75 th Republic Day

75 th Republic Day
 First - Odisha (Woman Empowerment in Viksit Bharat).

 Second - Gujrat (Dhordo: A Global Icon Of Gujarat's Border Tourism).

 Third - Tamil Nadu (Kudavolai System in ancient Tamil Nadu - Mother of Democracy).

 Best Tableau (Ministries/Departments)- Ministry of Culture - (Bharat: Mother of Democracy).

 Special Prize - Central Public Works Department (Central Vista -Viksit Bharat Ka Pratibimb).

 Special memento to 'Vande Bharatam' Dance Group.

 Best Marching Contingent among the three services - Sikh Regiment Contingent.

 Best Marching Contingent among CAPF/other auxiliary forces - Delhi Police Women Marching Contingent.
 Central Vista redevelopment project

 Ministry - Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

 Central Vista Redevelopment Project aims to redevelop
the Central Vista Complex.
 To strengthen governance infrastructure by building
new facilities for various institutions of the Government
of India.
Renamed
 Two halls of Rashtrapati Bhavan -
'Durbar Hall' and 'Ashok Hall’
renamed as 'Ganatantra Mandap'
and 'Ashok Mandap' respectively.
Assam Accord- section „6A‟
 Assam Accord - section „6A‟
 Assam Accord: The Assam Accord was a tripartite
agreement between the Central Government, the State
Government of Assam, and the leaders of the Assam
Movement. It sought to end the influx of illegal migrants
from Bangladesh.

 It introduced Section 6A into the Citizenship Act, of 1955,

exclusively for Assam.

 This provision addresses the issue of large-scale migration

preceding the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
 Assam Accord- section „6A‟
 Section 6A: enacted as part of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act,
1985.

 Grants Indian citizenship to immigrants who entered Assam from

Bangladesh before 1st January 1966.

 Those who entered between 1st January 1966 and 25th March
1971, can be conferred citizenship after fulfilling certain
prescribed procedures and conditions.

 The section, however, denies citizenship to

immigrants who arrived in Assam after 25th March 1971.
Biplab Kumar Sharma Committee
 The Biplab Kumar Sharma Committee
was constituted to provide
recommendations on the implementation
of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, which
focuses on protecting and preserving the
cultural, social, and linguistic heritage of
the Assamese people.
 18th LS Election
Why in News?
 The Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA to form the
government at the Centre for the third consecutive
term.
 The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won a plurality of
seats with 240, followed by the Indian National
Congress (INC) with 99 seats.
 With the required absolute majority being 272 seats,
having 293 seats, the BJP-led National Democratic
Alliance (NDA) coalition formed the government.
18th LS Election
Speaker
Leader of Opposition - 18th Lok Sabha
 The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in India is a
prominent political figure who leads the largest
opposition party in either the Lok Sabha (House of the
People) or the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), the two
houses of the Indian Parliament.
 Statutory recognition: It was officially described in the
Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in
Parliament Act 1977.
 According to a conventional understanding, in order to
get the post of Leader of Opposition a party must have
at least 10% of MPs in the House.
Leader of Opposition – function
State Election Commission
6 th schedule Status
6 th schedule Status
 Inner permit line
 Inner Line Permit (ILP) is an official travel document issued by the concerned state government to allow
inward travel of an Indian citizen into a protected area for a limited period.
 Under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act, of 1873, the British framed regulations restricting
the entry and stay of outsiders in designated areas. This was to protect the interests of the the Crown.
 The system is in force today in four Northeastern states Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and
Manipur. In addition, the inner line permit is required to enter the islands of Lakshadweep.
 The inner line permit for the foreign tourist is called the Protected Area Permit, which is different from
the inner line permit for domestic tourists.
 According to the Foreigners(Protected Areas) Order 1958, all the land that comes within the inner line
of a particular state, especially the North-East state, is declared a protected area and requires a
Protected Area Permit to enter.
 PVTGs

 Bini Muduli became the first from the small Bonda community, which the government
considers a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG), to clear the Odisha state civil service
exam.
 Bondas are one of the 13 PVTGs in Odisha and are concentrated in one region of Malkangiri
district.
 In 1973, the Dhebar Commission categorized the most vulnerable and marginalized tribal
communities as ‘Primitive Tribal Groups’ (PTGs).
 In 1975 the government identified 52 PVTGs.
 In 1993, an additional 23 groups were added, taking the total number of identified PVTGs to
75.
 Habitat Rights
 Baiga community, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), became
the second PVTG to get habitat rights in Chhattisgarh, after
the Kamar tribal group.
 Habitat rights recognition grants communities the right
to their traditional territory, socio-cultural  Bharia PVTG in Madhya

practices, livelihoods, ecological and traditional knowledge, and Pradesh.

the protection of their natural and cultural heritage. (Habitat  Jaungs, Mankidia and Paudi

rights don’t grant ownership to property). Bhuyans – Odisha.

 Habitat rights are given to PVTGs under section 3(1) (e) of The Scheduled  Kamar PVTG and Baiga PVTG

Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest in Chhattisgarh have habitat

Rights) Act, 2006 or Forest Rights Act (FRA). rights.

 Forest Rights Act 2006
 The schedule tribes and Other
Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition
of Forest Rights Act 2006) was passed on
December 18, 2006.
 Forest Rights Act 2006 recognizes
the rights of the forest dwelling
Scheduled Tribes tribal (FDST) and other
traditional forest dwellers (OTFD) to
claim legal rights over the forest land
they have occupied for generations.
Soligas Tribe
 Also known as Soliga, Sholiga, or Soligaru.
 Referred to as "children of bamboo," as the name is believed
to signify their origin from bamboo.
 Soligas Tribe is an isolated tribal community found in
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, especially in the Biligiri Rangana
Hills and Male Mahadeshwara Hills.
 Their settlements are called ‘haaDi’ and ‘pooDu.’
 A new genus of wasp, Soliga Ecarinata, is named after them in
recognition of their efforts in biodiversity and conservation.
 In 2011, they became the first tribal community living inside a
tiger reserve to gain legal rights to the forest.
Soligas Tribe
Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA)
Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA)
 Ministry Of Home Affairs has declared Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh areas as ‘disturbed
area’ under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for a period of six months.
 Currently, AFSPA is in effect in parts of Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh.

 AFSPA is in force in Jammu and Kashmir(J&K) through Armed Forces (J&K) Special Powers Act,
1990.

 Section 3 of Act: Governor of State or Administrator of UT or Central Government may declare

whole/such part of such State/UT to be a disturbed area.

