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India and France upgrade ties to Special Global Strategic Partnership

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• The French President arrived on a three-day official visit to India to participate in the AI Impact Summit.

Major Outcomes

• PM Modi announced the establishment of a ‘Special Global Strategic Partnership’ with France.
• Launch of the India-France Year of Innovation & India-France Innovation Network.
• Inauguration of H125 Helicopter Final Assembly Line at Vemagal, Karnataka.
• Joint Venture between BEL and Safran to produce HAMMER missiles in India.
• India has asked France to increase “indigenous content” in the Rafale by up to 50%, and also expand the Rafale’s maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in India.

Additional Information – India-France Relations

• India–France Strategic Partnership: It was launched on 26 January 1998 and is India’s first-ever Strategic Partnership.
• Rafale Fighter Jets: India procured 36 Rafales from Dassault Aviation.
• Scorpene Submarines (Project P-75): Collaboration with France’s Naval Group, 6 submarines built in India; latest is INS Vaghsheer.
• Recently both nations formally concluded an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) to procure 26 Rafale-M fighter jets for the Indian Navy.
• Joint Exercises: Shakti, Varuna, FRINJEX-23.
• The process of enabling Unified Payment Interface (UPI) has been successful in France.
• Joint space missions: TRISHNA (satellite mission), MDA systems, ground station support.
• International Solar Alliance (ISA): Co-founded by India and France in 2015 to promote solar energy worldwide.

Launch of SAHI and BODH Initiatives

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

Context

• The Union Health and Family Welfare Minister launched two digital health initiatives—SAHI (Secure AI for Health Initiative) and BODH (Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health AI)—during the India AI Impact Summit 2026.

SAHI (Secure AI for Health Initiative)

• It is also referred to as the Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare for India.
• Objective – to ensure the safe, ethical, and evidence-based adoption of AI across the country’s healthcare system.

BODH (Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health AI)

• Developed by – IIT Kanpur in collaboration with the National Health Authority,
• Objective – It is a specialized digital infrastructure which validates AI models before they are deployed at a national scale.

AI-Preneurs of India

Syllabus: GS3/ S&T

In News

• Atal Innovation Mission launches ‘AI-Preneurs of India’ at India AI Impact Summit 2026, showcasing India’s purpose driven AI Ecosystem.

AI-Preneurs of India

• It is a flagship initiative launched by the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), under NI TI Aayog,
• Objective – to celebrate and document the journeys of pioneering artificial intelligence (AI) entrepreneurs in India.

Key Features of the Initiative

• The Publication: It is a flagship coffee table book chronicling 45 pioneering AI startups.
• Founder-First Storytelling: Unlike technical reports, it focuses on the “human element”—the motivations, challenges, and perseverance of the founders.
• Sectoral Diversity: Featured startups operate across 30+ domains, including healthcare, agriculture, sustainability, education, mobility, and deep tech.
• Geographic Democratisation: The initiative showcases innovators from a nationwide network of Atal Incubation Centres (AICs), moving beyond traditional hubs like Bengaluru and Mumbai to include Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities

Bee Corridor

Environment

In News

• In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has unveiled an ambitious plan to create dedicated “bee corridors” along India’s national highways.

Bee Corridor

• It aims to establish continuous linear stretches of bee-friendly vegetation featuring carefully selected flowering trees and plants.
• Unlike traditional decorative plantings, the new corridors will be designed to provide year-round nectar and pollen, ensuring sustained food sources for pollinators.
• The NHAI plans to plant around 40 lakh trees along NHs during the year 2026–27, around 60 per cent of which will be planted under the ‘bee corridor’ initiative.
• Significance – The initiative will help reduce the increasing ecological stress faced by honeybees and other pollinators

“PM RAHAT” Scheme

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

Context

• Prime Minister Modi has approved the launch of the PM RAHAT (Road Accident Victim Hospitalization and Assured Treatment) Scheme.

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.

Japan’s ‘God’s Crossing’

Environment

Context

• A centuries-old winter phenomenon known as “Miwatari” (God’s Crossing) at Lake Suwa has failed to appear for several consecutive years, signalling the growing impact of climate change in East Asia.

