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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
SCHEMES .................................................................. 3 1) GREAT INDIAN BUSTARD .............................................32
1) BHARAT AUDYOGIK VIKAS YOJNA ................................... 3 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS .................................... 33
2) RELIEF SCHEME ....................................................... 3
1) OUTER SPACE TREATY ................................................33
3) SFURTI................................................................... 4
2) NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY .........................33
4) OTHER NOTABLE TOPICS ....................................... 4
3) RAISINA DIALOGUE ....................................................33
4.1. PRADHAN MANTRI KAUSHAL VIKAS YOJANA ................... 4
4) COMPREHENSIVE AND PROGRESSIVE AGREEMENT FOR TRANS-
4.2. RASHTRIYA GRAM SWARAJ ABHIYAN............................. 5
PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP ...................................................34
4.3. PRADHAN MANTRI MUDRA YOJANA .............................. 5
5) OTHER NOTABLE TOPICS ......................................34
4.4. PRADHAN MANTRI JANJATIYA UNNAT GRAM ABHIYAN ....... 6
5.1. ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION .....................34
4.5. SEVA BHOJ YOJANA ................................................. 6
5.2. INTERNATIONAL NORTH-SOUTH TRANSPORT CORRIDOR ..35
4.6. KHELO INDIA SCHEME .............................................. 7
5.3. GROUP OF SEVEN (G7) ...........................................35
INITIATIVES ................................................................ 8
ORGANISATIONS ..................................................... 37
1) CENTRE SUSPENDS RICE FORTIFICATION SCHEME ............. 8
1) NATIONAL HOUSING BANK ..........................................37
2) JAL JEEVAN MISSION GETS EXTENSION UP TO 2028 ............. 8
2) DISTRICT MINERAL FOUNDATIONS .................................37
3) OTHER NOTABLE TOPICS ....................................... 9
3) OTHER NOTABLE TOPICS ......................................38
3.1. NATIONAL POLICY FOR RARE DISEASES, 2021 ............... 9
3.1. FOREST SURVEY OF INDIA .........................................38
3.2. AYUSHMAN BHARAT DIGITAL MISSION .........................10
3.2. NATIONAL SHIPPING BOARD .....................................38
3.3. UNIVERSAL IMMUNISATION PROGRAMME .....................11
3.3. CENTRAL BOARD OF FILM CERTIFICATION.....................38
POLITY ..................................................................... 13 3.4. BIMSTEC ............................................................38
3.5. FINANCIAL SERVICES INSTITUTIONS BUREAU .................39
1) TRANSGENDER PERSONS (PROTECTION OF RIGHTS)
3.6. PERMANENT COURT OF ARBITRATION ..........................40
AMENDMENT BILL, 2026 ................................................13
3.7. OPEC .................................................................40
2) MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT ........................................14
3.8. NATO .................................................................41
3) REMOVAL OF SPEAKER ...............................................15
4) ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES ACT, 1955 ............................15 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ........................................ 42
ECONOMY ............................................................... 17 1) SUPERCONDUCTORS .................................................42
2) PNEUMONIA ............................................................42
1) WTO'S 14TH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE ........................17
3) NAVIC ...................................................................43
2) DICGC ..................................................................18
4) MAGNETIC FIELD REVERSALS .......................................44
3) GOVT ASKS RBI TO TARGET RETAIL INFLATION AT 4% TILL MAR
5) EXRNA ...................................................................45
2031 ........................................................................19
6) NUCLEIC ACID TEST...................................................45
4) WHOLESALE PRICE INDEX ...........................................19
7) NAP-AMR 2.0 ........................................................46
5) OTHER NOTABLE TOPICS ......................................20
8) RESEARCHERS AT CERN TRANSPORT ANTIPROTONS ..........47
5.1. INSOLVENCY AND BANKRUPTCY CODE, 2016 ...............20
9) CENTRE INTENSIFIES REGULATORY SURVEILLANCE OVER GLP-1
5.2. AT1 BONDS ..........................................................20
WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS .....................................................48
5.3. STRATEGIC CRUDE OIL RESERVES ..............................21
10) BROWN DWARF ......................................................49
AGRICULTURE.......................................................... 23 11) WHITE PHOSPHORUS ...............................................49
12) HELIUM SHORTAGE .................................................50
1) NATIONAL MISSION ON EDIBLE OILS ..............................23
13) DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LPG AND LNG .........................50
ENVIRONMENT ........................................................ 25 14) OTHER NOTABLE TOPICS ....................................51
14.1. CAR-T CELL THERAPY ...........................................51
1) INDIA’S NEW NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION .....25
14.2. ASTROSAT........................................................52
2) NATIONAL CHAMBAL SANCTUARY .................................25
14.3. NATIONAL QUANTUM MISSION ................................53
3) CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY ........................26
4) CONVENTION ON CONSERVATION OF MIGRATORY SPECIES .27 REPORTS & INDICES ................................................ 55
5) COMMISSION FOR AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT .................28
1) FISCAL HEALTH INDEX 2026 ........................................55
6) OTHER NOTABLE TOPICS ......................................30
2) WORLD HAPPINESS REPORT 2026 ................................56
6.1. NATIONAL GREEN HYDROGEN MISSION .......................30
3) PERIODIC LABOUR FORCE SURVEY ANNUAL REPORT .........56
SPECIES IN NEWS .................................................... 32
ART & CULTURE ....................................................... 59

1
 1) SAHITYA AKADEMI AWARD ...........................................59 7) ANCIENT LATERITE ROCK-CUT CHAMBER UNEARTHED IN KERALA
2) JNANPITH AWARD ......................................................59 ................................................................................65
8) ECONOMIC STABILISATION FUND ..................................65
DEFENCE & SECURITY .............................................. 60
9) RED HERRING PROSPECTUS ........................................65
1) INFORMATION FUSION CENTRE – INDIAN OCEAN REGION ...60 10) UMANG ..............................................................65
11) UDYAM PORTAL ......................................................65
PLACES IN NEWS ..................................................... 61
12) INDIA HOLDS FIFTH-LARGEST COAL RESERVES ...............66
1) SOMALILAND ...........................................................61 13) PM E-VIDYA .........................................................66
2) STRAIT OF HORMUZ ...................................................61 14) GOBARDHAN ........................................................66
3) OTHER NOTABLE TOPICS ......................................62 15) EXERCISE LAMITIYE-2026 .......................................66
3.1. BALTIC SEA ...........................................................62 16) ADVANCE PRICING AGREEMENT ..................................66
17) INDIA EASES RULES TO ALLOW CHINESE INVESTMENTS TO
MISCELLANEOUS ..................................................... 63
ENTER ........................................................................66
1) INDIA WINS THIRD ICC MEN’S T20 WORLD CUP TITLE .......63 18) ONLY HINDUS, BUDDHISTS, SIKHS CAN CLAIM SC STATUS:
SUPREME COURT .........................................................67
HIGHLIGHTS FROM OTHER ARTICLES........................ 64
19) AGRIPV ................................................................67
1) MASCOTS PRAGATI, VIKAS ...........................................64 20) INDIA RANKS SECOND GLOBALLY FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE
2) DURAND LINE ..........................................................64 OVERWEIGHT ...............................................................67
3) OPERATION SANKALP .................................................64
PRACTICE WITH PYQS .............................................. 68
4) INDIA SUSTAINS PROGRESS IN REDUCING CHILD DEATHS .....64
5) INDIA’S FERTILISERS IMPORTS ......................................64
6) INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON MARITIME SEARCH AND
RESCUE .....................................................................65

2
Dear Aspirants,
In the August 2025 edition of the SCA Prelims Magazine, under the topic Small Finance Banks, it is
mentioned that SFBs are required to lend at least 75% of their Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC) to
sectors classified as Priority Sector Lending (PSL) by the RBI.

This is incorrect. In 2025, the RBI revised the PSL target for SFBs from 75% to 60%. Please make a note
of this correction.

SCHEMES
1) Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna play a key role in implementing the
What’s in the news? initiative.
• The Union Cabinet has approved the Financial Assistance
Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA) • Financial assistance of up to ₹1 crore
to develop 100 plug-and-play per acre will be provided for core
industrial parks across the country. infrastructure such as roads, utilities,
• The scheme is aimed at boosting drainage and ICT systems; value-added
manufacturing, attracting investments facilities including factory sheds, testing
and generating large-scale labs and warehousing; and social
employment. infrastructure like worker housing and
Key Features support amenities.
• BHAVYA will focus on developing o Additional support of up to 25%
modern, ready-to-use industrial of project cost will be extended
ecosystems. for external connectivity
• The initiative will be implemented in infrastructure.
partnership with states and private
players, with parks ranging in size from 2) RELIEF Scheme
100 to 1,000 acres. What’s in the news?
o The minimum contiguous land • The Union Government has launched the
parcel size has been kept at 25 RELIEF (Resilience and Logistics
acres for north-eastern and Intervention for Export Facilitation)
hilly States. scheme to support Indian exporters
• A key feature of the scheme is its facing disruptions due to the ongoing
emphasis on streamlined approvals conflict in West Asia.
and single-window clearances, • The scheme has been introduced under
enabling industries to move quickly from the Export Promotion Mission (Refer
planning to production. SCA Prelims Magazine November 2025
• Project selection will be carried out Edition).
through a challenge-based mechanism, • It offers insurance support, facilitates
ensuring that only high-quality, coverage for new shipments and
investment-ready proposals are provides reimbursement assistance to
approved. eligible MSME exporters dealing with
• The National Industrial Corridor elevated freight and insurance costs.
Development Corporation (NICDC), • RELIEF has been structured to provide
under the Department for Promotion of support across the export cycle by
Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), covering the shipments already left
Ministry of Commerce and Industry, will during the disruption period as well as

3
 prospective exports planned to the 4) OTHER NOTABLE TOPICS
affected region.
• Under the approved framework, Export 4.1. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana
Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC), About
wholly owned by Government of India • Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana
(Ministry of Commerce & Industry), (PMKVY) is a flagship scheme of the
has been designated as the nodal and Ministry of Skill Development &
implementing agency responsible for Entrepreneurship to enable a large
verification, claim processing, number of Indian youth to take up
disbursement and monitoring. industry-relevant skill training.
• Launched in 2015, PMKVY is implemented
3) SFURTI by National Skill Development
About Corporation (NSDC).
• The “Scheme of Fund for Regeneration
National Skill Development Corporation:
of Traditional Industries (SFURTI)” is • NSDC is a not-for-profit public limited
an initiative of the Ministry of Micro, company incorporated in 2008.
Small, and Medium Enterprises to • It was set up by the Ministry of Finance
strengthen traditional industries (such as a Public Private Partnership (PPP)
as khadi, coir, handicraft, handlooms, model.
pottery, etc.) by making them o The Government of India
competitive, market-driven, and through the Ministry of Skill
sustainable. Development & Entrepreneurship
• Launched in 2005, the scheme focuses on
holds 49% of the share capital
organizing artisans and rural of NSDC, while the private sector
entrepreneurs into clusters to enhance has the balance 51% of the share
productivity, income, and employment capital.
opportunities. • NSDC acts as a catalyst in skill
• The scheme, which was revamped in
development by providing funding to
2014-15, supports infrastructure enterprises, companies and
development, technology upgradation, organizations that provide skill
skill training, product design, and training.
improved market access.
o The scheme also promotes • Skill training is based on the National Skill
innovation, branding, e- Qualification Framework (NSQF) and
commerce, and sustainable industry led standards.
practices to improve the overall National Skills Qualifications Framework:
value chain of traditional • NSQF is a competency-based
industries. framework that organizes all
• Financial assistance is provided based qualifications according to a series of
on the type of cluster. levels of knowledge, skills and
Why in News? aptitude. NSQF in India was notified in
• A total of 513 clusters across various 2013.
traditional sectors have been approved • Under NSQF, the learner can acquire the
under SFURTI since 2015-16. certification for competency needed at
any level through formal, non-formal
or informal learning.

4
 • At present, the current version of the include Tribal Areas (Sixth Schedule)
PMKVY i.e. PMKVY 4.0 is under and states like Nagaland and hill areas
implementation. of Manipur.
Key Components of PMKVY
1. Short Term Training: To impart short • The scheme comprises both Central and
term training to candidates of Indian State Components, with the Central
nationality who are either school/college Component being fully funded by the
dropouts or unemployed. Government of India.
2. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): o The funding pattern for the State
To assess and certify individuals with Component follows a ratio of
prior learning experience or skills. 60:40 between the Centre and
3. Special Projects: To facilitate training in States, except for North Eastern
special areas and/or premises of and Hilly States and the UT of
Government bodies, Corporates or Jammu & Kashmir, where the
Industry bodies. ratio is 90:10.
o For other UTs, the Central share
4.2. Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan is 100%.
About
• The Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan 4.3. Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana
(RGSA) was launched in 2018 by the About
Ministry of Panchayati Raj to develop • The Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana
and strengthen the Panchayati Raj (PMMY) was launched in 2015 to bridge
System across India. the gap in financial accessibility,
• The scheme was revamped in FY 2022- offering collateral-free loans up to ₹20
23, with the main objective of supporting lakh to the non-corporate, non-farm
the capacity building of Panchayati Raj small/micro enterprises.
institutions (PRIs) by imparting • PMMY aims to “fund the unfunded” by
training to Elected Representatives bringing the small entrepreneurs into the
(ERs) and other stakeholders to formal financial system and extending
develop their governance capabilities. affordable credit to them.
o Additionally, the scheme • The Micro Units Development and
promotes e-governance and Refinance Agency (MUDRA), serves as
other technology driven the supporting institution that provides
solutions and also supports refinance support to a network of
exposure visits, development of lending institutions, enabling the flow of
training modules and materials, institutional credit.
etc. • Loans under PMMY are extended
• The Revamped RGSA extends to all States through Member Lending Institutions
and Union Territories (UTs) of the (MLIs), including Scheduled Commercial
country including institutions of rural Banks (SCBs), Regional Rural Banks
local government in non-Part IX areas, (RRBs), Small Finance Banks (SFBs), Non-
where Panchayats do not exist. Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs),
and Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs).
• Part IX Areas are regions where the • Borrowers include non-corporate, non-
standard three-tier Panchayati Raj farm micro and small enterprises
system is mandatory. across manufacturing, trading,
• Non-Part IX areas are specific regions services, and allied agricultural
exempted from the provisions of Part activities.
IX under Article 243M. These typically

5
MUDRA Loan Categories: • Also known as the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya
• Mudra loans are offered in four categories Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, PM JUGA aims
namely, ‘Shishu’, ‘Kishore’, ‘Tarun’ and to benefit more than 5 crore tribal
‘Tarun Plus’ which signifies the stage of people—about half of India's tribal
growth or development and funding needs population—through comprehensive
of the borrowers:- development initiatives.
o Shishu : covering loans upto Rs. Objectives
50,000 • The scheme’s core objective is to ensure
o Kishore : covering loans above Rs. saturation coverage and
50,000 and upto Rs. 5 lakh implementation of central schemes for
o Tarun : covering loans above Rs. 5 improving the socio-economic
lakh and upto Rs. 10 lakh conditions of tribal communities.
o Tarun Plus (started in 2024 for • PMJUGA covers all tribal majority
those entrepreneurs who have villages (with a population of 500 or
availed and successfully repaid more, and at least 50% tribal residents as
previous loans under the ‘Tarun’ well as villages in Aspirational Districts
category) : covering loans above Rs. with a tribal population of 50 or more).
10 lakh and upto Rs. 20 lakh. Implementation
• The scheme comprises 25 interventions
implemented by 17-line Ministries.
These ministries are implementing
flagship schemes to bridge critical gaps
in social infrastructure, healthcare,
education and livelihoods in tribal-
majority villages.
• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs serves as
the nodal agency, coordinating with
Central Ministries for planning,
• With an objective to promote implementation, and monitoring.
entrepreneurship among the new Funding
• The funding for various interventions will
generation aspiring youth, it is ensured
that more focus is given to Shishu come from the existing Development
Category loans and then Kishore and Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes
Tarun and Tarun Plus categories. (DAPST) grants allocated to Central
Why in News? Ministries and Departments under
• The Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana is
Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored
marking 11 years of success in Schemes.
strengthening India's grassroots
entrepreneurs. 4.5. Seva Bhoj Yojana
About
• Seva Bhoj Yojana was launched by the
4.4. Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram
Abhiyan Ministry of Culture in 2018 to support
About charitable and religious institutions
• The Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram
distributing free food to the public.
• Under the scheme, the Central Goods
Abhiyan (PMJUGA) was launched by the
Government of India in 2024 for and Services Tax (CGST) and the
improving the socio-economic central government’s share of
condition of tribal communities. Integrated Goods and Services Tax
(IGST) paid on the purchase of specific

6
 raw food items by eligible institutions are
reimbursed by the central
government.
o To qualify for reimbursement,
institutions must have been actively
distributing free food to at least
5,000 people per month for the past • Under the scheme, talented players
three years. identified in priority sports disciplines at
• It is implemented as a Central Sector various levels (by the High-Powered
Scheme. Committee) will be provided annual
financial assistance of Rs 6.28 lakh
4.6. Khelo India Scheme [including Rs 1.20 lakh as Out of Pocket
About Allowance (OPA)] towards training
• The Khelo India programme has been
expenses, coaching, competitions
introduced to revive the sports culture in exposure, education, equipment support,
India at the grass-root level by building a scientific support etc.
strong framework for all sports played in
our country.
• It was launched 2018 and implemented by
the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

