Category: National and International Current Affairs

Foreign Exchange Reserves

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

Context

• The appeal of Prime Minister Modi to reduce the consumption of imported goods has reignited the debate on whether India should reduce consumption to save forex or strengthen production and productivity to sustain long-term economic growth.

Foreign Exchange Reserves

• Foreign exchange reserves refer to foreign currency assets held by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• These reserves mainly consist of foreign currencies such as the US dollar, gold reserves, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), and reserve positions in the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
• Significance: Foreign exchange reserves are essential because they help India finance imports, stabilise the rupee, maintain investor confidence, and meet external payment obligations during periods of economic stress.

Why Does India Need Strong Forex Reserves?

• Dependence on Imports: India depends heavily on imports for crude oil, fertilisers, edible oils, gold, electronics, and industrial machinery.
• Hence India requires adequate forex reserves to ensure uninterrupted trade and economic stability.
• Protection from External Shocks: Strong forex reserves help protect the economy during periods of global financial instability, rising oil prices, currency volatility and sudden capital outflows.
• Countries with weak forex reserves often face balance of payments crises and severe currency depreciation.

Additional Information – Balance of Payments (BoP)

• The Balance of Payments (BoP) is a record of all economic transactions between India and the rest of the world during a particular period.

Components of BoP:

• Current Account: It includes trade in goods and services, remittances, and income transfers. India generally imports more goods than it exports, which results in a Current Account Deficit (CAD).
• Capital Account: It includes foreign investments such as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI), and external borrowings.
• India has traditionally financed its current account deficit through capital inflows from foreign investors.

National Jute Board

Syllabus: GS3/Economy and Agriculture

Context

• The National Jute Board has been implementing the Jute Crop Information System project since 2023 in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Jute Corporation of India.

Jute Crop Information System project

• Aim: To monitor jute cultivation using remote sensing and field data.
• As part of this initiative, two key tools have been developed:

1. BHUVAN JUMP – A mo bile app for on-field jute monitoring, and
2. PATSAN (Prospective Assessment of Jute Using Mobile App-Based Field Observations) – a web-based platform that provides near-real-time jute surveillance and analytics to support informed decision-making by officials and stakeholders.

Jute Production In India

• It is also called the golden fibre, in view of being a natural, renewable, biodegradable and eco-friendly product.
• India is the largest producer of jute followed by Bangladesh and China.
• West Bengal, Bihar and Assam account for almost 99% of India’s total production.

Conditions Required for Jute Production

• Temperature: A mean maximum and minimum temperature of 34°C and 15°C and a mean relative humidity of 65% are required.
• Rainfall: Around 150-250 cm.
• Soil: Jute can be raised on all kinds of soils from clay to sandy loam, but loamy alluvial soils are best suited.

Baiga Tribe

Syllabus: GS1/Tribal Groups

Context

• Children belonging to the Baiga tribe rescued from bonded labour in Chhattisgarh.

Baiga Tribe

• Found in – The Baiga are an ethnic group found in central India primarily in the state of Madhya Pradesh, and in smaller numbers in the surrounding states of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
• The name Baiga means “sorcerer- medicine man”.
• The Baigas in Chhattisgarh are classified as Particularly vulnerable tribal group(PVTG) by the Government due to their declining population and low level of literacy.
• They traditionally practiced shifting cultivation, locally called “Bewar” cultivation.

Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)

• PVTGs are the most marginalized and extreme backward sections among Scheduled Tribes (STs).
• The criteria for identifying Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups are:

1. Pre-agricultural level of technology,
2. Low level of literacy,
3. Economic backwardness,
4. A declining or stagnant population.

• History of PVTGs: Dhebar commission (1960-61) identified that there is inequality among tribal communities in terms of socio-economic development.
  • In 1975, acting on the Dhebar Commission report, the government identified Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) as a separate category and listed 52 tribal groups as PTGs.
  • As per 2001 census, there are 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) with a total population of 27,68,322, living in 18 States and Union Territory.
  • In 2006, PTGs were renamed as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

Recent Government Initiatives

• The PM-PVTG Development Mission program – The programme envisions connecting all 22,544 PVTG villages to basic government services like communications, electricity, public education, healthcare, water supply, and connectivity.
• Pradhan Mantri-Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan – It will focus on 11 critical interventions like Provision of pucca houses, Connecting roads, Piped Water Supply, Community water supply, Mobile Medical Units with medicine cost, etc.

