Category: National and International Current Affairs

PM-YASASVI Scheme

Government Scheme

News – 

• The Government of India reaffirmed its commitment to expanding educational opportunities for disadvantaged students through the PM-YASASVI scheme.

About – 

• Full form – Prime Minister Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India (PM-YASASVI)

• Implementation – Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• Objective: Provide financial assistance and residential infrastructure to students from disadvantaged communities, removing geographic and financial barriers to quality education.
• Beneficiaries: OBC, Economically Backward Classes (EBC), and Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNT) students with an annual family income below ₹2.50 lakh.
• Scholarship: Funds students at different stages of their academic lifecycle:

1. Pre-Matric Scholarship: ₹4,000 per annum for Class 9 and 10 students enrolled full-time in Government Schools.
2. Post-Matric Scholarship: ₹5,000 to ₹20,000 annual allowance for post-matriculation courses, varying by course group tier.
3. Top Class School Education: Up to ₹75,000 per annum for Class 9-10 and up to ₹1,25,000 for Class 11–12, covering tuition, hostel, and institutional charges.
4. Top Class College Education: Full tuition reimbursement up to ₹2 lakh per annum in private institutions, along with ₹3,000 monthly living expenses, ₹5,000 book allowance, and a one-time ₹45,000 laptop grant.
5. Hostel Construction: ₹3.00 lakh to ₹3.50 lakh per seat for residential hostels, prioritising rural pockets and areas with low literacy rates.
6. A minimum of 30% of total slots is reserved for girl students and 5% for Persons with Disabilities (PwD).

SMILE Scheme

Government Scheme

News – 

• The SMILE scheme rehabilitated over 10,200 individuals engaged in begging across 216 cities.

About – 

• Full form – Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise
• It is a Central Sector Scheme by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• Objective – providing comprehensive rehabilitation and economic reintegration for transgenders and persons engaged in begging.

Key Sub-Schemes:

• • Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons: Provides scholarships from Class IX to post-graduation, Garima Grehs, PM-JAY-linked gender-reaffirmation healthcare, PM-DAKSH training and Transgender Protection Cells.
  • Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in Begging: Advances “Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Bharat” through identification and rescue, shelter with medical care and counselling along with PM-DAKSH training and documentation assistance.
  • SMILE-Beggary National Portal registers beneficiaries and tracks rehabilitation centres and their outcomes.

• Note – Indore (Madhya Pradesh) became India’s first officially declared beggar-free city in 2025.

Additional Information – PM-DAKSH 

• Full form – Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi Yojana 
• Financing –  Central Sector Scheme 
• Launched in – 2020-21 
• Launched by – Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. 
• Objective – It aims to enhance the competency levels of marginalized communities to secure self-employment or wage employment, boosting their socio-economic status

Fast-Track Courts (FTCs) in India

Polity

News – 

• PM announced the operationalisation of fast-track courts to address NEET examination paper leaks under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.

Constitutional Safeguards and Statutory Framework

• Article 14 & 21: Supreme Court affirms the right to a speedy, fair trial as part of the right to life and liberty (Article 21) and requires special courts to be based on objective classification (Article 14).
• Article 247: Empowers Parliament to establish additional courts for better administration of Union laws.
• Criminal Law Amendment, 2018: Establishes the legal basis for FTSCs and sets a two-month timeline for completing rape investigations and trials.
• POCSO Act, 2012: Sections 28 and 35 require State Governments to establish Special Courts and complete trials within one year.
• Public Examinations Act, 2024: Provides the legal basis for prosecuting organised examination fraud and for prosecuting syndicates involved in paper leaks.

Panama

International

News – 

• India and Panama held bilateral talks to deepen maritime cooperation.

Panama

• It is a country of Central America located on the Isthmus of Panama, the narrow bridge of land that connects North and South America. 
• Capital: Panama City
• Bordered by Costa Rica (west), and Colombia (east), Caribbean Sea (North) and Pacific Ocean (South).
• One of the few countries in the world that does not maintain a permanent standing army.
• Panama Canal: A 82-km artificial waterway connecting the Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean Sea) and the Pacific Ocean, making it one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes.

Romania

International

News- 

• President, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, visited Romania, marking the first State Visit by an Indian President to Romania in nearly three decades.
• India and Romania are set to celebrate the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2028, which will be commemorated as the “India–Romania Year of Innovation.”

Romania

• • Location: Southeastern Europe, in the Balkan region, along the western coast of the Black Sea.
  • Capital: Bucharest. 
  • Bordered by: Ukraine (north), Moldova (east), Hungary (west), Serbia (southwest), and Bulgaria (south).
  • Mountains: Carpathian Mountains (Eastern, Southern, and Western Carpathians). The highest peak in Romania is Moldoveanu Peak.
  • Major Rivers: Danube River (forms much of Romania’s southern border); Prut River (border with Moldova).

• Danube Delta, shared with Ukraine, is one of Europe’s largest wetlands and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Member of the European Union (EU) since 2007 and member of NATO since 2004.

Batukeshwar Dutt

History

News- 

• The nation paid tributes to Batukeshwar Dutt on his death anniversary (July 20).

About- 

• He was born in 1910 in West Bengal and raised in Kanpur

• He was a socialist revolutionary and a core member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA).

• He and Bhagat Singh threw smoke bombs inside the Central Legislative Assembly on 8 April 1929, distributed leaflets and raised “Inquilab Zindabad”.
• During the 1929 Lahore Jail hunger strike, Dutt demanded better conditions for political prisoners.
• Released because of tuberculosis, he joined the Quit India Movement (1942) and was imprisoned again.
• He died in 1965 and was cremated at Hussainiwala, Punjab, beside Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru.

INS Malvan

Defense

News – 

• The Indian Navy inducted INS Malvan, the second Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) of the Mahe-class.

About

• It is designed for anti-submarine warfare, sub-surface surveillance, search and rescue, and low-intensity maritime operations in coastal waters.
• It was built by Cochin Shipyard under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat mission. 
• It features over 80% indigenous equipment and technology.
• Armed with RBU 6000 rockets and DRDO torpedoes and a German-Indian sonar suite, it can play a dominant role in guarding our undersea defence.
• The first Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) of the Mahe-class is the INS Mahe (P80)

Methane Gas Explosion in Sikkim

Environment

News – 

• A suspected methane gas explosion inside an under-construction tunnel of the Teesta Hydroelectric Project in Sikkim, resulted in the death of at least 20 people.

