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20/02/2026

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CA-20/02/2026

• Origin & Recognition:
  • Geographical Indication (GI): Received the official GI tag in September 2023, recognizing it as a unique product of the Salem district in Tamil Nadu.
  • Land of Sago: Salem is known as the "Land of Sago," producing more than 80% of India's sago.
  • Historical Note: It was first produced in India in Salem around 1943–1944 and served as a critical food source during severe droughts in the Travancore Kingdom.
• Product Details:
  • Local Name: Locally referred to as Javvarisi and widely known across India as Sabudana.
  • Source: Derived from the wet starch powder extracted by crushing tapioca (cassava) roots.
  • Appearance: It consists of small, hard, pearl-white globules or "pearls".
• Production Process:

1. Extraction: Tapioca roots (containing 30–35% starch) are crushed to obtain wet starch milk.
2. Settling: The milk settles for 3–8 hours to allow impurities to be drained.
3. Globulation: The settled starch is converted into small pearls using indigenous mechanical globulators.
4. Roasting & Drying: The pearls are roasted on hot plates and then sun-dried on large platforms.

• Industrial Significance:
  • Sagoserve: Established in 1981, the Salem Starch and Sago Manufacturers Service Industrial Co-operative Society is the primary body overseeing quality, storage, and marketing.
  • Diverse Uses: Beyond a food staple, sago is used in industries like textiles (sizing fibers), paper (surface treatment), pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and alcohol production.
• Nutritional & Health Benefits:
  • Energy Source: High in carbohydrates, making it an ideal energy-boosting food for athletes and during religious fasts.
  • Dietary Friendly: Naturally gluten-free, low in cholesterol, and easily digestible.
  • Rich in Minerals: Contains potassium (aids blood pressure) and calcium (supports bone density). 

• Primary Function: Acts as the "first brake" for the Gaganyaan Crew Module during its re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. It stabilizes the 5.3-ton module and reduces its velocity from supersonic speeds to a safe level.
• Design & Specifications:
  • Type: Conical ribbon-type parachute.
  • Size: Boasts a diameter of 5.8 metres.
  • Deployment: Packed within pyro-based devices called mortars, which eject them upon command.
  • Reefing Mechanism: Employs a single-stage reefing mechanism to minimize opening shock and ensure controlled descent.
• Recovery Sequence: The drogue parachutes are the second in a sequence of 10 parachutes:

1. Two Apex Cover Separation parachutes (remove protective cover).
2. Two Drogue parachutes (stabilize and decelerate).
3. Three Pilot parachutes (extract the main parachutes).
4. Three Main parachutes (final deceleration for safe splashdown).

• Collaborative Development: The parachute system is a joint effort between ISRO (Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre) and DRDO (Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment and Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory).
• Strategic Significance: Clearing these tests is non-negotiable for astronaut survival. It marks India's progress toward joining the elite group of nations (USA, Russia, China) with independent human spaceflight capability. 

• Expanded Strategic Scope: While VVP–I (launched in 2023) focused primarily on the China border, VVP–II expands development to strategic villages along India's borders with Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar.
  • Targets 1,954 identified strategic villages across 15 states and 2 Union Territories.
  • Includes: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir (UT), Ladakh (UT), Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

• Financial Outlay: A total of ₹6,839 crore has been allocated.
• Scheme Type: It is a Central Sector Scheme, meaning it is 100% funded by the Union Government.
• Implementation Period: Scheduled to run through the Financial Year 2028–29.

• Prevent Migration: Aims to stop the "out-migration" of border populations to urban areas, which otherwise creates security vacuums.
• "Eyes and Ears": Enlists local residents as vigilant stakeholders to assist border guarding forces in identifying suspicious activities and preventing trans-border crimes.
• Sustainable Livelihoods: Promotes diverse economic opportunities such as eco-tourism, local handicrafts, and agricultural value chains (cooperatives/SHGs).

• Saturation-Based Approach: Focuses on 100% coverage in four thematic areas: all-weather road connectivity, telecom connectivity, television access, and electrification.
• Convergence: Integrates existing central and state welfare schemes to ensure essential services like housing, healthcare, and education (e.g., SMART classes) reach every household.
• All-Weather Roads: Road connectivity for these remote villages will be executed under the already approved Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)-IV.

