Author: Ramvilas

Dhansiri River

Geography

Context

• According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), the Dhansiri River is flowing above the danger mark, raising concerns that the flood situation in low-lying areas could worsen.

About

• Origin: It originates from the Laisang peak in Nagaland.
• Course: It is situated in north-east India.
• It is a transboundary river running through the states of Assam and Nagaland.
• It flows 352 kilometres through Dimapur, Chümoukedima, and Assam’s Golaghat district before joining the Brahmaputra.
• Confluence: It joins the Brahmaputra on its south bank in Assam, near Dhansirimukh.
• Being heavily rain-fed, its water level rises sharply during the monsoon, and high flows can cause flooding in areas of Golaghat and adjoining Assam.

Additional Information- Brahmaputra River

• The Brahmaputra is a major transboundary river in Asia. 
• It originates from the Chemayungdung Glacier near Lake Manasarovar (Mapam Yumco) in Tibet.
• It is known variably as Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet (its longest upper stretch), Siang or Dihang in Arunachal Pradesh, Brahmaputra in Assam & Jamuna in Bangladesh.
• It flows east through Tibet’s plateau, enters India via Arunachal Pradesh, widens in Assam’s plains, and merges with the Ganges in Bangladesh before reaching the Bay of Bengal.

16th BRICS Trade Ministers Meeting

International

Context

• • India concluded the 16th BRICS Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Jaipur under its BRICS Chairship 2026.

• theme: Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability

Key Outcomes

• Economic Strategy: Finalised the BRICS Economic Partnership 2030 roadmap.
• Trade Finance: Adopted The Jaipur Consensus to tackle the global finance gap.
• MSME Support: Created guiding principles for cash-flow-based, collateral-free lending.
• Supply Chains: Approved a 2026–2030 action plan for food and pharma security.
• Digital Trade: Agreed on framework principles for cross-border digital services.

Additional Information – BRICS 

• • Founded in – 2009
  • HeadQuarters – Shanghai
  • It is an acronym for the grouping of the world’s leading emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (included in 2010)
  • Origin – The term “BRIC” was coined by the British Economist Jim O’Neill in 2001 to describe the four emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China.

• Recent Expansion (BRICS+): In 2024–2025, the bloc expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE, and Indonesia. Saudi Arabia has received an invitation but has not yet formalized its membership.

• Share of BRICS – BRICS brings together five of the largest developing countries, representing 41% of the global population, 24% of the global GDP, and 16% of the global trade (By 2028, BRICS is expected to make up 35 percent of the global economy)
• Chairmanship – The chairmanship of the forum is rotated annually among the members. 

Initiatives of BRICS 

1. New Development Bank (NDB) 
2. Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) 
3. BRICS Payment System 
4. Customs Agreements 
5. Constellation of Remote Sensing Satellites

Official Secrets Act, 1923

Defense

Context

• A Wing Commander of the Indian Air Force (IAF) was arrested under provisions of the Official Secrets Act for allegedly leaking sensitive defence-related information.

Official Secrets Act, 1923

• It is a colonial-era law designed to protect official secrets and safeguard national security.
• The law, applicable to government servants and citizens, provides the framework for dealing with espionage, sedition, and other potential threats to the integrity of the nation. 
• The law makes spying, sharing ‘secret’ information, unauthorised use of uniforms, withholding information, interference with the armed forces in prohibited/ restricted areas, among others, punishable offences.
• If guilty, a person may get up to 14 years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.
• The information could be any reference to a place belonging to or occupied by the government, documents, photographs, sketches, maps, plans, models, official codes or passwords.

India’s First Privately-built 800 kN FFSC Engine Unveiled

Science and Technology

Context

• Space-tech company Astrobase Space Technologies has unveiled India’s first privately developed 800 kN Full-Flow Staged Combustion (FFSC) rocket engine.

About

• • The engine, named EVEREST, has been developed by Astrobase.

• Global Standing: India is the 4th nation to master this tech (after the US, Russia, China).

• Reusability: Methane burns cleanly without soot, enabling rapid rocket refurbishment.
• Payload Boost: Designed to lift up to 30 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
• Policy Link: Funded via IN-SPACe’s Technology Adoption Fund (TAF).
• Strategic Capability: Aims for a 15-day launch-on-demand turnaround time.

