Vande Mataram – 150 Years Celebration

Prime Minister, in his Mann Ki Baat address, called for nationwide participation to celebrate the 150th anniversary of “Vande Mataram”, describing it as a “mantra that unites 140 crore Indians”.

• Vande Mataram (meaning “I bow to thee, Mother”) is India’s national song, symbolizing reverence to the motherland and evoking patriotism and unity among citizens.

Written by:

• Composed in Sanskritised Bengali by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in the 1870s, it was first published in his novel Anandamath (1882).

History:

• The song’s first public rendition was by Rabindranath Tagore at the 1896 Congress Session.
• It became the anthem of India’s freedom struggle, sung in protests and revolutionary gatherings despite being banned by the British.
• The Indian National Congress (1937) adopted its first two stanzas as the National Song, balancing inclusivity and secular appeal.
• On January 24, 1950, the Constituent Assembly accorded Vande Mataram equal honour to the National Anthem “Jana Gana Mana.”

Features:

• Spiritual Patriotism: Depicts the nation as a nurturing mother embodying both emotional and divine strength.
• Secular Adaptation: Only the first two stanzas, devoid of religious imagery, are used officially to ensure inclusivity.
• Cultural Symbolism: Serves as a unifying call cutting across linguistic and regional divides.
• Historical Legacy: Its association with movements like Swadeshi (1905) and Quit India (1942) made it the lyrical soul of resistance.

Current Status:

• Recognized by the Government of India as equal in stature to the National Anthem.
• Instrumental version is played at the closing of every Parliament session.
• Citizens are encouraged to show equal respect to both Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana, as affirmed by a Delhi High Court affidavit (2022).

Asia Pacific Accident Investigation Group

• For the first time, India will host the APAC-AIG Meeting. The event is being organised by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

APAC-AIG

• A regional cooperative mechanism under ICAO that focuses on capacity-building, training, and standardisation of investigation procedures across the Asia-Pacific region as per ICAO Annexe 13.
• The annual meeting is hosted by any one ICAO member state in the region.

Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)

• The AAIB, established in 2012, is India’s primary agency for investigating aviation accidents and functions as an attached office under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, with its headquarters in New Delhi.
• Before AAIB, such investigations were handled by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
• It fulfils India’s obligations under Annexe 13 of the Chicago Convention, 1944.

India Maritime Week 2025

• India Maritime Week 2025 is taking place at the NESCO Grounds in Mumbai, organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).
• This is a five-day international maritime event themed “Uniting Oceans, One Maritime Vision.”
• Objective: Showcase India’s maritime progress and attract global investments to position India as a leading naval and Blue Economy hub.
• Participation: Ministers from 11 countries and over 100,000 delegates from 85 nations—including policymakers and industry leaders will participate, making it the world’s largest maritime gathering.
• Events: IMW 2025 will host key events, including the 4^th Global Maritime India Summit (GMIS), the QUAD Ports of the Future Conference, the UNESCAP Asia-Pacific Dialogue, and Sagarmanthan.
• Significance: The event promotes India’s Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, emphasising sustainability, innovation, inclusive growth, trade, and connectivity.

72 nations signed the UN Convention against Cybercrime in Hanoi, Việt Nam

It is the world’s first legally binding global convention to prevent and respond to cybercrimes, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2024. 

• It will enter into force 90 days after ratification by at least 40 UN member states.

UN Convention against Cybercrime

• Electronic Evidence: It is the first global framework for the collection, sharing and use of electronic evidence for all serious offences, establishing a global standard. 
• Criminalization of Cybercrimes: First global treaty to criminalize cyber-dependent crimes and also offences related to online fraud, online child sexual abuse and exploitation material and online grooming of children.
• It is first in recognising non-consensual dissemination of intimate images as an offence.
• Global Network: It creates the first global 24/7 Cooperation Network where countries can quickly initiate cooperation.

Cybercrimes

• Cybercrime falls into two broad categories: cyber-enabled and cyber-dependent. 
• Cyber-enabled crimes include traditional criminal activities conducted online, such as trafficking, fraud, and incitement to violence and hate. 
• Cyber-dependent crimes are those committed through the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) devices, including phishing, identity theft, and the deployment of malware and ransomware.
• Threat: Cybercrimes transcend geographic boundaries, targeting systems, networks, and individuals with unprecedented speed and efficiency.
• Regions like Southeast Asia have been described as “ground zero” for organized cybercrime operations.

22^nd ASEAN-India Summit

• The 22^nd ASEAN-India Summit was held virtually under Malaysia’s chairmanship, as part of the larger 47^th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur.

