Why TnpB Matters: Compact Gene Editing Tool Developed by ICAR to Replace CRISPR in GE Crops India has taken a major step toward indigenous genome-editing capability with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research ( ICAR ) securing a patent for a new genome-editing system based on Transposon-Associated Proteins (TnpB) . This breakthrough is particularly significant because it offers a home-grown alternative to the widely used but IP-restricted CRISPR-Cas9/Cas12a technologie

CSIR-IGIB’s CRISPR Gene Therapy Breakthrough for Sickle Cell Disease in India. India has launched its first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) . The therapy is named BIRSA 101 . The therapy is dedicated to Bhagwan Birsa Munda , a renowned tribal freedom fighter. BIRSA 101 has been developed by the CSIR–Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) . About Gene Therapy Gene therapy is a medical technique that uses genes to treat, preve

Draft Seeds Bill 2025 Introduced: Mandatory Registration, New Seed Quality Standards, Testing Labs, and Penalties Up to ₹30 Lakh The Department/Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has released the Draft Seeds Bill, 2025 . The Bill is intended to replace the Seeds Act, 1966 . It is also intended to replace the Seeds (Control) Order, 1983 . The Bill is aligned with current agricultural and regulatory requirements . The Bill aims to: safeguard farmers’ rights . ensure t

Key Findings of the Global Burden of Disease Report, India’s Health Transition, and Global Efforts to Combat Non-Communicable Diseases The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Report was released by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the World Health Summit in Berlin . It provides a comprehensive analysis of global, regional, and national health trends. The report quantifies health loss from diseases, injuries, and risk factors using Disability-Adjusted Lif

Explained: Key Provisions, Global Significance, and India’s Stand on the UN’s Landmark Cybercrime Treaty What Is the United Nations Convention Against Cybercrime? The United Nations Convention against Cybercrime (UNCC) is the world’s first universal legislative framework to combat cybercrime. The convention aims to create a legally binding global system for preventing, investigating, and prosecuting cybercrimes while protecting human rights. It was adopted by the UN Genera

Global childhood obesity reaches 9.4% — surpassing underweight (9.2%) for the first time; 1 in 20 under-fives and 1 in 5 adolescents are overweight, as obesity among 5–19-year-olds triples since 2000. In 2025 , the world reached a historic and alarming milestone — for the first time , the prevalence of obesity among school-aged children and adolescents has surpassed that of underweight . According to the UNICEF report “Feeding Profit: How Food Environments are Failing Childr

Why Are Anti-Immigration Policies Increasing Worldwide and What Do They Mean for India? In recent years, several countries across Western democracies and parts of Asia have seen a sharp rise in anti-immigration rhetoric, protests, and restrictive policies . These include public demonstrations, political campaigns, and administrative actions targeting migrants—both skilled and unskilled. Recent global examples include: United States: Hike in H-1B visa fees , affecting thousan

In October 2025, the President of India inaugurated the observance of the Mahasamadhi centenary of Sree Narayana Guru in Kerala, marking 100 years since the passing of one of India’s greatest social and spiritual reformers. Who Was Sree Narayana Guru? Sree Narayana Guru (1856–1928) was a saint, philosopher, poet, spiritual guide, and a revolutionary social reformer from Kerala. Birthplace: Chempazhanthy, near Thiruvananthapuram Community: Born into the Ezhava community ,

India recorded 322 days of extreme weather in 2024, with floods, landslides, and heatwaves causing over 3,400 deaths. As climate change accelerates, technologies like Remote Sensing, GIS, and AI are becoming vital tools for real-time monitoring, risk reduction, and climate resilience. As climate change intensifies, India finds itself increasingly vulnerable to erratic and extreme precipitation events , leading to devastating floods, landslides, cloudbursts, and heatwaves. In

How Did Maldives Eliminate Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B for the First Time in World History? The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially validated the Maldives for eliminating mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of hepatitis B , while maintaining its earlier validation (2019) for EMTCT of HIV and syphilis .This makes Maldives the first country in the world to achieve WHO ‘Triple Elimination’ . WHO Director-General Dr Tedros called

Nearly 97% of Ladakh’s population belongs to Scheduled Tribes, yet since its 2019 Union Territory status, the region has had no...

ADR Report 2024 reveals that 47% of Indian ministers have a criminal background and 27% face serious offences — tracing the journey from...

Bihar adds Gokul Jalashay and Udaipur Jheel as Ramsar sites raising its total to five and India’s to 93 covering 1,360,719 hectares....

Roads built today contain up to 50% less maltene content than older pavements, explaining faster cracks, potholes, and higher repair...

PixxelSpace-Led Consortium to Invest ₹1,200 Crore for 12 EO Satellites in 5 Years Under IN-SPACe PPP Model. India is moving into a new...

From Subhanshu Shukla becoming India’s first astronaut aboard the ISS to landmark missions like Gaganyaan (2027), Vyommitra humanoid...

India’s Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites has expanded from 62 to 69 with the addition of seven natural heritage sites,...

At the 15th Ramsar COP in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, 172 countries unanimously adopted India’s resolution on ‘Promoting Sustainable...

Importance of ASEAN Centrality, US–China Rivalry, Myanmar Crisis, RCEP, TAC, and Way Forward for Southeast Asia. The Association of...

Passed Aug 22, 2025: nationwide ban on real-money gaming, e-sports recognised, central regulator, payment blocks, and penalties up to ₹2...