Blog

Gallantry Awards

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

Context

• President Droupadi Murmu approved 127 Gallantry awards and 40 Distinguished Service awards to the Armed Forces.

Gallantry Awards

• Honoured by – Government of India
• It is given to honour acts of bravery, sacrifice, and exceptional courage by members of the armed forces, paramilitary forces, and civilians.
• They are classified as wartime (gallantry in the face of enemy) and peacetime awards.
• Administered by: Ministry of Defence (for armed forces) and Ministry of Home Affairs (for police and civilians).
• Awarded by: President of India.
• These gallantry awards are announced twice in a year – first on the occasion of the Republic Day and then on the occasion of the Independence Day.
• Wartime Gallantry Awards: Param Vir Chakra (PVC), Mahavir Chakra (MVC) and Vir Chakra.
• Peacetime Gallantry Awards: Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra.

Gallantry Awards

• Order of Precedence: Param Vir Chakra (PVC), Ashoka Chakra (AC), Maha Vir Chakra (MVC), Kirti Chakra (KC), Vir Chakra (VrC), Shaurya Chakra (SC).
• All six awards can be conferred posthumously.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)

Syllabus: GS3/Security Forces

In News

• The Supreme Court transferred the investigation into the Karur stampede from the Tamil Nadu Police Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the Justice Aruna Jagadeesan Commission to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Central Bureau of Investigation

• Set up in – It was set up in 1963 by a resolution of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Established under – It comes under the administrative control of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
• Recommended by – It was established on the recommendation of the Santhanam Committee.
• Legal status – The CBI is not a statutory body. It derives its powers from the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946.

Functions 

1. The CBI is the main investigating agency of the Central Government.
2. It also provides assistance to the Central Vigilance Commission and Lokpal.
3. It is also the nodal police agency in India which coordinates investigations on behalf of Interpol Member countries.

Police Commemoration Day

Syllabus: GS3/Internal Security

Context

• Police Commemoration Day was observed on 21st October at the National Police Memorial to honour the valour and sacrifice of police personnel.

About

• On October 21, 1959, Indian policemen were martyred in an ambush by Chinese troops at Hot Springs, Ladakh.
• The day commemorates their supreme sacrifice and all police personnel who have laid down their lives in the line of duty.
• A memorial was erected at Hot Springs and members of Police Forces from different parts of the country trek to Hot Springs to pay homage to the martyrs.
• Since the year 2012, the Police Commemoration Day Parade has been held at the National level at the Police Memorial.

National Police Memorial (NPM)

• Dedicated by: Prime Minister on Police Commemoration Day, 2018.
• Location: Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.
• The Memorial gives police Forces a sense of national identity, pride, unity of purpose, common history and destiny.
• It comprises a Central Sculpture, a Wall of Valour and a museum.
• The Wall of Valour: 30 feet tall granite sculpture stands at the police memorial with the names of over 35,000 martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.

Additional Information

• ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are state subjects under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India
• SMART Policing: The SMART Policing Initiative was introduced by the Prime Minister of India in 2014 to modernize and transform Indian policing.
• Assistance to State & UTs for Modernization of Police (ASUMP) Scheme – to strengthen police infrastructure with the latest technology, weaponry, communication equipment, etc
• ‘CyTrain’ portal: It is a Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) platform, developed for capacity building of police officers/judicial officers. It provides online courses on critical aspects of cybercrime investigation, forensics, prosecution, etc.

Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA) 2025

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• India has moved up to the 9th position in terms of total forest area globally, as per the Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA) 2025, released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Bali.

Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA) 2025

• It is published once in 5 years
• Total Global forests cover – 4.14 billion hectares (32% of total land area).
• Countries with largest forest cover – Russia has the largest forest cover followed by Brazil, Canada, the USA, China, Congo, Australia, Indonesia, India and Peru.
• Note- the world continues to lose 10.9 million hectares of forest every year (2015–2025), a rate still considered alarmingly high.

