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LEAPS 2025

Syllabus: GS3/Infrastructure

Context

• Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, launched the Logistics Excellence, Advancement, and Performance Shield (LEAPS) 2025.

LEAPS 2025

• Launched by – It is a flagship initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Purpose: To benchmark and recognize excellence in the logistics sector, promoting efficiency, sustainability, innovation, and technology adoption.
• Alignment: Supports National Logistics Policy (2022), PM GatiShakti, and initiatives like Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Objectives:

• Promote best practices in logistics operations.
• Encourage ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) compliance and green logistics.
• Foster collaboration between government, industry, and academia.

Rhodamine B

Syllabus: GS3/ Science & Technoly

In Context

• Scientists at the Raman Research Institute (RRI) in India have developed an effective and sensitive method to detect toxic molecules like Rhodamine B.

Rhodamine B

• Rhodamine B is a water-soluble synthetic dye known for its bright pink fluorescent color.
• Rhodamine B is toxic and has carcinogenic potential; it can cause damage to skin, eyes, and the respiratory system.

Seals and Birds Under Threat in IUCN’s New Red List

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• Arctic seals and global bird populations are facing severe threats from climate change and human activities. It is highlighted in the latest IUCN Red List of Threatened Species released at the World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi.

Key Findings of the Report

• Status of Arctic Seals: The IUCN Red List now includes 172,620 species, of which 48,646 are threatened with extinction.
• The hooded seal has been moved from Vulnerable to Endangered status.
• Bearded and harp seals are now classified as Near Threatened.
• Status of global bird populations: 61% of bird species are experiencing population decline, up from 44% in 2016.
• Out of 11,185 bird species, 1,256 (11.5%) are globally threatened.
• The green sea turtle has been downlisted from endangered to least concern after its population rose by 28% since the 1970s.

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)

Snow Leopards

Syllabus: GS3/Species in News

In News

• The snow leopard, known as the elusive “ghost of the mountains”, has the lowest genetic diversity among big cats, even lower than the critically endangered cheetah.

More about the news

• A Stanford University study, using whole-genome sequencing of 37 snow leopards, concluded that this low diversity is likely due to a persistently small population over evolutionary history rather than recent inbreeding.

Snow Leopard

• Scientific name – Panthera uncia
• Habitats – The Snow Leopard lives at high altitudes in the steep mountains of Central and Southern Asia, and in an extremely cold climate.
• Range states – Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim .
• Ghost of the mountains – The Snow Leopard is also known as Ghost of the mountains
• Bio indicator – It acts as an indicator of the health of the mountain ecosystem
• Snow Leopard capital of the world – Hemis, Ladakh.
• International Snow Leopard Day – It is observed on 23rd October.

Conservation status 

• IUCN Red List- Vulnerable
• CITES convention – Appendix I
• Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972– Schedule I

Conservation Efforts Launched by India

1. Project Snow Leopard (PSL)

• Launched in – 2009
• Objective – To promote an inclusive and participatory approach to conserve snow leopards and their habitat.

1. Species recovery programme – Snow Leopard is in the list of 21 critically endangered species for the recovery programme of the Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change.
2. Snow Leopard conservation breeding programme – It is undertaken at Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling, West Bengal.
3. HimalSanrakshak – It is a community volunteer programme, to protect snow leopards, launched on 23rd October 2020.
4. First National Protocol –  was also launched In 2019.
5. SECURE Himalaya – Global Environment Facility (GEF) , United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) funded the project on conservation of high altitude biodiversity and reducing the dependency of local communities on the natural ecosystem.

International Conservation Efforts

• SNOW LEOPARD ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION PROGRAM – It seeks to address high-mountain development issues using the conservation of the endangered snow leopard as a flagship program.
• Bishkek Declaration – In 2013, the 12 snow leopard range countries signed and agreed to secure at least 20 snow leopard landscapes across by 2020
• International Year of the Snow Leopard – Year ‘2015’ was designated as International Year of the Snow Leopard

Recent Census –

• The exercise reported 718 snow leopards in India
• It was conducted from 2019 to 2023.
• Conducted by – The program was conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) with the help of all snow leopard range states and two conservation partners – the Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysuru (Karnataka), and WWF (World Wildlife Fund)-India.
• Based on data analysis, the estimated population of 718 snow leopards in different states/UTs are as follows – Ladakh (477), Uttarakhand (124), Himachal Pradesh (51), Arunachal Pradesh (36), Sikkim (21), and J & K (9).

