Current Context : After the Air India Boeing 787 accident at Ahmedabad on 14 June 2025, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureaure covered the aircraft’s black box for a detailed investigation.

ABOUT BLACK BOX

• Components:
  • Flight Data Recorder – logs flight parameters such as speed, altitude, and engine performance.
  • Cockpit Voice Recorder – captures cockpit audio, including pilot conversations, alarms, and ambient sounds.
• Design & Placement:
  • Encased in bright‑orange steel or titanium for high visibility and impact resistance.
  • Installed in the tail section of the aircraft, where crash forces are minimal.

ABOUT AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION BUREAU

• Established: 2012, as an attached office under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
• Mandate:
  • Investigate all civil aircraft accidents and serious incidents involving aircraft with an all‑up weight above 2,250 kg or turbojet propulsion, under the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017.
  • Fulfil India’s obligations under Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, 1944.

Current Context : Recent tensions in the Middle East have spotlighted the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of global oil passes.

ABOUT STRAIT OF HORMUZ

• Location: Between Oman (Musandam Peninsula) to the south and Iran to the north.
• Connectivity: Links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea.
• Oil Transit: Approximately 21 million barrels per day (~21 % of global petroleum liquids) in 2022.
• Geopolitical Importance:
  • Vital for Middle East exports; potential disruptions can spike global oil prices.
  • Subject of naval patrols and security agreements by littoral and foreign navies.

Current Context : The Central Board of Direct Taxes is intensifying oversight of tax evasion and laundering via Virtual Digital Assets, such as cryptocurrencies, under provisions introduced by the Finance Act, 2022.

ABOUT VIRTUAL DIGITAL ASSET TAXATION

• Definition: Virtual Digital Assets are assets expressed in digital form that use blockchain or cryptographic technology for recording ownership and transactions.
• Tax Provisions:
  • A flat thirty percent tax on gains arising from transfers of Virtual Digital Assets.
  • A one percent tax deducted at source on each transfer of Virtual Digital Assets between residents.
• Compliance Approach:
  • Non‑intrusive Usage of Data to Guide and Enable (“nudge”) philosophy by the Central Board of Direct Taxes to encourage voluntary disclosure of undeclared Virtual Digital Asset income.

• Falls on the third Sunday of June; in 2025 it is on 15 June,
• Aim : to honour fathers and paternal bonds.
• Origins: First celebrated in the United States in 1910; gradually adopted by countries worldwide.

• Observed globally on 15 June
• Aim : to celebrate wind energy’s role in decarbonising economies, creating jobs, and reshaping energy systems.
• Organisers: Global Wind Energy Council and World Wind Energy Association, endorsed by the United Nations.

General Studies Paper-3

Context: France and Brazil launched a landmark international initiative Blue Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Challenge.

About Blue Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Challenge

• It urges countries to embed ocean-centric actions into their climate plans, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
• The challenge aims to dramatically scale up ocean-focused climate action ahead of the 30th Conference of Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Belem, Brazil.
• The initiative is supported by various organizations like Ocean Conservancy, the Ocean & Climate Platform, the World Resources Institute (through the Ocean Resilience and Climate Alliance – ORCA), and WWF-Brazil.

Significance of Oceans in Climate Action

• Carbon Sequestration: Oceans absorb over 25% of global CO₂ emissions and 90% of excess heat generated by human activity, making them critical in mitigating climate change.
• Blue Carbon Ecosystems: Coastal ecosystems like mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes store carbon at a rate up to five times higher than terrestrial forests.
• Biodiversity: Oceans are home to a vast diversity of life forms, and protecting marine ecosystems is essential for maintaining biodiversity, which in turn ensures the resilience of the ecosystem to climate impacts.
• Livelihood and Food Security: Oceans support over 3 billion people worldwide who depend on marine resources for food, livelihoods, and economic activities.

