Global Uranium Reserves

• Uranium is a key mineral for nuclear energy, supplying about 10% of the world’s electricity, and is shaping global energy security and geopolitics as clean energy demand grows.

Top 5 Countries with the Largest Uranium Reserves

• Australia: Largest uranium reserves globally with 3.6 million tonnes, home to some of the richest ore, making it the leading nuclear fuel resource nation.
• Kazakhstan: World’s top uranium producer, supplying about 40% of global output annually; holds nearly 3 million tonnes, mainly via in-situ leaching.
• Canada: Third in reserves with 1.7 million tonnes; the Athabasca Basin hosts the highest-grade uranium deposits in the world.
• Russia: Around 1.2 million tonnes of reserves, powering its civil nuclear plants and military programmes.
• Namibia: Africa’s uranium hub, with about 1 million tonnes, exports most of its supply to Europe & Asia.

Bihar’s Final Electoral Roll After SIR 

• The final electoral roll of Bihar now lists 7.42 crore electors, marking a 6% decline following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

• Deletion Reasons: Almost 99% of deletions were due to death, permanent migration, or duplication.
• Net Revision: Special Intensive Revision (SIR) removed 68.6 lakh names while adding 21.53 lakh new electors to the updated electoral roll.
• Deletion Stages: In the draft stage, there were 65 lakh deletions, which included 55% for migration, 34% for deaths, and 11% for duplication. The claims stage saw 3.66 lakh removals.
• Appeal Provision: Aggrieved persons can first appeal to the District Magistrate, with a second appeal to the Chief Electoral Officer under the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

Draft Promotion & Regulation of Online Gaming Rules 2025

• The MeitY released the draft Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules under Section 19 of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming (PROG) Act, 2025.

• Objective: The draft aims to set up a clear regulatory framework that promotes safe gaming and prevents gambling, addiction, and financial misuse.

Key Features of the Draft Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules

Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI)

• Regulatory Role: The draft rules create the Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI) as the central regulator for compliance, registration, and certification.
• Composition: OGAI will be chaired by an Additional Secretary from MeitY, with members from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
• Application Requirement: Online gaming Service providers must register with OGAI, submitting details on revenue models, safety features, and target audiences.
• Enforcement Powers: OGAI will decide which games are prohibited, regulate advertisements, and cancel registrations in cases of repeated violations.
• Certificate Validity: Registrations for e-sports and social games will be valid for five years, providing stability and operational predictability.
• Public Registry: OGAI will maintain a National Online Social Games and Esports Registry, listing registered firms and cataloguing games deemed prohibited money games.
• Appeals from OGAI: Decisions made by OGAI may be appealed to the Secretary of MeitY, who will act as the Appellate Authority.

Three Categories of Games

• Prohibited Games: Online games involving wagers, betting, or cash-convertible rewards will be banned to prevent financial exploitation and user vulnerability.
• E-sports Recognition: Competitive multiplayer games with predefined rules will be recognised under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, and must be registered with OGAI.
• Social Games: Recreational or learning-oriented games without monetary stakes can be voluntarily registered, ensuring age-appropriate content and safe gaming environments.

Role of Multiple Ministries

• Nodal Ministry: MeitY will serve as the nodal ministry for regulation, enforcement, and inter-ministerial coordination under the PROG Act, 2025.
• Esports Oversight: The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports will regulate e-sports by issuing tournament standards, guidelines, and offering targeted incentives for sector development.
• Social Games: The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting will establish codes of practice for online social games to ensure content is safe, educational, and age-appropriate.

Three-Tier Grievance Redressal

• Internal Mechanism: Online gaming platforms will set up internal grievance redressal systems with fixed timelines for resolution.
• Appellate Committee: Unresolved complaints will be escalated to the Grievance Appellate Committee established under the IT Rules, 2021.
• Final Appeal: Appeals from the Appellate Committee decisions are submitted to the Secretary of the MeitY, who functions as the final appellate authority.

Penalties and Enforcement

• Punishments: Offering or facilitating prohibited games will invite imprisonment for up to three years and fines of up to ₹1 crore.
• Staff Liability: Employees who enable violations will be personally accountable, incorporating individual responsibility into organisational accountability.
• Financial Transactions: Banks and financial institutions that facilitate payments for prohibited money games are also liable for penalties.
• Non-Bailable Offence: Violations linked to prohibited online games will be cognizable and non-bailable, giving authorities stronger enforcement powers.
• Site Blocking: The government can authorise officers to investigate and block access to websites of non-compliant platforms under Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000.

Health Ministry Advisory on Cough Syrups for Children

• The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has issued guidelines to States and UTs on the rational use of cough syrups in children.

• The advisory follows recent child deaths in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, allegedly linked to syrups containing Dextromethorphan.

