Caste Enumeration in India’s 2027 Census: A New Approach to Inclusive Data Collection

Overview
The Indian government has announced plans to conduct the next national Census in 2027, featuring a major shift: the inclusion of caste data. This will be the first attempt to comprehensively record caste information since 1941, with the goal of supporting more inclusive and effective policymaking. However, experts caution that realizing this aim will require a major overhaul of current Census methodologies and systems.

Census Timeline and Structure
The 2027 Census will unfold in two distinct phases:

• House-listing Phase (2026): Scheduled between April and September 2026, this phase will gather data on homes and household amenities.
• Population Enumeration Phase (2027): In this stage, demographic, social, and economic details will be collected—including data on caste.

Caste data will be captured during the second phase, marking a departure from previous Censuses, which generally limited caste-related questions to Scheduled Castes (SCs) only.

Why Caste Enumeration Matters
India last conducted caste enumeration in 1941, but due to World War II, the data was never processed. The most recent usable caste data, from 1931, is now outdated and inadequate for current policy needs. The current government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has argued that caste data is essential for integrating disadvantaged groups and tailoring public policies more effectively. Still, questions remain about whether the existing Census structure is capable of delivering this promise without major revisions.

Current Limitations
The present Census design, based on a 2021 draft, only records caste information for SCs. Experts argue that meaningful caste enumeration requires collecting data on all castes (except Scheduled Tribes), supported by updates in enumerator training, data systems, and processing methods. Furthermore, vital indicators such as education, employment, and birthplace are not currently linked to caste data, limiting their policy relevance. Questions around topics like unemployment and migration also lack clarity and yield poor-quality data, making them less useful.

Recommended Reforms for Better Data Collection

1. Integrating Housing and Demographic Data
   One proposed improvement is to combine housing and asset-related questions with demographic data during the enumeration phase. This would:
• Eliminate errors caused by the time lag between the two phases.
• Enable more accurate analysis of caste in relation to access to amenities like housing, sanitation, and electricity.
• Enhance data collection in urban areas, which often suffer from higher underreporting.
2. Simplifying the Questionnaire
   Several questions have become outdated due to rapid technological and social changes—such as those about mobile phone ownership or bank accounts. Streamlining the survey would allow enumerators to focus on collecting high-quality data on more impactful variables.
3. Making the Data Actionable
   Although the Census has long gathered caste-linked socio-economic data, it has rarely influenced the classification of Most Backward Castes (MBCs) or the development of welfare policies beyond reservation systems. To be transformative, the new data must be analyzed and used in wider social and economic policymaking.

Challenges in Gathering Caste Data
Collecting caste information presents significant challenges:

• Variation in how individuals self-identify by caste and sub-caste.
• Absence of a consistent, standardised caste classification.
• Risk of enumerator bias and data entry errors.

Despite these issues, the Census remains the most practical and large-scale method for collecting uniform caste data across the country.

The Path Forward
To make the 2027 Census truly impactful, the following steps are essential:

• Revise the questionnaire to gather more detailed and relevant information.
• Invest in better training for enumerators and improved digital tools.
• Link caste data with other key indicators such as education, jobs, housing, and migration.
• Use the findings not only for reservations but to inform broader policy reforms.

With careful planning and execution, caste enumeration in the 2027 Census could provide a robust foundation for evidence-based, inclusive development in India.

Supreme Court Affirms Attorney-Client Privilege, Bars Summons to Lawyers for Giving Legal Advice

The Supreme Court of India has ruled that calling lawyers for questioning solely based on the legal advice they provide to clients violates their professional rights and erodes the independence of the legal field—protections guaranteed by law.

Case Background

The ruling came during a case where a Gujarat-based lawyer was summoned by police after assisting a client in obtaining bail in a loan dispute. The Court’s comments followed criticism from the Supreme Court Bar Association over Enforcement Directorate (ED) summons issued to senior advocates Arvind Datar and Pratap Venugopal in connection with an ESOP-related investigation involving Care Health Insurance and ex-Religare Enterprises chairperson Rashmi Saluja.

Legal Framework: Attorney-Client Privilege

Under the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023—which replaced the Indian Evidence Act—communications between lawyers and clients are legally protected and cannot be disclosed to third parties.

