India’s Growing Import Burden: Escalating Costs of Pulses and Edible Oils Crisis for Pulse and Oilseed Farmers

·       Pulse and oilseed growers across India continue to struggle due to inadequate government procurement under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system. Unlike rice and wheat, which benefit from structured public procurement, crops such as moong, chana, masoor, and soyabean are often sold in open markets at rates far below their MSPs.

·       This lack of price assurance makes farmers vulnerable to volatile market conditions, often compelling them to sell at losses despite cultivating high-yield varieties. In regions with black cotton soil—naturally suited for pulses and oilseeds—farmers have limited crop options and are thus highly dependent on these underpriced crops.

·       Despite poor returns, many continue to cultivate them due to the absence of more profitable alternatives, highlighting a serious gap in agricultural policy support.

Record Pulse Imports Undermine Domestic Producers:

1.     Unprecedented Import Volumes in 2024–25: India’s pulse imports reached a record 7.3 million tonnes (mt) valued at $5.5 billion in 2024–25, exceeding the previous high of 6.6 mt ($4.2 billion) in 2016–17. This is a sharp increase compared to the average of 2.6 mt ($1.7 billion) annually between 2017–18 and 2022–23.

2.     Setback After Progress in Self-Sufficiency: India had made notable progress in achieving pulse self-sufficiency, with production peaking at 27.3 mt in 2021–22 and slightly dipping to 26.1 mt in 2022–23—thanks to improved short-duration chana and moong varieties. However, an El Niño-driven drought in 2023–24 severely impacted output, bringing it down to 24.2 mt, with only a modest recovery to 25.2 mt in 2024–25.

3.     Policy Response Spurs Imports, Hits Farmers: To combat rising food inflation—particularly double-digit increases in pulse prices by mid-2023—the government lowered import duties. This move led to a spike in imports, which in turn helped bring down inflation (from 3.8% in December 2024 to -8.2% in May 2025). However, this also pushed market prices below MSPs, negatively impacting farmers’ incomes.

India’s Edible Oil Woes: Rising Imports, Farmer Discontent

1.     Rising Import Dependence: India’s reliance on imported vegetable oils has surged dramatically over the past decade. Imports rose from 7.9 mt in 2013–14 to 16.4 mt in 2024–25, with the import bill climbing from $7.2 billion to $20.8 billion. Global disruptions, including the Russia-Ukraine war, have contributed to supply issues and price spikes.

2.     Heavy Dependence on Foreign Oils: In 2024–25, India’s vegetable oil imports included:

• 7.9 mt of palm oil (mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia)
• 4.8 mt of soyabean oil (largely from Argentina and Brazil)
• 3.5 mt of sunflower oil (sourced from Russia, Ukraine, and Argentina)

Meanwhile, domestic production of oils like cottonseed, rice bran, and maize remains stagnant at around 10 mt—resulting in over 60% import dependency.

3.     Tariff Cuts to Tame Inflation: To address vegetable oil inflation, which hit 17.9% in May 2025, the government halved the basic customs duty on crude palm, soyabean, and sunflower oil from 20% to 10%, lowering the overall import tariff from 27.5% to 16.5%.

4.     Global Market Outlook and Domestic Repercussions: The USDA forecasts global vegetable oil production to reach 235 mt in 2025–26, led by palm (80.7 mt) and soyabean oil (70.8 mt). With lower tariffs, India may see further increases in imports, including new volumes from the U.S.

5.     Domestic Farmers at Risk: The Soyabean Processors Association of India has warned that these cheaper imports could flood the Indian market, suppressing prices and discouraging farmers from growing oilseeds—especially soyabean—in the upcoming kharif season, potentially worsening the domestic supply situation.

Updated Green India Mission (GIM)

The Indian government has released a revised strategy for the National Mission for Green India, enhancing its focus beyond afforestation to include ecological restoration in environmentally sensitive areas like the Aravalli ranges, Western Ghats, the Himalayas, and mangrove zones. This revision strengthens GIM’s role in India’s broader climate action plan by addressing land degradation and promoting environmental resilience.

