Current Context : The water level at Pong Dam, which lies on the Beas in Himachal Pradesh, has risen by more than five feet above the maximum permissible level due to heavy rainfall during the past few days.

ABOUT PONG DAM

also known as the Beas Dam or Maharana Pratap Sagar.

• Location: Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh (in the Shivalik hills)
• River: Beas River
• Year of Completion: 1975
• Type: Earth-fill embankment dam
• Reservoir Name: Maharana Pratap Sagar
• Reservoir Area: ~260 sq. km
• Catchment Area: 12,562 sq. km
• Main Purpose: Water storage for irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, flood control
• Ramsar Site: Pong Dam Lake is a designated Ramsar wetland site and wildlife sanctuary of international importance.

Current Context : A National Security Guard (NSG) team, which was in Shimla on a three-day visit, has suggested to the district administration to enhance security at the famous Lord Hanuman Temple at Jakhu.

ABOUT JAKHU TEMPLE

Jakhu Temple is an ancient and revered shrine of Lord Hanuman located atop Jakhu Hill, the highest peak in Shimla. It is famous for its 108-foot Hanuman statue, which stands as a prominent landmark visible from most parts of Shimla and attracts thousands of devotees and tourists every year.

• Location: Jakhu Hill, 2,455 m (8,054 ft) above sea level, about 2.5 km east of The Ridge, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
• Accessibility:
  • Can be reached by foot, horse, taxi, or Jakhu Ropeway (aerial cable car) from central Shimla
• Surroundings:
  • Surrounded by dense deodar forests with panoramic views of Shivalik ranges and Shimla valleys

MYTHOLOGICAL & HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

• As per Ramayana, Lord Hanuman rested on Jakhu Hill while searching for the Sanjeevani herb to revive Lakshmana.
• Legends say his landing flattened the hilltop, and his footprints are preserved in the temple premises.
• The name “Jakhu” comes from “Yaksha”, referring to a sage Hanuman is believed to have met here.
• Over centuries, it became a holy site believed to fulfill devotees’ wishes.

KEY FEATURES

• 108-foot Hanuman Statue:
  • Installed in 2010
  • Taller than the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro
• Temple Premises:
  • Known for large numbers of monkeys, considered symbolic guardians of Hanuman
  • Offers spiritual peace along with scenic beauty

Current Context : The Prime Minister has launched the ‘Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar’ Abhiyan to improve women’s health and family well-being.

ABOUT THE ABHIYAN

• Objective: Screen women for anaemia, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer while supporting immunisation and nutrition
• Target: Organise over 1 lakh health camps across the country
• Ministries Involved:
  • Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
  • Ministry of Women & Child Development
• Technology Support: SASHAKT Portal to track progress and ensure real-time accountability
• Community Involvement: Anganwadis, Nikshay Mitras, private hospitals, etc.

Current Context : The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has officially announced the launch of the Bima Sugam portal.

ABOUT BIMA SUGAM PORTAL

• Purpose: Unified digital marketplace for all insurance services
• Backed by: Life Insurance Council and General Insurance Council
• Coverage: Life insurance (term, savings, annuity, pension, ULIP) and health insurance products

KEY FEATURES

• Buy, sell, renew, manage, and claim insurance policies on a single platform
• Centralised database for insurance-related queries
• Enables quick acceptance of new and sandbox insurance products
• Uses advanced digital technologies to automate and digitise processes
• Brings insurers, intermediaries, and customers onto one platform

Current Context : India recently defended Qatar’s sovereignty during discussions at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

ABOUT UNHRC

• Created by: United Nations General Assembly
• Year: 15 March 2006 (replaced Commission on Human Rights)
• Type: Inter-governmental body within the UN system
• Mandate:
  • Promote universal respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms
  • Address violations, including gross and systematic violations of human rights
  • Make recommendations on human rights situations
• Total Members: 47 UN Member States
• Elected by: UN General Assembly through direct and secret ballot

ABOUT QATAR

• Official Name: State of Qatar
• Region: Western Asia (northeastern Arabian Peninsula)
• Area: 11,586 sq.km
• Border: Saudi Arabia (south); Persian Gulf on other sides
• Capital: Doha
• Language: Arabic (official); English (widely spoken)
• Currency: Qatari Riyal (QAR)
• Ruling Family: Al Thani (since 1868)
• Independence: 1971 (was a British protectorate)

Current Context : The Prime Minister recently laid the foundation stone of the country’s first Pradhan Mantri Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Park in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh.

