Daily Current Affairs - 2nd & 3rd September 2025
- TPP
- Sep 4
- 26 min read
Welcome to The PRESS Pad – your trusted one-stop platform for Daily Current Affairs tailored for UPSC 2026, IAS, PCS, and other competitive exams. Our updates are crisp, structured, and exam-ready, blending Polity, Economy, Environment, Defence, International Relations, Science & Tech, and Social Issues—so you connect what happened today with why it matters for your exam.
In today’s Daily Current Affairs – 2–3 September 2025, revise faster with Prelims facts, GS-II/III angles, and Essay linkages packed into each brief.
Key Highlights
New Immigration Law: Immigration & Foreigners Act, 2025 replaces four Acts; Bureau of Immigration created; Exemption Order, 2025 notified.
Global Affairs: Anti-immigration protests in Australia spotlight rising xenophobia; role of the Indian diaspora underlined.
SCO @ Tianjin: Tianjin Declaration on terror, UN reforms, AI cooperation; BeiDou access and new funding initiatives.
Environment/Forests: Van Amendment Rules, 2025—faster approvals, land banking, stronger enforcement.
Energy & Biofuels: Govt permits ethanol from juice & molasses for ESY 2025-26; E20 progress and forex savings.
Oceans/BBNJ: Prep Commission concludes Session-2 of High Seas BBNJ Treaty; capacity-building and MPAs focus.
Judiciary/Polity: Pramati judgment on RTE & minority institutions up for reconsideration.
Women & Inclusion: PM launches Bihar Jeevika Saakh Sahkari Sangh to power SHG credit; IEPFA’s Niveshak Didi (Phase II) for financial literacy.
Agri-Exports: APEDA’s BHARATI to back 100 agri-food startups, target $50B exports by 2030.
Space & Science: PRATUSH lunar radiometer to probe Cosmic Dawn; Solar Orbiter traces solar energetic electrons.
Semiconductors: Vikram3201—India’s first indigenous 32-bit processor unveiled at SEMICON India 2025..
Biodiversity: Senna spectabilis eradication drive in Kerala—first science-community model.
Defence: Exercise MAITREE-XIV (India–Thailand) begins; Yudh Abhyas 2025 (India–US) focuses on UN PKOs.
Geoscience: 55-million-year-old jarosite in Gujarat offers Mars clues.
Agri Policy: Coconut Development Board rolls out revised growth schemes.
Trade: UNCTAD flags policy uncertainty drag; India seeks WTO talks on US 50% copper tariffs.
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New Immigration Law Replaces Four Acts, Sets Up Bureau of Immigration, and Issues Exemption Order |
The Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 has come into effect, empowering the Central Government to regulate immigration, entry, and stay of foreigners in India.
The Act replaces four earlier laws: the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, the Foreigners Act, 1946, and the Immigration (Carriers’ Liability) Act, 2000.
It authorises the Central Government to notify designated immigration posts for lawful entry into and exit from India.
It provides for setting up of a Bureau of Immigration to perform immigration functions, including visa issuance and regulation of entry, transit, stay, and movement of foreigners within India.
The Act requires foreigners to register with a Registration Officer upon their arrival in India.
It introduces a reporting obligation, making it mandatory for carriers landing in India, educational institutions admitting foreign students, and medical institutions treating foreign patients to share information of such foreigners.
It defines offences for foreigners entering India without a valid passport or travel document, punishable with imprisonment up to five years, fine up to five lakh rupees, or both.
It empowers police officers not below the rank of a Head Constable to arrest foreigners without a warrant.
It gives civil authorities the power to control places frequented by foreigners, including the right to order their closure or to refuse admission of foreigners.
Under this Act, the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025 has also been notified by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Order grants passport and visa exemptions to specific groups under special conditions.
It exempts Indian armed forces on duty from passport/visa requirements.
It exempts Indian, Nepali, and Bhutanese citizens crossing at specified border points from passport/visa requirements.
It exempts Tibetans holding valid registration and special permits.
It exempts religious minorities—Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians—from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2024, even if they used invalid documents.
It exempts registered Sri Lankan Tamil nationals who took shelter in India on or before January 9, 2015.
It grants visa exemption to foreigners holding diplomatic/official passports, where such exemption is mutually agreed by international agreements.
It grants visa-on-arrival facilities to foreigners eligible under this category.
It exempts foreign military personnel visiting India on naval warships from visa requirements.
Anti-Immigration Protests in Australia Spotlight Rising Xenophobia in Global North; Indian Diaspora Remains Key Global Asset |
Anti-immigration rallies were recently held across Australia under the banner of the "March for Australia" protests.
