Author: Ramvilas

Chapekar Brothers

History

Context

• On 22 June 1897, the Chapekar brothers assassinated British plague commissioner Walter Charles Rand in Pune.

About 

• The Chapekar Brothers, Damodar Hari Chapekar, Balkrishna Hari Chapekar, and Vasudeo Hari Chapekar, were among the earliest revolutionary nationalists in India’s freedom struggle.
• They were influenced by the revolutionary activities of Vasudev Balwant Phadke and the nationalist ideas propagated by Bal Gangadhar Tilak through his newspaper Kesari.
• Formation of Secret Organisation: They organized an association called “Chapekar Club” for physical and military training which they also called “the society for the removal of obstacles to the Hindu Religion”.
• During the bubonic plague outbreak of 1896–97, the British administration implemented harsh plague-control measures under the leadership of Walter Charles Rand, Chairman of the Poona Plague Committee. 
• Soldiers conducted intrusive house searches, violated religious customs, and subjected local residents to humiliating inspections.
• Viewing Rand as a symbol of colonial oppression, the Chapekar brothers planned his assassination.
• Arrest and Execution: Damodar Hari Chapekar was executed in 1898, whereas Vasudeo Hari Chapekar and Balkrishna Hari Chapekar were executed in 1899.

Nirbhay Chetna

Poiity

Context

• The Ministry of Panchayati Raj organised a three-day Training of Trainers (ToT) programme on Nirbhay Chetna.

About

• Nirbhay Chetna is a key intervention under the Nirbhay Raho initiative, launched in 2026 by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

It comprises three complementary components:

• Nirbhay Netri focuses on capacity-building and legal awareness among elected women representatives; 
• Nirbhay Chetna seeks to sensitise elected male representatives on gender equality and women’s safety; and 
• Nirbhay Drishti envisages the installation of CCTV cameras at strategic rural locations to strengthen technology-enabled safety infrastructure in Panchayats.

TReDS Platform

Economy

Context

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued Reserve Bank of India (Trade Receivables Discounting System) Directions, 2026, aimed at simplifying the onboarding process for MSMEs.

Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) 

• Objective – Resolve MSME liquidity crunch by offering collateral-free working capital.
• Nodal Regulator – Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• Statutory Backing – Regulated under the Payment and Settlement Systems (PSS) Act, 2007.

India’s Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) under CBD

Environment and Ecology

Context

• India’s Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 has mobilized more than Rs 266 crore since 2008, with around ₹145 crore disbursed to beneficiaries.

Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS)

• It is a framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 
• It ensures fair sharing of monetary and non-monetary benefits arising from the use of biological resources and traditional knowledge with the source communities and countries
• India operationalizes ABS through the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and its recent amendment the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023.

Significance

• India’s ABS framework is advancing the objectives of the Nagoya Protocol, supporting the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2024-2030, and contributing to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, particularly Target 13 on fair and equitable benefit sharing.

Connect with the basics – Biological Diversity Act, 2002

• Enacted – The act was enacted in 2002
• Objective – It aims at the conservation of biological resources, managing its sustainable use and enabling fair and equitable sharing benefits arising out of the use and knowledge of biological resources with the local communities.

The act envisaged a three-tier structure to regulate the access to biological resources:

1. The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)
2. The State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs)
3. The Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) (at local level)

National Biodiversity Authority

• Established in – The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) was established in 2003 by the Central Government to implement India’s Biological Diversity Act (2002).
• Statutory body – It is a Statutory body that performs facilitative, regulatory and advisory functions for the Government of India on the issue of Conservation and sustainable use of biological resources.
• Headquarter – The NBA has its Headquarters in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Functions 

• Monitoring and prevention of actions prohibited under the Act.
• Providing advice to the government on how best to conserve biodiversity in India.
• Prepare a report on how the government can select biological heritage sites. 
• Make concrete steps to prevent the grant of intellectual property rights regarding locally used biological resources or allied traditional knowledge

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS

Science & technology

Context

• The discovery of 3I/ATLAS, only the third known interstellar object, has provided scientists with a rare opportunity to study material from an ancient planetary system.

