Daily Current Affairs - 9th July 2026
- Kaushal
- Jul 9
- 25 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
Comprehensive UPSC Current Affairs Summary | World Investment Report 2026, Toy Industry, UDISE+ 2025-26 report, PGI-D, Mission Drishti and OptoSAR satellite, Biodiversity Hotspot, PM-Setu, Guwahati Declaration, Prambanan Temple, TribeX and more.
Table of Content
SCHEME
World Investment Report 2026
The World Investment Report 2026, published by UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development), highlights that global Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased in 2025, but the gains were unevenly distributed. Investment is increasingly becoming more concentrated in a few countries, more selective in terms of destinations, and more closely aligned with strategic industries that are expected to drive future economic growth, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), semiconductors, data centres, and clean energy.
Key Highlights of the Report
1. Uneven Growth in Global Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) refers to long-term investment by a company or individual from one country into business operations or assets located in another country, usually involving a significant degree of ownership and managerial control.
Global FDI increased by 6%, reaching US$1.6 trillion in 2025.
However, this growth was highly uneven:
Developed economies recorded an 11% increase in FDI inflows.
Developing economies registered only a 2% increase.
This unequal distribution is further reflected in the fact that the top 20 host economies alone accounted for more than 80% of global FDI inflows, indicating a growing concentration of international investment in a limited number of countries.
2. Investment Concentrated in Strategic Sectors
The report notes that new investment is increasingly flowing into sectors that are considered strategically important for future economic competitiveness and national security.
Growth in greenfield investment was primarily driven by:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure,
Data centres,
Semiconductors, and
Oil & Gas.
Greenfield Investment refers to the establishment of new business facilities or projects from scratch in another country, such as building new factories, plants, offices, or infrastructure.
— AI infrastructure includes the computing facilities, high-performance chips, cloud systems, and digital networks required to develop and operate Artificial Intelligence applications.
— Data centres are specialized facilities that house computer servers and networking equipment for storing, processing, and managing digital data.
— Semiconductors are electronic components (commonly known as computer chips) that power smartphones, computers, automobiles, communication systems, and AI technologies.
In contrast, investment in Global Value Chain (GVC)-intensive manufacturing continued to decline.
Global Value Chains (GVCs) refer to the international production process in which different stages of designing, manufacturing, assembling, and marketing a product are carried out across multiple countries.
3. India's Performance in Global FDI
India improved its position as both a recipient and a source of international investment.
In terms of inward FDI (investment coming into India from foreign investors), India improved from 13th position in 2024 to 11th position in 2025.
In terms of outward FDI (investment made by Indian companies in foreign countries), India moved from 20th position in 2024 to 18th position in 2025.
Why is Investment Shifting Towards Developed Countries?
The report identifies several structural factors that explain why developed economies are attracting a disproportionately larger share of global investment.
1. Strategic Investment Decisions
Investment decisions are no longer driven primarily by cost efficiency. Instead, multinational companies increasingly prioritize:
Strategic national interests,
Technological leadership, and
Economic security while selecting investment destinations.
This reflects a broader shift from seeking the lowest production costs to ensuring long-term resilience, innovation capacity, and secure supply chains.
2. Industrial Policies and Subsidies
Many developed countries have adopted ambitious industrial policies supported by substantial government incentives.
Industrial Policy refers to government measures aimed at promoting specific industries through financial support, regulations, tax benefits, or infrastructure development.
These countries are offering large subsidies and incentives to attract investment in strategic sectors such as:
Semiconductors, and
Clean energy.
A subsidy is a financial contribution or assistance provided by the government to reduce production costs or encourage investment.
As these projects are highly capital-intensive, most developing countries are unable to match the scale of subsidy programmes offered by major economies, reducing their competitiveness in attracting such investments.
3. Supply Chain Resilience
Companies are increasingly restructuring their global production networks to make supply chains more resilient against geopolitical disruptions, pandemics, and economic shocks.
As a result, Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) are relocating investments towards countries that offer:
Strong technology ecosystems,
Stable and predictable regulatory environments, and
Lower geopolitical risks.
Supply Chain Resilience refers to the ability of production and distribution networks to withstand disruptions while maintaining continuous operations.
How Can Developing Countries Attract Greater Investment?
Recognizing that competing through large-scale subsidies is often not feasible, the report recommends several alternative strategies for developing countries.
1. Strategic Prioritization
Instead of competing across all industries, countries should focus on niche opportunities within Global Value Chains (GVCs) where they possess comparative advantages.
This allows countries to specialize in selected stages of production rather than attempting to attract the complete manufacturing ecosystem.
2. Build Enabling Capabilities
Developing countries should strengthen the basic conditions that make investment attractive by investing in:
Digital connectivity,
Renewable energy,
Quality infrastructure, and
A skilled workforce.