7
 INITIATIVES
1) Centre Suspends Rice Fortification Scheme o every third child still suffers from
What is Food Fortification? chronic undernourishment, and
• Food fortification is the practice of every fifth child is acutely
deliberately increasing the content of one malnourished.
or more essential micronutrients (such as • Food fortification is one strategy to address
vitamins and minerals) in a food product these issues, as it provides essential
during its processing to improve its nutrients without requiring changes to
nutritional quality. people’s dietary habits.
• In 2016, the Food Safety and Standards • This approach is socio-culturally
Authority of India (FSSAI) operationalized acceptable since it does not affect the
the Food Safety and Standards taste, texture, or appearance of the food.
(Fortification of Foods) Regulations, Did you know?
2016 for fortifying staples namely: • Food Fortification has a high benefit-to-
o Wheat Flour and Rice with Iron,
cost ratio. The Copenhagen Consensus
Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid, (a conference of prominent economists)
o Milk and Edible Oil with Vitamins A
estimates that every 1 Rupee spent on
and D and fortification results in 9 Rupees in
o Double Fortified Salt with Iodine
benefits to the economy.
and Iron.
Why in News?
FSSAI: • The Union Government has decided to
• FSSAI is an autonomous body temporarily discontinue the process of
established under the Ministry of rice fortification, citing a study by IIT
Health and Family Welfare, with the Kharagpur to assess the shelf life of
primary purpose of regulating and fortified rice.
ensuring the safety and quality of food o The study found that moisture
products across the country. content, storage conditions,
• The FSSAI is responsible for setting temperature, relative humidity and
standards for food products, ensuring packaging material critically
compliance with these standards, and influence the stability of fortified
promoting public health by regulating rice.
food safety practices. • The central government had rolled out rice
• The ‘+F’ logo has been notified to identify fortification to address micronutrient
fortified foods. deficiencies such as anaemia and
Significance malnutrition among vulnerable
• Deficiency of micronutrients, also known populations.
as “hidden hunger”, is a serious health o Fortified rice is produced by
risk in India. blending fortified rice kernels with
• According to the National Family Health regular rice.
Survey (NFHS-5):
o 67 percent of children (6-59 2) Jal Jeevan Mission gets extension up to 2028
months) are anaemic About
o 57 percent women in the • The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) was launched
reproductive age group are in 2019 to enable all rural households to
anaemic have functional household tap

8
 connection (FHTC) by 2024 (Har Ghar and prevent nearly 400,000 deaths from
Nal Se Jal). diarrheal diseases.
o The goal of JJM is to provide FHTC to • Nobel laureate Prof. Michael Kremer
every household with service level suggests safe water coverage could reduce
at the rate of 55 litres per capita under-five child mortality by almost
per day (lpcd). 30%.
• This Mission is under the Department of Why in News?
Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry • The Union Cabinet has approved the
of Jal Shakti. extension of Jal Jeevan Mission to 2028
and transform the programme from a
primarily infrastructure-driven
initiative to a citizen-centric utility
model ensuring sustainable piped potable
water supply in rural areas.
• JJM 2.0 would facilitate the certification of
all Gram Panchayats as ‘Har Ghar Jal’, by
provisioning tap water connection to all
the rural households across the country by
• The Mission also aims to provide functional
2028.
tap connections to Schools, Anganwadi
• As part of structural reforms, the
centres, Gram Panchayat buildings,
government will introduce a national
Health centres, wellness centres and
digital framework called “Sujalam
community buildings.
Bharat”, which will assign each village a
• The Mission gives emphasis to source
unique Sujal Gaon or Service Area ID.
sustainability measures such as recharge
o The system will digitally map the
and reuse through greywater management,
entire drinking water supply
water conservation and rainwater
chain—from source to household
harvesting.
tap—to improve monitoring,
• Every water supply asset created under Jal
transparency and accountability.
Jeevan Mission is geo-tagged.
• To encourage community ownership of
• It is implemented through a community-
water systems, the mission will introduce
based approach and seeks to build a Jan
“Jal Utsav”, an annual community-led
Andolan (people’s movement) for water,
event focused on reviewing and
making it a shared national priority.
maintaining local water supply
Fund Sharing:
infrastructure while promoting collective
• The fund sharing pattern is 90:10 for
responsibility for water sustainability.
Himalayan and North-Eastern States;
50:50 for other States and 100% for
3) OTHER NOTABLE TOPICS
Union Territories.
Progress:
3.1. National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021
• From the baseline of 3.23 crore (17%)
About
rural households with tap water
• The Government of India launched the
connections in 2019, so far, more than
National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD)
12.56 crore additional rural households
in 2021 for the treatment of rare disease
have been provided with tap water
patients.
connections under JJM.
Significance:
• The World Health Organization (WHO)
estimates that achieving the Mission's
goals will save women 5.5 crore hours
daily previously spent collecting water

9
 What is a rare disease? challenges are to make optimal
• A rare disease is a health condition of low
patient selection for benefit, and
prevalence that affects a small number very high cost and lifelong therapy.
of people compared with other prevalent Lowering the Cost of Treatment:
• The Rare Diseases Policy aims to lower the
diseases in the general population.
• Rare diseases include genetic diseases,
high cost of treatment for rare diseases with
rare cancers, infectious tropical increased focus on indigenous research.
diseases and degenerative diseases. National Hospital Based Registry:
• The policy also envisages creation of a
• 80% of rare diseases are genetic in
origin and hence disproportionately national hospital based registry of rare
impact children. diseases so that adequate data is available
for definition of rare diseases and for
Definition: research and development related to rare
• Rare disease is defined by the World
diseases.
Health Organisation (WHO) as an often Screening, Prevention & Treatment:
• The Policy also focuses on early screening
debilitating, lifelong disease or disorder
with a prevalence of 1 or less per 1,000 and prevention through primary and
population. secondary health care infrastructure.
• Screening will also be supported by Nidan
• However, there is no universal definition
as different countries define rare diseases Kendras set up by the Department of
differently, with India recording about 450 Biotechnology.
o Nidan Kendras provide counselling,
rare diseases that affect at least 70 million
people. prenatal testing and diagnosis,
management, and multidisciplinary
Challenges Associated: care in Government Hospitals wherein
• There are 7,000-8,000 classified rare
the influx of patients is more.
• The policy also aims to strengthen tertiary
diseases, but less than 5% have therapies
available to treat them. About 95% rare health care facilities for prevention and
diseases have no approved treatment and treatment of rare diseases through
designating 12 health facilities as Centre
less than 1 in 10 patients receive disease-
specific treatment. of Excellence (CoEs).
• Rare diseases are also difficult to research
Crowd Funding Mechanism:
• Besides, the Policy also envisages a crowd
upon as the patients pool is very small and
it often results in inadequate clinical funding mechanism in which corporates
experience. and individuals will be encouraged to extend
• The cost of treatment of rare diseases is
financial support for treatment of rare
prohibitively expensive. diseases.
Financial Assistance:
Salient Features of NPRD, 2021 • Financial support up to Rs 50 lakh shall be
Classification: provided to the patients suffering from any
• In the policy, rare diseases have not been category of rare diseases.
defined but classified into three groups. • The financial support will be provided to the
o Group 1 has disorders amenable to patients for the treatment in any of the
one-time curative treatment. Centre of Excellence mentioned in NPRD-
o Group 2 has diseases requiring 2021.
long-term or lifelong treatment
with relatively lower cost of 3.2. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
treatment and benefit has been About
documented in literature. • The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
o Group 3 has diseases for which (ABDM), launched in 2021, is an initiative
definitive treatment is available, but of the Government of India aimed at

10
 building an open interoperable digital Implementing Agency
health ecosystem for the country. • The National Health Authority (NHA) has
• With ABDM, citizens can securely store been given the mandate by the government
and access their medical records (e.g., to design, build, roll-out and implement the
prescriptions, diagnostic reports, ABDM in the country.
discharge summaries) and share them o NHA is an attached office of the
with healthcare providers after their Ministry of Health and Family
consent, ensuring continuity of care. Welfare with full functional
• Citizens will also have access to accurate autonomy.
and verified information about health
facilities and service providers. Through 3.3. Universal Immunisation Programme
these initiatives, ABDM aims to make About
healthcare more accessible. • The Universal Immunisation Programme,
launched in 1985 and implemented by the
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,
aims to provide free vaccines to children
and pregnant women against various
diseases.
o The programme reaches about 2.9
crore pregnant women and 2.54
crore newborns every year.
• Under UIP, immunization is providing free of
cost against 12 vaccine preventable
diseases:
Components of ABDM o Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus,
• The core components of ABDM’s Polio, Measles, Rubella, severe
technological architecture include four form of Childhood Tuberculosis,
registries for providing a trustable Hepatitis B, Meningitis &
identity across healthcare stakeholders in Pneumonia caused by Hemophilus
the ecosystem: Influenza type B, Rotavirus
o Ayushman Bharat Health Diarrhoea, Pneumococcal
Account (ABHA): A 14 digit unique Pneumonia and Japanese
identifier for individuals to store Encephalitis.
and share medical records. § The Japanese Encephalitis
o Healthcare Professionals vaccine is provided to people
Registry (HPR): A comprehensive only in endemic districts,
database of registered healthcare and the rest are provided
professionals. nationally.
o Health Facility Registry (HFR): A • Under UIP, a child is considered fully
digital repository of healthcare immunized after receiving all vaccinations
facilities across India. as per the national schedule within the first
o Drug Registry: A registry of all the year of life.
drugs across various systems of • Notable milestones of UIP include India’s
medicines that are sold in the Indian elimination of polio in 2014 and maternal
market. and neonatal tetanus elimination in 2015.
• Participation in ABDM is voluntary Mission Indradhanush:
including for citizens. Participation of a • To reach children and pregnant women
healthcare facility or an institution is also who are unvaccinated or partially
voluntary and shall be taken by the vaccinated, the government launched the
respective management (government or Mission Indradhanush programme in
private management). 2015, following it with Intensified

11
 Mission Indradhanush Missions (with a U-Win Portal:
greater focus on urban areas). • U-Win is a digital platform and app to help
• These missions aim to achieve over 90% people find vaccination centres near
full immunisation coverage under the their residence, manage vaccination
UIP by strengthening routine appointments at health facilities and
immunisation services and targeting hard- maintain vaccination records.
to-reach populations.

12
 POLITY
1) Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) o The Bill adds that transgender
Amendment Bill, 2026 persons will be entitled to change
What’s in the news? the first name in the birth
• The Parliament has passed the certificate and other official
Transgender Persons (Protection of documents based on the certificate
Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026 which seeks of identity.
to amend the Transgender Persons • Change in Gender: The Act provides that a
(Protection of Rights) Act, 2019. revised certificate of identity may be
Key Provisions of the Bill obtained where a transgender person
• Definition of a Transgender Person: The undergoes surgery to change gender.
2019 Act defines a transgender person as a o The Bill instead mandates the
person whose gender does not match person to obtain a revised
with the gender assigned at birth, and certificate.
specifies certain persons who are • Mandatory Reporting by Hospitals:
included. Medical institutions where gender-
o The Bill now explicitly includes change surgeries are performed must now
socio-cultural identities such as furnish details of those surgeries to the
kinner, hijra, aravani, jogta, and district magistrate and the medical
eunuch, as well as persons with board.
variations at birth in • Offences and Penalties: Under the Act,
characteristics such as primary offences against transgender persons
sexual characteristics, external include: (i) compelling or enticing into
genitalia, chromosomes, or forced or bonded labour, (ii) denying the
hormones from the normative right of passage or obstructing use of
standard of male or female body. public place, (iii) forcing or causing to leave
o It also brings within its ambit household, village, or other places of
individuals who may have been residence, and (iv) harm or injury.
forced or induced to assume a o These are punishable with
transgender identity through imprisonment between six
physical or medical months and two years, and a
interventions. fine.
o The Bill excludes persons with o The Bill adds certain offences.
different sexual orientations and Kidnapping and causing grievous
self-perceived sexual identities hurt or severe injury in order to
from this definition. force a person to assume a
• Recognition of Transgender Identity: transgender identity will carry: (i)
Under the Act, a transgender person may imprisonment between 10 years
apply to the District Magistrate for and life and a minimum fine of two
issuing a certificate of identity as a lakh rupees if the victim is an adult,
transgender person. and (ii) imprisonment for life and a
o The Bill adds that the District fine of at least five lakh rupees if the
Magistrate will issue the certificate victim is a child.
after examining the Criticisms
recommendation of a designated • The bill has been facing opposition from
medical board. various quarters including the people from
o The board will be headed by a Chief the transgender community.
Medical Officer or a Deputy Chief o It excludes persons who identify
Medical Officer. as transgender based on self-

13
 perception, as it omits a key statutes such as the Bharatiya Nyaya
provision of the 2019 Act that Sanhita, 2023, and Representation of the
recognised self-identification. People Act, 1951.
• The transgender community has pointed • While it does not enjoy any statutory
out that the Bill goes against the Supreme backing, the Supreme Court has upheld
Court’s landmark 2014 NALSA vs Union its sanctity on several occasions.
of India judgment. When does the MCC come into force?
o In that verdict, the top court • The MCC comes into force immediately
recognised transgender persons when the election schedule is announced
as a “third gender” and ruled that by the Election Commission and remains in
gender identity is a matter of operation till the election process is
personal autonomy and self- complete, i.e. results are announced.
perception, not biological or • It is enforced throughout India in case of
medical criteria. General elections, and the State up for
o The SC had noted that self- polls in case of Legislative Assembly
determination of gender is an elections.
integral part of personal • All organisations, committees,
autonomy and self-expression corporations, commissions (for e.g.
and falls within the realm of Transport authorities, Jal boards) funded
personal liberty guaranteed wholly or partially by the Centre or State
under Article 21 of the are bound by the MCC.
Constitution of India. • While listed political parties and
candidates are bound to follow the MCC,
2) Model Code of Conduct even non-political organisations which
About hold campaigns favouring a political party or
• The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is a set candidate are bound to follow specific
of rules issued by the Election guidelines mentioned by the EC.
Commission of India (ECI) to guide What happens once MCC is enforced?
political parties and candidates during • No appeals to religion, caste, or communal
elections. sentiments.
• Its purpose is to ensure the conduct of • Criticism must focus on policies,
free and fair elections, in line with the performance, and programmes, not private
mandate of ECI under Article 324 of the lives.
Indian Constitution. • Official mass media cannot be used for
Timeline biased coverage favouring the ruling party.
• The MCC was first introduced in the • Illegal activities like bribing, intimidation,
assembly election in Kerala in 1960. impersonation, or campaigning near
• In 1962, the Election Commission polling stations are prohibited.
introduced the Model Code of Conduct for • Demonstrations outside private homes or
general elections. use of someone else's property for
o The guidelines of the Model Code of campaigning are banned.
Conduct were made stricter by the • Parties must inform authorities about
Election Commission in 1991 after meetings and processions; permissions for
repeated flouting of norms by loudspeakers or gatherings must be
political parties. obtained.
Legal Provisions • Police instructions must be followed to
• The MCC is not enforceable by law; it maintain peace and manage traffic.
serves only as a guiding principle. • Carrying harmful objects or burning
However, certain provisions of the MCC may effigies is prohibited.
be enforced through invoking
corresponding provisions in other

14
 •Governments cannot use official • As per Article 96, the Speaker cannot
machinery, funds, or positions for preside over the House while a resolution
campaigning. for their removal is under consideration.
• No announcements of financial grants, new o In such a scenario, the Deputy
projects, infrastructure promises, or ad- Speaker typically presides over the
hoc appointments that could influence business of the Lok Sabha.
voters. • The Speaker has the right to speak and
• Government facilities, including transport, take part in the proceedings. They can
rest houses, and public spaces, must be vote in the first instance (as an ordinary
equally available to all parties. member).
• Election manifestos must follow • Though there are past instances of
constitutional principles, be realistic, and resolutions seeking the removal of Speaker
cannot be released during the prohibited (in 1954, against G. V. Mavalankar; in 1966,
period before polling. against Hukam Singh; and in 1987, against
• The Election Commission has also issued Balram Jakhar), no Lok Sabha Speaker
directions to political parties for has so far been removed using this
responsible and ethical use of social media process.
in election campaigning. Why in News?
Why in News? • The Lok Sabha took up a discussion on the
• The Election Commission of India has resolution seeking the removal of Speaker
enforced the Model Code of Conduct soon Om Birla.
after announcing the schedule for
Assembly elections in five states and one 4) Essential Commodities Act, 1955
Union Territory, Keralam, West Bengal, About
Assam, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. • The Essential Commodities Act (ECA) was
enacted in 1955 to control and regulate
3) Removal of Speaker trade and prices of commodities declared
Procedure for Removal of Speaker essential under the Act.
• The post of Speaker is the constitutional o Though there is no specific
and ceremonial head of the Lok Sabha. definition for ‘essential
• Rules 200–203 of the Rules of commodities’, the Act states that an
Procedure and Conduct of Business in essential commodity means a
Lok Sabha and Article 94-96 deal with the commodity specified in the
procedure to initiate the removal of the “Schedule” of the Act.
Speaker. • The Act empowers the central
• A resolution for removal of Lok Sabha government to notify certain
Speaker can only be moved after giving at commodities as essential commodities
least 14 days notice. and to regulate or prohibit the
• The notice must be signed by at least one production, supply, distribution, and
member and given in writing to the trade of such essential commodities to
Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha. control rising prices, prevent hoarding and
• In order for the motion to be admitted for maintain food security.
discussion, at least 50 members must o Most of the powers under the Act
rise in support of it in the House. have been delegated by the
• For the removal to be successful, the Central Government to the State
resolution must be passed by an Governments.
"effective majority." • The measures that can be taken under the
o Effective majority means the provisions of the Act include licensing,
majority of all the then members of distribution and imposing stock limits.
the House (total strength minus Governments also have the power to fix
vacancies). price limits, and selling the particular

15
 commodities above the limit will attract disruption in global oil and gas supply, the
penalties. Government has invoked the Essential
• Some of the major commodities that are Commodities Act 1955 to regulate the
covered under the act: production, maintain supply, equitable
o Petroleum and its products distribution and availability of natural gas
o Food products, including edible for priority sectors.
oilseeds and oils
o Drugs
o Fertilisers
o Raw jute and jute textiles
o Seeds of cattle fodder.
Why in News?
• Amid the ongoing Iran war that caused the
closure of the Strait of Hormuz, leading to

