New Guidelines for Underground Coal Gasification

• The Ministry of Coal has released the Draft Guidelines for Mining and Mine Closure Plan for Underground Coal and Lignite Gasification (UCG) Blocks, 2025.

Key Provisions of the Draft Guidelines

• A pilot feasibility study by an accredited institution is mandatory before project approval, assessing technical, environmental, and risk parameters.
• Environmental Safeguards: Target seams should lie below 300 metres in low-permeability strata, ensuring a safe distance from aquifers and excluding seismic or eco-sensitive zones.
• Gasification must focus on optimal syngas output, minimal waste, and sustainable resource use.
• Financial Accountability: A mine closure fund must be deposited in an escrow account before operations begin.
• Base contribution: ₹50,000 per hectare, indexed to the Wholesale Price Index (WPI).
• Up to 75% of funds may be released after verified progressive closure; non-compliance could result in licence forfeiture or revocation.
• Institutional Oversight: The Coal Controller Organisation will evaluate and approve projects, supported by a Technical Committee comprising experts from the Ministry of Coal, the DGMS, and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
• The Secretary (Coal) will act as the appellate authority for grievances.

 Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM)

• The DAY-NRLM implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development is among the world’s largest poverty eradication and livelihood promotion programmes.
• Launched in 2011 (restructured from the Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana), it was renamed in 2016 to honour Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s Antyodaya philosophy, uplifting the poorest of the poor.
• The mission aims to organise rural households, especially women, into Self Help Groups (SHGs) to achieve financial inclusion, livelihood diversification, and social empowerment.
• It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with funding shared between the Centre and States at a 75:25 ratio, and at a 90:10 ratio for North Eastern and Special Category States.

How DAY-NRLM is Empowering Rural Communities Across India?

• Mass Mobilisation: Over 10 crore rural women have been organised into 90 lakh SHGs.
• Financial Empowerment: SHGs have accessed ₹11 lakh crore in collateral-free loans, with a repayment rate exceeding 98% (Ministry of Rural Development, 2025).
• Community Workforce: Nearly 3.5 lakh Krishi and Pashu Sakhis and 48,000 Bank Sakhis are active nationwide, delivering doorstep financial and livelihood services.
• Market Integration: SARAS Aajeevika Melas provide market linkages for SHG products, supported by the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj through branding and marketing.
• Livelihood Diversification:
• Agriculture: Around 4.62 crore Mahila Kisans (women farmers) trained in sustainable practices
• Entrepreneurship: Over 3.7 lakh microenterprises supported through the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP) in food processing, handicrafts, and services.
• Skill Development: 17.5 lakh youth trained and 11.48 lakh placed in wage employment through Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), and 56.69 lakh youth trained, with 40.99 lakh settling in self-employment ventures through Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs).

 Appointment of University’s Vice-Chancellors

• Recently, the Supreme Court resolved a long-standing standoff between the West Bengal Governor and the State government, allowing the appointment of Vice-Chancellors (VCs).

• In Central Universities, Vice-Chancellors are appointed by the President on the advice of the Central Government. In contrast, in State Universities, they are appointed by the Governor after consulting the State Government.

UGC Regulations (2018) on the appointment of Vice-Chancellor

• The person to be appointed as a Vice-Chancellor should be a distinguished academician, with a
• a minimum of ten years of experience as a Professor in a University or
• Ten years of experience in reputed research.
• The selection for the post of Vice-Chancellor should be through proper identification by a Panel of 3-5 persons by a Search-cum-Selection-Committee.
• The Chairman of UGC shall nominate one member of the committee.

Key Constitutional Provisions Related to Appointment of Vice-Chancellors

• Article 154: The executive power of the State is vested in the Governor, but is exercised by him in accordance with the Constitution.
• Article 163: The Governor must act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers; the appointment of VCs is not a discretionary power of the Governor.
• Article 166: Executive actions, though issued in the Governor’s name, are decided by the State Cabinet.
• Article 200: The Governor may reserve Bills for the President’s assent, often causing delays in education-related amendments.

Gender Disparity in the Informal Labour Market

• Despite India’s rising female workforce participation rates (FWPR), particularly in the informal and agricultural sectors, women continue to face deep structural inequalities.

