Samvatsari

History & Culture

Context (PIB):

The PM has extended his greetings to the people on the sacred occasion of Samvatsari.

Saṃvatsari

Saṃvatsari is the holiest day in the Jain calendar, observed on the last day of Paryushana Parva by the Śvētāmbara sect.
Also known as Kshama Yachna Divas, Ahimsa Divas and Daya Divas.
Key practice: Jains seek and grant universal forgiveness for mistakes committed knowingly or unknowingly.
Paryushana Parva: Annual Jain festival focused on self-reflection, spiritual purification and forgiveness.
Core message: Ahimsa + forgiveness + self-purification.

Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C)

Science and Technology

News –

Meta has announced that it will directly report child safety-related matters to the cybercrime portal managed by the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C).

Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C).

It is an initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs, to deal with cybercrime in the country.
Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
HQ: New Delhi
Purpose: Coordinates Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) to combat cybercrime.

Key Objectives:

Acts as nodal point for tackling cybercrime.
Strengthens action against cybercrime targeting women & children.
Facilitates cybercrime complaints and identifies emerging trends/patterns.
Functions as an early-warning system for proactive prevention & detection.
Promotes cybercrime awareness and cyber hygiene.
Builds capacity of Police, Public Prosecutors & Judicial Officers in cyber forensics, investigation and cyber-criminology.

Operation Deep Manifest

Governement Scheme

News –

Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized more than 362 metric tonnes (MT) of Pakistan-origin dry dates under Operation Deep Manifest.

Operation Deep Manifest – UPSC

Agency: Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)
Objective: Detect, intercept and seize contraband/banned goods of Pakistani origin smuggled into India through third-country routes.

DRI

Under: CBIC, Ministry of Finance.
Role: India’s apex anti-smuggling agency.
Key functions:
- Tackles smuggling and illicit international trade.
- Combats drug trafficking and illegal wildlife/environmental trade.
- Detects commercial fraud and Customs duty evasion.

Defence Acquisition Council (DAC)

Defence

Context (TH):

The Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisitions worth about ₹1.10 lakh crore to enhance the combat readiness of the armed forces.

Defence Acquisition Council (DAC)

Established: 2001 through a Government Resolution, following GoM recommendations after the 1999 Kargil War.
Ministry: Ministry of Defence.
Chairperson: Defence Minister.
Composition: CDS, three Service Chiefs, Defence Secretary and senior MoD officials.
Role: Highest decision-making body for defence capital procurement and acquisition policy.

Key Functions:

Grants Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital procurement.
Approves capability development plans.
Decides Make/Buy & indigenisation pathways.
Clears major
strategic and inter-governmental defence agreements.

First International Space Summit

Science & technology

News-

The First International Space Summit was recently held in Paris, France.
It provides an opportunity to open a dialogue towards meeting contemporary challenges of the space sector.
Key focus areas: Growing use of Low Earth Orbit (LEO), space economy, Moon exploration and the long-term future of space activities.

About –

4 Priorities

Priority	Focus
Security	Sustainable & secure space operations
Space Economy	Competitiveness & technological development
Space as Common Good	Responsible and sustainable management of space
Space as Fundamental Project	Scientific research, exploration & technological progress

India’s roadmap:

Indigenous Space Station: by 2035.
Indian astronaut on the Moon: by 2040.

Dryland Congress 2026

Polity

News –

Dryland Congress 2026 will convene in New Delhi to address challenges and opportunities in climate-resilient dryland agriculture.

About

Organised by: ICAR & ICRISAT, New Delhi.
Theme: “Transforming Dryland Agriculture through South–South Cooperation”.
Significance: Marks 50 years of ICAR–ICRISAT collaboration; expected to adopt the Delhi Declaration on Dryland (3D).

Drylands

UNEP: Areas with Aridity Index < 0.65 (precipitation/evapotranspiration).
Cover about 45% of global land surface and support 2+ billion people.
India: ~68% of cultivated land; supports 40%+ population and 60% livestock.
Vulnerability: Drylands are warming 20–40% faster than other ecosystems.

Restoration & India

UNCCD: Leads global efforts on land degradation neutrality (LDN).
PMKSY–WDC: India’s key watershed-based approach—soil conservation, ridge-to-valley treatment & water harvesting.

27th World Knowledge Forum

International

News-

27th World Knowledge Forum was held in Seoul, South Korea

About –

Venue: Seoul, South Korea
Theme: “The Promethean Moment: Architecting the Co-Intelligence Order”
Focus: Impact of AI on global governance and human civilisation.
Participants: Leaders, scientists, policymakers & technology experts.
Key discussion areas: Power, Capital, Intelligence, Planet & Humanity.
AI: Described as the “fire of the 21st century”—capable of accelerating civilization while posing risks of major disruption without appropriate regulation.