Table of Contents

1. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE ________________4 3.8.6. Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 introduced
1.1. Sub-classification of Schedules Castes________ 4 in Lok Sabha _________________________________ 62
1.2. Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) __________ 6 3.8.7. RBI revised NPAs Provision Norms for Co-operative
Banks _______________________________________ 63
1.3. Citizen Participation towards Good Governance
3.8.8. Front Running ___________________________ 63
__________________________________________ 8 3.8.9. White Category Sectors ___________________ 63
1.4. Lateral Entry in Civil Services ______________ 10 3.8.10. Climate Resilient and Biofortified Varieties of
1.5. Surrogate Advertisements ________________ 12 Crops Released _______________________________ 64
1.6. Uniform Civil Code (UCC) _________________ 14 3.8.11. Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) (Domestic) 64
1.7. Legislative Impact Assessment ____________ 16 3.8.12. NITI Aayog’s Report on Seaweed Value Chain 64
1.8. News in Shorts _________________________ 18 3.8.13. Grain ATM _____________________________ 65
1.8.1. State of Infrastructure in District Courts ______ 18 3.8.14. Jan Poshan Kendras _____________________ 66
1.8.2. Anticipatory Bail under SC/ST Act____________ 18 3.8.15. Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024 Introduced in
1.8.3. Delimitation Commission __________________ 19 the Lok Sabha ________________________________ 66
1.8.4. Boilers Bill, 2024 introduced in Rajya Sabha ___ 19 3.8.16. QCI Surajya Recognition & Ranking Framework 66
2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ______________21 3.8.17. Lithium Reserves in India _________________ 67
2.1. India and Global South ___________________ 21 3.8.18. Tantalum ______________________________ 68
2.1.1. Global Development Compact ______________ 23 4. SECURITY _____________________________ 69
2.2. 10 Years of India’s Act East Policy __________ 24 4.1. 25 years of India’s Nuclear doctrine ________ 69
2.2.1. India Vietnam Relations ___________________ 26 4.2. News in Shorts _________________________ 71
2.2.2. India Malaysia Relations ___________________ 27 4.2.1. India’s First Reusable Hybrid Rocket Named
2.3. India-Central And Eastern Europe Relations __ 29 RHUMI-1 Launched ____________________________ 71
2.3.1. India-Poland Relationship __________________ 31 4.2.2. Astra Mark 1 Missiles _____________________ 71
2.4. India-Ukraine Relationship _______________ 31 4.2.3. Man Portable Anti-tank Guided Missile_______ 71
2.5. Para-Diplomacy ________________________ 33 4.2.4. GAURAV _______________________________ 72
4.2.5. Exercises in News ________________________ 72
2.6. South China Sea Tensions & International Trade
_________________________________________ 35 5. ENVIRONMENT ________________________ 73
2.7. News in Shorts _________________________ 37 5.1. The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill,
2.7.1. Indian American Diaspora __________________ 37 2024 _____________________________________ 73
2.7.2. India elected as Vice-Chair of IPEF’s Supply Chain 5.1.1. Technology in Disaster Management & Risk
Council ______________________________________ 38 Reduction (DMRR) ____________________________ 74
2.7.3. Saint Martin’s Island ______________________ 38 5.2. Renewable Energy (RE) in India ____________ 76
2.7.4. Kursk Region ____________________________ 39 5.3. Sea Level Rise __________________________ 78
2.7.5. Errata __________________________________ 39 5.4. River Linking Project _____________________ 80
3. ECONOMY _____________________________40 5.5. News in Shorts _________________________ 83
3.1. New Schemes for Agriculture Sector ________ 40 5.5.1. State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) _ 83
3.1.1. Digital Agriculture Mission _________________ 42 5.5.2. Gross Environment Product Index ___________ 83
3.1.2. Livestock Sector in India ___________________ 44 5.5.3. World Bank released “The Impact of Climate
3.1.3. Horticulture Sector in India _________________ 45 Change on Education” Report ___________________ 84
3.2. National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS)____ 48 5.5.4. Climate Finance Action Fund (CFAF) _________ 84
3.3. Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana ____________ 50 5.5.5. EU Nature Restoration Law ________________ 84
5.5.6. Aquatic Deoxygenation ___________________ 85
3.4. Creative Economy _______________________ 52
5.5.7. India’s Three More Wetlands Added to Ramsar
3.5. Model Skill Loan Scheme _________________ 54 Sites List ____________________________________ 85
3.6. Transit Oriented Development ____________ 56 5.5.8. “The State of the World’s Mangroves 2024” Report
3.7. Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG) & Indexation ____________________________________________ 86
Benefit ___________________________________ 59 5.5.9. Methanotrophs__________________________ 86
3.8. News in Shorts _________________________ 60 5.5.10. Ceropegia Shivrayiana ___________________ 86
3.8.1. UN Global Tax Treaty _____________________ 60 5.5.11. Neelakurinji____________________________ 87
3.8.2. Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) _______________ 61 5.5.12. Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC) __ 87
3.8.3. Debt-for-Development Swaps (Debt Swaps) ___ 61 5.5.13. Integrated Fire Management (IFM) Voluntary
3.8.4. World Trade Statistical Review (WTSR) 2023 ___ 61 Guidelines Updates ____________________________ 87
3.8.5. Global Employment Trends (GET) for Youth 2024 5.5.14. SOP for Green Tug Transition Program (GTTP)
Report ______________________________________ 62 launched ____________________________________ 88

1 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

 5.5.15. Polar Coupled Analysis and Prediction for Services 7.6.2. Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) ___________________ 108
(PCAPS) _____________________________________ 89 7.6.3. Ladakh as Martian/Lunar Analogue _________ 108
5.5.16. Atmospheric Rivers ______________________ 89 7.6.4. Technological Doping ____________________ 109
5.5.17. Indian Ocean Structures Named Ashok, 7.6.5. Antimatter ____________________________ 109
Chandragupt and Kalpataru _____________________ 89 7.6.6. Thorium Molten Salt Nuclear Plant _________ 109
5.5.18. Deepest Rock Sample from Earth’s Mantle 7.6.7. Plant Genome Editing Tool ‘ISDra2TnpB’ ____ 110
Obtained ____________________________________ 90 7.6.8. WHO declared Mpox PHEIC _______________ 110
6. SOCIAL ISSUES _________________________92 7.6.9. Dengue _______________________________ 111
6.1. Safety of Healthcare Professional __________ 92 7.9.10. Serosurvey ___________________________ 111
6.2. Mental Health of Students ________________ 93 7.6.11. Hayflick Limit _________________________ 111
7.6.12. Biosurfactants _________________________ 112
6.3. News in Shorts _________________________ 95
6.3.1. UNESCO released ‘Sport and Gender Equality Game 8. CULTURE ____________________________ 113
Plan’ ________________________________________ 95 8.1. Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) ___ 113
6.3.2. NIRF Ranking 2024 _______________________ 96 8.2. News in Shorts ________________________ 114
6.3.3. Adolescents in India ______________________ 96 8.2.1. Gallantry Awards _______________________ 114
6.3.4. Model Foster Care Guidelines, 2024 _________ 97 8.2.2. National Film Awards ____________________ 115
6.3.5. Bagless Days ____________________________ 97 8.2.3. Errata_________________________________ 115
6.3.6. Habitat Rights for Juanga Tribe______________ 97 9. ETHICS ______________________________ 116
7. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ______________99 9.1. Emotional Intelligence __________________ 116
7.1. BioE3 Policy (Biotechnology for Economy, 9.2. Social Influence and Persuasion in times of Social
Environment and Employment) _______________ 99 Media and Influencers______________________ 118
7.2. National Space Day ____________________ 101 10. SCHEMES IN NEWS ___________________ 121
7.3. Fixed Dose Combination Drugs ___________ 103 10.1. AgriSURE (Agri Fund for Start-ups & Rural
7.4. A1 and A2 Milk ________________________ 105 Enterprises) Scheme _______________________ 121
7.5. Directed Energy Weapons _______________ 106 10.2. PM KUSUM __________________________ 122
7.6. News in Shorts ________________________ 107 11. PLACES IN NEWS _____________________ 124
7.6.1. ISRO launches Earth Observation Satellite EOS-08 12. PERSONALITIES IN NEWS ______________ 125
___________________________________________ 107