Strengthening and Safeguarding Dams in India

Syllabus: GS3/Infrastructure; Disaster Management

Context

• Recently, the Supreme Court of India issued notices to various stakeholders calling for urgent directions to reinforce the aging structure of the 130-year-old Mullaperiyar dam.

Mullaperiyar Dam

• It is a gravity dam built on the Periyar River in the Idukki district of Kerala that was constructed between 1887 and 1895.
• The dam is operated and maintained by Tamil Nadu, under a 999-year lease agreement signed in 1886 between the Maharaja of Travancore and the British government.
• It diverts water to the Vaigai basin in Tamil Nadu for irrigation across 68,558 hectares.

India’s Dam Landscape – According to the National Register of Large Dams (NRLD) maintained by the Central Water Commission (CWC)

• India ranks third globally — after China and the United States — in the number of large dams, with over 6,000 operational dams.
• Functions of Dams – irrigation (supporting agriculture across vast regions); hydropower generation; flood control; and drinking water supply.
• There are concrete gravity dams (e.g., Bhakra Dam), earthen dams (e.g., Banasura Sagar Dam), rock-fill dams, and arch dams (rare in India), based on topography, geology, and hydrological needs.

Legal and Institutional Framework

• Dam Safety Act, 2021: Enacted to ensure surveillance, inspection, operation, and maintenance of dams. It mandates:
• National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA): It coordinates dam safety efforts across states.
• Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP): It was launched by the CWC with World Bank support. It focuses on rehabilitation of aging dams; improved safety monitoring; and capacity building for dam operators and engineers;

PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

Context

• A report on the performance of PM Surya Ghar Yojana has been jointly published by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) and JMK Research & Analytics.

PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana

• Launched in – 2024
• Ministry: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
• Objective: Installing rooftop solar (RTS) & providing free electricity for up to 300 monthly units for 1 Crore households.
• Uniqueness – It is the world’s largest domestic rooftop solar initiative, transforming India’s energy landscape
• Subsidy: The scheme offers a subsidy of up to 40% to households.

PM-Surya-Ghar-Muft-Bijli-Yojana-eligibility– Model Solar Village:

• An allocation of ₹800 crore has been designated for this component, with ₹1 crore provided to each selected Model Solar Village.
• To qualify as a candidate village, it must be a revenue village with a population of over 5,000 (or 2,000 in special category states).
• This initiative aims to promote solar energy adoption and empower village communities to achieve energy self-reliance.

UNESCO’s new Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects

Syllabus: GS1/Culture

News

• UNESCO officially launched the Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects at MONDIACULT 2025.

UNESCO’s new Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects

• It offers a globally accessible digital platform to raise awareness about stolen heritage.
• It currently showcases around 240 missing objects from 46 countries, with the goal of gradually “emptying itself” as items are recovered and returned to their countries of origin.
• It is financially supported by Saudi Arabia and implemented with INTERPOL.

Delhi Declaration on 6G

Syllabus: GS3/Science and Technology

In News

• Recently, the leading global 6G research alliance including Bharat 6G, 6G-IA, ATIS’ Next G Alliance issued a Joint Declaration to develop 6G as a global public good at the International Bharat6G Symposium 2025 in New Delhi.

Delhi Declaration on 6G

• The declaration endorsed key principles to ensure that 6G networks are trusted, secure, resilient, open, inclusive, affordable, and sustainable.

6G (sixth-generation wireless)

• 6G (sixth-generation wireless) is the next-generation cellular technology following 5G
• It is expected to offer numerous advantages including significantly higher data speeds, drastically reduced latency, and the integration of communication and sensing capabilities within the network.

IUCN World Heritage Outlook 2025

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

News

• The IUCN World Heritage Outlook 4 revealed a worrying global environmental trend that climate change has emerged as the greatest threat to natural World Heritage sites.

