CAG’s Plan for Two New Cadres

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has approved the creation of two new specialised cadres — Central Revenue Audit (CRA) and Central Expenditure Audit (CEA) within its department to enhance centralisation and audit quality from 1st January 2026.

• The CAG plans to restructure its Indian Audit and Accounts Department by creating two new cadres — the Central Revenue Audit (CRA) and Central Expenditure Audit (CEA) — for improved centralised auditing.

• Names of the cadres
• Central Revenue Audit (CRA) Cadre – will handle specialised audits of Central Government receipts and revenues.
• Central Expenditure Audit (CEA) Cadre – will focus on expenditure audits of ministries and departments.

• Aim: To develop domain expertise, improve audit quality, and ensure professional specialisation in government financial audits, leading to greater fiscal accountability and efficiency.
• Need for reform:
• Currently, audits are handled by multiple State Civil Audit offices with dispersed cadre control, causing fragmentation and inefficiency.
• The new system will consolidate over 4,000 audit professionals (out of 42,000 total staff) and enhance manpower flexibility through all-India transfer liability.

Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India

• The CAG is a constitutional authority (Articles 148–151) responsible for auditing the receipts and expenditures of the Union, States, and other government-funded bodies.
• It acts as the “Guardian of the Public Purse” and ensures financial accountability of the executive to the legislature.

Constitutional basis

• Article 148: Establishes the CAG of India.
• Article 149: Defines CAG’s duties and powers.
• Article 150: Prescribes the form of government accounts.
• Article 151: Deals with audit report submission to the President/Governor.

Appointment and tenure

• Appointed by the President of India under his hand and seal.
• Holds office for 6 years or up to age 65, whichever is earlier.
• Can be removed only through a special majority resolution of Parliament (same as a Supreme Court judge).

Key functions (under the 1971 Act)

• Audits all expenditure from the Consolidated Fund, Contingency Fund, and Public Account of India and States.
• Audits Central and State revenues to ensure proper assessment and collection.
• Audits government companies and corporations under respective statutes.
• Provides audit reports to the President/Governor, which are examined by the Public Accounts Committee.
• Acts as a guide, friend, and philosopher to legislative committees.

Reports submitted

• Audit Report on Appropriation Accounts – checks expenditure vs sanction.
• Audit Report on Finance Accounts – annual receipts and disbursements.
• Audit Report on Public Undertakings – performance of government companies.

India’s Nomination Process Needs Reform

• Under the Representation of the People Act (1951), the nomination stage has increasingly become a bottleneck, with candidates screened out even before voting begins.
• Several cases across States show nominations being rejected on minor technical grounds, raising concerns about procedural misuse and lack of safeguards.

Key Issues

• The Returning Officer (RO) has broad discretion under Sections 33-36 of RPA, 1951, to accept or reject nominations.
• Under Section 36(2), nominations can be rejected for “defects of a substantial character,” but the law does not define what is “substantial.”
• Wrongful rejection cannot be challenged until elections end (Article 329(b)), making the rejection final and irreversible.

Way Forward

• Clarify the Law: Clearly define what constitutes a “substantial defect”, such as wrong constituency, ineligibility due to age or citizenship, or legal disqualification.
• Classify Errors: Distinguish between minor issues (not grounds for rejection), issues requiring verification (to allow inquiry), & constitutional disqualification (where rejection must be with written reasoning).
• Due Process: Issue a written defect notice mentioning the law violated, evidence, and allow a minimum 48-hour correction window.
• Extend nomination filing hours to avoid a narrow time window that increases last-minute crowding.
• Digital-by-Default: Launch a unified e-Nomination portal linked to electoral rolls for automatic validation of age, constituency, and voter ID.
• Enable digital oath and affidavit filing (OTP/Digital Signature), and allow deposits via UPI/RTGS with a time-stamped audit trail.
• Institutional Checks: Create an appeal or review mechanism above the Returning Officer (RO) before final rejection.
• Standardise procedures through mandatory training and SOPs for ROs; conduct periodic audits of scrutiny decisions.
• Constitutional Rationale: The right to contest is the democratic counterpart to the right to vote; arbitrary exclusion undermines voter choice.

Rising Menace of Digital Arrest

• The Supreme Court of India raised alarm over the rising menace of ‘digital arrests’, noting that victims, mainly elderly citizens, lost ₹3,000 crore in India alone.