National Technology Day

Syllabus: GS3/ Science and Technology

Context

• National Technology Day is observed annually on 11 May.

National Technology Day

• The day commemorates the successful nuclear tests conducted by India at Pokhran in Rajasthan in 1998 under Operation Shakti.
• The day recognizes the contribution of Indian scientists, engineers, and technological institutions to national development and strategic capability.

‘One Case One Data’ and ‘Su Sahay initiative

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

In News

• Recently, the Supreme Court launched ‘One Case One Data’ and ‘Su Sahay initiative.

One Case One Data initiative

• It is a major digital initiative to connect all levels of courts — from taluka and district courts to High Courts and the Supreme Court  through a unified database system.
• It aims to improve case management by creating a comprehensive and interconnected digital judicial information system.

‘Su Sahay’ Chatbot

• It is an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered assistance chatbot .
• It is integrated with the Supreme Court website to facilitate easier access to justice and court-related services for litigants.
• It has been developed by the National Informatics Centre in collaboration with the Supreme Court Registry

National Panchayat Awards 2025

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

In News

• Kawrthah North Village Council in Mizoram has secured the top rank at the national level under the “Clean and Green Panchayat” category of the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar 2025, for its work in sustainable rural development and environmental conservation.

National Panchayat Awards

• Conferred by – Ministry of Panchayati Raj
• It is annually conferred to recognize and incentivise best-performing Panchayats and promote inclusive, participatory, and sustainable development in rural India.
• Winning Panchayats receive financial incentives ranging from Rs. 50 lakh to Rs. 5 crore per awardee, depending on tier and category.

Categories

• Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar awards – It recognises outstanding Gram Panchayats for their performance across themes linked to Sustainable Development Goals, including poverty-free livelihoods, health, water sufficiency, sanitation, women-friendly governance and social justice.
• Nanaji Deshmukh Sarvottam Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar, awards – It will be given to the best-performing Panchayats at the district, block and gram levels.

Latest winners

• Karnataka has secured the highest number of awards with six Panchayats being selected, followed by Andhra Pradesh and Odisha with five awards each.

SEHAT Mission

Syllabus: GS2/Governance; GS3/Economy

In News

• Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, and Chemicals and Fertilisers launched the ‘SEHAT Mission’ in Delhi,

SEHAT (Science Excellence for Health through Agricultural Transformation)

• It is a national mission aimed at linking agriculture, nutrition, and public health by converting agricultural innovations into better health outcomes for people in India.
• It is a joint initiative of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
• Objective – It aims to improve nutrition and public health through biofortified foods, integrated farming, better occupational health for farm workers, and support for the One Health Mission.
• Significance – to address nutrition, preventive healthcare, non-communicable diseases, farmer welfare, and public health challenges.

JANANI Platform

Government Schemes

In News

• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched JANANI (Journey of Antenatal, Natal and Neonatal Integrated Care) at the recently concluded National Summit on Innovation and Inclusivity.

JANANI Platform

• It is a service-oriented digital platform designed to comprehensively monitor and maintain digital health records of women during their reproductive age.
• It is developed as an upgraded version of the existing Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) portal.
• It is a digital maternal and child health platform that introduces QR-enabled digital Mother and Child Health (MCH) Cards for easy and portable access to health records.
• It supports real-time monitoring through high-risk pregnancy alerts, supervisory dashboards, and due-list generation for timely interventions.
• It integrates with national systems such as U-WIN and POSHAN to enable seamless data sharing and coordinated beneficiary tracking.

Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB)

Science and Technology

Context

• The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has issued permission for “major equipment erection” at Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) Units 5 and 6.

Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB)

• It is India’s premier regulatory body responsible for ensuring the safe use of nuclear energy and ionising radiation.
• Established on 15 November 1983.
• It derives its authority from the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• Leadership & StructureCurrent Chairman: Shri A.K. Balasubrahmanian.
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• Composition: The board consists of a full-time Chairman, an ex-officio Member (Executive Director), and four part-time eminent experts

Key Functions & Responsibilities

• Safety Regulation: Developing safety codes, guides, and standards for nuclear and radiation facilities across their lifecycle (siting to decommissioning).
• Licensing: Granting mandatory consents and licenses for Nuclear Power Plants, fuel cycle facilities, and industrial/medical radiation applications.
• Inspections: Conducting regulatory inspections to ensure compliance with safety requirements and license conditions.
• Industrial Safety: Administering the Factories Act, 1948 for industrial safety in units under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).Public Awareness

Vadinar Ship Repair Facility

Syllabus: GS2/ Health

In News

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the development of a ship repair facility at Vadinar, Gujarat, at a combined investment of ₹1,570 crore.

Vadinar Ship Repair Facility

• Vadinar is on the western coast of Gujarat, in the Gulf of Kutch.
• It sits close to Kandla (Deendayal Port) and Mundra, two of India’s busiest cargo ports and is well-positioned relative to major shipping lanes in the Arabian Sea.

Survey records 143 Odonata species across Western Ghats

Environment

In News

• A recent study in the Western Ghats highlights a significant biodiversity gap in dragonflies and damselflies, documenting only about 65% of historically recorded species, suggesting a possible 35% decline.
• The Western Ghats is a 1,600-km mountain chain along India’s west coast and a globally recognised biodiversity hotspot.

Odonata

• Odonata is an insect order that includes dragonflies (suborder Anisoptera) and damselflies (suborder Zygoptera).
• They are characterized by transparent wings, long slender bodies, and a sloping thorax.
• Usually found near water, odonates are active daytime predators, and both adults and aquatic larvae feed on other

Western Ghats

• Forests – The region of Western Ghats has moist deciduous forests and rainforests.
• Endemism – The region shows high species diversity as well as high levels of endemism.
• Nearly 77% of the amphibians and 62% of the reptile species found here are found nowhere else.

Additional Information – Committees related to Western Ghats

Sanjay Kumar Committee:

• Objective – It is formed to review state objections on Ecologically sensitive zones demarcations and validate proposed exclusions.
• Significance- It seeks to finalize the ESA status for villages, restricting activities harmful to biodiversity.

Madhav Gadgil Committee (2011):

• Objective – to propose protection measures for the Western Ghats.
• It recommended designating the entire Western Ghats as ecologically sensitive.
• It proposed the creation of a dedicated ecological authority to regulate development.
• The Report suggested rigorous conservation, but its recommendations were not fully adopted.

Kasturirangan Committee (2012):

• It is formed as a follow-up to the Gadgil Committee to provide a more moderate approach.
• It recommended demarcating 37% of theWestern Ghats as eco sensitive zones.
• It emphasizes a balance between conservation and developmental needs, allowing limited activity in specific areas.

546 Die Every Day in Traffic Accidents: NCRB Data

Polity

Context

• According to the latest report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 1.99 lakh people died in traffic accidents in 2024, an increase of 0.79% compared to 2023.

Major Findings

• Traffic accidents include road accidents, railway accidents, incidents on railway tracks or railway premises, and accidents at railway crossings.
• Road Accidents: Out of 1.99 lakh traffic-related deaths recorded in 2024, 1.75 lakh (88%) were due to road accidents.

Government Initiatives

• National Road Safety Policy India, 2010: It emphasized the need for better road infrastructure, stricter enforcement of traffic rules, enhanced emergency medical services, public awareness campaigns, and improved post-crash care.
• Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 2019: The act brought about higher penalties for traffic violations, including speeding, drunk driving, and not wearing helmets or seat belts.

Additional Information – National Crime Records Bureau

• Set-up in – 1986
• Functions under – Ministry of Home Affairs
• Objective – It acts as a repository of information on crime and criminals so as to assist the investigators in linking crime to the perpetrators.
• Headquarter – New Delhi

Projects being implemented by NCRB

• Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) project
• Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS)
• Reports – NCRB brings out three annual reports i.e. These reports are principal reference points for police officers, researchers, media & policymakers.

