Current Context: During Papua New Guinea’s 50th Independence Day celebrations, the Indian Navy Band performed at the grand Military Tattoo in Port Moresby.

ABOUT PAPUA NEW GUINEA

• Location: Island nation in Oceania, southwestern Pacific Ocean.
• Neighbours: Indonesia (west), Australia (south), Solomon Islands (south-east).
• Capital: Port Moresby.

GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES

• Terrain: Mountainous, tropical rainforests, prone to earthquakes and tsunamis.
• Highest Point: Mount Wilhelm (4,509 m).
• Rivers: Sepik River, Fly River.
• Volcanoes: Rabaul Caldera (most active).
• Biodiversity: Birds of paradise, tree kangaroos, Queen Alexandra’s birdwing butterfly.

GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE

• Type: Constitutional monarchy, member of Commonwealth.
• Head of State: British Monarch (represented by Governor-General).
• Head of Government: Prime Minister.

Current Context: The President of Sri Lanka recently visited Katchatheevu Island, sparking renewed political debates in India for its return.

ABOUT KATCHATHEEVU ISLAND

• Location: Tiny, uninhabited island in Palk Strait.
  • Northeast of Tamil Nadu’s Rameswaram.
  • Southwest of Sri Lanka’s Jaffna.
• Features:
  • Barren, no drinking water or sanitation.
  • Only structure: Anthony’s Catholic Shrine.

POLITICAL DISPUTE

• Dispute: Between India and Sri Lanka.
• 1974 Agreement:
  • International Maritime Boundary Line placed Katchatheevu with Sri Lanka.
  • India gained Wadge Bank (near Kanniyakumari) in return.

Current Context: Government will implement the next-generation GST reform from 22 September 2025 with a simplified two-rate structure and digital filing.

ABOUT GST REFORM 2025

• New Structure: Two main GST slabs – 5% and 18%.
• New High Rate: 40% GST on luxury and sin goods (pan masala, cigarettes, etc.).
• Ease of Filing: Faster refunds, digital filing, and reduced disputes.

BENEFITS OF REFORMS

• Social Protection: Exemption on GST for insurance and essential medicines.
• Lower Prices, Higher Demand: Reduced rates increase consumption and savings.
• Support for MSMEs: Lower input costs for cement, auto parts, handicrafts.
• Ease of Living: Simpler structure → fewer disputes and easier compliance.
• Wider Tax Net: Simpler rates promote compliance and boost revenue.

KEY CHALLENGES

• Revenue Loss: ~₹48,000 crore on FY23–24 base.
• Removal of Input Tax Credit (ITC): On healthcare and insurance products may cause cascading effect.
• Uncertainty over National Anti-Profiteering Authority: Its revival not clarified.

Current Context: An Assam-based foundation developed the Vulture Network Portal, India’s first such digital platform for vulture conservation.

ABOUT VULTURE NETWORK PORTAL

• Type: Cloud-based portal.
• Initiated By: We Foundation India with support from Assam Bird Monitoring Network and other organisations.
• Purpose:
  • Create a network for vulture conservation.
  • Compile scientific data and outreach materials.
  • Spread awareness in local languages (starting with Assamese).
• Focus Areas:
  • Threats like carcass poisoning, harmful veterinary drugs (diclofenac), and negative social perception.
  • Free downloadable resources for awareness campaigns.

VULTURES FOUND IN INDIA

• Slender-billed vulture (~800 left), White-rumped vulture, Red-headed vulture, Himalayan griffon, Indian vulture, Cinereous vulture, Eurasian griffon, Egyptian vulture, Bearded vulture.

Current Context: The Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs launched Angikaar 2025 Campaign under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban 2.0 (PMAY-U 2.0).

ABOUT ANGIKAAR 2025

• Nature: Last-mile outreach campaign.
• Purpose: To create awareness about PMAY-U 2.0 and fast-track verification of applications.
• Duration: Two months across 5,000+ Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
• Focus: Vulnerable sections of society.
• Method: Door-to-door awareness and community mobilisation.

