June 1'st Week
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NAKSHA Programme
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Context (PIB):
Ministry of Rural Development, is set to launch the 2nd phase of National geospatial Knowledge based land Survey of urban Habitations (NAKSHA) capacity building programme.
About the Programme: -
Pilot City Survey Programme under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme.
- Integrates aerial & field survey with GIS technology to improve efficiency and accuracy in land mapping.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development.
- Implementing Agency: Department of Land Resources (DoLR), in collaboration with Survey of India, National Informatics Centre Services Incorporated (NICSI), Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation (MPSeDC), and five Centres of Excellence (CoEs).
- Technical Partner: Survey of India (responsible for aerial surveys & providing orthorectified imagery).
- Coverage: Implemented across 157 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in 27 States and 3 UTs. (Not in Rural areas)
- Eligibility Criteria for Cities: Area less than 35 square kms; and population less than 2 lakh.
- Funding: 100% Centrally funded.
Enforcement Directorate (ED)
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Context:
ED has recently faced SC criticism for overstepping constitutional federal boundaries.
About: –
- The ED is a multi-disciplinary organisation mandated to investigate offences of money laundering and violations of foreign exchange laws.
- The Enforcement Directorate was established in the year 1956 as an ‘Enforcement Unit’ under the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.
- Later, in 1957, this Unit was renamed as ‘Enforcement Directorate’ & administrative control transferred to the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
- Headquarters: New Delhi | Five regional offices located in Mumbai, Chennai, Chandigarh, Kolkata, and Delhi.
Laws under ED: –
- Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002
- Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999
- Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA), 2018
- Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA), 1974
Powers of the ED: –
- Summon individuals, enforce attendance, and record statements valid as evidence.
- Conduct searches and seize property or documents linked to money laundering with justified reasons.
- Arrest and Detention: Authority to arrest suspects based on material evidence and written justification, with legal grounds communicated to the accused.
- Attachment and Confiscation of Assets: Temporarily attach properties suspected as crime proceeds for up to 180 days to prevent disposal. Confiscate assets permanently after conviction under PMLA.
- Quasi-Judicial Functions: Under FEMA, ED adjudicates foreign exchange violations & imposes penalties.
Bharat Gen:-
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Context (PIB):
- Union Minister for Science and Technology launched ‘Bharat Gen’, an AI-based multi-modal Large Language Model (LLM) at the BharatGen Summit.
Summit: –
- ‘Bharat Gen Summit’ is India’s largest Generative Artificial Intelligence & LLM summit and hackathon.
- It brings together a consortium of leading academic institutions, with the objective of advancing generative AI technologies and an active AI ecosystem in the country specifically designed for the diverse and unique requirements of India.
About Bharat Gen: –
- ‘Bharat Gen’, is India’s 1st of its kind, indigenously developed, Artificial Intelligence (AI) based, government-funded, Multimodal LLM designed for Indian languages.
- Developed under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) and implemented through TIH Foundation for IoT and IoE at IIT Bombay.
- Aims to revolutionize AI development across India’s linguistic and cultural spectrum.
- Backed by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and brings together a consortium of top academic institutions, experts, and innovators to lead AI research and application.
Operation Spider’s Web
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Context: –
- Ukraine announced a successful covert operation named Operation Spider’s Web.
About: –
- Conducted by: Ukrainian Security Service (SBU)
- Objective: Deep strike on Russian airbases to cripple strategic air power.
Targeted Locations:
- Belaya Air Base: Irkutsk, Southeastern Siberia.
- Olenya Air Base: Murmansk, Northwestern Russia.
- Dyagilevo Air Base: Ryazan, Western Russia.
- Ivanovo Severny Air Base: Ivanovo, Western Russia.
- Amur region, Far East Russia (claimed by Russian Defence Ministry)
Chagos Islands
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Context:
- United Kingdom (U.K.) officially handed over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after finalising the political treaty agreed to last year.
- Under the deal, the important naval and bomber base on Diego Garcia, one of the archipelago’s largest
islands, operated by U.S. forces, will be leased by the U.K. from Mauritius which will maintain sovereignty over the region.
About: –
- The Chagos archipelago is a group of seven atolls in the Indian Ocean, comprising at least 60 islands about 500 km south of the Maldives and more than 2000 km northeast of Mauritius.
- Chagos Islands are the southernmost archipelago of the Chagos–Laccadive Ridge, a long submarine mountain range in the Indian Ocean.
- Key Islands: Salomon Islands, Diego Garcia, Nelsons Island, etc.
- The Great Chagos Bank is the largest atoll in the world.
- The Chagos Islands, including Diego Garcia, house a critical US military base in the Indian Ocean.
