Additive Manufacturing in India

GS III · Science and Technology

Why in News?

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has initiated the rollout of the National Strategy for Additive Manufacturing (NSAM) 2.0, building on the strategy launched in 2022.

What is additive manufacturing?

• A digital manufacturing technique that creates three dimensional objects by adding material layer by layer using a computer generated design.
• Difference from conventional manufacturing: Unlike subtractive manufacturing, which removes material, additive manufacturing builds components with relatively little material wastage.

How does it work?

• Digital design: A 3D model is created using Computer Aided Design (CAD).
• Slicing: Software divides the model into thin horizontal layers.
• Fabrication: Materials such as polymers, metals or ceramics are deposited or fused layer by layer.
• Post processing: Components undergo finishing, heat treatment and quality testing.

Significance for India

• Strategic manufacturing: Reduces dependence on imported components and specialised tooling.
• Defence and aerospace: Enables lightweight, complex components and onsite repair of critical equipment.
• Healthcare: Facilitates patient specific implants, prosthetics and dental components.
• MSME development: Enables low volume, customised production without expensive conventional tooling.
• Sustainability: Can reduce material wastage and, in suitable applications, construction costs and emissions.
• Innovation ecosystem: Strengthens indigenous design, materials science, intellectual property and advanced manufacturing capabilities.

Ayush Services Sector Report 2026

GS II  Social Justice

Why in News?

The Ministry of Ayush highlighted findings from the Ayush Services Sector Report 2026, prepared by the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS).

Key findings from the supplied report

• Women’s participation: Women reportedly constitute 43% of the workforce, with higher representation in several organised segments.
• Economic contribution: The report estimates the sector’s value at US$36.92 billion in FY 2024–25.
• Employment generation: The sector supports approximately 1.76 million livelihoods, particularly through local clinics and wellness services.
• Medical and wellness tourism: Traditional medicine and wellness services offer opportunities for export earnings and international patient services.

Significance

• Women’s empowerment: Expands opportunities for women in healthcare, education, wellness and entrepreneurship.
• Employment: Supports local enterprises, including clinics, wellness centres and educational institutions.
• Rural development: Can generate livelihoods in regions with established traditional medicine and wellness ecosystems.
• Economic diversification: Creates opportunities in medical tourism, wellness services and related industries.
• Traditional knowledge: Provides a platform for documenting and developing India’s traditional healthcare systems.

Notes

•  Ministry: Ministry of Ayush.
•  RIS: Research and Information System for Developing Countries.
•  Ayush: Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homoeopathy.

Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS)

It is an autonomous policy research institute based in New Delhi that focuses on international economic relations, development cooperation and issues affecting developing countries.

Key facts

• Established: 1984.
• Headquarters: New Delhi, India.
• Institutional character: Autonomous policy research institute.
• Primary focus: International trade, investment, development finance, global economic governance and South–South cooperation.
• Broad objective: To strengthen the participation of developing countries in international economic decision making.

Major areas of work

• Global economic governance: Research on the WTO, IMF, World Bank and other multilateral institutions from the perspective of developing countries.
• International trade and investment: Analysis of trade agreements, investment flows and market access.
• South–South cooperation: Promotes cooperation among developing countries in trade, technology and development.
• Development cooperation: Supports policy dialogue, research partnerships and capacity building.
• Science and technology: Studies technology transfer, innovation and their role in sustainable development.

  Important publications

• World Trade and Development Report (WTDR)
• South Asia Development Cooperation Report (SADCR)
• Development Cooperation Review (DCR)

HAL’s 2,000th AeroEngine

GS III Defence Technology

Why in News?

According to the supplied PIB report, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)’s Koraput Division delivered its 2,000th aeroengine and announced plans to expand engine production.

Key Facts

• HAL: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is a publicsector aerospace and defence enterprise under the Ministry of Defence.
• Koraput Division: Located in Odisha, it is associated with aeroengine manufacturing, including the AL31FP engine.
• Shakti Engine: Developed through collaboration between HAL and Safran Helicopter Engines of France.
• Applications of Shakti Engine: Powers the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and Light Combat Helicopter (LCH).
•  AL31FP Engine: Powers India’s Su30MKI fighter aircraft.

Herugavialis cairensis: An Extinct Relative of the Gharial

GS III  Environment

Why in News?

A supplied report describes the identification of an extinct gharial group crocodilian from fossils discovered in Egypt.

