• France has discovered a 46-million-ton white hydrogen reserve in the Moselle region, valued at $92 trillion.

White Hydrogen

• Naturally occurring hydrogen found in the Earth’s crust.
• Unlike gray, brown, blue, and green hydrogen, white hydrogen requires no industrial production and emits no carbon, making it an eco-friendly energy source.
• Deposits have been identified in the US, Russia, Australia, and Europe.

Significance of White Hydrogen Discovery

• Sustainable Energy Transition: Offers a clean and natural alternative to fossil fuels.
• Economic Impact: A massive untapped energy resource with trillion-dollar potential.

Global Energy Security: Could reduce dependence on fossil fuels and help achieve net-zero targets.

• NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore returned to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule after an unexpectedly extended 9-month stay in space due to Boeing’s Starliner technical issues.

Mission Details

• Launch: June 5, 2024, aboard Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner (first crewed test flight).
• Planned Duration: 8 days; extended to 286 days due to technical issues.
• Return: March 18, 2025, via SpaceX Crew Dragon.

Achievements of Sunita Williams

• Most Spacewalks by a Female Astronaut: 9 spacewalks totaling 62 hours.
• Cumulative Space Time: Over 500 days across three missions.
• First Female ISS Commander (2024-25).
• Longest Unplanned Stay in Space for NASA astronauts (286 days), providing crucial data on long-duration spaceflight.

About Boeing’s Starliner (CST-100):Crewed space capsule, partially reusable.

Modules:

• Crew Module – Accommodates astronauts.
• Service Module – Provides power, propulsion, life support.

Mission Objective:

• Test Starliner’s performance with astronauts onboard.
• Dock with ISS and return after ~10 days.

Significance

• Highlights challenges in commercial space missions.
• Provides critical data for future long-duration space travel.
• Reinforces SpaceX’s reliability over Boeing for crewed missions.

• The Ministry of Tourism is actively promoting Buddhist Tourism in India through the Swadesh Darshan (SD) Scheme and PRASHAD Scheme.

About Buddhist Circuit

• Recognized as one of the thematic circuits under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
• 1st Asian Buddhist Summit (ABS) was held in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), New Delhi to enhance religious and cultural cooperation.
• Buddhist Tourism & Development Initiatives

Swadesh Darshan Scheme (SD)

• Launched: 2014-15.
• Objective: Integrated development of thematic tourist circuits across India.
• Funding: Provides financial assistance to State Governments/UTs for infrastructure development.

PRASHAD Scheme (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive)

• Launched: 2014-15.
• Objective: Development of pilgrimage and heritage destinations to promote religious tourism.
• Focus on Buddhist Sites: Enhances connectivity, facilities, and tourism experiences at Buddhist pilgrimage sites.

Key Buddhist Sites in India Under Development

• Bodh Gaya (Bihar) – Buddha’s Enlightenment Site.
• Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh) – First Sermon.
• Kushinagar (Uttar Pradesh) – Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana.
• Rajgir & Nalanda (Bihar) – Buddhist Learning Centers.
• Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh) – Ancient Stupas & Monuments.

• The Union Cabinet has approved the Revised NPDD with an additional budget of ₹1000 crore, raising the total to ₹2790 crore (2021-26) to modernize dairy infrastructure and boost rural incomes.

Key Features

• Objective: Enhance milk procurement, processing, and quality control.
• Coverage: 18.74 lakh farmers benefited, 30,000+ jobs created.
• Budget: ₹2790 crore.

Key Components

• Component A – Infrastructure Development
• Strengthening milk chilling plants, testing labs, and dairy cooperatives, especially in NER, hilly regions & UTs.
• Establishment of two new Milk Producer Companies (MPCs).
• Component B – Dairying through Cooperatives (DTC)
• Partnership with JICA for dairy development in nine states.

Expected Outcomes

• Milk Procurement: +100.95 lakh liters/day.
• Technology Upgrade: 51,777 labs strengthened, 5,123 bulk milk coolers installed.
• Employment: 3.2 lakh jobs, 70% women beneficiaries.
• 10,000 new Dairy Cooperatives.

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has collaborated with DigiLocker to provide investors with seamless access to their securities holdings and reduce unclaimed assets in the Indian financial market.

About the Initiative

• DigiLocker Integration for Financial Assets
• Investors can now store and retrieve demat holdings, mutual fund statements, and Consolidated Account Statements (CAS) through DigiLocker.
• Expands DigiLocker’s role, which already includes bank statements, insurance policies, and NPS statements.

