The Rare Earth Hypothesis

Recent data from NASA’s Kepler and James Webb Space Telescopes (JWST) suggest that while Earth-sized planets in habitable zones are common, the specific conditions required for complex life remain extremely rare, reviving interest in the Rare Earth Hypothesis.

• The Rare Earth Hypothesis posits that while microbial life might be widespread across the universe, complex, multicellular life is exceptionally uncommon due to the need for a unique and finely tuned set of planetary, stellar, and cosmic conditions.

Propounded by:

• Proposed by Peter Ward (palaeontologist) and Donald Brownlee (astronomer) in their 2000 book “Rare Earth: Why Complex Life is Uncommon in the Universe.”

Aim:

• To explain why Earth-like complex ecosystems may be an extraordinary rarity in the cosmos despite the abundance of stars and planets.

Key Features:

• Multiple Conditions Required: Complex life depends on a rare combination of factors — stable climate, plate tectonics, magnetic field, atmospheric regulation, and a protective gas giant (like Jupiter).
• Habitable Zone Constraint: Not enough to be in a “habitable zone”; the planet’s composition, orbit, and atmosphere must also remain stable over billions of years.
• Planetary System Architecture: Giant planets can either shield inner planets from impacts or destabilize them depending on mass and orbit.
• Climate Stability: Long-term carbon-silicate cycling and plate tectonics are vital to maintain a life-supporting atmosphere.
• Atmospheric Retention: Only few planets, particularly around Sun-like stars, can sustain thick atmospheres against stellar radiation.

Significance:

• Challenges the Copernican Principle (that Earth is not special) by suggesting Earth’s conditions are uniquely fine-tuned for complex life.
• Guides astrobiology and exoplanet research, focusing on planetary systems with Earth-like stability.

Export Promotion Mission

• The Union Cabinet has approved the flagship Export Promotion Mission (EPM) to provide a comprehensive, flexible, and digitally driven framework for export promotion.

Export Promotion Mission

• The Export Promotion Mission (EPM) is a flagship central sector scheme of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to improve India’s export competitiveness.
• Announcement: Announced in the Union Budget 2025-26, it prioritises MSMEs, new exporters, and labour-intensive sectors.
• Nodal Body: The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) is the primary implementing agency.
• Export Targets: The mission supports India’s goal to achieve USD 2 trillion in total exports by 2030 and raise the export-to-GDP ratio to 15%.
• Financial Outlay: A total allocation of ₹25,060 crore will be implemented over six financial years from FY 2025-26 to FY 2030-31.
• Outcome Orientation: A data-driven monitoring system will track exporter performance and scheme utilisation to guide timely policy adjustments.
• Scheme Consolidation: The mission consolidates fragmented schemes like the Interest Equalisation Scheme (IES) and the Market Access Initiative (MAI) into a unified support mechanism.
• Priority Sectors: Labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, gems, leather, and marine products will receive focused support in response to global tariff escalations.
• Digital Platform: A dedicated digital portal integrates all submissions and disbursals processes with existing trade systems for seamless digital handling.
• Sub-Schemes: The mission will operate through two coordinated components: (1) NIRYAT PROTSAHAN and (2) NIRYAT DISHA.

NIRYAT PROTSAHAN

• Objective: NIRYAT PROTSAHAN expands exporters’ access to affordable trade finance and reduces their overall cost of borrowing.
• Financial Tools: It provides interest subvention, collateral-free credit guarantees, and export factoring support to broaden available financing options.

NIRYAT DISHA

• Purpose: NIRYAT DISHA delivers non-financial support that strengthens exporters’ market preparedness and trade competitiveness.
• Support Areas: It covers quality certification, international branding, trade fairs, warehousing, and inland transport reimbursements to ease non-financial barriers.

Operation Southern Spear

The United States has launched Operation Southern Spear, a major new military and surveillance campaign targeting Latin American drug-trafficking cartels.

• A large-scale U.S. military and intelligence operation deploying unmanned air and sea systems to detect, monitor, and disrupt drug-trafficking networks across the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.

Nation Involved: Led by the United States, under the Department of Defence.

Aim:

• To neutralize narco-terrorist networks operating in the Western Hemisphere.
• To secure U.S. borders against drug smuggling routes.
• To test and operationalize a hybrid fleet of robotic and manned naval forces as part of Navy modernization.

Key Features of Operation Southern Spear:

• Robotic & Autonomous Systems (RAS): Long-endurance robotic surface vessels, interceptor boats, and VTOL robotic aircraft for round-the-clock surveillance.
• Hybrid Fleet Integration: Combines unmanned systems with traditional warships under the U.S. Navy’s Project 33 for accelerated robotic fleet deployment.
• Expanded Naval Presence: Over a dozen U.S. vessels in the region, including USS Gerald R. Ford, amphibious ships, and a nuclear submarine.
• High-Speed Interdiction: Robotic boats capable of rapid interception of narco-vessels in high-traffic maritime chokepoints.

Significance:

• Major Military Escalation: Largest U.S. naval buildup in the Caribbean in decades, heightening geopolitical tensions.
• Counter-Narcotics Capability Boost: Enhances the U.S.’s ability to monitor and intercept drug shipments across vast oceanic routes.
• Regional Impact: Raises concerns among Latin American nations—especially Venezuela—about potential U.S. interventionism.

