Govt forms expert groups to upgrade Project Tiger scheme

• The Union Government has constituted four expert working groups to review and modernise 50 years of policy decisions under Project Tiger, as the programme completes its golden jubilee.

Project Tiger scheme:

• Project Tiger is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Government of India focused on conserving the tiger and its habitats through a network of protected tiger reserves using a core–buffer strategy.
• Launched in: 1973 (one of the world’s earliest large-scale species conservation programmes)

Organisations involved:

• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) – Nodal ministry
• National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) – Statutory body overseeing implementation

Aim:

• To ensure long-term survival of viable tiger populations in natural habitats.
• To conserve biodiversity and ecological integrity while balancing people-oriented development in buffer areas.

Key features of the scheme:

• Tiger Reserves Network: Expanded from 9 reserves (1973) to 51 reserves across 18 tiger-range states, covering ~2.23% of India’s geographical area

Core–Buffer Strategy:

• Core: Inviolate areas with legal status of National Park/Sanctuary
• Buffer: Multiple-use landscapes promoting coexistence and livelihoods
• Statutory Backing: NTCA functions under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
• Financial Support: Central assistance for habitat management, protection, monitoring, and community development
• Scientific Monitoring: Periodic All-India Tiger Estimation using camera traps, landscape ecology, and prey-base assessments

What the new expert groups will do?

• Four zone-wise working groups (North, South, East, West).
• Review 28 NTCA policy decisions taken over 50 years.
• Assess tiger population trends, prey base, regional pressures.
• Identify outdated practices, gaps in Centrally Sponsored Schemes.
• Recommend future-ready policies for the next 25 years.
• Strengthen coordination between NTCA and national scientific institutions.

50 Years of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976

• Enacted in February 1976, the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act (BLSA) marked an important milestone in equality in the Indian society.

Constitutional and Legal Framework against Bonded Labour

• Constitutional: Articles 21, 23, and 24 of the Indian Constitution protect against bonded labour.
• Legal: The BLSA, 1976 abolishes the system, while Section 143 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 penalizes trafficking and forced labour.

Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976

• Completely abolished the bonded labour system and declared all forms of bonded labour illegal.
• Cancelled all existing bonded debts and mandated immediate release and freedom of all bonded labourers.
• Protection from eviction of freed bonded labourers from lands they occupied.
• District-level enforcement by District Magistrates and Vigilance Committees to identify, release, and rehabilitate bonded labourers.
• Rehabilitation, through Central and State-level programmes, offering financial assistance, land, housing, and livelihood support.
• Rescue operations through periodic surveys and rescue drives that have identified and released lakhs of bonded labourers over decades.

Why Does Bonded Labour Persist?

• Persistent poverty, lack of formal contracts and weak regulation in the informal sector enable exploitative work.
• Caste hierarchies and discrimination mean SC/ST communities are disproportionately affected.
• Data shows only ~300,000 freed/rehabilitated since 1978, indicating gaps in enforcement.
• Low conviction rates and a lack of a victim-centric approach fails to act as a deterrent.

Conclusion

• A coordinated strategy combining legal reforms, robust monitoring, rehabilitation support, and social awareness is essential to eradicate bonded labour. Sustained political will and community participation will be the true determinants of lasting change.

Moon’s Mons Mouton

• A study by ISRO’s Space Applications Centre has identified a safe landing patch near the Moon’s Mons Mouton for Chandrayaan-4, India’s first lunar sample return mission.

Moon’s Mons Mouton:

• Mons Mouton is a large flat-topped lunar mountain massif near the Moon’s south pole, officially named by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).

Location:

• Situated in the south polar region of the Moon.
• Lies close to the rim of the South Pole–Aitken (SPA) Basin, one of the largest and oldest impact basins in the Solar System.
• Around 160 km from the lunar south pole.

Origin:

• Believed to have formed as part of the rim uplift of the South Pole–Aitken basin following ancient massive asteroid impacts.
• Represents exposed deep lunar crust, making it scientifically valuable.

Key Features:

• Spans nearly 100 km in width.
• Rises about 6,000 metres above surrounding terrain.
• Characterised by rugged topography, steep elevation gradients, craters and boulder fields.
• Experiences unique illumination conditions, with areas receiving near-continuous sunlight and others in permanent shadow.
• Visible during favourable libration even through amateur telescopes.