These protests have been condemned by Australian Members of Parliament, highlighting growing concerns about anti-immigration sentiment in the Global North.
Global North refers to developed nations, especially in North America, Europe, and Oceania, that often attract large migrant populations.
As of June 2023, Indians are the second-largest migrant group in Australia, after the United Kingdom.
Around 840,000 Indian-born residents currently live in Australia, reflecting a strong Indian diaspora presence.
Causes of Rising Anti-Immigrant Sentiment in the Global North
One key factor is the securitization of migration, where migration is framed as a national and cultural security threat.
This perspective leads to stricter border controls and restrictive immigration policies.
Many people fear that an increase in immigrants makes them feel they no longer “belong” in their own countries.
For example, the Brexit campaign in the UK was driven by such anti-immigrant narratives.
Economic protectionism also fuels such sentiments, with concerns that immigrants may strain public resources.
Locals fear that immigrants accept lower wages, potentially displacing native-born workers from the job market.
Another factor is the rise of nationalism and deglobalization, which prioritize domestic identity over international cooperation.
Deglobalization refers to the retreat from global interconnectedness in favour of inward-looking policies.
This is often accompanied by right-wing populism, where populist parties exploit anti-immigrant narratives to consolidate support.
These parties often portray migrants as threats to national identity, leading to distorted and misleading public opinions.
Xenophobia, or the irrational fear or hatred of foreigners, also contributes significantly to anti-immigrant sentiment.
Media and political rhetoric sometimes dehumanize migrants, reinforcing cultural violence and social exclusion.
Significance of Indian Diaspora
The Indian diaspora plays a vital role in India’s economic, political, and cultural landscape.
India is the world’s top recipient of remittances, with USD 118.7 billion received in 2023–24.
These remittances support millions of families and contribute to foreign exchange reserves.
Politically, the diaspora assists in diplomacy and lobbying, as seen during the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal.
Culturally, the diaspora contributes to soft diplomacy, promoting India’s image globally.
This is achieved through Indian classical music, dance, festivals, cuisine, cinema, and yoga.
Key Government Initiatives for the Indian Diaspora
The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) supports Overseas Indian nationals in times of distress, such as legal, medical, or repatriation emergencies.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY), launched in 2017, provides an insurance cover of ₹10 lakhs in case of accidental death for emigrant workers.
25th SCO Summit in Tianjin Adopts Tianjin Declaration |
The 25th Council of Heads of State summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was held in Tianjin, China.
The summit adopted the Tianjin Declaration, which addressed key regional and global issues.
On regional conflicts and non-proliferation, the declaration rejected double standards in counterterrorism efforts.
It emphasized the importance of global cooperation to prevent the cross-border movement of terrorists.
The declaration condemned the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam but did not mention Pakistan explicitly.
It also condemned military strikes by Israel and the United States on Iran.
Regarding the United Nations reform, the declaration called for adapting the UN to modern realities.
It highlighted the need to enhance representation of developing countries in the UN’s governing bodies.
In the domain of sustainable development and social agenda, the declaration supported equal rights for all countries in developing and using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The declaration recognized India’s global vision of “One Earth, One Family, One Future,” reaffirming India’s leadership in promoting inclusive and sustainable development.
China announced initiatives to expand SCO’s influence by allowing members to use its BeiDou satellite system, a GPS alternative.
China pledged $1.4 billion in loans over three years and proposed establishing an SCO development bank.
China also chaired the SCO Plus summit, which included member states, observers, dialogue partners, honoured guests, and heads of major international organizations.
At the summit, the Indian Prime Minister stated that SCO is built on three key pillars: security (regional security), connectivity (making SCO a connectivity hub), and opportunity (nurturing mutual opportunities).
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) has its headquarters in Beijing, China.
SCO was founded in 2001 at the Shanghai Summit by Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Currently, SCO comprises 10 member countries, 2 observer states, and 15 dialogue partners, with Laos as the latest dialogue partner.
The official languages of SCO are Russian and Chinese.
SCO’s structure includes the Council of Heads of States, which is the apex decision-making body.
The Council of Heads of Governments serves as the second-highest decision-making council.
SCO has two permanent bodies: the Secretariat in Beijing, China, and the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) located in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
WHO Reports Over 1 Billion People with Mental Health Disorders |
The World Health Organization (WHO) latest data reveals that over 1 billion people globally live with mental health disorders.
WHO’s two recent reports, World Mental Health Today and Mental Health Atlas 2024, highlight the widespread burden and substantial economic costs of mental health conditions.
