Author: instakas

Miyawaki Forest Plantation

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• The Delhi government’s Forest Department has planned a Miyawaki plantation drive at the Asola-Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary.

Miyawaki Technique

• Origin: The Miyawaki technique, Often referred to as the ‘pot plantation method’, was developed by renowned Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki in the 1970s.
• It is a revolutionary method for creating dense forests in small urban spaces.
• Principle: It involves planting trees and shrubs close to one another to accelerate their growth. Plants grow 10 times faster with this technique, making it a practical solution for urban areas.
• Significance: In urban areas, the method is known to have successfully converted barren, polluted lands into thriving green ecosystems, simultaneously managing industrial waste and curbing pollution.

Asola-Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary

• The Asola-Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary is located in southern Delhi and extends into parts of Faridabad in Haryana.
• The sanctuary lies along the Southern Ridge of the Aravalli Range, which is one of the oldest mountain systems in the world.
• The sanctuary was declared a protected area in 1991 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• The sanctuary is also known as the “green lungs” of Delhi and acts as a natural ecological barrier against the eastward expansion of the Thar Desert.

Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

Context

• The Union Minister for Defence laid the foundation stone for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project at Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh.

Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme facility

• is being developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• It will serve as the integration, development and flight testing hub for India’s indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft programme.
• The AMCA fighter aircraft will feature stealth technology, twin-engine super cruise capability and advanced avionics.

‘Abhay’: AI-powered verification system

Syllabus: GS3/Cyber Security

In News

• The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched an AI-based helpbot called “Abhay” for authentication of CBI notices.

‘Abhay’

• It is the AI-powered chatbot-style verification mechanism for the public to verify notices issued by CBI.
• It is designed to protect the citizens from the growing menace of cyber fraud and digital arrest scams.
• It has been designed keeping in mind data confidentiality and the requirement for a public-facing authentication mechanism.

India’s First Satellite-tagged Ganges Soft-shell Turtle

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

In News

• India’s first satellite-tagged Ganges soft-shell turtle was released in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam.
• Assam is one of the world’s top priority areas in freshwater turtle conservation. Of the eight soft-shell turtles reported from India, five are known from the Kaziranga landscape.

Ganges soft-shell turtle (Nilssonia gangetica),

• Characteristics: It can be differentiated from other riverine turtles by its distinct arrowhead-shaped markings on the top of the head.
• It feeds on fish, birds, reptiles, invertebrates, carrion, and aquatic plants.
• Habitat and Distribution: It mainly lives in rivers and large canals with muddy bottoms and flowing, turbid water, though it may also use ponds and lakes.
• It is found across the northern plains of the Indian subcontinent, including the Indus, Ganga, Narmada, Mahanadi, and Brahmaputra river basins in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
• In India, the species inhabits large rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.
• Ecological Role : It is a major river predator and helps clean up the system by feeding on dead and decaying animal matter.
• Threats : It faces severe threats from illegal hunting, international trade, and habitat destruction.
• Protection status : It is a Schedule I animal under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
• It is recorded as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
• It is included in CITES Appendix I, prohibiting all forms of international commercial trade.

Government Banned Sugar Exports

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

Context

• The Government of India, through the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, placed exports of raw, white, and refined sugar under the prohibited category till September 30, 2026.

Reasons Behind the Sugar Export Ban

• El Niño and Monsoon Concerns: The government fears that a possible El Niño event may weaken the monsoon, reduce sugarcane cultivation, and affect future sugar production.
• Fertiliser Supply Risks: Geopolitical tensions in West Asia may disrupt fertiliser supplies, which is significant because sugarcane is a fertiliser-intensive crop.
• Maintaining Adequate Domestic Stocks: The ban aims to preserve sufficient sugar stocks to control prices, prevent shortages, and ensure domestic food security.

Assam Ships First Legal Agarwood Chips to West Asia

Syllabus:GS3/Economy

In News

• Assam legally approved export of agarwood chips to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Agarwood

• It is also known as oud.
• It is produced from resin formed in infected Aquilaria and Gyrinops trees.
• Agarwood is a highly valued material used globally in luxury perfumes, incense, cosmetics, and traditional products.
• Agarwood is grown in countries such as India, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, and Bhutan.
• In India, key species like Aquilaria malaccensis and Aquilaria khasiana are found mainly in the Northeast, including Assam and surrounding states.
• Agarwood is conserved under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Withholding Tax

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

Context

• Amid the West Asia conflict, the government is reportedly considering slashing the ‘withholding tax’ rate from 20% to the earlier 5% as it looks to revive overseas inflows.