Methane

• Methane (CH₄) is a colorless, odorless, and highly flammable gas, and it is the primary component of natural gas.
• It has a relatively short atmospheric lifetime of about 12 years, compared to carbon dioxide.
• Methane as a Greenhouse Gas: Methane is a highly potent greenhouse gas with a strong short-term warming impact.
• It is over 80 times more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat over a 20-year period.
• It is responsible for around 30% of the current global warming since the pre-industrial era.
• Major Sources: Human-driven emissions arise mainly from oil and gas production, coal mining, livestock enteric fermentation (burps), and decomposing waste in landfills.
• Natural sources include Wetlands, marine sediments and hydrates and geological Sources like volcanoes.

Mission Golden Spice

Economy

Context – 

• The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region launched Mission Golden Spice to develop Meghalaya’s GI-tagged Lakadong turmeric as a global premium spice.
• Significance – It advances the ‘Ashtalakshmi initiative’, which identifies a Unique Selling Proposition (USP) for each of the northeastern states.

Lakadong Turmeric

• It is a premium variety of turmeric cultivated in Meghalaya’s Jaintia Hills and is renowned for its high curcumin content of 7–12%, compared with 2–3% in conventional varieties.
• Traditionally cultivated by indigenous farmers without synthetic fertilisers or pesticides, using heirloom seed rhizomes (100% organic). 
• It was formally granted a GI tag in 2024.
• India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of turmeric, accounting for over 70% of global production.
• Major producing states – Telangana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

Gems of India Challenge

Polity

News-  

• The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) launched the pilot phase of Gems of India Challenge.

About

• Objective – It is a nationwide initiative to identify, nurture and promote grassroots digital creators.
• The challenge, built on MyWAVES platform under WAVES OTT, invites citizens to create short videos showcasing unique stories and cultural heritage of their districts.
• The pilot phase will cover Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Goa, and Ladakh.
• It offers district-level awards of ₹50,000 each for up to 20 creators per district, state-level awards of two lakh rupees, and national awards of five lakh rupees during the nationwide rollout.
• WAVES – It is an Over-The-Top (OTT) platform by Prasar Bharati, was launched at 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), held in Panaji, Goa, on 20th November 2024. 
• MyWAVES is a new feature within WAVES OTT platform that enables citizens to create, upload and share content aimed at promoting the ‘Orange Economy’.

Connect with basics – Orange Economy

• • It is also known as the Creative Economy
  • It refers to knowledge-based economic activities where individual creativity, skill, talent, and cultural heritage are transformed into economic value through Intellectual Property (IP). 
  • Origin: Coined by Colombian economists Felipe Buitrago and Iván Duque (former President of Colombia) in their 2013 book, The Orange Economy: An Infinite Opportunity.
  • Symbolism: The color orange was chosen as it has historically been associated with culture, creativity, and identity.

• Core Sectors: Includes film, music, gaming, animation, visual effects (AVGC), fashion, publishing, software development, and cultural tourism.
• Recent developments – Karnataka’s AVGC-XR Policy 3.0 (2024–2029) is a strategic framework designed to establish the state as a global leader in Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality

Naying Hydro Electric Project

Economy

News-  

• The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) launched the pilot phase of Gems of India Challenge.

About

• Objective – It is a nationwide initiative to identify, nurture and promote grassroots digital creators.
• The challenge, built on MyWAVES platform under WAVES OTT, invites citizens to create short videos showcasing unique stories and cultural heritage of their districts.
• The pilot phase will cover Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Goa, and Ladakh.
• It offers district-level awards of ₹50,000 each for up to 20 creators per district, state-level awards of two lakh rupees, and national awards of five lakh rupees during the nationwide rollout.
• WAVES – It is an Over-The-Top (OTT) platform by Prasar Bharati, was launched at 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), held in Panaji, Goa, on 20th November 2024. 
• MyWAVES is a new feature within WAVES OTT platform that enables citizens to create, upload and share content aimed at promoting the ‘Orange Economy’.

Connect with basics – Orange Economy

• • It is also known as the Creative Economy
  • It refers to knowledge-based economic activities where individual creativity, skill, talent, and cultural heritage are transformed into economic value through Intellectual Property (IP). 
  • Origin: Coined by Colombian economists Felipe Buitrago and Iván Duque (former President of Colombia) in their 2013 book, The Orange Economy: An Infinite Opportunity.
  • Symbolism: The color orange was chosen as it has historically been associated with culture, creativity, and identity.

• Core Sectors: Includes film, music, gaming, animation, visual effects (AVGC), fashion, publishing, software development, and cultural tourism.
• Recent developments – Karnataka’s AVGC-XR Policy 3.0 (2024–2029) is a strategic framework designed to establish the state as a global leader in Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality

Odesa Port

International

News – 

• India condemned the attack on the vessel MV GOLDEN LEO, a commercial cargo vessel, claiming lives of four Indian Nationals while departing the port of Odesa in Ukraine.

Odesa Port

• Odesa port is one of the largest ports of Black Sea-Azov basin, located in the northwestern part of Black Sea.

Black Sea

• Located in – The Black Sea is located between Eastern Europe and Western Asia.
• Surrounded by – It is surrounded by the Pontic, Caucasus, and Crimean Mountains in the south, east and north respectively.
• Uniqueness – There is a significant absence of oxygen in the water (anoxic waters).
• Connectivity – The Black Sea is also connected to the Sea of Azov by the Strait of Kerch.
• Turkish straits system – Dardanelles, Bosporus and Marmara Sea forms a transitional zone between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
• Bordering countries of Black Sea are – Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania.

Patent Mitra Initiative

Economy

News

• Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) licensed three indigenous biomedical technologies to domestic manufacturers under its Medical Innovations Patent Mitra initiative.

Patent Mitra Initiative

• It is a centralized digital platform acting as an Intellectual Property (IP) incubator for India’s healthcare sector. 

• The National Medical Commission (NMC) has mandated all Indian medical colleges to adopt it.

Institutional Structure

• Lead Agency: Developed and managed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
• Key Partners: Guided by NITI Aayog alongside the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) and DPIIT.

Core Objectives

• Lowering Barriers: Eliminates high costs and bureaucratic hurdles of filing domestic and international patents.
• Commercialization: Translates lab research into real-world diagnostics, therapeutics, and medical devices.
• Self-Reliance: Boosts local biomedical manufacturing under the “Make in India” vision.

Connect with the basics – Intellectual Property rights

• Definition – It means providing property rights through patents, copyrights and trademarks. 
• Holders of intellectual property rights have monopoly on the usage of property or items for a specified time period. 

Types of intellectual property 

• Patents – It is used for protecting new inventions, ideas or processes. Patent holders need to pay periodic government renewal fees. An approved patent is for a limited time period.
• Copyrights – It protects the ideas, examples would be written works, music, art etc.
• Trademarks – It is something that protects the symbols, colors, phrases, sounds, design etc. 
• Trade Secrets – It may be strategies, systems, formulas or other confidential information of an organization that provides them competitive advantage in the market.