Conditions for Disclosure (Section 132 of BSA):

• If the client gives explicit consent.
• If the communication relates to illegal activities.
• If the lawyer becomes aware of criminal conduct during their service.

Exemption from Testimony:
Lawyers are not required to testify or reveal client communications—whether verbal, written, or digital.

Exclusive Legal Protection

This privilege is unique to advocates. Professionals such as chartered accountants, company secretaries, and cost accountants do not enjoy the same confidentiality safeguards.

Courts’ Stance on Summons to Lawyers

Indian courts have consistently opposed the practice of summoning lawyers merely for advising clients:

• A.V. Pavithran v. CBI (2024) – The Bombay High Court struck down a CBI summons to Advocate Pavithran, reaffirming that legal advice remains privileged under Section 132 of the BSA, continuing the principle that “once privileged, always privileged.”
• Praram Infra v. State of M.P. (2025) – The Madhya Pradesh High Court quashed summons issued to Advocate Rahul Maheshwari, noting that lawyers not named as accused or witnesses should not be compelled to appear.

Why Attorney-Client Privilege Matters

Attorney-client privilege, as codified under Section 132 of the BSA and upheld by the Advocates Act, 1961, is critical to preserving the independence of the legal profession and ensuring access to justice.

Allowing authorities to summon lawyers without evidence of wrongdoing:

• Undermines the lawyer’s ability to give fearless and unbiased advice.
• Disrupts the delicate balance between the judiciary, legal profession, and executive.
• Has a chilling effect on advocacy, deters public interest litigation, and stifles constitutional challenges.

Shubhanshu Shukla’s Axiom-4 Journey Heralds New Era for Indian Space Exploration

In a landmark achievement, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force has become the first Indian in over four decades to travel to space. He served as pilot on the Axiom-4 mission, launched aboard SpaceX’s Dragon capsule from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center.

Shukla is the first Indian since Rakesh Sharma in 1984 to cross the Kármán line—the internationally recognized boundary of space, located 100 kilometers above Earth. Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the milestone, calling Shukla the first Indian headed to the International Space Station (ISS).

India’s Evolving Space Journey

Shukla’s participation in Axiom-4 signals a transformative shift in India’s space program, moving from satellite launches to regular human spaceflight operations.

Gaganyaan and a Strategic Pivot

Though India’s space agency ISRO missed its 2022 target for its first manned mission, the Gaganyaan program has now become a strategic priority. It has reinvigorated efforts to build human spaceflight capacity, which is increasingly seen as crucial for scientific, economic, and geopolitical influence.

Active Role in Axiom-4

India was more than a participant in the Axiom-4 mission. ISRO teams, led by Chairman V. Narayanan, were deeply involved in mission design, planning, and technical support—indicating India''s transition to a collaborative global space partner.

Strengthening Future Missions

Lessons learned from Axiom-4 will directly benefit Gaganyaan, with India targeting its first fully indigenous crewed mission by 2027. Plans are also underway for an Indian space station, and ISRO aims to land astronauts on the Moon by 2040.

Space as the Next Strategic Frontier

Space technology is poised to drive the next wave of global innovation—alongside AI, clean energy, and quantum computing. In contrast to other tech sectors, India has emerged as a global front-runner in space, though it faces stiff competition from space superpowers like the U.S. and China.

Private Sector & Economic Growth

India''s space program, while robust, contributes only about 2% to the global space economy, revealing massive growth potential. Expanding private participation and commercial space ventures could unlock significant economic and employment opportunities.

Inspiring a New Generation

Human spaceflight missions like Shukla’s serve not only as scientific achievements but also as powerful sources of inspiration for India''s youth. They help cultivate talent, spark innovation, and strengthen the country’s space ecosystem.

Looking Ahead

Shubhanshu Shukla’s journey is more than a national pride moment—it must be used as a launchpad for future ambitions. By investing in infrastructure, partnerships, and policy reforms, India can transform this symbolic step into sustained leadership in human space exploration.

Cloudburst Events in Himachal Pradesh: A Wake-Up Call

Context:
Recent cloudbursts in the Kangra and Kullu districts of Himachal Pradesh triggered severe flash floods, resulting in two deaths and over a dozen people reported missing.

Understanding Cloudbursts

What is a Cloudburst?

