Category: National and International Current Affairs

Urban Cooperative Banks

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

Context

• Recently, the Union Home and Cooperation Minister, at the ‘Co-op Kumbh 2025’, called on Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) to play a transformative role in empowering India’s youth and underprivileged communities.

Key Highlights of Co-op Kumbh 2025

• ‘Delhi Declaration 2025’: It was adopted by the National Federation of Urban Cooperative Banks and Credit Societies (NAFCUB), focusing on enhancing financial stability, governance, and digitization within the cooperative banking network.

Connect with the basics – Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs)

• These are financial institutions primarily serving urban and semi-urban populations.
• Principles of cooperation – mutual help, democratic decision making and open membership, unlike commercial banks.
• Significance – They cater to small businesses, salaried individuals, and lower-income groups, offering banking services such as deposits, loans, and credit facilities.
• They play a vital role in promoting inclusive economic growth, supporting small traders, entrepreneurs, and the weaker sections of society.

Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme (DRAP)

Syllabus:GS2/Governance

In News

• The Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme (DRAP) has been launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

Basic terms – Remediation vs Bioremediation

• Remediation is the broad process of removing or containing environmental contaminants.
• Bioremediation is a sub-category of remediation that employs microorganisms like bacteria and fungi to degrade or transform pollutants

Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme (DRAP)

• It aims to fast-track the remediation of remaining dumpsites and reclaim valuable urban land for community and infrastructure development
• It helps in achieving  India’s vision of achieving “Lakshya Zero Dumpsites” by September 2026.

Lucifer Bee

Syllabus: GS3/Species in News

Context

• Australian scientists have discovered a new native bee species named Lucifer.

About

• The new species – dubbed Megachile (Hackeriapis) Lucifer – was first discovered in 2019 in the state of Western Australia.
• Australia has around 2,000 native bee species, more than 300 of which are yet to be scientifically named and described.
• The highly distinctive, upward-pointing horns on the female bee’s face inspired its name.
• Interestingly, the species’ male bees lack the horns.

Gaganyaan Mission

Syllabus: GS3/Space

In News

• ISRO successfully conducted a critical parachute test for its upcoming human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan.
• ISRO will next conduct three uncrewed flights with Vyomitra, a half-humanoid robot, aiming for a crewed mission by early 2027.

Gaganyaan Mission

• Approved in – December 2018.
• Financial outlay -₹20,193 crore.
• Uniqueness – It is India’s first indigenous human spaceflight initiative.
• Objective – It aims to demonstrate India’s human spaceflight capability by sending a crew to 400 km low-Earth orbit for three days, with a safe return and sea landing in Indian waters.
• Launch vehicle – LVM3 rocket, is identified as the launch vehicle for Gaganyaan mission.

International Cryosphere Climate Initiative

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

In News

• The “2025 State of the Cryosphere Report” underscores that Earth’s glaciers and ice sheets are rapidly melting.

Connect with the basics – Cryosphere

• The cryosphere is the part of the Earth’s climate system that includes solid precipitation, snow, sea ice, lake and river ice, icebergs, glaciers and ice caps, ice sheets, ice shelves, permafrost, and seasonally frozen ground.
• The term “cryosphere” traces its origins to the Greek word ‘kryos’ for frost or ice cold.
• The cryosphere extends globally not just in the Arctic, Antarctic, and mountain regions, and in approximately one hundred countries.
• The largest continental ice sheets are found in Antarctica.
• Approximately 70% of the Earth’s freshwater exists as snow or ice.

National Water Awards 2024

Syllabus: Miscellaneous

Context

• Maharashtra has secured the first position in the Best State category of the 6th National Water Awards for 2024.
• Gujarat and Haryana have been placed second and third

National Water Awards 2024

National Water Awards

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

3rd International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH 2025)

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

In News

• At the 3rd International Conference on Green Hydrogen,the Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy highlighted the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) as a catalyst for India’s clean energy transition in green hydrogen.

Green Hydrogen

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

National Green Hydrogen Mission

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

Additional Information – Hydrogen

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

Booker Prize 2025

Syllabus: Awards/ Miscellaneous

Context

• David Szalay won this year’s Booker Prize for fiction for his novel ‘Flesh,’ is the first Hungarian-British author to win the Booker Prize.

Booker Prize 2025

• It is a prestigious literary award conferred every year for the best fiction written in the English language & published in the United Kingdom and/or Ireland.
• Launch: It was first awarded in 1969 to promote reading and literature.

