CURRENT CONTEXT : During India Energy Storage Week 2025 in New Delhi, Telangana was awarded the India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) Industry Excellence Award 2025 under the State Leadership – Battery Manufacturing category.

 ABOUT TELANGANA’S BATTERY STRATEGY:

• Policy Framework: Telangana EV & Energy Storage Policy and Renewable Energy Policy support BESS, solar charging, 100% stamp-duty exemption, and capital subsidies (20%, max ₹30 crore).
• Infrastructure Development: State has set up special industrial zones targeting battery cell manufacturing and EV component production, forming a localized supply chain.
• Clean Energy Push: Focus on advanced energy storage systems—battery manufacturing, EV assembly, and ESS—to align with national renewable energy targets .
• Outcome: Major investments secured, facility expansion underway, and Telangana recognized as an emerging energy storage hub in India.

CURRENT CONTEXT : The ASI will soon begin conservation efforts at Tabo Monastery, addressing structural damage and weather-worn paintings, after caretakers appealed for urgent intervention .

 ABOUT TABO MONASTERY:

• Located in Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh; founded in 996 CE by Tibetan translator Rinchen Zangpo under King Yeshe-Ö’s patronage.
• Features nine temples, four stupas, 23 chortens, housed within fortified mud‑brick walls.
• Contains rare artifacts: frescoes, murals, thankas, echoing Indo‑Tibetan Buddhist art.
• ASI registered site; survived 1975 earthquake and renovated in 1980s.
• Restoration plan includes tendering to install retractable roofs and enhance drainage systems, crucial due to cloudburst threats.

CURRENT CONTEXT : The ISSF selected New Delhi to host the ISSF World Cup in 2027 and the Junior World Championship in 2028, confirming India’s place as a global shooting sports hub.

 ABOUT THE EVENTS:

• Host City: New Delhi’s Karni Singh Shooting Range.
• Events: Rifle, Pistol & Shotgun competitions.

 About ISSF (International Shooting Sport Federation)

• Founded: 17 July 1907 (as International Shooting Union, renamed ISSF in 1998)
• Headquarters: Munich, Germany (since Feb 1980; address: Widenmayerstrasse 16, Munich 80538)
• Membership: Represents 150–163 member federations from ~149 countries

CURRENT CONTEXT: As per July 2025 FIFA rankings, India dropped six places to 133, the lowest in nine years, following losses to Thailand (0–2) and Hong Kong (0–1).

 ABOUT THE RANKING:

• Points fell from 1,132.03 to 1,113.22.
• Last low: 135 in December 2016.
• Now 24th among AFC’s 46 nations; Asian leader is Japan (17^th).

About FIFA – Fédération Internationale de Football Association

• Founded: 21 May 1904 in Paris by seven European nations led by Robert Guérin
• Headquarters: FIFA House, Zurichberg, Zurich, Switzerland, built 2004–07 with two floors above ground and five underground.
• Membership: 211 national associations (close to UN member count)
• Regional Confederations: Six—UEFA, CAF, AFC, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, OFC.

CURRENT CONTEXT: Assam cabinet launched the Gajah Mitra scheme to reduce rising human–elephant conflicts. Between 2000–2023, 1,400+ human and 1,200+ elephant deaths occurred in the state.

 ABOUT GAJAH MITRA:

• Scope: Covers 80 high-risk villages across eight districts: Goalpara, Udalguri, Nagaon, Baksa, Sonitpur, Golaghat, Jorhat & Biswanath.
• Habitat creation: Planting bamboo and Napier grass, elephant-preferred foods, to discourage village intrusions.
• Rapid-response teams: Eight-person local groups active during harvesting season for six months to safely redirect elephants.
• Support partnerships: Community teams aid forest officials; includes efforts like solar fencing and corridor restoration.

CURRENT CONTEXT : Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar announced in the Legislative Assembly that Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav (10-day public Ganesh festival) is officially recognized as the State Festival of Maharashtra, with government funding and support.

 ABOUT SARVAJANIK GANESHOTSAV:

• Origins: Instituted by Lokmanya Tilak in 1893 to promote social unity and nationalism.
• Cultural Impact:
  • One of the largest public festivals in India with over 3,700 mandals in Pune (2024.
  • Expected boost in tourism, local business, and international promotion .

CURRENT CONTEXT : The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in partnership with UNICEF India, launched TALASH—a digital platform for the holistic growth of students in Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) across India.

 ABOUT TALASH:

• Full form: Tribal Aptitude, Life Skills & Self-Esteem Hub.
• Reach: Targeting ~1.38 lakh students in EMRSs across 28 states and 8 UTs.
• Platform Features:
  • Psychometric Assessments (inspired by NCERT’s Tamanna) offering aptitude-based Career Cards.
  • Career Counselling for guiding students towards suitable professional paths.
  • Life Skills & Self-Esteem Modules focusing on resilience, communication, and emotional well-being.
  • Teacher E-Learning Portal: So far, 189 teachers from 75 EMRSs trained, enabling peer-led expansion.
• National Rollout: To be implemented across all EMRSs by end-2025, with phased pilots underway.
• Objectives: Foster self-awareness, informed career choice, life skills, and mentor readiness—aligned with NEP 2020.

CURRENT CONTEXT: Google launched the AMED API—an AI- and satellite-based tool offering detailed crop and field activity data across Indian farms

 ABOUT AMED API:

• Successor to Google’s ALU API; uses AI to map crop type, season, field area, and up to 3 years of historical agricultural data.
• Updates every 2 weeks, enabling near real-time monitoring.
• Aims to support agri-tech startups, rural lending systems, farm resource management, yield forecasting, and climate risk mitigation

Celebrated annually on 12 July

Aim : To mark the invention of the first mass-production paper bag machine by Francis Wolle in 1852—a subtle but important milestone in packaging history.

CURRENT CONTEXT: NITI Aayog, in consultation with various ministries, finalised the framework for a Battery Passport for EV batteries, aimed at improving safety, quality, traceability, and bolstering exports.

ABOUT BATTERY PASSPORT:

• Definition: A QR-coded digital identity for every EV battery, similar to Aadhaar.
• Includes Data On:
• Origin, composition, performance, carbon footprint, and end-of-life disposal.
• Features:
• Enhances safety by preventing mix of incompatible cells
• Promotes circular economy and compliance with global standards
• Aims to boost EV exports by ensuring quality and traceability