🔆 IndiaAI & UN Women: Global Call for Gender-Transformative AI Solutions

📍 What’s Happening?
✅ IndiaAI (MeitY) + UN Women India launched a global call for abstracts showcasing real-world AI solutions that advance gender equality, inclusion & empowerment across the Global South.
✅ Part of the run-up to the India–AI Impact Summit 2026.

📍 Who Can Apply?
✅ Innovators, researchers, practitioners, domain experts with scalable AI solutions in:
— Health, Finance, Climate Resilience, Education, Safety, etc.
✅ Submit 250-word abstract by 15 December 2025.

📍 What Happens Next?
✅ Shortlisted entries write a full chapter (750–800 words).
✅ Final compendium: “Top 15 AI Solutions from the Global South” to be launched at the India–AI Impact Summit 2026 (15–20 Feb, New Delhi).

📍 Goal
✅ Promote responsible, inclusive, gender-responsive AI adoption & provide a global platform for scalable, measurable solutions impacting women and girls.

📍 Mains Question
Q. How can AI-driven solutions advance gender equality in the Global South? Discuss with reference to recent India-led initiatives.

📍 #GS-II | Gender | S&T

🔆 India’s Water Management & Conservation – Key Facts

📍 Flagship Initiatives
✅ Atal Bhujal Yojana: Community-led groundwater management across 8,203 Panchayats in 7 states (Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, MP, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, UP).
— Focus: demand-side interventions, community participation, institutional strengthening.

📍 Catch the Rain Campaign (JSA–CTR)
✅ Mapping, geo-tagging, and inventory of water bodies using remote sensing, GIS, NRSA data & NWIC databases.
✅ Enables data-driven conservation at district level.

📍 Digital Water Governance Tools
✅ India-WRIS Portal: Consolidated geo-tagged database of India’s water bodies; operational since Nov 2023.
— Integrates Jal Shakti Abhiyan, Atal Bhujal, Minor Irrigation Census, NWIC, etc.
— Used for planning, awareness, and monitoring.

📍 Advanced Tech Interventions
✅ NAQUIM: Nationwide aquifer mapping by CGWB using RS, GIS, Heliborne surveys.
✅ Real-time monitoring of groundwater using 23,000+ Digital Water Level Recorders (DWLRs).
✅ In-GRES: Web-based resource assessment tool for schemes like MGNREGA, Atal Bhujal, Jal Shakti.
✅ Flood Watch India app: Real-time flood forecasts for 592 stations, reservoir storage of 150+ major reservoirs.
✅ GIS-based monitoring for PMKSY-SMI, RRR, Atal Bhujal structures.
✅ Extensive use of satellite & remote sensing data via BISAG-N & Space Application Centres.

📍 Central Role
✅ Water is a State subject, but the Centre supports via technology, finance, monitoring tools & digital platforms.

📍 Mains Question
Q. Discuss how digital technologies are transforming water management in India. Evaluate their impact on groundwater conservation.

📍 #GSIII

🔆 Operational Guidelines of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)

📍 Why in Focus?
Government outlined updated operational norms, grievance systems, and validation rules for PMFBY to ensure transparent crop insurance processing.

📍 Key Highlights:
✅ Applications undergo Quality Check & Validation on NCIP — requiring correct land details, sowing data & Aadhaar-based name match.
✅ 60-day deadline after cut-off date for premium debit/enrollment (31 July–Kharif; 31 Dec–Rabi).
✅ Deficient applications sent back via CSC/Intermediary/Banks; rejections can be appealed through KrishiRakshak Portal, helpline 14447, or DGRC.
✅ Delay in claim settlement allowed, but no penalty mechanism for wrongful rejection at district/state level.
✅ Multi-level monitoring: District Monitoring Committee (DM), State Monitoring Committee (Principal Secretary Agriculture).
✅ 24×7 grievance support through KRPH with 500+ executives.

📍 Implications:
✅ Strengthens transparency & accountability in crop insurance.
✅ Enhances grievance redressal for farmers.
✅ Ensures better compliance with PMFBY rules.

✅ Prelims Question:
Which portal handles quality check and validation of PMFBY applications?
A. e-NAM
B. National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP)
C. PM-KISAN Portal
D. AgriStack Portal
Ans: B

✅ Mains Question:
Evaluate how the revised operational guidelines of PMFBY improve transparency, grievance redressal, and accountability in India’s crop insurance ecosystem. (150 words)

#Agriculture

🔆 RSP Now Mandatory on All Pan Masala Packs (From Feb 1, 2026)

📍 What’s New?
✅ Govt notifies Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2025 amendment.
✅ All pan masala packs, including small packs ≤10g, must display Retail Sale Price (RSP).