 Section 4 of Act: Gives special powers to armed forces although they must be exercised with
extreme caution.
Special Category status - Gadgil formula

SCS was instituted in 1969, based on the

recommendations of the 5th Finance Commission (FC).
Special Category status – 11 states
 This includes the Assam, Nagaland, Himachal
Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tripura, Aruna
chal Pradesh, Mizoram, Uttarakhand and Telangana.
 Benefits to these states included getting Central
assistance of as much as 90% in the form of
grants and 10% loan for centrally sponsored
schemes.
 For Non-SCS, the Normal Central Assistance was
calculated as 30% grant and 70% loan.
Special Category status
 International Day of Democracy

 Karnataka on Sunday marked the 'International Day of Democracy' by forming a

'historic' 2,500-km-long human chain as a symbol of equality, unity, fraternity, and
participative governance.
 The massive human chain, which according to the Karnataka government will be
the "world's longest", is being formed across the state from Bidar to
Chamarajanagar, covering all 31 districts.
UPSC
 Hema Committee report
 K. Hema Committee report on the issues faced by
women in the Malayalam film industry has revealed
horrid tales of sexual exploitation, illegal bans,
discrimination, drug and alcohol abuse, wage disparity
and in some cases, inhuman working conditions.
 The 235-page report, released without the names of the
witnesses and the accused five years after it was
submitted to the Kerala government.
 It noted that the industry is in the clutches of certain
male producers, directors and actors, whom a prominent
actor referred to as “mafia”, as they could ban anyone.
Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024
 The Bill specifies that government properties identified or
declared as waqf, before or after the enactment, will not be
considered waqf properties.
 The Bill gives the Central Government the authority to audit
waqf properties at any time using auditors appointed by the
Comptroller and Auditor-General of India or designated
officers.
 The Bill shifts the responsibility of surveying waqf properties
from survey commissioners to district collectors.
 The district collectors are also responsible for determining the
validity of waqf properties.
Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024
Euthanasia
 Aruna Ramachandra Shanbaug vs Union of India
(2011): Supreme Court allowed passive euthanasia
under exceptional circumstances.
 Common Cause vs Union of India (2018):
o Supreme Court held that a person in a persistent
vegetative state can opt for passive euthanasia.
o Recognized the Right to Die with dignity as a
fundamental right under Article 21.
o Allowed execution of a living will to refuse
medical treatment in case of terminal illness.
National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA)
Autonomous body under the Ministry of Youth Affairs &
Sports.
 Athlete Biological Passport (ABP),
 Athlete Biological Passport (ABP), a powerful
anti-doping tool that monitors selected
biological variables over time to reveal the
effects of doping rather than attempting to
detect the doping substance or method
itself.
 It works against doping through enhanced
target testing and analysis, investigations,
deterrence, and as indirect evidence for use
of prohibited methods or substances.
 RHUMI-1 Rocket
Overview: India achieved a significant milestone in its space journey with the launch of its first reusable
hybrid rocket, RHUMI-1, recently.

About RHUMI-1:
 It is India’s first reusable hybrid rocket.
 It was developed by the Tamil Nadu-based startup Space Zone India in collaboration with Martin
Group.
 Hybrid propulsion system, combining the advantages of both liquid and solid fuels.
 Rhumi 1's hybrid design, which uses solid propellant and liquid oxidizer, reduces the risk of accidental
detonation by combining these components only during combustion.
 RHUMI Rocket is completely free of fireworks and uses no TNT.
RHUMI-1 Rocket
About the Launch:
 Rhumi 1 was launched into space from the East Coast Road
Beach in Thiruvidandhai in Chennai.
 The rocket, carrying 3 Cube Satellites and 50 PICO
Satellites, was launched into a suborbital trajectory using a
mobile launcher.
 Cube satellites are a class of nanosatellites, weighing
between 1-10 kg.
 Pico satellites are small satellites that typically weigh between
0.1 and 1 kg.
SpaceX‟s Starship
 Starship, developed by SpaceX,
is a fully reusable spacecraft
intended for missions to Mars,
the Moon, and deep space
exploration.
Astra Mk-I Missile
 It is indigenously developed by the Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by Bharat
Dynamics Ltd. (BDL) for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
 Astra is a beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile designed to be
mounted on fighter aircraft.
 which have high manoeuvrability and supersonic speed.
 which allows it to engage in multiple high-performance targets.
 It is the best in its class of weapon systems in the world in the
category of air-to-air missiles.
 It is based on an advanced solid-fuel ducted ramjet (SFDR) engine
technology.
INS Sandhyak
 INS Sandhyak is indeed the first Survey Vessel
Large (SVL) ship commissioned into the Indian
Navy and is the first in a series of four SVL
ships.
 INS Sandhyak is equipped with state-of-the-art
hydrographic equipment, including Deep &
Shallow Water Multi-Beam EchoSounders,
and can also function as a hospital ship during
wartime or emergencies.
Aditya- L1
 Context: The Aditya-L1 spacecraft has
successfully completed its first halo
orbit around the Sun-Earth
Lagrangian point L1.
ISRO + DRDO
Proba-3
 Proba-3 is an advanced solar mission developed by the European
Space Agency (ESA).
 It is scheduled to launch on December 4, 2024, using the Indian
Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
(PSLV).
 The mission aims to study the solar corona, the Sun's outermost and
hottest atmospheric layer.
 The mission will be placed in a highly elliptical orbit measuring 600
km x 60,530 km with an orbital period of 19.7 hours.
 Proba-3 will attempt the world's first "precision formation flying,"
where two satellites will fly in tandem and maintain a fixed
configuration in space.
 Chandrayana -4
 Union Cabinet gave approval for Chandrayaan-4 Mission, a successor to Chandrayaan-3 which
demonstrated soft landing on Moon.

Chandrayaan 4

 It aims to develop and demonstrate key technologies for landing on the Moon, collecting lunar
samples, and returning to Earth safely.

 It will achieve the foundational technologies capabilities eventually for an Indian landing on the
moon (planned by year 2040) and return safely back to Earth.

 ISRO will be responsible for the development of spacecraft and launch.

 Timeline: Expected to be completed within 36 months.

NASA
 XPoSat mission

NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer

(IXPE), launched in 2021.
 Project NETRA (Network for space object Tracking and Analysis)

 NETRA is an initiative by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

 Aimed at enhancing India’s capabilities in space situational awareness,
particularly in monitoring and managing space debris.
 The project will give India its own capability in space situational
awareness (SSA) like the other space powers.
 NETRA’s eventual goal is to capture the GEO, or geostationary orbit,
scene at 36,000 km where communication satellites operate.
 The initial SSA will first be for low-earth orbits or LEO which have
remote-sensing spacecraft.
LignoSat
 NASA and Japan - world's first wooden satellite,
LignoSat, in September 2024.
 LignoSat is a small, cube-shaped satellite made from
magnolia wood, aimed at reducing the environmental
impact of spaceflight.
 The satellite was developed by researchers at Kyoto
University and Sumitomo Forestry, a Japanese logging
company.
 LignoSat will be launched into space on a SpaceX
rocket from the Kennedy Space Center and sent to
the International Space Station (ISS).
 ABHYAS
News - DRDO has successfully completed six consecutive
developmental trials from Chandipur, Odisha.
ABHYAS:
 It is a High Speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT).
 It offers a realistic threat scenario for weapon systems
practice.
 This indigenous system is designed for autonomous
flying with the help of an autopilot.
 Sagarmala Parikrama
Why in news? Recently, an autonomous surface vessel built by Sagar Defence Engineering has
completed a 1,500-km journey from Mumbai to Thoothukudi without human intervention.
About Sagarmala Parikrama
 The project was virtually launched by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on October 29, during the
Swavlamban event organized by NIIO.
 Sagarmala Parikrama was undertaken in collaboration with the Indian Navy to advance
autonomous maritime technology.
 It was supported by the Indian Navy’s Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO).
 It received backing from the Technology Development Acceleration Cell (TDAC) and Innovations
for Defence Excellence (iDEX) under the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO).
 Drishti 10 Starliner
News: Chief of Naval Staff recently flagged off the Drishti 10 'Starliner'
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for the Navy.