In 2021, it was estimated that 14% of the global population were living with a mental disorder.
The most common mental health disorders are anxiety and depressive disorders, accounting for more than two-thirds of all cases.
There are significant gender disparities, with females more frequently experiencing anxiety, depressive, and eating disorders.
Youth are particularly vulnerable, as nearly half of mental disorders begin before the age of 18 years.
Mental health systems face critical gaps such as insufficient investment, with median government spending being only about 2% of the total health budget.
There is also a severe shortage of mental healthcare workers, leading to poor treatment coverage globally.
Mental disorders have serious consequences, including a suicide crisis; in 2021, suicide was the second leading cause of death among females aged 15–29 years.
For males in the same age group, suicide was the third leading cause of death in 2021.
Mental health conditions impose a high burden of informal care, causing significant social, economic, and emotional strain on family members and caregivers.
Economically, the burden of mental health conditions ranges between 0.5% to 1.0% of GDP in several countries.
India has launched initiatives such as Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS) to provide remote mental health support.
The Manodarpan programme was introduced to offer psychosocial support to students during COVID-19 and beyond.
The National Mental Health Programme aims to ensure the availability and accessibility of minimum mental healthcare for all citizens.
Globally, the Paro Declaration promotes universal access to people-centered mental health care and services.
The Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) by WHO works to scale up services for mental, neurological, and substance use disorders worldwide.
Central Government Notifies Van Amendment Rules 2025 |
The Central Government has notified the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Amendment Rules, 2025 under the powers granted by the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980.
These new rules amend the existing 2023 regulations to improve forest conservation and management processes.
A key highlight is the streamlining of the approval process, which extends the validity of in-principle approval from 2 years to 5 years.
Provisions for offline applications are now included for projects related to defense, national importance, and emergencies.
The amendment provides clear definitions for Stage-I (in-principle) approval and Stage-II (final) approval to ensure transparency.
The rules enhance compensatory afforestation by introducing a land banking system and allowing afforestation under existing central schemes to meet compensatory requirements.
After receiving Stage-I approval, States can transfer forest land to Forest Departments to facilitate afforestation efforts.
For strategic resource management, the amendment adds special provisions for critical mineral mining with a reduction in minimum land use duration from 20 years to 10 years.
The enforcement powers of forest officers have been strengthened to enable them to initiate legal proceedings, with enhanced monitoring and reporting requirements.
The evolution of forest conservation laws began pre-1980 when forests were under State jurisdiction, resulting in large-scale diversion for agriculture, industry, and mining.
The 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976) shifted forests from the State List to the Concurrent List, allowing both central and state governments to legislate on forests.
The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 was enacted to check deforestation by centralizing the process of forest land diversion.
The 1988 Amendment regulated the leasing of forest land to private entities to protect forest areas.
The recent Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023 aims to balance development and ecological protection while aligning with India’s climate goals.
Government Approves Ethanol Production from Sugarcane Juice and Molasses for ESY 2025-26 |
The Government has allowed the production of ethanol from sugarcane juice and molasses during the Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-2026.
The diversion of sugar towards ethanol production will be periodically reviewed to ensure sufficient domestic availability of sugar throughout the year.
The National Policy on Biofuels 2018 permits a wider range of raw materials for ethanol production, including sugarcane juice, sugar beet, sweet sorghum, corn, cassava, damaged food grains (like wheat and broken rice), and rotten potatoes unfit for human consumption.
Biofuels are defined as liquid or gaseous fuels produced primarily from biomass, which are renewable resources.
These biofuels can replace or be blended with diesel, petrol, or other fossil fuels for various uses, including transport and stationary applications; examples include ethanol and Compressed Bio Gas (CBG).
The blending of ethanol with petrol is promoted under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme.
India has successfully achieved a 20% ethanol blending in petrol under the EBP programme.
One key advantage of ethanol blending is a cleaner environment, as one crore litre of E-10 ethanol blend saves around 20,000 tons of CO2 emissions.
Another advantage is a reduction in imports, with ethanol blending saving over Rs.1,10,000 crore in foreign exchange during the last 10 years.
Biofuels are categorized into different generations based on their sources and production methods.
First-generation biofuels are produced from edible feedstocks like wheat, corn, sugarcane, food-grade rapeseed, soy, or palm oil; they are cost-efficient and require simple processes.
Second-generation biofuels use lignocellulosic biomass and waste materials, such as wheat bran, animal fats, cooking oil waste, and Jatropha curcas; these promote a circular economy by utilizing wastes and bypass the food vs fuel conflict.