Slender-Billed Vultures

Environment

News

• Five captive-bred slender-billed vultures along with white-rumped vultures were released at Jatayu Soft Release Center in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, Assam, the first release of its kind anywhere in the world. 

Slender-Billed Vultures (Gyps tenuirostris)  

• The slender-billed vulture is a dark, lean scavenger with broad wings, a long bare neck and pale underparts. 
• Habitat: It inhabits dry open and forested regions away from human settlements.
• Distribution: It is found mainly in the northern Indian subcontinent including the Gangetic plains, parts of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, West Bengal, Assam, Nepal and Bangladesh.
• Ecological Role:  It is an important scavenger and a provider of ecosystem services that helps to dispose of animal remains naturally and maintain environmental hygiene.
• Threats: The main cause of the decline of the slender-billed vulture is diclofenac poisoning, which leads to kidney failure.
• Other threats include food shortage, pesticide poisoning, habitat and tree loss, persecution, and electrocution or collisions.

Conservation status

• IUCN status – Critically Endangered.

• It is included in CITES Appendix II,

White-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis)

• It is mainly found in plains and open country, but also in woodland, villages and cities. 
• It eats carrion. It is very social, gathering in large feeding flocks and communal roosts, and breeds colonially in tall trees. 
• It occurs in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and southern Viet Nam,
• It is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

National Gopal Ratna Awards (NGRA) 2026

Miscellaneous

Context

• The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has invited nominations for the National Gopal Ratna Awards (NGRA) 2026.

National Gopal Ratna Awards (NGRA) 2025

• It is one of the highest national honours in the livestock and dairy sector. 
• These awards will be presented on 26th November 2025 as part of the National Milk Day celebrations. 
• It was instituted in 2014 as a part of Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM)
• It focuses on the scientific conservation and development of indigenous bovine breeds. 
• It is annually conferred to encourage milk-producing farmers, dairy cooperative societies/MPCs/FPOs, and Artificial Insemination Technicians (AITs).
• The awardees will get a certificate of merit and a memento and cash price of ₹5,00,000, ₹3,00,000 and ₹2,00,000 for the first, second and third categories respectively.

Additional information- Rashtriya Gokul Mission

• It was launched in 2014 

Objectives

• • Development and conservation of indigenous breeds
  • Breed improvement programme for indigenous cattle breeds to improve their genetic makeup 

• Enhancement of milk production and productivity 

• Upgradation of nondescript cattle using elite indigenous breeds like Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi, Deoni, Tharparkar, Red Sindhi and 
• Distribution of disease free high genetic merit bulls for natural service.
• Gokul Grams: They will act as Centres for development of Indigenous Breeds and a dependable source for supply of high genetic breeding stock to the farmers in the breeding tract

National Circular Bioenergy Scheme (GOBARdhan Scheme)

Government Scheme

Context

• Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the National Circular Bioenergy Scheme (GOBARdhan – Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan) with a total outlay of ₹23,731 crore.

The GOBARdhan (National Circular Bioenergy Scheme) 

• It is a 10-year initiative (FY 2026–27 to 2035–36)
• Implementation – Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas

Key Objectives & Components

• Target: Boost Compressed Biogas (CBG) production tenfold to 5 MMSCMD.
• Unified Framework: Consolidates previous initiatives like SATAT, Market Development Assistance (MDA), and Biomass Aggregation Machinery (BAM).

Additional Information – Biofuels

• • Definition – Biofuels are alternative fuels made from plant and plant-derived resources.

• Example: Bioethanol, Biodiesel, Green diesel, Biogas etc.

National Policy on Biofuels, 2018

• The National Policy on Biofuels 2018 (amended in 2022) provides a framework for increasing the use of biofuels in India to enhance energy security.

Government Efforts for Biofuel Expansion

• Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana (Jaiv Indhan – Vatavaran Anukool fasal awashesh Nivaran Yojana): It promotes 2G ethanol production from agricultural waste and residues.
• SATAT Scheme (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation): It promotes Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) production as a fuel alternative.

Good Samaritan Scheme

Government Schemes

Context

• Only 813 people have been awarded under the Good Samaritan scheme over the past five years, from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

About

• • It was launched in 2021

• Implementation – Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).