Withholding Tax

• Withholding tax, or WHT, is a tax collected at the source of income.
• Instead of waiting for an investor or foreign company to pay taxes at the end of the financial year, the government requires the payer to deduct a portion of the income before it is remitted to the recipient.
• The deducted amount is then directly deposited with the government.
• In simple terms, whenever income is earned whether through employment, investments, royalties or other sources the government ensures tax collection in advance through withholding tax.
• Hong Kong and Singapore don’t have a withholding tax.

Significance of Slashing Withholding Tax

• Attracts Foreign Investment: Lower withholding tax increases returns for foreign investors, encouraging greater FDI and portfolio investments.
• Improves Ease of Doing Business: Reduces tax and compliance burden on companies engaged in cross-border transactions.
• Boosts Capital and Trade Flows: Encourages international trade, technology transfer, and movement of global capital.
• Supports Economic Growth: Increased investment and business activity can generate employment, innovation, and higher economic productivity.

Prime Minister’s Visit to the UAE

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• PM Modi made a landmark diplomatic stopover in UAE, first stop in his five-nation trip to the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy.

Key Outcomes

• MoU on Strategic Collaboration between Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL) and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).
• Strategic Collaboration Agreement between Indian Oil Limited (IOCL) Company and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) on supplies of Liquified Petroleum gas (LPG).

Framework for the Strategic Defence Partnership:

• MoU between Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) and Drydocks World (DDW) on setting up a Ship Repair Cluster at Vadinar, Gujarat.
• Cooperation includes offshore fabrication, under the Maritime Development Fund Scheme launched by the Government of India.

Additional Information – India and UAE

• Political: India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) established diplomatic relations in 1972.
• Relationships were upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in 2017.
• Trade and Investment Ties: Bilateral merchandise trade between the two countries crossed US$100 billion for the first time.
• Space Cooperation: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the UAE Space Agency signed an MoU regarding cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes in 2016.
• Indian Community: Indian expatriate community of approximately 3.5 million is the largest ethnic community in UAE constituting roughly about 35% of the country’s population.
• Multilateral Cooperation: India and the UAE are currently part of several plurilateral platforms such as India-Middle East EU Economic Corridor (IMEC),  I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-USA) and UFI (UAE-France-India) Trilateral, etc.

Chahbahar port

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• Iranian Foreign Minister described Chabahar port a “golden gateway”, expressing the hope that India will continue to develop the strategic port.

Chabahar Port

• Location: It is a seaport in Chabahar located in southeastern Iran, on the Gulf of Oman.
• It consists of two separate ports named Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti.
• It is only about 170 kilometers west of the Pakistani port of Gwadar.
• Strategic location: India needs access to iron from Afghanistan’s Hajigak mine and other natural resources from the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, which is made possible by the Chabahar port.
• INSTC: The port is also part of International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transport project to connect the Indian Ocean to Northern Europe.

Ecocide

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• The term “ecocide” has gained renewed attention amid allegations of large-scale environmental destruction during recent conflicts, including the wars in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.

Ecocide

• Ecocide refers to severe, widespread, or long-term destruction of the environment caused by human actions.
• The term was coined in 1970 by Arthur W. Galston.
• Note – Vietnam became the first country to criminalise ecocide domestically in 1990.

Connect with the basics – International Laws on Environment

Climate Change & Ozone

• UNFCCC (1992): The foundational framework aiming to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions.
• Kyoto Protocol (1997): Set legally binding emission reduction targets for developed countries and established flexible market mechanisms (CDM, Emissions Trading).
• Paris Agreement (2015): A legally binding treaty adopted at COP21 aiming to limit global warming to well below 2°C (striving for 1.5°C) using Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
• Montreal Protocol (1987): A highly successful, legally binding treaty phased out ozone-depleting substances (ODSs). [Recent] Its Kigali Amendment (2016) mandates the phased reduction of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

Biodiversity & Wildlife

• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): Targets the conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair sharing of benefits. Includes the Cartagena Protocol (biosafety) and the Nagoya Protocol (access and benefit-sharing).
• CITES (1973): Controls international trade of endangered flora and fauna to ensure survival.
• Ramsar Convention (1971): Focuses on the conservation and wise use of internationally significant wetlands.

Hazardous Wastes & Chemicals

• Basel Convention (1989): Controls the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and their disposal.
• Rotterdam Convention (1998): Promotes shared responsibility and cooperative efforts in the international trade of certain hazardous chemicals.
• Stockholm Convention (2001): Aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).

