Author: instakas

Inhaled Nitric Oxide

Science & Technology

Context

• A recent study by researchers has explored that the high-dose inhaled nitric oxide can significantly reduce multidrug-resistant Pneumonia.

About

• India faces a high burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and hospital-acquired infections where drug-resistant pneumonia is a serious threat in Intensive Care Units (ICUs).
• A significant contributor is Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium responsible for nearly one-fifth of hospital-acquired pneumonias.

Nitric Oxide

• Nitric oxide (NO) is a colorless, gaseous free radical molecule composed of one nitrogen and one oxygen atom.
• Production: It is a gas naturally produced by the human body from the amino acid L-arginine, a process that can be boosted by dietary intake of nitrate-rich foods like leafy greens, beets, and garlic.
• Functions: It acts as a neurotransmitter, immune system regulator, and aids in angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation).
• Significance – It improves oxygenation by widening blood vessels in the lungs.
• Toxicity Risks: High doses can lead to methemoglobinemia and potential lung injury.

First Road-cum-rail Tunnel Under Brahmaputra River

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

In News

• Recently, the Union cabinet has approved the construction of the country’s first underwater twin tube road-cum-rail tunnel project under the Brahmaputra River in Assam at an estimated cost of Rs 18,662 crore.

About the Project

• Length – It is a around 34 kilometre-long four-lane access-controlled Greenfield connectivity project.
• Features – It will feature two parallel tunnels, designed to facilitate smooth and high-capacity movement of both road and rail traffic.
• Connectivity – The stretch will connect Gohpur on NH-15 and Numaligarh on NH-715 in Assam, cutting short the distance between the two Assam cities to just 34 kilometres from the current 240 kilometres.
• The travel time will be reduced to just 20 minutes from six hours now.
• Importance: The project will provide significant benefit to Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and other North -Eastern States.
• It will enhance connectivity, reduce logistics costs and accelerate growth across Assam and the entire Northeast.

Additional Information- Brahmaputra River

• The Brahmaputra is a major transboundary river in Asia.
• It originates from the Chemayungdung Glacier near Lake Manasarovar (Mapam Yumco) in Tibet.
• It is known variably as Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet (its longest upper stretch), Siang or Dihang in Arunachal Pradesh, Brahmaputra in Assam & Jamuna in Bangladesh.
• It flows east through Tibet’s plateau, enters India via Arunachal Pradesh, widens in Assam’s plains, and merges with the Ganges in Bangladesh before reaching the Bay of Bengal.

Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

In News

• Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of the Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 (FoF 2.0) with a corpus of ₹10,000 crore
• Objective – to mobilise venture capital for the country’s rapidly expanding startup ecosystem.

Venture capital

• Definition – It is funding provided to emerging companies by wealthy individuals or institutional investors (venture capitalists) seeking long-term growth.
• It is high-risk but potentially high-return and can be provided through equity, debentures, or conditional loans.

Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 (FoF 2.0)

• Objective – to mobilise venture capital for the country’s rapidly expanding startup ecosystem.

Additional Information – Startup India

• Launched on – January 16, 2016.
• Objective – to promote entrepreneurship and enable investment-driven growth.

India’s Startup Ecosystem

• India has rapidly evolved into one of the world’s largest startup ecosystems, with more than 2 lakh startups as of 2025 .
• India has the 3rd largest startup ecosystem in the world.
• Major hubs like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi-NCR have been at the forefront of this transformation.
• India has over 120 unicorns with a valuation exceeding $350 billion.
• Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025 ranking: It provides performance metrics and ranks around 140 economies on their innovation ecosystems.
• India has made a steady climb from 48 rank in 2020 to 38 in 2025.

Kerala Declares Bacillus Subtilis ‘State Microbe’

Syllabus: GS2/ Health/ Governance

Context

• Kerala has become the first Indian state to designate an official “State Microbe,” selecting Bacillus subtilis, a beneficial, soil-dwelling bacterium.