National IPR Policy

• Adopted in  – May 2016
• Objective –  To guide future development of IPRs in the country.
• Motto – Creative India; Innovative India
• Cell for IPR Promotion & Management (CIPAM) – It is set up under the aegis of DIPP; is to be the single point of reference for implementation of the objectives of the National IPR Policy.
• TRIPS – India’s IPR regime is in compliance with the WTO’s agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).

KAPILA 

• Abbreviation – Kalam Program for Intellectual Property Literacy and Awareness campaign.
• Nodal Ministry – Ministry of Education

Objectives of the campaign include

• To create awareness regarding Intellectual Property Rights(IPR) in Higher Education Institutions(HEIs).
• To develop a training program on IPR for faculty and students of Higher Education Institutions.

Additional Information – World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

• • It is a self-funding agency of the United Nations, that serves the world’s innovators and creators, ensuring that their ideas travel safely to the market and improve lives everywhere.
  • History: WIPO was established in 1967 by the WIPO Convention. 
  • Members: The organization has 193 member states including both developing and developed nations like India, Italy, Israel, Austria, Bhutan, Brazil, China, Cuba, Egypt, Pakistan, the U.S. and the U.K.

• India joined WIPO in 1975. 

• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.

M.P. Cabinet Approves Draft UCC Bill

Polity

Context

• The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet has approved the draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill.

Major Highlights of the Bill

• • Objective: The Bill seeks to prohibit polygamy and simultaneously multiple marriages across all communities.
  • It proposes a prohibition on practices like polygamy and nikah halala, while introducing strict provisions for live-in relationships. 
  • Exemptions: The law will not apply to Scheduled Tribes (such as Bhil, Gond, Korku, Baiga, Sahariya, and Bharia) covered under Articles 342 and 366 of the Constitution.
  • Furthermore, communities whose traditional rights are protected under Part XXI of the Constitution have also been specifically exempted.
  • Registration: It will be mandatory to register marriages and divorces across all communities through government portals.
  • Children of married or unmarried parents—whether biological, adopted, or born through surrogacy or Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)—will enjoy equal legal status.
  • Live-in Relations: It is mandatory for live-in couples to submit an affidavit to the local registrar within a month of entering in a relationship, failing which could attract legal action.

• Children born out of live-in relationships will be considered legitimate and entitled to full inheritance rights. 

Uniform Civil Code

• Article 44 of the Directive Principles of the State Policy (DPSP) states that it is the duty of the State to secure Uniform Civil Code (UCC) for the citizens throughout the country. 
• It mainly aims to replace Personal Laws based on the scriptures and customs of each major religious community in India with a common set of rules governing every citizen. 
• “Uniform” in UCC signifies
  • Uniformity of laws between communities. 
  • Uniformity of laws within communities ensuring equalities between the rights of men and women. 

Efforts Towards UCC in India

• Special Marriage Act, 1954: The Special Marriage Act of 1954 provides for civil marriage for any citizen irrespective of religion, thus, permitting any Indian to have their marriage outside the boundaries of any religious personal law. 
•  Shah Bano Case 1985: In this case, Shah Bano was refused her claim for maintenance. The Supreme Court ruled in her favour under Section 125 of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which applied to all citizens the order for maintenance of wives, children and parents. 
  • The Supreme Court further recommended that the long pending Uniform Civil Code should be finally enacted. 
• The Supreme Court also called on the government to implement the UCC in the 1995 Sarla Mudgal judgement as well as in the Paulo Coutinho vs Maria Luiza Valentina Pereira case (2019). 

Arguments in Favour of UCC

• Accommodating the Aspirations of the Youth: As the world transitions into the digital age, the social attitude and aspiration of the young population is shaping by universal and global principles of equality, humanity and modernity.
  • Thus, the enactment of Uniform Civil Code will help in utilising their full potential towards nation building. 
• Support National Integration: The Constitution guarantees all citizens equal treatment in courts of law whether it is criminal laws or other civil laws (except Personal Laws). 
  • Thus, the implementation of Uniform Civil Code will grant an equal set of personal laws to all, resulting in the end of politicization of issues of the discrimination or concessions or on the other hand exceptional benefits appreciated by a specific community on the basis of their specific religious personal laws. 
• The Rise Above the Patriarchal Mindset: The existing personal laws of most religions are based upon the upper-class patriarchal notions of the society. Thus, the codification and implementation of the Uniform Civil Code will destroy the sanctity of the patriarchal orthodox. 
  • Thus, the Uniform Civil Code will promote gender equality and will bring both men and women at par. 
• Convenient for Judicial Process: There exist many personal laws, including Hindu Code, Sharia Law, etc. The presence of so many laws leads to confusion, complexity, and inconsistencies in the adjudication of personal matters, sometimes resulting in delayed or incomplete justice. 
  • UCC will help the judiciary deliver justice efficiently and within a reasonable timeframe. 

Arguments Against UCC

• 21st Law Commission Report : The Law Commission of India has opined that a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is neither necessary nor desirable to reconcile conflicts in personal/family laws. 
  • It stated that many countries are now moving towards recognition of difference, and the mere existence of difference does not imply discrimination, but is indicative of a robust democracy. 
  • Therefore, the Commission has suggested amendments to existing family laws to tackle discrimination and inequality in personal laws, rather than do away with differences between them altogether. 
• Against Cultural Diversity India: Practical difficulties due to diversity in India, it is difficult to come up with a uniform set of rules for personal issues like marriage due to the tremendous diverse culture in India across the religions, sects, castes, states, etc.
• Encroachment on Religious Freedom: Articles 25 to 28 of Indian Constitution provide the Right to Freedom of Religion. The Uniform Civil Code is viewed as a threat to religious freedom (Article 25) by many communities, especially the minority communities. 
  • According to them, the Uniform Civil Code will neglect their traditions and impose rules which will be mainly influenced by the majority religious communities.
• Against the Indigenous Rights of Tribes: The Naga Community has claimed that the implementation of UCC would bring about clear trouble for their culture and dignity. 
  • It can potentially cause social disorder, as the personal and social life of the tribes are quite distinct from the rest of the people in the country. 

Conclusion 

• The goal of a UCC should ideally be reached in a piecemeal manner through a brick-by-brick approach rather than an omnibus approach. A just code is far more important than a uniform code.

Operation Vajra

Polity

Context

• The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) prevented illegal trafficking of high-strength Tramadol Hydrochloride (250 mg) tablets under the Operation Vajra.