Key Points

• The report finds that 43% of sites face severe climate threats, while invasive alien species affect 30%, and wildlife and plant diseases are rising sharply, now impacting 9% of sites, up from just 2% in 2020.
• Note – Khangchendzonga National Park is the only site rated “Good” in conservation outlook.
• Sundarbans National Park has deteriorated from “Good with Some Concerns” (2020) to “Significant Concern” (2025) due to sea-level rise, salinity, and cyclones.
• Manas National Park is in significant Concern category persists due to poaching and encroachment.

Additional information – Khangchendzonga National Park (KNP)

• World Heritage Site: Declared a UNESCO mixed World Heritage Site in 2016, meaning it has both natural and cultural significance.
• It was also designated as part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2018.
• Location: Situated in the eastern Himalayas on the border of Sikkim state and eastern Nepa

Geography and ecosystem:

• Encompasses diverse landscapes from plains and valleys to mountains, glaciers, and forests.
• Home to the world’s third-highest peak, Mt. Khangchendzonga.
• It contains the 26 km long Zemu Glacier.
• Recognized for the widest and most extensive zone of krummholz (stunted forest) in the Himalayan region.

Biodiversity:

• Flora: Includes a vast number of medicinal plants, orchids, rhododendrons, and a significant portion of India’s flowering plants.
• Fauna: A haven for a wide variety of species, including:
• Mammals: Snow leopard, red panda, Himalayan black bear, musk deer, golden cat, clouded leopard, and Tibetan wolf.
• Birds: Over 300 bird species, including the blood pheasant (Sikkim’s state bird), Himalayan monal, and satyr tragopan.
• Others: Reptiles, amphibians, and various insects.
  

Exercise AUSTRAHIND 2025

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

In News

• The 4th edition of Exercise AUSTRAHIND 2025 began in Australia.

AUSTRAHIND 2025

• Launched in-2022
• It is an annual bilateral military exercise, held alternately in India and Australia.

Kenton R. Miller Award

Syllabus: Miscellaneous

Context

• Dr Sonali Ghosh, Field Director of Kaziranga National Park became the first Indian to receive the prestigious WCPA-Kenton Miller Award at the IUCN World Conservation Congress held in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Kenton R. Miller Award

• Established in – 2006
• Awarding organisation – It is presented every two years by the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).
• Note – WCPA is one of the six technical commissions of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• Objective – The award honors individuals who demonstrate innovation and leadership in conserving national parks and protected areas, particularly in ensuring their long-term sustainability.
• Named after – Dr. Kenton R. Miller, a former IUCN Director General and a prominent global leader in protected area management.

Abel Prize 2025

Syllabus: Miscellaneous

Context

• Japanese mathematician Masaki Kashiwara was awarded the Abel Prize 2025 for contributions to algebraic analysis and representation theory.

Contributions of Masaki Kashiwara

• He pioneered the theory of D-modules, an algebraic framework to study systems of linear partial differential equations (PDEs).
• His work on sheaf theory, deepened understanding of how local analytical data connects to global geometric structure.

Abel Prize

• It is an international award recognizing outstanding scientific work in mathematics, often considered the equivalent of a Nobel Prize for mathematicians.
• Named after – 19th-century Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel.
• Awarded by: The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters on behalf of the Government of Norway.
• It can be awarded to mathematicians of any age and nationality.

Notable Laureates

• Jean-Pierre Serre: First laureate (2003) for contributions in algebraic geometry and topology.
• Srinivasa S. R. Varadhan: Indian-origin mathematician, won in 2007.
• Michel Talagrand (France) For contributions to probability theory and functional analysis won in 2024.

Civil Registration System (CRS) 2023 Report

Syllabus: GS1 / Society and GS2 / Governance

Context

• The Registrar General of India (RGI) released the “Vital Statistics of India Based on the Civil Registration System (CRS)”,

Key Findings of the CRS 2023 Report

• Births Registered: 2.52 crore births were registered in 2023
• Deaths Registered: 86.6 lakh deaths were registered in 2023
• Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB):is the number of female births per 1,000 male births
  • Lowest SRB: Jharkhand (899), Bihar (900), Telangana (906), Maharashtra (909), Gujarat (910), Haryana (911), and Mizoram (911).
  • Highest SRB: Arunachal Pradesh (1,085), Nagaland (1,007), Goa (973), Tripura (972), and Kerala (967).