Bacillus subtilis

• It is a non-pathogenic, rod-shaped, gram-positive bacterium.
• It is found commonly in soil, water, and the human gut.
• Bacillus subtilis is a probiotic or good bacterium that plays a vital role in improving gut health and strengthening immunity.
• The bacterium is widely used in agriculture as a biofertilizer and biocontrol agent to enhance crop productivity and suppress plant diseases.
• Due to its resilience and spore-forming ability, it has significant industrial and biotechnological applications.

Do You Know?

Centre of Excellence in Microbiome

• It is established by the Government of Kerala located in Thiruvananthapuram,
• It is India’s first dedicated multi-domain research institution for microbiome studies.

Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad)

Syllabus: GS2/ International Relations

Context

• Recent remarks from senior U.S. officials describing the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) as a “very important platform” and India as an “active participant”.

Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad)

• It is the informal strategic dialogue between India, USA, Japan and Australia.
• Objective – To ensure and support a “free, open and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region.

Additional Information – Exercise Malabar

• Started in – It is a multilateral war-gaming naval exercise that was started in 1992. The exercise began as a bilateral exercise between the navies of India and the United States.
• Participating countries – From 2002 onward, the exercise has been conducted every year. Japan and Australia first participated in 2007. Since 2014, India, the US and Japan have participated in the exercise. In 2020 Australia too joined the Malabar Exercise.
• Aim – To support a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region and remain committed to the rules-based international order.

African Union

Syllabus: GS2/Regional Groupings

Context

• The African Union is hosting its annual summit in Ethiopia to discuss the future of the continent, as the organization faces widespread discontent.

African Union

• It is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent.
• It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999).
• Aim: to drive Africa’s growth and economic development.
• Headquarters: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Initiatives

• African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement – It aims to create a single market for goods and services across the continent.
• Agenda 2063 – It is a strategic framework for the socio-economic t ransformation of the continent over the next 50 years.

Seva Teerth

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

In News

• The Prime Minister inaugurated the Seva Teerth complex in New Delhi, along with Kartavya Bhavan-1 and 2.

Seva Teerth and Kartavya Bhavan-1 and 2

• Seva Teerth houses the Prime Minister’s Office, the National Security Council Secretariat, the Cabinet Secretariat, all of which were previously located across different locations.
• It consolidates administrative functions within modern, and future-ready facilities.
• Kartavya Bhavan-1 and 2 accommodate several Key ministries including the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
• Both building complexes feature digitally integrated offices, structured public interface zones and centralised reception facilities.

       Importance

• These features will foster collaboration, efficiency, seamless governance, improved citizen engagement and enhanced employee well-being.

CPI January, 2026 (Provisional) at Base year 2024=100 Released

Syllabus:GS3/Economy

Context

• The Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation has released the provisional Consumer Price Index (CPI) with Base 2024=100.

About

• The base has been revised from 2012 to 2024 using Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2023-24.

Consumer Price Index (CPI):

• It measures the average change in prices paid by consumers for a basket of goods and services over timee., it tracks retail inflation.
• Tracks cost of living and purchasing power.
• Includes items like food, housing, clothing, transport, etc.
• It is published monthly, the earlier base year: 2012 which is revised to 2024.
• Released By: NSO, MoSPI.

Lead Bank Scheme (LBS)

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

In News

• The RBI’s proposed guidelines aim to strengthen and streamline the Lead Bank Scheme by clearly defining the structure, membership, and roles of various committees

Lead Bank Scheme (LBS)

• It is an institutional mechanism introduced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in December 1969
• Objective – to coordinate banking and development activities at the district level.
• Significance – It aims to enhance credit flow to priority sectors like agriculture and MSMEs, reduce regional imbalances, and promote overall rural development.
• As of February 2026, the RBI has proposed a major overhaul of the scheme through new draft guidelines to modernize its operations for the digital age.

Core Objectives

• Area Approach: Adopting a specific geographical area (the district) as the basic unit for intensive banking development.
• Financial Inclusion: Expanding banking services to unbanked and underbanked rural and semi-urban populations.
• Coordinated Planning: Acting as a “consortium leader” to align the efforts of commercial banks, regional rural banks (RRBs), cooperative banks, and government agencies.
• Credit Deployment: Ensuring credit reaches productive sectors to improve local income levels and productivity.