Draft Seeds Bill 2025

• The Centre has released the Draft Seeds Bill 2025 to replace the Seeds Act 1966 and Seeds (Control) Order 1983, after earlier attempts failed in 2004 and 2019.

Key Provisions of the Draft Seeds Bill 2025

• Mandatory Dealer Registration: All seed dealers and distributors must obtain State-issued registration certificates before selling, storing, offering for sale, importing, exporting, or supplying seeds.
• Uniform Seed Quality Standards: Seed varieties must comply with specified thresholds of germination rate, genetic purity, seed health, and trait expression, as per Indian Minimum Seed Certification Standards.
• Controlled Imports: Allows import of unregistered varieties for research/trials under Central approval.
• Institutional Structure: Central & State Seed Committees for oversight and dispute resolution.
• Penalty Structure: Decriminalises minor violations but retains strong penalties for serious offences.
• Supply Chain Transparency: Enhances monitoring of seed distribution and certification ecosystems.

Concerns Raised by Farmers

• Corporate Tilt: Perception that the Bill favours large seed companies over farmers, echoing protests in 2004 & 2019; E.g. private firms already supply ~60% of hybrid seeds in India.
• Regulatory Burden: Stricter norms may increase dependence on costly private hybrids; E.g. hybrid cotton seeds can cost 4–5× more than traditional varieties.
• Seed Sovereignty Risk: Import liberalisation may weaken farmers’ rights to save and exchange seeds; E.g. 65–70% of Indian farmers still rely on farmer-saved seeds.
• Weak Safeguards: Ambiguous monitoring could allow price manipulation; E.g. seed price complaints have risen in BT cotton belts during poor harvest years.
• Monopoly Fears: Centralised certification may favour big players. E.g., top 10 companies already control ~40% of the organised seed market.

Benefits Highlighted by Industry

• Regulatory Clarity: Modern rules reduce grey areas and improve compliance for R&D-driven companies.
• Recognition System: Incentivises innovation by encouraging research-based seed development models.
• Ease of Business: Simplifies approvals and registration norms, strengthening private-sector participation.
• Quality Control: Stronger standards help curb counterfeit seed markets, affecting both farmers and firms.
• Supply Chain Efficiency: Better tracking reduces delays in seed movement across states.

Rationalising Royalty on Critical Minerals

• Union Cabinet approved revised royalty rates for Graphite, Caesium, Rubidium, and Zirconium under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act).

Revised Royalty Rates for Critical Minerals

• For Caesium, it is 2% of Average Sale Price (ASP) on metal content in ore, and for Rubidium, it is 2% of ASP on metal content in ore.
• For Zirconium, 1% of ASP on metal content in ore and for Graphite, if it is 80% fixed carbon, 2% of ASP and < 80% fixed carbon, 4% of ASP.

Significance of the Revision of Royalty Rates

• Boosts Auctions: Enables fair valuation and promotes the auction of blocks containing critical minerals.
• Enhances Domestic Supply: Expected to reduce import dependence because India currently imports 60% of its graphite demand.
• Employment & Growth: Rationalisation of royalties supports critical mineral exploration, employment creation, and industrial self-reliance.
• Green Energy Transition: Graphite (EV batteries), Zirconium (nuclear & aerospace), Caesium (atomic clocks & GPS), and Rubidium (telecom & fibre optics) are vital for high-tech & renewable applications.

DRDO Develops New Generation Man-Portable Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

DRDO has successfully developed a new generation of Man-portable Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (MP-AUVs) for naval mine countermeasure missions.

• A compact, lightweight autonomous underwater vehicle system that can be carried by personnel and deployed quickly for detecting, classifying, and analysing underwater mines in real time.

Developed by: Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam
— a premier naval systems lab of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Aim:

• To strengthen India’s indigenous mine countermeasure (MCM) capability,
• Reduce risk to naval divers and manned vessels,
• Enable fast, autonomous, and networked underwater mine detection.

Key Features:

• Multi-AUV System: Uses multiple portable AUVs working collaboratively during missions.
• Side Scan Sonar + Underwater Cameras: Enables high-resolution imaging and real-time detection of mine-like objects.
• AI-Driven Target Recognition: Deep-learning algorithms autonomously classify threats, reducing operator load and speeding up missions.
• Underwater Acoustic Communication: Allows AUVs to exchange data underwater, enhancing situational awareness and coordination.
• Man-Portable & Rapid Deployment: Lightweight design suitable for quick launch from ships or shore.
• Validated Through Field Trials: Successfully tested in NSTL harbour trials for accuracy, coordination, and mission reliability.

Significance:

• Enhances Naval Mine Warfare Capability: Provides an intelligent, networked, and safer system for mine detection and neutralisation.
• Reduces Risk to Personnel: Minimises the need for divers or manned vessels in high-risk minefields.
• Boosts Indigenous Defence Tech: Strengthens India’s self-reliance under Aatmanirbhar Bharat in critical underwater warfare systems.

