Blog

23rd India-Russia Annual Summit

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• India and Russia held their 23rd annual bilateral summit, marking a major milestone — 25 years of the Declaration on Strategic Partnership (2000).

Key Outcomes of the Visit

• Economic Programme 2030: The Leaders welcomed the adoption of the Programme for the Development of Strategic Areas of India – Russia Economic Cooperation till 2030 (Programme 2030).
• Trade Target: timely achievement of the revised bilateral trade target of USD 100 billion by 2030.
• Strategic Agreements Signed: India and Russia exchanged sixteen agreements in areas related to defence, trade, economy, healthcare, academics, culture and media.
• Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Push: Both sides are working towards the early conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union.
• Migration Cooperation: India will soon be launching a free 30-day e-tourist visa and a 30-day Group Tourist Visa for Russian citizens.
• Cooperation in Global and Multilateral Platforms: The Russian side has decided to join the International Big Cat Alliance.

70th Mahaparinirvan Diwas

Syllabus: GS1/History

In News

• President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid floral tributes to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on Mahaparinirvan Diwas at the Parliament complex in New Delhi.

Mahaparinirvan Diwas

• Meaning – Parinirvana, regarded as one of the major principles as well as goals of Buddhism, is a Sanskrit term which means release or freedom after death.
• As per the Buddhist text ‘Mahaparinibbana Sutta’, the death of Lord Buddha at the age of 80 is considered as the original Mahaparinirvan.
• Observed on – 6th December is observed to commemorate the unfathomable contribution to society given by Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar and his achievements.
• Owing to Dr. B.R.Ambedkar’s status as a Buddhist leader, his death anniversary is referred to as Mahaparinirvan Diwas.

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar

• Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar was a social reformer, jurist, economist, author, polyglot (knowing or using several languages), orator, a scholar and thinker of comparative religions.
• Birth – He was born in 1891 in Mhow, Central Province (now Madhya Pradesh).

Brief Profile

• He is known as the Father of the Indian Constitution and was India’s first Law Minister.
• He was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution.
• He was a well-known statesman who fought for the rights of the Dalits and other socially backward classes.

Contributions

• He led the Mahad Satyagraha in March 1927 against Hindus who were opposing the decision of the Municipal Board which had barred the untouchables from using water from the mahad tank.
• In 1926, the Municipal Board of Mahad (Maharashtra) passed an order to open the tank to all communities.
• He participated in all three Round Table Conferences.
• In 1932, Dr. Ambedkar signed the Poona pact with Mahatma Gandhiji, which abandoned the idea of separate electorates for the depressed classes (Communal Award).
• However, the seats reserved for the depressed classes were increased from 71 to 147 in provincial legislatures and to 18% of the total in the Central Legislature.
• His ideas before the Hilton Young Commission served as the foundation of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Election and Designation

• In 1937, he was elected to the Bombay Legislative Assembly as a legislator (MLA).
• He was appointed to the Executive Council of Viceroy as a Labour member in 1942.
• In 1947, Dr. Ambedkar accepted PM Nehru’s invitation to become Minister of Law in the first Cabinet of independent India.

Shift to Buddhism

• He resigned from the cabinet in 1951, over differences on the Hindu Code Bill. He converted to Buddhism in 1956.
• He was awarded India’s highest civilian honour the Bharat Ratna in 1990.

Important Works

Journals

• Mooknayak (1920), Bahishkrit Bharat (1927), Samatha (1929), Janata (1930).

Books

• Annihilation of Caste, Buddha or Karl Marx, The Untouchable: Who are They and Why They Have Become Untouchables
• Buddha and His Dhamma
• The Rise and Fall of Hindu Women

Organizations

• Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha (1923)
• Independent Labor Party (1936)
• Scheduled Castes Federation (1942)

Death

• He died on 6th December 1956.
• Chaitya Bhoomi is a memorial to B R Ambedkar, located in Mumbai.

Relevance of Ambedkar in Present Times

• Caste-based inequality in India still persists. While Dalits have acquired a political identity through reservation and forming their own political parties, they lag behind in social (health and education) and economic dimension.

India’s Groundwater Contamination Crisis

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) highlights a disturbing rise in toxic contaminants across India’s aquifers.

India’s Groundwater Contamination Crisis

• India holds 18% of the world’s population but only 4% of its freshwater resources, placing enormous pressure on available water systems.
• India depends on groundwater for about 85% of its rural drinking water needs and around 60% of irrigation water.

