Author: Ramvilas

Flamingo Revolution

Environment

Context

• People in Albania have launched the “Flamingo Revolution” to oppose a proposed $1.6 billion luxury resort project. 
• The project includes constructions on Sazan island and Vjosa-Narta, a wetland home for flamingos, seals and nesting sites for sea turtles, creating concern over the government’s negligence towards environmental degradation.

Flamingo

• Genus – Phoenicopteridae.
• They are famous for their pink plumage, long necks, and uniquely curved beaks adapted for filter feeding. 
• Distribution – There are six living species of flamingos found across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

1. Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus).
2. Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor).
3. American / Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber).
4. Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis).
5. Andean Flamingo (Phoenicoparrus andinus).
6. James’s / Puna Flamingo (Phoenicoparrus jamesi).

• In India, the Greater Flamingo and Lesser Flamingo are found, especially in coastal wetlands and salt pans.
• Threats – habitat degradation, pollution, disturbance at breeding sites, and climate change affecting wetlands.

Conservation status

• Greater Flamingo (IUCN): Least Concern.
• Lesser Flamingo (IUCN): Near Threatened.

SUMAN Roadmap 2030

Polity

Context

• Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, launched the SUMAN Roadmap 2030 to strengthen maternal and newborn healthcare.

SUMAN Roadmap 2030

• It is a comprehensive national strategy to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 related to maternal and newborn health. 
• The framework seeks to reduce the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) to below 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030, while also lowering neonatal and infant mortality rates and advancing the goal of zero preventable maternal and newborn deaths.

Maternal Mortality

• • Maternal death is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy,

• Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is the number of maternal deaths per 1,00,000 live births.

• The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.1 targets reducing the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 1,00,000 live births by 2030.

Additional Information- Maternal Health Initiatives

1. Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY): Gives cash to poor women who choose to give birth in a hospital instead of at home.
2. Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) – Makes hospital births 100% free. Covers medicine, food, tests, and free rides to and from the hospital.
3. Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN) – It Promises dignified care with zero tolerance for being turned away by a hospital.
4. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) – Gives direct cash (₹5,000 for the first child and ₹6,000 for a second girl child) to buy nutritious food.
5. LaQshya: Upgrades the quality and safety of hospital delivery rooms.

Global Report on Food Crises 2026 (GRFC 2026) report

International

Context

• According to the Global Report on Food Crises 2026 (GRFC 2026) report, more than 266 million people are facing high levels of acute food insecurity across 47 countries.

Key Findings of the Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) 2026

• High Acute Hunger: Around 266 million people (22.9% of the assessed population) experienced high levels of acute food insecurity in 2025.
• Regional Distribution of Hunger Crisis: Ten countries accounted for nearly two-thirds of the global burden.
• Catastrophic Hunger: About 1.4 million people in six countries were classified under the ‘Catastrophe’ (IPC Phase 5) category, the highest level of acute food insecurity.

Initiatives & Efforts In India

• National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013: It provides subsidised food grains to nearly two-thirds of India’s population.
• Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY): It ensures free food grains to NFSA beneficiaries.
• POSHAN Abhiyaan and Mission POSHAN 2.0: It aims to improve nutritional outcomes among women, children and adolescent girls through convergence and technology-enabled monitoring.
• Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS): It provides supplementary nutrition, immunisation, health check-ups and pre-school education.
• PM-POSHAN Scheme: It provides cooked mid-day meals to school children to improve nutrition and educational outcomes.
• Anaemia Mukt Bharat: It targets reduction of anaemia among women, adolescents and children.
• Eat Right India Initiative: It promotes safe, healthy and sustainable dietary practices.

Kisan Sarathi Platform

Polity

Context

• Kisan Sarathi, launched in 2021, is India’s largest integrated digital agro-advisory platform.

About

• Launched by: Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• Implemented by: The Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute and the Digital India Corporation.

Kisan Sarathi app connects farmers with:

• 730+ Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs);
• 100+ ICAR institutes;
• 65+ agricultural universities.

Features:

• Personalized advisory based on farm and farmer profile.
• Live interaction in 13 regional languages with domain experts.
• Call facilities and conferencing support as per the farmer’s needs.
• Access to the farmer’s knowledge database.

Significance: 

• Farmers can get region-specific, real-time advisories on weather updates, market prices, and more.
• Helps farmers discover government schemes suitable to their specific needs. 
• Farmers can easily access the mandi prices and district-wise market rates for major crops.
• It improves query resolution and strengthens the transfer of technology from lab to field.

‘Shastrarth’ Tradition at Nalanda University

History & Culture

Context

• PM Modi praised Nalanda University for reviving the ancient Indian tradition of Shastrarth (scholarly debate).