Drishti 10 ‘Starliner’
 It is an indigenously manufactured Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).
 It was developed by Adani Defence and Aerospace.
 India’s first indigenous medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone.
 It is an advanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR)
platform with 36 hours endurance and a 450 kg payload capacity.
 It requires minimal maintenance, making it cost-effective and
operationally efficient.
 Micro turbo engine - INDRA
Overview: Hyderabad based Raghu Vamsi Machine Tools
Private Limited recently launched its fully indigenous
Micro Turbojet Engine “INDRA RV25: 240N”.

About INDRA RV25: 240N

 It is a micro turbojet engine.
 It is designed and developed indigenously
by Hyderabad-based firm Raghu Vamsi Machine
Tools with support from IIT Hyderabad.
 It has primarily been developed for unmanned aerial
vehicles (UAVs) or drones.
Operation Sarvashakti
Trilateral services exercise
 India's "Eastern Prahar" tri-service
exercise.
 'Bharat Shakti' to be held at Pokhran.
 Exercise Kavach is a tri-service
military exercise that involves the
Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air
Force, and Indian Coast Guard.
 INDUS-X
News: The third edition of the INDUS-X Summit concluded in the
United States, marking a progress in the advancement of a joint
defense innovation ecosystem in India and the USA.

INDUS-X Summit:
 It was launched in 2023 during the state visit of the Prime
Minister of India to the US.
 Objective: To expand strategic technology partnerships and
defense industrial cooperation between governments,
businesses, and academic institutions in India and the US.
 Bharat Small Modular Reactors

Union Budget 2024-25

 Bharat Small Reactors (BSRs) are a type of Small Modular Reactor (SMR) designed for India’s energy needs.
 These reactors are compact, factory-built nuclear reactors with a power capacity of up to 300 MW.
 They aim to provide a safe, cost-effective, and low-carbon energy source, particularly suitable for locations that
cannot accommodate larger nuclear plants.
 The development of BSRs involves collaboration between the Indian government and the private sector.
Nuclear Plants
Fast Breeder Reactor
 Function: Uses fast neutrons to generate more
nuclear fuel than it consumes while generating power.
 Fuel: Utilizes Uranium-Plutonium Mixed Oxide (MOX)
fuel.
 Mechanism: The Uranium-238 "blanket" surrounding
the core undergoes nuclear transmutation, producing
more fuel.
 Significance:
 Once operational, India will be the second country
(after Russia) to have a commercially operating FBR.
Google‟s Project Navlekha
 launched by Google in 2018, is an initiative
aimed at helping Indian publishers easily
convert their print content into digital formats
in local languages.
 The name "Navlekha" means "new writing" in
Sanskrit, symbolising a fresh approach to
content creation and digitization in India’s
regional languages.
 Project Navlekha uses OCR technology to
convert printed text in Indian languages into
digital content.
AI Bank - 2024
Digital Arrest
NASA‟s PREFIRE mission
 The Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed
Experiment(PREFIRE)
 Objective: The objective of the mission is to reveal the full
spectrum of heat loss from Earth’s polar regions for the first time,
making climate models more accurate.
 Aim :
 The data from the PREFIRE mission is aimed at addressing the
gap in knowledge and provide data to improve predictions
of climate change and sea level rise.
 Provide new information on how Earth’s atmosphere and
how ice influences the amount of heat being radiated out to
space from the Arctic and Antarctic.
TRISHNA mission
 TRISHNA mission is a joint project between India
(ISRO) and France (CNES).
 The satellite will be launched by ISRO.
 The mission will provide high-resolution thermal
infrared data for monitoring water use and managing
natural resources.
 It includes two primary payloads: Thermal Infra-Red
(TIR) from CNES for infrared imaging and VNIR-SWIR
from ISRO for surface reflectance mapping. Operating
in a Sun-synchronous orbit.
 Cassini - Huygens
Overview: Recent findings from data collected by NASA's
Cassini spacecraft reveal the presence of a vast ocean beneath
the icy surface of Saturn's moon Mimas.

Cassini Spacecraft
 It was launched on October 15, 1997.
 Cassini-Huygens was a joint NASA/European Space Agency
(ESA)/Italian Space Agency (ASI) space mission to Saturn.
 The mission consisted of NASA’s Cassini orbiter, which was
the first space probe to orbit Saturn, and the ESA’s Huygens
probe, which landed on Titan, Saturn’s largest moon.
 Avangard
Overview:

Avangard is a nuclear-capable, hypersonic boost-glide vehicle (HGV) developed by the Russian

Federation.
Features:
 It has a range of over 6,000 km, weighs approximately 2,000 kg, and can carry a nuclear or
conventional payload.
 It is carried on an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
 It has “a short wedge-shaped design” which does not contain a separate propulsion
system, relying on gravity and its aerodynamic features to maintain velocity after an initial
boost.
 Zircon Hypersonic Missile
 News : In an attempt to hit a target in Kyiv, Russian forces launched a 3M22 Zircon missile
recently.

Zircon Missile
 The 3M22 Zircon, or SS-N-33, is a scramjet-powered maneuvering anti-ship hypersonic cruise
missile developed in Russia.
 The missile is reportedly capable of flying with speeds up to Mach 9 and a range of 1000 km.
 It’s a two-stage missile that uses solid fuel in the first stage and a scramjet motor in the
second stage.
 Zircon cruise missiles use cooled supersonic combustion ramjet engines.
 HRIM-2
 Hrіm-2 or Hypersonic Rapid Response Interceptor Missile, also known
as Operational-Tactical Missile System Hrim is a Ukrainian short-range ballistic
missile system.
 It is designed to combine the features of a tactical missile system and a multiple
rocket launcher.
 The Hrim-2 version, developed for export, has a range limited to 280
kilometers in order to fall within the 300-kilometre limit set by the Missile
Grim, Grom, or OTRK
Technology Control Regime.
Sapsan.
 However, for Ukrainian military needs, the system's range has been extended
to 700 km. Its aero-ballistic capabilities allow evasion of modern air
defenses like the S-300 and S-400.
Swiss Peace Summit
BHISHM mobile hospital
 Indian Air Force tested BHISHM, an
advanced indigenous mobile hospital,
in Agra.
 Part of Project BHISHM – Bharat Health
Initiative for Sahyog, Hita, and Maitri.
 Designed to treat up to 200 casualties.
 Features robust, waterproof, and
lightweight cubes.
 Configurable for diverse emergency
scenarios.
 Fattah-2 Hypersonic Missile
 Recently, Iran launched a significant missile offensive utilizing the
Fattah hypersonic -2 medium-range ballistic missile for the first
time in combat.
 Developed by: It was developed by the Aerospace Force of the
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is part of the
Iranian Armed Forces.
 It features high speed, stealth design, and maneuverability within
and beyond the Earth’s atmosphere.
 It can penetrate advanced missile defense systems, including the
Iron Dome utilized by Israel.
Fattah Hypersonic Missile
Kamikaze drones
Agni Prime Missile
 Development: First missile of the new generation
post Integrated Guided Missile Development
Program (IGMDP).
 Range: 1,000 to 2,000 km.
 Variant: Nuclear-capable, advanced Agni class
missile.
 Weight: Lighter than previous Agni series missiles.
 Guidance: Uses Inertial Navigation System (INS) with
advanced ring-laser gyroscopes.
 Two-Stage Canisterised Solid Propellant Ballistic
Missile
Pinaka system
 The ADM system is associated with the Pinaka multi-
barrel rocket launcher.
 The Pinaka system has been tested with various
munitions, including ADMs, as part of its capability to
deliver a range of ammunition types.
 The DRDO is responsible for the development of the
ADM system.
 It has been involved in designing and testing these
munitions, as well as transferring the technology to
industry partners for production.
 Pralay missile
 Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO) in view of the country’s defence requirements along the Line of
Actual Control (LAC) and Line of Control (LoC).
 The solid-fuel, battlefield missile is based on the Prithvi Defence Vehicle.
 The Pralay, powered by a solid propellant rocket motor, never leaves the
atmosphere and follows a flat trajectory.
 It can hit targets 150-500 km away. The missile navigates to its target
using inertial guidance. It can be controlled throughout its flight.
 Pralay’ is a 350-500 km short-range, quasi-ballistic surface-to-surface
missile with a payload capacity of 500-1,000 kg.
 Nagastra-1
 Indian Army received the first batch of Nagastra-1 from Solar
Industries, developed by Economic Explosives Ltd.
 Development: Indigenous UAV-based munitions with over 75%
domestic content.
 Capabilities: Perform GPS-enabled precision strikes with 2- meter
accuracy, and be safely recovered.
 Altitude: Designed for high-altitude operations above 4,500
meters.
 Detection: Evades radar detection; low acoustic signature.
 Surveillance: Day-night surveillance capabilities.
 Operation: Capable of operating in extreme conditions.
 Project-76
 The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has taken
up a preliminary study on the design and development of an indigenous
conventional submarine under Project-76.
 Under Project 76, the Warship Design Bureau of the Indian Navy is
working on designing and developing the country’s first indigenously
conventional diesel-electric submarine. The Indian Navy wants to build 12
submarines under Project 76.
 It aims to succeed the Sindhughosh (Kilo) class, emphasizing the Navy’s
commitment to maintaining a robust 3,000-ton class of submarines. It is
expected to feature some of the most advanced features such as,
indigenous Weapon Control system and Lithium-ion batteries.
Bambi bucket
 A Bambi bucket is a specialised aerial fire
fighting tool used to deliver water to extinguish
wildfires/forest fires used since 1980’s.
 It is a lightweight, collapsible container
suspended from a cable below a helicopter.
 They are a valuable tool for fire fighters
because they can quickly and efficiently deliver
large quantities of water to remote areas that
may be inaccessible to fire trucks.
 ABHED- Bullet Proof Jacket
Overview: DRDO along with researchers of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi
has developed Light Weight Bullet Proof Jackets named ABHED.