Indian Winners –

1. VS Naipaul in 1971 for In A Free State,
2. Salman Rushdie for Midnight’s Children in 1981,
3. Arundhati Roy for The God of Small Things (1997),
4. Kiran Desai for The Inheritance of Loss (2006),
5. Aravind Adiga for The White Tiger (2008).
6. Geetanjali Shree for her Hindi novel, Tomb of Sand(2022)

• Note – In 2025, Banu Mushtaq and Deepa Bhasthi won it for the translated anthology of Mushtaq’s short stories from Kannada into English, Heart Lamp.

Nine Years After Demonetisation

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

Context

• Currency with the public has more than doubled since the demonetisation in 2016 was announced by the government.

Demonetisation

• The Prime Minister announced demonetisation on November 8, 2016.
• It declared that all existing Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes which together accounted for about 86% of the currency in circulation would cease to be legal tender.
• Demonetisation in 2016 was apparently intended to eliminate black money, curb counterfeit currency, promote digital payments and formalise the economy.

Aditya-L1 Mission Tracks Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs)

Syllabus: GS3/Space

In News

• Scientists from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics and NASA have made the first-ever spectroscopic observations of a coronal mass ejection (CME) in the visible wavelength range, close to the Sun’s surface using the VELC payload on Aditya-L1.

Aditya-L1 mission

• Uniqueness – Aditya-L1 is the first space-based Indian observatory to study the Sun. It will be launched by the PSLV-C57.
• Note – The solar mission will not see the spacecraft actually go to the sun, it will instead create a space observatory at a point from which the sun can be observed even during an eclipse.
• The spacecraft is planned to be placed in a halo orbit around the Lagrange point 1 (L1), around 1.5 million km from the Earth, of the Sun-Earth system.

Major objectives of the mission

• The mission will focus on study of the Solar upper atmospheric (chromosphere and corona) dynamics.
• It will also identify what drives space weather, along with the origin, composition and dynamics of the solar wind.

Other missions to Sun

• NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, launched in 2018, has already gone far closer — but it will be looking away from the Sun.
• Helios 2 solar probe, a joint venture between NASA and the space agency of erstwhile West Germany,was launched to investigate solar processes of the Sun’s surface in 1976.

GI Tag Fee Cut

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

In News

• Recently, the Government announced a reduction in the GI tag application fee from ₹5,000 to ₹1,000, encouraging tribal artisans to protect traditional crafts.

GI Tag Fee Cut

• GI tag certificates distributed for crafts and products like

1. Kannadippaya (Kerala)

2. Apatani textile (Arunachal)

3. Marthandam honey (Tamil Nadu)

4. Lepcha Tungbuk (Sikkim)

5. Bodo Aronai (Assam)

6. Ambaji Marble (Gujarat)

7. Badri cow ghee (Uttarakhand).

Connect with the basics – Geographical Indication or GI Tag

• It is a name or a sign given to certain products related to a specific geographical location or origins like a region, town, or country.
• A certification for unique products – GI Tag may be regarded as a certification for a particular product with certain specific qualities or has a specific reputation because of its geographical origin.
• GI Tags can be issued for wine and spirit drinks, foodstuffs, agricultural products, handicrafts, and industrial products.
• Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) – At the International level, GI is governed by the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO’s) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
• Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act – In India, Geographical Indications registration is administered by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, which came into force in September 2003.
• Darjeeling tea  – The first product in India to be accorded with the GI tag was Darjeeling tea in 2004-05.

Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2026

Syllabus: GS3/Disaster Management

Context

• The new Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2026 report has been released by Germanwatch.
• The analysis was presented at the ongoing COP30 in Belem, Brazil.

Key Findings

• India was ninth on the list of countries most affected by extreme weather events between 1995 and 2024.
• In the last three decades, India faced around 430 extreme weather events which resulted in inflation-adjusted losses of around $170 billion.
• Most People Affected: India ranked third behind Bangladesh and the Philippines.

India, Botswana Cheetah Translocation Pact

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

In News

• India and Botswana formally announced the translocation of eight Cheetahs to India as a part of ‘Project Cheetah’.

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.​

PM Visit to Bhutan

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Bhutan strengthened the special ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Key Outcomes

• Inauguration of 1020 MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project constructed under a bilateral agreement between both Nations.