Third-generation biofuels are derived from microalgae and cyanobacteria biomass, which offer benefits like direct capture of CO₂, no land use change, and reduced freshwater consumption.
Fourth-generation biofuels involve genetically engineered microorganisms, such as Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, providing higher yields and direct use of CO₂.
Preparatory Commission Concludes Second Session of Marine Biodiversity Treaty (BBNJ Agreement) to Protect High Seas |
The Preparatory Commission of the Marine Biodiversity Treaty concluded its second session recently.
The Marine Biodiversity Treaty is formally known as the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement).
The BBNJ Agreement was adopted in 2023 by the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, convened under the auspices of the United Nations.
It is the third implementing agreement to UNCLOS, following the 1994 Part XI Implementation Agreement and the 1995 UN Fish Stocks Agreement.
The primary objective of the BBNJ Agreement is to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ).
Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ), often called the High Seas, refer to parts of the ocean that are global commons and open to all for activities such as navigation, overflight, and laying submarine cables or pipelines.
The BBNJ Agreement applies specifically to the High Seas and the Area (the seabed beyond national jurisdiction) and addresses four key issues.
The first key issue is the management of marine genetic resources, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use.
The second issue involves measures such as area-based management tools, which include the establishment of marine protected areas.
The third focus is on conducting environmental impact assessments to evaluate potential effects of activities on marine biodiversity.
The fourth issue covers capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology to enhance the ability of all countries to conserve and use marine biodiversity sustainably.
The Agreement establishes a funding mechanism to support its implementation.
It also sets up institutional arrangements, including a Conference of the Parties (COP), a Clearing-House Mechanism, and a Secretariat to oversee and coordinate activities.
India has signed the BBNJ Agreement but is yet to complete the ratification process.
Supreme Court Reviews Exemption of Minority Educational Institutions from RTE Act in Landmark Pramati Case Reconsideration |
The Supreme Court is considering a revision of its earlier judgment that exempted minority educational institutions from the Right to Education (RTE) Act.
The matter has been referred to the Chief Justice of India to decide whether to reconsider the Supreme Court’s Constitution Bench judgment in the Pramati Educational & Cultural Trust Case (2014).
In the Pramati case, the Court ruled that the RTE Act cannot be applied to minority educational institutions, whether aided or unaided.
This judgment was based on the reasoning that applying the RTE Act would infringe upon the Article 30(1) rights of minority institutions.
Article 30(1) of the Indian Constitution protects linguistic and religious minorities by granting them the right to establish and administer their own educational institutions.
However, the Court observed that implementing the RTE Act does not erode the minority character protected under Article 30(1).
It further stated that Article 21A and Article 30(1) can and must co-exist mutually without conflict.
Article 21A guarantees free and compulsory elementary education for all children between the ages of 6 and 14 years.
The Court noted that exempting minority institutions from the RTE Act results in fragmentation of the common schooling vision.
This exemption weakens the principles of inclusivity and universality as envisioned by Article 21A.
The Court clarified that the RTE Act’s 25% reservation for disadvantaged children does not require segregation by different religious or linguistic communities.
Instead, this reservation can be extended to children from the minority community itself within minority institutions.
The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 makes free and compulsory education a fundamental right for all children aged 6 to 14.
The Act mandates that private schools reserve 25% of seats for economically and socially disadvantaged children.
It also requires the appropriate government to ensure that children belonging to disadvantaged groups and weaker sections are not prevented from completing elementary education on any grounds.
PM Launches Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi Saakh Sahkari Sangh to Empower Rural Women SHGs and Promote Financial Inclusion |
The Prime Minister emphasized that empowered women are a major foundation of a developed India during the launch of the Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi Saakh Sahkari Sangh Limited initiative.
This initiative focuses on the financial inclusion of women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) as a key tool for women empowerment.
The main objective of the initiative is to empower rural women entrepreneurs in Bihar by providing them with easy and affordable access to funds digitally.
This program specifically targets members of Jeevika, which is the Bihar Rural Livelihoods Project (BRLP) aimed at poverty alleviation through supporting SHGs.
Jeevika encourages the promotion of rural women entrepreneurship by strengthening the financial capacity of women SHGs.
A significant goal is to reduce women’s dependence on Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), which often charge high-interest rates that can be burdensome.
Self-Help Groups (SHGs) play a vital role in women empowerment by providing a platform for economic empowerment through formal credit access and income generation.
Economic empowerment via SHGs also enhances a woman’s agency in family decision-making; an example is the SHG-Bank Linkage Programme.