World Migration Report 2026

Syllabus: GS2/ Indian Diaspora

Context

• The International Organization for Migration released the World Migration Report 2026.

Key Findings of the Report

• International migrants accounted for 7% of the global population in 2024, compared to 2.9% in 1990.
• The largest migration corridor globally remains Mexico–United States Corridor with nearly 11 million migrants.
• Other major corridors include: Afghanistan–Iran Corridor, Syria–Türkiye Corridor and Russia–Ukraine Corridor.

Additional Information – The International Organization for Migration (IOM)

• It is the principal UN agency for migration.
• Established in – 1951
• Headquarter – Geneva, Switzerland.
• Objective – It promotes humane, orderly migration and provides humanitarian assistance to migrants, refugees, and internally displaced persons.
• India has been an official member state of the IOM since 2008

India to host 1st IBCA Summit

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

In News

• The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched the website and logo for the 1st International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit 2026, in New Delhi.

International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

• Headquarters – India,
• Objective – It is a multi-country, multi-agency coalition of 95 big cat range countries with an interest in big cat conservation.
• Genesis: IBCA was launched by the Prime Minister of India in 2023 during the event ‘Commemorating 50 years of Project Tiger’.
• Aim: Conserving seven big cats – Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma.
• Members: Nicaragua, Eswatini, India, Somalia and Liberia have signed the Framework Agreement to formally become members of the IBCA.

Samagra Shiksha Teachers

Syllabus: GS2/Government Initiatives

Context

• Delhi Government has approved a substantial increase in the salaries of vocational teachers and those working under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.

Samagra Shiksha Scheme

• Launched in – 2018-19
• Financing – Centrally Sponsored Scheme

Subsumed erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Schemes:

1. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)
2. Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and
3. Teacher Education (TE)

Objectives:

• To implement SDG 4, Right to Education and New Education Policy.
• to treat school education holistically from pre-school to Class 12

Coverage: 1.16 million schools, over 156 million students and 5.7 million Teachers of Govt. and Aided schools.

Mizoram Ginger Mission

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

In News

• The Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) launched the Mizoram Ginger Mission.

Mizoram Ginger Mission

• It is a Ginger Cultivation & Value Chain Development for the State of Mizoram.
• This mission is a key component of the broader “Brand North East” vision, which assigns specific USPs to states, such as Sikkim (Organic State), Arunachal Pradesh (Kiwi), Tripura (Queen Pineapple), Nagaland (Coffee), and Meghalaya (Lakadong Turmeric).
• Objective – to improve farmer incomes by reducing price gaps, minimising post-harvest losses, and promoting better use of GI-certified ginger through coordinated efforts among multiple ministries.
• Mizoram is known for its Geographical Indication (GI)- certified ginger varieties.

Additional Information – Ginger

• It is one of the oldest known spices, and is esteemed for its aroma and pungency. It originated in South – East Asia

Climatic & Soil Requirements

• Climate: Warm and humid tropical climate.
• Temperature: Performs best in temperatures ranging between 19 – 28 degree celsius.
• Rainfall: Requires moderate to high rainfall of about 150 to 250cm every year. It does not tolerate frost or prolonged waterlogging.
• Soil: Loose, fertile, well-drained sandy loam or clay loam rich in organic matter.
• Global Standing: India is the largest producer of ginger in the world. Major producing states include Kerala, Odisha, Meghalaya, West Bengal, and Arunachal Pradesh.

NEET Paper Leak Controversy

Syllabus: GS2/Education/Governance

Context

• The National Testing Agency (NTA) stated that the 2026 NEET examination had been “compromised” and announced that a re-test would be conducted for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).
• NEET paves the way for admission to medical colleges.

Radhakrishnan Panel

• Following the NEET-UG 2024 controversy, the Ministry of Education formed a high-level committee headed by former ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan.

National Testing Agency (NTA)

• Established: In 2017.
• It is an autonomous body of the Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education of India.

NTA conducts major entrance examinations such as the

1. Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main for engineering;
2. National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test-Undergraduate (NEET-UG) for medicine;
3. Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for general Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes in central universities.
4. It also conducts recruitment exams for several government agencies including National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), Delhi High Court, Employment Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and for several posts in central government universities.

Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means ) Act, 2024

• It was passed in 2024 and is aimed at curbing leaks, malpractices in recruitment examinations like UPSC, SSC etc and entrance tests such as NEET, JEE, and CUET.
• The Act broadly defines “unfair means” to include various malpractices, such as:

1. Leaking question papers or answer keys,
2. Assisting candidates during exams (unauthorized communication, providing solutions),
3. Tampering with computer networks or resources,
4. Impersonating candidates,
5. Conducting fake examinations or issuing fake documents,
6. Tampering with documents for merit lists or ranks.

Penalties and Punishments:

Individuals:

• Imprisonment ranges from 3 to 10 years depending on the offense’s severity.
• Fines up to Rs. 1 crore for organized crimes.

Service providers:

• Fines up to Rs. 1 crore for involvement in malpractices.
• Barring from conducting public examinations for 4 years.
• Personal liability for directors/management involved.

Organized crimes:

• Harsher penalties, with imprisonment between 5 and 10 years and a minimum fine of Rs. 1 crore
• The institution involved can face property attachment and forfeiture

Investigation:

• All offences under the Act are cognisable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable.
• An officer not below the rank Deputy Superintendent or Assistant Commissioner of Police will investigate the offences under the Act.
• The Central Government may transfer the investigation to any Central Investigating Agency.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)

Syllabus: GS2/Polity and Governance

Context

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved a one-year extension in the tenure of Praveen Sood as Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Central Bureau of Investigation

• Set up in – It was set up in 1963 by a resolution of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Established under – It comes under the administrative control of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
• Recommended by – It was established on the recommendation of the Santhanam Committee.
• Legal status – The CBI is not a statutory body. It derives its powers from the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946.

Functions 

1. The CBI is the main investigating agency of the Central Government.
2. It also provides assistance to the Central Vigilance Commission and Lokpal.
3. It is also the nodal police agency in India which coordinates investigations on behalf of Interpol Member countries.

Revving up Immune Cells Might Help Fight HIV: Study

Syllabus: GS2/Health

Context

• Scientists are tweaking a powerful cancer therapy in hopes it could fight HIV instead, by supercharging patients’ own immune cells.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

• Pathogen – It is a chronic, potentially life-threatening health condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which damages the human immune system.
• Transmission: Through direct contact with certain body fluids (blood, semen, rectal fluid, vaginal fluid or breast milk) from a person infected with HIV.
• Symptoms:
  • Stage 1: Flu-like illness (Fever, chills, rashes, night sweats)
  • Stage 2: Clinical latency (No particular symptoms)
  • Stage 3: AIDS (Weakening of Immune System)
• Prevention: Prevention is better than cure, using protective techniques, non-contaminated needles & preventing mother to child transmission.
• Treatment: There is no cure for HIV infection. It is treated with antiretroviral drugs, which stop the virus from replicating in the body. Untreated HIV can progress to AIDS, often after many years.

Steps taken by Government of India

• National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) (Central Sector Scheme)
• India has achieved the 6th MDG of halting and reversing the HIV epidemic.
• Prevention from Parent to Child Transmission (PPTCT) programme
• HIV/AIDS Act 2017 (Prohibits discrimination against HIV-infected people on any grounds)
• 90:90:90 strategy as adopted by UNAIDS (90% (diagnosed, treatment (by anti-retroviral treatment (ART)) & suppression)) by 2020. Extended by 10 years with the goal post of 95-95-95.
• Project ACCELERATE (John Hopkin & NACO initiative): To provide HIV Services through Safe Zindagi online portal.
• Mission Sampark: Its purpose was to “bring back” people living with HIV (PLHIV) who had stopped antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Alzheimer’s Disease

Syllabus: GS2/Health

In News

• Eli Lilly and Company has launched a new Alzheimer’s treatment in India called Lormalzi, marking one of the first disease-modifying therapies for the condition in the country.
• Lormalzi Drug – It is a monoclonal antibody, is given as a once-a-month infusion and works by removing amyloid-beta plaques in the brain, which are linked to Alzheimer’s progression.

Alzheimer’s Disease

• It is the most common form of dementia, a brain disorder that slowly destroys a person’s memory and thinking skills.
• It is characterized by a loss of cognitive functioning — thinking, remembering, and reasoning — and behavioral abilities to such an extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities.
• Eventually, people with Alzheimer’s lose the ability to perform simple daily tasks, such as eating or walking.
• Drugs like lecanemab and aducanumab exist globally, benefits are modest and come with complexity, high cost, and safety concerns.

Tatya Tope

Syllabus: GS1/ Modern History

Context

• A rare handwritten and signed letter of Tatya Tope dating back to 1857 has been discovered in the archives of Madhya Pradesh.

