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Green Hydrogen

Environment

Context – 

• India secured long-term export agreements for green ammonia and green methanol with Japanese companies, marking a milestone in its National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM).

Green ammonia

• It is produced using green hydrogen, and is emerging as a leading clean fuel for fertilizers, energy, and marine applications. 

Benefits of Green Ammonia

• Decarbonization of Fertilizers: India’s fertilizer sector, heavily dependent on imported ammonia, can significantly cut emissions by adopting green ammonia.

Additional Information – Green Hydrogen

• Green Hydrogen: It is produced using electrolysis of water with electricity generated by renewable energy.
• Benefit: It is a clean burning element that can decarbonise a range of sectors including iron and steel, chemicals, and transportation. 
• Hydrogen can be stored for long periods of time which can be used to produce electricity using fuel cells.

National Green Hydrogen Mission

• Aim: To make India a global hub for the production of green hydrogen.
• Implementing Ministry: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy(MNRE) 

Hydrogen

• Symbol and Atomic number – Hydrogen is the chemical element with the symbol H and atomic number 1. 
• Hydrogen is the lightest element and the most abundant chemical substance in the universe, constituting roughly 75% of all normal matter.
• It is colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, and highly combustible gas.

Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme 2026

Government Scheme

News

• The Central government notified the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) Scheme, 2026, replacing EPF Scheme, 1952.

Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) Scheme, 2026, 

• Implementation – Ministry of Labour and Employment.
• Cap: Mandatory 12% employee contribution stops at the ₹15,000 wage ceiling.
• Limit: Maximum mandatory monthly deduction is ₹1,800.
• Voluntary: Contributions above ₹1,800 are voluntary; employers need not match excess.
• Withdrawals: Partial withdrawals require keeping a 25% minimum balance.
• Portability: Account transfers between jobs are automatic and digital.
• Amnesty: Special schemes (VISHWAS, AMNESTY 2026) resolve past compliance disputes.

Advanced Therapeutic Products (ATPs)

Science & Technology

News

• The Central Government amended the Drugs Rules, 1945, to include Advanced Therapeutic Products (ATPs) under the Central License Approving Authority (CLAA) framework.

Advanced Therapeutic Products (ATPs)

• These are the innovative biopharmaceuticals based on genes, cells, or engineered tissues. 
• They target, modify, or repair biological functions at a fundamental or genetic level to potentially cure a disease.

Key Domains: 

• ATPs include gene therapies, cell-derived products and xenografts.
• Gene therapeutic products use gene replacement or gene editing (CRISPR-Cas9) to cure genetic defects (e.g., haemophilia and sickle cell anaemia).
• Cell- or stem cell-derived products include regenerative therapies and CAR-T cell therapies for blood cancers like leukaemias and lymphomas.
• Xenografts are medical products derived from animal tissues, including porcine heart valves used to replace human organs or tissues.

Gulf of Aden

International

News – 

• INS Trikand thwarted a piracy attempt against the India-bound merchant vessel MV Golden Arsenal in the Gulf of Aden.

INS Trikand 

• It is a Talwar-class stealth guided-missile frigate built in Russia for the Indian Navy.

Gulf of Aden 

• Location – It is a deep-water gulf between Yemen (north) and Somalia (south in the Horn of Africa). 
• Connectivity – It connects the Red Sea to the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean via the Bab el-Mandeb Strait (Gate of Tears).
• Key Ports: Aden in Yemen, Djibouti City in Djibouti, and Berbera in Somalia.
• The gulf accounts for about 11% of global maritime trade and over $110 billion of India’s trade.
• Concerns – The region faces piracy from Somalia’s instability and missile threats from Yemen’s geopolitical conflict.

Civil Registration System (CRS) Report 2024

Polity

News – 

• The Office of the Registrar General of India released the Civil Registration System Report 2024.