SHGs promote social empowerment by fostering collectivism, which builds self-confidence and social capital among women.
Through social empowerment, women can better tackle gender biases and improve healthcare and child development outcomes; an example is Kudumbashree in Kerala.
SHGs also contribute to political empowerment by enabling women to advocate for their rights and participate actively in policy implementation at the grassroots level.
Furthermore, SHGs empower women to take on political leadership roles, increasing their representation and influence.
Despite these benefits, SHGs face challenges such as limited financial resources, which restrict the scaling of women-led enterprises.
Social challenges include regressive household and community attitudes, like resistance from family members to women’s economic activities.
Another obstacle is the monopoly of dominant groups, which can hinder equitable access to SHG benefits for all women.
To support women empowerment via SHGs, several key initiatives have been launched, including the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
The Lakhpati Didi Initiative under DAY-NRLM aims to enable 3 crore Lakhpati Didis, defined as SHG members with an annual household income of one lakh rupees or more.
The Women Entrepreneurship Platform, an aggregator by NITI Aayog, provides women entrepreneurs access to relevant information and services.
Financial support schemes like Stand Up India, Mudra Yojana for Women, and Mahila Udhyami Yojana offer credit and resources to women entrepreneurs.
The Sanchar Shakti Initiative empowers women SHGs by providing access to ICT-enabled services (Information and Communication Technology).
IEPFA Launches Phase II of Niveshak Didi to Boost Financial Literacy Among Rural Women |
The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) has launched Phase II of its flagship financial literacy initiative called Niveshak Didi.
This initiative aims to deepen financial awareness and empower rural communities, with a particular focus on women.
IEPFA was established by the Government of India under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
It was set up under the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013, which regulates corporate governance in India.
The primary objective of IEPFA is to promote investor education, awareness, and protection.
Investor education means informing individuals about financial products and investment risks, while investor protection ensures their rights and money are safeguarded.
One of the key functions of IEPFA is the administration of the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF).
The fund is used to make refunds related to shares, unclaimed dividends, matured deposits, and debentures.
Unclaimed dividends refer to dividends declared by companies but not claimed by shareholders within a stipulated time.
Matured deposits and debentures are fixed-term financial instruments where the principal amount is repaid after a certain period.
Through initiatives like Niveshak Didi, IEPFA focuses on increasing financial literacy in rural India, aiming to make people more confident in managing investments and finances.
APEDA Launches BHARATI to Boost Agri-Food Startups and Achieve $50 Billion Exports by 2030 |
APEDA has launched BHARATI to support Agri Food Startups and boost India’s agri-food exports.
This initiative aligns with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) and Startup India visions to enhance India’s presence in global agri-food trade.
BHARATI stands for Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement and Incubation for Export Enablement.
The key objective of BHARATI is to support 100 agri-food startups and achieve $50 billion in exports by 2030.
Selected startups will participate in a 3-month acceleration program focused on product development, export readiness, regulatory compliance, and market access.
BHARATI aims to attract startups working on advanced technologies such as:
AI-based quality control (using artificial intelligence to monitor product quality),
Blockchain-enabled traceability (using blockchain to track products throughout the supply chain),
IoT-enabled cold chains (using Internet of Things devices to monitor temperature-controlled logistics), and
Agri-fintech (financial technologies specific to agriculture).
The initiative seeks to drive innovation in high-value categories including:
GI-tagged agri-products (Geographical Indication tags certify products originating from a specific region),
Organic foods,
Superfoods,
Novel processed Indian agri-foods,
Livestock products, and
AYUSH products (traditional Indian wellness products under Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy).
BHARATI also aims to resolve export challenges such as product development, value addition, quality assurance, perishability, wastage, and logistics.
Agri-startups play a crucial role in enhancing agricultural exports by streamlining supply chains.
They address post-harvest losses through demand-driven cold chains, warehouse monitoring, and establishing strong market linkages.
These measures are essential for maintaining product quality required for international markets.
Startups optimize quality by providing farmers with better inputs and technical guidance.
This support results in higher yields and export-ready produce.
Agri-startups enhance food processing and enable traceability, which strengthens organized food processing sectors.
Traceability means the ability to track the product’s journey from farm to consumer, increasing transparency and trust.
Streamlining operations through technology raises farmer incomes and improves export competitiveness.
Technology integration such as Big Data and IoT supports precision farming (targeted crop management), pest management, and weather forecasting.
This ensures consistent production of high-quality, export-ready crops.
Innovations in market linkage models help align crop production with consumer demand, ensuring timely and efficient fulfillment of export orders.
