Author: Ramvilas

Manasbal Lake

Environment

Context

• Manasbal Lake is on the path of ecological recovery with the return of migratory birds.

About – 

• Located in – Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district

• It is India’s deepest natural freshwater lake, reaching depths of 13 meters (43 feet). 
• Known as  – Supreme Gem of all Kashmir Lakes. 
• Uniqueness – It is famous for its crystal-clear waters, extensive summer lotus blooms, and bird-watching opportunities.

Features- 

• Location & Elevation: Situated in the Jhelum Valley at an altitude between 1,585 and 1,600 meters.
• Hydrology: It is a warm monomictic lake (circulates completely only once a year). 
• Topography: The lake is flanked by the Baladar Mountains (east), the Karewa plateau (north), and the Ahtung Hills (south).
• Biodiversity: It is a significant natural stamping ground for migratory aquatic birds in Kashmir, supporting dozens of species including Mallards, White-headed Ducks, and Golden Eagles.
• Economic Value: It supports local livelihoods via fisheries and the harvesting of lotus rootstocks, locally known as Nadru.

World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO)

Polity

In News

• China formally launched the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO) in Shanghai, at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference.

WAICO

• • It is an intergovernmental body for AI cooperation, capacity building, and shared governance standards among developing nations, 

• Headquarters – Shanghai.

• • Uniqueness – It’s the first standing institution of its kind aimed squarely at the Global South.  

• Members – 29 countries. 

Significance – 

• China will provide 5,000 AI training opportunities and establish joint AI cooperation centres with ASEAN, African Union, BRICS, SCO, League of Arab States.
• It will promote open-source AI models, technology sharing, and collaborative AI development.
• The platform will strengthen China’s influence in global AI governance with the Global South.

Investment Friendliness Index (IFI)

Polity

Context

• NITI Aayog has released the report titled “Investment Friendliness Index (IFI)”.

About

• Objective – It assesses how effectively States and Union Territories create, enable, and sustain an environment conducive to investments. 
• Parameters – Infrastructure, Business climate, Resources, Government policy, Regulatory Ease, Institutional Environment, Financial Health; and Environmental Resilience.
• State Categorisation: States and Union Territories have been classified into four performance categories:

1. Top Performers (scores above 50).
2. Frontrunners (45–50).
3. Emerging Performers (≥40 – <45).
4. Aspiring States (below 40).

• Among the Large States, Gujarat secured the first rank, followed by Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, which are also the top three performers in the overall Index.
• In the Hilly and North-Eastern States category, Uttarakhand emerged as the highest-ranked State, followed by Assam and Himachal Pradesh. 
• Among the City States and Union Territories, Goa secured the top position, followed by Delhi and Chandigarh.

National Commission for Minorities

Polity

Context

• The Union government appointed Harjit Singh Grewal as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM).

National Commission for Minorities (NCM)

• • The Union Government set up the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. 
  • The first Statutory National Commission was set up in 1993.
  • Initially five religious communities, viz., Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Zoroastrians (Parsis) were notified as minority communities by the Union Government.

• In 2014, Jains were also notified as another minority community.

• Composition – The Commission consists of: A Chairperson, a Vice- Chairperson, and Five Members.
• Objective: The organisation is set-up to safeguard and protect the interests of minorities as provided in the Constitution of India and laws enacted by the Parliament and the State Legislatures.

ICMR i-DRONE Initiative

Science & Technology

News

• Recently, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under its i-DRONE initiative has successfully demonstrated the use of drone-assisted transport of TB sputum samples to improve access to tuberculosis diagnosis in remote areas. 

i-DRONE initiative

• Full form – ICMR’s Drone Response and Outreach for North East (i-DRONE)

• • It was launched in 2021.
  • Objective – It aimed to evaluate the use of drones to deliver vaccines and medical supplies to remote areas of Manipur and Nagaland. 
  • The i-DRONE project developed a hub and spoke drone network to connect 60 sub-centres, 11 primary health centres and four TB units in Telangana to transport sputum samples for TB diagnosis. 

• Outcomes:  The median time to diagnosis was reduced from 15 days to 5 days.

• Average out of pocket expenditure (OOPE) dropped from ₹9,451 to about ₹91 with a large number of patients having zero travel costs.