3I/ATLAS

• • 3I/ATLAS is the third interstellar object ever detected passing through our Solar System. Interstellar refers to anything located, moving, or occurring in the space between stars within a galaxy.
  • It is a comet about 2.6 km in diameter.

• The name “3I” denotes the third identified interstellar object.

• It was formed when the Universe was only about 13% of its current age.
• It contains water with about 30 times more deuterium (heavy hydrogen) than comets in the Solar System.
• Carbon isotope ratios differ significantly from those found in Solar System objects.

Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP)

Miscellaneous – Awards

Context

• The Ministry of Women and Child Development has invited nominations for the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) 2026. 

Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) 

• The Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar is conferred annually by the President of India on Veer Bal Diwas (26 December). 
• Instituted in its present form in 2019, the award recognises children aged 5–18 years for exceptional achievements in six categories: Bravery, Art & Culture, Environment, Science & Technology, Social Service and Sports.

To be eligible, a nominee must:

1. Be an Indian citizen residing in India; 
2. Not have received the award previously; and 
3. Have achieved the recognised accomplishment within the two years preceding the nomination deadline. 
4. While the award is generally not conferred posthumously, exceptional cases may be considered. 
5. This award is the highest civilian honour for children in India. Each awardee of PMRBP is given a medal, a certificate and a citation booklet.

Assam’s Uniform Civil Code Bill, 2026

Polity

Context

• The Government of Assam has introduced the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, 2026 in the State Assembly.

• Assam became the third state in India to table a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) bill, following Uttarakhand and Gujarat.

Uniform Civil Code (UCC)?

• A Uniform Civil Code refers to the provision of one law for the entire country, applicable to all religious communities, in their personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, etc.
• Aim: To replace the existing diverse personal laws that vary based on religious affiliations.

Constitutional Provisions

• Article 44 contained in part IV of the Constitution says that the state “shall endeavor to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India”. 
• Part IV of the Constitution outlines the Directive Principles of State Policy, which, while not enforceable or justiciable in a court of law, are fundamental to the country’s governance.

UCC in India

• UCC in Goa: It follows the Portuguese Civil Code of 1867, which means that people of all religions in Goa are subject to the same laws on marriage, divorce, and succession.
• The Goa Daman and Diu Administration Act of 1962, which was passed after Goa joined the union as a territory in 1961, gave Goa permission to apply the Civil Code.
• In 2024, The Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly passed The Uniform Civil Code of Uttarakhand Act, 2024, becoming the first Indian State to adopt a UCC post-independence.

Key Provisions of the Assam UCC Bill, 2026

• • Ban on Polygamy and Bigamy: The Bill mandates monogamy for all residents under its ambit. Bigamy and polygamy would attract punishment under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
  • Existing polygamous marriages solemnised before enforcement of the law would remain legally protected.
  • Uniform Marriage Age: The minimum legal age is fixed at 21 years for men and 18 years for women.
  • Mandatory Registration: Registration of all marriages and divorces would become compulsory and couples must submit a marriage memorandum within 60 days of marriage.

• Non-registration may attract penalties and fines.

• Regulation of Live-in Relationships: Registration of live-in relationships within one month has been made mandatory and children born from such relationships would be considered legitimate.
• Deserted partners would have legal rights to claim maintenance.
• Uniform Grounds for Divorce: The Bill standardises divorce grounds such as; cruelty, desertion, mutual consent.
• The Bill also penalises illegal dissolution of marriage and unlawful conditions imposed before remarriage.
• Gender-Equal Inheritance: The Bill establishes equal inheritance rights for spouses, children, and parents. It creates a uniform succession framework irrespective of religion.
• Testamentary succession through written wills is legally recognised.
• Child and Fraudulent Marriages: The Bill prescribes punishment for child marriage and marriages conducted without valid consent.
• The Bill also provides imprisonment and fines for fraudulent or deceptive marriages conducted through force, coercion, concealment, or misrepresentation.
• Exemption for Scheduled Tribes: The Bill excludes Scheduled Tribes (STs) from its purview in order to protect customary practices and constitutional safeguards available to tribal communities.