Crisis of Groundwater Contamination

• India’s aquifers show simultaneous contamination with, Arsenic, Fluoride, Nitrate, Uranium, Salinity and Heavy metals.

Government Initiatives

• Jal Shakti Abhiyan (2019): Focuses on water conservation and groundwater recharge in water-stressed districts.
• Amrit Sarovar Mission: Aims to develop and rejuvenate 75 water bodies per district.
• National Aquifer Mapping Program (NAQUIM): Helps delineate and understand aquifers for sustainable management.
• Atal Bhujal Yojana – It was launched to improve groundwater management in priority areas with critical and overexploited blocks.

PM JI-VAN

Syllabus: GS2/Govt Policy & Intervention; GS3/Environment

Context

• Recently, the Union Government has expanded the timeline of the Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana, reaffirming its commitment to sustainable development and energy security.

PM JI-VAN

• It was launched in 2019
• Implementation- Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoP&NG).
• Objective: To promote 2G ethanol projects, use agricultural waste (biomass), meet Ethanol Blending (EBP) targets, increase farmers’ income and help in environmental goals (such as net-zero emissions).
• Methodology: The scheme encourages ethanol production from molasses and non-edible biomass (such as crop residues) instead of the petrochemical route.

Importance

• Energy security: reducing dependence on fossil fuel imports.
• Rural Economy: Providing farmers with new markets for their crop residues, increasing their income.
• Environment: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, tackling pollution, contributing to the net-zero emissions target.
• Investment: Attracting private investment in the 2G ethanol sector.
• Example: India’s first 2G ethanol project (at Panipat by IOCL) was set up under this scheme and dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minister in 2022.

Additional Information – Biofuels

• Definition – Biofuels are alternative fuels made from plant and plant-derived resources.
• Example: Bioethanol, Biodiesel, Green diesel, Biogas etc.

National Policy on Biofuels, 2018

• The National Policy on Biofuels 2018 (amended in 2022) provides a framework for increasing the use of biofuels in India to enhance energy security.

Government Efforts for Biofuel Expansion

• Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana (Jaiv Indhan – Vatavaran Anukool fasal awashesh Nivaran Yojana): It promotes 2G ethanol production from agricultural waste and residues.
• GOBAR-Dhan Scheme (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan): It promotes biogas and bio-CNG production from cattle dung and organic waste.
• SATAT Scheme (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation): It promotes Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) production as a fuel alternative.

Antarctic Ozone Hole Closes Early in 2025

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

In News

• The Antarctic ozone hole that formed in August 2025 closed earlier than usual, offering hope for recovery amid record global warming.

OZONE LAYER DEPLETION

Basics – Ozone Layer (O₃)

• It is a highly reactive molecule containing three oxygen atoms.
• Found in – It is present between 10 and 50 km above the earth’s surface, called the stratosphere.
• Function – This ozone layer serves as a natural filter for blocking deadly incoming UV radiation from the sun.
• Significance – This ozone shield is necessary for the survival of human life on the earth.

OZONE LAYER DEPLETION

• Definition – The decrease in ozone concentration in the middle layers of the atmosphere – mainly in the stratosphere is referred to as the depletion of the ozone layer.
• Caused by – It is caused by emissions of anthropogenic halogenated hydrocarbons such as CFCs, HCFCs, Halons, Carbon tetrachloride and Methyl bromide.

Why is ozone depletion more in Antarctica than the equator?

• The severe depletion of the Antarctic ozone layer known as the “ozone hole” occurs because of the special weather conditions that exist there and nowhere else on the globe.
  • The very low temperatures of the Antarctic stratosphere create ice clouds called polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs).

Measures to Prevent Ozone Layer Depletion

Vienna Convention

• Objective – To protect human health and the environment from any harmful effects of the depletion of the ozone layer.
• Held in – Vienna , Austria
• Adopted in – 1985.
• Came into force – 1988.

Montreal Protocol

• Enforcement – It was agreed upon in 1987 in Montreal, Canada and entered into force in 1989.
• Objective – To protect the Ozone layer by reducing the production of substances that are supposed to be responsible for Ozone layer depletion.
• Kigali Agreement – The protocol was further strengthened with the ratification of the legally binding Kigali Agreement in 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda.
• Significance – It seeks to phase out the production of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) that are potent greenhouse gases by the late 2040s.

BNHS to Reintroduce Two Vulture Species in Assam

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), is set to reintroduce two critically endangered vulture species, Slender-billed Vultures (Gyps tenuirostris) and White-rumped Vultures (Gyps bengalensis), in Assam.

