Current Context: The APAAR ID, introduced under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aims to streamline student records but has raised concerns over Aadhaar linkage, data privacy, and potential mandate issues.

Key Facts:

• Objective: Establish a “One Nation, One Student ID” system to standardize academic records and link them to DigiLocker and Academic Bank of Credits.
• Implementation: Schools upload data, while higher education and skill institutions access verified records for admissions and recruitment.

Concerns:

• Aadhaar Linkage Issues: Spelling mismatches complicating data updates.
• Mandate Concerns: CBSE’s push for 100% APAAR enrolment contradicts Supreme Court rulings against mandatory Aadhaar for basic education access.
• Data Privacy Risks: Inadequate safeguards for minors’ sensitive data; potential non-compliance with Data Protection Act, 2023 (requires free and informed consent).

• India has been invited to join the multilateral alliance, Squad, aimed at countering China’s influence in the South China Sea.

About Squad

• Formation: Established in 2024, consisting of Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States.
• Objective: Conduct joint maritime activities in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea to address strategic tensions and counter China’s growing influence.
• Expansion Plan: Plans to invite India and South Korea to enhance its scope and strategic impact.

India’s Current Position

• India is a member of Quad, an informal grouping with the US, Japan, and Australia, focusing on maintaining a strategic balance and countering China’s dominance in the broader Indo-Pacific region.
• Difference: While Quad operates at a broader, strategic level in the Indo-Pacific, Squad focuses specifically on the South China Sea region.

• Kirsty Coventry, a legendary swimmer from Zimbabwe, has been elected as the first female and first African President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
• Her historic appointment breaks barriers in the IOC’s 130-year history, representing progress and inclusivity in global sports leadership.

• World TB Day is observed annually on March 24 to raise awareness about tuberculosis (TB).
• Marks the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by Dr. Robert Koch in 1882.
• TB remains a major global health challenge despite advancements in treatment.
• Theme for 2025: “Yes! We Can End TB.”

• World Meteorological Day 2025 will be celebrated worldwide on 23 March.
• The theme for 2025 is “Closing the Early Warning Gap Together”.
• Events will be organized by National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) globally.
• A special ceremony will be held at the WMO Headquarters to mark the occasion.

• Martyr’s Day (Shaheed Diwas) is observed in India on January 30 and March 23.
• January 30 honors Mahatma Gandhi’s memory, marking the day of his assassination in 1948.
• March 23 commemorates the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru, and Sukhdev Thapar, who were hanged by the British in 1931.

• France has discovered a 46-million-ton white hydrogen reserve in the Moselle region, valued at $92 trillion.

White Hydrogen

• Naturally occurring hydrogen found in the Earth’s crust.
• Unlike gray, brown, blue, and green hydrogen, white hydrogen requires no industrial production and emits no carbon, making it an eco-friendly energy source.
• Deposits have been identified in the US, Russia, Australia, and Europe.

Significance of White Hydrogen Discovery

• Sustainable Energy Transition: Offers a clean and natural alternative to fossil fuels.
• Economic Impact: A massive untapped energy resource with trillion-dollar potential.

Global Energy Security: Could reduce dependence on fossil fuels and help achieve net-zero targets.

• NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore returned to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule after an unexpectedly extended 9-month stay in space due to Boeing’s Starliner technical issues.

Mission Details

• Launch: June 5, 2024, aboard Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner (first crewed test flight).
• Planned Duration: 8 days; extended to 286 days due to technical issues.
• Return: March 18, 2025, via SpaceX Crew Dragon.

Achievements of Sunita Williams

• Most Spacewalks by a Female Astronaut: 9 spacewalks totaling 62 hours.
• Cumulative Space Time: Over 500 days across three missions.
• First Female ISS Commander (2024-25).
• Longest Unplanned Stay in Space for NASA astronauts (286 days), providing crucial data on long-duration spaceflight.

About Boeing’s Starliner (CST-100):Crewed space capsule, partially reusable.

Modules:

• Crew Module – Accommodates astronauts.
• Service Module – Provides power, propulsion, life support.

Mission Objective:

• Test Starliner’s performance with astronauts onboard.
• Dock with ISS and return after ~10 days.

Significance

• Highlights challenges in commercial space missions.
• Provides critical data for future long-duration space travel.
• Reinforces SpaceX’s reliability over Boeing for crewed missions.

• The Ministry of Tourism is actively promoting Buddhist Tourism in India through the Swadesh Darshan (SD) Scheme and PRASHAD Scheme.

About Buddhist Circuit

• Recognized as one of the thematic circuits under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
• 1st Asian Buddhist Summit (ABS) was held in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), New Delhi to enhance religious and cultural cooperation.
• Buddhist Tourism & Development Initiatives

Swadesh Darshan Scheme (SD)

• Launched: 2014-15.
• Objective: Integrated development of thematic tourist circuits across India.
• Funding: Provides financial assistance to State Governments/UTs for infrastructure development.

PRASHAD Scheme (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive)

• Launched: 2014-15.
• Objective: Development of pilgrimage and heritage destinations to promote religious tourism.
• Focus on Buddhist Sites: Enhances connectivity, facilities, and tourism experiences at Buddhist pilgrimage sites.

Key Buddhist Sites in India Under Development

• Bodh Gaya (Bihar) – Buddha’s Enlightenment Site.
• Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh) – First Sermon.
• Kushinagar (Uttar Pradesh) – Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana.
• Rajgir & Nalanda (Bihar) – Buddhist Learning Centers.
• Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh) – Ancient Stupas & Monuments.

• The Union Cabinet has approved the Revised NPDD with an additional budget of ₹1000 crore, raising the total to ₹2790 crore (2021-26) to modernize dairy infrastructure and boost rural incomes.

Key Features

• Objective: Enhance milk procurement, processing, and quality control.
• Coverage: 18.74 lakh farmers benefited, 30,000+ jobs created.
• Budget: ₹2790 crore.

Key Components

• Component A – Infrastructure Development
• Strengthening milk chilling plants, testing labs, and dairy cooperatives, especially in NER, hilly regions & UTs.
• Establishment of two new Milk Producer Companies (MPCs).
• Component B – Dairying through Cooperatives (DTC)
• Partnership with JICA for dairy development in nine states.

Expected Outcomes

• Milk Procurement: +100.95 lakh liters/day.
• Technology Upgrade: 51,777 labs strengthened, 5,123 bulk milk coolers installed.
• Employment: 3.2 lakh jobs, 70% women beneficiaries.
• 10,000 new Dairy Cooperatives.