About

• The ancient Indian tradition of Śāstrārtha is the scholarly discourse and dialogue on scriptures and philosophical subjects.
• Śāstrārtha served as a primary method of teaching, learning and testing knowledge through rigorous intellectual discourse at the ancient Nalanda and Vikramshila universities. 

Nalanda 

• • It is the first residential university of the world founded at Nalanda by the Emperor Kumaragupta in 427CE in Rajgir, Bihar.
  • It flourished for over 800 years till the end in 12th century CE. 
  • It is believed to possess 2,000 teachers and 10,000 students. 
  • Nalanda had attracted scholars to its campus from places as distant as China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, and South East Asia. 
  • The most detailed accounts have come from Chinese scholars and the best known of these is Xuan Zang, who carried back many hundred scriptures which were later translated into Chinese.
  • Revival: In 2006, the former President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam proposed the revival of the ancient Nalanda. 
• The Parliament of India passed the Nalanda University Act, 2010.

Project BRAHMANK Marks its 16th Raising Day

Defence

Context

• Project BRAHMANK of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) celebrated its 16th Raising Day at Ranaghat, Arunachal Pradesh.

About

• • The Project was raised on 29 June 2011 at Ranaghat, East Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh, and became fully functional in December 2011.
  • The Project is responsible for development and maintenance of strategic road infrastructure across the Siang, East Siang, West Siang, Upper Siang and Shi-Yomi districts of Arunachal Pradesh, as well as parts of Dhemaji district in Assam.
• The Project is entrusted with the maintenance and development of 811 km of roads and approximately 86 bridges, ranging from culverts to major steel and arch bridges.

PM Family Care Tracker (PM-FCT)

Polity

Context

• Project BRAHMANK of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) celebrated its 16th Raising Day at Ranaghat, Arunachal Pradesh.

About

• • The Project was raised on 29 June 2011 at Ranaghat, East Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh, and became fully functional in December 2011.
  • The Project is responsible for development and maintenance of strategic road infrastructure across the Siang, East Siang, West Siang, Upper Siang and Shi-Yomi districts of Arunachal Pradesh, as well as parts of Dhemaji district in Assam.
• The Project is entrusted with the maintenance and development of 811 km of roads and approximately 86 bridges, ranging from culverts to major steel and arch bridges.

Baaz Battalions

Defence

Context

• The Indian Army is set to establish specialised drone units called “Baaz Battalions”.

About

• The battalions will build on the Army’s existing Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Flights that will provide a dedicated organisational framework for drone operations across different theatres. 
• The specialised units will comprise trained personnel managing drone systems, strengthening intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities while improving target acquisition and real-time battlefield awareness.
• The decision to establish the Baaz Battalions has been driven by lessons from the LAC standoffs with China, the effective use of drones during Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, and recent global conflicts, particularly the Russia–Ukraine war.

10 Years of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)

Government Schemes

Context

• The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) has completed more than 10 years of advancing irrigation-led agricultural transformation through sustainable water management and the expansion of irrigation coverage.

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)

• It is a flagship irrigation scheme launched in 2015 
• Vision- ‘Har Khet Ko Pani’ (Water to Every Field) and ‘Per Drop More Crop’.
• Objective – It aims to provide for the integrated development and efficient management of water resources from source creation to its application at the farm level.

Components of PMKSY

• Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) – It improves irrigation infrastructure and availability of water.

• Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP) – It expands assured irrigation through minor irrigation and groundwater development.
• Watershed Development Component – It promotes integrated watershed management in rainfed and degraded areas.
• Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) – It promotes micro-irrigation technologies like drip and sprinkler irrigation.

Nine Years of GST

Economy

Context

• On 1 July 2026, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) completed nine years since its rollout under the 101st Constitutional Amendment. 

Goods and Service Tax (GST)

• Goods and Services Tax is an indirect tax used in India on the supply of goods and services.
• It is a value-added tax levied on most goods and services sold for domestic consumption.
• It was launched in India in 2017 as a comprehensive indirect tax for the entire country.

It is of three types i.e. 

1. CGST to be levied by the Centre, 
2. SGST to be levied by the States and 
3. IGST a tax levied on all Inter-State supplies of goods and/or services.  

GST Council

• • Legal status – It is a Constitutional body under Article 279A, introduced by the Constitution (One Hundred and First Amendment) Act, 2016.
  • Mandate – It is empowered to modify, reconcile or to procure any law or regulation based on the context of GST in India.
  • Federal body – It is also considered as a federal body where both the centre and the states get due representation.
  • Functions: It makes recommendations to the Union and State Government on issues related to GST.

• Composition

• • Chairperson: Union Finance Minister.
  • Members: Union State Minister of Revenue or Finance and Ministers in-charge of Finance or Taxation of all the States.

Hul Diwas

History & Culture

Context

• June 30 is observed as Hul Diwas, marking the anniversary of the 1855 Santhal rebellion/ Santhal Hul, one of the earliest peasant and tribal uprisings against the British.