Key Facts

• Scientific name: Herugavialis cairensis.
• Geological period: Middle Eocene, approximately 45 million years ago.
• Fossil location: Mokattam Formation, Egypt.
• Significance: Offers insights into the evolutionary history and past geographical distribution of gharial group crocodilians.

About the Living Gharial

• Scientific name: Gavialis gangeticus.
• Habitat: Deep, flowing freshwater rivers with suitable sandbanks for basking and nesting.
• Distribution: India and Nepal.
• Major conservation site: National Chambal Sanctuary, spanning Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
• IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered.
• CITES: Appendix I.
• Indian legal protection: Schedule I under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended.

India–Ghana Agricultural Research Cooperation

GS II International Relations

Why in News?

 India and Ghana reportedly signed a five year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on agricultural research cooperation involving the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Ghana’s Crops Research Institute.

Key Areas of Cooperation

• Agricultural research: Collaboration on crop improvement and agricultural technologies.
• Capacity building: Exchange of scientific expertise, researchers and technical knowledge.
• Food security: Potential to improve crop productivity, resilience and sustainable farming practices.
• India–Africa relations: Strengthens South–South cooperation through agricultural knowledge sharing.

Key Features of the MoU

• Duration: Five years; signed on 7 October 2026.
• Initial focus: Tomato research and development, including suitable highyielding varieties.
• Value addition: Processing of cassava, yam and other tuber crops.
• Postharvest management: Cooperation in cold storage, refrigerated transportation, sorting, grading and processing.
• Implementation: A Joint Working Group comprising ICAR and Ghana’s Crops Research Institute will oversee progress

Ghana:

• Continent: Africa.
• Region: West Africa.
• Capital: Accra.
• Coastline: Gulf of Guinea, along the Atlantic Ocean.
• Neighbouring countries: Côte d’Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north and Togo to the east.
• Major river system: Volta River system, including the Black Volta and White Volta.
• Important water body: Lake Volta, one of the world''s largest artificial reservoirs by surface area.
• Climate: Tropical; wetter conditions in the south and savanna conditions towards the north.

Significance for India

• Agricultural diplomacy: Strengthens India–Africa and South–South cooperation.
• Technology transfer: Creates opportunities to share crop varieties, research methods and agricultural technologies.
• Food security: Supports crop productivity and postharvest loss reduction.
• Economic cooperation: Connects agricultural research with processing, value addition and commercial applications.

JOSH Initiative – Joint Squad for Health (JOSH)

GS II Governance

Why in News?

JOSH Teams were launched on 8 October 2026 under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan to strengthen community participation in tuberculosis awareness, early detection and treatment support.

Aim

To mobilise youth volunteers for grassroots TB prevention, early diagnosis, treatment adherence and stigma reduction.

Key Features

• Youth mobilisation: Involves MY Bharat Volunteers and National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets as community health ambassadors.
• Community outreach: Promotes TB awareness and encourages people with symptoms to seek screening and diagnosis.
• Treatment support: Encourages adherence to prescribed treatment and followup.
• Digital integration: The supplied report mentions appbased monitoring and a multilingual AI assistant.

Notes

• OU

Mercy Petition and Delay in Clemency

GS  II Judiciary | Fundamental Rights

Why in News?

The Union Government opposed a Supreme Court plea by deathrow convict Balwant Singh Rajoana concerning the prolonged pendency of his mercy petition, reportedly filed in 2012.

What is a Mercy Petition?

A mercy petition seeks executive clemency after judicial proceedings. It allows the constitutional executive to consider humanitarian circumstances, public interest and the demands of justice.

Key Constitutional Articles

Forms of Clemency

Key Legal Principles

• Executive discretion: Clemency is a constitutional executive power, not an appeal against conviction.
• Judicial review: Courts may review clemency decisions on limited grounds, including arbitrariness, mala fides and non consideration of relevant material.
• Undue delay: Shatrughan Chauhan v. Union of India (2014) recognised that inordinate delay in deciding mercy petitions can violate Article 21 and may justify commutation of a death sentence.
• Constitutional accountability: Epuru Sudhakar v. Government of Andhra Pradesh (2006) affirmed that clemency decisions are subject to limited judicial review.

Landmark Jugement

Nobel Prize in Literature 2026: Anne Carson

Why in News?

Canadian writer Anne Carson was awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature on 8 October 2026 by the Swedish Academy. She was recognised for her innovative literary works that engage with classical traditions to create new forms of contemporary literature.

