOCL, Coal India, along with local media representatives.

Key Features

• Location & Duration: Conducted in Assam and a parallel 10-day exercise in Manipur (20–30 August 2025).
• Thematic Focus in Manipur: Disaster management, healthcare, education, public works, forest initiatives, narcotics control, irrigation, road safety, employment in armed forces, sports promotion, police–Army–paramilitary coordination, and infrastructure development under Operation Sadbhavna.

Significance

• Provides a platform for collaboration between civil authorities and the military.
• Enhances regional security preparedness while addressing developmental needs.
• Encourages community participation in governance and security-related initiatives.
• Contributes towards integrated development and inclusive nation-building in the Northeast.

In News:

The Delhi High Court has ordered a ban on Sci-Hub and its mirror websites after global publishing houses filed a copyright infringement case. This decision has reignited the debate on access to academic literature in India and highlighted the relevance of the government’s One Nation, One Subscription (ONOS) initiative

About Sci-Hub

• Founded: 2011 by Alexandra Elbakyan.
• Nature: A free digital repository providing millions of research articles.
• Function: Circumvents paywalls of academic journals, allowing unrestricted access without subscriptions.
• Popularity: Widely used by students, independent researchers, and scholars, particularly in developing nations.

The Sci-Hub Case

• Litigation: Publishing giants Elsevier, Wiley, and the American Chemical Society (ACS) filed a copyright case against Sci-Hub.
• Court Ruling: The Delhi High Court found Alexandra Elbakyan guilty of contempt for violating earlier commitments.
• Directive: Internet Service Providers (ISPs) were instructed to block Sci-Hub and related mirror portals.
• Implication: While the ruling reinforced intellectual property rights, it left unanswered the critical issue of affordable access to scholarly resources in India.

One Nation, One Subscription (ONOS) Scheme

• Launch: 2024.
• Funding: ?6,000 crore allocated for the first phase (2023–26).
• Approach: Centralized negotiations with 30 publishing houses to provide access to nearly 13,000 journals.
• Coverage:
  • Phase I: Public universities and research institutions.
  • Phase II: Private colleges and institutes.
• Objective: To provide equitable, legal, and affordable access to global research material, reducing dependence on piracy platforms like Sci-Hub.

In News:

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), in collaboration with Vertis Infrastructure Trust, has launched Project Aarohan, a nationwide scholarship and mentorship program aimed at supporting the educational aspirations of the children of toll plaza employees, particularly those from economically weaker sections (EWS) and disadvantaged communities.

Key Objectives

• Remove financial barriers to education.
• Ensure equal access to quality education for children of toll plaza staff.
• Bridge socio-economic divides while nurturing talent among first-generation learners, girls, and students from EWS, SC, ST, OBC, and minority groups.
• Prepare students for higher education, employment, and entrepreneurship through holistic guidance.

Features of Project Aarohan

• Coverage: 500 students from Class 11 to the final year of graduation.
• Scholarships: Each selected student will receive ?12,000 annually (FY 2025–26).
• Higher Studies Support: 50 bright students aspiring for postgraduate and higher studies will get ?50,000 each.
• Beyond Finance: Mentorship, skill-building workshops, career guidance, and structured progress tracking to foster holistic growth.
• Fund Allocation: ?1 crore for the first phase (July 2025–March 2026).
• Application Process: Through an online portal, requiring academic records, income proof, caste certificate, ID proof, etc., with a transparent selection and renewal mechanism.

In News:

Indonesia, in collaboration with the United States and allied nations, has launched the annual multinational military exercise “Super Garuda Shield 2025”. Initiated in 2009 as a bilateral drill between U.S. and Indonesian forces, the exercise has expanded significantly since 2022 to include multiple Indo-Pacific and Western partners.

Features of Super Garuda Shield 2025

• Organisers: Indonesian National Armed Forces and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
• Participants: Core members — Indonesia and the U.S.; Expanded members — Australia, Japan, Singapore, UK, France, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Brazil, and South Korea.
• Scale: Around 6,500 troops.
• Duration & Location: 11 days, conducted in Jakarta and on Sumatra island.
• Activities: Joint combat training, interoperability drills across land, air, and maritime domains, and a combined live-fire exercise.
• Objectives:
  • Enhance interoperability and combat readiness.
  • Strengthen regional security cooperation.
  • Uphold sovereignty, territorial integrity, and collective deterrence.

Strategic Context

The Indo-Pacific is witnessing rising tensions due to China’s growing military assertiveness, especially in the South China Sea. Indonesia has expressed concern about Chinese encroachment in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), though it continues to maintain positive economic relations with Beijing.

The U.S., meanwhile, is reinforcing an “arc of alliances” to reassure partners against coercion and status quo changes by force. Washington views the expanded Garuda Shield as a demonstration of collective resolve to uphold sovereignty and deter aggression.

China, however, has criticised the exercise, calling it an attempt to build an “Asian NATO” to contain its influence.

Indonesia’s Diplomatic Balancing

• Indonesia follows a dual-track diplomacy — avoiding overt confrontation with China while diversifying its defence partnerships with the U.S. and Western powers.
• This includes arms purchases from the U.S. and France and enhancing interoperability with multiple militaries.
• Scholars note that Indonesia’s refusal to choose sides outright reflects its strategy of defence diversification without formal alignment.
• Such an approach is seen as a key asset for Jakarta in a region marked by great power rivalry.

Significance

• For Regional Security: Strengthens multinational defence cooperation, collective deterrence, and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
• For Indonesia: Demonstrates its role as a pivotal state capable of balancing economic ties with China while engaging in security cooperation with the West.
• For the World Order: Reflects the growing salience of multilateral military exercises in managing great power competition and reinforcing the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In News:

A tragic incident in Pune has highlighted regulatory gaps in complex medical procedures. A woman, who donated part of her liver to her husband, died shortly after he succumbed to complications following a transplant surgery at a private hospital.

The Maharashtra Health Department has issued a notice to the hospital, underscoring the critical need for robust patient safety mechanisms, accountability, and monitoring of high-risk medical interventions such as organ transplants.

This incident reiterates the importance of strict compliance with Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994, ensuring informed consent, donor safety, quality control, and post-operative care. It also brings attention to the ethical dimensions of living donor transplants, where both donor and recipient are at significant medical risk. Strengthening regulatory oversight, grievance redressal mechanisms, and transparency in medical procedures is vital for safeguarding trust in India’s healthcare system.