2 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

 Table of Contents
1. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE ________________ 4 3.8. Minerals Security Partnership Finance Network
1.1. One Nation One Election __________________ 4 _________________________________________ 56
1.2. Global AI Governance ____________________ 6 3.9. Steel Sector in India ____________________ 58
1.3. Grievance Redressal Mechanism ___________ 8 3.10. India's Dairy Cooperative Sector _________ 60
1.4. Unified Pension Scheme _________________ 12 3.11. News in Shorts ________________________ 62
1.5. News in Shorts _________________________ 13 3.11.1. Financialisation _________________________ 62
1.5.1. ‘Black Coat Syndrome’ in Courts ____________ 13 3.11.2. Average household spending on food falls below
1.5.2. Rights of Detenu in Preventive Detention _____ 13 half since 1947: EAC-PM Paper __________________ 63
1.5.3. Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967 3.11.3. BHASKAR Initiative for India's Startup Ecosystem
___________________________________________ 14 ___________________________________________ 63
1.5.4. Plea Bargaining _________________________ 14 3.11.4. Priority Sector Lending ___________________ 64
1.5.5. 2023 amendment to Rule 3 of IT Rules 2021 __ 14 3.11.5. Unified Lending Interface (ULI)_____________ 65
1.5.6. 23rd Law Commission Constituted __________ 16 3.11.6. National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and
1.5.7. Sanction for Prosecuting a Public Servant _____ 16 Development (NaBFID) _________________________ 65
1.5.8. Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions 3.11.7. Perpetual Bonds ________________________ 66
(ASOSAI) ____________________________________ 16 3.11.8. Windfall Tax ___________________________ 66
1.5.9. Errata _________________________________ 17 3.11.9. Agriculture Infrastructure Fund ____________ 66
2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ______________ 18 3.11.10. SPICED Scheme ________________________ 67
3.11.11. Delhi Declaration on Civil Aviation _________ 67
2.1. QUAD ________________________________ 18
2.2. India’s Role in Conflict Resolution _________ 21 4. SECURITY _____________________________ 69
2.3. India-Singapore Relations ________________ 23 4.1. Drones and Internal Security _____________ 69
2.4. Security of Supplies Arrangement (SOSA) ___ 26 4.2. FATF Mutual Evaluation Report 2024 ______ 71
2.5. Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) ________ 27 4.3. News in Shorts _________________________ 74
4.3.1. Blueprint for Action on Responsible AI in Military
2.6. TAPI Gas Pipeline Project ________________ 30
___________________________________________ 74
2.7. News in Shorts _________________________ 32 4.3.2. Operation Chakra III ______________________ 75
2.7.1. India signed first-of-its-kind agreements under IPEF 4.3.3. Second Arihant-Class submarine ‘INS Arighaat’
___________________________________________ 32
commissioned into Indian Navy __________________ 76
2.7.2. Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) _________________ 32 4.3.4. Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile
2.7.3. UN adopts Pact for the Future at the UN Summit for (VL-SRSAM) __________________________________ 76
the Future __________________________________ 33
2.7.4. India, GCC adopt Action Plan for Joint Activities 33
5. ENVIRONMENT ________________________ 77
2.7.5. India-Brunei Darussalam Elevate Bilateral Ties to 5.1. Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari ________________ 77
‘Enhanced Partnership’ ________________________ 34 5.2. Mission Mausam _______________________ 78
2.7.6. India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership ___ 35 5.3. Human-Animal Conflict __________________ 80
2.7.7. G4 Nations _____________________________ 35 5.4. News in Shorts _________________________ 82
2.7.8. India's Military Diplomacy _________________ 35 5.4.1. Air Quality Management Exchange Platform
2.7.9. Recent Military Exercises __________________ 36 (AQMx) _____________________________________ 82
2.7.10. Operation Sadbhav _____________________ 36 5.4.2. Air Quality and Climate Bulletin _____________ 84
2.7.11. Northern United-2024 ___________________ 36 5.4.3. Teal Carbon _____________________________ 84
2.7.12. Axis of Resistance_______________________ 36 5.4.4. Scheme for Hydro Electric Projects (HEP) _____ 86
2.7.13. Fast Track Immigration - Trusted Travellers' 5.4.5. Environmental Compensation Guidelines for
Programme (FTI-TTP) __________________________ 37 Battery Waste Management ____________________ 86
3. ECONOMY ____________________________ 38 5.4.6. India-Germany Platform for Investments in
3.1. Regional Disparity in Development ________ 38 Renewable Energies Worldwide __________________ 87
3.2. Middle Income Trap _____________________ 40 5.4.7. Energy Transition Principles by UN __________ 87
5.4.8. International Rhino Foundation (IRF) released State
3.3. Financial Inclusion and 10 Years of PMJDY___ 41
of the Rhino 2024 Report _______________________ 88
3.3.1. 50 years of Indian Microfinance Sector _______ 44
5.4.9. Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats __ 88
3.4. National Industrial Corridor Development 5.4.10. Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure
Programme _______________________________ 46 (CDRI) marks its Fifth Anniversary ________________ 89
3.5. Vadhvan Port __________________________ 47 5.4.11. Tardigrades ____________________________ 90
3.6. PM E-DRIVE Scheme ____________________ 50 5.4.12. Phrynarachne Decipiens __________________ 90
3.7. Voluntary Vehicle Modernization Program __ 54 5.4.13. Water Spinach__________________________ 91
5.4.14. Exercise AIKYA _________________________ 91

1 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

 5.4.15. Atacama Salt Flat _______________________ 91 7.7.7. Quasars _______________________________ 126
6. SOCIAL ISSUES _________________________ 92 7.7.8. Saturn’s Rings __________________________ 126
6.1. Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan 92 7.7.9. NITI Aayog releases Expert Group Report on Future
6.2. Swachh Bharat Mission __________________ 94 Pandemic Preparedness _______________________ 127
7.7.10. Vishanu Yuddh Abhyas __________________ 127
6.3. Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY ________________ 96
7.7.11. New Treatment Regimen for Multi-Drug
6.4. Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material 99 Resistant-Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) ________________ 128
6.5. Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace 102 7.7.12. Sonoluminescence _____________________ 128
6.6. Women-Led Self-Help Groups (SHGs): Lakhpati 7.7.13. Circumnutation ________________________ 129
Didi _____________________________________ 104 7.7.14. Wood Wide Web ______________________ 129
6.7. News in Shorts ________________________ 106 7.7.15. AVGC-XR Sector _______________________ 129
6.7.1. Subtle Gender Discrimination in Society _____ 106 8. CULTURE _____________________________ 130
6.7.2. NPS Vatsalya Scheme ____________________ 107 8.1. 100 years of Discovery of Harappan Civilisation
6.7.3. New India Literacy Programme (NILP)_______ 107 ________________________________________ 130
7. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY _____________ 109 8.2. Port Blair Renamed as Sri Vijaya Puram ___ 132
7.1. Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) ________ 109 8.3. News in Shorts ________________________ 135
7.2. Brain Computer Interfaces (BCIs) _________ 111 8.3.1. Mankidia Tribes ________________________ 135
7.3. Organ-on-chip (OoC) Technology _________ 113 8.3.2. Odisha Famine of 1866 ___________________ 135
7.4. Vishvasya: National Blockchain Technology Stack 8.3.3. Anubhav Awards ________________________ 135
________________________________________ 115 8.3.4. FIDE Chess Olympiad ____________________ 135
7.5. India’s R&D Ecosystem _________________ 118 8.3.5. Retired Sportsperson Empowerment Training
7.6. Graphene ____________________________ 122 (RESET) Programme __________________________ 136
7.7. News in Shorts ________________________ 123 9. ETHICS _______________________________ 137
7.7.1. Quantum Natural Language Processing (QNLP) 123 9.1. Corruption ___________________________ 137
7.7.2. Silicon Carbide _________________________ 124 10. SCHEMES IN NEWS ____________________ 140
7.7.3. Polaris Dawn Mission Successfully Completes 10.1. Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan
World's First Private Spacewalk _________________ 124 Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) ______________________ 140
7.7.4. Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM) _____________ 124
11. Places in News _______________________ 142
7.7.5. Chandrayaan-4 _________________________ 125
7.7.6. Square Kilometer Array __________________ 125 12. Personalities in News __________________ 143

