Blog

Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s 125th Birth Anniversary

History & Culture

Context

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his 125th birth anniversary.

Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee (1901- 1953)

• • Initially a member of the Indian National Congress; later joined the Hindu Mahasabha in the 1930s.
  • He became the youngest Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University at age 33 in 1934.
  • He served as Finance Minister of Bengal (1941–42) in the Fazlul Haq ministry.
  • He was a strong critic of the Muslim League and the partition of India.
  • He joined the cabinet of the interim government as Minister for Industry and Supply after independence (1947–1950), but resigned over differences.
  • Founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh: In 1951, founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the ideological predecessor of today’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
  • Advocated for national unity, cultural nationalism, and economic self-reliance.
  • Legacy: He is remembered as a staunch nationalist, educationist, and advocate of cultural unity.
• The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata and several institutions are named in his honor.

Hindkesari Pedgaon ‘Bailgada Sharyat’

History & Culture

Context

• The Hindkesari Pedgaon ‘Bailgada Sharyat’ (bullock cart race) showcased Maharashtra’s deep-rooted rural sporting tradition, attracting more than 1,000 entrants and thousands of spectators from across the region.

About

• The bullock cart race is an event involving bulls or bullocks to conduct a race with the animals tied to a cart by a wooden yoke, with or without a cartman. 
• The rural sport is known as ‘bailgada sharyat,’ ‘chhakadi’ or ‘shankarpath’ in the state.
• It is held annually in Pedgaon, Khatav Taluk, Satara district, Maharashtra.

Additional Information – Jallikattu

• • It is also known as Eruthazhuvuthal.
  • It is a bull-taming sport traditionally played in Tamil Nadu as part of the Pongal harvest festival.
  • The history of this bullfight dates back to 400-100 BCE when it was played by the Ayars, an ethnic group in India. 
  • The name is coined from two words, Jalli (silver and gold coins) and Kattu (tied). 
  • In this festival, a bull is let loose among a crowd of people, and whoever tames it will get the coins tied to its horn.
  • The people who participate in the sport try to hold on to the animal’s hump to stop it. Sometimes, they run along with the bull.
  • Pulikulam or Kangayam is the breed of bulls used for the sport. This festival has been part of cultural tourism in the state.

• Vadi manjuviraṭṭu, Vēli viraṭṭu, and Vaṭam manjuviraṭṭu are the variants of this sport

Kambala

• The annual buffalo race Kambala is a unique festival observed by the farming community between November to March.
• Kambala is performed on two parallel race tracks, filled with slushy water.
• Traditionally, it is sponsored by local Tuluva landlords and households in the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Bhatkal of Karnataka and Kasaragod of Kerala, a region collectively known as Tulu Nadu.

MY Bharat (Mera Yuva Bharat)

Government Schemes

Context

• Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted the role of MY Bharat in nurturing youth potential and directing it towards nation-building.

MY Bharat (Mera Yuva Bharat) 

• It was launched in October 2023 under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports as an autonomous body. 
• It serves as a digital platform that connects the Government, educational institutions, non-profit organisations and industry to create meaningful youth engagement. 
• It aims to place youth at the centre of nation-building by providing opportunities for volunteering, skill development, leadership, and civic participation. 
• The initiative, aligned with the National Youth Policy, primarily engages individuals in the 15–29 year age group while also nurturing adolescents between 10–19 years to cultivate early participation and civic awareness.

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA).

Polity

Context

• The Ministry of Home Affairs has designated 23 more individuals as ‘terrorists’ under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA).

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 

Additional Information – National Investigation Agency (NIA)

• Established under: NIA Act, 2008 after 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
• Function: Central counter-terrorism law enforcement agency.
• Mandate: Investigates offences affecting India’s sovereignty, security, international treaties, etc.

