Current Context : Poland has announced its decision to join the NATO Pipeline System (NPS), expanding cooperation on energy and fuel logistics within the alliance. ABOUT NATO PIPELINE SYSTEM Established During – Cold War, to supply fuel to NATO forces. Total Length – Around 10,000 km, covering 12 NATO countries. Storage Capacity – 4.1 million cubic metres. Components – Storage depots, refineries, pumping stations, and air bases interconnected through pipelines. Management – Controlled by national organisations. The Central Europe Pipeline System (CEPS) is managed multilaterally under the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA). Oversight – The Petroleum Committee, reporting to....Read More

Current Context : The Philippines is preparing to host Southeast Asia’s first coral larvae cryobank, connecting institutions in the Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand to preserve coral species across the Coral Triangle. ABOUT CORAL TRIANGLE Also Known As – “Amazon of the Seas.” Area Covered – Over 10 million sq. km of marine area. Member Countries – Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, and Solomon Islands. Significance – Home to 75% of the world’s coral species and 33% of reef fish species. Supports 120 million people through fisheries and tourism. Habitat for 6 of the 7....Read More

Current Context: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced a 15-kilometre Dubai Autonomous Zone (DAZ) for self-driving vehicles and marine transport, which will be operational by 2026. ABOUT Dubai Autonomous Zone (DAZ) Location: Extends across Al Jaddaf Metro Station, Dubai Creek Harbour, and Dubai Festival City. Launch Year: Early 2026. Goal: Supports Dubai’s plan to make 25% of daily trips autonomous by 2030. Autonomous Features Driverless metro connectivity. RoboTaxis, RoboBuses, and autonomous shuttles. Logistics vehicles, delivery robots, and road-sweeping bots. Self-driving marine abras (water taxis).Read More

CURRENT CONTEXT : The Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron completed a four-day port visit to Maputo, Mozambique. ABOUT MOZAMBIQUE Location: Southern Africa; coastline on Indian Ocean. Borders: Zimbabwe (west), Eswatini & South Africa (south), Zambia & Malawi (northwest), Tanzania (north). Water Bodies: Rivers: Zambezi (largest), Limpopo, Rovuma, Licungo, Lurio. Lakes: Lake Malawi (Nyasa). Highest Peak: Mount Binga. Capital: Maputo (largest city: Matola). Resources: Natural gas, coal, hydropower, mineral sands, possible oil.Read More

Current Context: The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies has recently come into force, becoming the first multilateral trade agreement with environmental sustainability at its core. ABOUT THE AGREEMENT Adopted at: 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12), Geneva in 2022. Purpose: To protect marine life and stop overexploitation of fish stocks Key Provisions: Prohibits subsidies that support Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing Prohibits subsidies for fishing activities targeting overfished stocks Covers fishing in high seas not under any Regional Fisheries Management Organisation IMPLEMENTATION MEASURES WTO Fish Fund: Established to help developing and least developed countries (LDCs) Provides technical assistance and capacity....Read More

Current Context: India voted in favour of a UN General Assembly resolution endorsing the New York Declaration on peaceful settlement of the Palestine issue. ABOUT NEW YORK DECLARATION Calls for: Immediate ceasefire in Gaza Establishment of an independent, sovereign, economically viable Palestinian State Disarmament of Hamas and its exclusion from governance Normalisation of ties between Israel and Arab states Collective security guarantees for all partiesRead More

Current Context: : Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) signed an agreement to resume cooperation including relaunching inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities. BACKGROUND Iran had earlier suspended cooperation with the IAEA due to conflicts with the United States and Israel. The new agreement aims to restore transparency and monitoring. ABOUT IAEA Full Form: International Atomic Energy Agency Established: 1957 Headquarters: Vienna, Austria Main Roles: Administers international safeguards to verify nuclear non-proliferation commitments under the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) Promotes peaceful use of nuclear energy JCPOA (Iran Nuclear Deal): Iran agreed to reduce its nuclear activities Allowed greater access to....Read More

Current Context : Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Education Minister, inaugurated India’s first overseas Atal Innovation Centre (AIC) at IIT Delhi–Abu Dhabi on 10 September 2025. Significance Expands the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) Aims to boost research, entrepreneurship, and knowledge exchange between India and UAE. Academic Initiatives Launched D. in Energy and Sustainability Tech in Chemical Engineering About AIM (Atal Innovation Mission) A Government of India initiative to promote innovation, research, and entrepreneurship. Supports Atal Tinkering Labs, Atal Incubation Centres, and sectoral innovation hubs. Now extends India’s innovation ecosystem internationally via the new Abu Dhabi centre.Read More

CURRENT CONTEXT : The USA has imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports, affecting almost two-thirds of India’s exports by value to the US. IMPACT ON INDIA Exports: May fall to USD 49.6 billion in 2025-26 from nearly USD 87 billion in 2024-25 (GTRI estimate). Most Affected Sectors: Labour-intensive industries like gems & jewellery, textiles, apparel, shrimp, auto components. Competitiveness: Indian products to lose edge over exporters from Vietnam, Bangladesh, Mexico. Foreign Inflows: Possible decline in FDI and volatility in FPI WAY FORWARD Financial Support: Reinstate Interest Equalisation Scheme for low-cost MSME credit. Targeted Credit: Extend special credit lines....Read More

Current Context Russia has decided to recruit 1 million Indian workers in 2025 to address acute labour shortages in construction, machinery, textiles, and electronics sectors. ABOUT INDIA–RUSSIA MANPOWER PARTNERSHIP Reason: Labour shortages in Russia and tightening immigration in Western countries (UK, US, Canada). Recruitment Sectors: Phase 1 → Construction and textiles Expansion → High-end machinery and electronics Process: Hiring under Russian immigration quotas and local labour laws. Diplomatic Support: India’s Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar, confirmed rising consular activities linked to this migration. ABOUT RUSSIA Official Name: Russian Federation Location: Eastern Europe and Northern Asia (largest country in the world....Read More