Current Context: President has re-appointed R. Venkataramani as the Attorney General of India for a term of two years.

ABOUT Attorney General of India

• Constitutional Provision: Article 76.
• Qualification: Must be eligible for appointment as a Supreme Court Judge.
• Functions:
  • Advise Government of India on legal matters.
  • Perform legal duties assigned by the President.
  • Discharge functions under the Constitution or law.
• Right of Audience: Can appear in all courts of India.
• Term of Office: Holds office during the pleasure of the President.
• Remuneration: Decided by the President.
• Parliamentary Rights (Article 88): Can participate and speak in proceedings of either House, but cannot vote.

Observed  every year on 29^th September

• Purpose: To inform people about heart disease and stroke, the world’s leading causes of death, and promote heart-healthy lifestyles.
• Theme : Don’t Miss a Beat.

Observed  every year on  28^th September

Purpose: To emphasize the right to seek, receive, and impart information for all individuals.

Observed  every year on Last Sunday of September (In 2025, it falls on 28th September)

• Aim : To highlight the importance of rivers, generate awareness, and encourage efforts to conserve and protect rivers and water resources globally.
• Theme : Waterways of Life

Observed  every year on 28th September every year

• Aim : To raise awareness about rabies prevention and highlight progress in combating the disease.
• Theme : Act Now: You, Me, Community
• About Rabies : It is a deadly viral disease that affects the central nervous system in humans and other mammals, almost always leading to death once symptoms appear if untreated.

General Studies Paper 2

In News

• The Government of India has launched the ‘National Initiative on Water Security,’ making water conservation a top national priority and introducing mandatory minimum spending on water-related works under MGNREGA.

Key Features of the Initiative

• Fund Allocation Mandates:
  • ‘Over-exploited’/‘Dark zone’ blocks: 65% of MGNREGA funds must be spent on water-related works (rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge).
  • ‘Semi-critical’ blocks: 40% of funds for water conservation.
• All other blocks: 30% minimum for such activities.
• Budgetary Focus: Out of the ₹88,000 crore annual MGNREGA budget (2025–26), a fixed share is now earmarked for water security.
• Groundwater Assessment Basis: Fund distribution and block categorisation are based on the Dynamic Ground Water Resources Assessment Report (2024), as classified by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB).

What Qualifies as Water Conservation Works?

• Construction of check dams, farm ponds, community tanks, and percolation tanks.
• Desilting, renovation of traditional water bodies, groundwater recharge pits, soak wells.
• Building irrigation channels, watershed management structures, afforestation and plantation works to increase water retention.

Rationale

• Groundwater depletion: India is the world’s largest user of groundwater (~25% of global extraction).
• Rural dependence: 80% of rural drinking water and nearly two-thirds of irrigation rely on groundwater.
• Climate stress: Erratic monsoons and rising drought frequency exacerbate water scarcity.
• PM’s directive: Following the Prime Minister’s instruction to earmark funds specifically for water, this step institutionalises water conservation as a national rural priority.

Significance

• Water Security: Strengthens groundwater recharge and rainwater harvesting.
• Rural Livelihoods: Ensures sustainable employment + improved farm productivity.
• Women Empowerment: Rising participation in MGNREGA aligns with SDG 5.
• Climate Adaptation: Improves resilience of rural communities against droughts and floods.
• Synergy with National Missions: Supports Jal Jeevan Mission, Catch the Rain, Amrit Sarovar, and Doubling Farmers’ Income goals.

Current Context : India has allowed export of Second Generation (2G) ethanol with mandatory licence and feedstock certification.

ABOUT 2G Ethanol

• Also Known As: Cellulosic ethanol or advanced biofuel.
• Produced From: Plant fibre (cellulose) – e.g., rice & wheat straw, cane trash, corn cobs, stover.

Other Generations of Ethanol

• 1G Ethanol: Made from food crops like rice, wheat, barley, corn.
• 3G Ethanol: Derived from aquatic biomass like algae.
• 4G Ethanol: From engineered plants and microorganisms.

Current Context : The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the 4th issue of Children in India 2025 Report covering education, health, nutrition, and child protection.

Key Highlights

• Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): Reduced from 44 (2011) to 25 (2023).
• Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR): Reduced from 30 (2022) to 29 (2023).
• Birth Rate (2023): 18.4 per 1,000 population (Rural – 20.3, Urban – 14.9).
• Dropout Rates (2022–23 to 2024–25):
  • Preparatory: 8.7% → 2.3%
  • Middle: 8.1% → 3.5%
  • Secondary: 13.8% → 8.2%
• Child Marriage (Women 20–24 married before 18): 26.8% (2015–16) → 23.3% (2019–21).
• Adoptions: Increased from 3,927 (2017–18) to 4,515 (2024–25).
  • In-country: 4,155
  • Inter-country: 360–653 annually
• Gender Parity Index: Achieved parity across all stages of education in 2024–25.

Current Context : China has introduced a new visa category called the K Visa, effective from October 1, 2025, to attract foreign science and technology talent.

ABOUT K Visa

• Purpose: To bring in youth and professionals in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics).
• Eligibility: Graduates with bachelor’s degree or higher from reputed universities/research institutions; professionals in STEM teaching & research.
• Features:
• Greater flexibility in entry and validity period.
• Broader scope (education, science, technology, culture, entrepreneurship, business).
• No requirement of local enterprise sponsorship.

Current Context: The President of India will confer the prestigious National Geoscience Awards 2024 at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, New Delhi.

ABOUT National Geoscience Awards

• Established: 1966 by the Ministry of Mines.
• Former Name: Known as National Mineral Awards until 2009.
• Objective: To honour individuals and teams for extraordinary achievements in geosciences such as mineral discovery, mining technology, mineral beneficiation, and applied geosciences.
• Eligibility: Any Indian citizen with significant contribution in geosciences.
• Award Categories:
  • National Geoscience Award for Lifetime Achievement
  • National Geoscience Award
  • National Young Geoscientist Award
• 2024 Awards: Total 12 awards (09 individual + 03 team).