Blog

Water Hyacinth Livelihood Initiative in Assam

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• A livelihood initiative supported by the International Rhino Foundation has enabled women living near the Laokhowa-Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam to convert invasive water hyacinth into marketable household products.

Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes or Pontederia crassipes)

• It is a free-floating, perennial aquatic plant native to tropical and subtropical South America.
• It is widely recognized as one of the world’s most aggressive Invasive Alien Species (IAS).
• It is famously referred to as the “Terror of Bengal” in India due to its devastating ecological and economic footprint.

Laokhowa-Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary (LBWLS)

• Location – Situated on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River in Assam
• Ecological Connectivity: Strategically nestled between Kaziranga National Park to the east and Orang National Park to the west.
• Vegetation – A mosaic of wet alluvial grasslands, riparian forests, moist deciduous woods, and significant wetland systems (like the Rowmari-Donduwa wetland complex).
• Keystone Species: Great Indian one-horned rhinoceros, Royal Bengal Tiger, Asian elephant, and Asiatic water buffalo.

PM Modi Receives Agricola Medal

Syllabus: GS2/ International Relations

Context

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the prestigious Agricola Medal by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) at its headquarters in Rome, Italy.
• The medal was presented by FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu.

About Agricola Medal

• The Agricola Medal is the highest honour conferred by the Director-General of the FAO.
• The medal is named after Georgius Agricola, a German scholar widely considered the “father of mineralogy” and a pioneer in agricultural and mining sciences.
• It is awarded to distinguished world leaders and individuals for exceptional and long-term contributions to global food security, sustainable agriculture, poverty reduction and improved nutrition.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

• FAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve food security.
• It was founded on 16 October 1945.
• Members: The FAO comprises 195 members, including 194 countries and the European Union.
• Headquarters: Rome, Italy.

PRAGATI 2026 Exercise

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

Context

• The multilateral military exercise PRAGATI 2026 commenced at Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya.

PRAGATI

• Abbreviation – Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region.
• Participating countries – India, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.
• Significance – The exercise will focus on counter-terrorism operations in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain.

Zwan-Wolf Effect

Syllabus: GS3/ Science and Technology

Context

• A recent study published in Nature Communications has provided evidence of the Zwan-Wolf effect at Mars using data from NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft.

Zwan-Wolf Effect

• The Zwan-Wolf effect is a space weather phenomenon where electrically charged particles (plasma) are compressed and squeezed along magnetic field lines when a planet’s magnetic boundary interacts with the solar wind.
• First identified in 1976 by scientists B.J. Zwan and R.A. Wolf.

Significance of Discovery

• Mars lacks a strong global magnetic field unlike the Earth.
• The discovery shows that even relatively “unmagnetised” planets can experience complex magnetic interactions.

MAVEN Mission

• MAVEN stands for Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission.
• It is a NASA mission launched in 2013 to study the Martian atmosphere and its interaction with the solar wind.
• The mission investigates how Mars lost much of its atmosphere and water over time.

Connect with the basics – Mars

• It is the fourth planet from the Sun
• It is the second-smallest planet in the Solar System.
• Mars is about half the size of Earth.
• Rotation period – Its rotation period is 6 hours, which is very similar to that of Earth (23.9 hours).
• Red Planet – The reason Mars looks reddish is due to oxidation or rusting of iron in the rocks, and dust of Mars. Hence it is also called the Red Planet.
• Moon of Mars – Phobos and Deimos

Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) or Mangalyaan

• Launched from – Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh
• Launched by – It was launched by Indian Space Research Organisation in November 2013.
• Rocket used – PSLV C-25 rocket
• Objective – To study Martian surface and mineral composition as well as scan its atmosphere for methane (an indicator of life on Mars).

India Backs Ethiopia’s WTO Entry

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• India and Ethiopia signed a bilateral accession protocol in Geneva as part of Ethiopia’s process of joining the World Trade Organization (WTO).

World Trade Organization (WTO)

• Mandate – It is the only global international organization responsible for regulating and facilitating trade between nations.
• Established on – January 1, 1995, as the successor to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which had governed global trade since 1948.
• Member countries- 166 representing over 98% of global trade
• Headquartered in – Geneva, Switzerland.

Myopia Pandemic

Syllabus: GS2/Health

Context

• By 2050, approximately 4.75 billion people,nearly half the world’s population, are expected to be myopic.
• The prevalence of myopia among urban children in India has increased from 4.44% in 1999 to 21.15% in 2019 and is projected to rise to nearly 48% by 2050.