1. Crime in India
2. Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India
3. Prison Statistics India.

Kerala’s Oil Spill Contingency Plan

Environment

In News

• Kerala began preparing an Oil Spill Contingency Plan following the 2025 shipwrecks incidents off Kerala coast to address marine pollution and coastal environmental risks.

Oil Spill

• Definition – It is the release of petroleum substances into the environment, especially oceans and coastal waters, due to human activities such as tanker accidents, offshore drilling, or fuel leaks, causing serious pollution.

Consequences of oil spills

• Marine Life: Oil coats the feathers of birds and fur of mammals, destroying their natural insulation and buoyancy, leading to hypothermia or drowning.
• Ecosystem Disruption: Thick oil slicks block sunlight and oxygen, killing phytoplankton and smothering sensitive habitats like mangroves, coral reefs, and salt marshes.
• Economic Loss: Spills cause immediate and long-term damage to fisheries, tourism, and coastal livelihoods.
• Human Health: Contaminated seafood and toxic vapors pose serious health risks to coastal communities and cleanup workers.

Methods used to clean up Oil Spills

• Booms & Skimmers: Floating barriers (booms) contain the oil, while skimmers (vacuum-like machines) remove it from the surface.
• Dispersants: Chemicals that break oil into smaller droplets, allowing them to mix with water and biodegrade faster.
• Bioremediation: Utilizing oil-degrading bacteria (e.g., Cycloclasticus or TERI’s Oil Zapper) to break down hydrocarbons into less harmful substances.
• In-situ Burning: Setting freshly spilled oil on fire to remove up to 98% of it, though this creates air pollution

Efforts to combat Marine pollution-

• National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOS-DCP): The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is the central coordinating authority for reporting and responding to spills.
• Bunker Oil Convention (2001): Ensures prompt compensation for damage caused by fuel oil spills from ships.
• MARPOL 73/78 (Annex I): An international treaty aimed at preventing marine pollution from ships.
• Environment Protection Act (EPA), 1986: While no dedicated oil spill law exists, incidents are often prosecuted as “accidental discharge” under this act.

11 Years of Jan Suraksha Schemes

Governance

Context

• Recently, PM Modi highlighted the impact of flagship social security schemes launched by the Union Government 11 years ago, including the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), and Atal Pension Yojana (APY).

Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana

• Launched in – 9th May 2015
• Implementation – Ministry of Finance
• Objective – It provides an insurance policy to the people belonging to the underprivileged sections of society.

Key features of the scheme 

• It offers a life cover of Rs. 2 lakhs for one year to all its account holders. This life cover is provided in case of accidental death or permanent disability.
• A life cover of Rs. 1 lakh is provided to the beneficiary in case of partial disability.
• This scheme can be availed by any individual aged between 18 years to 70 years.
• In case of the death of the account holder, the benefits of the scheme can be availed by his/her nominee.
• Premium – The scheme provides an annual premium of Rs. 12 per annum per member. This premium is auto-debited in one instalment on or before 1st June of every year.

Atal Pension Yojana

• Launched in – May, 2015
• Objective – To create a universal social security system for all Indians, especially the poor, the under-privileged and the workers in the unorganised sector.
• Administered By – PFRDA through NPS.
• Eligibility – Any citizen of India can join the APY scheme. The age of the subscriber should be between 18-40 years.

Benefits

• It provides a minimum guaranteed pension ranging from Rs 1000 to Rs 5000 on attaining 60 years of age.
• The amount of pension is guaranteed for lifetime to the spouse on the death of the subscriber.
• In the event of death of both the subscriber and the spouse, the entire pension corpus is paid to the nominee.

Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana

• Launched in – 9th May 2015
• Implementation – Ministry of Finance
• Objective – To provide life insurance security to the poor and low-income section of the society.
• Eligibility – This scheme can be availed by people aged between 18 years to 50 years.

Key features of the scheme

• The scheme offers a maximum assured amount of Rs.2 lakhs.
• In case of the death of the insured person, the next eligible beneficiary is provided with a death benefit including a death coverage of Rs. 2,00,000.
• Premium – The premium for this scheme is Rs. 330 per annum

Multiple Independently Targeted Re-Entry Vehicle system

Defence

In News

• India conducted the successful flight-trial of an Advanced Agni missile with Multiple Independently Targeted Re-Entry Vehicle (MIRV) system from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha.