Key Outcomes of the Summit

• Maritime Cooperation: India declared 2026 as the ‘ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation’ to advance collaboration in the blue economy and maritime security.
• Sustainable Tourism: A Joint Statement on Sustainable Tourism was adopted to promote eco-friendly practices aligned with the 2025 ASEAN-India Year of Tourism.
• Trade Agreement Review: India called for an early review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to address trade imbalances and streamline market access.
• Strategic Partnership: The summit renewed the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2026-2030), with a focus on digital inclusion, food security, and resilient supply chains.
• Institutional Initiatives: India proposed a Centre for Southeast Asian Studies at Nalanda University and a Maritime Heritage Festival at Lothal, Gujarat.

Significance of the Summit

• Act East Policy: The summit reinforced ASEAN’s centrality in India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific strategic outreach efforts.
• Regional Stability: India reaffirmed its commitment as a trusted partner in ensuring peace and maritime stability in the Indo-Pacific.
• Cultural Linkage: Civilizational links and people-to-people exchanges were highlighted to promote mutual trust and regional goodwill.

Timor-Leste

• Location: Timor-Leste, or East Timor, is located on the eastern half of Timor Island in Southeast Asia.
• Timor Island is the largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands, situated at the southern end of the Malay Archipelago.
• Boundaries: It is bordered by the Timor Sea to the southeast, Wetar Strait to the north, Ombai Strait to the northwest, and western Timor to the southwest.
• Relief and Capital: Mount Tatamailau (Mount Ramelau) is the highest point, while Dili is the capital.
• History: It was a Portuguese colony, later occupied by Indonesia, and gained full independence in 2002.
• Geographic Distinction: Timor-Leste is the only Asian country entirely in the Southern Hemisphere.

CRYODIL

Scientists at the ICAR–National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology (NIANP), Bengaluru, have developed CRYODIL, India’s first egg yolk-free semen preservation solution for buffalo breeding, capable of extending semen shelf life to 18 months.

• CRYODIL is a ready-to-use, egg yolk-free semen extender designed to preserve buffalo semen for long durations while maintaining fertility and motility.
• Developed by:
• Developed by scientists at the National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology (NIANP) under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Bengaluru.
• Aim:
• To provide a safe, efficient, and affordable alternative to traditional egg-yolk-based semen extenders and enhance buffalo breeding efficiency in India.

• Features:
• Long Shelf Life: Preserves semen for up to 18 months without contamination or loss of motility.
• Microbe-Free Solution: Eliminates risk of microbial contamination associated with egg yolks.
• Stable Composition: Uses purified whey proteins instead of egg yolk, ensuring consistent semen quality.
• Cost-Effective: Cheaper and easier to produce compared to imported commercial extenders.
• Field-Tested Innovation: Successfully tested on 24 buffalo bulls, showing higher post-thaw sperm movement and fertility potential.

• Significance:

• Boosts Buffalo Breeding: Enhances success rate of artificial insemination, crucial for India’s dairy productivity.
• Promotes Atmanirbhar Bharat: Reduces dependence on costly foreign extenders, fostering indigenous innovation.
• Improves Dairy Economics: Increases milk yield potential by improving breeding efficiency.

RBI Cautions States on Fiscal Discipline

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cautioned states about fiscal slippage, excessive borrowing, and pre-election populist spending.

Key Concerns of RBI

• Rising Yields: Yields on State Development Loans (SDLs) have increased significantly, raising the cost of borrowing for state governments.
• Increasing Borrowing: States borrowed ₹5.23 trillion till Oct 2025, which is 62% of the FY26 plan, compared to ₹4.37 trillion last year.
• Fiscal Deficit Risk: The FY26 combined budget deficit is projected at 3.2% of GDP, but experts warn it could exceed this limit.
• Populist Spending: During eight major state elections (2023–25), governments collectively spent around ₹68,000 crore on pre-poll welfare schemes, with Bihar allocating 32.48% of its tax revenue.

Recommendations of the RBI

• Productive Spending: Redirect fiscal resources from short-term subsidies to capital investments that create durable assets and strengthen growth.
• Fiscal Prudence: Adhere strictly to the targets of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM Act) to maintain macroeconomic stability.
• Borrowing Strategy: Diversify borrowing over various maturities and improve communication with investors to reduce borrowing costs and sustain market confidence.
• Fiscal Transparency: Enhance reporting on contingent liabilities and off-budget borrowings to give an accurate and credible overview of the state’s financial situation.

IUCN World Heritage Outlook 4 report categorises Western Ghats as being of “significant concern”

Apart from Western Ghats, two national parks in India – Assam’s Manas national park and West Bengal’s Sundarbans national park – have also been categorised as being of “significant concern”.

• IUCN World Heritage Outlook assesses the conservation prospects of all World Heritage sites inscribed for their natural values.
• The outlook categorizes sites in four categories - Good, Good with some concerns, Significant Concern, and Critical. 
• Significant concern outlook means that site’s values and underlying attributes are threatened by several current and/or potential threats, requiring additional conservation measures. 