• Objective – to reduce road accident fatalities by incentivising bystanders to rush victims to the hospital within the “Golden Hour” (the first 60 minutes).

Key Features

• • Reward: A cash prize of ₹25,000 per incident and a Certificate of Appreciation.
  • Duration – 2026-27 to 2030-31 cycle

• Financing – Central sponsored scheme.

• Integration: Operates alongside the PM RAHAT Scheme, which offers cashless medical treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh for accident victims.

PM RAHAT (Road Accident Victim Hospitalization and Assured Treatment) 

• • It is a newly launched initiative by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

• Objective – to provide immediate, cashless medical treatment to road accident victims across India. 

• Significance – it aims to reduce fatalities during the “Golden Hour” (the critical first hour after an accident). 

Key features of the scheme 

• It includes cashless treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh for up to 7 days. 
• It offers stabilization care for a maximum of 24 hours in cases that are not life-threatening and 48 hours in life-threatening situations. 
• The scheme covers all road accident victims on all types of roads. 
• Hospitals cannot ask for advance payments for emergency stabilization. 
• Implementation is linked with the 112 helpline for emergency response. 
• Treatment is available at hospitals empaneled under Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY). 
• A digital system connects the eDAR and TMS 2.0 for reporting and claim processing. Funding comes from the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVAF). 
• Grievances are handled by a Grievance Redressal Officer at the district level.

Farakka Treaty

International

Context

• With the 1996 Farakka Treaty set to expire on 12 December 2026, demands have been raised to review its provisions in light of Bihar’s future water requirements.

Farakka Treaty

• It is also known as the Ganga Water Treaty.
• It was signed on 12 December 1996 between Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda of India and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh. 
• It governs the sharing of Ganga waters at the Farakka Barrage. 
• The Farakka Barrage, built on the Bhagirathi River in West Bengal.
• It was constructed to improve the navigability of the Kolkata Port by diverting water into the Hooghly River. 

Padma River

• The Padma River is one of the largest and most important rivers in Bangladesh. 
• It is the main distributary of the Ganges River after the Ganges enters Bangladesh from India. 
• The Padma flows southeast, joins the Jamuna River (the lower Brahmaputra), and later merges with the Meghna River before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.
• It is a major part of the world’s largest delta system, the Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna Delta. 

Additional Information – Ganga River System

The Ganga River System is India’s largest river basin. 

• Origin – The river starts as the Bhagirathi from the Gangotri Glacier.
• Name: It becomes the Ganga when it joins the Alaknanda at Devprayag.
• RiverLength: It is 2,525 km long.
• States: It flows through five states: Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
• The Delta: It splits in West Bengal. One part goes to Bangladesh (called Padma). It helps form the Sundarbans Delta, the biggest delta in the world.

Important Tributaries

• Left-Bank (North): Ramganga, Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi.
• Right-Bank (South): Yamuna (the longest one) and Son.

Key Exam Facts

• National River: Named India’s National River in 2008.
• Ganga Dolphin: This is India’s National Aquatic Animal. It is endangered.
• Namami Gange: The main government project to clean and protect the river.

Agni-4

Defence

Context

• India successfully test-fired the medium-range ballistic missile Agni-4 from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Odisha.

Agni-IV

• • It is a nuclear-capable surface-to-surface ballistic missile 

• Developed by – DRDO.

• Type: Two-stage solid-fueled medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM).
• Range: Approximately 4,000 km.
• Payload: Can carry a 1,000 kg nuclear or conventional warhead.
• Mobility: Launched from a road-mobile launcher for strategic flexibility.
• Technology: Uses advanced Ring Laser Gyroscope navigation and a heat shield that resists 4,000°C re-entry temperatures.
• Significance: Operated by the Strategic Forces Command to enforce India’s Credible Minimum Deterrence and No-First-Use policy.

Dr. M. S. Swaminathan Award for Environment Protection

Awards

News

• P. Pechiyammal of Ramanathapuram and Govindhammal of Villupuram were given the Dr. M. S. Swaminathan Award for Environment Protection 2026.
• Pechiyammal was recognised for pioneering the collection of ghost fishing gear (abandoned fishing nets, nylon ropes and plastic waste) from coastal areas, a move that has helped reduce marine pollution.
• Govindhammal was recognised for her contribution toward promoting sustainable agriculture, empowering farmers with better seeds and improved farming practices.