India-Bhutan Relations

• Geographical Connection: Bhutan shares its border with four Indian states, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal and Sikkim with a length of 699 km and serves as a buffer between India and China.
• Diplomatic relations – Established in 1968.
• Treaty of Friendship – The basic framework of India Bhutan relations is the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed in 1949 and was renewed in February 2007.
• Four major bilateral projects are launched in Bhutan from India,

1. Hydroelectric projects – Punatsangchhu and Mangdechhu Hydro Project,
2. Ground Earth Station of ISRO
3. RuPay Card
4. National Knowledge Network of India

• Economy – India is Bhutan’s top trade partner both as an import source and as an export destination.
• Bhutan became the second country to launch the BHIM app.
• Cultural and Buddhist Links: A number of Bhutanese pilgrims travel to Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Sikkim, Udayagiri, and other Buddhist sites in India

Rift Valley Fever

Syllabus: GS2/ Health

In News

• The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) affecting Mauritania and Senegal in Western Africa.

Rift Valley Fever (RVF)

• RVF derives its name from Kenya’s Rift Valley, where the disease was first recognised in the early 1930s.
• Pathogen – It is caused by a Phlebovirus belonging to the Phenuiviridae family.
• It primarily affects animals such as sheep, goats, cattle, and camels.
• Transmission – Humans become infected through close contact with infected animals or by the bite of infected mosquitoes.
• There is no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
• Currently, there is no specific antiviral treatment.

Molasses

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

Context

• The Central government is looking to permit around 1.5 million tonnes of sugar exports in 2025–26 and abolish the 50% export tax on molasses to improve realisations and help farmers receive faster payments.

Molasses

• Molasses is a thick, dark brown syrup obtained as a byproduct during the process of refining sugarcane or sugar beet into sugar.

Uses

• Food industry: Used in baking (e.g., gingerbread), rum production, and animal feed.
• Industrial use: In ethanol, citric acid, and yeast production.
• Agriculture: As a component in cattle feed and for soil conditioning.
• It is a key raw material for ethanol production under India’s ethanol blending programme to reduce crude oil imports.

Ricin

Syllabus: GS3/ Science & Technology

In News

• The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) foiled an alleged terror plot and arrested men with suspected links to terrorism who were reportedly attempting to produce Ricin chemical

Ricin

• Ricin is a highly toxic protein extracted from the castor bean plant (Ricinus communis).
• It blocks protein synthesis in cells, causing multiple organ failure and death within hours of exposure.
• It is listed under Schedule-1 of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
• There is no known antidote for Ricin poisoning.

Chemical Weapons Convention

• Mandate – It is an international treaty aimed at eliminating the production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons and their precursors.
• Adoption and Enforcement – The Treaty was adopted on September 3, 1992, and entered into force on April 29, 1997.
• Member countries – It currently has 193 member states.
• Legally binding – It makes it mandatory to destroy old and abandoned chemical weapons.
• India’s ratification – India signed the treaty in January 1

India’s efforts

• National Authority Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC) is the national authority responsible for implementing the Convention in India.

Saranda Forest

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

In News

• The Supreme Court directed the Jharkhand government to declare the ecologically rich Saranda forest as a wildlife sanctuary.

Saranda Forest

• Location – Jharkhand
• It is Asia’s largest Sal (Shorea robusta) forest, spanning approximately 820-900 square kilometers.
• It is famously called the “land of seven hundred hills,” reflecting its hilly terrain.
• The forest is part of the Chhotanagpur bio-geographic zone and forms a natural landscape continuum with forests of Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
• Species – It is home to critically endangered species, including the endemic sal forest tortoise, four-horned antelope, Asian palm civet, and wild elephants.
• Tribes – It has been inhabited by the Ho, Munda, Uraon and allied Adivasi communities
• It also accounts for 26% of India’s iron ore reserves.

Revisit NEMMP 2020 to Promote Electric Vehicles

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

In News

• Recently, the Supreme Court suggested revisiting the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020 amid escalating air pollution in Delhi.

National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020

• It is a National Mission document providing the vision and the roadmap for the faster adoption of electric vehicles and their manufacturing in the country.
• Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India) Scheme formulated in 2015 under NEMMP by Ministry of Heavy Industries.
• It aims to promote adoption of electric/ hybrid vehicles (xEVs) in India.

