Context: Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar, and Indonesia signed the Badr Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Doha, establishing a quadrilateral defence-industrial partnership focused on joint weapons production, technology shar…
About The Badr Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) : A multilateral defence framework and work-share agreement designed to build integrated military supply chains, co-develop advanced defense systems, and foster collabora…
Member Nations: Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar, and Indonesia.
Context: India’s Digital Public Infrastructure ( DPI ) has emerged as a global benchmark for population-scale, citizen-centric governance, demonstrating how open, interoperable digital rails can drive financial inclusio…
DPI represents a foundational set of digital systems—akin to physical railways, highways, or electricity grids—that form the operational backbone of modern societies by enabling secure, seamless interactions among citiz…
Core Principles: Built on principles of open APIs, non-excludability, institutional interoperability, and public-interest regulation , DPI avoids proprietary walled gardens, ensuring that technological innovation and eq…
Context: The United Nations Environment Programme ( UNEP ) released the Emissions Gap Report 2026: The Point of Return , warning that the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C guardrail without overshoot is no longer possible.
The 17th edition of the annual scientific assessment that tracks the discrepancy (gap) between countries’ projected greenhouse gas ( GHG ) emissions under their climate pledges and the global emission trajectories requi…
Publishing Organization: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Context: Denmark’s landmark ecological restoration of the Skjern River was highlighted as a premier global benchmark for river re-meandering and nature recovery.
Denmark’s largest river by water volume (discharge), renowned as the site of Northern Europe’s largest land and river restoration initiative, which successfully revitalised its natural floodplain and delta ecosystem .
Located in: Situated in the region of Western Jutland, Denmark .
India aims to double its operational airports to 300 by 2047, driven by an eightfold increase in passenger traffic
For Prelims: Airports Authority of India , UDAN Scheme , Directorate General of Civil Aviation For Mains: Status of the Aviation Industry in India, Measures to Re-energize the Aviation Sector in India, Vision 2047 India…
This ambitious expansion involves developing existing airstrips and constructing new airports across the country.
The Union Cabinet has approved the Modified UDAN Scheme (2026–2036) with a Rs 28,840 crore outlay to enhance regional air connectivity and address viability issues in earlier phases
Government Policies & Interventions The Union Cabinet has approved the Regional Connectivity Scheme – Modified UDAN with a Rs 28,840 crore outlay for 2026–2036, aiming to strengthen regional aviation and address viabili…
About: The Modified UDAN scheme , introduced in the Union Budget 2025–26 , is a revamped version of the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) initiative , aimed at ensuring affordable air travel, improving connectivity to Tier-…
FRP is the price declared by the government, which mills are legally bound to pay to farmers for the cane procured from them. The payment of FRP across the country is governed by the Sugarcane Control order, 1966 issued…
For Prelims : Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP), Sugarcane.
For Mains: Agricultural Pricing, Sugar production in the Indian Economy, Challenges faced by sugarcane industry.
The Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN completed 10 years in October 2026, having expanded affordable air connectivity to underserved regions
Government Policies & Interventions The Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) completed 10 years on 21st October 2026, marking a decade of expanding affordable air connectivity to unserved and…
The launch of Modified UDAN in July 2026 marks a shift towards sustainable regional aviation, infrastructure development and indigenous aircraft manufacturing.
Sugar production generates several by-products, such as molasses, bagasse, and press mud, which can be used for the production of other products such as ethanol, paper, and bio-fertilizers.
For Prelims: FRP , SAP, CACP , Rangarajan Committee , WTO , Sugarcane Industry , EBP Program .
For Mains: Sugarcane Production in India, its Potential and Challenges.
Government constitutes a committee under Prof. Ramesh Chand to examine sugarcane farmers’ concerns, sugar pricing, recovery, weighment and mechanised harvesting practices
Government Policies & Interventions The Government of India has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Prof.