Key Highlights of CRS 2024

• Near Universal Registration Achieved: Birth and death registrations in India crossed 99% of estimated births and deaths for the first time in 2024.
• Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB): India’s national sex ratio at birth stands at 917 females per 1,000 males. SRB measures the number of girl children born for every 1,000 boys.
• State Level Disparities: Top performers include Kerala (970), Arunachal Pradesh (1,050), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (984), Meghalaya (974), and Mizoram (972). Lowest performers include Nagaland and Lakshadweep (865 each) and Jharkhand (890) recorded the weakest figures.
• Stillbirths: 81,117 stillbirths were recorded in 2024, with 69% occurring in urban areas. A stillbirth is the death of a fetus at or after 20 to 28 weeks of pregnancy. Most occur in the womb before labor

Additional Information – Civil Registration System (CRS) 

• It is popularly known as birth and death registration system, is the recording of vital events i.e. Birth, Death & Still Birth.
• Mandated under the Registration of Births and Deaths (RBD) Act, 1969 (amended in 2023). It serves as vital statistics for government policymaking.

• • Functions under – Ministry of Home Affairs. It is the central authority responsible for coordinating and unifying registration activities across states and UTs.
• CRS falls under the Concurrent list of the Constitution of India.

SHE-LEAPS

Government Scheme

News – 

• The SHE-LEAPS platform was launched at Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Sammelan held in New Delhi.

SHE-LEAPS 

• Full form – Self-Help Entrepreneur-Livelihoods and Enterprise Application for Prosperity and Sustainability 
• It is a digital platform for empowering women associated with Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across rural India.

Objectives:

1. Empowering rural SHG women entrepreneurs nationwide.
2. Creating and strengthening women-led enterprises in rural areas.
3. Integrating rural producers with formal value chains.
4. Enhancing the financial inclusion of SHG households.
5. Enabling data-driven rural entrepreneurship.

Green Urea

Science & Technology

News – 

• The Department of Fertilisers has decided to establish Green Urea plants in India.

Green Urea

• Green urea is a sustainable fertilizer produced using green hydrogen, renewable energy, and captured carbon dioxide (instead of fossil fuel-based natural gas).
• It retains the same formula, nutrient value, and white appearance as grey urea; “green” denotes its production pathway.
• Production Pathway: Green hydrogen is produced by water electrolysis powered by renewable electricity, then combined with atmospheric nitrogen to form green ammonia for urea synthesis.

Why Green Urea Matters

• Import Reduction: India imports roughly 10 million tonnes (1 crore MT) of conventional urea annually. Indigenous green urea production aims to achieve Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in fertilizers.
• Decarbonization: The traditional Haber-Bosch process heavily relies on natural gas (fossil fuels). Shifting to green feedstocks drives toward India’s Net Zero 2070 goal.
• Green Hydrogen Mission: It is a vital downstream application of the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which allocated ₹19,744 crore to scale the ecosystem.

Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP)

Environment

News –

• The World Bank Board has retired the CCAP’s 45% climate co-benefits target and the original 35% target to replace fixed financing quotas with outcome-based development metrics.

Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP)

• Established in – 2021

• Objective – It is the World Bank Group’s strategic framework for integrating climate adaptation and mitigation.
• Significance – It initially required 35% of total World Bank financing to be allocated to projects with climate co-benefits. This target was raised to 45% at COP28 in 2023.

CCAP operates through 3 pillars: 

1. aligning climate and development via new diagnostics, 
2. prioritising key system transitions, 
3. mobilising finance.

Yamuna Water Project

Environment 

News-

• Governments of Rajasthan and Haryana signed a Memorandum of Agreement to implement the Yamuna Water Project, operationalising a three-decade-old interstate water-sharing framework.

Yamuna Water Project 

• • Agreement: Signed in June 2026 between Haryana and Rajasthan.
  • Objective: Realizes the 1994 Upper Yamuna Pact to give Rajasthan its allocated water share.
  • Cost & Volume: ₹34,102 crore to transfer 580 MCM of surplus water annually.
  • Timeline: Water will be drawn strictly during the monsoon season (July–October).
  • Source: Hathnikund Barrage (Haryana) on the Yamuna River.
  • Destination: Hansiyawas Reservoir in Churu district (Rajasthan).

• Beneficiaries: Churu, Sikar, and Jhunjhunu (Rajasthan); Bhiwani and Fatehabad (Haryana).

• Mechanism: A 295.5 km underground pipeline (not open canals) to prevent evaporation and leakage losses.

Additional Information – Yamuna River

• Origin: Yamunotri Glacier (Bandarpunch Peak, Uttarakhand, ~6,387m).
• Length: 1,376 km.
• Confluence: Merges with Ganga at Triveni Sangam, Prayagraj (UP).
• Basin States: Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh.

Major Tributaries (West to East Order)

Left Bank (Himalayan):

1. Tons (Largest by volume; merges at Kalsi).
2. Hindon (Entirely rain-fed; passes NCR).

Right Bank (Peninsular):

1. Chambal (Largest right-bank; famous for Badland Topography/Ravines).
2. Sindh (Originates in Malwa Plateau).
3. Betwa (Vindhyan range origin; Ken-Betwa Interlinking Project is crucial).
4. Ken (Passes through Panna Tiger Reserve area).

Key Riparian Areas

• Cities: Delhi, Noida, Mathura, Agra, Etawah, Prayagraj.
• Protected Areas: Kalesar National Park (Haryana), Okhla Bird Sanctuary (Delhi-UP).

Miniratna

Economy

News – 

• The Ministry of Steel granted Miniratna Category-I status to MECON Limited, a leading engineering and consultancy Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE).
• Miniratna status was introduced in 1997 to give profit-making CPSEs more autonomy.

Maharatna vs. Navratna vs. Miniratna

International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

Environment

News – 

• Bangladesh became the 27th member nation of the India-led, treaty-based International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA).

About- 

• Headquarters – India, 
• Objective – It is a multi-country, multi-agency coalition of 95 big cat range countries with an interest in big cat conservation. 
• Genesis: IBCA was launched by the Prime Minister of India in 2023 during the event ‘Commemorating 50 years of Project Tiger’.
• Aim: Conserving seven big cats – Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma. 
• Members: Nicaragua, Eswatini, India, Somalia and Liberia have signed the Framework Agreement to formally become members of the IBCA.

IndiaSkills Competition 2026-27

Economy

News – 

• The Union Minister launched IndiaSkills Competition 2026–27.

About – 

• • Objective – It is India’s flagship skill competition to identify, nurture and showcase India’s most talented youth across 63 industry-relevant skill categories.
  • Implementation – Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and supported by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) as knowledge and implementation partner.

• Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) provides a transparent, accessible and digital platform for participation.

National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)

• Not-for-profit public limited company under section 8 of Companies Act, 2013.
• Operates as a Public Private Partnership model under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.
• 49% of share capital is held by the government and 51% by the private sector.

VB-G RAM G Act Come Into Force

Polity

In News

• The Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025, has come into effect from 1st July. 

Key features

• It replaces the MGNREGA 2005, transitioning India’s rural employment from a “relief-based” system to a “developmental and asset-creation” model under the Ministry of Rural Development. 
• It includes increasing guaranteed work to 125 days, implementing a 60:40 Centre-State funding ratio, and moving to a supply-driven, normative budget allocation linked with PM Gati Shakti. 
• Furthermore, the Act mandates a 60-day pause in work during agricultural seasons.

Key Features & Implementation

• Wages: A national base wage of ₹300 per day is set, with regional variations.
• Projects: Focus on water security, infrastructure, and climate resilience.
• Technology: Uses the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack for AI-driven, transparent, and geo-tagged tracking.
• Rights: Continues to provide for unemployment allowance and wage penalties

eSARAS

Polity

Context

• The Government recently emphasized the role of eSARAS (SARAS Aajeevika) in digitally empowering women-led Self-Help Groups (SHGs) by linking rural artisans to national markets and promoting inclusive growth under the Digital India mission.

eSARAS (SARAS Aajeevika)

• It is a digital marketplace for products created by women SHGs, rural artisans and producer collectives across India.
• It is developed by the Ministry of Rural Development under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
• Objective – to provide SHG members with direct market access, eliminate middlemen, ensure fair remuneration and promote indigenous crafts and rural entrepreneurship.
• Every product on eSARAS carries a story, and every purchase is a direct connection to the artisan behind it. It includes examples like:

1. Chanderi sarees from Madhya Pradesh
2. Marble artisans in Rajasthan
3. Pashmina producers in the hills of Jammu & Kashmir

Key Milestones: From Portal to e-Commerce Ecosystem

• eSARAS Portal: e-Commerce portal launched for better and more effective marketing of Saras products
• eSARAS Mobile App: Mobile app launched alongside the eSARAS Fulfilment Centre. It is used for processing, packaging and shipping of products.
• ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce) – to democratise and unbundle the e-commerce sector. 
• UMANG: eSARAS listed on UMANG; platform now serves 2,572 services with 796.69 crore transactions (June 2026)
• SARAS Shakti Collection: Premium curated gift collection launched at Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Sammelan 2026 for institutional and corporate markets.
• SARAS Aajeevika Gallery: It is a permanent retail gallery established for showcasing curated SHG products.

India’s Diminishing Cotton Productivity

Economy

Context

• The stagnation in India’s cotton productivity has led to a debate on whether new genetically modified (GM) cotton technologies alone can improve productivity or whether greater emphasis is needed on soil health and agronomic practices.

Cotton Cultivation in India

• It is often referred to as “White Gold,” 
• It is a vital commercial crop that serves as the backbone of India’s textile industry and sustains millions of livelihoods.

Geographic & Climatic Requirements- 

• It is a subtropical Kharif crop requiring 6–8 months to mature, cotton needs a warm, sunny climate (21°C–30°C) with at least 210 frost-free days.
• Rainfall/Soil: Requires 50–100 cm of water; best grown on moisture-retaining Black Cotton Soil (Regur), though it thrives in alluvial/red soils with proper drainage to avoid waterlogging.
• Production: India is the world’s top producer and holds the largest acreage.
• Major producing states – Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh
• Key Challenges: Pink Bollworm (PBW) resistance

Mission for Cotton Productivity 

• • It is also referred as Kapas Kranti
  • Objective – it aims to address stagnant yields and improve fibre quality to make India a self-reliant and globally competitive textile hub.
  • Focuses on high-density planting (HDPS), developing 24 climate-resilient varieties, promoting Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton, and branding (“Kasturi Cotton Bharat”).
• Modernization: Includes upgrading 2,000 ginning units and integrating digital tools for better market access

GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation)

Science and Tech

Context

• India has achieved a major milestone in satellite navigation with GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation) becoming the first Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) certified for the equatorial region.

GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation)

• GAGAN is India’s indigenous Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS), jointly developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI). 
• Operational since 2015, it enhances the accuracy, availability, and integrity of GPS signals by providing real-time correction information. 

Applications 

• Besides aviation, GAGAN supports:
• Maritime navigation
• Intelligent transport and fleet management
• Railway operations
• Disaster management
• Defence, telecom synchronisation, and geospatial mapping.

31st Chief of the Army Staff

Defence

Context 

• General Dhiraj Seth took charge as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff from General Upendra Dwivedi, who superannuated after more than four decades of distinguished service to the nation.

Chief of the Army Staff (COAS)

• COAS  is the professional head and highest ranking serving officer of the Indian Army.
• COAS is responsible for the command, training, administration, discipline and operational readiness of the Indian Army.
• But under Article 53(2) of the Constitution, the President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. 
• The COAS is appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for a tenure of three years or up to the age of 62 .
• The COAS works within the civilian-led defence structure headed by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and the Ministry of Defence.

Transcaspian marinka (Schizothorax pelzami)

GS3/Species in News

News

• A clan in Arunachal Pradesh’s East Kameng district has started a conservation campaign to protect the ray-finned fish Schizothorax pelzami (Transcaspian marinka).

Transcaspian marinka (Schizothorax pelzami)

• Habitat type: Freshwater, benthopelagic (bottom-dwelling in rivers).
• Distribution: It is found in rivers of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and northeastern Iran, thriving in temperate benthopelagic environments.
• IUCN Red List Status : It  has been assessed as Least Concern due to its large range and the lack of widespread threats in this area.
• Latest Conservation in India : The Sangno clan of Arunachal Pradesh’s East Kameng district has started a community-based conservation initiative with 52 fingerlings of the Transcaspian marinka (Schizothorax pelzami), locally called Ngarsing, released into a mahseer-free stretch of the Richaso stream.

Forest Owlet (Heteroglaux blewitti)

Ecology

News – 

• Forest Owlet is an endemic owl species rediscovered in 1997 after being presumed extinct for over 100 years.

Forest Owlet

• Appearance: It is a small owl with an unspotted crown, white throat collar, and heavily banded wings and tail.
• Behaviour: Unlike most owls, it is diurnal and shows rapid side-to-side tail flicking while hunting.
• Habitat Preference: The species inhabits dry deciduous forests dominated by teak with an open canopy and dense undergrowth.
• Distribution: The owl is restricted to central India with fragmented populations in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
• Ecological Role: As an understory predator, it regulates populations of small mammals, reptiles, and large insects.
• Key Threats: Habitat degradation from illegal logging, forest fires, and agricultural expansion.
• Conservation Status: IUCN: Endangered; CITES: Appendix I; WPA: Schedule I

16th India-Japan Annual Summit

International

Context (PIB): 

• Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited India to attend the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit in New Delhi.

India-Japan Bilateral Relations

• • India and Japan elevated their bilateral ties to a “Special Strategic and Global Partnership” in 2014,
  • FDI Source: Japan is the 5th-largest FDI source for India, accounting for 6% of total FDI between 2000 and 2026. 
  • Defence Relations: Bilateral defence cooperation is based on the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue

• Joint Exercise: JIMEX (Navy), Dharma Guardian (Army), Veer Guardian (Air Force), Malabar (multilateral naval exercise between US-India-Japan-Australia).

• Space Collaboration: ISRO and JAXA are collaborating on the Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) mission to investigate lunar water ice at the Moon’s south pole.
• Nuclear Treaty: The 2016 civil nuclear agreement made Japan the first country to extend nuclear cooperation to a non-NPT state, with a clause permitting termination upon an Indian nuclear test.
• Strategic Convergence: Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP), counter maritime aggression through the Quad, and build resilient supply chains through the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI).

Borjuli Wetland

Ecology

News – 

• The Borjuli wetland in Assam, known for harbouring a wild rice species called Oryza rufipogon, has been notified as a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS).
• Oryza rufipogon, is the progenitor of present-day cultivated rice, Oryza sativa. 
• It is resistant to pests and diseases and can tolerate flooding and saline conditions, making it a valuable genetic resource for developing climate-resilient crop varieties.

Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS)

• These are well-defined areas that are unique, ecologically fragile ecosystems (terrestrial, coastal, inland water, or marine) characterized by one or more of the following:

1. Species richness
2. High endemism
3. Presence of rare and threatened species, keystone species, and species of evolutionary significance
4. Presence of wild ancestors of domestic/cultivated species
5. Past pre-eminence of biological components represented by fossil beds
6. Areas with significant cultural, ethical, aesthetic values important for maintenance of cultural diversity

• Legal Status: They are notified under Section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
• Notifying Authority: State Government in consultation with local bodies after recommendations from the State Biodiversity Board.
• As per the National Biodiversity Authority, India has 54 Biodiversity Heritage Sites as of March 2026.

Neurocysticercosis

Science and Tech

News –

•  A UK woman’s discovery of 38 parasite cysts in her brain following a tapeworm infection has renewed global attention on neurocysticercosis.

Neurocysticercosis 

• It is a parasitic infection of the brain caused by the larval stage of the pork tapeworm (Taenia solium) and is a leading cause of acquired epilepsy in endemic regions.
• Transmission & Symptoms: Infection occurs by ingesting tapeworm eggs through contaminated food, water, or poor hygiene. 
• Larvae form cysts in the brain, which may remain asymptomatic for years before triggering seizures and other neurological symptoms due to inflammation.
• Treatment: Management is individualised, involving antiparasitic drugs, anti-seizure medications, anti-inflammatory therapy, or surgery, depending on the number, location, and stage of the cysts.