Inequalities Faced by Women in the Informal Sector

• Wage Gap: Women’s wages are 30–40% lower than men’s (PLFS 2023).
• Job Insecurity: Absence of contracts leaves workers vulnerable to dismissal without notice. E.g. 90% of informal women lack written contracts (ILO 2022).
• Limited Mobility: Safety concerns and social norms limit travel to better jobs. E.g. 70% rural women prefer workplaces within a 5 km radius (NCAER 2021).
• No Social Security: Informal status denies access to pensions, insurance or maternity benefits. E.g. Just 12% have any form of social protection (SIDBI 2023).

Way Forward

• Wage Parity: Enforce equal pay audits across sectors. E.g. Iceland’s pay-equality certification model.
• Micro-Credit: Expand Mudra Yojana and DAY-NRLM SHGs for financial autonomy. E.g. Bangladesh’s Grameen model for rural credit.
• Social Protection: Integrate women into E-Shram and the Social Security Code 2020.
• Child-Care Support: Strengthen the Palna Scheme for working mothers. E.g. Nordic subsidised childcare improves female retention.
• Safe Mobility: Develop safe public transport under the Nirbhaya Fund.
• Market Linkages: Link SHGs to ODOP and FPO clusters for formal value chains. E.g. Kerala’s Kudumbashree success in local marketing.

 Makhananomics

• Bihar, producing nearly 90% of India’s makhana (foxnut), has become the focal point of the government’s renewed economic and political push.

Economic Significance of Makhana

• Makhana (Euryale ferox) is concentrated in Mithilanchal, mainly in Darbhanga, Madhubani, Purnea and Katihar, which together account for about 80% of Bihar’s output.
• The global market was $43.56 million in 2023 and is expected to reach $100 million by 2033.
• With rising demand as a superfood, makhana holds clear promise for exports and rural employment.

Challenges Facing the Sector

• Infrastructure: Bihar lacks adequate food processing units and export facilities. Most of its raw makhana is sold cheaply to FPUs in other states like Punjab and Assam, which then repackage it for higher margins.
• Farmer Earnings: Farmers receive minimal profits due to middlemen and weak market organisation.
• The Minimum Support Price (MSP) demand for makhana remains pending, but remains a rallying issue for farmer welfare.
• Labour-Intensive Cultivation: Harvesting involves manual pond diving, making the process expensive and inefficient.
• Productivity: Traditional practices yield only 1.7-1.9 tonnes/hectare, while improved seed varieties like Swarna Vaidehi and Sabour Makhana-1 can yield 3-3.5 tonnes/hectare.

National Makhana Board

• On 15^th September, PM Narendra Modi launched the National Makhana Board in Purnea, Bihar.
• Established with a budget of ₹100 crore, the Board aims to boost production, processing, value addition, and market linkages for makhana.
• It will empower farmers through training, capacity building, and integration with Central and State government schemes.
• A proposed Food Processing Institute will serve as a hub for innovation, skill development, and entrepreneurship, strengthening the entire makhana-based industrial ecosystem.

 Stubble Burning in Punjab

• With the paddy harvesting season underway in Punjab, incidents of stubble burning have again surfaced as a major environmental concern.
• Although the number of farm fire incidents has declined sharply due to government interventions, the total area burnt remains largely unchanged.

Why Farmers are Compelled to Practice Stubble Burning?

• Short Window: Only 20–25 days between paddy harvest (late Oct) and wheat sowing (mid-Nov) pushes farmers to clear fields rapidly. (Punjab Agricultural University, 2024)
• Labour Shortage: Rural mechanisation and migration have led to a ~45% drop in agricultural labour availability over the last decade. (NITI Aayog, 2023)
• Machine Cost: Machines like the Happy Seeder cost ₹1.5–2 lakh, even with 50–80% subsidy, making ownership unviable for smallholders.
• Fragmented Landholdings: With average holdings of 1.9 hectares in Punjab and 1.4 hectares in Haryana, residue management at a small scale becomes uneconomical. (Agricultural Census, 2021)
• Weak Enforcement: Though fines exist under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, local administrations rarely impose penalties due to socio-political sensitivities.

Way Forward

• In-situ Management: Promote crop residue incorporation using Happy Seeder and Super Straw Management Systems through Custom Hiring Centres. E.g. ICAR’s Crop Residue Management Scheme.
• Ex-situ Utilisation: Channel paddy straw to biogas, paper, and biomass power plants for energy generation. E.g. India’s SATAT Scheme planning 5000 Compressed Biogas plants.
• Direct Incentives: Provide per-acre financial assistance (₹2000–₹3000) to farmers who avoid burning residue. E.g. Punjab’s pilot incentive in Sangrur and Patiala led to a 60% drop in fires.
• Behavioural Change: Conduct sustained campaigns linking stubble burning to health and soil degradation awareness. E.g. Punjab’s “No Burn November” campaigns.
• Digital Monitoring: Integrate thermal (MODIS/VIIRS) and optical (Sentinel-2) satellite data with ground verification for accurate fire mapping. (PGIMER Chandigarh study, 2025).