Myopia

• It is primarily a refractive condition caused by excessive axial elongation of the eye.
• In a myopic eye, the axial length, which is the distance between the front and back of the eye, becomes too long.
• As a result, incoming light rays focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it, causing distant objects to appear blurred.
• Concerns: As the axial length of the eye increases, the tissues of the eye, including the sclera, choroid, and retina, undergo stretching and thinning. This increases the risk of retinal detachment, myopic macular degeneration, glaucoma, and early cataract formation.
• High myopia, generally defined as a refractive error of −6 dioptres or greater, is associated with potentially irreversible visual impairment and blindness.
• Prevention: Research suggests that more outdoor time may help reduce progression risk.
• Regular eye exams are important, especially in school-age children.

BHAVYA Scheme

Syllabus: GS2/Government Schemes

Context

• The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, has released the operational guidelines for implementation of the BHAVYA Scheme.

Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA)

• Aim: To create 100 “future ready” industrial parks that will integrate with the PM GatiShakti programme so that they can avail of that programme’s multi-modal connectivity and last-mile access.
• These parks will set new benchmarks in industrial infrastructure, ensuring reliability, reducing inefficiencies, and enhancing productivity across sectors.
• Land Use: Industrial parks ranging from 100 to 1,000 acres will be taken up for the development.
• Funding: While the Central government will provide funding of up to Rs 1 crore per acre, the scheme is meant to include the involvement of the respective State governments as well as the private sector.
• Infrastructure: Core infrastructure like internal roads, underground utilities, drainage, common treatment facilities, ICT and administrative systems.
• The National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC), under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, will play a key role in implementing the initiative.
• The scheme duration would be for six years starting in 20526-27.

Additional Information –  PM GatiShakti

• It was launched in – 2021
• Objective – to enhance the country’s infrastructure and promote seamless connectivity across various sectors.
• Significance – It is a transformative approach for economic growth and sustainable development which is driven by seven engines – railway, roads, ports, waterways, airports, mass transport and logistics infrastructure.
• Implementation: PM Gati Shakti will incorporate the infrastructure schemes of various Ministries and State Governments like Bharatmala, Sagarmala, inland waterways, dry/land ports, UDAN etc.

International Booker Prize

Syllabus: Miscellaneous

Context

• The International Booker Prize completed a decade in its present form in 2026.

International Booker Prize

• Establishment: Originally set up in 2005 as the Man Booker International Prize.
• It is a prestigious literary award presented annually for a single work of fiction translated into English and published in the United Kingdom or Ireland.
• Prize Value: £50,000, which is split equally between the author and the translator.
• Shortlisted authors and translators each receive £2,500.Core
• Objective: To promote global fiction and elevate the critical, historically invisible role of translators.

Additional Information – Comparison: Booker Prize vs. International Booker Prize

India’s Cultural Diplomacy Through Gifts

Syllabus: GS2/ International Relations

Context

• PM Modi gifted traditional Indian handicrafts, textiles, and regional artefacts to world leaders during his five-nation diplomatic tour covering the United Arab Emirates, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, and Italy.

Gifts Presented to World Leaders

• Italian PM Giorgia Meloni received a Muga silk stole from Assam and an off-white Shirui Lily silk stole from Manipur.
• Muga silk, known as the “golden silk” of Assam, is a rare textile produced in the Brahmaputra Valley without artificial dyes.
• The Shirui Lily silk stole derives inspiration from the Shirui Kashong Peak of Manipur and the rare Shirui Lily flower.
• Queen Máxima of the Netherlands was gifted Meenakari and Kundan earrings from Rajasthan.
• Norwegian Leader Jonas Gahr Støre received a pressed orchid painting and orchid paperweights made from real pressed orchids and ferns of Sikkim.
• Harald V was presented with a silver sailboat model crafted using Tarakasi, the traditional silver filigree art of Cuttack, Odisha.
• Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson received a Santiniketan messenger bag from West Bengal along with works of Rabindranath Tagore.
• UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received a Rogan painting featuring the “Tree of Life” motif from Gujarat.
• Rogan art is a rare textile painting tradition from the Kutch region of Gujarat.
• A box of Kesar mangoes from Junagadh, Gujarat, was also presented.

Arunachal Kiwi Mission

Syllabus: GS3/ Agriculture

Context

• The Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region launched a Mission on “Arunachal Kiwi: The USP of Arunachal Pradesh”.

Mission on Arunachal Kiwi

• Objective – to strengthen the entire kiwi value chain – from cultivation and post-harvest management to branding, exports and agri-tourism.
• Significance – The mission aims to promote kiwi orchard tourism and farm-stay experiences in areas such as Ziro Valley and Dirang, combining horticulture with experiential tourism.
• Note – Arunachal Pradesh currently contributes more than 50 percent of India’s kiwi production, producing over 7,050 metric tonnes annually.