Kerala’s Dedicated Senior Citizens Welfare Department

Polity

Context

• The government in Kerala has decided to establish a separate Department for Senior Citizens’ Welfare to address the growing challenges associated with population ageing, and social isolation among elderly citizens.

Elderly Population in India

• Kerala is Ageing Faster than Other States

• Kerala has the highest proportion of elderly population in India. Around 18.7% of Kerala’s population is above 60 years of age, compared to the national average of nearly 11–12%.

Government Initiatives for Elderly in India

• Atal Pension Yojana (APY): Launched in 2015 to ensure old-age income security for unorganised sector workers. It provides a guaranteed monthly pension (₹1,000–₹5,000) post-60 years.
• Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY): Launched in 2017 to distribute assistive living devices (hearing aids, walking sticks, wheelchairs, etc.) to BPL senior citizens or those with income below ₹15,000/month.
• Senior Care Ageing Growth Engine (SAGE) Portal: Promotes start-ups and innovation in elderly care services, encouraging the growth of the silver economy.
• Ayushman Bharat – PMJAY: It Extends ₹5 lakh annual health coverage to around 6 crore senior citizens aged 70 years and above, across 4.5 crore families.

President Confers Padma Awards

Culture

In News

• President Droupadi Murmu conferred Padma Awards to 66 eminent personalities for the year 2026 at the first Civil Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• The awards are announced annually on Republic Day. For 2026, the President approved 131 Padma Awards, including 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri. 

Key Recipients

• Dharmendra Singh Deol was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan posthumously for contributions to art. 
• N. Rajam also received the Padma Vibhushan for contributions to music.
• Bhagat Singh Koshyari received the Padma Bhushan for public affairs. 
• Uday Kotak was awarded the Padma Bhushan for trade and industry.
• Harmanpreet Kaur received the Padma Shri for sports.
• Folk musician Taga Ram Bheel was conferred the Padma Shri award for keeping alive the legacy of the Algoza.

Padma Awards

• The Padma Awards are among India’s highest civilian honours instituted in 1954.
• They are presented in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.

1. ‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service;
2. ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and
3. ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field. 

• • The awards recognise “work of distinction” and are given for exceptional achievements or service across a wide range of fields, including art, literature and education, sports, medicine, social work, science and engineering, public affairs, civil service, trade and industry.
  • All individuals are eligible for the awards regardless of race, occupation, position or gender.
  • Note – However, government servants, including employees of public sector undertakings, are generally not eligible, except for doctors and scientists.
  • The government is committed to transform Padma Awards into “People’s Padma”, encouraging citizens to nominate deserving individuals.

• Self-nominations are also allowed.

• The nominations must include detailed information about the nominee’s distinguished achievements in their respective fields
• nominations will be accepted only through the online Rashtriya Puraskar Portal.
• The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.
• These Awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at RashtrapatiBhawan usually around March/ April every year.

JEEVAN App and SHATAYU Geriatric Caregiver Dashboard

Government Schemes

Context

• A mobile application JEEVAN (Joint Elderly Empowerment and Virtual Assistance Network) has been launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

About

• Aim: To strengthen support systems for senior citizens across the country. 

Features of JEEVAN App: 

• Information on Government schemes and welfare programmes, emergency assistance and details of senior citizen homes.

Senior Holistic Care Assistance and Training for Your Utility (SHATAYU) Dashboard 

• to support and strengthen caregiving services for senior citizens.
• The platform is designed to enhance the safety, welfare, healthcare access and social inclusion of senior citizens across the country. 
• It provides features such as information on the availability of Geriatric Caregivers in a particular district and the State for the senior citizens.

Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme

Government Schemes

Context

• Ministry of Food Processing Industries, addressed a media interaction regarding the implementation and achievements of the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme.

About

• The PMFME Scheme was launched in 2020 under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries as part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. 
• The scheme was conceptualised to address the challenges faced by India’s unorganised micro food processing sector.
• It is the centrally sponsored scheme, with an outlay of Rs. 10,000 crore, approved for implementation during 2020-21 to 2024-25 and has been extended till September 2026.
• The Scheme also operationalizes the One District One Product (ODOP) approach, enabling economies of scale in procurement, common services, and market linkage.
• Achievements: A total of 1,96,270 individual micro food processing enterprises have been supported under the Credit Linked Subsidy component with more than 40% of beneficiaries being women entrepreneurs.

Eco Sensitive Areas

Environment

Context

• The Western Ghats may soon receive stronger legal protection in at least three states through the notification of Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs).

• Once notified, these areas will face stricter curbs on mining, polluting industries, and large construction projects.

Eco Sensitive Zones

• Notified by – These are notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) under the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986.
• Definition – The land falling within 10 km of the boundaries of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries are notified as eco-fragile zones or Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs).

Activities in ESZs

• Prohibited Activities: Commercial mining, saw mills, industries causing pollution (air, water, soil, noise etc), establishment of major hydroelectric projects (HEP), commercial use of wood.
• Regulated Activities: Felling of trees, establishment of hotels and resorts, commercial use of natural water, erection of electrical cables, drastic change of agriculture system.
• Permitted Activities: Ongoing agricultural or horticultural practices, rainwater harvesting, organic farming.

Kheer Bhawani Mela

Culture

Context

• In Kashmir Valley, the annual Mela Kheer Bhawani is being celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety on the occasion of Jyeshtha Ashtami.

About

• • This is one of the most important festivals for the Kashmiri Pandit community during which devotees offer Kheer (rice pudding), milk, flowers, and aromatic leaves to Mata Ragnya Devi. 

• The mela symbolizes faith, resilience, cultural reconnection, and communal harmony.

About Kheer Bhawani Temple

• • It is dedicated to Goddess Ragnya Devi, who is considered an incarnation of Goddess Durga.
  • The original temple was built by Maharaja Pratap Singh around 1912 in Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir. It was later embellished and renovated by Maharaja Hari Singh.

• A distinctive feature of the temple is a hexagonal spring located at its center, revered for its sacred water.

• Both the temple and the festival derive their name from the sweet dish ‘kheer’, which is distributed as prasad (a religious offering) to devotees.

Khurasani Imli

Economy

Context

• The fruit of Mandu’s Baobab tree, known locally as Khurasani Imli, has secured a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

About 

• • Khurasani Imli is the fruit of the Baobab tree (Adansonia digitata), a species native to Africa and Madagascar.
  • It is popularly known as the “Tree of Life” because of its multiple uses and exceptional resilience.
  • In India, baobabs occur in the semi-arid regions of central India and parts of the Western Ghats.
  • Mandu in Madhya Pradesh is one of the few places in India where Baobab trees are found in large numbers.
  • Historical accounts suggest that the seeds were brought to Mandu by Afghan rulers or Arab traders around the 14th–15th century.
  • The tree is known for its distinctive bottle-shaped trunk and its ability to store large quantities of water.
• The fruit is rich in Vitamin C, antioxidants, and has traditional medicinal uses.

12th International Day of Yoga

Culture

News – 

• The 12th International Day of Yoga (IDY) was celebrated globally on June 21, 2026, under the official theme “Yoga for Healthy Ageing”.

About – 

• Main Venue: The national celebration was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the historic Red Road in Kolkata, West Bengal.
• Nodal Ministry: The Ministry of Ayush serves as the nodal agency coordinating the celebrations and policy implementation in India.

