Caspian Energy & Ecology 

»     It is the world’s largest inland water body (or largest lake), located at the intersection of Eastern Europe and Western Asia.

»     Borders five countries: Russia (northwest), Kazakhstan (northeast), Turkmenistan (southeast), Iran (south), and Azerbaijan (West).

»     Inflow & Outflow: The Volga River is its primary source, providing approximately 80% of its water inflow.

       o   Since there is no outlet, water is lost only through evaporation, which results in its brackish (salty) nature.

»     Current Status: Rich in oil and natural gas, the Caspian Sea has shrunk by 46% between 2001 and 2024, largely due to high evaporation rate and construction of dams on Volga River.

CDS: Military Chief Integrator

The Government has appointed Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani (Retd) as the next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

CDS

»     Genesis: The post of CDS was created in 2019 on the recommendations of a Group of Ministers (GoM) in 2001, based on the 1999 K. Subrahmanyam Committee (or Kargil Review Committee) Report.

»     Roles and Responsibilities of CDS:

       o   Principal Military Adviser to the Raksha Mantri on all tri-service matters.

       o   Head of Department of Military Affairs (DMA): As the ex-officio Secretary, the CDS oversees Armed Forces Affairs, Procurement (excluding capital acquisitions), and Integration (promoting "jointness" in training, logistics, etc.).

       o   Permanent Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee: acting as "first among equals" to coordinate between the three Service Chiefs.

       o   Strategic Mandates:Theatre Commands, Nuclear Authority (Military Adviser to the Nuclear Command Authority) and Policy & Planning.

Divyastra – Multi Target Power

India conducted the 2nd successful flight-trial of ‘Divyastra’ Missile from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha.

‘Divyastra’ Missile

»     It is an advanced Agni Missile equipped with Multiple Independently Targeted Re-Entry Vehicle system (MIRV) system.

»     MIRV system: Originally developed in the early 1960s, it allows a single missile to carry multiple nuclear warheads, each capable of striking different targets independently.

       o   TheUnited States of America (first country to develop MIRV technology), Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and China also have MIRV Technology.

Eco Friendly Fertilizer Drive

Indian Biogas Association (IBA) has called for 10% mandatory blending of fermented organic manure (FOM) with chemical fertilizers by 2030.

FOM

»     FOM is a type of organic fertilizer produced through a controlled fermentation process of organic materials like manure, crop residues, and compost.

»     It is a byproduct of operational biogas or compressed biogas (CBG) plants used as a fertilizer.

»     Uses: FOM  supplies essential  plant nutrients,  rejuvenates soil  health, enhances  beneficial microbial activity, and strengthens climate resilience in agricultural systems.

Micro Irrigation Expansion Mission

This target will be achieved over a period of 5 years from 2025-26 to 2029-30 through the Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) initiative under the broader National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA).

About NMSA:

»     Launched: in 2014-15 under the framework of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).

       o   Since 2022-23, it has been included under Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.

»     Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.

»     Aim: To enhance agricultural productivity while focusing on integrated farming, water use efficiency, soil health management and synergizing resource conservation.

»     Four Major Interventions/Components

       o   On Farm Water Management (OFWM) / Per Drop More Crop (PDMC): Promotes precision irrigation (mainly drip & sprinkler systems) to improve water-use efficiency.

            Ø  Coverage: ~109 lakh hectares under micro-irrigation since 2015-16.

            Ø  Since 2015-16, PDMC initiative has been subsumed under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana for its implementation as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.

       o   Rainfed Area Development (RAD): Uses "watershed plus framework" for natural resource conservation.

            Ø  It promotes Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) that combines multi-cropping with allied activities (horticulture, livestock, fishery, agro-forestry) to boost income and reduce risk.

       o   Soil Health Management (SHM): Focuses on location- and crop-specific nutrient management. It is delivered through Soil Health Cards (SHC) Scheme to promote balanced fertilization, residue management, organic farming, and reduced urea overuse.

       o   Climate Change and Sustainable Agriculture: Monitoring, Modeling and Networking (CCSAMMN): Facilitates two-way flow of climate information between farmers and scientists for better climate adaptation through pilot projects.

Nobel Laureate Tagore

The Prime Minister pays heartfelt tributes to Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore on the occasion of Pochishe Boishakh.

About Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)

»     Birth: Born in Calcutta to Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi.

»     He was a renowned Bengali poet, philosopher, composer, playwright, painter and social reformer.

Key Contributions:

»     Composed Jana Gana Mana and Amar Shonar Bangla, the national anthems of India and Bangladesh respectively.

»     Founded Visva-Bharati University and Shantiniketan School.

»     Advocated universal humanism, global peace and cultural exchange.

»     Major literary work:

        o   Poetry: Gitanjali, Manasi, Sonar Tari, Gitimalya and Balaka

       o   Plays: Raja, Dakghar, Achalayatan, Muktadhara and Raktakaravi.

       o   Novels: Gora, Ghare-Baire and Yogayog.

»     Recognition: He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913.

       o   Knighted by the British in 1915, later he renounced his knighthood in protest against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

»     Values: Nationalism, courage, humanism, etc

NPA 2025 – Local Governance in Focus

Ministry of Panchayati Raj has announced National Panchayat Awards 2025 with Mizoram’s Kawrthah North Village receiving top rank in ‘Clean and Green Panchayat’ category of DDUPSVP.

