Current Context : The UNHCR has temporarily suspended the process of facilitating the repatriation of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees.

ABOUT UNHCR

• Establishment: 1950 by the UN General Assembly, after the Second World War.
• Nature: United Nations agency dedicated to refugees, stateless persons, and internally displaced populations.
• Mandate: To protect rights, provide assistance, and support voluntary repatriation, local integration, or resettlement of displaced populations.
• Legal Framework: Guardian of the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
• Recognition: Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize (1954 & 1981).

Current Context : The Quarterly PLFS (April–June 2025) and Monthly PLFS (July 2025) have been released.

ABOUT PLFS

• Conducted by: National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
• Objective: To provide data on:
  • Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR)
  • Worker Population Ratio (WPR)
  • Unemployment Rate (UR)
  • Distribution of workers by employment status and industry of work.

Coverage & Frequency

• Monthly Estimates: For rural and urban areas under Current Weekly Status (CWS).
• Annual Estimates: For both rural and urban areas under Usual Status (US) and CWS.
• Reference Periods:
  • CWS: 7 days

US: 365 days

Current Context : Opposition parties are considering moving a motion for the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).

ABOUT REMOVAL OF CEC

• Constitutional Provision: Article 324(5) of the Indian Constitution.
• Grounds & Manner: CEC can be removed in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court (Article 124(4)).

Process of Removal:

1. A motion alleging misbehaviour or incapacity is introduced in either House of Parliament.
2. Once admitted, a committee of inquiry examines the validity of charges.
3. Motion must be passed by a two-thirds majority of members present and voting in both Houses of Parliament.
4. After this, the President of India issues an order removing the CEC.

Current Context: Indian Oil’s Panipat Refinery received ICAO certification for production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel from used cooking oil.

ABOUT SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL

• Definition: Jet biofuel/aviation bio-kerosene resembling conventional jet fuel but produced from renewable biomass sources.
• Feedstock Sources:
  • Oil seed plants, energy grasses
  • Municipal solid waste
  • Industrial carbon monoxide waste gas
  • Agricultural and forestry residue
  • Fats, oils, greases from cooking and meat production
• Benefits: Compatible with existing aircraft engines and infrastructure (when blended), Reduces greenhouse gas emissions, Offers energy flexibility.

Current Context : Chandrarekha Dhadwal, renowned litterateur and educationist from Dharamsala, has been honoured with the Himachal Gaurav Award by the Government of Himachal Pradesh.

ABOUT THE AWARD

• Introduced By: Government of Himachal Pradesh
• Nature: One of the highest civilian honours of the state
• Purpose: To recognise individuals for their outstanding contributions in various fields such as literature, art, culture, social service, education, science, sports, and public life.
• Occasion of Presentation: Usually conferred during State-level Independence Day or Republic Day celebrations.

ABOUT CHANDRAREKHA DHADWAL

• Profession: Litterateur and Educationist
• Residence: Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh
• Teaching Career: Over 30 years in the field of education
• Literary Contribution: Over four decades; works include poetry, ghazals, short stories, novels, and folk literature
• Prominent Themes: Contemporary Hindi and Himachali literature; focus on women’s struggles, empowerment, and folk traditions

Notable Published Works

• Poetry: Zaroorat Bhar Suvidha (2018)
• Novels: Samay Mere Anuroop Hua (2019), Aag (2022)
• Story Collections: Seevane Updati Hui (2019), Roshni Ke Baabjood (2023), Pachchis Kahaniyan (2025)
• Himachali Works: Akkhar-Akkhar Jugnu, Akkharan De Diye

Current Context : Naib Subedar Satish Kumar of the 4 Dogra Regiment has been awarded the Vir Chakra, India’s third-highest wartime gallantry award, for exceptional bravery during Operation Sindoor.

About the Awardee

• Unit: 4 Dogra Regiment.
• Native Place: Samohali village, Buhala Bhadiyara Gram Panchayat, Jogindernagar subdivision, Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh.

ABOUT THE VIR CHAKRA

• Type: Third-highest wartime gallantry award in India (after Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra).
• Established: 26 January 1950 (with retrospective effect from 15 August 1947).
• Eligibility:
  • Officers and men of the Indian Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force).
  • May also be conferred on members of Reserve, Territorial Forces, Nursing services, and civilians engaged in defense of the nation.
• Purpose: Awarded for acts of gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, sea, or air.

Current Context : Recently, seven senior military leaders were conferred with the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal (SYSM) for their distinguished service and leadership during Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

ABOUT SARVOTTAM YUDH SEVA MEDAL (SYSM)

• Nature of Award: India’s highest wartime distinguished service honour.
• Purpose: Awarded for exceptional leadership during war, conflict, or hostilities.
• Prestige: Equivalent to Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), which is conferred for peacetime distinguished service.
• Rarity: Has been awarded only three times before (including during the Kargil War).

AWARDEES OF SYSM 2025

Indian Air Force (IAF) – 4 Recipients

• Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari
• Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor
• Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra
• Air Marshal A.K. Bharti

Indian Navy – 1 Recipient

• Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh (Retd) – first Navy officer ever to receive SYSM.

Indian Army – 2 Recipients

Current Context: The Indian Army inaugurated an “Arogyam Health & Wellness Centre” in Tawang under Operation Sadbhavana.

ABOUT OPERATION SADBHAVANA

• Launched by: Indian Army in 1998 (Jammu & Kashmir)
• Aim: Apply “healing touch” and Win Hearts and Minds (WHAM) of people affected by terrorism and insurgency
• Purpose: Extend Army’s role from border defence and counter-insurgency to development and community welfare
• Focus Areas: Education, Healthcare, Women empowerment, Skill development, Sports, Infrastructure, Ecology and environment.

Current Context: An Arunachalee Mountaineer has successfully scaled Mount Elbrus, the highest peak of Europe.

ABOUT MOUNT ELBRUS

• Location: Western Caucasus mountain range, in Russia (near the border of Georgia).
• Height: 5,642 metres (18,510 ft) – the highest peak in Europe.
• Range: Part of the Greater Caucasus Mountains.
• Type: Dormant stratovolcano (last eruption recorded around 50 AD).

PHYSICAL FEATURES

• Glaciers: More than 20 glaciers, feeding the Baksan, Kuban, and Malka rivers.
• Climate: Harsh alpine; snow-covered year-round.
• Significance:
  • Highest peak of Europe and Russia

Part of the Seven Summits (the highest peaks on each continent)

Current Context: 10 States along with the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission recorded a disposal rate of over 100 percent on the E-Jagriti platform in July 2025.

ABOUT E-JAGRITI PLATFORM

• Launched on: 1 January 2025
• Ministry: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution
• Purpose: To provide a unified, tech-enabled avenue for uploading, tracking, and managing consumer grievances across multiple adjudicatory bodies.
• Objective: Computerization and networking of all Consumer Commissions at national, state, and district levels for transparency, efficiency, and speedy resolution of consumer disputes.
• Functions:
  • Online filing of complaints
  • Tracking of case status
  • Accessing judgments

Imp. fact : Disposal rate” usually means: The percentage of cases resolved (disposed of) out of the total cases filed or pending in a given time.