CURRENT CONTEXT : Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) recently launched Operation MED MAX (2025) to crack down on a global pharmaceutical drug trafficking syndicate that was using digital platforms and cryptocurrency.

 ABOUT OPERATION MED MAX

• Launched by: Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), India
• Objective: To dismantle a transnational syndicate smuggling controlled medicines
• Scale: Operation spanned across 4 continents and 10+ countries (USA, Australia, UAE, etc.)
• Trigger: Seizure of 3.7 kg Tramadol tablets from two B.Pharm graduates in Delhi (May 2025)
• Techniques Used by Syndicate:
  • Encrypted platforms (Telegram, dark web)
  • Drop shipping model
  • Payments via cryptocurrency, PayPal, Western Union
  • A full-scale call centre operated in Udupi, Karnataka
• Key Seizures: 50+ consignments, including to the USA, Australia, Estonia, Switzerland
• Collaborators: US DEA, Australian Police (Zolpidem pill factory busted)

CURRENT CONTEXT : Recently, the National Statistical Office (NSO) released nutritional data based on Household Consumption Expenditure Surveys (2022–23 & 2023–24).

Relevant data of Report

 AVERAGE DAILY CALORIE INTAKE (per capita)

• Rural Areas:
• 2233 kcal (2022–23)
• 2212 kcal (2023–24)
• Urban Areas:
• 2250 kcal (2022–23)
• 2240 kcal (2023–24)

PROTEIN SOURCES

• Cereals are still primary protein sources but their share declined:
• ~14% drop in rural areas
• ~12% drop in urban areas
• Rise in consumption of eggs, fish, milk, and meat offset the drop.

LINK WITH INCOME – MPCE IMPACT

• Higher MPCE (Monthly Per Capita Expenditure) → Higher Calorie Intake.
• Reflects economic nutrition correlation.

NARROWING INEQUALITY GAP

• 2023–24 Calorie Intake by economic groups:
• Rural Bottom 5%: 1688 kcal
• Rural Top 5%: 2941 kcal
• Urban Bottom 5%: 1696 kcal
• Urban Top 5%: 3092 kcal
• Shows a narrowing gap between rich and poor in calorie intake since 2009–10.

CURRENT CONTEXT : Recently, the PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan Dissemination Portal was launched to provide public access to data on student performance across States and UTs.

ABOUT PARAKH

• Full form : Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development.
• Established in 2023 under NCERT as an independent national assessment centre.
• Part of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020

OBJECTIVES

• Establish norms, standards, and guidelines for assessments.
• Strengthen student evaluation, school board equivalence, and holistic learning.

PARAKH PORTAL FUNCTIONS

• Provides open access to data from Achievement Surveys and assessments.
• Enables States/UTs to identify learning gaps and create targeted action plans.
• Supports creation of Holistic Progress Cards.

CURRENT CONTEXT : On 3rd July 2025, Russia became the first country to formally recognise the Taliban government in Afghanistan since its 2021 takeover.

 ABOUT THE RECOGNITION

• Russia removed the Taliban from its list of banned organisations.
• Accepted the credentials of Gul Hassan Hassan, Taliban-appointed Afghan ambassador.
• Aimed at practical engagement and regional stability.

GEOPOLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE

• Recognition may shift international dynamics around Afghanistan.
• China supported the move; Western nations remain cautious due to human rights violations and lack of women’s rights.

BACKGROUND

• Taliban regained power in August 2021 post US–NATO withdrawal.
• Most countries withheld recognition citing:
• Suppression of women’s rights
• Lack of inclusivity
• Human rights concerns

Current Context: The Union Government approved a ₹1,894 crore (approx. US $221.25 million) funding package for the PM MITRA Park in Virudhunagar. The park is expected to be operational by September 2026.

About PM MITRA PARK – VIRUDHUNAGAR

• Site & Scale: 1,052‑acre Greenfield park in E. Kumaralingapuram, with world-class plug‑and‑play infrastructure.
• Investment & Employment: Projected to attract ₹10,000 crore, create ~1 lakh jobs, and support technical textile production.

ABOUT PM MITRA SCHEME

• Launch: Announced in Union Budget 2021–22; 7 mega integrated textile parks approved .
• Funding: ₹4,445 crore central funding (2021–28); includes Capital Development Support & Incentives Support .
• Objective : To strengthen the Indian textile industry by enabling scale of operations, reducing logistics costs, attracting investment, generating employment, and boosting export potential.
• Infrastructure: Equipped with plug‑and‑play units, common effluent treatment, housing, testing centres .
• Employment & Investment: Per park—~100,000 direct + 200,000 indirect jobs; aims to attract FDI, reduce logistics costs .

CURRENT CONTEXT : 4th July 2025 marked the 123rd Punyatithi (Death Anniversary) of Swami Vivekananda, the revered spiritual leader and nationalist thinker.