Scale and Impact of Digital Arrest Scam

• Elderly Vulnerability: Over 60% of victims were senior citizens (above 60 years), often targeted for low digital literacy and savings. (NCRB Cybercrime Data 2024)
• Rapid Case Rise: Cyber-fraud cases involving impersonation rose by 72% in 2024 compared to 2023.
• Psychological Impact: In 1,200 documented cases, 85% victims reported mental distress, and 40% developed anxiety disorders post-scam (NIMHANS–CERT-In survey 2024).
• Low Recovery Rate: Only 3–4% of total defrauded money has been recovered so far. (I4C report 2025).

Key Challenges in Tackling Digital Arrest Scams

• Transnational Operations: Cyber gangs operate from foreign jurisdictions, limiting India’s legal reach. E.g. Scam centres linked to Myanmar and Laos (MEA, 2025).
• Use of Deepfakes: AI tools used to morph officials’ faces and voices, enhancing the credibility of scams.
• Regulatory Gaps: Limited coordination between CERT-In, MHA Cyber Crime Portal, and state police units.
• Tech–Law Gap: IT Act (2000) lacks provisions addressing AI-based impersonation or virtual arrest threats.
• Money Laundering Nexus: Funds routed through crypto and mule accounts, complicating recovery. E.g.: FIU-India flagged ₹800 crore cross-border laundering links.

Way Forward

• National Cyber Task Force: Establish a centralised inter-agency unit (CBI, CERT-In, RBI) for coordinated investigation. E.g. Similar to U.S. Cyber Fraud Task Force (CFTF) model.
• Deepfake Regulation: Enact rules under the DPDP Act, 2023 to criminalise AI-based identity fraud. E.g. EU’s AI Act (2025) mandates watermarking of synthetic media.
• Elderly Protection Cells: Integrate cyber vigilance units with senior citizen helplines (14567).
• Public Awareness Drives: Launch nationwide CERT-In campaigns on “Digital Arrests” and cyber hygiene in regional languages. E.g.: Similar to Cyber Surakshit Bharat (MeitY) outreach model.
• Stronger Extradition Treaties: Enhance India–ASEAN cooperation to dismantle scam hubs operating from neighbouring countries.

Ethiopia to adopt Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM)

Ethiopia has announced plans to adopt India’s Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) model to tackle rural poverty and promote women’s empowerment.

• DAY-NRLM is India’s flagship poverty alleviation and women’s empowerment programme under the Ministry of Rural Development, focusing on sustainable livelihoods, financial inclusion, and social mobilization through Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

Launched in: 2011 as National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) by restructuring the Swarnajayanti Grameen Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY).

• It has been renamed as Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – NRLM (DAY-NRLM) in 2016.

Aim: To reduce rural poverty by enabling poor households, especially women, to access gainful self-employment and skilled wage opportunities through community institutions, skill training, and access to credit.

History:

• The mission represents a paradigm shift from subsidy-driven programmes to self-reliance through institution-building.
• It is jointly funded by the Centre and States and is among the world’s largest community-mobilisation programmes, aligning with SDGs 1 (No Poverty) and 5 (Gender Equality).

Key Features:

1. Social Mobilization & SHG Formation: Over 10.05 crore rural women organized into 90.9 lakh SHGs across 28 States and 6 UTs.
2. Community Resource Persons: Deployment of Bank Sakhis, Krishi Sakhis, and Pashu Sakhis to deliver last-mile financial, agricultural, and livestock services.
3. Financial Inclusion: Over ₹11 lakh crore in collateral-free credit disbursed to SHGs with a 98% repayment rate, making it a global model of credit discipline.
4. Livelihood Diversification: Promotion of farm and non-farm activities, including 4.62 crore Mahila Kisans, 1.95 lakh producer groups, and 3.74 lakh rural enterprises supported under SVEP.
5. Skill Development: Implementation of DDU-GKY (placement-linked training for youth) and RSETIs (entrepreneurship training), training over 74 lakh youth cumulatively by mid-2025.
6. Sustainable Agriculture: Creation of 6,000 integrated farming clusters and scaling of agro-ecological practices to improve rural resilience.
7. Digital Inclusion: Integration with Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and Digital Public Infrastructure to ensure transparency and last-mile delivery.

Global Nuclear Testing Consensus

• With major powers like the U.S., Russia, and China reconsidering or resuming nuclear test readiness, the long-standing post–Cold War moratorium is weakening.
• In this shifting landscape, India’s voluntary moratorium since 1998, which once projected maturity, now requires strategic re-evaluation to balance deterrence credibility with diplomatic prudence.