Additional Information – Civil Registration System (CRS)

• It is a unified process for the continuous, permanent, and compulsory recording of vital events such as births, deaths, and stillbirths.
• It does not include registration of marriages or divorces.
• The system operates under the Registration of Births and Deaths (RBD) Act, 1969, which mandates compulsory reporting of all births and deaths.

Nobel Prize 2025 Winners List

Context

• The 2025 Nobel Prizes in six categories —Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, Peace, and Economic Sciences —were awarded.

Nobel Prize

• It is a set of prestigious international awards given annually for outstanding achievements.
• Recipients of the prize are called
• It was established by the will of Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel (the inventor of dynamite).
• The first Nobel Prizes were awarded in 1901, and they have been awarded annually since then. They were not awarded  during World War I (1914–1918) and II (1939–1945).
• It is formally presented on December 10, the anniversary of Nobel’s death in 1896.
• Given in 6 fields: Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, Peace, and Economic Sciences.
• Prize in Economic Sciences was introduced in 1968 by Sveriges Riksbank (Swedish central bank)
• A Nobel Prize can be shared by up to three individual In the case of the peace prize, it can also be awarded to an organisation.
• To become a Nobel Prize laureate one must be nominated for a prize by an eligible nominator. Self-nomination is not allowed.
• The Nobel Prize cannot be awarded posthumously. However, since 1974, if the recipient dies after the prize has been announced, they can still be awarded it

Note

• First Indian Nobel Laureate was Rabindranath Tagore, for Literature (1913).
• The first Indian woman Nobel Laureate was Mother Teresa, for Peace (1979).

Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025

• Awarded by – Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
• Awardees – Susumu Kitagawa (Japan), Richard Robson (Australia), and Omar M. Yaghi (USA)
• Achievement – for their groundbreaking development of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).

Additional Information – Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)

• They are crystalline, porous materials made of metal ions as “nodes” connected by organic molecules called “linkers.”
• Functionality: Their lattice structure creates large cavities that can store substances, catalyse reactions, or conduct electricity.

Nobel Prize in Physics 2025

• Awarded by – Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
• Awardees – John Clarke (UK), Michel Devoret (France), and John Martinis (USA)
• Achievement – for the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit.
• Their discovery confirmed that quantum phenomena, once thought limited to subatomic particles, can also manifest in macroscopic systems, expanding the boundaries of quantum mechanics.

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2025

• Awarded by – Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, for outstanding contributions to medical research.

Awardees –

1. Shimon Sakaguchi (Japan) received the award for discovering regulatory T-cells.
2. Mary E. Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell (USA) were honoured for identifying the Foxp3 gene, which controls immune regulation.
3. Significance of the discovery – groundbreaking discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance that prevents the immune system from harming the body.

Did you know? ●    First Laureate: In 1901, Emil von Behring received it for developing serum therapy to treat diphtheria. ●    Indian–Origin Laureate: In 1968, Har Gobind Khorana became the first Indian winner for decoding the genetic code guiding protein synthesis.

Nobel Prize in Economics 2025

• Awarded by – Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
• Awardees – Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt “
• Achievement – for having explained innovation-driven economic growth”.
• The official name for the Nobel Prize in Economics is the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel.
• It was established in 1968 by Sweden’s central bank (Sveriges Riksbank) in memory of Alfred Nobel, and first awarded in 1969.

Nobel Prize in Literature 2025

• Awarded by – Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
• Awardee – to Hungarian novelist and screenwriter László Krasznahorkai.
• He is known for distinct long sentences that can span dozens of pages, his acclaimed works include Satantango (1985) and The Melancholy of Resistance (1989).