NIA (Amendment) Act, 2019:

• Jurisdiction extended: Can investigate scheduled offences committed outside India involving Indian citizens/interests.
• Expanded mandate: Covers offences under Explosive Substances Act, 1908 Human Trafficking, Cyber Terrorism Arms Act, 1959.
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Special Courts: Total NIA Special Courts: 52
• Exclusive NIA Courts: 3 (Ranchi, Jammu and Mumbai).

Right to Vote: Need for Fundamental Right Status

Polity

News – 

• The Opposition advocated upgrading the Right to Vote from a statutory right to a Fundamental Right, reigniting debates on constitutionalising electoral rights.

Right to Vote in India

• Constitutional Basis: Article 326 grants universal adult suffrage, allowing citizens 18 or older to register to vote unless disqualified by law, making voting a constitutional right, not a Fundamental Right.
• Statutory Basis: Section 19 of the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1950, governs electoral registration, while Section 62 of the 1951 Act governs voting eligibility.
• Paradox: Voting is a statutory right, but ‘Right to Know’ candidate information, voting choice, NOTA (right to reject), and ballot secrecy were recognised as fundamental rights under Article 19(1)(a).

Supreme Court (SC) Judgements on Voting Rights

• N.P. Ponnuswami (1952) and Jyoti Basu (1982): The SC held that electoral rights are statutory, not Fundamental or common-law rights.
• Kuldip Nayar v. UoI (2006): Reaffirmed that the right to vote remains statutory.
• Anoop Baranwal v. UoI (2023): A concurring opinion supported recognising voting as a Fundamental Right, indicating doctrinal evolution.

NASA’s Swift Boost Mission

Science & technology

News – 

• NASA launched the Swift Boost Mission, deploying the LINK spacecraft to prevent the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory from burning up.

NASA’s Swift Boost Mission

• It is a NASA initiative that launched on July 3, 2026,
• Mandate – to rescue and reboost the aging Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. Launched in 2004, the space telescope’s orbit had decayed due to heightened solar activity, risking atmospheric reentry and destruction.
• Objective: The mission uses a robotic spacecraft called LINK to autonomously rendezvous with, dock using robotic arms, and push the Swift observatory into a higher and safer orbit.
• Reboost Details: The LINK spacecraft was developed by a commercial startup, Katalyst Space Technologies, via a rapid and cost-effective $30 million NASA contract.
• Launch Vehicle: LINK was launched into space aboard a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket dropped from the belly of a Stargazer aircraft over the Pacific Ocean.
• Significance: It is the first commercial robotic satellite rescue attempt of its kind. 
• If successful, it demonstrates crucial On-Orbit Servicing (OOS) capabilities—meaning satellites and space telescopes can be repaired, refueled, or repositioned in space rather than being abandoned, saving immense future replacement

India’s Fisheries Sector

Economy

News – 

• India ranks as world’s 2nd largest fish producing nation accounting for 8% of global output.

• Fisheries account for nearly 7.43% Agricultural Gross Value Added (GVA), highest among the agriculture and allied sectors.

Initiatives to Promote Fisheries in India

• Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): to usher in the “Blue Revolution” through the sustainable and responsible development of the fisheries sector.
• Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY): It aims to formalise the unorganised fisheries sector and support micro and small enterprises.
• Kisan Credit Card for Fisheries: Government has raised the lending limit under the scheme for fisheries and allied activities from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.
• Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF): It offers a credit guarantee cover of up to Rs 12.50 crore and provides an interest subvention of up to 3% per year.

Nameri Tiger Reserve

Environment

News

• Tiger population in Assam’s Nameri Tiger Reserve rose fourfold, from 3 tigers in 2022 to 12 by the end of 2025.

Nameri Tiger Reserve

• • It lies in northern Sonitpur district, Assam, along the Eastern Himalayan foothills. 
  • It is Assam’s second tiger reserve, after Manas, and is located within the Sonitpur Elephant Reserve.
  • The glacier-fed Jia Bhoroli, a Brahmaputra tributary, defines the southern boundary of the core area. 