 ABOUT SWAMI VIVEKANANDA

• Born as Narendranath Datta on 12 January 1863 in Calcutta.
• Disciple of Ramakrishna Paramhansa who transformed his spiritual outlook.
• Took the name Vivekananda in 1893 on advice of Maharaja Ajit Singh of Khetri.
• Attained Mahasamadhi on 4 July 1902 at Belur Math, West Bengal.

CONTRIBUTIONS

• Spread Vedanta, Hinduism & Yoga in the West.
• Advocated universal brotherhood, service to humanity, and spiritual nationalism.
• Inspired Indian freedom fighters with the slogan:
  “Arise, Awake and stop not till the goal is reached.”

CHICAGO SPEECH – 1893

• Delivered a speech at the World’s Parliament of Religions, Chicago.
• Opened with “Sisters and brothers of America” – received standing ovation.
• Introduced Vedantic philosophy and Hindu thought to the West.

PATHS TO LIBERATION

• Proposed four Yogic paths to attain Moksha:
• Raja Yoga: Meditation and control of the mind
• Karma Yoga: Selfless service
• Jnana Yoga: Path of knowledge
• Bhakti Yoga: Path of devotion

RAMAKRISHNA MISSION

• Founded in 1897 to spread his Guru’s message.
• Focus areas: Education, healthcare, relief work, and spirituality.
• Motto: “Atmano Mokshartham Jagat Hitaya Cha” (For one’s own salvation and for the welfare of the world)

Current Context: On 2 July 2025, during his historic visit—the first by an Indian PM in over 30 years—PM Modi was conferred the Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana by President Mahama.

About the Honour

• Award Details: Officer rank within the Order of the Star of Ghana, one of the nation’s highest civilian honours; insignia includes a silver medallion with a tricolour ribbon (red, yellow, green) .
• Reason for Award: Recognises PM Modi’s “distinguished statesmanship and influential global leadership”; dedicated to India’s youth, cultural diversity, and growing India–Ghana friendship.
• Diplomatic Steps Announced: India pledged to:
• Double ITEC & ICCR scholarships for Ghana, establish a Skill Development Centre.
• Support Ghana’s ‘Feed Ghana’ programme, extend UPI, Jan Aushadhi, and health/vaccine collaboration.
• Target to double bilateral trade in 5 years.

Current Context: As of mid‑2025, Reliance Jio has surpassed US-based T‑Mobile to become the world’s largest Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) provider, based on subscriber count.

About Jio’s Fwa Milestone

• Subscriber count: Over 88 million FWA users in May 2025, compared to T‑Mobile’s 6.85 million in March 2025.
• Recent growth: Added ~1.03 million subscribers in May; previously 5.85 million users reported mid‑May.
• Network coverage: Jio’s 5G network now covers over 98% of India’s population, fueling rapid FWA expansion even in remote areas.

Current Context: Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil launched C‑FLOOD on 2 July 2025 in New Delhi. It provides two-day inundation forecasts at village level.

ABOUT C‑FLOOD

• Agencies Involved: Developed by C-DAC Pune, Central Water Commission (CWC), and NRSC—under the National Hydrology Project and the National Supercomputing Mission.
• Coverage: Initial focus on the Mahanadi, Godavari, and Tapi basins, with plans to include other river systems.
• Features & Functionality:
• Offers 2-day advance flood forecasts through maps and water-level predictions up to village-level.
• Integrates national and regional flood models into a unified decision‑support system.
• Based on 2-D hydrodynamic modelling using HPC at C‑DAC Pune and NRSC models.
• Government Directives:
  • Portal to be integrated with the National Disaster Management Emergency Response (NDEM)
  • Emphasis on satellite validation, ground-truthing, widespread awareness, and continuous technical enhancement

Current Context: India hosted the first-ever ASEAN–India Cruise Dialogue aboard the MV Empress at Chennai Port on 30 June 2025, continuing in Mamallapuram. Delegates from all ten ASEAN nations plus Timor-Leste participated.

About ASEAN‑INDIA cruise dialogue

• Host & Location: Inaugurated by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal (MoPSW) in Chennai and Mamallapuram.
• Attendance: Delegates from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste.
• Objectives:
• Strengthen maritime cooperation and cruise connectivity under Sagar Mala, aiming for 1 million cruise passengers by 2029.
• Develop an integrated cruise network between Indian and ASEAN ports with real‑time tracking, modern terminals, and regulatory alignment.
• Promote sustainable tourism, cultural exchange, and economic growth via the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean.

About ASEAN

• Established: 8 August 1967 in Bangkok by Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand; total of 10 member states.
• Headquarters: ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia.
• Objective: Promote peace, regional cooperation, economic growth, social progress, cultural development .

Population & Economy: ~600 million people; 4th largest global economy with a combined GDP (PPP) > US $3 trillion.