2 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

 Table of Contents
1. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE ________________ 4 3.9.11. Commitment to Reducing Inequality (CRI) Index
1.1. Jan Yojana Abhiyan ______________________ 4 2024 released ________________________________ 51
1.2. Free Legal Aid ___________________________ 6 3.9.12. All India Rural Financial Inclusion Survey 2021-22
___________________________________________ 52
1.3. Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 _________ 8
3.9.13. Government notifies Offshore Areas Operating
1.4. News in Shorts _________________________ 10 Right Rules, 2024 _____________________________ 53
1.4.1. Supreme Court Questions Feasibility of Gram 3.9.14. National Electricity Plan (Transmission) ______ 53
Nyayalayas __________________________________ 10 3.9.15. Hand-in-Hand (HIH) Initiative ______________ 54
1.4.2. Section 6A of Citizenship Act _______________ 11 3.9.16. National Agriculture Code (NAC) ___________ 54
1.4.3. Universal Postal Union (UPU) ______________ 12 3.9.17. Central Silk Board _______________________ 54
1.4.4. International Telecommunication Union (ITU) _ 12 3.9.18. Humsafar Policy ________________________ 55
2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ______________ 13 3.9.19. Cruise Bharat Mission (CBM) Launched ______ 55
2.1. India-China Agreement on Line of Actual Control 3.9.20. Z-Morh Project _________________________ 56
(LAC)_____________________________________ 13 4. SECURITY _____________________________ 57
2.2. India-Maldives Relationship ______________ 16 4.1. AI and Defence ________________________ 57
2.3. India-Canada Relationship________________ 17 4.2. News in Shorts _________________________ 59
2.4. ASEAN ________________________________ 19 4.2.1. GlobE Network __________________________ 59
2.5. BRICS _________________________________ 22 4.2.2. Non-Kinetic Warfare ______________________ 59
2.6. News in Shorts _________________________ 25 4.2.3. DefConnect 4.0 __________________________ 60
2.6.1. India and Uzbekistan signed Bilateral Investment 4.2.4. 31 MQ-9B drones and Nuclear Attack Submarines
Treaty (BIT) __________________________________ 25 Deal Clears __________________________________ 60
2.6.2. India-UAE Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) came 4.2.5. ABHED (Advanced Ballistics for High Energy Defeat)
into effect ___________________________________ 26 ___________________________________________ 61
2.6.3. Committee of Ten (C-10) Group ____________ 26 4.2.6. Akashteer Systems _______________________ 61
2.6.4. UK hands sovereignty of Chagos Islands to 4.2.7. Very Short Range Air Defence System ________ 61
Mauritius ___________________________________ 27 4.2.8. Dragon Drone ___________________________ 61
2.6.5. Anaconda Strategy _______________________ 27 4.2.9. THAAD Missile Defense System _____________ 62
2.6.6. Philadelphi Corridor ______________________ 27 4.2.10. Hellfire Missile _________________________ 62
2.7. Errata ________________________________ 28 4.2.11. Exercises in News _______________________ 62
3. ECONOMY ____________________________ 29 5. ENVIRONMENT ________________________ 63
3.1. Nobel Prize in Economics_________________ 29 5.1. Jal Hi Amrit ___________________________ 63
3.2. B Ready Index__________________________ 31 5.2. Hyperlocal Weather Forecasting __________ 65
3.3. Scaling of India’s Small Companies _________ 33 5.3. News in Shorts _________________________ 67
3.4. PM GatiShakti National Master Plan _______ 34 5.3.1. State of Global Water Resources Report ______ 67
3.5. 10 Years of Make in India ________________ 37 5.3.2. National Water Awards (NWA) _____________ 67
5.3.3. CCPA Notifies Guidelines For Preventing
3.6. Poverty in India ________________________ 39
Greenwashing ________________________________ 67
3.7. Global Innovation Index 2024 and Social 5.3.4. EnviStats India 2024 ______________________ 68
Entrepreneurship __________________________ 42 5.3.5. ‘2024 Forest Declaration Assessment: Forests
3.8. National Mission on Edible Oils – Oilseeds under fire’ Report Released _____________________ 69
(NMEO-Oilseeds) ___________________________ 44 5.3.6. European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)
3.9. News in Shorts _________________________ 46 ___________________________________________ 70
3.9.1. Responsible Capitalism ___________________ 46 5.3.7. Biodiversity Credits _______________________ 70
3.9.2. Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) for FY 2022-23 47 5.3.8. Greening of Antarctica ____________________ 70
3.9.3. Input Tax Credit _________________________ 48 5.3.9. Coordination Committee for Air Quality
3.9.4. Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Management in IGP region ______________________ 70
Products (RoDTEP) Scheme _____________________ 48 5.3.10. PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana ___________ 71
3.9.5. RBI released Report of the Committee on MIBOR 5.3.11. World Energy Outlook 2024 _______________ 71
Benchmark __________________________________ 48 5.3.12. International Energy Efficiency Hub (IEEH) ___ 71
3.9.6. RBI Study on Monetary Policy Transmission ___ 49 5.3.13. Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC) Fund __ 71
3.9.7. India Forex Reserve Cross 700 Billion Dollar ___ 49 5.3.14. Ecomark Rules, 2024 ____________________ 72
3.9.8. UPI 123 and UPI Lite _____________________ 50 5.3.15. IUCN Report on Agriculture and Conservation 73
3.9.9. CareEdge Released its Inaugural Sovereign Credit 5.3.16. Living Planet Report _____________________ 74
Ratings _____________________________________ 50 5.3.17. Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS) ___________ 74
3.9.10. Global Family Farming Forum (GFFF) Launched 51 5.3.18. Indian Wild Ass _________________________ 74
1 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS
 5.3.19. Nile Basin _____________________________ 75 7.10.10. Global Strategic Preparedness, Readiness and
5.3.20. Volcanic Eruption & Ionospheric Disturbances 75 Response Plan (SPRP) _________________________ 109
5.3.21. Lipulekh Pass __________________________ 76 7.10.11. Revamped Pharmaceutical Technology
6. SOCIAL ISSUES _________________________ 77 Upgradation Assistance Scheme (RPTUAS) ________ 110
6.1. Mental Health among Adolescents _________ 77 7.10.12. International Medical Device Regulators Forum
6.2. Child Marriage in India __________________ 78 __________________________________________ 110
7.10.13. India Eliminates Trachoma as a Public Health
6.3. Global Hunger Index ____________________ 80
Problem: WHO ______________________________ 110
6.4. National Health Accounts Estimates ________ 83 7.10.14. ANRF Launches PMECRG and MAHA-EV Initiative
6.5. Digital Health __________________________ 84 __________________________________________ 110
6.6. News in Shorts _________________________ 86 7.10.15. Union Cabinet Approves National Centre of
6.6.1. UN Women released ‘World Survey on the Role of Excellence (NCoE) for AVGC-XR _________________ 111
Women in Development’ Report_________________ 86 8. CULTURE _____________________________ 113
6.6.2. e-Migrate Portal _________________________ 87
8.1. Classical Language _____________________ 113
6.6.3. PM YASASVI ____________________________ 87
6.6.4. Government Extends Supply of Fortified Rice 8.2. Kartarpur Sahib Corridor________________ 115
Across Welfare Schemes Until 2028 ______________ 87 8.3. New Flag, Insignia and Lady Justice at Supreme
7. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ______________ 89 Court ___________________________________ 116
7.1. Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024 ____________ 89 8.4. News in Shorts ________________________ 117
8.4.1. Nobel Prize in Literature __________________ 117
7.2. Nobel Prize in Medicine 2024 _____________ 90
8.4.2. Nobel Peace Prize _______________________ 117
7.3. Nobel Prize in Physics 2024 _______________ 93 8.4.3. Cabinet Approves Development of NMHC At Lothal,
7.4. BharatGen Programme __________________ 94 Gujarat ____________________________________ 118
7.5. Space Docking Experiment (SPADEX) _______ 96 8.4.4. Geographical Indications tag to 8 Assam Products
7.6. Space-based Surveillance ________________ 98 __________________________________________ 118
7.7. Unified Genomic Chip __________________ 100 8.4.5. Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2026 ________ 118
7.8. Drug Quality in India ___________________ 102 8.4.6. Paryatan Mitra And Paryatan Didi Initiative___ 118
7.9. Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) _________ 104 8.4.7. Poumai Naga tribe ______________________ 119
7.10. News in Shorts _______________________ 106 9. ETHICS _______________________________ 120
7.10.1. ‘Atoms4Food’ _________________________ 106 9.1. Mahatma Gandhi and Compassion _______ 120
7.10.2. MACE Observatory inaugurated __________ 106 9.2. Personality in Focus: Ratan Naval Tata (1937-
7.10.3. Europa Clipper ________________________ 107 2024) ___________________________________ 122
7.10.4. LUPEX Mission ________________________ 107 10. SCHEMES IN NEWS ____________________ 124
7.10.5. RISE Mission __________________________ 108
10.1. PM Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY)
7.10.6. Moonlight Programme _________________ 108
7.10.7. Neutrino Fog _________________________ 109
________________________________________ 124
7.10.8. Charon ______________________________ 109 10.1.1. Krishonnati Yojana (KY) _________________ 124
7.10.9. Sky Shield ____________________________ 109 11. Places in news _______________________ 126
12. Personalities in news __________________ 127

Copyright © by Vision IAS

All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior
permission of Vision IAS.

