Committee to oversee unified waste management system for Bengaluru
News :
Govt to form high-level committee to implement end-to-end solid waste management system for city
About
Purpose : to roll out a technology-driven solid waste management (SWM) framework for the city.
Composition: The committee will be headed by the Additional Chief Secretary of the Urban Development Department, who will serve as President, while the GBA Chief Commissioner will act as Vice-President.
Friends of Police mission
News :
Bengaluru Police has launched ‘Friends of Police’ mission.
About
Aim : aimed at strengthening community policing and youth participation in crime prevention.
Goal : Bengaluru police aiming to attract two lakh students as part of the team in policing to build a safer and more informed city.
Coverage : Over 10,000 students took the pledge and enrolled to help the police and be their ‘eyes and ears’.
“This is not only an awareness programme, but an initiative to strengthen police and public relationship,”
World AIDS Day is observed on December 1 every year.
World AIDS Day
It is observed every year to raise awareness about the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
It was first marked in 1988 by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Theme 2025: Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response.
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
Pathogen – It is a chronic, potentially life-threatening health condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which damages the human immune system.
Transmission: Through direct contact with certain body fluids (blood, semen, rectal fluid, vaginal fluid or breast milk) from a person infected with HIV.
Symptoms:
Stage 1: Flu-like illness (Fever, chills, rashes, night sweats)
Stage 2: Clinical latency (No particular symptoms)
Stage 3: AIDS (Weakening of Immune System)
Prevention: Prevention is better than cure, using protective techniques, non-contaminated needles & preventing mother to child transmission.
Treatment: There is no cure for HIV infection. It is treated with antiretroviral drugs, which stop the virus from replicating in the body. Untreated HIV can progress to AIDS, often after many years.
Steps taken by Government of India
National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) (Central Sector Scheme)
India has achieved the 6th MDG of halting and reversing the HIV epidemic.
Prevention from Parent to Child Transmission (PPTCT) programme
HIV/AIDS Act 2017 (Prohibits discrimination against HIV-infected people on any grounds)
90:90:90 strategy as adopted by UNAIDS (90% (diagnosed, treatment (by a nti-retroviral treatment (ART)) & suppression)) by 2020. Extended by 10 years with the goal post of 95-95-95.
Project ACCELERATE (John Hopkin & NACO initiative): To provide HIV Services through Safe Zindagi online portal.
Mission Sampark: Its purpose was to “bring back” people living with HIV (PLHIV) who had stopped antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Private Sector Entry in India’s Nuclear Sector
Syllabus: GS3/ Energy
Context
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the government is moving towards opening up the nuclear sector for private players.
India’s Nuclear Sector
Nuclear power plants in India are owned and operated only by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL).
Key legislations – To allow private sector participation the government has proposed amendments to key legislations.
Atomic Energy Act, 1962, a framework for nuclear energy development and regulation.
Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, ensuring compensation mechanisms for nuclear incidents.
Additional Information – Nuclear Energy
Definition – Nuclear energy is the energy released during nuclear reactions, either through fission (splitting of atomic nuclei) or fusion (merging of atomic nuclei).
Status of Nuclear power capacity in India
Nuclear power capacity of India – 8,180 MW, spread across 24 nuclear power reactors.
Nuclear power capacity target – 100 GW by 2047
Capacity Expansion: 10 new reactors (totaling 8 GW) under construction across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh.
Important Nuclear Power Plants in India
NUCLEAR POWER STATION
STATE
TOTAL CAPACITY (MW)
Tarapur
Maharashtra
1,400
Rawatbhata
Rajasthan
1,180
Kudankulam
Tamil Nadu
2,000
Kaiga
Karnataka
880
Kakrapar
Gujarat
1140
Kalpakkam
Tamil Nadu
440
Narora
Uttar Pradesh
440
POWER STATION
OPERATOR
STATE
TOTAL CAPACITY (MW)
Jaitapur
National Power Corporation of India Limited
Maharashtra
9,900
Kovvada
National Power Corporation of India Limited
Andhra Pradesh
6,600
Mithi Virdi
National Power Corporation of India Limited
Gujarat
6,000
Haripur
National Power Corporation of India Limited
West Bengal
4,000
Kudankulam
National Power Corporation of India Limited
Tamil Nadu
2,800
Gorakhpur
National Power Corporation of India Limited
Haryana
2,800
Bhimpur
National Power Corporation of India Limited
Madhya Pradesh
2,800
Mahi Banswara
National Power Corporation of India Limited
Rajasthan
1,400
Kaiga
National Power Corporation of India Limited
Karnataka
1,400
Chutka
National Power Corporation of India Limited
Madhya Pradesh
1,200
Madras
Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited
Tamil Nadu
300
Ellora Caves
Syllabus: GS1/ History and Culture
Context
Scottish historian William Dalrymple has urged the Maharashtra government to bring greater visibility to the lesser-known heritage sites around the Ellora Caves.
