Current Context: Recently, India introduced a new Integrated Generation, Transmission, and Storage Expansion Planning Model to enhance resource adequacy in the power sector.

• Collaboration: Developed by Central Electricity Authority (CEA), The Lantau Group (TLG), and the Asian Development Bank (ABD)

Purpose

• Helps states develop Resource Adequacy plans in line with the Ministry of Power’s guidelines (2023).
• Supports annual updates to plans, with CEA’s projections up to 2034-35.

Key Features

• Considers chronological operation of the power system.
• Integrates unit commitment constraints, demand response, and ancillary services.

Benefits

• Targets zero load shedding and minimal stressed capacity.
• Focuses on least-cost power generation and operation solutions.

Current Context: The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 has been passed by the Parliament and received President’s assent. The Act amends the Waqf Act, 1995 to enhance regulation of Waqf properties and resolve disputes efficiently.

Key Provisions :

• Separation of Trusts from Waqf: Muslim trusts not considered Waqf, ensuring individual control.
• Eligibility for Waqf Dedication: Only practicing Muslims (5+ years) can dedicate property.
• Women’s Rights: Women must inherit before dedicating property to Waqf, with provisions for widows, divorced women, and orphans.
• Ending Arbitrary Claims: Section 40 of Waqf Act (1995) removed, preventing arbitrary property declarations by Waqf Boards.
• Waqf Tribunals: Composed of 3 members: district judge, government officer, and Muslim law expert. Appeals can be made to High Court within 90
• Government Land & Waqf Disputes: Officer above Collector rank will investigate government land claims to prevent misuse.
• Reduced Annual Contributions: Waqf institutions’ contribution to boards reduced from 7% to 5%.
• Annual Audit Reforms: Waqf institutions earning >Rs 1 lakh must undergo State-appointed audits.
• Technology: Centralized portal for Waqf property management and
• Diverse Representation: Boards to include 2 non-Muslim members and at least 2 women from diverse Muslim communities (Shia, Sunni, Bohra, etc.).
• Limitation Act: Application of Limitation Act, 1963 for time-bound property claims and quicker legal proceedings.

Current Context: The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has finalized the world’s first global carbon pricing agreement for the shipping industry to curb carbon emissions.

About the IMO Framework:

• Adoption: Passed through a rare vote, breaking IMO’s usual consensus-based tradition
• India’s Stance: India voted in favor of the agreement
• Objective: Aligns with the IMO’s 2023 Revised Strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050

Key Features

• Carbon Pricing: Ships exceeding emissions thresholds will pay fees:
• $380/tonne for high-intensity emissions
• $100/tonne for lower threshold excess emissions
• IMO Net-Zero Fund: Fees collected will fund clean shipping and help vulnerable nations

Implementation:

• Framework enters force by March 2027
• Compliance by 2028 for ships >5,000 gross tonnage
• Revenue Target: Expected to raise $10 billion annually by 2030

Current Context: Mount Spurr near Anchorage, Alaska, is showing increased volcanic activity with over 50 earthquakes reported in a week (April 2024), indicating possible magma movement. The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) warns of a potential eruption.

About

• Type: Stratovolcano with a 5 km-wide caldera
• Location: 130 km west of Anchorage, Alaska
• Height: Highest volcano in the Aleutian Arc
• Last eruption: 1992 (caused ashfall in Anchorage)

Key Facts:

• Crater Peak: Younger dome (2,309 m), source of 1953 & 1992 eruptions
• Caldera origin: Formed by massive collapse in late Pleistocene/Holocene
• Hazard potential: Ash clouds may reach 50,000 ft, affecting air travel

Current context: In a first, the state-level Himachal Day celebration will be held , April 15th, in the remote Pangi Valley of Chamba district, with the main event taking place at Killar, the valley’s headquarters.

• Himachal Day is observed every year on 15th April to commemorate the formation of Himachal Pradesh in 1948.
• On this day, 30 princely states were integrated into the Chief Commissioner’s Province of Himachal Pradesh.
• This reflects the Congress government’s focus on tribal welfare, following last year’s event in Kaza, Spiti.
• The Chief Minister’s (CM) message will be aired on All India Radio (AIR) and Frequency Modulation (FM) channels on April 14 at 8 PM.