2 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

 Table of Contents
1. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE ________________4 3.5.5. ‘The State of Food and Agriculture 2024’ report
1.1. ‘Socialist’, ‘Secular’ in the Preamble _________ 4 released by FAO ______________________________ 49
1.2. Property Rights in India ___________________ 6 3.5.6. 21st Livestock Census _____________________ 50
3.5.7. World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) 50
1.3. Internal Democracy in Political Parties _______ 8
3.5.8. Nano fertilizers __________________________ 50
1.4. USA Presidential Election __________________ 9 3.5.9. Mormugao Port Authority _________________ 51
1.5. Municipal Corporations In India ___________ 10 3.5.10. Bihta Dry Port __________________________ 51
1.6. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) ___ 11 3.5.11. World Intellectual Property Indicators 2024 report
1.7. Governance and AI ______________________ 14 ____________________________________________ 51
1.8. Digitization of Land Records ______________ 16 3.5.12. PAN (Permanent Account Number) 2.0 ______ 52
1.9. Persons with Disability ___________________ 19 3.5.13. Uniform Protection Protocol ______________ 53
1.10. News in Shorts ________________________ 21 4. SECURITY _____________________________ 54
1.10.1. Grievance Redressal Assessment Index (GRAI) 21 4.1. Indian Coast Guard ______________________ 54
1.10.2. Civil Registration System (CRS) _____________ 21 4.2. News in Shorts _________________________ 55
1.10.3. Prior Sanction Mandatory to Prosecute Public 4.2.1. AFSPA _________________________________ 55
Servants _____________________________________ 21 4.2.2. 'Adaptive Defense' Strategy ________________ 55
1.10.4. Report on Prisons in India _________________ 22 4.2.3. Digital Arrest ____________________________ 56
1.10.5. 51st Chief Justice of India (CJI) Appointed ____ 22 4.2.4. Asset Recovery Interagency Network-Asia Pacific
1.10.6. Inter-State Council (ISC) __________________ 23 (ARIN-AP) ___________________________________ 56
1.10.7. Aligarh Muslim University’s (AMU) Status as 4.2.5. India's fourth Nuclear Submarine ___________ 57
Minority Institution ____________________________ 23 4.2.6. India’s First Long Range Hypersonic Missile ___ 57
2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ______________25 4.2.7. Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM)
2.1. India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor _ 25 ____________________________________________ 57
2.2. The Group of Twenty (G20) Summit ________ 27 4.2.8. Pantsir Air Defense system (PADS) __________ 58
2.3. India-Australia Relations _________________ 29 4.2.9. Exercise Antariksha Abhyas 2024 ___________ 58
2.4. India – Germany Relations ________________ 31 4.2.10. Exercises in News _______________________ 58
4.2.11. Operation Sagar Manthan ________________ 59
2.5. India-Italy Relations _____________________ 32
2.6. India-Spain Relations ____________________ 34 5. ENVIRONMENT ________________________ 60
2.7. News in Shorts _________________________ 35 5.1. UNFCCC COP29 _________________________ 60
2.7.1. First Trilateral Power Transaction____________ 35 5.1.1. Key Initiatives/Declarations Launched at COP29 62
2.7.2. Chennai-Vladivostok Eastern Maritime Corridor 5.1.2. India at COP29 __________________________ 64
Operational __________________________________ 35 5.2. Carbon Trading and Market _______________ 65
2.7.3. U.S., Japan and South Korea signed DiGi Framework 5.3. Climate Finance ________________________ 67
____________________________________________ 36 5.4. Just Transition _________________________ 69
2.7.4. 2nd India-CARICOM Summit concluded in Guyana 5.5. CoP-16 to the UNCBD ____________________ 71
____________________________________________ 36 5.5.1. National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
2.7.5. ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADDM- (NBSAP) _____________________________________ 74
Plus) ________________________________________ 37 5.5.2. World Coalition for Peace with Nature _______ 76
2.7.6. Indian Chemical Council Wins OPCW-The Hague 5.6. Forest Ecosystem Restoration _____________ 76
Award _______________________________________ 37 5.7. Natural Farming ________________________ 77
2.7.7. Cairo Call to Action _______________________ 38 5.8. Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) _______ 79
2.7.8. International Cooperative Alliance ___________ 38 5.9. News in Shorts _________________________ 81
2.7.9. Triton island _____________________________ 39 5.9.1. Global Carbon Budget Report ______________ 81
3. ECONOMY _____________________________40 5.9.2. Adaptation Gap Report 2024 _______________ 82
3.1. Importance of Large Trade Agreements _____ 40 5.9.3. UN Environment Programme Releases Emissions
3.2. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) ______________ 42 Gap Report 2024 ______________________________ 83
3.3. Rural Non-Farm Economy (RNFE) __________ 44 5.9.4. Protected Planet Report 2024 ______________ 83
3.4. Food Corporation of India (FCI) ____________ 46 5.9.5. ‘An Eye on Methane: Invisible but not unseen’
3.5. News in Shorts _________________________ 47 Report ______________________________________ 84
3.5.1. RBI Issues Framework For Reclassification of FPI to 5.9.6. World Energy Employment Report, 2024 _____ 84
FDI _________________________________________ 47 5.9.7. CO₂ to Methanol Plant ____________________ 85
3.5.2. Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs) 48 5.9.8. EV-as-a-Service Programme ________________ 85
3.5.3. Venture Capital Fund for Space Sector________ 48 5.9.9. Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve ___ 85
3.5.4. Scheme for Medical Device Industry _________ 49 5.9.10. Coral Triangle __________________________ 86

1 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

 5.9.11. ‘Tsunami Ready’ Villagess _________________ 86 7.5.2. Analog Space Mission ____________________ 103
5.9.12. Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos (DANA) ___ 87 7.5.3. GSAT-N2 ______________________________ 103
5.9.13. Bomb Cyclone __________________________ 87 7.5.4. LignoSat _______________________________ 103
5.9.14. Lake Kariba ____________________________ 87 7.5.5. Operation Dronagiri _____________________ 104
6. SOCIAL ISSUES _________________________89 7.5.6. Direct-to-Device(D2D) Satellite connectivity __ 104
6.1. Work from Home _______________________ 89 7.5.7. Gravity Energy Storage (GES) ______________ 105
6.2. One Nation One Subscription Scheme ______ 91 7.5.8. BRIC-National Agri-Food Bio-Manufacturing
Institute (BRIC-NABI) _________________________ 105
6.3. News in Shorts _________________________ 93
7.5.9. First Indigenous Antibiotic ________________ 105
6.3.1. Union Cabinet Approved PM-Vidyalaxmi scheme
7.5.10. Adoption of Jeddah Commitments ________ 106
____________________________________________ 93
7.5.11. Pandemic Fund Project Launched _________ 106
6.3.2. Protection of Children from Sexual Offences
7.5.12. Global Health Emergency Corps (GHEC) ____ 107
(POCSO) Act, 2012 _____________________________ 94
6.3.3. 10 Years of Polio Eradication in India _________ 94 8. CULTURE ____________________________ 108
6.3.4. Children Lacking Minimum Dietary Diversity ___ 95 8.1. Birsa Munda __________________________ 108
6.3.5. UNESCO released ‘Global Education Monitoring 8.2. News in Shorts ________________________ 111
Report 2024’ _________________________________ 95 8.2.1. Sohrai painting _________________________ 111
7. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ______________97 9. ETHICS ______________________________ 112
7.1. One Day One Genome ___________________ 97 9.1. Instant Justice _________________________ 112
7.1.1. Heritable Human Genome Editing (HHGE) _____ 98 10. SCHEMES IN NEWS ___________________ 116
7.2. Satyendra Nath Bose (S. N. Bose) __________ 98 10.1. Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) ___ 116
7.3. Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) __________ 100 10.2. Atal Innovation Mission 2.0 _____________ 116
7.4. RNA Editing ___________________________ 101 10.3. Pradhan Mantri Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana 117
7.5. News in Shorts ________________________ 102 11. PLACES IN NEWS _____________________ 119
7.5.1. Space Biotechnology _____________________ 102 12. PERSONALITIES IN NEWS ______________ 120

2 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

 Table of Contents
1. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE ________________ 3 3.12.7. World Bank Released Annual International Debt
1.1. One Nation, One Election Bill ______________ 3 Report (IDR) 2024 _____________________________ 48
1.2. Atrocities against Scheduled Castes _________ 5 3.12.8. Tax Justice Network Released ‘State of Tax Justice
2024’ Report _________________________________ 48
1.3. Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024 _________ 6
3.12.9. Global Wage Report released by ILO ________ 49
1.4. Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) _____________ 9 3.12.10. Windfall Tax __________________________ 50
1.5. News in Shorts _________________________ 10 3.12.11. Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Programme (CPP)__ 50
1.5.1. Process For Removal of Rajya Sabha Chairperson 3.12.12. RBI Increases Limit for Collateral-Free
___________________________________________ 10 Agricultural Loan ______________________________ 51
1.5.2. SC Guidelines on Mercy Petition ____________ 10 3.12.13. Credit Guarantee Scheme for e-NWR based
1.5.3. e-Courts Mission Mode Project Phase III______ 10 Pledge Financing (CGS-NPF) Launched _____________ 51
1.5.4. Amrit Gyaan Kosh Portal __________________ 11 3.12.14. Kisan Pehchan Patra ____________________ 52
1.5.5. E-Daakhil portal _________________________ 11 3.12.15. Kisan Kavach __________________________ 52
1.5.6. The Boilers Bill, 2024 Passed in the Rajya Sabha 11 3.12.16. Initiative for Reshaping Supply Chains Of Fashion
2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ______________ 13 And Construction Sectors _______________________ 52
2.1. India-Sri Lanka relations _________________ 13 3.12.17. SMILE Program ________________________ 53
2.2. India-Bhutan relations ___________________ 15 3.12.18. National Legal Metrology Portal (eMaap) ___ 53
2.3. India-Kuwait Relations __________________ 17 3.12.19. Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024 _____________ 53
2.4. Trade Weaponisation ___________________ 19 3.12.20. Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024 introduced in the Lok
2.5. News in Shorts _________________________ 21 Sabha_______________________________________ 54
2.5.1. UK Joins CPTPP __________________________ 21 3.12.21. ‘Jalvahak’ Scheme to boost Inland Waterways 54
2.5.2. Nepal and China Signed BRI Cooperation 3.12.22. Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2024 _______ 55
Framework __________________________________ 22 3.12.23. First Ever Auction of Minerals in Offshore Areas
2.5.3. Phewa Dialogue _________________________ 22 ___________________________________________ 55
2.5.4. Indian Chemical Council Wins OPCW-The Hague 4. SECURITY _____________________________ 57
Award ______________________________________ 22 4.1. National Investigation Agency (NIA) _______ 57
2.5.5. United Nations Disengagement Observer Force 4.2. United Nations Convention on Cybercrime __ 58
(UNDOF) ____________________________________ 23 4.3. Smuggling in India Report 2023-24 ________ 60
2.5.6. “Crossroads of Peace” Initiative ____________ 23 4.4. News in Shorts _________________________ 62
2.5.7. Kerch Strait_____________________________ 24 4.4.1. United Nations Peacebuilding Commission ____ 62
3. ECONOMY ____________________________ 25 4.4.2. Kaveri Engine ___________________________ 62
3.1. State Finances _________________________ 25 4.4.3. ‘Satan 2’ _______________________________ 62
3.2. GDP Base Year Revision __________________ 27 4.4.4. Search and Rescue Aid Tool (SARAT) _________ 62
3.3. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) ___________ 29 4.4.5. Exercises in News ________________________ 63
3.4. The Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 __ 32 5. ENVIRONMENT ________________________ 64
3.5. Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Framework in 5.1. India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 ____ 64
India _____________________________________ 33 5.2. Sacred Groves _________________________ 66
3.6. Most-Favoured-Nation Clause ____________ 35 5.3. River Linking Project ____________________ 69
3.6.1. Investment Facilitation for Development 5.4. Draft Solid Waste Management Rules, 2024 _ 71
Agreement (IFDA) ____________________________ 37 5.5. Urban Air Pollution _____________________ 73
3.7. mBridge Project ________________________ 38 5.6. News in Shorts _________________________ 76
3.8. Railways Reforms_______________________ 40 5.6.1. IPBES Nexus Assessment Report ____________ 76
3.9. Tourism Sector in India __________________ 41 5.6.2. Global Status of Salt-Affected Soils report by FAO
3.10. Insurance Sector in India ________________ 43 ___________________________________________ 77
3.11. Oilfields (Regulation and Development) 5.6.3. Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing
Countries for Decade 2024-2034 _________________ 77
Amendment Bill, 2024 ______________________ 45
5.6.4. Business4Land Initiative ___________________ 78
3.12. News in Shorts ________________________ 46 5.6.5. Plastic Pollution Treaty Negotiations Adjourn In
3.12.1. 55th GST Council meeting _________________ 46 Busan, South Korea ____________________________ 78
3.12.2. All-India House Price Index (HPI) ___________ 47 5.6.6. Champions of Earth Award, 2024 ____________ 79
3.12.3. Consumer Confidence Survey (CCS) ________ 47 5.6.7. Amendment to ALMM Order, 2019 __________ 79
3.12.4. SFBs to extend Credit Line through UPI______ 47 5.6.8. Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (I) norms ___ 79
3.12.5. Unified Payments Interface (UPI) Lite _______ 48 5.6.9. India Launched The World’s First Green Steel
3.12.6. Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) _________ 48 Taxonomy ___________________________________ 80