Kumram Bheem Conservation Reserve
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Context:
- Telangana declared the tiger corridor area connecting the Kawal Tiger Reserve in the State with the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra as ‘Kumram Bheem Conservation Reserve’.
About:
- The area is a critical part of the wildlife corridor connecting Kawal with not only Tadoba but also Kanhargaon, Tipeshwar, and Chaprala wildlife sanctuaries in Maharashtra, as well as the Indravati Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh.
- Fauna: Tigers, leopards, wild dogs, sloth bears, wolves, hyenas, honey badgers, jungle cats, sambar, nilgai, chital, four-horned antelopes, muntjacs, etc.
Conservation Reserve: –
- The State government may declare any areas owned by it, particularly those adjacent to national parks and sanctuaries, as well as areas that link one protected area with another, as a conservation reserve.
- There is the precondition of having consultation with the local communities.
- Legal Basis: Section 36(A) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
- Introduced in the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act of 2002.
- Activities: Regulated low-impact activities; hunting and habitat destruction are banned.
Nomadic Elephant
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Context:
- 17th edition of India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise Nomadic Elephant is to be conducted at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
About:
- Exercise Nomadic Elephant is an annual event conducted alternately in India and Mongolia. 16th edition of the exercise was conducted at Umroi, Meghalaya in 2024.
- Objective: To enhance interoperability between the two forces while employing joint task force in semi conventional operations in semi urban/ mountainous terrain under United Nations mandate.
IATA Annual General Meeting
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Context (PIB):
- Prime Minister addresses International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) 81st Annual General Meeting and plenary Session of World Air Transport Summit (WATS).
About:
- IATA’s Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit (WATS) took place on 1-3 June 2025 at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, hosted by IndiGo.
- The last AGM in India was held 42 years ago in 1983.
About International Air Transport Association (IATA): –
- IATA is trade association for world’s airlines, representing over 350 airlines over 80% of global air traffic.
- Formed in April 1945 in Havana, Cuba and is successor to the International Air Traffic Association.
- Headquarters: Montreal, Canada with executive offices in Geneva, Switzerland.
- India has become the 3rd largest domestic aviation market in the world.
New regulations for Ladakh
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Context (IE):
- Centre has notified new regulations for Ladakh’s land, jobs and cultural preservation.
Ladakh Civil Services Decentralization and Recruitment (Amendment) Regulation, 2025: –
- Introduces domicile-based recruitment for government jobs.
- Domicile criteria:
5 years residence in Ladakh
7 years of schooling + passed Class 10 or 12 from Ladakh
Children of Central Govt employees with 10+ years’ service in Ladakh
Children/spouses of Ladakhi domiciles
Ladakh Civil Services Domicile Certificate Rules, 2025: –
- Lays down procedure and documentation required to obtain domicile certificate.
- Issuing authority: Tehsildar; Appellate authority: Deputy Commissioner.
Union Territory of Ladakh Reservation (Amendment) Regulation, 2025
- Total reservation for SC/ST/OBC/Other Backward Groups: 85%. Excludes 10% EWS quota from cap.
- Now applicable to professional institutes (engineering, medical colleges): New cap: 85% (early 50%)
Ladakh Official Languages Regulation, 2025
- Recognizes English, Hindi, Urdu, Bhoti, Purgi as official languages.
- Mandates institutional support for: Shina, Brokskat, Balti, Ladakhi.
Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (Amendment) Regulation, 2025
- Reserves 1/3rd of LAHDC seats for women, via rotational reservation.
- LAHDCs remain administrative (not legislative) bodies.
Zangezur Corridor
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Context:
- The Zangezur Corridor, supported by Turkey and Azerbaijan, aims to establish a new trade link through
Armenia that could bypass India’s Chabahar–Armenia–Black Sea route.
About:
- Zangezur corridor is a proposed land link connecting Azerbaijan’s mainland to its exclave Nakhchivan via Armenia’s Syunik region, ultimately connecting to Turkey through Kars.
- Conceptualized after the 2020 Second Karabakh War ceasefire, with Armenia agreeing to unimpeded transit rights.
- Includes rail & road infrastructure, complementing the Baku–Tbilisi– Kars (BTK) route (connects Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey).
About International Air Transport Association (IATA): –
- IATA is trade association for world’s airlines, representing over 350 airlines over 80% of global air traffic.
- Formed in April 1945 in Havana, Cuba and is successor to the International Air Traffic Association.
- Headquarters: Montreal, Canada with executive offices in Geneva, Switzerland.
- India has become the 3rd largest domestic aviation market in the world.
Mount Etna
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Context :
- Mount Etna erupted again, sending clouds of smoke and ash into the sky.
About:
- Mount Etna is an active stratovolcano located on the east coast of Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, Italy.
- As a stratovolcano, it is formed by thick, viscous lava that builds steep, conical slopes (about 60% of Earth’s volcanoes are stratovolcanoes).
- It is Europe’s largest and most active volcano and the highest peak in Italy south of the Alps, standing at approximately 3,300 metres.
- Unlike many volcanoes that remain dormant for long periods, Etna is in a near-constant state of activity.
- Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013.
Census 2027
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Context (PIB):
- Government has announced that data collection for India’s next Population Census, along with a nationwide caste enumeration, will begin in early 2026.
About:
- Census of India is conducted under the provisions of the Census Act, 1948 and the Census Rules, 1990.
- The census is conducted by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- 1st census in India was conducted in 1872 non-synchronously in different parts of India. Since 1881, censuses have been conducted every 10 years.
- Census is a subject listed in the Union List of the Seventh Schedule under Article 246 of the IC.
- Last Census was conducted in 2011. The 2021 Census was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key Features of Census 2027: –
- India’s Census is likely to commence on April 1, 2026, culminating on March 1, 2027. The Census will be carried out in two phases:
- Phase 1: House Listing (5–6 months from April 1, 2026).
- Phase 2: Population Enumeration (February 2027 – completed by March 1, 2027).
- It will be India’s 1st digital census, marking a shift from paper-based enumeration to a digital format using mobile apps and online platforms.
- Caste Enumeration: For the 1st time in post-Independence India, caste data beyond SC/ST categories will be collected. The last complete caste enumeration was conducted in 1931.
- Post-Independence, censuses excluded detailed caste enumeration, recording only Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
Reference Dates:
- October 1, 2026: For hilly and snowbound regions (e.g., Ladakh, J&K, Himachal, Uttarakhand).
- March 1, 2027: For the rest of India.
Unified approach to CAPF
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Context (PIB):
- SC decreed that Group ‘A’ cadres of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) be recognised as ‘Organised Services’ for all purposes.
About:
- Also instructed a phased reduction of IPS officers deputed to CAPFs over 2 years to empower CAPF cadres and resolve long-standing promotion grievances.
- Organized Services are Central Group ‘A’ services with structured career progression and cadre management.
About Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs)
- BSF, ITBP, SSB: Guard international borders, prevent infiltration, smuggling, and cross-border crimes.
- Central Industrial Security Force (CISF): Secures critical infrastructure like airports, nuclear plants, PSUs.
- Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF): Handles internal unrest, assists state police in counter-insurgency,
election duty, etc.
New Ramsar Sites in Rajasthan
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Context (PIB):
- Khichan and Menar wetlands in Rajasthan have been designated as new Ramsar Sites, increasing India’s
total to 91 Ramsar Sites.
Menar Wetland: –
- Freshwater monsoon wetland complex located in Udaipur, Rajasthan.
- Formed by Braham talab or pond, Dhand talab, Kheroda talab, and adjoining farmland.
- Conservation: Exemplary community-led initiative—locals actively protect wildlife & prevent poaching.
About Khichan Wetland: –
- Location: Northern Thar Desert, Phalodi, Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
- Significance: Globally renowned wintering site; popular for ecotourism and research.
Greater Flamingo Sanctuary
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Context :
- Tamil Nadu government notified the establishment of the Greater Flamingo Sanctuary at Dhanushkodi in Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu.
About:
- The Sanctuary, located within the ecologically sensitive Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, is a critical stopover along the Central Asian Flyway.
About About Greater Flamingo: –
- Greater flamingo is the most widespread and the largest flamingo species.
- Distribution: Found in Africa, the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, and southern Europe.
- In India, found almost everywhere except the high-altitude Himalayas, East and NE India.
Aravalli Green Wall Project
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Context :
- On occasion of World Environment Day, PM has launched the Aravalli Green Wall Project.
About :
- The Aravalli Green Wall Project aims to weave a 1,500 km long, 5 km wide green belt, spanning 29 districts across Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Delhi.
- It is inspired by Africa’s Green Wall.
- It was introduced at COP16 of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) held in Riyadh & launched in 2019.
- It is a centrally coordinated initiative with multi-stakeholder execution such as central and state governments, forest departments, research institutes, civil society organisations, private sector entities and local communities.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
- Duration: Phase I till 2027, with longterm landscape restoration planned.
Objective :
- Combat desertification and arrest the eastward expansion of the Thar Desert.
- Create a green barrier against dust and pollution.
- Restore biodiversity, improve groundwater recharge, and enhance climate resilience