Key Facts

• Laureate: Anne Carson, a Canadian poet, essayist, translator and classicist.
• Awarding institution: Swedish Academy, Stockholm, Sweden.
• Nobel citation: Recognised for her bold and inventive body of work that creates new forms for contemporary literature through engagement with classical traditions.
• Notable works: Autobiography of Red, Eros the Bittersweet and Nox.
• Literary approach: Combines poetry, prose, translation and classical scholarship, particularly drawing on ancient Greek literature.
• Award ceremony: Traditionally held on 10 December, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel''s death.

 Significance

• Classical literature: Demonstrates how ancient literary traditions can be reinterpreted through contemporary forms.
• Literary innovation: Challenges conventional boundaries between poetry, prose, translation and visual expression.
• Cultural preservation: Highlights the continuing relevance of classical texts in understanding contemporary human experiences.

Notes

• Origin: The Nobel Prizes were established through Alfred Nobel''s will, signed on 27 November 1895.
• First Nobel Prize in Literature: Awarded in 1901 to French poet Sully Prudhomme.
• Awarding authority: The Swedish Academy awards the Nobel Prize in Literature.
• Ceremony: Nobel Prize ceremonies traditionally take place on 10 December.
• Important distinction: The Nobel Prize in Literature recognises an author''s body of work, rather than necessarily a single book.

Rabies Surveillance Gap in India

GS  II – Health and Governance | GS  III – Science and Technology

Why in News?

An ICMR led study reportedly estimated substantially more annual human rabies deaths than official records capture, highlighting gaps in disease surveillance, diagnosis and mortality reporting.

About Rabies

• Nature: A vaccine preventable viral zoonotic disease that affects the central nervous system.
• Transmission: Infected animal saliva enters the body through bites, scratches or broken skin and mucous membranes.
• Fatality: Once clinical symptoms develop, rabies is almost invariably fatal.
• Prevention: Immediate wound washing and prompt medical assessment for postex posure prophylaxis (PEP), including vaccination and rabies immunoglobulin when indicated.

Key Concerns

• Underreporting: Deaths occurring outside formal healthcare facilities may remain undiagnosed or unrecorded.
• Surveillance gaps: Incomplete reporting and weak integration of human and animal health data limit the reliability of estimates.
• PEP access: Delays in accessing vaccines and rabies immunoglobulin can increase preventable mortality.
• Geographical inequality: Rural and underserved communities may face barriers to timely treatment.
• Animalhealth gaps: Inadequate dog vaccination and weak dogpopulation management sustain transmission risks.

Government Initiatives

Strategy for Environmental Economic Accounts in India, 2026–2030

GS Paper III – Economy and Environment

Why in News?

The supplied report describes a 2026–2030 strategy to strengthen environmental economic accounting in India by integrating environmental data with national economic statistics.

What is Environmental Economic Accounting?

Environmental economic accounting systematically measures the relationship between the economy and the environment, including natural resources, ecosystem assets, resource depletion and environmental protection expenditure.

Key Objectives

• Natural capital accounting: Measure changes in forests, water, land, minerals and other natural assets.
• Policy integration: Incorporate environmental information into economic planning and development assessment.
• Data standardisation: Improve consistency and comparability across ministries and States.
• Environmental valuation: Assess ecosystem services, resource depletion and environmental degradation.
• International reporting: Strengthen evidence for sustainability monitoring and international commitments.

Significance

• Beyond GDP: Helps identify natural resource depletion and environmental costs that conventional GDP figures do not fully reflect.
• Evidence based policymaking: Supports decisions on forests, water, minerals, land use and climate action.
• Sustainable development: Connects economic growth with changes in natural wealth.
• Federal coordination: Provides a common reference for States and Union Territories developing environmental accounts.

Notes

• Released by: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
• Implementing statistical agency: National Statistical Office (NSO).
• International framework: System of Environmental Economic Accounting (SEEA), endorsed by the UN Statistical Commission.
• Predecessor: Strategy for Environmental Economic Accounts in India, 2022–2026.
• Related concept: Natural capital refers to environmental assets that provide benefits to people and the economy.

US Suspension of Green Card Filings by Major IT Firms

GS  II – International Relations

 Why in News?

According to the supplied report, US authorities suspended PERM labour certification filings by several major technology companies over alleged immigration violations and concerns regarding the protection of domestic workers.

What is PERM?

Program Electronic Review Management (PERM): A US Department of Labor process through which employers generally obtain labour certification before sponsoring foreign workers for certain employment based Green Card categories.