📍 Why Important?
✅ Ensures clear, transparent pricing for consumers.
✅ Prevents misleading or deceptive pricing on small packs.
✅ Enables better informed purchasing decisions.

📍 GST Impact
✅ Mandatory RSP enables proper GST-based valuation for every pack size.
✅ Supports accurate tax assessment, stops revenue leakage.

📍 Mains Question
Q. How do Legal Metrology amendments strengthen consumer protection and support GST compliance?


#gs2 #polity
#prelims #governance
#polity_governance

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🔆 Mapping of Heatwaves: IMD’s New Tools for Preparedness

📍 Why in Focus?
IMD has strengthened heatwave forecasting, mapping, and sector-specific alerts, improving India’s disaster preparedness.

📍 Key Highlights:
✅ GIS-based Heatwave Portal shows real-time heatwave status & 5-day forecasts at district/sub-city levels.
✅ Climate Hazards & Vulnerability Atlas maps 13 hazards, incl. heatwaves—identifies high-risk hotspots monthly & annually.
✅ IMD issues impact-based, colour-coded warnings using parameters like max/min temperature, humidity, wind & persistence.
✅ Specialised heat alerts for plains, hills, coastal regions, plus a dedicated bulletin for Indian Railways.
✅ Heatwave information shared via GIS for customised use by sectors (health, energy, agriculture); actionable plans follow NDMA guidelines.

📍 Implications:
✅ Boosts anticipatory action & early warning systems.
✅ Enhances planning for critical sectors (transport, health, energy).
✅ Supports district-level vulnerability mapping for climate resilience.

✅ Prelims Question:
The IMD’s Climate Hazards & Vulnerability Atlas provides:
A. Only temperature maps
B. District-level maps for 13 hazards, incl. heatwaves
C. Satellite rainfall forecasts
D. Agro-advisory services
Ans: B

✅ Mains Question:
Explain how IMD’s heatwave mapping tools and impact-based warning systems strengthen India’s disaster preparedness and climate resilience. (150 words)

✨ #GS3 #environment

🔆 Promoting Alternative Income Sources for Farmers

📍 Why in Focus?
Government highlighted a comprehensive strategy and multiple schemes aimed at boosting farmer incomes and diversifying agriculture.

📍 Key Highlights:
✅ Integrated strategy: higher productivity, lower production cost, better remunerative returns, diversification, post-harvest value addition & climate adaptation.
✅ DA&FW budget rose from ₹21,933 cr (2013-14) to ₹1,27,290 cr (2025-26).
✅ 28+ schemes support income enhancement: PM-KISAN, PM-KMY, PMFBY, AIF, FPO promotion, NBHM, NMNF, PM-AASHA, AgriSURE, PMDMC, SH&F, etc.
✅ MSPs fixed for 22 crops + FRP for sugarcane on CACP recommendations.
✅ MSP considerations: cost of production, demand–supply, price trends, inter-crop parity, ToT, and 50% margin over production cost.

📍 Implications:
✅ Strengthens farm resilience & income stability.
✅ Encourages crop diversification & allied activities.
✅ Supports long-term agricultural sustainability.

✅ Prelims Question:
Which of the following bodies recommends MSPs to the Government of India?
A. NITI Aayog
B. Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP)
C. NABARD
D. Krishi Vigyan Kendra
Ans: B

✅ Mains Question:
Explain how the Government of India’s multi-scheme strategy supports alternative income sources for farmers and strengthens long-term agricultural sustainability. (150 words)

#GS3 #GS2 #Agriculture

🔆 Women Participation in Paramilitary Forces

📍 Why in Focus?
Govt detailed steps to enhance women’s recruitment and working conditions in CAPFs.

📍 Key Highlights:
✅ 33% reservation at Constable level in CRPF; 14–15% in BSF, SSB & ITBP.
✅ Separate accommodation, rest rooms, toilets, and creches/day-care provided.
✅ Women-centric medical support, Help Desks & confidential grievance systems.
✅ Regular gender-sensitisation workshops; deployment in section strength/buddy pairs.
✅ Flexible time & shift systems adopted where possible.

📍 Implications:
✔️ Safer, inclusive environment
✔️ Higher recruitment & retention of women
✔️ Strengthening gender balance in security forces

✅ Mains Question:
Discuss the measures taken by the Government to enhance women’s participation and safety in the CAPFs.