These investments help reduce investment bottlenecks, i.e., constraints that discourage or delay private investment.
3. Performance-Based Incentives
Rather than offering broad tax holidays to all investors, governments should provide targeted incentives linked to measurable outcomes such as:
Local value addition,
Employment generation, and
Technology transfer.
Technology Transfer refers to the sharing or transfer of technical knowledge, skills, production methods, or innovations from foreign firms to domestic firms.
4. Catalytic Public Finance
Governments can use public financial institutions to reduce investment risks and encourage greater private participation.
This includes leveraging:
Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) — government-owned investment funds created from surplus public revenues or foreign exchange reserves.
Development Banks — financial institutions established to finance long-term economic development projects.
Strategic Investment Funds — public investment vehicles that support projects of national strategic importance.
Such institutions can de-risk projects, making them more attractive for private investors.
De-risking refers to reducing financial, regulatory, or operational risks associated with an investment project.
5. Regional Integration
Developing countries can strengthen their investment attractiveness by promoting greater regional economic cooperation through:
Cross-border industrial zones,
Production corridors, and
Shared infrastructure.
These measures help build stronger regional value chains, allowing neighbouring countries to jointly participate in international production networks and improve their competitiveness.
India's Toy Industry
The 17th Toy Biz International B2B Expo, held in New Delhi, highlighted the rapid transformation of India's toy industry into a highly competitive and fast-growing manufacturing ecosystem.
About India's Toy Industry
1. Key Growth Enablers
The expansion of India's toy industry is being driven by several structural factors.
Favourable demographics, particularly India's large and growing child population, provide a strong domestic consumer base for toys.
The rapid expansion of e-commerce platforms has improved market access for both manufacturers and consumers, enabling wider distribution of toys across the country.
Rising consumer preference for cognitive, STEM, and educational toys has further boosted demand.
— Cognitive toys are toys designed to improve children's thinking, memory, problem-solving, creativity, and learning abilities.
— STEM toys are educational toys that promote learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) through interactive and hands-on activities, helping develop analytical and critical-thinking skills.
2. Rising Exports and Employment
India's toy industry has also demonstrated significant improvement in both export performance and employment generation.
Toy exports increased by 151.9%, reaching US$384.7 million in FY26.
The sector also recorded a trade surplus of US$152 million, meaning that the value of toy exports exceeded the value of toy imports during the financial year.
Alongside export growth, formal employment in the toy sector more than doubled, increasing from 8,685 workers in FY19 to 17,693 workers in FY24.
— A trade surplus occurs when a country's exports are greater than its imports, indicating a positive balance of trade in that sector.
— Formal employment refers to jobs that are officially registered and provide workers with legal protections, social security benefits, and compliance with labour regulations.
3. Government Initiatives Supporting the Sector
The Government has introduced several initiatives to strengthen domestic toy manufacturing, improve product quality, and promote traditional toy-making clusters.
The National Action Plan for Toys (2020) provides a comprehensive framework for developing the toy ecosystem by promoting manufacturing, innovation, skill development, exports, and traditional toy clusters.
Quality Control Orders (QCOs) have been introduced to ensure that toys manufactured or sold in India comply with prescribed quality and safety standards, thereby improving consumer safety and enhancing the competitiveness of Indian toys.
Quality Control Orders (QCOs) are mandatory regulations issued by the government that require specified products to conform to standards prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) before they can be manufactured, imported, or sold.
4. Promoting Traditional and Heritage Toys
The Government is also preserving India's rich toy-making traditions through the combined support of Geographical Indication (GI) tags and the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative.
GI tags protect and promote toys that possess unique geographical origin and traditional craftsmanship.
The One District One Product (ODOP) initiative encourages districts to specialize in products for which they have traditional expertise, thereby improving branding, market access, and employment opportunities.
Some notable examples include:
Channapatna Toys and Dolls – Karnataka
Leather Toys – Madhya Pradesh
Thanjavur Doll – Tamil Nadu
— A Geographical Indication (GI) tag is an intellectual property right that identifies a product as originating from a specific geographical region, where its quality, reputation, or characteristics are essentially linked to that place.
— The One District One Product (ODOP) initiative aims to promote district-specific products by supporting production, branding, value addition, and exports, thereby strengthening local economies and preserving traditional crafts.
UDISE+ 2025–26 Report
The Union Ministry of Education has released the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) 2025–26 Report, which provides a comprehensive statistical overview of India's school education system. The database covers approximately 14.67 lakh schools and more than 24 crore students, making it one of the largest educational management information systems in the world. The report indicates significant improvements in teacher availability, enrolment, retention, infrastructure, and gender inclusion across school education.