Mudh-Nyoma Airbase

Syllabus: GS3/ Defence

In News

• The Chief of the Air Staff inaugurated the Mudh-Nyoma airbase in Ladakh.

Mudh-Nyoma Airbase

• The airbase is situated in Nyoma, Leh district of Ladakh, at an altitude of 13,700 feet (4,200 m), making it one of the world’s highest fighter-capable airfields.
• Construction was led by the Border Roads Organisation.
• Its proximity to the LAC gives India critical tactical and logistical advantages, enabling quick response, force projection, and enhanced surveillance in sensitive sectors like Depsang Plains, Pangong Tso, and Chushul Valley.

India, Nepal Ink Pact to Step Up Trade Ties

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• India and Nepal have amended the Treaty of Transit to facilitate the movement of rail-based freight between Jogbani in India and Biratnagar in Nepal.

India – Nepal Relations

• Shared Border: The country shares a border with five Indian states – Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
• India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship – Signed in 1950, it forms the special relations that exist between India and Nepal.
• Defence Cooperation: Both countries conduct Joint Military Exercise SURYA KIRAN alternately in India and in Nepal.
• The Gorkha regiments of the Indian Army are raised partly by recruitment from hill districts of Nepal.
• Trade and Economic: India remains Nepal’s largest trade partner and Investment where Indian firms account for 33.5 % of total FDI stock in Nepal.
• Operation Maitri & post-earthquake reconstruction assistance: In the wake of the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, GoI was the first responder and carried out its largest disaster relief operation abroad (Operation Maitri).
• Cultural Ties: The leaders of the two countries have often noted the age-old ‘roti beti’ relationship, which refers to cross-border marriages between people of the two countries.

Areas of Concerns between India & Nepal

• Kalapani dispute: The area is in India’s control but Nepal claims the region because of historical reasons. The area is the largest territorial dispute between Nepal and India.

Workplace Stress & Diabetes

Syllabus: GS2/Health

Context

• India has an estimated 10.1 crore people living with diabetes according to ICMR–INDIAB, 2023, and workplace stress may be one of the factors heightening this burden.
• World Diabetes Day is observed on November 14.

Diabetes Burden in India

• India is often called the diabetes capital of the world.
• According to the ICMR–INDIAB Study, the diabetic population jumped from about 32 million in 2000, to almost 90 million adults in 2024.
• Recent reports estimate that 1 in 9 Indian adults live with diabetes

Diabetes

• Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder in which the body either does not produce enough insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.
• This leads to high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood.
• Insulin: Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas.
• It helps glucose (from food) enter cells, where it is used for energy.

Types of Diabetes

• It is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system destroys insulin-producing cells. The body produces little or no insulin.
• It usually begins in childhood or adolescenc
• It requires lifelong insulin injections.

Type 2 Diabetes

• This is the most common type of diabetes. The body doesn’t produce enough insulin.
• It is usually linked to obesity, sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet and family history.
• It can be managed with diet, exercise, oral medications, and sometimes insulin.

Gestational Diabetes:

• This occurs during pregnancy and usually disappears after delivery, but increases the risk of type 2 diabetes later in life.

Hepatitis A

Syllabus: GS2/Health

Context

• As India debates the inclusion of the typhoid conjugate vaccine in its Universal Immunisation Programme, it raises the question whether Hepatitis A deserves a priority for inclusion.

Hepatitis

• Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. There are five main strains of the hepatitis virus, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E.
• Types B and C lead to chronic disease and together are the most common cause of liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and viral hepatitis-related deaths.

Hepatitis A:

• It is caused by the Hepatitis A Virus (HAV). It does not cause chronic infection and is usually self-limiting.
• It spread through contaminated food and water (fecal–oral route).
• It is entirely preventable where vaccines offer protection rates exceeding 90 to 95%.

Hepatitis B:

• It is known to cause acute infection, liver failure happens in severe cases.
• Spread: Spread through blood and body fluids, sexual contact, mother-to-child transmission.
• Treatment: Hepatitis B can be prevented with a vaccine, providing nearly 100% protection against the virus. The vaccine is usually given soon after birth with boosters a few weeks later.

Hepatitis C:

• The severity from a mild illness to a serious, lifelong illness including liver cirrhosis and cancer.
• Spread: The hepatitis C virus is a bloodborne virus and most infections occur through exposure to blood from unsafe injection practices.
• Treatment: Direct-acting antiviral medicines (DAAs) can cure more than 95% of persons, there is currently no effective vaccine against hepatitis C.