White-Collar Terrorism

• The involvement of several doctors in the recent Red Fort car blast has renewed national concern about white-collar terrorism.

White-Collar Terrorism

• White‑collar terrorism refers to educated professionals using their expertise, positions, or resources to support or conduct terror activities.

Key Drivers of White‑Collar terrorism

• Veil of respectability: Professional status enables operatives to work “above ground” and “in plain sight” without community suspicion or security attention.
• Clean Financing: High incomes allow operatives to use their own clean money for terror activities without raising financial monitoring alerts.
• Urban Anonymity: Metropolitan life offers natural anonymity that supports discreet movements and secondary residences without the scrutiny common in smaller communities.
• Digital Radicalisation: Encrypted platforms let professionals’ self‑radicalise in isolation through social media, closed chat groups, and extremist online forums.

Core Challenges Associated with White-Collar Terrorism

• Profiling Limits: White-collar operatives are “clean skins” with professional credibility and strong social integration, which makes them invisible to traditional profiling systems.
• Financial Blindspots: Self-funded operations utilise personal income, reducing the ability of financial intelligence tools to flag suspicious transfers.
• Deradicalisation Gaps: Existing deradicalisation models focus on socio-economic vulnerabilities and often fail against ideologically driven, opportunity-rich professionals.
• Insider Threats: Embedded professionals within hospitals, laboratories, universities, or IT systems create complex internal vulnerabilities that are hard to detect and mitigate.

Way Forward

• AI Analytics: Use AI-based analysis to identify subtle behavioural anomalies that conventional identity-focused profiling systems usually overlook.
• KYE Protocols: Require sensitive institutions to implement strict Know‑Your‑Employee checks to track access patterns and recognise unusual behavioural shifts.
• Dual-Use Tracking: Establish a national system that monitors chemical and electronic precursor purchases in real-time to flag clustered procurement.
• Metadata & HUMINT: Prioritise metadata mapping and human infiltration of online extremist spaces instead of attempting to break encrypted communication.

Moon’s Sphere of Influence (MSI)

ISRO confirmed that the Chandrayaan-3 Propulsion Module (PM) re-entered the Moon’s Sphere of Influence (MSI) during its high-altitude Earth-bound orbit, undergoing two lunar flybys.

• The Moon’s Sphere of Influence (MSI) is the region around the Moon where its gravitational influence dominates over Earth’s for orbital calculations.
• Inside this region, it is mathematically more accurate to treat a spacecraft as orbiting the Moon, with Earth acting as a perturbing body.

Located in:

• The MSI is an imaginary, approximately spherical (or oblate spheroid) region surrounding the Moon.
• For the Earth–Moon system, the MSI radius is roughly ~66,000 km from the Moon’s center (approximate, varies with models).

How to Calculate It (SOI Radius)?

Using the classical patched-conic approximation:

(Note: For precise mission design, ISRO uses numerical N-body simulations, not this crude formula.)

Features of the Sphere of Influence:

• Dominant gravitational region: Moon’s gravity governs trajectory integration more strongly than Earth’s.
• Not a physical boundary: It is a mathematical convenience, not a sharp gravitational cutoff.
• Both Earth & Moon still influence motion: Earth still perturbs the orbit inside MSI; Moon still perturbs outside it.
• Useful for “patched conic” method: Helps switch from one two-body solution (Earth–craft) to another (Moon–craft).
• Shape is not perfectly spherical: It is closer to an oblate spheroid, influenced by orbital eccentricity and the Sun.

Significance:

• Trajectory Planning: Determines when spacecraft navigation should shift from Earth-centric to Moon-centric calculations.
• Critical for Lunar Flybys & Insertions: Ensures optimal timing for orbit circularisation, braking, or slingshot manoeuvres.
• Avoids Orbital Uncertainty: Helps predict perturbations from Earth, Sun, and other lunar orbiters.

Right to Clean Air

• As Delhi’s air quality again dipped to “very poor” levels (AQI > 350), citizens, parents, and children gathered spontaneously at India Gate, demanding government accountability.

Impact of Air Pollution in India

• Public Health Emergency: Air pollution contributes to ~1.6 million deaths annually in India (Lancet Planetary Health, 2024), with children and the elderly most affected.
• Invisible Pandemic: 99% of Indians breathe air exceeding safe PM2.5 levels (WHO 2023).
• Delhi’s Air Quality: AQI crosses 450 during winter, equivalent to smoking 20–25 cigarettes per day.
• Economic Cost: The World Bank estimates ~1.4% of India’s GDP is lost annually to air pollution.

The Right to Clean Air

• Constitutional Basis: Clean air is part of the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right to live with dignity, health, and environmental safety.
• Directives and Duties: Articles 47, 48A, and 51A(g) collectively direct the State and citizens to protect and improve the environment, including air quality.
• Judicial Recognition:
• Subhash Kumar vs State of Bihar (1991): The Supreme Court held that the right to pollution-free water and air is part of the Right to Life under Article 21.
• M.C. Mehta vs Union of India (1987): Recognised the right to a clean environment; led to measures controlling air pollution from industries and vehicles.
• Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum vs Union of India (1996): Introduced the “Precautionary” and “Polluter Pays” principles, now part of Indian environmental jurisprudence.
• Legislative Framework:
• Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981: Establishes legal mechanisms for regulating and reducing air pollution through CPCB and SPCBs.
• Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: Umbrella legislation empowering the government to set and enforce air quality standards.
• National Green Tribunal (NGT) Act, 2010: Provides a specialised judicial forum for environmental disputes, including air pollution cases.
• International Obligations: India is a signatory to the Paris Agreement (2015) and the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3.9, which aims to reduce deaths from air pollution by 2030.