India’s Forest Cover Status:

• India’s forest cover – 7 million hectares (2% of global forest area.
• India has maintained its third position worldwide after China and Russia In terms of annual forest gain.
• India Moves up to 9th Position Globally in Forest Area

Government Initiatives toward forest conservation

• ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign – It encourages citizens to plant trees and enhance environmental consciousness.
• National Mission for a Green India (GIM): A mission under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) that aims to increase forest cover and improve existing forest quality to combat climate change.
• Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act (2016): An act that ensures funds for afforestation and related activities by requiring users of forest land for non-forest purposes to pay compensatory levies.
• Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs): Areas designated around Protected Areas (National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries) to act as a buffer and minimize the negative impact of certain human activities on fragile ecosystems.
• Joint Forest Management (JFM): A program that fosters partnerships between state forest departments and local communities to protect, and regenerate forest resources.

Iran Ratifies UN Convention Against Terror Financing

Syllabus: GS2/ International Relations, GS3/ Security

Context

• Iran has ratified a law to join the United Nations International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) in a bid to align with global financial norms.
• FATF status: As of October 2025, Iran remains on the FATF blacklist for its failure to adopt sufficient anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CFT) standards.
• The ratification is seen as a first step toward potential re-evaluation by the FATF.

Convention Against Terror Financing

• Adoption – It was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 9 December 1999 (Resolution 54/109).
• Objective: To criminalize the financing of terrorism and establish international cooperation mechanisms to prevent, investigate, and prosecute such offences.
• International Legal Framework: Complements other UN instruments such as the UN Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001) and the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (2000).

India has ratified the CFT and has incorporated its provisions through:

• Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967
• Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

Additional Information – Financial Action Task Force

• Established – The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 during the G7 Summit in Paris.
• Objective – To set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.
• Secretariat – It is located at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) headquarters in Paris.
• Member Countries – 37 member countries where India is also a member.

FATF has two lists

• Grey List – Countries that are considered safe haven for supporting terror funding and money laundering are put in the FATF grey list. This inclusion serves as a warning to the country that it may enter the blacklist.
• Black List – Countries known as Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories (NCCTs) are put in the blacklist. These countries support terror funding and money laundering activities. The FATF revises the blacklist regularly, adding or deleting entries.

Japan Elects First Female Prime Minister

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• The Prime Minister extended congratulations to Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s newly-elected and first woman Prime Minister.
• He emphasized that partnership between India and Japan plays a vital role in ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific region

Chandrayaan-2 mission

Syllabus: GS3 / Science and Technology

Context

• The Chandrayaan-2 mission has made the first-ever observation of the Sun’s Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) on the Moon using its onboard scientific instruments.

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.

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.

CAQM Invokes Stage-II of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Entire NCR

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

In News

• The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invoked Stage-II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the entire National Capital Region.

Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)

• Objective – It is a set of emergency measures implemented in Delhi-NCR to control air pollution based on the Air Quality Index (AQI) levels.
• Implementation – It was formulated by the Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority (EPCA) and enforced by CAQM from 2021.

GRAP is divided into four stages corresponding to AQI levels:

• Stage I – Poor (AQI 201–300)
• Stage II – Very Poor (AQI 301–400)
• Stage III – Severe (AQI 401–450)
• Stage IV – Severe+ (AQI >450)

Why Do Air Quality Deteriorate in NCR during Winters?

• Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana.
• Low wind speed and temperature inversion trapping pollutants.
• Vehicular emissions, construction dust, and Diwali fireworks add to the load.
• Urban heat island effect and regional topography aggravate stagnation of pollutants.

Commission for Air Quality Management

• Constituted under: The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021.
• Jurisdiction: Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
• Purpose: To coordinate and implement region-wide measures for air quality improvement, replacing the earlier EPCA.

New Monoclonal Antibody Shows Early Promise Against Malaria

Syllabus: GS2/ Health, GS3/ Science and Technology

Context

• A novel monoclonal antibody (mAb) named MAM01, has demonstrated strong, dose-dependent protection against malaria in an early clinical trial.

Monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs)

• Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are lab-created proteins that mimic your body’s natural antibodies to fight specific foreign invaders, such as viruses, bacteria, and cancer cells.
• They are a powerful form of targeted therapy because they are designed to bind only to a single, specific target

Malaria

• Responsible pathogen – Malaria is an acute febrile illness caused by Plasmodium parasites.
• Vector – It spreads from people to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It is preventable and curable.
• Transmission – Malaria is not contagious and cannot spread from one person to another; the disease is transmitted through the bites of female Anopheles mosquitoes.
• Five species of parasites can cause malaria in humans and 2 of these species – Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax – pose the greatest threat.

Symptoms

• Infants, children under 5 years, pregnant women, travelers and people with HIV or AIDS are at higher risk. Severe symptoms include:
  • extreme tiredness and fatigue
  • impaired consciousness
  • multiple convulsions
  • difficulty breathing
  • dark or bloody urine
  • jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin)
  • abnormal bleeding.

Initiatives to Control Malaria by WHO

• WHO’s Global technical strategy for malaria 2016–2030 – It aims to reduce malaria case incidence and mortality rates by at least 40% by 2020, at least 75% by 2025 and at least 90% by 2030 against a 2015 baseline.
• ‘E-2025 Initiative’: The WHO has identified 25 countries with the potential to eradicate malaria by 2025 under the initiative.
• High Burden to High Impact (HBHI) initiative: WHO has initiated the initiative in 11 high malaria burden countries, including India.

Indian Government Initiatives to Control Malaria

• National target – The Government of India set a target to eliminate malaria in India by 2027.
• National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME) – It has been developed and launched in 2016 aligned with the Global Technical Strategy (GTS) for malaria elimination 2016-2030.
• Malaria Elimination Research Alliance-India (MERA-India): It was established by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) as a conglomeration of partners working on malaria control.

UDAN Scheme

Syllabus: GS3/Infrastructure

Context

• Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme has completed 9 Years.

UDAN Scheme

• It is a regional connectivity scheme launched in 2016.
• The first UDAN flight operated between Shimla and Delhi in 2017.
• Ministry: Ministry of Civil Aviation.
• Aim: To make air travel affordable and accessible to the common citizen by connecting Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities to major hubs.

Implementation:

• Viability Gap Funding (VGF): Financial support to airlines to ensure affordable fares.
• Airfare Cap to ensure affordability.

Seventh National Security Guard (NSG) Hub to Come up in Ayodhya

Syllabus :GS3/Security Forces

In News

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that a new NSG hub will be set up in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.
• This will be the seventh NSG hub, joining existing ones in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Jammu.

National Security Guard (NSG)

• Elite Counter-Terrorism Force: The NSG is a specialized force trained to combat terrorism and handle critical security situations.
• Establishment: In 1984, following Operation Blue Star. Created under the National Security Guard Act, 1986.
• Administrative and operational control: Union Ministry of Home Affairs
• Motto: “Sarvatra Sarvottam Suraksha” (Everywhere, Supreme Security)
• Key Roles: Counter-terrorism operations, Hijacking situations, Bomb disposal and post-blast investigations, VIP security.

Exercise Samudra Shakti 2025

Syllabus: GS3/ Defence

Context

• The Indian Navy is hosting the fifth edition of the Indo-Indonesian Joint Bilateral Maritime Exercise, ‘Samudra Shakti – 2025’ at Visakhapatnam.

Exercise Samudra Shakti 2025

• Place – Visakhapatnam
• Participating countries – India and Indonesia
• Type – Bilateral Maritime Exercise

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

Syllabus: Miscellaneous

Context

• Birth anniversary of former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (1931–2015) was observed recently.

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

• Born on 15 October in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu,
• He was a renowned aeronautical engineer and scientist, widely known as the “Missile Man of India.”
• As Project Director at ISRO, he led the development of India’s first Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III), successfully launching the Rohini satellite in 1980.
• Later, at DRDO, he spearheaded the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), overseeing the development of the AGNI and PRITHVI missiles and India’s nuclear capabilities, including the Pokhran-II nuclear tests.
• He served as the 11th President of India (2002–2007) and is fondly remembered as the ‘People’s President.’
• His literary works include Wings of Fire, India 2020, My Journey, and Ignited Minds.
• He was awarded the Padma Bhushan (1981), Padma Vibhushan (1990), and the highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna (1997).

