June 3'rd Week
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Belum Caves
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Belum Caves in Nandyal district, Andhra Pradesh, have been declared a Geo-Heritage Site by the Geological Survey of India (GSI).
About : -
- First discovered in 1884 by Robert Bruce Foote, later mapped in detail by H.D. Gebauer (1982– 84).
- Robert Bruce Foote discovered India’s first Palaeolithic tool at Pallavaram and is known as the Father of Indian Prehistory.
- Formed in black limestone due to long-term underground water activity.
- Contain prominent stalactites and stalagmites, forming natural pillars and columns.
- Once inhabited by Buddhist and Jain monks; contains a Shiva Lingam and Patalaganga spring.
- Underground water is believed to be connected to a village well and influenced by the Penna River.
- Unique Structures: Includes named sections like Meditation Hall, Thousand Hoods, Airavatham, and Mayamandiram.
- Belum is the second-longest natural underground cave system in India.
- Mammoth Cave (USA) is the world’s longest natural underground cave system.
- Krem Liat Prah (Meghalaya) is India’s longest natural underground cave.
Geo-Heritage Sites
- Sites with rare and scientifically important geological, geomorphological, or paleontological features.
- Components: Include caves, rock sculptures, fossils, minerals, meteorites, and stratified sediments.
- Nodal Agency: Declared and maintained by the Geological Survey of India (GSI).
- Purpose: Aimed at conservation, research, education, and geotourism promotion.
- Other Examples: Includes Lonar Crater (Maharashtra), St. Mary’s Island (Karnataka), and Erra Matti Dibbalu (Andhra Pradesh).
Geological Survey of India (GSI)
- Set up in 1851 with the appointment of Thomas Oldham; earlier initiated by John
- Physical description: Typically grows to be 1.5-2m long. Colour ranges from pale browns to nearly black.
- Diet: Carnivorous. It feeds on rodents, but also eats birds, lizards, frogs and other snakes.
- Conservation Status: IUCN: Least Concern (LC) I WPA: ScheduleI
- Threats: Over-exploitation for food, skins, and medicinal purposes, as it is heavily traded.
- Significance: Plays a major role in controlling the rodent population, thus known as friends of farmers.
- McClelland in 1846 under the East India Company.
- One of the oldest scientific bodies in India; second only to the Survey of India (1767).
- Nodal Ministry: Functions as an attached office of Ministry of Mines.
- Headquarters: Kolkata, with six regional offices and state-level units.
- Mandate: Responsible for geoscientific surveys, mineral exploration, natural hazard studies, and geo-heritage declarations.
Temperature Standardization for Air Conditioners (ACs)
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- The new proposed guidelines require new airconditioners hardwired to operate in a fixed temperature range of 20 to 28 degrees
Celsius. - It is based on guidelines issued by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) in 2018 for major commercial establishments to conserve energy through optimum temperature settings for air conditioners.
- In 2020, the government mandated that all air conditioners have a default setting of 24˚C. However, this still allowed individuals to control the temperature settings to their choice.
Indian Rat Snake
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- Kerala is considering a proposal for notifying Indian Rat Snake, regionally known as Chera as the official reptile.
About: –
- Also known as the Oriental rat snake, it is a non-venomous snake.
- Distribution: Afghanistan; Bangladesh; Cambodia; China; India; Indonesia; Pakistan; Vietnam etc.
- Habitat: The snake is found in diverse habitats, including forests, forest clearings and edges, open tropical dry forests, savannas, scrublands, plantations etc.
- 2019 onwards Iran gradually breached JCPOA restrictions by exceeding uranium enrichment limits & curtailing IAEA inspection access.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
- IAEA is an autonomous international organisation within the United Nations.
- It seeks to maximise the contribution of nuclear technology to society while verifying its peaceful use.
- Established in 1957, it has 175 Member States; India has been a member since its inception.
- Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.
Iran’s Nuclear Programme
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- IAEA Board members voted to censure Iran for breaching nuclear non-proliferation commitments for the first time in 20 years. The resolution was moved by France, UK, Germany (E3) & the US.
JCPOA – 2015 Nuclear Deal
- Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is a multilateral agreement aimed at curbingIran’s nuclear capabilities in return for economic relief.