Global Cooling Watch 2025 Report

The UNEP launched the Global Cooling Watch 2025 report at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, warning that global cooling demand could triple by 2050 under a business-as-usual scenario, potentially doubling emissions and straining power systems.

• The Global Cooling Watch 2025 is UNEP’s second global assessment on the environmental, economic, and equity dimensions of cooling, providing the scientific foundation for the Global Cooling Pledge.
• Published by: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) at COP30 (2025).
• Aim: To analyse global cooling trends, project future emissions, and propose a “Sustainable Cooling Pathway” to achieve near-zero emissions while ensuring equitable access to cooling worldwide

Key Trends Identified:

1. Rising Cooling Demand: Global cooling capacity is projected to rise 2.6 times (22 TW → 58 TW) by 2050, driven by rapid urbanization, income growth, and intensifying heatwaves, particularly in developing nations.
2. Emission Surge: Without strong policy intervention, cooling-related GHG emissions may reach 10.5 billion tons of CO₂e by 2050, nearly double 2022 levels, threatening to offset gains from other climate actions.
3. Developing Country Growth: Cooling demand in Article 5 countries (developing nations) is set to increase fourfold, highlighting a widening divide in energy use and infrastructure readiness between rich and poor economies.
4. Energy Consumption: Global electricity use for cooling may rise from 5,000 TWh (2022) to 18,000 TWh (2050), straining power grids and escalating peak load demands, especially in tropical regions.
5. Heat Inequality: Over 2 billion people in low-income households remain vulnerable to extreme heat exposure due to lack of access to affordable, efficient cooling technologies.
6. Passive Cooling Potential: Integrating passive cooling design—like reflective roofing and urban greening—can lower indoor temperatures by up to 8°C and cut energy use by 15–55%, offering scalable climate adaptation.
7. HFC Transition: Phasing down high-global-warming refrigerants (HFCs) and adopting low-GWP alternatives could eliminate up to 0.4°C of projected global warming this century.
8. Global Cooling Pledge Progress: So far, 72 nations and 80 organizations have joined the Global Cooling Pledge, collectively aiming for a 68% emission reduction in the cooling sector by 2050.

Successes:

• Strengthened global collaboration through the Global Cooling Pledge, harmonizing standards and accelerating knowledge sharing among nations.
• Mainstreaming of passive cooling measures in building codes and urban policies, especially in Asia and Africa.
• Rapid technological progress in hybrid and low-energy cooling systems, improving energy efficiency by up to 50%.
• Enhanced private sector participation in manufacturing and financing sustainable cooling technologies.
• Emerging Tiered Access Frameworks are improving cooling equity and resilience for low-income and heat-vulnerable populations.

Limitations:

• Persistent inequality in cooling access, with millions in tropical developing regions still unprotected from lethal heat exposure.
• Insufficient adaptation finance, as current funding meets less than 20% of global cooling resilience needs.
• Policy fragmentation across sectors—energy, housing, and environment—hampers unified cooling governance.
• Delayed HFC phase-down and poor refrigerant disposal continue to drive high direct emissions.
• Dependence on fossil-based electricity undermines gains from efficiency and refrigerant transition efforts.

UNEP Recommendations:

• Adopt a Sustainable Cooling Pathway combining passive design, efficient appliances, and rapid clean energy integration.
• Accelerate refrigerant phase-down through Kigali Amendment implementation and enforce full lifecycle refrigerant recovery.
• Mobilize green finance via concessional lending, PPPs, and climate bonds to expand access to sustainable cooling.
• Mandate passive cooling standards in national building and urban planning regulations.
• Ensure equitable access by subsidizing efficient cooling for vulnerable communities and heat-stressed regions.

The Global Cooling Watch 2025 underscores that unchecked cooling demand could derail global climate goals. A coordinated shift toward efficient, equitable, and low-emission cooling is essential. If implemented urgently, UNEP’s pathway could cut 97% of future emissions and secure a climate-safe, heat-resilient future.

Global Phase-Out of Mercury-Based Dental Amalgams

• Signatory nations to the Minamata Convention on Mercury have agreed to phase out mercury-based dental amalgams by 2034.

Mercury

• Mercury (Hg) is a naturally occurring heavy metal found in air, water, and soil, but human activities have raised mercury levels in the environment.
• Health Hazard: Mercury destroys body cells, damages vital organs, and prolonged inhalation of vapours leads to chronic neurological, oral, and skin disorders.
• Global Hazard: The World Health Organisation (WHO) ranks mercury among the top 10 chemicals posing major health risks.
• Primary Sources: Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (about 38%) is the largest human-made source; others include coal combustion, metal and cement industries, and waste incineration.
• Minamata Disease: It is a severe neurological disorder caused by mercury poisoning, first identified in 1950s Japan due to eating fish from Minamata Bay contaminated with methylmercury.