MIRV technology

• Abbreviation – Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle
• Uniqueness – The technology has the capability that allows multiple warheads to be loaded on a single missile delivery system and programmed to hit different targets, thus greatly enhancing the missile’s destructive potential.

Agni Missiles

• The Agni missile class is the backbone of India’s nuclear launch capability.
• Developed by – Agni-1 to 5 missiles are designed & developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Other Ranges of Agni Missiles

• Agni I: Range of 700-800 km.
• Agni II: Range more than 2000 km.
• Agni III: Range of more than 2,500 Km
• Agni IV: Range is more than 3,500 km and can fire from a road mobile launcher.
• Agni-V: The longest of the Agni series, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of over 5,000 km.

Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP)

• Launched in – 1983
• Conceived by – IGMDP was conceived by Dr. APJ.Abdul Kalam in the 1980s.
• Objective – To enable India to attain self-sufficiency in the field of missile technology.

The missiles developed under IGMDP are

• Short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile – Prithvi
• Intermediate-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile – Agni
• Short-range low-level surface-to-air missile – Trishul
• Medium-range surface-to-air missile – Akash
• Third generation anti-tank missile – Nag

Girmityas

International

Context

• External Affairs Minister Jaishankar visited Trinidad and Tobago to strengthen India’s engagement with the Caribbean nation and preserve the legacy of the Girmitya community.

Girmityas

• The Girmityas were indentured laborers from British India who were transported to work on plantations in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
• The term “Girmitya” is derived from the word “agreement,” which referred to the indenture contracts signed by Indian labourers during the colonial period.
• Girmityas were sent to countries like Fiji, Mauritius, Seychelles, Réunion, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, British Guiana (now Guyana), Suriname, Malaysia, and Kenya.

Migration to Trinidad and Tobago

• Approximately 143,000 indentured labourers migrated from India to Trinidad between 1845 and 1917 and most migrants came from northern India and Bihar.
• Their descendants today constitute nearly 40–45% of Trinidad and Tobago’s population and play a major role in its political, economic, and social life.

Additional Information – The Caribbean Community (CARICOM)

• It is a crucial 15-member regional bloc (formed 1973) aimed at economic integration and foreign policy coordination.
• Members (15): Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
• Location: Southeastern Gulf of Mexico, east of Central America, and north of South America.

India-CARICOM Relations:

• 2nd Summit (2024): Held in Georgetown, Guyana, enhancing ties, as discussed in.
• Areas of Cooperation: Climate change, disaster management, renewable energy, and financial technology (UPI).
• Flagship Initiative: Trinidad and Tobago became the first Caribbean nation to adopt India’s UPI.

Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)

International Relation

In News

• The 10th Indian Ocean Dialogue (IOD) was held in New Delhi under the theme “Indian Ocean Region in a Transforming World.”

Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)

• It is an intergovernmental organisation for regional cooperation among 23 member states bordering the Indian Ocean.
• Established: March 7, 1997 (formerly IOR-ARC).
• Secretariat: Ebène, Mauritius.
• Membership: 23 Member States and 12 Dialogue Partners (e.g., China, USA, Japan).
• Chairship: India is the current Chair for the 2025–2027 term, having taken over from Sri Lanka.
• Origin: Inspired by Nelson Mandela’s 1995 visit to India, advocating for socio-economic cooperation.

FRP for Sugarcane for 2026–27 Season

Syllabus: GS3 /Economy

In News

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, has approved the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane for 2026–27 at ₹365 per quintal for a 10.25% recovery rate.

Sugar Production in India

• India became the world’s top sugar producer in 2021-2022, surpassing Brazil.
• Location of Sugar Industry in India: Sugar industry is broadly distributed over two major areas of production:

1. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana and Punjab in the north and
2. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in the south.

Sugarcane – Uses

• It belongs to the bamboo family of plants and is indigenous to India.
• About two-third of the total sugarcane produced in India is consumed for making gur and khandsari and only one-third of it goes to sugar factories.
• It also provides raw material for manufacturing alcohol.
• Bagasse, the crushed cane residue, can be more beneficially used for manufacturing paper.
• Ethanol production – It is also an efficient substitute for petroleum products and a host of other chemical products.
• India has become the 3rd largest country in the world in ethanol production after the USA and Brazil.