Veterinary Healthcare Regulation: First National Guidelines

In a landmark step for animal health, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Government of India has released the first comprehensive national guidelines for veterinary blood transfusion services (2025). Until now, most transfusions in veterinary practice were conducted in emergencies without standardized norms, creating risks for animals as well as humans due to possible zoonotic disease transmission.

Key Features of the Guidelines:

• Scientific Protocols: Blood typing, cross-matching, and mandatory donor screening to prevent transfusion reactions.
• Donor Criteria: Health checks, vaccination requirements, and a Donor Rights Charter encouraging voluntary donation.
• Veterinary Blood Banks: State-regulated facilities with biosafety-compliant infrastructure.
• One Health Integration: Addressing zoonotic disease risks by linking animal and human health surveillance.
• Digital Network: Real-time inventory tracking, emergency helplines, and registries for donor–recipient matching.
• Capacity Building: Training modules for veterinary professionals and students.
• Future Innovations: Mobile blood collection units and rare blood-type preservation.

Significance

Both developments underline the evolving landscape of healthcare governance in India. While the Pune case exposes ethical and regulatory challenges in human medicine, the veterinary guidelines represent a proactive, systematised approach to animal welfare, biosafety, and public health.

These events also reflect the growing importance of One Health — the integrated management of human, animal, and environmental health — as India strengthens its healthcare regulations in response to rising public expectations, ethical concerns, and global standards.

In News:

India’s fossil heritage, spanning hundreds of millions of years, holds clues to the evolution of plants, dinosaurs, mammals, and marine life. Yet, the absence of strong protection laws and national repositories leaves this heritage vulnerable to theft, vandalism, and illegal global trade.

India’s Fossil Wealth

• Diverse Record: Fossils in India range from the Precambrian era to the Cenozoic, covering ancient plants, marine life, dinosaurs, and mammals.
• Key Discoveries:
  • Vasuki indicus – a 47-million-year-old giant snake (~15 m long) from Kutch.
  • Indohyus – an early ancestor of whales, discovered in Central India.
  • Dinosaur nests and eggs – particularly in the Narmada Valley and Deccan basalt formations.
• Unique Evolutionary Insights: India’s prolonged isolation after separating from Gondwanaland (~150 million years ago) and later collision with Asia (50–60 million years ago) created unique fossil beds documenting crucial evolutionary transitions.

Sites of Importance

• Kutch, Gujarat – rich in marine fossils and large vertebrates.
• Narmada Valley, Madhya Pradesh – known for dinosaur eggs, nests, and bones.
• Deccan Traps & Himalayan foothills – diverse vertebrate and invertebrate fossils.
• Balasinor, Gujarat – developed as India’s Dinosaur Fossil Park.

In News:

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman V Narayanan said the space agency was in the process of building its heaviest rocket ever, and had named it Lunar Module Launch Vehicle (LMLV).

About the LMLV

• A next-generation heavy-lift launch vehicle, planned readiness by 2035.
• Designed specifically for lunar and interplanetary missions.
• Will be India’s most powerful rocket to date.

Specifications

• Payload to Moon: ~27 tonnes.
• Payload to Low Earth Orbit (LEO): ~80 tonnes.
• Propulsion: Advanced cryogenic and semi-cryogenic engines.
• Objective: To enable crewed lunar missions by 2040 and expand India’s capabilities in deep space exploration.

Evolution of India’s Launch Vehicles

• Sounding Rockets (1963): For atmospheric studies; first launch at Thumba, Kerala.
• SLV-3 (1980): Led by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam; placed Rohini satellite in orbit.
• ASLV (1987–94): Limited success; ~150 kg payloads.
• PSLV (1994 onwards): India’s “workhorse” rocket; enabled Chandrayaan-1 (2008), Mangalyaan (2013).
• GSLV (1990s–2010s): Introduced cryogenic engines; ~2,500 kg payload to GTO.
• LVM-3 / GSLV Mk-III (2017): Heaviest operational rocket; ~4,000 kg to GTO; launched Chandrayaan-2 (2019), Chandrayaan-3 (2023).
• LMLV (planned 2035): Will surpass all earlier systems; cornerstone for India’s human spaceflight to the Moon and beyond.

In News:

India has successfully conducted the maiden flight tests of its Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) off the coast of Odisha, marking a major milestone under Project Sudarshan Chakra. Developed indigenously by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the system represents a significant advancement in the country’s ability to defend critical assets against evolving aerial threats.

What is IADWS?

The IADWS is a multi-layered, network-centric air defence architecture that integrates:

• Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM)
• Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS)
• Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) (high-power laser)

Together, these components form a composite shield capable of engaging a wide spectrum of threats—from high-speed aircraft and cruise missiles to drones, swarm UAVs, and loitering munitions.

Key Features

• Centralised Command & Control Centre (C2C2): Integrates radar and electro-optical sensor data to generate a real-time aerial picture. Based on parameters like speed, altitude, and trajectory, threats are assigned to the most effective weapon.
• Multi-layered Defence:
  • QRSAM (outer layer): Intercepts fighter aircraft, helicopters, and standoff precision weapons (cruise missiles, glide bombs) at 25–30 km range and up to 10 km altitude. Highly mobile with short reaction times.
  • VSHORADS (middle layer): Infrared seeker-based shoulder-fired missiles to neutralise low-flying UAVs and helicopters within 6 km range and up to 4 km altitude.
  • Directed Energy Weapon (inner layer): A DRDO-developed laser system capable of disabling drones and loitering munitions at close range. Offers virtually unlimited firing capacity, making it cost-effective and sustainable.
• Simultaneous Target Engagement: During trials, IADWS successfully intercepted three different aerial targets (two fixed-wing UAVs and a multi-copter drone) in real time.
• Mobility & Flexibility: Mounted on high-mobility launchers, the system can be rapidly deployed in forward areas.

Strategic Importance

IADWS strengthens India’s area defence capability by providing a layered shield for:

• Forward air bases and command centres
• Radar and missile installations
• Nuclear and space assets
• Power plants and critical industrial hubs

By combining kinetic (missiles) and non-kinetic (lasers) weapons under a unified command structure, India has taken a major step toward countering both conventional and asymmetric aerial threats.

