Current Context : The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has set a new global record by constructing the world’s highest motorable road at an altitude of 19,400 feet in Ladakh’s  Mig La Pass, surpassing its earlier record at Umling La (19,024 ft) made in 2021.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

• Constructed By – Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under Project Himank
• Location – Mig La Pass, Southern Sector of Eastern Ladakh
• Altitude – 19,400 feet above sea level
• Previous Record – Umling La Pass (19,024 ft) set by BRO in 2021

ABOUT MIG LA PASS

• Location – Leh district, Ladakh (near the Indo-China border)

FEATURES

• It forms a strategic route along the Likaru–Mig La–Fukche Road, connecting Hanle to Fukche near the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
• The road is designed to withstand extreme Himalayan conditions, including sub-zero temperatures, low oxygen, and shifting glaciers.
• Historically, this route was used by traders and nomads moving between Hanle, Rongo, Dumtsele, and Demchok with caravans of yaks and camels.

Current Context Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s first astronaut to reach the International Space Station (ISS), has been appointed Brand Ambassador of Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025, India’s largest school hackathon.

ABOUT THE BUILDATHON

• Launched On – 23 September 2025
• Organised By – Ministry of Education, in collaboration with Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, and AICTE
• Participants – Over 1 crore students from 5 lakh schools, covering Classes 6–12
• Event Model – Nationwide innovation competition aimed at developing prototypes to solve real-world challenges
• Theme – Viksit Bharat @2047 – focusing on innovation, creativity, and self-reliance

WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE

• Encourages early innovation and practical application of knowledge among school students
• The live event will be held on 13 October, and winners will be announced in December 2025
• Aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and aims to nurture future-ready innovators.

Current Context : Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the PM–SETU Scheme during the Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The scheme aims to modernize 1,000 Government ITIs across India.

ABOUT PM–SETU

• Full Name – Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs
• Type – Centrally Sponsored Scheme
• Investment – ₹60,000 crore
• Goal – To convert existing ITIs into modern, industry-aligned training institutions.
• Model – Hub-and-Spoke System:
  • 200 Hub ITIs connected to 800 Spoke ITIs
  • Each Hub equipped with innovation centres, incubation facilities, production units, and placement cells

KEY FEATURES

• Introduction of new demand-driven courses in partnership with industries
• Establishment of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) with Anchor Industry Partners for cluster management
• Strengthening of five National Skill Training Institutes at Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kanpur, and Ludhiana as Centres of Excellence
• Backed by World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB)
• Phase 1 focuses on Patna and Darbhanga ITIs

Current Context : The Union Government plans to map all drinking water assets, including pipelines built under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), on the PM Gati Shakti GIS-based platform for better monitoring and transparency.

ABOUT JAL JEEVAN MISSION (JJM)

• Launched On – 15 August 2019
• Nodal Ministry – Ministry of Jal Shakti
• Objective – To provide safe and adequate drinking water through Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) to all rural households by 2024.
• Approach – Community-led, ensuring local participation, women’s empowerment, and water quality management.

COMPONENTS OF JJM

• Infrastructure Development – In-village piped water systems
• Community Participation – Local planning and maintenance
• Women’s Role – Active involvement in monitoring and operations
• Education and Awareness – Extensive IEC campaigns
• Water Quality Monitoring – Ensuring safe drinking water
• Greywater Management – Reuse and recycling of wastewater
• Source Sustainability – Groundwater recharge and water conservation

FUNDING PATTERN

• Centre–State Sharing – 50:50
• Himalayan & North-Eastern States – 90:10
• Union Territories – 100% funded by the Central Government

Current Context : UNESCO’s Executive Board has nominated Khaled el-Anani, Egypt’s former Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, as the next Director-General of the organization.

ABOUT UNESCO

• Full Form – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
• Founded In – 1945 (after World War II)
• Headquarters – Paris, France
• Members – 194 member states and 12 associate members
• Goal – To strengthen humanity through education, science, culture, and communication
• Parent Group – Part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group

FUNCTIONS OF UNESCO

• Promotes literacy, free education, and knowledge exchange among nations.
• Works with governments, NGOs, and private sectors to support learning and innovation.
• Maintains the World Heritage Sites List – identifying and protecting sites of outstanding universal value.

India’s IRSA joins an elite group of global SDR frameworks that include:

• United States – Software Communications Architecture (SCA)
• Europe – ESSOR
• NATO – STANAG SDR Standards

ABOUT SOFTWARE DEFINED RADIO (SDR)

• Definition – SDR is a radio communication system that uses software-based components instead of traditional hardware to process and transmit digital signals.
• Advantage – Provides greater flexibility, easy upgradability, and enhanced connectivity in modern wireless and defence networks.

Current Context : The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with the Integrated Defence Staff and the Tri-Services, has released Indian Radio Software Architecture (IRSA) Standard 1.0, marking a major step in standardizing India’s defence communication systems.

ABOUT IRSA STANDARD 1.0

• Developed By – DRDO, Integrated Defence Staff, and Tri-Services
• Objective – To create a standardised software architecture for secure, efficient, and interoperable military radio communication systems.
• Significance – It is India’s first national specification defining software architecture for Software Defined Radios (SDRs).
• Vision – To position IRSA as a global benchmark in SDR technology and promote export of IRSA-compliant systems to friendly nations.

Observed every year on the second Thursday of October

• Aim : to promote awareness about vision impairment, blindness, and the importance of accessible eye care.
• In 2025, it falls on 9 October.
• Theme 2025: “Love Your Eyes”

Celebrated every year on 9 October

• Aim : To raise awareness about the role of postal services in connecting people, supporting businesses, and contributing to global social and economic development.
• Established By: Universal Postal Union (UPU)
• Year of Origin: 1874
• Declared As World Post Day: 1969 (Tokyo Congress)
• Headquarters of UPU: Bern, Switzerland
• Theme 2025: “#PostForPeople: Local Service. Global Reach.”

Current Context : Uttar Pradesh (UP) has achieved the highest number of student nominations in India under the INSPIRE Award MANAK scheme for 2023–24, registering 2,80,747 entries, the highest since the program began.

ABOUT THE SCHEME

• Full Form – Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge (MANAK)
• Implemented By – Department of Science and Technology, Government of India
• Target Group – Students of classes 6 to 12
• Purpose – To promote original ideas, creativity, and scientific innovation among students

UP’s ACHIEVEMENT

• Total nominations: 2,80,747 in 2023–24, a rise of 70,000 from the previous year.
• Districts with the highest entries: Pratapgarh, Prayagraj, Lucknow, and Hardoi.
• 22 of India’s top 50 districts in nominations are from Uttar Pradesh.

COMPARATIVE DATA

• Rajasthan – 1,41,142 nominations
• Karnataka – 1,01,656 nominations
• UP surpasses Rajasthan by 1.39 lakh and Karnataka by 1.79 lakh.

SIGNIFICANCE

• Reflects UP’s strong push towards STEM education and innovation culture.
• Encourages participation from both urban and rural schools, including government and Sanskrit institutions.