Current Context Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu congratulated the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) for securing first place in national competitions.

Key Highlights

• SDRF Formation: The SDRF was established under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, which provides a legal framework for disaster management and the creation of specialized response forces like SDRF across India.
• Achievement: SDRF secured first place in national-level disaster management and rescue competitions, showcasing their efficiency and training.
• Significance: This victory highlights Himachal Pradesh’s commitment to improving disaster preparedness and response capabilities.

Current Context: India has achieved significant progress in reducing poverty, with extreme poverty levels dramatically decreasing over the past decade, according to the latest World Bank report.

Key Highlights

Poverty Reduction:

• 171 million people lifted above the poverty line between 2011 and 2023.
• Extreme poverty fell from 16.2% in 2011-12 to just 2.3% in 2022-23.
• Rural vs. Urban Poverty:
• Rural Areas: Poverty dropped from 4% to 2.8%.
• Urban Areas: Poverty decreased from 7% to 1.1%.
• Rural-Urban Gap: The gap narrowed from 7 to 1.7 percentage points.

Transition to Lower-Middle-Income Status:

• India’s shift into the lower-middle-income category led to a reduction in poverty rates from 8% to 28.1% using the $3.65/day poverty line.
• Rural Poverty: Decreased from 69% to 32.5%.
• Urban Poverty: Reduced from 43.5% to 17.2%.

Impact of Major States:

• Top States: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh accounted for 65% of India’s extreme poor in 2011-12.
• By 2022-23, these states contributed to two-thirds of the decline in extreme poverty but still represent 54% of the extremely poor population.
• Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI):MPI decreased from 8% in 2005-06 to 16.4% in 2019-21, further dropping to 15.5% in 2022-23, reflecting progress beyond income poverty.
• Income Inequality Trends: Gini Index for Consumption: Improved from 8 in 2011-12 to 25.5 in 2023.

Current Context: The World Social Report 2025 highlights rising economic insecurity and inequality, with over a third of the global population living on $2.15–$6.85 per day.

Key Highlights

• Economic Vulnerability: 2.8 billion people are at risk of falling back into extreme poverty.
• Job Insecurity: 60% of people fear losing their jobs.
• Rising Inequality: Widening income gaps are harming social cohesion and trust.
• Public Distrust: Over half of the global population lacks trust in their governments, worsened by misinformation.
• Impact on SDGs: Economic divides threaten the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

About the Report

• Published by: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA).
• Co-produced with: United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER).

Current Context: President Droupadi Murmu conferred Padma Awards 2024 to 71 out of 139 selected recipients at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday. The awards — Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri — were announced on the eve of India’s 76th Republic Day.

Padma Vibhushan (4 recipients)

• Posthumous:
• Osamu Suzuki (Former Chief, Suzuki Motor Corporation)
• T. Vasudevan Nair (Malayalam writer & film director)
• Living awardees:
• D. Nageshwar Reddy (Chairman, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology)
• Subramaniam (Violinist)

Padma Bhushan (10 recipients)

• Shekhar Kapur (Film director)
• Nandamuri Balakrishna (Telugu actor)
• Pankaj Udhas (Singer)
• Sushil Kumar Modi (Former Bihar Deputy CM)
• R. Sreejesh (Former hockey player)
• Ajith Kumar (Tamil actor)
• Pankaj Patel (Chairperson, Zydus Lifesciences)
• Vinod Dham (Engineer, “Father of the Pentium”)

Padma Shri (57 recipients)

• Lakshmipathy Ramasubbaiyer (Publisher, Tamil daily Dinamalar)
• Arundhati Bhattacharya (Former Chairperson, SBI)
• Pawan Kumar Goenka (Industrialist)
• Maruti Chitampalli (Wildlife researcher, author)
• Bhimavva Shillekyathara (Puppeteer – Togalu Gombeyaata)
• K. Mahapatra (Former AIIMS-SGPGI Director)
• Jaspinder Narula Kaul (Punjabi singer)
• Special Note:30 unsung heroes were among this year’s Padma awardees, including 100-year-old Libia Lobo.

Current Context: AI Kiran, a national movement, has been launched to promote women’s leadership in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in India, as the AI market is expected to reach $17 billion by 2027.