1 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

 5.6.10. India Conducts First-Ever Ganges River Dolphin 7.6.2. Axiom Mission 4 (AX-4)___________________ 108
Tagging In Assam _____________________________ 80 7.6.3. Dark Comet ____________________________ 108
5.6.11. Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary Declared As Tiger 7.6.4. FSSAI Issues Advisory for E-commerce Food
Reserve _____________________________________ 81 Business Operators (FBOs) _____________________ 109
5.6.12. Madhav National Park ___________________ 82 7.6.5. High Risk Food _________________________ 109
5.6.13. Sponge City ___________________________ 82 7.6.6. Notifiable Disease _______________________ 109
5.6.14. Denali Fault ___________________________ 82 7.6.7. World Malaria Report 2024 _______________ 109
5.6.15. Kilauea Volcano ________________________ 83 7.6.8. Nanoplastics as Agents of Antibiotic Resistance 110
6. SOCIAL ISSUES _________________________ 84 7.6.9. Extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) ___________ 111
6.1. Digital Content Creators (DCC) ____________ 84 7.6.10. Marburg Virus Disease __________________ 111
6.2. Social Media Addiction in Children _________ 85 7.6.11. Diamond Battery_______________________ 111
7.6.12. Milkweed Fiber ________________________ 111
6.3. Manual Scavenging _____________________ 88
7.6.13. Bio-Bitumen __________________________ 112
6.4. Female Labor Force Participation in India ___ 89
8. CULTURE _____________________________ 113
6.5. News in Shorts _________________________ 91
6.5.1. South Korea Becomes ‘Super-Aged’ Society ___ 91 8.1. Communist Party of India _______________ 113
6.5.2. JJM and Women empowerment ____________ 92 8.2. News in Shorts ________________________ 115
6.5.3. Global One-Stop Centres (OSC) _____________ 93 8.2.1. Geographical Indication (GI) Tag ___________ 115
6.5.4. Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Campaign Launched ___ 93 8.2.2. 1924 Belgaum Congress Session ___________ 115
6.5.5. Domestic Migration Report by EAC-PM ______ 94 8.2.3. Indira Gandhi Prize ______________________ 115
6.5.6. ‘Right to Disconnect’ in India _______________ 94 8.2.4. Sahitya Akademi ________________________ 116
6.5.7. Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2024 __ 95 9. ETHICS _______________________________ 117
6.5.8. No Detention Policy ______________________ 95 9.1. Indic Idea of Good Governance __________ 117
6.5.9. WFP Global Outlook for 2025 ______________ 96 9.2. Aspects of Peace ______________________ 118
6.5.10. Anna Chakra Tool _______________________ 97 9.3. Concept of Liberty _____________________ 120
7. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ______________ 98 9.4. Personality In Focus: Shri Tulsi Gowda (1944-
7.1. CE20 Cryogenic Engine ___________________ 98 2024) ___________________________________ 123
7.2. Quantum Chip ________________________ 100 10. SCHEMES IN NEWS ____________________ 125
7.3. Hyperloop ____________________________ 101 10.1. Samarth (Scheme for Capacity Building in
7.4. 10 Years of Ministry of Ayush ____________ 103 Textiles Sector) ___________________________ 125
7.5. Rare Diseases _________________________ 105 11. Places In News _______________________ 127
7.6. News in Shorts ________________________ 107 12. Personalities in News __________________ 128
7.6.1. ISRO Launches Proba-3 Satellites __________ 107

2 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

 Table of Contents
1. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE ________________4 3.9.1. India Secures 14.3% of Global Remittances: World
1.1. Cooperatives ____________________________ 4 Bank________________________________________ 57
1.2. 10 Years of NITI Aayog ____________________ 7 3.9.2. India Remains the Fastest-Growing Economy: Word
Bank________________________________________ 57
1.3 Lokpal and Lokayukta _____________________ 9
3.9.3. Government to Borrow Rs 3.94 lakh Crore via
1.4. Election Commission of India (ECI) _________ 11 Treasury Bills (T-bills) __________________________ 58
1.5. Internet Shutdown ______________________ 14 3.9.4. RBI Releases List Of NBFCs In The Upper Layer
1.6. News in Shorts _________________________ 15 (NBFC-UL) For 2024-25 _________________________ 59
1.6.1. Right to Access to Justice Not Absolute: Supreme 3.9.5. BAANKNET (Bank Asset Auction Network) ____ 59
Court _______________________________________ 15 3.9.6. Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPI) __________ 60
1.6.2. Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access 3.9.7. Role Of Trade in Reducing Food Insecurity ____ 60
to Justice (DISHA) Scheme ______________________ 16 3.9.8. Revised Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic)
1.6.3. Amendment to Prison Manual and Correctional Policy for 2024-25 _____________________________ 61
Services Act __________________________________ 16 3.9.9. Project VISTAAR _________________________ 61
1.6.4. Doctrine of Merger _______________________ 16 3.9.10. Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS)
1.6.5. State Consent for CBI _____________________ 17 2024’ Report Released _________________________ 61
1.6.6. Panchayat Se Parliament 2.0 _______________ 17 3.9.11. Entity Locker ___________________________ 62
1.6.7. Viksit Panchayat Karmayogi’ Initiative ________ 17 3.9.12. Z Morh Tunnel (Sonamarg Tunnel) _________ 62
1.6.8. Pay Commission _________________________ 17 3.6.13. Banihal Bypass _________________________ 62
1.6.9. Edelman Trust Barometer __________________ 18 3.9.14. Anji Khad Bridge ________________________ 63
2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ______________19 4. SECURITY _____________________________ 64
2.1. USA's Protectionist Measures _____________ 19 4.1. INTERPOL _____________________________ 64
2.2. Minilateralism and Multilateralism _________ 21 4.2. Draft Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP)
2.3. Role of Institutions in Climate Negotiations __ 23 Rules 2025 ________________________________ 66
2.4. World Health Organization (WHO) _________ 24 4.3. Coastal Security Scheme _________________ 69
2.5. Indus Water Treaty______________________ 26 4.4. Telecommunications (Procedures and
2.6. AUKUS ________________________________ 28 Safeguards for Lawful Interception of Messages)
2.7. QUAD Grouping ________________________ 29 Rules, 2024________________________________ 70
2.8. Shift in India–Afghanistan Relations ________ 32 4.5. News in Shorts _________________________ 72
2.9. India-European Union (EU) Relations _______ 33 4.5.1. Ministry of Defense declares 2025 as ‘Year of
2.10. India-Indonesia Relations _______________ 36 Reforms’ ____________________________________ 72
2.11. News in Shorts ________________________ 38 4.5.2. Frontier Technologies in Warfare ___________ 72
2.11.1. 60 Years of India-Singapore Bilateral Relations 38 4.5.3. Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre ______ 73
2.11.2. BRICS _________________________________ 39 4.5.4. Pig-Butchering Scam ______________________ 74
2.11.3. Birthright Citizenship In US ________________ 39 4.5.5. Naval Combatants – INS Surat, INS Nilgiri and INS
2.11.4. World’s Largest Hydropower Dam on Vaghsheer commissioned_______________________ 74
Brahmaputra _________________________________ 40 4.5.6. Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM)- Nag Mk 2 __ 74
2.11.5. Pangsau Pass ___________________________ 41 4.5.7. Bhargavastra ____________________________ 75
2.11.6. Philadelphi Corridor _____________________ 41 4.5.8. Pralay missile and Pinaka rocket ____________ 75
2.11.7. Gulf of Mexico __________________________ 41 4.5.9. Eurodrone ______________________________ 75
2.11.8. Panama Canal __________________________ 42 4.5.10. SANJAY System _________________________ 75
3. ECONOMY _____________________________43 4.5.11. Exercises in News _______________________ 76
3.1. Rupee Depreciation _____________________ 43 5. ENVIRONMENT ________________________ 77
3.2. Internationalization of Rupee _____________ 44 5.1. Annual Ground Water Quality Report 2024 __ 77
3.3. WPI Base Year Revision __________________ 46 5.2. 150 years of India Meteorological Department
3.4. Fiscal Health Index Report 2025 ___________ 48 (IMD) ____________________________________ 80
3.5. Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 5.3. Indigenous Hydrogen Train Engine _________ 82
(HCES), 2023-24 ____________________________ 50 5.4. Thermal Power Plants and Sulphur dioxide __ 84
3.6. Central Bank Digital Currency _____________ 51 5.5. National Turmeric Board _________________ 86
3.7. India's Digital Economy __________________ 53 5.6. News in Shorts _________________________ 87
3.8. ‘Cashless Treatment’ Scheme for Road Accident 5.6.1. International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation ___ 87
Victims ___________________________________ 55 5.6.2. Yala Glacier in Himalayas Projected to Vanish by
2040s _______________________________________ 87
3.9. News in Shorts _________________________ 57

