Current Context : The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs launched Phase II of Niveshak Didi at Patelguda Panchayat, Hyderabad.

• Focus: Women-led financial literacy in rural India, through a community-driven, grassroots approach.

About Niveshak Didi

• A “for women, by women”
• Empowers rural women with financial knowledge to:
  • Make informed decisions
  • Protect savings from fraud
  • Use digital banking tools
  • Understand savings and safe investments

Strategic Impact & Goals

• Promotes financial inclusion under Digital India & Women-led Development.
• Builds confidence and self-reliance among rural women.
• Outcomes expected:
  • Stronger household financial planning
  • Wider use of secure digital platforms
  • Growth of community-led financial resilience

About IEPFA

• Statutory body under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
• Mandate:
  • Promote investor awareness
  • Protect citizens from financial fraud
  • Foster a financially literate society

Current Context : On 1st September 2025, NCERT celebrated its 65th Foundation Day with new digital and inclusive education initiatives under NEP 2020.

Key Launches

Bal Vatika TV (PM eVidya Channel 35)

• For children aged 3–6 years
• Content on foundational literacy and numeracy
• Support for teachers, Anganwadi workers, and parents

DIKSHA 2.0

• AI-powered learning platform with 12-language support
• Features: Adaptive assessments, Read Aloud, Closed Captions, Translation tools
• Enables personalized learning

PRASHAST 2.0

• Enhanced disability screening tool
• Linked with UDISE+, APAAR ID, Swavlamban Card
• Facilitates early identification of divyang children

Kitab Ek Padhe Anek

• Inclusive textbooks for Classes 1–2
• Based on Universal Design of Learning (UDL) principles

Additional Initiatives

• VR Labs in NCERT demonstration schools
• PM eVidya Mobile App for multi-format content
• Primers Released: Hindi, Sanskrit, Ho-Hindi, Koya
• Odisha Heritage Book: Utkal Jananinkara Sujogya Santana
• Vocational Education Handbook by PSSCIVE

Current Context : Ms. T.C.A. Kalyani, a 1991-batch ICAS officer, has been appointed as the 29th Controller General of Accounts (CGA).

About T.C.A. Kalyani

• Over 34 years of service in Indian Civil Accounts Service
• Expertise: Public finance, digital governance, transparency

Role of CGA

• Principal accounting advisor to the Government of India
• Functions:
  • Maintain central govt. accounts
  • Prepare monthly and annual statements
  • Implement financial reforms
  • Monitor expenditure and receipts
  • Strengthen transparency and accountability

Current Context : At the 2025 SCO Summit, China announced major financial, technological, and educational initiatives to boost cooperation among member nations.

Relevant Data

Financial Support

• RMB 2 billion (USD 274 million) in grants to SCO members by 2025
• RMB 10 billion (USD 1.37 billion) in loans to SCO Interbank Consortium in 3 years

Livelihood Projects : 100 “Small and Beautiful” Projects in health, sanitation, education, and community welfare

Education and Human Resource

• Doubling of SCO scholarships from 2026
• Launch of SCO Innovative PhD Programme
• 10 Luban Workshops in 5 years
• 10,000 vocational training opportunities in advanced technology

Artificial Intelligence Cooperation

• Tianjin Declaration on responsible AI use
• Adoption of AI Development Cooperation Roadmap (Chengdu, 2025)
• AI showcase: Humanoid Robot “Xiao” assisted delegates

About SCO

• Established: 2001 (successor to “Shanghai Five”, 1996)
• Founding Members: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
• Expansion:
  • 2017 → India and Pakistan admitted as full members
  • 2023 → Iran became full member
  • 2024 → Belarus joined as full member
• Observers: Afghanistan, Mongolia, Belarus (before full membership)
• Dialogue Partners: Turkey, Egypt, Sri Lanka, UAE, etc.
• Secretariat → Beijing

OBJECTIVES & SIGNIFICANCE

• Promote regional cooperation in:
  • Security → countering terrorism, separatism, extremism (“Three Evils”)
  • Economy → trade, investment, energy, connectivity projects
  • Society → culture, science & technology, environmental protection
• Guided by the “Shanghai Spirit”: mutual trust, equality, consultation, cultural respect, mutual benefit
• Symbolises a multipolar world order, offering a platform for non-Western alignment.

Current Context : Indian Army evacuated CRPF personnel and civilians after heavy discharge from Ranjit Sagar Dam caused floods near Madhopur Headworks.

 ABOUT RANJIT SAGAR DAM

• Also Known As: Thein Dam
• Location: Near Pathankot, Punjab–Jammu & Kashmir border.
• River: Built on the Ravi River.
• Purpose: Provides irrigation and hydroelectric power to Punjab and neighbouring states.

Current Context : Prime Minister nominated two new members and renominated three existing members to NDMA for 3 years.

Nominated members—scientist Dinesh Kumar Aswal and disaster recovery specialist Rita Missal

ABOUT NDMA

• Chairperson: Prime Minister of India
• Legal Framework: Established under the Disaster Management Act, 2005
• Headquarters: NDMA Bhavan, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi
• Structure: Includes a Vice-Chairperson (Cabinet rank) and up to eight Members (MoS rank)
• Mandate: Formulates the National Disaster Management Plan, issues guidelines, coordinates efforts across ministries and states, and administers the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM)

Current Context : The Enforcement Directorate secured an Interpol Purple Notice on trade-based money laundering modus operandi.

ABOUT PURPLE NOTICE

• Purpose: Provides information on modus operandi, devices, and concealment methods used by criminals.
• Difference: Unlike Red Notices (individuals), Purple Notices target practices and tools.
• Other Interpol Notices: Red, Yellow, Blue, Black, Green, Orange, Silver (pilot phase).

ABOUT INTERPOL

• Founded: 1923.
• Members: 196 countries.
• Headquarters: Lyon, France.
• UN Status: Permanent Observer at UN since 1996 (not under UN).
• Functions:
  • Information-sharing network for international police cooperation.
  • Tackles crimes like terrorism, money laundering, human trafficking.
  • Issues colour-coded notices in English, French, Spanish, and Arabic.
  • Maintains centralized criminal databases (fingerprints, DNA, stolen documents).

Current Context : Assam is likely to receive the 16th-century Vrindavani Vastra from the British Museum in 2027 for exhibition.

ABOUT VRINDAVANI VASTRA

• Nature: Silk textile woven in Assam.
• Depictions: Illustrates stories of Lord Krishna’s childhood and pastimes in Vrindavan.
• Patronage:
  • Created under Srimanta Sankardeva at the request of Koch king Nara Narayan.
  • Sankardeva took refuge under Nara Narayan after facing opposition from the Ahom kingdom.
• Journey: Travelled from Assam to Tibet; acquired by British Museum in 1904.
• Features: Originally 15 separate silk drapes, now a 9.5-metre-long masterpiece.

Current Context : Recently, the annual three-day Mela Patt festival began in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir.

ABOUT MELA PATT FESTIVAL

• Deity: Dedicated to Lord Vasuki Nag, the presiding deity of Bhaderwah Valley.
• History:
  • Rooted in Nag culture, linked to the historic meeting between Mughal Emperor Akbar and King Nag Pal of Bhaderwah.
  • First celebrated in the 16th century when Bhaderwah was known as Bhadarkashi.
• Occasion: Observed every year on Nag Panchami, seven days after the Kailash Yatra.
• Cultural Features:
  • Dikko Dance: Folk dance symbolizing peace, pride, and communal harmony.
  • Dhakku Dance: Traditional Dogra folk dance with cultural significance.

CURRENT CONTEXT : Recently, 19 workers and officials were rescued after being trapped for 22 hours inside the tunnel of the 280 MW Dhauliganga Hydroelectric Project in Uttarakhand.

ABOUT DHAULIGANGA HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT

• Capacity: 280 MW
• Location: Dharchula, Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand
• River: Built on the Dhauliganga River, a tributary of the Alaknanda (Ganga basin).
• Construction started: 2000
• Commercial operation: 2005
• Owned by: National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC)
• Type: Run-of-the-river project
• Dam Structure:
  • 56 m high, 315 m long, concrete-faced rock-fill dam
  • Reservoir capacity: 6.2 million cubic meters
  • Gross head: 310 m | Net head: 297 m