Conditions for growth

• Crop duration: 10-15 months, and even 18 months to mature, depending upon geographical conditions.
• Soil: Sugarcane can tolerate any kind of soil that can retain moisture. Examples – loams, clayey, black cotton soil, brown or reddish loam and laterites.
• It should be rich in nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus.
• Climate: Hot and Humid (21-27 °C of temperature and 75-150 cm of rainfall).

Government steps

Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane

• Recommended by – Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)
• Objective – to assure margins on account of profit and risk to farmers, irrespective of the fact whether sugar mills generate profit or not.

Jamaica

Syllabus: GS1/Places in News

Context

• India and Jamaica signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in health cooperation, solarisation, and broadcasting during the External Affairs Minister official visit.

Jamaica

• Jamaica is a mountainous island in the Caribbean Sea, situated south of Cuba.
• It is part of the chain of Caribbean islands called the Greater Antilles, along with Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico.
• It is the third largest island in the Caribbean Sea, after Cuba and Hispaniola.
• Jamaica became independent from the United Kingdom in 1962 but remains a member of the Commonwealth.
• Jamaica was formed when the North American and Caribbean tectonic plates collided about 25 million years ago.
• Major Mountain Ranges: Blue Mountains, John Crow Mountains, Don Figuero Mountains, Cockpit Country.
• Major Rivers: Black River, Rio Cobre, Rio Grande.

Pulitzer Prize 2026

Syllabus: Miscellaneous

Context

• Two Indian journalists named Anand RK and Suparna Sharma along with Natalie Obiko Pearson won the Pulitzer Prize 2026.

Pulitzer Prize

• The Pulitzer Prize was established in 1917, named in honour of newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer, and is administered by America’s Columbia University.
• There are 23 categories. In 22 of them, winners get a certificate and 15,000 US dollars. But only one category, Public Service, gets a gold medal.
• It recognises excellence across journalism, literature and music composition.

Previous Indian Winners

• Gobind Behari Lal: First from India to win the Pulitzer Prize for journalism in 1937. He was a member of the Ghadar Party in America.
• Siddhartha Mukherjee: Won the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction for his demystification of cancer in The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer.
• Danish Siddiqui: Photojournalist and a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, awarded in 2018 for Rohingya crisis coverage and in 2020 for his powerful images capturing the human toll of COVID-19 in India.

Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 5.0

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

In News

• The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 5.0.

Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS 5.0)

• It will provide additional financial support to businesses facing liquidity pressures due to the ongoing West Asia situation.
• The scheme aims to facilitate an additional credit flow of ₹2,55,000 crore to help MSMEs and the airline sector tide over financial instabilities.

UDGAM Portal

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

Context

• The Reserve Bank of India informed the Supreme Court of India that 30 banks have been integrated into the UDGAM portal.

UDGAM (Unclaimed Deposits – Gateway to Access Information) portal

• Developed by – Reserve Bank of India
• Objective – to provide a centralised search facility for unclaimed bank deposits.
• It enables citizens to identify unclaimed balances across multiple participating banks through a single platform.
• The portal does not settle claims; instead, it facilitates the process by directing users to the respective banks where the deposits are held.

Unclaimed Financial Assets

• Unclaimed financial assets arise when money held with financial institutions is not claimed by the account holder or their legal heirs for a prolonged period.
• If a bank deposit remains unclaimed for 10 years or more, it is transferred to the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund (DEA Fund).
• Even after transfer to the DEA Fund, the ownership of the money remains with the depositor. There is no time limit for the depositor or their legal heirs to claim the funds.

Mission for Cotton Productivity (2026–31)

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

In News

• The Union Cabinet has approved Rs.5659.22 crore for the Mission for Cotton Productivity (2026–27 to 2030–31)

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

Connect with the basics – 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

India’s e-waste Management

Syllabus: GS3/Environment/Waste Management

Context

• India generated 6.2 million tonnes of e-waste in FY24, projected to more than double to 14 million tonnes by 2030.