16
 ECONOMY
1) WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference
About and acts as the representative of the
• The World Trade Organization (WTO) is Ministerial Conference when it comes to
the only global international daily operations.
organization dealing with the rules of • Its job is to carry out the implementation
trade between nations. and monitoring function of the WTO.
• The Agreement Establishing the World Dispute Settlement Body:
Trade Organization, commonly known as • The Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) is a part
the “Marrakesh Agreement”, was signed of the General Council and is responsible
in Marrakesh, Morocco, in 1994, at the for settling trade disputes between
conclusion of the Uruguay Round of member states.
Multilateral Trade Negotiations. o According to the procedure
o WTO is the successor to the established by the WTO, the first
General Agreement on Tariffs and step to resolve a trade dispute is
Trade (GATT), which was engaging in the consultation
established in 1948. process.
o While GATT was limited o If two trading partners having a
primarily to trade in goods, WTO dispute could not resolve at that
expanded its mandate to include level, one of them can ask for a
trade in services (GATS) and settlement of DSB for hearing. The
intellectual property rights General Council of the WTO convenes
(TRIPS). as the DSB.
• The goal of WTO is to ensure that trade • The DSB’s ruling can be challenged at the
flows as smoothly, predictably and freely Appellate Body, the highest court for
as possible. global trade disputes.
o At present, the WTO has over 160 Appellate Body:
members (including India). • The Appellate Body is a standing committee
• All decisions are taken through of seven members that presides over
consensus and any member can exercise appeals against judgments passed in trade-
a veto. related disputes brought by WTO members.
• WTO is not a United Nations specialized • Members of the Appellate Body have four-
agency and it is not part of the United year terms. In the selection process, WTO
Nations system, but has cooperative members follow the consensus principle,
arrangements and practices with the United which means that the nomination of the
Nations. Appellate Body members can only proceed
• The WTO is headquartered in Geneva, smoothly with the agreement of all the
Switzerland. members of WTO.
WTO Structure • The Appellate Body must have at least
Ministerial Conference: three sitting members to hear an appeal.
• The topmost decision-making body of the o The Appellate Body has been
WTO is the Ministerial Conference, which dysfunctional since 2019, because
usually meets every two years. the United States has blocked the
• It brings together all members of the WTO, appointment of appellate body
all of which are countries or customs members.
unions. Why in News?
General Council: • The 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14)
• The General Council comprises the of the WTO was recently held in Yaoundé,
representatives of all member countries Cameroon. The Indian delegation was led

17
 by Minister of Commerce and Industry, 2) DICGC
Piyush Goyal. About
• The conference concluded without a final • Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee
package of agreements or an overall Corporation (DICGC) is a wholly owned
ministerial declaration. subsidiary of the RBI, created by an Act of
Highlights of MC14 Parliament in 1961.
Lapse of the E-Commerce Moratorium: • The objective of the DICGC is to protect
• For the first time since instituted in 1998, small depositors from the risk of losing
the moratorium on customs duties on their savings in case of a bank failure.
electronic transmissions (such as • The premium for deposit insurance is
downloads, streaming, and cloud services) borne entirely by the insured bank.
lapsed after members failed to reach a • The Head Office of DICGC is at Mumbai.
consensus for its extension, opening the
door for countries to impose tariffs on
digital transmissions.
• India, alongside Indonesia and South
Africa, strongly opposed making the
moratorium permanent.
o Experts estimate India loses
approximately $1 billion in tax
revenue annually by foregoing
duties on digital transmissions.
Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD)
Agreement:
• The China-backed IFD Agreement aims to
improve the investment climate and Banks covered by Deposit Insurance Scheme:
promote international cooperation to • All commercial banks including branches
facilitate the flow of foreign direct of foreign banks functioning in India, Local
investment among WTO members. Area Banks, Regional Rural Banks and
• India led the opposition against Co-operative Banks that are licensed by the
incorporating the IFD (backed by over 120 RBI (Primary cooperative societies are not
members) through a plurilateral route. insured by the DICGC).
o India argued that plurilateral What’s covered?
deals (agreements between some, • The DICGC insures all deposits such as
but not all, members) undermine savings, fixed, current, recurring (including
the WTO’s foundational principle accrued interest) except the following
of multilateralism and types of deposits:
consensus. o Deposits of foreign Governments;
• The agreement was not adopted into the o Deposits of Central/State
WTO framework during the conference. Governments;
Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration o Inter-bank deposits;
Arrangement (MPIA): o Any amount due on account of and
• The MPIA was established as an deposit received outside India;
alternative system for resolving WTO o Any amount, which has been
disputes that are appealed by a member in specifically exempted by the
the absence of a functioning Appellate corporation with the previous
Body. approval of RBI.
• There was incremental progress as 61 • Each depositor in a bank is insured up to a
WTO members are now party to the MPIA. maximum of Rs 5 lakh for both principal
o India is not a party to the MPIA. and interest amount held by them as on the
date of liquidation or failure of a bank.

18
What’s not covered? reasons and remedial actions that will be
• Deposits mobilized by Non-Banking taken.
Financial Company (NBFC) o A breach of the “tolerance level”
• Deposits mobilized by Land Development for three consecutive quarters will
Banks constitute a failure of monetary
• Mutual funds policy.
• Stocks and bonds Why in News?
• Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) • The Government of India has asked the
• Cryptocurrencies. Reserve Bank to target retail inflation at
Why in News? 4% with a margin of 2% on either side for
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has another five years ending March 2031.
approved a risk-based deposit insurance
framework for banks. 4) Wholesale Price Index
o Since 1962, DICGC has operated a About
flat-rate premium system, under • Wholesale Price Index (WPI) measures and
which banks pay 12 paise per ₹100 tracks the changes in the price of goods in
of assessable deposits. the stages before the retail level. It
o The proposed framework, provides estimates of inflation at the
introduced as an alternative, is wholesale transaction level for the economy
expected to allow financially as a whole.
stronger banks to significantly • WPI basket does not cover services.
reduce their premium burden. • It is released on a monthly basis by the
Office of Economic Adviser, Department
3) Govt asks RBI to target retail inflation at 4% for Promotion of Industry and Internal
till Mar 2031 Trade, Ministry of Commerce and
Flexible Inflation Targeting in India Industry.
• Inflation targeting is a monetary policy • The base year is 2011-2012.
strategy used by Central Banks for • The index basket consists of commodities
maintaining price level at a certain level under 3 main categories in decreasing order
or within a range. of weightage: Manufactured products
• In 2016, the Reserve Bank of India Act, (64.2%), Primary Articles (22.6%) and
1934 was amended to provide a statutory Fuel and Power (13.2).
basis for the implementation of the o WPI Food Index (Weight
Flexible Inflation Targeting (FIT). 24.38%): The Food Index consists
• The amended RBI Act provides for the of 'Food Articles' from Primary
inflation target to be set by the Articles group and 'Food Product'
Government of India, in consultation from Manufactured Products group.
with the Reserve Bank, once in every five Why in News?
years. • India’s wholesale price inflation rose to
• Under the FIT framework, 4% was set as 2.13 per cent in February 2026 on a year-
the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation on-year basis.
target, with the upper tolerance limit of • The WPI Food Index, which includes food
6% and the lower tolerance limit of 2% in articles and manufactured food products,
2016. rose 1.85 per cent year-on-year in
o Subsequently, in 2021, the February, up from 1.41 per cent in January.
government maintained the same
target.
• When the Reserve Bank of India fails to
meet the inflation target, it will send a
report to the central government stating

19
5) OTHER NOTABLE TOPICS Did you know?
• According to the Economic Survey
5.1. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016
2025-26, insolvency proceedings now
About
average 713 to 853 days, far exceeding
• The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code
the 330-day statutory limit.
(IBC), 2016 was brought in to address the
financial stress of honest debtors and get Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment)
them back into the business or provide an Act, 2021:
honourable exit. • The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code
• It provides a time-bound process for (Amendment) Act, 2021 was brought in to
resolving the insolvency of corporate provide a simpler, faster, and less costly
debtors called the corporate insolvency resolution for MSMEs (known as pre-
resolution process (CIRP). packaged insolvency resolution process
o Insolvency is a situation where (PIRP)).
individuals or companies are unable to • Unlike CIRP, PIRP may be initiated only by
repay their outstanding debt. debtors. Application for initiating PIRP may
• Earlier, the minimum amount of default be filed in the event of a default of at least
after which the creditor or debtor could one lakh rupees.
apply for insolvency was ₹1 lakh, but • During PIRP, the management of the
considering the stress on companies amid company will remain with the debtor.
the covid pandemic, the government Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India:
increased the minimum amount to ₹1 crore. • The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of
Process: India (IBBI), a statutory body established
• Under CIRP, a Committee of Creditors under the Code, acts as a key pillar in
(CoC) is constituted to decide on the implementation of the Code.
insolvency resolution. The committee may • It is a unique regulator: regulates a
consider a resolution plan which typically profession as well as processes.
provides for the payoff of debt by merger, o It has regulatory oversight over the
acquisition, or restructuring of the Insolvency Professionals, Insolvency
company. Professional Agencies, Insolvency
o If a resolution plan is not approved Professional Entities and Information
by the committee of creditors within Utilities.
the specified time, the company is o It writes and enforces rules for
liquidated (the assets of the processes, namely, corporate
borrower will be sold to repay insolvency resolution, corporate
creditors). liquidation, individual insolvency
• During CIRP, the affairs of the company are resolution and individual bankruptcy
managed by the Resolution Professional under the Code.
(RP), who is appointed to conduct CIRP.
• The National Company Law Tribunal 5.2. AT1 Bonds
(NCLT) adjudicates insolvency resolution About
for companies and Limited Liability • Additional-Tier 1 (AT1) bonds are
Partnerships. The Debt Recovery perpetual debt instruments issued by
Tribunal (DRT) adjudicates insolvency banks to raise money and build up their core
resolution for individuals and partnership equity capital.
firms. o A perpetual instrument is one with
• The code was amended in 2019 which no maturity date, implying that the
mandated a deadline for the completion of issuer does not pay the principal
the resolution process within 330 days, amount back to investors but
including all litigation and judicial makes periodic interest payments
processes. throughout the life of the bond.

20
 • In practice, however, AT-1 bonds typically Vehicle operating under the Ministry of
come with a ‘call option’, which means that Petroleum and Natural Gas.
the bank issuing these instruments can • Currently, India maintains SPR facilities at
redeem them or repay investors after a underground rock caverns at three
specified period. places - Visakhapatnam (Andhra
• For AT-1 bonds, banks typically shell out a Pradesh), Mangalore (Karnataka) and
higher rate of interest. Padur (Karnataka) - with a combined
• However, there are certain features of the capacity to store 5.33 MMT (million
instrument that make them riskier than metric tons) of crude oil, enough to
several other bonds. provide 9.5 days of consumption.
o If a bank faces financial stress, it can o With this, the total national
hold off interest payments or pay a capacity for storage of crude oil and
lower amount. petroleum products is about 74
o Most alarming for investors is the days, which includes 64.5 days of
clause which permits banks to write storage capacity maintained by Oil
off AT-1 bonds in case of severe Marketing Companies (OMCs).
financial stress. • The second phase of development is
underway, which includes new storage
5.3. Strategic Crude Oil Reserves locations such as Chandikhol (Odisha)
About and the expansion of the Padur facility,
• Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPRs) are on a Public Private Partnership mode.
dedicated storage facilities developed to International Guidelines
hold crude oil for emergency use. • The International Energy Agency (IEA)
• They act as a protective buffer, shielding mandates that its member countries
the energy supply chain from short-term maintain SPRs equivalent to at least 90
disruptions caused by external factors such days of their net oil imports to ensure
as transportation delays, natural events, or energy security during supply disruptions.
fluctuations in global markets. International Energy Agency:
• India, the world’s third-largest consumer
• IEA is an intergovernmental
of crude, depends on imports for more
organization established in 1974 within
than 85% of its requirement. SPR could the framework of the Organisation for
help ensure energy security and Economic Co-operation and
availability during global supply shocks Development (OECD), in response to the
and other emergencies. 1973 oil crisis.
• IEA is dedicated to maintaining a
steady supply of oil throughout the
world.
• The IEA is made up of 32 member
countries.

Status in India
• India’s SPR network is managed by the
Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves
Limited (ISPRL), a Special Purpose

21
 • Before becoming a member country of the o Legislation and measures to ensure
IEA, a candidate country must meet that all oil companies under its
several criteria. These are: jurisdiction report information
o It must have crude oil or product upon request.
reserves equivalent to 90 days • Currently, India is an Associate
of the previous year’s net imports. Member of the agency and is yet to get a
o It must have in place a demand full membership.
restraint program to reduce • IEA is headquartered in Paris, France.
national oil consumption by up to
10 per cent.

22
 AGRICULTURE
1) National Mission on Edible Oils • The oil palm grows best in areas with a
Background
mean maximum temperature of 30-
• Edible oils form an essential component
32°C and on an average of at least five
of India’s food and nutritional security, hours of sunlight. Oil palm is a humid
and oilseeds (seeds grown primarily for crop and requires a well distributed
the production of edible oils) play a vital rainfall of 200 cm per annum.
role in the livelihoods of millions of • The adult palms can withstand occasional
farmers by serving as an important cash water logging, but frequent water
crop that sustains rural incomes and logged, extremely sandy and hard
employment. lateritic soils should be avoided.
o They are a major source of dietary
• Best suited soils are moist, well-drained,
fats, energy, and fat-soluble deep loamy alluvial soils, rich in
vitamins, helping to combat hidden organic matter with good water
hunger and improve calorie intake. permeability.
• However, the country’s growing demand
for edible oils has outpaced domestic Major oil palm growing states:
production. • Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are
o India is able to meet only 44
major Oil palm growing States and
percent of its domestic demand account 98% of total production.
for edible oils through internal o Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu,
production. Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat,
• The Government of India launched the
Goa, and Mizoram also have
National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO) sizable areas under Oil palm
to strengthen the country’s oilseed cultivation.
ecosystem and achieve the goal of • Recently, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam,
Atmanirbharta (self-sufficiency) in Manipur and Nagaland have also initiated
edible oil production through a oil palm plantation programs on a large
comprehensive, two-pronged approach: scale.
1. NMEO – Oil Palm
2. NMEO – Oilseeds. • The mission aims to increase capital
National Mission on Edible Oils - Oil Palm investment, reduce the import
• The Government of India launched the dependence and also increase the
National Edible Oil Mission-Oil Palm (NMEO- income of the farmers.
OP) in 2021 as a Centrally Sponsored • Special emphasis is being placed on
Scheme, with the aim to enhance the leveraging the agro-climatic potential of
edible oilseeds production and oils the North-eastern region and other oil
availability in the country by area palm-growing states.
expansion and increasing Crude Palm Oil Targets of the Mission:
(CPO) production. • The mission aims to bring 6.5 lakh
hectares under oil palm plantations by
Oil Palm: 2025-26.
• Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis), originated
• The production of Crude Palm Oil is
from West Africa, is comparatively a new targeted to reach 11.20 lakh tonnes by
crop in India and has highest vegetable 2025-26 and up to 28 lakh tonnes by
oil yielding capability per ha. 2029-30.
• It produces two distinct oils, i.e. palm oil
Implementation:
and palm kernel oil, which are used for • The Department of Agriculture &
culinary as well as industrial purposes. Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), Ministry of

23
 Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, serves as Targets of the Mission:
the nodal central authority for the mission. • The mission targets increasing area
Funding Pattern: coverage from 29 million ha (2022-23) to
• The funding pattern is 60:40 between the 33 million ha, primary oilseed
Central and the State Government in case of production from 39 million tonnes (2022-
general category States and 90:10 in case 23) to 69.7 million tonnes, and yield from
of North-Eastern states. 1,353 kg/ha (2022-23) to 2,112 kg/ha by
National Mission on Edible Oils - Oilseeds 2030-31.
• The National Mission on Edible Oils - • Together with NMEO-OP, this mission
Oilseeds (NMEO-OS) was approved in targets domestic edible oil production at
2024 to achieve Atmanirbharta in edible 25.45 million tonnes by 2030-31,
oil production. meeting around 72% of our projected
Oilseeds: domestic requirement.
• The Mission also seeks to expand oilseed
• Oilseeds are seeds grown primarily for
the production of edible oils. cultivation by an additional 40 lakh
• India is the fourth largest oilseeds
hectares by targeting rice and potato
producer in the world. It has 20.8% of the fallow lands, promoting intercropping,
total area under cultivation globally, and promoting crop diversification.
accounting for 10% of global production. Implementation:
• The Mission is implemented through a
• Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat,
and Maharashtra together contribute multi-level governance structure, led by
over 77.68% of India’s total oilseed the Union Ministry of Agriculture and
output. Farmers Welfare.
Funding Pattern:
• NMEO-Oilseeds focuses on increasing • The NMEO-OS is implemented with the
production of key primary oilseed crops funding pattern of 60:40 between the
such as Rapeseed-Mustard, Groundnut, Central and the State Government in case of
Soybean, Sunflower, Sesamum, Safflower, general category States and 90:10 in case
Niger, Linseed and Castor, as well as of North-Eastern states.
increasing collection and extraction
efficiency from secondary sources like
cottonseed, coconut, rice bran.