- It was the result of negotiations from 2013 and 2015 between Iran and P5+1 (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States + Germany).
- UN Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015) provided the JCPOA with international legal recognition and support.
Objectives:
- Iran agreed to reduce uranium enrichment, dismantle centrifuges & cap its stockpile of enriched uranium.
- In exchange for sanctions relief by the UN, US & EU, Iran received economic benefits, including the lifting of oil, banking & trade sanctions.
Iran’s Obligations under JCPOA:
- Cap on Uranium Enrichment: Iran was restricted to enriching uranium up to 3.67%, well below the -grade level of 90%.
- IAEA inspections: The IAEA was regular access to Iranian nuclear sites to verify compliance.
Post-2018 Developments:
- 2018-US withdrew from JCPOA: By accused Iran of deception & opted for a “maximum pressure” policy.
- India’s Bio economy has grown from $10 billion in 2014 to $165.7 billion in 2024, with a target of $300 billion by 2030.
- Contributes 4.25% to GDP with a 17.9% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over past four years.
- The government aims to make India a global bio-manufacturing hub driven by innovation, sustainability, and inclusive development.
BioE3 Policy
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- BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Policy marks a significant leap in India’s biotechnology sector. It was approved by the Union Cabinet in 2024.
- Aim: To transform India into a global biotech powerhouse by fostering high-performance bio manufacturing and addressing key pillars of the economy, environment, and employment.
- It aligns with the vision of a cleaner, greener, and more prosperous future by promoting regenerative bio manufacturing and a shift from chemical-based industries to sustainable biobased models.
- The BioE3 Policy introduces key initiatives such as advanced bio manufacturing facilities, bio-foundry clusters, and bio-AI hubs to support bio-based product development and commercialization.
- Promotes regenerative bio manufacturing and supports a circular Bio economy aligned with India’s net-zero goals.
- It functions under the Government of India’s State Safety Programme (SSP).
Functions:
- Investigates all accidents/major incidents involving aircraft over 2250 kg or turbojet aircraft in India.
- Classifies safety occurrences into Accidents, Serious Incidents, and Incidents.
- Publishes final reports for global aviation authorities.
Chicago Convention
- Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), was signed at Chicago in 1944. Came into force in 1947.
Purpose:
- To establish rules of airspace, aircraft registration, and safety.
- To promote cooperation in international civil aviation.
- To lay the foundation for the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
- ICAO is a specialised agency of the United Nations.
Rudrastra Drone
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- Successful trails of indigenous Rudrastra VTOL drone by the Indian Army.
About:
- Rudrastra is a hybrid VTOL Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) with autonomous strike capability.
- Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) drones operate without runways, enabling use in confined terrains.
- Developed by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited in collaboration with the Indian Army.
- Range & Endurance: Mission radius of 50 km, total range of 170 kilometres, & endurance of 1.5 hours.
- Warhead Capability: Equipped with an 8- kilogram airburst munition for wide-area antipersonnel use.
- Precision Targeting: Uses GPS and onboard sensors for accurate strike delivery.
- Autonomous: Executes loiter, strike, and return functions without manual input.
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)
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- Aftermath of the tragic Ahmedabad plane crash, serious concerns have emerged regarding the effectiveness and independence of aircraft accident investigations in India.
About:
- AAIB is India’s primary agency for investigating aviation accidents.
- Established in 2012. It is an attached office under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
- Before AAIB, such investigations were handled b Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
- Central office: New Delhi.
- It fulfils India’s obligations under Annex 13 of the Chicago Convention, 1944.
- Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan: It is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme for the unorganised sector. It offers a minimum monthly pension of ₹3,000 after the age of 60 for workers.
- Atal Pension Yojana: Focuses on unorganized sector workers. It offers a guaranteed pension of ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 per month after age 60 based on contribution.
- National Pension System (NPS): It is a voluntary, defined-contribution retirement savings scheme regulated by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).
Portulaca Bharat
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- A new flowering plant species, named Portulaca Bharat, has been discovered in the semi-arid rocky slopes of the Aravali Hills.
- The species is endemic and extremely rare.