Initiatives for Ocean Conservation

• Ocean Cleanup Project: Launched in 2013, The Ocean Cleanup is a non-profit organization focused on developing advanced technologies to remove plastic pollution from the ocean.
• United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030): Aims to promote ocean science as a key tool for sustainable development, environmental protection, and climate action.
• High Seas Treaty (Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction – BBNJ Agreement): Adopted in 2023, this landmark legally binding agreement aims to protect marine biodiversity in international waters.
• Blue Carbon Initiatives: It refers to the carbon captured by coastal and marine ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes.
• National Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Network: It aims to conserve critical marine and coastal habitats like coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrasses.
• Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM): To address the challenges of coastal ecosystem degradation, including erosion, overfishing, and pollution.

Challenges and Barriers

• Financial Constraints: Many developing nations may struggle to secure the necessary funding to implement ocean-based climate solutions.
• Technical and Scientific Challenges: Ocean-based solutions are complex and require sophisticated scientific knowledge to implement effectively.

Current Context : Rohini Gram Panchayat (a 100% tribal village in Dhule district, Maharashtra) won the Gold Award in the “Grassroots Level Initiatives” category of the National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG 2025), chosen from over 1.45 lakh entries.

ABOUT ROHINI GRAM PANCHAYAT AWARD

• Awarding Bodies: Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances and Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
• Category: Grassroots Level Initiatives for Deepening Service Delivery at Gram Panchayats.
• Achievements:
  • Implemented 956+ digital services (birth/death certificates via WhatsApp/email, online fee payments, user-friendly portal)
  • Enabled delivery of key services (health, education, agriculture, certificates) within mandated timeframes
• Prize: Trophy, certificate, and ₹10 lakh cash incentive for furthering public-welfare initiatives.
• Other Winners:
  • Silver: West Majlishpur Gram Panchayat, Tripura
  • Jury Awards: Palsana (Gujarat) and Suakati (Odisha)
• Impact: Model for digital inclusion in Scheduled Areas; strengthens citizen-centric governance through technology.

Current Context : Sri Lanka celebrated Poson Full Moon Poya Day, marking the arrival of Buddhism in the 3rd century BCE when Arahat Mahinda preached to King Devanampiyatissa at Mihintale.

ABOUT POSON POYA

• Significance: Commemorates Buddhism’s introduction to Sri Lanka; second only to Vesak in importance.
• Key Sites: Mihintale (first sermon) and Anuradhapura (early monastic establishments).
• Observances:
  • Devotees light oil lamps, hoist religious pandols, participate in sermons and alms giving
  • Streets and temples are adorned; special transport arranged for pilgrims

Current Context : A year-long camera-trap survey (2024–25) by the Holématthi Nature Foundation, led by Dr Sanjay Gubbi, recorded 80–85 free-ranging leopards around Bengaluru—surpassing Mumbai’s 54—making Bengaluru the ‘Leopard Capital’ of India.

ABOUT BENGALURU LEOPARD POPULATION

Location & Survey Area

• Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) plus adjacent forests and scrublands cover 282 km² (Turahalli, B.M. Kaval, U.M. Kaval, Roerich Estate, Gollahalli Gudda, Sulikere, Hesaraghatta, Marasandra, Manduru).
• 250+ camera traps deployed across government and private lands.

Survey Methodology & Findings

• Camera-trap study from June 2024 to May 2025.
• Total leopards: 80–85 individuals.
  • Inside BNP: 54 leopards (up from 40 in 2019, 47 in 2020)
• Fringe forests: ~30 leopards roaming reserved, deemed, and private forests

Current Context : The World Economic Forum released its 19^th Global Gender Gap Report, showing India slipped to 131st out of 148 countries, down two places from 2024, with an overall parity score of 64.1% despite small gains in the economic and educational subindexes.

ABOUT GLOBAL GENDER GAP INDEX

• Report Body: Published annually since 2006 by the World Economic Forum.
• Dimensions Measured:
  • Economic Participation & Opportunity
  • Educational Attainment
  • Health & Survival
  • Political Empowerment
• India’s Performance:
  • Overall Rank: 131/148 (down from 129)
  • Parity Score: 64.1%
• Positive Trends:
  • Economic participation score up by +0.9 points to 40.7%
  • Educational attainment at 97.1% parity
• Key Challenge: Political empowerment remains low, with women’s representation in parliament and ministerial posts declining.