Overall, agri-startups are transforming Indian agriculture from subsistence-level activities to profit-driven enterprises.
This transformation significantly impacts and enhances India’s agricultural exports on the global stage.
PRATUSH: India’s Lunar Orbiter Radiometer to Probe Universe’s Cosmic Dawn Through Hydrogen Signals |
PRATUSH is being developed by a team from the Raman Research Institute (RRI).
RRI is an autonomous research institute funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
The name PRATUSH stands for Probing Reionization of the Universe using Signal from Hydrogen.
It is planned to be a future radiometer, which is an instrument that measures radio waves.
PRATUSH will operate in lunar orbit, meaning it will orbit the Moon.
The main purpose of PRATUSH is to reveal, for the first time, the history of our Universe as it transformed after the Big Bang—the cosmic event that marked the origin of the Universe.
Specifically, it aims to detect a faint radio signal emitted from hydrogen atoms.
This signal carries imprints of several key events during the Cosmic Dawn, the era when the first stars and galaxies formed.
Vikram3201, India’s first 32-bit Processor |
India’s first 32-bit processor, named Vikram3201, was presented to the Prime Minister at SEMICON India 2025.
The nation aims to capture a significant share of the global semiconductor market, which is projected to reach USD 1 trillion by 2030.
This development highlights the successful transition from policy approvals to initial production in the semiconductor sector.
SEMICON India 2025 is jointly organised by the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) and SEMI.
It serves as a premier platform uniting global leaders, innovators, academia, policymakers, and the entire electronics ecosystem to shape the future of semiconductors in India.
About Vikram3201 Processor:
Vikram3201 is an advanced version of the indigenously designed 16-bit VIKRAM1601 microprocessor.
The VIKRAM1601 has been operating in the avionics systems of ISRO’s launch vehicles since 2009; avionics refers to electronic systems used in spacecraft and aircraft.
Vikram3201 is a fully “Make-in-India” 32-bit microprocessor qualified to withstand the harsh environmental conditions of launch vehicles.
It was designed and developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre of ISRO in collaboration with the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) in Chandigarh.
The processor features a custom Instruction Set Architecture (ISA), which defines the commands the processor can execute.
It is also capable of floating-point computation, a type of arithmetic important for scientific calculations requiring real numbers.
Government Initiatives for Semiconductor Manufacturing in India:
The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), approved in 2021, is the nodal agency responsible for developing a sustainable and globally competitive semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem in India.
The government has also revamped the Design-Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme, which aims to develop Indian intellectual property (IP) in semiconductor manufacturing.
Adi Vaani: India’s First AI-Powered Tribal Language Translation Platform |
The Beta version of Adi Vaani was launched by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Adi Vaani is India’s first AI-powered translation platform designed specifically for tribal languages—languages spoken by indigenous tribal communities.
It has been developed under the Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh, a government initiative aimed at celebrating and empowering tribal communities.
The platform’s main goal is to bridge communication gaps between tribal and non-tribal communities.
At the Beta launch stage, Adi Vaani supports four languages: Santali (spoken in Odisha), Bhili (Madhya Pradesh), Mundari (Jharkhand), and Gondi (Chhattisgarh).
Additionally, support for Kui and Garo languages is currently under development.
This initiative will help in the digitization of endangered languages, meaning converting these languages into digital formats for preservation.
It aims to improve access to key services like education, healthcare, and governance in native tribal languages.
Adi Vaani will also facilitate tribal entrepreneurship by enabling better communication and access to resources.
Finally, the platform will serve as a valuable knowledge resource for researchers studying tribal languages and cultures.
Senna spectabilis: Invasive Tree Threatening Kerala’s Ecosystem, Targeted by First Science-Community Eradication in India |
Senna spectabilis is an invasive species, meaning it spreads rapidly and disrupts local ecosystems.
It forms dense, sterile thickets—thickets are dense groups of shrubs or small trees—that choke out native plants.
This invasive growth also alters the soil chemistry, which affects nutrient availability and harms native vegetation.
Because of Senna spectabilis, herbivores (animals that feed on plants) lose their natural food sources.
Senna spectabilis is a tree with a very dense, spreading crown, which means its upper branches and leaves form a thick canopy.
The tree can grow between 7 to 18 metres tall, making it quite large and competitive for sunlight.
It resembles Kerala’s state flower, Cassia fistula, locally called kanikkonna.
Cassia fistula is important culturally and ecologically in Kerala, so the similarity may cause confusion.
Senna spectabilis is native to American tropical regions, meaning it originally grows in tropical parts of the Americas.