Significance:

• Chandrayaan-4: Identified as a promising region for India’s first lunar sample return landing, with manageable slopes, low boulder density and adequate sunlight.
• Lunar science: Provides insights into the early Moon’s formation and impact history.
• Future missions: Falls within regions of interest for NASA’s Artemis programme and other international missions.
• Resource potential: Proximity to permanently shadowed regions raises prospects for studying lunar volatiles (water ice).

Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD)

• India has begun Phase I human clinical trials of a new fully indigenous vaccine against Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), developed under ICMR-led collaboration.

Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD):

• Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) is a tick-borne viral haemorrhagic fever, first identified in Kyasanur Forest of Karnataka, and is associated with high fever, weakness and sometimes fatal complications.

Region found in:

• Endemic to the Western Ghats region of India.
• Reported mainly from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa and Maharashtra.

Vector (Mode of transmission):

• Transmitted primarily through the bite of hard ticks (Hemaphysalis spinigera).
• Humans can also get infected through contact with infected animals, especially monkeys.
• No human-to-human transmission.

Symptoms:

• Incubation period: 3–8 days.
• Sudden onset of high fever, chills, headache.
• Severe muscle pain, vomiting, gastrointestinal symptoms.
• In some cases, bleeding manifestations.
• 10–20% patients experience a second phase with neurological symptoms such as tremors and mental disturbances.

Treatment:

• No specific antiviral cure available.
• Management is supportive, including fluid therapy, oxygen support, blood pressure control and treatment of secondary infections.
• Case fatality rate: around 3–10%, higher without timely medical care.

Foundation Ceremony of Amaravati Quantum Valley Held

• Amaravati is being developed as a major hub for quantum research and innovation, under National Quantum Mission.

About National Quantum Mission (NQM)

• Image showing Domains of Four Thematic Hubs
• Aim: To seed, nurture and scale up scientific and industrial R&D and create a vibrant & innovative ecosystem in Quantum Technology (QT).
• Quantum Technology uses qubits as the basic unit of information instead of binary bits (0 and 1).
• Budget Allocation: ~₹6,000 crore (2023–24 to 2030–31)

Objectives

• Developing intermediate-scale quantum computers: With 20-50 physical qubits within 3 years, scaling up to 1,000 qubits within 8 years.
• Quantum Communications: Satellite-based secure communications over 2,000 km and inter-city Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) networks.
• Advanced Sensing & Metrology: Creating high-sensitivity magnetometers and atomic clocks for precision navigation.
• Synthesizing next-gen materials: Like superconductors and topological materials for fabricating qubits.

Significance of NQM

• Strategic and security Necessity: Facilitate unhackable quantum encryption and QKD to protect defense, banking, and digital infrastructure.
• Global Standing: Positions India among a select group of elite nations with dedicated quantum missions.

Sectoral Transformation

• Healthcare: Enable precision radiation therapies, faster drug discovery, and personalized medicine.
• Economy: Expected to drive job creation, support startups, and boost India''s space economy.

United States–India Interim Trade Agreement

• India and the United States have announced a framework for a United States–India Interim Trade Agreement, marking a major breakthrough in reciprocal market access and tariff realignments.

United States–India Interim Trade Agreement:

• The U.S.–India Interim Trade Agreement is a temporary, outcome-oriented trade framework designed to deliver early harvest commitments on tariffs, market access, and non-tariff barriers, while negotiations continue for a full-fledged Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).

Aim:

• To establish reciprocal and balanced trade based on mutual interests.
• To expand market access for goods, agriculture, technology, and energy.
• To enhance supply-chain resilience and economic security.
• To pave the way for a comprehensive BTA with durable trade rules.

Key Features of the Interim Trade Agreement:

• Tariff Liberalisation by India: India will eliminate or reduce tariffs on U.S. industrial goods and a wide range of agricultural products, including ethanol by-products (DDGs), oilseeds, fruits, nuts, wine, and spirits.
• Reciprocal Tariff Framework by the U.S.: The U.S. will apply a reciprocal tariff rate of 18% initially on select Indian exports, with a pathway to tariff removal on priority sectors such as generic pharmaceuticals, gems & jewellery, and aircraft parts upon successful conclusion.
• Relief from National Security Tariffs: Removal of U.S. Section 232 tariffs on Indian aircraft parts, steel, aluminium-linked items, and preferential tariff-rate quotas for automotive components.
• Rules of Origin: Jointly agreed rules to ensure that trade benefits accrue primarily to India and the U.S., preventing third-country circumvention.
• Non-Tariff Barrier (NTB) Reforms: India commits to easing long-standing barriers in medical devices, ICT goods, and agricultural imports, including import licensing and standards recognition.
• Standards & Conformity Cooperation: Both sides will align technical regulations, testing, and conformity assessment procedures to improve ease of doing business.
• Digital Trade Commitments: Agreement to address discriminatory digital trade practices and establish a pathway for ambitious digital trade rules under the BTA.
• Supply Chain & Economic Security Alignment: Cooperation on export controls, investment screening, and countering non-market policies of third countries.
• Strategic Purchases & Technology Trade: India plans to purchase USD 500 billion worth of U.S. energy, aircraft, critical minerals, and technology (including GPUs for data centres) over five years.

PM Modi’s Official Visit to Malaysia

• PM Narendra Modi recently concluded a two-day official visit to Malaysia to further strengthen the India-Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Key Outcomes of PM Modi’s Visit to Malaysia

1. Defence and Security Cooperation

• Fleet Maintenance: India and Malaysia established the Su-30 Forum to exchange technical data and maintenance expertise for their joint Sukhoi-30 fleets.
• Strategic Planning: The Defence Cooperation Committee (MIDCOM) established the Strategic Affairs Working Group (SAWG) to oversee long-term defence planning.
• Security Framework: Both nations institutionalised the Malaysia-India Security Dialogue and signed a new MoU on Anti-Corruption to combat transnational crime and financial fraud.
• Sensitive Cooperation: An Exchange of Notes on National Security was finalised to formalise cooperation on sensitive matters.

2. Economy and Technology Partnership

• Digital Governance: The Malaysia-India Digital Council (MIDC) framework was formalised to advance policy cooperation in AI, Fintech, and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
• Payment Integration: India and Malaysia finalised the agreement to link UPI with Malaysia’s PayNet to enable seamless cross-border payments for tourists and businesses.
• Currency Settlement: Both sides agreed to settle trade in local currencies (INR and Malaysian ringgit) to reduce dependence on foreign exchange.
• Chip Collaboration: An Exchange of Notes linked IIT-Madras with the Advanced Semiconductor Academy of Malaysia to integrate semiconductor supply chains.

3. Social, Cultural and Welfare Engagement

• Worker Security: ESIC and PERKESO signed an agreement to legally guarantee social security benefits for Indian workers in Malaysia.
• Cultural Studies: Universiti Malaya established a permanent Thiruvalluvar Centre for Indian Studies to promote research on the Tamil language.
• Creative Industry: An Audio-Visual Co-Production Agreement allows joint film production with simplified regulatory and legal clearances.
• Health Regulation: An Exchange of Notes on Healthcare formalises cooperation in drug regulation and pharmacopoeia recognition.
• Disaster Resilience: A new MoU on Disaster Management was signed to facilitate the sharing of expertise in search-and-rescue operations.
• Wildlife Conservation: Malaysia ratified the Framework Agreement to become a founding member of the India-led International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA).

Overview of India-Malaysia Bilateral Relations

• Geostrategic Role: Malaysia is a crucial “pivot state” in India’s Act East Policy due to its location at the strategic Strait of Malacca and South China Sea.
• Partnership Status: Bilateral relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2024, reflecting deep political and security trust.
• Trade Scale: Bilateral trade reached $19.5 billion in FY 2024-25, making Malaysia India’s third-largest trading partner in ASEAN.
• Trade Asymmetry: The trade balance remains heavily in Malaysia’s favour due to India’s large imports of palm oil and electronics.
• Export Basket: Petroleum products, agricultural produce, organic chemicals, and aluminium.
• Import Basket: Palm oil, mineral fuels, and electrical machinery.
• Defence Framework: The Malaysia-India Defence Cooperation Committee (MIDCOM) serves as the apex body guiding defence engagements.
• Joint Exercises: The armed forces regularly conduct Harimau Shakti (Army), Samudra Laksamana (Navy), and Udar Shakti (Air Force).
• Diaspora Bridge: Malaysia hosts the world’s second-largest Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) community (excluding NRIs) after the USA.
• Strategic Convergence: Both nations align on counter-terrorism, UNCLOS adherence in the Indo-Pacific, and Global South solidarity.
• Friction Points: Relations face occasional irritants over Zakir Naik’s extradition, palm oil price volatility, and Malaysia’s economic proximity to China.

RBI Proposes Compensation for Digital Fraud Victims

The Reserve Bank of India has proposed a compensation framework for victims of small-value digital frauds up to ₹25,000.

• Target Scope: It specifically targets fraud below ₹50,000, which accounts for approximately 65% of all digital fraud cases.
• Compensation Quantum: Victims are eligible for compensation of up to ₹25,000 or 85% of the loss, whichever is lower.
• Frequency Cap: The scheme offers a one-time relief per customer to discourage habitual negligence.
• Eligibility Criteria: Unlike previous rules, it covers inadvertent credential sharing (negligence), provided the transaction was not mala fide.
• Funding Mechanism: Payouts will be sourced from the Depositor Education and Awareness (DEA) Fund, which currently holds a surplus of ~₹85,000 crore.
• Liability Sharing: The model enforces a “skin in the game” approach to distribute the financial burden
• Customers: Absorb 15% of the loss (deductible) to ensure continued vigilance.
• Banks: Contribute a proposed share (~15%) to incentivise robust security protocols.
• RBI: Covers the residual balance (~70%) via the DEA Fund, subject to the ₹25,000 cap.

About Depositor Education and Awareness (DEA) Fund

• Statutory Basis: RBI established the DEA Fund in 2014 under Section 26A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
• Corpus Source: Banks must transfer the credit balance of any account remaining inoperative or unclaimed for 10 years or more to this fund.
• Claimant Rights: The transfer to the DEA Fund does not extinguish the depositor’s right to reclaim their funds with applicable interest.
• Interest Accrual: RBI pays interest on these unclaimed amounts, which banks must pass on to the depositor upon final settlement.
• Utilisation Scope: Fund primarily supports depositor awareness programmes and is proposed to fund compensation for small-value digital frauds.
• Discovery Mechanism: RBI launched the centralised UDGAM portal to enable public search of unclaimed deposits across participating banks.

Revised Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) Draft

• India removed the proposed fuel-efficiency concession for small cars in the revised Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) draft, tightening emission norms from April 2027.

About Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE)

• CAFE specifies average fuel efficiency targets for all passenger vehicles sold by a manufacturer.
• The norms aim to decrease India’s oil imports and lower carbon emissions while promoting the use of electric, hybrid, and flex-fuel vehicles.
• Applicable to M1 passenger cars, which have up to nine seats and weigh no more than 3,500 Kg.
• The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) enforces compliance under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001, and it was first notified in 2017.
• Manufacturers can earn, trade, or carry forward CAFE credits to meet emission targets.

CAFE-III Norms

• It will be applied from FY28 to FY32, replacing the current CAFE-II norms.
• It uses the new formula 0.002 × (W – 1170) + c, where the constant c decreases every year (FY28: 3.7264 → FY32: 3.0139), making targets tighter.

Changes Made in the New Draft

• Small-Car Exemption Removed: The proposed fuel-efficiency relaxation for petrol cars weighing ≤909 kg was withdrawn to prevent firm-specific advantages and ensure uniform compliance pressure.
• Weight Bias Curbed: The revised draft reduces over-compensation linked to vehicle weight, narrowing the gap in permissible emission targets between light and heavy vehicle fleets.
• Steeper Reduction Path: Emission norms now follow a significantly sharper decline trajectory, compelling manufacturers to deliver real-world efficiency gains rather than paper compliance.

National Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission

• Context (PIB): A nationwide Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission was launched from the Food Legumes Research Centre (FLRP), Madhya Pradesh, under the chairmanship of the Union Agriculture Minister.

Core Features of the Pulses Mission

• Seed-to-Market Focus: Mission adopts an end-to-end value chain approach covering seed research, on-farm practices, assured procurement, processing, and organised market access.
• Cluster Model: Pulses cultivation is organised in geographically contiguous clusters to enable collective input supply, common agronomy practices and direct linkage with processors and markets.
• Seed Reforms: Seed release and distribution are decentralised to states and farmer networks, ensuring location-specific varieties and faster dissemination.
• Research–Farmer Linkage: The FLRP campus integrates ICAR–ICARDA research directly with farmers, enabling rapid adoption of high-yielding and disease-resistant pulse varieties.
• Value Addition Orientation: Mission explicitly shifts focus from raw pulses to protein-rich value-added products, encouraging local processing and branding.

Key Challenges Faced

• Declining Acreage: Area under pulses fell from 29.3 million ha (2016–17) to ~27.4 million ha (2023–24).
• Low Productivity: Average pulses yield in India remains around 850–900 kg/ha, far below the global average of 1,200–1,300 kg/ha, reflecting rain-fed dependence and input gaps (FAO).
• Import Dependence: India imported ~2.8–3 million tonnes of pulses annually (2022–24), exposing domestic markets to global price volatility and forex outflows (DGFT data).
• Price Volatility: In bumper harvest years, market prices of chana and tur often fall 20–30% below MSP, discouraging farmers despite official price support.
• Processing Deficit: Less than 10% of pulse production is processed near farm gates, forcing long-distance transport and reducing farmers’ share in consumer prices.

Roadmap for Pulses Self-Reliance

• Pulse Mills Expansion: Establish 1,000 pulse mills nationwide with up to ₹25 lakh subsidy per unit, enabling decentralised processing, reduced transport costs and local employment creation.
• Farmer Incentives: Farmers in identified clusters will receive quality seed kits and ₹10,000 per hectare assistance for model farming to encourage pulses acreage and technology adoption.
• Productivity Enhancement: Focused R&D on chickpea, lentil, pigeon pea, urad and moong through early-maturing and disease-resistant varieties to raise yields and reduce climate risk.
• Centre–State Coordination: States will prepare crop- and region-specific pulses roadmaps aligned with agro-climatic needs, strengthening cooperative federalism in agriculture.

Current Status of Pulses in India

• Global Position: India is the world’s largest producer, importer and consumer of pulses, accounting for ~24–25% of global production, ~27% of consumption, and ~13–15% of global imports.
• Foodgrain Share: Pulses occupy ~20% of India’s total foodgrain area but contribute only ~7–9% of total foodgrain output, reflecting persistent yield gaps.
• Seasonal Pattern: Pulses are grown in both Kharif and Rabi seasons, with Rabi pulses contributing around 60–62% of total production, led by gram and lentil.
• Import Surge: India’s pulse imports in FY25 are estimated at ~6.5–6.8 million tonnes, the highest level in nearly a decade, driven by domestic supply tightness.
• Yellow Pea Dependence: Yellow pea imports crossed ~2.0 million tonnes in FY25, accounting for about 30–32% of total pulse imports, as duty-free access and price arbitrage encouraged inflows.

Rat-Hole Mining in Meghalaya

• 27 workers died in an explosion at an illegal rat-hole mine in Thangkso, East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, triggering renewed enforcement action.
• The practice continues despite an NGT ban imposed in 2014 and reiterated in 2015.

Rat-Hole Mining

• A coal extraction method involving digging narrow tunnels or pits (deep as 400 feet) using Primitive tools like pickaxes, shovels, and baskets to access thin coal seams.
• Predominantly practised in Meghalaya, with incidents reported in Assam.

Types of Rat-Hole Mining

1. Side-Cutting: Horizontal tunnels on hill slopes to extract coal.
2. Box-Cutting: Vertical pits followed by horizontal tunnels to access coal seams.

Why it Continues Despite the Ban?

• Economic Compulsion: Rat-hole mining offers daily wages of ₹800–1,200, nearly 2–3 times higher than average MGNREGA wages in Meghalaya (~₹250/day).
• Thin Coal Geology: Over 90% of coal seams in Meghalaya are <2 metres thick, making mechanised mining unviable and sustaining dependence on manual rat-hole methods.
• Weak Enforcement: Meghalaya police recorded 477 violations of the NGT ban between 2014–2018, reflecting low deterrence and limited prosecutions.
• Political–Bureaucratic Nexus: Despite the ban, illegal coal trade persisted; Meghalaya continued exporting coal worth ₹700+ crore annually (pre-2019), indicating systemic regulatory capture.
• Migrant Labour Supply: In major accidents, 60–70% of deceased miners were migrants from Jharkhand, Assam and neighbouring states, highlighting distress-driven labour inflow.