Dr. M. S. Swaminathan Award for Environment Protection

• It was instituted by the Rotary Club of Madras East (RCME) in the name of its honorary member and agricultural scientist, the late M.S. Swaminathan.
• It is being supported by CavinKare Pvt. Ltd.
• It is presented to either an individual, a company, or an NGO that has contributed, either directly or indirectly, to enhancing environmental protection and awareness. 

Additional Information – M. S. Swaminathan 

• He was known as the Father of India’s Green Revolution. 
• The term ‘Green Revolution’, was coined by William S Gaud in 1968.

Awards in India: 

1. 1. Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award
   2. Indira Gandhi Prize 
   3. Padma Shri in 1967 
   4. Padma Bhushan in 1972
   5. Padma Vibhushan in 1989, 

• Bharat Ratna in 2024.

Green Revolution

• It refers to a period of significant increase in agricultural production resulting from the adoption of modern technology, high-yielding variety (HYV) seeds, chemical fertilizers, irrigation, and mechanization.

Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) Bill, 2026

Polity

News

• The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) Bill, 2026 has been introduced in Parliament. 

About – 

• It was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 3, 2026. 
• It aims to replace the ISI Act, 1959, 
• It transitioned the 1931-founded Institute of National Importance from a registered society into a statutory body to streamline governance.

Key Provisions

• President as Visitor: Designates the President of India as the Visitor, granting powers to order performance inquiries and issue directives.
• Board of Governors (BoG): Replaces the 33-member Governing Council with an 11-member BoG to oversee administration, budgets, and degree approvals.
• Director Appointment: The Director will be selected by a search committee and appointed by the BoG with prior approval from the Visitor.
• Regulatory Autonomy: Prior Central Government approval is required only for the first set of regulations drafted by the BoG, relaxing the strict 1959 rules.
• Removal of Take-Over Clause: Deletes the 1959 provision allowing the government to seize administrative control of ISI for two years during defaults.

Additional Information – Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) 

• • It is a premier, globally acclaimed public research university and an Institution of National Importance, 

• Headquartered in Kolkata, West Bengal. 

• Founded on December 17, 1931, 

• • Founded by – by the legendary statistician Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, 
  • ISI serves as India’s gold standard for academic excellence and research in statistics, mathematics, computer science, quantitative economics, and allied sciences. 
• Functions under – Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018

Economy

Context

• As per the Ministry of Home Affairs, India has brought back 274 fugitive criminals from 36 countries between 2019 and 2026.

Fugitive Economic Offender (FEO)

• A Fugitive Economic Offender (FEO) is an individual against whom an Indian court has issued an arrest warrant for a specified economic offence involving ₹100 crore or more, and who has either left India to evade criminal prosecution or refuses to return from abroad to face the law.
• This legal status was established under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FEOA) to deter economic offenders from evading justice by staying outside the jurisdiction of Indian courts

Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018

• Confiscation of Property: The Act empowers authorities to attach and confiscate properties of the offender located both in India and abroad.
• The law also covers benami properties and assets indirectly controlled by the offender.
• Bar on Civil Claims: The Act disallows declared FEOs from initiating or defending any civil claims in Indian courts.
• Special Court Mechanism: The Act provides for adjudication of cases through special courts established under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

Enforcement Directorate

• • Established in – On 1st May 1956, an ‘Enforcement Unit’ was formed. In the year 1957, this Unit was renamed as ‘Enforcement Directorate’.
  • Established under – It is a specialized financial investigation agency under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.

• Functions – ED enforces the following laws

• Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA)

• Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA)
• The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FEOA).

The World Development Report 2026

Economy

Context

• The World Bank has released The World Development Report 2026.

About

• It has been published annually since 1978
• It provides in-depth analysis and policy recommendations on a specific and important aspect of development

Major Findings

• Automation Risks: Jobs in high-income countries are more than three times as likely to face automation risk from generative AI as those in low- and middle-income countries.
• Boost in Productivity: AI could boost productivity in more than 16% of existing jobs in developing economies, compared with more than 18% in advanced economies.
• AI in Agriculture: Separate research on agriculture found that AI could improve productivity and resilience, but only with supportive policies, infrastructure and equitable access.