The ‘Critical Factor’ in India’s Clean Energy Ambitions

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

Context

• As India targets 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2070, securing access to critical minerals has become a national priority.

Critical Minerals

• These are minerals that are essential for economic development and national security.
• The lack of availability of these minerals could potentially lead to “supply chain vulnerabilities and even disruption of supplies”.

List of Critical Minerals

• A total of 30 minerals were found to be most critical for India : Antimony, Beryllium, Bismuth, Cobalt, Copper, Gallium, Germanium, Graphite, Hafnium, Indium, Lithium, Molybdenum, Niobium, Nickel, PGE, Phosphorous, Potash, Rare Earth Elements (REEs), Rhenium, Silicon, Strontium, Tantalum, Tellurium, Tin, Titanium, Tungsten, Vanadium, Zirconium, Selenium and Cadmium.

India’s Policy Push for Mineral Exploration

• Domestic Reserves: India has vast untapped mineral potential, with lithium in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Rajasthan, and REEs in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
• Policy Initiatives: National Mineral Exploration Policy (NMEP), 2016 and Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 2021 have accelerated exploration through private participation and advanced surveys.
• KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Ltd) is acquiring overseas mineral assets to ensure supply security.
• National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) – It aims to strengthen the value chain from exploration to recovery.

SAIME model (Aquaculture model) of Sundarbans wins FAO recognition

Syllabus: GS3/Environment/Economy

In News

• The Sustainable Aquaculture in Mangrove Ecosystems (SAIME) model received Global Technical Recognition from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Sustainable Aquaculture in Mangrove Ecosystems (SAIME) model

• Developed by – Nature Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS) in West Bengal’s Sundarbans.
• Objective – It is a community-based initiative that integrates sustainable aquaculture practices with mangrove conservation and restoration
• Significance – It enhances coastal resilience, supports sustainable livelihoods, promotes chemical-free shrimp farming, and aids carbon sequestration and climate action.

Sundarbans in West Bengal

Geographical location  

• It is a vast contiguous mangrove forest ecosystem present in the coastal region of Bay of Bengal
• It spread over India and Bangladesh on the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna delta.

Conservation efforts  

• UNESCO World Heritage site – Sundarbans National Park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.
• Biosphere Reserve – Sunderbans was designated as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2001.
• Wetland of International Importance – Sundarban Wetland, India was recognised as the ‘Wetland of International Importance’ under the Ramsar Convention in January 2019.
• Flora and Fauna – Sunderban National Park is known for its wide range of fauna, including 260 bird species and is home to the Royal Bengal tiger, Gangetic dolphins and Estuarine crocodile

Indian wolf

Syllabus: GS3/Species  in News

News

• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has for the first time evaluated the Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes)

Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes)

• Distribution – The Indian Wolf is primarily found in India and Pakistan, with its historic range confined south of the Himalayas .
• It is mainly found in sixteen states with major populations in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Karnataka.
• Threats : Habitat loss, persecution, and human-wildlife conflict.
• It is one of the most ancient wolf lineages
• It is now listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Commonwealth Games

Syllabus: Miscellaneous

Context

• Gujarat’s largest city Ahmedabad has been recommended as the “proposed host” by the executive board of Commonwealth Sport.
• India last hosted the CWG in Delhi in 2010.

Commonwealth Games

• Started in 1930 (inaugural event in Hamilton, Canada) as the British Empire Games.
• It is a multi-sport international event, modeled on the Olympics, involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations and their associated territories.
• The Commonwealth of Nations, or simply the Commonwealth, is a voluntary association of 54 sovereign countries, most of which were former colonies of the British Empire.
• Commonwealth Games is the world’s second-largest multi-sport event from 71 nations and territories.

Sri Lankan PM’s State Visit to India

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• The Sri Lankan Prime Minister is on a state visit to India.