New Nomination Facility for Legal Heirs

• Investors can appoint Data Access Nominees within DigiLocker.
• Upon the investor’s demise, nominees receive read-only access to financial documents, ensuring smooth asset transition.

Automated Notification System

• SEBI-regulated KYC Registration Agencies (KRAs) will notify nominees upon the investor’s death.
• DigiLocker will automatically grant nominee access, enabling asset transfer procedures.

Role of KYC Registration Agencies (KRAs)

• KRAs act as verifiers and facilitators for nominee access.
• Ensure efficient and hassle-free transition of assets to rightful heirs

• Kanger Valley National Park (KVNP) in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, has been added to the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites under the Natural category.

Geographical Features

• Area: 200 sq km, located in the Bastar district.
• Elevation: Ranges from 338 to 781 meters above sea level.
• Landscape: Moist Peninsular Valley Sal forests, deep gorges, and winding streams.
• Rivers & Waterfalls: The Kanger River flows through the park; features Tirathgarh Falls.
• Geological Significance: Karst landforms and Indravati Group rock formations.

Biodiversity

• Flora: 963 plant species.
• Fauna: 49 mammal species (giant squirrel, otters, deer).
• Birds: 201 species, including the endemic Bastar Hill Myna.
• Amphibians & Reptiles: 16 amphibian and 37 reptile species recorded.

Notable Caves

• More than 15 limestone caves, including Kotamsar, Kailash, and Dandak.
• Showcases unique speleothems (cave formations) and holds archaeological significance.
• Culturally important for local tribes, especially during festivals.

• The 30th Session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) began on March 17, 2025, in Jamaica, with nearly 170 member states and the European Union discussing deep-sea mining regulations.

About International Seabed Authority (ISA)

• Established: 1994, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS, 1982).
• Headquarters: Kingston, Jamaica.
• Mandate:
  • Regulates mining activities on the international seabed beyond national jurisdiction.
  • Develops a mining code to ensure responsible seabed resource extraction.
  • Protects marine ecosystems from potential mining-related damage.
• Key Issues Discussed
• The Two-Year Rule
• Triggered in 2021 by Nauru Ocean Resources Inc., requiring the ISA to finalize mining regulations within two years.
• Raised concerns over the rushed approval of seabed mining and its environmental impact.
• Legal Challenges
  • Debate over potential lawsuits against ISA if mining applications are denied.
  • Mining companies argue for legitimate expectations under investment law, but experts suggest this does not apply to international bodies.
• Global Participation in Seabed Mining
  • Since 2001, ISA has granted 30 exploration contracts.
  • India holds two contracts in the Indian Ocean and has applied for more.
  • Norway, European nations, and other stakeholders are sponsoring mining projects.

• Fino Payments Bank (FPB) has re-appointed Deena Mehta as an Independent Director for a second term.
• Fino Payments Bank (India): A digital-first payments bank offering banking services with a focus on financial inclusion.
• Founded in 2017, it operates under RBI regulations.
• Fino Payments Bank Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

• World Water Day is observed annually on March 22, declared by the United Nations to highlight freshwater conservation.
• It was first celebrated in 1993 to promote sustainable water management.
• Objective: Raises awareness about global water issues, including access to safe drinking water.
• Theme for 2025: “Glacier Preservation”, focusing on protecting glaciers as vital freshwater sources.

• A U.S.-based think tank, The Future of Free Speech, ranked India 24th out of 33 countries in its latest survey on support for free speech.

Key Findings

• India’s Score: 62.6, placed between South Africa (66.9) and Lebanon (61.8).
• Top Nations: Norway (87.9) and Denmark (87.0) lead in free speech support.

Public Perception vs. Reality:

• Majority of Indians support free speech, but 37% favor restrictions on government criticism (highest globally).
• Global assessment shows declining free speech protection in India, despite public perception of improvement.
• Democratic Backsliding: India is categorized alongside Hungary and Venezuela, where free speech laws exist but enforcement is weak.

Challenges to Free Speech in India

• Legal & Political Restrictions: Sedition Law (IPC 124A), UAPA, and IT Rules 2021 restrict dissent.
• Self-Censorship: Fear of legal action, harassment, and media pressure limit open expression.

Selective Tolerance: Free speech is curbed when it contradicts political or religious views; arrests of journalists and activists highlight inconsistencies