Additional Information –  World Bank Group (WBG)

• • Origins: Established at the 1944 Bretton Woods Conference.

• Headquarters: Washington, D.C

• Mandate: Eradicate extreme poverty and promote shared global prosperity.

The Five Institutions

• IBRD: Loans to middle-income and creditworthy low-income nations.
• IDA: “Soft Loan Window” providing interest-free credits/grants to poorest nations.
• IFC: Private sector arm investing directly in developing markets.
• MIGA: Offers political risk insurance to foreign investors.
• ICSID: Arbitrates international investment disputes.

India & WBG 

• Founding Member: Of IBRD, IDA, and IFC.
• Exclusion: India is NOT a member of ICSID (cites bias toward developed states).
• Borrowing Status: “Blend Status” (transitioning from soft IDA credits to commercial IBRD loans).

Key Global Publications

1. 1. World Development Report
   2. Global Economic Prospects
   3. Human Capital Index

• Note: The Ease of Doing Business Report has been permanently discontinued.

Governance & Structural Rules

• Prerequisite: Nations must join the IMF before joining the IBRD.
• Voting Power: Tied to financial shareholding, not population; USA holds de facto veto power.

Uzbekistan

Geography

Context

• India and Uzbekistan have agreed to expand their strategic partnership.

Uzbekistan

• • Uzbekistan is Central Asia’s most populous country, with a population of 30.8 million people.
  • It shares borders with Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan. 
  • Its economy is largely dependent on commodity exports, making it vulnerable to fluctuations in global commodity prices. 

• Tashkent is the capital and largest city. 
• Major rivers: Amu Darya and Syr Darya.

Zero Defect, Zero Effect Certification Scheme

Economy

News

• The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) is promoting MSME Sustainable (Zero Defect, Zero Effect – ZED) Certification Scheme.

Zero Defect, Zero Effect Certification Scheme

• Implementation – Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME). 

• Launched in – 2016 

• Objective – to motivate Indian MSMEs to adapt manufacturing processes that ensure high-quality products with zero customer rejection (Zero Defect) and minimal adverse environmental footprints (Zero Effect).

Clouded Leopard Conservation Action Plan (CAP)

Environment

In News

• Recently, the Clouded Leopard Conservation Action Plan (CAP) was launched on the occasion of International Clouded Leopard Day (4th August).

Clouded Leopard (Neofelis Nebulosa)

• Characteristics:  It is a medium-sized, highly arboreal wild cat.
• It is known for its large cloud-shaped markings, long canine teeth, and exceptionally long tail.
• It is a nocturnal hunter that feeds on a variety of arboreal and terrestrial prey, including deer, primates, porcupines, pangolins and squirrels. 
• Habitat and Distribution: It is found mainly in primary tropical forests but also in secondary forests, dry forests, mangroves and above 3,500 m in the Himalayas.
• It occurs from the Himalayan foothills of Nepal across Mainland Southeast Asia to China.
• It is extinct in Taiwan, and in Vietnam, China, and Bangladesh its populations are critically low and close to local extinction (extirpation).
• Threats: Habitat loss and fragmentation caused by rapid deforestation and infrastructure development, but the biggest drivers of population decline remain illegal hunting and snaring for the wildlife trade. 

Conservation status – 

• It is included on CITES Appendix I
• The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists Clouded Leopard as Vulnerable.

Clouded Leopard Conservation Action Plan (CAP)

• It is prepared under the Government of India–GEF–UNDP initiative.
• It provides a comprehensive framework for securing habitats, restoring forest connectivity, strengthening scientific monitoring, and empowering local communities for conservation of the species.

Three Common Medicines Classified as Carcinogenic by IARC

Health

Context

• The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified three commonly prescribed medicines—hydrochlorothiazide, voriconazole, and tacrolimus—as Group 1 (Carcinogenic to Humans).

About

1. Hydrochlorothiazide is commonly used to treat hypertension.
2. Voriconazole is an antifungal medicine used to manage serious invasive fungal infections.
3. Tacrolimus is an immunosuppressant that prevents rejection of transplanted organs.

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)

• • It is the specialized, intergovernmental cancer research agency of the World Health Organization (WHO).

• Established: 1965

• Headquarters: Lyon, France

• Functions – It evaluates environmental, occupational, and lifestyle factors to identify preventable causes of human cancer.

Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)

Government Schemes

News

• The Parliamentary Standing Committee has asked the government to accelerate the sewerage and septage management projects under AMRUT 2.0, stating that only 104 out of 594 projects (17.5%) have been completed and 67% are in progress. 

Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)

• • It was launched in June 2015
  • Financing – It is a centrally sponsored scheme.

• Objective – It is aimed at providing basic services such as water supply, sewerage, urban transport, and parks.

• Significance – It focused on building infrastructure that delivers better services to people, especially the poor. 

AMRUT 2.0 

• It was launched on 1 October 2021. 
• It covers all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and aims to make cities water secure and self-reliant.

Better Pigeonpea Varieties

Economy

News

• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed India’s first fully annotated telomere-to-telomere (T2T) reference genome of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) variety ‘Asha’. 
• Significance – It will enable the development of high-yielding, climate-resilient, and nutritionally enriched pigeonpea varieties, thereby strengthening India’s food and nutritional security.

Pigeonpea 

• It is a major pulse crop cultivated extensively across the tropics and subtropics
• It is predominantly grown under rainfed conditions
• It is highly sensitive to erratic rainfall, poor seedling establishment, and moisture stress during germination.
• Global producers: Myanmar, Malawi, Kenya, Uganda, Haiti, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Nepal, etc.
• Major producing states of India: Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Karnataka, and Jharkhand.
• Importance: It is popularly known as ‘Arhar’ or ‘Tur’ and is one of India’s most important pulse crops.
• It is renowned for its rich protein content and has long been a major dietary staple across the Indian subcontinent, providing vital nutrition to millions.

Mission for ‘Aatmanirbharta in Pulses

• Launched in – 2025-26 to 2030-31

• Objective – to achieve self-sufficiency in pulse production

• Significance – It aims to reduce import dependence and enhance farmers’ income through improved seeds, area expansion, technology adoption, assured procurement, and strengthened post-harvest infrastructure.

African Swine Fever

Health

Context

• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed India’s first indigenous MA-104 Cell Line-Based Live Attenuated African Swine Fever (ASF) Vaccine for pigs. 

African Swine Fever (ASF) 

• It is a highly contagious transboundary animal disease caused by the African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV), affecting domestic pigs and wild boar. 
• It does not infect humans. 
• First detected in Kenya in 1909, the disease is now found across Africa, Europe and Asia. 
• Since its first detection in India in 2020.
• It spreads through direct contact with infected pigs, contaminated pork products, wild boar, and soft ticks. 
• The disease is characterised by high fever, haemorrhages, and mortality rates.

e-Pratyaropan Portal

Polity

Context

• The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) has launched the e-Pratyaropan Portal along with the NOTTO mobile application to create a unified digital ecosystem for organ donation and transplantation in India.

e-Pratyaropan Portal 

• It is a centralized digital platform launched by NOTTO under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare 
• Objective – to digitize India’s organ donation and transplantation ecosystem.

Features

• Automated Allocation: Uses algorithms to distribute organs transparently, eliminating manual or discretionary bias.
• Unified Registry: Syncs real-time waiting lists across hospital, state, regional, and national levels.
• Live Tracking: Integrates with the NOTTO app to monitor the transit of organs through green corridors.
• Emergency Prioritization: Allows hospitals to flag “super urgent” cases for immediate, lifesaving matching.

Delhi Lakshmi Yojana

Government Schemes

Context

• The online registration portal for the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana has opened for registration.

About 

• Launched  in July 2026 

• Objective – to provide ₹2,500 monthly to women from economically weaker sections. It targets over 17 lakh beneficiaries with a ₹5,110 crore budget.

Key Points

• Eligibility: Delhi residents for 10+ years, aged 21–60, with annual family income under ₹2.5 lakh. Only the eldest eligible woman per household qualifies.
• Exclusions: Excludes taxpayers, government employees, pension recipients, and families with over three children.
• Administration: Requires a mandatory recommendation letter from a local MLA/MP and uses 4-layer digital verification.
• Significance: Promotes financial inclusion and women’s autonomy, but faces criticism over political gatekeeping (MLA/MP letters) and strict exclusion criteria.

Glaw Lake Becomes India’s 101st Ramsar Site

Environment

Context

• India’s one more wetland, Glaw Lake of Arunachal Pradesh, has entered the global list of protected wetlands as a Ramsar site. 

Glaw Lake 

• Location – Arunachal Pradesh’s Lohit district 

• It has been officially designated as India’s 101st Ramsar Site, making it the first-ever wetland from the state to achieve this international recognition.

Ecological & Cultural Significance

• High-altitude freshwater lake nestled deep inside the Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary in the Eastern Himalayas.
• Biodiversity Hotspot: The wetland and its catchment area support an incredibly rich ecosystem, housing over 150 tree species and 49 orchid species.
• Wildlife Sanctuary: It serves as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA). 
• It acts as a crucial wintering ground for the critically endangered white-bellied heron and supports all four big cat species: tigers, leopards, clouded leopards, and snow leopards.
• Cultural Roots: The lake holds sacred value for the local Mishmi community, who hold a cultural belief that guardian deities protect its pristine waters.

Connect with the basics – Ramsar Convention

• • A Ramsar site is a wetland designated as one of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
  • Ramsar Convention – It is one of the inter-governmental accords to preserve the wetlands of international importance.

• It was signed on February 2, 1971 in Ramsar, Iran and came into force in 1975.

• India became a signatory to the Ramsar Convention in 1982.

Ramsar Facts

• • Total: 101 sites (As of June 2026). 

• India has the most sites in Asia.

• • 100th Site: Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (Surha Tal) in Uttar Pradesh (Added June 2026).
  • Top State: Tamil Nadu (20 sites), followed by Uttar Pradesh (13 sites).

• First Sites: Chilika Lake (Odisha) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) in 1981.

• Sizes: Sundarban (West Bengal) is the largest. Renuka (Himachal Pradesh) is the smallest.

Montreux Record (Threatened Sites)

• What it is: A register of Ramsar sites facing ecological danger from pollution or human interference.Active Indian Sites: 
• Only two sites—Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) and Loktak Lake (Manipur).
• Removed- Chilika Lake was removed after successful recovery.

Utkalmani Pandit Gopabandhu Das

History

Context

• President Droupadi Murmu unveiled the statue of Utkalmani Pandit Gopabandhu Das in New Delhi.

About

• He is popularly known as Utkalmani (Gem of Odisha). 
• He was a prominent freedom fighter, social reformer, educationist, poet, and journalist from Odisha. 
• Devoted to the service of the poor and social upliftment.
• He founded the Satyabadi Bana Vidyalaya at Sakhigopal to promote nationalist ideals through education. 
• He was elected to the Legislative Council in 1917 and actively participated in India’s freedom movement as a member of the Indian National Congress. 
• He founded the Odia newspaper The Samaja in 1919, which became an important platform for promoting nationalism and public awareness. 
• He also made significant contributions to Odia literature. 
• His notable works include Abakasha Chinta, Go-Mahatmya, Nachiketa Upakhyana, Karakabita, Dharmapada, and Bandira Atmakatha, many of which were written during his time at Ravenshaw College.

Universal Immunisation Programme

GS2/Health

Context

• According to a study by the Union Health Ministry, introducing the hexavalent (six-in-one) vaccine into India’s Universal Immunisation Programme could improve the efficiency of childhood immunisation programmes. 

About

• A hexavalent vaccine is a combination that protects infants against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), Hepatitis B, polio, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) in a single injection. 
• It eases the workload of frontline health workers, lowers cold-chain requirements, and saves caregivers’ time.

Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) of India

• Launched in – India launched the EPI in 1978, which was later renamed as the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) in 1985. 

Additional Information – Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI 5.0)

• Implementation – It is the flagship routine immunization campaign of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• Objective – It ensures that routine immunization services reach the missed-out and dropped out children and pregnant women across the country. 
• Uniqueness – This year, for the first time the campaign is being conducted across all the districts in the country. It includes children up to 5 years of age (Previous campaigns included children up to 2 years of age).
• Special focus is on improvement of Measles and Rubella vaccination coverage with the aim of Measles & Rubella elimination by 2023.

Additional Information – Mission Indradhanush

• Launched in – 2014
• Aim –  To ensure full immunization with all available vaccines for children up to two years of age and pregnant women.