Hepatitis D:

• It only affects people who are already infected with hepatitis B, as it needs the hepatitis B virus to be able to survive in the body.
• It is usually spread through blood-to-blood contact or sexual contact.
• There’s no vaccine specifically for hepatitis D, but the hepatitis B vaccine can prevent it.

Hepatitis E:

• It is generally a mild and short-term infection that does not require any treatment, but it can be serious with a weakened immune system.
• There’s no vaccine for hepatitis E.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Syllabus: GS2/Health; GS3/Science and Tech

Context

• A new study in which researchers mapped the hidden preclinical evolution of rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

• It is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the joints.
• Age & Gender Pattern: It commonly affects individuals between 30–60 years. Women are three times more likely to develop RA than men.
• Causes and Risk Factors: The exact cause remains unclear. Likely contributors include – genetic factors, hormones, and environmental triggers such as smoking or certain infections.
• Systemic Nature: It is a systemic disease, affecting not just joints but also lungs, heart, eyes, skin, nerves, and blood vesse
• Persistent inflammation increases the risk of heart disease and contributes to fatigue, fever, and depression.
• Treatment and Management: It is not curable, but early diagnosis and timely management can; reduce symptoms, slow disease progression, and prevent long-term disability.

‘Aabhar’ Online Store

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

In News

• Indian Railways is supporting the new ‘Aabhar’ online store‘Aabhar’ online store.
• Hosted by – Government e-Marketplace (GeM)
• Objective- It showcases gift items made by

1. Indigenous tribes & handloom weavers
2. One District One Product (ODOP)
3. Geographical Indication (GI)  product makers
4. Central Cottage Industries Emporium (CCIE)
5. Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)

Significance  –

• It is promoted with the ‘Vocal for Local’ campaign
• It is  aimed at fostering social inclusion and supporting rural artisans, women-led enterprises, and traditional industries.

Digital Marine Fisheries Census 2025

POLITY

Context

• The Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying launched the Digital Marine Fisheries Census 2025 by using VYAS –NAV, VYAS – BHARAT and VYAS- SUTRA app.

Digital Marine Fisheries Census 2025

• Digital Architecture: The digital process is powered by three multilingual Android applications developed by the ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI):

1. VyAS–NAV: For validation of fishing villages and harbours.
2. VyAS–BHARAT: For household and infrastructure enumeration.
3. VyAS–SUTRA: For real-time supervision and monitoring of data collection.

Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak

Syllabus: Miscellaneous

Context

• The Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak has been awarded to 1,466 personnel for the year 2025.

Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak

• Instituted by – Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
• Key Areas of Recognition – It recognises excellence in Special Operations, Investigation, Intelligence, and Forensic Science.
• It is conferred annually on October 31, marking the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
• The medal is conferred on members of the Police Forces, Security Organisations, Intelligence Wings/Branches, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), Central Police Organisations (CPOs), and Forensic Science units at the Central, State, and Union Territory levels.

150 Years of Foundation of Arya Samaj

Syllabus: GS1/ Art & Culture

In News

• The Prime Minister addressed the International Arya Mahasammelan 2025 in New Delhi, praising Arya Samaj’s 150-year legacy in social reform, education, and Vedic thought.
• PM Modi urged Arya Samaj to support the Gyan Bharatam Mission – digitising ancient manuscripts and engaging youth in preserving India’s knowledge heritage.

Arya Samaj

• Founded by – Swami Dayanand Saraswati
• Established in – 1875 in Bombay, which was finalized in Lahore in 1877.​

Major Reforms

• Religious – Rejected idol worship, ritualism, and priestly dominance
• Social – Opposed caste by birth, untouchability, child marriage, and forced widowhood. Advocated inter-caste marriage, widow remarriage, women’s education, and social service.​
• Educational: Established DAV schools and Gurukul Kangri to blend Vedic knowledge with modern science, fostering social mobility and nationalism.