• It is a habitat for the endangered Golden Mahseer.

• Vegetation: Tropical semi-evergreen forests, cane brakes, and riparian grasslands dominate the landscape, including Hollock, Nahor, and Simul.
• Faunal Diversity: Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, clouded leopard, gaur, and dhole; it is one of the last breeding sites of the endangered White-winged Wood Duck. The Potasali pre-release facility in Nameri trains captive-bred pygmy hogs for wild reintroduction.
• Its northern boundary connects the reserve with Arunachal Pradesh’s Pakke Tiger Reserve, facilitating transboundary megafauna movement.

e-Jagriti

Polity

News – 

• The Prime Minister shared an article on the role of e-Jagriti (e-Justice and Grievance Redressal through Information Technology and Innovation) in addressing consumer complaints.

e-Jagriti

• e-Jagriti is the Department of Consumer Affairs’ integrated digital consumer grievance redressal platform, launched in January 2025.
• It provides paperless, AI-enabled, multilingual, and end-to-end online dispute resolution by integrating legacy consumer complaint systems.
• Key Components: Integrates legacy systems like OCMS, e-Daakhil, NCDRC CMS & CONFONET into a single, seamless interface.
• Key Features: Offers e-filing, virtual hearings, real-time case tracking, secure digital payments (Bharat Kosh/PayGov), and role-based access.

11 Year of Digital India Programme

Polity

Context

• The Digital India Programme completes 11 years as on 1 July 2026.

Digital India Programme,

• Launched on – 1 July 2015 
• Implementation – Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
• Objective – It is a flagship scheme aimed at transforming the country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.

Flagship Initiatives under  Digital India

• JAM Trinity: The Foundation of Digital India has revolutionised financial inclusion and welfare delivery in India. It brought millions into the formal banking system and enabled seamless access to government services.
• DigiLocker: DigiLocker is replacing physical documents with a secure digital wallet, and transforming document storage and verification across India.
• Unified Payments Interface (UPI): Completing ten years in 2026, UPI is transforming digital payments through instant and secure transactions for citizens and businesses.
• eSanjeevani: The telemedicine platform is connecting patients with doctors remotely, especially in rural and underserved regions.
• Tele MANAS provides free tele-counselling and mental health support nationwide.
• Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has transformed public procurement by making it transparent, efficient and paperless.
• Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is creating an open and interoperable digital commerce ecosystem that connects buyers and sellers across platforms.
• AgriStack – It is a farmer-centric DPI powering services such as e-NAM for online agricultural trading and Kisan e-Mitra, an AI-powered chatbot providing instant farming information and government scheme support.
• DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing) is transforming school education through curriculum-linked digital learning resources and teacher training.
• SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds) and SWAYAM Prabha are expanding access to quality education beyond classrooms.
• PMGDISHA bridged the rural digital divide by training citizens in smartphone usage, internet access, digital payments and online services.
• FutureSkills Prime is preparing learners for emerging technologies such as AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity and data analytics. 
• Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) is a unified platform for skilling, certification and employment services.
• IndiaAI Mission is strengthening AI education, infrastructure and responsible AI adoption.

Matcha Tea

Economy

Context

• Assam has become the first state in India to commercially produce Matcha tea, with production commencing at the Chota Tingrai Tea Estate in eastern Assam’s Tinsukia district.

Matcha

• • Matcha is made after shading Camellia sinensis tea leaves for three to four weeks before harvest. 
  • Blocking 90% of sunlight from the leaves boosts their chlorophyll and amino acid levels, and gives its characteristic bright green colour and rich umami flavour. 
  • Matcha originated through cultural exchanges between China and Japan during the premodern period. 

• China is the largest producer of matcha tea.