India and Sri Lanka Relations

• Diplomatic Ties: Diplomatic relations established in 1948 after Sri Lanka’s independence.
• Trade Relations: India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISFTA) in 2000 contributed significantly towards the expansion of trade between the two countries.
• Maritime Security and Defence Cooperation: In 2011, a decision was taken to establish the Colombo Security Conclave which aims to further promote maritime security in the Indian Ocean Regi
• India and Sri Lanka conduct a joint Military exercise named ‘Mitra Shakti’, Trilateral Maritime Exercise “Dosti”, and a Naval exercise named SLINEX.
• Multilateral Forum Collaboration: India and Sri Lanka are member nations of several regional and multilateral organizations such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and BIMSTEC.

Mass Surrender of Maoists

Syllabus: GS3/Internal Security

Context

• 210 Maoists surrendered in Dandakaranya region of Chhattisgarh, following a similar event in Maharashtra, as a part of a broader strategy by the Union and state governments to abandon violence and embrace rehabilitation.

Maoism, or Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)

• It was rooted in radical communist ideology, advocating armed struggle to overthrow the state and establish a classless society.
• Left-Wing Extremism in India traces its roots to the Naxalbari uprising of 1967 in West Bengal, inspired by Mao Zedong’s revolutionary tactics.
• The movement gained momentum through the formation of groups like the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) and later the CPI (Maoist), which rejected electoral politics and embraced violent revolution.

Reasons for Maoism, or Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) in India

• Left-Wing Extremism: LWE has historically thrived in regions marked by poverty, illiteracy, and lack of basic service

Many tribal communities have faced:

1. Land alienation due to mining and industrial projects;
2. Displacement without adequate rehabilitation;
3. Limited access to education, healthcare, and employment;
4. Governance Deficit: Remote districts often suffer from weak administrative presence and poor delivery of public services.

This vacuum allowed Maoist groups to:

1. Establish parallel governance structures;
2. Exploit local grievances;
3. Gain legitimacy among disenfranchised populations;
4. Tribal Discontent: Tribal populations, especially in forested regions have long felt excluded from mainstream development.

Decline in Influence

• Red Corridor – Once widespread across the ‘Red Corridor’, Maoist influence has significantly declined due to sustained government action.

Government Strategy To Tackle LWE

• The National Policy and Action Plan (2015) to address LWE outlines a holistic approach:

1. Enhancing security infrastructure and personnel;
2. Promoting road connectivity and telecom access;
3. Ensuring rights and entitlements of tribal communities;

• MHA has reaffirmed the government’s resolve to eliminate LWE by March 31, 2026, urging Maoists to abandon violence and join the mainstream.

Security Measures:

• Deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and specialized anti-Naxal units.

Development Initiatives:

1. Road connectivity projects in remote tribal areas to improve access and mobility.
2. Expansion of telecom networks, electricity, and banking services.
3. Focus on education, healthcare, and livelihood programs to address socio-economic grievances.

• Transformation of ‘Red Zones’ into Growth Corridors through targeted investment.
• Seminars like ‘Bharat Manthan 2025 – Naxal Mukt Bharat’ aim to build consensus and share best practices across states.

SC Forms Panel on Transgender Persons

Syllabus: GS1/Social Issues

In News

• The Supreme Court set up a committee under former Justice Asha Menon to formulate an equal opportunity policy for transgender individuals.

Challenges Transgender Facing

1. Institutional gaps in implementing the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 and Rules.
2. Lack of data and representation in policymaking.
3. Healthcare discrimination.
4. Workplace barriers.
5. Social stigma.

Steps Taken To Improve the Lives of Transgender Persons

• Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 – It is aimed at protecting the rights of transgender individuals and their welfare. The act prohibits discrimination against transgender people in areas like education, employment, healthcare, and public services.
• NALSA (2014): Recognized transgender persons as a third gender.
• National Portal for Transgender Persons: Enables online applications for identity certificates.
• SMILE scheme: It is aimed at rehabilitation and support for transgender persons, including livelihood and social security components.

Henley Passport Index

Syllabus: GS2/ Miscellaneous

In News

• India’s passport ranked 85th, granting visa-free access to 57 countries, a drop from 80th place in 2024. Singapore currently holds the top spot.

Henley Passport Index

• Mandate – It is a popular ranking of global passports that measures passport strength by the number of destinations that holders can visit without a prior visa.
• The index ranks countries based on statistics provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
• Published by – It started in 2006 Henley & Partners.

Key Highlights of Henley Passport Index 2025

• Globally, Singapore leads the 2025 list with visa-free access to 193 destinations, followed by South Korea (190) and Japan (189).
• The United States has slipped out of the top 10 for the first time in two decades, ranking 12th this year with access to 180 destinations
• India’s rank – 85th, granting visa-free access to 57 countries

SC Allows Sale of Green Fireworks in Delhi

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

In News

• The Supreme Court relaxed its earlier blanket ban and permitted the sale and use of green firecrackers in the Delhi–NCR region, subject to strict conditions.
• The court noted that blanket bans had led to smuggling and use of more harmful conventional fireworks, and cited its 2018 Arjun Gopal judgment, which introduced green firecrackers and showed reduced emissions.

Green firecrackers

• They are eco-friendly alternatives to traditional fireworks, developed to address air pollution concerns.
• They emit 30–35% less particulate matter and harmful gases like SO₂, NOx, and CO, and exclude toxic substances such as barium nitrate.
• They are developed and approved by CSIR labs (NEERI and CEERI).
• They comply with prescribed noise limits and are identifiable by green logos and QR codes.

WTI Founder Menon Becomes First Asian to Chair Key IUCN Panel

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

In News

• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) elected Wildlife Trust of India’s (WTI) founder Vivek Menon as the new chair of the Species Survival Commission (SSC), making him the first Asian to hold the post.

Species Survival Commission (SSC)

• The IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) is a science-based network of more than 10,500 volunteer experts from almost every country of the world.
• It is one of the six expert commissions under the global body that advises the IUCN secretariat on matters concerning biodiversity and species conservation.
• The commission and its specialist groups play a key role in preparing the IUCN’s red list of threatened species.

Additional Information – International Union of Conservation of Nature

• Establishment – 1948.
• Set up in – Gland, Switzerland.
• Objective – To promote international cooperation and to provide scientific knowledge and tools to aid conservation action.
• IUCN Red List – It established the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 1964.

IUCN Red List

• It is a list compiled by the IUCN, which contains the world’s most comprehensive information on the conservation status of plants, animals, and fungus species.

●    Species in the IUCN Red List – There are 143000 species on the Red List.

●    India’s membership in IUCN – India became a member in 1969

●    The IUCN classification – The IUCN classification of species is based on their extinction/conservation status.

They are as follows 

• Extinct (EX)
• Extinct in the Wild (EW)
• Critically Endangered (CR)
• Endangered (EN), Vulnerable (VU)
• Near Threatened (NT)
• Least Concern (LC)
• Data Deficient (DD)
• Not Evaluated (NE)

We Rise Initiatives

Syllabus: GS2/ Women Empowerment

In News

• ‘We Rise (Women Entrepreneurs Reimagining Inclusive and Sustainable Enterprises) initiative was launched recently.

We Rise Initiatives

• Objective – to empower women entrepreneurs to expand globally through trade facilitation, mentorship, and strategic partnerships.
• Launched by – by NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) under its Award to Reward (ATR) initiative

Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP)

• Launched in NITI Aayog in 2018
• It serves as a national aggregator to strengthen India’s women entrepreneurship

Award to Reward (ATR) initiative

• It was launched in 2023
• Objective – to institutionalize WEP’s partnership framework by bringing together ecosystem stakeholders to address specific needs of women entrepreneurs while celebrating their success stories.

UPOV Convention

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• A new report by GRAIN warns of growing corporate control over seeds via free trade agreements.
• Powerful economies — including the US, EU, Japan and the UAE — are pushing harsh IP rules on plant varieties.

Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) Convention 1991

• Mandate – It is an international treaty that provides a framework for intellectual property rights for plant breeders.
• Adoption and Enforcement- The 1991 Act, which entered into force in 1998
• Significance – It strengthens breeders’ rights compared to earlier versions of the convention and has significant implications for farmers and the seed industry.

Rotavirus Vaccine Effective Against Gastroenteritis in Children

Syllabus: GS2/ Health

Context

• According to a recent study India’s indigenous rotavirus vaccine, Rotavac, has significantly reduced rotavirus-related gastroenteritis cases among children since its introduction in the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP).

Rotavac

• Introduction: India introduced Rotavac, an indigenous oral rotavirus vaccine, in 2016 under the Universal Immunisation Programme, administered at 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age.

Rotavirus

• Responsible pathogen – A highly contagious, double-stranded RNA virus from the Reoviridae family.
• Target population: Primarily affects infants and young children under the age of five. Adults can also be infected, but symptoms are typically mild.
• Symptoms: Fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and severe, watery diarrhea. The biggest concern is severe dehydration, which can be life-threatening if untreated.
• Transmission: Occurs primarily through the fecal-oral route—by contact with contaminated hands, surfaces, or objects. It can also spread through contaminated food and water.

State Mining Readiness Index

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

Context

• The Ministry of Mines has released the State Mining Readiness Index (SMRI) and corresponding State rankings.

State Mining Readiness Index (SMRI)

• Mandate – This index is designed to benchmark State performance in facilitating and reforming the mining sector.
• The index aims to promote transparency, efficiency, and sustainable mining by encouraging competition among States.
• Indicators-

1. Auction performance,
2. Early mine operationalization,
3. Thrust on exploration
4. Sustainable mining pertaining
5. Non-coal minerals.

Categorisation of States

• States have been divided into three categories based on their mineral endowment;
• The top three ranked States in Category A (Mineral-rich States): Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
• The top three ranked States in Category B (Moderately endowed States): Uttar Pradesh, and Assam.
• The top three ranked States in Category C (Lesser-endowed States): Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Tripura.

State of Finance for Forests (SFF) Report

Syllabus :GS3/Environment

In News

• The first State of Finance for Forests (SFF) report was recently released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

State of Finance for Forests (SFF)

• It provides a global overview of public and private forest finance in 2023,
• It compares current flows with the investments needed to realize forests’ potential to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation.

Key Findings

• In 2023, global forest finance stood at US$84 billion, far below the US$300 billion needed annually by 2030 and US$498 billion by 2050, leaving a US$216 billion yearly gap.

REDD+ Programme

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

Context

• According to a study, only a small number of tropical forests have achieved significant cuts in deforestation, with just 19% meeting their reported targets.
• These offset projects are a part of the REDD+ programme.

REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation Plus)

• It is a climate change initiative under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
• It offers financial incentives for developing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.
• The “plus” in REDD+ includes additional activities like the conservation and sustainable management of forests and the enhancement of forest carbon stocks.
• The goal is to provide a financial value for forests that encourages developing countries to protect them

BrahMos

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

Context

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath flagged off the first batch of BrahMos missiles manufactured at the BrahMos Aerospace unit in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

BrahMos Missile

• Joint Venture: Between DRDO (India) and NPO Mashinostroyeniya (Russia).
• Name Origin: Derived from the Brahmaputra (India) and Moskva (Russia)
• First Test: Conducted on June 12, 2
• Type: “Fire and forget” supersonic cruise missile — can be launched from land, sea, or air in all-weather conditions, and is nearly impossible to intercept.
• Combat Use: Reportedly used for the first time during Operation Sindoor.

Speed:

• Current: Mach 2.8 (Supersonic)
• Future: Mach 5+ (Hypersonic version under development)

Range:

• Initially 290 km (under MTCR limit)
• Extended to 400 km, with a 600+ km variant under development.

Additional information – Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)

• Objective – The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) is a group of 35 member states that seeks to limit the proliferation of missiles and missile technology.
• Established in – The group was formed in 1987.
• India became a member of the MTCR in 2016