24
 ENVIRONMENT
1) India’s new Nationally Determined more than its current target of 45% for
Contribution 2030.
What’s in the news? • And, it has promised to create a carbon
• In a significant step towards strengthening sink that is at least 3.5 to 4 billion
India’s action, the Union Cabinet has tonnes of CO2-equivalent larger than
approved India’s Nationally Determined what existed in 2005.
Contribution (NDC) for the period 2031 • The updated NDC marks an important step
to 2035 under the Paris Agreement. towards achieving India's long-term goal
Paris Agreement: of reaching net-zero emissions by 2070.
• The Paris Agreement is a universal and
India’s Current Status
• Non-fossil installed capacity: Already 52%
legally binding agreement adopted in
2015 under the United Nations as of early 2026 – exceeding the old 2030
Framework Convention on Climate target of 50% well ahead of schedule.
o But only about 25% of actual
Change (UNFCCC).
• It aims to limit global temperature
electricity generated comes from
increase to "well below 2°C" above pre- non-fossil sources (because solar
industrial levels, while pursuing efforts and wind run intermittently).
• Emissions Intensity: Achieved a 36%
to limit it to 1.5°C.
o It allows governments to set
reduction from 2005 to 2020.
• Carbon Sink: Created 1.97 billion tonnes of
emissions-reduction pledges
known as Nationally Determined CO₂ equivalent sink from 2005–2019.
Contributions which are reviewed
every five years. 2) National Chambal Sanctuary
About
What are NDC? • The National Chambal Sanctuary is
• Under the Paris Agreement, every situated in a large arc of the Chambal
signatory country must periodically River, covering nearly 1800 km across
submit NDCs, which are voluntary Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar
pledges spelling out how they will Pradesh.
transition away from fossil fuels. o It is the first and only tri-state
o India’s previous NDC, conveyed in riverine protected area in India.
2022, committed it to 50% non- • The sanctuary was notified in 1979, mainly
fossil installed capacity by 2030, a to provide protection to the fast dwindling
45% reduction in emissions population of the critically endangered
intensity, and a carbon sink of at Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus).
least 2.5 billion-3 billion tonnes of o Chambal River that runs through
CO₂-equivalent. the sanctuary is home to the
Revised Targets Gharial, providing protection in the
• India said it would ensure that at least wild.
60% of its electricity installed capacity • Besides Gharials, the sanctuary hosts a rich
in 2035 was based on non-fossil fuel biodiversity of Marsh Crocodile Muggers,
sources, up from the 50% target it had set several species of freshwater turtles,
for 2030. including the endangered Red Crowned
• It has promised to attain at least a 47% Roof Turtle, Smooth coated Otters,
reduction in emissions intensity, or Gangetic River Dolphins, Indian
emissions per unit of GDP, on 2005 Skimmer, Black-bellied Tern, Sarus
levels, which is two percentage points Crane and Black-necked Storks.

25
 (LMOs) resulting from modern
Why in News? biotechnology.
• The Supreme Court has taken suo motu • Objective: To protect biodiversity from
cognisance of media reports regarding the potential risks posed by LMOs, while also
damage caused by widespread illegal sand considering human health.
mining in the National Chambal Sanctuary. 2. Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-
Sharing (2014):
3) Convention on Biological Diversity • The Nagoya Protocol deals with access to
About genetic resources and the fair and
• The Convention on Biological Diversity equitable sharing of benefits arising
(CBD) was adopted by the United Nations from their utilisation.
at the Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro in • Objective: To create a legal framework
Brazil in 1992. ensuring that benefits (e.g., monetary or
o The convention came into force in technological) derived from genetic
1993. resources are shared fairly with the
• At the present, there are more than 190 countries and communities providing
Parties to this Convention. those resources.
o India is a party to CBD and enacted 3. Aichi Biodiversity Targets (2010-2020):
the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 • Adopted as part of the CBD’s Strategic
to meet the obligations under the Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, the
Convention. Aichi Targets included 20 global goals to
• The CBD’s governing body is the address biodiversity loss.
Conference of the Parties (COP). • Objective: To halt biodiversity decline
o This ultimate authority of all Parties through conservation, sustainable use, and
that have ratified the treaty meets awareness.
every two years to review • Outcome: While progress was made, most
progress, set priorities and commit Aichi Targets were not fully achieved,
to work plans. leading to the adoption of the Kunming-
• The CBD Secretariat is based in Montreal, Montreal Framework.
Canada. 4. Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity
Framework (2022):
• Adopted during COP15, the Kunming-
Montreal Framework sets ambitious global
targets to halt and reverse biodiversity
loss by 2030.
• Objective: To create a global action plan to
protect biodiversity and ensure
Objectives ecosystems are resilient and healthy by
• The CBD has 3 main objectives: 2030.
o The conservation of biological • Key Elements:
diversity • 30×30 Target: Protect at least 30
o The sustainable use of the percent of the world’s land and
components of biological diversity oceans by 2030.
o The fair and equitable sharing of • Reduce pollution, including
the benefits arising out of the nutrient and plastic waste, to non-
utilization of genetic resources. harmful levels.
Key Protocols and Agreements under CBD • Eliminate harmful subsidies
1. Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (2003): worth $500 billion annually and
• The Cartagena Protocol focuses on increase financial flows to
ensuring the safe handling, transport, support biodiversity efforts.
and use of living-modified organisms

26
 • Ensure Indigenous Peoples and • Migratory animals are essential
local communities play a central components of the ecosystems that
role in biodiversity conservation. support all life on Earth.
Why in News? • By acting as pollinators and seed
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and
distributors they contribute to
Climate Change (MoEFCC) has submitted ecosystem structure and function.
India's Seventh National Report (NR-7) • They provide food for other animals and
to the Convention on Biological regulate the number of species in
Diversity, reaffirming its commitment to ecosystems.
the three objectives of the Convention.
• Submission of national reports is a • 133 nations (including India) are parties to
mandatory obligation on Parties to the the Convention, engaging in international
CBD under Article 26 of the Convention. cooperation and coordinated action to
Highlights of the Report conserve migratory species.
• India has substantially strengthened
biodiversity-inclusive land and seascape
planning. Recorded Forest Area stands at
7,75,377 km2 (23.59% of geographical
area). The number of notified Ramsar
wetlands of international importance
have expanded from 26 in 2014 to 98 as of
March 2026.
• India's conservation network now • The Conference of the Parties (CoP) is
encompasses 58 Tiger Reserves, 33 the principal decision-making body of
Elephant Reserves, 18 Biosphere the Convention, which meets once every
Reserves, 106 National Parks and 574 three years.
Wildlife Sanctuaries. CMS Appendices
• India supports 3,682 tigers (over 70% of • The CMS has two appendices.
the global tiger population), 4,014 o Appendix I listing is for migratory
greater one-horned rhinoceroses, 22,446 species that are considered
wild elephants, 891 Asiatic lions, and about endangered. If listed on Appendix-
718 snow leopards. I, it would facilitate
transboundary conservation
4) Convention on Conservation of Migratory efforts of these species.
Species § Species in India, such as the
About Great Indian Bustard, the
• The Convention on the Conservation of Asian Elephant, the Bengal
Migratory Species of Wild Animals Florican, the Siberian
(CMS) is a legally binding global treaty Crane, the Hawksbill Sea
under the aegis of the United Nations Turtle, the Olive Ridley
Environment Programme (UNEP). turtle and the Leatherback
• The CMS provides a global platform for the Sea Turtle are included in
conservation and sustainable use of Appendix I of CMS.
migratory animals and their habitats. o Appendix II listing is for migratory
• The pact was signed in 1979 in Bonn, species that have an unfavourable
Germany and is also known as the Bonn conservation status and which
Convention. require international
agreements for their conservation
and management.
§ A migratory species can be
listed in both the

27
 appendices at the same o The CAQM replaced the 22-year-
time, if the circumstances old Supreme Court-appointed
warrant. Environment Pollution
Why in News? (Prevention and Control)
• The 15th meeting of the Conference of Authority (EPCA).
the Parties (COP 15) to the Convention on Mandate
Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild • The Commission has the power to take
Animals was held in Campo Grande, measures, issue directions and entertain
Brazil. complaints for the purpose of protecting
• The theme for this year is “Connecting and improving the quality of air in NCR.
Nature to sustain life.” • The powers of the commission supersedes
Highlights of the Conference that of any other body in matters of air
• The conference included or reclassified pollution.
40 species of migratory birds, aquatic and o In cases where conflict may arise
terrestrial animals in the Appendices I between orders or directions issued
and II of the Convention. by the other state governments, state
• The State of the World’s Migratory pollution control boards or even the
Species: Interim Report (2026) released Central Pollution Control Board, the
during the conference highlighted that 49 orders of the commission will
per cent of migratory population prevail.
species protected under the Convention • It also coordinates action taken by states
were facing a decline while another 24 per on air pollution and lays down parameters
cent face extinction. for air quality and emission or discharge of
environmental pollutants.
5) Commission for Air Quality Management • It also has powers to restrict industries in
About any area, carry out random inspections of
• The Commission for Air Quality any premises including factories and can
Management (CAQM) in the National close down an industry or cut its power
Capital Region and adjoining areas is a and water supply in case of non-
statutory body established under the compliance.
Commission for Air Quality Management in • No civil court shall have jurisdiction to
NCR and Adjoining Areas, Act, 2021. entertain any suit, proceeding or dispute
• The Commission has been established for pertaining to or arising out of the actions
better coordination, research, taken or directions issued by the
identification and resolution of commission and that orders of the
problems surrounding matters related to commission can only be contested before
air quality in the National Capital Region the National Green Tribunal.
(NCR) and adjoining areas.
o Adjoining areas have been defined
as areas in Haryana, Punjab,
Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh,
adjoining the National Capital
Territory of Delhi and NCR, where
any source of pollution may
cause adverse impact on air
quality in the NCR.
• CAQM consolidates all monitoring bodies,
and brings them on one platform so that
air quality management can be carried out in
a more comprehensive, efficient, and time-
bound manner.

28
National Green Tribunal: o The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
• NGT is a statutory body established in o The Air (Prevention and Control of
2010 under the National Green Tribunal Pollution) Act, 1981
Act 2010. o The Environment (Protection) Act,
• It is a specialized body equipped with the 1986
necessary expertise to handle o The Public Liability Insurance Act,
environmental disputes involving multi- 1991 and
disciplinary issues. o The Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
• It provides speedy environmental justice • The Tribunal has jurisdiction over all civil
and helps reduce the burden of litigation in cases involving a substantial question
the higher courts. relating to the environment.
o The Tribunal is mandated to make • Additionally, any person aggrieved by an
and endeavour for disposal of order/direction of any of the Appellate
applications or appeals finally Authorities under the legislations
within 6 months of filing of the mentioned above can also challenge them
same. before the National Green Tribunal.
• NGT is vested with the powers of a civil • The Tribunal’s orders are binding and it
court for discharging its functions but it has power to grant relief in the form of
can make its own rules. compensation and damages to affected
• The Tribunal shall not be bound by the persons.
procedure laid down under the Code of • The Tribunal has powers to review its
Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be guided own decisions. If this fails, the decision
by principles of natural justice. can be challenged before the Supreme
Court within ninety days.
Composition:
Composition
• The Tribunal has a presence in five zones:
• CAQM is headed by a full-time chairperson
North, Central, East, South and West. The
with experience of not less than 15 years in
Principal Bench is situated in the North
the field of environmental protection and
Zone, headquartered in Delhi.
pollution control or having administrative
o The Central zone bench is situated
experience of not less than 25 years.
in Bhopal, East zone in Kolkata,
• The commission also has three members,
South zone in Chennai and West
being stakeholders from sectors such as
zone in Pune.
agriculture, industry, transport or
• The Tribunal is headed by the Chairperson
construction apart from representatives of
who sits in the Principal Bench and has at
several ministries.
least ten but not more than twenty
o The Chairperson and members of the
judicial members and at least ten but not
Commission will have a tenure of
more than twenty expert members.
three years or till the age of
• The Chairperson of NGT is appointed by the
seventy years, whichever is earlier,
Central Government in consultation with
and shall be eligible for re-
the Chief Justice of India.
appointment.
Why in News?
Jurisdiction:
• CAQM reviewed the status of enforcement
• The NGT deals with civil cases under the
actions across key sectors for abatement of
seven laws related to the environment,
air pollution in Delhi-NCR.
these include
o The Water (Prevention and Control
of Pollution) Act, 1974
o The Water (Prevention and Control
of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977

29
6) OTHER NOTABLE TOPICS These tend to be mostly carbon-
intensive processes.
6.1. National Green Hydrogen Mission
o Blue Hydrogen: It is produced
About
via natural gas or coal
• Launched in 2023, the National Green
gasification combined with
Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) aims to make
carbon capture storage (CCS)
India the Global Hub for production,
or carbon capture use (CCU)
usage and export of Green Hydrogen and
technologies to reduce carbon
its derivatives.
emissions.
• The Mission aims to build capabilities to
o Green Hydrogen: It is produced
produce at least 5 Million Metric Tonne
using electrolysis of water with
(MMT) of Green Hydrogen per annum by
electricity generated by
2030.
renewable energy. The carbon
• The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy
intensity ultimately depends on
is responsible for overall coordination and
the carbon neutrality of the
implementation of the Mission.
source of electricity (i.e., the
Hydrogen: more renewable energy there is
• Hydrogen (H2) is a colourless, in the electricity fuel mix, the
odourless, tasteless, non-toxic and “greener” the hydrogen
highly combustible gaseous substance. produced).
• It is the lightest and most abundant § According to standards
element in the universe. It is rarely notified by the Government
found in nature in its elemental form of India, Hydrogen made this
and must always be extracted from way is considered “green” if
other hydrogen-containing the total emissions from
compounds. the process are very low,
• Hydrogen is a clean fuel and an efficient not more than 2 kg of CO₂
energy carrier. It is emerging as an equivalent for every 1 kg of
important source of energy since it has Hydrogen produced.
zero carbon content in contrast to
hydrocarbons which have net carbon
content between 75 and 85 per cent.
• When burnt, Hydrogen produces water as
a by-product and is, therefore,
environmentally benign.

Types of H2:
• Depending on the nature of the method
of its extraction, hydrogen is
categorised into three major
categories, namely, Grey, Blue and
Green. Mission Components
o Grey Hydrogen: It is produced • The Mission strategy comprises
via coal or lignite gasification interventions for:
(often termed black or brown o demand creation by making Green
hydrogen due to higher CO₂ Hydrogen produced in India
emissions), or via a process called competitive for exports and through
Steam Methane Reformation domestic consumption.
(SMR) of natural gas or methane. o addressing supply side
constraints through an incentive
framework, and

30
 o building an enabling ecosystem to • Skill Development: A coordinated skill
support scaling and development. development programme will also be
Mission Sub-Components undertaken under the Mission.
• SIGHT Programme: Under the Strategic Expected Benefits
Interventions for Green Hydrogen • The targets by 2030 are likely to bring in
Transition Programme (SIGHT), two over Rs. 8 lakh crore investments and
distinct financial incentive mechanisms create over 6 lakh jobs.
– targeting domestic manufacturing of • Nearly 50 MMT per annum of CO2
electrolysers and production of Green emissions are expected to be averted by
Hydrogen – will be provided under the 2030.
Mission. • This will contribute to India’s aim to become
• R&D Projects: Public-Private Partnership Aatmanirbhar (self-reliant) through
framework for R&D (Strategic Hydrogen clean energy and achieve net-zero carbon
Innovation Partnership – SHIP) will be emissions by 2070.
facilitated under the Mission.

31
 SPECIES IN NEWS
1) Great Indian Bustard Conservation Status:
About • IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered;
• Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) is CITES: Appendix I; Wildlife Protection Act
one of the heaviest flying birds endemic (2022): Schedule I.
to the Indian subcontinent.
• Bustards generally favour flat open
landscapes with minimal visual obstruction
and disturbance, therefore adapt well in
grasslands.
• Historically, the great Indian bustard was
distributed throughout Western India,
spanning 11 states, as well as parts of
Pakistan.
o Today, its population is confined
mostly to Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Small populations occur in
Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra
Pradesh.
• Loss of their habitat to rising farmlands,
depredation of eggs by other predators
such as dogs, and death due to overhead
power lines have caused their numbers to
decline.

32
 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1) Outer Space Treaty further the goal of disarmament. It
About entered into force in 1970.
• The Treaty on Principles Governing the • Its states-parties are classified into two
Activities of States in the Exploration categories: nuclear-weapon states
and Use of Outer Space, including the (NWS)—nuclear weapon states that had
Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (also manufactured and detonated a nuclear
known as the Outer Space Treaty), explosive device prior to 1 January 1967
which entered into force in 1967, laid the (United States, Russia, China, France, and
foundation of international space law. the United Kingdom)—and non-nuclear-
• The Treaty establishes that space is the weapon states (NNWS).
province of all humankind, prohibits o Under the treaty, the five NWS
national appropriation, and places commit to pursue general and
responsibility on states for national complete disarmament, while the
activities in space, whether conducted by NNWS agree to forgo developing
government or private entities. or acquiring nuclear weapons.
• The treaty also prohibits weapons of • The Treaty represents the only binding
mass destruction in space and limits commitment in a multilateral treaty to
celestial body use to peaceful the goal of disarmament by the
purposes. nuclear-weapon States.
• The NPT has 191 members; India, Israel,
Outer space is the region beyond Earth’s
atmosphere. For example, the Sun, planets, Pakistan, and South Sudan have not
stars, and galaxies - all these things are in outer joined, and North Korea announced its
space. withdrawal from the treaty in 2003.
Why in News?
•India signed the Outer Space Treaty in • Iran’s Parliament is reviewing a possible
1967 and ratified it in 1982. exit from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation
o India is also a party to other Treaty.
major international treaties
related to Outer Space; having 3) Raisina Dialogue
ratified the Rescue Agreement, About
1968, Liability Convention, • The Raisina Dialogue is an annual
1972 and Registration conference on geopolitics and
Convention, 1976; and being geoeconomics, which aims to address
signatory to the Moon the most challenging issues faced by the
Agreement, 1984. world.
Why in News? • The conference has been held annually in
• Malaysia has ratified the Outer Space New Delhi since 2016 and is attended by
Treaty, becoming the 118th State party. people from political, business, media,
and civil society backgrounds.
2) Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty • Delhi-based think tank Observer
About Research Foundation, in partnership
• The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of with the Ministry of External Affairs,
Nuclear Weapons (NPT) aims to prevent hosts the conference.
the spread of nuclear weapons and Why in News?
weapons technology, to foster the • Prime Minister Narendra Modi
peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and to inaugurated the 11th edition of the

33
 Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, with the traded between member countries,
President of Finland, Dr. Alexander Stubb, fostering greater market access and
as the Chief Guest. economic integration.
• The theme this year is “Saṁskāra – Why in News?
Assertion, Accommodation, • Uruguay has been accepted to join the
Advancement”. CPTPP, becoming the 13th member of the
treaty.

