Current Context: APEDA launched BHARATI initiative to strengthen India’s agri-food exports.

ABOUT BHARATI

• Full Form: Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement and Incubation for Export Enablement
• Launched by: Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)
• Target: Empower 100 agri-food and agri-tech startups
• Vision: Achieve USD 50 billion agri-food exports by 2030

 FOCUS AREAS

• High-value exports: GI-tagged products, organic foods, superfoods, livestock, AYUSH products
• Tech integration: AI-based quality control, blockchain traceability, IoT-enabled cold chains, agri-fintech
• Startup support: 3-month acceleration program covering product development, compliance, and market access.

Current Context: New Delhi will host the BWF Badminton World Championships 2026, announced at the closing ceremony of the 2025 Paris edition.

ABOUT THE EVENT

• Host: New Delhi, India
• Last hosted in India: 2009 (Hyderabad)
• Last hosted in Asia: 2018 (Nanjing, China)
• Significance:
  • Enhances India’s sporting profile
  • Boosts sports tourism and global engagement
  • Celebrates success of Indian badminton stars

Current Context: India unveiled its first fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessor Vikram 3201 at the Semicon India 2025 conference.

 ABOUT VIKRAM 3201

• Developed by: Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC)
• Fabricated at: ISRO’s Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), Chandigarh
• Predecessor: Vikram 1601 (16-bit, used in launch vehicles since 2009)
• Purpose: Specially designed for rockets and satellites (not consumer devices)
• Functions:
  • Navigation
  • Control and mission management in launch vehicles
  • Real-time calculations to ensure rocket stability and course accuracy

KEY FEATURES

• Military-grade design: Works in –55°C to +125°C, resistant to vibration, heat, radiation
• Upgrades over Vikram 1601:
  • Supports 64-bit floating-point operations
  • Compatible with Ada programming language
  • On-chip 1553B bus interfaces for secure communication
• Significance: First time India has indigenously designed and fabricated a processor of this scale for launch vehicle avionics

Current Context : PM Narendra Modi launched Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi Saakh Sahkari Sangh Limited.

• Objective: Provide digital, affordable loans to rural women entrepreneurs.
• Initial Fund: ₹105 crore transferred to the institution’s account.

About Jeevika Nidhi

• A state-level cooperative society for financial assistance at low interest rates.
• Alternative to costly microfinance institutions (18%–24% interest).
• Membership: All registered cluster-level federations under Jeevika are members.
• Governance: Jointly funded by State and Central Government.

Features

• Digital Model → Direct benefit transfer into bank accounts of Jeevika Didis.
• Tech Support → 12,000 cadres equipped with tablets for outreach and monitoring.

Current Context : Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh launched the Kapas Kisan App.

• Aim: To streamline cotton procurement under Minimum Support Price (MSP) and protect farmers from distress sales.

 About the App

• Self-Registration → Farmers register using Aadhaar-linked mobile numbers.
• Slot Booking → Farmers can book delivery slots to avoid long queues.
• Payment Tracking → Real-time monitoring of payment status.
• Language Accessibility → Multiple Indian languages for inclusivity.
• Design → Simple, farmer-centric interface.

 Significance

• Ensures transparent and timely MSP procurement.
• Reduces dependence on middlemen.
• Supports the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) in digitized records and logistics.
• Aligns with Digital India and Agri-Tech push.

Current Context: Dr. Deepak Mittal, a 1998-batch IFS officer, has been appointed as India’s new Ambassador to the UAE.

 About UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE)

• Location: Southeastern Arabian Peninsula; borders Saudi Arabia (west & south), Oman (east & southeast), and maritime borders with Iran.
• Area: ~71,000 sq. km (Abu Dhabi covers ~84% of total area).
• Terrain:
  • Coastal plains (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah)
  • Vast deserts (part of Rub’ al Khali)
  • Hajar Mountains in the east
• Official Language: Arabic (English widely used); courts also recognize Chinese, French, Hindi, Russian.
• Currency: UAE Dirham (AED)

Current Context : Shri Rajit Punhani, a 1991-batch IAS officer (Bihar cadre), assumed charge as the CEO of FSSAI.

 About FSSAI

• Full Form: Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
• Established under: Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
• Type: Autonomous body
• Works under: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Mandate: Lays down standards for food articles and regulates their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import to ensure safe and wholesome food.

Current Context : Tirupati Urban Development Authority (TUDA) launched Operation Swarna to remove encroachments, revive flow, and rejuvenate the Swarnamukhi River in Andhra Pradesh.

About Swarnamukhi River

• Location: Andhra Pradesh (Rayalaseema region).
• Origin: Eastern Ghats near Pakala village, Chittoor district (elevation ~300 m).
• Length: ~130 km.
• Basin Area: ~3,225 sq. km.
• Course: Flows northeast through Tirumala, Tirupati, and Srikalahasti, then drains into the Bay of Bengal.
• Religious Significance: Passes by Tirumala and Srikalahasti temples.
• Tributary: Kalyani River (Kalyani Dam – 1977).
• Rainfall Dependence: Monsoon-fed, independent river (not part of a major river system).

 About Operation Swarna

• Launched by: Tirupati Urban Development Authority (TUDA).
• Aim:
  • Clear encroachments.
  • Rejuvenate river ecology.
  • Ensure sustainable water flow and religious access points.

Current Context : The Energy Policy Institute (EPIC), University of Chicago, released the AQLI 2025 Report.

• Finding: Air pollution is India’s most severe health threat, cutting average life expectancy by 3.5 years.

About AQLI

• Developed by Michael Greenstone & EPIC.
• Measures particulate pollution (PM2.5) impact on life expectancy.
• Combines global pollution data with long-term health impact research.

Relevant Data – India (2025 Report)

• Average loss: 3.5 years of life expectancy.
• Comparison:
  • Nearly 2× impact of malnutrition.
  • 5× impact of unsafe water and sanitation.
• Population exposure:
  • 100% of Indians live in areas above WHO safe limit (5 µg/m³).
  • 46% Indians live in areas above India’s own standard (40 µg/m³).

Region-wise Findings

• Delhi-NCR: 8.2 years lost (highest).
• Bihar: 5.6 years lost.
• Haryana: 5.3 years lost.
• Uttar Pradesh: 5 years lost.

Global Context

• South Asia is the most polluted region.
• 5 levels rose by 2.8% in 2023 after a dip in 2022.
• On average, air pollution cuts 3 years of life expectancy in South Asia.

Current Context : Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL), promoted by NHAI, signed an agreement with ICICI Bank.

• India’s first comprehensive MLFF tolling system to be implemented at Choryasi Fee Plaza, Gujarat (NH-48).

About MLFF System

• A barrier-less tolling technology.
• Uses:
  • FASTag reading
  • Vehicle Registration Number (VRN) via RFID Readers & ANPR Cameras

About NHAI

• Statutory body under Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.
• Established: 1995 (under NHAI Act, 1988).
• Composition:
  • Chairman + max. 5 full-time Members
  • 4 part-time Members (Secretaries of RT&H, Expenditure, Planning, and DG Roads).
• Mandate: Develop, maintain, and manage National Highways.