Significance for India’s Defence Preparedness

• Enhances self-reliance under Atmanirbhar Bharat in advanced defence technologies.
• Strengthens India’s deterrence against hostile air campaigns, drone swarms, and precision strikes.
• Positions India among a select group of nations with multi-layered integrated air defence systems.

In News:

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)has successfully conducted its firstIntegrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01) for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme, marking a critical milestone in validating astronaut safety systems.

Objective of IADT-01

• Test the end-to-end parachute recovery system of the Gaganyaan crew module.
• Demonstrate reliability, sequencing, and redundancy of drogue, pilot, and main parachutes for controlled deceleration and safe splashdown.
• Ensure astronaut safety during the re-entry and landing phases, considered the riskiest part of any human space mission.

Significance

• Validates a vital safety mechanism for Gaganyaan, boosting confidence ahead of upcoming missions like Test Vehicle-D2 (TV-D2) and the first uncrewedGaganyaan mission (G1).
• Strengthens India’s human-rating capabilities, positioning the country to become the fourth nation with independent crewed spaceflight capability.
• Reflects successful inter-agency collaboration among ISRO, Indian Air Force, DRDO, Navy, and Coast Guard.

Gaganyaan Mission Overview

• Crewed mission scheduled for 2028; uncrewed test flight planned in December 2025.
• Mission profile: Carry a three-member crew to low Earth orbit (~400 km) for up to three days, followed by safe return.
• The programme emphasizes astronaut safety, technological reliability, and operational preparedness, with future tests including additional parachute validations, pad abort trials, and sea recovery rehearsals.

Strategic Importance

• Demonstrates India’s capability in human spaceflight, enhancing its global standing in space technology.
• Paves the way for advanced crewed missions and potential applications in scientific research, space exploration, and international collaborations.

In News:

India has announced its ambitious plan to increase ethanol blending in petrol to 27% (E27) by 2030, building upon the successful Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme launched in 2003. This move aligns with India’s goals of energy security, environmental sustainability, and rural development.

Background and Progress

• EBP Programme: Started with 5% blending, it has grown from less than 2% a decade ago to 10% (E10) by 2022, with 20% blending (E20) projected for 2025, five years ahead of schedule.
• Ethanol Feedstocks: Primarily derived from sugarcane, maize, and surplus food grains, with an increasing push for second-generation ethanol from crop residues and agricultural waste under PM-JI-VAN Yojana.
• Energy Security: India imports nearly 88% of crude oil, spending over $120 billion annually. Ethanol blending reduces crude imports, conserves foreign exchange, and mitigates vulnerability to global price shocks.
• Environmental Goals: Ethanol blends reduce carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions, supporting the National Green Mobility Strategy and India’s Net Zero 2070 commitment.

Economic and Social Benefits

• Farmer Welfare: The programme has channeled over ?1.2 lakh crore to farmers and nearly ?2 lakh crore to distilleries, providing stable markets for sugarcane, maize, and other crops.
• Rural Development: Ethanol distilleries generate employment, promote agro-industries, and reduce distress migration.
• Circular Economy Link: Second-generation ethanol initiatives convert crop residues and waste into energy, addressing stubble burning and enhancing sustainability.

Challenges and Risks

• Food Security: Rising ethanol demand strains maize and grain supplies. In 2023, a 5-million-tonne maize shortfall forced imports, affecting poultry, starch industries, and food prices.
• Water Use: Sugarcane requires 1,500–2,000 litres of water per kg of sugar, risking groundwater depletion in states like Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
• Technological Issues: Higher blends can reduce fuel efficiency by 6–7% in vehicles not designed for ethanol. Adoption of Flex Fuel Vehicles is slow and more costly.
• Supply-Side Constraints: India produced 7 billion litres of ethanol in 2023 but will require over 12 billion litres by 2030. Financially stressed sugar mills and limited investment in grain-based or second-generation plants challenge scaling.
• Infrastructure Needs: Storage, transport, and fuel dispensing networks must expand nationwide to meet E27 targets.

Policy Recommendations

• Feedstock Diversification: Rapid development of second-generation ethanol from crop residues, forestry waste, and municipal solid waste.
• Consumer Incentives: Subsidies for Flex Fuel Vehicles, retrofitting existing engines, and awareness campaigns to ensure adoption.
• Public–Private Partnerships: Investment and collaboration to scale production, distribution, and technology adoption.
• Integration with Clean Energy Transition: Ethanol should complement electric mobility and green hydrogen, serving as a bridge solution for decarbonisation while more transformative technologies mature.

In News:

The United Nations has confirmed a famine in Gaza City and surrounding areas, describing it as a “failure of humanity” and a man-made disaster. The declaration follows a report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which raised food insecurity in parts of Gaza to Phase 5, the highest level, indicating catastrophic conditions of starvation, destitution, and death.

Scale of the Crisis

• Population affected: Nearly 641,000 people are facing IPC Phase 5 conditions, while 1.14 million (58% of Gaza’s population) are projected to experience emergency-level food insecurity (IPC Phase 4) between mid-August and end of September.
• Children at risk: By June 2026, 132,000 children under five may face life-threatening malnutrition.
• Mortality: Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reports 271 deaths due to malnutrition, including 112 children.
• Historical Context: Since 2004, IPC has officially classified only four famines, with the last one in Sudan, 2024.

Causes

The famine is described as “starvation by design” by UN officials:

• Aid Restrictions: Israel has been accused of systematically obstructing humanitarian aid. The UN estimates 600 aid trucks per day are needed, but only 300 trucks are entering daily.
• Conflict Impact: Israel launched a military campaign in response to the Hamas attack on southern Israel in October 2023, leading to mass casualties and displacement. Over 62,000 deaths have been reported in Gaza, with more than 90% of homes damaged or destroyed.
• Infrastructure Collapse: Healthcare, water, sanitation, and hygiene systems have collapsed, exacerbating malnutrition and disease.

International Response

• UN Officials:
  • Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the famine a “moral indictment” and a man-made disaster.
  • UNRWA Chief Philippe Lazzarini termed it “starvation by design”.
  • UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk attributed the famine to Israel’s unlawful restriction of aid.
• Global Condemnation:
  • UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy described it as a “moral outrage”.
  • Humanitarian groups and UN bodies have called for an immediate, at-scale response to prevent widespread starvation.
• Israeli Position: Israel denies a policy of starvation, claiming it has allowed 2 million tons of aid since the conflict began and continues to organize humanitarian corridors and airdrops, though the UN calls these efforts insufficient and sometimes unsafe.

