• The Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted Exercise Desert Hunt 2025, an integrated Tri-Service Special Forces exercise, at Air Force Station Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
• About the Exercise:
• Participants:

1. Para (Special Forces) – Indian Army
2. MARCOS (Marine Commandos) – Indian Navy
3. Garud (Special Forces) – Indian Air Force

• Objective:

1. To enhance interoperability, coordination, and synergy among the three Special Forces units.
2. To ensure swift and effective responses to modern security challenges.

• Significance:

1. The exercise tested combat readiness under realistic battle conditions.
2. Strengthened joint operational capabilities among India’s elite Special Forces.

• Recent UNESCO GEM reports highlight that 40% of the global population lacks education in a language they understand, rising to 90% in some low- and middle-income countries.
• The report, “Languages Matter – Global Guidance on Multilingual Education,” released on the 25th anniversary of International Mother Language Day, stresses the need for multilingual education amid growing linguistic diversity.
• Key Findings:

1. Home Language & Learning: Students perform better when taught in their native language, but many education systems lack trained teachers and materials.
2. Scale of the Issue: 250 million learners face language barriers, widening the learning gap, especially in diverse and disadvantaged regions.
3. Challenges: Colonial legacies and modern immigration have complicated language inclusion in education.
4. Recommendations: Context-specific multilingual education policies, bridging language programs, and culturally responsive teacher training.

On March 3, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 7th meeting of the National Board for Wildlife at Gir National Park, Gujarat, marking significant advancements in India’s wildlife conservation efforts.

Key highlights from the meeting :

• Riverine Dolphin Estimation:6,327 dolphins recorded in 28 rivers across 8 states, largest in Uttar Pradesh.
• National Referral Centre for Wildlife:Foundation stone laid in Junagadh to enhance wildlife health & disease management.
• Asiatic Lion Conservation:16th lion population estimation in 2025, natural migration to Barda Wildlife Sanctuary
• Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation:Centre of Excellence at WII, Coimbatore, for rapid response & technology integration.
• Cheetah Reintroduction Expansion:New sites in Gandhisagar Sanctuary (MP) and Banni Grasslands (Gujarat)
• Gharial & Great Indian Bustard Conservation:New projects launched for both species’ recovery.
• Technology in Conservation:Use of AI, remote sensing, and geospatial mapping for forest fires & human-wildlife conflict.
• Wildlife Tourism Promotion:Focus on eco-tourism, improved travel infrastructure.
• Traditional Knowledge Documentation:AI-driven collection of regional conservation knowledge.

India’s Key Wildlife Conservation Initiatives

1. Forest Conservation & Afforestation

• Forest Cover Growth:Increased from 23% (2013) to 21.71% (2021).
• Global Recognition:Ranked 3rd globally in net forest area gain (2010-2020).
• ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ Campaign:102 crore trees planted, target 140 crore by March 2025.

2. Wetland & Coastal Ecosystem Protection

• Ramsar Sites:Increased from 26 (2014) to 85 (2024), covering 33 million hectares.
• MISHTI Initiative:Focuses on mangrove restoration and coastal sustainability.

3. Legislative & Policy Measures

• Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023:Supports NDCs and carbon neutrality goals.
• National Clean Air Programme (NCAP):Achieved 40% PM reduction in 23 cities, ₹11,200 crore allocated.

4. Global Conservation Efforts

• International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA):97 countries collaborating to protect seven big cat species.

• At the recently held 25th Jahan-e-Khusrau festival in Delhi, PM Modi described it as a tribute to Amir Khusrau, stating that it carries the “fragrance of Hindustan’s soil.”
• Early Life & Background

1. Born in 1253, father migrated from Central Asia to India.
2. Influenced by Turkic and Indian heritage, shaping his literary and musical works.

• Career as a Court Poet

1. Served multiple Delhi Sultans over five
2. Wrote in Persian and Hindavi, legitimizing rulers through poetry.
3. Conferred the title “Amir” by Sultan Jalaluddin Khalji.

• Literary Contributions

1. Pioneered ghazals, riddles, and songs with lyrical beauty & wordplay.
2. Promoted Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb (cultural syncretism).
3. Wrote on Hindu philosophical thought, showcasing religious inclusivity.

• Musical Innovations

1. Developed new ragas and influenced the khayal
2. Associated with inventing the sitar and tabla (unverified claims).
3. Composed “Chhaap Tilak” and “Zehal-e-Miskeen”, key in Qawwali.