✨ #GS2 #GS3

🔆 Advanced Techniques to Boost Milk Productivity

📍 Why in Focus?
Govt highlighted key breeding and dairy-support measures to raise national milk yield.

📍 Key Highlights:
✅ Expansion of Artificial Insemination, IVF, and sex-sorted semen to improve herd quality.
✅ Genomic chips (Gau & Mahish) to identify high-genetic-merit cattle/buffaloes.
✅ NPDD strengthening milk testing, chilling & cooperative dairy infra.
✅ NLM-EDP, AHIDF (3% subvention) and KCC support livestock enterprises.
✅ 1962 App offers ration-balancing advisory for scientific feeding.

📍 Implications:
✔️ Faster genetic upgradation
✔️ Stronger dairy value chain
✔️ Higher farmer incomes

✅ Mains Question:
How are advanced breeding technologies and dairy infrastructure programmes improving India’s milk productivity?

✨ #GS3 #GS2

🔆 India’s Textile Export Outlook & Govt Support

📍 Why in Focus?
Despite global challenges and U.S. tariffs, India’s Textile & Apparel exports show stability in FY 2025.

📍 Key Highlights:
✅ Global T&A exports (Apr–Sep 2025): USD 18,235 mn → 0.1% growth.
✅ Tamil Nadu exports grew 2.6%; key clusters (Tirupur–Karur–Coimbatore) up 11.4%.
✅ Govt consultations with exporters/MSMEs ongoing to assess tariff impacts.
✅ Major support schemes: PM MITRA Parks, PLI (revised), National Technical Textiles Mission, SAMARTH, Silk Samagra-2, Handloom & Handicraft programmes.
✅ Duty exemption on cotton till 31 Dec 2025; GST rationalisation for cost reduction.
✅ Export schemes: RoSCTL, RoDTEP (extended till 31 Mar 2026), CGSE for credit guarantee, and Export Promotion Mission for trade finance + market readiness.
✅ 40-country diversification strategy to reduce dependence on U.S. market.

📍 Implications:
✅ Enhanced competitiveness of Indian textiles.
✅ Strong support for MSMEs & clusters (especially TN).
✅ Diversification protects India from tariff-related risks.

✅ Mains Question:
Evaluate how recent government schemes and tariff-related measures are strengthening India’s textile exports amid global uncertainties. (150 words)

#GS3 #GS2 #economy

🔆 Parliament Question: Uranium Enrichment & Resource Augmentation

📍 Why in Focus?
AMD reported major additions to India’s in-situ uranium resources (2015–2025), clarifying no new deposits exist in the Deccan–Marathwada region.

📍 Key Highlights:
✅ 2,17,560 tonnes of in-situ U-oxide added across Jharkhand (Rajdah, Kudada, Jaduguda North), Rajasthan (Jahaz, Geratiyon Ki Dhani), Karnataka (Kanchankayi, Hulkal).
✅ Geological reports submitted to states to begin mining-lease processes under Atomic Minerals Concession Rules 2016.
✅ No uranium deposits found in Deccan Plateau/Marathwada, so no new mines planned there.
✅ AMD also identified 13.15 Mt of monazite (thorium-bearing mineral) along coastal/inland placer sands.
📍 Implications:
✔️ Strengthens domestic nuclear-fuel security
✔️ Supports long-term energy planning under Nuclear Energy Mission
✔️ Highlights regional gaps in uranium availability

✅ Mains Question:
How does India’s uranium resource mapping support its nuclear energy goals, and what challenges arise from regional disparities in deposits?

✨ #GS3 #GS2

🔆 India–Russia Joint Statement 2025: Key Takeaways


📍 Why in Focus?
India–Russia held the 23rd Annual Summit in New Delhi, reaffirming their Special & Privileged Strategic Partnership.

📍 Key Highlights:
✅ Partnership anchored in mutual trust, strategic convergence, and resilience
✅ Push to expand trade, target USD 100 bn by 2030, settle trade in national currencies
✅ Deep cooperation in energy, nuclear (Kudankulam), space, defence co-production, and critical minerals
✅ Boost to connectivity—INSTC, Chennai–Vladivostok corridor, Northern Sea Route
✅ Strong alignment in multilateral forums (UNSC reform support, BRICS, SCO, G20)

📍 Issues / Implications:
✅ Reinforces India’s multi-alignment amid global geopolitical flux
✅ Supports energy diversification & tech cooperation
✅ Highlights India–Russia coordination on counter-terrorism and climate cooperation

📍 Mains Question:
Discuss the strategic significance of the India–Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership in the context of emerging global geopolitical realignments. (GS2)

#GS2 #InternationalRelations #IR

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