SPARK 4.0 Initiative

• The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) launched the 4^th edition of SPARK 4.0 (2025–26) under the Ministry of Ayush.

SPARK (Studentship Program for Ayurveda Research Ken)

• SPARK is a flagship studentship program designed to promote research skills and a scientific mindset among undergraduate Ayurveda students nationwide.
• Target Group: It includes Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) students from colleges recognised by the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM).
• Research Support: Students get financial support to conduct independent research projects and receive a certification upon successful completion.
• Significance: It advances innovation in Ayurveda research aligned with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS)

• CCRAS is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Ayush, functioning as India’s apex organisation for promoting scientific research in Ayurveda.
• Objective: It aims to bridge traditional Ayurvedic knowledge with modern scientific methods.
• Research Scope: The Council’s work covers a broad range of studies, including medicinal plants, pharmacology, clinical research, and tribal health, for evidence-based progress in Ayurveda.

India to Restore Diplomatic Ties with Afghanistan

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced that India will upgrade its diplomatic presence in Afghanistan by reopening its embassy in Kabul.

• Ministerial Engagement: The announcement was made during his meeting with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, marking a move towards normalising relations with Afghanistan.
• Technical Mission: Since June 2022, India has maintained a technical mission in Kabul to coordinate humanitarian aid and oversee relief efforts.
• Restoration of Relations: The upgrade turns India’s technical mission into a full embassy, four years after it was closed following the Taliban’s 2021 takeover.

India-UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre

• India and the UK signed a strategic partnership to establish the India–UK Connectivity and Innovation Centre (CIC) to promote innovation in digital connectivity.

• Objective: The centre aims to promote inclusive, secure, and resilient digital communication between both nations; it also seeks to shape the global ecosystem for 6G and AI-enabled telecom systems.
• Implementation: It will be implemented under the UK–India Technology Security Initiative, jointly executed by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
• Key Feature: The CIC will serve as a bridge between academic research and industry application by supporting applied research through joint lab testing and field trials.
• Focus Areas: The centre will focus on three strategic domains over the next four years–
• AI-Driven Telecom: Using advanced AI tools to optimise telecom networks and enable innovative digital services.
• Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs): Developing satellite and airborne systems to ensure reliable, high-speed connectivity in rural and remote areas.
• Telecom Cybersecurity: Strengthening network security and promoting interoperable, resilient communication systems.
• Significance: The CIC strengthens India–UK digital cooperation under the Vision 2035 roadmap, advances 6G preparedness and aids in the development of global telecom standards.

India to Host UNTCC 2025

• The Indian Army will host the United Nations Troop Contributing Countries’ (UNTCC) Chiefs’ Conclave in New Delhi from October 14-16, 2025.

• It will bring together senior military leaders from 32 nations involved in UN Peacekeeping.

India’s Leadership in UN Peacekeeping

• Since its inception in 1948, India has been among the largest and most experienced troop contributors to UN peacekeeping missions.
• Over 2,70,000 Indian peacekeepers have served across 50 UN missions, often in high-risk zones.
• Indian contingents are known for their professionalism, gender inclusivity, and humanitarian outreach, including the deployment of the first all-women peacekeeping contingent in South Sudan.

Gaza Peace Summit 2025

• The US and Egypt co-hosted the Peace Summit on Gaza in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to end the war in Gaza and restore stability in the region.
• The summit followed a ceasefire agreement based on the US President’s 20-point peace plan for ending the Israel–Hamas conflict.
• Objective: To finalise an agreement, disarm Hamas and establish a new governing body in Gaza.
• Participation: Over 20 countries, including India, attended the summit, but representatives from Israel, Hamas, and the Palestinian Authority did not participate directly.
• Significance: The summit highlights renewed multilateral diplomacy in the Middle East and a shared global responsibility for post-conflict recovery.

Implications of Israel-Hamas Ceasefire on India’s Economy

• The Israel-Hamas ceasefire has revived hopes for reopening the Red Sea trade corridor, which has been disrupted for nearly two years by Houthi rebel attacks.

• While the truce may ease freight rates and stabilise maritime routes, its impact on India’s trade will depend on restoring security along the Red Sea corridor.

Implications for India

• Around 90-95% of India’s trade depends on foreign shipping lines, making it highly vulnerable to fluctuations in freight rates.
• Exporters of low-margin goods like textiles, marine products, footwear, and engineering items were hit hardest as profit margins shrank.
• Even before the crisis, India remitted over $100 billion annually as transport service payments, a figure that surged during the crisis.
• The Cape of Good Hope route significantly increased voyage duration and insurance costs, reducing export competitiveness.

Geopolitical and Strategic Dimensions

• The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), announced at the 2023 G20 Summit, also faced uncertainty due to prolonged regional tensions.
• IMEC, comprising an Eastern Corridor (India-Gulf) and a Northern Corridor (Gulf-Europe), aims to offer a 40% faster alternative to the Suez Canal route.
• The ceasefire may revive confidence in regional infrastructure projects, though stability in Yemen and the Red Sea remains critical.

Maritime and Shipbuilding Reforms as Government Response

• To reduce dependence on foreign carriers, the Centre approved a ₹69,725 crore shipbuilding package.
• Key components include:
• Extension of the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS) till March 2036 with a corpus of ₹24,736 crore.
• Introduction of a Shipbreaking Credit Note worth ₹4,001 crore.
• Creation of a National Shipbuilding Mission to coordinate domestic capacity building.
• The package aims to unlock 4.5 million Gross Tonnage capacity, create 30 lakh jobs, and attract ₹4.5 lakh crore investment.

PM Modi Launches Two Landmark Schemes for Farmers’ Welfare

• PM Narendra Modi launched the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses to enhance farm productivity, agricultural self-reliance, and food security.

Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (Pulse Self-Reliance Mission)

• The ‘Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses’ is a ₹11,440 crore Central Sector Scheme aimed at achieving self-sufficiency in pulses production.
• Objective: Reduce pulse imports (4.6 million metric tons in FY 2024), enhance farmers’ income, and ensure India’s nutritional security.
• Nodal Ministry: The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare is implementing the scheme over six years (FY 2025-31).

Targets of the Mission

• Production: Increase total pulse production to 35 MMT by FY 2030–31, up from 24 MMT in 2023-24.
• Expansion: Expand pulse cultivation area to 310 lakh hectares, compared to 275 lakh ha in 2024-25.
• Of this expansion, 35 lakh hectares will be derived from rice fallow and other diversifiable lands.
• Yield: The average yield is projected to rise to 1,130 kg per hectare from 881 kg/ha in 2023-24.

Interventions and Strategies

• Procurement: Guarantees 100% MSP procurement of Tur, Urad, and Masoor for the initial four years.
• NAFED & NCCF will jointly oversee procurement under the Price Support Scheme of PM-AASHA.
• Seed Distribution: Plans to supply 126 lakh quintals of certified, high-yield, climate-resilient seeds and distribute 88 lakh free seed kits.
• Infrastructure: Provides for 1,000 new processing units with subsidies of up to ₹25 lakh each to strengthen post-harvest value chains.
• Price Monitoring: Introduces a system to monitor international pulse prices, ensuring domestic price stability and farmer protection.

PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY)

• PMDDKY is a central sector umbrella programme under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare aimed at modernising farming in India.
• Governance Model: Modelled on NITI Aayog’s Aspirational Districts Programme, it emphasises data-driven and result-oriented agricultural governance.
• Aspirational Districts: It designates 100 Aspirational Agriculture Districts nationwide based on (a) low productivity, (b) moderate crop intensity, and (c) below-average agricultural credit access.
• Scheme Integration: PMDDKY consolidates 36 Central schemes from 11 departments to streamline agricultural support delivery.
• Implementation Mechanism: Each district will formulate a District Agriculture Development Plan overseen by local committees and monitored by a Central Nodal Officer.

Sawalkote Hydropower Project

• The Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab River in Jammu & Kashmir has received environmental clearance from Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• Implementing Agency: National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) Ltd.

Key Highlights of the Project

• This project marks the first major hydropower clearance on the Indus River system since India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan in April 2025.
• Designed as a run-of-the-river project, it will harness the Chenab’s natural flow without constructing a large storage dam.
• The project includes a 192.5-metre-high Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) gravity dam.
• With an installed capacity of 1,856 MW, the plant is expected to generate around 8,000 million units of electricity annually.

Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity (GEI) Target Rules, 2025

• MoEFCC notified the Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity (GEI) Target Rules, 2025, establishing India’s first legally binding framework for industrial emission reductions.

Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity (GEI) Target

• The GEI Target Rules are a set of legally binding mandates for carbon-intensive industries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions per unit of output.
• Scope: The rules apply to 282 industrial units across four sectors — Aluminium, Cement, Pulp and Paper, and Chlor-alkali.
• Definition: GEI is defined as the amount of greenhouse gas emitted per unit of output, measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e).
• Compliance Cycle: The first compliance phase spans FY 2025-26 and 2026-27, with sector-specific targets based on the 2023-24 baseline.

Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) Compliance

• Compliance: The GEI Target Rules implement the compliance framework under India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), 2023.
• Credit Mechanism: Units meeting their reduction targets earn tradable carbon credits, while non-compliant units must buy credits or pay environmental compensation.
• The environmental compensation is set at twice the average trading price of carbon credits.
• Institutional Oversight: The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) issues credits, and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) monitors compliance and enforces penalties within 90 days.

Significance of GEI Target Rules, 2025

• Climate Commitments: Supports India’s Paris Agreement goal to reduce GDP emission intensity by 45% from 2005 levels by 2030.
• Carbon Market: Implements the compliance segment of the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) to ensure accountability in emissions reduction.
• Clean Technology: Encourages industries to adopt energy-efficient and low-carbon technologies.
• Global Competitiveness: Strengthens India’s preparedness for international frameworks such as the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

Chowna Buku Chulu

Scientists have discovered a new Begonia species named Chowna Buku Chulu in Leparada district, Arunachal Pradesh, distinguished by its bright red leaves.

Chowna Buku Chulu

• Chowna Buku Chulu is a newly identified flowering Begonia species found in the Leparada district, Arunachal Pradesh.
• Trait: It features bright ruby-red leaves that enhance its ornamental appeal and market potential.
• Etymology: The name, meaning “Noble Red” in Sanskrit (Aryarakta), honours Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Chowna Mein.

Genus Begonia

• Begonia includes around 2,000 flowering plant species known for their colourful leaves and diverse ecological diversity.
• Habitat: These plants thrive in moist tropical and subtropical regions, usually under shaded, humid forest canopies.
• Adaptation: Their asymmetrical leaves with red undersides reflect light upward, aiding photosynthesis in low-light forest floors.
• Distribution: Begonias have a pantropical range across South America, Africa, and South and Southeast Asia. India has rich Begonia diversity, especially in the Eastern Himalayan states.
• Defence: Some species produce oxalic acid to deter herbivores and protect against grazing damage.
• Applications: Begonias have medicinal, ornamental, and dye-related uses. They contain phytochemicals with antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.

International Day for DRR 2025 (NOA)

The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is observed annually on October 13 to raise awareness of disaster risks and their mitigation. Theme: “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters“.

Maitri II Research Station

The Government of India has cleared the proposal for Maitri II, a new Antarctic research station to be established by January 2029.

Key Highlights of the Station

• Maitri II will become India’s fourth research station in Antarctica after Dakshin Gangotri (decommissioned), Maitri (1989), and Bharati (2012).
• Nodal Agency: The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), will lead the project’s operations.
• Location: It will be established in Eastern Antarctica, near Schirmacher Oasis, replacing the ageing Maitri base.
• Design & Planning: A German design firm has been selected through an international competition to develop the station’s blueprint and Detailed Project Report (DPR).
• It is designed as a green research facility and will use solar and wind energy for power generation.
• Budget: The project is estimated to cost ₹2,000 crore over seven years.

Strategic and Scientific Importance

• Strengthens India’s presence in Antarctica under the framework of the Antarctic Treaty System (1959) and the Indian Antarctic Act (2022).
• Enhances India’s contribution to climate change research, glacial monitoring, seismology, and polar biodiversity studies.

Kabad Se Kalakriti Initiative

• South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) built a model of the S-400 missile launcher system and a robotic soldier from industrial scrap under the Swachhta Hi Seva Campaign.
• The initiative is part of SECL’s flagship ‘Kabad Se Kalakriti’ programme, aligning with the national “Waste to Wealth” theme to turn industrial scrap into creative artworks.
• Materials: SECL used almost 800 kg of metal scrap, including old chassis, steel pipes, and other iron parts.
• Symbolism: The creations honour Operation Sindoor and serve as symbols of India’s defence innovation and eco-friendly waste reuse.

Siddi Community

• President Droupadi Murmu commended the Siddi community for reaching over 72% literacy and encouraged them to keep pursuing education for empowerment.
• The Siddis, also known as Sheedis or Habshis, are a primitive tribal group of African origin.
• They were brought from East Africa to India as slaves by Indian rulers & Portuguese traders between the 15^th and 17^th centuries.
• Distribution: They are mainly concentrated in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Religious Practices: They practice several religions, including Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity.
• Cultural Traditions: The Siddis are known for their Dhamal or Goma tradition, which combines African drumming and rhythms with Indian influences.
• Legal Status: Recognised as a Scheduled Tribe in the 2011 Census and classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Gujarat.