Tramadol 

• It is a synthetic opioid painkiller, popularly known as the ‘Fighter Drug’. 
• It has reportedly been misused by fighters, including ISIS militants, to suppress pain and fatigue. 
• In 2018, India brought Tramadol under the ambit of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, making its production and sale without approval from the Central Bureau of Narcotics illegal. 

Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985

• Objective – It is India’s primary law regulating narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. It balances strict prohibition with medical use.

Constitutional & Global Pillars

• Article 47: Aligns with the Directive Principle to prohibit health-injurious drinks and drugs.
• UN Treaties: Fulfills India’s obligations under the 1961, 1971, and 1988 UN drug conventions.
• Jurisdiction: Covers all of India, its citizens abroad, and India-registered ships/aircraft.

Key Provisions & Definitions

• Blanket Ban: Prohibits cultivation, production, possession, and sale of narcotics except for medical/scientific use.
• Bhang Exception: Explicitly bans Charas and Ganja, but excludes Bhang (leaves), leaving it to state laws.
• Property Forfeiture: Empowers the state to freeze and seize assets derived from illicit drug trafficking.

Enforcement Nodal Body

• Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB): Formed in 1986 under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as the apex coordinating enforcement agency.

Taj Mahal

History and Culture

Context

• The Allahabad High Court has issued notices to the Union Government and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on a petition seeking a survey of the Taj Mahal, claiming it is a Hindu temple called “Tejo Mahalaya.”

Taj Mahal

• • The Taj Mahal is a 17th-century Mughal mausoleum located on the right bank of the Yamuna River  in Agra and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
  • It was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal  (Arjumand Bano Begum) with construction starting in 1632 AD and completed in 1648 AD.
  • In Mughal records, it was referred to as “Rauza-i-Munavvara” (Illuminated Tomb).

• Chief architect: Ustad Ahmad Lahori.

• The land for the monument was acquired from Mirza Raja Jai Singh of Amber, who was compensated by Shah Jahan.
• Architectural Features: The Taj Mahal represents the zenith of Mughal architecture, combining Persian, Timurid, and Indian architectural traditions.

Key features include:

• White Makrana marble
• Perfect bilateral symmetry
• Charbagh garden layout
• Quranic calligraphy
• Islamic funerary design elements
• Extensive Pietra dura, a decorative technique in which semi-precious stones are inlaid into marble to create intricate floral and geometric patterns.

Birth Anniversary of Mangal Pandey

History

Context

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has paid tribute to the great revolutionary and freedom fighter Mangal Pandey on his birth anniversary.

Mangal Pandey

• Born on 19 July 1827 in Nagwa village, Ballia (present-day UP), into a Bhumihar Brahmin family. 
• He joined the East India Company’s army at 22, serving in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry.
• The spark of Revolt: The British had just introduced the Enfield rifle, whose cartridges had to be bitten open to load  and word spread that they were greased with beef and pork fat.
• For Hindu and Muslim sepoys alike, this was deeply offensive. Mangal Pandey refused to use it, and on 29 March 1857 at Barrackpore, he fired the first shot of rebellion at his Sergeant Major.
• That one act set off the Revolt of 1857  variously called the Sepoy Mutiny or India’s First War of Independence. 
• Pandey was court-martialled and hanged on 8 April 1857. His regiment was disbanded later.
• Aftermath: On 10 May 1857, sepoys in Meerut rose up, and things escalated quickly into a full-blown national revolt. They marched to Delhi and convinced the elderly Bahadur Shah II, the last Mughal emperor to become their symbolic leader.
• The British recaptured the Red Fort by September 1857, and Bahadur Shah was exiled to Rangoon, where he died in 1862.
• As a Result: The revolt ended East India Company rule for good. The British Crown took direct charge through Queen Victoria’s Proclamation of 1858 and the Government of India Act, 1858 replacing the Governor-General with a Viceroy. Lord Canning became India’s first Viceroy.

Museum of Word

Polity

Context

• The Union Home Minister inaugurated the first phase of the ‘Museum of Word’ in Kolkata.

About

• It is developed by the National Library under the aegis of the Union Culture Ministry.
• It is the first immersive language museum in the country, also known as Shabdalok.
• It celebrates India’s 22 official languages and traces their journey from oral traditions and ancient manuscripts to printed works and modern electronic texts.
• The museum features nine galleries exploring different facets of the history of languages and their influence on India’s civilisation and culture. 
• Significance – It seeks to present language as a living entity that has continuously shaped society while also being shaped by it.

Eighth Schedule

• The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India lists the official languages of the Republic of India.
• Part XVII of the Indian Constitution deals with the official languages in Articles 343 to 351.

The Eighth Schedule includes the recognition of the following 22 languages:

• Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Bodo, Santhali, Maithili and Dogri are the 22 languages presently in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution.
• Of these languages, 14 were initially included in the Constitution. 
• Subsequently, Sindhi was added in 1967; Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali were added in 1992; and Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santali were added by the 92nd Amendment Act of 2003.

Right to Protest

Polity

In News

• Recently, Delhi Police stated that the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has no permission to continue the protest at Jantar Mantar or to hold the proposed march to Parliament.

Laws governing the right to protest

• • In India, the right to protest is protected under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution that guarantees freedom of speech and expression and

• Article 19(1)(b) that guarantees the right to assemble peacefully without arms. 

• But it is subject to such reasonable restrictions as are necessary for maintaining public order, security and other constitutional interests.
• Conditions : Law and order is a State subject and each state has its own rules for granting permission for protests and public gatherings.
• Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) too allows authorities to issue prohibitory orders and bar any continuing protests.
• But there must be reasons for any refusal or withdrawal of permission, stating the risks or threats involved.

72nd National Film Awards for the year 2024

Miscellaneous

Context

• The 72nd National Film Awards, which honoured films that received certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) during the 2024 calendar year, were announced.

About

• National Film Awards are the most prestigious awards, which are announced annually to honor the best filmmaking talent across the country. 
• It aims at encouraging the production of films of aesthetic and technical excellence and social relevance.
• The awards are given in three sections – Features, Non-Features and Best Writing on Cinema.

History 

• The awards were first presented in 1954 and were known as the ‘State Awards’.
• At the time, only best films in different regional languages were recognised and awarded. 
• Separate awards for artists and technicians were instituted in 1968 for the films of 1967. 
• Nargis Dutt and Uttam Kumar being the first actress and actor to get the Best Actress and Best Actor Awards respectively.