AMOC Collapse Threat in Iceland

• In November 2025, Iceland formally classified a potential AMOC collapse as a national security and existential threat, the first climate phenomenon to receive such status.

Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC)

• AMOC carries warm, salty water northward at the surface and returns cold, dense water southward at depth, forming a key component of global thermohaline circulation.
• It is driven by differences in water density, which determines its temperature.
• It acts as a conveyor belt, redistributing heat throughout the Earth’s climate system by bringing it from the tropics in the Southern Hemisphere to Greenland and carrying cold water back south.
• It is a potential climate tipping point; its collapse could trigger rapid & irreversible climate changes.
• A 2021 study found that the AMOC is already at its weakest in over 1,600 years.

Importance of AMOC

• Climate Regulator: Distributes heat from the tropics to the North Atlantic, stabilising European winters and global temperature patterns.
• Rainfall & Monsoon Influence: Shapes tropical rainfall belts and monsoon systems, affecting agriculture and water security across continents.
• Ocean Health & Carbon Cycle: Drives deep-ocean circulation that supports nutrient cycling, marine ecosystems, and long-term carbon storage, moderating global climate change.

Impact of Weakening of AMOC

• Severe Winter in Europe: North-Western Europe could experience more intense winter extremes.
• Sea Ice Expansion: Cooling from the reduced heat transfer from ocean currents would be amplified by “extensive” sea ice expansion to the coasts of northwest Europe.
• Weakening of Monsoon: A shutdown of the AMOC could shift the Intertropical Convergence Zone southward, weakening monsoon systems across India, West Africa, and the Amazon.
• Ice Melt: Greenland and Arctic ice melt may accelerate, increasing freshwater input into the ocean and further amplifying weakening of the AMOC.
• Droughts: The Sahel region in Africa is at risk of severe droughts, which could disrupt livelihoods.
• Ocean & Weather Instability: Reduced heat distribution can intensify marine heatwaves, Atlantic hurricanes, sea-level rise patterns, and destabilise global climate systems

Cohort Connect 2025

The Union Minister of State for Science & Technology launched the Phenome National Conclave on Longitudinal Cohort Studies: Cohort Connect 2025 at CSIR–IMMT, Bhubaneswar.

• A nationwide scientific platform under the Phenome India programme, bringing together India’s major longitudinal cohort studies to generate large-scale, India-specific health data for precision medicine, disease prediction, and public health planning.

Launched In: 2025, by the Ministry of Science & Technology at CSIR–IMMT, Bhubaneswar.

Aim:

• To examine how genes, lifestyle, behaviour, nutrition, pollution, and environment influence disease patterns in Indian populations.
• To create a massive longitudinal dataset for chronic and emerging diseases like diabetes, cancer, neurological disorders, and infectious disease interactions (e.g., diabetes–TB link).

Key Features:

• Integrates multiple Indian cohort studies under one national framework (“Cohort Connect”).
• Focuses on rising non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including diabetes, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and renal complications.
• Uses advanced tools such as genome sequencing, biomarkers, digital health monitoring, and lifestyle mapping.
• Builds upon India’s existing genomic progress—10,000 human genomes sequenced, moving toward one million genomes.
• Encourages collaboration between CSIR labs, DBT institutions, clinicians, epidemiologists, and industry partners.
• Generates long-term datasets involving diverse Indian populations, addressing India’s unique genetic and cultural diversity.

Significance:

• Provides “Indian data for Indian solutions”, reducing dependence on Western health models.
• Enables early detection, personalised treatment, and prevention strategies tailored to India’s population.
• Strengthens India’s preparedness against future health challenges, including emerging infections and lifestyle diseases.

Global Warming and Food Insecurity

• The World Food Programme (WFP) released a 2025 analysis linking temperature rise directly to food insecurity using data across 45 countries (2017–2025).

Key Findings from the WFP Study

• A +1°C rise in temperature results in 70 million more people becoming food insecure globally.
• Under a 0°C anomaly, around 252 million people face food insecurity.
• Under a +1°C anomaly, this jumps to 322 million (a 28% increase).
• Eastern Africa shows more than double the temperature sensitivity of Western Africa. Haiti and Yemen have the highest vulnerability, with an 8% increase in food-insecure populations per +1°C rise.

Broader Implications of Temperature Rise

• Food System Fragility: With the global population projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, agricultural systems in low-income nations face compounded climate and resource stress.
• Economic Loss: Climate-linked food shocks cause $80–100 billion annual GDP losses globally (FAO).
• Inequality Amplifier: Smallholder farmers and regions dependent on rain-fed agriculture are exposed. E.g. In India, over 55% of net sown area is rain-fed; yield losses during drought years can exceed 25–30%.

First Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) Awards

The Hon’ble President of India, will confer the First Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) Awards and the 6th National Water Awards 2025 on 18th November 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan.

• A flagship initiative of the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, instituted in 2018 to recognize outstanding efforts in water conservation and management.
• Aim: To promote community participation, awareness, and innovation in water resource management, aligning with the vision of “Jal Samridh Bharat.”