Tatya Tope

• Early Life: Tatya Tope, originally named Ramachandra Pandurang Tope, was born in 1814 in Nashik, Maharashtra.
• His father served as a noble in the court of Baji Rao II, the last Maratha Peshwa.
• He shared a close association with Nana Sahib, the adopted son of Baji Rao II, which later shaped his role in the revolt.
• Role in the Revolt of 1857: He emerged as one of the most capable military commanders during the Revolt of 1857.
• He played a key role in major centres of resistance such as Kanpur and Gwalior.
• He worked closely with leaders like Rani Lakshmibai, helping sustain the rebellion against British forces.
• Military Tactics: He was known for his effective use of guerrilla warfare, rapid mobility, and surprise attacks.
• He was eventually captured by the British and executed in Shivpuri in 1859 after a formal trial.

Sikkim Becomes India’s First Paperless Judiciary State

Syllabus: GS2/Judiciary

Context

• The Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, declared Sikkim as the first paperless judiciary state in India.

About –

• Significance – This initiative drastically reduces dependence on physical files, minimizes logistical delays, ensures transparency, and aids in reducing case pendency.
• Technology Integration: The system includes e-filing, digital case management, and virtual hearings, aligning with the broader e-Courts Mission Mode Project and the Digital India vision.
• Relevance to Hilly Terrain: Digitalization facilitates easier access to justice for litigants and lawyers, overcoming geographical barriers in the region.

Centre Eyes New E-bus Scheme

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

Context

• The Centre may roll out a fresh electric bus scheme for States after completing the tendering and allocation of all 14,000 buses under the PM E-DRIVE programme.

PM E-DRIVE Scheme

• Objective – To set up charging infrastructure and development of EV manufacturing ecosystem in India.
• Duration – The scheme shall be implemented from October 1, 2024 to March 31, 2026.
• e-Vouchers: Ministry of Heavy Industries is introducing e-vouchers for EV buyers to avail demand incentives under the scheme.
• Charging Stations: The scheme addresses range anxiety of EV buyers by promoting in a big way the installation of electric vehicle public charging stations (EVPCS).

Additional Information

• India’s Electric Vehicle Policy – To achieve the ambitious target of having EV sales penetration of 30% of private cars, 70% of commercial cars, 40% of buses and 80% of two and three-wheelers by 2030.
• National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP): The NEMMP was launched in 2013 with the goal of achieving national fuel security by promoting hybrid and electric vehicles.
• FAME India Scheme: The Faster Adoption and Manufacture of Electric Vehicles (FAME) India scheme was launched in 2015 to promote the manufacturing and adoption of EVs.

Sacred Groves in India

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• The Kerala State Biodiversity Board has launched a pilot programme to restore sacred groves.

Sacred Groves

• Sacred groves are patches of forest or natural vegetation protected by local communities due to religious beliefs and traditional practices.
• They function as community-conserved ecosystems, often associated with temples, rituals, and indigenous traditions.
• India has an estimated 100,000–150,000 sacred groves, reflecting their widespread cultural and ecological significance.
• Suitable groves may be notified as Biodiversity Heritage Sites under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

Significance

• Sacred groves act as biodiversity hotspots, preserving rare, endemic, and medicinal plant species.
• They contribute to soil conservation and prevent erosion, especially in fragile ecosystems like the Western Ghats and Himalayas.
• Culturally, they are centres of rituals, festivals, and community identity, reinforcing conservation through belief systems.

Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026

Syllabus: GS2/ Polity & Governance

Context

• Recently, the Supreme Court of India flagged the critical issues like Self-identification vs State verification and Welfare targeting vs individual dignity in Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026.

Background: Legal Evolution of Transgender Rights in India

• NALSA Judgment, 2014: It recognised transgender persons as the ‘third gender’, and affirmed right to self-identification without medical intervention.
• It established self-determination as a core constitutional value.
• It is linked gender identity to Article 21 (Right to Life and Dignity).
• Transgender Persons Act, 2019: It defines transgender persons, mandates the right to self-perceived identity, prohibits discrimination in employment and education, and establishes the right to reside in the household.
• It introduced certification by District Magistrate.
• Amendment Act, 2026: It mandates medical board certification before legal recognition; removes explicit recognition of self-perceived identity; and introduces stricter definitions and penal provisions.

