Current Context : 40-member Indian Army contingent arrived in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, to participate in the 22nd Exercise Khaan Quest (14–28 June 2025), a multinational peacekeeping drill under UN Chapter VII.

About exercise Khaan Quest

• Nature: Multinational United Nations peacekeeping exercise.
• History: Began as a US–Mongolia bilateral drill in 2003; expanded to multinational in 2006.
• Indian Contingent: 40 personnel (primarily Kumaon Regiment), including 1 woman officer and 2 women soldiers.

Current Context : The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare plans to launch CROPIC (Collection of Real-Time Observations & Photos of Crops) for real-time monitoring of crop health under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.

ABOUT CROPIC

• Objective : To monitor crop health and automate crop-loss assessment and claims under PMFBY.
• Coverage: Initially for Kharif 2025 and Rabi 2025–26
• Data Collection: Farmers use a mobile app to upload geotagged field photographs 4–5 times per crop cycle.
• Technology: AI-based cloud platform for image analysis + web dashboard for visualization.
• Benefits:
  • Faster, more accurate crop-loss assessment
  • Detailed directory of crop signatures
  • Supports timely compensation and financial resilience of farmers.
• Governance: Launched by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare under the PMFBY framework.

Current Context : The Indian Navy’s stealth frigate INS Tabar participated in a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) alongside the United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group in the North Arabian Sea.

About PASSEX (Indian Navy & UK CSG)

• Date & Location: 9–10 June 2025, North Arabian Sea.
• Indian Assets: INS Tabar (stealth frigate), an Indian submarine, and a P-8I maritime patrol aircraft.
• UK Assets: HMS Prince of Wales (aircraft carrier) and HMS Richmond (frigate).
• Significance: Strengthens India–UK naval interoperability and underscores shared commitment to maritime security.

Current Context : Recently, the Full Bench of the Lokpal of India adopted a new motto: “Empower Citizens, Expose Corruption.”

ABOUT LOKPAL

• Legal Basis: Established under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, to investigate corruption allegations against public functionaries.
• Jurisdiction: Covers all public servants including the Prime Minister, Ministers, Members of Parliament, and officials of government bodies.
• Composition: Comprised of a Chairperson + up to eight Members (four judicial, four non-judicial).
• Eligibility: Chairperson/Members must be ≥ 45 years, not lawmakers, and free of criminal convictions.
• Chairperson: Either the Chief Justice of India, a sitting Supreme Court judge, or an eminent person nominated by a high-level selection committee.
• Term: Five years or until reaching 70 years of age, whichever is earlier.
• Motto: “Empower Citizens, Expose Corruption” – replacing the old Sanskrit motto “Ma Gridhah Kasyasvid Dhanam.”

Current Context : Recently, a Chinese fishing vessel ran aground during a storm in shallow waters near Thitu Island (Pag-asa Island) in the South China Sea near the Philippines-built Subi Reef, causing a maritime alert.

 About Thitu Island

• Thitu Island (Pag-asa): Philippine-occupied island in Spratly archipelago; civilian village, school, airstrip (Rancudo Airfield), coast guard and lighthouse in place. Area approx. 0.37 km².
• Geopolitical Context:
  • Claims by PRC, ROC, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei – Spratly Islands claimed by multiple countries.
  • China has militarized nearby Subi Reef (~26 km away); US committed to Philippines defense treaty.
• Incident Details: Ship, possibly Chinese militia-type, grounded ~2.7 km east of island due to bad weather.

Current Context : The Maharashtra Forest Department has partnered with Microsoft and CYDA‑Pune for a year-long eco-restoration initiative in Tamhini Wildlife Sanctuary to address biodiversity loss and improve socio-ecological conditions.

 About Tamhini wildlife sanctuary

• Location & Size: Western Ghats near Pune, spread across 49.62 km² from Paund, Sinhgad and Mangaon forest divisions.
• Ecosystem: Evergreen, semi-evergreen and deciduous forests; rich in biodiversity.
• Flora: Teak, bamboo, Ain, Shisham, mango, jamun.
• Fauna: Indian giant squirrel, barking deer, Indian pangolin, civet, wild boar.
• Birds: Malabar whistling-thrush, crested serpent eagle, grey junglefowl, golden oriole, Indian pitta.