Connect with the basics- E-Waste

• E-waste refers to discarded electrical and electronic devices such as computers, circuit boards, mobile phones, and appliances.
• It contains hazardous materials like lead, mercury, cadmium, and brominated flame retardants.
• Improper disposal leads to soil contamination, water pollution, and health hazards.

Impact of Improper E-Waste Management

• Water Pollution: Toxic discharge from cyanide and sulphuric acid affects water bodies.
• Air Pollution: Emissions from lead fumes and plastic burning are severe.
• Soil Contamination: Hazardous substances leach into the soil, damaging agriculture and biodiversity.
• Economic Loss: India is estimated to forfeit over ₹80,000 crore worth of critical metals each year, which could have been recovered and re-used in manufacturing.

Initiatives for E-Waste Management in India

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Producers, importers, and brand owners are made responsible for managing their product’s end-of-life waste.
• An online EPR E-Waste portal has been developed by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) where entities such as producers, manufacturers, recyclers, and refurbishers of the e-waste are required to be registered.
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has comprehensively revised the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 and notified the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022.
• India’s first e-waste clinic was inaugurated in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
• It’s a facility for segregating, processing, and disposing of e-waste from both households and commercial units.
• The Ministry of Mines launched a Pan-India E-Waste Recycling Drive as part of Special Campaign 5.0 (in 2025), aimed at promoting Swachhata in government offices and ensuring scientific disposal and resource recovery from electronic waste.

Basel Convention

• The Basel Convention is a global treaty aimed at controlling the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and their disposal, ensuring that such wastes are managed in an environmentally sound manner.
• It was adopted in 1989 and entered into force in 1992.
• India is a party to the Basel Convention.

Teesta River

Syllabus: GS1/Geography

In News

• Bangladesh has renewed its request to move forward on the long-pending Teesta water-sharing agreement.

Teesta River

• It is a tributary of the Brahmaputra
• It originates from the Tso Lhamo Lake in north Sikkim.
• It travels for about 150 km in Sikkim and 123 km in West Bengal, before entering Bangladesh.
• It flows another 140 km in Bangladesh and joins the Bay of Bengal.

Agreement

• India and Bangladesh had reached an in-principle agreement in 2011 to share the Teesta river waters, but it was never finalized due to coordination issues between the Centre and the West Bengal government .
• Bangladesh has now expressed hope that the 2011 agreement can be reconsidered in the present political context.

UPI Completes 10 Glorious Years

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

Context

• The Unified Payments Interface has completed 10 years since its launch in April 2016.

Unified Payments Interface (UPI)

• Launched by – UPI was designed and launched by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2016.
• Objective – It is a system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application (of any participating bank), merging several banking features, seamless fund routing & merchant payments into one hood.
• Countries with operational or planned interoperability include: Singapore (PayNow), UAE, France, Nepal, Bhutan, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and others.

Additional Information – National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)

• Established in – It serves as an umbrella body for the operation of retail payments in India.
• Established by – Reserve Bank of India along with the Indian Bank’s Association.
• Established under – It was set up under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.

Products of NPCI

1. RuPay
2. National Common Mobility Card
3. Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM)
4. Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
5. Bharat Bill Payment System

GalaxEye Launches Mission Drishti

Syllabus: GS3/ Science and Technology

Context

• Indian space start-up GalaxEye has launched Mission Drishti, the world’s first OptoSAR satellite, aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from California in the United States.

Mission Drishti

• It is the world’s first OptoSAR satellite,
• It was launched on May 3, 2026, by Indian space-tech startup GalaxEye (founded by IIT Madras alumni) on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
• This 190 kg Earth Observation (EO) satellite integrates SAR and optical sensors for all-weather, high-resolution imagery.

Key Features 

• Technology: Combines Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) with Multi-spectral Optical sensors (OptoSAR) on a single platform.
• Advantage: Unlike traditional satellites, it provides high-resolution imaging through clouds and at night.
• Applications: Border surveillance, disaster management, agriculture, infrastructure monitoring, and defence.
• Significance: India’s largest privately built satellite, boosting local private space capacity.
• Mission Goal: Part of a planned constellation of 8-12 satellites by 2029

Naval Anti-Ship Missile – Short Range (NASM-SR)

Syllabus: GS3/ Defence

Context

• India successfully carried out the maiden launch of a Naval Anti-Ship Missile – Short Range (NASM-SR) from a Sea King helicopter off the Odisha coast in the Bay of Bengal.

Naval Anti-Ship Missile – Short Range

• It is an indigenously developed, air-launched anti-ship missile designed for helicopter-based maritime strike operations.
• It is India’s first indigenous helicopter-launched anti-ship missile.
• It is developed to replace British-origin Sea Eagle missiles.
• It aimed to provide the Indian Navy with a high-precision, indigenous strike capability against maritime targets, strengthening defence self-reliance.
• The system has been developed by the Research Centre Imarat under the Defence Research and Development Organisation, in collaboration with other labs.

Andaman Sets two Guinness World Records

Syllabus: GS1/Places in News

Context

• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands created another Guinness World Record with the formation of the tallest human stack underwater at Swaraj Dweep, formerly known as Havelock Island.

About

• The feat comes a day after the Union Territory administration achieved a landmark by unfurling the world’s largest underwater national flag, measuring approximately 60 by 40 metres.
• Both the Guinness World Records are expected to draw national and international attention and will boost the profile of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a hub for scuba diving and eco-tourism.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

• Location: The islands are located 1,300 km southeast of the Indian mainland in the Bay of Bengal.
• It extends from 6° 45′ N to 13° 41′ N and from 92° 12′ E to 93° 57′ E.
• The Southernmost Island is Great Nicobar whose southernmost tip is only 150 km away from Sumatra, Indonesia.
• The highest point is Saddle Peak in North Andaman (732 metre), Mount Thullier in Great Nicobar (642 metre).
• Pandunus or Nicobar Breadfruit is a rare fruit found in the Andaman and Nicobar islands.
• Barren Island of the Andaman & Nicobar Island group is the only confirmed active volcano not just in India but the whole of South Asia.
• Indira Point in Great Nicobar is the Southern-most point of India.

Lipulekh Pass

Syllabus: GS1/Geography

In News

• Nepal has objected to India’s plan to conduct the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Lipulekh pass, which Nepal considers disputed territory.

Lipulekh Pass

• It is a high-altitude Himalayan pass in Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand (India).
• It serves as a strategic tri-junction connecting India, China (Tibet), and Nepal.
• It is accessed from India through Dharchula.
• It is strategically and culturally important as a traditional route for Indian pilgrims on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
• It also has historical commercial value, as it became the first India–China border trade post when trade opened in 1992.

What is the Dispute

• The tension between India and Nepal over the Lipulekh Pass is a complex boundary dispute rooted in the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli.
• The Treaty was signed between the British East India Company and the Kingdom of Nepal and established the Kali River (Mahakali) as Nepal’s western border.
• Nepal claims the river originates at Limpiyadhura, which would place the Lipulekh and Kalapani regions within its territory.

Fugitive Economic Offenders

Syllabus: GS2/ Governance

Context

• The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has declared 21 individuals as Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEOs).

Fugitive Economic Offender (FEO)

• A Fugitive Economic Offender (FEO) is an individual against whom an Indian court has issued an arrest warrant for a specified economic offence involving ₹100 crore or more, and who has either left India to evade criminal prosecution or refuses to return from abroad to face the law.
• This legal status was established under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FEOA) to deter economic offenders from evading justice by staying outside the jurisdiction of Indian courts

Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018

• Confiscation of Property: The Act empowers authorities to attach and confiscate properties of the offender located both in India and abroad.
• The law also covers benami properties and assets indirectly controlled by the offender.
• Bar on Civil Claims: The Act disallows declared FEOs from initiating or defending any civil claims in Indian courts.
• Special Court Mechanism: The Act provides for adjudication of cases through special courts established under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

Enforcement Directorate

• Established in – On 1st May 1956, an ‘Enforcement Unit’ was formed. In the year 1957, this Unit was renamed as ‘Enforcement Directorate’.
• Established under – It is a specialized financial investigation agency under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
• Functions – ED enforces the following laws

1. Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA)
2. Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA)
3. The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FEOA).