 Western Ghats

• Length: About 1,600 km long, they are a chain of mountains older than the Himalayas and running parallel to India’s western coast.
• Spread across six states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• Ecological Significance: A UNESCO world heritage site and one of 36 biodiversity hotspots on Earth.
• Recognized as one of the world’s eight ‘hottest hotspots’ being habitat to some 325 globally threatened (listed in IUCN’s Red List) species including Nilgiri Tahr. 
• Best representative of non-equatorial tropical evergreen forests.
• Influence the Indian monsoon weather pattern, acts as key barrier intercepting rain-laden monsoon winds coming from southwest, and moderates tropical climate of the region.

Vaikunthbhai Mehta (1891-1964)

Birth Anniversary of Vaikunthbhai Mehta was celebrated.

• Born in Bhavnagar Gujarat.
• Also called "Pioneer / Doyen / bhishma-pitahmah of the Co-operative Movement in India”.
• Key Contributions:
• Served the Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank Chief Executive for about 35 years. 
• He was Minister of Finance and Co-operation of the then Bombay State and was first Chairman of Khadi and Village Industries Commission. 
• Awarded Kaiser-i-Hind medal (1916) for his service to the co-operative movement.
• Most trusted lieutenant of Gandhiji in the Khadi (homespun cotton) movement.

India’s Forex Reserves

• India’s Forex Reserves surged by USD 4.496 billion, reaching an all-time high of USD 702.28 billion, according to the Reserve Bank of India.
• India continues to rank among the top five nations globally in forex holdings, after China, Japan, Switzerland, and Russia.

Latest Updates of India’s Forex Reserves

• Foreign Currency Assets (FCA): USD 570.41 billion, down by USD 1.692 billion.
• Gold Reserves: Increased by USD 6.181 billion to USD 108.55 billion.
• Special Drawing Rights (SDRs): Rose by USD 38 million to USD 18.72 billion.
• IMF Reserve Position: Marginal decline of USD 30 million to USD 4.60 billion.

Significance of Forex Reserves

• Exchange Rate Stability: Helps RBI curb rupee volatility through market intervention.
• Import Cover: Secures over 10 months of import financing.
• Investor Confidence: Strengthens India’s credibility and capital flow stability.
• Portfolio Diversification: Gold reserves hedge against dollar risk.

Kashmir’s First Chrysanthemum Garden

• Kashmir’s first chrysanthemum garden, Bagh-e-Gul Dawood, has opened to tourists.
• The garden, located within the Nehru Memorial Botanical Garden in Srinagar along Dal Lake, features over 100,000 plants of more than 60 varieties.
• It complements the existing Tulip Garden, encouraging year-round floral tourism in Kashmir.

Chrysanthemum

• Chrysanthemums are perennial flowering plants native to East Asia and northeastern Europe.
• They bloom in the autumn season and are known for their vibrant and diverse floral display,
• Climatic Conditions: Chrysanthemums flourish in moderate temperatures, with shorter days and cooler, longer nights.
• Uses: They are commonly used as ornamental plants and for medicinal purposes to treat hypertension, fevers, and inflammation.

Saranda Forest

• The recent Supreme Court directive seeks to notify 856 sq km (of which 816 sq km is reserved forest), Saranda Forest, as a Wildlife Sanctuary, to preserve this fragile landscape.
• It derives its name from the Ho language, meaning “seven hundred hills”, and is located in the West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, within the Eastern Himalaya Biodiversity Hotspot.
• It forms one of India’s densest and most biodiverse Sal (Shorea robusta) forests, interspersed with bamboo, mahua, and terminalia species, and nourished by the Karo and Koina rivers.
• It hosts rich fauna, including Asian elephants, four-horned antelopes, sloth bears and civets, along with elephant corridors of Keonjhar and Sundargarh (Odisha) and Hasdeo-Arand (Chhattisgarh).

Indian Scops Owl (Otus bakkamoena)

• The Indian scops owl (Otus bakkamoena) was recorded for the first time near Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary in Karnataka.

Indian Scops Owl (Otus bakkamoena)

• The Indian scops owl is a small, nocturnal bird of prey native to South Asia. It is known for its remarkable camouflage and distinctive frog-like “wuatt” calls.
• Physical Traits: Greyish body, dark eyes, and ear-like tufts enable seamless blending with tree bark.
• Habitat Range: Inhabits forests, woodlands, gardens, and agricultural areas with dense foliage.
• Distribution: Found throughout South Asia, including Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
• Ecological Role: Regulates insect populations and serves as an indicator of ecosystem health.
• Key Threats: Habitat degradation, pesticide exposure, illegal wildlife trade, ritualistic hunting, etc.
• Conservation Status: IUCN: Least Concern; CITES: Appendix II; WPA: Schedule II.

Burevestnik Cruise Missile

• Russia successfully tested its nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, reportedly travelling 14,000 km and staying airborne for nearly 15 hours.