Vulture

• Vultures are one of the 22 species of large carrion-eating birds that live mostly in the tropics and subtropics.

India is home to nine species of Vulture namely

1. Oriental white-backed,
2. Long-billed,
3. Slender-billed
4. Himalayan,
5. Red-headed,
6. Egyptian,
7. Bearded,
8. Cinereous
9. Eurasian Griffon.

Threats

• Use of Diclofenac: A veterinary nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) found in the carcass of cattle the vultures feed on. The veterinary use of diclofenac was banned in 2008.
• Pesticides: The presence of organochlorine pesticide, polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals were also the major cause of mortality.
• Other threats include lack of nesting trees, electrocution by power lines, and food dearth and contaminated food.

Conservation Efforts

• The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has approved an Action Plan for Vulture Conservation 2020-2025. It includes:
• Vulture Conservation Centre: Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu will get a vulture conservation and breeding centre.
• India has lost 99 percent of the population of the three species, Oriental White-Backed Vulture, Long-billed Vulture and Slender-billed Vulture.

Conservation Status

• Schedule-1 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Bearded, Long-billed, Slender-billed, Oriental white-backed.
• Rest are protected under ‘Schedule IV’.

IUCN Red List;

• Critically Endangered: Oriental White-backed Vulture, Long-billed Vulture, Slender-billed Vulture and Red-headed Vulture.
• Endangered: Egyptian Vulture.
• Least Concerned: Eurasian Griffon.
• Near Threatened: Himalayan, Bearded and Cinereous.

Additional Information – Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)

• It is one of the largest and oldest non-governmental organizations in India
• Founded on September 15, 1883, in Mumbai,
• Objective – to conserve nature through action based on research, education, and public awareness.

Leprosy

Syllabus: GS2/Health

Context

• The Supreme Court has directed the NHRC to address discrimination against persons affected by leprosy.

Leprosy in India

• India continues to report about 57 % of leprosy cases worldwide,
• States with highest prevalence of leprosy – Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Odisha.

Elimination efforts –

• National Strategic Plan (NSP) and Roadmap for Leprosy (2023-27) – Launched in 2023, to achieve zero transmission of leprosy by 2027.
• The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.3 aims to end leprosy by 2030.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Jordan as the first country in the world to eliminate leprosy in 2024.

Leprosy

• Leprosy is also known as Hansen’s disease.
• Pathogen – It is a chronic infectious disease caused by a type of bacteria, Mycobacterium leprae.
• It is known to occur at all ages ranging from early childhood to old age.
• Symptoms: The disease predominantly affects the skin and peripheral nerves.

1. Loss of sensation in affected areas.
2. Left untreated, the disease may cause progressive and permanent disabilities.

• Transmission: Through droplets from the nose and mouth.
• Treatment: Leprosy is a curable disease through the multi-drug therapy (MDT).

Inhalable Microplastics (iMPs)

Syllabus: GS2/ Health

In News

• Recent study has revealed the presence of inhalable microplastics (iMPs) in the air of major Indian markets, marking them as a new class of pollutants comparable to PM2.5 and PM10.

Inhalable microplastics (iMPs)

• They are plastic particles less than 10 micrometres (microns) in size and can enter human lungs through the nose.
• It found the highest concentrations in Kolkata and Delhi, with iMPs contributing up to 5% of urban particulate matter, largely from synthetic clothing, packaging, tyre wear, and footwear.
• Inhalable microplastics (iMPs) can penetrate deep into the lungs, enter the bloodstream, and act as carriers for toxic chemicals like diethyl phthalate and heavy metals such as lead.
• It poses risks of cancer, respiratory, hormonal, and neurological disorders.

Invasive Alien Plants in India

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

In News

• Invasive alien plants are rapidly transforming India’s ecosystems, nearly doubling their range in sensitive regions like the Western Ghats, Himalayas, and the north-east, driven by climate change, land-use shifts, and biodiversity loss.

Invasive Alien Plants

• Definition – Invasive species refer to non native species that, when introduced to a new environment, can cause harm to the ecosystem, economy, or human health.
• These species often outcompete or negatively interact with native species, disrupt natural processes, and can lead to significant ecological imbalances.
• They can be plants, animals, fungi, or even microbes.