Key Recipient of the Awards

• Best Feature Film: Article 370 (Hindi)

• Best Non-feature film: Bhangaar (Marathi & English)

• Best Documentary: Ram-Nami (Hindi)

• Best Actor: Mammootty (Bramayugam) and Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion).
• Best Actress: Yami Gautam (Article 370)

Manasbal Lake

Environment

Context

• Manasbal Lake is on the path of ecological recovery with the return of migratory birds.

About – 

• Located in – Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district

• It is India’s deepest natural freshwater lake, reaching depths of 13 meters (43 feet). 
• Known as  – Supreme Gem of all Kashmir Lakes. 
• Uniqueness – It is famous for its crystal-clear waters, extensive summer lotus blooms, and bird-watching opportunities.

Features- 

• Location & Elevation: Situated in the Jhelum Valley at an altitude between 1,585 and 1,600 meters.
• Hydrology: It is a warm monomictic lake (circulates completely only once a year). 
• Topography: The lake is flanked by the Baladar Mountains (east), the Karewa plateau (north), and the Ahtung Hills (south).
• Biodiversity: It is a significant natural stamping ground for migratory aquatic birds in Kashmir, supporting dozens of species including Mallards, White-headed Ducks, and Golden Eagles.
• Economic Value: It supports local livelihoods via fisheries and the harvesting of lotus rootstocks, locally known as Nadru.

World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO)

Polity

In News

• China formally launched the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO) in Shanghai, at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference.

WAICO

• • It is an intergovernmental body for AI cooperation, capacity building, and shared governance standards among developing nations, 

• Headquarters – Shanghai.

• • Uniqueness – It’s the first standing institution of its kind aimed squarely at the Global South.  

• Members – 29 countries. 

Significance – 

• China will provide 5,000 AI training opportunities and establish joint AI cooperation centres with ASEAN, African Union, BRICS, SCO, League of Arab States.
• It will promote open-source AI models, technology sharing, and collaborative AI development.
• The platform will strengthen China’s influence in global AI governance with the Global South.

Investment Friendliness Index (IFI)

Polity

Context

• NITI Aayog has released the report titled “Investment Friendliness Index (IFI)”.

About

• Objective – It assesses how effectively States and Union Territories create, enable, and sustain an environment conducive to investments. 
• Parameters – Infrastructure, Business climate, Resources, Government policy, Regulatory Ease, Institutional Environment, Financial Health; and Environmental Resilience.
• State Categorisation: States and Union Territories have been classified into four performance categories:

1. Top Performers (scores above 50).
2. Frontrunners (45–50).
3. Emerging Performers (≥40 – <45).
4. Aspiring States (below 40).

• Among the Large States, Gujarat secured the first rank, followed by Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, which are also the top three performers in the overall Index.
• In the Hilly and North-Eastern States category, Uttarakhand emerged as the highest-ranked State, followed by Assam and Himachal Pradesh. 
• Among the City States and Union Territories, Goa secured the top position, followed by Delhi and Chandigarh.

National Commission for Minorities

Polity

Context

• The Union government appointed Harjit Singh Grewal as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM).

National Commission for Minorities (NCM)

• • The Union Government set up the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. 
  • The first Statutory National Commission was set up in 1993.
  • Initially five religious communities, viz., Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Zoroastrians (Parsis) were notified as minority communities by the Union Government.

• In 2014, Jains were also notified as another minority community.

• Composition – The Commission consists of: A Chairperson, a Vice- Chairperson, and Five Members.
• Objective: The organisation is set-up to safeguard and protect the interests of minorities as provided in the Constitution of India and laws enacted by the Parliament and the State Legislatures.

ICMR i-DRONE Initiative

Science & Technology

News

• Recently, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under its i-DRONE initiative has successfully demonstrated the use of drone-assisted transport of TB sputum samples to improve access to tuberculosis diagnosis in remote areas. 

i-DRONE initiative

• Full form – ICMR’s Drone Response and Outreach for North East (i-DRONE)

• • It was launched in 2021.
  • Objective – It aimed to evaluate the use of drones to deliver vaccines and medical supplies to remote areas of Manipur and Nagaland. 
  • The i-DRONE project developed a hub and spoke drone network to connect 60 sub-centres, 11 primary health centres and four TB units in Telangana to transport sputum samples for TB diagnosis. 

• Outcomes:  The median time to diagnosis was reduced from 15 days to 5 days.

• Average out of pocket expenditure (OOPE) dropped from ₹9,451 to about ₹91 with a large number of patients having zero travel costs.

ASW Shallow Water Craft Malvan

Science & Technology

Context

• The Indian Navy is set to commission Malvan, the second of the Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC).

About

• Built by Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi.
• Malvan has more than 80 per cent indigenous content.
• It reflects India’s growing self-reliance in warship design, construction and systems integration under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
• Function – to operate effectively in coastal and shallow waters, enhancing the Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities. 
• The Mahe-class ASW-SWC vessels are being inducted to replace the ageing Abhay-class corvettes.

7th Governing Body Meeting of National CAMPA

Environment

News – 

• The 7th Governing Body Meeting of National CAMPA in Coimbatore marked a shift from conventional compensatory afforestation toward landscape-based ecological restoration.

Outcomes – 

• Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana (AVSY) was approved with an initial corpus of ₹3,000 crore (2026–31) to conserve nearly 15,000 sacred groves (Aastha Vans).
• MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes) was extended for three years until 2029, with an added ₹500 crore, taking the total outlay to ₹600 crore.

Four wildlife recovery programmes were approved 

• Objective – to strengthen scientific monitoring, anti-poaching measures, and habitat restoration:
• Gangetic Dolphins: Recovery action plan focused on major freshwater river systems.
• Project Snow Leopard Phase-II: Including the 2nd nationwide population estimate in the Himalaya.
• Indian Rhinoceros: Conservation plan for habitat protection and anti-poaching enforcement.
• Wild Water Buffalo: Scientific habitat management to secure the remaining population.
• Sangai (Brow-antlered Deer): Continued financial and operational support for conservation.

Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management & Planning Authority (CAMPA)

• It was established under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016 (in force 2018).
• Objective – to collect and administer funds for ecological compensation of diverted forest land.
• Genesis: Supreme Court, in T.N. Godavarman, constituted an ad hoc CAMPA by its 2006 order to manage unspent afforestation collections.
• Two Tiers: (1) National CAMPA Authority, headed by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, sets policy, while (2) State CAMPA Authorities execute field operations.
• Liability: Agencies diverting forest land must provide alternative land, fund compensatory afforestation, and pay the Net Present Value (NPV) of the lost forest ecosystem. 
• Fund Uses: Artificial and natural regeneration, wildlife management, catchment treatment, village relocation from protected areas, and human-wildlife conflict management.