Key Features

• Labour market protection: Employers must demonstrate that sufficient qualified and available US workers are not adversely affected by the proposed employment.
• Prevailing wages: Employers must meet applicable wage requirements.
• Recruitment: Employers must follow prescribed recruitment procedures.
• Green Card linkage: PERM is generally an initial stage in certain employment based permanent residency pathways; it does not itself grant a Green Card.
• H1B distinction: H1B permits temporary employment in specialty occupations, whereas PERM supports certain pathways to permanent residency.

Impact on India

• Indian diaspora: Creates uncertainty for Indian professionals seeking permanent residency in the US.
• Talent retention: May affect employee morale, retention and longterm career planning.
• IT industry: Could increase legal and compliance costs for affected companies.
• Brain drain and reverse migration: Greater immigration uncertainty may encourage some skilled professionals to explore opportunities in India.
• India–US relations: Immigration restrictions may become a point of concern in bilateral economic and technology cooperation.

Types of US Immigration Visas, Statuses and Cards

Why Stubble Fires Keep Coming Back

GS III  Environment

Why in News?

The recurrence of farm fires in Punjab and Haryana ahead of winter has renewed concerns about air pollution, agricultural incentives and the limited effectiveness of enforcementled interventions.

Understanding the issue

Stubble burning is the deliberate burning of crop residue left after harvesting, particularly paddy straw, to prepare fields quickly for the next crop.

Why does it persist?

• Compressed cropping calendar: The delayed transplantation of paddy, intended to conserve groundwater, can push harvesting later and shorten the time available for wheat sowing.
• Mechanised harvesting: Combine harvesters leave substantial quantities of straw in the field, increasing the cost and difficulty of residue removal.
• Distorted agricultural incentives: Assured procurement and subsidised electricity can reinforce the cultivation of water intensive paddy in unsuitable regions.
• High machinery costs: Small and marginal farmers may lack timely access to residue management equipment.
• Weak alternative markets: Inadequate collection systems and uncertain demand limit the economic value of paddy straw.
• Enforcement limitations: Penalties and satellite monitoring alone cannot eliminate burning when affordable alternatives are unavailable.

Impact

• Air quality: Releases particulate matter and gaseous pollutants that contribute to seasonal air pollution.
• Public health: Increases exposure to harmful air pollutants and aggravates respiratory and cardiovascular risks.
• Soil health: Can damage soil microorganisms and contribute to the loss of organic matter and nutrients.
• Climate change: Releases greenhouse gases and black carbon, while reducing opportunities to recycle crop residues.
• Governance: Creates conflicts between environmental objectives, farm incomes and foodsecurity policies.

Government response

• Crop Residue Management (CRM): Subsidised equipment such as Happy Seeders and Super Seeders supports in situ residue management.
• Custom Hiring Centres: Enable farmers to rent specialised machinery rather than purchase it individually.
• Crop diversification: Incentives can encourage farmers to shift towards less water intensive crops.
• Biomass utilisation: Compressed biogas, bioethanol, biomass based energy and industrial uses can create demand for straw.
• Monitoring and enforcement: Satellite observations and fieldlevel inspections help identify burning incidents.

World Development Report 2026: The Promise of Artificial Intelligence

GS II International Organisations | GS Paper III – Science and Technology

Why in News?

The supplied report describes the World Bank Group’s World Development Report 2026, focusing on how artificial intelligence can support economic development while creating challenges related to employment, infrastructure and inequality.

Core Theme

Enabling developing countries to harness AI for productivity, inclusive growth and improved public services, while managing technological and socioeconomic risks.

Key Policy Takeaways

• Adopt and adapt: Adapt existing AI models to local languages and development needs instead of relying solely on expensive frontier model development.
• Employment transition: Prepare workers for changing job roles through reskilling, AI literacy and social protection.
• Infrastructure readiness: Strengthen electricity, internet connectivity, computing capacity and data quality.
• AI sovereignty: Build domestic technological capabilities across software, semiconductors, research and skilled human resources.
• Public service delivery: Apply AI in healthcare, agriculture, education, weather forecasting and governance.

Significance for India

• Inclusive development: Small, affordable AI tools can extend access to expertise in healthcare, education and agriculture.
• Productivity gains: AI can help workers and businesses improve efficiency rather than merely replace labour.
• Digital inclusion: Multilingual and voice based AI can help overcome literacy and language barriers.
• Public service delivery: AI can improve forecasting, administrative efficiency and access to government services

REPORTS OF WORLD BANK GROUP