Current Context: Recently, the Government of India marked the 125^th birth anniversary of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, acknowledging his role in Indian politics, education, and national unity.

 ABOUT DR. MOOKERJEE:

• Born in 1901, Calcutta.
• Youngest ever Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta (1934).
• Former Minister for Industry and Supply in Nehru’s interim government.
• Resigned due to ideological differences over Article 370.
• Founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh (1951), ideological forerunner of BJP.
• Known as the “Lion of Parliament.”
• Key initiatives: Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, industrialisation efforts.

Current Context: IISc launched BHARAT—“Biomarkers of Healthy Aging, Resilience, Adversity, and Transitions”under its Longevity India program.

 About the Bharat Study

• Objective: Create the Bharat Baseline—India-specific biomarker database tracking genomic, proteomic, metabolic, environmental, and lifestyle markers.
• Scope: Multiparametric assessments, advanced clinical checks, multi-omics, and lifestyle integration; addresses diagnostic mismatch with Western standards.
• Outcomes: Aims to improve age-related disease interventions, refine public health diagnostics, and influence national standards for vitamin/mineral markers.

Current Context: Heavy monsoon rainfall in Rudraprayag (Uttarakhand) has caused a sudden rise in the Alaknanda River, triggering localized flood alerts.

 About Alaknanda River

• Source & Course: Originates from Satopanth and Bhagirath Kharak glaciers; flows ~190 km before merging with Bhagirathi at Devprayag to form the Ganges.
• Panch Prayag (Five Confluences): Vishnuprayag (Dhauliganga), Nandprayag, Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag (Mandakini), Devprayag.
• Pilgrimage Significance: Fertile bed for Char Dham Yatra—sites include Badrinath, Hemkund Sahib, Joshimath.
• Hydro Infrastructure: Projects include Alaknanda (Badrinath), Lata Tapovan, Devsari Dam, Nandprayag Langasu, Vishnugad Pipalkoti.

Current Context: The Green Climate Fund announced approval of over USD 120 million for climate resilience projects in Ghana, Maldives, and Mauritania, via UNEP-developed programmes.

 About GCF

• Established: At COP16 (Cancún, 2010); world’s largest climate-specific fund under UNFCCC .
• Headquarters: Songdo (Incheon), South Korea.
• Mandate: Provide equal funding (~50% mitigation, 50% adaptation), with at least half adaptation funds to SIDS, LDCs, Africa .

 New funding details

• Ghana: US $70 million (US $63 m grant) to strengthen agro-ecosystem and rural livelihoods across 8 districts, aiding ~120 communities.
• Maldives & Mauritania: Nature-based solutions, climate-resilient agriculture, early warning systems, improved water security—benefitting 5+ million people.

Current Context: The World Health Organization launched its ambitious “3 by 35” Initiative, calling on countries to raise the real prices of tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks by at least 50% by 2035, aiming to reduce non‑communicable diseases (NCDs) and generate US $1 trillion in public revenue over the next decade.

 About “3 BY 35”

• Purpose: Use health taxes to curb harmful usage and fund health systems ― saves lives, reduces NCD burden, and boosts government revenue.
• Targets: A minimum 50% price increase on each product category (tobacco, alcohol, sugary drinks) through excise or health tax instruments.
• Actions:
  1. Mobilisation: Engaging heads of state, ministries, civil society for political will.
  2. Support: Technical aid, evidence-based policy assistance, and global learning.
  3. Partnerships: Advocacy coalitions, cross-sector collaboration, reinforcing sustainable health financing.

Current Context: According to the World Bank’s Spring 2025 report, India’s Gini Index is 25.5, placing it as the 4th most equal society globally (after Slovakia, Slovenia, and Belarus)

 About GINI INDEX

• Definition: Measures income/wealth inequality on a scale from 0 (perfect equality) to 100 (perfect inequality).
• Calculation: Based on Lorenz curve—cumulative income vs population percentiles.
• India’s Improvement: Score improved from 28.8 in 2011 to 25.5 in 2022.

Relevance & concerns

• Reflects reduced extreme poverty—falling to 2.3% (under $2.15/day).
• India compares favorably against China (35.7) and high-inequality G7 economies.
• Note: This measures consumption inequality; income inequality may remain high as per alternate data sources

Current Context: Over 1,000 earthquakes occurred around Japan’s Tokara Islands in the past two weeks, indicating intense seismic activity.

About Tokara Islands

• Location: Archipelago south of Kyushu, north of Amami—part of Toshima-mura municipality.
• Islands: Seven inhabited (e.g., Nakanoshima with Mt Otake, 979 m) and five uninhabited.
• Geography & Climate: Covers ~160 km; climate is warm, frost-free, with ~2,700 mm annual rainfall.

Seismic Importance: Located in one of the most active tectonic zones in the world.

Current Context: The Election Commission of India is commencing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across Bihar, relying on Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

 About SIR

• Definition: A house-to-house enrollment exercise by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to update/upkeep voter lists.
• Objective: Ensure inclusion of all eligible citizens and removal of ineligible entries.
• Methodology: Direct verification of residence, age, identity, and citizenship status. Regular updates can also be driven by voter requests.
• Significance : Enhances voter list accuracy, reinforcing quality of democratic processes.

Current Context: PM Modi attended the 17ᵗʰ BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (6–7 July)

Key Highlights:

• Global Governance Reform: PM Modi called for urgent reforms of UN Security Council, IMF, World Bank, and WTO to reflect contemporary challenges and amplify the voice of the Global South.
• Peace & Security: India condemned terrorism, specifically referencing the Pahalgam attack (April 2025), and emphasized zero tolerance, no exceptions; also promoted dialogue and diplomacy amid global conflicts.
• Multilateralism & AI: Advocated for:
  1. Demand-driven funding by New Development Bank.
  2. Creation of a Science & Research repository for Global South.
  3. Strengthened critical mineral supply chains.
  4. Responsible AI governance balanced with innovation — “AI for All” ethos.
• Outcome: Adoption of the “Rio de Janeiro Declaration”, reaffirming commitment to inclusive Global South cooperation.
• India assumes the BRICS Chairmanship for 2026 and will host next year’s summit.

About BRICS (Expanded Group)

• Established: June 16, 2009 (Brazil, Russia, India, China); South Africa joined in 2010.
• 2024–25 Expansion:
  • Full members added: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE (Jan 2024); Indonesia (Jan 2025).
  • Partner countries now include Vietnam, Nigeria, and others under the BRICS+ model.
• Group Size & Influence: 10 full members represent ~44% of world GDP and 50% of global population

Current Context: PM Narendra Modi was awarded the Order of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago—the country’s highest civilian honour—as part of India’s first PM visit to Trinidad & Tobago since 1999.

 About The Award

• Order of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago (ORTT): Highest national honour, single-class decoration established in 2008.
• Recognition Reasons: Acknowledged PM Modi’s global leadership, strong diaspora ties (>1/3 population of Indian origin), and Covid‑19 humanitarian efforts.
• Diplomatic Announcements:
• Indian support: 2,000 laptops for education; agro-machinery donation ($1M); healthcare collaboration; prosthetic camps; UPI, Jan Aushadhi adoption; OCI scheme to 6th generation.
• Trinidad initiatives: Joining CDRI, Global Biofuel Alliance, and exploring disaster resilience cooperation.