Ellora Caves
Located in – Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, the Ellora Caves are among India’s first UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The cave complex was carved between 600 CE and 1000 CE, spanning the rule of the Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, and Yadavas.
Religious Pluralism: The complex comprises 34 major caves, 12 Buddhist, 17 Hindu, and 5 Jain, demonstrating a unique period of interreligious harmony and artistic exchange.
Key Architectural Features
Kailasa Temple (Cave 16): It is carved from a single monolithic basalt rock, dedicated to the Hindu god Lord Shiva.
Buddhist Caves: These include monasteries (viharas) and prayer halls (chaityas).
Jain Caves: Built during the later phase of Ellora’s development.
Hornbill Festival
Syllabus: GS1/Culture
In News
The 26th edition of Nagaland’s famed Hornbill Festival, known as the “Festival of Festivals,” began at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, Kohima, coinciding with the state’s Statehood Day (December 1st).
Hornbill Festival
It is held annually in the first week of December at Kisama near Kohima.
It is a vibrant cultural showcase of all Naga tribes.
Significance –
It was conceived in 2000 to promote unity and preserve ethnic heritage.
It highlights both traditional and contemporary Naga culture through music, crafts, cuisine, and folklore.
Additional Information -Great Hornbill
Scientific name –Buceros bicornis.
Also known as – It is also known as the concave-casqued hornbill, great Indian hornbill or great pied hornbill.
Habitat – It is found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
Uniqueness – The most prominent feature of the Great Hornbill is the bright yellow and black casque (hard structure on the head of some birds) on top of its massive bill.
Festival – The Hornbill Festival is celebrated in Nagaland.
State Bird – Great Hornbill is the state bird of Arunachal Pradesh and Kerala.
Conservation status
IUCN Status – Vulnerable
Indian Wildlife Protection Act,1972 – Schedule I
India Re-Elected to UNESCO Executive Board
Syllabus:GS2/IR
In News
India has been re-elected to the UNESCO Executive Board for the 2025-29 term.
UNESCO Executive Board
It is one of the three constitutional organs of the U.N. agency (the others being the General Conference and the Secretariat) and it is elected by the General Conference.
It acts under the authority of the General Conference.
It examines the programme of work for the organisation and corresponding budget estimates submitted to it by the Director-General.
It consists of 58 Member States each with a four-year term of office.
Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
Syllabus: GS3/Internal Security
Context
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has introduced a revised posting policy for personnel assigned to Parliament security duties.
Central Industrial Security Force
It is a paramilitary force established in 1969, under the Central Industrial Security Force Act, 1968.
Every year, CISF Raising Day is observed on March 10.
Operates under – Ministry of Home Affairs of India.
Functions – It provides security to the strategic establishment including
Department of Space
Department of Atomic Energy,
Airports, Delhi Metro and ports.
Historical monuments
Basic areas of the Indian economy such as petroleum and natural gas, electricity, coal, steel and mining.
Additional Information – Paramilitary forces of India
Hansa-3 NG Trainer Aircraft
Syllabus: GS3/ Defence
Context
The CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Bengaluru, launched a “production version” of the indigenous Hansa-3(NG) trainer aircraft.
Hansa-3
It is India’s indigenous two-seat trainer aircraft developed by CSIR-NAL.
It is designed for basic flight training catering mainly to flying clubs and pilot training schools.
State govt. notifies menstrual leave policy with a day’s off a month
Karnataka Menstrual Leave Policy-2025
Women in the state of Karnataka will be entitled to up to 12 menstrual leaves annually.
This development marks a significant step in recognising menstrual health at a workplace and rights issue.
The Dr. Sapna S committee was appointed by the Karnataka government to study and recommend menstrual leave policy
Significance – It aims to create a more inclusive and stigma-free workplace and is considered a landmark decision in India, as it covers both government and private sectors comprehensively.
State govt. notifies menstrual leave policy with a day’s off a month
Key features –
Women between 18 and 52 are eligible to seek menstrual leave, and it will be applicable for permanent, contract or outsourced workforce.