‘Miwatari’

• “Miwatari” refers to a natural ice ridge that forms when the entire surface of Lake Suwa freezes.
• It occurs after several days of temperatures below –10°C.
• Thermal expansion and contraction of the frozen surface creates cracks; newly formed ice shards push upward, forming a raised ridge.
• Traditionally, it is believed to mark the path of a deity crossing the lake to visit his consort.

Evidence of Climate Change

• Miwatari appeared almost every winter until the 1980s, but its frequency has sharply declined since then and it has not appeared at Lake Suwa since 2018.
• Morning winter temperatures increasingly fail to drop low enough for complete lake freezing.

Kamala Hydroelectric Project

Environment

In News

• Recently, the expert panel of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India has recommended clearance for Kamala hydroelectric project in Arunachal Pradesh, which will require felling 23.4 lakh trees.

Kamala Hydroelectric Project

• It is a multipurpose project with the objectives of power generation and flood moderation.
• It is proposed by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited.
• It  is located on the Kamla river, a right-bank tributary of Subansiri which is Brahmaputra’s tributary.

Emergency Landing Facility

Defence;

Context

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a2 kilometre Emergency Landing Facility on the Moran Bypass in Assam, the first such facility in Northeast India.

About

• An Emergency Landing Facility is a reinforced highway stretch designed to act as an alternative runway for the Indian Air Force.
• Located about 300 kilometres from the Line of Actual Control, the Moran ELF provides critical backup during conflict situations and strengthens disaster response in remote regions.
• It can handle fighter aircraft up to 40 tonnes and transport aircraft up to 74 tonnes.
• With around 15 such facilities now operational, this strategic grid stretches from the deserts of Rajasthan to the expressways of Uttar Pradesh and now to the strategic borders of the Northeast.

‘Anupam’ model of Waste Management

(Environment)

Context

• Following the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) decision to eliminate the household waste, Anupam Colonies now segregate and process waste within their own premises.

‘Anupam’ model of Waste Management

• It is a decentralized waste management strategy launched by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) in 2025
• Objective – to achieve zero-waste, self-sustainable urban living.
• The Hindi word Anupam was chosen to reflect that these colonies are “incomparable” in their waste practices.

Core Principles & Features

• Uniqueness- The model shifts the focus from traditional centralized waste disposal to on-site resource management.
• 100% Source Segregation: Residents must divide waste into three primary streams: wet, dry, and sanitary.

Scientific Processing:

• Wet Waste: Composted on-site using wire-mesh bins or Organic Waste Converters (OWC).
• Dry Waste: Meticulously sorted into 12 different categories (e.g., paper, metal, glass, e-waste) at local Material Recovery Facilities (MRF).
• Horticulture Waste: Converted into compost or eco-friendly briquettes within the colony.
• Community-Led Governance: Management is handled by Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and NGOs rather than a top-down municipal approach.
• RRR Centers & “Neki Ki Deewar”: Dedicated hubs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) where residents donate usable items like clothes and books for those in need.
• Waste-to-Wealth: Produced compost is distributed free of cost to residents, while income from selling recyclables often funds colony repairs

Ol Chiki Script

Culture

Context

• President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the centenary celebration of the Ol Chiki script in New Delhi, emphasising its importance in preserving Santhal heritage.

Ol Chiki Script

• Ol Chiki was developed in 1925 by Pandit Raghunath Murmu to provide a dedicated writing system for the Santhali language.
• It comprises 30 letters designed to capture Santhali phonetics with precision, allowing systematic documentation of its vocabulary and grammar.
• Santhali, a member of the Austro asiatic language family, is spoken across Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, and Bihar.
• It was included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution in 2003.

Bhu-Aadhaar

Syllabus: GS2/ Governance

Context

• The Government of Delhi has initiated the assignment of a 14-digit Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN), popularly termed ‘Bhu-Aadhaar’, to every land parcel in the Capital.

ULPIN (Bhu-Aadhaar)

• It is part of the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP).
• It is a 14-digit identification number accorded to a land parcel based on the longitude and latitude coordinates of the land parcel.
• The system integrates GIS mapping, drone surveys, and Ortho Rectified Images (ORI) for accuracy.
• It functions as a digital land identity, similar in concept to Aadhaar for individuals.

Significance

• The initiative aims to enhance transparency, curb fraudulent transactions, and modernise land records through geospatial technology.
• It complements the SVAMITVA Scheme, under which 48 villages in Delhi have already been covered.