Current Context: Maharashtra recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Russia’s state-owned company ROSATOM to develop a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) based on thorium fuel.

• This initiative marks a significant step in nuclear energy development, traditionally overseen by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).​

Objectives:

• Develop and commercialize thorium reactors in Maharashtra.​
• Establish a local assembly line under the ‘Make in Maharashtra’ initiative.​
• Ensure compliance with Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) safety standards.​
• Key Participants:Maharashtra State Power Generation Co. Ltd. (MAHAGENCO),ROSATOM Energy Projects,Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA)​&Global Technology Alliance
• Safety & Compliance: All activities will adhere to Government of India and Atomic Energy Regulatory Board guidelines, with a joint working group overseeing coordination and research.​

Current Context:  NITI Aayog released the report titled “Automotive Industry: Powering India’s Participation in Global Value Chains,” aiming to enhance India’s role in the global automotive market.

Key Findings:

• Global Position: India ranks as the fourth-largest automobile producer, with an annual production of nearly 6 million vehicles.​
• Trade Dynamics: India’s share in the global automotive component trade is approximately 3%, valued at $20 billion, indicating significant potential for growth.​
• Emerging Trends: The global shift towards electric vehicles (EVs) and the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies present both challenges and opportunities for India.​

Vision for 2030:

• Production Target: Increase automotive component production to $145 billion.​
• Export Ambition: Triple exports from $20 billion to $60 billion.​
• Trade Surplus: Achieve a trade surplus of approximately $25 billion.​
• Employment Growth: Create 2-2.5 million new jobs, raising total employment to 3-4 million.​

Current Context: BatEchoMon is India’s first automated bat monitoring and detection system using acoustic sensors and machine learning.

• Developed by Kadambari Deshpande (bat biologist) and Vedant Barje (technologist).

Key Highlights:

• Technology: Records bat echolocation calls, identifies species, and analyzes behavior.
• Conservation Impact: Aids in bat population monitoring to support wildlife conservation.
• Research Application: Deployed in Maharashtra to study bats in agro-ecosystems, focusing on their role in pest control.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Combines expertise from wildlife research, technology, and environmental conservation.

Current context: The Ministry of Railways has announced the implementation of Kavach 5.0, an advanced Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, to enhance Mumbai’s suburban train services.

Key Features:

• Enhanced Safety: Kavach 5.0 automatically applies brakes if the Loco Pilot fails to respond within safe speed limits, preventing accidents due to human error.​
• Operational Efficiency: Designed to reduce inter-train headway, it enables a 30% increase in train frequency, accommodating approximately 80 lakh daily commuters more comfortably.​
• Implementation Timeline: The system is expected to be fully operational by December 2025.​

Significance:

• Technological Advancement: Demonstrates India’s commitment to indigenous technological solutions in railway safety.​
• Economic Impact: Enhanced train frequency and safety can boost economic activities by improving commuter efficiency and reducing travel time.​

Current Context: India’s industrial output, as measured by the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), grew by 2.9% in February 2025, marking the slowest pace in six months.​

Sectoral Performance:

• Manufacturing: Grew by 2.9%, down from 5.0% in January.​
• Mining: Increased by 1.6%, a decrease from 4.4% in the previous month.​
• Electricity: Expanded by 3.6%, up from 2.4% in January.​
• Cumulative Growth: From April 2024 to February 2025, cumulative industrial output grew by 4.1%.​

Significance:

• Economic Indicator: IIP serves as a crucial indicator of industrial performance, influencing policy decisions and economic forecasts.​
• Policy Implications: Understanding IIP trends aids in assessing the effectiveness of economic policies and identifying areas needing intervention.​

About IIP:

• Released by: Central Statistical Organisation (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.​
• Base Year: 2011-12​
• Frequency: Monthly​
• Sectors Covered: Mining, Manufacturing, Electricity​