Current Context : Recently, the ancient Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerela  underwent its Maha Kumbhabhishekam (grand consecration) for the first time in nearly 270 years, following extensive restoration work.

About sree padmanabhaswamy temple

• Location & Deity: Dedicated to Lord Vishnu (Anantha Padmanabha), in reclining Anantha Shayanam The city’s name derives from the deity.
• Historical Origins: Records date back to the 8th–9th century CE, but origins are older. Major renovations by King Marthanda Varma, who in 1750 offered his kingdom to the deity.
• Restoration & Rituals:
  • Supreme Court-directed renovation (2017–2025) included sanctum roof, tanks, idol.
  • Poojas with 100 golden pots and Ashtabandha Kalasam at the Thiruvambady shrine.
  • Reinstallation of a 300-year-old Vishwaksena idol made of katu sarkara yogam.
  • Dedication of three golden domes (thazhikakudams) atop the main shrine.
• Architecture & Art:
  • Blend of Kerala–Dravidian styles, with a seven-tiered gopuram, stone carvings, life-sized murals, murals of Vishnu, Gaja Lakshmi, Narasimha.
  • 80-foot gold-plated copper flag post (dhwaja stamba).
• Cultural & Scholarly Wealth:
  • Repository of ~3 million palm-leaf manuscripts (Mathilakam records) from 14th century, detailing administration and finance of kingdom and temple. Only a fraction deciphered.
• War Vault Riches: International attention after discovery of immense wealth in multiple vaults, earning its title as world’s richest temple.

Current Context: CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur (Himachal Pradesh) reported the first flowering and seed formation of Heeng, showing its successful domestication in Indian soil.

About heeng (asafoetida)

• What is Heeng?
  • A spice and medicinal plant (Ferula assa-foetida) used widely in Indian cooking.
  • Extracted as oleo-gum resin from the plant’s roots.
  • Known for treating digestion, bloating, and abdominal pain in Ayurveda.
• Native Regions:
  • Cold deserts of Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia.
  • Grows in low rainfall (below 300 mm) and cold, dry areas.
• Suitable Indian Zones:
  • Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Uttarkashi, and Palampur (HP).
  • Takes 5 years to mature before resin harvesting.
• Significance of Indian Cultivation:
  • India was 100% import-dependent for Heeng (1,200 MT/year).
  • Heeng Resource Centre (2022) established for scaling up cultivation.

Current Context: Delhi government has approved India’s first e-waste eco park in Holambi Kalan, North Delhi.

ABOUT E-WASTE ECO PARK

• Location: Holambi Kalan, North Delhi (area: 11.4 acres).
• Capacity: Can process 51,000 tonnes of e-waste per year.
• Covers: All 106 types of electronic waste as per E-Waste Management Rules, 2022.
• Investment: ₹150 crore (estimated); expected to generate ₹350+ crore in revenue.
• PPP Model: Project will be developed under a Public-Private Partnership.

Need: India is the 3rd largest e-waste generator globally; Delhi contributes ~9.5% of total e-waste.

Current Context: The launch of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), which includes Indian Air Force officer Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, has been postponed due to technical issues.

About axiom mission 4 (Ax-4)

• Organised By: Axiom Space (USA), in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX.
• Launch Vehicle: SpaceX’s Falcon 9 with Dragon spacecraft.
• Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center, USA.
• Mission Type: Private human spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS).
• Duration: Around 14 days (tentative).
• Objective:
  • Conduct scientific experiments.
  • Promote international collaboration.
  • Support space outreach activities.

Ax-4 Crew Members:

• Peggy Whitson (Commander, USA)
• Shubhanshu Shukla (Pilot, India – First Indian to visit ISS)
• Slawosz Uznanski (Poland)
• Tibor Kapu (Hungary)

Reason for Delay:

• First due to bad weather, then a technical issue (liquid oxygen leak in Falcon 9 rocket).
• New launch date not announced yet.
• Significance for India: Shubhanshu Shukla will be the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma (1984).