Burevestnik Missile

• Burevestnik, meaning “storm petrel,” is a Russian ground-launched, nuclear-powered, and nuclear-armed cruise missile with a virtually unlimited range.
• Propulsion System: It is launched using a solid-fuel rocket booster, after which a compact nuclear reactor powers sustained, long-range flight.
• Operational Range: Nuclear propulsion offers extended endurance, allowing low-altitude flight with unpredictable and flexible routes.
• Evasion Capability: Its low-flying, highly manoeuvrable design allows it to evade radar detection and bypass advanced missile defence systems.

Cyclone Montha

• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that a deep depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into Cyclone Montha.
• The name “Montha” was proposed by Thailand and approved by the WMO panel.

Conditions Favourable for Tropical Cyclone Formation

• Large sea surface with a temperature higher than 27° C.
• Presence of the Coriolis force is enough to create a cyclonic vortex.
• Small variations in the vertical wind speed.
• A pre-existing weak low-pressure area or low-level cyclonic circulation.
• Upper divergence above the sea level system.

Global Finance Stability Report (GFSR)

International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently released the Global Finance Stability Report (GFSR), April 2025. 

GFSR

• Purpose: Provide a regular assessment of global financial markets and identify potential systemic weaknesses before they lead to crises. 
• Key Findings
• Tightened Global Financial Conditions: Have caused significant increase in the Global financial stability risks.
• Role of Major geopolitical risk events: Especially military conflicts, can lead to substantial decline in stock prices and increases in sovereign risk premiums. 
• Other Key Reports by IMF: World Economic Outlook, Fiscal Monitor. 

India Advocates for UNESCO Recognition of Chhath Puja

• PM Narendra Modi announced that the Government of India is working to achieve UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage status for Chhath Mahaparva.
• Rationale: Chhath Puja represents ecological harmony, social inclusivity, global presence, and unique sun-worship traditions that reflect India’s living heritage.

 Chhath Mahaparva

• Chhath Mahaparva, also called Chhath Puja, is an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to the Sun God and his sister Chhathi Maiya.
• It is a four-day festival; First Day (Nahay-Khay), Second Day (Kharna), Third Day (Sandhya Arghya), and Fourth Day (Usha Arghya).
• During the festival, devotees observe a strict fast, abstaining from water, and make offerings to the rising and setting Sun (Usha and Pratyusha) while standing in a water body.
• It is celebrated during the Kartik month, usually occurring in October–November.
• Chhath Puja is mainly celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, as well as in Nepal and among Indian diaspora communities worldwide.
• Significance: The festival encourages gratitude toward nature, discipline, collective cleanliness and community participation that transcends caste or class divisions.

GSAT-7R Satellite

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch the CMS-03 (GSAT-7R) communication satellite in November, aboard the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM-3) from Sriharikota.

• GSAT-7R, also called CMS-03, is a next-generation military communication satellite developed by ISRO to replace the aging GSAT-7A. It ensures robust, encrypted, and long-range communication links for the Indian Navy, Air Force, and Army.

Developed by: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Aim:

• To provide reliable, real-time communication for naval operations, air defence, and strategic command control across a wide oceanic and terrestrial region. It strengthens India’s network-centric warfare and maritime domain awareness.

Key Features:

• Multi-Band Communication: Operates across Ku, Ka, and UHF bands to ensure redundancy and resilience against jamming.
• Wide Coverage: Provides secure communication coverage over the entire Indian Ocean Region, extending to the Eastern coast of Africa and Southeast Asia.
• Heaviest Indian Communication Satellite: Weighing ~4,400 kg, it is the largest ISRO-built satellite launched to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) from Indian soil.
• Advanced Encryption: Features anti-jamming, frequency hopping, and encrypted data links for secure military operations.
• Launch Vehicle: Deployed via LVM-3, India’s most powerful operational launch vehicle, previously used in the Chandrayaan-3 mission (2023).

Significance:

• Enhances India’s strategic and naval communication network across the Indo-Pacific.
• Supports jointness and interoperability among the three-armed forces under theatre commands.
• Strengthens India’s maritime security, crucial amid increasing Indo-Pacific tensions and surveillance needs.
• Reinforces India’s self-reliance under Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Space Defence Systems.

National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)

National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) released funds to Biodiversity Management Committees in UP and Sikkim.

• Overview: It is a statutory, autonomous body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
• Established:  In 2003 under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
• Headquarters:  Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• Functions:  Performs facilitative, regulatory and advisory functions on issues of conservation, sustainable use of biological resources and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of biological resources.
• Complementary Entities: Under the Biodiversity Act, 2002 and the Biodiversity Rules, 2004, two complementary entities – State Biodiversity Boards at the State level and Biodiversity Management Committees at the local village level – have been established to complement the NBA.