Current Context : The Union Cabinet has approved an outlay of ₹6,520 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26 (15th Finance Commission Cycle).

ABOUT PRADHAN MANTRI KISAN SAMPADA YOJANA (PMKSY)

• Launched By: Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries
• Type of Scheme: Central Sector Scheme
• Started In: 2017-18
• Objective:
  • To build modern infrastructure for food processing
  • To improve supply chain management from farm to market
  • To reduce food wastage and increase farmer income

Current Context : The President of India has appointed Additional Judges in various High Courts as per the constitutional provisions to manage temporary workload increases.

ABOUT ADDITIONAL JUDGES

• Appointed Under: Article 224 of the Constitution of India
• Purpose of Appointment:
  • To handle temporary increase in workload in High Courts
  • To clear backlogs or arrears of cases
• Term of Office:
  • Appointed for a maximum period of 2 years
• Retirement Age: 62 years
• Appointment Process:
  • Appointed by the President of India
  • In consultation with the Chief Justice of India
• Distribution of Judges in High Courts:
• The sanctioned strength is divided into:
  • 75% Permanent Judges
  • 25% Additional Judges

Current Context : Lt. General Pushpendra Singh became the Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS) on 1 August 2025, replacing Lt. General N. S. Raja Subramani.

ABOUT LT. GENERAL PUSHPIENDRA SINGH

• Commissioned into the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) in 1987
• Served in major military operations:
  • Operation Pawan, Operation Meghdoot, Operation Orchid, Operation Rakshak
• Previously served as Director General of Operational Logistics and Strategic Movement
• Honoured with: Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), Sena Medal Bar

Current Context : Dr A. Rajarajan took over as Director of VSSC in Thiruvananthapuram on 1 August 2025, after the retirement of Dr S. Unnikrishnan Nair.

ABOUT DR. A. RAJARAJAN

• An experienced ISRO scientist with nearly 40 years in India’s space sector
• Known as an expert in composite materials
• Played a key role in launching Vikram-S, India’s first privately built rocket
• Contributed to major missions like:
  • Gaganyaan (India’s human space mission)
  • Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)

Current Context : Punjab Assembly passed the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2025 to lift the ban on traditional rural sports.

ABOUT THE REVIVAL

• Heritage Sports Reintroduced
• The following traditional sports have been allowed again:
  • Bullock cart races, Dog races, Horse races, Pigeon flying , Other games from the Kila Raipur Rural Olympics
• Animal Welfare Assurances
• Strict rules will ensure no cruelty to animals:
  • Veterinary health checks
  • Proper food and handling
  • No beating or harsh methods
  • Bulls to be guided only through clapping or gentle voice commands
• Cultural Significance
• These sports are deeply connected to Punjab’s rural heritage
• Even Guru Nanak Dev Ji used bullocks for farming in Kartarpur Sahib
• The Kila Raipur Rural Olympics will return in 2026
  • Expected participation: 150–200 bull pairs from Punjab and nearby states
  • Punjabi diaspora also expected to join

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