Current Context : The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted two flight-tests of the Pralay missile from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha.

ABOUT PRALAY MISSILE

• Type:
  • Indigenously developed quasi-ballistic missile.
  • Uses solid propellantand advanced guidance systems for high precision.
• Features:
  • Range: 150-500 km.
  • Payload capacity: 500-1,000 kg(can carry conventional warheads).
  • Accuracy: Circular Error Probable (CEP) < 10 metres.
  • Speed: Mach 6.1at terminal phase.
  • Capable of changing path mid-airto avoid interception.
• Targets:
  • Can strike radar installations, airstrips, command centres, and other high-value targets.
  • Developers: Developed by Research Centre Imaratwith DRDO labs and industry partners like Bharat Dynamics Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, MSMEs.

Current Context : A new scheme to help students from traditional Gurukuls enter IITs with scholarships for research.

ABOUT THE SCHEME

• Purpose: To integrate traditional scholarswith the research ecosystem of premier institutions like IITs without requiring formal degrees.
• Implementing Body: Ministry of Education with the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) division of Central Sanskrit University (CSU).
• Fellowship & Support:
• Category 1 (Postgraduate level): ₹40,000/month + ₹1 lakh annual research grant.
• Category 2 (Ph.D. level): ₹65,000/month + ₹2 lakh annual grant.
• Covers 18 interdisciplinary fields: Ayurveda, architecture, political theory, performing arts, mathematics, health sciences, etc.
• Eligibility:
• Minimum 5 years of Gurukul studyand proven expertise in Shastras or traditional knowledge.
• Maximum age: 32 years.

Current Context : The Digital Payments Index (DPI) by the Reserve Bank of India increased to 493.22 in March 2025, up from 465.33 in September 2024, showing strong growth in digital transactions.

ABOUT RBI DIGITAL PAYMENTS INDEX

• Launched By: Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
• Purpose: Measures how much digital payments have grown across India.
• Launched In: January 2021
• Base Year: March 2018 (Index value = 100)

Features

• Shows the spread and growth of digital payments in the country.
• Helps track changes and improvements over time.
• Based on five major parameters with weightage:

Parameters of the Index

1. Payment Enablers – 25%
2. Payment Infrastructure (Demand Side) – 10%
3. Payment Infrastructure (Supply Side) – 10%
4. Payment Performance – 45%
5. Consumer Centricity – 5%

Current Context : A new Harappan site has been discovered at Ratadiya Ri Dheri in the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan. It is the first Indus Valley Civilization site found in the state’s desert region.

ABOUT RATADIYA RI DHERI

• Location: Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
• Period: Belongs to the urban phase of the Indus Valley Civilization (2600–1900 BC)
• Type: A planned settlement from 4,500 years ago

Significance

• Bridges the gap between older Harappan sites in northern Rajasthan and Gujarat
• Adds to the archaeological knowledge of Harappan expansion into desert areas

OTHER INDUS VALLEY SITES IN RAJASTHAN

• Kalibangan:
  • Located in northern Rajasthan
  • Established around 2900 BC
  • Discovered by Italian Indologist Luigi Pio Tessitori
  • Known for town planning and fire altars

Current Context : Recent flash floods in Nepal’s Lende River have highlighted the rising dangers of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in the Himalayan region.

 ABOUT GLOFs (GLACIAL LAKE OUTBURST FLOODS)

Definition: A GLOF is the sudden release of water from a glacial lake formed due to melting glaciers. Example: South Lhonak GLOF in 2023 in Sikkim

Types of Glacial Lakes

1. Supraglacial Lakes:

• Formed on top of glaciers
• Melt rapidly during summer
  2. Moraine-Dammed Lakes:
• Formed at the toe of glaciers
• Held by loose rocks or ice; more prone to sudden outbursts

WHY GLOFs ARE INCREASING IN INDIA ?