ABOUT PMAY-URBAN 2.0

• Objective: Provide all-weather pucca houses to eligible urban beneficiaries.
• Government Assistance: Up to ₹2.5 lakh per unit.
• Significance: Major flagship programme for affordable housing.

Current Context: Ukraine has recently unveiled a new long-range cruise missile named Flamingo (FP-5).

ABOUT FLAMINGO MISSILE

• Developer: Ukraine’s Fire Point Defense Company.
• Type: Long-range ground-launched cruise missile.
• Category: First indigenously produced “heavy” missile system of Ukraine.

FEATURES

• Range: 3,000 km.
• Warhead: 1,150 kg.
• Maximum Takeoff Weight: 6,000 kg.
• Wingspan: About 6 meters.
• Engine: Turbofan engine.
• Speed: Up to 900 km/h.
• Navigation: Inertial system + GPS.
• Special Ability:
  • Resistant to electronic warfare.
  • Secure GPS module with CRPA antennas.
  • Heavy weight + high terminal velocity → deeper penetration before explosion, increasing destructive power.

Current Context: After heavy rains, Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) opened 62 gates of Ajwa Reservoir to release water into the Vishwamitri River.

ABOUT VISHWAMITRI RIVER

• Location: Gujarat; about 200 km long.
• Origin: Western & southern slopes of Pavagadh Hills.
• Course: Flows through Vadodara → joins Dhadar & Jambuva → drains into Arabian Sea (Gulf of Khambhat).
• Features: Meandering river with ravines supporting diverse ecosystem.

FLORA & FAUNA

• Species: Porcupine, civet, jungle cat, cobras, pythons, monitor lizards.
• Home to Indian Mugger Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris).
• 2020 Survey: ~300 muggers found within Vadodara city limits.

Current Context: Millions across Asia and Europe are expected to witness a total lunar eclipse turning the moon blood red.

ABOUT BLOOD MOON

• A Blood Moon is when the Moon appears red/orange during a total lunar eclipse.
• Process: Earth blocks sunlight; atmosphere scatters shorter blue light, allowing red light to reach the Moon (Rayleigh scattering).
• Appearance: Can look red, orange, or copper depending on atmosphere and light pollution.

RAYLEIGH SCATTERING

• Explained by Lord Rayleigh (19th century).
• Light scatters inversely with wavelength.
• Reason sky is blue: Blue light has shortest wavelength and scatters more.

Current Context: RBI approved the reappointment of R Gandhi as Yes Bank’s Non-Executive Chairman.

ABOUT R. GANDHI

• Position: Part-time Non-Executive Chairman of Yes Bank.
• New Term: 20 September 2025 – 13 May 2027.
• Authority: Appointment cleared by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• Significance: Ensures leadership stability at Yes Bank.

Current Context: India recently secured Singapore’s support for its interest in patrolling the Malacca Strait.

ABOUT STRAIT OF MALACCA

• Location: Connects the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) and the South China Sea (Pacific Ocean).
• Boundaries: Lies between Sumatra (Indonesia) to the west and Malaysia & southern Thailand to the east.
• History: Named after the Malacca Sultanate (ruled 1400–1511).
• Importance: One of the busiest shipping lanes in the world; links Indian and Pacific Oceans.
• Control: Jointly patrolled by Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

 SIGNIFICANCE

• Around 60% of India’s seaborne trade and almost all LNG imports pass through it.
• A key choke point for Chinese shipping, giving it strategic importance.

 MALACCA STRAITS PATROLS (MSP)

Launched in 2004 by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore (Thailand joined later).

• Malacca Straits Sea Patrol – Joint naval patrols.
• Eyes-in-the-Sky – Combined air surveillance.
• Intelligence Exchange Group – Real-time data sharing.