The policy will be applicable to the workforce employed in establishments registered under the Factories Act, 1948; the Karnataka Shops and Establishments Act, 1961; the Plantation Workers Act 1951; the Beedi and Cigar Workers (Conditions of Employment) Act, 1966, and the Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961.
The Government Order (GO) does not specify anything on leaves for government employees or anganwadi workers or Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs).
As per the conditions imposed in the GO, there will be no provision to carry over the leave to the next month and women are not mandated to provide any medical certificate
The Prime Minister of India and the President of Russia are expected to discuss India’s interest in the next-generation S-500 air defence system.
S-500 Air Defence System
It is Russia’s most advanced long-range, surface-to-air and anti-space defence system, designed to intercept a wide spectrum of modern and future airborne threats.
It can intercept aircraft, missiles, and hypersonic threats at distances up to 600 km.
It is operational at altitudes up to 200 km. It has a reaction time 3–4 seconds, nearly twice as fast as the S-400.
Ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons, stealth aircraft, LEO satellites
Reaction Time
9–10 sec
3–4 sec
Anti-Satellite Capability
No
Yes
Role
Long-range air defence
Air + space defence
Operation Sagar Bandhu
International
Context
In the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, which caused widespread devastation across Sri Lanka, India swiftly launched Operation Sagar Bandhu to support relief and rescue efforts.
Operation Sagar Bandhu
It is a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operation launched by India to provide emergency aid to Sri Lanka.
Under the operation, India dispatched:
Relief material
Medical supplies
Emergency equipment
Significance – The operation reflects India’s commitment to its Neighbourhood First Policy and the broader maritime vision of MAHASAGAR.
Additional Information – Cyclone Ditwah
It is a tropical storm that rapidly formed over the southwest Bay of Bengal.
Padma Shri awardee and environmental icon Saalumarada Thimmakka, renowned for planting 385 banyan trees, passed away at the age of 114 in Bengaluru.
Biographical Details
Full Name: Saalumarada Thimmakka (born as Thimmakka).
Titles: She is widely known as “Vriksha Mathe” (Mother of Trees) and “Saalumarada Thimmakka”
Birthplace: She was born in Gubbi Taluk, Tumakuru District, Karnataka.
Environmental work: Her environmental work is centered around Hulikal Village, Magadi Taluk, Ramanagara District.
Spouse: She was married to Bikkala Chikkayya, who was her partner in planting trees until his death in 1991.
Lifespan: She passed away on November 14, 2025, at the approximate age of 114 years.
The Environmental Achievements
Tree Species: She primarily planted Banyan trees (Scientific Name: Ficus benghalensis).
Location: The trees were planted along a 4 to 4.5 km kilometer stretch of State Highway 94 (SH-94) between Hulikal and Kudur
Number of Trees: She planted 385 banyan trees in this specific row.
Total Contribution: It is estimated she planted over 8,000 trees in total during her lifetime.
Methodology: She used thorny shrubs to fence the saplings and carried water pots for 4 kilometers
Major Awards & Recognitions
Cabinet Rank (2022): The Karnataka Government appointed her as the “Environment Ambassador” with the status of a Cabinet Minister.
Padma Shri (2019): She received India’s fourth-highest civilian award from President Ram Nath Kovind.
BBC 100 Women (2016): She was listed as one of the most influential and inspiring women in the world by the BBC.
Nadoja Award (2010): She received this prestigious honor from Kannada University, Hampi.
National Citizen’s Award (1995): She was honored by the Government of India for her grassroots work.
Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award (1997): She received this national award specifically for contributions to afforestation.
International Honor: An environmental organization in Los Angeles, USA, is named “Thimmakka’s Resources for Environmental Education”.
Government Initiatives & Legacy
Saalumarada Thimmakka Tree Parks: The Karnataka State Government has established tree parks in every Assembly Constituency to increase green cover.
Tree Preservation: In 2019, the Bagepalli-Halaguru road widening project was modified to save her heritage banyan trees.
Memorial Fund (2025): Following her death, the Karnataka Government announced a ₹1 Crore Corpus Fund to institute an annual environment award in her name.
114 Saplings: To mark her age at passing, the government announced the planting of 114 saplings at distinct locations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Indian space startup Skyroot’s Infinity Campus and Skyroot’s first orbital rocket, Vikram-I, with the capability to launch satellites to orbit.
Skyroot
It is India’s leading private space company, founded by Pawan Chandana and Bharath Dhaka,
In November 2022, Skyroot launched its sub-orbital rocket, Vikram-S, becoming the first Indian private company to launch a rocket to space.
Vikram-I
It is built by Skyroot Aerospace and is named after Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India’s space programme.