 ABHED (Advanced Ballistics for High Energy Defeat).

 These jackets have been created from polymers and indigenous boron carbide
ceramic material.

 With a minimum possible weight of 8 kg and 9.3 kg for different BIS levels, these
modular-design jackets, featuring front and rear armour, provide 360-degree
protection.
 The jackets have been classified as BIS level 5 and BIS level 6, by the Bureau of
Indian Standards (BIS).
3D Hologram - JAPAN
Overview: Japan issued its first new banknotes in two decades, yen
packed with 3D hologram technology to fight counterfeiting.

3D Hologram Technology:
 It is a virtual three-dimensional images created by the interference of
light beams that reflect real physical objects. Holograms preserve the
depth, parallax, and other properties of the original item.
 Unlike conventional 3D projections, holograms can be seen with the
naked eye.
 Principle: It uses the principles of interference and diffraction of light
waves to record and reconstruct 3D images of objects.
Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX)
John B. Good enough
 John Good enough, who
recently passed away at the
age of 100.
Noble prize 2024
Noble prize 2024
 GRAPES-3
Overview: The GRAPES-3 experiment discovered a new feature in the
cosmic-ray proton spectrum.

GRAPES-3 experiment:

 Location: It is located in Ooty, India.

 It is operated by the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
 It aims to probe acceleration of cosmic rays in different astrophysical
settings.
 Gamma Ray Astronomy PeV EnergieS phase-3 (GRAPES-3) is designed
to study cosmic rays with an array of air shower detectors and a large
area muon detector.
 Monkey pox
 Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) manifests with flu-like symptoms,
including fever, chills, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes.
 It also results in a rash that evolves through various stages, ultimately forming
pus-filled lesions (pustules) that scab over and heal.
 The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared mpox a global public health
emergency for the second time in two years due to an outbreak in the Democratic
Republic of Congo, which has spread to neighboring countries like Burundi, Kenya,
Rwanda, and Uganda.
 Mpox is primarily transmitted through close contact with an infected individual or
animal, as well as through contact with contaminated items like bedding.
 It can also be spread via respiratory droplets during prolonged face-to-face
interactions.
Monkey pox
Epilepsy
 Epilepsy, a condition that leads to recurring seizures, sees
a person experience jerking of arms and legs, temporary
confusion, staring spells, or stiff muscles.
 It is caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
 The disease has no identifiable cause in nearly 50% of the
cases.
 However, head trauma, tumours in the brain, some
infections like meningitis, or even genetics can lead to
epilepsy. It can increase the risk of accidents, drownings,
and falling.
 Zombie deer disease
 Deer infected with chronic wasting disease (CWD), is
a prion disease.
 Symptoms - severe weight loss, lack of coordination, teeth-
grinding, drooling, and confusion, giving them an almost
zombie-like appearance.
 CWD is part of a group of diseases known as transmissible
spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), which also include mad
cow disease in cattle and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans.
 Transmission: CWD spreads between animals through bodily
fluids, like saliva, urine, and feces, as well as contaminated soil
and plants.
 Alaska pox
Context: An elderly man from Alaska recently became the first person to die after
contracting Alaskapox.
 Alaskapox- orthopox virus that was first discovered in Alaska, USA, in 2015.
 Double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the same genus (Orthopoxvirus) as
smallpox, monkeypox, and cowpox.
 Orthopoxviruses are zoonotic viruses that can infect various mammals, including
humans.
Symptoms - Skin lesions (bumps/pustules) on face, hands, arms.

 Swollen lymph nodes, joint/muscle pain, fever, headache, fatigue.

 Mild in healthy people, can be more severe in immunocompromised.

 Lupus disease
Overview: Australian researchers recently worked out how to fix a
defect that causes lupus.

Lupus:
 It is an autoimmune disease that makes your immune system
to damage organs and tissue throughout your body.
 It causes inflammation that can affect your skin, joints, blood,
and organs like your kidneys, lungs, and heart.
 There is no cure for lupus, but medicines and lifestyle changes
can help control it.
 Obelisks
Overview: Scientists uncovered a never-before-seen class of virus-like
entities named obelisks in the human body.

Obelisks:
 It is a newly discovered class of virus-like entities present in the human
body.
 It comprises a class of diverse RNAs that have colonized and gone
unnoticed in human and global microbiomes.
 Obelisks represent their own class of organism. They lie
somewhere between viruses and viroids.
 Obelisks exhibit highly symmetrical, rod-like structures resembling the
iconic monuments (Obelisk).
First Human Milk Bank
 Punjab's first Human Milk
Bank was inaugurated at
Dr. B R Ambedkar State
Institute of Medical
Sciences (AIMS), Mohali,
with support from the
Rotary Club of Chandigarh.
 Mission utkarsh
Why in news? Ministry of Ayush and Ministry of Women and Child Development have signed a MoU for
the nutritional improvement in adolescent girls through Ayurveda Interventions.
 Joint Public Health Initiative for Anaemia Control among adolescent girls using Ayurveda interventions
in the five districts under Mission Utkarsh.
Mission Utkarsh - Initiative for Anaemia Control among adolescent girls using Ayurveda interventions
 The Centre launched an initiative to improve nutrition in adolescent girls (14-18 years) using Ayurveda.
 15 central ministries or departments to work together.
 To be launched in five aspirational districts.
Assam (Dhubri), Chhattisgarh (Bastar), Jharkhand (Paschimi Singhbhum), Maharashtra (Gadchiroli),
and Rajasthan (Dhaulpur).
 Anaemia
 According to the WHO, anaemia is a condition in which the number of red
blood cells or the haemoglobin concentration within them is lower than
normal.
 Haemoglobin is needed to carry oxygen.
 The most common nutritional cause of anaemia is iron deficiency
although deficiencies in folate, vitamins B12 and A.
 India’s anaemia burden has grown alarmingly with NFHS-5 (2019-21)
finding that:
 57% of women in the age group 15-49
 67% children between six months and 59 months are anaemic (from
the corresponding 53% and 58.6% respectively in NFHS-4 (2015-16)).
 NexCAR19
 Why in the News? The President of India
recently launched India’s first indigenous anti-
cancer CAR-T cell therapy, NexCAR19, at IIT
Bombay.