Role in Indian Nationalism and Social Change

• Arya Samaj members, including Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh, and others, contributed significantly to India’s freedom movement, promoting Swadeshi and social awakening.​

Relevance of Arya Samaj in Contemporary India

• Women Led Progress: Arya Samaj’s early advocacy for women’s empowerment aligns with national initiatives like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam and “Drone Didis”.
• Preserving Gurukul Tradition & Educational Reform: Arya Samaj revived India’s Gurukul system, blending Vedic learning with modern education.
• Vedic Ideals & Global Relevance: The motto “Krinvanto Vishwam Aryam” mirrors India’s development philosophy — national progress for global welfare. Its ideals resonate in initiatives like Mission LiFE, One Sun One World One Grid, and International Yoga Day, spreading sustainable and spiritual living worldwide.

APEC Summit (2025)

Syllabus: GS2/International Relation; Global Grouping

Context

• Recently, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit (2025), held in Gyeongju, South Korea, concluded with the adoption of APEC Leaders’ Gyeongju Declaration (2025)

APEC Summit (2025)

• Adoption of Leaders’ Declaration (Gyeongju Declaration): APEC leaders endorsed a joint declaration reaffirming their commitment to:

1. Free and open trade across the Asia-Pacific region;
2. Strengthening supply chain resilience;
3. Promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth;
4. Advancing digital transformation and climate action.

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

• It is a regional economic forum established in 1989
• Mandate – to strengthen the interdependence of economies across the Asia-Pacific region.
• Member Economies (21 Members): Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; People’s Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; The Philippines; The Russian Federation; Singapore (APEC Secretariat & Headquarter); Chinese Taipei; Thailand; United States of America; and Viet Nam.

Carbon Capture for Net-Zero India

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• Ocean-based carbon capture can help India reach net-zero by 2070, turning its seas into engines of carbon removal and blue growth.

What is Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS)?

• The International Energy Agency (IEA) defines CCUS as a group of technologies for capturing of CO2 from large and stationary CO2 emitting sources, such as fossil fuel based power plants and other industries.

India’s Emission Reductions Commitments

• India has launched the LiFE mission (Lifestyle for Environment) and updated its NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions) under the Paris Agreement.

Under its updated NDC 2022, India pledges:

1. 45% reduction in emissions intensity (amount of CO₂ per unit of GDP) by 2030, compared to 2005 levels.
2. 50% of installed electricity capacity will come from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
3. Creating a carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (GtCO₂e) by increasing forests and tree cover.

Union Health Ministry sets 3 Guinness World Records

Syllabus: GS2/Health

Context

• The Union Health Ministry has achieved three Guinness World Record titles under the nationwide “Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan” (SNSPA) campaign.

The Records Achieved are:

• Most people register for a health care platform in one month.
• Most people sign up for a breast cancer screening online in one week.
• Most people sign up for vital signs screening online in one week (at state level).

Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan

• Launched from – It was launched from 17th September to 2nd October 2025, in conjunction with Poshan Maah.
• Objective -The campaign focuses on improving the health and nutrition of women, adolescent girls, and children.

ISRO’s LVM3 Rocket Launches GSAT-7R

Syllabus: GS3/ Science and Technology

Context

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the Indian Navy’s advanced communication satellite GSAT-7R (CMS-03) from the Satish Dhawan S Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

GSAT-7R Satellite

• It is an indigenously developed satellite, weighing approximately 4,400 kg, is India’s heaviest communication satellite to be launched from the country to date.
• It is designed to replace Gsat-7 (Rukmini), which was launched in 2013 and is primarily dedicated to the Indian Navy.
• Launch vehicle – LVM3, on its M5 mission.
• The satellite had been successfully inserted into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO).

Lucknow Designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy

Syllabus: Miscellaneous

In News

• UNESCO designated Lucknow as a Creative City of Gastronomy, recognizing its rich and diverse culinary heritage, particularly its famed Awadhi cuisine.
• This makes Lucknow the second Indian city after Hyderabad (2019) to earn this honor in the gastronomy category of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN).

UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy

• The UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy designation celebrates cities with rich culinary traditions and innovative food cultures.
• This recognition is part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN).

UNESCO Creative Cities Network

• Launched in –
• Aim – To promote investment in creativity for sustainable urban development, social inclusion and cultural vibrancy.
• The Network covers seven creative fields – Crafts and Folk Arts, Media Arts, Film, Design, Gastronomy, Literature and Music.
• With this, Lucknow joins a global network of 408 cities across 100+ countries

Nipah Virus

Syllabus: GS2/ Health, GS3/ Science and Technology

Context

• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is promoting development and production of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against Nipah viral disease.