SHANTI (Sustainable Harnessing of Advancement of Nuclear Technology for India) Act 2025

Syllabus:  GS3/ Energy

Context

• The SHANTI (Sustainable Harnessing of Advancement of Nuclear Technology for India) Act 2025, have triggered concerns regarding safety standards, victim compensation, and long-term energy strategy.

About

• Traditionally, nuclear power plants in India have been owned and operated only by state-owned Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) and its fully-owned subsidiary Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam (BHAVINI).

SHANTI Act, 2025,

• It was passed in December 2025,
• It represents a landmark overhaul of India’s nuclear governance.
• Replaced – It consolidates the sector’s legal framework by repealing the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA), 2010.

Key Objectives & Pillars

• 100 GW Target: The Act provides the legal foundation to reach India’s goal of 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047.
• Private Sector Integration: For the first time, private Indian companies and joint ventures can build, own, and operate nuclear power plants under strict government licensing.
• Regulatory Independence: It grants statutory recognition to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), making it more independent and accountable to Parliament rather than just the executive.
• Small Modular Reactors (SMRs): The Act facilitates the deployment of Bharat Small Modular Reactors (BSMRs) to support industrial decarbonisation.

Major Provisions

• Dual Permit System: Entities must obtain a licence from the Central Government for construction/operation and a separate safety authorisation from the AERB for radiation-related activities.
• Reserved Strategic Domains: The Central Government retains exclusive control over sensitive “fuel cycle” activities, including uranium enrichment, spent fuel management, and heavy water production.
• Dispute Resolution: Establishes the Atomic Energy Redressal Advisory Council. The Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) serves as the appellate authority, with further challenges possible in the Supreme Court.

Concerns raised over SHANTI Act

• The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster exposed weaknesses in reactor containment design and emergency preparedness.
• The Chernobyl disaster involved structural design flaws, including a positive power coefficient and inadequate emergency shutdown systems.
• The Three Mile Island accident revealed significant control room design failures and communication lapses by suppliers.

Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati

History

Context

• The Prime Minister paid tributes to Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati on his birth anniversary.

Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati

• He was born on February 12, 1824, in Tankara, Gujarat. He later became a disciple of Swami Virajananda.
• He founded the Arya Samaj in 1875 to counter social inequities and promote social reform.
• He issued the slogan “Back to the Vedas” and emphasized two core ideas: the infallible authority of the Vedas and monotheism.
• Among his major beliefs were the rejection of idolatry and overly ritualistic traditions, support for women’s education, denunciation of child marriage, and opposition to untouchability.
• He also advocated the idea of shuddhi, supporting reconversion into the Hindu fold.
• Publications: Satyarth Prakash, Sanskar Vidhi, and Yajurved Bhashyam.
• Legacy: Inspired by his beliefs, teachings, and ideas, his disciples established the Dayanand Anglo Vedic College Trust and Management Society after his death in 1883.

Assam Rifles to Induct More Indigenous Dog Breeds

Syllabus: GS3/ Internal Security

Context

• The Assam Rifles is inducting two native Indian dog breeds, the Tangkhul Hui (Haofa) and the Kombai, into its specialized dog squad.
• The induction is being managed by the Assam Rifles Dog Training Centre (ARDTC) in Jorhat, Assam.

About the Indian Dog Breeds

• Tangkhul Hui: It is indigenous to Ukhrul district of Manipur and known for being highly courageous, possessing unique tracking abilities, and having the stamina to track animals for up to 48 hours without food or water.
• It is also known for disease resistance and adaptability to hilly terrain.
• Kombai: It is native to Tamil Nadu and recognized for agility, guarding instincts, and loyalty.

Assam Rifles

• Established in – 1835
• World War Participation: It is the only paramilitary force to have participated in both World Wars, as well as the 1962 Sino-Indian War.
• Headquarters – Shillong, Meghalaya, and currently consists of 46 battalions.
• It is one of the seven Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), primarily guarding India’s Indo-Myanmar border, focusing on border security, counter-insurgency, and law & order in Northeast India.