Overview and Objectives of GIM:

Launched in 2014 under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), the Green India Mission aims to:

• Increase forest and tree cover by 5 million hectares
• Improve the quality of forest cover across another 5 million hectares
• Restore degraded ecosystems and support forest-dependent livelihoods

Progress and Implementation:

Between 2015–16 and 2020–21, afforestation and plantation efforts were undertaken on 11.22 million hectares through various government schemes. From 2019–20 to 2023–24, ₹624.71 crore was allocated to 18 states, with ₹575.55 crore utilized for mission activities. Implementation is guided by ecological vulnerability, carbon storage potential, and the extent of land degradation.

Key Features of the Revised GIM

1.     Reasons for Update: The new roadmap responds to on-the-ground climate challenges, state-level feedback, and recommendations from scientific bodies. It adopts an ecologically tailored approach for different regions.

2.     Priority Regions: The revised plan focuses on restoring highly vulnerable landscapes, particularly:

• The Aravallis
• The Western Ghats
• The Himalayas
• Mangrove ecosystems

Restoration will follow locally suitable best practices for greater impact.

3.     Integration with Aravalli Green Wall Project: GIM will support the Aravalli Green Wall initiative, which aims to:

• Combat land degradation and dust storm risks in Delhi-NCR and Punjab
• Bridge 12 ecological gaps
• Rehabilitate 8 lakh hectares across 29 districts in four states
• Restore native flora, forests, grasslands, and water systems
• Create a 5-km-wide green buffer zone over 6.45 million hectares
• Project cost: ₹16,053 crore

4.     Focus on the Western Ghats: Efforts here will include afforestation, groundwater conservation, and rehabilitation of old mining areas, addressing damage from deforestation and illegal activities.

Land Restoration and Climate Strategy

India faces a major land degradation challenge, with nearly 97.85 million hectares affected as of 2018–19 (ISRO). Under its international climate pledges (UNFCCC), India has committed to:

• Establishing a carbon sink of 2.5–3 billion tonnes of CO₂ by 2030
• Restoring 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030

Natural landscapes like forests, wetlands, grasslands, and mountains play a key role in carbon absorption and climate adaptation.

Carbon Sink Contributions and Potential: From 2005 to 2021, India has already created a carbon sink equivalent to 2.29 billion tonnes of CO₂. The revised GIM identifies open forests as high-impact restoration areas, potentially capturing 1.89 billion tonnes of CO₂ over 15 million hectares.

Projected Impact: By aligning various greening schemes and increasing plantation coverage, GIM could expand forest and tree cover to 24.7 million hectares, potentially generating a carbon sink of 3.39 billion tonnes by 2030—surpassing India’s current climate targets.

India’s Green Hydrogen Mission: Domestic Focus Strengthens as Export Outlook Dims

·       Overview of the Green Hydrogen Sector: India’s green hydrogen sector continues to grow steadily, with industry stakeholders remaining optimistic about its transformative potential in the country’s clean energy transition. Despite international market setbacks, green hydrogen is gaining momentum domestically.

·       Shift Toward Domestic Development: With global demand hampered by geopolitical instability and uncertain policy signals from key regions, India is now emphasizing internal demand creation, infrastructure development, and regulatory clarity. The sector’s long-term viability is underscored by its strategic relevance for decarbonizing high-emission industries like steel, fertilizers, and maritime transport.

National Green Hydrogen Mission: Key Elements:

·       Launched in 2023, the National Green Hydrogen Mission is India’s central initiative to establish itself as a major green hydrogen producer and exporter. With a total budget of ₹19,744 crore, the mission targets the creation of 5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of green hydrogen capacity by 2030.

·       One of its core components, the SIGHT programme (Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition), supports domestic electrolyser manufacturing. To promote transparency, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) introduced a certification system in April 2025 to verify the authenticity of green hydrogen at production sites.

Challenges in the Global Market:

·       India’s export ambitions are facing significant headwinds. Projects like ReNew’s green ammonia plant in Odisha have been affected by declining global demand, largely driven by geopolitical tensions and wavering policy frameworks in major markets such as the US and EU.

·       The rollback threat to US policies like the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)—now challenged by a Senate proposal known as the “Big Beautiful Bill”—has further weakened investor confidence. European initiatives, including Germany’s Hintco tenders under the H2Global Foundation, have also seen limited industry interest, reflecting broader uncertainty.

·       Efforts to Build Global Trade Access: To navigate trade-related hurdles, India is pursuing logistical collaborations with European ports like Rotterdam and Antwerp. Simultaneously, discussions around free trade agreements (FTAs) with Europe now aim to reduce tariffs on Indian green hydrogen and its derivatives. Nevertheless, the short-term export outlook remains uncertain, prompting a strategic pivot toward domestic markets.