5) OTHER NOTABLE TOPICS

5.1. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

About
• The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) is a regional economic forum
established in 1989 to leverage the
growing interdependence of the Asia-
Pacific.
• It is the only international
4) Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement intergovernmental grouping in the
for Trans-Pacific Partnership world committed to reducing barriers
About to trade and investment without
• The Comprehensive and Progressive requiring its members to enter into
Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership legally binding obligations.
(CPTPP) is a free trade agreement (FTA) • APEC operates on the basis of voluntary
between 12 countries around the Pacific cooperation and consensus.
Rim: Canada, Mexico, Peru, Chile, New • The APEC Secretariat is based in
Zealand, Australia, Brunei, Singapore, Singapore.
Malaysia, Vietnam, United Kingdom and Membership of APEC:
Japan. • There are 21 member economies at
o The CPTPP is the successor to the present. It includes Australia; Brunei
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Darussalam; Canada; Chile; People's
trade pact negotiated by the Republic of China; Hong Kong, China;
former U.S. President Barack Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea;
Obama, before his successor Donald Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua
Trump pulled the U.S. out of the New Guinea; Peru; The Philippines; The
agreement in 2017. Russian Federation; Singapore; Chinese
Taipei; Thailand; United States of America;
Viet Nam.
o The word 'economies' is used to
describe APEC members because the
APEC cooperative process is
predominantly concerned with trade
and economic issues.
• India is not a member of APEC.

• The CPTPP came into force in 2018.

• CPTPP aims to reduce or eliminate
tariffs on the vast majority of goods

34
 • It aims at reducing reliance on
traditional sea routes, especially the
Suez Canal.
5.2. International North-South Transport • It offers a faster option that can
Corridor cut transit times by 40 percent
About and lower freight costs by 30
• The International North–South Transport percent.
Corridor (INSTC) is a multi-modal
transportation network that integrates 5.3. Group of Seven (G7)
ship, rail, and road routes for moving About
freight between India, Russia, Iran, • The Group of Seven (G7) is an informal
Europe, and Central Asia. partnership of the seven leading
• Established in 2000, through an
industrialised nations: Canada,
agreement between India, Russia, and France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the
Iran, this 7,200-kilometer network has United Kingdom and the United States,
developed into a transportation system along with the European Union (EU).
that connects the Indian Ocean to
Northern Europe via the Caspian Sea.
• At present, there are 13 Members of
INSTC, namely - India, Iran, Russia,
Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey,
Ukraine, Belarus, Oman and Syria.
Bulgaria has joined as an Observer
State.
Significance
• The corridor’s primary objective is to
enhance regional connectivity,
promoting trade and economic • The Group was established as a platform
cooperation among participating for economic and financial cooperation
nations and regions. in response to the 1973 energy crisis.
o Russia belonged to the forum from
1998 through 2014, when the bloc
was known as the G8, but was
suspended following its
annexation of Crimea.

35
 • The G7 operates by consensus and does o The EU is a “non-enumerated”
not have a treaty or permanent member and does not assume the
secretariat. rotating G7 presidency.
• The Presidency rotates between
members on an annual basis. The
Presidency plays a key role in setting the
agenda and identifying key priorities.

36
 ORGANISATIONS
1) National Housing Bank • Each DMF is established by the State
About Governments by notification as a trust
• National Housing Bank (NHB) is a or non-profit body to work for the
statutory organization set up in 1988 interest and benefit of persons, and
based on the recommendations of the Dr. areas affected by mining related
C. Rangarajan Committee. operations.
• NHB is an apex financial institution for • It is funded through the contributions
housing. from miners.
• NHB regulates the housing finance • DMFs are the implementing agencies for
system of the country, oversees the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra
supervision and grievance redressal Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY).
regarding Housing Finance Companies Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan
(HFCs), extends refinance to different Yojana:
primary lenders and lends directly in • PMKKKY was launched by the Ministry
respect of projects undertaken by of Mines in 2015 to provide for the
public housing agencies for housing welfare of areas and people affected
construction and development of housing by mining related operations.
related infrastructure. • The objective of PMKKKY scheme will be
o NHB does not grant any loan
o to implement various
directly to individuals. developmental and welfare
o It is to be noted that NHB
projects/programs in mining
supervises HFCs while affected areas;
regulation of HFCs is with RBI. o to minimize/mitigate the
• In 2019, the RBI divested its entire stake
adverse impacts, during and
held in NHB to the government, which after mining, on the environment,
now holds 100% stake in the health and socio-economics of
organisation. people in mining districts; and
• The Head Office of NHB is at New Delhi.
o to ensure long-term sustainable
Why in News? livelihoods for the affected
• The National Housing Bank has launched
people in mining areas.
the Gruh Sugam Portal to enable • PMKKKY is implemented by the District
Defence/Government personnel to avail Mineral Foundations of the respective
home loans with ease from the location of districts using the funds accruing to the
their posting. DMF.
• At least 70% of PMKKKY funds are
2) District Mineral Foundations
utilized for high priority areas like
About
drinking water supply, environment
• District Mineral Foundations (DMFs) are
preservation and pollution control
statutory bodies established under the
measures, health care, education, welfare
Mines and Minerals (Development &
of women and children, welfare of aged
Regulation) Amendment Act, (MMDRA)
and differently abled, skill development
2015.
and livelihood generation, sanitation,
• The Act mandates setting up of DMFs in all
housing, agriculture, and animal
districts in the country affected by
husbandry.
mining related operations.

37
Why in News? 3.3. Central Board of Film Certification
• The National District Mineral Foundation About
(DMF) Summit 2026 was recently held in • Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)
New Delhi. is a statutory body under the Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting.
3) OTHER NOTABLE TOPICS • CBFC regulates the public exhibition of
films under the provisions of the
3.1. Forest Survey of India Cinematograph Act 1952.
About • Films can be publicly exhibited in India
• Forest Survey of India (FSI) is a premier only after they have been certified by
national organization under the Ministry CBFC.
of Environment, Forests and Climate • The Board consists of non-official
Change based in Dehradun, members and a Chairman (all of whom
Uttarakhand. are appointed by Central Government)
• Established in 1981, FSI succeeded the and functions with headquarters at
"Preinvestment Survey of Forest Mumbai.
Resources" (PISFR), a project initiated in Certification Process & Categories:
1965 by the Government of India with the • The Certification process is in accordance
sponsorship of Food and Agriculture with The Cinematograph Act, 1952, The
Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Cinematograph (certification) Rules,
Development Programme (UNDP). 1983, and the guidelines issued by the
• FSI is responsible for assessment and Central government:
monitoring of the forest resources of the o U – Unrestricted Public Exhibition.
country regularly. o U/A – Unrestricted Public
• In addition, it is also engaged in providing Exhibition but with a word of
the services of training, research and caution that discretion is required
extension. for children below 12 years.
• FSI also publishes a biennial State of § Age based sub-categories
Forest Report assessing forest cover and under the UA category
tracking changes. were introduced vide the
• FSI also operates the Van Agni Geo-portal Cinematograph
designed for tracking and monitoring (Certification) Rules 2024.
forest fires. o A – Restricted to adults.
o S - Restricted to any special class of
3.2. National Shipping Board persons.
About
• The National Shipping Board (NSB) is a 3.4. BIMSTEC
statutory advisory body under the About
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and • The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-
Waterways. Sectoral Technical and Economic
• The Board was constituted under the Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a multilateral
Merchant Shipping Act, 1958. regional organisation established with
• Its main role is to advise the central the aim of accelerating shared growth
government on matters related to the and cooperation between littoral and
shipping and maritime sector. adjacent countries in the Bay of Bengal
• It consists of representatives from the region.
government, ship owners, seafarers, • It was founded in 1997 with the adoption
port authorities, and maritime of the Bangkok Declaration.
training institutions.

38
 • Initially known as BIST-EC (Bangladesh-
India-Sri Lanka-Thailand Economic
Cooperation), the organisation is now
known as BIMSTEC and comprises seven
Member States with the admission of
Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal.
o The regional group constitutes a
bridge between South and South
East Asia and represents a
reinforcement of relations among
these countries.
• The BIMSTEC Charter was signed and Sectors of Cooperation:
adopted during the Fifth BIMSTEC • BIMSTEC is a sector-driven grouping.
Summit held in Sri Lanka in 2022. The following sectors and sub-sectors led
• BIMSTEC’s headquarters is situated in by the respective Member States:
Dhaka, Bangladesh.

3.5. Financial Services Institutions Bureau Corporate Governance in these

About Institutions.
• The Financial Services Institutions o It replaced the Banks Board
Bureau (FSIB) was constituted in 2022, Bureau (BBB).
as an autonomous body of Government • FSIB is headed by a chairman, a central
of India. government nominee.
• FSIB’s mandate is recommending • Other functions of the Bureau are :-
persons for appointment as whole- o To advise the Government on
time directors and non-executive matters relating to
chairpersons on the Board of Public appointments, transfer or
Sector Banks (PSBs), Public Sector extension of term of office and
Financial Institutions (FIs) and Public termination of services of the
Sector Insurance Companies (PSIs) and said directors;
recommend measures to improve o To advise the Government on the
desired management structure

39
 at the Board level for PSBs, FIs and maritime boundaries, sovereignty,
PSIs; human rights, international
o To build a databank containing investment, and international and
data related to the performance regional trade.
of PSBs, FIs and PSIs; • The PCA has no sitting judges: the parties
o To advise the Government on themselves select the arbitrators.
formulation and enforcement of • The PCA has an observer status with the
a code of conduct and ethics for United Nations.
whole-time directors in PSBs, FIs • It is headquartered in The Hague.
and PSIs; Members:
o To advise the Government on • The PCA has more than 125 Contracting
evolving suitable training and Parties which have acceded to one or both
development programmes for of the PCA's founding conventions (1899
management personnel in PSBs, and 1907 Conventions).
FIs and PSIs; • India is a party to the PCA according to the
convention of 1899.
3.6. Permanent Court of Arbitration
About 3.7. OPEC
• The Permanent Court of Arbitration was About
established by the Convention for the • The Organization of the Petroleum
Pacific Settlement of International Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a
Disputes, concluded at The Hague, permanent, intergovernmental body
Netherlands in 1899 during the first comprising 12 oil-exporting developing
Hague Peace Conference. nations.
o The 1899 Convention was revised at • Established during the Baghdad
the second Hague Peace Conference Conference in 1960, its primary mandate
in 1907. is to coordinate petroleum policies and
Did you know? provide technical/economic assistance
• The PCA is the oldest universal
to its members.
• Founding Members: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait,
intergovernmental institution
dedicated to the resolution of Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela.
o Other Current Members: UAE,
international disputes.
Libya, Algeria, Nigeria, Congo,
Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon.
• It operates as a cartel, influencing global
oil prices by regulating production levels
(increasing production to lower prices and
cutting production to raise them).
• Headquarters: Located in Vienna,
Austria (notably, Austria is not a
member).
• The PCA is not a court in the traditional "OPEC Plus" Alliance
sense but provides services of an arbitral • The 2014 oil crisis, triggered by a
tribunal to resolve disputes that arise out massive oversupply that sent prices
of international agreements between crashing below $30 per barrel, led to a
member states, international strategic shift in global energy politics.
organizations or private parties. • To regain control over market stability,
o The cases span a range of legal OPEC began collaborating with several
issues involving territorial and non-OPEC producers.

40
 • Partners: Includes Russia, Azerbaijan, capabilities or troops to a military
Bahrain, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, operation.
Mexico, Oman, Sudan, and South Sudan. • All decisions at NATO are taken by
• This broader alliance, known as OPEC consensus.
Plus, coordinates production cuts to • NATO's Headquarters are located in
prevent price collapses and manage the Brussels, Belgium.
global supply-demand balance. Members:
• Together, the OPEC Plus nations account • At present, NATO has 32 members.
for approximately 40% of the world's o In 1949, there were 12 founding
crude oil production, giving them members of the Alliance: Belgium,
significant leverage over the global Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland,
economy. Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands,
Norway, Portugal, the United
3.8. NATO Kingdom and the United States.
About o The other member countries are:
• The North Atlantic Treaty Organization Greece and Turkey (1952),
(NATO) is a political and military Germany (1955), Spain (1982), the
alliance of 32 countries from North Czech Republic, Hungary and
America and Europe. Poland (1999), Bulgaria, Estonia,
• The foundations of NATO were officially Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia
laid down in 1949 with the signing of the and Slovenia (2004), Albania and
North Atlantic Treaty, more popularly Croatia (2009), Montenegro (2017)
known as the Washington Treaty. North Macedonia (2020), Finland
• Established during the Cold War to (2023) and Sweden (2024).
counter Soviet aggression, NATO’s primary
objective is to protect the freedom and
security of its members through both
political and military means.
o Article 5 of the Washington
Treaty — that an attack against
one Ally is an attack against all —
is at the core of the Alliance, a
promise of collective defence.
§ Article 5 has been invoked
only once in NATO history.
It happened after the
September 11 attacks on
the United States in 2001,
which led the alliance into • NATO membership is open to “any other
Afghanistan. European state in a position to further
• NATO is funded by Allies both directly and the principles of the Washington Treaty
indirectly. and to contribute to the security of the
o Direct contributions are made to North Atlantic area.”
NATO budgets and programmes on
an agreed cost-share formula, based
on Gross National Income. Indirect
funding is where allies commit

41
 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
1) Superconductors recorded for all the reported
About superconductors at ambient pressure
• A superconductor is any material that since the discovery of superconductivity
conducts electricity without offering in 1911.
any resistance to the flow of the • Since 1993, the best a material could do at
electric current. normal pressure was superconduct at -
• Superconductors find applications in 140°C. The same material (a copper oxide
improving electrical grids, building called Hg1223) now superconducts at -
advanced medical imaging systems, 122°C at normal pressure.
enabling fusion energy technologies, • Scientists achieved this using a new
and developing faster electronics. technique called "pressure quenching",
• However, this property only appears a three-stage process designed to freeze a
when the material is below a certain high-pressure superconducting state in
critical temperature known as place by removing pressure fast enough
transition temperature (Tc) and, in and at a low enough temperature.
many cases, under specific pressure. Significance
Temperature: • Raising the transition temperature has
• Most materials become superconducting been a major goal in superconductivity
only when cooled to extremely low research for decades.
temperatures (near absolute zero, -273° • The closer scientists can push the Tc
Celsius). toward room temperature, the more
• The higher the Tc, the more useful the practical and affordable
superconductor, because cooling superconducting technologies could
becomes cheaper and easier. become.
• The ultimate goal is room-temperature
superconductivity (around 20–25°C), 2) Pneumonia
which would require no active cooling at About
all. • Pneumonia is an infection in one or both
Pressure: lungs that can be caused by bacteria,
• Applying high pressure squeezes atoms viruses or fungi.
closer together, which can change the o Streptococcus pneumoniae is the
material’s electronic structure and raise most common cause of bacterial
the critical temperature. pneumonia in children.
• In many materials (including copper oxides Haemophilus influenzae type b
and hydrogen-rich compounds), intense (Hib) is the second most
pressure can push Tc up dramatically – common cause of bacterial
sometimes to near or above 0°C. pneumonia.
• These high-pressure states usually vanish o Respiratory syncytial virus is
the moment pressure is released, the most common viral cause of
making them useless for everyday pneumonia.
applications. • The infection causes inflammation or
Why in News? swelling in the air sacs (alveoli) of the
• Scientists have broken a 33-year-old lungs, leading to the accumulation of fluid
record by making a superconducting or pus. This can produce fever, cough and
material with a transition temperature difficulty in breathing.
(Tc) of about -122°C—the highest ever

42
 • Pneumonia can range from mild to severe effective in reducing the risk of
and can even be life-threatening in some pneumonia.
cases. Did you know?
• The disease can be treated with
• 'Pneumosil' is India’s first fully
antibiotics and prevented through indigenously developed
immunisation. pneumococcal vaccine. It was
• Children whose immune systems are developed by the Serum Institute of
weakened by other infections like HIV or India Pvt. Ltd in Pune.
by malnutrition, as well as those living in
areas with high levels of air pollution and
unsafe water, are at a far greater risk. 3) NavIC
About
Did you know? • Developed by the Indian Space
• Pneumonia is the single largest
Research Organisation (ISRO), the
infectious cause of death in children Navigation with Indian Constellation
worldwide. (NavIC)—earlier known as the Indian
SAANS Campaign Regional Navigation Satellite System
• The SAANS (Social Awareness and (IRNSS)—is India’s regional satellite
Action to Neutralize Pneumonia navigation system aimed at providing
Successfully) campaign is an initiative of independent positioning, navigation and
the Ministry for Health and Family timing capabilities.
Welfare to reduce morbidity and • The system was originally designed with
mortality of childhood pneumonia. a constellation of seven satellites—
• The campaign was launched in 2019. It three in geostationary orbit and four
aims to raise awareness about in inclined geosynchronous orbit—
pneumonia and emphasizes early supported by a network of ground
identification of pneumonia stations operating round the clock.
symptoms, including rapid breathing,
chest indrawing and fever.
Why in News?
• Kerala recently became the first Indian
state to publicly fund pneumonia
vaccines for adults from poor socio-
economic backgrounds, in a bid to
reduce deaths from life-threatening
respiratory infections.
• While vaccination against the disease
is provided to children through the Range & Services of NavIC
government’s Universal Immunisation • While equivalent American (GPS),
Programme, there is currently no such Russian (GLONASS), Chinese (BeiDou)
provision for older adults. and European systems (Galileo) provide
o Currently, the vaccine most global positioning services, NavIC is
pulmonologists prescribe is designed to provide accurate position
Pneumococcal Conjugate information service to users in India as
Vaccine 20 (PCV20), commonly well as the region extending up to 1500
known as Prevnar 20, which km from its boundary, which is its
protects against 20 pneumococcal Primary Service Area.
serotypes. The vaccine is • Beyond that lies an Extended Service
estimated to be 45–75 per cent Area, that can extend up to the edges of the