Characteristics of Invasive Species

• Rapid reproduction and growth
• High dispersal ability
• Broad dietary range
• Physiological adaptability to new conditions
• Tolerance to a wide range of environmental factors
• Capacity to alter growth forms based on surroundings

Common Invasive Species Found in India

• Viper grass
• Lantana camara
• Prosopis juliflora
• Water hyacinth
• African catfish
• Cotton Mealy Bug
• Primrose Willow

Measures taken at the International Level

• United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD – 1992): The Convention emphasizes the need to prevent the introduction of, control, or eradicate invasive alien species that threaten ecosystems, habitats, or species.
• Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF – 2022): It has been agreed under the UN CBD and aims to reduce the rate of introduction and establishment of invasive alien species by at least 50% by 2030.
• Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP): It supports research, capacity building, and management strategies to address invasive species issues worldwide.

Measures taken at the National Level

• National Action Plan on Invasive Alien Species (NAPINVAS): It focuses on the prevention, early detection, control, and management of invasive species.
• National Invasive Species Information Center (NISIC) – It  provides information and resources on invasive species in India.
• The Himalayan Environmental Foundation is working to control invasive species like Lantana camara in the Himalayas.

World Soil Day

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• World Soil Day is observed annually on December 5 to raise awareness about the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for sustainable management.

World Soil Day

• Observed on – December 5
• Observed by – International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS).
• 2025 theme – “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities”.

Initiatives for Soil Conservation

• Soil Health Card Scheme: It provides farmers with soil nutrient status reports to encourage balanced fertilizer use and improve productivity.
• Promotion of Organic Farming: Initiatives like Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) encourage organic farming practices to maintain soil health.

Global Initiatives

• Global Soil Partnership (GSP): It is an FAO-led initiative to improve global soil governance and promote sustainable soil management.
• United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD): It works to prevent land degradation and promote sustainable land management
• It has a pledge for land degradation neutrality (LDN) by 2030.

Kuno National Park (KNP)

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

Context

• On International Cheetah Day (December 4), the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister released three cheetahs into the wild at Kuno National Park.

Kuno

• Located in – Sheopur district, Madhya Pradesh.
• It is named after the Kuno River, a perennial tributary of the Chambal that flows through the park.
• Notified as – Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary in 1981
• Forest type – Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous

Do you know?

• Twelve years after the Supreme Court’s 2013 order to shift some Asiatic lions from Gujarat to Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno as a second home, the translocation still hasn’t materialised.

About

• India declared the cheetah extinct in 1952, after decades of over-hunting, habitat fragmentation, and depletion of prey species.
• The launch of Project Cheetah in 2022 and the arrival of cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa created the world’s first intercontinental relocation programme for a large carnivore.
• Botswana – It’s a landlocked country with nearly 70% of its landmass covered by the Kalahari Desert, and holds one of the world’s largest wild cheetah populations.

Project Cheetah

• Overview: Project Cheetah is India’s ambitious attempt to reintroduce the cheetah in suitable open forest and grassland ecosystems.
• Launched By: National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a statutory body under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (amended 2006).
• Uniqueness – It is the world’s first intercontinental translocation of a large wild carnivore.

Translocations So Far:

• 8 cheetahs from Namibia in 2022
• 12 cheetahs from South Africa in 2023
• 8 cheetahs from Botswana (2025 announcement)

Cheetah(Acinonyx jubatus)

• It is the world’s fastest mammal and the only large carnivore to have gone extinct in India (1952).
• Unlike other big cats, cheetahs do not roar.
• There are two main species: the African cheetah (Vulnerable) and the Asiatic cheetah (Critically Endangered), found only in eastern Iran and parts of Africa.​

Supreme Court on Rohingya Deportation Case

Syllabus: GS2/Governance/IR

In News

• The Supreme Court heard a habeas corpus petition by activists alleging disappearance of several Rohingya persons who were in Delhi Police custody since May.

Rohingya Crisis

• Rohingya – They are an ethnic group largely comprising Muslims who predominantly live in the Western Myanmar province of Rakhin
• In Myanmar, they are classified as illegal migrants and foreigners residents.

Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees

• It is also known as the 1951 Refugee Convention.
• It is a United Nations multilateral treaty which asserts that a refugee should not be returned to a country where they face serious threats to their life or freedom.
• India’s membership – India is not a signatory to this Convention.

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) 

• Adopted in – It is a multilateral treaty adopted by the United Nations in 1966.
• The covenant commits its parties to respect the civil and political rights of individuals including the right to life, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, electoral rights and rights to due process and a fair trial.

India’s Stand on Rohingyas

• Operation Insaniyat: In 2017, India launched “Operation Insaniyat” to provide relief assistance for the refugee camps in Bangladesh.