• A cloudburst refers to extremely intense rainfall, where 100 mm or more rain falls within an hour over a small area (~10 km²).
• Typically occurring in mountainous or hilly regions, cloudbursts often lead to flash floods, landslides, and severe infrastructure damage.

Favorable Conditions for Cloudbursts

• Orographic Lift: Moist air pushed upward by steep terrain causes cloud formation.
• Strong Vertical Convection: Rapid upward air movement (60–120 km/h) builds large, water-laden cumulonimbus clouds.
• Localized Wind Convergence: Narrow valleys trap moisture, increasing rain intensity.
• High Heat and Moisture Content: As per the Clausius-Clapeyron law, a 1°C temperature rise increases atmospheric moisture by 7%, intensifying rainfall.

How Cloudbursts Form

1. Monsoon winds strike the mountain’s windward side (e.g., the Himalayas).
2. This causes adiabatic cooling, resulting in towering cumulonimbus clouds (15–21 km tall).
3. Under unstable atmospheric conditions, rapid condensation overwhelms natural drainage.
4. The result is a massive, concentrated downpour, sometimes exceeding 2 billion litres/hour across small areas—triggering floods and landslides.

Impacts of Cloudbursts

1. On Disasters:

• Flash Floods: Sudden water surges submerge towns (e.g., Manikaran, 2025).
• Landslides: Water-saturated slopes collapse (e.g., Chokhang–Nainghar road, Lahaul, 2025).
• Infrastructure Damage: Roads and bridges are washed away (e.g., Baladhi Bridge, 2025).

2. On People:

• Fatalities and Displacement: Sudden onset allows little time for evacuation (e.g., 15 workers missing in Kangra).
• Economic Losses: Agriculture, hydropower, and tourism suffer long-term damage.
• Access Disruption: Entire communities (e.g., Jasrath, Manikaran) are cut off due to destroyed infrastructure.

3. On Environment:

• Soil and Riverbank Erosion: Destabilizes local ecosystems.
• Increased Sediment in Rivers: Harms aquatic life and clogs reservoirs.
• Pollution: Urban waste flushed into rivers reduces water quality.

Managing Cloudburst Risk

1. NDMA Guidelines (2010):

• Focus on early warning, risk mapping, and community education.
• Promote resilient infrastructure and improved disaster response systems.

2. Technological Tools:

• Doppler Radars: Offer short-term (nowcasting) alerts in selected areas.
• Automatic Rain Gauges: Support identification of vulnerable zones.
• IMD Weather Models: Provide heavy rain forecasts, though cloudburst prediction remains difficult.

3. Local Preparedness:

• Panchayats and District Magistrates have been directed to:
• Share emergency contacts
• Monitor unstable slopes
• Pause dam discharges during high-risk periods
• Community drills and awareness campaigns are conducted before the monsoon.

4. Climate Action:

• According to the IPCC, warming leads to more extreme rain events—7–10% more rainfall per 1°C temperature rise.
• Calls for both emission mitigation and climate-resilient planning, especially in mountain cities.

Conclusion

Cloudbursts are growing in frequency and severity, particularly in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem, due to a mix of intensifying rainfall and limited forecasting infrastructure. A coordinated, technology-driven strategy is essential to protect lives, livelihoods, and the environment in high-risk zones.

Zero-Dose Children: India’s Immunisation Challenge

Context:
A recent Lancet study, using Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data, found that India had the second-highest number of zero-dose children globally in 2023, after Nigeria.

What Are Zero-Dose Children?

• These are children who have not received even a single dose of any routine childhood vaccination.
• They represent the most vulnerable segment in terms of preventable disease exposure.
• In India, around 1.44 million children were unvaccinated in 2023.

Key Insights from the Lancet Study

• India ranks second globally, following Nigeria (2.5 million) in the number of zero-dose children.
• Just eight countries account for over 50% of the global total of unvaccinated children.
• India’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) covers 12 vaccine-preventable diseases, but implementation gaps continue to hinder full coverage.

Trends and Ongoing Challenges

• Global progress: The number of zero-dose children fell from 58.8 million (1980) to 14.7 million (2019).
• In India, however, progress has slowed or reversed due to:
• COVID-19 disruptions in health services
• Vaccine hesitancy in some communities
• Access barriers in remote and underserved regions
• Measles vaccine coverage dropped across 100 countries from 2010 to 2019—including India.

Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) Alliance

Overview:

• IBAT Alliance, founded in 2008, is a global collaboration to provide authoritative biodiversity data.
• It brings together four major conservation organizations:
• BirdLife International
• Conservation International
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
• UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)

Key Developments:

• In 2024, IBAT’s investment in biodiversity data reached a record $2.5 million, doubling from $1.2 million in 2023.

Function and Purpose:

• Offers trusted biodiversity data to support informed decision-making by:
• Private sector entities
• Governments
• NGOs
• Research institutions
• Commercial access is licensed via the IBAT platform, considered the world’s most authoritative biodiversity data resource.

Datasets Provided:

• World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA)
• World Database of Key Biodiversity Areas (WDKBA)
• IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Derived Metrics and Tools:

• Rarity-Weighted Richness layer
• Species Threat Abatement and Restoration (STAR) metric

Strengths:

• Supported by a global network of conservation and scientific experts.
• Helps users align with global biodiversity and sustainability goals.
• Headquartered in Cambridge, UK.

Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka

Location & Ecology:

• Situated in Gadag district, Karnataka.
• Features a mix of habitats: dry deciduous forests, scrublands, grasslands, and riverine ecosystems.
• Dubbed the "Western Ghats of North Karnataka" for its biodiversity richness in an otherwise arid region.

Cultural and Historical Significance:

• The sanctuary is home to ancient temples and ruins, reflecting a deep historical legacy.
• Prominent structures include:
• Kappatagudda Jain Basadi
• Brahma Jinalaya
• Trikuteshwara Temple
• Dambala Temple
• These monuments highlight the architectural and religious heritage of dynasties such as the Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas.

Recent Update:

• The Union government has finalized the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around the sanctuary.
• This marks the success of a decade-long conservation effort to protect the region’s ecological and cultural assets.

Passport Seva Portal: Public Service and Recent Disruption

Context:
The Passport Seva Portal recently experienced major server outages, disrupting services at Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) across the country.

About the Passport Seva Portal

• Launched by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in collaboration with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
• Offers a user-friendly online platform for citizens to apply for new passports or renewals.
• Enables applicants to access passport services from home with improved efficiency and transparency.
• MEA retains control over:
• Verification and issuance of passports.
• Ownership of applicant data and information.

Passport Seva Project (PSP)

• Launched in May 2010 to enhance passport delivery services through:
• 37 Passport Offices in India.
• 190 Indian Missions and Posts abroad.
• Key components include:
• Setting up Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs).
• Establishing a Data Centre and Disaster Recovery Centre.
• Creating a centralized digital system for passport issuance.
• Operating multilingual call centres to support users nationwide.

Black Mass Recovery Technology: India’s Battery Recycling Breakthrough

Context:
The Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science & Technology (DST) is funding the commercialization of an indigenous battery recycling technology.

What is Black Mass Recovery Technology?

• An innovative process to extract valuable metals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese from used lithium-ion batteries.
• Utilizes dual-mode recovery (wet and dry) for maximum metal separation with 97–99% efficiency.
• Developed and patented domestically, reducing the need for imported recycling machinery.

Key Benefits

• Promotes self-reliance by cutting down on the import of critical minerals.
• The recovered materials—e.g., lithium carbonate and cobalt sulphate—match global quality standards.
• Supports both domestic use and exports, especially for:
• Electric vehicles
• Energy storage systems
• Electronic devices

What is Black Mass?

• A dark, granular substance obtained by shredding end-of-life lithium-ion batteries.
• Contains a mixture of metals essential for battery production:
• Lithium
• Cobalt
• Nickel
• Manganese
• Graphite

International Potato Centre (CIP) – South Asia Regional Centre Approved at Agra

• Union Cabinet Approval: Establishment of CIP’s South Asia Regional Centre (CSARC) in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, proposed by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.

About CIP:

• Founded in 1971 focused on research for development on potato, sweetpotato, and Andean roots and tubers.
• Provides science-based solutions to improve access to nutritious food, foster sustainable business growth, and enhance climate resilience in root and tuber agri-food systems.
• Part of CGIAR, a global research partnership addressing food security amid climate challenges.
• Collaborates with 13 CGIAR Centers and hundreds of partners worldwide, including research institutes, civil society, academia, and private sector.
• Headquartered in Lima, Peru, with a research presence in over 20 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Potato Production in India:

• India is the second largest producer and consumer of potatoes globally.
• Major growing states: Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab.
• Indian research bodies:
• ICAR-CPRI (Shimla): Focus on potato.
• ICAR-CTCRI (Thiruvananthapuram): Focus on sweetpotato.