·       Domestic Demand as the Growth Engine: Recognizing the export slowdown, the Indian government is working to stimulate internal demand. A recent tender for 800,000 tonnes of green hydrogen attracted full industry participation, indicating growing domestic interest. SECI (Solar Energy Corporation of India) is overseeing another tender for 700,000 tonnes, particularly targeting fertilizer production.

·       Pilot programs are also underway in steel, shipping, and public transport. Hydrogen fuel cell buses are being tested in cities including Ladakh to assess practical performance. Some experts suggest introducing mandatory green hydrogen quotas for industries like fertilizers to accelerate adoption.

Cost Barriers and Viability Issues:

The main hurdle to wider adoption is the high cost. Green hydrogen currently costs $4–$5 per kg, compared to $2.3–$2.5 per kg for fossil-fuel-based grey hydrogen.
A joint report by CII, Bain & Company, and RMI cites underdeveloped supply chains, high capital costs, and insufficient scale as key reasons. Recommendations for scaling include:

• Blending green hydrogen into grey hydrogen or natural gas networks
• Targeting niche users such as glass, ceramics, and chemical sectors
• Leveraging public procurement (e.g., for green steel) to drive demand and reduce costs

Inclusive Education for Children with Disabilities

The Government has signed a three-party Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). This aims to enhance inclusive education for children with disabilities (CWSN) by reforming curricula, improving accessibility, and fostering institutional collaboration.

What is Inclusive Education?

Inclusive education means children with and without disabilities study together in the same setting. It involves modified teaching methods and curricula to meet diverse learning needs, as mandated by the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016.

Key Statistics:

• 7% of children (ages 0–19) in India have disabilities — Census 2011.
• Only 0.98% of enrolled primary students are CWSN — UDISE+ 2019–20.
• 21 lakh CWSN supported under Samagra Shiksha (2018–19).
• 27,774 special/resource teachers deployed — Samagra Shiksha.

Why Inclusive Education is Necessary

• Legal Right: Article 21A and the Right to Education Act (2009) guarantee free, compulsory education for all children aged 6–14, including those with disabilities.
• Promoting Equity: With over 29 million out-of-school children in South Asia (UNESCO), many with disabilities, inclusive education ensures no one is excluded.
• Social Inclusion: Learning together helps reduce stigma, promotes empathy, and supports societal acceptance of people with disabilities.
• Economic Participation: Quality education empowers CWSN to contribute to the economy and innovation.
• Global Obligations: India is committed to CRPD (2007), Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), and National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, all of which promote inclusive and equitable education.

Government Interventions

• Tripartite MoU (2025): Agreement between DEPwD, NIOS, and NCERT to align curricula and recognise DDRS-run schools as Special Academic Institutions for Education of the Disabled (SAIEDs).
• NEP 2020: Mainstreams disability inclusion across educational stages, focusing on access and equity.
• Samagra Shiksha: Provides ₹3,500 per CWSN annually, additional stipends for girls (Classes I–XII), trained educators, and home-based learning.
• Barkha Series: Inclusive reading materials in digital and print formats by NCERT, using Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
• RPWD Act 2016: Requires accessible school infrastructure and provision of assistive devices.
• Home-Based Learning: Offers personalised education up to Class XII for children with severe disabilities under Samagra Shiksha.

Major Challenges

• Lack of Quality Data: UDISE+ does not offer granular data on disability type or severity, affecting planning and intervention.
• Infrastructure Gaps: Most schools lack ramps, Braille resources, accessible toilets, and inclusive learning materials.
• Insufficient Teachers: Only about 27,700 special educators exist nationwide, far below what’s needed.
• Low Enrolment Rates: Fewer than 1% of primary students are CWSN, indicating serious access issues.
• Social Attitudes: Stigma, limited awareness, and hesitancy among parents hinder school participation.
• Uneven Implementation: Adoption of inclusive education varies significantly between states due to weak enforcement and oversight.

Way Forward

• Better Data Collection: Use Washington Group questions in UDISE+ for more detailed and globally comparable data.
• Increase Investment: Meet NEP’s target of spending 6% of GDP on education, with dedicated funds for inclusion.
• Accessible Infrastructure: Ensure all public schools have barrier-free facilities — classrooms, toilets, and play areas.
• Teacher Development: Include UDL and disability inclusion in teacher training programs and B.Ed courses.
• Robust Monitoring: Develop measurable SDG 4 indicators and track inclusion outcomes at both national and state levels.
• Community Involvement: Promote awareness through parent-teacher associations, local NGOs, and community initiatives to support inclusive practices.

