Current Context : Deputy National Security Adviser (NSA) Rajinder Khanna was appointed as additional National Security Adviser.

• While Intelligence Bureau special director V. Ravichandran was appointed as deputy NSA.
• Rajinder Khanna is a 1978-batch IPS officer of Odisha cadre, served as the R&AW chief from December 2014 to December 2016.

ABOUT NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL SECRETRIAT (NSCS)

• It is the apex body deals on all internal and external security-related matters.
• It is headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with NSA Ajit Doval acting as its secretary.

Current Context : Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology organized the ‘Global IndiaAI Summit’ in New Delhi.

Aim : to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange, underscoring India’s dedication to the ethical and inclusive growth of AI technologies.

ABOUT GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (GPAI)

• It is a multi-stakeholder initiative which aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice on AI by supporting cutting-edge research and applied activities on AI-related priorities.
• Launched in June 2020 with 15 members, today GPAI’s membership has expanded to 28 member countries and the European Union.

ABOUT INDIAAI MISSION

• The IndiaAI Mission aims to build a comprehensive ecosystem that fosters AI innovation by democratizing computing access, enhancing data quality, developing indigenous AI capabilities, attracting top AI talent, enabling industry collaboration, providing startup risk capital, ensuring socially impactful AI projects, and promoting ethical AI.
• This mission drives responsible and inclusive growth of India’s AI ecosystem through the following seven pillars which will be the key focus of Global IndiaAI Summit.

Current Context : Recently, Central government has decided to set up “new villages” or “habitations” in Arunachal Pradesh “closer to the LAC under Vibrant Village Programme.

ABOUT VIBRANT VILLAGES PROGRAMME 

• It is a Centrally sponsored scheme.
• Launched on April 13, 2023
• Objective : development of villages on the northern border, thus improving the quality of life of people living in identified border villages.
• It will cover the border areas of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Ladakh.
• It will cover 2,963 villages with 663 of them to be covered in the first phase
• Vibrant Village Action Plans will be created by the district adminstration with the help of Gram Panchayats.
• There will not be overlap with Border Area Development Programme. 
• Focused areas : Road connectivity, housing and infrastructure, renewable energy through solar and wind, high speed telecom connectivity and promotion of tourism.
• A similar programme in China Called Xiaokang or Prosperous villages.

Current Context : Recently, India has successfully developed and certified SEBEX 2.

ABOUT

• It is a new explosive that is 01 times more lethal than standard Trinitrotoluene (TNT).
• SEBEX 2 is said to be among the most powerful non-nuclear explosives in the world.
• It utilizes a high-melting explosive (HMX) composition.
• Manufactured by Economic Explosives Limited (EEL), Nagpur.
• It has been evaluated, tested, and certified by the Indian Navy under its Defence Export Promotion Scheme.

Current Context : External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reached Astana in Kazakhstan to lead the Indian delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

ABOUT SCO

• It is an influential economic and security bloc that has emerged as one of the largest transregional international organisations.
• Established in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
• It comprises India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
• HQ : Beijing , China.

ABOUT ASTANA / KAZAKHSTAN

• Astana, formerly known as Nur-Sultan is the capital city of Kazakhstan.
• The city lies on the banks of the Ishim River in the north-central part of
• Kazakhstan, a Central Asian country and former Soviet republic.
• Currency: Kazakhstani Tenge
• Language: Kazakh

Current Context : A new banking malware called ‘Snowblind’ is targeting Android users to steal banking credentials.

ABOUT

• It is a new Android malware that uses a built-in Android security feature to bypass anti-tamper mechanisms and steal banking credentials.
• It exploits a built-in security feature to bypass anti-tamper protection in apps handling sensitive information.
• It works by repacking an app so it is unable to detect the use of accessibility features that can be used to extract sensitive information like login credentials and get remote access to the app.
• It exploits a feature called ‘seccomp’, which stands for ‘secure computing’.

Current Context : Recently, Prime Minister paid tribute to the sacrifices and bravery of the Santhal tribal community.

ABOUT

• Santhals are the third largest scheduled tribe community in India after Gonds and Bhils.
• Located in Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Orissa, in the eastern part of the country.
• Language : Santhali
• Religion: They are nature worshippers and could be seen paying obeisance at Jaher (sacred groves) in their villages.
• Costumes : Dhoti and Gamuchha for men and a short-check saree, usually blue and green, for
• Occupation : Agriculturists, depends on their farmlands or forests.

Current Context : The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has launched an eSankhyiki portal.

ABOUT

• It provides real-time inputs for planners, policy-makers, researchers and the public at large.
• Aim : to establish a comprehensive data management and sharing system for ease of dissemination of official statistics in the country.
• The eSankhyiki Portal has two modules :

1. Data Catalogue Module: It provides centralized access to major datasets including National Accounts Statistics, Consumer Price Index, and more, with over 2291 datasets available.
2. Macro Indicators Module: It offers time series data on key macro indicators like National Accounts Statistics and Consumer Price Index, allowing data filtering, visualization, and API sharing for increased data reusability.

Current Context : Recently, Astronomers discovered a new radio galaxy using the LOw-Frequency ARray (LOFAR).

ABOUT

• LOFAR is the world’s most powerful radio antenna.
• It was designed and built by ASTRON an Institute for Radio Astronomy in the Netherlands.
• It observes the Universe at low radio frequencies, close to the FM radio band, from 90 to 200 MHz.
• It emits huge amount of radio waves from their central cores.
• Goal : to explore the early, distant universe, solar activity, and the terrestrial atmosphere.
• It can observe in several directions simultaneously, which allows for a multi-user operation.

Current Context : Recently, PM Modi talked about Araku Coffee in ‘Mann Ki Baat’.

ABOUT ARAKU COFFEE

• Araku coffee is grown in large quantities in Alluri Sita Rama Raju district of Andhra Pradesh.
• It is known for its rich flavour and aroma.
• Takes its name from Araku Valley, situated in the Eastern Ghats (Andhra Pradesh).
• It was awarded its Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2019.
• It is cultivated on an elevated terrain of 900-1100 metres above sea level.
• Weather of the valley with its hot days and cold nights along with the iron-rich soil allows the coffee to ripen slowly and gives it aromatic richness and taste.
• Produced by the tribals by using organic methods, focusing on practices like applying organic fertilizers, green manuring, and organic pest control.