Leptospirosis – Recent Developments & Overview

• Recent Fatalities: Five deaths reported in Ernakulam, Kerala in the last three weeks.

About Leptospirosis:

• A potentially fatal zoonotic bacterial infection caused by Leptospira interrogans.
• Bacteria are shed in urine of animals such as rats, cattle, and dogs.
• Humans get infected through small cuts or wounds on the feet.
• Common in warm, humid environments across urban and rural areas.

Disease Progression:

• Occurs in two phases:
1. First phase symptoms: fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhea.
2. Possible second phase: More severe, with kidney/liver failure or meningitis.

Treatment:

• Effectively treated with antibiotics if diagnosed timely.

UN80 Initiative

• Context: UN Secretary-General António Guterres launched the UN80 Initiative to reform the UN system ahead of the UN Charter’s 80th anniversary.
• Purpose:
• Modernize the UN to meet 21st-century challenges.
• Improve accountability and efficiency.
• Reduce duplication across agencies.
• Enhance impact on peace, development, and human rights.
• Key Features:
• Three Core Workstreams:
• Efficiency & Cost Reduction: Cut overlaps, reduce admin costs, automate services.
• Mandate Implementation Review: Evaluate execution of 3,600+ mandates (not mandates themselves).
• Structural Reforms: Realign departments and programs, especially in costly cities.
• UN80 Clusters: Seven thematic clusters:
• Peace & Security
• Development (Secretariat & UN System)
• Humanitarian
• Human Rights
• Training & Research
• Specialized Agencies
• Relocation & Rationalization:
• Shift operations from high-cost cities (e.g., New York, Geneva).
• Abolish redundant or underperforming functions.
• Budget Integration:
• Changes to appear in 2026 Revised Budget and 2027 Programme Budget.
• Significance:
• Reinforces multilateralism per Pact for the Future.
• Saves resources by eliminating inefficiencies.
• Shifts focus from volume-based to results-oriented delivery.

Banakacherla Project

• Context: Emerging inter-state water dispute between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh over the Banakacherla Reservoir project.
• About the Project:
• Proposed by Andhra Pradesh to divert surplus Godavari River water to drought-hit Rayalaseema region.
• Located at Banakacherla, Nandyal district, Andhra Pradesh.
• Channels water from Godavari via Krishna River system.
• Key Features:
• Enhances Polavaram Right Main Canal capacity from 17,500 to 38,000 cusecs.
• Increases Thatipudi Lift Canal capacity from 1,400 to 10,000 cusecs.
• Constructs Bollapalli reservoir to lift water to Banakacherla through tunnel via Nallamala forest.
• Five lift stations: Harischandrapuram, Lingapuram, Vyyandana, Gangireddypalem, Nakirekallu.
• Links Godavari → Krishna → Penna Rivers to facilitate water transfer.
• Telangana’s Objections:
• Alleged violation of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 requiring prior approval for inter-basin projects.
• Lack of clearances from Krishna River Management Board, Godavari River Management Board, and Central Water Commission.
• Ignores Godavari Tribunal’s water allocation (968 TMCft to Telangana out of 1,486 TMCft).
• Concerns over impact on Telangana’s irrigation projects dependent on Godavari water.

Infrastructure Push for Jammu and Kashmir

• Context:
• On June 24, 2025, the Central Government approved 19 major infrastructure projects worth ₹10,637 crore in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Key Projects Highlighted:
• Pir Ki Gali Tunnel
• Sadhna Tunnel
• Zaznar-Shopian Road
• Trehgam-Chamkote Road
• These projects are notable for their strategic and security significance.
• About the Initiative:
• A focused effort to improve road and tunnel infrastructure in border and remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Aims to enhance connectivity, security, and regional development.
• Implementing Agencies:
• Border Roads Organisation (BRO)
• Previously, National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) handled some tunnels but has since been relieved of key tunnel projects.
• Strategic Importance:
• Facilitates development and strengthens military preparedness along border areas.
• Improves connectivity in sensitive Line of Control (LoC) zones such as Karnah and Teetwal.
• Alleviates dependency on NH44, which is currently the only highway through the valley.
• Enables quicker disaster response, troop mobilization, and better economic access to remote areas.