43
 area enclosed by the rectangle imagined by active satellites (1A–1G) launched
latitudes 30 degrees South and 50 degrees between 2013 and 2018.
North, and longitudes 30 degrees East and • Designed for a 10-year lifespan, many
130 degrees East. experienced early failures of their
o NavIC is viewed more as a fall onboard atomic clocks, with some now
back system in case of future considered defunct.
global conflicts in which India is • In 2017, ISRO attempted to replace the
denied access to foreign IRNSS-1A with IRNSS-1H, but the
constellations. mission failed to insert the satellite into
• The system supports a range of the desired orbit. Subsequently, ISRO
applications including civilian began launching the second generation
navigation, maritime operations and of satellites for NavIC, known as the NVS
disaster management. series.
• NavIC also has a strategic dimension, with • While it successfully placed NVS-01 in
its encrypted Restricted Service the desired orbit in 2023, the 2025
catering to authorised users, including launch of NVS-02 failed.
defence forces, enabling secure o This has delayed the launch of
navigation and timing support NVS-03, NVS-04, and NVS-05,
independent of foreign systems. leaving the NavIC system with
• According to ISRO, the system provides only IRNSS 1-B, IRNSS 1-L, and
position accuracy better than 20 NVS-01, which are currently
metres and timing accuracy better capable of providing navigation
than 50 nanoseconds. services.
Why in News?
• ISRO recently said that the last atomic 4) Magnetic Field Reversals
clock on board the IRNSS-1F has Background
stopped functioning, leaving only three • Earth is surrounded by an immense
satellites of the constellation capable magnetic field, called the
of providing position, navigation, and magnetosphere.
timing services. • Generated by the movement of molten
• At least four satellites with operational iron in its outer core, our magnetosphere
atomic clocks are required for the shields us from erosion of our
navigation satellite system to function atmosphere by the solar wind, particle
properly. radiation from coronal mass ejections
What are Atomic clocks? (eruptions of large clouds of energetic,
• Atomic clocks are extremely precise
magnetized plasma from the Sun’s corona
timekeeping devices that measure into space), and from cosmic rays from
time using the natural vibration deep space. It also enables navigation for
frequency of atoms such as cesium or animals and humans, and creates
calcium. auroras.
o Without this shield, Earth would
• Unlike older quartz clocks, which slowly
lose accuracy, atomic clocks rely on lose its atmosphere and become
atomic properties that are constant uninhabitable.
everywhere in the universe.
What is the issue?
• The first-generation NavIC satellites,
known as the IRNSS series, consisted of 7

44
 • Earlier, scientists believed RNA only
functioned inside cells, and that any RNA
outside would be quickly destroyed by
enzymes.
• However, researchers now know that cells
intentionally export RNA for
communication purposes.
• To survive outside the cell, exRNA travels
in its own molecular containers that
prevent enzymes from breaking it down
•Since the forces that generate our before it reaches its destination.
magnetic field are constantly changing, Significance
the field itself is also in continual flux, • This process helps coordinate
its strength waxing and waning over responses in the immune system,
time. tissue repair, and development.
• This causes the location of Earth’s • However, cancer cells can also release
magnetic north and south poles to exRNA to promote tumour growth.
gradually shift, and to even completely • The discovery of exRNA changed modern
flip locations every 300,000 years or medicine. For instance, just by testing a
so. patient’s blood or other body fluids,
Why in News? doctors can identify specific RNA
• For decades, geologists believed that patterns linked to cancer or heart
magnetic field reversals (north and south disease.
poles swapping) happened relatively Why in News?
quickly, over about 10,000 years. • In a study published recently, scientists
• However, a new study found evidence reported that exRNA from bacteria can
that some reversals last much longer. persist in disinfected drinking water.
o A team of scientists have found one • By analyzing this surviving exRNA,
reversal lasted 18,000 years and researchers can determine what survival
another lasted a staggering 70,000 strategies bacteria were attempting just
years. before they were damaged or killed by
Implications disinfectants.
• During a reversal, the magnetic field • This insight can help in designing more
loses much of its strength. effective disinfectants that counter those
• A 70,000-year weak field would expose bacterial survival tactics.
the atmosphere and surface life to
significantly more solar radiation for a 6) Nucleic Acid Test
prolonged period. Background
• The study suggests these long intervals • Blood transfusions carry a risk of
could have influenced ancient transmitting infections from donor to
environments and the evolution of life on recipient.
Earth. • To reduce this risk, blood donations are
screened for transfusion-transmitted
5) exRNA infections. Two main techniques are
About used: Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent
• exRNA (Extracellular RNA) is RNA that Assay (ELISA) and Nucleic Acid Testing
exists outside cells, in body fluids such (NAT).
as blood, saliva, urine, and cerebrospinal
fluid.

45
ELISA: Why in News?
• ELISA is a widely used, cost-effective • The Supreme Court has refused to direct
laboratory technique that helps the government to compulsorily conduct
diagnose infections by detecting and Nucleic Acid Tests (NAT) to identify
measuring antibodies or antigens in diseases ahead of blood transfusions,
the blood. saying that it does not have specialised
o Antigens are foreign substances knowledge about either medical science or
(bacteria, viruses, toxins) that the costs involved.
trigger an immune response, while
antibodies are Y-shaped proteins 7) NAP-AMR 2.0
(immunoglobulins) produced by B About
cells to bind to and neutralize these • Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs
specific antigens. when bacteria, viruses, fungi and
NAT: parasites no longer respond to
• NAT is a molecular technique that antimicrobial medicines that are used
provides an additional layer of blood to treat infections.
safety. • As a result, these medicines become
• Unlike traditional methods that wait for ineffective and infections become
the body to produce antibodies, NAT difficult or impossible to treat,
directly detects the genetic material of increasing the risk of disease spread,
a virus – its DNA or RNA – in a blood severe illness, disability and death.
sample. • When the microorganisms become
• The most important advantage of NAT is resistant to most antimicrobials they are
reduction in the "window period" – the often referred to as “superbugs”.
time between when a person becomes • The World Health Organization (WHO)
infected and when the test can reliably has declared that AMR is one of the top 10
detect the infection. global public health threats facing
• ELISA typically detects antibodies (or humanity.
sometimes antigens) only after the Causes of AMR
immune system has had time to • AMR occurs naturally over time, usually
respond. through genetic changes in pathogens.
o For HIV, this can take 18–45 days; • Its emergence and spread is accelerated
for Hepatitis C, it may take up to 66 by human activity, mainly the misuse and
days. overuse of antimicrobials to treat,
• NAT detects the virus directly within prevent or control infections in humans,
days of infection – about 5 days for HIV animals and plants.
and 3–5 days for Hepatitis C. • Lack of proper sanitation, hygiene, and
• While NAT offers superior safety, its clean water in healthcare settings and
widespread adoption is constrained by its communities facilitates the spread of
high operational costs, which are resistant microorganisms.
significantly greater than those of ELISA. Global Initiatives to combat AMR
Note: One Health Approach:
• Currently, NAT is not mandatory for all • The WHO leads global efforts to combat
blood banks in India. AMR using the One Health approach.
• The national guidelines mandate o It recognizes that the health of
screening for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, humans, domestic and wild
syphilis, and malaria, but they do not animals, plants and the wider
specifically mandate techniques like environment are closely linked
NAT. and inter-dependent.

46
Global Action Plan (GAP) on Antimicrobial • The second version addresses gaps
Resistance: identified in the first NAP-AMR and
• Framework adopted by WHO member strengthens efforts to create public
states in 2015 which commits countries to awareness and private sector
develop multisectoral National Action participation, among other areas.
Plans (NAPs).
World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW): 8) Researchers at CERN transport antiprotons
• A global campaign to raise awareness, CERN
understanding and best practices with • The European Organisation for Nuclear
the public, and policymakers. Research (CERN) is the world’s largest
• WAAW is celebrated from 18 to 24 nuclear and particle physics laboratory.
November every year. • Founded in 1954, the CERN laboratory is
Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance situated in the Franco-Swiss border near
System (GLASS): Geneva.
• Launched in 2015 by the WHO to foster • The centre is best known for its Large
standardized AMR surveillance globally at Hadron Collider, a network of magnets
national level. that accelerates particles through a 27-
AWaRe Tool: km underground tunnel and slams them
• An online tool launched by the WHO in together at velocities approaching the
2019 aimed at guiding policy-makers and speed of light. Scientists then study the
health workers to use antibiotics safely and results of those collisions.
more effectively. • CERN is run by 25 Member States.
• It classifies antibiotics into three groups: o In 2016, India became an associate
o Access — antibiotics used to treat member of CERN.
the most common and serious Why in News?
infections • Researchers at the CERN particle-physics
o Watch — antibiotics available at all lab have successfully transported
times in the healthcare system antiprotons in a truck across the lab’s
o Reserve — antibiotics to be used main site.
sparingly or preserved and used
only as a last resort.
National Initiatives
• The National Action Plan on
Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR)
focusing on ‘One Health’ approach was
launched in 2017 with the aim of
promoting AMR containment.
• The Union Ministry of Health and Family • The feat, the first of its kind, is considered
Welfare has launched the Red Line a huge leap towards being able to
awareness campaign on AMR, urging transport antimatter between labs across
people not to use medicines marked with a Europe.
red vertical line, including antibiotics, • Antiprotons are the antimatter
without a doctor’s prescription. counterpart of protons.
Why in News? o Antimatter is the twin of almost
• The Ministry of Health and Family all the subatomic particles that
Welfare has launched the second version make up our universe.
of the National Action Plan on • These subatomic particles are of the
Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR same mass as a proton but having a
2.0) for the period 2025–29. negative electric charge and

47
 oppositely directed magnetic o Without it, glucose builds up in the
moment. bloodstream and can damage
• Even though they are stable, they are organs over time.
• People with a family history of diabetes
typically short-lived as collision with
any proton causes both particles to and excess sugar in the diet are at high
annihilate in a burst of energy. risk of developing diabetes. Being obese
• Antimatter does not occur naturally, (caused by excess body fat) also
except for single particles produced in increases the risk of diabetes.
nuclear or cosmic ray interactions. GLP-1 Drugs
• GLP-1 drugs (glucagon-like peptide-1
Therefore, the only way to obtain it is to
produce it. receptor agonists) are medications
o At CERN, there is a dedicated
developed to treat both diabetes and
facility for this purpose known obesity by correcting hormonal
as the Antimatter Factory. imbalance - stimulating insulin release
and suppressing excess glucagon - to
Why do scientists study Antimatter? bring blood sugar back under control.
• The drugs regulate blood sugar and
• Antimatter is almost identical to
ordinary matter except that the appetite and are also used to treat
electric charge and magnetic obesity.
o Essentially, they slow down the
moment are reversed.
• But if equal amounts of matter and
gastric emptying, increasing the
antimatter were created in the Big feeling of fullness. This decreases
Bang, as is widely believed, they would patients’ appetites and thereby
have annihilated each other, leaving leads to their weight loss.
an empty universe. Why in News?
• The Drug Controller General of India
• Physicists therefore suspect there are
hidden differences that may explain (DCGI) has intensified regulatory
why matter survived and antimatter all surveillance against unauthorised sale
but disappeared. and promotion of GLP-1 based Weight
Loss Drugs.

9) Centre intensifies regulatory surveillance CDSCO & DCGI:

• The Central Drugs Standard Control
over GLP-1 weight loss drugs
Background Organisation (CDSCO) under the
• Diabetes is a chronic hormonal
Directorate General of Health
disorder that occurs when the pancreas Services, Ministry of Health & Family
does not produce adequate insulin, or Welfare is the National Regulatory
when the body cannot effectively use Authority (NRA) of India for regulation
the insulin it produces, leading to high of pharmaceutical, medical devices and
blood sugar (hyperglycaemia). clinical trials.
• It is headed by the Drugs Controller
• If left untreated, it can lead to
complications like blindness, kidney General (India).
• Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act,
failure, heart attacks, stroke and lower
limb amputation. 1940, CDSCO is responsible for
• Insulin, a hormone made by the
approval of Drugs, conduct of clinical
pancreas, helps move glucose from the trials, laying down the standards for
blood into cells to produce energy. Drugs, control over the quality of
imported Drugs in the country and

48
 coordination of the activities of State Why in News?
• A team of scientists has discovered an
Drug Control Organizations.
• Further CDSCO along with state extremely rare quadruple star system in
the Milky Way consists of a pair of brown
regulators, is jointly responsible for
grant of licenses of certain dwarfs orbiting a pair of young red
specialized categories of critical dwarf stars, a configuration never seen
Drugs such as blood and blood before.
o A quadruple star system consists of
products, I. V. Fluids, Vaccine and Sera.
• The CDSCO is headquartered in New four stars that are gravitationally
Delhi. bound to each other.
o Red dwarfs are the smallest,
• The move comes amid growing concerns coolest, and most numerous type of
over the increasing availability of star in the Milky Way, making up
multiple generic variants of these drugs in about three-quarters of all stars. It
the Indian market, through retail is a true star unlike brown dwarf.
pharmacies, online platforms,
wholesalers, and wellness clinics.
• The Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare said that these drugs, when used
without proper medical supervision,
may lead to serious adverse effects and
related health risks.

10) Brown Dwarf

About
• Brown Dwarf is an astronomical object
that is intermediate between a planet 11) White Phosphorus
and a star. About
• It forms like a star but lacks the • White phosphorus is a colorless, white,
sufficient mass to ignite and sustain or yellow waxy solid with a garlic-like
core hydrogen fusion—the process that odor.
powers true stars. That is why they are • It does not occur naturally, but is
often known as “failed stars”. manufactured from phosphate rocks.
o Brown dwarfs are not actually • White phosphorus reacts rapidly with
brown but appear from deep red to oxygen, easily catching fire at
magenta depending on their temperatures 10 to 15 degrees above
temperature. room temperature.
• Brown dwarfs can be up to 70 times • Upon exposure, white phosphorus can
more massive than gas giants like cause severe burns, often down to the
Jupiter. bone. White phosphorus burns on even
• They have atmospheres similar to gas 10 per cent of the body can be fatal.
giant planets such as Jupiter and Saturn. Applications
• Brown dwarfs can be difficult to detect as • White phosphorus is used by the military
they are cold and faint. As a result, in various types of ammunition, and to
astronomers typically search for brown produce smoke for concealing troop
dwarfs orbiting companion stars, which movements and identifying targets.
often burn brighter. • It is also used by industry to produce
phosphoric acid and other chemicals

49
 for use in fertilizers, food additives, and Applications:
cleaning compounds. • Helium is used in a variety of applications,
• Small amounts of white phosphorus were including:
used in the past in pesticides and o Balloons and airships: Helium is
fireworks. used to fill balloons and airships
Legal Status because it is lighter than air and
• The use of white phosphorus is governed non-flammable.
by the Convention on Certain o Party balloons: Helium is used to
Conventional Weapons (CCCW), an fill party balloons because it
international treaty that prohibits the use makes them float.
of air-delivered incendiary weapons o Scuba diving: Helium is used in
against concentrations of civilians. scuba diving tanks to reduce the
o However, since white phosphorus risk of decompression sickness.
is primarily designed for smoke- o Magnetic resonance imaging
screening and not as a weapon to (MRI): Helium is used to cool the
burn people, many militaries superconducting magnets in MRI
argue it falls outside the definition machines.
of an "incendiary weapon”. o Welding and cutting: Helium is
Why in News? used as a shielding gas in welding
• Israel has been accused of firing white and cutting operations.
phosphorus munitions over homes in the o High-tech applications: Helium
southern Lebanon region. is used in a variety of high-tech
applications, such as lasers,
12) Helium Shortage particle accelerators, and
About semiconductor manufacturing.
• Helium (He) is the second element in the Why in News?
periodic table, with an atomic number of • The disruption in global helium supply
2. due to the war in the Middle East has
• It is a colorless, odorless, non- raised concerns in India’s healthcare
flammable, non-toxic, inert gas (does sector, particularly over the rising cost of
not react with other substances or MRI scans and the installation of MRI
combust). machines.
• Its boiling and melting points are the
lowest among all the elements. 13) Difference between LPG and LNG
• Helium is the second lightest element What’s in the news?
and the second most abundant in the • The effective halt in vessel movements
universe (after hydrogen). through the Strait of Hormuz due to the
Did you know? West Asia war has hit India’s energy
• Helium makes up about 24% of the mass
supplies, particularly those of liquefied
of the universe. petroleum gas (LPG) and liquefied
natural gas (LNG).
Production: • LPG, particularly, has been a cause of
• Helium is found in small amounts in the concern, given that India depends on
Earth’s atmosphere and is also imports to meet around 60% of the
produced by the radioactive decay of fuel’s needs, and 90% of those imports
uranium and thorium. came through the critical maritime
• The United States is the world’s largest chokepoint of the Strait.
producer of helium, followed by Qatar o India depends on LNG imports
and Russia. to meet half of its natural gas

50
 requirement, and 55-60% of it • Essentially, LNG is natural gas that is
comes from West Asia through liquefied for easier storage and
the Strait of Hormuz. transportation, and is mostly
• While both LPG and LNG are converted back to natural gas before
hydrocarbon gases turned into the being used.
liquid state, they differ in their o Natural gas itself has a number of
chemistry, production processes, applications — cooking fuel,
transportation, and delivery. transportation fuel, and
LPG: industrial fuel or feedstock in
• LPG is a gaseous fuel mix primarily sectors like refineries, fertilisers,
comprising propane and butane that is a power plants, and petrochemicals.
byproduct of crude oil refining and o It is supplied via pipelines as
natural gas processing. piped natural gas (PNG) to
o It may also contain some households and industries, and as
propylene, butylene, and compressed natural gas (CNG)
isobutylene or isobutene. for vehicles.
• Under relatively low temperatures or • LPG, in contrast, is bottled in cylinders,
moderate pressure, the gas mix transported mainly by road, and is more
becomes a liquid. portable since it does not depend on
• It is mostly used for cooking and pipeline infrastructure. It is also easier
heating, with some industrial to store, requiring only pressurised
applications as well; it is also used as an cylinders.
automobile fuel in some parts of the Safety:
world. • PNG is considered safer than LPG. This
o LPG’s volume is around 1/260th is because natural gas is lighter than
of its gaseous volume. air, which allows it to disperse quickly
LNG: in case of a leak.
• LNG, on the other hand, is primarily o LPG is heavier than air, and
natural gas — mainly methane — therefore tends to sink and
cooled to below -160 degrees Celsius accumulate in the air in case of
and cryogenically turned into a liquid. leakage, which makes it a lot more
• LNG itself doesn’t have too many direct prone to fires and explosions in
uses, except for an upcoming fuel to such instances.
power heavy vehicles, ships, and
trains. 14) OTHER NOTABLE TOPICS
• The key purpose of liquefaction of
natural gas into LNG is to transport it 14.1. CAR-T Cell Therapy
over long distances across seas, where Cancer Treatments
supplying natural gas through pipelines is • The three major forms of treatment for
not feasible. any cancer are surgery (removing the
• Unlike LPG, LNG must be stored in cancer), radiotherapy (delivering
cryogenic tanks and requires trained ionising radiation to the tumour), and
handling to prevent vapourisation or systemic therapy (administering
boil-off. medicines that act on the tumour).
o In its liquid state, LNG occupies • Surgery and radiotherapy have been
roughly 1/600th the volume of refined significantly over time – whereas
natural gas in gaseous form, advances in systemic therapy have been
making it viable for transport and unparalleled.
storage over long distances.