• Main Triggers:
  • Around two-thirds of GLOFs are caused by ice avalanches or landslides
  • Others are due to:
    • Weak moraine dams (e.g., Chorabari GLOF in 2013, Uttarakhand)
    • Earthquakes
  • Climate Change Effects:
  • 2023 and 2024 were the hottest years globally
  • Higher temperatures = Faster glacier melting = More lake formation
  • Monitoring Challenges:
  • 7,500 lakes lie above 4,500 metres
  • Tough terrain and short summer windows make them hard to track

Celebrated globally on 1 August

• Purpose: To celebrate the invention and use of the World Wide Web, which made it possible to access information, connect with people, and learn online.
• Founder Honoured: The day honours Tim Berners-Lee, the British scientist who invented the World Wide Web in 1989.

ABOUT WORLD WIDE WEB

• The World Wide Web (WWW or Web) is a system of interlinked web pages that can be accessed using the internet. It allows us to view websites, read content, watch videos, shop, and communicate
• Invented By: Tim Berners-Lee in 1989, while working at CERN (European research centre).

Every year, 1 August is observed as World Lung Cancer Day to raise public awareness about lung cancer.

Purpose: To inform people about the dangers, causes, and early signs of lung cancer and to encourage early diagnosis and treatment.

ABOUT LUNG CANCER

• Lung cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in the lungs and form tumors.
• Main Causes: Smoking (main cause), Air pollution, Exposure to chemicals like asbestos and radon, Genetic factors
• Common Symptoms: Long-lasting cough, Chest pain, Shortness of breath, Weight loss without trying

Current Context A stampede near Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, claimed 8 lives and injured 28 others.

 ABOUT Mansa Devi Temple

• Location:
  • Situated on Bilwa Parvat (Sivalik Hills), Haridwar, Uttarakhand.
  • Also called Bilwa Tirth, one of the Panch Tirth (Five Pilgrimages) in Haridwar.
• Deities:
  • Dedicated to Goddess Mansa Devi, a form of Shakti (Goddess Durga).
  • Also houses Goddess Chandi Devi.
• History & Features:
  • Built between 1811-1815 by Maharaja Gopal Singh of Manimajra.
  • Spans over 100 acres and follows the traditional North Indian temple style.
  • A key centre of Shakti worship in northern India.

Current Context : The Indian Army conducted Exercise Divya Drishti in the high-altitude regions of East Sikkim to test advanced military technologies.

 ABOUT THE EXERCISE

• Purpose: To test new technologies for battlefield awareness, real-time surveillance, and faster decision-making.
• Participants: Troops from the Trishakti Corps (Headquarters: Sukna, near Siliguri).
• Key Highlights:
  • Use of ground-based systems and aerial platforms like drones and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to simulate realistic battle scenarios.
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled sensors connected with advanced communication systems were used.
  • Created a sensor-to-shooter link for smooth and secure data flow among command centres and soldiers.
  • Focused on checking the army’s readiness in using AI and other modern technologies in a real battlefield situation.

Current Context : The State of Food and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) Report 2025 highlights that 720 million people (8.2% of the global population) were affected by hunger in 2024.

 ABOUT SOFI REPORT

• Prepared By:
• United Nations (UN) agencies:
  • Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
  • International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
  • UNICEF (UN Children’s Fund)
  • World Food Programme (WFP)
  • World Health Organization (WHO)
• Purpose: Provides the latest data and analysis on hunger, food security and nutrition worldwide.

 Key Highlights (2025)

• Hunger is still higher than pre-pandemic levels and even higher than in 2015.
• 96 million more people are suffering from chronic hunger compared to 2015.
• 3 billion people were moderately or severely food insecure in 2024.
• Undernourished population by region (2024):
  • Asia: 323 million
  • Africa: 307 million
  • Latin America and the Caribbean: 34 million
• Although hunger levels have declined in Southeast Asia, Southern Asia, and South America, food insecurity is still persistent or increasing in other regions like Africa.