Author: Ramvilas

Abraham Accords

International

Context

• Pakistan’s Defence Minister has said that he is not in favour of Pakistan joining the Abraham Accords to normalise relations with Israel.

Abraham Accords

• • The Abraham Accords refer to a series of normalisation agreements signed in 2020 between Israel and several Arab countries, brokered by the United States under the Trump administration.
  • For decades, most Arab nations refused to recognise Israel until the Palestinian issue was resolved. 
  • The Abraham Accords marked a major shift in Middle East diplomacy by establishing open relations between Israel and certain Arab states without prior resolution of the Israel–Palestine conflict.
  • UAE became the first Gulf country to normalise relations with Israel in 2020 as part of the Abraham Accords.

• Countries: USA, Israel, UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, Morocco and Kazakhstan.

Main Objectives

• Normalisation of diplomatic relations (embassies, direct flights, trade, tourism, and technology cooperation).
• Security and intelligence cooperation, especially against Iran’s regional influence.
• Economic collaboration in sectors like innovation, agriculture, defence, and renewable energy.
• Promotion of interfaith understanding named after Abraham, the patriarch revered in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

SARTHAK-PDS Scheme to Modernise Public Distribution System

Economy

Context

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), approved the continuation and integration of two key food distribution schemes under a new umbrella programme titled “Scheme for Assistance in Ration Transport and Handling-Income with Automation in PDS” (SARTHAK-PDS).

SARTHAK-PDS scheme 

• It integrates two existing initiatives;

1. Assistance to State Agencies for intra-State movement of foodgrains and FPS dealers’ margin under NFSA and 
2. Scheme for Modernization and Reforms through Technology in Public Distribution System (SMART PDS) with the objective of strengthening implementation of the National Food Security Act.

• Significance- The scheme proposes the use of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Blockchain to modernise and optimise PDS operations.

Additional Information – PDS System

• The Public Distribution System (PDS) is a food security mechanism in India through which essential food commodities are distributed to eligible beneficiaries at subsidised prices through Fair Price Shops (FPSs).
• The system primarily distributes rice, wheat and coarse grains to economically weaker sections of society.
• The PDS is a joint responsibility of the central and state governments. 
• The central government, through the Food Corporation of India (FCI), procures, stores, transports, and allocates food grains to the states.

India–US Critical Minerals Framework

Science & Technology

Context

• India and the United States signed a major framework agreement to strengthen cooperation in the supply, mining, processing, recycling, and management of critical minerals and rare earth elements (REEs).
• The initiative follows concerns over China’s 2025 export controls on REEs, which disrupted global technology supply chains.

List of Critical Minerals

• A total of 30 minerals were found to be most critical for India : Antimony, Beryllium, Bismuth, Cobalt, Copper, Gallium, Germanium, Graphite, Hafnium, Indium, Lithium, Molybdenum, Niobium, Nickel, PGE, Phosphorous, Potash, Rare Earth Elements (REEs), Rhenium, Silicon, Strontium, Tantalum, Tellurium, Tin, Titanium, Tungsten, Vanadium, Zirconium, Selenium and Cadmium.

India’s Policy Push for Mineral Exploration

• • Domestic Reserves: India has vast untapped mineral potential, with lithium in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Rajasthan, and REEs in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
  • Policy Initiatives: National Mineral Exploration Policy (NMEP), 2016 and Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 2021 have accelerated exploration through private participation and advanced surveys.

• KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Ltd) is acquiring overseas mineral assets to ensure supply security.

• National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) – It aims to strengthen the value chain from exploration to recovery.

Additional Information – Rare Earth Elements (REEs)

• REEs are a group of 17 metallic elements, including the 15 lanthanides along with scandium and yttrium.
• They are widely used in consumer electronics, defence systems, renewable energy technologies, EVs, communication systems, and nuclear energy.
• India has the world’s third-largest rare earth reserves, mainly found in monazite minerals.

‘Pax Silica’

• launched in – December, 2025

• It is a coalition comprising the United States, Australia, Greece, Israel, Japan, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the UAE, the UK, and now India.
• Objective – It is a US-led strategic initiative to build a secure, prosperous, and innovation-driven silicon supply chain from critical minerals.
• The term ‘Pax Silica’ derived from Latin ‘Pax’ (peace) and ‘Silica’ (a core compound in semiconductors).
• Significance – It symbolizes the pursuit of technological peace and prosperity through resilient, transparent, and cooperative supply chains.

Oreshnik Missile

Defence

Context

• Russia used its powerful Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile in an overnight missile and drone attack on Kyiv, Ukraine.

Oreshnik 

• It is an intermediate-range hypersonic weapon believed to be based on Russia’s RS-26 Rubezh system. 
• It can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads. 
• Its strike range is estimated between 3,000 and 5,500 kilometres, allowing it to target large parts of Europe.
• It is almost impossible for modern air defence systems to intercept the missile owing to its speed of Mach 10, or nearly 2.5–3 kilometres per second.

Algoza

Culture

Context

• Taga Ram Bheel of Jaisalmer was honoured with the Padma Shri 2026 for preserving and promoting traditional Rajasthani folk music through the ancient instrument called the Algoza.

Algoza

• The Algoza is a traditional folk wind instrument associated with Rajasthan, Punjab, Sindh, and parts of western India and Pakistan. 
• It consists of two wooden flutes played simultaneously — one creates the melody while the other provides a rhythmic base.
• What makes the instrument unique is the use of circular breathing, a difficult technique that allows musicians to produce continuous music without stopping for breath.
• Often called the soul of Thar Desert folk music, the Algoza has traditionally been played during festivals, weddings, storytelling sessions, and devotional gatherings.

Khajuraho

Art & Culture

In News

• World Heritage Site Khajuraho, is set to host the 25-day countdown event for the International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2026.

Khajuraho

• The Khajuraho Group of Monuments, a group of Hindu and Jain temples located in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. 
• The temples are famous for their nagara-style architectural symbolism and their erotic sculptures.

Historical records:

• Most Khajuraho temples were built between 950 and 1050 CE by the Chandela dynasty. 
• Historical records note that the Khajuraho temple complex once had 85 temples spread across 20 square kilometres. 
• At present, only about 25 temples have survived, spread over six square kilometres.