Current Context: Singapore Changi Airport has been named World’s Best Airport 2025 by Skytrax, marking its 13th win.

• Known for innovative features like early check-in (up to 48 hours before flight), Changi allows passengers to treat the airport as part of their travel experience.

Key Highlights:

• Doha’s Hamad International Airport ranked 2nd, also receiving Best Airport Shopping and Best Airport in the Middle East.
• Tokyo Haneda Airport ranked 3rd, winning awards for World’s Cleanest Airport (Major Airport), Best Domestic Airport, and Best Accessible Facilities.

India’s Recognition:

• Delhi International Airport: Best Airport in India & South Asia.
• Hyderabad International Airport: Best Airport Staff Service.
• Bangalore International Airport: Best Regional Airport in India & South Asia.
• Goa’s Manohar International Airport: Best in under 5 million passengers category.

Current Context: On April 10, 2025, Mauritius became the first African nation to sign the Country Partnership Framework (CPF) with the International Solar Alliance (ISA), following Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Cuba.

Key Highlights:

• Objective: Facilitate structured collaboration between ISA and Mauritius on solar energy initiatives, aligning with national priorities.​
• Duration: Three years, renewable upon mutual consent.​

Focus Areas:

• Development of a solar power roadmap.
• Creation of regulatory frameworks to support the solar sector.
• Implementation of innovative solar technologies, including floating solar and rooftop solar projects.
• Establishment of a Solar Technology Application Resource Centre (STAR-C) in Mauritius.​

About ISA:

• Establishment: Launched in 2015 by India and France during ​
• Objective: Promote solar energy as a sustainable solution for energy access and climate change mitigation.​
• Membership: Over 100 countries have signed the ISA Framework Agreement, with more than 90 having ratified it.​
• Headquarters: Gurugram, India.​

Current Context: The Thar Desert has seen a 38% annual increase in greening over the past two decades due to monsoon rainfall and agricultural expansion.

Key Highlights:

• Location: Spans 200,000 sq km across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana in India, and Sindh, Punjab in Pakistan.

Geography & Climate:

• Bordered by Indus River plain (west), Punjab Plain (north/northeast), Aravalli Range (southeast), and Rann of Kachchh (south).
• Subtropical desert climate with high pressure and subsidence.

Soil Composition:

• Includes Desert, Red Desertic, Sierozems, Regosols, Saline, and Lithosols.

Biodiversity:

• Home to species like Blue Bull (Nilgai), Blackbuck, Great Indian Bustard (GIB), and Indian Gazelle (Chinkara).
• Houses Desert National Park in Rajasthan, one of India’s largest national parks.

Mineral Resources:

• Rich in lignite coal, gypsum, and salt.
• Includes significant saltwater lakes, such as

Current Context: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced major initiatives to transform Himachal Pradesh into the tourism capital of India with an investment of ₹2,400 crore.

Key Developments

• 200 Hotels (ranging from 3-star to 7-star) and wellness centres will be set up.
• Introduction of water sports activities at Gobind Sagar Lake to boost adventure tourism:
• Cruise, houseboats, jet skis, motorboats, and water scooters will be available.
• Establishment of new tourist destinations combining:Religious, eco, water, nature, and health tourism.

Major projects for Bilaspur:

• 110 KW solar power plant at the DC office.
• Livelihood centre and space labs.
• Shree Naina Devi Temple facilities to be upgraded with an investment of ₹100 crore.
• A ₹200 crore convention centre will be built in Dharamshala.

Current Context: The central government has approved over 11,000 Anganwadi-cum-crèches under the Palna scheme, only 1,761 have become operational nationwide.

• The Palna Scheme, launched in 2022, provides quality crèche (day-care) facilities to support working mothers, under Mission Shakti.

Background & Structure

• Sub-scheme: Samarthya (of Mission Shakti)
• Ministry:Implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD).
• Replaces the National Crèche Scheme
• Aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth

Funding Pattern

• General States: 60:40 (Centre:State)
• North-Eastern/Special Category States: 90:10
• Union Territories without legislature: 100% Centre-funded

Key Objectives

• Provide crèche services for children aged 6 months to 6 years
• Ensure health, nutrition, cognitive development
• Comply with Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 provisions for workplace crèches
• Support women’s workforce participation
• Integrated Services:Day-care, early learning & stimulation,Pre-school education Health monitoring&Supplementary nutrition via Mission Poshan 0

Types of Crèches

• Standalone Crèches: Independent facilities
• Anganwadi-cum-Crèches (AWCCs): Combine Anganwadi and crèche roles

Current Status (as of March 2025)

• 11,395 AWCCs approved
• Target: Establish 17,000 new AWCCs by 2024-25

Current Context: The Union Education Ministry announced a 9.5% increase in the material cost under the centrally sponsored PM POSHAN (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman) scheme, adding a ₹954 crore burden.