It is India’s first private orbital-class launch vehicle designed to serve the small satellite market with rapid, cost-effective launches.
India Re-elected to International Maritime Organisation Council
Environment
In News
India has been re-elected to the Council of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for 2026-27 with the highest vote tally.
International Maritime Organization
It is the United Nations specialized agency
Mandate – It is responsible for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships.
Genesis: IMO was established in 1948 following a UN conference in Geneva and came into existence in 1958.
Members: IMO has 175 Member States
Headquarters – London, United Kingdom.
India joined the IMO in 1959.
Structure: The IMO is administered by a biennially convened Assembly of all member states and a 40-member Council elected for two-year terms.
Megalithic excavations in Chamarajanagar district reveal rare burial practices, rock art
News –
Recent excavations at Doddalathur in Chamarajanagar district have revealed new insights into early megalithic burial culture and traditions in southern Karnataka, including unusual layouts and rare engravings on boulders.
Doddalathur, located in Hanur taluk and five kilometres southwest of Kowdalli, is one of the few surviving megalithic landscapes in the region where a large number of burials remain intact.
the excavation – found 13 burials, comprising stone circles and cairn circles, constructed with natural boulders of varying diameters.
Four contained cists, or stone-slab chambers, while the rest were urn burials.
“In the megalithic burials, the usual burial repertoire includes pottery known as black-and-red ware, black ware and red ware, and iron objects. “These were also found in some of the burials that were excavated at Doddalathur,
in addition to skeletal and animal remains and a few beads have also been found
The most interesting discovery, according to researchers, is that of an iron object, which is circular in shape with two loops on either sides and resembles an iron shield.
This was found in association with iron weapons like axe, arrow, and a two-pronged sword while the same burial has human figures engraved on the boulders. Underlining its importance,
This is significant because rock art is rare in this part of Karnataka.
Charcoal samples from both urn and cist contexts were dated through AMS Carbon-14 analysis, placing the burials between the 6th century BCE and the 4th century CE, a timeframe consistent with megalithic occupation phases elsewhere in peninsular India
IIT Kharagpur launched Impact RISE (Research, Innovation, Skilling, and Entrepreneurship)
RISE Initiative
Mandate – It focuses on sustainable tech and management practices for societal transformation.
Four pillars – research, innovation, skilling, and entrepreneurship.
Significance- It will involve research aligned with sustainable development goals and India’s climate and development priorities.
Operation Pawan
Defence
Context
The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Upendra Dwivedi, has paid homage to soldiers who laid down their lives during Operation Pawan (1987 – 1990) in Sri Lanka.
Operation Pawan
It was launched by the Rajiv Gandhi government in 1987 after the signing of the Indo–Sri Lanka Accord.
India deployed the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to Sri Lanka during the country’s civil war between the minority Tamil population, and the Sinhalese-majority government.
India was deeply concerned due to:
Ethnic and cultural ties with Tamil Nadu
Escalating violence
Rising refugee inflow into India
Do you know?
The Sri Lankan civil war ended on May 18, 2009 with the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
While India had not formally commemorated Operation Pawan for decades, Sri Lanka maintains an IPKF memorial in Colombo.
Now, this has changed with the Indian Army officially recognising the sacrifices made by troops during the operation.
Karnataka Rights of Persons with Disabilities bill 2025
News
The State government has released a draft of the Karnataka Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Employment and Education Bill, 2025, proposing 5% reservation for persons with disabilities in all private establishments with 20 or more employees.
The draft also mandates that educational institutions earmark 10% of seats in every course for students with disabilities, one of the most expansive attempts to overhaul inclusion in employment and in higher education.
The draft sets out a phased introduction of the 5% job quota across the private sector.
Companies must distribute these posts across disability categories based on a formula prescribed by the proposed State regulatory authority, file annual compliance reports, and can carry forward unfilled posts for up to three recruitment cycles.
Exemptions will be granted only when essential job functions cannot be performed even with reasonable accommodation.
For education, the Bill makes 10% reservation course-specific, not institution-level, preventing colleges from averaging seats across programmes.
Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched ‘Nayi Chetna 4.0’ national campaign for gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Nayi Chetna 4.0
It is a month-long campaign, organised by the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) under the Ministry of Rural Development.
Objective – It aims to strengthen community action against gender-based violence and promote women’s safety, dignity and economic empowerment across rural India.
Significance – The campaign focuses on enabling safe mobility, recognising women as key economic contributors, and addressing unpaid care work through shared community responsibility.
