National Judicial Appointment Commission (NJAC)

• Recently, Supreme Court agreed to consider a PIL questioning the Collegium system for appointment of judges in the top court and the High Courts and seeking revival of the National Judicial Appointment Commission (NJAC).

The NJAC Act, 2014

• Constitutional Amendment: Established by the 99th Constitutional Amendment to replace the Collegium system for higher Judiciary appointments.
• Composition: Appointments to be recommended by a six-member commission: the CJI, two senior Supreme Court judges, the Union Law Minister, and two eminent persons.
• Judicial Verdict: Struck down in the Fourth Judges Case (2015), for violating ''Basic Structure'' (Judicial Independence).

Concerns with the Collegium

• Opaqueness and Accountability Deficit: Collegium decisions are not answerable to any external authority—neither Parliament nor the executive.
• Exclusionary Nature: Collegium has been criticised for under-representation of women judges, inadequate presence from marginalized communities, etc.
• Constitutional ambiguity: Collegium system emerged from judicial interpretation (Three Judges Cases) undermining the principle that Parliament should determine institutional design.
• Vacancy: Persistent standoffs between the Collegium and Executive delay appointments.

Conclusion-

• While the Collegium system safeguards judicial independence, the concerns highlight the need for reform, such as a restructured National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) with safeguards, or a collegium-plus model ensuring transparency, accountability, and diversity.

Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPM)

• The Union Cabinet has approved a ₹7,280-crore Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPM) to reduce import dependence and build India’s first integrated REPM ecosystem.
• A first-of-its-kind national initiative to develop a complete domestic supply chain—from rare-earth oxides to metals, alloys and finished high-performance REPMs.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Mines (with oversight from Department of Atomic Energy & NITI Aayog)

Targets:

• Establish 6,000 MTPA of integrated REPM manufacturing capacity
• Select 5 beneficiaries via global competitive bidding (each up to 1,200 MTPA)
• Build India’s first complete REPM value chain

Key features:

Financial Outlay: ₹7,280 crore

• A total of ₹7,280 crore is allocated to build India’s first large-scale, end-to-end Rare Earth Permanent Magnet (REPM) manufacturing ecosystem.

₹6,450 crore: Sales-linked incentives (for 5 years)

• ₹6,450 crore will be disbursed as incentives based on actual magnet sales, encouraging high-quality production and global competitiveness.

₹750 crore: Capital subsidy for plant setup

• ₹750 crore supports the heavy initial investment needed for oxide-to-metal conversion, alloying, and sintering technologies.

Duration: 7 years

• The entire scheme runs for 7 years, ensuring enough time for infrastructure creation, capacity building, and sustained production.

2-year gestation to build facilities

• Manufacturers get two years to construct integrated plants, install metallurgical systems, and stabilise rare-earth processing lines.

5-year incentive period

• For five years after commissioning, companies receive sales-based incentives to scale production and reduce import dependence.

Integrated Manufacturing Covered

• The scheme supports the full rare-earth value chain under one roof, promoting efficiency, cost reduction, and supply-chain security.

Rare-earth oxides → metals → alloys → sintered REPMs

• It enables India to convert raw rare-earth oxides into metals, process them into alloys, and finally produce high-performance NdFeB sintered magnets.

Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPM):

• REPMs (especially NdFeB magnets) are the strongest commercial magnets globally, made by sintering rare-earth-based alloys like Neodymium-Iron-Boron.

Rare Earth Permanent Magnets:

• They are a type of permanent magnet made from alloys of rare earth elements.
• Rare Earth Elements are a group of seventeen elements, including the fifteen lanthanides on the periodic table, along with scandium and yttrium.
• Properties: exceptional magnetic strength, high energy density, compact size with superior performance compared to other types of magnets.No viable substitutes in high-performance applications
• Applications: electric vehicles, renewable energy, electronics, aerospace, and defence sectors

Current Status in India:

• India has 6.9 million tonnes REE reserves (5th largest globally)
• Yet contributes ~1% to global production
• REPM demand is almost fully import-dependent
• China controls ~90% of global REPM supply

Commonwealth Games 2030 in India

• India has been formally ratified as the host of the 2030 Commonwealth Games, with Ahmedabad (Amdavad), Gujarat as venue.
• This will be the centenary edition of the Games, marking 100 years since the first British Empire Games were held in Hamilton, Canada, in 1930.

