Current Context : The Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) 2025, released in May 2025, indicates a significant rise in acute food insecurity worldwide.

Key Findings

• Acute Hunger: In 2024, 3 million people across 53 countries faced acute food insecurity, marking the highest level since reporting began.
• Famine Conditions: Approximately 9 million people are in catastrophic (IPC/CH Phase 5) conditions, primarily in Gaza, Sudan, and South Sudan.
• Children and Women: Over 37 million children under five in 26 countries suffered from acute malnutrition in 2024, with more than 2 million experiencing severe acute malnutrition.
• Funding Shortfalls: Humanitarian allocations to food sectors could fall by up to 45% in 2025, threatening life-saving nutrition services for at least 14 million children.

Primary Drivers

• Conflict: Ongoing wars and civil unrest, notably in Gaza and Sudan, have exacerbated food crises.
• Climate Shocks: Extreme weather events, including droughts and floods, have disrupted agricultural production.
• Economic Instability: Inflation, currency devaluation, and reduced humanitarian aid have further strained food systems

Current Context : The National Commission for Women (NCW), in collaboration with Yuvamanthan, launched the ‘Campus Calling’ programme at Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut.

About the Programme

• Objective: Enhance gender sensitivity, raise awareness on the prevention of sexual harassment, and address cybercrimes impacting students.
• Scope: Aims to reach over 1,000 universities and colleges across India.
• Implementation:
  • Two male and two female campus ambassadors will be appointed in each participating institution.

These ambassadors will lead gender sensitization initiatives and promote a culture of safety and respect.

Current Context : The historic Tanot Mata Temple, located near the India-Pakistan border in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, has reopened to visitors as border tensions have subsided.

About the Temple

• A 1,200-year-old temple dedicated to Tanot Rai, a manifestation of the Hindu goddess Hinglaj Mata.
• Gained prominence during the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars when it reportedly withstood heavy shelling without damage.
• Post-1971, the temple’s management was entrusted to the Border Security Force (BSF).
• Houses a Vijay Stambh (Victory Pillar) commemorating India’s victory in the 1971 war.
• Unexploded bombs from the wars are displayed in the Tanot Museum within the temple premises.

Observed annually on 22 May.

Aim : to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.

Theme : “Harmony with nature and sustainable development”

Significance

• Biodiversity provides essential resources:
  • Fish contribute 20% of animal protein to about 3 billion people.
  • Over 80% of the human diet is plant-based.
  • Approximately 80% of people in rural areas of developing countries rely on traditional plant-based medicines for healthcare.

General Studies Paper-2

Context: India and the European Union (EU) chief negotiators have concluded another round of talks on the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) and agreed to reach a deal in two phases.

India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Negotiations Overview

• Negotiation Resumption: Talks resumed in June 2022 after an 8-year hiatus (stalled in 2013 due to market access disagreements).
• Objective: To finalize a comprehensive trade agreement covering goods, services, investments, and geographical indications.
• Negotiation Structure: The agreement will be concluded in two phases, following India’s phased approach used in previous FTAs (e.g., with Australia).
  • This is partly due to the volatile global trade environment, including US tariff actions.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the European Commission President agreed to seal the deal by the end of this year.

Key Focus Areas

• Market Access: Duty cuts demanded by the EU in automobiles, medical devices, wines, spirits, meat, and poultry.
• Services and Investments: The talks focused on areas like market access offers in goods, services, and investment.
• Regulatory Aspects: Stronger Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) framework.
• Agreements on sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, customs, government procurement, and sustainability.

Potential Benefits

• Increased competitiveness for Indian exports like ready-made garments, pharmaceuticals, steel, petroleum products, and electrical machinery.
• Stronger investment protection and clearer dispute settlement mechanisms.
• Enhanced bilateral cooperation in innovation and sustainable development.