Predatory Pricing

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has issued the Determination of Cost of Production Regulations, 2025, introducing cost norms based on Average Total Cost (ATC) to curb predatory pricing and strengthen competition safeguards.

What is Predatory Pricing?

Predatory pricing occurs when a dominant company deliberately lowers its prices below production costs to push competitors out of the market and gain monopoly control.

Example: In the NSE vs. MCX case, NSE offered stock exchange services at very low prices to undermine its rival.

Key Characteristics:

• Prices are set below actual production costs.
• The goal is to force competitors out of the market.
• Consumers may benefit initially, but eventually face higher prices and fewer options once monopoly is established.

Forms of Predatory Pricing:

• Direct Predation: Selling below cost to eliminate competition.
• Cross-subsidisation: Using profits from one product to cover losses in another.
• Discriminatory Pricing: Offering selective price cuts to specific customer groups or regions.

Contributing Factors:

• Market Dominance: Large firms can afford sustained losses due to scale and deep capital.
• Network Effects: Platforms with strong user bases and data control make it hard for new players to enter.
• Weak Past Enforcement: Only one case (NSE-MCX) successfully proven prior to 2025.
• Regulatory Gaps: Previous rules lacked clarity on appropriate cost standards for legal assessment.
• Global Enforcement Gaps: International firms exploit different national competition laws.
• Consumer Myopia: Initial discounts disguise long-term harms of monopolisation.

Challenges in Addressing Predatory Pricing:

• Consumer Harm Is Delayed: Initial price cuts mask eventual monopoly-led price hikes.
• Intent is Hard to Prove: Under Section 4 of the Competition Act, proving deliberate anti-competitive behavior is complex.
• Startup Discouragement: Risk of being undercut deters new entrants, especially in sectors like AI and FinTech.
• Weak Market Surveillance: Lack of real-time data tools hampers early detection.
• Slow Legal Process: Delays in litigation reduce the impact of enforcement in fast-evolving digital sectors.

CCI’s 2025 Regulations: A New Approach

Notified on: May 6, 2025 — replaces outdated 2009 norms.

Key Changes:

• Introduces Average Total Cost (ATC) as the standard for price evaluation.
• Removes ambiguous “market value” pricing reference.
• Involves experts in evaluating complex technical pricing issues.
• Requires CCI to explain any decision deviating from Average Variable Cost (AVC), enhancing transparency.
• Empowers real-time market tracking tools for proactive enforcement under Section 4.

Why These Rules Matter:

• Preserve Competitive Markets: Prevents abuse in both traditional and digital sectors.
• Support MSMEs: Shields small and medium enterprises from being priced out by cash-rich players.
• Global Alignment: Brings India’s rules in line with OECD competition standards.
• Control Digital Giants: Equips regulators to counter predatory strategies by BigTech in the Indian market.
• Boost Investor Confidence: Transparent rules make markets more predictable and attractive to investors.
• Advance SDG 8 (Decent Work & Growth): Ensures fair competition, encouraging innovation, job creation, and economic resilience.

Bhashini: Bridging Language Gaps in Rural Governance

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has partnered with Bhashini through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to integrate AI-powered multilingual tools into rural digital platforms. This aims to make governance services more accessible to citizens in their native languages.

What is Bhashini?

Bhashini is India’s National Language Translation Mission (NLTM) — a public digital platform that uses artificial intelligence for real-time translation across multiple Indian languages.

• Developed by: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)

MoU Participants:

• Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR)
• Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)

Key Highlights:

• AI-Based Language Tools: Enables real-time translation for both speech and text in several Indian languages.
• Platform Integration: Embedded into rural governance platforms like eGramSwaraj, enhancing multilingual accessibility.
• Citizen Focused: Allows users to access services and information in their own language, improving communication and engagement.
• Fosters Digital Inclusion: Helps bridge the digital divide in rural areas by supporting language-friendly digital interfaces.
• Boosts Transparency: Promotes clear communication and trust by making governance information easier to understand and widely available.

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Context:
In light of rising tensions with Israel, Iran’s Parliament is drafting legislation that could lead to the country’s exit from the NPT.

What is the NPT?

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is a landmark international agreement aimed at stopping the spread of nuclear weapons, encouraging the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and advancing global nuclear disarmament.

• Adopted: Signed in 1968; came into effect in 1970.

Membership:

• Total Parties: 191 countries are part of the treaty.
• Non-signatories: India, Pakistan, and Israel have not joined. North Korea withdrew in 2003.

Main Goals:

1. Prevent the spread of nuclear weapons: Limits nuclear weapons to five officially recognized states, bolstering global security.
2. Support peaceful nuclear energy: Promotes international collaboration on civilian nuclear technology under strict IAEA oversight.
3. Pursue disarmament: Encourages gradual elimination of nuclear weapons through diplomacy and legal frameworks.

Key Elements:

• Recognition of Nuclear States: Only the U.S., UK, Russia, France, and China (those who tested before 1967) are acknowledged as nuclear-weapon states.
• IAEA Oversight: The International Atomic Energy Agency enforces safeguards to ensure nuclear materials are not diverted for military use.
• Right to Withdraw: Under Article 10, any member can exit the treaty with 3 months’ notice if it sees a threat to its national security.
• Wide Global Reach: With 191 members, the NPT is one of the most widely supported arms control treaties — though often criticized for reinforcing the dominance of the five nuclear powers.
• Verification System: IAEA inspections help ensure nations comply with their non-proliferation commitments.

India’s Position on the NPT:

• India has not signed the treaty, arguing it unfairly favors the five recognized nuclear states.
• Despite this, India has maintained a credible non-proliferation record and actively engages with the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) under a responsible nuclear policy.

QS World University Rankings 2026

Context:
The QS World University Rankings 2026 have been released, spotlighting global higher education trends and showing significant progress for several Indian universities.

What Are the QS Rankings?

The QS World University Rankings is an annual evaluation of universities worldwide, assessing them based on academic excellence, graduate employability, sustainability, and global impact.

• Published by: Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a UK-based global education services company.

Purpose of the Rankings:

• To offer a transparent overview of universities'' global performance.
• To assist students in making informed choices about higher education.
• To motivate institutions to improve in research, teaching, international outreach, and societal contribution.

Highlights from the 2026 Rankings:

• India ranks 4th globally in terms of representation, with 54 universities featured in the list.
• Only the USA (192), UK (90), and Mainland China (72) have more institutions ranked.
• Eight Indian universities made their debut in the rankings — the highest number of new entries from any country this year.
• India’s presence has grown significantly — from 11 ranked institutions in 2015 to 54 in 2026, marking a fivefold increase over a decade.
• Nearly half (48%) of India’s ranked universities improved their positions compared to last year.
• Six Indian institutions are now among the global top 250.
• IIT Delhi leads among Indian universities, climbing from 150th in 2025 to 123rd in 2026.
• IIT Madras achieved a major leap, moving up 47 places from 227th to 180th.
• A total of 12 IITs are featured, underscoring their strong performance on the global academic stage.

11th International Day of Yoga – June 21, 2025

The 11th International Day of Yoga will be observed on June 21, 2025, under the theme “Yoga for One Earth, One Health.” The event continues to gain global momentum, with participation rising from 9 crore in 2018 to 24.53 crore in 2024.

About the International Day of Yoga (IDY):

The IDY is a worldwide celebration that promotes yoga as a holistic practice for physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, emphasizing harmony with oneself and with nature.

• Recognized by: United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) through Resolution 69/131 on December 11, 2014
• First Observed: June 21, 2015

Theme for 2025:

“Yoga for One Earth, One Health” This year’s theme highlights the deep connection between individual health and planetary well-being, resonating with India’s G20 ‘One Earth’ vision.

Key Highlights:

• Global Reach: Adopted by 175 UN member countries, with worldwide participation reaching 24.53 crore in 2024.
• Widespread Engagement: Organised by the Ministry of AYUSH, supported by state governments, Indian embassies, UN agencies, and international partners.
• Inclusive Message: The logo and theme promote unity, natural harmony, and mind-body balance, accessible to all, regardless of background.
• Soft Power and Cultural Diplomacy: Reinforces India’s role as the birthplace of yoga and its growing status as a global leader in wellness.
• Sustainability Focus: Aligns yoga with broader goals of sustainable living, climate awareness, and public health.

Delhi’s Artificial Rain Project to Combat Air Pollution

The Delhi Government has launched its first-ever artificial rain pilot project, valued at ₹3.21 crore, in partnership with IIT-Kanpur and the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The initiative aims to reduce air pollution in the city using cloud seeding technology.

What is Artificial Rain?

Artificial rain involves inducing precipitation by injecting specific substances into moisture-laden clouds to encourage rainfall — a process intended to clean the air by washing out pollutants.

How It Works:

• Cloud Targeting: Aircraft will spray seeding materials into nimbostratus clouds with at least 50% moisture content.
• Rain Induction: The materials serve as condensation nuclei, prompting water droplets to form, grow, and eventually fall as rain.

Key Features of the Project:

• Advanced Cloud Seeding: Aircraft-mounted flares will deploy silver iodide, rock salt, and iodised salt to stimulate rainfall.
• Focused Operations: Five flights, each lasting around 90 minutes, will cover approximately 100 sq. km of Delhi’s most polluted zones.
• Scientific Oversight: Real-time monitoring of PM2.5 and PM10 levels will be conducted using Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Systems (CAAQMS).
• First Urban Application: While similar trials by IIT-Kanpur have succeeded in drought-hit areas, this marks the first urban use of the technology for pollution mitigation.
• Collaborative Implementation: The effort involves coordination between the Delhi Government, IIT-Kanpur, and IMD, using high-precision, military-grade planning and execution.

Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Wildlife Sanctuary

Tensions have risen following the arrest — and subsequent bail — of farmers allegedly found with country-made weapons inside the Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque Wildlife Sanctuary in Sagar taluk, Karnataka.

About the Sanctuary:

Located in the Sharavathi River Valley in Shivamogga District, Karnataka, the sanctuary lies within the Western Ghats, a recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its rich biodiversity.

• The sanctuary was created by merging three conservation areas:
• Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
• Aghanashini Lion-Tailed Macaque Conservation Reserve
• Adjacent reserve forest blocks
• It shares its southwestern boundary with the Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary.

Ecological Significance:

• Flora:
  The forest is home to diverse tree species including Dhoopa, Gulmavu, Surahonne, Mavu, and Nandi, reflecting the region’s dense and varied vegetation.
• Fauna:
  It serves as a critical habitat for the lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus) — an endangered primate species endemic to the Western Ghats.
  Other notable wildlife includes:
• Tigers
• Leopards
• Wild dogs
• Sloth bears
• Jackals
• Spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, mouse deer
• Wild pigs
• Common langurs, bonnet macaques
• Malabar giant squirrels

Agarwood: A Fragrant Tree on the Brink

The rising global demand for agarwood has led to excessive harvesting from the wild, severely threatening its natural populations and pushing the species toward extinction.

What is Agarwood?

• Botanical Name: Aquilaria malaccensis
• Family: Thymelaeaceae
• Common Names: Agar, Oud, Gaharu

Agarwood is a highly aromatic resinous wood valued for its deep, rich fragrance. It is considered the most expensive incense in the world and is widely used in perfumes, traditional medicine, and spiritual rituals.

Growth and Distribution:

• Natural Habitat: Found in the wild across India’s northeastern states — especially Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Manipur.
• Maturation Period: Trees typically take around 10 years to mature in the wild.
• Cultural Connection: The city name Agartala in Tripura traces its origin to the once-abundant agarwood trees in the region.

Traditional and Medicinal Value:

• Agarwood has been revered for centuries in Ayurveda, with its medicinal properties cited in texts like the Charaka Samhita.

Conservation Efforts and Legal Protection:

• IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
• CITES Listing: Appendix II – permits trade under strict regulation.
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (India): Listed under Schedule IV, providing legal protection.
• The Government of India has submitted a Non-Detriment Finding (NDF) to avoid its inclusion in the Review of Significant Trade (RST) under CITES, aiming to manage and regulate its trade sustainably.

Global Drought Outlook Report – OECD

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has published the Global Drought Outlook Report, drawing attention to the escalating global drought crisis and urging enhanced drought management and climate adaptation efforts worldwide.

About the Report:

This report provides an in-depth evaluation of strategies countries can adopt to better handle droughts amid climate change. It examines the broad-ranging human, environmental, and economic impacts of droughts and recommends actionable policy approaches to minimize damage, build resilience, and ensure sustainable adaptation to a drier climate.