Key Issues Raised in the Supreme Court

• Self-Identification vs Medical Gatekeeping: Violates bodily autonomy and dignity (Art. 21), and creates ‘medical gatekeeping’ by the State. Clinical validation undermines identity autonomy.
• Fear of Misuse vs Rights Protection: Court flagged risk of ‘masquerading’ to access reservations/welfare.
• However, misuse probability is negligible, and concerns of misuse are often overstated compared to systemic exclusion.
• Impact on NALSA Principles: Amendment in 2026 dilutes self-identification doctrine, and reintroduces biological essentialism.
• It acts as a ‘regressive shift from rights-based to regulatory framework’.
• Healthcare and Transition Rights: It alleged that ongoing gender-affirming treatments will be disrupted.
• Access to healthcare is already limited and stigmatized in India.
• Classification and Stigma: Inclusion of victims of coercion alongside transgender persons leads to arbitrary and stigmatizing classification (Art. 14 violation).

Ru-Soam Bridges

Syllabus: GS1/ Culture; GS3/ Environment

Context

• UNESCO has partnered with the Government of Sikkim to document indigenous Ru-Soam (cane bridge) engineering practices.
• The project is being implemented in the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve with support from Airbnb.

About Ru-Soam Bridges

• Ru-Soam are traditional cane bridges built by the Lepcha community.
• These bridges are constructed using locally available natural materials such as bamboo, cane, and wood.
• They demonstrate a high level of ecological understanding and structural resilience suited to mountainous terrain.
• The bridges proved their resilience during the Sikkim Glacial Lake Outburst Flood 2023.

Tanzania

Syllabus: GS1/Geography

In News

• Recently, the 5th session of the India–Tanzania Joint Trade Committee (JTC), held in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.

Tanzania

• It is an East African country located just south of the Equator.
• The capital is Dodoma, and Dar es Salaam is the largest city and main port.
• tanzania
• Bordering countries – It is bordered by Uganda, Kenya, and Lake Victoria to the north; the Indian Ocean to the east; Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, and Lake Nyasa to the south; and Rwanda, Burundi, and Lake Tanganyika to the west.
• Geographical features: Mount Kilimanjaro Located in Tanzania,
• Mount Kilimanjaro is the African continent’s highest peak
• Tanzania also includes a portion of Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa and a source of the Nile River.
• Rivers – Great Ruaha, Rufiji, and Kagera rivers
• Lake Tanganyika, forms the boundary between Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) 2.0 Guidelines

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

In News

• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) 2.0 Guidelines at the recently concluded National Summit on Good Practices and Innovations in Public Healthcare Service Delivery.

Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK)

• It is a national initiative launched under the National Health Mission (NHM).
• Implementation – Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• Objective – It focuses on early identification and intervention for children from birth to 18 years to manage conditions like birth defects, deficiencies, diseases, and developmental delays.
• Target Beneficiaries – The programme splits children into age-appropriate cohorts for structured tracking:

1. 0 to 6 weeks: Newborns screened at delivery points and through home visits by ASHAs.
2. 6 weeks to 6 years: Pre-school children monitored at local Anganwadi centres.
3. 6 years to 18 years: Students enrolled in government and government-aided schools.

• The “4Ds” Strategy – RBSK systematically screens and provides free treatment for 30 to 32 selected health conditions grouped under four major categories:

1. Defects at Birth: Down syndrome, congenital cataract, cleft lip/palate, club foot, and congenital heart diseases.
2. Deficiencies: Anaemia, Vitamin A or D deficiency, severe acute malnutrition (SAM), and goitre.
3. Diseases of Childhood: Skin conditions, otitis media, rheumatic heart disease, and reactive airway disease.
4. Developmental Delays & Disabilities: Vision impairment, hearing loss, autism spectrum disorder, and cerebral palsy.

Hantavirus Outbreak

Syllabus: GS3/Science

Context

• Three passengers on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean have died after a suspected hantavirus outbreak, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Hantavirus

• Responsible Pathogen – It is a rare but severe zoonotic disease, meaning it spreads from animals to humans. It belongs to the Hantaviridae family and is an RNA virus.
• Vector – The virus is primarily spread by rodents such as mice and rats.
• It spreads through inhalation of airborne particles from infected rodent urine or droppings, or by touching contaminated surfaces.
• Human-to-human transmission is generally rare.
• Symptoms – The disease usually begins with flu-like symptoms such as fever and fatigue within one to eight weeks after exposure.
• In severe cases, it can lead to Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, which may cause respiratory distress and can be fatal.
• Treatment – There are ​no specific drugs to treat the disease, so treatment focuses on supportive care, ​including putting ⁠patients on ventilators in severe cases.