 It is designed to target cancer cells that carry the

CD19 protein.

 The therapy is approved for patients aged 15

years and older.
Dr (Col) V K Gupta
 Dr (Col) V KGupta, a Delhi-based
gastroenterologist with 28 years of
experience of working in the Indian Army is
the first patient to be declared as‘cancer-
free’.
 Fit India Movement new ambassador
 The government of India appointed
IRS officer Narendra Kumar Yadav as
the brand ambassador for the Fit
India movement.
 Yadav is the Additional Director of
GST and the first civil servant to be
appointed as a brand ambassador
for the movement.
 SWATI portal
 Overview: Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India
launched “Science for Women - A Technology & Innovation
(SWATI)” Portal.

SWATI Portal
 It is aimed at creating a single online portal representing Indian
Women and Girls in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering,
Mathematics & Medicine).
 The Portal is a complete interactive database; and the first-of-its-
kind in India which is developed, hosted and maintained by the
National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), New
Delhi.
Bio-RIDE
Overview: Recently, the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister of
India approved continuation of the two umbrella schemes of Department of
Biotechnology (DBT), merged as one scheme-‘Biotechnology Research
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (Bio- RIDE).

Bio-RIDE Scheme:
 It is designed to foster innovation, promote bio-entrepreneurship, and
strengthen India’s position as a global leader in biomanufacturing and
biotechnology.
 It aims to accelerate research, enhance product development, and
bridge the gap between academic research and industrial applications.
 The proposed outlay for the implementation of the unified scheme ‘Bio-
RIDE’ is Rs.9197 crore during the 15th finance Commission period from
2021-22 to 2025-26.
GARBH-Ini Initiative
 Garbh-ini program was initiated by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT),
in 2014 as a collaborative interdisciplinary research program.
 This program is led by Translational Health Science and Technology Institute
(THSTI), Faridabad.
 The objective of the program is to understand both biological and non-
biological factors that contribute to preterm birth (PTB).
 It has been included as one of the Atal Jai-Anusandhan Mission Programmes by
the DBT.
 GARBH-Ini operates under the Union Ministry of Science and Technology.
 It is part of the government's efforts to address maternal and child health issues
and enhance healthcare services in the country.
UNICEF
 UNICEF India appointed Kareena Kapoor
Khan as its National Ambassador.
 The announcement was made on May 4,
2024, marking UNICEF’s 75th year of
partnership with India.
 Her appointment aims to strengthen
UNICEF’s efforts for children’s rights
and welfare in India.
Digital twin initiative
 Digital twin initiative
About Digital Twin
Sangam: Digital Twin Initiative
 Definition: A digital replica of a physical object, person,
 Objective: Revolutionize infrastructure or process in a virtual environment.
planning and design.  Purpose: Simulates real-world scenarios for better
 Focus: Combines Digital Twin technology with decision-making.
AI, IoT, 5G, 6G, and next-gen computational  Features:

tech.  Uses real-time sensor data for behavior simulation

 Platform: Brings stakeholders together for and monitoring.

 Distinct due to large scale and two-way
innovative infrastructure planning.
information flow.
 Example: Google Maps as a digital twin of
transportation systems.
Havisure Vaccine
 Developer: Indian Immunologicals Ltd (IIL), a
subsidiary of NDDB.
 Type: Two-dose vaccine for Hepatitis-A.
 First Dose: Administered at 12 months or
older.
 Second Dose: Given 6 months after the first.
 Usage: Recommended for individuals at risk or
traveling to regions with high Hepatitis-A
prevalence.
Havisure Vaccine
Men5CV Vaccine
Doxxing
Shallowfake
 Project NAMAN
Overview: Recently, the Indian Army launched the first phase of
Project NAMAN.

Project NAMAN:
 It is designed to provide dedicated support and services to Defence
Pensioners, Veterans and their families.
 Project NAMAN is centred around the implementation of the SPARSH
(System for Pension Administration Raksha), digital pension system,
which streamlines pension related processes for Defence Pensioners,
addressing the critical need for accessible facilitation points for
Veterans and Next of Kin (NOK) across the country.
 NAMAN
 NIMHANS, in association with Ashraya Hastha Trust (AHT),
signed an MoU with multiple stakeholders to implement a
comprehensive rural mental health programme named
‘NAMAN’ (NIMHANS-AHT Comprehensive Mental-Health-
Action-Program for Rural Communities) in two taluks in the
country.
 The programme will cater to the mental health needs of the
entire population in Munsiyari taluk of Pithoragarh district of
Uttarakhand and Belur taluk in Hassan district of Karnataka.
The programme plans to follow a lifespan approach, which
would cover the entire population “from womb to tomb”.
 CSTO
 originates from the 1992 treaty signed in Tashkent,
Uzbekistan, came into force in 1994.
 CSTO (HQ: Moscow)
 Initially joined by Azerbaijan, Georgia, Belarus.
 current members: Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Russia, Tajikistan, Belarus.
 Intergovernmental military alliance between Russia and
 Belarus presided over CSTO in
former Soviet republics.
2023.
 Objectives: national and collective security, politico-
military cooperation, foreign policy coordination,
multilateral cooperation mechanisms.
African Club
 About: It is an alliance of African Multilateral Financial
Institutions (which are African-owned and controlled). It
was launched at the 37th African Union Summit.
 Aim: It aims to amplify Africa’s influence in the global
financial system by aligning its functions with the SDGs and
the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
 Objective: It seeks to introduce innovative financial
instruments, provide a venue for debt management
discussions and foster collaborative effort to address the
specific needs of African countries.
African Union
Kaladan Multi-Modal Transport (KMTT)
Mekong River
 It is the second most biodiverse river
basin in the world, after Amazon River
Basin.
 Mekong Delta, often called “Vietnam’s
rice bowl”.
 Kuril Islands