About UDISE+
UDISE (Unified District Information System for Education) is an Educational Management Information System (EMIS) administered by the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education.
An Educational Management Information System (EMIS) is a digital system used for collecting, storing, managing, and analysing education-related data to support policy formulation, planning, monitoring, and decision-making.
— UDISE+ functions as a centralized digital platform through which schools record and submit information relating to:
School profile, including infrastructure and facilities;
Individual student details; and
Teacher-related information.
This enables the Government to monitor the performance and development of the school education sector using reliable and standardized data.
Key Findings of the UDISE+ 2025–26 Report
1. Increase in the Number of Teachers
The report records a substantial increase in the teaching workforce across the country.
The total number of teachers exceeded 1.02 crore in 2025–26, representing an 8.3% increase over 2022–23.
An increase in the number of teachers contributes to improved classroom instruction and facilitates better teacher availability across schools.
2. Improvement in the Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR)
The report highlights improvements in the Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) across different stages of school education.
Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) refers to the average number of students assigned to one teacher. A lower PTR generally enables greater individual attention and improves learning outcomes.
The current PTR is:
10:1 at the Foundational Stage;
12:1 at the Preparatory Stage;
17:1 at the Middle Stage; and
21:1 at the Secondary Stage.
For comparison, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 recommends a PTR of 30:1, indicating that the current ratios are considerably better than the prescribed benchmark.
3. Decline in School Dropout Rates
The report shows continued progress in reducing student dropout across school levels.
A dropout rate refers to the percentage of students who leave school before completing a particular stage of education.
At the Preparatory Stage, the dropout rate declined from 2.3% to 1.8% in 2025–26.
At the Secondary Stage, it decreased from 8.2% to 7.0% during the same period.
Lower dropout rates indicate improved student participation and continuity in school education.
4. Improvement in Student Retention Rate
Alongside declining dropout rates, the report also records improvements in student retention.
The Retention Rate measures the percentage of students who continue their education and successfully reach the next stage without leaving school.
The retention rate increased to 83.7% at the Middle Stage.
At the Secondary Stage, it improved to 51.9%.
Higher retention reflects greater success in keeping children within the education system until higher grades.
5. Increase in Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER)
The report also indicates improved enrolment at the secondary level.
Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) refers to the total enrolment in a particular level of education, regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the population belonging to the official age group for that level.
At the Secondary Stage, the GER increased from 68.5% in 2024–25 to 71.7% in 2025–26.
A higher GER indicates improved access to education and greater participation at the secondary level.
6. Improvement in School Infrastructure
The report highlights continued improvements in educational infrastructure across schools.
The proportion of schools with computer access increased from 64.7% in 2024–25 to 69.9% in 2025–26.
In 2025–26:
95.0% of schools were electrified, and
98.5% of schools had girls' toilets.
Improved infrastructure enhances the overall learning environment and supports better educational outcomes.
7. Greater Female Representation in School Education
The report reflects increasing participation of women in both teaching and school enrolment.
Women constituted 54.9% of the total teaching workforce in 2025–26.
Girls accounted for 48.4% of total student enrolment during the same period.
Greater female representation contributes to gender-inclusive education and improved learning environments.
8. Gender Parity Index (GPI) Indicates Higher Participation of Girls
The report also highlights improvements in gender equality through the Gender Parity Index (GPI).
The Gender Parity Index (GPI) is the ratio of the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of girls to that of boys.
The GPI remained above 1 at all levels of school education, indicating that girls had proportionally higher participation in education than boys across every stage.
A GPI greater than 1 signifies higher educational participation by girls, whereas a GPI equal to 1 indicates perfect gender parity.
Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0
The Ministry of Education has released the Performance Grading Index 2.0 reports for States and Union Territories (PGI-S) and Districts (PGI-D) for 2025–26. The framework serves as a comprehensive tool for assessing the performance of school education systems across the country and identifying areas that require policy intervention and improvement.
About the Performance Grading Index (PGI)
The Performance Grading Index (PGI) is an assessment framework developed by the Ministry of Education to evaluate the performance of school education systems across States, Union Territories (UTs), and districts.
Its primary objective is to:
Evaluate the quality and performance of school education systems, and
Promote evidence-based policy reforms and systemic improvements at the state and district levels through continuous monitoring and benchmarking.
Rather than ranking governments solely on enrolment or examination performance, the PGI adopts a multi-dimensional approach, assessing various aspects of school education to encourage balanced and sustainable improvements.
Performance Grading Index for States and Union Territories (PGI-S)
The Performance Grading Index for States and Union Territories (PGI-S) evaluates the performance of States and UTs on a maximum score of 1,000 points.
