Current Context The Sundarbans Tiger Reserve (STR) in West Bengal is set to become India’s second-largest tiger sanctuary.

• A proposal to expand the reserve by 1,100 square kilometres is under consideration by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
• Once approved, the area will increase from 2,585.89 sq km to 3,629.57 sq km.

 ABOUT THE PROPOSAL

• Forest Ranges to be Added:
  • Raidighi
  • Matla
  • Ramganga (all in South 24-Parganas district of West Bengal)
• Significance: After expansion, the STR will be second followed by Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve in Andhra Pradeshin terms of area.

Current Context : India performed well at the World University Games 2025 held in Germany and stood at the 20th position.

Performance Details:

• India won a total of 12 medals:
  • 2 Gold medals
  • 5 Silver medals
  • 5 Bronze medals
• Indian athletes won medals in sports such as athletics, archery, tennis, and badminton.

Highlights:

• On the final day, India won:
  • Silver medal by Ankita Dhyani in the women’s 3,000 metres steeplechase event.
  • Bronze medal in the men’s 4×100 metres relay event.
  • Bronze medal in the women’s race walk team event.

Global Rankings:

• Japan was ranked 1st with 34 gold medals.
• China stood 2nd with 30 gold medals.
• United States of America came 3rd with 28 gold medals.

Current Context : Turkey has launched its most powerful non-nuclear bomb called Gazap (meaning Wrath in Turkish) at the International Defence Industry Fair 2025 in Istanbul.

 ABOUT GAZAP BOMB

• Weight and Design:
  • The bomb weighs 970 kilograms and uses a special thermobaric (vacuum) explosion technique.
  • It can release more than 10 fragments per metre, which is much higher than ordinary bombs.
• Destructive Power:
  • When dropped, it creates very high temperatures (up to 3,000 degree Celsius) and powerful shock waves that can melt steel and concrete.
  • It can destroy everything within a radius of 1 kilometre.
• Deployment:
  • Currently, the bomb can be used from F-16 fighter jets and F-4 Phantom aircraft of the Turkish Air Force.
  • Turkey is planning to make it compatible with drones in the future.

Significance:

• The Gazap bomb is considered one of the most dangerous conventional (non-nuclear) weapons in the world and shows Turkey’s growing defence technology capabilities.

Current Context: Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia launched the Sanchar Saathi mobile application in Hindi and 21 regional languages.

 ABOUT SANCHAR SAATHI MOBILE APPLICATION

• The application was first introduced in January 2025 and has already been downloaded more than 46 lakh times.
• Purpose: To protect mobile phone users from cyber fraud in the telecom sector.
• Key Features:
  • Users can report suspicious calls and messages that may be fake or fraudulent.
  • Facility to trace and block lost or stolen mobile phones so that they cannot be misused.
  • Users can check if someone has taken unauthorized mobile connections using their identity documents.

Current Context : Indian states of Punjab and Haryana observe 31 July every year as Shaheed Udham Singh Martyrdom Day.

 ABOUT SHAHEED UDHAM SINGH KAMBOJ

• Early Life:
  • Born Sher Singh in Sunam, Punjab on 26 December 1899. Initially took the revolutionary name Ram Mohammad Singh Azad, symbolizing unity across faiths under Indian freedom.
• Role in Independence Struggle:
  • Kamboj was an Indian revolutionary best known for assassinating Michael O’Dwyer in March 1940 to avenge the Jallianwala Bagh massacre
• Martyrdom:
  • Tried and sentenced to death by hanging at Pentonville Prison in London on 31 July 1940
  • During his trial, he undertook a 42-day hunger strike and made a powerful statement about his fight against colonial rule.
• Legacy:
  • Revered as Shaheed‑i‑Azam Udham Singh, meaning “The Great Martyr”.
  • India’s Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru later honoured his sacrifice: “I salute Shaheed‑i‑Azam Udham Singh with reverence, who kissed the noose so we may be free.”
  • The Udham Singh Nagar district in Uttarakhand is named after him.

General Studies Paper-2

Context: The National Education Policy 2020, marked the first comprehensive education policy completed five years since adoption.

Key Features of NEP 2020

• Structural Reform: Shift from the 10+2 system to a 5+3+3+4 curricular structure – covering ages 3-18 across foundational, preparatory, middle, and secondary stages.
• Foundational Literacy & Numeracy: Emphasis on basic reading and arithmetic skills through initiatives like NIPUN Bharat for all children by Grade 3.
• Mother Tongue & Multilingualism: Promotes instruction in the mother tongue/regional language up to at least Grade 5 (preferably till Grade 8); advances the three-language formula.
• Holistic & Multidisciplinary Education: Multiple entry/exit options in higher education; flexible subject choices across streams.
• Vocational & Skill Education: Integration of vocational courses and internships from an early stage, with at least 50% learners exposed to vocational education by 2025.
• Technology Integration: National Digital Education Architecture (NDEAR), DIKSHA, and PM e-VIDYA as digital platforms for inclusive and scalable education delivery.
• Higher Education Reforms: Push for multidisciplinary institutions, Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), National Research Foundation, and increased autonomy for colleges/universities.
• Universal Access & GER Targets: Universal school access by 2030; gross enrolment ratio (GER) in higher education to 50% by 2035.