Nipah Virus

• Nipah is a zoonotic disease, which means it is transmitted to humans through infected animals or contaminated food.
• First discovered in – The first outbreaks of the Nipah virus among humans was reported from Malaysia (1998) and Singapore (1999).
• Host reservoir: The animal host reservoir of the virus is the fruit bat, commonly known as flying fox.
• Fruit bats are known to transmit this virus to other animals like pigs, and also dogs, cats, goats, horses and sheep.
• Symptoms: Fever, headache, cough, sore throat, difficulty in breathing, and vomiting.In severe cases, disorientation, drowsiness, seizures, encephalitis (swelling of the brain) can occur, progressing to coma and death.
• Transmission: It can also be transmitted directly from person to person through close contact with an infected person.Some cases of infection have also been reported among people who climb trees where bats often roost.

Russia’s ‘doomsday missile’

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

In News

• Russia has launched its newest nuclear submarine ‘Khabarovsk’ designed to carry the underwater nuclear drone ‘doomsday missile’.

‘Doomsday Missile’

• It is also known as Poseidon
• It can travel at high speeds, greater than those of existing submarines and torpedoes.
• It can operate at great depths and across intercontinental distances, which could make it difficult to intercept.
• It is capable of intercontinental travel and immense destruction.
• It can travel deep underwater across long distances with a nuclear power source.
• It can reach coastal targets and serve as a strategic deterrent.

Employee Enrollment Scheme 2025

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

Context

• The Centre launched the Employee Enrollment Scheme 2025, aimed at voluntarily enrolling employees under the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).

Employee Enrollment Scheme 2025

• It was launched by the Union Minister of Labour during the 73rd foundation day of the EPFO.
• It aims at encouraging employers to voluntarily declare and enroll eligible employees.
• Employers can enrol workers who joined their organisations between July 1, 2017 and October 31, 2025, but were not registered under the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) for any reason.
• Significance – The Scheme provides a chance for employers to regularise their workforce without fear of heavy penalties or legal action.

Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)

• It is a statutory body under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
• Established under – Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952.
• Objectives: To ensure financial security and social welfare of employees post-retirement.

1. To promote voluntary savings among employees.
2. To regulate and supervise provident fund, pension, and insurance schemes.

Rowmari-Donduwa Wetland Complex

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

Context

• Experts from academic institutions and conservation groups are collaborating to propose the Rowmari and Donduwa wetlands in Assam for Ramsar site designation.

Rowmari-Donduwa Wetland Complex

• Location – This is within the Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a part of the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve.
• Laokhowa and the adjoining Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuaries function as connectivity corridors for wild animals migrating between the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve and Orang National Park (Kaziranga-Orang landscape).
• It hosts around 120 species of resident and migratory birds annually, including globally threatened species such as, the knob-billed duck, black-necked stork, and the ferruginous pochard.
• This complex has recorded more birds than the only two Ramsar sites in the northeast, Assam’s Deepor Beel and Manipur’s Loktak Lake.

Connect with the basics – Ramsar Convention

• A Ramsar site is a wetland designated as one of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
• Ramsar Convention – It is one of the inter-governmental accords to preserve the wetlands of international importance.
• It was signed on February 2, 1971 in Ramsar, Iran and came into force in 1975.
• India became a signatory to the Ramsar Convention in 1982.

Chittaranjan Das

Syllabus: GS1/ Personalities

In News

• Lok Sabha paid floral tribute to freedom fighter Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das, on his birth anniversary.

Chittaranjan Das (1870 – 1925)

• He was popularly known as Deshbandhu (Friend of the Nation).
• He was a key nationalist leader, lawyer, freedom fighter, and social reformer of the Indian independence movement.
• He defended Aurobindo Ghosh in the Alipore Bomb Case (1908) and later joined the freedom movement full-time.
• Key Contributions: He was a participant of the Non-Cooperation Movement (1919–22) led by Mahatma Gandhi​.
• He founded the Swaraj Party in 1923 with Motilal Nehru to enter legislative councils and resist colonial rule from within​.
• Chittaranjan Das was first elected Mayor of Calcutta (1924), worked for urban reforms and Indian empowerment in municipal administration
• He wrote poems, essays, and books including ‘India for Indians’ and ‘Freedom through Disobedience’​.

The Global Peace Prayer Festival

Syllabus: GS1/Culture

Context

• The Global Peace Prayer Festival (GPPF) was inaugurated at Thimphu, by the Royal Government of Bhutan.