1 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

 5.6.3. India Submits Its Fourth Biennial Update Report 7.5.2. Atomic Clock ___________________________ 116
(BUR-4) to UNFCCC ____________________________ 88 7.5.3. India’s First Robotic System Performs Telesurgeries
5.6.4. MoEF&CC Notified Environment Relief Fund ___________________________________________ 116
(Amendment) Scheme, 2024 ____________________ 89 7.5.4. Framework for Artificial Intelligence Diffusion 117
5.6.5. Chhattisgarh First State to Adopt Green GDP __ 89 7.5.5. Nanopore Technology ___________________ 117
5.6.6. Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) ___________ 90 7.5.6. Nano Bubble Technology _________________ 117
5.6.7. Bharat Cleantech Manufacturing Platform ____ 90 7.5.7. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) __________ 117
5.6.8. IPBES Releases Transformative Change Report _ 90 7.5.8. India Becomes 4th Country to Achieve Space
5.6.9. First-Ever Global Freshwater Fauna Assessment by Docking ____________________________________ 118
IUCN ________________________________________ 91 7.5.9. India’s First Private Satellite Constellation ‘Firefly’
5.6.10. Sustainable Nitrogen Management _________ 92 Launched ___________________________________ 118
5.6.11. Kampala Declaration _____________________ 92 7.5.10. CROPS Experiment _____________________ 119
5.6.12. Manufactured Sand (M-Sand) _____________ 92 7.5.11. Kodaikanal Solar Observatory ____________ 119
5.6.13. Global Water Monitor 2024 Report _________ 93 7.5.12. Mission SCOT _________________________ 119
5.6.14. WEF Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) 93 7.5.13. Methylcobalamin ______________________ 120
5.6.15. Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet 7.5.14. Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) ________ 120
(GEAPP) _____________________________________ 94 7.5.15. Norovirus ____________________________ 120
5.6.16. Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) System 94 7.5.16. CAR T-Cell Therapy _____________________ 120
5.6.17. End-of-Life Vehicles Rules, 2025____________ 94 7.5.17. Body Mass Index (BMI)__________________ 121
5.6.18. World’s First Cryo-Born Baby Corals ________ 95 7.5.18. Global Antibiotic Research and Development
5.6.19. Translocation of Tigers ___________________ 96 Partnership (GARDP) _________________________ 121
5.6.20. Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary ______ 97 7.5.19. Neuromorphic Device __________________ 121
5.6.21. Shikari Devi Wildlife Sanctuary _____________ 97 7.5.20. Titanium _____________________________ 121
5.6.22. KaWaCHaM ____________________________ 97 7.5.21. Pink Fire Retardant (Phos-Chek) __________ 122
5.6.23. Calamity of Severe Nature ________________ 97 8. CULTURE ____________________________ 123
5.6.24. Garudakshi_____________________________ 98 8.1. Iron Age in India _______________________ 123
5.6.25. India's Coastline Recalculated _____________ 98 8.2. Geographical Indication (GI) tag __________ 125
5.6.26. Hydroclimatic Whiplash __________________ 98
8.3. News in Shorts ________________________ 126
5.6.27. Polar Vortex ____________________________ 98
8.3.1. Deciphering Indus Valley Script ____________ 126
5.6.28. Artesian condition _______________________ 99
8.3.2. Harappan Water Management Techniques __ 127
5.6.29. Musi River _____________________________ 99
8.3.3. Saint Narahari Tirtha ____________________ 128
5.6.30. Mount Ibu ____________________________ 100
8.3.4. Kalaripayattu___________________________ 128
6. SOCIAL ISSUES ________________________101 8.3.5. Konda Reddi Tribe ______________________ 128
6.1. Oxfam Report on Widening Global Economic 8.3.6. Hatti Tribe _____________________________ 128
Inequalities ______________________________ 101 8.3.7. Harvest Festivals of India _________________ 129
6.2. India’s Digital Health ___________________ 102 8.3.8. Kumbh Mela ___________________________ 129
6.3. News in Shorts ________________________ 104 8.3.9. Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan _______________ 129
6.3.1. Role of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for 8.3.10. National Sports Awards _________________ 130
Children Explored by UNICEF Report _____________ 104 9. ETHICS ______________________________ 131
6.3.2. UDISE+ 2023-24 Report on School Education _ 105 9.1. Ethical Considerations in Contemporary Foreign
6.3.3. EmpowHER Biz _________________________ 106 Aid _____________________________________ 131
7. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY _____________107 10. SCHEMES IN NEWS ___________________ 134
7.1. Genome India Project___________________ 107 10.1. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) 134
7.2. Genetically Modified (GM) Crops _________ 109 10.2. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme ________ 135
7.3. Third Launch Pad ______________________ 112 10.3. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana ______________ 136
7.4. Scramjet Engine _______________________ 113 11. PLACES IN NEWS _____________________ 138
7.5. News in Shorts ________________________ 115
12. PERSONALITIES IN NEWS ______________ 139
7.5.1. Quantum Teleportation __________________ 115

Copyright © by Vision IAS

All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior
permission of Vision IAS.

2 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

 Table of Contents
1. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE ________________4 3.9.11. Regulation of Payment Systems in India _____ 51
1.1. Freebies________________________________ 4 3.9.12. Digital Payments Index (DPI) ______________ 52
1.2. Status of Devolution to Panchayats in States __ 6 3.9.13. Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs) ____ 52
1.2.1. Proxy Representation in PRIs ________________ 8 3.9.14. Algorithmic Trading _____________________ 53
3.9.15. Potash ________________________________ 53
1.3. News in Shorts __________________________ 9
3.9.16. Electronics Manufacturing ________________ 54
1.3.1. Govt to Set Up Deregulation Commission ______ 9
3.9.17. Union Budget 2025: Developing 50 Top Tourist
1.3.2. President’s Rule in Manipur _________________ 9
Destinations in 'Challenge Mode' ________________ 54
1.3.3. Union Cabinet Approves the Revised Waqf
3.9.18. RuTAGe Smart Village Center (RSVC) ________ 54
(Amendment) Bill, 2024 ________________________ 10
3.9.19. Global Capability Centers _________________ 55
1.3.4. Digital Brand Identity Manual (DBIM) ________ 11
3.9.20. SwaRail Application _____________________ 56
2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ______________12 3.9. Errata ________________________________ 56
2.1. Geo-Economic Fragmentation _____________ 12
4. SECURITY _____________________________ 57
2.2. India’s Neighbourhood First Policy _________ 13
4.1. Regionalism ___________________________ 57
2.3. Triangular Partnership ___________________ 16
4.2. Algorithmic Amplification and Radicalisation _ 59
2.4. India - U.S.A Relations ___________________ 18
4.3. Hybrid Warfare _________________________ 60
2.4.1. India-U.S. Civil Nuclear Agreement __________ 20
4.4. Nuclear Disarmament ___________________ 62
2.5. India-France Relationship ________________ 22
4.5. News in Shorts _________________________ 65
2.6. News in Shorts _________________________ 25
4.5.1. Naval Anti-Ship Missile–Short Range (NASM-SR) 65
2.6.1. India And Qatar Elevate Bilateral Ties to Strategic
4.5.2. Military Exercises ________________________ 65
Partnership __________________________________ 25
2.6.2. BIMSTEC________________________________ 25
4.6. Errata ________________________________ 66
2.6.3. International Criminal Court ________________ 26 5. ENVIRONMENT ________________________ 67
2.6.4. Economic Community of West African States 5.1. Solar Energy in India _____________________ 67
(ECOWAS) ___________________________________ 26 5.2. Soil Health Card Scheme _________________ 69
2.6.5. Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries 5.3. Stubble Burning ________________________ 71
(OPEC) ______________________________________ 26 5.4. News in Shorts _________________________ 73
2.6.6. International Organization of Aids to Marine 5.4.1. Wetland Accredited Cities _________________ 73
Navigation (IALA) ______________________________ 27 5.4.2. Four More Wetlands Included Under The Ramsar
3. ECONOMY _____________________________28 Convention __________________________________ 74
3.1. Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme for MSMEs 28 5.4.3. Inland Mangrove of Guneri ________________ 75
3.2. National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) ___ 30 5.4.4. United Nations Human Settlements Programme
3.2.1. Major and Minor Minerals _________________ 32 (UN-Habitat) _________________________________ 75
3.3. Prime Minister Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana _ 34 5.4.5. Agri-NBSAPs ____________________________ 75
3.4. Makhana ______________________________ 35 5.4.6. Champions of Animal Protection ____________ 76
5.4.7. F11 Bacteria ____________________________ 76
3.5. Mission for Cotton Productivity ____________ 37
5.4.8. Shallow-Depth Earthquake ________________ 76
3.6. Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) ______________ 39 5.4.9. Shift In Earth’s Magnetic North _____________ 77
3.7. Urban Cooperative Banks ________________ 42 5.4.10. Draft Rules For ‘One Nation, One Time’ _____ 78
3.8. Restructured Skill India Programme ________ 45 5.4.11. Stratovolcano __________________________ 78
3.9. News in Shorts _________________________ 47 5.4.12. Mount Dukono _________________________ 78
3.9.1. Gross Domestic Knowledge Product _________ 47 5.4.13. CASPIAN SEA ______________________ 79
3.9.2. Deposit Insurance ________________________ 48 6. SOCIAL ISSUES ____________________ 80
3.9.3. New Harmonised System Codes For GI Tagged Rice 6.1. Middle-Income Class ____________________ 80
____________________________________________ 48
6.2. Three-Language Formula _________________ 82
3.9.4. ‘AI for Entrepreneurship’ Micro-learning Module
____________________________________________ 49 6.3. Quality Higher Education in India __________ 84
3.9.5. E-Shram Microsites & Occupational Shortage Index 6.4. Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G)___ 87
(OSI) ________________________________________ 49 6.5. Jal Jeevan Mission ______________________ 89
3.9.6. Time Use Survey (TUS) ____________________ 50 6.6. News in Shorts _________________________ 91
3.9.7. FDI Limit Hiked In Insurance Sector __________ 50 6.6.1. “Imagine A World With More Women In Science”
3.9.8. Enhanced Certificate of Origin (eCoO) 2.0 System Campaign ___________________________________ 91
____________________________________________ 50 6.5.2. Swavalambini ___________________________ 91
3.9.9. Tonnage Tax Scheme _____________________ 51 6.6.3. ASER 2024 Released by NGO Pratham Foundation
3.9.10. RBI Cut Repo Rate _______________________ 51 ____________________________________________ 92