ASW Shallow Water Craft Malvan

Science & Technology

Context

• The Indian Navy is set to commission Malvan, the second of the Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC).

About

• Built by Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi.
• Malvan has more than 80 per cent indigenous content.
• It reflects India’s growing self-reliance in warship design, construction and systems integration under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
• Function – to operate effectively in coastal and shallow waters, enhancing the Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities. 
• The Mahe-class ASW-SWC vessels are being inducted to replace the ageing Abhay-class corvettes.

7th Governing Body Meeting of National CAMPA

Environment

News – 

• The 7th Governing Body Meeting of National CAMPA in Coimbatore marked a shift from conventional compensatory afforestation toward landscape-based ecological restoration.

Outcomes – 

• Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana (AVSY) was approved with an initial corpus of ₹3,000 crore (2026–31) to conserve nearly 15,000 sacred groves (Aastha Vans).
• MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes) was extended for three years until 2029, with an added ₹500 crore, taking the total outlay to ₹600 crore.

Four wildlife recovery programmes were approved 

• Objective – to strengthen scientific monitoring, anti-poaching measures, and habitat restoration:
• Gangetic Dolphins: Recovery action plan focused on major freshwater river systems.
• Project Snow Leopard Phase-II: Including the 2nd nationwide population estimate in the Himalaya.
• Indian Rhinoceros: Conservation plan for habitat protection and anti-poaching enforcement.
• Wild Water Buffalo: Scientific habitat management to secure the remaining population.
• Sangai (Brow-antlered Deer): Continued financial and operational support for conservation.

Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management & Planning Authority (CAMPA)

• It was established under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016 (in force 2018).
• Objective – to collect and administer funds for ecological compensation of diverted forest land.
• Genesis: Supreme Court, in T.N. Godavarman, constituted an ad hoc CAMPA by its 2006 order to manage unspent afforestation collections.
• Two Tiers: (1) National CAMPA Authority, headed by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, sets policy, while (2) State CAMPA Authorities execute field operations.
• Liability: Agencies diverting forest land must provide alternative land, fund compensatory afforestation, and pay the Net Present Value (NPV) of the lost forest ecosystem. 
• Fund Uses: Artificial and natural regeneration, wildlife management, catchment treatment, village relocation from protected areas, and human-wildlife conflict management.

Cyclosporiasis

Science & Technology

News – 

• A widespread outbreak of cyclosporiasis has been reported in the United States.

About – 

• • Responsible pathogen- Cyclosporiasis is a foodborne intestinal illness caused by the microscopic, single-celled protozoan parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis.
  • Transmission: Strictly fecal-oral route via contaminated food or water.
  • No Direct Person-to-Person Spread: Excreted parasite eggs require days to weeks in the environment to mature and become infectious.

• Host Range: Humans are the only known hosts.

• Symptoms: Severe, explosive watery diarrhea, fatigue, cramps, and weight loss.
• High-Risk Groups: Immunocompromised individuals, the elderly, and young children.
• Diagnosis: Missed by routine stool cultures; requires special staining, UV fluorescence microscopy, or PCR.
• Treatment: Treated with the antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX). No vaccine exists.

98th Foundation Day of ICAR

Polity

News – 

• Marking ICAR’s 98th Foundation Day, the Union Ministry of Agriculture unveiled the “Developed Agriculture and Prosperous Farmers” roadmap as a key pillar of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Outcomes- 

• 100 Climate-Smart Villages: Developing at least 100 villages before ICAR’s centenary to demonstrate climate-resilient farming, water conservation, and risk-reduction models.
• One Institute-One Grand Innovation: Mandating every ICAR institute deliver at least one breakthrough technological innovation, vaccine, or crop variety within two years.
• Mission ICAR-100: Transforming Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) into innovation hubs for large-scale demonstrations, with each KVK visiting at least 100 villages.
• ICAR Open Digital Knowledge Platform: Creating a mobile-first platform providing free crop advisories, soil-test results, and instructional videos via smartphones.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

• Established in 1929 (originally as the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research), 
• ICAR is the apex body for coordinating agricultural research and education in India.
• It is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• Union Agriculture Minister serves as the ICAR Society’s ex officio President, and the Minister of State for Agriculture serves as Vice-President.