 These islands are claimed by Japan but occupied by Russia as the

successor state of the Soviet Union.
 Japan calls the Islands as Northern Territories and Russia as the
South Kuril.
COMMONWEALTH
COMMONWEALTH
Schengen Visas
European Union
Triple-dip La Niña
 The 2020–2023 triple-dip La Niña was
unique as it did not follow a strong El Niño.
 A triple-dip La Niña is a rare phenomenon
where the La Niña effect persists for three
consecutive years.
 La Niña is a phase of the El Niño Southern
Oscillation (ENSO). Earlier, strong El Niños
were believed to cause significant heat loss
from the equatorial Pacific Ocean to the
atmosphere and higher latitudes.
Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC)
 The Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) flows in the
Southern Ocean.
 It is the only current that flows uninterrupted
around the globe without being diverted by
landmasses.
 The ACC encircles the Antarctic continent and flows
eastward through the southern parts of the Atlantic,
Indian, and Pacific Oceans.
 It is a source of rich minerals, including zinc, gold,
silver, copper, dolomite, and marble.
 „Pact for the Future‟
 The Pact for the Future includes commitments
to reform the UN Security Council.
 It aims to make UNSC more effective and
representative, addressing historical under-
representation issues, particularly concerning
Africa.
 The Pact includes a recommitment to nuclear
disarmament with a clear goal of totally
eliminating nuclear weapons.
“Five Mutuals”
Fragile Five countries
Godda plant- Power supply to Bangladesh
 The Jharkhand-subsidiary of Adani Power supplies 1,496-megawatt net
capacity power to Bangladesh from the ultra-super-critical thermal power
plant in Godda.
 The Godda plant is India’s first transnational power project that supplies
all the power generated to another nation.
 It is said to have a positive impact on the neighbor's power situation by
replacing costly power generated using liquid fuel.
 It supplies power to Bangladesh under Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)
entered with the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) in
November 2017 for a period of 25 years.
Eastern Maritime corridor
 The Eastern Maritime Corridor is a
proposed sea route between Chennai,
India, and Vladivostok, Russia, passing
through the Sea of Japan, the South
China Sea, and the Malacca Strait.
 This initiative follows a Memorandum
of Intent on the development of
maritime communications exchanged
between Vladivostok and Chennai in
2019.
Afar Triangle
 The Afar Triangle
is a geological
depression
caused by the
meeting of three
tectonic plates in
the Horn of Africa.
It involves
Ethiopia, Eritrea,
and Djibouti.
Lithium Triangle:
 The Lithium Triangle refers to a
region in South America rich in
lithium reserves, involving
Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile.
Weimar Triangle
 The Weimar Triangle is a
political and cultural alliance in
Europe, consisting of France,
Germany, and Poland.
world‟s first 6G prototype device
World‟s first 6G prototype device
AI anchors Krish and Bhoomi
 Doordarshan Kisan (DD Kisan) launched AI anchors
Krish and Bhoomi on May 26, 2024.
 AI Krish and AI Bhoomi are virtual news anchors
powered by artificial intelligence.
 They can speak in 50 languages and operate 24/7
without fatigue.
 Cover topics such as agricultural research, weather
changes, market trends, and government schemes.
 Aim to enhance service to farmers by delivering
accurate and timely information.
Asian Buddhist Summit
Sahityotsav
 The world's largest literary festival, Sahityotsav, was held from
March 11 to 16, 2024, at Rabindra Bhavan in New Delhi.
 Sahityotsav is the annual Festival of Letters organized by Sahitya
Akademi.
 Over 1,100 writers and scholars participated, representing more
than 175 languages.
 The festival included over 190 sessions.
Dwarka

 Gujarat government is launching India’s

first submarine tourism in Dwarka,
Gujarat.
 The submarine will explore the
submerged city of Dwarka, which is said
to have been submerged by the Arabian
Sea when Lord Krishna left the world.
Majuli
 The mask-making art form, called Mukha Xilpo, originated
in the 1500s, introduced by Saint Sankardeva.
 Masks are crafted on bamboo frames using a unique clay
called kumar matti, sourced from the Brahmaputra river.
 The masks embody various characters, emotions, and
themes of Vaisnavism.
 Manuscript paintings depict Hindu epic tales, particularly
the narratives of Lord Krishna's Bhagavata Purana.
 These paintings showcase artistic finesse and highlight
Assam's cultural heritage.
 Majuli is the world's largest river island and serves as the
seat of Assam's neo-Vaishnavite tradition.
 Charaideo Maidam – 43rd

Why in News?

 There is currently first World Heritage Site in the category of cultural

heritage in Northeast India.

 The nomination of the Charaideo Maidams has attained significance at a

time when the country is celebrating the 400th birth anniversary
of Lachit borpukan.
 Charaideo Maidam – 43rd

 Charaideo commonly known as ‘Pyramids of Assam’ was

the original capital of the Ahom Kings.
 Charaideo remained the symbolic center of Ahom Kingdom even
though the capital of the kingdom moved many times.
 It was built by Chaolung Sukhapa the founder of the dynasty in
about 1229 CE.
 It contains sacred burial
 Location: Located at the foothills of Nagaland, it’s situated at a grounds of Ahom kings
distance of around 30 KM from the historical Sivsagar town and queens and is also the

in Assam. place of the ancestral

Gods of the Ahoms.
Project PARI
Kamakhya Temple
 One of the Maha Shakti Peeths in India.
 Dedicated to Maa Kamakhaya / Kameswari (Goddess of
desire).
 Located on the Nilachal Hills overlooking the river
Brahmaputra, on the outskirts of Guwahati (Assam).
 Reconstructed in 1562 at the behest of Naranarayan (King
of Koch dynasty) after the original temple was destroyed by
Kala Pahar.
 Mentioned in the inscription of the Allahabad pillar of
Samudragupta.
 Dedicated to various forms of Mother Shakti, including
Sundari, Tripura, Tara, and Bhuvaneshvari.
Lachit Barphukan
 Lachit Barphukan was born in 1622 in Charaideo district of Assam.
 He served as the first Barbarua (military and judicial head) in the Ahom
Kingdom.
 As Barphukan (commander-in-chief), he led successful campaigns against
the Mughals during the reigns of Emperor Jahangir and Shahjahan.
 He founded the Paik practices, a system of forced labour, in the Ahom
Kingdom.
 He belonged to the Lukhurakhun clan, one of many clans in the Ahom
Kingdom.
 He was appointed military chief by King Swargadeo Chakradhwaj Singh.
 Since 1999, the Lachit Barphukan Gold Medal is awarded to the best
cadet at the National Defence Academy.
 Kokborok language
Overview: Recently, over 260 people were detained in Tripura during a 12-
hour statewide strike called by the Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF) to press
for the introduction of Roman script for Kokborok.

 It language spoken by the Borok people belonging to the State of Tripura.

 The term kok means "verbal", and borok means "people" or "human".
 It is a Sino-Tibetan language and can be traced back to at least the 1st century AD when the historical record of
Tripuri kings started to be written down in a book called the Raj Ratnakar.
 The dialect belongs to the Tibeto-Burman group of languages and its root can be traced to the Sino-Tibetan speech
family.
 Kokborok got the written form in the year of 1897 as Doulot Ahammad a muslim scholar wrote the first Kokborok
Grammar named “ KOKBOROMA ANG TRIPURA – VYAKARAN GRAMMAR.”
 It is one of the state languages of Tripura notified on January 19, 1979.
 Buddhavanam project
Context
Buddhavanam is the Buddhist heritage theme park at
Nagarjunasagar, Telangana which the government
aims to turn into a world Buddhist tourist destination.
Adopt a heritage 2.0
 Adopt a Heritage 2.0 Programme is a public-
private partnership initiative of the
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) that
encourages individuals and organizations to
adopt and restore heritage sites in India.
 Under the programme, corporate
stakeholders can utilize their Corporate
Social Responsibility (CSR) funds to enhance
the amenities at the historical sites.
Mera Gao Mera Dharohar
Overview: Recently, the Union Minister for Culture, Tourism
And Development of North Eastern Region informed the Lok
Sabha about the Mera Gaon Mera Dharohar programme.