Additional Information – Indian Tea Industry

• • India is the 2nd largest tea producer and largest black tea producer.
  • Export destinations – Iran, Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Russia etc. India is the 4th largest tea exporter in the World.
  • Employment – The Indian tea Industry is employing 1.16 million workers directly.
  • Note – Assam grows about 55% of the teas produced in India. India’s tea production has increased by 39% in 2022 from 2008.
  • Prominent tea regions: Assam (Assam Valley, Cachar) and West Bengal (Dooars, Terai, Darjeeling).

• Global reputation: Indian teas, especially Assam, Darjeeling, and Nilgiri, are renowned for their quality.

Geographical Condition for Tea production

• The tea plant grows well in tropical and subtropical climates. 
• Soil: It requires deep and fertile well-drained soil, rich in humus and organic matter. 
• Temperature: The average annual temperature for tea plants to grow well is in the range of 15-23°C. 
• Precipitation: The rainfall needed is between 150-200 cm. 
• Frequent showers evenly distributed over the year ensure continuous growth of tender leaves.
• Major tea producing states are Assam, hills of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
• Apart from these, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh and Tripura are also tea-producing states in the country.

Asia Tea Alliance

• Member countries – It is a coalition of tea associations from major tea-producing countries in Asia like India, China, Sri Lanka, Japan etc. 
• Objective – It aims to promote the collective interests of member nations within the global tea market.

Tea Board of India

• It was set up as a statutory body in 1954 under the Tea Act, 1953.
• It was established for the purposes of regulating the Indian tea industry and protecting the interests of tea producers in India. 
• Headquarters-Kolkata.

Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR)

Economy

Context

• India is nearing completion of its first bullet train corridor – the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR).

About

• The corridor will connect Mumbai and Ahmedabad in about 1 hour 58 minutes. It covers a total length of approximately 508 kilometres.
• 12 stations have been planned along the route.
• It is expected to commence in August 2027. The first section to open will be from Surat to Vapi.
• The corridor has a design speed of 350 kmph and an operational speed of 320 kmph. 
• The MAHSR Project is being developed using Japanese Shinkansen technology and operational practices. 
• Track System: J-Slab ballastless track technology is being introduced in India for the first time.

7th National Water Awards

Miscellaneous

Context

• Ministry of Jal Shakti has launched the 7th National Water Awards on the Rashtriya Puraskar portal of Ministry of Home Affairs.

National Water Awards 

• The National Water Awards were first launched in 2018.
• Objective – The awards aim to recognize efforts in water management and conservation.
• Significance – The initiative supports the government’s vision of a ‘Jal Samridh Bharat’ (Water Prosperous India).

Simla Agreement

International Relations

Context

• The Simla Agreement completed 54 years on 2 July 2026.

About

• The Simla Agreement was signed in 1972 to establish lasting peace between India and Pakistan post the 1971 war.
• The agreement was signed between Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistani President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. 

Key Provisions of Simla Agreement

• Peaceful resolution: Both countries agreed to resolve disputes through bilateral negotiations without involving third parties.
• Line of Control (LoC): The ceasefire line in Jammu and Kashmir was redefined as the Line of Control, with both sides committing not to alter it unilaterally.
• Release of prisoners: India agreed to release Pakistani prisoners of war, and Pakistan committed to normalising relations and recognising the sovereignty of Bangladesh.

MANAS Initiative

Government Schemes

Context

• The National Narcotics Helpline MANAS is strengthening India’s fight against drug abuse.

MANAS (Madak Padarth Nishedh Asoochna Kendra) 

• • It was launched in 2024 under the aegis of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Ministry of Home Affairs, in collaboration with the Digital India Corporation (DIC). 

• It enables citizens to report drug-related activities, seek counselling, and access rehabilitation support at any time.

• The platform is accessible through the national helpline number 1933, the official portal, email and the UMANG app.
• MANAS brings together the vision of Digital India and the mission of a Nasha Mukt Bharat.

India’s War Against The Drug Menace

• Constitutional Basis: Article 47 states that the State not to promote consumption of intoxicating drinks and drugs that are injurious to health except for medicinal purposes.
• Global Commitment: India is a party to the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the 1988 UN Convention against Illicit Drug Trafficking.
• Legal Frameworks: The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, NDPS Act, 1985, PITNDPS Act, 1988.
• Key Initiatives: NIDAAN Portal for monitoring drug cases; Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan for awareness, prevention and rehabilitation.

Hasdeo-Arand Forests

Environment

Context

• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has granted environmental clearance for mining in the Kente Extension Integrated Coal Block in Chhattisgarh’s Hasdeo-Arand forests.

Hasdeo-Arand forests

• The Hasdeo-Arand forests, spread across Chhattisgarh’s Korba, Surguja, and Surajpur districts, cover about 1.7 lakh hectares and are considered the Green Lungs of Central India. 
• They are home to around 640 plant species and nine schedule-1 wildlife species, which are accorded highest legal protection. 
• It is also the catchment area of the Hasdeo river, the largest tributary of the Mahanadi.

Green Hydrogen

Environment

Context – 

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

Green ammonia

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

Benefits of Green Ammonia

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

Additional Information – Green Hydrogen

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

National Green Hydrogen Mission

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

Hydrogen

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

Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme 2026

Government Scheme

News

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

Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) Scheme, 2026, 

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

Advanced Therapeutic Products (ATPs)

Science & Technology

News

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

Advanced Therapeutic Products (ATPs)

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

Key Domains: 

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

Gulf of Aden

International

News – 

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

INS Trikand 

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

Gulf of Aden 

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

Civil Registration System (CRS) Report 2024

Polity

News – 

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

Key Highlights of CRS 2024

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

Additional Information – Civil Registration System (CRS) 

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

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

SHE-LEAPS

Government Scheme

News – 

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

SHE-LEAPS 

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

Objectives:

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

Green Urea

Science & Technology

News – 

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

Green Urea

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

Why Green Urea Matters

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

Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP)

Environment

News –

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

Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP)

• Established in – 2021

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

CCAP operates through 3 pillars: 

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

Yamuna Water Project

Environment 

News-

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

Yamuna Water Project 

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

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

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

Additional Information – Yamuna River

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

Major Tributaries (West to East Order)

Left Bank (Himalayan):

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

Right Bank (Peninsular):

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

Key Riparian Areas

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

Miniratna

Economy

News – 

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

Maharatna vs. Navratna vs. Miniratna

International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

Environment

News – 

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

About- 

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

IndiaSkills Competition 2026-27

Economy

News – 

• The Union Minister launched IndiaSkills Competition 2026–27.

About – 

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

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

National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)

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

VB-G RAM G Act Come Into Force

Polity

In News

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

Key features

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

Key Features & Implementation

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

eSARAS

Polity

Context

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

eSARAS (SARAS Aajeevika)

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

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

Key Milestones: From Portal to e-Commerce Ecosystem

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

India’s Diminishing Cotton Productivity

Economy

Context

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

Cotton Cultivation in India

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

Geographic & Climatic Requirements- 

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

Mission for Cotton Productivity 

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

GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation)

Science and Tech

Context

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

GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation)

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

Applications 

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

31st Chief of the Army Staff

Defence

Context 

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

Chief of the Army Staff (COAS)

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

Transcaspian marinka (Schizothorax pelzami)

GS3/Species in News

News

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

Transcaspian marinka (Schizothorax pelzami)

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

Forest Owlet (Heteroglaux blewitti)

Ecology

News – 

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

Forest Owlet

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

16th India-Japan Annual Summit

International

Context (PIB): 

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

India-Japan Bilateral Relations

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

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

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

Borjuli Wetland

Ecology

News – 

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

Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS)

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

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

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

Neurocysticercosis

Science and Tech

News –

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

Neurocysticercosis 

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