• A recent measles outbreak in West Texas has led to 164 cases and two fatalities, both of whom were unvaccinated.

Measles

• Highly contagious viral disease spread through coughing/sneezing.
• Virus remains active on surfaces or in the air for up to 2 hours.
• 90% transmission rate among unvaccinated individuals.

High-Risk Individuals

• Unvaccinated individuals are most susceptible to measles.
• Children under five, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems face a higher risk. Malnourished children with vitamin A deficiency are also more vulnerable to severe complications.

Symptoms

• Appear 10–14 days after exposure.
• Early signs: Cough, fever, sore throat, red/watery eyes.
• Koplik’s spots: White spots inside the mouth.
• Rash: Starts on the face, spreads across the body, lasts 5–7 days.

Complications

• Common: Ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia.
• Severe: Encephalitis (brain inflammation), brain damage.
• Pregnancy risks: Premature birth, low birth weight.
• Leading cause of death: Pneumonia, encephalitis.

Treatment

• No specific antiviral treatment.
• Supportive care: Rest, hydration, nutrition.
• Vitamin A supplements: Reduce complications.
• Antibiotics: For secondary infections.
• Recovery time: 10–14 days.

Prevention

• Vaccination is key (safe & effective).

Two doses:

• First dose: 9–15 months.
• Second dose: 15–18 months.
• 95% vaccination coverage needed for herd immunity.

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is working on a LOX-methane engine for its Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV).
• This engine will feature a reusable booster stage and two expendable upper stages, aiming to enhance mission flexibility with multiple restart capabilities.
• Recent successful tests of a spark torch igniter mark a significant step in this ambitious project.

About LOX-Methane Engines

• Uses Liquid Oxygen (LOX) as an oxidiser and methane as fuel.
• Methane is preferred for future space missions due to:
• Ability to be synthesized from water and CO₂ in space.
• Potential use in long-duration Mars missions.

Importance of Multiple Restarts

• Helps in booster stage recovery and upper stage operations.
• Allows trajectory adjustments during flight.
• Enhances mission adaptability for changing objectives.

Development of Spark Torch Igniter

• ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) is developing the igniter.
• Ensures higher ignition reliability and cleaner combustion.
• Successfully tested using gaseous oxygen and hydrogen.
• Shift from Hydrazine to Methane: Current fuel (hydrazine) is toxic and carcinogenic.
• Methane advantages:
• Non-toxic and safer to handle.
• Higher specific impulse (better efficiency).
• Easier storage and handling.

• Launched by Punjab Government on the eve of International Women’s Day.
• Aimed at supporting women and children facing violence and harassment.
• Focuses on domestic violence prevention and victim support.

Objectives:

• Eliminate fear among victims and encourage them to seek help.
• Provide an integrated support system for distressed women and children.
• Enhance last-mile connectivity for immediate assistance.

Helpline & Response Mechanism:

• 24×7 helpline (181) categorizing calls into emergency, non-emergency, and informational.
• Emergency cases are transferred to ERSS-112 for swift action.

Multi-Agency Collaboration:

• Departments involved: Social Security, Health, and Punjab Police.
• Facilitates rescue operations, legal aid, medical assistance, and psycho-social support.

Support Services:

• One Stop Centres (OSCs) and District Child Protection Units (DCPUs) provide:
• Psychological counseling, legal aid, and rehabilitation services.
• Information on shelter homes and welfare schemes.
• State-of-the-art control room in Chandigarh monitors helpline traffic and effectiveness.

Legal Framework & Implementation:

• Strengthens the Domestic Violence Act & POCSO Act implementation.

Enhances legal and social support for a safer society.

• Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the Advanced Cybersecurity Operations Centre (SOC) of the Kerala Police Cyber Division via video conferencing. The initiative aims to strengthen cybersecurity for police systems and critical infrastructure.

Developing Agency:

• The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, Government of India, designed and developed the TRINETRA Cyber Security Operation Centre for the Kerala Police.

ABOUT TRINETRA

• TRINETRA is an AI-powered, indigenous, integrated cybersecurity platform that enables enterprises to establish a comprehensive Security Operations Centre (SOC).
• It helps in:
• Monitoring endpoints, network traffic, and user behavior
• Proactively identifying vulnerabilities
• Detecting anomalies
• Mitigating cyber threats

Significance of the Initiative

• The SOC and TRINETRA system mark a major milestone in Kerala’s cybersecurity infrastructure. This initiative reinforces the state’s proactive approach to protecting digital assets and enhancing cybersecurity resilience.

• The 12th edition of the India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise, Khanjar-XII, will be held from 10 to 23 March 2025 in Kyrgyzstan and has been conducted annually since 2011, alternating between the two nations.

Participants:

• India – Parachute Regiment (Special Forces).
• Kyrgyzstan – Kyrgyz Scorpion Brigade.

Objectives of the Exercise

• Enhance counter-terrorism and special operations skills.
• Focus on urban and mountainous warfare techniques.
• Training in sniping, building interventions, and mountain craft.

Cultural Significance

• Includes celebration of Nowruz, a Kyrgyz festival.
• Strengthens bilateral ties and cultural understanding.