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC)

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

Context

• Recently, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance warned that systemic inefficiencies and structural delays are undermining India’s Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) effectiveness.

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016

• It provides a time-bound process for resolving insolvency in companies and among individuals.
• Insolvency definition – It is a situation where individuals or companies are unable to repay their outstanding debt.
• Bankruptcy definition – It is a situation whereby a court of competent jurisdiction has declared a person or other entity insolvent, having passed appropriate orders to resolve it and protect the rights of the creditors. It is a legal declaration of one’s inability to pay off debts.
• Significance – It aims to remove bottlenecks, streamline the corporate insolvency resolution process and protect the last mile funding in order to boost investment in financially distressed sectors.

Adjudicating authority

• National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for companies and LLPs.
• Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) for individuals and partnership firms.

National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT)

• Established under – It is a quasi-judicial body constituted under section 408 of the Companies Act, 2013 in 2016.
• Recommendation – The tribunal was established based on the recommendation of the Balakrishna Eradi committee on the law relating to insolvency and the winding up of companies.
• Objective – The tribunal deals with matters mainly related to companies Act and insolvency law.

Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS)

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

Context

• The first of its kind R&D Roadmap to Enable India’s Net Zero Targets through Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) was launched.

Do you know?

• India is the 3rd largest emitter of CO2 in the world after China and the US, with estimated annual emissions of about6 gigatonne per annum (gtpa).
• The Government of India has committed to reducing CO2 emissions by 50% by 2050 and reaching net zero by 2070.

Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS):

• Capturing CO₂ from industrial plants/power plants or emission sources; then either using the CO₂ (utilization) or storing it permanently (storage, e.g. geological storage).
• Utilization Pathways Envisaged: Converting CO₂ into value-added products — such as green urea (fertilizer), building materials (concrete, aggregates), chemicals (methanol, ethanol), polymers/bioplastics, aggregates for construction, etc.

WHO Backs Use of GLP-1 Drugs For Weight Loss

Syllabus: GS2/Health

In News

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first guideline on the use of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) therapies for treating obesity.

GLP-1 therapies

• GLP-1 therapies (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) are a class of medications that mimic the natural GLP-1 hormone, which helps regulate blood sugar and appetite.

Obesity

• It is a chronic complex disease defined by excessive fat deposits.
• It can lead to increased risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, it can affect bone health and reproduction.
• It increases the risk of certain cancers and influences the quality of living, such as sleeping or moving.
• As per NFHS-5, 24% of Indian women and 23% of Indian men are obese.

Samagra Shiksha Scheme

Syllabus: GS2/Welfare Schemes

In News

• Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reiterated that States must meet the Samagra Shiksha scheme’s conditions to receive Central funds.

Samagra Shiksha Scheme

• Launched in – 2018-19
• Financing – Centrally Sponsored Scheme
• Objective – to provide equitable, inclusive, and quality education from pre-school to class 12.
• Features – It supports States and UTs through interventions such as composite school grants, libraries, sports, free uniforms and textbooks, ICT initiatives, remedial teaching, and leadership development.
• Significance – The scheme is aligned with NEP 2020

Malaria Parasites

Syllabus: GS2/ Health

Context

• A recent Nature Physics study reveals that malaria sporozoites, the infectious forms injected by mosquitoes, move through human skin using right-handed helical (corkscrew) paths.

Malaria

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

Symptoms

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

Initiatives to Control Malaria by WHO

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

Indian Government Initiatives to Control Malaria

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

PM Internship Scheme

Syllabus: GS2/Schemes

Context

• The PM Internship Scheme’s pilot project has exceeded its target of providing 1.25 lakh internship opportunities in a year.

Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme

• Objective: To provide internship opportunities to youth in leading companies, bridging the gap between academic knowledge and practical skills.
• Ministry: Ministry of Corporate Affairs
• Duration: The internship lasts for 12 months.
• Stipend: Interns will receive a monthly stipend of ₹5,000 for the entire year.
• Eligibility Criteria: Must be an Indian citizen.
  • Must be aged between 21-24 years.
  • Should not be employed full-time or engaged in full-time education.

Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) Gets Navratna status

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

Context

• Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) has been accorded ‘Navratna’ status.
• It becomes the 27th Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) to be accorded the status.

Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL)

• Location-It is a petroleum refinery situated at Numaligarh in Golaghat district of Assam.
• India’s central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) are classified into three major categories – Miniratna, Navratna and Maharatna CPSEs.