Nobel Peace Prize 2025

• Awarded by – Norwegian Nobel Committee
• Awardee – to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.
• Achievement – She was honoured for promoting democratic rights and advocating a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy in Venezuela.
• Political Role: Machado, the leader of the Vente Venezuela party, has mobilised civic movements demanding judicial independence, electoral transparency, and human rights protection.

Himachal natural farming

Syllabus:GS3/Economy

In News

• Farmers in Himachal Pradesh are increasingly adopting natural farming, supported by the State’s flagship Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan Yojana (PK3Y), which promotes chemical-free agriculture.

Natural Farming

• It is a chemical free farming, involving livestock (preferably local breed of cow) integrated natural farming methods and diversified crop systems rooted in the Indian traditional knowledge.
• It is largely based on on-farm biomass recycling with major stress on biomass mulching, use of on-farm cow dung-urine formulations; maintaining soil aeration and exclusion of all synthetic chemical inputs.

Additional Information- National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF)

• Launched in – November 2024
• It is a centrally sponsored Scheme
• Objective – to promote chemical-free, ecosystem-based natural farming rooted in traditional knowledge.

Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission

Syllabus: GS3/ Agriculture

Context

• PM Modi launched two new agriculture schemes, the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) and the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, at a special Krishi programme in New Delhi.

Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana

• Launched in – The scheme will be launched in partnership with states.

Key Focus Areas:

• Enhancing agricultural productivity.
• Promoting crop diversification and sustainable practices.
• Expanding post-harvest storage at Panchayat and Block levels.
• Improving irrigation facilities.
• Facilitating long-term and short-term credit access.

Building Rural Prosperity and Resilience Program

• Purpose: launched in partnership with states to address under-employment in agriculture.
• Key Focus Areas: Skilling, investment, and technology to invigorate rural economy. Modernizing agriculture with improved productivity and warehousing.
• Target Beneficiaries: Rural women, young farmers, marginal & small farmers and landless families.

Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses

• The Mission was launched for 2025–26 to 2030–31 with a budgetary allocation of ₹11,440 crore.
• Objective – It aims to make India self-sufficient in pulses production, reducing dependence on imports in light of rising domestic demand.
• It aims to ensure 100 percent procurement of Tur, Urad, and Masoor at MSP for four years.

Additional Information- Pulses Production and Consumption in India

• Global Leader: India is the largest global producer (25%), consumer (27%), & importer (14%) of pulses.
• Seasonal Production: Pulses are grown in Kharif and Rabi seasons

• Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan are the top three pulses producing states in the country.

Government Initiatives for Achieving Self-Sufficiency in Pulse Production

• National Food Security Mission (NFSM-Pulses): Boosts area, production, and productivity through HYV seeds, improved agronomy, and demonstrations.
• Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Pulses: Regularly revised MSPs (E.g., Tur ₹7000/qtl in 2023-24) ensure price security and encourage pulse cultivation.
• Seed Hub Program by ICAR-IIPR: Expands availability of certified, short-duration, and high-yielding pulse seeds at the grassroots level.
• PM-AASHA Scheme: Ensures MSP realisation via Price Deficiency Payment (PDP) and targeted procurement by private and public agencies.
• Climate-Resilient Varieties Development (ICAR): Develops varieties resistant to drought, pests, and diseases suited to changing climates.
• e-NAM Integration for Pulses: Enhances market access, reduces middlemen, and enables transparent price discovery through online pulse trading.

Durand Line

Syllabus: GS1/Geography; GS2/IR

News –

• Border clashes erupted between Afghanistan and Pakistan along the Durand Line.

Durand Line

• It is a 2,640 km land border established in 1893 following an agreement between Sir Mortimer Durand, then Foreign Secretary of British India, and Amir Abdur Rahman Khan, the ruler of Afghanistan.
• The line was intended to define the spheres of influence between British India and Afghanistan, effectively splitting ethnic Pashtun and Baloch communities between the two sides.

Thalassemia

Syllabus: GS2/Health

News

• Thalassemia patients in Kerala are facing serious health risks due to a shortage of leukocyte filter sets and iron chelation drugs.