• Village Action Plans: Interventions are village-specific and based on plans prepared by Gram Panchayats in collaboration with district administrations.
• Technology: Uses the PM Gati Shakti platform for data-driven planning and real-time tracking of projects.
• Vibrancy Activities: Encourages "vibrancy" through local fairs, national day celebrations, and regular night stays by senior government officials to promote cultural heritage. 

• Primary Objective: The app serves as a cutting-edge monitoring tool under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) scheme to bridge infrastructural gaps across India.
• Real-Time Monitoring: It allows officials and stakeholders to track the physical and financial progress of community assets—such as schools, hospitals, and skill centres—in real-time.
• Enhanced Transparency: By utilizing geo-tagging and digital reporting, the app aims to eliminate "ghost projects" and ensure that government funds are utilized efficiently.
• Data-Driven Governance: Features a centralized dashboard that helps the Ministry identify regions with specific developmental deficits, supporting the national goal of Viksit Bharat @2047.
• Stakeholder Coordination: Designed to streamline coordination between Central and State governments, ensuring that projects implemented at the grassroots level are aligned with national policy.
• Technological Integration: Launched alongside other tech-driven initiatives like the Haj Smart Wrist Band (for pilgrim safety) and AI Chatbots to provide 24/7 citizen support for minority welfare schemes. 

• Core Objective: The initiative aims to preserve, enhance, and transmit the cultural heritage of tribal communities to future generations. It specifically focuses on:
  • Folk songs, traditional festivals, and worship practices.
  • Customary self-governance systems and oral traditions.
  • Traditional knowledge and art forms of Scheduled Tribes in Scheduled Areas.
• Implementation & Support:
  • Nodal Ministry: Conceptualized and supported by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
  • Execution: Implemented in collaboration with State Governments (currently Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh) and IGNCA.
  • Legal Alignment: Closely follows the PESA Act (Panchayats Extension to the Scheduled Areas Act, 1996), which empowers Gram Sabhas to safeguard tribal customs and traditions.
• Key Milestones:
  • Initial Launch: The campaign first launched as "Hamari Parampara Hamari Virasat" in Jharkhand on January 26, 2025.
  • National Event: A national program was held on April 4, 2025, dedicated to the 150th Birth Anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
  • Current Expansion: Chhattisgarh joined the initiative in February 2026, bringing its diverse 42 recognized Scheduled Tribes into the documentation fold.
• Digital Preservation: A major component of the project is the comprehensive documentation of village histories. For instance, in Jharkhand alone, the initiative targets preserving traditions across 20,300 villages.
• Environmental Link: The program highlights tribal lifestyles as models for climate change mitigation and sustainable living, noting their traditional reverence for nature (worship of trees, air, and water). 

• Mechanism: ZIBs are rechargeable devices where zinc ions (Zn2+) move between a zinc metal anode and a cathode (typically manganese or vanadium oxides) through an aqueous (water-based) electrolyte.
  • Safety: Uses non-flammable aqueous electrolytes, eliminating the fire and explosion risks associated with the organic solvents in lithium-ion batteries.
  • Abundance & Cost: Zinc is approximately 300 times more abundant than lithium and significantly cheaper to mine and process.
  • Eco-Friendly: Materials are non-toxic and nearly 100% recyclable.
  • Durability: Some new designs can withstand over 10,000 charge cycles (vs. 500–2,000 for lithium-ion).

• Dendrite Growth: Needle-like zinc deposits can form during charging, potentially piercing the separator and causing short circuits.
• Hydrogen Evolution: Water-based electrolytes can react with the anode to produce hydrogen gas, leading to pressure buildup and corrosion.
• Lower Energy Density: Typically offer 100–150 Wh/kg, whereas lithium-ion can reach 250 Wh/kg, making ZIBs currently better for stationary storage than smartphones or EVs.