Key Findings:

• Increasing Drought Occurrences: Nearly 40% of the planet’s land is now experiencing droughts with greater frequency and severity.
• Economic Consequences:
• Economic costs rise by 3% to 7.5% annually with each drought event.
• By 2035, drought-related economic losses are projected to grow by a minimum of 35%.
• Environmental Decline:
• Since 1980, 37% of the world’s land has seen significant soil moisture reduction.
• Water availability in rivers and underground aquifers is decreasing steadily.
• Groundwater levels have consistently fallen across many regions in recent decades.
• Impact on Human Life:
• Although droughts represent just 6% of natural disasters, they cause 34% of deaths related to disasters globally.
• They are a major factor driving displacement and migration, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.

FASTag Annual Pass Scheme

Context:
The Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways recently announced a new FASTag-based annual pass priced at ₹3,000 aimed at enabling “hassle-free highway travel.”

About the FASTag Annual Pass Scheme:

·       FASTag is an electronic toll collection system overseen by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Originally introduced as a pilot in 2014, FASTag became mandatory at all toll plazas across India by 2021.

·       The newly launched annual pass linked to FASTag permits private cars, jeeps, and vans to pass through National Highway (NH) and National Expressway (NE) toll plazas without paying toll fees for each trip during the pass validity.

·       The annual pass will automatically convert back to a standard FASTag either after 200 trips or one year from the activation date, whichever occurs first.

Extreme Helium Star

Scientists have discovered an unusual feature in a star named A980, classified as an Extreme Helium (EHe) star, which contains an unexpectedly high concentration of germanium—a metal never previously detected in such stars.

About Extreme Helium Stars:

·       Extreme Helium stars are rare, low-mass supergiants that lack hydrogen almost entirely. Unlike typical stars like the Sun, which are mainly composed of hydrogen, EHe stars are predominantly made up of helium.

·       These stars are believed to form from the merger of two white dwarfs: a carbon-oxygen white dwarf and a lighter helium white dwarf. So far, only 21 such stars have been identified within our galaxy.

·       EHe stars have surface temperatures ranging between 8,000 and 35,000 Kelvin.

·       The first known extreme helium star, HD 124448, was discovered in 1942 by Daniel M. Popper at the McDonald Observatory in Austin

Gender Budgeting Knowledge Hub

The Central government has recently launched the Gender Budgeting Knowledge Hub, a dedicated digital platform aimed at enhancing gender-responsive planning across India.

About Gender Budgeting Knowledge Hub:

·       This platform serves as a centralized digital resource designed to promote gender-sensitive planning throughout the country. Launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the hub provides policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders with access to a comprehensive collection of tools, including policy briefs, best practices, and gender-disaggregated data.

·       Its main goal is to support the integration of a gender perspective at all stages of planning and budgeting at both Central and state government levels.

Gender Budgeting in India:

·       Gender budgeting is a method of mainstreaming gender considerations in policy-making. It applies a gender lens to policy formulation, resource allocation, and ongoing monitoring, aiming to tackle challenges faced by women across their lives.

·       India introduced its first gender budget in 2005-06, marking an important move towards reducing gender inequalities in funding.

·       Over the last 11 years, gender budget allocations have grown significantly—from ₹0.98 lakh crore in 2014-15 to ₹4.49 lakh crore projected in 2025-26.

Implementation:

·       Gender budgeting is overseen by nodal bodies such as the Ministry of Women and Child Development at the national level. At the state and Union Territory levels, departments handling Women and Child Development, Social Welfare, Finance, or Planning lead the efforts.

·       District-level units focused on women’s empowerment also play a key role in coordinating and ensuring the successful implementation of gender-responsive schemes.

·       Importantly, these hubs are required to include at least one gender specialist to provide expert guidance.

World Investment Report 2025 — UNCTAD

According to UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2025, India improved its global rank to 15th among the top destinations for foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2024, despite a slight decline in FDI inflows to $27.6 billion.

About the Report:

The World Investment Report is an annual publication by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) that analyzes global and regional trends in FDI. It also explores new strategies to enhance the developmental impact of investment flows.

Key Highlights:

• Global FDI Trends: Global FDI experienced an 11% decline in 2024, marking a second consecutive year of falling investment flows, signaling a slowdown in productive capital movement worldwide.