Mera Gaon Mera Dharohar programme:

 It is a pan-India initiative of the Ministry of
Culture under National Mission on Cultural
Mapping and was launched on 27th July 2023.
 It seeks to compile comprehensive information detailing
the life, history, and ethos of Indian villages and to make
the same available to virtual and real-time visitors.
Rashtrapathi Bhavan
 Mudimanikyam

 Two Badami Chalukya temples at least 1,300-1,500 years old and a 1,200-year-old label inscription
were recently discovered in Mudimanikyam village along the banks of River Krishna in Nalgonda
district, Telangana.
 These temples are exceptional as they are in Kadamba Nagara style in the Rekha Nagara format.
 The label inscription, dating back to 8th or 9th century AD, also from the Badami Chalukya period,
reads as ‘Gandaloranru’ and is inscribed on a pillar of a group of five temples in the village.
 Ameen sayani
Ameen Sayani, a pioneering radio presenter who drew
in generations of listeners in India with his melodic
voice on a radio show that became a national
phenomenon, died on Tuesday in Mumbai.
 He was 91, died of a heart attack in a hospital.
 Sayani was a household name in the 1950s and a
dominant figure in Indian radio for over six
decades.
 He was known for his mellifluous voice, engaging
style, and ability to blend Hindi and Urdu.
Danteshwari Temple
 Danteshwari Temple is Hindu temple (part of Shaktism), dedicated
to Goddess Danteshwari, and is one of the 52 Shakti Peethas, shrines
of Shakti, the divine feminine, spread across India.
 The temple built in the 14th century, is situated in Dantewada, a town
situated 80 km from Jagdalpur Tehsil, Chhattisgarh. at the confluence of the
holy rivers Shankini and Dhankini, both the rivers have different colors.
 Dantewada is named after the Goddess Danteshwari, the presiding deity of
the earlier Kakatiya rulers.
 This six-hundred-year-old temple is one of the ancient heritage sites of India
and is a representation of the religio-socio-cultural history of the Bastar
region.
 E-Upahaar Portal
 E-Upahaar Portal was recently launched by the President
of India, Smt. DroupadiMurmu.
 In the first phase, around 250 exquisite gifts will be
auctioned.
 Rashtrapati Bhavan will auction selected gift items,
presented to the President and former Presidents on
various occasions, through an online portal called E-
Upahaar.
„Kittur Declaration‟
NANOO CHENNAMMA CAMPAIGN
 Commemorating 200 years of Rani
Chennamma’s rebellion against the British
East India Company, several social groups
across the country, including Act Now for
Harmony and Democracy (ANHAD) and the
National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW),
organized a national campaign, Naanoo Rani
Chennamma (I am Rani Chennamma too).
„Kittur Declaration‟
 She provided refuge to Rajaram, the
second son of Shivaji, when he was
fleeing from Mughal forces.
World‟s first Vedic clock
 World’s first Vedic clock, ‘Vikramaditya Vedic Clock,’ based
on Indian ‘panchang’ calculations, was inaugurated.
 The clock Is located at Jantar Mantar in Ujjain, Madhya
Pradesh.
 Jantar Mantar in Ujjain is an observatory built by Sawai Jai
Singh II of Jaipur in the early 18th century.
 Jantar Mantar was built in five cities: Ujjain, Delhi,
Mathura, Varanasi, and Jaipur (UNESCO World Heritage
site).
 Ujjain is located at the precise point where the zero
meridian intersects the Tropic of Cancer.
World‟s first Vedic clock
UNESCO‟s Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register

 The Ramcharitmanas, Panchatantra, and Sahṛdayāloka -

Locana have been included in UNESCO’s Memory of the
World Asia-Pacific Regional Register.
 These works were authored by Goswami Tulsidas
(Ramcharitmanas), Pt. Vishnu Sharma (Panchatantra), and
Acharya Anandvardhan (Sahṛdayāloka-Locana).
 The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA)
played a key role in securing the inclusion.
 This historic recognition occurred during the 10th meeting
of the Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the
Pacific (MOWCAP).
UNESCO‟s Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register
IOT community stamp
 Sri Sri Ravi Shankar received the first stamp
commemorating the 200th anniversary of Indian
Origin Tamils (IOT) in Sri Lanka.
 The stamp was presented by Senthil Thondaman,
Governor of the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka.
 The event recognized the IOT community, which has
faced neglect for decades.
 Thondaman expressed gratitude to both the Indian
and Sri Lankan governments for supporting the IOT
community.
AgriSURE Fund
 AgriSURE Fund is primarily focused on supporting startups and
agripreneurs in the agriculture sector through equity and debt
investments, particularly in high-risk, high-impact activities.
 The fund is supported by contributions from the Government
of India, NABARD, and other institutions, including private
investors.
 The AgriSURE Fund is established as a Category-II Alternative
Investment Fund (AIF).
 The initiative aims to foster innovation and sustainability in
India’s agriculture sector.
AgriSURE Fund
Digital Bharat Nidhi
 Digital Bharat Nidhi would replace the erstwhile Universal Service

Obligation Fund (USOF), which is a pool of funds generated by a 5 per

cent Universal Service Levy charged upon all the telecom fund
operators on their Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR).
 This money would be used to fund the expansion of telecom
networks in remote and rural areas.
 As per the Telecom Act, contributions made by telecom companies
towards the Digital Bharat Nidhi will first be credited to the
Consolidated Fund of India (CFI).
 DBN does not provide provides subsidies for smartphone purchases.
 Telecommunication Act 2023
Why in News?
The Telecommunications Bill, 2023, was passed in the Parliament
 At present, the Indian Telecommunications sector is governed by three separate Acts
of Parliament –
• Indian Telegraph Act 1885.
• Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act 1933.
• Telegraph Wires, (Unlawful Protection) Act 1950.
 Aim: update and unify telecom laws, by replacing outdated laws.
Retail Direct Scheme
 Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Retail Direct Scheme: The scheme provides
investors an opportunity to invest in government securities in a safe and
hassle-free way, in the primary and secondary market.
 Government securities under this scheme, includes Government of India
Treasury Bills (T-Bills), Government of India dated securities (dated G-Sec),
State Development Loans (SDLs), Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGB).
 Retail Direct Scheme offers retail investors the opportunity to buy
securities directly and free of charges.
 Individual retailers can open a Gilt Securities Account, called a Retail Direct
Gilt (RDG) account with RBI to participate in the buying and selling of
government securities.
Drone Didi – Central sector
PM – vidyalaxmi Scheme
Internationalization of currency
Human Development Index (HDI)
 Human Development Index (HDI)
 UNDP released the Human Development Report (HDR) 2023-2024 titled “Breaking the Gridlock:
Reimagining cooperation in a polarised world.”
 The Human Development Index (HDI) has been published since 1990 and forms the core of the HDR.
 HDI is a statistical measure to quantify a country’s achievements in three basic dimensions: Long and
healthy life, Knowledge and Decent standard of living.
 HDI value is calculated by aggregating the country’s scores in four indicators, which are compiled into a
single number between 0 and 1.0 based on dimension indices.
 HDI was developed by Pakistani economist Mahbub ul-Haq.
 Rank Improved to 134 in 2022 from 135 in 2021 (and 130 in 2018).
 Category: Medium human development category.
 Other reports of UNDP
Gender Inequality Index (GII) India has jumped 14 places to rank
108 in 2022, from 122 in 2021.

Multidimensional Poverty Index There are more than 230 million

(MPI) people in Multidimensional poverty
in 2021 in India.