12 Diseases covered under Mission Indradhanush 

1. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG).
2. Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus (DPT).
3. Tetanus and adult Diphtheria (Td).
4. Bi valent oral polio vaccine (bOPV).
5. Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine.
6. Hepatitis B (Hep B).
7. Pentavalent — DPT + Hepatitis B + Haemophilus Influenzae type b (DPT + Hep B + Hib).
8. Rotavirus Vaccine (RVV).
9. Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV).
10. Japanese Encephalitis (JE) Vaccine.

Maithili Sharan Gupt Jayanti

History and Culture

Context

• Maithili Sharan Gupt Jayanti is celebrated every year on 3 August to mark the birth anniversary of the legendary Indian poet, Maithili Sharan Gupta.

About

• Birth Date: August 3, 1886, in Chirgaon, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh.
• Literary Contributions: He popularised Khari Boli Hindi as a literary language, displacing the hegemony of Braj Bhasha in modern poetry.
• His work included issues of nationalism, social justice and Indian cultural values.
• Literary Works: Saket (an epic depicting the Ramayana from Urmila’s perspective), Bharat Bharati, Yashodhara, Panchavati, and Jayadrath Vadh.
• Title: Mahatma Gandhi granted him the title of “Rashtrakavi” (National poet) for his patriotic masterpiece Bharat-Bharati (1912).
• Honors: He was nominated member of Rajya Sabha from 1952-1964.
• For his outstanding contribution to literature and education, he was awarded Padma Bhushan in 1954.

Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy

History and Culture

Context

• 2nd August is observed as the 166th birth anniversary of Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy.

About

• He was born on 2nd August 1861 in Khulna, now in Bangladesh. 
• He rose to prominence as a pioneering scientist, educator, and industrialist.
• He was the founder of India’s first pharmaceutical company Bengal Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals established in 1901.
• He is widely regarded as the father of modern chemical science in India and played a key role in promoting scientific education in the country. 
• He also established the first modern Indian research school in chemistry. 
• He is remembered for his discovery of mercurous nitrite in 1896. 
• It opened a new path for research into metal nitrites and established modern chemical research in India.

Pingali Venkayya

History and Culture

Context

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to freedom fighter Pingali Venkayya on his 150th birth anniversary.

Pingali Venkayya

• He was born on 2 August 1876, in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh.
• He was a freedom fighter and the designer of the Indian national flag, which later evolved into the present-day Tricolour.

Flag Design

• In 1921, he presented a flag design to Mahatma Gandhi at a Congress session in Vijayawada.
• His design featured three stripes representing India’s major communities and a spinning wheel (charkha) symbolizing self-reliance.
• In 1947, the design was modified to include the Ashoka Chakra, symbolizing law and progress.
• Recognition- The Government of India has issued postage stamps in his honor and organized events like Tiranga Utsav to celebrate his legacy.

Shipki La  Pass

Geography

In News

• India-China cross-border trade resumed through Shipki-La after six years.

Shipki La Pass

• It is a motorable mountain pass in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh at 3,930 m.
• It enters Himachal Pradesh at Shipki La (3,930 m) and flows in the south-westerly direction through Kinnaur, Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Solan and Bilaspur districts of the State. 
• Trade included wool, horses, borax, turquoise and gold from Tibet, grains, spices, dried fruits, timber and metal goods from India.
• The route was closed after the 1962 Sino-Indian War and was disrupted during the Doklam standoff and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Leptospirosis

Health

News

• Kerala has witnessed a sharp rise in cases and deaths due to leptospirosis in 2026.

Leptospirosis 

• It is a zoonotic disease caused by bacteria and spread to humans by contact with the urine of an infected animal or with contaminated water and soil.
• The bacteria enter the body through cuts in the skin or through the eyes, nose and mouth. 
• It has been endemic in Kerala since 1989 and now has the highest mortality among communicable diseases in the State. 
• The disease can range from mild to severe, sometimes fatal, with symptoms similar to those of influenza, dengue and other viral diseases.
• Mild leptospirosis is treated with oral antibiotics, while severe cases require hospitalisation.

U.S. Invites Bangladesh to Join Pax Silica Initiative

International Relations

Context

• U.S. Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor invited Bangladesh to join the U.S.-led Pax Silica initiative.

‘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.