Key 2026 Initiatives:

• Yoga Sangam Portal: A digital platform that allowed over 6 lakh organizations to synchronize and perform yoga simultaneously across the country.
• Yoga 365 Campaign: Aimed at shifting public perspective from a symbolic one-day annual celebration to daily lifestyle integration.
• Lonar Record: During the 75-day countdown event (Yoga Mahotsav-2026) at Lonar Lake, Maharashtra, a record was set in the Asia Book of Records for the largest collective performance of Trikonasana (Triangle Pose). 

Background – 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the idea at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in September 2014. UNGA Resolution 69/131 was adopted in December 2014 with a record 175 co-sponsoring nations.
• Why June 21?: The date marks the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. In Indian mythology, this celestial transition is historically viewed as the beginning of Yogic science (the transition of Adi Yogi to Adi Guru).
• UNESCO Recognition: In December 2016, Yoga was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
• Philosophical Roots: Yoga is one of the six orthodox (Astika) schools of Indian philosophy (Shad-Darshana). It was systematically compiled by Maharishi Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras, advocating the eight-fold path (Ashtanga Yoga).

Rakhigarhi

History and Culture

Context

• The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has sent nearly 5,000-year-old skeletons unearthed at Haryana’s Rakhigarhi, for scientific examination and facial reconstruction.

Rakhigarhi

• • The present-day Rakhigarhi is located 27 km from the Ghaggar river, in the Ghaggar-Hakra river plain in Haryana.

• The archaeological site, dating back to 2600-1900 BCE.

• It is the largest Harappans site in the Indian Subcontinent.
• The site was first excavated by Amarendra Nath of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Findings

• Granary: A granary belonging to the mature Harappan phase (2600 BCE to 2000 BCE) has been found here. It has 7 rectangular or square chambers.
• Culture, clothing and worship: Fire altars and apsidal structures were revealed in Rakhigarhi.
• Cemetery and burial sites: A cemetery of Mature Harappan period is discovered at Rakhigarhi, with eight graves found.

First Amendment

Polity

Context

• On June 18, 1951, the First Amendment to the Indian Constitution came into force. 

• The First Amendment to the Indian Constitution, enacted on June 18, 1951, was introduced by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to override court rulings that blocked state policies.

Key Changes

• Restricted Free Speech: Added “public order,” “friendly relations with foreign states,” and “incitement to an offence” as limits to Article 19.
• Protected Land Reforms: Created the Ninth Schedule to shield land reform laws from judicial review.
• Allowed Quotas: Added Article 15(4) to enable caste-based reservations in education and employment.
• Enabled State Monopolies: Allowed the government to nationalise trades or businesses.

Ammonia Gas

Science & technology

Context

• An ammonia gas leak at a private seafood processing and export facility in Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu has hospitalized many working people. 

Ammonia (NH₃)

• Ammonia (NH₃) is a colourless gas with a strong, pungent smell. 
• It is a simple inorganic compound made up of nitrogen and hydrogen. 
• Although it occurs naturally in small quantities during the decomposition of organic matter, it is also produced on a large scale because of its wide industrial and agricultural applications.
• Industrial ammonia is commercially produced through the Haber–Bosch process, in which atmospheric nitrogen reacts with hydrogen under high temperature and pressure in the presence of an iron catalyst.
• It is majorly used in fertilizers industries, chemical industries and in food processing due to its excellent cooling efficiency.

Biochar

Environment

Context

• Biochar is emerging as a sustainable solution to convert agricultural waste into a valuable resource for improving soil health and mitigating climate change.

Biochar

• Biochar is a charcoal-like substance that’s made by burning organic material from agricultural and forestry wastes (also called biomass) in a controlled process called pyrolysis.
• Unlike ordinary organic matter, biochar decomposes very slowly and can remain in the soil for hundreds of years.
• It is highly porous, enabling it to store water, nutrients, and beneficial microorganisms.