Guidelines Issued by DGHS

• Most acute cough illnesses in children are self-limiting, requiring no drug intervention.
• Cough syrups must not be prescribed for children under two years.
• Older children may be used only after clinical evaluation, with the correct dosage and shortest duration, and without multiple drug combinations.
• Non-pharmacological measures like adequate hydration and rest should be preferred.
• Manufacturers must adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) with pharmaceutical-grade excipients when procuring and dispensing.

Details of Contamination and Investigations

• The Union Health Ministry clarified that the syrups linked to child deaths were free from diethylene glycol (DEG) and ethylene glycol (EG).
• In Rajasthan, the formulation under scrutiny contained dextromethorphan, a compound not recommended for paediatric use.

Chinese Dominance in the Electrolyser Market 

• Electrolysers, vital for green hydrogen production, are witnessing rising Chinese dominance, creating supply chain and strategic concerns for India.

Significance of Electrolysers for India

• Green Hydrogen Mission: India aims to produce 5 MMT of green hydrogen by 2030, which necessitates the use of electrolysers.
• Energy Security: Electrolysers reduce dependence on 85% oil imports and costly Liquefied Natural Gas.
• Industrial Decarbonisation: Green hydrogen can cut 20% of emissions from hard-to-abate sectors.
• Export Potential: EU’s CBAM creates a market for India to be a green hydrogen export hub.
• Climate Goals: Supports India’s pledge to net-zero by 2070 (Panchamrit Goals).

Challenges Faced by India in the Electrolyser Market

• Cost Barriers: Current cost of green hydrogen is ₹300–400/kg, compared to ₹150/kg for grey hydrogen.
• Raw Material Dependence: Electrolysers need iridium & platinum (global supply <10 tonnes/year), with India importing >90% of such critical minerals.
• Technology Gap: India’s domestic manufacturing capacity is <1 GW, compared to China’s >20 GW electrolyser capacity (2024).
• Supply Chain Risks: China supplies 85% of global electrolysers, creating energy security risks.

Way Forward for Boosting Electrolyser Market in India

• Domestic Manufacturing: Expand electrolyser capacity under the PLI scheme for green hydrogen.
• Critical Mineral Strategy: Secure supply chains via Australia (lithium), Africa (platinum group metals), the Middle East (nickel, cobalt).
• Integrated Ecosystem: Hydrogen Corridors & Industrial Hubs connecting producers and consumers.
• Best Practice: EU Hydrogen Valleys model – local clusters linking production, storage, and end-use.

Government Shutdown in the United States

• The U.S. government faces its first government shutdown since 2019 after Congress failed to pass key budget appropriation bills amid deep partisan divisions.

• It resulted from a deadlock over key policy differences, primarily related to healthcare spending.

U.S. Government Shutdown

• A government shutdown takes place when Congress does not pass the annual appropriation bills before October 1, which marks the start of the new fiscal year.
• This causes a halt in federal operations owing to the absence of authorised funding.
• Legal Basis: The 1884 Antideficiency Act prohibits federal spending without Congress’s approval. A reinterpretation in 1980 made shutdowns mandatory whenever there is a funding lapse.
• Temporary Measure: Congress can avoid a shutdown by passing a Continuing Resolution (CR). It temporarily extends current funding levels until a full budget is approved.
• Historical Record: Since 1976, the U.S. has seen 20 shutdowns. The longest one lasted 35 days during 2018-19 under the Trump administration.

Reasons for the U.S. Government Shutdown

• Political Gridlock: Divided control of Congress and the Presidency often delay the passage of appropriation bills, leading to funding lapses and temporary shutdowns.
• Political Polarisation: Sharp partisan divisions in Congress hinder consensus on appropriation bills, especially when different parties control the House and the Senate.
• Policy Confrontations: Shutdown threats are used as leverage to extract policy concessions, as seen in disputes over healthcare subsidies in 2025 and border wall funding in 2018-2019.
• Structural Separation: The constitutional separation of powers enables legislative-executive deadlocks to persist, as neither branch automatically dissolves during funding lapses.

Consequences of the U.S. Government Shutdown

• Furloughs: Non-essential federal employees are put on temporary, unpaid leave. This disrupts regular administrative services and citizen services.
• Essential Services: Key sectors like defence, law enforcement, and air traffic control continue to operate. However, employees often work without immediate pay.
• Public Disruption: Federal agencies, research institutions, national parks & other organisations suspend operations. This leads to reduced public access, less regulatory oversight, and limited data collection.
• Exempt Programs: Social Security, Medicare, and other entitlement-based programs continue to function because they are funded through permanent laws, not annual budgets.
• Economic Impact: Long shutdowns hurt GDP growth, delay federal contracts, and lower both investor and global confidence in U.S. financial management.

Resumption of India-China Direct Flights

• India and China have decided to restart direct flights by late October 2025, in line with the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) winter schedule.

