Author: Ramvilas

DISHA 2.0

Polity

Context

• The Union Government has launched DISHA 2.0 (Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice) Scheme with a financial outlay of ₹255 crore for the period 2026–31 for pan-India implementation.

DISHA 2.0

• Financing – It is a Central Sector Scheme
• Implementation – Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice.
• DISHA 2.0 – It expands technology-driven legal aid. 

Key Components

• Tele-Law: Pre-litigation advice via Common Service Centres (CSCs).
• Nyaya Bandhu: Pro bono legal services and lawyers.
• LLLAP: Legal Literacy and Legal Awareness Programme.
• VIDHI-Sanjeevani: Centralized platform featuring the AI multilingual Nyaya Setu chatbot.

Significance 

• Constitutional Basis: Fulfills mandates under Articles 14, 21, and 39A (Free Legal Aid).
• Global Goals: Supports UN Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

Geographical Indication (GI) Tags for ‘Unjha Cumin’ and ‘Unjha Fennel

Economy

Context

• Rajasthan’s cumin (jeera) and fennel (saunf) farmers have opposed the Geographical Indication (GI) registration of ‘Unjha Jeera’ and ‘Unjha Fennel’.

About

• Unjha is one of Asia’s largest agricultural markets for seed spices, especially cumin (jeera), fennel (saunf), and isabgol.
• A substantial quantity of jeera and saunf traded in the Unjha APMC originates from Rajasthan.
• Rajasthan farmers argue that Unjha in Gujarat is primarily a trading and marketing hub rather than the main production centre for these seed spices.

BHAVYA – Rasayan Scheme

Economy

In News

• The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, has approved Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana Rasayan or BHAVYA – Rasayan Scheme for establishing three dedicated Chemical Parks in the country. 

Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana Rasayan (BHAVYA-Rasayan) 

• • Objective – It is a newly approved Central Sector industrial park development scheme aimed at transforming India’s chemical and petro-chemical manufacturing landscape. 
  • Announced in – Union Budget 2026-27 with a total financial outlay of ₹3,030 crore.
  • Objective – to establish three dedicated, world-class chemical parks across India over a five-year period.
  • Nodal Ministry: Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.

• Scheme Type: It is a Central Sector Scheme

• Implementation Timeline: Operational for a 5-year period spanning from FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31.

Significance – 

• Economics: Lowers production and logistics overheads.
• Trade: Promotes raw material import substitution.
• Ecology: Enforces centralized green waste processing.
• Vision: Aligns with Viksit Bharat @ 2047.

PRAXIS Mission

Science and Technology

Context

• NASA has selected PRAXIS, an innovative mission concept to develop the first spacecraft capable of directly collecting and studying particles from planetary rings, such as those around Saturn.

PRAXIS

• Full form – Planetary Rings Autonomous Exploration with In-situ Sampling.

• • It proposes a bio-inspired robotic spacecraft powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI).

• Uniqueness- It aims to become the first mission to directly collect samples from planetary ring particles.

Key Features: 

• Bio-inspired robotic explorer: Designed to mimic efficient movement and adaptability found in nature.
• AI-driven autonomy: Uses AI to identify suitable ring particles, plan sampling operations, and analyze collected data with minimal human intervention.

Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP)

Government Schemes

Context

• Recently, the government highlighted the increasing impact of the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP) that has assisted more than 4.32 lakh rural firms and improved rural lives through community-led entrepreneurship under DAY-NRLM.

Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP)

• • It was launched in 2016 as a sub-scheme of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) 

• Implementation – Ministry of Rural Development.

Objectives:

• To promote non-farm rural enterprises.
• To generate self-employment and sustainable livelihoods.
• To empower first generation entrepreneurs, especially women and marginalised populations.
• To diversify sources of income in rural areas to lessen dependence on agriculture.
• To create community-based enterprises that create strong local economies.

Sarnath – 45th UNESCO World Heritage Site

History & Culture

News – 

• Sarnath has been inscribed as India’s 45th (UP’s 4th) UNESCO World Heritage Site during the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in South Korea.

Sarnath

• Location – It is in Uttar Pradesh is one of four holy Buddhist sites (with Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, and Kushinagar) where Gautama Buddha gave his first sermon (Dhammachakkappavattana) after enlightenment.
• It faced Huna invasions but was later restored by Harshavardhana. 
• Sacked by Mahmud of Ghazni in the 11th century, it was revived by Mahipala and finally destroyed by Qutb-ud-din Aibak (1194 CE).
• Alternate Names: Known historically as Rishipatana, Mrigadava, or Saranganatha (Lord of the Deer).
• Excavation: Babu Jagat Singh, diwan of Raja Chait Singh of Benares, rediscovered relics in 1787–88, but colonial accounts credited Jonathan Duncan and Colonel Mackenzie. Alexander Cunningham later led systematic excavations (1834–1836).

Significance of Sarnath

• • Stupas: Dhamek Stupa (500 CE) with Gupta floral carvings marks Buddha’s sermon; Chaukhandi Stupa (5th Century CE) marks where Buddha met his first disciples, with an octagonal tower added by Govardhan (son of Raja Todarmal) in 1588; Dharmarajika Stupa (3rd BCE) enshrined relics under Ashoka.
  • Ashokan Pillar & Lion Capital (250 BCE): Carved from single blocks of polished Chunar sandstone, it features four lions on an abacus with a bull, horse, elephant, and lion, separated by wheels.

• It was adopted as India’s National Emblem in 1950.