In News:

NITI Aayog, in collaboration with the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), released the report “Rethinking Homestays: Navigating Policy Pathways”. The document provides a strategic roadmap for strengthening India’s homestay and BnB sector, emphasizing its role in tourism, rural livelihoods, and cultural preservation.

Key Highlights of the Report

• Tourism & Cultural Value: Homestays offer travelers culturally immersive experiences while promoting local entrepreneurship, heritage conservation, and community participation.
• Economic Role: They serve as engines of livelihood creation, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, fostering inclusive and sustainable growth.
• Regulatory Approach: The report calls for light-touch, transparent regulation to balance safety, consumer trust, and ease of doing business.
• Digital Integration: Strong emphasis on leveraging digital platforms for marketing, consumer engagement, and capacity building of hosts.
• Public–Private Partnerships: Collaboration with stakeholders like Airbnb, MakeMyTrip, IAMAI, ISPP, Chase India, and The Convergence Foundation was highlighted as critical for shaping a vibrant ecosystem.
• Best Practices: State-level examples from Goa, Kerala, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh showcase scalable models in policy, governance, and community-led initiatives.
• Policy Recommendations: Suggests flexible frameworks, skill development, financial access, and infrastructure support to strengthen the sector.

Significance for India

• Tourism Development – Homestays diversify India’s hospitality sector, offering authentic alternatives to conventional hotels.
• Employment Generation – Potential to create entrepreneurial opportunities for women, youth, and local communities.
• Cultural Preservation – Encourages conservation of art, craft, cuisine, and heritage while generating income.
• Rural Transformation – Helps bridge urban–rural divides by promoting community-based tourism.
• Sustainability – Supports low-impact tourism models, aligning with SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities & Communities).

About NITI Aayog

• Established: 1 January 2015, replacing the Planning Commission.
• Chairperson: Prime Minister of India.
• Vice-Chairperson: Appointed by PM.
• Members: Full-time, part-time experts, ex-officio Union Ministers.
• Governing Council: Chief Ministers of states and LGs of UTs.
• Functions:
  • Premier policy think tank for cooperative federalism.
  • Provides strategic and long-term policy frameworks.
  • Monitors and evaluates development programmes.
  • Promotes innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology adoption.
  • Coordinates between Centre, States, and global partners.
• Nature: Advisory, yet influential in shaping policies; key driver of initiatives like Aspirational Districts Programme, Atal Innovation Mission, and SDG localization.

In News:

The WHO–WMO joint report (2025), Climate Change and Workplace Heat Stress, warns that rising global temperatures are creating an unprecedented occupational health and productivity crisis. The year 2024 was the warmest on record, with global average temperatures 1.45°C above pre-industrial levels, and the decade 2015–2024 being the hottest ever recorded.

Key Findings

• Productivity Losses: Each 1°C rise in Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) above 20°C reduces global worker productivity by 2–3%. Sun exposure further raises WBGT by 2–3°C, amplifying risk.
• Scale of Exposure: Over 2.4 billion workers are directly exposed; annually, 22.85 million injuries, 18,970 deaths, and 2.09 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) are linked to workplace heat stress (ILO estimates).
• Geographical Hotspots: South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East face the highest risks. Heat stress now affects 30% of the global population seasonally or daily.
• Health Impacts: More than one-third of workers in hot conditions report physiological heat strain (hyperthermia, kidney dysfunction, dehydration, neurological problems). WHO safety guidance (1969) recommends that core body temperature during an 8-hour shift not exceed 38°C, a threshold increasingly breached.
• Climate Change Dimension: Daytime peaks of 40–50°C are becoming frequent even outside the tropics. Europe’s 2023 heatwave saw worker fatalities, showing that occupational heat stress is no longer limited to equatorial regions.

India’s Experience

In India, informal workers in brick kilns, construction, agriculture, and power looms are the most affected. Many begin work before sunrise to avoid peak heat, yet still suffer dehydration, dizziness, and lost wages as work hours shrink. Indoor workplaces with poor ventilation often become “furnaces,” leading to chronic fatigue, kidney strain, and even fatalities. By 2030, the ILO projects India could lose 34 million full-time equivalent jobs, particularly in agriculture and construction, due to heat stress.

Wider Implications

• Public Health Burden – Rising cases of heat stroke, cardiovascular collapse, and chronic kidney disease (26.2 million cases in 2020 alone) strain already weak health systems.
• Economic Losses – Developing economies face shrinking GDP as productivity drops; agriculture and construction are most vulnerable.
• Social Inequality – The poor, migrant labourers, and women are disproportionately at risk due to unsafe working conditions and lack of social protection.
• Climate Justice – Regions contributing least to emissions, like Bangladesh and Sub-Saharan Africa, suffer the harshest effects, deepening global inequities.
• Food Security – Agricultural labour productivity loss disrupts crop cycles and threatens farmer incomes, worsening hunger and malnutrition.
• Legal Burden – Rising occupational illness cases risk overwhelming compensation systems and highlight gaps in labour safety laws.

Adaptation Strategies

• Occupational Heat Action Plans: Early warning systems, rescheduling work timings, shaded shelters, and worker training.Example: The Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan (India) has reduced heatwave mortality through alerts, shelters, and training.
• Infrastructure & Technology: Cooling shelters, hydration points, and mechanisation to reduce manual strain.Example: Bangladesh’s garment sector has piloted low-cost ventilation and cooling fans, lowering worker fatigue.
• Labour Policy Reforms: Enforcing heat-index-based work-hour rules, mandatory rest breaks, and compensation for heat-linked illnesses.Example: Qatar bans outdoor work between 10 am–3:30 pm during peak summer.
• Public Health Measures: Hydration protocols, health screenings, and recognition of heat stress as an occupational disease.Example: US OSHA’s “Water–Rest–Shade” campaigninstitutionalises hydration and rest breaks.
• Global & National Coordination: Mainstreaming heat stress into ILO conventions, COP climate talks, and SDG frameworks, with climate finance support for vulnerable economies.Example: Australia integrates climate projections into mining and agriculture workplace safety standards.