Classification

• Miniratna Status: CPSEs are put in two sub-categories under the Miniratna status – Miniratna-I and Miniratna – II.
• Navratna status: PSUs that have a Miniratna-I status and have obtained an “Excellent” or “Very Good” MoU rating in three out of the last five years.
• Maharatna status: A PSU is eligible for being granted a “Maharatna” status, in case it meets the following criteria:

1. Should have a “Navratna” status
2. Should be listed on the Indian stock exchanges
3. Should be compliant with minimum shareholding norms
4. Average annual turnover of more than ₹25,000 crore and average annual net worth of over ₹15,000 crore in the last three years

• Average annual net profit of over ₹5,000 crore in the last three years along with significant global presence.
• BHEL, BPCL, Coal India, GAIL, HPCL, Indian Oil, NTPC, ONGC are some of the Maharatna PSUs.

State of the World’s Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture (SOLAW 2025)

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

In News

• The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations recently released The State of the World’s Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture (SOLAW 2025).

State of the World’s Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture (SOLAW)

• Publishing organization – Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
• It is a report on land and water management, aimed at promoting sustainable use to achieve food security and rural development.

Latest Findings

• The report warns that agriculture must produce 50% more food by 2050 to meet global demand, but this will intensify pressure on already strained land, soil, and water resources.
• Agriculture now covers one-third of Earth’s land and uses 72% of global freshwater, leading to water scarcity, groundwater overuse, and degradation of over 1.6 billion hectares of land, much of it farmland.
• This cycle of degraded soils, declining water, and deforestation is undermining agriculture’s foundations and weakening food system resilience.

Dr Rajendra Prasad

Syllabus: GS1/ Famous Personalities

Context

• The President of India, paid tributes to Dr Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, on his birth anniversary.

Early Life and Education

• Birth: He was born in 1884 in the Siwan district of Bihar.
• Education: He joined Presidency College, Calcutta, where he pursued his undergraduate studies. In 1915, he completed his Master of Law (LLM) with Honours.

Role in the Freedom Movement

• Champaran Satyagraha (1917): Gandhiji’s call brought him to Champaran. This marked a turning point, inspiring him towards national service.
• Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22): Gave up his successful law practice and founded the National College in Patna (1921).
• Stood firmly with Gandhiji after the Chauri Chaura incident.
• Salt Satyagraha (1930): Led the Salt Satyagraha in Bihar at Patna’s Nakhas Ponds, where volunteers made salt and courted arrest.
• Congress President: He presided over the Bombay session of the INC in 1934. Following the resignation of Subhash Chandra Bose as the President of the Congress in 1939, He was elected as President.
• In July 1946, when the Constituent Assembly was established to frame the Constitution of India, he was elected its President.
• He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1962 for his exemplary service.

Committees of Constituent Assembly chaired by Rajendra Prasad

1. Committee on the Rules of Procedure
2. Steering Committee
3. Finance and Staff Committee
4. Ad hoc Committee on the National Flag

Literary Contributions

1. Satyagraha at Champaran (1922)
2. India Divided (1946)
3. Atmakatha (1946)
4. Mahatma Gandhi and Bihar, Some Reminiscences (1949)
5. Bapu Ke Kadmon Mein (1954)

India’s Commitment to Disability Rights

Syllabus: GS1/ Society

Context

• The International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is observed annually on December 3.
• Aim – to promote the rights and well-being of people with disabilities.
• Theme 2025: “Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress.”

India’s Commitment to Disability Rights

• Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006) was adopted to ensure equal opportunity for PwDs.
• According to Census 2011, there are 2.68 crore persons with disabilities in India which constitute 21 percent of the total population.

Constitutional Provisions

• Article 21: Guarantees the right to life and personal liberty, which includes the right to live with dignity.
• Article 41 (DPSP): Right to work, education, and public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness, and disability.
• Seventh Schedule: The subject of “relief of the disabled and unemployable” is listed under the state list, giving state governments jurisdiction over these matters.

India’s Legal and Policy Framework for Disability Rights

• The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 was enacted replacing the Persons with Disabilities Act of 1995.
• India, as a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), is committed to building an accessible and inclusive society.

Government Initiatives and Schemes

• Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (Accessible India Campaign): Launched in 2015, the Campaign addresses long-standing barriers faced by persons with disabilities.
• The Divyangjan Card, also known as the E-Ticketing Photo Identity Card (EPICS), is a railway identity card for people with disabilities that allows them to get concessions on train travel.
• The Unique ID for Persons with Disabilities project is being implemented to create a national database of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs)
• PM-DAKSH – It is a one-stop hub connecting persons with disabilities, training institutes, employers, and job aggregators under the national skill & employment ecosystem.
• Promotion of Indian Sign Language (ISL): The Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC), set up in 2015 under DEPwD, serves as the nodal institution for advancing ISL across India.
• In 2024, Government launched PM e-vidya Channel 31 on DTH, exclusively dedicated to ISL training for hearing-impaired students, special educators, and interpreters.

Jiyo Parsi Scheme

Syllabus: GS1/ Society, GS2/ Social Justice

Context

• The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA), organised a comprehensive Advocacy and Outreach Workshop in Mumbai to promote the Jiyo Parsi Scheme.

Parsi Community in India

• According to the 2011 Census of India, the Parsi population in the country was 57,264.
• This represented a significant decrease of approximately 22% from the 2001 census figure of 69,601.

Jiyo Parsi Scheme

• Launched in – 2013-14
• Objective – to reverse the declining trend of Parsi population by adopting a scientific protocol and structured interventions.

The scheme has three components:

• Medical Assistance: Provides financial aid for infertility treatments such as IVF, ICSI, surrogacy, and post-conception care.
• Advocacy: Provides for counselling of couples with fertility issues
• Health of the Community: Offers monthly financial support to Parsi couples with children as well as to dependent elderly members.

Jal Jeevan Mission

Syllabus:GS2/Governance

In News

• Uttar Pradesh reported the highest number of complaints and constituted about 84% of the total complaints received over financial irregularities and poor quality of work under the Jal Jeevan Mission.

Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)

• Launched in – 2019
• Objective – to provide Functional Household Tap Connections
• Significance – to ensure 55 litres per capita per day of safe drinking water to all rural households by 2024.
• However, due to implementation challenges, the deadline has now been extended to 2028.
• Nodal Ministry – Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• Financing  – Central sponsored scheme

Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs)

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

In News

• RBI’s 2025 list confirms that State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank continue as Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D‑SIBs).

Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs)

• D-SIBs are banks considered “too big to fail.”
• Their collapse can trigger system-wide financial instability, so they are placed under special regulation and higher supervision.
• Concept introduced globally after the 2008 Global Financial Crisis.
• Based on Basel-III guidelines, RBI released the D-SIB framework in 2014, it identifies banks based on: Size (Total exposures), interconnectedness, substitutability (difficulty of replacing services) & complexity.

Navy’s new category in Indian Maritime Doctrine 2025

ಭಾರತೀಯ ಕಡಲ ಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತ 2025

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

In News

• The Indian Navy’s Maritime Doctrine 2025, released by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Tripathi.

Indian Maritime Doctrine

• It is a foundational document guiding the Indian Navy in protecting India’s sovereignty, securing trade routes.
• It acts as the “first responder in the maritime domain” in the Indian Ocean Region and beyond..
• It was First released in 2004, revised in 2009 and amended in 2015.

Key Highlights of the Indian Maritime Doctrine 2025

• The 2025 edition reflects major shifts in the geopolitical environment and India’s strategic outlook, focusing on modern security challenges and national development goals.
• Formal Recognition of “No-War, No-Peace”: For the first time, the doctrine formally recognizes the “no-war, no-peace” category as a distinct operational phase between peace and full-scale war.
• Emphasis on Jointness and Integration: The doctrine prioritizes interoperability and integration across the Army, Navy, and Air Force,
• It aligns with national visions such as Viksit Bharat 2047, Sagarmala, PM Gati Shakti, Maritime India Vision 2030, Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 and MAHASAGAR.

Additional Information –

• Viksit Bharat 2047 (Developed India by 2047): India’s vision to become a developed nation by its 100th year of independence, focusing on economic, social, and environmental progress.
• Sagarmala Programme: A flagship program to modernize ports, develop coastal communities, and create efficient logistics, reducing costs and boosting trade.
• PM Gati Shakti: A national master plan for integrated, multimodal connectivity (rail, road, ports, waterways, aviation) to create efficient economic corridors.
• Maritime India Vision 2030 (MIV 2030): A roadmap for the maritime sector to enhance capacity, modernize ports, boost shipbuilding, and promote cruise tourism by 2030.
• Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047: Extends MIV 2030, aiming for India to be a global maritime hub by 2047, focusing on new mega-ports, shipbuilding clusters, and green port development (Harit Sagar).
• MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions): An overarching vision and doctrine promoting comprehensive maritime security, economic growth, and environmental sustainability in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

National Strategy For Financial Inclusion 2025–30

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

Context

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion (NSFI) 2025–30, outlining a five-year plan (Panch-Jyoti) to deepen and widen financial inclusion in India.