Santhal Hul

• Santhal Hul of 1855 was a revolt against imperialism led by four brothers, Sidho, Kanho, Chand, and Bhairav Murmu, along with sisters Phulo and Jhano. 
• Background: In 1832, the British demarcated a region in present-day Jharkhand, called Damin-i-Koh, as a settlement area for the Santhal tribe.
• While initially intended for peaceful settlement and agricultural development, the region eventually experienced exploitation by outsiders (dikus), leading to land alienation among the Santhals.
• Santhal Hul: The Murmu brothers led around 60,000 Santhals against the East India Company and engaged in guerrilla warfare.
• The Santhals also fought against the upper castes, zamindars, darogas, and moneylenders, described by the umbrella term ‘diku’.
• The British hanged Sidhu in 1855, followed by Kanhu in 1856. 
• Significance: The rebellion led to the enactment of the Santhal Parganas Tenancy Act of 1876 and the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act of 1908, which aimed to safeguard tribal land rights and cultural autonomy.

FCRA 2.0 Portal and e-OCI Card

Polity

Context

• The Union Home Minister launched the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) 2.0 Portal and the Electronic Overseas Citizen of India (e-OCI) Card.

FCRA 2.0 Portal

• The Portal has been developed to simplify compliance under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act and to strengthen the monitoring and enforcement mechanism.
• All major processes related to applications, renewals, annual returns, and other services have now been made fully digital.
• This portal, hosted on the National Government Cloud (MeghRaj), includes features such as process re-engineering, an integrated dashboard, Aadhaar-based authentication, e-Sign facility, and OCR-based document analysis. 
• The portal is integrated with major government databases and banks, including PAN, Aadhaar, OCI, NGO Darpan, and the ICAI’s UDIN system.

Electronic Overseas Citizen of India (e-OCI) Card

• It is a citizen-centric initiative aimed at transforming OCI services for the global Indian diaspora through a fully digital system.
• Under this system, applicants can complete the entire OCI process online – from submitting the application and uploading supporting documents to downloading the digitally generated card after approval.

OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) 

• Status: Foreign citizens of Indian origin. It is not dual citizenship.
• Eligible: Anyone who was an Indian citizen on/after Jan 26, 1950, or their descendants. Foreign spouses qualify after 2 years of marriage.
• Barred: Anyone with ties to Pakistan or Bangladesh. Foreign military personnel are also excluded.

Privileges (What They CAN Do)

• Lifelong Visa: Multiple-entry, multi-purpose visa.
• No Foreigners Regional Registration Office: No police reporting required, regardless of stay duration.
• NRI Parity: Same rights as NRIs in economic, financial, and educational fields.
• Work: Can practice as doctors, dentists, lawyers, and chartered accountants in India.

Restrictions (What They CANNOT Do)

• No Voting: Cannot vote in any Indian elections.
• No Public Office: Barred from government jobs and constitutional posts (e.g., President, Judge).
• No Farm Land: Cannot buy agricultural or plantation property.Permissions Needed: Requires prior approval for journalism, research, missionary work, or visiting restricted areas.

Academic Bank of Credits

Economy

Context

• The Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) is a revolutionary digital platform by the Ministry of Education and is regulated by the University Grants Commission (UGC). 

APAAR (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry) ID 

• It is a unique 12-digit student identification number linked to the ABC system.
• It was introduced as part of the “One Nation, One Student ID” initiative, and creates a single academic identity for every learner. 
• Objective – It aimed to create a flexible, learner-friendly education system in which learning achievements can be recognised, stored, and used throughout a person’s life. 
• It supports the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Credit Framework (NCrF) by enabling credit transfer, multiple entry and exit options, and recognition of learning across different institutions and disciplines.

Climate Tipping Points

Environment and Ecology

Context

• Climate tipping points emerged as a major area of debate during the Bonn Climate Change Conference held in Germany.

Climate Tipping Points

• Definition – It is a critical threshold in the Earth’s climate system beyond which small incremental temperature increases trigger abrupt, self-reinforcing, and irreversible changes

Major Potential Climate Tipping Points

• Arctic Sea Ice Loss: Continued melting reduces the Earth’s reflectivity (albedo), leading to faster global warming.
• Amazon Rainforest Dieback: Rising temperatures, deforestation and declining rainfall can transform large parts of the Amazon into savannah, reducing one of the world’s largest carbon sinks.
• Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC): Weakening of this major ocean current can disrupt rainfall patterns, agriculture and weather systems across Europe, Africa and Asia.
• Greenland Ice Sheet Melting: Accelerated ice-sheet loss could contribute substantially to long-term global sea-level rise.
• Coral Reef Collapse: Increasing ocean temperatures and acidification can lead to irreversible coral bleaching and biodiversity loss.