Blog

NPCI Unveils Drunix Platform

Economy

Context

• The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) rolled out Drunix, 

About – 

• It is an open-source blockchain platform, to help companies build and scale tokenisation platforms, digital asset ecosystems, multi-organisation networks.

Significance – 

• It helps banks and businesses build safe systems to share data and track digital assets.
• It uses Blockchain: This means data is super safe, shared fairly, and cannot be changed by tricks.
• It is Made in India: India changed a global tool called Hyperledger Fabric to make it faster and better for Indian needs.
• It is Open-Source: The code is free for anyone to see and use. This makes it easy for companies to work together.

Basic terms

• Tokenization – It Tokenization is the process of converting ownership rights or assets into digital tokens on a blockchain.
• These assets include financial securities, real estate, commodities, digital currencies and identity credentials.

• Cryptocurrency – It is a virtual currency used for financial transactions. It uses blockchain technology for various transactions.
• Blockchain – The blockchain is an incorruptible digital ledger of transactions that can be programmed to record virtually everything of value. Each list of records in a blockchain is called a block.

SHe-Box 2.0 Portal Under Mission Shakti

Government Schemes

Context

• The government has highlighted the role of the SHe-Box 2.0 Portal under Mission Shakti in strengthening the implementation of workplace sexual harassment laws and ensuring a safer work environment for women.

SHe-Box

• It is portal that has been developed to operationalise the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
• The portal was launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD).

SHe-Box 2.0 

• It was launched in 2024.
• Objective – It provides a secure, confidential and user-friendly interface that enables women to report incidents without fear of stigma or retaliation.
• Significance – It provides single-window access for women across all organised, unorganised, public and private sectors to register and track complaints
• The portal is available in 22 languages, including Hindi and English.

Additional Information – Mission Shakti

• This umbrella scheme is dedicated to the safety, security, and economic empowerment of women. It is divided into two sub-schemes: 

Sambal (Safety and Security):

• One Stop Centres (OSC): Integrated support for victims of violence.
• Women Helpline (181): 24/7 emergency assistance.
• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP): Prevention of gender-biased sex selection and promotion of girls’ education.
• Nari Adalats: Community-level alternative dispute resolution forums.

Samarthya (Empowerment):

• Shakti Sadan: Rehabilitation homes (merging former Swadhar Greh and Ujjawala schemes).
• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY): Maternity benefit scheme.
• Hub for Empowerment of Women (HEW): Facilitating access to government services.

Dark Web

Science & Technology

News

• The Union government submitted before the Delhi High Court that the messaging platform Telegram has evolved into the “new dark web”.

Dark Web

• The dark web is a hidden part of the internet that you cannot find using normal search engines like Google. 
• It requires specialized software, such as the Tor browser, to access. 
• While it is famous for hiding cybercriminal activities, it is also used for privacy and free speech.
• To understand the dark web, it helps to picture the internet as having three main layers:
• The Surface Web: The everyday internet. These are the websites you can easily search for, like news outlets, social media, and online stores.
• The Deep Web: The much larger portion of the internet that is hidden but not malicious. This includes private databases, online bank accounts, and password-protected email inboxes.
• The Dark Web: A small, specific section of the deep web intentionally hidden by heavy encryption.

Key Features of the Dark Web

• Anonymity: Users and website hosts are hidden. Traffic is routed through a series of encrypted servers to prevent people from tracking identities or locations.
• Special Websites: Instead of ending in .com or .org, dark web sites typically use domains like .onion.
• Legal vs. Illegal Uses: While heavily associated with illicit marketplaces (for illegal goods or stolen data), it is legally accessed by journalists, whistleblowers, and individuals seeking privacy from surveillance in oppressive regimes.

Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana (PM-VBRY)

Government Schemes

Context

• The Prime Minister will disburse ₹2,400 crore worth incentives under the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana (PM-VBRY).

About PM-VBRY

• It is a flagship government program launched in 2025
• Implementation – Ministry of Labour & Employment.
• Aim: To promote employment generation, enhance employability, and strengthen social security across all sectors with a particular focus on the manufacturing sector.

Features: 

• First-time employees are eligible for incentives of up to ₹15,000.

• For the employer’s side, the government offers a reward of up to ₹3,000 per new employee after six months of stable employment. 
• The initiative is expected to encourage greater participation in the formal workforce and contribute to sustained long-term economic growth.

QS Rankings 2027

Economy

Context

• Recently QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) World University Ranking 2027, was released ranking Higher education institutions across the world.

Major Findings

• It evaluated more than 1,500 institutions across 106 countries and territories.
• It features 52 Indian universities, making India the world’s fifth most represented higher education system.
• Global Top 5 Universities dominated by US and UK 

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), US
2. Imperial College London, UK (tied)
3. Stanford University, US (tied)
4. University of Oxford, UK
5. Harvard University, US

Top 10 Indian Institutions (QS World Rankings 2027)

Additional Information – QS Rankings

• QS was founded in 1990 

• Headquartered in – London.