51
 •Systemic therapy’s earliest form was • Because these cells are even more specific
chemotherapy. When administered, than targeted agents and directly activate
chemotherapy preferentially acts on the patient’s immune system against
cancer cells as they have rapid cancer, they are often called “living drugs.”
unregulated growth and poor healing Barriers to Widespread Use
mechanisms. Chemotherapeutic drugs • The complexity of preparing CAR-T cells
have modest response rates and has been a major barrier to their use.
significant side-effects as they affect • The technical and human resources
numerous cell types in the body. required to administer this therapy are also
• The next stage in its evolution was considerable.
targeted agents, a.k.a. immunotherapy: • The prohibitive cost of CAR-T cell
the drugs bind to specific targets on the therapy has placed it beyond the reach of
cancer or in the immune cells that help many.
the tumour grow or spread. This method NexCAR19
often has fewer side-effects as the • In 2024, India launched its first
impact on non-tumour cells is limited. indigenously developed CAR-T cell
However, it is effective only against therapy, “NexCAR19.”
tumours that express these targets. o Considered the world’s most
What is CAR-T Cell Therapy? affordable CAR-T therapy,
• Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell NexCAR19 has been developed by
therapies represent a quantum leap in the IIT Bombay in collaboration with
sophistication of cancer treatment. the Tata Memorial Centre and
• Unlike chemotherapy or immunotherapy, industry partner ImmunoACT.
which require mass-produced injectable or
oral medication, CAR-T cell therapies use 14.2. ASTROSAT
a patient’s own cells. About
• These cells are modified in the laboratory • ASTROSAT is India’s first dedicated
to activate T-cells, a component of the multi-wavelength space observatory.
immune system, so that they can attack • ASTROSAT is designed to observe the
tumours. universe in the visible, ultraviolet, low
and high energy X-ray regions of the
electromagnetic spectrum
simultaneously with the help of its five
payloads.
• AstroSat with a lift-off mass of 1515 kg was
launched in 2015 into a 650 km orbit by
PSLV-C30 from Satish Dhawan Space
Centre, Sriharikota.
• Upon its successful deployment, India
became the fourth nation to host a
dedicated space observatory, following
the USA (Hubble), Russia (Spektr-R),
and Japan (Suzaku).
• Though originally designed for a five-
year mission, it continues to function
• The modified cells are then infused back
and deliver valuable data even after ten
into the patient’s bloodstream after
years.
being conditioned to multiply more
effectively.

52
 • The scientific objectives of ASTROSAT Potential of Quantum Technology:
mission are: • This ability to be in multiple states at
o To understand high energy once makes quantum computers
processes in binary star systems
different and potentially much more
containing neutron stars and black powerful than traditional ones. It can
holes; solve problems much faster with
§ A binary star is a system of two
more authenticity.
gravitationally bound stars • Quantum technology offers unique
that orbit a common centre of security when it comes to encryption,
mass called a barycentre. making quantum communication hack-
o Estimate magnetic fields of proof.
neutron stars; • Quantum communication is one of the
o Study star birth regions and high
safest ways of connecting two places
energy processes in star systems with high levels of code and quantum
lying beyond our galaxy; cryptography cannot be decrypted or
o Detect new briefly bright X-ray
broken by an external entity.
sources in the sky; • Meanwhile, quantum sensing uses the
o Perform a limited deep field
principles of quantum mechanics to
survey of the Universe in the develop new types of sensors with
Ultraviolet region. unprecedented sensitivity and
accuracy.
14.3. National Quantum Mission
o These sensors can measure
About
physical quantities, such as
• The Government of India approved the
temperature, magnetic fields, and
National Quantum Mission (NQM) in 2023
gravitational waves, with higher
with the objective to seed, nurture and
precision than classical sensors.
scale up scientific and industrial R&D
• This technology has vast utilisation in
and create a vibrant & innovative
astronomy and astrophysics and in
ecosystem in Quantum Technology.
solving the riddles of the universe.

Challenges associated with Quantum

Computing:
• Superpositions can collapse quickly.
• The software programming is different,
and requires excellent error control
and management.
• Researchers have found it hard to
maintain physically stable
configurations. They are huge
What is Quantum Computing? installations which must be housed in
• Quantum computers use special units super-cold, seismically stable places
called qubits to store and process since even passing trucks can cause
information. errors through imperceptible tremors.
• Unlike regular computers, where • Special materials and rare helium
classical bits can only be 0 or 1, isotopes are used to manage cooling
qubits can be both 0 and 1 at the and shielding, quite apart from
same time (a state known as quantum specialized semiconductors.
superposition).

53
Objectives • Single photon sources/detectors,
• The mission, spearheaded by the entangled photon sources will also be
Department of Science and Technology, developed for quantum communications,
targets developing intermediate scale sensing and metrological applications.
quantum computers with 50-1000 • Four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) will be set
physical qubits in 8 years in various up in top academic and National R&D
platforms like superconducting and institutes on the domains - Quantum
photonic technology. Computing, Quantum Communication,
• Establish satellite-enabled quantum- Quantum Sensing & Metrology and
secured communication between two Quantum Materials & Devices.
ground stations over 2000 km within o Each T-Hub will follow the Hub-
India and extend this technology for Spoke-Spike model, fostering a
long-distance secure quantum cluster-based network where
communication with other countries. research projects (Spokes) and
• The mission will help develop individual research groups
magnetometers with high sensitivity in (Spikes) operate alongside central
atomic systems and Atomic Clocks for hubs.
precision timing, communications and
navigation.
o A magnetometer is a specialized
device designed to measure the
strength and direction of magnetic
fields. Magnetometers are useful
devices with applications in areas
ranging from fundamental physics
to medical imaging and
navigation.
• It will also support design and synthesis
of quantum materials such as
superconductors, novel semiconductor
structures and topological materials for
fabrication of quantum devices.

54
 REPORTS & INDICES
1) Fiscal Health Index 2026
What’s in the news?
• NITI Aayog has released the second
annual edition of the “Fiscal Health
Index 2026”.
About the Index
• The Fiscal Health Index provides a
comprehensive and comparable
assessment of the fiscal performance
of Indian states.
• The Index has been designed as a data-
driven framework to evaluate fiscal
soundness, guide reforms, and
promote evidence-based fiscal
policymaking across states.
• The Index is built on five key pillars of
fiscal health using data from the • The North Eastern/Himalayan States
Comptroller and Auditor General have been ranked separately from the
(CAG): major states and classified into three
o Quality of Expenditure, groups i.e., Achievers (Arunachal
o Revenue Mobilisation, Pradesh, Uttarakhand), Performers
o Fiscal Prudence, (Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim,
o Debt Index, and Tripura) and Aspirational (Himachal
o Debt Sustainability. Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland).
• While the first edition assessed the fiscal
performance of 18 major states, the
second edition includes the 10 North-
Eastern and Himalayan states, making
the Index more inclusive and
representative.
Highlights of the Index
• Among the 18 major States, Odisha
secured the top position in the index,
followed by Goa and Jharkhand. These
states are recognized as top 'Achievers'.
o Gujarat, Maharashtra,
Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Uttar
Pradesh, and Karnataka are
categorized as 'Front-Runners'.
o ‘Performers’ include Madhya
Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar, Tamil • The report underlines the need to
Nadu, and Rajasthan. strengthen revenue mobilisation,
o ‘Aspirational’ category includes
rationalise committed expenditure to
West Bengal, Kerala, Andhra enhance fiscal flexibility, improve the
Pradesh, and Punjab. composition and effectiveness of
capital expenditure, and advance fiscal

55
 transparency and public financial world’s unhappiest country, along with
management systems to ensure Malawi (145th) and Sierra Leone
sustainable fiscal outcomes. (146th), all affected by conflict.
• India improved its ranking from 126th in
2) World Happiness Report 2026 2024 to 118th in 2025, rising two
What’s in the news? positions this year and currently standing
• The Wellbeing Research Centre at the at 116th with a life evaluation score of
University of Oxford has published its 4.536.
World Happiness Report 2026. • The report has linked heavy social
• The rankings are based on responses media use to a significant decline in
from around 100,000 people across 140 well-being among young people, with
countries and territories, where the impact especially severe for teenage
participants rate their own lives on a girls in English-speaking countries and
scale from 0 (worst) to 10 (best), linked Western Europe.
with six variables — GDP per capita,
social support, life expectancy,
freedom, generosity and corruption
perception.
• The study was done in partnership with
the analytics firm Gallup and the U.N.
Sustainable Development Solutions
Network (SDSN).
Sustainable Development Solutions Network:
• SDSN was launched in 2012 by UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to
mobilize global scientific and
technological expertise to promote
practical problem solving for 3) Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual
sustainable development and Report
implement the Sustainable About PLFS
Development Goals (SDGs). • The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS),
• SDSN is committed to supporting the conducted by National Statistical Office
implementation of the SDGs at national (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and
and international levels. Programme Implementation, is the
primary source of data on activity
Highlights of the Report participation and employment
• Finland remains the happiest country in unemployment conditions of the
the world in 2026, holding the top spot for population.
the ninth consecutive year. • Launched in 2017, the PLFS survey
• The Nordic countries, Iceland (2nd), methodology was revamped in 2025 to
Denmark (3rd), Sweden (5th), and provide monthly estimates of key
Norway (6th), also rank among the top employment indicators at the all-India
10 happiest countries in 2026. level, as well as quarterly results for
• The 2026 rankings showed a notable both rural and urban areas.
absence of English-speaking countries, o Until then, PLFS provided
with none appearing in the top 10 for quarterly urban figures and
the second consecutive year. annual rural-urban estimates.
• Afghanistan, at the bottom of the list at • The annual PLFS results are now aligned
147th, has once again been ranked the to the calendar year (January–

56
 December), replacing the previous July– relatively long time during 365 days
June reporting cycle. preceding the date of survey, was
Objectives considered the usual principal activity
• The revamped PLFS design is envisaged
status of the person.
to address the following objectives: • Subsidiary economic activity status
o to estimate the key employment
(ss): The activity status in which a
and unemployment indicators person in addition to his/her usual
on a monthly basis for rural and principal status, performs some
urban areas in the Current economic activity for 30 days or
Weekly Status (CWS) at all-India more for the reference period of 365
level; days preceding the date of survey, was
o to extend the coverage of the
considered the subsidiary economic
Quarterly results of PLFS to rural activity status of the person.
areas and thereby producing • Activity Status - Current Weekly
quarterly estimates covering Status (CWS): The activity status
both rural and urban areas of determined on the basis of a reference
India in CWS; period of last 7 days preceding the
o to estimate important date of survey is known as the current
employment and weekly status (CWS) of the person.
unemployment indicators in
both usual status (ps+ss) and Why in News?
CWS for rural and urban areas • The National Statistical Office (NSO) has
annually. published the Periodic Labour Force
Survey annual report for 2025.
Definitions: Highlights of the Report
• Labour Force Participation Rate
• The Labour Force Participation Rate
(LFPR): LFPR is defined as the (LFPR) in usual status (ps+ss) for
percentage of persons in the labour force persons of age 15 years and above was
(i.e. working or seeking or available for observed as 59.3% during 2025.
work) in the population. o The same for male and female
• Worker Population Ratio (WPR): WPR
stood at 79.1% and 40.0%
is defined as the percentage of employed respectively.
persons in the population. o Among male, 69.8% reported
• Unemployment Rate (UR): UR is
wanting to continue studies as
defined as the percentage of persons the main reason for not being in
unemployed among the persons in the the labour force, whereas among
labour force. female, 44.4% cited child
• Activity Status-Usual Status: The
care/personal commitments in
activity status of a person is determined home-making as the main
on the basis of the activities pursued by reason.
the person during the specified • The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) in
reference period. When the activity usual status (ps+ss) for persons of age 15
status is determined on the basis of years and above estimated as 57.4%
the reference period of the last 365 during 2025, remaining almost at the
days preceding the date of survey, it same level as in 2024.
is known as the usual activity status of o In 2025, the WPR for male and
the person. female was 76.6% and 38.8%
• Principal activity status (ps): The
respectively.
activity status on which a person spent

57
 • The Unemployment Rate (UR) in usual status (ps+ss) increased to 23.6% in
status (ps+ss) for persons aged 15 years 2025 compared to 22.4% in 2024.
and above was 3.1% for both male and • The share of self-employed persons has
female in 2025. shown a gradual decline from 2023 to
• Youth (age 15-29 years) unemployment 2025, decreasing from 58.2% in 2023 to
rate in usual status (ps+ss) declined to 57.5% in 2024 and further to 56.2% in
9.9% in 2025 from 10.3% in 2024. 2025.
o The unemployment rate among • Over the period, the manufacturing
rural youth decreased to 8.3% in sector has broadly witnessed an
2025 from 8.7% in 2024, whereas increase in the proportion of workers
among urban youth it fell to engaged, while the agriculture sector
13.6% from 14.3% over the same has experienced a decline in the share
period. of worker engagement.
• The proportion of workers in regular • Among persons aged 15-59 years, 4.2%
wage/ salaried employment in usual reported having received/receiving
formal vocational/ technical training.

58
 ART & CULTURE
1) Sahitya Akademi Award must be considered before awarding a
About prize.
• The Sahitya Akademi Award is a literary Why in News?
honour in India, conferred by the Sahitya • The Sahitya Akademi has announced the
Akademi, an autonomous organization winners of the Sahitya Akademi Awards
under the Ministry of Culture dedicated 2025, recognising outstanding literary
to the promotion of Indian literature. works in 24 Indian languages.
• The award’s goals are to identify
emerging trends in writing as well as to 2) Jnanpith Award
recognise and promote excellence in About
Indian literature. • The Jnanpith Award, considered the
• The award, instituted in 1954, consists of highest literary award in India, is
a plaque and a Rs. 1,00,000 cash awarded annually to authors for their
reward. outstanding contribution towards
literature.
• Instituted in 1961, the award is bestowed
only on Indian writers writing in Indian
languages included in the Eighth
Schedule to the Constitution of India and
English, with no posthumous conferral.
Did you know?
• The first recipient of the award was
Malayalam writer G Sankara Kurup in
1965 for his novel ‘Odakkuzhal’ (The
Bamboo Flute).
• The award carries a cash award, a
Did you know? citation, and a bronze replica of Vagdevi
• The plaque awarded by the Sahitya
(Hindu goddess Saraswati).
Akademi was designed by the Indian • The Award is presented annually by the
film-maker Satyajit Ray. Bharatiya Jnanpith, a literary and
research organization, based in New Delhi.
Languages Recognised:
• In addition to the 22 languages listed in
the Eighth Schedule of Indian
Constitution, the Sahitya Akademi has
designated English and Rajasthani as the
languages chosen.
Conditions of Bestowing the Award:
• The author must be of Indian origin.
• The book/work must be an excellent
contribution to the language and
Why in News?
literature.
• Tamil lyricist and author R. Vairamuthu
• When two or more works have similar
has been selected for the Jnanpith Award,
worth, specific factors such as overall
the nation’s highest literary honour
literary contribution and author status

59
 DEFENCE & SECURITY
1) Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean
Region
About
• The Information Fusion Centre – Indian
Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), hosted by the
Indian Navy, was established by the
Government of India at Gurugram,
Haryana in 2018 to further maritime
safety and security in the Indian Ocean
Region. • Since its inception, the Centre has
• The Centre aims at strengthening established working level linkages with
maritime security in the region by more than 50 nations and
building a common coherent maritime multinational/maritime security centres.
situation picture and acting as a
maritime security information sharing
hub.

