Answer: (b)

Current Context : At the 2025 SCO Summit, China announced major financial, technological, and educational initiatives to boost cooperation among member nations.

Relevant Data

Financial Support

• RMB 2 billion (USD 274 million) in grants to SCO members by 2025
• RMB 10 billion (USD 1.37 billion) in loans to SCO Interbank Consortium in 3 years

Livelihood Projects : 100 “Small and Beautiful” Projects in health, sanitation, education, and community welfare

Education and Human Resource

• Doubling of SCO scholarships from 2026
• Launch of SCO Innovative PhD Programme
• 10 Luban Workshops in 5 years
• 10,000 vocational training opportunities in advanced technology

Artificial Intelligence Cooperation

• Tianjin Declaration on responsible AI use
• Adoption of AI Development Cooperation Roadmap (Chengdu, 2025)
• AI showcase: Humanoid Robot “Xiao” assisted delegates

About SCO

• Established: 2001 (successor to “Shanghai Five”, 1996)
• Founding Members: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
• Expansion:
  • 2017 → India and Pakistan admitted as full members
  • 2023 → Iran became full member
  • 2024 → Belarus joined as full member
• Observers: Afghanistan, Mongolia, Belarus (before full membership)
• Dialogue Partners: Turkey, Egypt, Sri Lanka, UAE, etc.
• Secretariat → Beijing

OBJECTIVES & SIGNIFICANCE

• Promote regional cooperation in:
  • Security → countering terrorism, separatism, extremism (“Three Evils”)
  • Economy → trade, investment, energy, connectivity projects
  • Society → culture, science & technology, environmental protection
• Guided by the “Shanghai Spirit”: mutual trust, equality, consultation, cultural respect, mutual benefit
• Symbolises a multipolar world order, offering a platform for non-Western alignment.

Answer: (b)

Current Context : Ms. T.C.A. Kalyani, a 1991-batch ICAS officer, has been appointed as the 29th Controller General of Accounts (CGA).

About T.C.A. Kalyani

• Over 34 years of service in Indian Civil Accounts Service
• Expertise: Public finance, digital governance, transparency

Role of CGA

• Principal accounting advisor to the Government of India
• Functions:
  • Maintain central govt. accounts
  • Prepare monthly and annual statements
  • Implement financial reforms
  • Monitor expenditure and receipts
  • Strengthen transparency and accountability

Answer: (c)

Current Context : On 1st September 2025, NCERT celebrated its 65th Foundation Day with new digital and inclusive education initiatives under NEP 2020.

Key Launches

Bal Vatika TV (PM eVidya Channel 35)

• For children aged 3–6 years
• Content on foundational literacy and numeracy
• Support for teachers, Anganwadi workers, and parents

DIKSHA 2.0

• AI-powered learning platform with 12-language support
• Features: Adaptive assessments, Read Aloud, Closed Captions, Translation tools
• Enables personalized learning

PRASHAST 2.0

• Enhanced disability screening tool
• Linked with UDISE+, APAAR ID, Swavlamban Card
• Facilitates early identification of divyang children

Kitab Ek Padhe Anek

• Inclusive textbooks for Classes 1–2
• Based on Universal Design of Learning (UDL) principles

Additional Initiatives

• VR Labs in NCERT demonstration schools
• PM eVidya Mobile App for multi-format content
• Primers Released: Hindi, Sanskrit, Ho-Hindi, Koya
• Odisha Heritage Book: Utkal Jananinkara Sujogya Santana
• Vocational Education Handbook by PSSCIVE

Answer: (a) 

Current Context : The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs launched Phase II of Niveshak Didi at Patelguda Panchayat, Hyderabad.

• Focus: Women-led financial literacy in rural India, through a community-driven, grassroots approach.

About Niveshak Didi

• A “for women, by women”
• Empowers rural women with financial knowledge to:
  • Make informed decisions
  • Protect savings from fraud
  • Use digital banking tools
  • Understand savings and safe investments

Strategic Impact & Goals

• Promotes financial inclusion under Digital India & Women-led Development.
• Builds confidence and self-reliance among rural women.
• Outcomes expected:
  • Stronger household financial planning
  • Wider use of secure digital platforms
  • Growth of community-led financial resilience

About IEPFA

• Statutory body under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
• Mandate:
  • Promote investor awareness
  • Protect citizens from financial fraud
  • Foster a financially literate society

Answer: (d)

Current Context : Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL), promoted by NHAI, signed an agreement with ICICI Bank.

• India’s first comprehensive MLFF tolling system to be implemented at Choryasi Fee Plaza, Gujarat (NH-48).

About MLFF System

• A barrier-less tolling technology.
• Uses:
  • FASTag reading
  • Vehicle Registration Number (VRN) via RFID Readers & ANPR Cameras

About NHAI

• Statutory body under Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.
• Established: 1995 (under NHAI Act, 1988).
• Composition:
  • Chairman + max. 5 full-time Members
  • 4 part-time Members (Secretaries of RT&H, Expenditure, Planning, and DG Roads).
• Mandate: Develop, maintain, and manage National Highways.

Answer: (b)

Current Context : The Energy Policy Institute (EPIC), University of Chicago, released the AQLI 2025 Report.

• Finding: Air pollution is India’s most severe health threat, cutting average life expectancy by 3.5 years.

About AQLI

• Developed by Michael Greenstone & EPIC.
• Measures particulate pollution (PM2.5) impact on life expectancy.
• Combines global pollution data with long-term health impact research.

Relevant Data – India (2025 Report)

• Average loss: 3.5 years of life expectancy.
• Comparison:
  • Nearly 2× impact of malnutrition.
  • 5× impact of unsafe water and sanitation.
• Population exposure:
  • 100% of Indians live in areas above WHO safe limit (5 µg/m³).
  • 46% Indians live in areas above India’s own standard (40 µg/m³).

Region-wise Findings

• Delhi-NCR: 8.2 years lost (highest).
• Bihar: 5.6 years lost.
• Haryana: 5.3 years lost.
• Uttar Pradesh: 5 years lost.

Global Context

• South Asia is the most polluted region.
• 5 levels rose by 2.8% in 2023 after a dip in 2022.
• On average, air pollution cuts 3 years of life expectancy in South Asia.

Answer: (a)

Current Context : Tirupati Urban Development Authority (TUDA) launched Operation Swarna to remove encroachments, revive flow, and rejuvenate the Swarnamukhi River in Andhra Pradesh.

About Swarnamukhi River

• Location: Andhra Pradesh (Rayalaseema region).
• Origin: Eastern Ghats near Pakala village, Chittoor district (elevation ~300 m).
• Length: ~130 km.
• Basin Area: ~3,225 sq. km.
• Course: Flows northeast through Tirumala, Tirupati, and Srikalahasti, then drains into the Bay of Bengal.
• Religious Significance: Passes by Tirumala and Srikalahasti temples.
• Tributary: Kalyani River (Kalyani Dam – 1977).
• Rainfall Dependence: Monsoon-fed, independent river (not part of a major river system).

 About Operation Swarna

• Launched by: Tirupati Urban Development Authority (TUDA).
• Aim:
  • Clear encroachments.
  • Rejuvenate river ecology.
  • Ensure sustainable water flow and religious access points.