• The Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, organized a workshop on the Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma-MedTech Sector (PRIP) Scheme to advance research and development in pharmaceuticals and medical technology.
• Key Participants: Secretaries from five key ministries including Pharmaceuticals, Science & Technology, Electronics & IT, Scientific & Industrial Research, and Health Research, along with over 100 experts from premier research institutions and industry stakeholders.
• Focus Areas: Discussions covered emerging trends, industry-academia collaboration, funding mechanisms, and digital health innovations such as AI, precision medicine, and clinical research advancements.
• Government Support: PRIP aims to catalyze innovation, strengthen industry-academia linkages, and position India as a global leader in pharma and MedTech research, leveraging initiatives like CSIR’s INTENT, ICMR’s MedTech Mitra, and MeitY’s digital health programs.
• Future Steps: Participants were invited to submit suggestions via the Expression of Interest (EoI) form, open until April 7, 2025, to refine and enhance the PRIP scheme

• China has recently installed a Large Phased Array Radar (LPAR) in Yunnan Province, boosting its surveillance over India and the Indian Ocean.

Key Features of LPAR

• Advanced Surveillance: Uses electronically controlled antennas for rapid scanning and multi-target tracking.
• Extended Range: Over 5,000 km, capable of monitoring India’s missile tests in real time.
• Early Warning System: Detects and tracks ballistic missile launches, providing critical trajectory data.
• Strategic Location & Intelligence Capabilities
• Positioned in Yunnan Province, allowing surveillance over the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal, and Indian missile test sites.
• Enables real-time tracking of Indian missile tests, including those from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island.
• Enhances China’s intelligence gathering and countermeasure development against India’s missile advancements.

Implications for India

• Raises national security concerns as China gains critical data on India’s missile programmes.
• Challenges India’s strategic deterrence and defence planning.
• India is considering counter-surveillance measures to protect its missile testing and military operations.

• The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a ₹2,906 crore contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Ghaziabad for procuring Low-Level Transportable Radar (LLTR) “Ashwini” on March 12, 2025 in New Delhi.
• Indigenous Development: LLTR (Ashwini) is designed and developed by DRDO’s Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), promoting self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
• Key Features: This Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar is based on solid-state technology, capable of tracking high-speed fighter jets, UAVs, and helicopters, enhancing Indian Air Force (IAF) operational capabilities.

Strategic Importance: The procurement reduces dependency on foreign equipment, strengthens India’s indigenous defence ecosystem, and supports Make in India in the defence sector.

• The Ministry of Cooperation launched White Revolution 2.0 on September 19, 2024, to enhance milk production, processing, and dairy infrastructure in India.
• Key Implementing Agency: The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) is driving this initiative through Rashtriya Gokul Mission for indigenous breed development and multiple dairy development schemes, including:

1. 1. National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD)
   2. Supporting Dairy Cooperatives & Farmer Producer Organisations (SDCFPO)
   3. Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF)

• Dairy Sector Growth: India’s milk production in 2023-24 reached 30 million metric tonnes, marking a 63.56% increase over the last decade. The goal is to increase cooperative sector milk procurement to 1,007 lakh kg/day by 2028-29.
• State-wise Production: Among major dairy states, Uttar Pradesh leads with 38.78 million tonnes of milk production, followed by Rajasthan (34.73 million tonnes) and Gujarat (18.31 million tonnes). Karnataka recorded 13.46 million tonnes and ranks among the top contributors.
• Karnataka’s Dairy Growth: The Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) has expanded its cooperative network to 15,888 dairy societies across 24,000 villages.
• Milk procurement rose from 51.61 lakh kg/day (2013-14) to 98 lakh kg/day (2023-24), boosting farmer income and dairy sustainability.

• The Oilfield (Regulatory and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024 was passed by Lok Sabha after Rajya Sabha’s approval on December 3, 2024.
• Objective: Aims to reform the legal framework, enhance investor confidence, boost oil and gas exploration, and support India’s energy security.
• Key Reforms:

1. 1. Shift from multiple licenses to a single petroleum lease permit.
   2. Supports Ease of Doing Business and resource-sharing for small operators.
   3. Strengthens dispute resolution and stabilizes investor operations.
   4. Enables adoption of new technologies like Carbon Capture, Green Hydrogen.