 India’s Technological Future

• Union Minister Piyush Goyal stressed that India must shift from digital adoption to technological creation, cutting reliance on foreign inputs and achieving deeptech-led sovereignty.

India’s Dependence on Foreign Technology

• Electronics: Over 65 % of chips and 80 % of high-end components are imported (MeitY 2024).
• Defence Systems: Around 60 % of India’s defence equipment depends on foreign OEMs (SIPRI 2023).
• Renewable & EV Sectors: 90 % of solar wafers and 70 % of Li-ion cells come from China.
• Pharma Inputs: 68 % of APIs are still sourced abroad despite PLI efforts.

Consequences of Foreign Technology Dependence

• Economic Drain: High import bills widen current-account deficit; electronics imports > $70 bn (2024).
• Innovation Deficit: Domestic firms rely on foreign patents. E.g. India holds < 1 % of global AI patents.
• Employment Loss: Value creation shifts abroad; limits high-skill job growth. E.g. Deeptech manufacturing employs less than 2% of India’s tech workforce (NASSCOM, 2023).
• Digital Sovereignty Risk: Dependence on foreign software & cloud systems threatens data autonomy. E.g.: Over 75% of India’s cloud infrastructure is operated by U.S. firms (IDC, 2024).

Way Forward

• Deeptech Push: Strengthen India’s innovation base in AI, quantum, and semiconductors through targeted funding. E.g. ₹1 lakh crore Anusandhan Fund (2025) to promote deeptech R&D.
• R&D Incentives: Raise national R&D spending and incentivise private innovation through fiscal benefits. E.g. Israel’s Innovation Authority Model offers up to 50% R&D cost-sharing.
• Chip Independence: Localise semiconductor design and fabrication to reduce import reliance. E.g. India Semiconductor Mission (2021) provide $10 billion incentive scheme.
• Skill Pipeline: Build world-class talent in STEM and retain researchers through global collaboration. E.g. VAIBHAV Summit & SERB Overseas Fellowship for diaspora scientists.
• Startup Boost: Support early-stage deeptech ventures through risk capital and mentorship. E.g. Startup Fund of Funds 2.0 focused on indigenous technologies.

Monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs)

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) seeks partners to develop monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against Nipah viral disease.

• Nipah virus is a zoonotic pathogen causing severe respiratory and neurological illness, transmitted from bats or infected animals to humans.

Monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs)

• Definition: Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-produced proteins, engineered to bind specific antigens, mimicking natural immune responses.
• Origin: Derived from identical immune cells cloned from a single parent B-cell.
• Function: Used to diagnose, prevent, and treat diseases including cancers, autoimmune disorders, and viral infections.

How Are They Made?

The production of mAbs involves a process called hybridoma technology, developed by Georges Köhler and César Milstein in 1975:

• Immunization: A mouse is injected with an antigen to stimulate B cell production.
• Cell Fusion: B cells from the mouse''s spleen are fused with immortal myeloma cells to create hybridomas.
• Selection: Hybridomas are screened to find those producing the desired antibody.
• Cloning: Selected hybridomas are cloned to produce large quantities of identical antibodies.

Seed Processing Plants

• The National Seeds Corporation’s (NSC) advanced seed processing plants were inaugurated in New Delhi and five other locations — Bareilly, Dharwad, Hassan, Suratgarh, and Raichur.
• The Seed Management 2.0 system with an online seed booking platform for farmers was also launched.
• Objective: The new facilities aim to improve seed quality and ensure a nationwide supply of high-quality seeds to farmers, while the digital platform offers greater transparency and accessibility.

 H-II Transfer Vehicle-X (HTV-X)

• Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the flagship H3 rocket carrying HTV-X unmanned cargo spacecraft to deliver supplies to the International Space Station (ISS).
• The H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV)-X is the more modular and cost-effective successor to HTV-Kounotori.
• • It can carry up to 5.85 metric tonnes of cargo and can remain docked to the ISS for up to 6 months.
  • Deployable solar arrays allow for the transport of temperature-sensitive payloads.