Cheer Pheasant

Environment

In News

• BirdLife International and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified the cheer pheasant as ‘Vulnerable’.

Cheer Pheasant

• Scientific name- Catreus wallichii. It is also known as Wallich’s pheasant or Chir pheasant,
• Habitat- It is a ground-dwelling bird endemic to the Western HimalayaIt is found in Pakistan, Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and central Nepal
• Diet: Feeds mainly on roots, tubers, bulbs, seeds, berries, and occasionally insects or worms.
• Behaviour: Known for high natal philopatry, meaning individuals often return to their birthplace to breed. They are predominantly monogamous.
• Threats: Hunting, habitat degradation (conversion of grasslands to agriculture), and forest fires during the breeding season (April–June) which destroy ground nests.
• Conservation Breeding: An exclusive breeding centre is located at Chail, Himachal Pradesh.

Conservation Status

1. IUCN Red List: Vulnerable.
2. Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I (highest legal protection in India).
3. CITES: Appendix I.

Inhaled Nitric Oxide

Science & Technology

Context

• A recent study by researchers has explored that the high-dose inhaled nitric oxide can significantly reduce multidrug-resistant Pneumonia.

About

• India faces a high burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and hospital-acquired infections where drug-resistant pneumonia is a serious threat in Intensive Care Units (ICUs).
• A significant contributor is Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium responsible for nearly one-fifth of hospital-acquired pneumonias.

Nitric Oxide

• Nitric oxide (NO) is a colorless, gaseous free radical molecule composed of one nitrogen and one oxygen atom.
• Production: It is a gas naturally produced by the human body from the amino acid L-arginine, a process that can be boosted by dietary intake of nitrate-rich foods like leafy greens, beets, and garlic.
• Functions: It acts as a neurotransmitter, immune system regulator, and aids in angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation).
• Significance – It improves oxygenation by widening blood vessels in the lungs.
• Toxicity Risks: High doses can lead to methemoglobinemia and potential lung injury.

First Road-cum-rail Tunnel Under Brahmaputra River

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

In News

• Recently, the Union cabinet has approved the construction of the country’s first underwater twin tube road-cum-rail tunnel project under the Brahmaputra River in Assam at an estimated cost of Rs 18,662 crore.

About the Project

• Length – It is a around 34 kilometre-long four-lane access-controlled Greenfield connectivity project.
• Features – It will feature two parallel tunnels, designed to facilitate smooth and high-capacity movement of both road and rail traffic.
• Connectivity – The stretch will connect Gohpur on NH-15 and Numaligarh on NH-715 in Assam, cutting short the distance between the two Assam cities to just 34 kilometres from the current 240 kilometres.
• The travel time will be reduced to just 20 minutes from six hours now.
• Importance: The project will provide significant benefit to Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and other North -Eastern States.
• It will enhance connectivity, reduce logistics costs and accelerate growth across Assam and the entire Northeast.

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.

Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

In News

• Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of the Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 (FoF 2.0) with a corpus of ₹10,000 crore
• Objective – to mobilise venture capital for the country’s rapidly expanding startup ecosystem.

Venture capital

• Definition – It is funding provided to emerging companies by wealthy individuals or institutional investors (venture capitalists) seeking long-term growth.
• It is high-risk but potentially high-return and can be provided through equity, debentures, or conditional loans.

Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 (FoF 2.0)

• Objective – to mobilise venture capital for the country’s rapidly expanding startup ecosystem.

Additional Information – Startup India

• Launched on – January 16, 2016.
• Objective – to promote entrepreneurship and enable investment-driven growth.

India’s Startup Ecosystem

• India has rapidly evolved into one of the world’s largest startup ecosystems, with more than 2 lakh startups as of 2025 .
• India has the 3rd largest startup ecosystem in the world.
• Major hubs like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi-NCR have been at the forefront of this transformation.
• India has over 120 unicorns with a valuation exceeding $350 billion.
• Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025 ranking: It provides performance metrics and ranks around 140 economies on their innovation ecosystems.
• India has made a steady climb from 48 rank in 2020 to 38 in 2025.

Kerala Declares Bacillus Subtilis ‘State Microbe’

Syllabus: GS2/ Health/ Governance

Context

• Kerala has become the first Indian state to designate an official “State Microbe,” selecting Bacillus subtilis, a beneficial, soil-dwelling bacterium.

Bacillus subtilis

• It is a non-pathogenic, rod-shaped, gram-positive bacterium.
• It is found commonly in soil, water, and the human gut.
• Bacillus subtilis is a probiotic or good bacterium that plays a vital role in improving gut health and strengthening immunity.
• The bacterium is widely used in agriculture as a biofertilizer and biocontrol agent to enhance crop productivity and suppress plant diseases.
• Due to its resilience and spore-forming ability, it has significant industrial and biotechnological applications.

Do You Know?

Centre of Excellence in Microbiome

• It is established by the Government of Kerala located in Thiruvananthapuram,
• It is India’s first dedicated multi-domain research institution for microbiome studies.

Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad)

Syllabus: GS2/ International Relations

Context

• Recent remarks from senior U.S. officials describing the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) as a “very important platform” and India as an “active participant”.

Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad)

• It is the informal strategic dialogue between India, USA, Japan and Australia.
• Objective – To ensure and support a “free, open and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region.

Additional Information – Exercise Malabar

• Started in – It is a multilateral war-gaming naval exercise that was started in 1992. The exercise began as a bilateral exercise between the navies of India and the United States.
• Participating countries – From 2002 onward, the exercise has been conducted every year. Japan and Australia first participated in 2007. Since 2014, India, the US and Japan have participated in the exercise. In 2020 Australia too joined the Malabar Exercise.
• Aim – To support a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region and remain committed to the rules-based international order.

African Union

Syllabus: GS2/Regional Groupings

Context

• The African Union is hosting its annual summit in Ethiopia to discuss the future of the continent, as the organization faces widespread discontent.

African Union

• It is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent.
• It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999).
• Aim: to drive Africa’s growth and economic development.
• Headquarters: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Initiatives

• African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement – It aims to create a single market for goods and services across the continent.
• Agenda 2063 – It is a strategic framework for the socio-economic t ransformation of the continent over the next 50 years.

Seva Teerth

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

In News

• The Prime Minister inaugurated the Seva Teerth complex in New Delhi, along with Kartavya Bhavan-1 and 2.

Seva Teerth and Kartavya Bhavan-1 and 2

• Seva Teerth houses the Prime Minister’s Office, the National Security Council Secretariat, the Cabinet Secretariat, all of which were previously located across different locations.
• It consolidates administrative functions within modern, and future-ready facilities.
• Kartavya Bhavan-1 and 2 accommodate several Key ministries including the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
• Both building complexes feature digitally integrated offices, structured public interface zones and centralised reception facilities.

       Importance

• These features will foster collaboration, efficiency, seamless governance, improved citizen engagement and enhanced employee well-being.

CPI January, 2026 (Provisional) at Base year 2024=100 Released

Syllabus:GS3/Economy

Context

• The Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation has released the provisional Consumer Price Index (CPI) with Base 2024=100.

About

• The base has been revised from 2012 to 2024 using Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2023-24.

Consumer Price Index (CPI):

• It measures the average change in prices paid by consumers for a basket of goods and services over timee., it tracks retail inflation.
• Tracks cost of living and purchasing power.
• Includes items like food, housing, clothing, transport, etc.
• It is published monthly, the earlier base year: 2012 which is revised to 2024.
• Released By: NSO, MoSPI.

Lead Bank Scheme (LBS)

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

In News

• The RBI’s proposed guidelines aim to strengthen and streamline the Lead Bank Scheme by clearly defining the structure, membership, and roles of various committees

Lead Bank Scheme (LBS)

• It is an institutional mechanism introduced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in December 1969
• Objective – to coordinate banking and development activities at the district level.
• Significance – It aims to enhance credit flow to priority sectors like agriculture and MSMEs, reduce regional imbalances, and promote overall rural development.
• As of February 2026, the RBI has proposed a major overhaul of the scheme through new draft guidelines to modernize its operations for the digital age.

Core Objectives

• Area Approach: Adopting a specific geographical area (the district) as the basic unit for intensive banking development.
• Financial Inclusion: Expanding banking services to unbanked and underbanked rural and semi-urban populations.
• Coordinated Planning: Acting as a “consortium leader” to align the efforts of commercial banks, regional rural banks (RRBs), cooperative banks, and government agencies.
• Credit Deployment: Ensuring credit reaches productive sectors to improve local income levels and productivity.