Current Context: On 5 June 2025 (World Environment Day), the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched the Waste Picker Enumeration App under the NAMASTE scheme to profile and formalize waste pickers nationwide.

ABOUT:

• Scheme Launch: 2023–24 as a Central Sector Scheme; expanded June 2024 to include waste pickers.
• Objective: Formalise and rehabilitate sewer/septic-tank workers and waste pickers.
• App Features: Geo-tagging, demographic profiling, and integration with NSKFDC for benefits.
• Implementing Bodies: MoSJE (Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment), MoHUA (Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs), and NSKFDC (National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation).
• Link to SDG 11: Supports sustainable cities by dignifying informal waste workers.

Current Context: Recently, Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) signed an MoU to begin Rafale fuselage production in Hyderabad—making India the first country outside France to manufacture this critical aircraft component.

ABOUT:

• Fuselage Role: Central body housing cockpit, fuel, avionics, and payload.
• Production: Starts FY 2028 at TASL Hyderabad, ramping to 2 fuselages/month.
• Strategic Fit: Advances Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India in defence.
• IAF & Navy: IAF operates 36 Rafales; Indian Navy to induct 26 Marine jets by 2030.

Current Context: India was elected to the Presidency of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences for the 2025–2028 term, with Mr V. Srinivas, Secretary of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, winning 61.7 percent of the votes at the Extraordinary General Assembly in Brussels.

About IIAS:

• Founded: 1930 as an independent international association for the scientific study of public administration.
• Headquarters: Brussels, Kingdom of Belgium.
• Mandate: Advances research and best practices in public administration; collaborates with the United Nations Committee of Experts on Public Administration.
• Membership: 31 Member States; 20 National Sections; 15 Academic Research Centres.
• Key Members: India, Japan, People’s Republic of China, Germany, Italy, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Qatar.
• India’s Role: Member since 1998 via Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG).
• First time India will hold the IIAS Presidency in its nearly 100-year history.

Celebrated annually on 8 June.

• Theme : “Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us”
• Aim : to mobilise action against ocean pollution and protect marine ecosystems.
• Established: By the UN in 2008 to recognise oceans’ critical role.
• Coverage: Oceans cover 71% of Earth and produce over 50% of atmospheric oxygen.
• Link to SDG 14: Promotes conservation and sustainable use of marine resources.

• Observed annually on 8 June.
• Aim : to raise awareness about brain tumours, promote early diagnosis, and advocate for increased research.
• Origin: Started in 2000 by the German Brain Tumour Association.
• Link to SDG 3: Emphasises universal health coverage and research for non-communicable diseases.

Current Context: Recently, Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana in Hamirpur, focusing on increasing green cover by planting fruit-bearing trees on degraded forest lands while generating rural employment.

About

• Objective: Plantation of fruit-bearing trees on degraded forest land
• Duration: 5 years
• Implementation: Through SHGs, Mahila/Yuvak Mandals; mobile app tracking
• Women Empowerment: Women to be appointed as ‘Van Mitras’
• Corporate Participation:
  • Ambuja Group: 25 ha
  • Adani Foundation & UltraTech Cement: 10 ha each
• Alignment: Linked with Green Adoption Scheme

Current Context : At the VIII USISPF Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., Kumar Mangalam Birla was honoured with the prestigious Global Leadership Award for his role in expanding U.S. investments, job creation, and deepening U.S.–India economic ties.

About Award

• Presented By:S.–India Strategic Partnership Forum
• Criteria: Cross-border investment, innovation, job creation
• Other 2025 Awardees: Arvind Krishna (IBM), Toshiaki Higashihara (Hitachi)
• About Kumar Mangalam Birla: Chairman, Aditya Birla Group; has driven ~$15 billion in U.S. investments across manufacturing, metals, and telecom, generating substantial U.S. employment.

Current Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Chenab Rail Bridge—the world’s highest railway arch bridge at 359 m above the Chenab River—completing the 272 km Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) and finally integrating the Kashmir Valley with India’s national railway network.

About Bridge 

• Height & Length:
  • Deck height: 359 m above the riverbed—taller than the Eiffel Tower (~324 m).
  • Total length: 1,315 m; main arch span: 467 m—the largest arch span in India.
• Design & Materials:
  • Type: Steel–concrete deck arch bridge.
  • Steel Usage: ~28,000 tonnes; Concrete: ~66,000 m³ for piers, arch ribs, and deck.
  • Prefabrication: 93 deck segments assembled on-site using specialized jigs.

About Chenab River

• Originates in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh.
• Flows southwest through the Kishtwar region, then enters Jammu and Kashmir before merging with the Jhelum River.

• Geographical Significance:
  • Cuts through the Greater Himalayan range, creating deep gorges—one of which is spanned by the Chenab Rail Bridge.
  • Waters utilized for irrigation, fisheries, and several hydropower projects (e.g., Salal, Baglihar).

Current Context The Archaeological Survey of India and Raigad Development Authority joint excavations unearthed a ‘yantraraj’ (astrolabe) at Raigad Fort—Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s 17th-century capital.

About

• Location: Raigad district, Maharashtra; Western Ghats
• Height: 4,449 ft above sea level
• History:
  • Built by Chandraraoji More, captured by Shivaji in 1656
  • Declared Maratha capital in 1674; Shivaji’s coronation site
  • British looted and destroyed it in 1818
• Architectural Layout:
  • Defensive Design: Multiple ramparts, bastions (e.g., Khoob Ladha Burj, Hirkani Buruj), and gates (e.g., Chitta Darwaja, Maha Darwaja).
  • Key Structures:
    • Ganga Sagar Lake: Artificial reservoir within the fort.
    • Ranivasa: Queen’s quarters (six rooms).
    • Nagarkhana Darwaja: Gate facing the royal durbar hall.
  • Nickname: “Gibraltar of the East” for its strategic impregnable position.

Current Context : Recently, the union government has launched the ‘Clean Plant Programme’ at India’s first International Agri Hackathon (Pune) to provide disease-free planting material for grapes, oranges, and pomegranates from Maharashtra.

ABOUT

• Objective: Ensure availability of certified, disease-free saplings to boost horticultural productivity and reduce crop losses.
• Implementing Agencies: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (NAPFA) via the National Horticulture Board (NHB) and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

Key Components:

• 9 Clean Plant Centres nationwide
• 3 in Maharashtra: Pune (grapes), Nagpur (oranges), Solapur (pomegranates)
• Subsidy: ₹3 crore (large nurseries), ₹1.5 crore (medium)
• Output Target: 8 crore saplings per year
• International Ties: Collaboration with Israel and Netherlands for tech transfer