In News:

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the apex statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), has recently issued a clarification restricting the definition of tiger corridors to only the 32 “least cost pathways” identified in 2014 and those recorded in Tiger Conservation Plans (TCPs) of individual reserves. This excludes later studies by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) (2016, 2021) and data from the All-India Tiger Estimation (AITE) exercises.

What are Tiger Corridors?

Tiger corridors are natural pathways that connect fragmented tiger habitats, allowing for:

• Genetic flow and long-term survival of populations.
• Migration and dispersal between reserves.
• Minimisation of human-wildlife conflict through guided movement.

Projects that require land in or around these corridors or reserves need statutory clearance from the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

About NTCA

• Established: 2005 (through 2006 amendment of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972).
• Chairperson: Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• Functions:
  • Approves TCPs of states.
  • Provides financial and technical support for tiger conservation.
  • Oversees Project Tiger implementation.
  • Conducts All-India Tiger Estimation (AITE) every 4 years.
  • Ensures ecological connectivity through corridor protection.

The Recent Controversy

• NTCA had earlier told the Bombay High Court (July 2025) that multiple benchmarks would be used to identify corridors, including:
  • Protected areas with tiger occupancy.
  • 2014 least-cost pathways.
  • WII studies (2016, 2021).
  • AITE distribution data.
• However, in its latest clarification, NTCA restricted corridors only to 2014 least-cost pathways and TCP records, ignoring updated scientific models.

Potential Beneficiaries

Industrial projects, particularly in Maharashtra, such as:

• Western Coalfields Limited’s Durgapur open cast mines.
• Lloyds Metals & Energy’s Surajgarh iron ore mines in Gadchiroli.

Scientific Concerns

• 2014 NTCA Report itself noted that its corridors were “minimal requirement” and alternative connectivities also needed conservation.
• Newer studies (e.g., Circuitscape modelling, 2025) suggest at least 192 corridors across 10 central Indian states, far beyond the restricted 32.
• Narrowing protection risks fragmentation of habitats, reducing gene flow and increasing chances of local extinctions.

In News:

The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the universal supply of fortified rice under all government food safety net schemes till December 2028, with 100% central funding of ?17,082 crore. This initiative is part of India’s broader strategy to combat anaemia, malnutrition, and hidden hunger, which remain major public health challenges.

Evolution of the Scheme

• 2018: Launch of Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) initiative by MoHFW, emphasising fortified foods.
• 2019: Pilot project for rice fortification introduced in select districts.
• 2022: Government approved national scale-up of fortified rice across welfare schemes.
• March 2024: Fortified rice fully replaced normal rice in all central schemes.
• 2025: Cabinet approved extension till 2028, ensuring continuity with dedicated funding.

Nodal Ministries & Agencies

• Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) under Ministry of Consumer Affairs → implementing agency.
• FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) → sets fortification standards.
• Convergence with Ministry of Education, MoHFW, Ministry of Women and Child Development, and NDDB Foundation for Nutrition.

Components of the Programme

1. Public Distribution System (PDS): Fortified rice supplied through ration shops.
2. PM POSHAN (Mid-Day Meal): Fortified rice used in school meals; guidelines also promote Double Fortified Salt (DFS) and fortified edible oil.
3. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS): Supplies fortified staples to children and women.
4. Special Schemes: Distribution under Wheat-Based Nutrition Programme (WBNP) and Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG).
5. Complementary Nutrition Initiatives:NDDB’s Gift Milk Programme has provided 7.1 lakh litres of fortified milk, benefitting 41,700 children in 257 schools across 11 states.

Nutritional Focus

• Micronutrients in Fortified Rice: Iron, Folic Acid, and Vitamin B12 → combat iron-deficiency anaemia, support neurological and cognitive health.
• Double Fortified Salt (DFS): Prevents anaemia and goitre.
• Fortified Edible Oil: Provides Vitamins A & D, preventing deficiencies.

Key Features

• Universal Coverage: Fortified rice supplied across all central schemes.
• Cost Coverage: Entire fortification cost borne by the Government of India.
• Monitoring & Accountability: States/UTs tasked with ensuring quality and compliance.
• Multi-Sectoral Approach: Linked with nutrition awareness campaigns and Anemia Mukt Bharat.
• Private & CSR Partnerships: NFN mobilises funds and awareness through CSR and donations.

Wider Context – Food Processing Linkages

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) supports complementary schemes like:

• PM Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY)
• PLI Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI)
• PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME)

These aim to improve supply chains, reduce wastage, and enhance processing levels – strengthening nutrition outcomes alongside fortification.

In News:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in August 2025, released its discussion paper on reviewing India’s Flexible Inflation Targeting (FIT) framework, which is due for renewal in March 2026. The paper seeks public feedback on key questions such as whether the 4% target remains optimal, whether the 2–6% tolerance band should be revised, and whether the target should be expressed as a point or only a range.

Evolution of the Framework

• Adopted in 2016, the FIT framework formalised inflation targeting in India.
• Current mandate: 4% CPI-based inflation target with a tolerance band of 2–6%, jointly set by the RBI and the Government of India.
• Review cycle: Every five years, with the next mandate to begin April 2026.

Rationale for Retaining the 4% Target

• Credibility with Investors: Raising the target above 4% could be perceived as policy dilution, eroding credibility. Rating agencies like S&P Global recently upgraded India’s rating (BBB), citing the RBI’s strong inflation management.
• Institutional Stability: The framework has strengthened the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) process and fiscal discipline.
• Domestic Outcomes: Headline CPI inflation has mostly remained within the 2–6% band. In July 2025, it hit 1.55%, the second-lowest since the series began.
• External Balance: Low and stable inflation safeguards the rupee, maintains external competitiveness, and prevents capital outflows.

Headline vs Core Inflation Debate

• Economic Survey 2023–24: Suggested targeting core inflation (excluding food and fuel) as food inflation is largely supply-driven and beyond monetary control.
• RBI’s View: Headline CPI should remain the target, as persistent food shocks spill over into wages, rents, and production costs, influencing core inflation.
• Global Norm: Nearly all inflation-targeting countries focus on headline CPI; Uganda is the only exception.
• Indian Context: Food has ~50% weight in CPI. Excluding it would undermine policy relevance for households and workers.