Cyclosporiasis

Science & Technology

News – 

• A widespread outbreak of cyclosporiasis has been reported in the United States.

About – 

• • Responsible pathogen- Cyclosporiasis is a foodborne intestinal illness caused by the microscopic, single-celled protozoan parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis.
  • Transmission: Strictly fecal-oral route via contaminated food or water.
  • No Direct Person-to-Person Spread: Excreted parasite eggs require days to weeks in the environment to mature and become infectious.

• Host Range: Humans are the only known hosts.

• Symptoms: Severe, explosive watery diarrhea, fatigue, cramps, and weight loss.
• High-Risk Groups: Immunocompromised individuals, the elderly, and young children.
• Diagnosis: Missed by routine stool cultures; requires special staining, UV fluorescence microscopy, or PCR.
• Treatment: Treated with the antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX). No vaccine exists.

98th Foundation Day of ICAR

Polity

News – 

• Marking ICAR’s 98th Foundation Day, the Union Ministry of Agriculture unveiled the “Developed Agriculture and Prosperous Farmers” roadmap as a key pillar of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Outcomes- 

• 100 Climate-Smart Villages: Developing at least 100 villages before ICAR’s centenary to demonstrate climate-resilient farming, water conservation, and risk-reduction models.
• One Institute-One Grand Innovation: Mandating every ICAR institute deliver at least one breakthrough technological innovation, vaccine, or crop variety within two years.
• Mission ICAR-100: Transforming Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) into innovation hubs for large-scale demonstrations, with each KVK visiting at least 100 villages.
• ICAR Open Digital Knowledge Platform: Creating a mobile-first platform providing free crop advisories, soil-test results, and instructional videos via smartphones.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

• Established in 1929 (originally as the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research), 
• ICAR is the apex body for coordinating agricultural research and education in India.
• It is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• Union Agriculture Minister serves as the ICAR Society’s ex officio President, and the Minister of State for Agriculture serves as Vice-President.

Abathsahayeswarar Temple

History and Culture

In News

• The 12th-century Abathsahayeswarar Temple at Thukkachi  was restored after decades of neglect.

Abathsahayeswarar Temple

• It is situated  at Thukkachi, near Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu.
• It is one of the most significant monuments of the later Chola period—closely associated with Kulotunga I and Vikrama Chola
• It is designed as a Kara Kovil—a temple conceived in the form of a chariot
• It  also houses the idol of Lord Sarabeshwarar which is considered one of the oldest depictions of the deity.

Temple’s restoration 

• The temple’s restoration earned the UNESCO Asia Pacific Award of Distinction (2024) for its attempt to maintain the temple’s heritage while reinforcing its structural integrity.
• The project combined traditional temple building practices (Sthapatya Veda, Agama Shastra, lime mortars) with modern technologies like drone surveys, digital mapping, photogrammetry and structural engineering.
• Every granite block was numbered, disassembled and then reassembled in its original position to preserve historical authenticity.

Jagannath Rath Yatra

Art & Culture

Context

• The world-famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath has commenced in Puri, Odisha.

Rath Yatra

• Known as – Gundicha Jatra, Ghosa Jatra and Navadina Jatra.
• It is a significant Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Jagannath, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. 

Jagannath Puri Temple

• • Shree Jagannath Puri Temple is one of the most impressive monuments of the State of Odisha.
  • The temple was built in the 12th Century AD by King Anatavarman Chodaganga Deva of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty.
  • Jagannath Puri temple is called ‘Yamanika Tirtha’ where, according to the Hindu beliefs, the power of ‘Yama’, the god of death has been nullified in Puri due to the presence of Lord Jagannath, popularly known as Lord Krishna.

• It is one of the Dhammas (Holiest of the holy place) out of four Dhamas i.e. Puri, Dwarika, Badrinath & Rameswar, in India.

• This temple was called the “White Pagoda” and is a part of Char Dham pilgrimages (Badrinath, Dwaraka, Puri, Rameswaram).

Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS)

Economy

In News

• The Union Cabinet approved a new Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme (MPMS) with a budgetary outlay of ₹62,500 crore.

Objective – 

• It has been launched to scale up domestic production, deepen component localization, and foster indigenous smartphone design and R&D. 
• Launched by: It has been launched by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). 
• Duration: It is a five-year scheme, which will run from FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31.
• Budget Outlay: Its budgetary outlay is of Rs. 62,500 crore.

Features

• Production-Linked Incentives: The scheme provides incentive support on eligible sales of mobile phones manufactured in India, with differentiated incentive rates ranging from 2.25% to 5%, based on the applicable eligibility criteria.
• Incentive for Domestic Value Addition: Manufacturers can receive an additional incentive of up to 1.5% for increasing domestic sourcing of key components and sub-assemblies, thereby promoting local manufacturing ecosystems.
• Support for Design and Innovation: To foster indigenous innovation and brand creation, the scheme offers an additional 3% incentive on eligible sales for companies undertaking product design and R&D activities in India.

Semicon 2.0

Economy

Context 

• The Union Cabinet approved Semicon 2.0 (India Semiconductor Mission 2.0) with a ₹1,27,500 crore outlay to develop India’s semiconductor ecosystem.

Six Strategic Pillars:

1. Design: 
2. Machines & Materials: 
3. Fabrication: 
4. Expanding Assembly, Testing, Marking, and Packaging (ATMP) and Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) units to establish India as a global alternative.
5. R&D
6. Talent Development

India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 

• Launched by – Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

• Aim – To build a vibrant semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem to enable India’s emergence as a global hub for electronics manufacturing and design.

Connect with the basics – Semiconductor Chips

• These are materials which have a conductivity between conductors and insulators. 
• Example – They can be pure elements, silicon or germanium or compounds; gallium, arsenide or cadmium selenide.
• Significance of Semiconductor Chips – They are the basic building blocks that serve as the heart and brain of all modern electronics and information and communication technology products.
• Applications – These chips are now an integral part of contemporary automobiles, household gadgets and essential medical devices such as ECG machines.

12th BRICS Labour & Employment Ministers’ Meeting

International

Context – 

• • India hosted the 12th BRICS Labour & Employment Ministers’ Meeting in Hyderabad.

• Theme 2026 – “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability“.

Outcomes – 

• BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Declaration – to promote decent work, broaden social protection systems, and support inclusive, resilient economic growth.
• BRICS CONNECT, a collaborative, tech-driven platform, was launched by India to modernise, align, and strengthen labour frameworks (South-South cooperation) across member states.