1 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

 6.6.4. WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control 8. CULTURE ____________________________ 105
(WHO FCTC) __________________________________ 92 8.1. Gyan Bharatam Mission _________________ 105
7. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ______________93 8.2. News in Shorts ________________________ 106
7.1. Nuclear Energy Mission __________________ 93 8.2.1. Vijay Durg (Fort William) _________________ 106
7.2. Deep Ocean Mission_____________________ 95 8.2.2. Tea Horse Road (THR) ____________________ 107
7.3. Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) ________ 97 8.2.3. Tantric Buddhism _______________________ 107
7.4. News in Shorts _________________________ 99 8.2.4. Padma Awards _________________________ 107
7.4.1. EU AI Act Becomes Applicable ______________ 99 8.2.5. Sahitya Academy Award __________________ 108
7.4.2. Gene Bank for Crops Germplasm ___________ 100 8.2.6. Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme __________ 108
7.4.3. China’s EAST Creates New Record In Fusion 9. ETHICS ______________________________ 109
Reaction ____________________________________ 101 9.1. Obscenity on Digital Platforms ___________ 109
7.4.4. 100th Launch Of the Indian Space Research 9.2. Surveillance Capitalism _________________ 111
Organisation (ISRO) From Sriharikota _____________ 101 9.3. Ragging in India _______________________ 114
7.4.5. First Detailed Mapping of Moon’s South Pole _ 102
10. SCHEMES IN NEWS ___________________ 117
7.4.6. NASA Launches Satellite To Detect Water On The
Moon ______________________________________ 103
10.1. Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan
7.4.7. Red Color of Mars _______________________ 103 Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) ______________________ 117
7.4.8. Lower-Sodium Salt Substitutes (LSSS) _______ 103 11. APPENDIX: CRITICAL MINERALS_________ 119
7.4.9. Shatavari ______________________________ 104 12. PLACES IN NEWS _____________________ 121
7.4.10. Bharat Tech Triumph Program ____________ 104 13. PERSONALITIES IN NEWS ______________ 122

2 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

 Table of Contents
1. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE ________________4 3.15.6. ‘Becoming A High-Income Economy In A
1.1. Judicial Accountability ____________________ 4 Generation' Report Released By World Bank _______ 47
1.2. Regulating Big Tech ______________________ 5 3.15.7. UNCTAD Released ‘A World Of Debt Report 2024’
____________________________________________ 47
1.3. News in Shorts __________________________ 8
3.15.8. Bilateral Swap Agreement (BSA) ___________ 48
1.3.1. Immigration And Foreigners Bill, 2025 Introduced
3.15.9. Largest INVIT Monetization In Roads Sector __ 48
In Lok Sabha ___________________________________ 8
3.15.10. Digital Footprint-Based Lending For MSMEs _ 49
1.3.2. Standing Committee On Rural Development And
3.15.11. Venture Capital ________________________ 49
Panchayati Raj Report ___________________________ 9
3.15.12. Reinsurance __________________________ 49
1.3.3. Dedicated Cell For Mercy Petitions ___________ 9
3.15.13. Samarth______________________________ 49
1.3.4. Sansad Bhashini Initiative __________________ 10
3.15.14. Uplink Initiative _______________________ 50
1.3.5. Future of Free Speech Index 2025 ___________ 10
1.4. Errata ________________________________ 10 4. SECURITY _____________________________ 51
4.1. Role of Quantum Computing in National Security
2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ______________12
_________________________________________ 51
2.1. Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) ___________ 12
4.2. News in Shorts _________________________ 53
2.2. Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) _______ 13
4.2.1. Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2024 __ 53
2.3. India-Mauritius Bilateral Relations _________ 15 4.2.2. Smuggling of Gold in India _________________ 53
2.4. India New Zealand Relations ______________ 16 4.2.3. C-Dot Trinetra ___________________________ 54
2.5. News in Shorts _________________________ 17 4.2.4. Missile ‘Gandiva’ _________________________ 54
2.5.1. AustraliA’s New Roadmap For Economic 4.2.5. Ashwini ________________________________ 54
Engagement With India _________________________ 17 4.2.6. Sonic Weapon ___________________________ 54
2.5.2. Five Eyes Intelligence (FVEY) Alliance _________ 18 4.2.7. Golden Dome ___________________________ 55
2.5.3. Squad Alliance ___________________________ 18 4.2.8. Convention On Cluster Munitions ___________ 55
2.5.4. Ottawa Convention _______________________ 18 4.2.9. Exercises In News ________________________ 56
2.5.5. Raisina Dialogue 2025 _____________________ 19 5. ENVIRONMENT ________________________ 57
2.6. Errata ________________________________ 19 5.1. Biofuels _______________________________ 57
3. ECONOMY _____________________________20 5.2. National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) ________ 58
3.1. Liquidity Deficit ________________________ 20 5.3. Project Lion and IUCN Green Status of Species 60
3.2. Incentive Scheme For Promotion of Low-Value 5.4. River Dolphins _________________________ 62
BHIM-UPI Transactions ______________________ 21 5.5. Jumping Spiders ________________________ 64
3.3. Priority Sector Lending ___________________ 22 5.6. Marine Heatwaves ______________________ 64
3.4. 50 years of Microfinance _________________ 24 5.7. Geological Survey of India ________________ 66
3.5. Remittances To India ____________________ 26 5.8. News in Shorts _________________________ 67
3.6. Unified Pension Scheme (UPS)_____________ 27 5.8.1. IUCN Green List__________________________ 67
3.7. Self-Reliance in Electronics Component 5.8.2. 58th Tiger Reserve (TR) ___________________ 68
Manufacturing _____________________________ 29 5.8.3. Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS) ____________ 69
3.8. Equalisation Levy _______________________ 30 5.8.4. United Nations World Water Development Report
3.9. Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) ______ 31 ____________________________________________ 69
3.10. India’s Bio-Economy ____________________ 33 5.8.5. Global Energy Review _____________________ 69
3.11. National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) _ 35 5.8.6. World Air Quality Report, 2024 _____________ 70
5.8.7. Budget For Climate Action _________________ 70
3.12. National Waterways (Construction of
5.8.8. 2030 Global Forest Vision _________________ 71
Jetties/Terminals) Regulations, 2025 ___________ 38 5.8.9. Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) _________ 71
3.13. Coal Sector for India’s Development _______ 40 5.8.10. Deep-Sea Ecosystems Discovered in Antarctica 72
3.14. National Programme for Dairy Development 5.8.11. Okjökull Glacier_________________________ 73
(NPDD) ___________________________________ 42 5.8.12. Narwhal _______________________________ 73
3.15. News in Shorts ________________________ 44 5.8.13. Blue Flag ______________________________ 74
3.15.1. PAC Calls For Review Of GST _______________ 44 6. SOCIAL ISSUES _________________________ 75
3.15.2. Making CSR, IBC & ESG Effective ___________ 45 6.1. Cinema and Society _____________________ 75
3.15.3. Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture 6.2. Social Media and Adolescents _____________ 77
Submits Report on Fisheries Sector _______________ 45
6.3. Changing Institution of Family _____________ 79
3.15.4. Scheme For Cooperative Sugar Mills ________ 46
3.15.5. Tobacco _______________________________ 46
6.4. Women-Led Development ________________ 81
6.5. News in Shorts _________________________ 83