Kyasanur Forest Disease

Syllabus: GS2/Health

In News

• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is steadily progressing towards the development of an improved vaccine against Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD).

Kyasanur Forest Disease

• Origin : First identified in 1957 in Karnataka’s Kyasanur Forest, it is commonly known as Monkey Fever.
• Type: It is a tick-borne viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Kyasanur Forest Disease Virus (family Flaviviridae).
• Transmission: Spread to humans via tick bites (mainly Haemaphysalis spinigera) or contact with infected animals, particularly sick or dead monkeys.
• No person-to-person transmission exists.
• Seasonality: Epidemics usually last from October to June, with a peak period between January and April.
• Symptoms: Sudden high fever, headache, and vomiting; severe cases may involve bleeding (hemorrhagic) and neurological issues.
• Mortality: The disease has a fatality rate of approximately 5% to 10%.
• Treatment: There is no cure; management relies on supportive care (hydration, oxygen, and maintaining blood pressure).
• Prevention: A vaccine is available and widely recommended in affected regions of India.

Rajaji National Park

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

In News

• The Supreme Court cleared the metalling of the 11.5-km Laldhang-Chillarkhal road project through Rajaji National Park.

Rajaji National Park

• It was established in 1983 by merging the Rajaji, Motichur, and Chilla sanctuaries.
• It was named in honor of freedom fighter and India’s first Governor-General, C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji).
• Location – It is located in the Himalayan foothills near Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Dehradun.
• Rivers – It features diverse vegetation and rich biodiversity, with the Ganga and Son rivers flowing through it.
• It is home to elephants, tigers, leopards, deer, ghorals, and numerous bird species, making it a paradise for nature lovers.

Panchsheel Pact

Context

• The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) mentioned that India believed the 1954 Panchsheel Agreement effectively addressed the northern boundary question, even though China viewed it differently.

Panchsheel Agreement

• In 1954, India recognised Tibet as part of China, and both countries signed the Panchsheel Agreement.

The Panchsheel Agreement stated the five principles as:

1. Mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
2. Mutual non-aggression.
3. Mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs.
4. Equality and cooperation for mutual benefit.
5. Peaceful co-existence.

• It was designed to promote trade and friendly relations, forming the basis of the bilateral ties.
• With this, India assumed that it had settled its northern border.
• In 2025 the Chinese President underscored that Panchsheel must be cherished and promoted by the two countries.
• It came as India and China reset their ties and PM Modi visited China after seven years.

The India-China Borders

• India considers the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to be 3,488 km long, while the Chinese consider it to be only around 2,000 km.
• It is divided into three sectors: the eastern sector which spans

1. Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim,
2. Middle sector in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh,
3. Western sector in Ladakh.

• Western Sector or Aksai Chin Sector: The region is claimed by the Chinese government post-1962 war as an autonomous part of the Xinjiang region which was originally a part of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Middle Sector: It is the less disputed section of the Indo-China border but the recent Doklam standoff and Nathu La Pass trading issues have brought distress at all levels.
• Eastern Sector or Arunachal Pradesh:McMahon Line had differentiated India and China in this sector but in the 1962 war the People’s Liberation Army covered 9000 sq. km. area.
• However, China has started to claim the whole of Arunachal Pradesh as their own.

Biosecurity Threat in India

Health

Context

• In 2025, the Gujarat ATS uncovered an alleged ricin-based bioterror plot, marking India’s first suspected ricin-linked bioterror case with possible international links.

Biological Weapons

• Biological weapons use pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi) or toxins (like ricin, botulinum toxin) to cause disease or death in humans, animals, or crop
• They are classified as Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) due to their potential for large-scale harm.

India’s Existing Biosecurity Architecture

• The Department of Biotechnology oversees research governance and safety frameworks for labs.
• The Plant Quarantine Organisation of India regulates agricultural imports and exports.
• The National Disaster Management Authority has issued detailed guidelines for the management of biological disasters.

Key legal instruments include:

• The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, governing hazardous microorganisms and genetically modified organisms.
• The Weapons of Mass Destruction and Their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act, 2005, which criminalises biological weapons.
• The Biosafety Rules, 1989, and guidelines issued in 2017 for recombinant DNA research and biocontainment.

International Measures

Biological Weapons Convention (BMC):

• It entered into force in 1975
• It prohibits the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of biological and toxin weapons.
• It was the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning an entire category of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

Chemical Weapons Convention

• Mandate – It is an international treaty aimed at eliminating the production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons and their precursors.
• Adoption and Enforcement – The Treaty was adopted on September 3, 1992, and entered into force on April 29, 1997.
• Member countries – It currently has 193 member states.
• Legally binding – It makes it mandatory to destroy old and abandoned chemical weapons.
• India’s ratification – India signed the treaty in January 1

Australia Group:

• The Australia Group is an informal forum of countries that seeks to prevent the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons.

Ministry of Home Affairs Guidelines on Vande Mataram

Polity and Governance

Context

• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued guidelines directing that the national song Vande Mataram be sung/ played before the national anthem when both are played at official events.

Key Guidelines

Occasions for Playing or Singing:

• Arrival and departure of the President at formal State functions.
• Before and after Presidential addresses to the nation.
• Arrival and departure of Governors/Lieutenant Governors at State functions.
• When the National Flag is brought on parade.
• Other occasions specified by the Government of India.
• Protocol: The official version of approximately 3 minutes and 10 seconds shall be used.
• All six stanzas of Vande Mataram, including the four stanzas that were set aside by the Congress Working Committee in 1937, will be played.

Constitutional and Legal Framework

• Status of National Symbols: On 24 January 1950, the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram were adopted as India’s National Song.
• While the Constitution does not explicitly define “National Song,” its recognition flows from Constituent Assembly discussions and executive practice.
• Article 51A(a) Fundamental Duties: Mandates every citizen to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem.
• Vande Mataram is not explicitly protected by any constitutional provision.

Additional information – Vande Mataram

• Vande Mataram was composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in Sanskrit and first appeared in the novel Anandamath in 1882.
• Anandamath is set against the backdrop of the 1769–73 Bengal famine and the Sanyasi Rebellion.
• First sung by Rabindranath Tagore at the 1896 Indian National Congress session gave it national exposure.
• During the Swadeshi Movement of 1905, Vande Mataram emerged as the anthem of civil resistance.
• Vande Mataram, as a political slogan, was first used on 7 August 1905.

Corruption Perceptions Index

Governance

Context

• Transparency International recently published 2025 Corruption Perception Index (CPI).

Corruption Perceptions Index

• Published by – Transparency International
• Objective – It measures levels of public sector corruption in 182 countries.
• Methodology: It uses a scale from zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).
• Best performing countries: Denmark (89) followed by Finland (88) and Singapore (84).
• Worst Performing Countries: South Sudan and Somalia
• India’s Performance: In 2025, India ranked 91st globally on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), scoring 39 out of 100, which is a slight improvement from the previous year.

India’s First Musical Road

Government Initiative

Context

• Mumbai’s Coastal Road has introduced India’s first musical road

India’s First Musical Road

• A 500-metre stretch between Nariman Point and Worli, named Sangeet Marg, plays the Oscar-winning song “Jai Ho” when vehicles travel at a speed of 60–80 km per hour.
• The concept uses specially engineered rumble strips carved into the asphalt at precise intervals.
• As vehicles move over these grooves, vibrations are generated due to friction between the tyres and the road surface.
• These vibrations create sound waves that combine to reproduce the melody, which can be heard by passengers inside the vehicle.
• The concept is based on Hungarian technology and has previously been implemented in countries such as Hungary, Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates.

Karnataka Information Commission (KIC)

News –

• The Karnataka Information Commission (KIC) has claimed to be the fastest in India for disposing of second appeal petitions under the RTI Act.

Karnataka Information Commission (KIC)

• It is an autonomous statutory body established on March 2, 2006, under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.
• It serves as the final appellate authority for citizens seeking information from public authorities within the state of Karnataka.

Key Leadership & Structure

• State Chief Information Commissioner (In-Charge): Dr. H.C. Sathyan.
• Information Commissioners: The commission includes several State Information Commissioners (SICs), such as Shri. Raman K., Dr. Harish Kumar, Sri. Rudranna Harthikote, and Sri. Rajashekara S..
• Benches: In addition to its main headquarters in Bengaluru, the KIC operates regional benches in Belagavi and Kalaburagi to improve accessibility.

Core Functions & Powers

• Adjudication: The KIC hears Second Appeals and Complaints regarding the refusal of information or delays by Public Information Officers (PIOs).
• Penalties: The commission has the authority to impose financial penalties—up to ₹25,000—on officials who delay information.
• Judicial Authority: It possesses the powers of a Civil Court, including the ability to summon witnesses, require oral or written evidence under oath, and inspect public records.

Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya

Personality in News

Context

• The Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay on his death anniversary (11 February).

Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya (1916–1968)

• He was a political thinker, economist, and leader of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh.
• He was an exceptional scholar and dedicated nationalist.
• Ideology – He was a visionary thinker, known for his doctrine of Integral Humanism (Ekatma Manav Darshan) which emphasized a balance between spiritual and material development and promoted decentralization and self-reliant village-based economy.
• Contributions- He contributed to ideological journalism by starting ‘Rashtra Dharma’ (monthly), ‘Panchajanya’ (weekly), and ‘Swadesh’ (daily).

India Records Highest-ever Tea Exports in 2025

Agriculture

Context

• India recorded its highest-ever tea exports in 2025, touching 280.40 million kg during January–December 2025, marking a significant increase from 256.17 million kg in 2024.

Indian Tea Industry

• India is the 2nd largest tea producer and largest black tea producer.
• Export destinations – Iran, Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Russia e India is the 4th largest tea exporter in the World.
• Employment – The Indian tea Industry is employing 16 million workers directly.
• Note – Assam grows about 55% of the teas produced in India. India’s tea production has increased by 39% in 2022 from 2008.

Geographical Condition for Tea production

• The tea plant grows well in tropical and subtropical climates.
• Soil: It requires deep and fertile well-drained soil, rich in humus and organic matter.
• Temperature: The average annual temperature for tea plants to grow well is in the range of 15-23°C.
• Precipitation: The rainfall needed is between 150-200 cm.
• Frequent showers evenly distributed over the year ensure continuous growth of tender leaves.
• Major tea producing states are Assam, hills of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
• Apart from these, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh and Tripura are also tea-producing states in the country.

Asia Tea Alliance

• Member countries – It is a coalition of tea associations from major tea-producing countries in Asia like India, China, Sri Lanka, Japan etc.
• Objective – It aims to promote the collective interests of member nations within the global tea market.

Network Readiness Index Report 2025

Infrastructure

Context

• India is placed at 45th rank (with score 54.43 out of 100) as per the Network Readiness Index 2025 report released in 2026.

Network Readiness Index Report 2025

• Published by – Portulans Institute, an independent, non-profit research and educational institute based in Washington DC.
• Objective – The report maps the network-based readiness landscape of 127 economies based on their performance in four pillars: Technology, People, Governance and Impact, covering a total of 53 indicators.
• Top Three Nations: USA, Finland, Singapore

Protest Against Ken-Betwa Linking Project

Geography; /Environment

Context

• Protests against the Ken–Betwa River Linking Project (KBLP), highlighting tensions over the implementation of the river interlinking project.

Ken-Betwa Link Project

• It is a project proposed to transfer excess water from the River Ken to the Betwa basin through the use of a concrete canal.
• Objective – to provide irrigation to the Bundelkhand region of UP, which is one of the worst drought-affected areas in India.
• Beneficiary states – Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
• Significance – It will meet the irrigation purposes, drinking water, and electricity needs of 6 districts in both states.
• Biodiversity Concerns – Nearly 8,650 hectares of forest land including part of Panna National Park in Madhya Pradesh will be submerged if the project were to become a reality.