• Features:
• Awards across 10 categories, including Best State, District, Village Panchayat, Industry, NGO, and Institution.
• Evaluation based on field verification by CWC and CGWB.
• 46 winners selected out of 751 applications received via the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal.

• Rankings (Top Performers):
• Best State: Maharashtra (1st), Gujarat (2nd), Haryana (3rd)
• Best Districts: Rajnandgaon (Chhattisgarh), Khargone (Madhya Pradesh), Mirzapur (Uttar Pradesh), Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu), Sepahijala (Tripura)
• Best Urban Local Body: Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra

• A community-driven initiative under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA: CTR) campaign, launched on 6th September 2024 at Surat, Gujarat, promoting grassroots water stewardship.
• Aim: To encourage Jan Bhagidari (public participation) and CSR involvement in constructing, rejuvenating, and maintaining artificial recharge and storage structures, thereby ensuring long-term water security and resilience.

• Features:
• Guided by the 3Cs mantra — Community, CSR, and Cost.
• Districts encouraged to build 10,000 recharge structures (3,000 for hilly/North-Eastern districts).
• Collaboration between Ministry of Jal Shakti and Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs for urban water recharge.

• Rankings and Recognition:
• 100 awardees selected — including States, 67 Districts, 6 Municipal Corporations, NGOs, industries, and philanthropists.
• Top-performing districts receive ₹2 crore (Category 1), ₹1 crore (Category 2), and ₹25 lakh (Category 3).

• Ranking: Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan were ranked the top three states in the JSJB Awards 2025.

Smooth-Coated Otter Spotted in Indravati Tiger Reserve

• Researchers captured photographic evidence of the elusive smooth-coated otter inside Indravati Tiger Reserve for the first time in 25 years.

Smooth-Coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata)

• The smooth-coated otter is a highly social, semi-aquatic mammal native to South and Southeast Asia.
• Physical Traits: It is one of the largest otter species and has a short, glossy reddish-brown coat.
• Habitat Preference: Inhabits freshwater wetlands, rivers, and lakes, but can also tolerate estuarine conditions while needing fresh water for drinking.
• Dens: They build dens under tree roots, among boulders, or within dense vegetation along the banks.
• Diet: Carnivorous and piscivorous; groups often form a coordinated V-formation to herd fish.
• Social Behaviour: It is a diurnal species and lives in cohesive family groups of up to 11 individuals.
• Distribution: Widely distributed across South and Southeast Asia, with an isolated population found in the marshlands of Iraq.
• Ecological Role: As apex predators, smooth-coated otters regulate fish populations and act as indicator species of freshwater ecosystem health.
• Key Threats: Habitat degradation, Water pollution, Pesticides exposure, Poaching, Illegal trade, etc.
• Conservation Status: IUCN: Vulnerable; CITES: Appendix I; WPA: Schedule I.

India Unveils First Indigenous High-Precision Diode Laser

India launched its first indigenous high-precision diode laser engineered for quantum communication and computing. It marks a major step in India’s capability to build quantum-grade hardware.

• A compact, high-precision diode laser system engineered for quantum technologies, scientific research, higher-education laboratories, and cutting-edge industrial applications.
• It provides ultra-stable, tunable and long-duration laser output required for quantum experiments and secure communication systems.

Developed by: Prenishq Pvt. Ltd., a deep-tech startup and spin-off from IIT Delhi

• Supported by the National Quantum Mission (NQM)

Aim:

• To create an indigenous quantum-grade diode laser for secure communication, quantum computing, and high-precision scientific research.
• To strengthen India’s quantum ecosystem and enable quantum-safe digital infrastructure.

Key Features:

• Ultra-Narrow Linewidth & High Beam Quality: Ensures sharp, stable beams ideal for high-resolution quantum sensing and communication tasks.
• Long-Term Frequency & Power Stability: Maintains precise performance over long durations, reducing recalibration needs in labs and field setups.
• Wide Wavelength Range (UV to Near-IR): Supports multiple quantum systems and scientific instruments requiring different operational wavelengths.
• Rugged & Temperature-Controlled: Designed to operate reliably in Indian climatic conditions, ensuring stable quantum output.
• Compact, Lightweight & Low-Power: Portable, energy-efficient architecture makes deployment easy in both labs and mobile platforms.
• Plug-and-Play Integration: Simple setup with minimal configuration enables fast adoption by researchers and educational institutions.
• Free-Space & Fiber-Coupled Output: Flexible delivery options allow use in both optical table experiments and long-distance communication links.

Applications:

• Quantum Communication:
• QKD Backbone: Provides stable, coherent light required for generating quantum keys used in ultra-secure communication.
• Quantum-Safe Transactions: Enables banks, defence and telecom systems to protect data against attacks from future quantum computers.

• Photonic Quantum Computing:
• Photon Qubit Control: Generates precise laser pulses to encode, manipulate, and read photonic qubits in quantum processors.
• Error-Resilient Operations: Low noise and stable frequency improve gate fidelity, reducing errors in optical quantum computation.