Strategic Pillars of the Panch-Jyoti

1. Enhancing Financial Services: Provide equitable, responsible, and affordable financial services for households and micro-enterprises.
2. Gender-Sensitive Inclusion: Implement women-centric strategies and support vulnerable and underserved groups.
3. Linking Livelihoods and Finance: Integrate skill development and livelihood programmes with formal financial services.
4. Financial Education: Use financial literacy to promote responsible financial behaviour and discipline.
5. Consumer Protection: Strengthen customer protection and grievance redressal mechanisms for better reliability and accessibility.

Government initiatives for financial inclusion

• Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY): It was launched in 2015, to support small and micro enterprises with loans up to ₹10 lakh.
• Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index) – It was launched by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to track the process of ensuring access to financial services.
• Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY): Launched in 2015, PMSBY is an accident insurance scheme covering death and disability.
• Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY): Launched in 2015, PMJJBY is a government-backed life insurance scheme.
• Atal Pension Yojana (APY): It was launched in 2015 and provides social security to unorganised sector workers.
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY): Launched in 2014, PMJDY aimed to bring the unbanked into the formal financial system by expanding access to savings accounts, credit, remittance, insurance, and pensions.

Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)

Syllabus: GS2/Global Grouping in India’s Interest; GS3/Security

Context

• 50 Years of Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)

Bioterrorism

• Definition – It refers to the deliberate release of biological agents — such as bacteria, viruses, or toxins — to cause illness or death among humans, animals, or plants.
• Examples – Bacillus anthracis (anthrax), Variola major (smallpox), and toxins like botulinum.
• The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) serves as the key international treaty prohibiting the development, production, and possession of biological weapons.

Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)

• It was established and entered into force on March 26, 1975.
• Uniqueness – It is the first multilateral disarmament treaty to ban an entire category of weapons of mass destruction.
• Objective – It prohibits the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling, and use of biological and toxin weapons.
• Implementation – United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA).
• Membership: 189 countries including India.

The Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025

Syllabus: GS2/ Polity and Governance

Context

• The Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was introduced in Lok Sabha on December 1, 2025.

The Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025

• The Bill seeks to amend the Central Excise Act, 1944.
• The Act provides for the levy and collection of central excise duties on goods manufactured or produced in India.
• The Bill increases central excise duty on unmanufactured tobacco, manufactured tobacco, tobacco products, and tobacco substitutes.
• Unmanufactured tobacco (such as sun-cured tobacco leaves) from 64% to 70%.

Sanchar Saathi App

Syllabus: GS2/Government Initiatives

Context

• Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed phone makers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on devices sold from March 2026 onwards.

Sanchar Saathi

• Launched by – Department of Telecommunications
• Objective – to help users report and protect against mobile related fraud and theft.

Key Features

• Chakshu: Users report suspected fraud via calls, SMS, or WhatsApp, targeting scams like fake KYC updates.​
• IMEI Tracking and Blocking: Tracks and blocks lost/stolen phones nationwide across all telecom networks.​
• Verify Mobile Handset Genuineness: Checks if a device is authentic using IMEI or barcode scan.​
• Report Masked International Calls: Flags calls from abroad disguised as local (+91 followed by 10 digits).​
• Know Your Internet Service Provider: Searches wireline ISPs by PIN code, address, or name.​

Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS)

Syllabus: GS2/Welfare Schemes

In News

• PM VIKAS is uplifting minority communities through skill development and  promoting entrepreneurship .

Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS)

• Financing – Central Sector Scheme
• Implementation – Ministry of Minority Affairs
• It converges five erstwhile schemes vi ‘Seekho Aur Kamao’, ‘Nai Manzil’, ‘Nai Roshni’ and ‘USTTAD’ & ‘Hamari Dharohar’ .
• Aim – It focuses on upliftment of six notified minority communities through skill development; entrepreneurship and leadership of minority women; and education support for school dropouts.

Do you know?

• Six officially recognized minority groups in India —Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Zoroastrians (Parsis)—on socio-economic fronts.

Heron Mk II UAVs

Syllabus: GS3/ Defence

Context

• India has initiated the procurement of Heron MK-II drones from Israel under emergency provisions invoked after Operation Sindoor.

Heron Mk II UAVs

• Developer: Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)
• Capability: The Heron Mk II is a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAV.
• It can carry close to 500 kg of payload and sustain more than 24 hours of continuous flight.