Commonwealth Games 2030:

• The Commonwealth Games are a quadrennial multi-sport event featuring athletes from member nations of the Commonwealth of Nations, blending Olympic-core sports with Games-specific disciplines like netball, lawn bowls and squash.

Brief History:

• Origin: Proposed in the late 19th–early 20th century as a “Pan-Britannic” sporting contest and first realised as the Inter-Empire Championships (1911).
• Formal start: The first British Empire Games were held in Hamilton, Canada, in 1930, with 11 countries and 400 athletes.

Name evolution:

• British Empire Games (up to 1950)
• British Empire and Commonwealth Games (1954–1966)
• British Commonwealth Games (1970–1974)
• Commonwealth Games (from 1978 onwards), reflecting decolonisation and equality among members.

2030 Host: Ahmedabad (Amdavad)

• The Commonwealth Sport General Assembly in Glasgow (Nov 2025) ratified Amdavad/Ahmedabad, Gujarat as host of the 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games, after a vote of 74 member nations and territories.
• Ahmedabad’s bid builds around the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave and Narendra Modi Stadium sports infrastructure, aligning also with India’s long-term ambition to bid for the 2036 Olympics.
• India has been a regular participant since 1934, and first hosted the Games in Delhi 2010, which remain India’s best-ever multi-sport performance, finishing second on the medals tally.

About The Commonwealth:

• The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of independent and equal countries, many of which were formerly part of the British Empire, cooperating on the basis of shared values rather than formal political control.

Historical Evolution:

Early Commonwealth

• At the 1926 Imperial Conference, Britain and the Dominions agreed they were equal in status, forming what was then called the British Commonwealth of Nations—linked by allegiance to the British monarch but not ruled by the UK.

Birth of the Modern Commonwealth

• After World War II, many territories became fully independent.
• India’s independence in 1947 created a new situation: India wanted to be a republic, yet remain in the association.
• The London Declaration (1949) allowed republics and countries not owing allegiance to the British Crown to remain members, effectively creating the modern Commonwealth of Nations.
• Membership later expanded to countries with no direct colonial link to Britain

Sirpur Archaeological Site

• The Chhattisgarh government is preparing the 5th-century Sirpur archaeological site in Mahasamund district for a UNESCO World Heritage nomination, introducing digital exhibits, and battery-operated transport.

Sirpur Archaeological Site:

• Sirpur is a 5th–12th century multi-religious archaeological city known for its extraordinary concentration of Hindu temples, Buddhist viharas and Jain monuments, revealing the cultural and political vibrancy of Dakshina Kosala.

Location:

• Situated on the banks of the Mahanadi River, about 2 hours from Raipur, in Mahasamund district, Chhattisgarh.

History of the Site:

• First identified in 1882 by Alexander Cunningham; major excavations resumed in the 1950s, expanded in the 1990s and 2003 onwards.
• Served as the capital of Dakshina Kosala under the Panduvanshi and later Somavamshi kings (6th–8th century).

Excavations have revealed:

1. 22 Shiva temples
2. 5 Vishnu temples
3. 10 Buddhist viharas
4. 3 Jain viharas

• Archaeological evidence shows Sirpur was both a religious centre and a flourishing commercial-urban hub with palaces, markets, residential quarters, stupas and public infrastructure.
• Architecture of Sirpur: Sirpur displays a rare blend of Shaiva, Vaishnava, Buddhist and Jain architectural traditions, reflecting deep social harmony and artistic excellence.

Key Architectural Highlights:

Lakshmana Temple (7th century):

• One of India’s finest brick temples, built on a stone jagati.
• Sculpted brick shikhara, intricate door jamb carvings, Vishnu depictions and Maithuna panels.

Surang Tila Complex (7th century):

• Dramatic panchayatana temple set on a high 9-metre terrace accessed by 37 steps.
• Four Shiva shrines with differently coloured lingams and one Ganesha shrine.
• 32-pillared mandapa and signs of ancient seismic damage.

Teevardev Buddha Vihara (8th century):

• A large monastery with a monolithic Avalokiteshvara statue, inscriptions and ornate door jamb.
• Shows rare blending of Buddhist and Hindu iconography.