Modified CRISPR Tool to Help Plants Combat Heat Stress

• What It Is:
• A modified CRISPR system using dCas9 (dead Cas9) that acts as a gene switch, activating defense genes without cutting DNA.
• Activates only when the plant experiences stress like heat or bacterial infection.
• Developed By:
• Scientists at Bose Institute, Kolkata (under DST, Government of India).
• How It Works:
• Uses a natural tomato protein (NACMTF3) to keep dCas9 outside the nucleus under normal conditions.
• Under stress, the protein releases dCas9, allowing it to enter the nucleus and turn on defense genes.
• Key Features:
• Stress-activated gene switching saves energy by working only when needed.
• Eco-friendly and safe, as it uses a natural tomato protein.
• Activates genes CBP60g and SARD1 (bacterial defense), and NAC2 and HSFA6b (heat tolerance).
• Does not cut DNA, making it safer than traditional CRISPR.
• Significance:
• Enables climate-resilient agriculture by protecting crops against heat and disease.
• Supports food security and sustainable yields in crops like tomato, potato, brinjal, and chilli.
• Potentially applicable globally for solanaceous crops.
• Published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, highlighting global scientific importance.

Tawi River

• Origin and Flow:
• Originates from Kailash Kund glacier near Bhaderwah in Doda district, Jammu & Kashmir.
• Flows through Doda, Udhampur, and Jammu districts before entering Pakistan’s Punjab.
• Joins the Chenab River as a left-bank tributary.
• Key Facts:
• Length: 141 km.
• Catchment area: 2,168 km² up to the Indian border.
• Tributaries include Raji, Gou Karan, and seasonal streams.
• Significance:
• Lifeline of Jammu city, providing water and supporting local livelihoods.
• Holds religious importance as Surya Putri (Daughter of the Sun God) in Hindu mythology.
• Associated with Raja Pehar Devta legend and supports historic sites like Bahu Fort and temples.
• Jammu is known as the “City of Temples” partly due to the river’s presence.
• Development Projects:
• Artificial lake construction at Bhagwati Nagar aimed at boosting tourism and water supply.
• Project compliance is monitored under the Indus Water Treaty.
• Recent Event:
• Nine individuals, including pilgrims and laborers, rescued after a flash flood caused by heavy rainfall in the Tawi River.

Salkhan Fossil Park Added to UNESCO Tentative List for World Heritage Sites

• Location:
• Sonbhadra District, Uttar Pradesh, in the Kaimur Range (part of the Vindhya range), adjacent to Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Significance:
• One of the oldest and best-preserved fossil sites globally, with fossils dating back approximately 1.4 billion years.
• Known for fossilized stromatolites—structures formed by cyanobacteria (blue-green algae).
• Records the Great Oxidation Event, marking the first accumulation of oxygen in Earth’s atmosphere.
• Features varied stromatolite forms indicating ancient environmental changes like water depth and wave activity.
• Fills a critical gap in the Precambrian fossil record, representing about 85% of Earth’s history, which is underrepresented globally.
• UNESCO Tentative Listing:
• Recognized as a geo-heritage site under IUCN’s 2020 guidelines on "Evolution of Life."
• Matches UNESCO’s 2021 framework on Earth''s history and life evolution.
• Tentative list status is the first step toward becoming a full UNESCO World Heritage Site.

AI-Powered Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) on Dwarka Expressway

• Overview:
• Dwarka Expressway is India’s first road to implement an AI-powered Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS).
• Implemented by Indian Highways Management Company Ltd. (IHMCL).
• What is ATMS?
• A technology-driven system aimed at improving traffic efficiency, safety, and reliability on highways.
• Uses real-time monitoring and automation to manage traffic flow and incidents.
• Key Components:
• Traffic Monitoring Cameras
• Video Incident Detection and Enforcement System (VIDES)
• Vehicle Actuated Speed Display System (VASD)
• Optical Fiber Communication Network
• ATMS Command and Control Center
• Significance:
• Enhances real-time traffic management and enforcement.
• Reduces congestion and accidents by intelligent monitoring and control.