Measures Taken to Stop Illegal Rat-Hole Mining

• Criminal Enforcement: After major accidents, FIRs have been registered for culpable homicide, violations of the MMDR Act and the Explosive Substances Act, leading to arrests of mine owners and operators.
• High Court Monitoring: The Meghalaya High Court took suo motu cognisance and appointed the Justice (Retd) B.P. Katakey Committee (2022) to continuously monitor illegal coal mining.
• Judicial Prohibition: The National Green Tribunal banned rat-hole mining in Meghalaya in 2014 as unscientific and unsafe, a prohibition later upheld by the Supreme Court.

Sharda River Corridor Project

• The Uttarakhand government launched the Sharda River Corridor, a major infrastructure and tourism initiative to transform the Sharda (Kali) riverfront.
• It includes the redevelopment of Sharda Ghat, a city drainage system, a heliport at Banbasa, and the Kiroda Nala Ecological Corridor to restore biodiversity.

About Sharda River

• It originates near Kalapani in Uttarakhand, on the eastern slopes of the Nanda Devi massif in the Great Himalayas, at an elevation of 3,600 metres.
• It is called the Kali River in its upper course and the Mahakali in Nepal. It becomes the Sharda River after reaching the plains at Banbasa (Uttarakhand).
• Major Tributaries: Includes the Dhauliganga (East), Goriganga, Sarju, and Ladhiya on the Indian side, and the Chameliya and Ramgun in Nepal.
• Confluence: The Sharda River joins the Ghaghara River (left-bank tributary of the Ganges) near Chauka Ghat in Uttar Pradesh.
• International Boundary: The Sugauli Treaty (1816) defined the Kali River as the western boundary between India and Nepal.
• Hydroelectric Projects: The river hosts the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project, a bilateral India-Nepal initiative governed by the 1996 Mahakali Treaty.
• Ecological Significance: The river flows through Dudhwa National Park, providing critical habitat for the endangered Mahseer fish and the Gangetic dolphins.

Chabahar Port

• The Government of India informed Parliament that it has fully paid its $120 million commitment towards developing Iran’s Chabahar Port.
• Chabahar Port is located at the mouth of the Gulf of Oman in Iran’s Sistan-Balochistan province, near Pakistan’s China-operated Gwadar Port.
• It is Iran’s only oceanic and first deepwater port, offering direct access to global maritime trade routes.

Port Terminals: It comprises two main terminals—

1. Shahid Kalantari: This terminal was developed in the 1980s to diversify Iran’s trade routes away from the Strait of Hormuz.
2. Shahid Beheshti: It is developed and operated by India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) to facilitate trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia.

• Connectivity: The port serves as the maritime gateway for the INSTC and connects to the India-built Zaranj-Delaram Highway in Afghanistan, enabling access to Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif.
• India’s Utility: The port provides India with a secure, direct trade route to Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan.
• Significance: The port is considered a critical “Diamond” in India’s Necklace of Diamonds strategy, directly countering China’s “String of Pearls” influence (particularly Gwadar Port).

Avian Influenza (H5N1 Bird Flu)

• Avian Influenza (H5N1) has resurfaced in Tamil Nadu, causing more than 1,000 crows to die in Chennai.
• Avian Influenza is a highly contagious viral disease caused by Influenza Type A viruses, primarily affecting domestic poultry and wild birds.
• The viruses are classified by two surface proteins, Hemagglutinin (H) and Neuraminidase (N), which regulate entry into and exit from host cells.
• Strains are categorised as Low Pathogenic (LPAI), causing mild symptoms, and Highly Pathogenic (HPAI), which spreads rapidly and causes high mortality.