Key Issues Under Review

• Target Level: Lowering below 4% could hurt growth; raising above 4% risks credibility loss.
• Tolerance Band: Debate on retaining the 2–6% range, narrowing it, or removing it. While a band allows flexibility, it may reduce accountability.
• Inflation Volatility: Between 2014–2025, headline CPI ranged from 1.5% to 8.6%, mainly due to food prices, while core inflation remained relatively stable.

Positive Outcomes of the Framework

• Anchored Expectations: Households and firms now base decisions around a credible 4% anchor, reducing uncertainty.
• Investor Confidence: Predictable inflation management has lowered risk premiums on Indian assets, boosting FDI and portfolio inflows.
• Improved Sovereign Ratings: Low inflation stability has supported fiscal credibility, earning global recognition.
• Resilience to Shocks: Despite global supply disruptions and oil price volatility, India avoided runaway inflation.

In News:

In May 2025, the Ministry of Finance (Department of Economic Affairs) released India’s draft Climate Finance Taxonomy (CFT) for public consultation. This initiative is timely, as it coincides with India’s expanding climate finance ecosystem, including green bonds, carbon credit trading, and global commitments under the Paris Agreement and net-zero targets by 2070.

What is a Climate Finance Taxonomy?

• A classification framework that defines which sectors, technologies, and activities qualify as climate-aligned investments.
• It is described as a “living document”, evolving with India’s domestic priorities and international climate obligations.
• Core purpose: To mobilise public and private finance, ensure transparency, and prevent greenwashing.

Key Features of India’s Draft CFT

• Scope: Covers activities contributing to mitigation, adaptation, and low-carbon transition.
• Review Mechanism
  • Annual reviews for course correction.
  • Five-year reviews aligned with India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the UNFCCC global stocktake.
• Legal Coherence
  • Designed to be consistent with Indian laws (Energy Conservation Act, SEBI regulations, Carbon Credit Trading Scheme).
  • Harmonised with international standards for credibility.
• Substantive Clarity: Provides clear, precise, and updated definitions that are accessible to both experts and non-experts.
• Inclusivity
  • Simplified compliance for MSMEs, informal sector actors, and vulnerable communities.
  • Staggered timelines for smaller entities to avoid exclusion.
• Institutional Accountability
  • Proposal for a standing review unit/expert committee.
  • Public dashboards to ensure transparency and investor confidence.

Significance

• Boosts Investor Confidence: Provides clarity for domestic and global investors in India’s green economy.
• Ensures Transparency: Prevents mislabeling of projects as “green,” tackling greenwashing risks.
• Mobilises Finance: Unlocks predictable, science-based finance flows for mitigation and adaptation.
• Supports Net-Zero Goals: Complements instruments like green bonds and carbon credit markets.
• Global Positioning: Strengthens India’s role in shaping international norms on climate finance.

In News:

The African Union (AU) has endorsed the “Correct the Map”campaign, calling for the replacement of the Mercator projection with modern alternatives that represent Africa’s true size. This move is not just cartographic—it is deeply political, tied to questions of historical justice, cultural representation, and global perception.

The Mercator Projection: Origins and Features

• Introduced: 1569 by Gerardus Mercator, a Flemish mathematician and cartographer.
• Purpose: Designed for navigation, enabling sailors to follow a straight line of constant compass bearing (Rhumb lines/loxodromes).
• Structure:
  • Meridians (longitude): parallel, vertical, equally spaced.
  • Parallels (latitude): horizontal, spacing increases away from the equator.
  • Grid forms right angles.
• Strengths: Conformal projection that preserves shapes and angles, ideal for maritime exploration.
• Limitations: Distorts area and scale. True scale exists only along the equator; distortion grows near the poles.

Distortions and Bias

• Africa & South America appear much smaller than their real size.
• Europe, North America, and Greenland are disproportionately enlarged.
• Example: Greenland (≈2.1 million sq km) appears similar in size to Africa (≈30 million sq km).
• Such distortions fed into Eurocentric worldviews, reinforcing colonial narratives of Africa as “smaller” and “conquerable.”

Corrective Measures

• Gall-Peters Projection (1970s): Area-accurate but distorts shapes. Adopted in some schools, e.g., Boston (2017).
• Equal Earth Projection (2018): Balances shape and area, providing a fairer representation of continents.
• AU’s Endorsement: By backing the Equal Earth projection, the AU aims to restore “Africa’s rightful place on the global stage,” highlighting the continent’s true scale and importance.

In News:

India has successfully conducted the test of its nuclear-capable Agni-5 ballistic missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha. The launch was carried out under the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) and validated all operational and technical parameters, marking a significant boost to India’s strategic deterrence capabilities.

About Agni-5 Missile

• Type: Land-based Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM).
• Developer: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• Range: Beyond 5,000 km, capable of covering most of Asia and parts of other continents.
• Payload Capacity: Equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) technology, enabling it to carry and deliver up to three nuclear warheads simultaneously at different targets.
• Technologies Used: Modern navigation, guidance, warhead, and propulsion systems, ensuring high accuracy and survivability.

Ballistic Missiles – Classification by Range

Ballistic missiles are rocket-propelled strategic weapons that follow a ballistic trajectory after the powered phase:

1. Short-range: < 1,000 km (Tactical role).
2. Medium-range: 1,000–3,000 km (Theater role).
3. Intermediate-range: 3,000–5,500 km.
4. Intercontinental (ICBM): > 5,500 km (Strategic role).

Agni-5, with its long range and MIRV capability, places India in the league of nations with advanced ICBM technology.

Strategic Significance

• Strengthens nuclear deterrence under India’s credible minimum deterrence and no first use (NFU) doctrines.
• Enhances India’s security architecture amidst evolving regional and global threats.
• Positions India among the select group of countries (U.S., Russia, China, France) with operational ICBM and MIRV capability.

In News:

• The Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) programme, launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2002 at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, aims to conserve unique agricultural systems that sustain biodiversity, traditional knowledge, and rural livelihoods while adapting to modern challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and community displacement.
• GIAHS adopts a multi-stakeholder approach by offering technical assistance, enhancing the value of traditional agricultural knowledge, and stimulating markets through agrotourism, product branding, and sustainable value chains.