Ramesh Chand, former Member of NITI Aayog , to examine issues raised by sugarcane farmers and recommend measures to address their concerns.
The Government of India has reconstituted NITI Aayog, appointing Ashok Kumar Lahiri as Vice-Chairperson and inducting experts from science, health, and technology sectors.
The Government of India has reconstituted the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) , appointing Ashok Kumar Lahiri as Vice-Chairperson, succeeding Suman K.
Bery, and inducting new five full-time members, of whom three have strong backgrounds in health, biotechnology, and deep tech.
India is accelerating its Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP), achieving E20 ahead of schedule and now targeting E100 to enhance energy security and reduce import dependence.
Government Policies & Interventions Environmental Pollution & Degradation For Prelims: Ethanol blending , E10 and E20 , Internal combustion engines , Flex-fuel vehicles , Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) III emi…
Ethanol: Ethanol (ethyl alcohol) is a biofuel naturally produced by the fermentation of sugars by yeasts or via petrochemical processes.
The 2026 Asian Para Games in Japan feature Indian para-athletes aiming for over 100 medals after India’s record 111-medal performance in 2023
Ravi Baby Sahana and Prachi Pandey became the first Indian para table tennis players to win medals in the standing category at the 5th Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
India secured five bronze medals in para table tennis, surpassing its previous tally of two bronze medals.
Effect of Policies & Politics of Countries on India's Interests This article is based on “Galwan: Postscript to a tragedy” published in The Hindu on 19/06/2020.
It talks about recent confrontation between India and China troops on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The Bishkek SCO Summit marked its 25th anniversary offering India vital Eurasian access despite ongoing geopolitical and regional contradictions
Effect of Policies & Politics of Countries on India's Interests Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests This editorial is based on “ Message from Bishkek ” published in the Business Sta…
The article highlights that the SCO summit underscored the growing assertion of China as a powerful competing sphere of influence, presenting India with complex diplomatic challenges as it balances regional Eurasian eng…
Calibrating India–China relations balances trade stabilization and security safeguards through strategic reciprocity, multipolarity, and pragmatic, selective economic cooperation
Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests Effect of Policies & Politics of Countries on India's Interests This editorial is based on " Time to engage smartly with China: Push premium Indi…
The article highlights that recalibrating economic ties with Beijing requires leveraging its offer to import premium Indian goods.
Report on Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients: TIFAC
Government Policies & Interventions Recently, the Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) has brought a report titled ‘Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients- Status, Issues, Technology Readiness, a…
TIFAC is an autonomous organization under the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India.
Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022, cover all types of batteries, including Electric Vehicle batteries, portable batteries, automotive batteries, and industrial batteries.
Government Policies & Interventions For Prelims: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC), Battery Waste Management Rules (2022), Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Waste Management, Principle of…
Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC) notified the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022 to ensure environmentally sound management of waste batteries.
OIML is an international standard-setting body. It develops model regulations, standards and related documents for use by legal metrology authorities and industry
Government Policies & Interventions For Prelims: International Organization of Legal Metrology , Legal Metrology, Metric Convention, International System of Units (SI), Foreign Exchange.
For Mains: Significance of OIML Certification Authority for India.
According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), India’s net foreign direct investment (FDI) crashed from USD 10.1 billion in 2023–24, and just USD 0.4 billion in 2024–25.
Government Policies & Interventions For Prelims : Reserve Bank of India (RBI) , Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) , ASEAN , Non-tariff Barriers , Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999 , Startups , Competition Commi…
For Mains : Status of FDI inflow and outflow in India, importance and challenges associated with India and way forward.
Ambassadors of the Quad countries met in Beijing, underscoring the grouping’s continued relevance
Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests Ambassadors of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) countries- the US, India, Australia, and Japan , held a rare publicised meeting in Beij…
Originally proposed in 2007 by Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe , the framework remained inactive after Australia stepped back in 2008 before being revived in 2017 against the backdrop of China’s growing Indo-Pacific a…