Global Peace Prayer Festival

• The 16-day festival is a global initiative dedicated to prayers for world peace and healing of humanity amid ongoing global conflicts.
• This was the first-ever Global Peace Prayer Festival (GPPF) where religious leaders and scholars from three main branches of Buddhism — Mahayana, Theravada, and Vajrayana were present.

Angola

Syllabus: GS1/ Places In News

In News

• President Droupadi Murmu is on a State Visit to Angola, marking the first-ever visit by an Indian President to the southern African nation.

Angola

• Capital – Luanda
• Location: Angola is located on the west coast of Southern Africa, bordered by Namibia (south), Zambia (east), the Democratic Republic of Congo (north), and the Atlantic Ocean (west).
• Political Overview: Angola gained independence from Portugal in 1975
• Economic Profile: It is Africa’s second-largest oil producer after Nigeria. Diamonds form another major export sector.
• Geography – Highest Point is Mount Moco near Huambo & major rivers are Cuanza, Cunene, and Cuango.
• India–Angola Relations – The diplomatic ties established in 1985

Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill-2025

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

Context

• Assam Chief Minister announced that the Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill-2025 will be tabled in the Assembly.

Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill-2025

• Mandate – It proposes to make the act of marrying multiple times while a spouse is still alive a punishable offence, with a prison term of up to seven years.
• The offence has been made a cognizable offence, meaning they will not be given bail immediately.
• This law will not apply to the state’s Scheduled Tribe communities and in the tribal districts under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
• Special Fund: The Bill also contains a provision for the state government to set up a special fund to offer compensation to women who are “victims of polygamy”.

India Development and Strategic Fund (IDSF)

Syllabus: GS2/Governance

Context

• The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has suggested setting up an India Development and Strategic Fund (IDSF) to support long-term growth and global economic security.

India Development and Strategic Fund (IDSF)

• Aim: to support long-term growth and global economic security
• It will build an enduring financial engine for long-term national development beyond annual budgets.
• Sectors: Infrastructure, Clean energy, Logistics and industrial corridors, MSME scale-up, Education & skilling, Healthcare, Urban infrastructure.

Additional Information – Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)

• It is a Non-government, not-for-profit, industry-led and industry-managed organization.
• Established in -1895
• Headquarters – New Delhi.

Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme Fund

Syllabus: GS3/ Science and Technology

Context

• PM Modi launched the ₹1 Lakh Crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme Fund.

Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme Fund

• Financial outlay – 6 years.
• Nodal agency – Department of Science and Technology (DST)
• Objective – It encourages the private sector to scale up research, development, and innovation (RDI) in sunrise domains,

India’s R&D Landscape

• India’s R&D expenditure has doubled in the last decade, but still remains around 7% of GDP, lower than global leaders such as the USA (2.8%) and China (2.4%).

Government Initiatives to Boost R&D

• National Research Foundation (NRF): Aims to enhance research funding and collaboration between academia and industry.
• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM): Encourages startups, entrepreneurship, and innovation among students and professionals.
• Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme: Supports high-tech manufacturing through incentives for R&D-driven industries.

Stablecoins

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

Context

• Rupee-backed stablecoins regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) could revolutionize payments, remittances, and cross-border transactions.

Rupee Stablecoins

• Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies designed to maintain a fixed value by being tied to a reserve asset — typically fiat currencies like the US dollar or Indian rupee.
• A rupee stablecoin aims to be pegged 1:1 to the Indian rupee, offering the benefits of crypto (speed, programmability, global reach) without the volatility.
• Stablecoins are built for utility, not investment unlike speculative crypto assets.

They can be used for:

• Instant domestic and international payments;
• Smart contract-based financial services;
• Reducing transaction costs in remittances;

Connect with the basics

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

National Beekeeping & Honey Mission

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

In News

• India’s honey sector is undergoing a structured transformation as the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) continues to scale scientific beekeeping across the country.

National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM)

• It is a Central Sector Scheme
• Objective – to promote and develop scientific beekeeping and the production of quality honey and other beehive products.
• Implementation- National Bee Board (NBB).
• Significance – It was launched as a part of the “Sweet Revolution”, an ambitious initiative aimed at promoting apiculture.
• Major Indian states producing honey are: Uttar Pradesh (17%), West Bengal (16%), Punjab (14%), Bihar (12%) and Rajasthan (9%).