About H5N1

• The H5N1 subtype is an HPAI virus that causes severe disease and high mortality in poultry.
• It undergoes frequent mutations through antigenic drift (small changes) and antigenic shift (major changes), increasing the risk of cross-species transmission.
• The virus primarily affects birds but can also infect mammals such as tigers, seals, minks, & dairy cows.
• Human infection: Rare but with a high fatality rate of approximately 60%; symptoms include severe respiratory distress and often progress rapidly to viral pneumonia.
• Global Spread: Wild aquatic birds are natural reservoirs of the virus, spreading it along migratory routes.
• Management: Involves culling infected bird populations, maintaining strict biosecurity, and administering antiviral drugs such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) to humans.
• Framework in India: The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) implements the National Action Plan, which mandates surveillance and compensation for culled birds.
• The National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal serves as the nodal laboratory for the definitive diagnosis of H5N1.
• International Oversight: The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the WHO collaborate to monitor outbreaks and update global vaccine compositions.

Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2025

• The Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2025 report has been released by the Portulans Institute, an independent, non-profit research institute in Washington, DC.
• The report assesses the network-based readiness of 127 economies using 53 indicators across four pillars —Technology, People, Governance, and Impact.
• Global Leaders: The United States topped the list, followed by Finland and Singapore, highlighting their dominance in digital readiness.
• India’s Position: India ranked 45th globally, improving by 4 positions from 2024. It ranked 1st in AI scientific publications, annual telecom investment, ICT services exports, and E-commerce legislation.
• Income Benchmark: The NRI 2025 report notes that India’s network readiness exceeds income-level expectations, placing it second among lower-middle-income countries.
• Key Drivers: The report attributes India’s rise to affordable mobile data, large-scale digital infrastructure projects like 5G rollout, and a thriving AI talent pool.

Administrative Scorecards for Union Secretaries

The Cabinet Secretariat introduced ‘administrative scorecards’ for the first time to assess the performance and efficiency of Union Secretaries.

• Objective: To eliminate administrative delays and enhance accountability, in line with the “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance” vision.
• Assessment Framework: The system measures performance on a 100-mark scale across parameters like file disposal, scheme expenditure, and grievance redressal.
• Weighted Metric: The Secretariat assigns the highest weightage (20%) to file disposal to ensure prompt decision-making within departments.
• Negative Marking: The framework incorporates negative marks for lapses such as excessive foreign visit expenditure and delayed payments to MSMEs.
• Discretionary Marks: The Cabinet Secretary may award discretionary marks for exceptional contributions or innovative work beyond routine duties.
• Benchmarking: This mechanism enables departments to compare current performance with historical data and with other ministries.
• Significance: The reform shifts qualitative reporting to quantitative measures, moving bureaucracy towards performance-based management.

India–Malaysia IMPACT Framework

• Prime Minister of India during his visit to Malaysia, articulated IMPACT as the guiding framework of India–Malaysia relations while addressing the Indian diaspora in Kuala Lumpur.

About India–Malaysia IMPACT Framework:

• IMPACT stands for India–Malaysia Partnership for Advancing Collective Transformation, a strategic vision articulated to deepen bilateral cooperation by aligning economic growth, digital integration, cultural ties, and people-centric development.

Aim:

• To accelerate the pace and scale of bilateral cooperation.
• To deliver tangible benefits for citizens of both countries.
• To position India–Malaysia ties as a driver of Asia’s collective growth.

Key Features:

• Economic & Technology Cooperation: Over 100 Indian IT companies operate in Malaysia, generating employment and strengthening digital ecosystems.
• Digital Connectivity: Launch of UPI in Malaysia and collaboration through the Malaysia–India Digital Council, enhancing fintech and cross-border digital payments.
• People-to-People & Diaspora Linkages: Strong role of the Indian-origin community (second-largest globally), expansion of OCI eligibility up to 6th generation, scholarships, and cultural institutions like the Thiruvalluvar Chair/Centre.
• Cultural & Civilisational Bonds: Shared maritime heritage of the Indian Ocean, linguistic and cultural links (Tamil, Malay), and historical connections including INA legacy.
• Strategic & Regional Outlook: Partnership aligned with ASEAN centrality, Indo-Pacific stability, and shared commitment to inclusive growth.

Significance:

• Strategic Depth: Elevates India–Malaysia ties beyond transactional engagement to a values-based, future-oriented partnership.
• Digital Diplomacy: Positions India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (UPI) as a global public good.