• India is one of the world's top zinc producers, providing a path to "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (self-reliance) by reducing dependence on imported lithium and cobalt.
• Aligned with India's National Electricity Policy (NEP) 2026 goals for 500 GW of non-fossil energy by 2030. 

Feature  Zinc-Ion Battery (ZIB) Lithium-Ion Battery (LIB) Safety High (Non-flammable) Moderate (Fire risk) Cost Significantly Lower High (Import dependent) Cycle Life 3,000 to 10,000+ cycles 500 to 2,000 cycles Energy Density ~100–150 Wh/kg ~150–250 Wh/kg Ideal Use Grid Storage, Backup Power EVs, Portable Electronics

• M.A.N.A.V. is India's human-centric framework for AI, unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the India AI Impact Summit 2026. It emphasizes ethical development, inclusivity, and sovereignty to ensure AI benefits humanity, especially the Global South.
• The event, held February 16-20 at Bharat Mandapam, gathered policymakers, experts, and leaders to discuss AI's societal impact and safety measures.
• Coverage highlighted India's push to democratize AI amid global debates, contrasting fear in some nations with India's optimistic view of AI as opportunity.

• M – Moral and Ethical Systems: AI must follow strict ethical guidelines to prioritize human values.
• A – Accountable Governance: Requires transparent rules and strong oversight mechanisms.
• N – National Sovereignty: Data ownership stays with generators, protecting national control.​
• A – Accessible and Inclusive: AI should empower all, avoiding monopolies and aiding underserved regions.
• V – Valid and Legitimate: Systems must be lawful, verifiable, and trustworthy.

• India positions M.A.N.A.V. as a "vital link for human welfare" in the AI era, promoting collaboration while building domestic strengths like semiconductors and data governance.

• Mission Overview: CHEOPS is the first European Space Agency (ESA) "Small-class" (S-class) mission, developed in partnership with Switzerland.
• Primary Objective: It is dedicated to studying bright, nearby stars already known to host exoplanets. Its goal is to make high-precision measurements of a planet's size (radius) as it transits its host star.

• Density Calculation: By combining precise size data from CHEOPS with mass data from ground-based telescopes, scientists can calculate a planet's bulk density to determine its composition (rocky, gaseous, or oceanic).
• Golden Targets: It identifies high-priority targets for more powerful observatories like the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT).

• Instrument: A single specialized camera called a photometer (a 30cm aperture Ritchey–Chrétien telescope).
• Launch: Launched on 18 December 2019 from Kourou, French Guiana, aboard a Soyuz rocket.
• Orbit: Operates in a Sun-synchronous, dusk-dawn orbit at an altitude of approximately 700 km above Earth.
• Mission Status: Originally intended for a 3.5-year life, the mission has been extended through 2026, with a potential extension to 2029.

• WASP-103b: Discovered a planet deformed into a rugby ball shape by intense tidal forces.
• Nu2 Lupi: Unexpectedly spotted a third transiting planet ("d") in a known system.
• Quaoar Ring: Detected an unexpected ring around the trans-Neptunian object Quaoar within our own solar system.

• Species Classification: It belongs to the genus Galathea, a group of small, reef-dwelling anomuran crabs commonly known as squat lobsters.
• Size: Measuring only about 3 millimetres in length, it is smaller than a grain of rice.
• Location of Discovery: Discovered in the coral reef habitats near Agatti Island in the Lakshadweep archipelago.
• Naming: Named in honour of T. Balasubramanian, a distinguished Indian marine biologist and former director/dean at Annamalai University, recognizing his contributions to marine science.

• Recycling: Plays a vital role in coral reef health by recycling organic matter.
• Food Chain: Serves as a critical food source for fish and other larger marine organisms.

• Morphology: Features distinct body structures, including unique leg arrangements and an uninterrupted mesogastric ridge, which differentiate it from its closest relative, G. mauritiana.
• Habitat: Typically remains hidden within coral formations and rocky crevices.

• Scientific Recognition: The discovery was formally described in the international taxonomy journal Zootaxa in February 2026.
• Conservation Context: Scientists emphasize that this find underscores the urgent need to protect fragile coral reef ecosystems currently threatened by climate change and rising sea temperatures. 

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