Benefits of Biochar

• Agricultural Productivity: Studies indicate that biochar can improve crop yields by 10–30%, particularly in nutrient-deficient soils.
• Carbon Credits: Biochar can generate carbon credits because it removes carbon from the atmosphere and stores it in soil.
• Water Retention: Biochar acts like a sponge and stores water within its porous structure. Research shows that it can increase the water-holding capacity of soils by 10–25%.

Abhigyan App

Polity

Context

• The Union Home Minister launched the Abhigyan app developed by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

About

• The app links to the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) to store fingerprint scans of accused, convicts, and those in prisons on a centralized platform.
• The prints can be matched with the NAFIS database in 35 seconds.
• Significance – During routine vehicle checks on the streets, biometric scans of any suspicious individual can be conducted to identify persons wanted in connection with crimes.

Right To Walk On Footpath Is A Fundamental Right: SC

Polity

Context

• In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court has held that the right to walk on safe and demarcated footpaths is a fundamental right.

About

• The right to walk flows from Article 19(1)(d) (freedom of movement) and Article 21 (right to life and personal liberty). 

• According to the Court, the right to walk also supports freedom of expression, assembly, and association under Article 19(1)(a), 19(1)(b), and 19(1)(c).
• The judgment places a duty on municipal corporations, urban development authorities, municipalities, and even panchayats to build, maintain, and protect pedestrian infrastructure.
• The Court emphasized that pedestrian rights must be prioritized over motorised vehicles in urban planning, and citizens can seek legal remedies if safe and accessible footpaths are not provided.

Energy Transition Index (ETI) 2026

Economy

Context

• According to the Energy Transition Index (ETI) 2026, the global energy transition has effectively stalled despite total energy investments touching $3.3 trillion in 2025.

Energy Transition Index (ETI)

• Published by – It is an annual index published by the World Economic Forum.
• Objective – It measures how effectively countries are transitioning toward secure, sustainable, equitable, and affordable energy systems.
• Evaluation Criteria: The index is based on two broad dimensions:

1. System Performance: Energy security, sustainability, and equity.
2. Transition Readiness: Policies, regulations, investment, infrastructure, innovation, education, and institutional support.

• Significance: It helps governments identify strengths and weaknesses in their energy transition efforts and guides policy reforms.

Major Findings of Energy Transition Index (ETI) 2026

• • Sweden, Finland and Denmark retained their top three positions globally.
• India advanced two places to rank 70th.

Financial Action Task Force (FATF)

International

Context

• The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Plenary has appointed Culture Ministry Secretary Vivek Aggarwal as the next vice-president.
• This is the first time that India will hold the Vice-Presidency of the FATF.
• He will serve as vice president from July 2026 to June 2027.

Financial Action Task Force

• Established – The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 during the G7 Summit in Paris.
• Objective – To set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.
• Secretariat – It is located at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) headquarters in Paris.
• Member Countries – 37 member countries where India is also a member.

FATF has two lists

• Grey List – Countries that are considered safe haven for supporting terror funding and money laundering are put in the FATF grey list. This inclusion serves as a warning to the country that it may enter the blacklist.
• Black List – Countries known as Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories (NCCTs) are put in the blacklist. These countries support terror funding and money laundering activities. The FATF revises the blacklist regularly, adding or deleting entries.

Smart Seed Coating Technology to Boost Crop Yields

Science & technology

Context

• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (ICAR-IIOR), Hyderabad, has developed Smart Seed Coating Technology that improves seed quality.

Smart Seed Coating Technology 

• • Developed by – ICAR-IIOR 

• It utilizes biodegradable biopolymeric materials to create a multifunctional protective layer around seeds. 

• The coating acts as a carrier system for beneficial microorganisms, nutrients, micronutrients, crop protection agents, and plant growth-promoting compounds, delivering them directly at the seed-soil interface. 
• This protective microenvironment promotes rapid germination, vigorous seedling growth, enhanced root development, and improved tolerance to environmental stresses during the critical crop establishment phase.
• The innovation is particularly valuable for rainfed agriculture, which accounts for a significant share of India’s cultivated area and remains highly vulnerable to delayed monsoons.