CURRENT CONTEXT: Recently, a strong earthquake of magnitude 6.7 struck near Tanimbar Islands in the Banda Sea, off the coast of Indonesia.

ABOUT TANIMBAR ISLANDS:

• Location: Situated in Maluku province of Indonesia, between the Banda Sea and Arafura Sea.
• Geography: Group of about 30 islands; largest island is Yamdena, featuring forested hills and swampy lowlands.
• Seismic Vulnerability: Lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, a zone of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

CURRENT CONTEXT: The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has launched the Prime Minister Professorships to promote advanced research.

ABOUT PM PROFESSORSHIPS:

• Launched By: ANRF under the Ministry of Science and Technology
• Objective: Use expertise of senior scientists in higher education and research.
• Eligibility:
  • Retired scientists
  • Overseas Indians (NRIs, Persons of Indian Origin, Overseas Citizens of India)
• Host Institutions: State universities designated under PAIR (Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research) – Category A
• Support Provided:
  • ₹30 lakh annual fellowship
  • ₹24 lakh research grant
  • ₹1 lakh overhead
  • Tenure: 5 years
• Significance: Strengthens mentorship and innovation ecosystem in Indian academia

CURRENT CONTEXT: The Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways inaugurated the 2nd BIMSTEC Ports Conclave.

 ABOUT BIMSTEC:

• Full Form: Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
• Established: 1997 (Bangkok Declaration)
• Members (7): Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand
• Headquarters: Dhaka, Bangladesh
• Purpose: Regional cooperation in trade, transport, tourism, and connectivity

ABOUT PORTS CONCLAVE:

• Event: 2nd BIMSTEC Ports Conclave
• Focus:
• Boost port-led development
• Promote cooperation in blue economy
• Strengthen maritime and logistics connectivity

❖ Significance: Enhances regional integration between South and Southeast Asia

CURRENT CONTEXT: United Nations released its 10th edition of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Report, warning that progress towards 35% of the SDG targets has either stalled or reversed.

ABOUT THE SDG REPORT 2025:

• Global Status: Out of 17 Sustainable Development Goals, 14 have measurable data, and 35% of targets under these goals have shown stagnation or regression.
• Most Affected Goals:
  • Goal 2 – Zero Hunger
  • Goal 4 – Quality Education
  • Goal 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation
  • Goal 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • Goal 10 – Reduced Inequalities For these five goals, 50–57% of targets have deteriorated.
• Other Goals with Setbacks:
  • Goal 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
  • Goal 14 – Life Below Water
  • Goal 15 – Life on Land
  • Goal 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions These goals have 40–42% of targets off-track.

KEY FINDINGS 2025:

• Goal 1 (No Poverty):9% of the population still lives in extreme poverty.
• Goal 2 (Zero Hunger): Nearly 1 in 11 people globally faced hunger in 2023.
• Goal 4 (Quality Education):
  • 110 million more children joined school since 2015
  • 272 million still out of school (2023)
• Goal 5 (Gender Equality): Women hold <33% of managerial positions.
• Goal 8 (Decent Work):
  • Unemployment fell to 5.0% in 2024 (record low)
  • 58% of global workforce still in informal sector
• Goal 10 (Reduced Inequality): Inequalities remain wide, especially in access to housing, health and education.
• Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities):
  • ~3 billion people can’t afford decent housing
  • 12 billion live in slums or informal settlements
• Goal 13 (Climate Action):
  • 2024 was the hottest year on record (1.55°C above pre-industrial levels)
• Goal 16 (Peace & Justice):
  • 50,000 people died in conflict in 2024
  • 2 million forcibly displaced globally

Observed On: 18 July every year (Mandela’s birthday)

• Purpose: Promotes peace, freedom, and equality through voluntary community service.
• Recognised by: United Nations since 2009

CURRENT CONTEXT Himachal Pradesh launched the ‘My Deed’ pilot (National Generic Document Registration System), enabling citizens to register land with just one in-person visit.

 ABOUT THE PILOT PROJECT

• Scale & Reach : Started in 10 tehsils: Bilaspur Sadar, Dalhousie, Galore, Jaisinghpur, Bhuntar, Padhar, Kumarsain, Rajgarh, Kandaghat, Bangana .
• Digital Platforms Introduced
• Online land registration: Residents can apply anytime from anywhere, needing just one visit for final signing.
• Simplified Jamabandi: Land records now in easy Hindi—Urdu, Arabic, and Farsi removed.
• e‑Roznamcha Vakyati: Digital diary for Patwari daily work logging.
• Kaarguzari: Online attendance and service reporting system.
• Online mutation & court modules: Citizens can file petitions and get summons digitally.
• Design Goals : Emphasise paperless, presence-less, cashless services for convenience and transparency.

CURRENT CONTEXT: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated India’s first Aqua Tech Park at Bagibari, Sonapur (near Guwahati), marking a milestone in sustainable aquaculture development.

 ABOUT AQUA TECH PARK (SONAPUR):

• Objective: To introduce modern water-based farming technologies and increase fish production while boosting income for local communities.
• Institutions Involved: Jointly developed by Kolong-Kapili, NABARD, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, the state Fisheries Department, and Selco Foundation.
• Key Technologies Showcased: Aquaponics, biofloc systems, ornamental fish breeding, and modern freshwater aquaculture methods.
• Impact: Fish production in Assam doubled from 2019 to 2024 (now ~4.99 lakh MT), positioning the state as India’s fourth largest in fish output. Over 10 fishery clusters (₹8 crore) have been launched.

CURRENT CONTEXT: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the 2.44 km long Sigandur Bridge over the backwaters of the Sharavati River in Sagar taluk, Shivamogga, Karnataka.

 ABOUT SIGANDUR BRIDGE:

• Also called Ambaragodlu–Kalasavalli Bridge; spans 2.44 km in length and is 16 m wide, constructed at a cost of ₹473 crore.
• India’s second‑longest inland cable‑stayed bridge, first in Karnataka.
• Reconnects Sagara town with Sigandur temple; communities had been isolated since the 1970s due to Linganamakki Dam submergence.
• Expected to improve local connectivity, commerce, and tourism.

 ABOUT SHARAVATI RIVER:

• Originates in the Western Ghats, flows northwest for about 128 km before meeting the Arabian Sea at Honavar.
• Features include rocky gorges, fertile plains, and the iconic Jog Falls (height 253 m).
• Tributaries include Nandihole, Haridravathi, Mavinahole, Hilkunji, Yennehole, Hurlihole, and Nagodihole.

CURRENT CONTEXT: The Union Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri B. L. Verma, inaugurated the 75th Pradhan Mantri Divyasha Kendra at Government Medical College, Badaun, Uttar Pradesh.

 ABOUT THE CENTER:

• Offers one‑stop services: assessment, counselling, free assistive devices, and follow‑up care under the Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances scheme and the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana.
• Operated by Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India, a Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
• Devices provided include tricycles, wheelchairs, hearing aids, walkers, artificial limbs, etc., all free of cost.
• Scheme impact: Over 1.4 lakh individuals have benefited with devices worth over ₹1.79 crore; 75 centres now operational.

CURRENT CONTEXT: NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite discovered TOI‑1846 b, a “super‑Earth” planet orbiting a red dwarf star about 154 light‑years away, detected via a repeating light dip observed each March.

 ABOUT TOI‑1846 b:

• Size & Mass: Approximately 1.8 times Earth’s radius and around 4 times its mass—fits into the “radius gap” between rocky planets and gas giants.
• Orbit & Temperature: Orbits its red dwarf every ~3.9 days; surface temperature estimated near 300 °C (565 °F), but tidal locking could create a cooler dark side with ice or shallow oceans.

Scientific Significance: Provides insights into planetary formation and atmospheric retention in the radius‐gap class. Follow‑up observations planned with MAROON‑X spectrograph in Hawaiʻi and the James Webb Space Telescope.