Global Nuclear Context

• Testing Revival: U.S. signalled possible testing resumption under President Trump.
• Arms Control Erosion: Russia’s withdrawal from New START and the U.S. non-ratification of the CTBT weakened global disarmament norms.
• China’s Expansion: Rapid arsenal growth and new silos at Lop Nur heighten regional imbalance. E.g. SIPRI 2024 estimates China has 500+ nuclear warheads.

India’s Nuclear Posture

• Voluntary Moratorium: Since the 1998 Pokhran-II tests, India pledged no further testing.
• Credible Minimum Deterrence: Doctrine aims for sufficient deterrence, not arms race parity.
• Data Reliability: Lacks empirical yield validation post-1998 tests.
• Strategic Autonomy: India’s restraint was self-imposed, not treaty-bound, hence reversible.

Rationale for Re-Evaluation of India’s Nuclear Posture

• Eroding Deterrence: Evolving tech and adversarial build-ups may outpace India’s tested designs. E.g. Pakistan expanding tactical and sea-based deterrence (SIPRI 2024).
• Security Environment: China’s modernisation and U.S.–China tensions raise new strategic risks. E.g. increasing Indo-Pacific militarisation post-AUKUS and QUAD engagements.
• Technological Validation: Modern MIRV systems require renewed yield assurance.
• Moral–Strategic Balance: India must retain ethical credibility while ensuring technological confidence.

The Taj Mahal

The upcoming Hindi film “The Taj Story”, starring Paresh Rawal, has triggered nationwide controversy for reviving the discredited “Tejo Mahalaya” theory, which claims the Taj Mahal was originally a Shiva temple.

• The Taj Mahal is a 17th-century white marble mausoleum on the right bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1983), celebrated as the pinnacle of Indo-Islamic architecture.

Built during:

• Commissioned in 1632 CE by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, it was completed in 1648 CE, with additional structures and landscaping finished by 1653 CE under the supervision of architect Ustad Ahmad Lahori.

History:

• Constructed by artisans, calligraphers, inlayers, and masons from across India, Central Asia, and Persia, the Taj represents the zenith of Mughal craftsmanship.
• Inscriptions in Arabic, Persian, and Quranic verses document its chronology and spiritual symbolism.

Key Features:

• The central white marble tomb stands on a raised square platform with four minarets at each corner, symbolizing symmetry and spatial balance.
• The double-dome chamber houses the cenotaphs of Mumtaz Mahal (center) and Shah Jahan (west); the real graves lie in the lower crypt.
• The pietra dura (inlay) work, with precious stones depicting intricate floral motifs, exemplifies Persian and Indian artistic fusion.
• The Charbagh garden follows the Timurid-Persian quadripartite design, divided by water channels symbolizing the rivers of paradise.
• The main gateway (Darwaza-i-Rauza) and flanking mosque and guest house of red sandstone contrast with the central marble mausoleum, emphasizing visual harmony.

Significance:

• Represents the culmination of Mughal architecture, uniting Persian, Ottoman, and Indian aesthetics into a symbol of eternal love and divine harmony.
• Serves as a testament to 17th-century engineering and design, blending artistic precision with spiritual allegory—reflecting paradise and resurrection.
• Continues to be a global icon of India’s cultural heritage, drawing over 6 million visitors annually and inspiring art, literature, and architecture worldwide.

India’s Electronics Export Boom

• In FY2024–25 and FY2025–26, electronics goods became India’s third-largest export category, driven by PLI schemes, policy reforms, and global supply-chain diversification.
• With exports crossing $40 billion (FY25) and $22.2 billion in the first half of FY26 (↑41.9% YoY), India’s electronic sector has emerged as a new growth frontier.

India’s Electronics Export Performance Overview

• Rapid Rise: Electronics now form 10.1% of India’s total exports (FY26 H1), up from 3.5% in FY17.
• Rank Progression: 8^th in FY17 → 6th in FY22 → Top 3 by FY25, surpassing gems, pharma, and textiles.
• Major Market: U.S. remains top destination, exports to U.S ↑100% aided by 50% tariff exemption.
• Comparative Growth: Electronics exports doubled vs FY20–FY24 average, while engineering goods grew 20.1% and pharma 24.1%.
• Dominant Segment: Telecom equipment (mainly smartphones) comprises 64.1% of electronics exports (FY25), up from 51% (FY23).