• Enforcement & Penalties:
• Increased penalties: ₹25 lakh + ₹10 lakh per day for continued violations.
• Establishes an adjudication and appellate authority for penalty enforcement.
• Federalism & Future Impact: The Bill retains State rights, ensures regulatory efficiency, and strengthens India’s energy sector, contributing to Viksit Bharat 2047.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres introduced the UN80 Initiative to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness within the United Nations amid ongoing financial and operational challenges.

A reform strategy launched on the 80th anniversary of the United Nations

Objectives:

• Financial Sustainability – Address shrinking global contributions.
• Structural Reforms – Improve implementation of UN mandates.
• Strategic Planning – Optimize resources and enhance cost-effectiveness.

Key Targets:

• Operational Efficiencies – Streamline UN activities to reduce redundancy.
• Mandate Review – Align UN programs with global priorities.
• Program Restructuring – Optimize financial and human resources.
• Collaboration – Strengthen coordination between different UN bodies.

Transparency – Improve budget allocation and expenditure oversight.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Mauritius (March 11-12, 2025) as the chief guest for its National Day, reaffirming India’s support for Mauritius’ claim over the Chagos Archipelago in line with its decolonization policy.

About Chagos Archipelago

• A group of seven atolls with over 60 islands in the Indian Ocean, located 500 km south of the Maldives.
• Historically part of France’s Indian Ocean territories (1715-1810), ceded to Britain under the Treaty of Paris (1814).
• Mauritius gained independence in 1968, but in 1965, Britain separated Chagos Archipelago to create the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT).
• Diego Garcia, the largest island, has housed a joint UK-US military base since the 1970s.
• The UK has agreed to transfer sovereignty to Mauritius while maintaining the base.

• Observed annually on March 16 to emphasize the significance of immunization, marking the first oral polio vaccine administration in India in 1995.
• India continues its efforts to eliminate vaccine-preventable diseases through initiatives like Mission Indradhanush, which aims to achieve full immunization coverage for all children and pregnant women.

• The Ministry of Education launched PM-YUVA 3.0 (Prime Minister’s Scheme for Mentoring Young Authors) on March 11, 2025, to mentor young authors (below 30 years) and promote reading, writing, and book culture in India.
• Objective: To develop a new generation of writers who can articulate India’s heritage, knowledge systems, and contemporary progress while projecting Indian writings globally.
• Themes: Young writers will focus on:
• Contribution of Indian Diaspora in Nation Building
• Indian Knowledge System
• Makers of Modern India (1950-2025)
• Implementation: National Book Trust, India will execute the scheme, publish selected works, and facilitate mentorship, literary engagements, and cultural exchange.

Significance: The scheme aligns with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aiming to empower youth, build capacity, and promote India’s literary and cultural richness on a global platform.

On March 1, 2025, Prince Frederik of Luxembourg passed away in Paris at the age of 22 after a long battle with POLG (Polymerase Gamma) mitochondrial disease.

About Disease

• Genetic Disorder: Caused by mutations in the POLG (Polymerase Gamma) gene, essential for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication.
• Impact on Cells: Leads to impaired energy production, affecting multiple organ systems.
• Progressive & Fatal: Results in multi-organ dysfunction and failure over time.
• Symptoms & Diagnosis: Symptoms vary but commonly include:

1. Muscle weakness & seizures
2. Visual impairment
3. Neurological decline
4. Liver dysfunction

• Diagnosis is often delayed due to wide-ranging symptoms and complexity in identifying the disease.

Challenges in Treatment

• No Cure Available: POLG disease has no definitive cure or reversal therapy.
• Symptom Management: Treatment focuses on alleviating symptoms and improving quality of life.
• Multi-Systemic Complexity: Each patient experiences different effects based on specific gene mutations.