- Physical characteristics: Has opposite and slightly concave leaves, pale-yellow flowers that turn creamish-white towards the apex, glandular hairs on stamen filaments.
- Habitat: Known only from a single site near Galtaji hills. Only 10 individuals found in the wild.
- Provisionally assessed as “Data Deficient” under IUCN Red List guidelines.
Pension System for India
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India faces a looming demographic challenge as the old-age dependency ratio is projected to reach 30% by 2050, making an inclusive pension system a critical policy need.
Recent Initiatives
- Unified Pension Scheme: Combines features of the old and new pension schemes, offering family pensions, minimum guaranteed amounts, and a pension equal to 50% of their last drawn salary.
- Since 1974, it has been divided into the Turkish-controlled north & the Greek Cypriotcontrolled south, known as the Cyprus problem.
- India supports a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation based on UN Resolutions to resolve the Cyprus issue.
Albinism
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- International Albinism Awareness Day is observed on June 13 to highlight the health, social, and legal challenges of people with
albinism.
What is Albinism?
- Albinism is a rare inherited condition caused by gene mutations affecting melanin production.
- Caused by defective genes affecting melanin biosynthesis leading to reduced or absent melanin in the skin, eyes, and hair.
- Non-contagious: Albinism does not spread and is purely genetic.
- Visual impairments: Most individuals face significant vision problems from birth.
- Skin cancer risk: Absence of melanin leads to a high risk of squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.
- Lifelong condition: No cure exists, but symptoms can be managed with early care.
Melanin
- Melanin gives colour to the skin, hair, and eyes.
- UV protection: Acts as a natural barrier against harmful ultraviolet radiation.
- Eye development: Essential for the development of the retina and optic nerves.
- Skin health: Reduces DNA damage and lowers the risk of skin cancer.
International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)
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- The 1st assembly of the IBCA convened in New Delhi, endorsed the India’s Union Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change as the President of IBCA.
About: –
- The Assembly is the apex body of the IBCA.
- IBCA is a multi country, multi-agency coalition of 95 big cat range countries, non-range countries interested in big cat conservation – Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah Jaguar, & Puma.
- Launched in 2023 to celebrate 50th anniversary of project Tiger.
- Union government allocate 150 Cr for this in 2022-23.
Cyprus
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- Prime Minister Modi became the 1st Indian PM in 23 years to visit Cyprus and was honoured with Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III.
About: –
- Cyprus is a Eurasian island in the eastern Mediterranean, south of Turkey & southeast of Greece. It is the 3rd largest Mediterranean island after Sicily & Sardinia.
- Geographically in Asia, Cyprus is politically aligned with Europe & a member of the European Union.
- Maritime neighbours: Turkey (North), Syria (East) & Lebanon (Southeast).
- Mountain Ranges: Kyrenia & Troodos Mountains with highest Point as Mount Olympus.
- Temperature effect: Melanin also helps in thermoregulation in high UV environments.
- Albinism is not explicitly listed under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act.
One Nation, One Time*
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- The government will mandate the use of Indian Standard Time (IST) for all legal, commercial, digital, and administrative purposes.
About:
- For the first time in Indian history, IST will be the official legal time of India. To implement the change, the government will soon notify the Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2025.
- The draft Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2025, were notified by the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) for seeking comments from all stakeholders.
Indian Standard Time (IST)
- IST was adopted in 1906 during the British era with the phasing out of its precursor Madras Time. After Independence in 1947, the govt. established IST as the official time for whole country.
- Indian Standard Time is calculated from the reference longitude of IST at 82°30’E passing near Vindhyachal of Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh.
- CSIR-National Physical Laboratory: Responsible for the maintenance and for keeping it traceable to the UTC provided by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures located in Sevres, France.
- IST passes through 5 States: UP, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, & Andhra Pradesh.
- UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) +5:30 hours: IST is 5;30 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
- India Does Not Observe Daylight Saving Time. However, it was used briefly during the China– India War of 1962 and the Indo Pakistani Wars of 1965 and 1971.
QS World University Rankings 2026
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- India saw a record 54 institutions featured in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
About: –
- The QS World University Rankings is an annual publication by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a British company specialising in education & study abroad.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) tops rankings for 14th consecutive year with score of 100.
- Top 5 Universities: MIT (1st), Imperial College London (2nd), Stanford University (3rd), University of Oxford (4th) & Harvard University (5th).
- Asia’s Best: National University of Singapore (8th), NTU Singapore (12th), Peking University (14th), Tsinghua University (17th).
- Biggest Climber: Sunway University (Malaysia) rose over 120 places.
India Specific Findings: –
- India ranks 4th globally with 54 institutions, behind the USA (192), UK (90) & China (72). Ranked universities have grown from 11 in 2014 to 54 in 2026, a 390% rise, the fastest among G20 nations.
- IIT Delhi is the highest-ranked Indian institution, placed 123rd globally, climbing over 70 spots in 2 years.
- IIT Bombay ranked 129th, slightly down from its best rank of 118 in 2025.
- IIT Madras entered the top 200 for the 1st time at 180th by climbing 47 places.
- India added 8 new universities in the 2026 rankings, the most by any country this year.
G7 Summit
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- 2025 G7 Summit in Canada, intended to mark the group’s 50th anniversary with a display of unity, instead exposed deep internal divisions & lack of consensus on major global issues.
- No treaty for starting and no permanent secretariat.
About: –
- Fattah (meaning Conqueror in Persian) is Iran’s first indigenously developed hypersonic ballistic missile. Two-stage propulsion system improving range and terminal speed.
- Range: Medium range (1,400 km).
- Speed: Claimed to reach Mach 13–15.
- Propellant: Uses solid fuel for quicker launch and easier storage.
- Warheads: Can carry multiple types, including nuclear.
- Manoeuvrability: Re-entry vehicle (final missile stage) can change flight path mid-air to evade defences.
Fattah Missile
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- Iran launched the Fattah hypersonic missile during a strike on Israel.
- cybersecurity & co-production in defence manufacturing.
- Strategic MoUs: Key agreements in agriculture, science & tech, cultural exchange & establishment of an ICCR Hindi Chair in Zagreb to boost academic collaboration.
- Investment & Research: Commitments made to boost investments in sectors like IT, pharma, clean tech & semiconductors with academic research initiatives.
- People-to-People Ties: A mobility agreement is being finalised to ease movement for students, tourists & professionals.
- Space: India will share space expertise with Croatia.
Inheritance
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- A new rice study shows environmental changes can affect traits passed to future generations, partly supporting Lamarck’s idea and challenging the belief that only DNA controls inheritance.
Lamarck’s Theory
- Proposed by Jean Baptiste Lamarck in 1809 that traits acquired during an organism’s lifetime (through use, disuse, or environment) could be passed to offspring.
- Example- Giraffes that stretched their necks developed longer necks, which were then inherited by their offspring.
Later Discoveries on Inheritance
- Weismann’s Experiment: Cutting mice tails for generations didn’t change their babies; showed acquired traits aren’t inherited.
- Mendel’s Laws: Traits are passed through fixed genetic units (genes), not affected by the environment.
- DNA & Mutations: DNA carries traits, changes come from gene mutations, not from life experiences (like sickle cell example).
Croatia
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- Prime Minister visited Croatia, becoming the 1st to visit the country.
Key Outcomes of the Visit
- Defence & Cyber Cooperation: Both sides agreed on a long-ter joint military training, personnel exchange,
FASTag Annual Pass Scheme
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- The Minister of Road and Transport announced a FASTag-based annual pass.
- The FASTag Annual Pass offers private vehicles toll-free access on National Highways for ₹3,000 annually or 200 trips. Effective from
- August 15, 2025, the scheme is voluntary and aims to reduce toll congestion and save users up to ₹7,000 annually.
- Applicable only to non-commercial cars, jeeps & vans, the pass can be activated through the NHAI or Rajmargyatra portal.
- The pass is valid only at National Highway and Expressway fee plazas.
FASTags
- FASTag is an electronic toll collection system, launched in 2016.
- It is operated by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
- The device employs Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for payments directly from the prepaid or savings account linked to it.
- It is affixed on the windscreen, so the vehicle can drive through plazas without stopping.
- It is valid for five years & can be recharged as & when required