About

• Formerly Mid-Day Meal Scheme, renamed in Sept 2021.
• A centrally sponsored scheme providing hot cooked meals to students from Balvatika to Class VIII in govt & govt-aided schools.

Objectives

• Improve nutritional status of children.
• Promote school attendance among disadvantaged sections.
• Provide support during summer vacations in drought/disaster-hit areas.

Financial Update (2025-26)

• Material cost hiked by 9.5%, adding ₹954 crore burden.
• Revised cost/student/day:
• Balvatika & Primary: ₹6.78 (↑ from ₹6.19)
• Upper Primary: ₹10.17 (↑ from ₹9.29)

Monitoring & Data

• Inflation tracked by Labour Bureau using CPI-Rural Labourers (CPI-RL).
• Data from 600 villages across 20 states.
• Scale & Coverage:Reaches 11.20 crore students in 10.36 lakh schools.

Current Context: The recently released World Bank report emphasizes significant gaps in global social protection coverage.

Key Highlights

• Global Gaps: 1.6 billion people lack any form of social protection.
• LMICs (Low- and Middle-Income Countries): Nearly 2 billion people inadequately covered.
• LICs (Low-Income Countries): 80% have no access to social protection.
• LMICs: Over 30% of the population inadequately covered.
• Sub-Saharan Africa: Over 70% without any protection.
• UMICs (Upper-Middle-Income Countries): Only 11% excluded, but due to population size, large numbers still uncovered.
• Progress (2010–2022): Coverage in LICs & LMICs improved from 41% to 51%, mainly via cash transfers.
• Remaining Gap: 75% of people in LICs still lack coverage.
• Future Projections: At the current pace, full coverage of the extreme poor may take until 2043.
• Climate Impact: Climate change could push an additional 130 million people into extreme poverty.
• Risk to SDGs: Delay threatens achievement of Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Financing Gaps:

• Global average spending:3% of GDP.
• LICs spend only8% of GDP on social protection.
• Policy Suggestion: Reallocate fossil fuel and agriculture subsidies to fund social protection.

Current Context:  Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO) unveiled BM-04, a next-gen Short-Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM), at a defence expo in Hyderabad.

Key Features

• Length: 10.2 m | Diameter: 1.2 m | Weight: 11,500 kg
• Range: Up to 1,500 km | Warhead: 500 kg (conventional)
• Circular Error Probability (CEP): 30 metres → high accuracy
• Propulsion: Two-stage solid fuel
• Re-entry vehicle: Hypersonic – evades air defences

Canisterised Launch System

• Rapid deployment via canister-based system
• Carried on indigenous 6-wheel Transport Erector Launcher (TEL)
• Pre-mated warhead → reduced launch time

Strategic Significance

• Supports India’s plan for an Integrated Rocket Force (IRF)
• Boosts counterforce capabilities — targeting enemy launchers & command centres
• Deep deployment possible within Indian territory for survivability

Current Context: DRDO conducted successful release trials of the ‘Gaurav’ Long-Range Glide Bomb (LRGB) from Sukhoi-30MKI (April 8–10, 2025).

Key Features

• Range: 30–150 km (trial hit at ~100 km)
• Weight: ~1,000 kg | Length: 4 m | Wingspan: 3.4 m
• Guidance: Inertial Navigation System (INS) + Satellite navigation
• Purpose: Neutralises targets beyond anti-aircraft range
• Design & Development:Developed by DRDO with support fromARDE (Armament Research & Development Establishment),RCI (Research Centre Imarat)&ITR (Integrated Test Range)
• Configurable for different warhead types and operational needs

Technological Advancements

• Features digital control systems for improved precision
• Designed for high accuracy & survivability in contested airspace
• Private sector collaboration with:Adani Defence Systems and Technologies,Bharat Forge&Various MSMEs

Current Context: The Ministry of Finance has notified the amalgamation of 26 Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) across 10 states and 1 union territory, effective May 1, 2025, reducing the number of RRBs to 28.

About

• Initiative by: Department of Financial Services
• Origin: Based on Vyas Committee (2005) recommendations
• Aim: Consolidate all RRBs within a state into a single RRB

Objectives:

• Improve operational efficiency and governance
• Rationalize costs, optimize human and technological resources
• Eliminate inter-sponsor bank competition within a state

About Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)

• Established: 1975 under the Regional Rural Banks Act, 1976
• Based on: Narasimham Committee Report (1975)
• Purpose: Bridge rural credit gaps and support institutional rural lending
• Regulated by: Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
• Supervised by: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)
• Ownership Structure:Government of India – 50%,State Government – 15%&Sponsor Bank – 35%