India’s Recognised GIAHS Sites

Currently, India hosts three GIAHS sites, each reflecting diverse agro-ecological and cultural traditions:

• Koraput Region (Odisha):
  • Known for subsistence paddy cultivation on highland slopes.
  • Conserves a wide range of paddy landraces and farmer-developed varieties.
  • Rich in medicinal plant genetic resources, closely linked with indigenous tribal knowledge.
  • Supported by community seed banks, organic farming practices, and branding initiatives under state biodiversity programmes.
• Kuttanad Farming System (Kerala):
  • A rare below-sea-level farming landscape.
  • Comprises wetlands for paddy, garden lands for coconut and food crops, and inland water bodies for fishing and shell collection.
  • Infrastructure development works under RKVY-DPR projects, such as HaritamHarippad in Alappuzha, and research on ecological utilization of water hyacinth are underway.
• Saffron Heritage of Kashmir:
  • Represents a traditional agro-pastoral system of saffron cultivation.
  • Characterized by organic farming practices, intercropping, and soil conservation.
  • Supported through Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) for revival and economic sustainability.

National Support Mechanisms

• Government Schemes: RKVY, MIDH, and other sectoral interventions promote conservation, branding, and livelihood opportunities.
• Biodiversity Revival: Emphasis on neglected crops and forgotten foods to ensure resilience.
• Integration with Research: State-supported projects in Kerala and Odisha enhance scientific validation and infrastructure.

Significance

• Ensures balance between conservation and socioeconomic development.
• Protects traditional knowledge systems and cultural landscapes.
• Enhances climate resilience and strengthens India’s commitment to sustainable agriculture.
• Promotes rural development, agrotourism, and niche product markets, thereby contributing to farmer incomes.

In News:

• The Government of India launched the NAVYA (Nurturing Aspirations through Vocational training for Young Adolescent Girls) initiative in June 2025 to strengthen the socio-economic empowerment of adolescent girls (aged 16–18 years), particularly in aspirational districts.
• It is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and the Ministry of Women & Child Development (MWCD).

Objectives of NAVYA

• Vocational Training: Provide demand-driven skilling in both traditional and modern sectors.
• Holistic Development: Cover modules on health, nutrition, hygiene, life skills, financial literacy, and legal awareness.
• Enhancing Employability: Facilitate internships, apprenticeships, and job linkages, along with promoting self-employment.
• Gender-Inclusive Skilling: Ensure a safe and supportive training environment for adolescent girls.
• Bridging Gaps: Connect education and livelihood opportunities in underserved and remote regions.

Key Features

• Coverage: Implemented across 19 States and 27 districts, including Barpeta (Assam), Gaya (Bihar), Bastar (Chhattisgarh), Nuh (Haryana), Chamba (Himachal Pradesh), Baramulla (J&K), Raichur (Karnataka), Gadchiroli (Maharashtra), Rayagada (Odisha), Dholpur (Rajasthan), Virudhunagar (Tamil Nadu), Sonbhadra (Uttar Pradesh), and Haridwar (Uttarakhand), among others.
• Beneficiaries: 3,850 adolescent girls are being trained under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0.
• Modern Job Roles: Training includes digital marketing, cybersecurity, AI-enabled services, green jobs, and other emerging sectors.
• Future Readiness: Modules on life skills, digital competence, and financial literacy prepare participants for evolving workforce demands.

Significance

• Strengthens women-centric skilling ecosystem.
• Promotes inclusive growth and gender equity in workforce participation.
• Supports Atmanirbhar Bharat by creating a skilled workforce in emerging sectors.
• Contributes to SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

In News:

The Government of India has introduced “Anna-Chakra”, a digital supply chain optimisation tool under the Public Distribution System (PDS), aimed at improving efficiency, reducing costs, and minimizing environmental impact in foodgrain distribution.

Implementation Status

• Implemented in 30 out of 31 States/UTs; yet to be implemented in Manipur.
• States/UTs covered include Punjab, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, J&K, Ladakh, Kerala, Karnataka, Odisha, among others.

Development and Collaboration

• Spearheaded by the Department of Food and Public Distribution.
• Developed in collaboration with:
  • World Food Programme (WFP)
  • Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), IIT-Delhi

Working of Anna-Chakra

• Uses advanced algorithms to identify optimal routes for foodgrain movement across supply chain nodes.
• Covers 4.37 lakh Fair Price Shops (FPSs) and around 6,700 warehouses.
• Integrated with:
  • FOIS (Freight Operations Information System) of Railways through the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP).
  • PM Gati Shakti platform, which now houses geo-locations of FPSs and warehouses.

Key Benefits

• Financial Savings: Estimated ?250 crore per annum through reduction in transportation costs.
• Efficiency Gains: Faster delivery and streamlined PDS operations in the world’s largest food security programme benefiting 81 crore citizens.
• Environmental Impact: Reduction in fuel consumption and CO? emissions, aligning with India’s climate commitments.
• Operational Improvement: Ensures seamless coordination among multiple stakeholders, from farmers to FPS dealers.

Significance

Anna-Chakra represents a major leap in digitally enabled governance and logistics management, combining technology, sustainability, and welfare delivery. By cutting costs and carbon emissions while enhancing the efficiency of foodgrain delivery, it strengthens India’s food security architecture under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).

In News:

In a significant boost to India’s consumer protection framework, ten States along with the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) achieved a disposal rate of over 100% in July 2025. This indicates that the number of consumer cases resolved exceeded the number of new cases filed, showcasing efficiency in grievance redressal.

Key Disposal Achievements

• NCDRC: 122%
• Tamil Nadu: 277%
• Rajasthan: 214%
• Telangana: 158%
• Himachal Pradesh & Uttarakhand: 150% each
• Meghalaya: 140%
• Kerala: 122%
• Puducherry: 111%
• Chhattisgarh: 108%
• Uttar Pradesh: 101%

This trend highlights faster case resolution and effective functioning of consumer commissions across India.

The e-Jagriti Platform

The success is largely aided by e-Jagriti, a flagship digital initiative of the Department of Consumer Affairs, designed to strengthen the consumer dispute redressal system.

Objectives

• Computerization and networking of all Consumer Commissions (National, State & District).
• Enhancing transparency, efficiency, and speed in dispute resolution.
• Providing accessible, cost-effective, and paperless grievance redressal.

Features

• E-filing of complaints with online fee payment.
• Real-time case tracking and access to judgments.
• AI-powered Smart Search for archived complaints/judgments.
• Voice-to-text conversion of judgments and case details using AI/ML.
• Integration of multiple platforms:
  • Online Case Monitoring System (OCMS)
  • E-Daakhil
  • NCDRC Case Monitoring System
  • CONFONET website
  • Mediation application

Since its launch, over 2 lakh users (including NRIs) have registered on e-Jagriti, with 85,531 cases filed online in 2025 alone, demonstrating growing public trust.

