Current Context: Recently, Tripura declared fully literate (95.6% literacy) as the third Indian state, after Goa and Mizoram, achieving full functional literacy under ULLAS (2022–2027).

ABOUT ULLAS:

• Ministry:
• Type: Centrally sponsored scheme (2022‑27).
• Goal: Achieve literacy (≥95%) among individuals ≥15 yrs; foundational literacy and numeracy for ~5 crore learners.
• Implementation: Hybrid approach, volunteer-driven, multilingual, across India.
• Tripura’s Achievement: From 93.7% (2023–24) to 95.6% (2024–25); focus on vocational, digital, life skills.

Current Context: WMO’s 2024 Asia report shows record-breaking temperatures (1.04 °C above 1991–2020 average), fastest warming region, glacier melt, marine heatwaves, and sea-level rise—underscoring escalated climate risks.

 KEY FINDINGS:

• Temperature Rise: 2024 was Asia’s warmest or second warmest year; warming 2× global rate.
• Heatwaves & Deaths: India’s hottest year since 1901; heatwaves caused 44,000+ stroke cases and ~450 deaths.
• Glacial Loss: Central Himalayas & Tian Shan glaciers receding; risk of glacial floods.
• Marine Heat: Sea-surface temperatures at record highs; marine heatwave spanned ~40 million km².
• Sea-Level Rise: Coastal sea levels rising at ~4–4.6 mm/year—above global average.
• Extreme Events: Cyclones, floods, droughts impacting millions and economies.

Current Context:  National Institute of Immunohaematology (NIIH) launched India’s first registry to support patients needing rare blood types with frequent transfusions.

 ABOUT THE REGISTRY:

• Objective: Aid patients with rare phenotypes (e.g., Rhnull, Bombay [Oh], Jr(a–)).
• Definition: Rare donors are negative for high‑prevalence antigen (<1 in 1,000) or multiple common antigens.
• Significance: Crucial for complex transfusions and managing alloimmunisation cases.

Current Context: Recently, India rejected references made to it at the OIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Turkey (22–23 June 2025) as “unwarranted and factually incorrect,” citing misuse by Pakistan and lack of locus standi on India’s internal issues like Jammu & Kashmir.

ABOUT OIC:

• Genesis: Founded in 1969 at the Rabat Summit, Morocco.
• Headquarters: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
• Membership: 57 member states across four continents—second largest intergovernmental body after the UN.
• Role: Represents the collective voice of the Muslim world.

Current Context: A French woman from Guadeloupe has been identified as the sole known carrier of a new blood group—“Gwada negative” (ISBT042).

 ABOUT GWADA NEGATIVE:

• Designation: Registered as blood group system International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) as ISBT042.

Characteristics:

• It is defined by the absence of the EMM antigen.
• EMM antigen is normally found on red blood cells and is considered a high-incidence antigen. High-incidence antigens are present in nearly all humans.
• It is now the 48th blood group system in the world.

Current Context: IFFCO plans to set up its first overseas nano‑fertiliser plant in Brazil, following the 2021 launch of Nano Liquid Urea.

 ABOUT NANO‑FERTILISERS:

• Definition: Nutrients coated in nanomaterials (<100 nm) enabling controlled and slow soil release.
• Benefits:
  • Enhanced nutrient absorption, reduced wastage.
  • Eco‑friendly: reduces soil & water pollution.
  • Cost-effective: lowers fertiliser use and application frequency.

Current Context: The Health Ministry proposes integrating the Rare Blood Donor Registry with e‑Rakt Kosh to aid patients with uncommon blood types.

ABOUT THE INITIATIVE:

• Rare Donor Registry: Developed by ICMR-NIIH Mumbai to support patients needing rare blood types.
• e‑Rakt Kosh:
  • Launched April 2016 under NHM.
  • Digital platform listing blood banks, availability, donor camps.
  • Ensures compliance with the Drug & Cosmetic Act and National Blood Policy.

Current Context: Recently, China hosted the first trilateral dialogue with Pakistan and Bangladesh in Kunming, marking its deepening strategic influence in South Asia.

ABOUT THE MEETING:

• Genesis & Purpose: Follow-up to China–Pakistan–Afghanistan dialogue; aimed to build a “working group” for cooperation.
• Strategic Concern: Reflects Beijing’s strategy of cultivating a ring of aligned states around India.
• India’s Key Concerns:
  • Expansion of BRI (e.g., CPEC through PoK, potential new ports in Bangladesh).
  • “String of Pearls” maritime policy potentially encircling India.
  • Parallel regionalism might undercut India-led forums like BIMSTEC.
  • Undermines India’s Neighbourhood First policy—China filling regional leadership gaps.

Current Context: The Ministry of Education has formed a nine-member Vineet Joshi Panel, chaired by Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi, to examine the reliance on coaching centres and the fairness of entrance exams.

 ABOUT VINEET JOSHI PANEL:

• Composition: Includes CBSE Chair, Joint Secretaries (school & higher ed), reps from IITs (Madras, Kanpur), NIT Trichy, NCERT, principals (KV, NV, private school)
• Mandate:
  • Reduce dependency on coaching, target “dummy schools.”
  • Identify schooling gaps limiting critical thinking and encouraging rote-learning.
  • Assess fairness of JEE/NEET and entrance procedures.
  • Review misleading coaching advertisements and selective success claims.
  • Suggest improved career counselling availability.
• Focus Areas: Aligns with systemic educational reforms targeting holistic development and equitable entrance access.

Current Context: India’s first epigraphical mention of the comet to appear is that found on a copper-plate inscription dated June 28, 1456 CE in the Mallikarjunaswamy temple in Srisailam.

ABOUT MALLIKARJUNASWAMY TEMPLE:

• Location: Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh, in the Nallamalai Hills alongside the Krishna River.
• Divine Reverence: It holds both a Jyotirlinga (Shiva) and a Shakti Peetha (Parvati), marking high spiritual significance.
• Historical Patrons: Initially by the Satavahanas, later Rashtrakuta and Vijayanagara dynasties.
• Archaeological Importance:
  • The Sanskrit inscription in Nagari script records a land grant by Vijayanagara ruler Mallikarjuna to a Vedic scholar.
  • Documents advanced observational astronomy by medieval Indian scholars.