Key Highlights

• Led by: Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to Government of India,Verix (Blockchain-powered credentialing platform)&INK Women(Initiative to promote women leadership in innovation)

Background:

• Only 33% women at junior and 19% at senior GenAI roles.
• 65% more men than women at Head/Director levels (BCG and LinkedIn report).
• India’s AI sector could add $1 trillion to the economy by 2035.

Goals:

• Empower women in Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) innovation and leadership.
• Provide mentorship, funding support, global exposure, and leadership
• Highlight over 250 women leaders in sectors like education, healthcare, sustainability, and tech.
• Collaborative Approach: Hosted on the Manthan Platform for greater reach.

Current Context: A new study in Mahuadanr Wolf Sanctuary, Jharkhand, examines the link between tribal cultural practices and wolf denning behavior.

Key Highlights

• Location: Jharkhand, within Palamau Tiger Reserve.
• Established: 1976 to conserve the Indian gray wolf.
• Habitat: Rugged grasslands, forests, and hills; home to wolves, leopards, sloth bears, hyenas, jackals, deer, and birds.
• Special Note: India’s only protected area exclusively for the Indian gray wolf.

About Indian Gray Wolf

• Scientific Name: Canis lupus.
• Former Range: Northern Hemisphere — from North America to India.
• Current Range: Restricted to remote wilderness areas in Canada, Alaska, northern USA, Europe, and Asia.
• CITES Status: General populations — Appendix II.
• Populations in India, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan — Appendix I.
• IUCN Red List: Least Concern.

Current Context: Pakistan’s Cholistan Canal Project has been suspended amid rising tensions with India and internal opposition, especially concerning the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).

Key Highlights

• Led by: Pakistan Army, backed by Green Pakistan Initiative.

Background:

• Aimed at irrigating 1.2 million acres in southern Punjab.
• Facing backlash from Sindh province due to concerns over water rights.
• Environmental risks like reduced freshwater flow to the Indus Delta and biodiversity loss.
• India’s suspension of IWT complicates water security.

Current Context: The Bilaspur district administration has awarded development rights for three islands in Gobind Sagar Lake, aiming to establish Himachal Pradesh’s first island tourism hub. The islands will be developed on the Andaman and Nicobar model to enhance tourism and employment opportunities.

Key Highlights

• Selected Islands: The islands in Jhandutta Tehsil include Jyori Patan, Dhararsani, and Bholu & Jyor.
• Development Rights Awarded: Tender process completed, with two firms emerging as highest bidders.
• Tourism Features: The islands will have hotels, restaurants, pre-wedding shoot locations, destination weddings, adventure sports, picnic spots, eco-friendly camping sites, and cultural festivals.
• Transport & Activities: Tourists and locals will be transported by boats. Nature trails, hiking routes, recreational fishing, and water sports (cruise-shaped motorboats, shikaras) will be available.
• Cultural Promotion: Cultural festivals will showcase traditional dance, drama, and music by local artists.
• Tourism Development Goal: This initiative will position Bilaspur as a leading water tourism destination in Himachal Pradesh, alongside other water sports activities at Kol Dam.

Background

• Gobind Sagar Lake: Created by the Bhakra Dam, one of the world’s highest gravity dams. The lake spans 90 km and covers 170 square km.

Current Context: Akashvani won six awards at the India Audio Summit and Awards 2025, held in Mumbai, recognizing excellence in radio and audio content production.

Key Highlights

• Top Award: Smriti Irani’s program ‘Nai Soch Nai Kahani – A Radio Journey with Smriti Irani’ won Series of the Year.

Other Awards:

• Best Late Night Show: ‘Chhayageet’
• Best Celebrity Show on Air: ‘Ujale Unki Yadon Ke’
• Best Travel Show: ‘Safarcast’
• Director General of Akashvani: Dr. Pragya Paliwal Gaur.

Current Context: The National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship, and Management (NIFTEM) hosted the second edition of SUFALAM 2025 (Start-Up Forum for Aspiring Leaders and Mentors) at its campus in Kundli, Sonipat, Haryana.

• The event, inaugurated by the Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Chirag Paswan, on 25th April 2025, focuses on strengthening India’s food processing sector through innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration.

About NIFTEM

• Established: 2012 by the Union Ministry of Food Processing, at Kundli, Sonepat, Haryana.
• Recognition: Institute of National Importance (since 2021).
• SUFALAM 2024: The first edition was held in New Delhi on 13-14 February 2024.