Kiwi or Chinese gooseberry (Actinidia deliciosa)

• It is a nutrient-rich woody deciduous vine native to eastern Asia.
• It is known for its fuzzy brown skin, green/golden flesh, and edible black seeds.
• It requires 700–800 chilling hours below 7°C during winter and best suited to mid-hill regions (800–1,500 m altitude).
• It begins fruiting in 4–5 years and attains full commercial production by 7–8 years.

Sperm Whales

Syllabus: GS3/Species in News

Context

• Researchers have revealed that sperm whales, which communicate using clicking sounds, also vary the sounds in ways that resemble how humans use vowels.

Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus).

• Sperm whales got their name because the semi-liquid, waxy substance in their head was first believed to be sperm.
• Distribution: They occur throughout the world’s oceans and in the Mediterranean Sea.
• Appearance: It is a large, dark-colored, toothed whale with a massive, square-shaped head that can make up more than a third of its body length.
• Sperm whales are the largest of the toothed whales.
• Threats: Deep-sea oil and gas exploration can cause multiple issues, such as loss of hearing, water pollution from hydrocarbons, and increased risk of being hit by ocean vessels.
• Conservation Status: IUCN Vulnerable.
• Protected under Schedule 2 of the Wildlife Protection Act and possession or trade of any of its by-products, including Ambergris, is illegal.
• They are listed in Appendix I of the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).
• However, ambergris is not covered in CITES provisions as it is considered a naturally excreted waste product and trade of which is legal in many countries.

Ambergris

• Ambergris means grey amber in French, is a waxy substance that originates from the digestive system of sperm whales.
• Due to its high value in the market, ambergris is often called the ‘floating gold’ and ‘treasure of the sea’.

Sample Registration Survey 2024

Syllabus: GS2/Health

Context

• The recent Sample Registration Survey 2024 was released by the Office of the Registrar General of India (ORGI).

The Sample Registration System (SRS)

• It provides reliable annual estimates of Infant Mortality Rate, Birth Rate, Death Rate and other Fertility & Mortality Indicators at the National and subNational levels.
• Conducted by – Registrar General of India.

Major Findings

• Birth Rate: It is live births per 1,000 population, it fell from 21 in 2014 to 18.3 in 2024.
• The number declined from 14.9 to 14.7 in urban areas and from 20.3 to 20.2 in rural areas.
• The highest Birth Rate was observed at 26.8 in Bihar, whereas Andaman & Nicobar Islands had the lowest Birth Rate of 9.9.
• Death Rate: It is deaths per 1,000 people, it is down from 6.7 to 6.4.
• In 2024, Chhattisgarh recorded the highest Death Rate of 8.4, whereas the lowest Death Rate was recorded in Chandigarh at 3.9.
• Infant Mortality Rate: The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is the number of deaths of children under one year of age per 1,000 live births in a given year.
• The present level of IMR (24 infant deaths per thousand live births, for the year 2024) is less than one-fifth as compared to 1971. In the last ten years, IMR has witnessed a decline of about 38%.
• In 2024, the maximum IMR was reported in Chhattisgarh (36) and the minimum in Manipur (2).

Government Initiatives to Curb Infant Mortality in India

• Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) – It includes free drugs, consumables, free diet during the stay, free diagnostics, free transportation, and free blood transfusion if required.
• Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) provides pregnant women a fixed day, free of cost, assured and quality antenatal checkup by a Specialist/Medical Officer on the 9th day of every month.
• Mission Indradhanush: It was launched in 2014, aiming to achieve over 90% full immunisation coverage by strengthening routine immunisation services and targeting hard-to-reach populations.
• Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK): Children from 0 to 18 years of age are screened for 32 health conditions (i.e. Diseases, Deficiencies, Defects, and Developmental delays) under RBSK to improve child survival.
• Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs) are established at public health facilities where children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and medical complications are admitted for treatment.

Apache Helicopters

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

Context

• The United States has approved the proposed sale of support services and related equipment for Apache helicopters to India at an estimated cost of 198.2 million US dollars.

About

• Apache helicopters are among the world’s most advanced multi-role attack helicopters.
• Developed by Boeing, it combines firepower, agility, and modern avionics.
• It is equipped with Hellfire missiles, 70mm rockets, and a 30mm chain gun, enabling it to engage ground targets, armoured vehicles, and even low-flying aircraft.
• They have advanced sensors, targeting radar, and night vision systems that make it effective for operations in all weather conditions, including high-altitude and low-visibility combat zones.
• Besides India, other users include Egypt, Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the UK, and more.

Chandrayaan-3: Latest Research

Syllabus: GS3/Space

In News

• Scientists from the Physical Research Laboratory have used data from Chandrayaan-3 to reveal new details about the Moon’s surface.

Chandrayaan-3,

• It is a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2, successfully achieved a soft landing on the Moon’s south pole in 2023.

Lander payloads:

• Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) – to measure the thermal conductivity and temperature
• Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA) – for measuring the seismicity around the landing site etc.

Rover payloads:

• Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) & Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) for deriving the elemental composition in the vicinity of landing site.

Additional Information – Chandrayaan-1

• It was launched in 2008.
• It was India’s first lunar mission.
• It made India the fifth country to reach the Moon.
• The mission’s most significant discovery was the presence of water molecules on the lunar surface, a finding confirmed by NASA.

Chandrayaan-2

• It was launched in 2019 with an orbiter, a lander (Vikram), and a rover (Pragyan).
• The mission aimed to achieve a soft landing on the lunar surface, but ISRO lost contact with the lander just before touchdown, resulting in a crash landing.
• Despite this setback, the orbiter continued functioning and provided crucial data on the Moon’s surface and atmosphere.

India and Italy Ties Upgraded to Special Strategic Partnership

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• India and Italy upgraded their ties to a special strategic partnership.

India and Italy bilateral relations

• Partnership: Elevated to Special Strategic Partnership, focusing on the Indo-Mediterranean corridor.
• Initiatives: Enhanced cooperation on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
• Tech: Collaboration through the INNOVIT hub focusing on AI and space
• Cultural Focus: Italian involvement in India’s National Maritime Heritage Complex.

Maharashtra Completes Documentation of Over 23,000 Wetlands

Syllabus: GS3/Biodiversity and  Conservation

Context

• National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) has completed the documentation and Ground-truthing of Maharashtra’s 23,415 wetlands.

Wetlands  

• Definition – ‘A wetland is the transitional land between terrestrial and aquatic eco-systems where the water table is usually at or near the surface or the land is covered by shallow water’.
• These are ecotone between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem
• India has around 6% of its land as wetlands, 99 Wetlands of India are under the List of Wetlands of International Importance called as Ramsar Sites.
• India boasts the largest Ramsar site network in Asia and the 3rd largest in the world in terms of number of sites.
• Tamil Nadu holds the highest number of Ramsar sites in India in 2026 with 20 sites.

India’s Latest Additions in Ramasar site

• Siliserh Lake (Rajasthan): 95th Ramsar site
• Kopra Jalashay (Chhattisgarh): 96th Ramsar Sites
• Patna Bird Sanctuary (Uttar Pradesh): 97th Ramsar Sites
• Chhari-Dhand Conservation Reserve (Gujarat): 98th Ramsar Sites

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.

Veera Pasi

Syllabus: GS1/ Modern History

Context

• Recently, a statue of Veera Pasi, often remembered as a “forgotten hero” of the Revolt of 1857, was unveiled in Raebareli.

Veera Pasi

• Veera Pasi (born Shivdeen Pasi) was a valiant 19th-century warrior and army commander from Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh, who played a heroic role in the 1857 Uprising.
• Born on November 11, 1835, in Lodhwari village, he was orphaned early and lived with his sister.
• In the local dialect, a brother living with his sister’s family was affectionately called “Veerna,” which eventually evolved into the name Veera.
• He became a trusted commander and associate of Rana Beni Madhav Baksh Singh, ruler of the Shankarpur Estate in Awadh.
• When British forces captured Rana Beni Madhav Singh, Veera Pasi displayed remarkable courage by launching a rescue operation and freeing him from prison.

Nordic Countries

Syllabus: GS1/Places in News

Context

• After the Third India-Nordic Summit, Prime Minister Modi said that India and the Nordic countries are committed to “democracy, rule of law and multilateralism”.

Nordic Countries

• Nordic countries are a group of countries in northern Europe consisting of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.
• The designation includes the Faroe Islands and Greenland, which are autonomous island regions of Denmark, and the Åland Islands, an autonomous island region of Finland.

Nordic countries

• The term is sometimes used interchangeably with Scandinavia, a peninsular region of northern Europe that serves as the geographic core of the Nordic countries.
• Scandinavia is typically defined more restrictively, however, and refers primarily to Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
• Denmark, Sweden and Finland are members of the EU while Norway and Iceland are European Economic Area (EEA) members.
• Among them Sweden is the most populated country while Iceland is the least populated.