In Wayanad, Kerala, a science-based, community-driven eradication program was carried out to remove Senna spectabilis.
This program was the first of its kind in India, combining scientific methods and local community participation to tackle the invasive species.
Solar Orbiter Identifies Origins of Solar Energetic Electrons Crucial for Space Weather Understanding |
Recently, the Solar Orbiter (SO) space probe, a joint mission by NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), traced the origin of Solar Energetic Electrons (SEE).
Solar Energetic Electrons (SEE) are electrons generated in the Sun before being ejected into space at nearly the speed of light.
There are two types of SEE: one linked to intense solar flares, which are explosions from smaller patches on the Sun’s surface.
The other type is associated with Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), which are larger eruptions of hot gas from the Sun’s atmosphere.(CMEs can release billions of tons of plasma and magnetic field into space.)
Understanding SEE is crucial for studying space weather, which can disrupt satellite communications and GPS navigation.
Additionally, space weather caused by SEE can interrupt the power supply on Earth by affecting electrical grids.
14th Edition of Exercise MAITREE-XIV Begins in Meghalaya |
The 14th edition of Exercise MAITREE-XIV commenced in Meghalaya, India.
Exercise Maitree was instituted in 2006 as a significant joint training exercise between India and Thailand.
The exercise focuses on company-level counter-terrorist operations conducted in semi-urban terrain.(Company-level refers to military units typically consisting of 100 to 200 soldiers.)
These operations are conducted under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, which authorizes actions to maintain or restore international peace and security
21st India-US Joint Military Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025 |
The Indian Army contingent is participating in the 21st edition of the India-US Joint Military Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025.
This joint military exercise has been held annually since 2004 between the armed forces of India and the United States.
The exercise primarily focuses on United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations.(UN peacekeeping operations involve multinational forces working to maintain or restore peace in conflict zones.)
Another key objective is to enhance readiness for multi-domain challenges.(Multi-domain challenges refer to threats that span across land, air, sea, cyber, and space.)
55-Million-Year-Old Jarosite Found in Gujarat Offers Clues to Mars’ Mineral Evolution |
Researchers have dated jarosite discovered in Matanomadh, Kutch, Gujarat, to be around 55 million years old.
Jarosite is a yellow-colored, iron-rich sulfate mineral.
Similar jarosite minerals were discovered on Mars in 2004 during NASA’s Opportunity mission.
On Earth, jarosite forms when minerals containing oxygen, iron, sulfur, and potassium interact in the right quantities with the presence of water.
The formation of jarosite is typically associated with volcanic activity.
The presence of jarosite on Earth provides important clues about the chemical and mineral evolution on Mars.
Coconut Development Board Launches Revised Schemes to Boost Coconut Sector Growth |
The Coconut Development Board (CDB) has recently launched revised schemes aimed at boosting the coconut sector.
The CDB is a statutory body established under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
It was created in the year 1981 to support the coconut industry.
The primary aim of the Board is the integrated development of coconut cultivation and industry.
This development focuses on increasing productivity and promoting product diversification.(Product diversification refers to expanding the range of coconut-based products.)
The headquarters of the Coconut Development Board is located in Kochi.
It also has regional offices in Bangalore, Chennai, Guwahati, and Patna to oversee local development activities.
The Board’s key functions include adopting measures to develop the coconut industry, imparting technical advice to farmers, and providing financial assistance.
Russia and China Sign Binding Deal for Power of Siberia 2 Gas Pipeline via Mongolia |
Russia and China have signed a legally binding agreement to construct the Power of Siberia 2 (PoS 2) gas pipeline.
The Power of Siberia 2 pipeline is designed to transport natural gas from Russia’s West Siberian gas reserves to northern China.
The pipeline will pass through eastern Mongolia, forming a crucial transit corridor for energy trade in the region.
The project aims to enhance energy supplies by complementing the existing Power of Siberia pipeline.
The existing Power of Siberia pipeline currently delivers gas from Eastern Siberia to China, and became operational in 2019.(It is a key part of Russia’s strategy to shift gas exports toward Asia.)
The new PoS 2 will help diversify export routes and reduce dependence on European markets.
The PoS 2 pipeline was formerly known as the Altai pipeline, reflecting its initial planned route through the Altai Mountains.
The rebranding and new route signify a geostrategic shift in Russia's energy infrastructure planning.
The Modern Solow Paradox: AI Adoption Yet to Deliver Expected Productivity Gains |
The Solow Paradox was coined by Nobel Laureate Robert Solow in 1987.