Gender Development Index (GDI) India’s rank declined by 6 places to

140th in IDHI.

Planetary pressures-adjusted India ranks at 127th

Human Development Index
Sudarshan Setu
Major crude oil price benchmarks
 Brent: Most widely used globally, primarily in
Europe.
 West Texas Intermediate (WTI): Primarily used
in the US.
 Dubai/Oman: Used for pricing crude oil
delivered from the Middle East Gulf, Russia, US
Gulf Coast, Mexico, and other regions to
refiners.
 Ghost Shopping Centres
 In the context of the Indian retail sector, “Ghost
shopping centres" refer to abandoned or struggling
malls with a high vacancy rate, typically exceeding 40%.
 These malls are often deserted and lack the vibrancy
typically associated with successful shopping centres.
 Ghost: This signifies the emptiness and eerie feeling
associated with these abandoned or underused malls.
 Shopping Centres: These are large retail complexes
housing multiple stores offering a variety of goods and
services.
Unified Lending Interface
 The Unified Lending Interface (ULI) is designed to simplify
the loan disbursement process, allowing for more efficient
management of loans by both lenders and borrowers.
 The Unified Lending Interface (ULI) aims to address the
significant unmet credit demand in the agricultural and
MSME sectors, especially supporting small and rural
borrowers.
 Developed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), ULI will
integrate data from sources such as Aadhaar e-KYC, land
records, and account aggregators. It utilizes a standardized
API to enable faster credit evaluations.
 India Employment Report
 Recently, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the
Institute for Human Development (IHD) have jointly published a
report named India Employment Report 2024.
 According to this report, a total of 83% of the unemployed youth
looking for work in India are unemployed.
 According to the report, overall labour force participation,
workforce participation and employment rates in India have
improved in recent years after a long-term decline during 2000-
2019.
 One of the most important features of the Indian labour market is
the slow and steady transition of the workforce from agricultural
to non-agricultural sectors.
 Greater sand-plover
News - A rare sighting of a Greater sand-plover, a bird that migrates long
distances and usually inhabits coastal areas, has been reported in an urban
water body in Tamil Nadu.

 It is a medium sized plover with long hefty bill

 Breeding adults have a dark mask and organish chest, neck and forehead.
 Females are duller than males.
 Non-breeding birds and immatures are sandy brown above and white below, with a white throat and
“eyebrows.”
 Often confused with Lesser Sand-Plover, and best distinguished when both present; look for larger size,
heavier and longer bill, paler legs, and larger-headed appearance.
 IUCN Status: Least Concern
Mangrove cover in India
 Mangroves are a unique type of coastal ecosystem found
in tropical and subtropical regions. They are dense forests
of salt-tolerant trees and shrubs that thrive in intertidal
zones, where land meets the sea.

 According to the Indian State Forest Report 2021, Mangrove

cover in India is 4992 sq. Km which is 0.15% of the country's
total geographical area.

 Sundarbans in West Bengal are the largest mangrove forest

regions in the world. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage
Site.
MISHTI
 SAIME Initiative
 SAIME is a community-based pilot project in West Bengal under
which farmers are planting mangrove trees around shrimp ponds.
 It is conceived by NEWS and Global Nature Fund (GNF),
Naturland Bangladesh Environment and Development Society
(BEDS).
 Farmers have taken up cultivation of shrimp in West Bengal such
as black tiger shrimp (P. monodon) and giant freshwater
prawn (M. rosenbergii ).
 Shrimp cultivation is practised in about 15,000 to 20,000 hectares
of the unique ecosystem in India.
Mangrove Alliance for climate
 It includes UAE, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Japan,
and Spain.

 It seeks to educate and spread awareness worldwide on the

role of mangroves in curbing global warming and its potential
as a solution for climate change.

 Intergovernmental alliance works on a voluntary basis.

 Global Mangrove Cover: The total mangrove cover in the

world is one 1,50,000 sq kms.

 Asia has the largest number of mangroves worldwide.

 Mangrove for the future (MFF)

 Mangroves for Future (MFF) is a strategy to encourage funding for the conservation of coastal
ecosystems.
 Initiative co-chaired by IUCN and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
 The member nations include Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Pakistan,
Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Habrocestumswaminathan and Habrocestumbenjamin

 Two new species of jumping spiders discovered from

Western Ghats.
 The newly discovered species, Habro cestum swaminathan
and Habro cestum benjamin, which have been added to the
illustrious roster of the genus Habrocestum.
 These spider species are the unsung heroes of natural pest
control and vital indicators of ecosystem health.
 They have been discovered from the evergreen forests of
the southern Western Ghats.
 Zaimeng Lake
Overview:

Recently, a team of scientists recorded a new

species of salamander - the Tylototriton zaimeng
in the Zaimeng Lake of Manipur.

Zaimeng Lake
 It is situated on top of Khongtheng mountain ranges.
 Zaimeng in the Liangmai Naga dialect means “puzzle” or “mystery”.
 The greater part of the lake is basically a marshy mass of thick grass like weeds, mixed
with reeds and green mosses.
 Umiam lake (Barapani)
Umiam Dam
 The Umiam Dam, also known as the Barapani Dam, is
a large reservoir located in the state of Meghalaya in
northeastern India.
 It is situated on the Umiam River, about 15 kilometers north
of Shillong, the capital city of Meghalaya.
 To provide hydroelectric power generation and supply
drinking water to the region. It serves as a major water
source for Shillong and its surrounding areas.
Zero Waste to Landfill (ZWL) status
 Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (TIAL)
became the first airport in India to achieve Zero
Waste to Landfill (ZWL) status.
 TIAL received the ZWL recognition from the
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Centre of
Excellence for Sustainable Development.
 TIAL achieved a 99.5% diversion of waste from
landfills.
 This includes 100% diversion of plastic and municipal
solid waste.
2024 Tyler Prize
Direct Air Capture and Storage Technology (DAC+S)

 World’s largest Direct Air Capture and Storage

(DAC+S) plant, started its operation in Iceland
 A Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) technology
that captures CO2 directly from the atmosphere
at any location.
 It is distinct from carbon capture which is
generally carried out at the point of emissions.
 CO2 can be permanently stored in deep
geological formations (DAC+S) or used for
various applications.
Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs)
 Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs)
 Microbial Fuel Cell - Uses bacteria as catalysts to oxidize matter and generate electricity.
 How Does it Work?
 Anode and Cathode: Separated by a cationic membrane.
 Microbial Metabolism: Microbes metabolize organic compounds, producing electrons and
protons.
 Electron Transfer: Electrons are transferred to the anode, then to the cathode.
 Power Generation: Electrons combine with protons and oxygen to generate electricity.
 Applications
 Low-Cost Electricity: Generate electricity from waste and organic matter.
 Bioremediation: Clean pollutants from contaminated soil and water.
 Wastewater Treatment: Treat wastewater and generate electricity simultaneously.
India‟s First High-Resolution Landslide Susceptibility Map
 Submarine Cable System (SMC)

Managed by the Department of

Telecommunications (DoT) through
International Long-Distance (ILD)
licenses.
 Kutch Bustard Sanctuary
 Location: Near Nalia, Kutch district, Gujarat,
India.
 Size: Smallest sanctuary in India, covering 2
sq. km.
 Establishment: Declared in July 1992 to
protect the endangered Great Indian
Bustard.
 Key Species:
 Great Indian Bustard.
 MaLesser Florican.
 cqueen’s Bustard.