 Transient Lunar Phenomena

• Moon’s surface, recently regaining attention as NASA and ESA’s lunar monitoring programmes track unexplained luminous events known as Transient Lunar Phenomena.
• Transient Lunar Phenomena (TLPs) are brief, unexplained luminous or colour changes observed on the Moon’s surface, appearing as flashes, glows, or mists lasting from a few seconds to several hours.
• Reports of TLPs date back over 1,000 years, including from Apollo 11 astronauts (1969).
• Frequently observed near Aristarchus, Plato, and other geologically active craters.

Theories of Origin

• Gas Outgassing: Sudden release of radon or argon from beneath the lunar crust.
• Meteoroid Impacts: High-velocity collisions cause visible flashes.
• Electrostatic Dust Activity: Charged lunar dust rising and reflecting sunlight.
• Atmospheric Distortion: Earth’s atmosphere causes optical illusions mistaken for lunar flashes.

 Veer Narayan Singh

PM inaugurated Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Memorial and Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum in Chhattisgarh.

About Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh (1795 – 1857)

• He was a tribal leader and freedom fighter from Sonakhan, Chhattisgarh, born in 1795 to Zamindar Ramasai of the Binjwar tribe.
• His father had earlier rebelled against the British and the Bhosales (1818–19). 

Key Contributions

• Regarded as the first freedom fighter of Chhattisgarh and a symbol of tribal resistance.
• Fought valiantly against the British during the 1857 Revolt, but was captured and executed on December 10, 1857.
• During the famine of 1856, he seized food grains hoarded by a trader to feed the starving poor.

Values

• Leader, benevolent and just ruler, respected for his fairness and service to his people.

Survey of India (SoI) is developing a National Geo-Spatial Platform

Platform will help in implementing the vision of the National Geospatial Policy, 2022.

• SoI is overarching nodal agency for Geospatial Data.
• Geospatial data is time-based data that is related to a specific location on the Earth’s surface.

National Geo-Spatial Platform (NGP)

• Objective: To serve as a robust and scalable system for standardizing, sharing, and managing foundational geospatial datasets, and
• It will facilitate seamless access to accurate and authoritative spatial data through web services, APIs, and mobile applications

Harnessing Geospatial Data for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth

• Agriculture: Enhancing precision farming, soil health mapping and irrigation management.
• Logistics & Transportation: Enables integrated infrastructure planning. E.g., PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan
• Urban Planning and Infrastructure: Drives advancements in urban design by supporting high-resolution topographical surveys (5-10 cm accuracy) and the future development of a National Digital Twin for major cities.
• E.g., Geographical Information System (GIS) based Master Plan for Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) cities
• Other: Environmental conservation (providing high-resolution location data and spatial intelligence), Disaster Management, etc. 

Meteor Missiles

• After the success of Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, India plans to acquire additional Meteor missiles to boost the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) aerial dominance.
• Missile Type: Meteor is a Beyond Visual Range air-to-air missile developed by MBDA (Europe).
• Propulsion System: Uses a ramjet engine enabling speeds over Mach 4 and dynamic thrust control.
• Range: Estimated 150–200 km, allowing “first-shot, first-kill” capability beyond enemy missile range.
• Guidance: Equipped with an active radar seeker and data link for mid-course updates.

 ISRO Launched India’s Heaviest Communication Satellite for Indian Navy

GSAT-7R (CMS-03) was successfully launched aboard the LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

• LVM3 is India’s heaviest operational rocket for launching heavy communication satellites and deep-space missions. It is a three-stage vehicle, comprising 
• Solid Stage: Two solid strap-on boosters at first stage (use of solid propellant)
• Liquid State: One liquid core stage (liquid propellant) 
• Cryogenic Stage: One cryogenic upper stage (powered by the indigenous high-thrust CE-20 cryogenic engine, loaded with cryogenic propellant)

Key Features of GSAT-7R  Satellite

• It is a part of India’s advanced defence communication satellite series GSAT-7.
• Weight: ~4,400 kg
• Orbit: Launched into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), it will eventually settle into Geostationary Orbit (35,786 kilometers above Earth).
• Coverage: Provides multi-band telecommunication services across the Indian Ocean Region and Indian landmass.
• Purpose: Strengthens space-based communication, maritime domain awareness, and secure links among Navy ships, submarines, aircraft, and Maritime Operations Centres.