Thalassemia

• Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder (passed from parents to children through genes) where the body cannot produce enough hemoglobin (it is the protein in red blood cells (RBCs) that carries oxygen).
• Symptoms – Anemia, weak bones, delayed or slow growth, Iron overload (due to frequent transfusions), poor appetite, enlarged spleen or liver, and pale skin.
• Note – India is known as the thalassemia capital of the world, with over 1,00,000 patients dying before the age of 20 due to lack of access to treatment.
• In India, thalassemia, along with two other blood disorders (Hemophilia and Sickle Cell disease) are recognised under Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, of 2016.
• Every year, World Thalassemia Day is observed on May 8 to raise awareness among the public and policymakers.

Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana (TBSY)

• Launched by – Union Health Ministry, in partnership with Coal India Limited
• Objective –  to Rs. 10 lakh financial aid to eligible patients for bone marrow transplants (BMT) at 17 empanelled hospitals nationwide,

Maitri II: India’s New Frontier in Antarctica

Syllabus: GS3/ Science & Technology

Context

• The Ministry of Finance has approved the establishment of Maitri II, India’s upcoming research station in eastern Antarctica, to be completed by January 2029.

India’s Antarctic Presence

• In 1983, India established the first permanent base in Antarctica named Dakshin Gangotri. However it is no longer in operation.
• India presently has two research stations at Antarctica namely ‘Maitri’ and ‘Bharati’.

Maitri II

• Nodal Agency: National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa.
• Estimated Cost: ₹2,000 crore over seven years.
• Location: Eastern Antarctica, near the Schirmacher Oasis, replacing the aging Maitri station.
• Green Research Base: Designed to operate on renewable energy sources, solar during summer and wind energy year-round, reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

Additional Information – Antartica

• Antarctica is the world’s southernmost and fifth largest continent.
• Uniqueness – It is also the world’s highest, driest, windiest, coldest, and iciest continent.
• The continent is divided into East Antarctica (Greater Antarctica) and West Antarctica (Lesser Antarctica). They are separated by Transantarctic Mountains.
• East Antarctica is composed of older, igneous and metamorphic rocks whereas West Antarctica, is made up of younger, volcanic and sedimentary rock.
• West Antarctica, is part of the “Ring of Fire,” a tectonically active area around the Pacific Ocean.
• Mount Erebus, located on Antarctica’s Ross Island, is the southernmost active volcano on Earth.
• Longest River: Onyx
• Largest Lake: Vostok

Conservation efforts to protect Antartica

Antarctica treaty

• The Treaty covers the area south of 60°S latitude.
• It was signed at Washington D.C. in 1959 with the objective of the Demilitarisation of Antarctica.
• The signatories are supposed to bring laws so that no activity in contravention of the treaty takes place.
• India signed the treaty in 1983.

The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR):

• Signed in – Canberra in 1980
• Objective – to protect and preserve the Antarctic environment and, particularly, for the preservation and conservation of marine living resources in Antarctica.
• India ratified the CCAMLR in 1985.

The Protocol on the Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (Madrid Protocol)

• Signed in – Madrid in 1991.
• Objective – It aims to strengthen the Antarctic Treaty system and develop a comprehensive regime for the protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems.
• India ratified the Madrid Protocol in 1998.

Council of Managers of the National Antarctic Programme (COMNAP)

• India is also a member of the COMNAP which shows the significant position that India holds among the nations involved in Antarctic research.

Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022

• Objective: To demilitarize Antarctica; use of Antarctica for peaceful purposes; promote international scientific cooperation in Antarctica.
• Prohibited activities: The Bill prohibits certain activities in Antarctica including:
  • Nuclear explosion or disposal of radioactive wastes
  • Discharge of garbage, plastic or other substances into the sea which is harmful to the marine environment.

International Blue Flag Certification

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

In News

• Five beaches in Maharashtra have received the international Blue Flag certification.
• The list includes Shrivardhan and Nagaon beaches, Parnaka, and Guhagar and Ladghar beaches.

Blue Flag Certification

• Objective – ‘Blue Flag’ is a certification that can be obtained by a beach, marine, or sustainable boating tourism operator, and serves as an eco-label.
• Awarded by – The certification is awarded by the Denmark-based non-profit Foundation for Environmental Education.
• Parameters – The certification is accorded based on four major parameters:

1. Environmental education and information
2. Bathing water quality
3. Safety and services at the beaches
4. Environment management and conservation

Indian Sites under Blue Flag

• There are now a total of 10 sites under Blue Flag Certification.