Baleshwar Temple (8th century):

• Carved pillars, lintels, elegant female figures and a marble Shiva lingam.

Gandheshwar Temple (18th century):

• A living temple enriched with reused sculptures from Sirpur’s ruins—Buddha images beside Shiva lingams—symbolising cultural continuity.

Urban Planning Features:

• Palace complexes, marketplaces, monasteries, stupas, meditation cells, water systems and a 6th-century market complex.

 IAU Approves New Names for Martian Landforms

• A 3.5-billion-year-old crater on Mars has been officially named after Indian geologist M.S. Krishnan, following approval by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
• The IAU has also approved five Kerala-based names- Valiamala, Thumba, Bekal, Varkala and Periyar—for nearby craters and a Martian valley.

Key Features of the Naming Decision:

• The crater is 3.5 billion years old and lies in Xanthe Terra, a region where researchers identified evidence of ancient glacial and river activity.

Names follow IAU rules:

• Large craters - named after deceased scientists with major contributions.
• Small craters - named after towns/villages with cultural or historical relevance.

The proposal was submitted by Kerala-based scientists from IIST and Government College Kasaragod.

Significance:

• This is the first time Kerala place-names have been adopted for features on Mars.
• Highlights India’s growing role in planetary science and space research.
• Immortalises M.S. Krishnan, the first Indian Director of the Geological Society of India.

India’s LPG consumption has surged to new height.

• India’s LPG consumption has surged to 31.3 MMT in FY25, supported by expanded household access under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) and rising refill demand.
• Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG): Fuel mix of propane and butane (~40:60 ratio) stored under pressure as liquid; used for cooking, industry & transport.

Trends in India’s LPG Sector:

• Rising Demand: LPG consumption increased from 21.6 MMT (FY17) to 31.3 MMT (FY25) & is projected to reach 33–34 MMT in FY26.
• Policy Impact: Household access expanded under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana as refill rates rose from 3.9 to 4.5 cylinders/yr, fuelled by better affordability, delivery networks and increasing reliance on LPG.
• Commercial Uptake: Industrial and commercial use grew from ~10% to ~16% of total demand, driven by food services, institutional kitchens and MSME clusters.
• Supply Gap: Domestic production rose from 11.2 MMT to 12.8 MMT (FY17–FY25) but imports climbed to ~20.7 MMT, keeping import dependence at 55–60%.
• Import Diversification: Middle East supplies ~91–93% of imports; the new India-US LPG agreement (2.2 MTPA) reduces regional reliance and strengthens energy security.

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana

• Overview: Launched in 2016 as a central sector scheme under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas to provide deposit-free LPG connections to women in low-income households.
• It aims to safeguard household health by reducing indoor air pollution by replacing unclean cooking fuels with clean and more efficient LPG.
• Eligibility: Adult women from BPL, SC/ST, Antyodaya, SECC-listed households, forest dwellers, migrants and island residents are eligible. Male members and households with no adult females are ineligible.
• Achievements: Over 10.33 crore new LPG connections and more than 238 crore cylinder refills availed in 9 years.

India–UAE Third CEPA Joint Committee Meeting

• India and the UAE successfully convened the third meeting of the Joint Committee under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in New Delhi.
• The CEPA was signed in 2022 to liberalise and integrate the economies of both nations. The India-UAE Joint Commission acts as the main body to assess progress and coordinate CEPA-related actions.

Key Highlights

• Trade Target: Recognising the rise in bilateral trade, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to achieve USD 100 billion in non-oil, non-precious metal trade by 2030.
• Gold TRQ: India informed the UAE about a competitive online bidding system for gold Tariff Rate Quota allocations under CEPA.
• Regulatory Talks: Discussions covered pharmaceutical trade facilitation, early signing of the Food Safety MoU, and anti-dumping measures to promote smooth trade.

