👉 The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducts the 3rd and final landing experiment of its Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) ‘Pushpak’.

✅ The landing experiment was conducted at the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga, Karnataka.
✅ The ISRO says RLV LEX-03 (Reusable Launch Vehicle Landing Experiment 3), re-demonstrated the autonomous landing capability under more severe wind conditions.
✅ The Chinook helicopter released the Reusable Launch Vehicle Pushpak at an altitude of 4.5 kms from the runway.
✅ Pushpak approached the runway with a speed of 320 kmph as against 280 kmph of a typical fighter aircraft.
✅ After the touchdown, Pushpak’s velocity was reduced to nearly 100 kmph using its brake parachute. After which the landing gear brakes were employed for deceleration and stop on the runway.
✅ Pushpak utilised its rudder and nose wheel steering system to autonomously maintain a stable and precise ground roll along the runway.

#upsc #GS3 #mains2025 #sciencetechnology

India, Russia prepare to sign military logistics pact soon
https://m.economictimes.com/news/defence/india-russia-prepare-to-sign-military-logistics-pact-soon/articleshow/111194981.cms

India plans global trade promotion body for MSME exports, to be announced in budget
https://www.livemint.com/economy/india-plans-global-trade-promotion-body-for-msme-exports-to-be-announced-in-budget-11719126736424.html

Explained: Behind Kerala Assembly’s demand to rename state as Keralam 🔗
#explained_politics #express_explained #kerala

Will climate change make insurance too expensive? 🔗
#explained_climate #express_explained

IAS Officer Built Science Parks & 75 Sports Complexes for Rural Kids
https://thebetterindia.com/343042/ias-vivek-johnson-establishes-open-science-parks-sports-complexes-for-rural-children-transforms-chandrapur-maharashtra/

Power markets in India: their working, advantages, and the road ahead 🔗
#explained_economics #express_explained

How the PESA has boosted forest conservation in India
https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/how-the-pesa-has-boosted-forest-conservation-in-india/article68327557.ece

PESA OVERVIEW:
_____

The Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) of 1996 extends local government councils to Scheduled Areas, primarily inhabited by Scheduled Tribes (STs).

EMPOWERMENT THROUGH REPRESENTATION:

PESA mandates political representation for STs, with quotas for chairperson positions and at least half the seats on local councils reserved for ST individuals.


IMPACT ON FOREST CONSERVATION
________

ECONOMIC INCENTIVES:

ST communities depend on forests for non-timber forest produce and daily sustenance, making them inherently opposed to commercial timber and mining activities that lead to deforestation.

FOREST STEWARDSHIP:

Empowering STs as political actors leads to an increase in tree canopy by 3% per year and a reduction in deforestation rates.

USE OF TECHNOLOGY:

The study utilizes remote-sensing microdata from satellites to track changes in forest cover.

MECHANISMS OF IMPACT
_______

OPPOSITION TO MINING:

Increased ST representation under PESA enables communities to resist mining and other large-scale commercial operations, reducing deforestation near mining areas.

CONFLICT INCIDENCE:

The introduction of PESA has led to increased conflicts around mining, indicating active resistance by ST communities.

COMPARISON WITH OTHER LEGISLATION
_________

FRA COMPARISON:

The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA) did not have additional impacts on conservation beyond those caused by PESA.

✍POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
_______

§ DEMOCRATIC DECENTRALIZATION:

Unlike administrative decentralization, democratic decentralization involves representative local actors with autonomous decision-making powers and resources for significant decisions.

§ SINGLE UMBRELLA INSTITUTION:

A unified institution that consolidates power and balances development and conservation goals is more effective than multiple entities with fragmented mandates.

§ POLICY IMPLICATIONS:

Mandated political representation for marginalized communities like STs not only advances conservation goals but also supports their economic development.

§ ROLE OF POLICYMAKERS:

Ensuring the welfare and rights of forest-dwelling ST communities can achieve both conservation and development objectives.

First time since independence there will be election for speaker post

Om Birla from the NDA and K Suresh from the opposition alliance file nominations for the Speaker's post

https://www.livemint.com/politics/lok-sabha-speaker-elected-without-contest-since-independence-nda-vs-india-find-details-in-5-points-11718689785843.html

Rising water stress to hurt India's credit strength: Moody's
https://m.economictimes.com/news/india/rising-water-stress-to-hurt-indias-credit-strength-moodys/articleshow/111246813.cms

👉113 Countries Have Never Had Female Heads Of State Or Govt

✅ In 1893, New Zealand became 1st country to grant voting rights to women, and 47 years later, in 1940 Khertek Anchimaa Toka of the Tuvan People's Republic became the 1st female head of state.
✅ Despite progress, 113 countries have never had a female head of state or government.
✅ Currently, only 26 countries are currently led by a woman.
✅ According to a UN Women's global data on Women Political Leaders 2024, female political leaders represent 23.3% of Cabinet members heading Ministries in 2024, a slight increase from 2023.
✅ Women are primarily leading portfolios related to women and gender equality, family and children affairs, social affairs, and indigenous and minority affairs.
✅ Male dominance extends to Permanent Missions to the UN, with women holding only 25% of Permanent Representative posts in New York, 35% in Geneva, and 33.5% in Vienna.

#upsc #GS1 #GS2 #mains2024