• Objective: The agreement aims to facilitate people-to-people exchanges and restore normal bilateral engagement between India and China.
• Historical Suspension: Direct flights were suspended in March 2020 because of India’s travel ban during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Extended Suspension: Although global restrictions were relaxed, flights to China remained suspended due to tensions after the Galwan clashes along the Line of Actual Control.

Safeguarding India’s Digital Economy

• India’s rapid digital transformation has boosted inclusion and convenience but also exposed citizens to growing cyber frauds, threatening trust in the digital economy.

Challenges Within the Digital Economy

• Rise of Cyber Frauds: Phishing, OTP/UPI scams, digital arrests, and identity theft are rising. E.g. Aadhaar data breach of 81.5 crore citizens (Global Risk Report).
• Social Engineering Vulnerability: Fraudsters manipulate emotions like fear, greed, and urgency. CERT-In flagged that 70% of reported online financial frauds in 2023 involved social engineering tactics.
• Institutional Gaps: RBI audit (2023) revealed 15% of small banks still had incomplete e-KYC records, enabling mule accounts and cyber police to remain undertrained and underequipped.
• Weak Monitoring: In 2023, the RBI flagged that only 38% of banks had AI-based anomaly detection systems in place. Large-value anomalies go unchecked while smaller spends often invite verification.
• Erosion of Trust: NCRB noted over 40% under-reporting of cyber frauds in 2023 due to low awareness and fear of harassment.

Way Forward

• Protection-First Framework: Place citizen safety and digital trust at the core of financial stability.
• Technology Driven Monitoring: Build personalised transaction profiles using AI and Machine Learning to flag anomalies like sudden high-value transfers or frequent debits.
• Stronger Cyber Policing: Equip police with global data-sharing and 24/7 rapid-response units.
• Bank Accountability: Enforce stricter KYC norms, audit mule accounts, secure customer data with Blockchain, and ensure quick victim compensation.

Rise in Private Sector Project Announcements

• Recent data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) show private sector project announcements reached a 15-year high in the first half of FY 2025–26, while government and foreign companies’ announcements declined sharply.

Key Trends from CMIE Data

• Private Investment: Private sector projects totalling ₹9.95 lakh crore were announced, showing a 30.4% increase compared to last year, marking the second-highest investment level for a half-year in 15 years.
• Domestic Share: Indian firms accounted for 94% of the total project value, indicating strong confidence and capital mobilisation among domestic investors.
• Government Slowdown: Central and State government project proposals declined to ₹1.51 lakh crore, a 71% drop, reaching their lowest in at least 15 years.
• Foreign Investment: Foreign announcements fell to ₹0.6 lakh crore, a 28% year-on-year decline and a five-year low. This also signifies the third consecutive half-year decline in foreign investment proposals.
• Global Contrast: According to UNCTAD, global FDI increased by 11% in 2024, indicating that the decline in India’s foreign initiatives is due to country-specific investor caution.

Biomedical Research Career Programme

• The Union Cabinet has approved Phase III of the Biomedical Research Career Programme.

Phase III of the Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP)

• It is a flagship initiative of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) in partnership with the Wellcome Trust (UK) and the DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV).
• Time Period: The programme will run from 2025-26 to 2030-31, with continued support till 2037-38.
• Funding: ₹1,500 crore, with DBT contributing ₹1,000 crore and Wellcome Trust ₹500 crore.

Key Focus of Phase III

• Early Career and Intermediate Fellowships in basic science, clinical research, and public health are tailored to researchers’ formative stages.
• Career Development Grants and Catalytic Collaborative Grants for 2-3 investigator teams with strong track records.
• Research Management Programme, to strengthen research, mentorship & international collaborations.

Banni Festival 

• Recently, four people died during the traditional Banni festival, also known as Karrala Samaram, in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.

• The Banni festival is an annual stick-fight ritual celebrated in Andhra Pradesh on Dussehra night.
• It takes place at the Mala Malleswara Swamy Temple in Devaragattu, located on the border between Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
• Mythological significance: The festival commemorates the victory of Lord Mala Malleswara Swamy (a form of Shiva) and Goddess Parvati (Malamma) over the demonic brothers Mani and Mallasura,
• Historical origin: The tradition is believed to have originated during the Vijayanagara Empire.

Bharat Mata on Currency

PM Modi unveiled a ₹100 commemorative coin to celebrate the RSS’s centenary, marking the first time Bharat Mata appeared on Indian currency.

• RSS founded in 1925 in Nagpur by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the RSS has grown into the world’s largest volunteer organization.
• In News – M.F. Husain Museum in Doha (MD): A museum dedicated to the life and work of M.F. Husain is set to open in Doha, Qatar. Often called “the Picasso of India,” he co-founded the Bombay Progressive Artists’ Group, integrating global avant-garde styles into modern Indian art.
• IR Japan – Japan’s First Woman PM (IE): Sanae Takaichi is set to become Japan’s first female Prime Minister following her election as the new leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Japan’s former PM Shigeru Ishiba resigned after the coalition lost its majority in both houses of parliament.