Although headline figures suggested a 4% increase to $1.5 trillion, this was largely driven by volatile financial conduit flows in some European economies. When these are excluded, global FDI actually fell by 11%.

• Investment in Sustainable Development: FDI targeting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) sectors in developing countries decreased by 25–33% across areas such as infrastructure, renewable energy, water, sanitation, and agrifood systems. Only the health sector saw growth, albeit from a small base.

• Digital Economy: FDI in digital sectors grew by 14%, but 80% of new projects in developing countries were concentrated in just 10 nations, leaving many countries outside the digital transformation.

• Regional and Country Insights:
• The United States remained the top FDI destination globally, with inflows rising from $233 billion to $279 billion in 2024.
• China dropped from second to fourth place due to a 29% reduction in FDI inflows.
• Africa saw a 75% surge in FDI, and South-East Asia hit record levels of greenfield projects.
• Developing Asia attracted $605 billion in FDI, despite a 3% decrease from 2023, accounting for 40% of global FDI and 70% of investment in developing economies.

• India’s Performance:
• India was the leading FDI recipient in South Asia.
• Though FDI inflows dipped slightly from $28.1 billion in 2023 to $27.6 billion in 2024, India improved its global rank from 16th to 15th.
• Greenfield project announcements increased notably, with India ranking 4th globally by announcing 1,080 projects in 2024.
• India was among the top five countries for international project finance deals, securing 97 transactions.
• On the FDI outflow front, India rose to 18th place with outward investments totaling $24 billion, up from 23rd place and $14 billion in 2023.

Compromiso de Sevilla (Seville Commitment) & Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4)

• The Compromiso de Sevilla is the final declaration from the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4).
• FFD4 Purpose: To renew and strengthen the global framework for financing sustainable development.
• Location: Sevilla, Spain.
• Participants: High-level global government leaders, institutions, businesses, and civil society representatives.
• The United States withdrew completely from the process.
• The UN’s Financing for Development (FFD) process supports follow-up on agreements from three prior FFD conferences.
• Key outcomes in the document:
• Reinforces commitments from Addis Ababa Action Agenda, Monterrey Consensus, and Doha Declaration.
• Targets closing the $4 trillion annual Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) funding gap in developing nations.
• Calls for reforms in international financial governance, including IMF quota changes and World Bank shareholding reviews.
• UN to lead development of voluntary principles for responsible sovereign debt management.
• Supports OECD/G20 Pillar II tax reforms, mandating a minimum corporate tax for multinationals and country-specific technical aid for anti-base erosion rules.

Rajkot’s Sustainable Model for Dumpsite Remediation

• Transformed Nakrawadi, a 20-acre dumpsite with 1.6 million tonnes of legacy waste, into a green urban forest.
• Part of Swachh Bharat Mission’s “Lakshya Zero Dumpsite” initiative for waste remediation and “Garbage Free Cities.”
• Planted 235,000 native and fast-growing trees using the Miyawaki method, which rapidly creates dense forests.
• Incorporated waste-to-energy technologies and reused treated water for irrigation.
• Demonstrates a circular economy by turning a polluted dumpsite into an eco-friendly urban green space.

Energy Transition Index (ETI) 2025 – World Economic Forum

• Sweden ranked first, followed by Finland, Denmark, and Norway.
• India’s ranking dropped from 63rd in 2024 to 71st in 2025.
• About ETI: Ranks countries on progress from fossil fuels to clean energy based on:
• System Performance (energy security, equity, sustainability).
• Transition Readiness (regulation, infrastructure, investments).
• Uses 43 indicators with data from various sources; scores range from 0 to 100.

Children and Armed Conflict – UN Report

• UN Secretary-General released the annual report on Children in Armed Conflict.
• Grave violations against children rose by 25%, totaling 41,370 violations in 2024.
• Highest affected regions: Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories, DRC, Somalia, Nigeria, and Haiti.
• Most common violations: Killing, maiming, denial of humanitarian access, recruitment of children.
• Perpetrators: Non-state armed groups responsible for 50% of violations; government forces also involved in killings and attacks on schools.

NAKSHATRA – ICMR’s High-Performance Computing Facility

• Launched by Indian Council of Medical Research at the National Institute of Virology, Pune.
• Developed under the PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission.
• A cutting-edge computing cluster designed to boost genomic research capabilities.
• Aims to enhance early disease threat detection, accelerate outbreak response, and support AI-driven vaccine and drug development.