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.

Observed every year on 8 September (since 1996).

• Established by: World Confederation for Physical Therapy (founded in 1951, now World Physiotherapy).
• Theme 2025: Healthy Ageing – Prevention of Frailty and Falls.
• Objective: To raise awareness about the contribution of physiotherapists in improving mobility, independence, and overall health.

Observed on 8 September (every year, since 1967).

• Established by: UNESCO in 1966.
• Objective: To highlight the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights.

Observed every year on First Sunday of September (In 2025 – 7 September in USA).

• Objective: To honour grandparents and celebrate intergenerational bonding.
• Origin: Officially recognised in the United States in 1978 by President Jimmy Carter.

Current Context : The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) released a report analyzing the criminal background of ministers across India.

KEY FINDINGS

• Ministers Analyzed: 643 (27 States + 3 UTs + Union Council)
• Criminal Cases: 47% declared criminal cases
• Serious Criminal Cases: 27% declared cases like murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, crimes against women

CAUSES OF CRIMINALIZATION

• Muscle Power: Criminal nexus used to influence elections (noted in Dharam Vira Commission, 1977)
• Money Power: High election spending, corruption, illegal funding
• Identity Politics: Caste/religion overshadowing criminal records
• Weak Laws & Delays: Slow judicial process, poor enforcement

IMPACTS

• Weakening of democracy and rule of law
• Justice delayed, erosion of accountability
• Risk of a “government of criminals, by criminals, for criminals”

MEASURES TAKEN

• Legislative: Section 8(3), Representation of People Act, 1951 – disqualification after conviction (2+ years sentence).
• Judicial Pronouncements:
  • Union of India v ADR (2002): Mandatory disclosure of criminal records.
  • Public Interest Foundation v Union of India (2018): Parties must publish candidates’ criminal records.
  • Lily Thomas v Union of India (2013): Immediate disqualification of convicted legislators.