First BIMSTEC-India Marine Research Network (BIMReN) Conference

Kochi hosted the First BIMSTEC-India Marine Research Network (BIMReN) Conference from November 4–6, 2025, marking a major milestone in advancing regional blue economy cooperation and marine research collaboration among Bay of Bengal nations.

• A biennial regional platform under the BIMSTEC framework that promotes joint marine research, sustainable fisheries, and blue economy initiatives through collaboration between India and other BIMSTEC member countries.

• The BIMReN initiative was first announced by Prime Minister of India during the Colombo BIMSTEC Summit in 2022.
• Officially launched in 2024 by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India.

Host (2025): The first biennial conference was hosted by India in Kochi from November 4–6, 2025, bringing together scientists, policymakers, and research institutions from all seven BIMSTEC nations.

Aim:

• To strengthen scientific cooperation in marine research, promote sustainable management of the Bay of Bengal’s resources, and enhance regional capacity for blue economy governance aligned with India’s Neighbourhood First, Act East, Indo-Pacific, and MAHASAGAR strategies.

Key Features:

• Institutional Collaboration: Links 25 research institutions and 50+ scientists across BIMSTEC through twinning grants and split-site PhD fellowships.
• Focus Areas: Marine ecosystem health, sustainable fisheries, ocean observation, and technology-driven marine innovation.
• Knowledge Exchange: Biennial conferences and joint research programs to harmonize policy and scientific understanding.
• Youth Engagement: Encourages young researchers to contribute to marine sustainability and policy development.
• Regional Integration: Builds a cooperative framework for data sharing, capacity building, and maritime governance.

Significance:

• Reinforces India’s leadership in regional marine science diplomacy and sustainable ocean governance.
• Advances India’s vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), integrating economy, environment, and diplomacy.

Wind Power Capacity in India

• Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) Pralhad Joshi announced that 6 GW of new wind capacity will be added by FY 2025-26.
• Installed Capacity: India ranks 4^th globally (after China, the US, and Germany) with 54 GW of installed wind capacity and 30 GW under implementation.
• Power Contribution: Wind energy accounted for 4.43% of India’s total electricity generation in FY 2024-25 and is on course to achieve 100 GW capacity target by 2030.
• Regional Concentration: Wind power capacity is concentrated in southern and western India, led by Gujarat, with Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Rajasthan following.

EAT-Lancet Commission Report 2025

• The 2025 EAT-Lancet Commission on Healthy, Sustainable and Just Food Systems has warned that global food systems are the largest contributors to breaching planetary boundaries.

Key Findings of 2025 Report

• Food systems are responsible for 5 of 7 breached boundaries, including nitrogen and phosphorus overuse, biodiversity loss, land-system change, and freshwater overuse.
• Agricultural and food systems generate 30% of global greenhouse gases; transforming them could cut emissions by 50%.
• India is performing poorly due to excess use of nitrogen fertilisers and pesticides, and has lost much of its natural land cover, which should ideally remain 50–60% intact.
• Less than 1% of the global population currently lives within ecological and social safety limits.
• The wealthiest 30% of people cause 70% of food-related environmental damage.

Key Recommendations to Transform Food Systems

• Promote Planetary Diet: More plant-based foods (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, pulses, millets) and less red meat, sugar, and processed food to cut emissions and improve health.
• Expand Climate-Smart/Regenerative Farming: Use no-till, mulching, crop rotation, and reduced chemical inputs to restore soil and save water. E.g., AP Natural Farming & Direct Seeded Rice (Punjab).
• Align Food Systems with Climate & Biodiversity Goals: Link food policies with Paris Agreement, KM-GBF, and national dietary guidelines for sustainable & healthy food systems. E.g., Eat Right India initiative.

Lessons for India from China’s Air Pollution Control

• China offered to share its expertise with India in achieving cleaner air, highlighting the common challenges both countries face with air pollution.