Achievements & Impacts

• School Education: Over 6,400 PM SHRI schools upgraded as model schools in 27 states/UTs.
  • NIPUN Bharat has improved foundational learning outcomes, ASER 2024 shows remarkable progress: 23.4% of Class III students could read Grade II text in 2024, up from 16.3% in 2022.
  • DIKSHA platform has surpassed 5 billion learning sessions.
• Higher Education: Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) portal has onboarded 1,667 institutions and 32 crore Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) IDs have been created.
  • Launch of Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERUs).
• Equity, Access & Inclusion: Steps taken to mainstream out-of-school children, reduce dropout rates, and improve participation of girls and disadvantaged groups.
  • Higher education enrollment has risen significantly to 4.46 crore students.
  • Enrollment of SC, ST, Muslim, and North-East (NE) students has seen substantial growth, ranging from 36–75%.

Challenges

• Centre–State Federal Tensions: Three-language formula rejected by Tamil Nadu, Kerala citing linguistic imposition.
  • Opposition to schemes like PM SHRI Schools over centralisation fears.
• Resource Constraints: Significant financial investment is needed for infrastructure, teacher training, and digital access, especially in rural/remote areas.
• Digital Divide: Inequities in internet/device access risk exacerbating socio-economic gaps, especially among marginalized populations.
• Language Policy: Concerns over the practicality of widespread mother tongue/vernacular mediums, especially in diverse linguistic settings and for higher education.
• Privatization & Equity: Fears that increasing privatization may hamper affordability and equal access to quality education.

Way Ahead

• Strengthen Centre–State Coordination: Build contextual MoUs with states to localise NEP. Create state-level resource groups for capacity building.
• Bridging Implementation Gaps: Accelerated capacity-building, state support, and regular review of progress are critical.
• Digital and Physical Infrastructure: Investment in devices, internet connectivity, and school infrastructure must continue.
• Inclusive Pedagogy & Curriculum: Regional needs and languages must be addressed; Special focus on SEDGs and inclusive strategies.

Current Context : The United Nations awarded the Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize 2025 to Brenda Reynolds (Canada) and Kennedy Odede (Kenya) for their exceptional service to humanity and community development.

 ABOUT THE PRIZE

• Founded: Established in 2014–15 as a quinquennial award given by the UN Secretary-General to one male and one female from different regions.
• Recognition Criteria: Honorees demonstrate life-long dedication to reconciliation, social cohesion, and community service, inspired by Nelson Mandela’s legacy.
• Prize Details: Winners receive a plaque with citation and Mandela quote; no monetary prize. UN staff are ineligible.
• Indian Participation: No Indian has received the award to date.

Current Context : The 10^th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting occurred on 26 May 2025 in Brasilia, Brazil, led by Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, reflecting India’s active role in cultural diplomacy.

KEY OUTCOMES

• Brasilia Declaration: Ministers formally adopted this declaration highlighting four strategic focus areas:

1. Creative economy & AI in culture
2. Culture & climate in the Post‑2030 Development Agenda
3. Return of cultural assets
4. BRICS Cultural Festivals & Alliances

• New BRICS Cultural Platform: Aimed at boosting visitor exchange, joint projects, creative industries, and artist mobility using New Development Bank support.

About BRICS

• Founded in 2009 as BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China); South Africa joined in 2011, making it BRICS.
• Established as an economic forum for emerging market coordination and reform of global institutions

Current Context : The Government has reviewed the status of setting up all seven Zonal Cultural Centres, aligning with its plan to strengthen regional cultural promotion.

ABOUT ZONAL CULTURAL CENTRES

• Purpose: Founded as autonomous bodies under the Ministry of Culture to preserve and celebrate India’s folk, tribal, and endangered art forms.
• Focus Areas: Engaging youth and showcasing the country’s cultural diversity across regions.
• Headquarter Locations of 7 ZCCs:
  • North Zone: Patiala (Punjab)
  • North-Central Zone: Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh)
  • East Zone: Kolkata (West Bengal)
  • North-East Zone: Dimapur (Nagaland)
  • South Zone: Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu)
  • South-Central Zone: Nagpur (Maharashtra)
  • West Zone: Udaipur (Rajasthan)

Current Context : NEP 2020 completes five years on 29 July 2025.

 ABOUT NEP 2020

• Educational Reforms & Achievements
  • Introduced 5+3+3+4 structure supporting experiential and multidisciplinary learning.
  • Integrated vocational education in mainstream schooling: 50% coverage goal by 2025.
  • NIPUN Bharat reached 2 crore students across 8.9 lakh schools.
  • Over 4 lakh teachers trained under NISHTHA
  • 72% schools now have internet access; digital tools like DIKSHA, PM e-Vidya, and AI bots
  • CUET (from 2022) now key to UG admissions.