60
 PLACES IN NEWS
1) Somaliland 2) Strait of Hormuz
About About
• Somaliland is a self-governing region • The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow
within Somalia, located in the broader waterway (only 30 miles wide at the
Horn of Africa. narrowest point) located between the
• It shares a coastline along the Gulf of Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
Aden to the north, borders Ethiopia to • It is bounded to the north by Iran and to
the south and west, and Djibouti to the the south by Oman and the United Arab
northwest. Emirates (UAE).
• The capital city is Hargeisa. Significance
• Somaliland declared independence from • The Strait of Hormuz serves as the only
Somalia in 1991. Though not sea exit from the Persian Gulf into the
internationally recognised, Somaliland Arabian Sea and the wider Indian
has a working political system, Ocean, making it one of the world's
government institutions, a police force most strategically important choke
and its own currency. points.

• About a fifth of the world’s crude oil

Why in News? passes through the Strait of Hormuz
• Israel has recognised Somaliland as an and any disruption to traffic can
independent nation, sparking significantly affect global oil trade.
condemnation from many other Did you know?
countries. • India, the world's third largest oil
o Israel became the first in the world importer, imports roughly half of its
to do so, more than 30 years after crude needs through the Strait of
the region declared independence Hormuz.
from Somalia.
• Following the recognition, Somaliland Why in News?
granted Israel access to parts of • As the United States and Israel escalate
Berbera Port and Berbera Airport, key military operations against Iran, Iran’s
facilities along the Red Sea that serve as Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
vital hubs for trade and regional security. (IRGC) has declared the Strait of Hormuz
closed and warned that any vessel

61
 attempting to pass through the waterway • Countries bordering the Baltic Sea:
would be attacked. Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Russia,
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and
3) OTHER NOTABLE TOPICS Germany.

3.1. Baltic Sea

About
• The Baltic Sea is a brackish inland sea, a
branch of the Atlantic Ocean.
o It is enclosed by the Scandinavian
peninsula and the north-east of
central European landmass.
Did you know?
• The Baltic Sea is the youngest sea on our
planet, emerging some 10,000-15,000
years ago as the glaciers retreated at the
end of the last Ice Age.
• It is considered to be the largest expanse
of brackish water in the world.

62
 MISCELLANEOUS
1) India wins Third ICC Men’s T20 World Cup o With this, India has won the most
Title T20 World Cup titles (three) and
About is the only team to have
• The ICC Men's T20 World Cup is the successfully defended its crown.
premier international championship for West Indies and England are
Twenty20 International cricket, both two-time champions.
organized by the International Cricket
Council (ICC) every two years.
• It features 20 teams playing in 20-over
matches.
• Inaugurated in 2007, it is a major
tournament to determine the world
champion in the 20-over format.
Why in News?
• India scripted history by winning the ICC
Men’s T20 World Cup title for a record
third time, beating New Zealand by 96
runs in the final match at Narendra Modi
Stadium in Ahmedabad.

63
 HIGHLIGHTS FROM OTHER ARTICLES
1) Mascots Pragati, Vikas • It was initiated following regional
News: maritime security incidents to protect
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah has critical energy trade routes and combat
unveiled two mascots, Pragati (female piracy, with warships deployed for
enumerator) and Vikas (male surveillance and escort duties.
enumerator), for the upcoming
Population Census 2027. 4) India sustains progress in reducing child
deaths
News:
• According to the latest UN report on
child mortality titled ‘Levels and
Trends in Child Mortality’, an estimated
4.9 million children died before their
fifth birthday in 2024, including 2.3
million newborns.
• The report said that most of these
deaths were preventable with proven,
low-cost interventions and access to
2) Durand Line quality healthcare.
• India is among the countries
About
• The Durand Line is a 2,640-kilometer demonstrating steady progress in
border dividing modern Afghanistan reducing child mortality through
and Pakistan. sustained public health efforts.
• The Durand Line was established during o The Neonatal Mortality Rate
the tenure of Mortimer Durand, who (NMR) recorded a decline from
served as the Foreign Secretary of the 1990. In 1990, India had an NMR
Government of India from 1884 to of 57 per 1,000 live births, which
1894. fell to 17 in 2024.
• His time in office coincided with the peak o Also, the Under 5 Mortality Rate
of the rivalry between British India (U5MR) witnessed a sharp fall —
and Russia, also known as the Great in 1990, the U5MR stood at 127
Game, over imperial expansion into per 1,000 live births, while in 2024
Central Asia. it declined to 27.
• The legality of the Durand Line lies in
Article 5 of the Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 5) India’s Fertilisers Imports
1919, which formally accepted the News:
Durand Line as the boundary between • The ongoing U.S.–Israel–Iran conflict
Afghanistan and British-ruled India. shows how India’s agriculture and food
security can be affected by global politics.
3) Operation Sankalp o About one-third of the world’s
About urea trade passes through the
• Operation Sankalp is an ongoing Indian Strait of Hormuz.
Navy initiative launched in 2019 to • While India is self-sufficient in the
ensure the safety and security of production of most food and non-food
Indian-flagged merchant vessels in the crops, barring oilseeds and pulses, the
Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.

64
 country continues to rely heavily on • Megalithic communities constructed such
imports for its fertilizer needs. chambers by interring pottery of varying
o In 2025-26 (April-March), India is shapes and sizes as part of ritual belief
expected to import nearly 10 systems.
million tonnes (mt) of urea and 6.5
mt of di-ammonium phosphate 8) Economic Stabilisation Fund
(DAP), as against domestic News:
production of 30 mt and 3.5 mt • In response to the heightened geopolitical
respectively. volatility in West Asia, the Union
• The share of Gulf Cooperation Council Government has created a ₹1 lakh crore
(GCC) countries in India’s urea imports ‘Economic Stabilisation Fund’.
is around 75% during 2024-25. In DAP • This dedicated fund is designed to
(India’s second most-consumed insulate the Indian economy from
fertiliser after urea), the largest source unforeseen external shocks and
of India’s imports is Saudi Arabia. maintain long-term macroeconomic
stability.
6) International Convention on Maritime
Search and Rescue 9) Red Herring Prospectus
About About
• The International Convention on • A Red Herring Prospectus (RHP) is a
Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR preliminary registration document for
Convention) is a maritime safety an Initial Public Offering (IPO).
convention of the International • It contains all the vital business and
Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted financial data of the company but
in Hamburg, Germany, in 1979. It typically excludes the final price or the
entered into force in 1985. number of shares being offered.
• The Convention is designed to improve • It is used to generate interest and invite
existing arrangements and provide a bids from potential investors.
framework for carrying out search and
rescue operations following accidents 10) UMANG
at sea. About
• India is a signatory to the Convention, • UMANG (Unified Mobile Application
ratified in 2001. for New-age Governance) is developed
by the Ministry of Electronics and
7) Ancient laterite rock-cut chamber Information Technology (MeitY) and
unearthed in Kerala National e-Governance Division
News: (NeGD) to drive Mobile Governance in
• A laterite rock-cut chamber, believed to India.
be nearly 2,000 years old and linked to • Launched in 2017, UMANG provides a
the Megalithic period, was unearthed single platform for all Indian Citizens
recently in Kasaragod district of Kerala. to access pan India e-Gov services
ranging from Central to Local
Government bodies.

11) Udyam Portal

About
• Udyam is an online system for registering
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
(MSME) in India.

65
 • It was launched by the Ministry of MSME including cattle dung and agricultural
in 2020. residues and other biomass, into
• Any person can avail a free Udyam valuable resources such as biogas,
registration for their enterprise through a compressed biogas (CBG), and organic
fully digital and paperless process based on manure.
self-declaration. • Launched in 2018 under Swachh Bharat
• Udyam registration is a prerequisite for Mission (Grameen), it aims to promote
availing the benefits of several schemes a circular economy through a “Whole of
or programmes of the Ministry of Micro, Government” approach.
Small & Medium Enterprises.
• Udyam Registration Number is a 15) Exercise LAMITIYE-2026
permanent identification number, and News:
there will be no need for renewal of • The Indian Armed Forces recently
Registration. participated in the 11th edition of Joint
Military Exercise LAMITIYE-2026 with
12) India holds Fifth-Largest Coal Reserves the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF),
News: held in Seychelles.
• India is currently the second-largest
producer and consumer of coal 16) Advance Pricing Agreement
globally. About
• The country holds the fifth-largest coal • An Advance Pricing Agreement (APA) is an
reserves in the world. agreement between a taxpayer (usually
• Around 74 per cent of the country’s a multinational corporation, or MNC) and a
electricity generation is based on coal- tax authority (e.g., India’s Central Board of
based thermal power plants. Direct Taxes) that pre-determines the
method for calculating transfer prices
13) PM e-VIDYA for international transactions between
About related entities.
• PM eVidya is an initiative of the Ministry o Transfer Pricing refers to the pricing
of Education to facilitate multi-mode of goods, services, or intangible
access to digital/online teaching- assets exchanged between related
learning contents of various types entities of the same MNC across
among students and teachers. different tax jurisdictions.
• Launched in 2020 as an emergency Purpose of APAs:
multi-mode digital education response • MNCs often face tax disputes when tax
amid the nationwide COVID-19 authorities challenge their inter-company
lockdown, it caters the education content pricing (e.g., royalty payments, intra-group
to all with its multi-mode set-up of services). APAs provide certainty by
remote learning platforms including fixing the pricing methodology upfront.
internet, radio, community radio, • Since the tax authority agrees in advance,
podcast, and TV. the risk of audits, penalties, and double
taxation decreases.
14) GOBARdhan
About 17) India eases rules to allow Chinese
• Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources investments to enter
Dhan (GOBARdhan) is a major multi- News:
ministerial initiative of the Government • The Union Cabinet has amended its 2020
of India, aimed at converting rules that had placed restrictions on
biodegradable/ organic waste, Foreign Direct Investment from

66
 countries that shared a land border systems with farming, allowing farmers
with India. to generate electricity and cultivate crops
• The amendment now incorporates a on the same parcel of land.
provision of ‘beneficial ownership’ and • The panels are mounted at a suitable
specifies that companies with non- height to allow farm operations below,
controlling stake (up to 10%) and are spaced between crop rows to
belonging to entities from these minimise conflict between agricultural
countries can invest in India without production and energy generation.
first seeking Indian government
approval. 20) India ranks second globally for children
• Press Note 3, issued in 2020, had who are overweight
specified that any entity of a country News:
that shares a land border with India can • According to the World Obesity Atlas
invest in India only after securing 2026, released by the World Obesity
Government approval. Federation (a global organisation focused
o While India shares borders with on obesity), nearly 15 million children
China, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, aged five to nine years and more than
Bangladesh, Afghanistan and 26 million children aged 10 to 19 years
Myanmar, the restrictions were in India were overweight or obese in
primarily aimed at limiting 2025.
investments from China, o The World Health Organization
following the Galwan Valley clash (WHO) defines overweight and
in June 2020. obesity as abnormal or excessive
fat accumulation that presents a
18) Only Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs can claim SC risk to health. A body mass index
status: Supreme Court (BMI) over 25 is considered
News: overweight, and over 30 is
• The Supreme Court has ruled that only obese.
individuals belonging to Hindu, Sikh, • The Atlas found that more than one in
or Buddhist faiths are eligible to claim five (20.7%) children aged five to 19
Scheduled Caste status. worldwide are living with obesity and
• Upholding an order of the Andhra are overweight.
Pradesh High Court, the Court clarified o This was an increase from 14.6%
that conversion to any other religion, in 2010.
such as Christianity, results in the • India stood second only to China in the
immediate and complete loss of number of children with high BMI.
Scheduled Caste status. • Childhood obesity and being overweight
• The Court emphasised that this position is can lead to many of the same health
clearly established under the conditions seen in adults, including
Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, hypertension and cardiovascular
1950. disease.

19) AgriPV
About
• Agri-photovoltaics (AgriPV) is the dual
use of land that integrates solar

67
 PRACTICE WITH PYQS
1. With reference to Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, consider the following statements:
(2018)
1. It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Labor and Employment.
2. It, among other things, will also impart training in soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial and digital
literacy.
3. It aims to align the competencies of the unregulated workforce of the country to the National Skill
Qualification Framework.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 3 only
B. 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

2. Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana is aimed at (2016)

A. Bringing the small entrepreneurs into formal financial system
B. Providing loans to poor farmers for cultivating particular crops
C. Providing pensions to old and destitute persons
D. Funding the voluntary organizations involved in the promotion of skill development and employment
generation

3. Consider the following statements: (2018)

1. The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 replaced the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.
2. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is under the charge of Director General of
Health Services in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2

4. With reference to Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, consider the following statements: (2022)
1. Private and public hospitals must adopt it.
2. As it aims to achieve universal health coverage, every citizen of India should be part of it ultimately.
3. It has seamless portability across the country.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

68
5. ‘Mission Indradhanush’ launched by the Government of India pertains to (2016)
A. Immunization of children and pregnant women
B. Construction of smart cities across the country
C. India’s own search for the Earth-like planets in outer space
D. New Educational Policy

6. With reference to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, consider the following statements: (2024)
While any resolution for the removal of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha is under consideration
1. He/She shall not preside.
2. He/She shall not have the right to speak.
3. He/She shall not be entitled to vote on the resolution in the first instance.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

7. Consider the following statements: (2020)

1. The weightage of food in Consumer Price Index (CPI) is higher than that in Wholesale Price Index
(WPI).
2. The WPI does not capture changes in the prices of services, which CPI does.
3. The Reserve Bank of India has now adopted WPI as its key measure of inflation and to decide on
changing the key policy rates.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

A. 2 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

8. The term ‘Intended Nationally Determined Contributions’ is sometimes seen in the news in the
context of (2016)
A. Pledges made by the European countries to rehabilitate refugees from the war-affected Middle East
B. Plan of action outlined by the countries of the world to combat climate change
C. Capital contributed by the member countries in the establishment of Asian Infrastructure Investment
Bank
D. Plan of action outlined by the countries of the world regarding Sustainable Development Goals

9. With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following
statements is/are correct? (2016)
1. The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN and it will go into effect in 2017.
2. The Agreement aims to limit greenhouse gas emissions so that the rise in average global temperature
by the end of this century does not exceed 2°C or even 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

69
3. Developed countries acknowledged their historical responsibility in global warming and committed to
donate $1000 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries to cope with climate change.

Select the correct answer using the code given below

A. 1 and 3 only
B. 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

10. Consider the following pairs: (2016)

Terms have sometimes seen in the news Their origin
1. Annex-l Countries Cartagena Protocol
2. Certified Emissions Reductions Nagoya Protocol
3. Clean Development Mechanism Kyoto Protocol

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

11. Consider the following countries: (2015)

1. China
2. France
3. India
4. Israel
5. Pakistan

Which among the above are Nuclear Weapons States as recognized by the Treaty on the Non-
proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1, 3, 4 and 5 only
C. 2, 4 and 5 only
D. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

12. India is a member of which one of the following? (2015)

1. Asia-Pacific economic cooperation
2. Association of South-East Asian Nations
3. East Asia Summit

Select the correct answer using the code given below

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 3 only
C. 1, 2, and 3
D. India is a member of none of them

70
13. India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor
(INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect (2025)
A. India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran
B. India to Central Asia via China
C. India to South-East Asia through Bangladesh and Myanmar
D. India to Europe through Azerbaijan

14. What is/are the purpose/purposes of ‘District Mineral Foundations’ in India?

1. Promoting mineral exploration activities in mineral-rich districts
2. Protecting the interests of the persons affected by mining operations
3. Authorizing State Governments to issue licenses for mineral exploration

Select the correct answer using the code given below

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

15. Consider the following statements in respect of BIMSTEC: (2025)

1. It is a regional organization consisting of seven member States till January 2025.
2. It came into existence with the signing of the Dhaka Declaration, 1999.
3. Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Nepal are founding member States of BIMSTEC.
4. In BIMSTEC, the subsector of ‘tourism’ is being led by India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. I and II
B. II and III
C. I and IV
D. I only

16. Consider the following countries: (2025)

1. Austria
2. Bulgaria
3. Croatia
4. Serbia
5. Sweden
6. North Macedonia

How many of the above are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization?
A. Only three
B. Only four
C. Only five
D. All the six

71
17. With reference to the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), consider the
following statements: (2018)
1. IRNSS has three satellites in geostationary and four satellites in geosynchronous orbits.
2. IRNSS covers entire India and about 5500 sq. km beyond its borders.
3. India will have its own satellite navigation system with full global coverage by the middle of 2019.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. None

18. Consider the following statements: (2018)

1. The Earth’s magnetic field has reversed every few hundred thousand years.
2. When the Earth was created more than 4000 million years ago, there was 54% oxygen and no
carbon dioxide.
3. When living organisms originated, they modified the early atmosphere of the Earth.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

19. Which of the following are the reasons for the occurrence of multi-drug resistance in microbial
pathogens in India? (2018)
1. Genetic predisposition of some people
2. Taking incorrect doses of antibiotics to cure diseases
3. Using antibiotics in livestock farming
4. Multiple chronic diseases in some people

Select the correct answer using the code given below

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1, 3 and 4 only
D. 2, 3 and 4 only

20. Match List-I (Disease) with List-II (Types of disease) and select the correct answer using the
codes given below: [2000]
List-I List-II
A. Haemophilia 1. Deficiency disease
B. Diabetes 2. Genetic disease
C. Rickets 3. Hormonal disorder
D. Ringworm 4. Fungal infection

72
(a) A – 2; B – 3; C – 4; D – 1
(b) A – 2; B – 3; C – 1; D – 4
(c) A – 3; B – 2; C – 1; D – 4
(d) A – 3; B – 2; C – 4; D – 1

21. With reference to ‘Astrosat’, the astronomical observatory launched by India, which of the
following statements is/are correct? (2016)
1. Other than USA and Russia, India is the only country to have launched a similar observatory into
space.
2. Astrosat is a 2000 kg satellite placed in an orbit at 1650 km above the surface of the Earth.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below

A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2

Answers:
1. C
2. A
3. A
4. B
5. A
6. A
7. B
8. B
9. B
10. C
11. A
12. B
13. A
14. B
15. D
16. B
17. A
18. C
19. B
20. B
21. D

73