Additional Information – BRICS 

• • Founded in – 2009
  • HeadQuarters – Shanghai
  • It is an acronym for the grouping of the world’s leading emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (included in 2010)
  • Origin – The term “BRIC” was coined by the British Economist Jim O’Neill in 2001 to describe the four emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China.

• Recent Expansion (BRICS+): In 2024–2025, the bloc expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE, and Indonesia. Saudi Arabia has received an invitation but has not yet formalized its membership.

• Share of BRICS – BRICS brings together five of the largest developing countries, representing 41% of the global population, 24% of the global GDP, and 16% of the global trade (By 2028, BRICS is expected to make up 35 percent of the global economy)
• Chairmanship – The chairmanship of the forum is rotated annually among the members. 

Initiatives of BRICS 

1. New Development Bank (NDB) 
2. Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) 
3. BRICS Payment System 
4. Customs Agreements 
5. Constellation of Remote Sensing Satellites

Ravidassia Demand for Separate Religion

History & Culture

News – 

• The Ravidassia community has renewed its demand for creation of a separate “Ravidassia religion” category in the Census.

Ravidassia Community

• The community follows the teachings of Guru Ravidas (15th–16th century), a renowned Bhakti Movement saint, social reformer, and mystic poet.
• Core Philosophy: Guru Ravidas advocated social equality, dignity, and the abolition of caste discrimination, and envisioned Begampura, an ideal society free from sorrow, fear, and inequality.
• Population: Punjab has India’s largest concentration of Ravidassias in India and around 32% of the state’s population comprises Dalits.
• Major Institution: Dera Sachkhand Ballan (Punjab) founded in the early 20th century by Baba Sant Pipal Das is the most influential religious institution of the Ravidassia community.

Additional Information – Sant Ravidas

• He, born in the 14th century, 
• He was a prominent figure in the Bhakti Movement, a socio-religious revolution that took place in India between the 14th and 17th centuries.

• He was a disciple of Sant Kabir and the founder of the Ravidassia religion. Mirabai was his pupil. 

Life and Teachings

• He was a great social reformer and messenger of peace, love, and brotherhood.
• He worked tirelessly to remove caste and religion-based discrimination and worked for the upliftment of the downtrodden.
• His life is a unique example of sacrifice and penance, and wrote many compositions on different social issues.
• He gave a very broad message of ‘karma’ to society by coining in the popular Hindi saying ‘Mann Changa to Kathauti Mein Ganga’.

Legacy

• The Sikh scripture, Guru Granth Sahib, contains forty-one of his devotional songs and poems.
• The Chief Architect of our Constitution, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar embodied the Constitutional principles around the values expressed by Guru Ravidasji.

India Bans Imports of Goods Made Using Forced Labour

Polity

Context 

• The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has officially amended India’s Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023, authorizing the Central Government to ban imports of goods manufactured through forced labour.

Constitutional Framework

The Constitution of India strictly penalises forced labour under the Right against Exploitation:

• Article 23(1) abolishes not just forced physical labor, but also economic subjugation, such as paying less than the minimum wage for labor
• Article 23(2) permits the State to draft individuals for essential public services (e.g., military conscription or disaster relief), but strictly forbids discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, or class in the selection process.
• Article 24: Prohibits the employment of children below 14 years in factories, mines, or hazardous occupations.
• Directive Principles (DPSC): Article 42 mandates just and humane working conditions, while Article 43 commands the state to secure a living wage.

Trial in Absentia

Polity

News

• Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed is set to face a trial in absentia following the issuance of a non-bailable warrant by a special NIA court in Jammu for his role in the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack.

About – 

• A trial in absentia under Section 356 of the BNSS, 2023, allows any competent trial court to conduct a criminal trial and pronounce judgment without the physical presence of the accused.
• CrPC, 1973, restricted courts to recording witness statements only when the accused absconded, whereas the BNSS permits a final verdict.
• Eligibility: The provision applies exclusively to proclaimed offenders declared under Section 84 for offences punishable with 10 years, life imprisonment, or death.
• The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 officially replaced the colonial-era Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973, taking effect on July 1, 2024.

NAMASTE Day

Polity

Context

• The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment celebrated the 3rd NAMASTE Day on July 14, marking three years since the launch of the National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme in 2023.

NAMASTE Day 

• It is dedicated to honouring sanitation workers including sewer and septic tank workers, waste pickers and former manual scavengers for their vital role in safeguarding public health and environmental sanitation.

National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE)

• Launched in – July 2023

• Financing – Central Sector Scheme 

• Implemented by – Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, 

Objectives:

• Zero fatalities in sanitation work.
• All sanitation operations to be performed by skilled workers.
• No direct contact with human faecal matter.
• Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers.

Key Interventions:

• • Profiling: Digital profiling of Sewer/Septic Tank Workers (SSWs).
  • Safety: Providing PPE kits, safety devices, and training to workers.
  • Empowerment: Capital subsidy for purchasing sanitation machinery to become “sanipreneurs”.
  • Health: Occupational safety training and health insurance.
• Significance: Aligns with SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and promotes the dignity and safety of sanitation workers.

Atmanirbhar Panchayat Program

Government Schemes

Context (PIB): 

• The Ministry of Panchayati Raj promotes Financial Self-Reliance of Panchayats under the Atmanirbhar Panchayat Program.

About – 

• It is a national challenge programme by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) 
• Objective – to help eligible Gram Panchayats (GPs) and Block Panchayats (BPs) develop financially viable, revenue-generating projects.
• The programme operates under the broader umbrella of the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA).

Key Features

• Eligibility: To participate, Gram Panchayats must have a minimum Own Source Revenue (OSR) of ₹50 lakh, and Block Panchayats must have an Own Source Revenue (OSR)  of ₹1 crore, with at least three years of their tenure remaining.
• Written documentation of Gram Sabha’s consent is a mandatory requirement for submission.
• Reward: Winner panchayats receive end-to-end technical assistance to develop & implement the project.

Mugger Crocodile

Environment

News – 

• An NGT-appointed joint committee confirmed that the banned pesticide Aldrin caused several mugger crocodile deaths in the Chandraloi River in Kota district, Rajasthan.

Mugger Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris)

• • The mugger (or marsh) crocodile is a medium-sized, broad-snouted freshwater crocodilian.
  • It is an apex predator in its aquatic ecosystems. 
  • It digs extensive mud-bank burrows for shelter and temperature regulation during extreme weather.
  • Distribution: Inhabits marshes, lakes, rivers, and artificial ponds across the Indian subcontinent, mainly in India with smaller populations in Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, and Iran.
  • Diet: Juveniles feed on insects and small fish, while adults prey on larger fish, birds, snakes, and mammals.
  • It is a keystone species that controls prey populations, recycles nutrients, and scavenges carcasses.