National Panchayat Awards

»     Core Purpose: Awarded annually to recognize best-performing Panchayats and promote inclusive, participatory, and sustainable development in rural India.

»     Assessment Framework: Align with nine themes of the Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs).

»     Two award categories:

       o   Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar (DDUPSVP): Recognizes outstanding Gram Panchayats based on their performance in nine thematic areas.

       o   Nanaji Deshmukh Sarvottam Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar (NDSPSVP): Honors the overall best-performing Panchayats at the District, Block, and Gram Panchayat levels.

PCA Act: Protecting Animals

National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) for first time, has compiled national-level statistical data specifically tracking crimes under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

»     Highest number of cases: Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu.

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960:

»     Objective: To prevent infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering on animals.

»     Act defines "animal" as any living creature other than a human being.

»     Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI): Statutory body as established by Central Government under Section 4, to advise on making rules to prevent animal suffering and  promotes animal welfare education.

River Reptile & Dragonfly Diversity

Gharial was recently spotted in Assam''s Kaziranga National Park after a long time and a recent survey recorded 143 Odonata species across Western Ghats, highlighting 35% shortfall in known diversity.

Gharial

»     Features: Massive crocodilian, with males 3 to 6 meters in length and females 2.5 to 4 meters, weighing between 150 and 250 kg, with bulbous knob on the end of the snout.

»     Habitat and Distribution: Now only survive in India and Nepal (population ~800), they are primarily in the Ganges tributaries and Mahanadi.

       o  However, this recent sighting confirms their presence in the Brahmaputra river system as well.

»     Conservation Status:

       o  Critically Endangered under the IUCN Red List.

       o  Protected under Schedule I of India''s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Odonata:

»     Classification: Comprised of dragonflies (suborder Anisoptera) and damselflies (suborder Zygoptera).

»     Habitat: Around 6,000 known living species globally distributed in every region except Antarctica (highest in the tropics).

»     Characteristics: Adult odonates are recognizable by their two pairs of transparent wings, an elongated abdomen, and a sloping thorax.

Scramjet = Supersonic Combustion Ramjet

DRDO successfully conducted a test of its Actively Cooled Full Scale Scramjet Combustor, achieving a run-time of over 1,200 seconds (earlier 700 seconds).

»     Scramjet Propulsion System

»     Concept: Scramjet stands for Supersonic Combustion Ramjet. 

       o   It is an advanced air-breathing jet engine designed to operate efficiently at hypersonic speeds by allowing the combustion of fuel to occur supersonically.

»     Operating Mechanism:  Vehicle''s forward motion to "ram" and compress external air into the combustor.

       o   It uses atmospheric oxygen as its oxidizer as it flies through the air.

»     Fuel Types:Hydrogen or advanced liquid hydrocarbon endothermic fuels.

»     Advantages: Reduce total weight of vehicle, making it a highly efficient propulsion system for low-cost, reusable access to space and an ideal foundation for hypersonic cruise missile development.

Somnath Legacy @ 75

It also marks 1000 years since the first attack on the temple in 1026 A.D by Mahmud Ghazni.

Somnath Temple

»     One of twelve Aadi Jyotirlingas.

       o   Jyotirlinga means ‘column or pillar of light’.

»     Location: Prabhas Patan along the Saurashtra coast in Gujarat.

»     Literary Sources: Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Stotram (Places Somnath first among the twelve Jyotirlingas), Skanda Purana, Prabhasa Khanda, Rig Veda and Bhagavat.

»     Mythology Associated: Built by Chandra Dev, the Moon God, who worshipped Lord Shiva here to free himself from a curse. Som means Moon. Nath means Lord.

»     Religious Sects Associated: Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism.

»     Foreign Travellers Associated: Mentioned by the Arab traveler Al-Biruni.

»     Architecture:Chalukya style also called Kailash Mahameru Prasad Style.

»     Features:

       o   Vesara Style: Blends Nagara-style with Dravidian-style.

       o   Constituents: Shikhara, Garbhagriha, Sabha Mandap, Nritya Mandap, traditional carvings, a spacious clean courtyard, and Baan Stambh pointing toward the South Pole.

       o   Material: Built of sandstone.

»     Restoration:

       o   12th century: Kumarapala

       o   13th century: King of Junagadh

       o   18th century: Ahilyabai Holkar

       o   1951:  Pran Pratishtha (consecration) done by Dr. Rajendra Prasad. It was

       o   It was initiated by Sardar Patel in 1947.  

Workforce Pulse Indicators

Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Quarterly Bulletin (Jan-Mar 2026) estimated declining Unemployment Rate (UR) in urban areas while Regular wage employees in rural areas witnessed a rise.

»     There was an increase in rural employment in both secondary and tertiary sector.

Key Labour Force Indicators

»     Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): 55.5%.

       o  LFPR is the percentage of persons in the labour force (i.e. working or seeking or available for work) in the population.

»     Worker Population Ratio (WPR): 52.8%.

       o  WPR is the percentage of employed persons in the population.

»     Unemployment Rate (UR): in urban areas stood at 6.6%.

       o  UR is the percentage of persons unemployed among the persons in the labour force.