• Scientific & Industrial Research:
• Precision Spectroscopy: Offers narrow, stable beams for analysing atomic and molecular structures at extremely high resolution.
• Atomic Clocks & Metrology: Supports next-gen optical clocks and ultra-precise timekeeping, improving navigation and communication systems.

Ammonium Nitrate

A massive explosion at the Nowgam police station in Srinagar occurred when seized explosives—primarily ammonium nitrate recovered from a terror-linked doctor in Faridabad—accidentally detonated, killing nine people.

• Ammonium nitrate is a white crystalline chemical compound widely used as a fertilizer and a key ingredient in industrial and improvised explosives.
• It is highly oxidising and becomes explosive when mixed with fuel or other sensitizing agents.

Chemical Formula:  NH₄NO₃ – Ammonium Nitrate

Key Features:

• Strong Oxidiser: Does not burn alone but greatly accelerates combustion of other materials.
• Highly Soluble & Hygroscopic: Absorbs moisture easily, dissolves readily in water.
• Thermally Unstable: Can undergo decomposition at high temperatures (melting point 170°C), leading to violent explosions under confinement.
• White Crystalline Solid: Appears similar to common salts, making large quantities difficult to visually identify.

Regulations in India:

• Classified as an explosive under the Explosives Act, 1884 (as per 2011 Gazette notification).
• Governed by the Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012, covering manufacture, conversion, bagging, transport, storage, import, and export.
• Any mixture containing over 45% ammonium nitrate is treated as an explosive.
• Requires licences under:
• IDR Act, 1951 (for industrial manufacture)
• Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012 (for handling, storage, transport, sale, or use)

Applications:

• Agriculture:
• Used as a high-nitrogen fertilizer (NPK: 34-0-0).
• Preferred for its stability and efficient nitrogen release compared to urea.

• Industrial Explosives:
• Major ingredient in commercial explosives like ANFO (Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil), which accounts for ~80% of explosives used in mining and quarrying.
• Also used in mixtures like Amatol, Ammonal, Minol, Nitrolite, etc.

• Terrorism: Widely misused in Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) due to easy availability and high explosive potential when combined with fuel.

• Niche Uses:
• Instant cold packs: Dissolution in water absorbs heat (endothermic).
• Experimental use in off-grid cooling systems and as a refrigerant.
• Previously used in some airbag inflators (now discontinued due to safety concerns).

New Mangalore Port

The Government of India has launched ₹1,500 crore worth of modernisation projects at the New Mangalore Port as part of its Golden Jubilee (50 years) celebrations in 2025.

• New Mangalore Port is an all-weather, deep inner-harbour major port on India’s west coast, and the only major port in Karnataka. It is among India’s top 10 major ports and a key gateway for petroleum, coal, container, and agricultural cargo.

Location:

• Situated at Panambur, Mangaluru, on the Arabian Sea coast.
• Lies north of the Gurupur (Phalguni) River estuary.
• 170 nautical miles south of Mormugao Port (Goa) and 191 nautical miles north of Kochi Port.

Established In:

• 1962 – Mangalore Harbour Project initiated
• 1968 – Maritime works commenced
• 4 May 1974 – Declared India’s 9th Major Port
• 11 January 1975 – Formally inaugurated by PM Indira Gandhi
• 1 April 1980 – Came under Major Port Trust Act, 1963
• 3 November 2021 – Renamed as New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) under the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021

History:

• Ancient port city referenced in Roman, Greek, and Ptolemaic records; known as Mangala in classical geography.
• Arab traders used the port for spice and silk trade during the Vijayanagara Empire.
• Old Mangalore Port (Bunder) became inadequate for rising trade needs, leading to the creation of a new deep-water port at Panambur.
• Grew from handling <1 lakh tonnes to 46 million tonnes (2024–25).

Key Features:

• Deepest inner harbour on India’s west coast.
• Total area: ~480 hectares (1,200 acres).
• Handles major export cargo: POL products, iron ore pellets, container cargo.
• Handles major import cargo: crude oil (for MRPL), coal, fertilizer, edible oil, liquid chemicals, containers.
• Excellent connectivity via NH-66, Konkan Railway (Surathkal station) and Mangaluru International Airport.
• Plays a vital role in export-led growth, reducing logistics costs, and supporting Karnataka’s industrial hinterland.

Cabinet Approves New Royalty Rates for 4 Critical Minerals

The Union Cabinet has approved the rationalisation of royalty rates for four critical minerals — Graphite, Caesium, Rubidium, and Zirconium — to promote domestic production.

Royalty Rate

• It is a charge levied by the government on mineral producers for the extraction of natural resources, calculated as a percentage of the Average Sale Price (ASP) of the mineral or on a fixed per-tonne basis.

Law Governing:

• Governed by the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) and the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960, which empower the Central Government to fix or revise royalty rates.

Aim: To ensure fair value capture for the state, encourage exploration and auction of mineral blocks, and promote the availability of critical minerals vital for green technologies and strategic sectors like EVs, nuclear energy, and electronics.