India–UAE Relations

• Trade: UAE is India’s third-largest trading partner and second-largest export destination. Bilateral trade exceeded USD 100 billion in FY 2024–25, rising 19.6% year-on-year.
• Investment: UAE sovereign funds committed USD 75 billion to Indian infrastructure, supported by the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) signed in 2024.
• Energy Security: UAE remains India’s fourth-largest crude oil supplier and the only country storing oil in India’s Strategic Petroleum Reserves.
• Defence Ties: Cooperation involves high-level dialogues, exercises such as Desert Cyclone and Zayed Talwar, and maritime security coordination.
• Climate Partnership: India and the UAE jointly launched the Global Green Credit Initiative (GGCI) to promote sustainable practices globally.
• Diaspora: The 3.5 million Indian diaspora in the UAE strengthens cultural ties. The BAPS Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi symbolises mutual respect and cultural diplomacy.

Source:  (PIB)

Digital Sequence Information

• Digital Sequence Information (DSI) has become a key negotiation topic at the ongoing 11th Governing Body Meeting of the ITPGRFA in Lima, Peru.

Digital Sequence Information (DSI):

• Digital Sequence Information (DSI) refers to the digital representation of genetic material obtained from biological samples.
• Data Scope: It includes nucleic-acid sequences, protein structures, metabolic profiles, epigenetic markers, and other annotated biological information.
• Data Storage: DSI is stored in global public repositories such as GenBank (USA), EMBL-EBI (UK), and the DNA Data Bank (Japan) under the INSDC.

• Scientific Use: It enables genetic analysis without physical samples by utilising open-access databases and synthetic biology tools.
• ABS Gap: DSI remains outside bilateral Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) systems under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Nagoya Protocol.
• Cali Fund: COP16 (2024) in Colombia created the Cali Fund to administer fair and equitable benefit-sharing from commercial DSI use.

Advantages of DSI

• Accelerated Research: DSI speeds up scientific research by removing the need to collect biological samples for each study physically.
• Rapid Sharing: Global access to digital genetic data enables quicker development of diagnostics, vaccines, and targeted treatments.
• Reduced Barriers: Open-access database reduces research costs and eliminates the transport and permitting barriers linked to physical genetic material.
• Targeted Therapies: Large-scale digital analysis helps identify disease-specific markers for precise therapeutic design.

Challenges with DSI

• Unfair Access: Open-access databases allow commercial users to use genetic data without fair benefit-sharing with the source countries
• Regulatory Uncertainty: The absence of a legally binding definition and harmonised global rules complicates policy implementation.
• Traceability Challenge: Determining the origin and commercial pathway of a specific DSI sequence is expensive, complicated, and often impractical.
• Capacity Gap: Many developing countries lack adequate sequencing infrastructure and bioinformatics expertise, restricting their ability to leverage DSI.

India’s First Private Orbital Rocket Vikram-I

• PM Narendra Modi unveiled Vikram-I, India’s first private orbital rocket developed by Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace.
• Vehicle Design: Vikram-I is a four-stage, 20-metre-tall launch vehicle designed to serve the small-satellite market.
• The rocket can carry 350 kg to low Earth orbit (LEO) or 260 kg to sun-synchronous orbit (SSO).
• Structural Build: It uses an all-carbon fibre body and 3D-printed engines to reduce overall weight and enhance strength.
• Stage Propulsion: The first three stages use ‘Kalam’ solid-fuel motors, while the upper stage operates on ‘Raman’ hypergolic engines.
• Rapid Turnaround: The system supports complete assembly and launch within 24 hours from any designated launch site.
• Launch Legacy: Vikram-I follows Skyroot’s 2022 launch of India’s first-ever private (sub-orbital) rocket, Vikram-S.
• Orbital Rocket: An orbital rocket lifts a payload from Earth into a stable orbit. It must reach a horizontal velocity of about 28,000 km/h (17,500 mph) to remain in orbit.
• Suborbital Rocket: It follows a ballistic parabolic path and returns to Earth. It cannot achieve orbit because its speed and trajectory are insufficient for sustained orbital motion.

Safran Aircraft Engine Services India Facility

• PM Modi inaugurated the Safran Aircraft Engine Services India (SAESI) facility in Hyderabad to provide world-class engine maintenance and repair services.
• He also laid the foundation stone for an adjacent Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility for the M88 engines that power Rafale fighter jets.
• SAESI Facility: It is designed to service LEAP (Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion) engines, which power commercial aircraft like the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX.
• Capacity: The state-of-the-art facility aims to service up to 300 LEAP engines annually after reaching full operational capacity by 2035.
• Significance: It is a major step towards realising Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in the aviation sector and establishing India as a global aviation hub.
• The LEAP engine offers fuel-efficient, reliable propulsion for commercial aircraft, reducing CO₂ emissions, lowering operating costs, and minimising environmental impact.

H5N5 Bird Flu

For the first time, a human has died due to the H5N5 avian influenza virus in the USA.

H5N5 Avian Influenza

• Type: Influenza A virus subtype found primarily in wild waterfowl and poultry.

Genetic Makeup

1. H5: Haemagglutinin subtype (surface protein enabling cell entry)
2. N5: Neuraminidase subtype (surface protein enabling viral release)

• Difference from H5N1: Genome sequencing indicates H5N5 is genetically distinct from currently circulating H5N1 strains. Same H5 subtype but different N subtype (N5 vs N1). WHO data show that H5N1 human cases have exceeded 860 since 2003, while H5N5 has only had one confirmed case (in 2025).
• Transmission to Humans: Extremely rare; this is the first confirmed human infection. It occurs mainly through direct contact with infected birds. No evidence of human-to-human transmission so far.
• Symptoms: High fever, Severe respiratory illness, neurological symptoms and rapid deterioration.
• Treatment: Treatment relies on early use of neuraminidase inhibitors such as oseltamivir to reduce severity, supported by hospital-based care for respiratory distress.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is in focus due to rising global burden (projected +69% cases by 2040) and its inclusion under India’s National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD), 2021.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis:

• Nature: A progressive motor neuron disease (also called Lou Gehrig’s disease) causing degeneration of brain and spinal motor neurons, leading to muscle atrophy, paralysis and respiratory failure.
• Over 90% cases are sporadic, with onset typically from 55-75 years, and higher prevalence in males. Average life expectancy after diagnosis is 3-5 years.
• Symptoms: Early signs include fasciculations, limb weakness, dysarthria and dysphagia; advanced stages cause breathing difficulty, immobility, and may co-occur with frontotemporal dementia (FTD-ALS).
• Causes: Etiology unclear; linked to genetic mutations (e.g., C9ORF72), smoking, hypertension, and possible glial cell dysfunction.
• Treatment: Confirmed via Electromyography, nerve conduction, MRI, biopsies; no cure developed yet. Management includes multidisciplinary therapy, assistive devices, and palliative respiratory support.

“100-metre definition” of Aravalli Hills

A Forest Survey of India (FSI) assessment has revealed that the government’s new 100-metre height definition for Aravalli Hills - accepted by the Supreme Court—removes over 90% of the Aravalli landscape from protection.

Aravalli Hills:

• The Aravalli Hills are one of the oldest fold mountain ranges in the world, forming a major ecological barrier, wildlife corridor, and mineral-rich region of northern and western India.
• Located In: Extends from near Delhi through southern Haryana and Rajasthan to Gujarat, running roughly 670 km.

Formation:

• Formed during the Proterozoic era through ancient tectonic collisions, part of the Aravalli–Delhi orogenic belt.
• Once very high mountains, they have been heavily eroded over millions of years.

Geological & Physical Features:

• Typically, 300–900 m high, with the highest peak Guru Shikhar (1,722 m) in Mount Abu.
• Composed of quartzite, marble, granite, copper and zinc-bearing rocks.
• Generate rivers such as Banas, Luni, Sabarmati, and Sahibi.
• Act as a major barrier preventing sand, dust, and desertification from advancing eastward.

The “100-metre definition” of Aravalli Hills issue:

• The Supreme Court has accepted a recommendation from the Environment Ministry that only those landforms that rise 100 metres or more above their immediate surroundings (local ground level) will be counted as “Aravalli Hills.”
• If a hill is less than 100 m tall (from base to peak), it is not considered Aravalli under the new rule.
• Only tall hill sections remain protected and smaller hills lose protection.

Issues Highlighted by FSI Survey:

• New 100-metre definition excludes 90% of hills, leaving them unprotected.
• Earlier scientific criteria (slope + 30m height) would have covered around 40%, far more than the new definition.
• Lower hills (10–30 m) are critical windbreaks that stop sand and dust from the Thar desert.