1. Shivrajpur – Gujarat
2. Ghoghla – Diu
3. Kasargod – Karnataka
4. Padubidri – Karnataka
5. Kappad – Kerala
6. Rushikonda – Andhra Pradesh
7. Golden – Odisha
8. Radhanagar – Andaman and Nicobar
9. Kovalam – TamilNadu
10. Eden beach – Pondicherry.
11. Minicoy Thundi (Lakshadweep)
12. Kadmat (Lakshadweep).
13. Shrivardhan (Maharashtra)
14. Nagaon (Maharashtra)
15. Parnaka (Maharashtra)
16. Guhagar (Maharashtra)
17. Ladghar beaches (Maharashtra)

Biomedical Research Career Programme

Syllabus: GS3/Science and Technology

Context

• The Union Cabinet has approved Phase III of the Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP).

Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP)

• It is a strategic investment in India’s health and innovation landscape, supported by a ₹1,500 crore Indo-UK partnership that aligns global expertise with national priorities.
• Aim: To build a world-class research ecosystem in biomedical sciences, clinical, and public health research
• Expected Outcomes: The initiative targets training 2,000+ researchers, high-impact publications, patentable discoveries, and peer recognition.

THE World University Rankings 2026

Syllabus: Miscellaneous

Context

• Oxford University has maintained its global number one ranking for the tenth consecutive year, according to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026.

THE World University Rankings 2026

• Published by – Times Higher Education
• Objective – It evaluates 2,191 universities from 115 countries and territories across 18 performance indicators in five areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook, and industry impact.
• Beyond the top 100, universities are assigned “rank bands” instead of specific positions.

University rankings 2026: Highlights

• India: Ranked as the second most-represented country, behind only the U.S., with a record 128 institutions — up from 107 last year and just 19 in 2016.
• The Indian Institute of Science is placed in the 201–250 rank band, followed by Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences at 351–400.
• China: Five universities are in the top 40, up from three last year. Tsinghua University, ranked 12th, remains Asia’s top university.
• United States: Seven of the top 10 positions are occupied by the US.

Official Visit of the UK Prime Minister to India

Syllabus: GS2/IR

In News

• The Prime Ministers of India and the UK have reaffirmed the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the recent official UK PM visit to India.

Key Outcomes

• Economic & Trade: Strengthening of the UK-India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), expected to boost market access, reduce tariffs, and generate jobs.
• Climate & Energy: Establishment of advanced R&D centres in AI and climate change, and launch of Critical Minerals Supply Chain Observatory, including a new campus at IIT-ISM Dhanbad.
• Agreed to cooperate on Offshore Wind and through the Global Clean Power Alliance (GCPA).
• Launched the India–UK Climate Finance Initiative.
• Defence and Security: Enhanced cooperation on maritime security in the Indo-Pacific, including establishing a Regional Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (RMSCE) under India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.
• India–UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre

Appointment of District Judges

Syllabus: GS2/Polity and Governance

Context

• The Supreme Court unanimously held that judicial officers who have completed seven years of practice as advocates before joining the service will be eligible for direct recruitment as District Judges under Article 233.

Eligibility Expansion for District Judges

• Previously, only practising lawyers with seven years’ experience could be directly appointed; in-service judicial officers were excluded.
• The Court held that Article 233(2) provides for qualification for advocates but does not specify any separate qualification for in-service candidates.

Appointment of District Judges

• Authority of Appointment: District judges are appointed by the Governor of the State, but only after consulting the High Court of that state.
• This ensures judicial independence, giving the High Court a significant role in selection.
• Eligibility: Traditionally, appointments were made from:
• Members of the State Judicial Service (subordinate judicial officers), or practising advocates with a minimum of 7 years’ experience.
• Recent judicial interpretations have clarified that judicial officers with 7 years of prior Bar experience before joining the judicial service are also eligible for elevation to District Judge.