• The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), in partnership with the Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion, organized a discussion on Diyaslai.
• About Diyaslai
  • Kailash Satyarthi’s autobiography Diyaslai was published on January 20, 2025, and launched at the Jaipur Literature Festival on January 30, 2025.
  • Chronicles his journey from a humble upbringing in Vidisha to his global fight for child rights.
• About Kailash Satyarthi
  • Born in 1954 in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh.
  • A global advocate against child slavery and exploitation, working across 140 countries.
  • His organization has rescued over 138,000 children from child labour, slavery, and trafficking.
• Major Contributions
  • Shiksha Yatra (2001): Led a nationwide march advocating free and compulsory education, influencing the 2002 constitutional amendment and Right to Education Act (2009).
  • Nobel Peace Prize (2014): Awarded jointly with Malala Yousafzai for efforts against child oppression and promoting education rights.
  • Bharat Yatra (2017): Led a 12,000 km campaign against child sexual exploitation across 22 states, contributing to stricter child rape and trafficking laws in India.

• The United States has introduced a new visa program called the Gold Card visa for foreign investors.
• About the Gold Card Visa:
  • The Gold Card visa will replace the existing EB-5 visa program.
  • Under the current EB-5 visa, foreign nationals invest $800,000 to $1.05 million in job-creating ventures for conditional residency.
  • Unlike the EB-5, the Gold Card visa requires a $5 million investment, significantly increasing the financial threshold for applicants.
  • The new scheme targets high-net-worth individuals, aiming to stimulate the US economy through foreign investments.
• Comparison with Other Countries:
  • Several nations offer citizenship or residency through investment, similar to the US Gold Card visa.
  • Countries with similar programs include Malta, Egypt, and Cambodia, among others.

• The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) recently launched initiatives to modernize maritime infrastructure, boost global trade, and promote sustainability, aligning with India’s 2047 development vision.
• One Nation-One Port Process (ONOP)
  • Standardizes operations across major Indian ports to streamline documentation and processes.
  • Reduces container operation documents by 33% and bulk cargo documents by 29%.
  • Aims to eliminate inefficiencies and delays, enhancing India’s global trade competitiveness.
• Sagar Ankalan Logistics Port Performance Index (LPPI)
  • Benchmarks port performance based on cargo handling and turnaround time.
  • Promotes transparency and operational excellence in the maritime sector.
• MAITRI Application
  • Introduces a ‘Virtual Trade Corridor’ between India and the UAE to optimize trade flows.
  • Reduces bureaucratic hurdles with AI and Blockchain integration.
• India Maritime Week 2025
  • Scheduled from October 27–31, 2025, featuring the Global Maritime India Summit.
  • Showcases India’s maritime heritage and future developments.

• The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has recently upgraded its Sugam Portal to enable online applications for clinical trial site additions and changes in principal investigators for biological products.
• About Sugam Portal:
  • An online platform for manufacturers to apply for drug-related licenses and approvals.
  • Simplifies submissions for clinical trials, including vaccines and rDNA-based drugs.
• Recent Changes in Clinical Trial Applications
  • Expansion to Biological Products: As of December 2024, CDSCO allowed online applications for specific drug types. The recent update extends this facility to biological products.
  • Auto-Approval Mechanism: Applications for adding clinical trial sites will be processed within 30 days, with auto-approval if no objections are raised.
  • Simplified Investigator Changes: Changes in principal investigators will be approved if they meet the required criteria, streamlining the approval process.

• As per the State of States report released on February 27, 2025, India falls behind in 9 out of the 16 assessed SDGs. The report evaluates the performance of all 36 Indian states and Union Territories (UTs) concerning these goals.
• India’s Current SDG Performance
  • Overall Progress: India lags in 9 out of 16 assessed SDGs, as per the State of States Report 2025. The report evaluates all 36 states and Union Territories (UTs).
  • Partially Achieved SDGs: Only four SDGs have been met at least halfway by all states and UTs:

1. 1. SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being
   2. SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation
   3. SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy
   4. SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth

• • Excluded SDG: SDG 14 (Life Below Water) was not assessed, as it is relevant only to coastal states.
  • Regional Disparities in SDG Progress

1. 1. The report highlights uneven progress across states:
   2. Uttarakhand & Tamil Nadu: Fewer lagging indicators but still struggling with one out of every six.
   3. Uttar Pradesh & Gujarat: Achieved less than 50% of the SDG targets in 30-43% of indicators.

• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has recently introduced the Aadhaar Good Governance Portal to simplify and expedite the approval process for Aadhaar authentication requests.
• Purpose
  • Streamlines approval of Aadhaar authentication requests for government and private entities.
  • Enhances transparency, efficiency, and inclusivity in public service delivery.
• Recent Legislative Changes
  • Launched following amendments to the Aadhaar Act (2016) in January 2025.
  • Expands Aadhaar authentication scope to improve public interest services.
• Enhancing Digital Economy
  • Aadhaar is a trusted digital identity used over 100 billion times in a decade.
  • Strengthens India’s digital economy by enabling seamless authentication.
• Benefits for Service Providers & Citizens
  • Enables Aadhaar-based access to healthcare, hospitality, e-commerce, and education.
  • Facilitates e-KYC, customer onboarding, and staff attendance tracking.