The assessment is based on 70 indicators, which are grouped into six broad domains:
Learning Outcomes and Quality – Measures students' learning achievements and the overall quality of education delivered.
Access – Assesses the availability of schooling facilities and the extent to which children can access school education.
Infrastructure & Facilities – Evaluates the availability of essential physical infrastructure such as classrooms, electricity, drinking water, toilets, libraries, laboratories, and digital resources.
Equity – Measures the inclusiveness of the education system by assessing participation and educational opportunities across different social, economic, regional, and gender groups.
Governance Processes – Examines the effectiveness of educational administration, planning, implementation, monitoring, and service delivery mechanisms.
Teacher Education & Training – Assesses teacher availability, professional development, training programmes, and initiatives aimed at improving teaching quality.
Performance Grading Index for Districts (PGI-D)
The Performance Grading Index for Districts (PGI-D) evaluates the performance of individual districts on a maximum score of 600 points.
Like PGI-S, it is also based on 70 indicators, but these are organized into six categories tailored to district-level educational performance:
Outcomes – Evaluates students' academic performance, enrolment, retention, and other educational outcomes.
Effective Classroom Transaction – Assesses the quality of classroom teaching-learning processes, instructional practices, and student engagement.
Infrastructure Facilities & Student Entitlements – Examines the availability of school infrastructure and the delivery of student entitlements such as textbooks, uniforms, scholarships, mid-day meals, and other educational support.
— Student Entitlements refer to the benefits and services provided by the Government to eligible students to ensure equitable access to quality education.
School Safety & Child Protection – Assesses the availability of a safe, secure, and inclusive school environment, including measures related to child protection and student well-being.
Digital Learning – Evaluates the availability and effective use of digital infrastructure, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), online learning resources, and technology-enabled teaching.
Governance Process – Measures the efficiency of educational planning, monitoring, administration, and implementation at the district level.
Significance of the Performance Grading Index
By evaluating performance through a comprehensive set of indicators rather than relying on a single parameter, the Performance Grading Index (PGI) enables governments to identify strengths, address gaps, and formulate targeted interventions for improving school education. It also promotes healthy competition, accountability, evidence-based policymaking, and continuous improvement among States, Union Territories, and districts.
Mission Drishti and OptoSAR Satellite
Mission Drishti, developed by the Indian space start-up GalaxEye, recently lost communication following a geomagnetic solar storm. The mission is significant because it carried the world's first OptoSAR satellite, representing a major technological advancement in commercial Earth observation.
A geomagnetic solar storm is a disturbance in the Earth's magnetic field caused by charged particles and electromagnetic radiation released by the Sun, which can interfere with satellites, communication systems, navigation networks, and power infrastructure.
About Mission Drishti
Mission Drishti is the world's first commercial Earth Observation satellite to integrate both Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Multi-Spectral Imaging (MSI) sensors on a single satellite platform.
An Earth Observation (EO) satellite is a satellite designed to collect information about the Earth's surface, oceans, atmosphere, and environment for applications such as agriculture, disaster management, urban planning, climate monitoring, defence, and resource management.
The mission is also notable for being India's largest privately built satellite, reflecting the growing capabilities of the country's private space sector.
OptoSAR Technology
OptoSAR is an advanced Earth observation technology that combines optical imaging with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) on the same satellite.
Optical imaging captures images using reflected sunlight, producing detailed and natural-looking images. However, its performance is affected by cloud cover, fog, smoke, and darkness.
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is an active microwave remote sensing technology that transmits its own radar signals and measures the reflected waves to generate images. Since it does not depend on sunlight, SAR can capture images during both day and night and can penetrate clouds, rain, and haze.
By integrating both technologies into a single platform, OptoSAR combines the high visual detail of optical imagery with the all-weather operational capability of radar imaging.
Benefits of OptoSAR Technology
1. Single-Pass Capture
One of the most significant advantages of OptoSAR is its Single-Pass Capture capability.
By capturing SAR and Multi-Spectral Imaging (MSI) data simultaneously during a single satellite pass, the system eliminates the need to combine or fuse information collected separately by different satellites.
Multi-Spectral Imaging (MSI) is a remote sensing technique that captures images across multiple wavelengths (or spectral bands) of the electromagnetic spectrum, allowing better identification of vegetation, water bodies, minerals, soil conditions, and land-use patterns.
2. Analysis-Ready Data
Because both datasets are collected simultaneously from the same platform, the resulting information is inherently aligned, reducing processing time and improving accuracy.
The report states that this single-pass approach provides nearly three times more information than standalone optical or SAR sensors, enabling faster and more reliable decision-making.
Analysis-ready data refers to processed and standardized data that can be directly used for analysis without requiring extensive additional corrections or alignment.
3. All-Weather, Day-and-Night Imaging
The integration of optical imaging and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) enables continuous Earth observation regardless of weather or lighting conditions.
Optical sensors provide high-resolution visual information under clear daylight conditions.
SAR complements them by maintaining imaging capability through clouds, rain, haze, and complete darkness.
Consequently, OptoSAR offers all-weather, day-and-night imaging capability, ensuring that cloud cover or darkness do not disrupt satellite operations. This significantly enhances its usefulness for applications such as disaster management, agriculture, environmental monitoring, infrastructure mapping, surveillance, and defence.
Indian Scientists Recreate Key Human Placenta Functions on a Chip
Researchers from ICMR–National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health (ICMR-NIRWoH), Mumbai, in collaboration with IIT Bombay, have developed an indigenous placenta-on-a-chip platform that successfully replicates the key functions of the human placental barrier in a laboratory setting.
Placenta-on-a-Chip
The placenta-on-a-chip is a laboratory-grown Organ-on-a-Chip (OoC) device that mimics the structure and essential functions of the human placental barrier.
The placental barrier is the specialized interface between the mother and the developing foetus that regulates the exchange of nutrients, oxygen, hormones, waste products, and certain antibodies while protecting the foetus from many harmful substances.
Significance of the Placenta-on-a-Chip
The technology represents a major advancement in making pregnancies safer by enabling researchers to study placental functions under controlled laboratory conditions.
It offers several important applications:
Stage-specific pregnancy modelling, allowing researchers to simulate different phases of pregnancy and understand how placental functions change over time.
Gestational diabetes research, enabling detailed investigation of how diabetes during pregnancy affects the placenta and fetal development.
Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy when blood glucose levels become higher than normal.
Drug safety testing, allowing researchers to evaluate the effects of medicines on the placenta and developing foetus without relying extensively on animal models.
Consequently, the platform significantly reduces dependence on animal testing, while providing results that are more representative of human physiology.
About the Placenta
The placenta is a temporary organ that develops during pregnancy in mammals and connects the developing foetus to the mother's uterus through the umbilical cord.
It performs several essential functions:
Regulates the transfer of nutrients and oxygen from the mother to the foetus.
Facilitates the removal of carbon dioxide and other metabolic waste products from the foetus.
Produces and secretes hormones that support pregnancy and fetal growth.
Because of these critical functions, the placenta plays a central role in ensuring healthy fetal development.
About Organ-on-a-Chip (OoC) Technology
Organ-on-a-Chip (OoC) technology consists of miniaturized devices containing living human cells that replicate the structure, functions, and physiological behaviour of specific human tissues or organs.
The technology combines:
Tissue engineering—the use of cells, biomaterials, and engineering principles to create functional biological tissues; and
Microfabrication—the process of manufacturing microscopic structures and devices with high precision.
Together, these technologies create a controlled cellular microenvironment, enabling researchers to reproduce organ-level physiology outside the human body.
A cellular microenvironment refers to the physical, chemical, and biological conditions surrounding cells that influence their growth, behaviour, and function.
Components of an Organ-on-a-Chip
A typical Organ-on-a-Chip device consists of:
Microchannels, which allow controlled flow of nutrients, oxygen, and biological fluids similar to blood circulation.
Porous polymeric membranes, which separate different cell layers while permitting the exchange of molecules between them.
A porous polymeric membrane is a thin synthetic membrane containing microscopic pores that enables selective movement of nutrients, gases, and signalling molecules between different cell compartments.
Living human cells, which reproduce the structure and function of the target organ or tissue.
Types of Organ-on-a-Chip Systems
Depending on their design and application, Organ-on-a-Chip platforms are classified into three major types:
1. Single-Organ Chips
These replicate the functions of a single organ, such as the heart, liver, lung, kidney, intestine, brain, or placenta, to study organ-specific physiology and diseases.
2. Multi-Organ or Body-on-a-Chip Systems
These connect multiple organ chips through interconnected microfluidic channels to simulate interactions among different organs, thereby mimicking the functioning of the human body more realistically.
3. Parenchymal/Mesenchymal Tissue Chips
These model specialized tissues by incorporating:
Parenchymal cells, which perform the primary functional activities of an organ (e.g., liver cells or kidney cells); and
Mesenchymal cells, which provide structural support, repair, and signalling functions within tissues.
Significance of Organ-on-a-Chip Technology
Organ-on-a-Chip technology has emerged as a transformative platform in biomedical research due to several advantages.
It reduces dependence on animal testing by providing human cell-based models that more accurately replicate human physiology.
It enables personalized medicine, where chips can be developed using an individual's own cells to predict treatment responses.
Personalized medicine is an approach in which medical treatment is tailored according to an individual's genetic, biological, and clinical characteristics.