The paradox describes the phenomenon where widespread use of advanced technology, such as computers, did not lead to the expected increase in productivity.
Solow famously summarized this observation by stating, "You can see the computer age everywhere but in the productivity statistics."
This paradox highlighted a disconnect between technological investment and measurable economic output.
However, by the 1990s, the original Solow Paradox was largely resolved.
During this period, industries such as banking and retail began to show clear productivity gains.
These gains were attributed to the effective integration of information technology (IT) and business process redesign.(Process redesign refers to restructuring workflows to make them more efficient.)
Today, the world faces a modern version of the Solow Paradox, this time linked to artificial intelligence (AI).
Despite rising adoption of AI, many organizations are not realizing the anticipated productivity or value gains.
This indicates that like earlier technologies, AI requires time, adaptation, and structural changes before it can fully translate into measurable economic outcomes.
Supreme Court Upholds Right to Seek Remission for Life Convicts Under Constitutional and Statutory Provisions |
The Supreme Court has affirmed that individuals sentenced to life imprisonment retain their constitutional and statutory right to seek remission.
Remission refers to the reduction of the period of a sentence, without altering the nature or character of the sentence.(For example, a life sentence remains a life sentence, but the actual time served may be reduced.)
Under Article 72 of the Indian Constitution, the President of India has the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites, or remissions of punishment.
Article 72 also empowers the President to suspend or commute the sentence of any person convicted of an offence.
Similarly, Article 161 of the Constitution provides the Governor with the power to grant remission or commutation for offences under laws within the executive power of the State.
These constitutional provisions ensure that both Central and State executives can exercise clemency powers in appropriate cases.
In addition to constitutional provisions, Section 477 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) also governs remission.
This section grants the State Government the power to remit or commute sentences for individuals convicted of offences related to the Central Government.
The inclusion of Section 477 BNSS ensures that remission powers are balanced between the Union and State governments, depending on the nature of the offence.
UNCTAD Report Flags Trade Policy Uncertainty as Major Threat to Global Economy |
According to the Global Trade Update released by UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development), trade policy uncertainty has emerged as a major drag on the global economy.
This uncertainty is measured through the World Policy Uncertainty Index, which tracks unpredictability in government trade policies.
(The index reflects how unclear or unstable policy environments affect economic decisions.)
The report highlights that trade policy uncertainty today is unprecedented in scale and impact.
It is noted to be even more disruptive than traditional trade barriers, such as tariffs.
The presence of such uncertainty results in higher operational costs for businesses.
It also contributes to slower economic growth, as companies delay or reduce investments in response to unpredictability.
Furthermore, it increases the risk of financial instability, especially in global markets connected through supply chains.
The report points out that small firms and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are disproportionately vulnerable to such policy uncertainty.
(LDCs are low-income countries facing severe structural impediments to sustainable development.)
These groups often lack the financial and institutional capacity to absorb shocks caused by policy changes.
UNCTAD observes that governments are increasingly using policy uncertainty deliberately as a strategic tool for gaining leverage in trade negotiations.
(This means uncertainty is not always accidental but can be an intentional part of geopolitical strategy.)
To address these challenges, the report recommends diversifying trade markets as a key resilience-building strategy.
It also emphasizes that joining regional or multilateral trade agreements helps countries build economic resilience against the impacts of uncertainty.
India Seeks WTO Consultations Over U.S. Safeguard Tariffs on Copper Products |
India has sought consultations with the United States under the World Trade Organisation (WTO)'s Agreement on Safeguards.
The consultation is in response to the 50% tariffs imposed by the US on certain copper products.
The issue is being addressed under the framework of the WTO Committee on Safeguards.
The WTO Committee on Safeguards offers a platform for WTO members to discuss matters related to the operation of the Agreement on Safeguards.
The Agreement on Safeguards outlines the rules and procedures for the application of safeguard measures.
Safeguard measures are defined as emergency actions applied in response to a sudden surge in imports of specific products.(These measures are temporary trade restrictions such as higher tariffs or quotas.)
Such increased imports must pose a serious threat of injury to the domestic industry of the importing WTO member.(Serious injury refers to significant damage to the domestic producers of competing products.)
The Committee on Safeguards is responsible for monitoring and reporting the implementation of the Agreement on Safeguards.
It submits its reports to the Council for Trade in Goods (CTG), which is a key body overseeing trade in goods under the WTO. (The CTG supervises implementation of all WTO agreements related to goods.)
The Committee also reviews whether member countries have complied with procedural requirements of the Agreement when requested by any member.
It then reports its findings to the requesting member and to the Council for Trade in Goods.
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