Significance

• Indigenous development marks India’s growing self-reliance (Aatmanirbharta) in defence-space communication.
• Enhances Navy’s strategic capabilities and blue-water communication reach.
• Precision Warfare: Navigation satellites vital for missile accuracy and precision strikes.

Sulfadiazine

• Taiwan has seized shipments of Chinese mitten crabs after discovering sulfadiazine, a prohibited veterinary drug under Taiwan’s food safety laws.

•  Sulfadiazine is a sulfonamide antibiotic, a class of synthetic antimicrobial agents used to treat bacterial infections in humans and animals.
• It blocks the production of folic acid in bacteria, which is vital for their growth and reproduction.
• Key Concern: Excessive use of sulfonamides like sulfadiazine leads to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
• Regulation in India: It is a prescription medication in India for human use, but its application in food-producing animals and aquaculture is regulated.

 Stampede Results in Loss of Lives in Andhra Pradesh’s Venkateswara Swamy Temple

A stampede or crushing occurs when a sudden crowd surge arises due to real or perceived danger or loss of space.

• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) categorizes stampedes as man-made disasters.
• In recent past India is witnessing a rapid surge in stampedes, such as:  Bengaluru (RCB’s IPL win celebrations), New Delhi railway station (rush for Kumbh Mela), Prayagraj (Kumbh Mela stampede), etc.

Why is India so susceptible to Stampedes?

• Lack of Accountability and Enforcement: Event venues often exceed safe capacity limits, inadequate infrastructure (e.g. barricades), reflecting weak administrative oversight and poor enforcement of safety norms.
• Poor Planning and Coordination: Absence of integrated planning between local administration, police, and event organizers leads to confusion.
• Limited Use of Technology: Minimal deployment of real-time surveillance systems, crowd-density analytics, etc.
• Other factors: Rising pilgrimage culture due to rise in prosperity, congested urban spaces clubbed with high population density, panic triggering, poorly trained personnel, delays in rescue, etc.

Way Forward

• Use real-time monitoring with CCTV, Drones and digital tools to track crowd flow and alert authorities quickly as recommended by NDMA.
• Limit entry through registration and online passes to manage crowd size at major gatherings.
• Ensuring accountability of both organisers and administration for not following safety norms and managing crowds responsibly.
• Improve infrastructure with wider pathways, clear exits, and better safety facilities.

Global Virus Network

• The Global Virus Network (GVN) has expanded its international coalition by including three new Centres of Excellence across the Americas to enhance virology research capacity.
• The GVN is a voluntary alliance of leading medical virology laboratories and scientists working together to combat viral threats worldwide.
• Global Reach: It currently comprises 63 Centres of Excellence and Affiliates across 35 countries.
• Objective: It aims to minimise the global impact of pandemics through international cooperation and joint research on vaccines and antiviral therapies.
• India’s Role: India is a key partner contributing through the official GVN Centre of Excellence, the Manipal Institute of Virology (MIV) in Karnataka, and various other affiliate centres.

China successfully achieved the first-ever thorium to uranium fuel conversion in a Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (TMSR)

China’s TMSR is currently the only operational molten-salt reactor in the world. 

• The achievement of thorium-uranium conversion marks a milestone in TMSR development. 

Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (TMSR) 

• It is fourth-generation advanced nuclear energy system that uses high-temperature molten salt as a coolant. 
• Key Features: Cool without water, run at atmospheric pressure, deliver a high-temperature output, etc. 
• Key Advantages: 
• Passive Safety Features: If an MSR is too hot, a salt plug melts, stopping the reaction. 
• Small High-Level Nuclear Waste Footprint: Thorium generates fewer long-lived minor actinides (radioactive metallic elements) than plutonium fuels.
• Other: Extract more energy from fuel, etc. 

Thorium Fuel 

• Thorium has to be converted to Uranium-233 in a reactor before it can be used as fuel.
• Thorium-232 is the only naturally occurring isotope of thorium.
• It is three times more abundant in nature than uranium. 
• Despite its widespread availability, the metal’s utilisation is restricted by its high extraction cost.
• The third stage of India’s nuclear power program envisages large scale power production from thorium. 
• Advanced Heavy Water Reactor, currently under development with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), would serve as a technology demonstrator for thorium fuel cycle.
• Also, India is developing an Indian Molten Salt Breeder Reactor (IMSBR).  

Thorium reserves in India 

• India has the world’s largest reserves of thorium. 
• Kerala and Odisha have rich reserves of monazite, which contains about 8 – 10% thorium.
• It is also found in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Jharkhand.