• It specialises in providing data, research and consulting services to the international higher education sector.
• QS Rankings, established in 2004, is the most reputed Ranking among the major global university rankings and offers an impartial assessment of institutions.
• It assesses institutions across 10 key indicators including academic reputation, employment outcomes, international faculty ratio, international research network, international student diversity, faculty-student ratio and sustainability.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0

Government Schemes

Context

• The Union Government has approved over 2.13 lakh additional houses for eligible urban poor families under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0 (PMAY-U 2.0). 

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0

• It is a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), under which central assistance of up to ₹2.50 lakh crore is provided. 
• It was launched in September 2024 as an upgraded and expanded version of PMAY-U, which was launched on 25 June 2015. 
• It is open to families belonging to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), Low Income Group (LIG), and Middle Income Group (MIG) segments who do not own a pucca house anywhere in the country. 

The income criteria for eligibility are as follows:

• • EWS households: Annual income up to ₹3 lakh.
  • LIG households: Annual income from ₹3 lakh to ₹6 lakh.
  • MIG households: Annual income from ₹6 lakh to ₹9 lakh.
  • The cost of house construction is shared among the Centre, States/UTs, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), and beneficiaries, with the cost-sharing pattern varying across regions.

• PMAY-U and PMAY-U 2.0 together have sanctioned over 1.27 crore houses across the country. 

Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana–Gramin (PMAY-G)

• Launched by: Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD).

• Background: Introduced on 1 April 2016 by restructuring the erstwhile Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) to provide pucca houses with basic amenities to rural households.

Exercise KHAAN QUEST 2026

Defence

Context

• The Exercise KHAAN QUEST is going to be conducted from 20 June to 3 July at the Five Hills Training Area in Ulaanbaatar.

About

• The exercise first started as a bilateral event between USA and Mongolian Armed Forces in the year 2003. 
• Subsequently, from the year 2006 onwards the exercise graduated to a Multinational Peacekeeping Exercise with the current year being the 23rd iteration.
• The exercise aims to enhance interoperability and cooperation among participating militaries in peace support operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.

Iran-United States Peace Deal

International

Context

• According to some recent reports Iran and the United States have reached a preliminary framework for renewed diplomatic engagement after a prolonged period of tensions.

Background

• The pact includes a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran outlining a roadmap for de-escalation, restoration of commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and negotiations on sanctions relief etc.
• It also includes an immediate halt to military action, including in Lebanon, and a 60-day negotiation period.

Evolution of Iran–U.S. Nuclear Diplomacy

• The 2015 Nuclear Agreement: The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed between Iran and the P5+1 countries.
• Iran agreed to limit uranium enrichment and accept enhanced inspections in exchange for sanctions relief.
• U.S. Withdrawal and Renewed Tensions: The United States withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran.
• In response, Iran gradually reduced its compliance with several provisions of the agreement.

Potential Opportunities of Iran–U.S. Agreement

• The reduction in tensions will lower the risk of military confrontation and proxy conflicts across the region.
• Also the stable conditions will ensure smoother energy flows and reduce volatility in global oil markets.
• Improved security conditions will encourage trade, investment, and reconstruction efforts in conflict affected areas.
• For India, improved regional conditions are necessary to boost the development of Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

Joint Crediting Mechanism under Paris Agreement

Environment

Context

• India and Japan have adopted the Rules of Implementation for the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement.

Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) 

• It is a bilateral carbon market system proposed by Japan to help nations reduce greenhouse gas emissions through advanced low-carbon technologies. 
• It operates under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, which allows nations to trade carbon credits to meet their climate goals

Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement 

• It allows countries to work together to hit their climate goals by trading carbon credits. 
• Under this rule, a country that cuts more greenhouse gases than planned can sell those extra savings to another country

Additional Information- Paris Agreement on Climate Change, 2015 (COP 21)

• It was adopted at the United framework convention on climate change(COP21) in Paris in 2015.
• Objective – To strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change and specify long-term goals regarding global average temperatures, adaptation to climate change, and finance flows.

Paris agreement Goals

• Temperature – To hold global warming below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to put efforts to still limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
• Reduce emissions – To foster climate resilience and development through lower greenhouse gas emissions by 2030

Intended Nationally Determined Targets(INDCs)  

• An Intended Nationally Determined Contribution is a public pledge from a country on collective action on climate change. These contributions are to be achieved before 2030

India’s Climate Action Targets at a Glance

Bitumen

Economy

Context

• The recent conflict in West Asia has hit India’s push to expand road infrastructure as India imports 30-40% of Bitumen. 
• Over 99% of India’s bitumen imports come from Iraq, UAE, Iran, Oman and Bahrain.

Bitumen

• Bitumen is a byproduct of crude oil.
• It is known for its waterproofing and adhesive properties.
• It is predominantly used in road construction and roofing.
• Canada has one of the largest natural deposits of bitumen in its oil sands, contributing significantly to global supply.
• It is produced in refineries to ensure purity, maintain consistent quality, and meet massive global construction demands at a lower cost.