Euthanasia for Rabid and Dangerous Stray Dogs

Syllabus: GS2/ Governance

Context

• The Supreme Court has allowed euthanasia for rabid, incurably ill, or demonstrably dangerous stray dogs, citing the need to protect human life and public safety.

Key Observations of the Supreme Court

• The Supreme Court observed that the State has a constitutional obligation to protect citizens from repeated stray dog attacks and rabies threats.
• The Court upheld its earlier order directing the removal of stray dogs from schools, hospitals, markets, and other high-footfall public spaces.

Constitutional and Legal Dimensions

• Article 21 and Human Security: The judgment expanded the interpretation of Article 21 by linking public safety with the right to life and dignity.
• Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960: The Act protects animals from unnecessary cruelty while permitting humane treatment in exceptional situations.
• Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023: The Rules emphasise sterilisation, vaccination, and scientific management of stray dog populations.

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

Context

• Delhi Police has suggested a larger SC Bench to review the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) bail curbs.

UAPA Act

• Enacted: 1967
• Mandate: It is aimed at “more effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of individuals and associations for dealing with terrorist activities”.
• Unlawful activity: Unlawful activity means any conduct which constitutes a crime or which contravenes any law.
• Terrorist act: Section 15 of the Act defines “terrorist act” and is punishable with imprisonment for a term of at least five years and up to life.
• Power to central government – The Act assigns absolute power to the central government, by way of which the Centre deems an activity as unlawful.
• Applicability: The provisions of this Act apply also to—

(a) citizens of India outside India;

(b) persons in the service of the Government, wherever they may be; and

(c) persons on ships and aircrafts, registered in India, wherever they may be.

Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) Amendment Act 2019

• The Act empowers the government to designate individuals as terrorists.
• Under the Act, the central government may designate an organisation as a terrorist organisation

Ayush Anudan Portal Under Ayush Grid Initiative

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

In News

• Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare launched the Ayush Anudan Portal at Kartavya Bhawan, New Delhi.

Ayush Anudan Portal

• It is developed by the Ministry of Ayush under the Ayush Grid initiative.
• Objective – It is a paperless, centralized digital grant-management platform launched by the Ministry of Ayush to streamline the end-to-end submission, processing, appraisal, and monitoring of funding proposals
• It is integrated with the NGO Darpan Portal and it ensures faster and more reliable verification of applicant organisations.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Ayush, Government of India.
• Significance – Replacing manual, paper-heavy traditional grant workflows with an automated, transparent, and easily accessible digital workflow.

Ayush Grid Project

• It is conceptualized by the Ministry of Ayush for creating a comprehensive Information Technology backbone for the entire Ayush sector.
• It envisages digitization of service delivery across the six functional areas — Health Services, Education, Research, Drug Administration, Medicinal Plants, and Ministry of Ayash Oversight along with capacity building and media outreach.
• It is aimed at establishing an integrated, transparent, and citizen-centric digital ecosystem for the Ayush sector through the use of modern technology.

Oslo Summit

Syllabus: GS2/ International Relations

Context

• PM Modi participated in the Third India–Nordic Summit held in Oslo.

Oslo Summit

• The summit brought together leaders of the five Nordic countries; Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Iceland.
• Objective – The summit aims to strengthen cooperation between India and Nordic countries in trade, investment, clean energy, technology, innovation, maritime affairs and sustainable development.
• The first India–Nordic Summit was held in Stockholm in 2018 and the second summit took place in Copenhagen in 2022.

Significance of Nordic Countries for India

• Technological Cooperation: Nordic countries are global leaders in clean technologies, innovation and digital governance.
• Green Energy Partnership: Nordic expertise in offshore wind, green hydrogen and sustainable technologies supports India’s energy transition goals.
• Maritime Cooperation: Nordic countries possess advanced capabilities in shipbuilding, maritime logistics and sustainable port infrastructure.
• Arctic Significance: Nordic cooperation is important for India’s climate research and Arctic engagement.
• Research and Innovation: Collaboration in research, education and start-up ecosystems can strengthen India’s knowledge economy.

Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA)

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• Iran has established a new regulatory body named as Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA).

About

• Aim: To oversee and manage operations in the strategically significant Strait of Hormuz.
• Under the new system, vessels will be required to follow directives issued by the authority and secure transit permits before entering the Strait of Hormuz.
• The US, Gulf states, and European nations have all rejected the legality of Iran’s fee regime.

Strait of Hormuz

• Location – The Strait of Hormuz lies between Iran to the north and Oman and the United Arab Emirates to the south, linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
• At its narrowest point it is about 33 kilometres wide, with shipping lanes just a few kilometres across in either direction.
• Significance- Nearly half of India’s crude oil and around 60 per cent of its natural gas imports pass through the strait.