• Conservation status – IUCN: Vulnerable; CITES: Appendix I; WPA: Schedule I.

Additional Information – Comparison of India’s Crocodile Species

• India is home to three distinct species of crocodilians: the Gharial, the Mugger (Marsh Crocodile), and the Saltwater (Estuarine) Crocodile. 
• All three species are protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, 

NIDAR 2.0

Science & Technology

News – 

• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with Drone Federation India (DFI), launched the 2nd edition of the National Innovation Challenge for Drone Application and Research (NIDAR 2.0) under the SwaYaan initiative.
• The 1st edition of NIDAR 2025-26 was launched in March 2025. 

About – 

• It empowers India’s College Graduates to build collaborative autonomous drones for defined problem statements.

SwaYaan

• SwaYaan is a national initiative of the MeitY launched in 2022.
• Aimed at developing a skilled workforce and strengthening India’s UAS Drone ecosystem. 
• Significance – It supports the Government’s vision of making India a global drone hub by 2030.
• It focuses on capacity building for human resource development in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), including drones and related technologies.

Earendil-1 Satellite

Science & Technology

News – 

• The U.S. has authorised a startup, to launch and operate Earendil-1, an experimental satellite designed to reflect sunlight onto selected locations on Earth during nighttime.
• Earendil-1 is a non-geostationary satellite equipped with a large deployable thin-film mirror that can be steered to reflect sunlight toward specific areas on Earth.
• Significance – The project aims to extend daylight hours for solar power generation and provide temporary illumination during emergencies, disaster response, and humanitarian operations.

UMANG Portal

Government Schemes

Context

• Researchers have identified security vulnerabilities in India’s UMANG Portal, raising concerns about personal data.

UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) 

• • It was launched in November 2017.
  • It is a flagship initiative under the Digital India Programme. 
  • It offers a single window access to a wide range of services delivered by the Central Government, State Governments and local bodies through a unified mobile application. 
  • Significance – It enables citizens to access services such as EPFO, healthcare, pensions, LPG bookings, certificates, and several other citizen-centric services through a single platform. 
  • As of February 2026, UMANG offers 2,446 services from 240 government departments, including 80 Central Government Departments and 160 departments across 30 States and Union Territories. 
• UMANG supports 23 Indian languages, including Hindi, English, Nepali, and Sanskrit.

Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)

Economy

News

• The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) absorbed 1.67 lakh crore rupees through the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF).

Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)

• It is a collateral-free RBI tool used to absorb excess liquidity from banks.

Core Features

• No collateral: Banks park funds without RBI giving government securities.
• Corridor floor: It forms the lower bound of the LAF corridor.
• Urjit Patel Committee: First recommended the tool in 2014.
• April 2022: Officially implemented to manage pandemic-induced liquidity.

Other Monetary Policy Tools in India

• Repo Rate: Rate at which RBI lends short-term funds to banks against collateral.
• Reverse Repo Rate: Rate at which RBI absorbs liquidity from banks.
• Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR): Portion of deposits banks must keep with RBI in cash.
• Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR): Portion of deposits kept in liquid assets (gold, cash, securities).
• Open Market Operations (OMO): Buying/selling of government securities to control liquidity.
• Marginal Standing Facility (MSF): Emergency borrowing by banks at a penal rate.
• Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF): Framework for repo/reverse repo operations.
• Market Stabilisation Scheme (MSS): Bonds issued to absorb excess liquidity.

Sulphur dioxide (SO2)

Environment

Context

• As per the study, nearly 81 per cent of sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions from coal plants within a 300-km radius of Delhi-NCR originate from facilities exempted from installing pollution control systems.

Sulfur dioxide (SO₂)

• It is a colorless, pungent, and toxic gas.
• Primary Source: Coal-fired thermal power plants.
• Natural Source: Volcanic eruptions and geothermal activity.
• India Status: Top global anthropogenic SO₂ emitter.
• Health Impact: Causes severe respiratory diseases (asthma).
• Environment: Precursor to acid rain.
• Note – Sulfur dioxide is not a greenhouse gas. While it is a major air pollutant with significant environmental impacts, it actually has a cooling effect on the Earth’s climate rather than a warming one

Global Liveability Index 2026

Miscellaneous

Context

• The Economist Intelligence Unit has released the Global Liveability Index 2026.

Major Highlights

• • Published by – The index is compiled annually by the Economist Intelligence Unit, the research and analysis arm of The Economist Group, 
  • It evaluated 173 cities across 30 indicators
  • Five categories: Stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.
  • Copenhagen (Denmark) remains the world’s most liveable city, edging out Vienna (Austria) and Melbourne (Australia), which are in second and third place.

• New Delhi is ranked 120, followed by Mumbai (121), Chennai (123), and Bengaluru (127).

• Karachi stayed pinned at 170th place two years consecutively, Dhaka held at 171st, Damascus (Syria) remains the world’s least liveable city for a second consecutive year.

Version 2026-1 of the IUCN Red List

Environment

News –  

• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released the updated version 2026-1 of its Red List of Threatened Species.

About- 

• IUCN Red List now covers 175,909 species, of which 49,505 (approximately 28%) are classified as threatened with extinction.

IUCN Red List

• IUCN Red List is the most comprehensive inventory of the global extinction risk of animal, plant, and fungal species, maintained by the Species Survival Commission.
• Species are placed in nine categories: Not Evaluated, Data Deficient, Least Concern, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, Extinct in the Wild, and Extinct.

International Union of Conservation of Nature

• Establishment – 1948.
• Set up in – Gland, Switzerland. 
• Objective – To promote international cooperation and to provide scientific knowledge and tools to aid conservation action.
• IUCN Red List – It established the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 1964.

IUCN Red List

• • It is a list compiled by the IUCN, which contains the world’s most comprehensive information on the conservation status of plants, animals, and fungus species. 

  • Species in the IUCN Red List – There are 143000 species on the Red List.

• India’s membership in IUCN – India became a member in 1969

• The IUCN classification – The IUCN classification of species is based on their extinction/conservation status. 

They are as follows  

• Extinct (EX)

• Extinct in the Wild (EW)

• Critically Endangered (CR)

• Endangered (EN), Vulnerable (VU)

• Near Threatened (NT)

• Least Concern (LC)

• Data Deficient (DD) 

• Not Evaluated (NE)

PM-UDAY Scheme

Government Schemes

In News

• Recently Delhi CM has sought ₹100 crore as a first phase central government financial assistance to implement the revised Pradhan Mantri Unauthorised Colonies in Delhi Awas Adhikar Yojana (PM-UDAY) in the national capital.