Strategic Importance

• Reinforces India-Kyrgyzstan defence cooperation.
• Supports regional peace and counter-terrorism efforts.
• Addresses common threats from international terrorism and extremism.

Previous Editions

• Last edition (2024) was held in India.
• Each edition improves operational readiness and interoperability.

• The 2025 edition of the Indian Navy’s flagship Theatre Level Operational Exercise (TROPEX) took place over three months, from January to March 2025. Concluding in early March, the exercise played a crucial role in validating the Navy’s operational concepts.

Key Exercise Components

• Amphibious Exercise (AMPHEX) – Focused on amphibious warfare operations.
• Joint Work Up Phase – Emphasized precision in ordnance delivery.
• Cyber & Electronic Warfare – Tested resilience against modern threats.
• Tactical Phase – Assessed strategic response to operational scenarios.

Strategic Importance

• Evaluated the Navy’s ability to handle multi-dimensional threats.
• Strengthened integrated defense mechanisms for maritime security.

Theatre of Operations

• Covered the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and Bay of Bengal.
• Spanned 4300 nm (North-South) up to 35°S Latitude and 5000 nm (West-East) from the Strait of Hormuz to the Sunda & Lombok Straits.

Participation

• Indian Navy: 65-70 ships, 9-10 submarines, 80+ aircraft.
• Indian Army, Air Force & Coast Guard.
• Sukhoi-30, Jaguar, C-130, Flight Refueller, Airborne Warning and Control System(AWACS )aircraft.
• Over 600 Infantry troops and 10+ Indian Coast Guard ships.

• The Sahitya Akademi Translation Award recognizes outstanding translations of literary works in 24 Indian languages, including English.
• The award aims to promote linguistic diversity and cross-cultural literary appreciation.

Award Winner & Recognized Works

1. Chandan Negi (Punjab) – Awarded for translating Himanshi Joshi’s Hindi novel Tere Liye into Punjabi (Tere Laee).
2. Madan Soni – Recognized for translating Yashodhara Dalmia’s biography Sayed Haider Raza into Hindi.
3. Archana Kesar – Honored for translating Bhishama Sahani’s Hindi novel Tamas into Dogri.

Award Details

• Prize: ₹50,000 cash and a copper plaque.
• Eligibility: Translations published between January 1, 2018 – December 31, 2022.

About Sahitya Akademi

• Established in 1954 under the Ministry of Culture.
• India’s National Academy of Letters, promoting literature in 24 languages, including English.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been awarded the ‘Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados’ for his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The award was presented by Pabitra Margherita, Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles, at a ceremony in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Background of the Award

• The ‘Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados’ is a prestigious recognition awarded to individuals who have significantly contributed to the nation.
• PM Modi was acknowledged for his strategic leadership and assistance during the global health crisis.
• The award was announced by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley during the India-CARICOM Leaders’ Summit in Guyana, November 2024.

About Barbados

• Location: A small island nation in the southeastern Caribbean Sea.
• Neighbors: Close to Saint Lucia (north), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (west), and Trinidad and Tobago (south).

Colonial History:

• Became an English colony in 1625.
• Remained part of the British Empire for over 400
• Gained independence on November 30, 1966.

• Vanuatu has recently gained attention for its Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program, which enables affluent individuals to acquire its passport.
• The Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Program enables wealthy individuals to obtain citizenship through financial contributions.

About Vanuatu

• Location: South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands.
• Capital: Port Vila, situated on the island of Efate.
• Geography: Consists of 13 principal volcanic islands and many smaller islands.
• Active Volcanoes: Yasur, Manaro, and Garet.
• Colonization: Initially inhabited by Melanesians, later became a joint Anglo-French colony (New Hebrides), gaining independence in 1980.

Climate Change Vulnerability

• Faces rising sea levels at twice the global average.

Ranked most at-risk country globally under the UN’s World Risk Index.

• The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), under the IndiaAI Mission, has developed AI Kosha, a centralized AI innovation platform to facilitate secure access to datasets, AI models, and development tools.
• Key Features
  • AI Dataset Repository: Hosts 300+ datasets and 80+ AI models for research.
  • AI Sandbox Environment: Provides an integrated development environment (IDE) with tools and tutorials for model training.
  • Content Discoverability: Uses AI-readiness scoring to identify relevant datasets.
  • Security & Access Control: Implements data encryption, secure Application Programming Interface(API)access, and real-time threat filtering.
  • Permission-Based Access: Offers tiered access for researchers, startups, and government bodies.
• Benefits of AI Kosha
  • Accelerates AI Research: Reduces AI development time with pre-trained models and quality datasets.
  • Enhances AI Innovation: Supports startups and enterprises in building AI solutions.
  • Strengthens AI Security: Ensures ethically sourced and consent-based datasets for responsible AI.
  • Boosts Public Sector AI Adoption: Supports AI applications in governance, healthcare, and education.
• Limitations
  • Limited Dataset Variety: Mostly sourced from government and research institutions, lacking commercial data.
  • Access Restrictions: Strict security protocols may limit private-sector participation.
  • Early Stage Development: Needs wider industry collaboration for expansion.