1 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

 6.5.1. New SDG Indicator On Minimum Dietary Diversity 7.5.12. Abel Prize _____________________________ 97
(MDD) Adopted By UN Statistical Commission ______ 83 8. CULTURE _____________________________ 98
6.5.2. World Happiness Report ___________________ 84 8.1. UNESCO World Heritage Sites _____________ 98
6.5.3. Swavalambini ___________________________ 84 8.1.1. Ashokan Edict Sites ______________________ 101
6.5.4. PM-Yuva 3.0 ____________________________ 84 8.1.2. Gupta Temples _________________________ 102
6.5.5. International Olympic Committee ___________ 84 8.1.3. Mudumal Menhirs of Telangana ___________ 103
7. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ______________86 8.1.4. Chausath Yogini Temples in Madhya Pradesh and
7.1. Human Enhancement ____________________ 86 Odisha _____________________________________ 104
7.2. Strategic Crypto Reserve _________________ 86 8.1.5. Palace-Fortresses of the Bundelas in Madhya
7.3. Light Supersolid ________________________ 88 Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh ____________________ 106
7.4. Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) drugs ________ 89 8.1.6. Kanger Valley National Park (NP) (Bastar,
7.5. News in Shorts _________________________ 90 Chhattisgarh) _______________________________ 106
7.5.1. Obesity _________________________________ 90 8.2. News in Shorts ________________________ 107
7.5.2. National Gene Bank ______________________ 91 8.2.1. Vikramshila University ___________________ 107
7.5.3. Transgenic Organism ______________________ 91 8.2.2. Geet Gawai ____________________________ 107
7.5.4. Meity Launched Multiple Initiatives To Boost The AI 8.2.3. Jnanpith Award _________________________ 107
Ecosystem ___________________________________ 92 8.2.4. India’s Traditional New Year Festivals _______ 108
7.5.5. AI Washing ______________________________ 92 9. ETHICS ______________________________ 109
7.5.6. National Innovation Challenge For Drone 9.1. Persuasion ___________________________ 109
Application And Research (NIDAR) ________________ 93 9.2. Happiness ____________________________ 110
7.5.7. North India’s First Nuclear Power Project _____ 93 9.3. Philanthropy: A Moral Imperative for Social Good
7.5.8. NASA’s Astronauts Return To Earth After Being ________________________________________ 113
Stuck In Space For 286 Days _____________________ 94
10. SCHEMES IN NEWS ___________________ 116
7.5.9. Starlink Satellite Internet __________________ 94
7.5.10. Meteorite _____________________________ 95
10.1. Rashtriya Gokul Mission________________ 116
7.5.11. Global Astrometric Interferometer For 11. PLACES IN NEWS _____________________ 118
Astrophysics (GAIA) ____________________________ 96 12. PERSONALITIES IN NEWS ______________ 119

2 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

 Table of Contents
1. POLITY AND GOVERNANCE ________________ 4 3.5.11. International Standards of Accounting And
1.1. Separation of Powers ____________________ 4 Reporting (ISAR) ______________________________ 51
1.2. Assent to State Bills ______________________ 5 3.5.12. Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) _____________ 52
3.5.13. Cape Town Convention and Protocol ________ 52
1.3. States’ Demand for Autonomy _____________ 8
3.5.14. Nano Sulphur __________________________ 52
1.4. 5 Years of SVAMITVA scheme _____________ 10 3.5.15. Saline Aquaculture Hubs _________________ 52
1.5. News in Shorts _________________________ 12
4. SECURITY _____________________________ 54
1.5.1. Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha ___________ 12
1.5.2. Inaction By Speakers on Defection Petitions___ 13
4.1. Terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir__________ 54
1.5.3. Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 _______ 14 4.2. India’s Defence Exports _________________ 56
1.5.4. Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) ________ 14 4.3. Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) _____ 58
2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ______________ 15 4.4. News in Shorts _________________________ 60
2.1. Emerging World Order ___________________ 15 4.4.1. Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II) _______ 60
4.4.2. I4C ____________________________________ 61
2.2. Inward-Looking Development Strategies ____ 17
4.4.3. Rafale Marine (M) Fighter Jets ______________ 61
2.3. Indus Waters Treaty_____________________ 19 4.4.4. Long-Range Glide Bomb ‘Gaurav’ ____________ 62
2.3.1. Simla Agreement ________________________ 20 4.4.5. Mk-II(A) DEW system _____________________ 62
2.4. 75 Years of India-China Relations __________ 22 4.4.6. Project Varsha ___________________________ 63
2.5. China’s Rare Earth Elements Export Control _ 24 4.4.7. Exercises In News ________________________ 63
2.6. India – Sri Lanka Relations ________________ 25 5. ENVIRONMENT ________________________ 64
2.7. India-Saudi Arabia Relations ______________ 27 5.1. Eco-centric Approach ___________________ 64
2.8. India-UAE Relations _____________________ 29 5.2. Revised Classification of Industries ________ 65
2.9. 6th BIMSTEC Summit ____________________ 30 5.3. Bio-Input Resource Centres (BRCs) ________ 67
2.10. Indian Diaspora _______________________ 32 5.4. Functional De-extinction_________________ 68
2.11. News in Shorts ________________________ 34 5.5. News in Shorts _________________________ 69
2.11.1. SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme ____________ 34 5.5.1. Command Area Development and Water
2.11.2. BRICS Labour & Employment Minister’s Meet Management (M-CADWM)______________________ 69
2025 Adopts Declaration _______________________ 34 5.5.2. Green Municipal Bonds ___________________ 70
2.11.3. ASEAN-India Trade In Goods Agreement (AITIGA) 5.5.3. Similipal Tiger Reserve ____________________ 71
___________________________________________ 35 5.5.4. Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary ____________ 71
2.11.4. Extradition ____________________________ 35 5.5.5. International Big Cat Alliance _______________ 72
2.11.5. India-Thailand Strategic Partnership ________ 36 5.5.6. Global Geoparks Network (GGN) ____________ 72
2.11.6. India’s Extended Continental Shelf Claim ____ 36 5.5.7. Particulate Emission Trading Market in Gujarat 73
2.11.7. Transshipment Facility For Bangladesh ______ 37 5.5.8. Net Zero Framework for Global Shipping ______ 74
2.11.8. Heard And McDonald Island ______________ 37 5.5.9. WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution and
2.11.9. Morag Axis ____________________________ 38 Health ______________________________________ 74
3. ECONOMY ____________________________ 39 5.5.10. Baku to Belem Roadmap _________________ 75
3.1. Innovation Ecosystem for Deep Tech _______ 39 5.5.11. Aim4nature Initiative ____________________ 75
3.2. Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme 5.5.12. Vulture Conservation And Breeding Centre (VCBC)
_________________________________________ 40 ___________________________________________ 75
3.3. Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) _____ 42 5.5.13. Small Hive Beetle (SHB) __________________ 75
3.4. One State, One RRB _____________________ 45 5.5.14. Aral Sea _______________________________ 76
3.5. News in Shorts _________________________ 46 6. SOCIAL ISSUES _________________________ 77
3.5.1. India’s External Debt _____________________ 46 6.1. Workplace Automation__________________ 77
3.5.2. MOSPI Releases CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) 6.2. News in Shorts _________________________ 78
Survey ______________________________________ 47 6.2.1. MoSPI Released “Women and Men In India 2024:
3.5.3. Coastal Shipping Bill, 2025 _________________ 48 Selected Indicators And Data” ___________________ 78
3.5.4. New Steel Policy_________________________ 48 6.2.2. AI Kiran ________________________________ 79
3.5.5. Tax Collected at Source ___________________ 49 6.2.3. IMF Report Stresses on Silver Economy _______ 79
3.5.6. Safe Harbour ___________________________ 49 7. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ______________ 80
3.5.7. Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) ______________ 49 7.1. Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India 80
3.5.8. IMF’s Global Financial Stability Report _______ 50 7.2. News in Shorts _________________________ 81
3.5.9. Global Trade Outlook and Statistics 2025 _____ 50 7.2.1. Non-Nuclear Hydrogen Bomb ______________ 81
3.5.10. UNCTAD Releases Technology and Innovation 7.2.2. Jevons Paradox __________________________ 82
Report 2025 _________________________________ 51

1 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

 7.2.3. Tensor Processing Unit ___________________ 82 8.5.2. Kannadippaya Tribal Craft _________________ 92
7.2.4. Mission "Fram2" ________________________ 83 8.5.3. Harvest Festivals _________________________ 92
7.2.5. Aryabhata Satellite_______________________ 84 8.5.4. Padma Awards __________________________ 92
7.2.6. Desalination Technologies _________________ 84 9. ETHICS ________________________________ 94
7.2.7. Batechomon ____________________________ 85 9.1. Social Media Influencer and Consumer Behavior
8. CULTURE ______________________________ 86 _________________________________________ 94
8.1. Manuscripts of Bhagavad Gita and Natyashastra 9.2. Ethical Dimensions of Body Shaming _______ 95
_________________________________________ 86 9.3. Ethics of Capital Punishment _____________ 97
8.2. Agriculture in Indus Valley Civilization ______ 87 10. SCHEMES IN NEWS ____________________ 100
8.3. Vaikom Satyagraha _____________________ 89 10.1. PM SHRI Schools (PM ScHools for Rising India)
8.4. Personality In Focus: Sir Chettur Sankaran ________________________________________ 100
Nair (1857-1934) ___________________________ 90 11. PLACES IN NEWS _____________________ 102
8.5. News in Shorts _________________________ 92
12. PERSONALITIES IN NEWS _______________ 103
8.5.1. Banarsi Shehnai And Tabla ________________ 92

Copyright © by Vision IAS

All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior
permission of Vision IAS.

2 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS