Current Context: The European Commission proposed legally binding climate legislation calling for a 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 (from 1990 levels). The plan includes flexibility provisions to ease the transition for industry.

About the Target

• Core Objective: Achieve 90% emissions cut by 2040 and reach carbon neutrality by 2050.
• Flexibility Mechanism:
• Up to 3% of reductions may be met through high-quality international carbon credits (e.g., forest projects) from 2036 onward.
• Member states can choose which economic sectors contribute most to their targets.
• Rationale: Aims to protect European industries burdened by global competition and high energy costs.
• Critiques:
• Climate teams and NGOs warn it may divert investment from domestic clean energy efforts.
• Brazil, COP30 host, has cautioned against overreliance on offsets flexibility provisions.

Current Context: Mashreq, a leading UAE bank, received in-principle approval from IFSCA to open an International Banking Unit in GIFT City, Gujarat, making it the first UAE bank to do so.

 About Mashreq at Gift City

• Expected operational launch in Q4 2025, pending final licensing.
• Services will include overseas trade finance, foreign-currency loans, treasury & risk management.
• Aligned with global expansion of UAE investments via GIFT City, including ADIA initiatives and strategic India-UAE financial ties .

About Gift city

• India’s first greenfield smart city and International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) located between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar on the Sabarmati River.
• Area & Structure: Spans ~886 acres (≈ 6 km²), including a 261-acre SEZ and a Domestic Tariff Area (DTA).
• Governance: Developed by Gujarat Urban Development Company and IL&FS; overseen by the GIFT City Company Ltd

CURRENT CONTEXT  : A rare roll cloud was observed along the Portugal coast, during a severe heatwave.

 About Roll Cloud

• Type: A rare form of arcus cloud
• Appearance: Low, horizontal, tube-shaped cloud that appears to “roll”
• Altitude Range: Typically forms between 2,000–7,000 metres
• Formation Conditions: When cool air undercuts warm moist air, especially along gust fronts or sea breeze fronts
• Not Tornado: Unlike funnel clouds, it does not touch the ground
• Occurrence Regions: Coastal/mountainous areas – e.g., Japan, Alps, Scotland, northern Australia
• Weather Significance: May indicate upcoming thunderstorms or wind shifts

 What is an Arcus cloud?

• Definition: A cloud formation on the leading edge of a thunderstorm outflow
• Types:
• Shelf Cloud (attached to parent storm)
• Roll Cloud (detached from storm system)

Current Context : The Tamil Nadu government has launched efforts under the TNSHORE project to save the sinking Kariyachalli Island in the Gulf of Mannar region, which faces rapid erosion and ecological degradation.

About Kariyachalli Island

• Location: Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, between Rameswaram and Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu
• Ecological Zone: Gulf of Mannar is among India’s four major coral reef regions and is highly ecologically sensitive
• Island Features:
• One of 21 uninhabited islands in the region
• Contains beaches, sand dunes, spits, and sandy plains

Threats Faced:

• Landmass reduced by over 70% (1969–2024) – IIT Madras report
• Causes: Erosion, rising sea levels, coral bleaching, seagrass degradation
• ~One-third of coral reef bleached
• At current pace, island could submerge by 2036

About Government Initiative: Tnshore Project

• Full Form: Tamil Nadu Sustainably Harnessing Ocean Resources
• Launch Timeline: August 2025
• Objectives:
• Restore coral reefs using artificial reef modules
• Plant seagrass beds
• Revive marine biodiversity to resist erosion

Current Context: Sub Lieutenant Aastha Poonia became the first woman inducted into the Indian Navy’s fighter pilot stream, completing her Hawk training and earning her “Wings of Gold” at INS Dega, Vizag.

About Aastha Poonia

• Completed the Second Basic Hawk Conversion Course alongside Lt Atul Kumar Dhull.
• Will undergo ~1 year of fighter training to operate MiG‑29K off carriers like INS Vikramaditya/Vikrant; future possibility of flying Rafale M or DRDO’s TEDBF.
• Marked a pioneering shift in Indian naval aviation—women previously served in maritime patrol and helicopter roles only.

Held annually on 6 July

• Aim : to raise awareness about zoonotic diseases—those transmitted between animals and humans.
• The date marks Louis Pasteur’s first rabies vaccination on 6 July 1885.Commemorates Pasteur vaccinating Joseph Meister, the first human to receive a rabies vaccine, effectively preventing the disease.

On Saturday, 5 July 2025, the world marked International Day of Cooperatives, coinciding with the UN International Year of Cooperatives (IYC 2025).

• Theme: “Cooperatives: Driving Inclusive and Sustainable Solutions for a Better World”.
• Instituted by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) in 1923, and proclaimed by the UN in 1992. Officially celebrated since 1995.
• Observed on the first Saturday of July to raise awareness about cooperatives’ role in sustainable development.

CURRENT CONTEXT : Puducherry has become the first UT in India to integrate tuberculosis (TB) screening into the Family Adoption Programme, an NMC-mandated initiative led by medical colleges.

ABOUT FAMILY ADOPTION PROGRAMME (FAP)

• Mandated by: National Medical Commission (NMC)
• Concept: Medical students adopt 3–5 families each and engage in long-term follow-up over 3 years
• New Addition in Puducherry:
  • Routine TB screening of adopted family members as part of community outreach
  • Collaboration between medical students, colleges, and local health authorities

ABOUT NTEP IN PUDUCHERRY

• National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) active since Feb 20, 2004
• Coverage: Single TB district covering 92 lakh population
• Infrastructure:
  • 7 TB Units
  • 28 Diagnostic Centres
  • 1 Intermediate Reference Lab (IRL) at Govt. Hospital for Chest Diseases (with Culture + Drug Susceptibility Testing)

CURRENT CONTEXT : On 4 July 2025, the Ministry of Coal launched the RECLAIM Framework for inclusive community engagement during mine closures.

ABOUT RECLAIM

• Full Form: Responsible, Equitable, Community-led, Landscape-level Approach for Indian Mine Closure
• Developed by:
  • Coal Controller Organisation, Ministry of Coal
  • In collaboration with Heartfulness Institute
• Purpose:
  • To support communities affected by mine closures
  • Promote ecological restoration and livelihood security
  • Goal: Ensuring a just and sustainable transition for mining communities

CURRENT CONTEXT : Recently, five tigers (a tigress and her four cubs) were found dead due to poisoning in the MM Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka.

About MM Hills Sanctuary

• Location: Southeast Karnataka, in Chamarajanagar district
• Notified: 2013
• Corridor: Links Biligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple (BRT) and Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary
• Forest Types:
  • Dry deciduous forests
  • Semi-evergreen and Shola forests at higher altitudes
• Key Species: Tiger, Elephant, Leopard, Dhole (wild dog), Sloth Bear
• Communities Present: Soligas and Lingayats
• Ecological Role: Vital Eastern Ghats–Western Ghats corridor