India-EU relations

• Political cooperation: India-EU relations date to the early 1960s, and a cooperation agreement signed in 1994 took the bilateral relationship beyond trade and economic cooperation.
  • The first India-EU Summit, in 2000, marked a watershed in the evolution of the relationship.
  • At the 5th India-EU Summit at The Hague in 2004, the relationship was upgraded to a ‘Strategic Partnership’.
• Economic cooperation : India’s bilateral trade in goods with the EU was USD 137.41 billion in 2023-24, making it the largest trading partner of India for goods.
  • EU is India’s largest trading partner for goods, 17% of India’s exports go to the EU and 9% of EU exports come to India.
• Other areas of cooperation:
  • The India-EU Water Partnership (IEWP), established in 2016, aims to enhance technological, scientific, and policy frameworks in water management.
  • In 2020, there was an agreement for research and development cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy between the European Atomic Energy Community and the Government of India.
• India and the EU established the Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in 2023. The TTC is a forum for the two parties to collaborate on trade, technology, and security. The TTC’s goals.

Current Context : The International Energy Agency (IEA) released its Global EV Outlook 2025, highlighting significant growth in electric vehicle (EV) adoption worldwide, with notable trends and projections for the coming years.

Key Findings

• Global Sales: In 2024, global EV sales reached a record 17 million units, accounting for over 25% of total car sales.
• Regional Leaders:
  • China: Continues to lead with 11 million EVs sold in 2024, representing nearly 50% of global sales.
  • Southeast Asia & Latin America: Countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and Brazil are emerging as new growth hubs for EV adoption.
• Market Projections: EVs are expected to comprise over 40% of global car sales in the near future, despite market uncertainties.
• Manufacturing Dominance: China remains the global leader in EV production, contributing over 70% of total output.
• Two & Three-Wheelers: These segments are the most electrified, with significant growth observed, particularly in developing countries.

India’s Position

• Adoption Rate: India’s EV growth trails behind Southeast Asia and Latin America, despite some progress in increasing sales.
• Three-Wheelers: India leads in electric three-wheeler adoption, with approximately 20% year-on-year growth in 2024, supported by initiatives like PM E-DRIVE.
• Challenges: The country faces hurdles such as inadequate charging infrastructure and the need for stronger policy support to accelerate EV adoption.

Current Context : In May 2025, the central United States experienced a series of severe weather events, including multiple tornado outbreaks, resulting in significant fatalities and widespread destruction across several states.

About Twisters

• Definition: “Twister” is a colloquial term for a tornado—a rapidly rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground.
• Formation: Tornadoes form when warm, moist air collides with cold, dry air, creating atmospheric instability. This leads to strong updrafts and wind shear, causing the air to spin vertically.
• Characteristics: Tornadoes can reach wind speeds up to 250 miles per hour (approximately 400 km/h) and are often funnel-shaped.
• Geographical Prevalence: The majority of tornadoes in the U.S. occur in “Tornado Alley,” particularly around the Gulf of Mexico, which provides a significant moisture source.

Current Context: The World Health Organization has confirmed a polio outbreak in Papua New Guinea, marking the first such occurrence since 2018.

About Polio:

• A highly infectious disease caused by the poliovirus.
• Transmitted person-to-person through the fecal-oral route, contaminated water or food.
• Primarily affects children under 5 years of age.
• Symptoms include fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness of the neck, and pain in limbs.
• Can lead to total paralysis in severe cases.

Current Context: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), in collaboration with the World Monuments Fund India and the TCS Foundation, has completed the restoration of Rajon ki Baoli, a 16th-century stepwell located in Mehrauli Archaeological Park, New Delhi.

About Rajon ki Baoli:

• Built by: Daulat Khan, an Amir in the court of Sikander Lodhi, in 1506 AD.
• Architecture: Four-tiered stepwell exemplifying Indo-Islamic architecture.
• Purpose: Originally constructed to store water for drinking and cooking purposes.

Restoration Efforts:

• Part of the Historic Water Systems of India initiative, aligning with the World Monuments Fund’s Climate Heritage Initiative.
• Involved cleaning, desilting, structural repairs, and water quality improvements using traditional materials and techniques.

Current Context: Recently, Israel conducted airstrikes on the Hodeida and Al-Salif ports in Yemen, which are under Houthi control, in response to missile attacks launched towards Israel.

About the Ports:

• Location: Western Yemen on the coast of the Red Sea.
• Significance: Together with Ras Issa, these ports handle about 70% of Yemen’s imports and 80% of humanitarian assistance.

Background:

• The Houthi rebels have been involved in ongoing conflicts in the region and have launched missile attacks towards Israel.
• The Israeli strikes aimed to disrupt the Houthis’ capabilities to carry out further attacks.