Steps Taken by China to Combat Air Pollution

• Integrated air-quality targets into officials’ performance reviews, linking promotions to pollution-control outcomes to ensure strict accountability.
• Launched the ‘2+26’ regional coordination mechanism, enabling simultaneous industrial curbs and traffic restrictions across key polluted cities during smog episodes.
• Expanded green finance through green credit, emission-control loans and blended funds to attract private investment for clean-air initiatives.
• Imposed Ultra-Low Emission (ULE) norms for steel, cement and thermal plants, mandating advanced desulphurisation and catalytic equipment.
• Shut down or relocated ~150 million tonnes of outdated steel capacity (2016–21) away from dense urban clusters to reduce industrial emissions.
• Implemented a coal-to-gas/electric heating transition in northern China, replacing household coal-burning stoves to reduce winter pollution.
• Rolled out China-VI vehicle emission standards and accelerated EV adoption through subsidies and licence incentives, making China the world’s largest EV market with e-public transport mandates.
• Established a real-time air monitoring network with 2,000+ stations and CEMS-linked oversight, alongside the Three-North Shelterbelt Project which increased forest cover and reduced dust storms.

What India Can Learn from China’s Clean Air Strategy?

• Performance-Linked Funding: Enforce accountability by linking the release of central funds and bureaucratic promotions to meeting NCAP air-quality targets.
• Regional Airshed Authority: Extend the CAQM model to the entire Indo-Gangetic Plain and other multi-state airsheds to coordinate emission control and implement Low Emission Zones.
• Time-Bound Upgrades: Set a strict 24-month deadline for heavy industries to install Ultra-Low Emission (ULE) technologies like FGD, and halt new clearances in non-compliant regions.
• Grid-Based Accountability: Divide municipal wards into smaller grids and make one local officer legally responsible for all non-point pollution sources in their area.
• Clean Fuel Transition: Phase out high-sulfur fuels like petcoke and furnace oil, while offering MSMEs subsidised green loans to switch to PNG or electricity.
• National Green Finance Facility: Establish a central green finance platform using public funds to de-risk projects and attract private investment in pollution-control technologies.

State of Food and Agriculture Report 2025

• The SOFA report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) warns that human-caused land degradation is becoming a major threat to agricultural productivity.

• Nearly 1.7 billion people live in regions where land degradation is causing declining agricultural output.

Key Findings of the Report

• India is among the worst affected, showing some of the largest yield losses from human-induced land degradation, particularly in densely farmed areas.
• Agricultural expansion is the leading cause of about 90% deforestation.
• Between 2001 and 2023, cropland increased by 78 million hectares while permanent pastures declined by 151 million hectares.
• Roughly 3.6 million cropland hectares are abandoned yearly, largely because of land degradation.
• Restoration Potential: Reversing just 10% of degraded cropland can produce food for 154 million people annually.
• Restoring abandoned croplands could feed 292 to 476 million people.
• Hotspot Regions: Southern Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa are the worst hotspots, where degradation overlaps with high poverty levels, food insecurity, and childhood malnutrition.
• Nearly 47 million children under 5 living in these regions are affected by stunted growth linked to degraded soil and declining yields.

Way Forward

• Treat land degradation as a food security and livelihoods priority, not only an environmental issue, with policies targeting soil restoration and sustainable farming.
• Focus on restoring degraded land, as it simultaneously improves crop yields and strengthens ecosystems and biodiversity.

Khangchendzonga National Park Rated “Good” by IUCN

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has rated Khangchendzonga National Park as “Good” in its 2025 global review of natural World Heritage Sites — making it India’s only site with a positive conservation status.

• A global IUCN World Heritage Outlook 2025 assessment that evaluates the conservation effectiveness of all natural World Heritage Sites based on biodiversity health, management quality, and climate resilience.

• Initiative by IUCN:
• Conducted under the World Heritage Outlook programme to track the condition of 252 natural sites globally.
• Sites are ranked as “Good,” “Good with Some Concerns,” “Significant Concern,” or “Critical.”
• Khangchendzonga National Park emerged as the only Indian site rated “Good,” indicating effective ecological management and cultural conservation.

• A UNESCO World Heritage Site (2016) and India’s first “mixed” heritage site, recognized for both its natural beauty and cultural significance.

Location:

• Situated in North and West Sikkim, covering 1,784 sq km—nearly 40% of Sikkim’s total area—along the India–Nepal border.

History:

• Declared a National Park in 1977 and later incorporated into the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve.
• Named after Mount Khangchendzonga (8,586 m), the world’s third-highest peak and India’s highest.
• Inscribed as a UNESCO site in 2016 for its integration of Lepcha spiritual traditions and Himalayan biodiversity.

Geographical Features:

• Encompasses 280 glaciers and 70+ glacial lakes, including Zemu Glacier and Tso Lhamo Lake.
• Spans diverse biomes — from subtropical forests (1,300 m) to permanent snowfields (8,598 m).
• Habitats include Himalayan moist forests, alpine meadows, and temperate broadleaf forests.

Uniqueness:

• Houses rare species like snow leopard, red panda, clouded leopard, blue sheep, Himalayan tahr, and over 550 bird species including Impeyan pheasant and Satyr tragopan.
• Represents a sacred landscape — the Lepcha’s Mayel Lyang and Tibetan beyul (hidden paradise).
• Known for its intact ecological gradients, pristine biodiversity, and fusion of spiritual ecology with scientific conservation.

Operation White Cauldron

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) busted a clandestine factory in Valsad, Gujarat, manufacturing the psychotropic drug Alprazolam, seizing drugs worth ₹22 crore and arresting four people under “Operation White Cauldron.”

• A nationwide anti-narcotics operation led by the DRI targeting clandestine drug manufacturing units involved in producing psychotropic substances under the NDPS Act, 1985.
• Aim: To dismantle inter-state synthetic drug networks, curb illegal trade of chemical precursors, and support India’s Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.
• Significance of Operation White Cauldron:

• Curbing Synthetic Drug Trade: Dismantled a major illegal Alprazolam unit, stopping large-scale synthetic drug circulation across states.
• Boosting Inter-State Coordination: Strengthened cooperation among enforcement agencies to track and eliminate narcotic networks under the NDPS Act.
• Advancing Anti-Drug Mission: Reinforced the goals of Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan through proactive surveillance and public health protection.

Transfer of PSLV Development to Industry Consortium

• ISRO plans to partially transfer the development of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) to an Indian industry consortium.

• Objective: The initiative aims to enhance private sector participation in India’s space program and increase India’s annual satellite launch capacity.
• Industry Consortium: It is a group of private Indian companies led by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
• The first PSLV built entirely by the consortium is expected to be launched by February 2026.
• Transfer Framework: ISRO will allocate 50% of PSLV development to industry partners after two successful launches.

Gold coins from the Vijayanagara-era unearthed

Over 100 gold coins from the Vijayanagara era were unearthed inside an earthen pot during restoration works at a Later Chola-period Shiva temple in Kovilur, Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu.

• A total of 103 punch-marked gold coins of varying sizes and shapes were discovered during excavation near the sanctum sanctorum of the Kovilur Shiva temple atop the Jawadhu Hills.

Discovery:

• Officials from the Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Department (TNSAD) and Revenue Department secured the site and transferred the coins to the district treasury under the provisions of the Indian Treasure Trove Act, 1878.
• The coins carry the boar emblem, a symbol of Vijayanagara royal authority, and are believed to be devotional offerings minted during the reigns of rulers such as Harihara II or Krishnadevaraya (14th–16th centuries CE).
• Archaeologists estimate the coins to be approximately 5 mm in size, made of pure gold, and possibly issued as temple endowments or donations.

• The Vijayanagara Empire (1336–1646 CE) was founded by Harihara I and Bukka I, inspired by the sage Vidyaranya, to defend Hindu kingdoms in South India.
• Its capital at Hampi became a major political, economic, and religious hub. The empire issued one of the most sophisticated monetary systems in medieval India.

Key Features of Vijayanagara Coinage:

• Metal Composition: Predominantly gold pagodas (gadyanas), half and quarter pagodas, along with silver taras and copper jitals. Gold was reserved for religious offerings and royal use.

Eg: Krishnadevaraya’s gold Balakrishna pagoda (3.3 gm) with Devanagari legend “Sri Pratapa Krishna Raya.”

• Artistic Imagery: Coins bore images of Hindu deities—Siva-Parvati (Uma-Maheshwara), Vishnu-Lakshmi, Balakrishna, or Gandaberunda (double-headed eagle)—reflecting royal devotion and temple culture.
• Legends and Language: Inscribed in Devanagari, Kannada, or Tamil, often featuring the ruler’s name and honorifics such as “Sri Pratapa” (valiant).
• Symbolism: The boar emblem (Varaha)—an avatar of Vishnu—was used as the state symbol on royal coins and seals, representing divine sanction to rule.
• Economic Role: Vijayanagara coinage served both as temple wealth and trade currency, circulating widely across South India, Sri Lanka, and the Indian Ocean trade routes.

Juvenile Huntington’s Disease Brain Donation

• In a first for India, the family of a Juvenile Huntington’s Disease (JHD) patient donated his brain to NIMHANS, Bengaluru.

 Huntington’s Disease (HD)

• It is a rare, progressive genetic disorder that causes progressive breakdown of the brain’s nerve cells.
• It is caused by a mutation in the HTT gene, which is involved in the production of a protein called huntingtin, which provides instructions for making the protein.
• Mutated genes provide faulty instructions leading to the production of abnormal huntingtin proteins and the formation of clumps.
• These clumps disrupt the normal functioning of the brain cells, which eventually leads to the death of neurons in the brain, resulting in Huntington’s disease.
• While adult HD manifests between 30–50 years, Juvenile HD (JHD) appears before 20 years, with faster progression, and severe symptoms like Motor impairment, cognitive decline, and speech difficulty.
• Autosomal dominant, a child of an affected parent has a 50% chance of inheriting the mutation.
• Globally affects about 3–7 per 100,000 people; JHD forms ~6% of all HD cases.

Significance of JHD Brain Donation

• The NIMHANS Brain Bank, with over 450 specimens, will study neurodegeneration for drug discovery.
• Highlights growing acceptance of post-mortem brain donation for neurological research.
• Facilitates linkages with international HD research networks for genetic mapping.

Black Hole Morsels

• A new theoretical study suggests that tiny remnants of black hole mergers, called “black hole morsels,” could emit detectable gamma-ray bursts.
• Black hole “morsels” are hypothetical micro–black holes, far smaller than their parent black holes, formed during extreme cosmic collisions like black hole mergers.
• They are comparable in mass to asteroids, but immensely dense and hot, radiating strongly through Hawking radiation, far more intense than large black holes.
• Their lifetime ranges from milliseconds to years, depending on mass.
• These emissions may provide the first observable evidence of quantum gravity, bridging the gap between Einstein’s relativity and quantum mechanics.

Rise in Chest Infections

• A recent study has reported a significant increase in pertussis-like infections caused by Bordetella holmesii (a lesser-known bacterium that mimics whooping cough) in northern India.

Key Findings of the Study

• Out of 935 suspected pertussis (whooping cough) cases analysed, 37% were caused by Bordetella holmesii, surpassing infections from Bordetella pertussis, traditionally the primary pathogen.
• This marks a notable epidemiological shift in India’s causative agents of respiratory infections.
• The findings point to B. holmesii as an emerging cause of chronic respiratory infections in children.
• The trend suggests an evolving aetiology of pertussis-like illnesses, demanding updated diagnostic and vaccination strategies.

GW250114 Discovery

Scientists have detected GW250114, the clearest gravitational wave signal ever recorded, from a black hole merger about 1.3 billion light-years away.

• GW250114 is a gravitational wave event produced by the merger of two black holes roughly 30 times the mass of the Sun each, orbiting in near-circular paths before coalescing into a single, rotating black hole.
• Found by: Detected jointly by the LIGO (U.S.), Virgo (Italy), and KAGRA (Japan) observatories using laser interferometry — the same technology that confirmed gravitational waves in 2015.
• Features:
• Most precise signal yet: Clearer and stronger than earlier detections, thanks to improved detector sensitivity (reduced laser noise, better mirrors).
• Observed 1.3 billion light-years away, providing an exceptionally clean waveform for analysis.
• Verified Hawking’s area theorem: Researchers measured the event horizon areas before and after the merger, confirming that the total surface area increased, as predicted.

Stephen Hawking’s Black Hole Area Theorem:

• Proposed in: 1971 by Stephen Hawking, as part of black hole thermodynamics.
• Core Idea: The total surface area of all black holes (event horizons) in an isolated system can never decrease over time — it can only increase or remain constant.
• Physical Meaning:
• The event horizon area represents a black hole’s entropy (disorder).
• Hence, the theorem mirrors the Second Law of Thermodynamics, where total entropy never decreases.
• During a black hole merger, the combined event horizon area after merger is greater than the sum of the individual black holes’ areas.

Significance of GW250114 Discovery:

• Marks a milestone in gravitational-wave astronomy, ten years after LIGO’s first detection.
• Offers direct empirical evidence for fundamental laws of black-hole physics.
• Enhances understanding of black hole formation, spin, and merger dynamics.
• Strengthens global collaboration among LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA networks, setting the stage for next-generation detectors and deeper cosmic exploration.