It facilitates disease modelling, allowing researchers to study the development and progression of human diseases under controlled laboratory conditions.
It supports drug discovery, toxicity screening, and clinical trial design, improving the efficiency and safety of developing new medicines.
Toxicity screening refers to testing whether a drug or chemical causes harmful effects on human tissues before it is approved for clinical use.
Challenges of Organ-on-a-Chip Technology
Despite its immense potential, Organ-on-a-Chip technology faces several limitations.
Replicating the full structural and functional complexity of human organs remains difficult.
This challenge is particularly significant for the placenta, whose structure and physiological functions continuously evolve throughout the different stages of pregnancy (gestation).
Gestation is the period of pregnancy from conception until birth, during which the fetus develops inside the uterus.
The technology also faces challenges related to large-scale manufacturing (scalability), standardisation of device design and experimental protocols, and regulatory validation before it can be widely adopted in clinical practice.
Regulatory validation refers to the process by which regulatory authorities assess and approve a technology for clinical or commercial use based on evidence of its safety, reliability, and effectiveness.
Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot
The Natural History Museum of Mizoram University, strategically located within the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot, has been designated as India's 21st Biodiversity Repository. The designation has been granted under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, recognizing the museum's role in conserving and documenting the country's biological wealth.
A Biodiversity Repository is a legally recognized facility that collects, preserves, maintains, and provides access to biological resources, such as plant, animal, microbial, and genetic specimens, for purposes of research, education, conservation, and sustainable utilization.
The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 was enacted to conserve India's biological diversity, ensure the sustainable use of biological resources, and facilitate the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization.
About the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot
The Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot is one of the world's most biologically rich yet highly threatened regions. It is recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot because it possesses exceptionally high levels of biodiversity and endemism while facing significant habitat loss and other environmental threats.
A Biodiversity Hotspot is a biogeographic region that satisfies two criteria:
It contains at least 1,500 endemic species of vascular plants (plants found nowhere else in the world); and
It has lost at least 70% of its original natural vegetation, making it a global conservation priority.
Geographical Extent
The Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot extends across several countries in South and Southeast Asia. It covers parts of:
Cambodia,
Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR),
Myanmar,
Thailand,
Vietnam,
Northeast India (excluding Assam), and
Parts of southern China.
Its diverse landscapes include tropical forests, mountain ecosystems, wetlands, and river basins, supporting a wide variety of plant and animal life.
Global Significance
The hotspot is recognized as one of the most important conservation regions in the world.
It ranks among the top 10 biodiversity hotspots globally for "irreplaceability", reflecting the presence of unique species and ecosystems that cannot be replaced if lost.
It also ranks among the top five biodiversity hotspots globally in terms of the level of threat it faces, owing to habitat destruction, deforestation, infrastructure development, climate change, and other anthropogenic pressures.
Irreplaceability refers to the uniqueness of biodiversity in a region, where the extinction of endemic species would result in an irreversible global loss.
High Species Richness
The Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot supports an extraordinary diversity of wildlife.
It harbours approximately:
500 mammal species,
1,330 bird species,
More than 815 reptile species, and
More than 500 amphibian species.
Species richness refers to the total number of different species present in a particular geographical area and is one of the primary indicators of biodiversity.
High Endemism
One of the defining characteristics of the hotspot is its exceptionally high level of endemism.
Endemic species are species that are naturally found only in a specific geographical region and nowhere else in the world.
Within the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot:
More than one-third of the reptile species are endemic.
Nearly half of the amphibian species are endemic.
This high degree of endemism makes conservation of the hotspot especially important, as the loss of these species would represent permanent global extinctions.
Other Biodiversity Hotspots in India
India forms part of four global biodiversity hotspots:
Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot.
Himalaya Biodiversity Hotspot.
Western Ghats–Sri Lanka Biodiversity Hotspot.
Sundaland Biodiversity Hotspot, represented in India by the Nicobar Islands.
The presence of four global biodiversity hotspots highlights India's exceptional biological diversity and underscores its global responsibility for biodiversity conservation.
Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU)
The Union Government has approved the nationwide rollout of the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded Industrial Training Institutes (PM-SETU). The scheme aims to modernize India's vocational education ecosystem by upgrading Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) into advanced, industry-oriented skill development centres capable of preparing youth for emerging employment opportunities.
About PM-SETU
The Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) launched by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) in 2025.
— A Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) is a scheme in which the Central Government and State Governments share the financial responsibility, with implementation generally undertaken by the States according to centrally prescribed guidelines.
— The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is the nodal ministry responsible for promoting skill development, vocational training, apprenticeship, and entrepreneurship in India.
Objective
The primary objective of PM-SETU is to transform Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) into modern, industry-driven skill development institutions that equip young people with the knowledge and practical skills required for emerging job opportunities.
— Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) are vocational training institutions that provide technical and trade-specific education, enabling students to acquire industry-relevant skills for employment or self-employment.
— By aligning training programmes with evolving industry requirements, the scheme seeks to enhance the employability of India's workforce and bridge the gap between skill development and labour market demand.
Key Features of PM-SETU
1. Upgradation of Government ITIs through the Hub-and-Spoke Model
The scheme aims to upgrade 1,000 Government ITIs, comprising:
200 Hub ITIs, and
800 Spoke ITIs.
The Hub-and-Spoke Model is a network-based approach in which well-equipped Hub institutions serve as centres of excellence, providing advanced infrastructure, training facilities, faculty support, and industry linkages to a group of Spoke institutions. This enables the efficient sharing of resources, expertise, and best practices across multiple ITIs.
2. Establishment of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs)
To strengthen institutional governance and industry participation, the scheme provides for the establishment of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) with active industry partnership for cluster management.
A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) is a legally constituted entity created for a specific objective—in this case, to manage clusters of ITIs, facilitate industry collaboration, oversee implementation, and improve institutional efficiency.
Industry participation ensures that training programmes remain aligned with current technological advancements and labour market requirements.
3. Performance-Linked Funding and Multilateral Co-financing
The scheme incorporates a performance-linked funding mechanism, under which financial support is linked to measurable outcomes such as institutional performance, quality improvement, and skill development achievements.
Additionally, the scheme will receive co-financing from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank.
Performance-linked funding is a financing approach in which the release of funds depends on the achievement of predefined performance indicators or outcomes, thereby promoting accountability and efficiency.
Co-financing refers to financial support provided jointly by multiple institutions or agencies for implementing a programme or project.
4. Modern Infrastructure and Digital Learning
PM-SETU seeks to transform ITIs into modern training institutions by providing:
State-of-the-art infrastructure,
Advanced machinery and equipment, and
Digital learning systems.
— State-of-the-art infrastructure refers to facilities equipped with the latest technologies and modern equipment that meet current industry standards.
— The integration of modern infrastructure with digital learning platforms is expected to improve the quality of vocational training and prepare students for technology-driven industries and future employment opportunities.
Guwahati Declaration
The BRICS nations have adopted the Guwahati Declaration to strengthen collective efforts against transnational organized crime and illicit drug trafficking. The declaration reflects the shared commitment of BRICS countries to enhance international cooperation, improve information sharing, and adopt coordinated strategies to address the growing challenges posed by the illegal drug trade.
BRICS is an intergovernmental grouping comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
About the Guwahati Declaration
The Guwahati Declaration provides a framework for strengthening cooperation among BRICS countries in preventing and combating transnational organized crime, particularly illicit drug trafficking.
Transnational organized crime refers to serious criminal activities carried out by organized groups that operate across national borders for financial or material gain. Examples include drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, arms smuggling, and cybercrime.
Illicit drug trafficking refers to the illegal cultivation, manufacture, transportation, distribution, and sale of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in violation of national and international laws.
1. Strengthening Cooperation Against Drug Trafficking
The primary purpose of the Guwahati Declaration is to enhance cooperation among BRICS countries in combating transnational organized crime and illicit drug trafficking.
Recognizing that drug trafficking networks operate across multiple countries, the declaration emphasizes coordinated action, joint efforts, and stronger international collaboration to disrupt criminal organizations and improve regional and global security.
2. Information Sharing and Technology Exchange
A key focus of the declaration is the strengthening of intelligence sharing, data-driven approaches, and the adoption of innovative technologies to detect, prevent, and combat drug trafficking.
Intelligence sharing involves the timely exchange of information relating to criminal networks, trafficking routes, financial transactions, and emerging threats among law enforcement agencies.
Data-driven approaches use the systematic analysis of crime-related data to identify trafficking patterns, predict risks, and support evidence-based enforcement strategies.
Innovative technologies, such as advanced surveillance systems, digital analytics, artificial intelligence, and forensic tools, can improve the detection and investigation of drug-related crimes.
Together, these measures aim to strengthen the operational capacity of BRICS countries in tackling increasingly sophisticated trafficking networks.
3. Reducing Drug Demand
The declaration recognizes that combating drug trafficking requires not only disrupting the supply of illicit drugs but also reducing the demand for them.
Accordingly, it calls for:
Promoting drug demand reduction initiatives, and
Encouraging healthy lifestyles to prevent substance abuse.
— Drug demand reduction refers to policies and programmes aimed at preventing drug use through awareness campaigns, education, counselling, treatment, rehabilitation, and social reintegration, thereby reducing the number of people who consume illicit drugs.
— By combining preventive measures with stronger law enforcement cooperation, the Guwahati Declaration adopts a more comprehensive approach to addressing the challenge of illicit drug trafficking.
Prambanan Temple
India has announced its assistance in the conservation and restoration of the Prambanan Temple, an ancient Hindu temple complex in Indonesia that is over 1,000 years old. The initiative reflects the deep civilizational and cultural ties between India and Indonesia, while also contributing to the preservation of a globally significant cultural heritage site.
Conservation refers to the protection, maintenance, and preservation of a heritage structure in order to prevent further deterioration, while restoration involves repairing or reconstructing damaged portions of a monument to restore its original form and historical character.
About Prambanan Temple
The Prambanan Temple is an ancient Hindu temple complex located near Yogyakarta on Java Island in Indonesia.
Constructed over 1,000 years ago, it represents one of the finest examples of Hindu temple architecture in Southeast Asia and stands as a testament to the historical spread of Indian culture, religion, and art across the region.
Today, it is recognized as the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia.
Historical Background
The temple complex was built by the rulers of the Sanjaya Vamsha (Sanjaya Dynasty).
The Sanjaya Dynasty was a Hindu dynasty that ruled parts of Central Java during the 8th and 9th centuries CE and played a significant role in promoting Hinduism, temple architecture, and cultural development in the region.
UNESCO World Heritage Status
The Prambanan Temple Complex has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its outstanding cultural, historical, and architectural significance.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a cultural or natural property recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as having Outstanding Universal Value, deserving international protection and conservation for the benefit of present and future generations.
Dedicated to the Hindu Trinity
The temple complex is dedicated to the Hindu Trinity (Trimurti), comprising:
Lord Shiva – the preserver of cosmic balance through destruction and transformation.
Lord Vishnu – the protector and preserver of the universe.
Lord Brahma – the creator of the universe.
The Trimurti represents the three principal cosmic functions of creation, preservation, and destruction, which together maintain the cycle of existence in Hindu philosophy.
Among the three principal temples, the Shiva Temple is the largest and most prominent structure within the complex.
Artistic Features
The Prambanan Temple is renowned for its remarkable artistic and architectural excellence.
One of its most distinctive features is its intricate stone reliefs, which depict the Indonesian version of the Ramayana.
Stone reliefs are sculptures carved directly onto stone surfaces, illustrating religious stories, historical events, or cultural traditions.
The depiction of the Ramayana reflects the deep cultural influence of the Indian epic across Southeast Asia, while also showcasing its adaptation into local Indonesian traditions and artistic styles.
These reliefs not only serve as important works of art but also provide valuable insights into the historical and cultural exchanges between the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
TribeX
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched TribeX, a first-of-its-kind digital learning platform dedicated to preserving, promoting, and disseminating India's tribal art, culture, and traditional knowledge systems. The initiative seeks to leverage digital technology to facilitate learning, research, and documentation while ensuring that India's rich tribal heritage is preserved for future generations.
About TribeX
TribeX is India's first dedicated digital learning platform focused exclusively on tribal art, culture, and traditional knowledge systems.
A digital learning platform is an online educational system that provides structured learning through digital content, virtual classrooms, assessments, and interactive resources, enabling learners to access educational programmes regardless of their geographical location.
The platform aims to serve as a central repository of tribal knowledge while making it accessible to students, researchers, educators, and the general public.
Objective
The primary objective of TribeX is to develop a comprehensive digital platform that facilitates:
Structured learning on tribal art and culture;
Scholarly research on tribal communities and their knowledge systems; and
Digital documentation of tribal art forms and cultural practices.
— Structured learning refers to a systematically designed educational programme with a defined curriculum, learning objectives, assessments, and certification.
— Digital documentation is the process of recording, preserving, and organizing cultural knowledge, traditions, languages, and art forms in digital formats to ensure their long-term accessibility and protection.
— By integrating education, research, and documentation, TribeX seeks to preserve tribal heritage while promoting greater academic engagement with indigenous knowledge systems.
Academic Programmes
As part of its educational offerings, TribeX provides five University Grants Commission (UGC)-recognized one-year hybrid diploma programmes.
A hybrid diploma programme combines online learning with offline classroom sessions, practical training, or field-based learning, thereby offering greater flexibility while ensuring hands-on exposure.
Among these programmes are courses in tribal languages, including Santali (Ol Chiki).
Santali is one of the major tribal languages of India and is included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
Ol Chiki is the official script of the Santali language, developed by Pandit Raghunath Murmu in 1925 to preserve and promote Santali literature and cultural identity.
Through these programmes, TribeX aims to strengthen the study, preservation, and transmission of India's diverse tribal languages, artistic traditions, and cultural practices.
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