Significance

• Strengthens consumer rights and access to justice.
• Reduces backlog and delays through tech-driven case management.
• Promotes digital governance and transparency in consumer protection.
• Aligns with citizen-centric reforms and Digital India Mission.

In News:

The UdyamSakhi Portal, launched by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in March 2018, is helping women entrepreneurs across India start, build, and expand their businesses, fostering self-reliance and economic empowerment.

Objectives and Significance

The portal serves as a one-stop resource for existing and prospective women entrepreneurs, providing information on:

• Financial schemes such as the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE), MUDRA, and Trade Receivables e-Discounting System (TReDS).
• Policies, programs, and business plan preparation.
• Nodal offices and supporting organizations of the MSME Ministry across states.

It also updates users on exhibitions, trade fairs, and international events, creating opportunities to connect with markets and expand business reach.

Programmatic Functions

UdyamSakhi provides a comprehensive suite of services, including:

• Entrepreneurship learning tools and guidance for business model creation
• Incubation facilities for nurturing startups
• Training programs for fundraising
• Mentorship support and one-on-one investor interactions
• Market survey support
• Learning and development through education, information, technical assistance, and training

The portal acts as a network for nurturing entrepreneurship, especially for low-cost products and services, enabling women to become self-reliant and self-sufficient.

Outreach and Impact

Since its inception, the portal has seen 4,535 women register, demonstrating its growing impact on women-led entrepreneurship in the MSME sector. Developed with an expenditure of ?43.52 lakh, the portal continues to expand access to resources, guidance, and opportunities for women entrepreneurs nationwide.

In News:

For the first time, scientists have recorded the sliteye shark (Loxodonmacrorhinus) in the Great Chagos Bank, the world’s largest coral atoll in the Indian Ocean. The discovery underscores the hidden biodiversity of the Chagos Archipelago and its Marine Protected Area (MPA), highlighting the ecological importance of deepwater habitats.

About the Sliteye Shark

The sliteye shark is a small-bodied requiem shark in the family Carcharhinidae and is the only species in the genus Loxodon. Named for its distinctive slit-like eyes, the species is adapted to low-light, deepwater environments, though it can also inhabit clear, shallow seas.

• Scientific Name:Loxodonmacrorhinus
• Size: Up to 95 cm in length
• Features: Slender body, long narrow face, large eyes, short furrows at mouth corners, small teeth with protruding tips, absent or rudimentary ridge between dorsal fins, gray coloration with white belly, dark-edged caudal and first dorsal fins
• Distribution: Tropical waters of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans, including countries such as India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Japan, Australia, China, Kenya, South Africa, and others between 34°N and 30°S

Discovery in Chagos

• Researchers observed two sliteye sharks at depths of 23–29 metres, just 11 km apart, using Baited Remote Underwater Video systems in deep seagrass habitats on the southern rim of the Great Chagos Bank. These meadows, first mapped in 2016 using satellite tracking of green turtles, support more than 110 fish species and are now confirmed as important for sliteye sharks as well.

Conservation Concerns

• The sliteye shark is classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List, with populations projected to decline by approximately 30% over the next 15 years due to heavy fishing pressure.
• The Chagos discovery raises critical questions regarding the species’ abundance, habitat use, and conservation needs.
• The study forms part of a project led by Swansea University in collaboration with international partners, funded by the Bertarelli Foundation, with full findings expected in 2026. The results strengthen the case for protecting deepwater seagrass habitats in the Indian Ocean.

In News:

• A group of 34 students from government schools across India has been selected to participate in the Sakura Science Programme 2025, a prestigious Japan-Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science.
• The initiative, implemented by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), provides young learners an opportunity to explore cutting-edge scientific innovations and experience Japanese culture firsthand.

Programme Details

• The 2025 edition of the programme was held, with participants from India, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia. The Indian delegation consists of students, hailing from nine states—Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Lakshadweep, Odisha, Puducherry, West Bengal, and the Regional Institute of Education (RIE) demonstration schools in Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, and Mysuru. The students will be accompanied by three supervisors.
• The selected students were flagged off at a ceremony at NCERT, New Delhi, hosted by the Ministry of Education’s Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL), attended by key officials including Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of DoSEL, Professor Prakash Chandra Agrawal, Joint Director of NCERT, and Archana Sharma Awasthi, Joint Secretary of DoSEL.

Background and Objectives

Launched globally in 2014, the Sakura Science Programme aims to foster scientific curiosity among youth and promote international collaboration. India joined the programme in 2016, and since then, over 630 Indian students and 90 supervisors have participated.

The programme’s objectives include:

• Developing talented human resources overseas with potential contributions to science and technology innovation.
• Facilitating international brain circulation.
• Promoting continuous collaboration between Japanese and foreign educational and research institutes.
• Strengthening diplomatic relations through science and technology exchanges.

Through short-term visits to Japan, students gain exposure to advanced scientific research, innovation ecosystems, and Japanese culture, fostering both academic growth and cross-cultural understanding.

In News:

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially announced that Nepal has eliminated rubella as a public health problem, marking a significant achievement in the country’s fight against vaccine-preventable diseases. Nepal is the sixth country in the WHO South-East Asia Region to achieve rubella elimination, joining Bhutan, DPR Korea, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Timor-Leste.

About Rubella

• Rubella, also known as German measles or three-day measles, is a highly contagious viral infection caused by the Rubella virus, an enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus distinct from the measles virus.
• Rubella primarily spreads through coughing, sneezing, or contact with contaminated surfaces, and can also be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her fetus.
• While rubella generally causes mild or no symptoms, the hallmark is a spotty red rash starting on the face or behind the ears and spreading to the neck and body.
• Infection during early pregnancy is particularly dangerous, with a 90% chance of virus transmission to the fetus, potentially causing miscarriage, stillbirth, or Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS). CRS may result in hearing impairments, eye and heart defects, and lifelong disabilities, including autism, diabetes, and thyroid dysfunction.
• Currently, there is no specific treatment for rubella, and symptoms are generally managed with rest and fever-reducing medications. Prevention through vaccination is key: the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe, highly effective, and provides lifelong protection.