ABOUT PM MITRA PARK

• Full Name: Pradhan Mantri Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Textiles
• Vision: “Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign”
• Purpose: Establish world-class integrated textile hubs to make Indian textiles cheaper, faster, and of higher quality.
• Nature: Can be Greenfield or Brownfield projects
• Area: About 1000+ acres each

FEATURES

• Integrated Value Chain: Combines spinning, weaving, dyeing, printing, garment-making in one place, reducing time and cost.
• Infrastructure: Roads, power, water, logistics, worker hostels, plug-and-play factory units, research & skill training centres.
• Land Use: 50% for manufacturing, 20% for utilities, 10% for commercial activity.
• Employment Potential: 1 lakh direct and 2 lakh indirect jobs per park.
• Investment Target: ₹70,000 crore overall.
• Implementation Model: Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode.
• Financial Support:
  • ₹800 crore for each Greenfield park
  • ₹500 crore for each Brownfield park (from the Ministry of Textiles)
  • States to provide land and basic infrastructure

LOCATION OF APPROVED PM MITRA PARKS

• Tamil Nadu (Virudhunagar), Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow district), Maharashtra.

Current Context : The Ministry of Civil Aviation has released the Draft Civil Drone (Promotion and Regulation) Bill, 2025 for public consultation and invited feedback from stakeholders and citizens.

ABOUT THE BILL

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Civil Aviation
• Coverage: Applies to ownership, operation, design, manufacture, import, export, leasing, training, and maintenance of drones (Unmanned Aircraft Systems—UAS)
• Excludes: UAS used by armed forces or weighing over 500 kg (regulated under Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024)

KEY PROVISIONS

• DGCA as Regulator:
  • Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will remain the primary regulatory authority
  • Mandatory registration and Unique Identification Number (UIN) for every drone
  • Manufacturers must obtain DGCA type certification
• Safety and Security:
  • Mandatory safety and security features to prevent tampering and ensure traceability
  • No operation without these features unless exempted by Government
• Insurance Mandatory:
  • Third-party insurance required for all drone operators
  • Compensation: ₹2.5 lakh (death) / ₹1 lakh (grievous hurt) for accidents
• Digital Sky Zones:
  • Airspace divided into Green, Yellow, and Red zones
  • Green: Free operation | Yellow: ATC clearance | Red: Central Government approval required
• Penalties:
  • Violation in restricted airspace: Cognisable and non-compoundable
  • Punishment: Up to 3 years’ imprisonment or ₹1 lakh fine
  • Seizure and confiscation powers given to DGCA
• Claims Tribunal: Motor Accident Claims Tribunals will adjudicate drone accident claims

Current Context According to the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s (WIPO) Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025, global R&D growth has slowed — falling to 2.9% in 2024 and projected to decline further to 2.3% in 2025.

ABOUT GLOBAL INNOVATION INDEX

• Launched by: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
• First Published: 2007
• Recognised by: United Nations General Assembly as an authoritative reference for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policies
• Purpose: To rank countries on their innovation capacity and success
• Covers:
  • Investment patterns
  • Technological progress
  • Adoption rates
  • Socioeconomic impacts

Significance:

• Acts as a global benchmark to measure and compare innovation performance
• Helps governments, industry, and researchers to build innovation ecosystems

Relevant Data OF GII 2025

• Top 5 Innovators:
  1. Switzerland (1st for 15th consecutive year)
  2. Sweden
  3. United States
  4. Republic of Korea
  5. Singapore
• China: Entered Top 10 for the first time, ranked 10th (leading middle-income economies)
• India: Rose to 38th rank among 139 economies (from 81st in 2015)
• Other climbers include Türkiye, Vietnam, and Morocco

Celebrated every year on 18 September.

• Aims to spread awareness across the world about the many uses and importance of bamboo — especially its role in protecting the environment, supporting livelihoods, and promoting sustainability.
• Started in 2009 during the 8th World Bamboo Congress held in Bangkok, Thailand.
• Theme: “Next Generation Bamboo: Solution, Innovation, and Design”

Current Context: Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated India’s largest and most technologically advanced sports complex at Naranpura in Ahmedabad, aiming to position India as a top sporting nation by 2047.

ABOUT THE NARANPURA SPORTS COMPLEX

• Location: Naranpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
• Cost: ₹825 crore
• Facilities:
  • International standard aquatic complex
  • State-of-the-art indoor and outdoor sports arenas
  • Dedicated training and residential infrastructure for athletes
• Purpose:
  • To train athletes at world-class standards
  • To host international tournaments like Commonwealth Games