• • Viharas: Dharmachakra Jina Vihara (11th century, Kumaradevi) and Mulagandha Kuti Vihara (1930s, Mahabodhi Society) served as monastic centres, with the latter showcasing murals of Buddha’s life.

• The site also preserves Jain temples, including the Digambara Jain Temple.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

• • The World Heritage Committee selects and monitors sites, administers the World Heritage Fund, and allocates preservation assistance. 
  • India served on the World Heritage Committee during 2021–2025.
  • India ranks 6th globally with 45 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 
• Sarnath has been on UNESCO’s Tentative List since 1998.

Operation Amistad

International

Context

• After devastating earthquakes struck Venezuela, India launched Operation Amistad to support relief and rescue efforts.

About

• Amistad, meaning “Friendship” in Spanish, is India’s Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission. 
• India was among the first countries to respond, reflecting its commitment to the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—“The World is One Family.” It also marks one of India’s longest-range humanitarian relief missions. 
• As part of the operation, the Indian Air Force deployed two C-17 Globemaster aircraft carrying a 41-member rescue team, an Indian Army Field Hospital, over 35 tonnes of relief supplies and medical equipment, including two BHISHM Cube portable hospitals.

NASA Rover Detects Potential Signs of Ancient Life on Mars

Science & Technology

Context

• In a new study in Science Advances, an international team of researchers has reported finding organic matter on Mars. 

Connect with the basics – Mars

• It is the fourth planet from the Sun 
• It is the second-smallest planet in the Solar System.
• Mars is about half the size of Earth.
• Rotation period – Its rotation period is 24.6 hours, which is very similar to that of Earth (23.9 hours).
• Red Planet – The reason Mars looks reddish is due to oxidation or rusting of iron in the rocks, and dust of Mars. Hence it is also called the Red Planet.
• Moon of Mars – Phobos and Deimos

Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) or Mangalyaan

• Launched from – Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh 
• Launched by – It was launched by Indian Space Research Organisation in November 2013.
• Rocket used – PSLV C-25 rocket
• Objective – To study Martian surface and mineral composition as well as scan its atmosphere for methane (an indicator of life on Mars).

Major Mars Missions: 

• Mariner 4 (NASA), Viking 1 (NASA), 
• Mars Express (European Space Agency), 
• Hope Probe (Emirates Mars Mission) and current flagship rover Perseverance, which is collecting samples for a future Mars Sample Return mission.

Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024

Polity

Context

• The Union Cabinet cleared a proposal to introduce amendments to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.

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.

Radhakrishnan Panel

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

NATO’s Ankara Summit

International

Context

• The 2026 NATO Summit, held in Ankara, Türkiye, reaffirmed the Alliance’s commitment to collective defence and strengthening Europe’s defence industrial base.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

• NATO, also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance.
• Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
• Background: It was established by 12 countries from Europe and North America with the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as Washington Treaty) in 1949 in Washington, D.C to provide collective security against the Soviet Union attack in the aftermath of World War II.
• Collective Defense: According to Article 5, NATO works on the principle of collective defense, where an attack on any NATO member is considered an attack on all NATO members. So far, Article 5 has been invoked once – in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001.
• Members: It comprises 32 member states. Sweden became the 32nd member.

UNESCO Adds West Bank, Lebanon Sites to Danger List

History & Culture

Context

• UNESCO has added Sebastia in the West Bank and five castles in Lebanon’s Mount Amel region, including Beaufort Castle, to both the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger.

About

• • The World Heritage List recognises cultural, natural and mixed heritage sites of Outstanding Universal Value. 
  • The List of World Heritage in Danger includes sites threatened by armed conflict, natural disasters, uncontrolled urbanisation, pollution, climate change or neglect. Its objective is to mobilise international attention and conservation support. 

• The emergency inscription of these sites reflects concerns over the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East on their conservation. 

Sebastia

• Sebastia, located near Nablus in the West Bank, is identified with the ancient city of Samaria, the capital of the biblical Kingdom of Israel. 
• Its archaeological remains span the Iron Age, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic periods, reflecting its long historical significance. 

Mount Amel Castles

• The inscription covers five historic castles in Lebanon’s Mount Amel (Jabal Amel) region, including Beaufort Castle. 
• These fortifications showcase a blend of Crusader, Ayyubid, Mamluk and local architectural traditions, illustrating nearly nine centuries of military and cultural history.

United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)

International

In News

• The 60th anniversary of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)  was observed.

United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) 

• Established in – 1966.

• • Objective –It is a subsidiary body of the UN General Assembly and works to modernise and harmonise international trade law. 
  • It convenes annually in New York and Vienna in turn to promote its work in the field of international trade law.
  • Membership – It has 70 member States

• India is a member of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law(UNCITRAL)

• Functions – It develops legal instruments such as conventions, model laws and legislative guides to ease international trade and business by setting common legal standards. 

• UNCITRAL is not a WTO body. The WTO is an autonomous intergovernmental organization, whereas it is a subsidiary organ of the UN General Assembly.

SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting 2026

International

Context

• India urged the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to adopt a firm and principled approach against terrorism during the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Cholpan Ata, Kyrgyz Republic.

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

• Founded in – The SCO is an intergovernmental organization founded in 2001 with six members.
• Objective: To enhance regional cooperation for efforts to curb terrorism, separatism, and extremism in the Central Asian region.
• Members: China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus and the four Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.
• Secretariat: Beijing
• Official languages: Russian and Chinese
• Observer status: Afghanistan, Belarus and Mongolia
• The SCO has been an observer in the UN General Assembly since 2005.