Key Features of the Decision:

• Graphite: Royalty will now depend on quality — 2% for higher-grade (≥80% carbon) and 4% for lower-grade (<80%) graphite. Earlier, it was a flat per-tonne charge; now it changes with market price.
• Caesium & Rubidium: Both will have a 2% royalty on the value of metal extracted.
• Zirconium: Will attract a 1% royalty on its metal value.
• The new rates will make it easier to auction blocks containing these minerals and discover linked elements like lithium and rare earths.
• It brings India’s royalty structure in line with international norms (2–4%), ensuring fair pricing and more investor interest.

Significance:

• Reduces Import Dependence: India currently imports 60% of its graphite requirement; new rates incentivize indigenous mining and processing.
• Boosts Green Energy Transition: Critical for EV batteries, nuclear cladding, atomic clocks, and fiber optics—key components in India’s clean-tech ecosystem.
• Supports ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’: Ensures resource security, employment generation, and supply chain resilience.

Lab-Grown Milk

Israel-based startup Remilk has announced the commercial launch of its lab-grown “cow-free” milk from January 2026, marking one of the world’s first large-scale rollouts of animal-free dairy.

• Lab-grown milk, or animal-free dairy, is real milk made without cows using biotechnological methods.
• Unlike plant-based milks (soy, almond, oat), it contains actual dairy proteins—casein and whey—identical to cow’s milk, making it suitable for traditional dairy uses like cheese, curd, and yogurt.

Developed by:

• Pioneered by Israeli food-tech firms such as Remilk, Imagindairy, and Wilk.

Process:

1. Precision Fermentation: Milk-producing genes are inserted into microbes like yeast.
2. These microbes are grown in bioreactors, where they secrete milk proteins when fed sugar.
3. Proteins are then blended with fats, minerals, and carbohydrates to replicate cow’s milk—lactose-free, cholesterol-free, and hormone-free.

Features:

• Nutritionally identical to traditional milk—contains all nine essential amino acids, calcium, and similar fat/protein content.
• Customizable: Fat or lactose content can be altered; suitable for lactose-intolerant consumers.
• Ethical and sustainable: No animal use, antibiotics, or methane emissions.
• Allergen label required since proteins are identical to cow’s milk.

Significance:

• Offers a climate-friendly alternative to conventional dairy—reducing land, water, and emissions.
• Addresses animal welfare and ethical concerns.
• For India, it opens new avenues for biotech innovation but faces cultural, cost, and regulatory challenges under FSSAI.

India’s First MWh-Scale Vanadium Flow Battery at NTPC NETRA

India inaugurated its first MWh-scale Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) system of 3 MWh capacity at NTPC NETRA, Greater Noida, marking a breakthrough in long-duration energy storage (LDES) and renewable energy integration.

• The Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) is an advanced liquid-electrolyte–based energy storage system, designed as a sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries for grid-scale storage.
• It enables large-scale, long-duration energy retention crucial for renewable energy

Located in: NTPC NETRA (National Energy Technology Research Alliance), Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh

Organisation Involved: Developed by NTPC’s R&D Centre (NETRA) under the Ministry of Power

Aim: To strengthen India’s energy transition and grid resilience by developing indigenous, safe, and long-duration storage technologies that reduce dependence on imported lithium.

Key Features:

• Capacity: 3 MWh — India’s largest and first-of-its-kind installation
• Technology: Uses vanadium electrolyte instead of lithium; highly scalable, safe, and long-lasting
• Lifespan: 15–20 years with minimal degradation
• Applications: Supports renewable energy integration, microgrids, and industrial storage
• Eco-friendly: Enables recycling of electrolytes and non-flammable operation

Significance:

• Marks India’s entry into next-generation, non-lithium energy storage.
• Enhances renewable energy reliability by storing excess solar and wind power.
• Promotes Atmanirbhar Bharat through indigenous clean energy innovation.
• Positions NTPC as a global leader in R&D across green hydrogen, carbon capture, and LDES technologies.

Oman

Oman has been elected as a member of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Council for the 2025–2029 term during the 43rd UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand.

• Oman is a monarchy located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, known for its balance of traditional culture and rapid modernization under Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said.
• Capital: Muscat
• Neighbouring Countries: Bordered by United Arab Emirates (northwest), Saudi Arabia (west), and Yemen (southwest).
• Maritime boundaries with the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman.

• Geographical Features:
• The Al-Hajar Mountains dominate the north, with Mount Shams (2,980 m) as the highest peak.
• The vast Rubʿ al-Khali (Empty Quarter) desert covers much of its interior, while fertile coastal plains like Al-Batinah and Dhofar support agriculture.
• Oman’s coastlines, monsoon-fed Dhofar region, and ancient falaj (irrigation) systems sustain its oasis-based settlements.

• The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme is UNESCO’s intergovernmental scientific initiative launched in 1971 to improve the relationship between humans and their environment.
• Aim: To promote biodiversity conservation, sustainable ecosystem management, and human–nature harmony through research, innovation, and education.

• Features:
• Governed by the International Coordinating Council (MAB-ICC) composed of 34 Member States elected by UNESCO’s General Conference.
• Encourages scientific research, youth empowerment, and policy innovation to address climate change and sustainability challenges.
• Guided by the MAB Roadmap (2015–2025), with a new 2025–2035 roadmap to be adopted at the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves in Hangzhou, China (2025).