52nd G7 Summit

International

In News

• PM Modi addressed the 52nd G7 Summit Outreach Session at Évian-les-Bains, France, marking India’s 8th consecutive G7 invitation.

Key Declarations adopted

• Development Finance: Called for reforms in global development finance and debt management, including strengthening the IMF–World Bank 3-Pillar Approach and mobilizing private capital. 
• IMF–World Bank 3-Pillar Approach helps vulnerable countries address liquidity challenges through structural reforms, external financial support, and reducing their debt servicing burdens.
• Ebola Response: Urged coordinated international action to contain the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda.
• Cancer Action: Committed to advancing research on cancers, reducing lung cancer mortality, and improving global access to paediatric cancer data.
• Geopolitics: Welcomed the US-Iran nuclear agreement, promoted a free and open Indo-Pacific, and expressed concern over North Korea’s nuclear programme etc.
• Migrant Smuggling: Pledged stronger action against human trafficking and migrant smuggling networks, including cooperation with online platforms.
• Drug Trafficking: Announced a G7+ Ports Network to combat maritime drug trafficking and disrupt related illicit financial flows.

Group of Seven (G7)

• Group of Seven (G7): An informal organization of seven of the world’s largest advanced economies, representing about 10% of the population and nearly 30% of global GDP.
• Members: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, and the United States.
• Presidency: Rotates annually among member states.

Telegram Ban Under Section 69A of the IT Act 2000

Polity

In News

• MeitY temporarily blocked Telegram in India under Section 69A of the IT Act 2000, on NTA’s recommendation, after criminal networks exploited the platform’s message-editing feature to defraud NEET UG 2026 re-examination candidates.

Section 69A of IT Act 2000

• It is the primary legal provision that empowers the Central Government to block public access to any digital information through any computer resource.
• Grounds for invocation – sovereignty and integrity of India, defence, security of State, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, or preventing incitement to cognisable offences.
• The Supreme Court in Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015) upheld Section 69A as constitutionally valid, describing it as a “narrowly drawn provision with several safeguards.”

Operation DRISHTI

Government Schemes

Context

• The Indian Army and Indian Air Force have launched a Mega Advanced Surgical Eye Camp under Operation DRISHTI at Military Hospital Namkum, Ranchi.

Operation DRISHTI

• It is a flagship humanitarian outreach programme of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) that combines advanced ophthalmic expertise with social service. 
• Objective – to deliver specialized eye care services to remote, underserved, and geographically challenging regions of the country.
• Earlier the initiative successfully conducted eight advanced surgical eye camps across the country, including in Leh, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, Bhuj, Kutch, and Bagdogra.

Aadhaar ‘misuse’

Polity

Context

• The Supreme Court sought responses from the Centre and States on a plea alleging misuse of Aadhaar cards.

About

• An Aadhaar card is a 12-digit unique identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to Indian residents.
• It was introduced in 2010.
• It serves as valid proof of identity and address and is essential for availing government welfare schemes, financial services, and digital authentication. 

Purpose of Aadhaar

• Unique Identification: The unique identification number serves as a universally accepted proof of identity and address.
• Social Welfare Schemes: Aadhaar streamlines the distribution of government benefits and subsidies, reducing fraud and ensuring that benefits reach the rightful recipients.
• Data-Driven Governance: Aadhaar assists in creating data-driven policies and governance by providing accurate population statistics and demographics.

Related Governance Framework

• Aadhaar Act, 2016: It is the primary law governing Aadhaar, provides the legal framework for issuance, authentication, and use of Aadhaar numbers for delivery of subsidies, benefits, and services.
• Information Technology Act, 2000: Provides legal protection against unauthorized access, data theft, hacking, and cyber offences involving Aadhaar-related information.
• Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023: Establishes safeguards for processing and protection of personal data, including Aadhaar-linked information, and recognizes individuals’ data privacy rights.
• Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2018): It upheld the constitutional validity of Aadhaar and restricted mandatory Aadhaar linkage in several private-sector services.
• It emphasized privacy as a fundamental right and required safeguards against misuse.

Kashmir Saffron

Economy

In News 

• The West Asia conflict has disrupted Iranian saffron exports, triggering a global demand surge for Kashmiri saffron. 

Kashmir Saffron

• Kashmir Saffron is a premium spice grown on the Karewa lands of Jammu and Kashmir. It received a GI Tag in 2020.

Geography and Climate

• • Soil: Grows only on Karewa soils (thick, flat beds of clay and sand from old lakes).
  • Altitude: High elevations of 1,600 to 1,800 meters above sea level.

• Regions: Pampore is the main area, called the “Saffron Bowl of Kashmir.”

Key Features and Types

• Unique traits: Deep red color, thick stigmas, strong smell, and zero chemical colors.
• Three types: Mongra (pure dark red threads; best quality), Lachha (dry threads with some yellow parts), and Guchhi (threads tied in bundles).

Government Steps

• National Saffron Mission: Started to fix soil, give water sprinklers, and boost crop yields.
• Saffron Bowl Project: Trying to grow saffron in Northeast India (like Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh).