Fifteen Indian fishermen from Kanniyakumari, Tamil Nadu, were reportedly detained by the British Navy near Diego Garcia Island for allegedly crossing into restricted waters.

• Diego Garcia is the largest and southernmost island of the Chagos Archipelago, located in the central Indian Ocean.
• It is part of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), established in 1965 when the UK separated it from Mauritius.
• The island hosts a significant U.S. military base, serving strategic roles in surveillance, refueling, and operations across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
• The island was discovered by Portuguese explorers in the early 1500s and remained uninhabited until the French began using it as a leper colony and for coconut plantations in the late 18th century.

The Union Minister has approved 56 new watershed development projects under the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana 2.0 (PMKSY-WDC 2.0).

• Implemented by the Department of Land Resources (DoLR) under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD).
• Projects will cover 10 states: Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim.
• Each project will cover around 5,000 hectares, with smaller areas in hilly regions.
• PMKSY-WDC 2.0 is a continuation of the Watershed Development Component of PMKSY 1.0, implemented from 2021 to 2026.
• The Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) started in 2009-10 and was merged with PMKSY as WDC in 2015-16.

India developed the world’s most powerful hydrogen-powered train engine with a capacity of 1,200 horsepower, using indigenous technology.

• The first trial of this engine will occur on the Jind-Sonipat route in Haryana.
• Only four countries—Germany, France, Sweden, and China—have hydrogen train engines, producing 500-600 horsepower.
• Hydrogen is abundant and clean, emitting only water as a byproduct when used in fuel cells.
• Types of hydrogen include green (produced via renewable energy), blue (from natural gas with carbon capture), grey (from natural gas without carbon capture), and pink (via nuclear-powered electrolysis).
• India’s Green Hydrogen Policy (2022) aims to make it a leading global producer and supplier of green hydrogen.
• The National Green Hydrogen Mission (2023) targets establishing India as a global hub for green hydrogen production and export.
• The SIGHT Programme offers incentives for manufacturing electrolysers and green hydrogen production.

The Centre has issued operational guidelines for implementing the PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

• The guidelines cover components such as Central Financial Assistance and the Payment Security Mechanism.
• The scheme includes two models for installing rooftop solar (RTS) plants: Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) Model and Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) Model.
• The PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana was approved by the Government of India on February 29, 2024.
• It aims to increase solar rooftop capacity and empower households to generate their own electricity.
• The scheme has a financial outlay of ₹75,021 crore and will be implemented until March 31, 2027.
• Residential consumers are eligible for a subsidy of up to 40% to reduce the upfront cost of rooftop solar installations.
• The scheme is managed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush  inaugurated the National Turmeric Board in New Delhi.

• The headquarters of the Board has been set up at
• The NTB is an executive body, not a statutory body.
• Members include representatives from the Ministry of AYUSH, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, and Department of Commerce.
• India is the largest producer, consumer, and exporter of turmeric.
• India contributes 70% to global production and 62% to global trade.
• Major turmeric-producing states are Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
• Varieties with GI tags include Erode Turmeric (Tamil Nadu), Lakadong Turmeric (Meghalaya), and Kandhamal Haldi (Odisha).

Himachal Pradesh has been recognized as the ‘Best Performer’ in the States’ Startup Ranking 2022 among states with populations less than 1 crore.

• The state has 144 DPIIT-certified startups in sectors like agritech, tourism, and IT.
• Startups are driving job creation, innovation, and economic transformation.
• The state offers seed funding up to ₹25 lakh, subsidized incubation spaces, and R&D grants.
• Under PM Micro Food Processing Scheme, ₹56 crore was provided to 972 cases.
• ₹31 crore was allocated to 13,427 women self-help groups as seed capital.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recently celebrated its 150th foundation day. During the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the ‘Vision-2047’ document, outlining ambitious goals for weather forecasting and disaster management.

• IMD was established on January 15, 1875, as the national meteorological service of India, responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting, and seismology.
• IMD’s Vision-2047 aims for 100% accuracy in three-day weather forecasts and 90% accuracy in five-day forecasts.
• It focuses on enhancing severe weather detection at the village level and aims for zero fatalities from such events by 2047.
• IMD is headquartered in New Delhi with regional offices in Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Nagpur, Guwahati, and New Delhi.
• It is operated under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

The Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal-Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (PKC-ERCP) is a significant initiative aimed at enhancing water availability in 23 districts of Rajasthan.

• It will provide water for irrigation, drinking, and industrial use, benefiting 3.45 crore people.
• The Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal-Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (PKC-ERCP) is a river-linking initiative designed to divert surplus water from the Parbati, Newaj, and Kalisindh rivers to the Chambal River.
• The project aims to provide water for domestic use, optimize water resources within the Chambal basin, and benefit regions in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
• The Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP), proposed in 2019, facilitates intra-basin water transfer within the Chambal basin by utilizing surplus monsoon water from the Kalisindh, Parvati, Mej, and Chakan sub-basins.
• The project will submerge 408.86 sq km of land, including 37 sq km of the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, home to 57 tigers.
• A 39-meter-high, 1.6 km long dam will be built across the Banas River near Doongri, 30 km from Sawai Madhopur.
• Construction may disrupt the north-south animal dispersal route within the reserve.

Madhya Pradesh has launched the PARTH Yojana (Police Army Recruitment Training & Hunar) to prepare youth for careers in the Indian Army, police, and paramilitary forces.

• The PARTH Yojana aims to instill patriotism, enhance employability, and reduce unemployment among the youth of Madhya Pradesh by preparing them for competitive examinations in defense and law enforcement sectors.
• The scheme focuses on enhancing both physical and mental preparedness of candidates.
• Training components include physical fitness preparation, written examination coaching (covering general knowledge, mathematics, and English), and personality development guidance.
• Training centers will be established at divisional levels across the state, managed by district sports and youth welfare officers.
• The scheme is self-financed, with trainees paying a fixed monthly fee determined by the Sports Trainer Welfare Committee.
• The MPYP (Madhya Pradesh Youth Portal) has been launched to connect youth with skill development programs, career guidance, and employment opportunities.

Bharat Cleantech Manufacturing Platform was launched by Union Minister Piyush Goyal at the Bharat Climate Forum 2025.

• It aims to enhance cleantech value chains in solar, wind, hydrogen, and battery storage sectors.
• The platform facilitates collaboration, co-innovation, and resource sharing among Indian firms.
• It provides a platform for financing cleantech initiatives, supporting investment in the sector.
• Emphasis is placed on achieving self-sustaining growth without reliance on government subsidies.
• Supports India’s target of achieving 500 GW of clean energy by 2030.